PRELIMINARIES 17 



Ten minutes later, however, we were in 

 a hut, with a roaring fire and a pleasant 

 feeling that now our troubles were over, and 

 our fun about to begin. Then prayers were 

 offered that snow might prevent, and ava- 

 lanches engulf all who should come after us, 

 until such time as we had got the big chap 

 we had seen on our way. 



An hour later we saw our coolies arriv- 

 ing, singing as they crossed the stream in 

 threes and fours, with linked arms, for fear 

 of being washed away ; and soon they were 

 with us. Honest fellows ! with little clothes 

 and stout legs, they had carried forty pounds 

 each over a pass r 3,000 feet high, and along 

 some twenty miles of deep snow, which, fit 

 though I was, had fairly tired me ; and here 

 they were, wanting only a word of praise, 

 and two days' wages, to render them as 

 jolly as sandboys. All volunteered to let 

 me know when the " other sahib " should 

 arrive at the pass ; and this apparently was 

 not all talk, for my shikari was quite satis- 

 fied to wait, and try for my big ibex, until 

 c 



