162 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



summit, was much easier and would bring us 

 back to Betcho almost as soon. Unluckily 

 we listened to him, and if we reached Latali 

 that night it was only by the last effort of 

 desperation. As for path, of course there 

 was none. Eventually we got on to a very 

 narrow chamois track over the slippery steep 

 sides of the mountain, strewn with an un- 

 stable carpeting of pine-needles. Every step 

 was made in fear and trembling, and when 

 about once every half mile we came to a bare 

 and precipitous surface of black rock rendered 

 slippery by the still falling rain, our hearts 

 were in our mouths until we got off the 

 dangerous spot again. Every now and then 

 too we had to wade waist deep through the 

 cold waters of the rapid stream below, or 

 break our shins over a hundred yards of 

 boulders. It was the last straw that broke 

 the camel's back, and I don't think that the 

 offer of the best hunter man ever crossed 



