THE SHEEP-PENS 171 



usually folded, the sopping hillside, and the rain coming 

 down pitilessly on us all. 



There was no doubt that this was the right place, for 

 there were the sheep-pens before us, and through the 

 mist of the valley immediately below we could see the 

 green fields and the pastures of Barchu. There was 

 nothing to be done but make the best of a bad job. So 

 we sent two of the coolies down to Barchu, to send us up 

 a fowl and some flour, and to make inquiries about the 

 camp. Then we collected some wood (by extraordinary 

 good luck there was a fair supply, quite dry, in a corner 

 of one of the sheep-pens) and made a good fire in the 

 larger enclosure. This was formed under a high over- 

 hanging rock, the ground underneath being enclosed by 

 low walls, about 3 feet high, made of rough stones piled 

 up. There was plenty of room for all of us under the 

 rock, and here we proceeded to dry our things. I 

 reduced myself to my shirt, and in a very few minutes 

 after the steam rising from our garments was like a 

 cloud of smoke. 



In an hour or so most of my things were dry enough 

 to put on. Luckily, as we had been sleeping out the 

 previous night, we had our bedding with us. So after 

 getting the floor cleaned, as far as was possible, and 

 levelled where necessary, I spread the brown water- 

 proof sheet on the ground, and made my bed thereon. 

 The lantern was placed on a neighbouring stone, and 

 getting into bed I watched another wonderful sunset 

 on the glaciers of Haramosh ; for that splendid 

 mountain was once more in sight, and so near that 

 it seemed as if it rose straight up from the opposite 



