Seeing they outnumbered us, and we had to spare a guard for our prisoners and hostages, and that fifty of our force were Syrians and therefore not much use, I felt doubtful.

I thought Ranjoor Singh felt doubtful, too, until I saw him glance repeatedly behind and study the sky.

Then I began to hope as furiously as he.
The Turks down on the plain were studying the sky, too.

We could see them fix bayonets and make little trenches about the tents.

Another party of them gathered stones with which to re-enforce the tent pegs, and in every other way possible they made ready against one of those swift, sudden storms that so often burst down the sides of mountains.