If anything but gold had been in the balance against him, I believe that Kurd would have defied us, for, although he did not know what Sikhs might be, he knew us for no Musselmen.

I saw his eyes look inward, meditating treachery, not only to Wassmuss, but to us, too.

But Ranjoor Singh detected that quicker than I did.
"Let us neglect no points," he said, and the Kurd brought his mind back with an effort from considering plans against us.

"It would be possible for me to get that gold, and for other Kurds--not you or your men, of course, but other Kurds--to waylay me in the mountains.
Therefore let part of the agreement be that you leave with me ten hostages, of whom two shall be your blood relations." The Kurd winced.

He was a little keen man, with, a thin face and prominent nose; not ill-looking, but extremely acquisitive, I should say.
"Wassmuss holds my brother hostage!" he answered grimly, as if he had just then thought of it.
"I have a German prisoner here," said Ranjoor Singh, with the nearest approach to a smile that he had permitted himself yet, "and Wassmuss will be very glad to exchange him against your brother when the time comes." "Ah!" said the Kurd, and-- "Ah!" said Ranjoor Singh.