THE BRIDGE AXD DOG TRICK. 81 



feet to the rocks and river below, and the crossing, to a 

 novice, quite bad enough without master doggie's obstruction. 

 However, Alan gave me a hand across, and, arrived again 

 on terra Jinna, we demanded an explanation from the 

 keeper of the bridge and dog. It did not take long to 

 discover that it was a trick to get money for helping 

 strangers over. Both our Hindustani servants fell into the 

 snare, greatly to the Hillmen's delight. Santan was first 

 up, and though evidently very nervous, commenced to 

 crawl across the ropes on all fours. So the dog was a for- 

 midable object to meet, particularly when neither meant to 

 give way ; and the assistance of its master seemed quite a 

 godsend. I am afraid he made a bargain before he helped, 

 — it looked like it from the distance. The black dog was 

 really very cleverly trained, and knew the exact moment 

 to arrive. If he managed to get past, he turned round 

 and came back again behind you. 



About three miles further on was another rope bridge 

 over a wild rocky gorge, just where a third river came in. 

 This stream came suddenly out from between high. white 

 cliffs. It was very still and of an intense blue-green 

 colour, quite different from the foaming white torrent it 

 joined. From here commenced an old road to Kishtiwar, 

 paved with large slabs of stone, and looking like a broad 

 staircase leading up from the river over the hill. It must 



at some distant time have been an important highway. 



G 



