KRISH NULLAH 83 



the snow, my bearer in the camp with a 

 crowd of men round him, all scanning the 

 hill, for they knew well enough that we 

 must be stuck somewhere. A combined 

 shout attracted their attention, and great 

 was our joy to see a party with axes and 

 hatchets start up the hill. We waited to 

 see what route they would take, and then 

 started slowly and carefully working our 

 way down to them. 



First, though, I ate my two eggs, and we 

 finished the tobacco. 



Three hours later and we rounded a 

 corner to see these fine fellows cutting 

 their way up to us ; for it is one thing to 

 go down hill, but quite another, and a much 

 easier task to work one's way up when it 's 

 slippery. It 's lovely to see a hillman climb- 

 ing the mountain side ; there is a fling about 

 the whole thing that is indescribable ; his 

 rough, loose clothes offer no impediment 

 to his movements, to the free, active swing 

 of his brawny body and legs ; at every 

 point he is as different as possible from his 



