We tied the mules and horses very carefully, because we did not believe the Syrians would stand by when the storm began, and we were right.

Tugendheim begged hard to be allowed to come with us, but Ranjoor Singh would not let him.

I don't know why, but I think he suspected Tugendheim of knowing something about the German officers who were ahead of us, in which case Tugendheim was likely to risk anything rather than continue going forward; and, having promised him to the Kurdish chief, it would not have suited Ranjoor Singh to let him escape into Turkey again.
The ten Kurds who had been left with us as guides and to help us keep peace among the mountains all volunteered to lend a hand in the fight, and Ranjoor Singh accepted gladly.

The hostages, on the other hand, were a difficult problem; for they detested being hostages.
They would have made fine allies for Tugendheim, supposing he had meditated any action in our rear.

They could have guided him among the mountains with all our horses and mules and supplies.