FROM TONKIN TO INDIA 



intrusted a letter and some money for Roux to the chief, with 

 injunctions that as soon as he should be signalled a messenger 

 should be sent after us. I had just gone into the house, when 

 Sao came running in, calling, "Here he is!", and "Loutajen!" 

 shouted Joseph at the same moment from without. 



The joy with which we met may be imagined. We both 

 breathed freely again, and a great weight was lifted off my mind. 

 The whole party was safe and sound, and could afford to look 

 back upon deliverance from a very near thing. 



Roux's story was as follows : For two whole days after our 

 departure he had been unable to move. The fever then abated, 

 but left him very weak. By the time they got to the pass fresh 

 snow had nearly obliterated our tracks. They were disturbed by 

 the nightly proximity of a tiger, doubtless the same that snuffed us, 

 whose respect evidently decreased as numbers diminished. When 

 they reached the Nam-Dihing they were stopped by a spate, and 

 one of them narrowly escaped drowning while trying to make 

 a bridge. As it was, he was cast ashore on the wrong side, and 

 passed the night without fire or food, and soaked. The "Doctor" 

 and the other meanwhile retraced their steps through the woods 

 in the dark in search of a ford, with the agreeable reflection that 

 they were cut off by a big river with almost empty haversacks. 

 Their disquietude was augmented by the discovery of our aban- 

 doned baggage ; they dreaded lest the next turn should disclose 

 the starvinor remnants of our column. The relief did not fall in 

 with them a moment too soon. 



Our whole strength reassembled at Khagan, with hearty con- 

 gratulations at our reunion. From there we descended in four 

 days to Sadiya. Everywhere our welcome was cordial. The 

 English Political Agent at the latter place, to whom w^e had notified 



34S 



