CHAPTER XVI 



MY LITTLE STAFF HEADED BY PAUL 



WE had reached Rampur, the last halting-place 

 before beginning the actual ascent. A word from 

 the ruler of Cashmere had put this village at my 

 service, and I found bearers, tents, outfit, and pro- 

 visions all ready for me. 



My little army consisted of twenty-four men. 

 Once again it was Paul Varadara, my faithful old 

 servant and companion on former expeditions, who 

 had seen to the " Bandobast," in plain English, 

 thought of and collected everything that we could 

 possibly want. 



Ah, no, I'm mistaken ! not quite everything. 



Lady Younghusband's kind thoughtfulness, in the 

 form of butter, milk, vegetables, and fruit, reached 

 me even here ; and my cook, procured after endless 

 trouble, had received his orders direct from Her 

 Excellency. "A term of hard labour in India's 

 glowing plain at the height of summer if I receive 

 the slightest complaint of him," she had added, with 

 a smile. 



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