172 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



As it was no good going into the corn- 

 fields until evening, we determined to try the 

 spur of mountains at whose foot we were 

 camped for chamois. Frank and Vassili took 

 the low end of the spur, while Simon and I 

 climbed the higher part at the other end, in- 

 tending to meet about the middle. 



The climb through the forest to the top of 

 the ridge was about as severe exercise as any 

 man would care to take, for, in addition to the 

 constant steepness of the ascent, the under- 

 growth was so luxuriant as to entirely stop 

 the way from time to time. These enforced 

 halts were seized on eagerly by Simon to 

 collect currants, raspberries, the young seed 

 pods of the great lilies, and half-a-dozen other 

 things which these men eat. 



All through and through the tangle of 

 weeds and brush ran bear slides, places down 

 which old Michael had slithered when he left 

 his lair to seek the fruit bushes of the valley. 



