122 THE MARKHOR 



hands, " No Markhor." He gives me to under- 

 stand by signs that I am to slide backwards. 



Shivering with cold, I obey orders, and then, 

 covered up behind a rock where there is no snow, 

 try to move and stretch my frozen limbs. 



Unkar and a bearer relieve me from the pressure 

 of the sandals, rub my feet, and massage my legs, 

 thus bringing new life into those benumbed ex- 

 tremities. 



Sultana and Samdu, meanwhile, had gone off to 

 reconnoitre further afield. Some hours later they 

 return with beaming faces and cheerful news. 



" We have seen five first-rate bucks. They were 

 just settling down to rest. Will the Sahib follow 

 us ? But it is a long way, and dangerous." 



