58 THE MARKHOR 



Sultana approaches, and, with the usual expressions 

 of homage, points to the distance. 



" On those rocks over there, there are always good 

 specimens of gorel to be found, good bucks ! It is 

 just the old fellows that like to pass their bachelor life 

 there, apart from the common herd. The gorel is 

 very timid and cautious, and only to be found amongst 

 difficult heights." 



" What sort of animal is it ? " 



" A goat," interprets Varadara in answer to my 

 question. 



Is it big ? " 



" Very big, with good horns." 



" But not to be compared with the markhor, I 

 suppose ? " 



" In Allah's name, no," answers Sultana, in a 

 solemn voice, raising his mountaineer's stick. "Does 

 the Sahib see those rugged cliffs ? There I have 

 seen horns the length of my stick ! " 



Higher and higher climbs the sun in the heavens. 

 Some of my bearers have already bowed to its power, 

 and lie in a deep sleep on the shadeless, burning 

 ground, undisturbed by its fiery rays. 



Sleep, thou benefactor of man and beast, Nature's 

 nurse and the brother of death, thou disperser of 

 care and quencher of hunger and thirst, who openest 

 thine arms as lovingly to beggars as to kings, receive 

 me too, a willing victim, into thy embrace ! 



