“Do you know the way to the south?” I asked.
“Yes, we know it well.”
“If you are disposed to accompany us, you shall receive three rupees a day.”
“We should like to, but we dare not.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“We have heard that to the south of this pass the country has been roused and that soldiers are being collected to render your further journey impossible. We must go quickly northwards. Our people are already ahead.”
“Where do you think that the soldiers are waiting for us?”
“That no one knows, but it is certain that they are gathering together.”
“What, in your opinion, do they mean to do with us?”
“They will prevent you going farther southwards, but will do you no harm.”