If there was to be trouble that night I preferred to have it at the hands of Sikhs, who are seldom very drastic unless you show violence.

I might be arrested if I walked the streets, but that would be sheer profit as compared to half-a-yard of cold knife in the broad of my back.
"Take me to the house where you talked with your mother," I said to Suliman.
So we turned to the left and set off together in that direction, watched with something more than mild suspicion by the Sikh, and, if Suliman's sensations were anything like mine, feeling about as cheerless, homeless and aware of impending evil as the dogs that slunk away into the night.

I took advantage of the first deep shadow I could find to walk in, less minded to explore than to avoid pursuit..