292 SPORT, TRAVEL, AND ADVENTURE 



I had started at dusk. The moon was often hidden 

 behind mountains, then it disappeared altogether ; the 

 way was dark and rough, but I stumbled on, generally 

 only half-erect, sometimes falling over stones or sudden 

 inequalities of the ground. Occasionally I had to rest 

 for a few minutes, but the cold wind chilled me to 

 the marrow. The minimum temperature registered at 

 the camp on that night (August 28th) was 22 F., a 

 temperature low enough to cause keen discomfort to 

 one thinly clad, hungry, and facing a stiff mountain 

 breeze. I have often, in other circumstances, watched 

 for daybreak and welcomed the rising sun, but never 

 before with such anxiety as on that morning. In the 

 grey dawn I reached the spot whence I had set out 

 to search for the caravan, and, resting a few minutes, 

 I looked down the broad valley and thought I could 

 discern through the morning haze the smoke of our 

 camp fire. In this case the wish might easily be father 

 to the thought, but as I gazed more intently the vapour 

 partially dispersed, and I was certain that the appear- 

 ance of smoke was no illusion. The distance, how- 

 ever, was several miles, and as I was weak through 

 fatigue and hunger I had frequently to halt. The 

 tall column, rising vertically from the camp fire through 

 the peaceful morning air, was full of interest, suggest- 

 ing food and rest and every comfort. As I plodded 

 on my eyes were fixed upon it, and so absorbed was 

 I in its contemplation that it was almost a surprise 

 when, about half-past eight, I saw Pike and one of 

 the caravan men on mules close beside me. They 

 had brought, among other supplies, the favourite 

 restorative a mixture of rum and water. This proved 

 highly beneficial, and I remarked that, for one in my 





