60 THE MARKHOR 



verted to Christianity. Anton is loud, boastful, 

 and officious ; Ram Sheik is servile and on the 

 watch, and an exceedingly unsympathetic person as 

 far as I am concerned. And yet I can't say that I 

 dislike his maize cakes. 



It is now beginning to get boiling hot in the tent, 

 in spite of the double cover about 110 Fahrenheit. 

 I drink three cups of tea, and nine, at least, make 

 their way out again through the pores of my skin. 



" And yet you are always talking about the cold 

 in these mountains," I say reproachfully to Paul, as 

 he squats in his faithful Hindu fashion behind my 

 chair. 



Sultana and Samdu had borrowed my telescope to 

 have a look round after gorel. They return as it 

 begins to get dark. 



" What does the master wish for supper ? " 



" Stupid question ! You know as well as I do 

 that it is Beri's turn ; but if you can add one of 

 your delicious bread-and-butter puddings, so much 

 the better only, for Heaven's sake, don't let Ram 

 Sheik put his fingers in the pie ! " 



