v TROUBLES WITH THE WORKMEN 57 



clay, as they were afraid of trouble at the quarry. 

 At this I began to think that there was some- 

 thing in the story I had heard overnight, but I 

 laughingly assured him there would be no trouble 

 and continued on my way. On my arrival at the 

 quarry, everything seemed perfectly peaceful. 

 All the men were working away busily, but after a 

 moment or two I noticed stealthy side glances, and 

 felt that there was something in the wind. As soon 

 as I came up to the first gang of workmen, the 

 jemadar, a treacherous-looking villain, informed me 

 that the men working further up the ravine had 

 refused to obey his orders, and asked me if I would 

 go and see them. I felt at once that this was a 

 device to lure me into the narrow part of the ravine, 

 where, with gangs in front of me and behind me, 

 there would be no escape ; still I thought I would 

 see the adventure through, whatever came of it, so 

 I accompanied the jemadar up the gully. When 

 we got to the further gang, he went so far as to 

 point out the two men who, he said, had refused to 

 do what he told them I suppose he thought that 

 as I was never to leave the place alive, it did not 

 matter whom he complained of. I noted their 

 names in my pocket-book in my usual manner, and 

 turned to retrace my steps. Immediately a yell of 

 rage was raised by the whole body of some sixty 

 men, answered by a similar shout from those I had 



