'Three days and nights.'
'And then?'
'I will go on to the higher country—to Nepaul—perhaps to Cashmere—but first——'
'Go to the higher country at once,' interrupted the stranger, 'or'—he looked at his host fixedly—'become one of us.'
'What do you mean?' said Tom.
'I will answer by a question. You are an Englishman?'
'I am.'
'But you do not love your people?'
The hollow voice had risen, and the question sounded almost like a threat.
Tom was surprised, but he answered quietly, 'Of course I love my people. Why do you ask me such questions?'