190 TO THE SHAYAK. 



recovered and held him together : then, passing Abdool, 

 he stuck to the shikarries who kept with their supporters 

 all together. It was hard work, and certainly not without 

 danger, as a stumble would have sent man and horse 

 down the flood. 



We thus fought our way on, crossing some score of 

 these streams ; in one of which, the widest I should think 

 two hundred yards across I got into difficulties. By 

 taking a lower course than the guide had done, I bungled 

 into a sand-bed quicksand but my little nag exerted 

 himself vigorously. The shikarries and others were voci- 

 ferating loudly, 'kubber dar;' as if that was any good 

 when we were in the thick of it. "We struggled to firmer 

 ground, and then got to a high bank of shingle with bushes 

 on it. I had hoped that the main stream was crossed, 

 but to my vexation found the great difficulty still to be 

 overcome. A mighty flood swept by, which if we could 

 get over, the passage was virtually accomplished. But 

 was it fordable ? 



We now saw a party, horse and foot, on the other side 

 making their way towards us. They, too, were brought 

 up by the formidable volume of turbid water rushing 

 between us. We were within hail of each other, but any 

 words indistinguishable, and they were not to be induced 

 by any sign to tempt their fate by showing us the way 

 over. Things now came to a dead-lock. The river guide 

 funking and no wonder moved here and there, up and 

 down, making as though he were desperately in earnest, 

 but ever recoiling from the main rush of the torrent. 

 The servants and coolies now arrived all safe, after some 

 few narrow escapes, as Abdoolah informed me the 

 Cashmiries, poor creatures ! of whom there were five, 

 having to be held up in the water, even when without 

 loads : they lost their heads and legs immediately. What 



