206 TO THE KARAKORUM. 



take one's breath away, I should have done well enough. 

 Hours passed, and there were no signs of my traps. I 

 became extremely anxious as the road was so bad, and at 

 five o'clock went off to reconnoitre alone, and took post 

 on an elevation from which, through my glass, I descried 

 three horses on a green patch the other side the river, 

 some three or four miles off, but far above the bridge. 

 This I could not understand. After a time I saw three 

 men, my servants, mount these horses, and deliberately 

 ride up along the river the wrong side, on which the path 

 was but a sheep track, and terminated in the river at a 

 point where it would be hazardous to attempt to ford. A 

 coolie appeared in sight on the right side, so I was com- 

 forted in the belief that it was only my three servants 

 that had gone astray. I watched them anxiously. They 

 rode down to the river, and there stopped a long time ; 

 then into it, but kept in to their own bank. I became 

 quite nervous for them quite painfully alarmed lest the 

 poor fellows should try to remedy their mistake by risking 

 the passage. They were far beyond sound or sign from 

 me ; so I made my way back to camp, and sent off two 

 Bhooties to render assistance. 



I found the shepherds milking their goats, and 

 suddenly bethought me of a syllabub which, as I was 

 hungry and should not in all probability get my dinner 

 for hours, would be a pleasant refreshment ; so with a 

 modicum of brandy from the flask and a spoonful of 

 sugar I concocted a pleasant cheering beverage, vulgarly 

 called ' doctor ' from its medicinal properties, no doubt. 

 I felt much comforted thereby ; and when the coolies 

 arrived and told us that the servants had turned back to 

 cross the bridge, and that the animals and baggage had 

 met with no mishap, but were coming on, I felt I could 

 wait most contentedly their arrival. We lighted fires 



