370 THE IMAGE OF WAR 



things looked much more promising for sport than 

 they had done when I left it two months previously. 



An hour after I reached Stavro my pack-mules 

 turned up, and my servant and I settled into the long 

 mud-floored forest hut. This has a sort of dais at the 

 fireplace end, and when my camp-bed was put up at 

 one side of this, my arm-chair with a chair and table 

 belonging to the place at the other, it seemed comfort- 

 able enough. 



Just as night was closing in old Anastasi arrived, 

 as brisk as ever ; and his hearty snores kept me awake 

 half the night. 



Next day was again fine, though much too windy 

 for stalking. Nevertheless I went out, and climbing 

 out of the sanctuary (for the hut lies in the middle 

 of it) over the shoulder of Khorteri we made our way 

 into the Exo Mylos valley. 



Now I began to find out what a long way it is from 

 a sick-bed to stalking. I got along, it is true ; but 

 I was absolutely incapable of the exertion necessary 

 for stepping over every stick or loose stone, and 

 blundered along in anything but approved style. 

 It did not matter, however, as we did not even see 

 fresh tracks. I was sadly tottery at the knees the 

 last mile or two coming home, although we were only 

 out some four hours. 



The pure air of the mountains had the effect of a 

 tonic on me, and next day I already felt better. We 

 went to new ground for me, to the north-west of the 

 sanctuary, but again saw nothing — nor should we 

 have done much good if we had, on such a blusterous 

 gusty day. 



The 5th of February was much warmer ; we made 

 our way to the upper slopes of the Kouphoplatanou 



