26 On the Li-ti-ping 
out of me. Even the beautiful sight of masses of the blue 
Primula sonchifolia in the dampest parts of the forest, 
sometimes growing right in the icy water derived from 
the melting snow, failed to compensate me for this torture, 
or to rouse my enthusiasm. 
About this time a big valley, into which all these count- 
less torrents poured their water, came in sight, and I 
determined to try and reach it before nightfall. Though 
the sun was veiled I knew my bearings roughly, having 
the sense of direction well developed, and the valley in 
front of me certainly lay east and west. 
If the stream flowed westwards, as I supposed, I must 
soon get down to the city, for by this time I had come 
some distance south. But if it flowed eastwards ?—and a 
horrible doubt assailed me. 
It had been a wearying day, but dusk was now closing 
in, and with it came the rain. Darkness set in early, for 
the days are short in this latitude even in summer, and the 
gloom was intensified by the heavy clouds. Following a 
path, I climbed one more grassy hill which promised an 
extensive view from the summit, hoping that at dawn I 
should be able to make certain of my bearings. But com- 
manding as the position was, the weather showed no signs 
of improvement, for the soft clinging rain clouds were now 
settling down all round me. On the edge of the forest 
I sat down to await the dawn and take stock of things, 
wondering uneasily if there were any wolves prowling 
about on such a night. My mackintosh had been ripped 
to shreds while I was buffeting my way through the brake, 
but I covered over my head with what remained of it ; there 
was also my gun and one cartridge to be reckoned with, 
and this I kept handy in case of a wolf. 1 had no matches, 
nor could I perhaps in any case have lit a fire on such a 
night; food I had none, and in addition to feeling very 
hungry, I was also extremely wet from wading through 
torrents in order to avoid the brake. _ 
The big valley I had seen in the evening was still some 
distance away, but I had bright hopes that it would prove 
the end of my troubles, and decided to push on as soon as 
it was light enough to see. So I lay down to rest, burying 
my head under my mackintosh and curling up like a cat to 
