[40]. See p. 188.
[41]. Acting under the Spook’s order, Moïse had previously cross-examined Doc. O’Farrell, who, by agreement with us, had shown confusion and hesitation when asked if he thought we were mad, and had finally denied our insanity.
[42]. Of course no such letters were ever written. Moïse was willing to lie as much as the Spook wanted.
[43]. We had to provide against the danger of independent enquiry by the doctors amongst our fellow-prisoners. Therefore, wherever possible, we distorted facts so that enquiry, if made, would reveal as a basis for our delusions some incident which had really occurred and which had (apparently) been misunderstood by us. Thus, in the present instance, Colbeck did threaten (jokingly, of course) to take us out by force when we refused his invitation to tea.
[44]. He did—a friendly visit to support Colbeck’s invitation to tea. At this visit he gave me permission to say what I liked about him to the Turks. I used it freely to name him as my principal “persecutor” and my “would-be murderer.”
[45]. This was founded on fact. The Turkish officials who were unpacking my parcel said waterproof sheets were “yessack” (forbidden), and seized it for their own use. A tug-of-war developed between me and the Cook for possession of the sheet, and when the officer in charge ordered me to surrender it, and showed signs of joining in the struggle, I cut it into ribbons to render it valueless to our enemies. This was in the early days, before the treasure-hunt began.
[46]. In point of fact, they did not get away until the night of August 7th-8th, and at the end of July, when the Spook’s guarantee expired, the plotters got a bad fright. The authors of “450 Miles to Freedom” say: “Unfortunately the Turks also appeared to have got wind of it (i.e., the intention to escape). For the last week of July, sentries were visited and awakened with unheard-of frequency. Even the Commandant himself occasionally visited the different houses after dark. In the case of one house an extra sentry was suddenly posted in the garden.” The intention to escape was really known to the Turks from the moment the Changri men arrived at Yozgad. Moïse informed me at Constantinople that the tunnel at Changri had been discovered and reported after our departure from Yozgad. I believe the sudden activity which alarmed our friends in July was due to the expiry of our guarantee. Hill and I apologize for not making the period four months—we did our best!
[47]. The performance was so amusing that I repeated it at every possible opportunity on our 120-mile road journey to Angora, and the poor Pimple was in and out of his cart like a Jack-in-the-box. To his credit be it said that he succeeded in getting back most of the notes I distributed so lavishly, and he was perfectly honest in returning them to us in Constantinople.
[48]. From the point of view of the professional medium the slower methods have another advantage. Very little ground is covered at a single table-rapping séance, and at the end of the allotted hour the sitter has usually a number of questions he still wishes to put. So he is likely to come back for a second guinea’s worth.
[49]. I apologise to the inhabitants of Togoland for comparing their music (whatever it may be) to the abominable noises made by our sentries.