i2 4 THE MARKHOR 



and if I try to resist they whisper, " Markhor ! 

 markhor ! " This restores my courage, and I make 

 fresh efforts. Shall we reach our destination safely ? 

 Our lives themselves end with a note of interroga- 

 tion. 



Good old sandals, where should I be without you 

 now ? Like the stalkers, you never leave me in the 

 lurch, either on the slippery grass, amongst the rocks, 

 or in the snow ! 



" Mercy ! A moment's rest to get my breath ! " 



"It will be better directly, Sahib," says Sultana 

 consolingly. 



He is right. As if going up a winding staircase 

 between the pillars of a Gothic fortress, we now 

 climb up comparatively easily. 



" They were lying down on the opposite side of 

 that chasm. We have no time to lose, for they will 

 begin to move at about five o'clock, and start off in 

 search of food." 



Only one more snowy valley to pass. It looks so 

 harmless, too, just nice for sleighing ! 



" Count Sahib must wait a moment ; we will scoop 

 out some steps." 



Sultana scratches out a hollow with the shovel-end 

 of his stick big enough to take his heel, and quickly 

 makes a second hole further on for the other foot, 

 and so on step by step, slowly onwards. Samdu and 

 Unkar follow in his footmarks, broadening and 

 hardening each one in turn. The melted snow 





