The captain began to talk to Isaacs, and I edged as near as I could to be ready for my grip.

Still it did not come.

He talked on, very civilly, in intelligible Hindustani.

What was the matter with the moon?
A few minutes before it had seemed as if there would be neither cloud nor mist in such a sky; and now a light filmy wreath was rising and darkening the splendour of the wonderful night.

I looked across at Ram Lal.