2 THE EASTERN HWTEBS. 



through the thickets, by means of which the wood- 

 cutters from the adjacent villages found access to 

 their neighbours, and to the denser portions of the 

 well-wooded hills ; and frequently had the travellers 

 been obliged to dismount, to remove some intruding 

 branch or other obstacle which blocked up the 

 passage to horsemen. 



It was at a point where the path they had been 

 pursuing branched off in three directions, leading 

 probably to as many villages, that the leader of the 

 party had now pulled up, undecided in which to 

 continue. 



"Hereaway must be the east, of course. Mark 

 how the shadows fall," responded the indi- 

 vidual addressed, a small but actively made man, 

 mounted on a clever looking little Arab horse. 

 " The sun is only some three hours high, so w r e can't 

 well mistake in that respect. But where the tents 

 may be is quite another thing. I should be inclined, 

 though, to take the right-hand path, Mac. Eemem- 

 ber the natives at the village before we entered 

 these hills said the river there was the same as that 

 at Mungaum, where our camp is supposed to be, 

 and that we should have to cross it. I think our 

 best plan will be to strike it as soon as possible. 

 We can then follow its course, or hit the road." 



" I agree with you, Norman," said Hawkes, the 



