2o8 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



I remained a short time watching the sunset tints ; 

 then I rose and descended to the encamping-ground. 

 So quickly in these latitudes does night succeed to day 

 that by the time I reached the ground the short 

 twilight was already beginning to fade. I found my 

 tents now pitched ; and during my absence several 

 travellers had arrived, and also carts laden with 

 goods and produce. Some had come from the Doon ; 

 others were on their way there. What with men, carts, 

 and animals, the camping-ground presented a most 

 cheerful appearance. 



The cattle and ponies were reposing or eating their 

 grain or fodder; the travellers were preparing their 

 dinners. Each traveller or each small party cooked 

 their dinner at a separate fire. As the darkness came 

 on the multitude of these little fires had a most 

 cheerful and pretty appearance ; but I did not remain 

 long to observe it, for my own dinner was now ready, 

 and I was too hungry to delay going into the tent 

 to enjoy it. 



Dinner over, I had logs and brushwood collected 

 outside, and a fire lighted ; and then, well wrapped up, 

 I left the tent and sat beside it, for here, with the 

 mountains behind and the forest in front, and at an 

 elevation of more than two thousand feet above the sea, 

 the night was really cold. The glow of the fire soon 

 attracted the servants, and before long some of the 

 travellers as well. One by one they crept cautiously 

 up, standing at a respectful distance; then, on my 

 inviting them, they approached near, and sat down. 



We had presently quite an assemblage round th^ 



