"Can you call to them without letting the Kalmucks hear?" he asked of Fazl.
"I can, sahib."
"Then ask one of them to slip down and meet me."
The Gurkha made a slight clucking in his throat, at which the Pathans lifted their heads and looked eagerly along the path. Then Fazl held up one finger, and beckoned. The heads disappeared, and in a moment two of the Pathans came round the corner of the rock.
"Only one," said Bob.
Fazl made them understand by gestures. One of the men returned, the other came on.
"Allah is great, sahib!" he said in his own tongue as he met Bob. "But why is the sahib on foot? A few more such thunderbolts would send the dogs to Jehannum: have you no more in the wonderful machine?"
Bob wished that he had Lawrence's facility in picking up strange languages. Fortunately Fazl could act as interpreter. He first asked the man if he could explain the sudden outbreak of the Kalmucks. The Pathan thought that no explanation was necessary: it was due to their own vile passions and the presence of Nurla Bai.
"Nurla Bai!" exclaimed Bob. "Is he among them?"
"Of a truth he is, sahib, and his black monkey too."