150 LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS 



and vices. They might even have lifted their 

 eyes to the stars and uttered songs of love and 

 death. 



The blistering sun of noon was almost over 

 our heads when we started on our pilgrimage 

 to the river. A crooked pathway choked with 

 sand, into which one's feet sank deep at every 

 step, led down the wedge-formed cleft between 

 the towering mountains. We found the course 

 fatiguing in the descent; what would it be 

 when we came to retrace our steps? As we 

 proceeded the gorge bent to the right and the 

 glowing cliffs closed in. 



At length the stupendous mountain range on 

 the other side of the river again sprang into 

 view. Soon we caught a glimpse of the rich- 

 green forest strip which fringed, on either side, 

 the wide course of the stream. There at least 

 we would find shade. The heat had become 

 frightful ; it was as though one breathed flame. 



We reached the river bank. The great 

 torrent of a few weeks back had shrunk to a 

 network of rivulets which swirled and eddied 

 among the rocks and islanded sand-banks with 

 a soothing murmur. The trees just there had 

 been much thinned out; in places the under- 

 growth had completely disappeared, eaten 



