A FATAL ACCIDENT. 15 



We were working our way down a very steep 

 snow - filled rift on the mountain - side, a coolie 

 from the nearest village leading, Rasaka next, 

 and I last of all. We were moving in Echelon, 

 and had only got a few hundred yards down, 

 when I was startled by a whizz on the snow : 

 before I could look round or say a word, a 

 flattish rock the size of a cart-wheel went past 

 me like a toboggan, caught poor Rasaka behind 

 the knees, turned him over, and sent him spin- 

 ning down the snow on to the coolie in front, 

 and the two went off head over heels. I felt 

 very sick, thinking they would never stop until 

 they went over the kud at the bottom of the 

 ravine ; but, to my great relief, they came against 

 the side of the rift, which took a bend some way 

 below, and there they hung on. I got down 

 to Rasaka first, and for the moment thought 

 he was not much hurt ; but when I asked him, 

 he replied quite quietly, " Sahib, I am done for ; 

 look at my leg." And, sure enough, it was 

 smashed all to pieces almost knocked off! I 

 ran on to the other man, who was groaning; 

 but finding he was all right beyond a bruise 

 or two, shook him up, telling him it was no time 

 for crying, and we must see what could be done 



