“The soldiers sent to explore returned without finding anything.”
“Perhaps,” another suggested, “it blew up of itself on account of poor construction.”
“No,” said a third. “It was blown up by the enemy; they thought we were on the march, near the mine.”
I arose and said solemnly:
“I know who blew up the mine and made your victory and escape possible.”
“Tell us, tell us!” they shouted in chorus. “Who?”
“It was Fiam, who....”
“Who is that?” asked twenty voices at once. “Who is our hero and our rescuer? How did you know him?”
“It is,” I proceeded firmly, “the Haji of an old willow tree that....” A tumult of laughter greeted me. Even the general joined in. They thought I was joking. The general cried:
“Still more legends, ha, ha!”