282 THE LESGHIAN MOUNTAINS. 



treacherous snow-slope, with a feeling of relief 

 that almost compensated for the trouble it had cost 

 me. 



In the hut the scene was anything but sug- 

 gestive of Christmas cheer. Thawed snow and a 

 little stale bread was our only fare ; our only music 

 a bitter wind, until now unnoticed, that whistled 

 through the gaps in our walls. Even the Les- 

 ghians could not sleep, though they lay almost in 

 the embers of the fire, the pungent smoke from 

 which effectually blinded us for the time. All 

 night long we moved about like wild beasts in a 

 cage, in a vain endeavour to keep warm. Now 

 and then one of us would sip the few drops of 

 thawed snow from the half-burnt fragment of the 

 wooden bowl on the fire. Once or twice a few 

 minutes' sleep came to us, but they were soon 

 ended with a start and a shiver that effectually 

 brought us back from dreamland. 



J don't think any one slept that night : the 

 stars were almost as bright as ever when we left 

 the hut to warm ourselves by exercise, and make 

 believe that a new day had begun. For some few 

 minutes before we left our bleak night's lodging 

 shrill whistlings on all sides had made me believe 

 that other human beings besides ourselves Avere 

 astir. As our eyes got accustomed to the light 

 the true source of the noise was revealed. All 

 round us groups of that great grey bird the 



