May the fires of their lying Prophet's Eblis burn Anazeh and his men forever and ever, Amen! May God curse their religion!" That was a nice state of affairs.

I did not want to be caught there by a lot of truculent Sikhs under one of those jocularly incredulous young British subalterns that Sikhs adore.

In the first place, I had nothing whatever in writing to prove my innocence.

The least that was likely to happen would be an ignominious return to Jerusalem, after a night in a guard-house, should there be a guard-house; failing that, a night in the open within easy reach of Sikh's bayonets.

In Jerusalem, no doubt, Sir Louis would order me released immediately.