A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



A., " I shall stop here for a day or two and try 

 for shapoo." However, in the dead of night A.'s 

 shikari came to him and induced him to get up and 

 proceed at once to seize the Khalsi Nalah. He had 

 not gone long when B.'s shikari, who had got wind 

 of their departure, came and dragged B. out of 

 bed, and putting him, as he was, on a pony, started 

 off in hot pursuit. On the road there happens to be 

 a ridge over which a short cut may be taken, but 

 A., all unconscious that he was being raced, went 

 quietly along the main pathway ; meanwhile B., 

 going over the ridge, got a good start, crossed the 

 bridge at the Khalsi fort, and persuaded the native 

 soldiers who were on guard to shut the gates of the 

 bridge for a couple of hours, so that A. and his 

 shikari were kept storming, but impotent ; and when 

 at length they got through and rushed on to the 

 nalah, they found B., whom they thought to have 

 left behind, sound asleep at Lamayuru, comfortably 

 installed. Of course this is only a story, and must 

 be taken for what it is worth ; one hears many 

 such ; how sportsmen, racing for some nalah, have 

 lain down to sleep across the road, so as to make 

 sure of being awakened should anyone pass, and 

 been stepped over by their rivals as they slept ; or 

 of men being called up in the middle of the night 

 because others were coming, and pursuing their 

 way over deep snow in night-gear and slippers, and 

 such-like tales, which are generally true. Officers 



who want to shoot are many, leave is short, and 



105 



