He had probably sent scouts out before, and was pretty sure there was no one there.

To gain time, he made a great show of reading the agreement through from beginning to end, comparing it all the while with a copy he held.

While this was going on, and I had put myself as near as possible to the captain, Isaacs and Shere Ali were in earnest conversation in the Persian tongue.

Shere Ali told Abdul that the captain's perusal of the contract must be a mere empty show, since the man did not know a word of the language.

Isaacs, on hearing that the captain could not understand, immediately warned Shere Ali of the intended attempt to murder them both, of which Ram Lal, his friend, had heard, and I could see the old soldier's eye flash and his hand feel for his weapon, where there was none, at the mere mention of a fight.