264 THE KARAKUL PAMIR AND HOME. 



the hills, on which there was a path, to see if they 

 were anywhere about, in which case we could 

 camp with them, and if not, take the spot already 

 selected. It took me rather longer to get round 

 the spur than I anticipated, and my labour was in 

 vain, there being no signs of a camp beyond, so 

 I retraced my steps. What was my surprise, on 

 looking across the plain for the caravan, to find 

 that not a vestige of them was to be seen, al- 

 though from the spur there was a clear view of 

 at least four 'miles between it and the next ridge. 

 Concluding something must have happened to 

 stop them, I got on my pony and galloped back. 

 Still not a creature was visible, and a heavy 

 shower of sleet coming on, prevented my seeing 

 any distance beyond. 



It was not possible to tell from the tracks 

 whether they had passed or not, owing to numer- 

 ous other marks of Kirghiz who had been passing 

 during the day. Presuming they must have gone 

 on, and crossed the spur instead of following 

 my path by the river, I rattled back to my guide 

 who, by the way, knew nothing of the country 

 -and Jaffer, both of whom had remained on the 

 spur meanwhile. 



Matters were assuming a serious turn ; for 



