A MOUNTAIN RAVINE, 179 



" Where is it ] Can I get there without climb- 

 ing ? " inquired Mackenzie. 



" Sahib, its mouth is just round the shoulder of 

 that hill," and Kugonauth pointed to one which 

 sloped down to the valley about two miles off. 

 " You might go up as far as you can, and take up 

 a position. The upper part is the most likely ; but 

 if the Sahib can't go there he can't. Numun" (so 

 he pronounced it) Sahib and the Chota Sahib can 

 go there." 



It was soon arranged that Rugonauth should 

 pilot the two latter on foot over the hill, and 

 establish them in favourable places ; while a couple 

 of the village shikarees were deputed to convoy 

 Mackenzie round it, with strict directions as to his 

 lodgment. The beaters were ordered to proceed to 

 the head of the ravine in question, also away up the 

 hill, but in a direction diverging from that of the 

 two hunters. 



Mackenzie and the ponies of the others proceeded 

 down the glen they had ascended, and turned the 

 shoulder of the hill which the others crossed. The 

 latter, after a somewhat weary climb and a brief 

 descent on the other side, came to an extensive 

 gorge which severed one spur of the mountain from 

 another like a large Titan-inflicted gash. Its sides 

 were rugged, in many parts quite precipitous, and 



