CHAPTER XLIV 



FOLLOWING UP THE MARKHOR 



FIVE long days, and not one glimpse at a markhor ! 



Unceasingly we have climbed from rock to rock, 

 watching, waiting, freezing all in vain ! 



Paul sends me a message : " Ram Sheik is going 

 to kill Lali to-morrow. He is the last of the sheep." 



I had quite forgotten poor Lali how quickly 

 we human beings forget ! But now I again begin 

 to think about the poor old sheep that had been a 

 good friend to me up here in the lonely mountains. 



One must observe animals with the heart, looking 

 deep down into their eyes ; thus only can one 

 read their life-story and cull stores of knowledge 

 from their depths. 



" Certainly not ! I forbid it ! I would rather 

 go hungry ! Lali's life must be spared ! Wring 

 the necks of all the chickens, but don't touch 

 the red sheep ! " 



Egoism again ! 



Have not the poor chickens also warm blood 



in their veins ? 



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