408 THE HUNTING GROUNDS, ETC. 



sued by a predatory hostile party. These gave me 

 to understand that there was a deserted konac some 

 distance up the mountain, up to which point our 

 horses could go, so I resolved to make the necessary 

 preparations that evening, and start for the place 

 early the next morning. What little superfluous 

 baggage I had I left in charge of the chief, and then 

 ordered Hoossain, Kuchuk, and Cassim to accompany 

 me with the two young men of the tribe, as I did 

 not care to have too many about me, and the rest 

 were to take charge of the horses at the foot of the 

 mountain. 



This being arranged, and provisions, ropes, 

 i^lankets, and waterproof-sheeting being packed and 

 divided, so that each had about equal weight, I had 

 poles cut so as to serve as " alpenstocks ; " and early 

 the next morning we started, accompanied for a 

 short distance by the greater part of the tribe, who 

 wished us God-speed and luck on our undertaking. 

 After a ride of about six hours' duration through 

 the woods we began to ascend, and in the afternoon 

 arrived at the deserted konac, which was situated 

 on a projecting spur. Here we put up for the night, 

 making ourselves as comfortable as possible ; AH 

 and his party keeping watch whilst mine slept, so 

 as to be fresh for work on the morrow. All my 

 followers wanted to accompany me, but it could 

 not be, so after a plentiful breakfast we bade them 

 adieu, and set out on our perilous expedition. 



