NOWHERE TO BE FOUND 149 



Broken sounds reach us from below ; they go on 

 and on and never seem to stop. 



Sultana shouts as well, and soon the bearer adds 

 his voice to the noise. 



How Indian ! If the master gives a quiet order, 

 everyone begins to shout the same, from the highest 

 to the lowest, and the last shouts the loudest. 



Loud but indistinct noises answer us from below. 



Ah, at last I can hear two voices quite distinctly ! 

 Thank God they are both alive ! But what on earth 

 can have happened to them ? 



" What's the matter, Sultana ? Explain ! Quick ! " 



He falls at my feet, clasps me round the knees, 

 kisses my hands, stares at me, is struck dumb. 



" For God's sake, what has happened ? Tell me 

 at once ! " 



" Markhor, markhor ! " he bursts out at last, 

 shouting and rejoicing with all his might. 



" Markhor ! " roars the bearer in my ear, and he also 

 falls down before me. 



" Markhor ! " they shout from down below. 



Has a miracle taken place ? How is it possible ? 

 Can the wounded creature have turned off here ? 



" Have we really got him, Sultana ? Is he dead ? " 



" Yes, Sahib, bara markhor. It is the biggest one 

 the one the Sahib shot at the second time. He 

 ran in this direction, but we forgot him in our hunt 

 after the wounded one," 



