222 
THROUGH ASIA 
rugged flanks. Many a night and many a day have 
I been, as it were, spell-bound by the weird mystery of 
its fascinations. 
Upon questioning the Kirghiz of Su-bashi as to the 
possibility of climbing the patriarch of the snows, I found 
they were not so discouraging in their opinions as were 
their kinsmen in the inner parts of the Pamirs. They 
were all quite willing to accompany me, and ready to 
further my purpose to the utmost of their ability. All 
the same, they prophesied, that the attempt would be a 
failure. Hunters who had lost their way whilst pursuing 
game into the higher reaches of the mountain had become 
giddy through breathing the “heavy” air. Even the agile 
and sure-footed wild sheep had been known to recoil in 
terror from the brink of the icy precipices, when driven 
out towards them by a posse of hunters. Nor was the 
imperial eagle able to swing himself up to the topmost 
pinnacles ; his wings grew numb before he could reach 
them. 
As a consequence of all this we planned a formal and 
elaborate campaign against the giant, and resolved, cost 
what it would, to conquer him. Our plan was to lie in 
ambush and keep a close watch upon him, and seize the 
first careless moment, i.e. take advantage of the earliest 
favourable days as regards weather, to deliver our attack. 
We decided to establish a third depot at the highest 
possible point, and therefrom make our reconnaissances 
and take measures for advancing further. 
