285 



CHAPTER XV. 



LEH AND LADAK. 



17th SEPTEMBER. Everybody astir early. Even the 

 coolies were anxious for a start. Not their wont by any 

 means : it has always been a hard matter to rouse them 

 up. But they, poor mortals !l have their affections, and 

 are now looking forward to return to their homes and 

 families. 



Having seen many hares and partridges when coming 

 this stage, I had my gun and shot ready, wishing to give 

 little Sara some diversion. Arriving at fields and culti- 

 vation after six or seven miles of horrid barren country, 

 I dismounted, and flushed a snipe in some swampy ground, 

 whilst a hare was visible running off in the distance. I 

 thought Master Snipey a certain bag after the hare, so did 

 not fire at him, though an easy shot. The hare made off 

 through a fence, and a teal rising I knocked it over. Now 

 I tried for the 'long-bill/ But whether the report of 

 the gun had awakened dormant hereditary suspicions 

 for he could never have been shot at I know not ; but 

 he proved himself the most 'cute and wide-awake creature 



