184 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



were quite rigid, like those of a corpse, but by 

 vigorous rubbing with snow and brandy he 

 recovered their use. All our followers were 

 individually brave and fearless fellows, but on 

 this occasion they were quite disheartened and 

 crestfallen. From the first they had looked upon 

 our expedition as almost sacrilegious, and imagined 

 every moment that we should encounter more 

 than mortal adversaries for having invaded the 

 hitherto unapproachable sanctuary of Mahadeo. 

 Indeed, the howling of the tempest, the cracking 

 and rending of the ice, the roaring of avalanches, 

 and the rumbling of landslips, were all attributed 

 to supernatural agency, as being the work of 

 " Bhoots " (evil spirits, who are said to inhabit the 

 mountain), conspiring for our destruction. For 

 two hours the violence of the storm continued 

 unabated, vivid streams of forked lightning flashed 

 in quick succession, sometimes appearing in one 

 continued blaze, the intense brightness of which 

 almost blinded us, whilst peal on peal of thunder 

 awakened a hundred echoes amongst the moun- 

 tains. All the elements were at war, yet no rain 



