I thought that he was even rash, in speaking as frankly as he did to us." "I think he saw there was no fear of our repeating what he said, Surajah.

He is a frank, outspoken old soldier, and has evidently been so disgusted at the treatment of the prisoners that he could not mince his words; and yet, you know, he did not absolutely say that he had no prisoners." "No; I noticed that he did not reply directly to your question." "On the contrary, he distinctly hesitated before he spoke.

Now, why should he have done that?
He might just as well have said, 'No, I have no prisoners.

They are only sent up here for execution.' That would have been his natural answer.

Instead of that he hesitated, and then began, 'I don't want any of them here; batches are sent up sometimes from Bangalore.' Now, why did he shirk the question?
If it had been any other subject, I might not have noticed that he had not really answered it, but of course, as it was so important a one, I was listening most anxiously for his reply, and noticed his hesitation at once, and that he gave no direct answer at all.
"Now, think it over, Surajah.