CHAPTER XXIX. 
MY THIRD ATTEMPT TO ASCEND MUS-TAGH-ATA 
HEN we rose betimes the next morning, prepared 
V V to make a fresh attack upon the giant, the chill 
night air was sweeping down off the mountain, and the 
minimum thermometer showed a reading of 2^°4 Fahr. 
( - 4°8 C.). Along the banks of the stream, and 
between the stones in its bed, there were pieces of ice, 
against which the water lapped and gurgled. On the 
whole, however, the stream had dwindled to an in- 
significant rill, muddier than usual, probably because 
the clear, glacial water had frozen in the higher regions. 
The weather was particularly favourable for an ascent ; 
not a cloud was to be seen, and the slight breeze there 
was soon dropped. We intended climbing to a height 
of 20,000 feet, spending the night there, and continuing 
as high as we could possibly get the following day. For 
this reason we took with us the little tent, four largfe 
bundles of teresken for fuel, alpenstocks, ropes, ice-axes, 
fur coats, and provisions — all carried by nine strong yaks. 
“ Bismillah ! '' (In God’s name!) cried the half-dozen 
Mohammedans, when we were ready, and we started 
leisurely up the mountain. I intended to exert myself 
as little as possible, in order to save my strength for 
the following day, when the real climbing, with a light 
equipment, and only three men, would begin. My yak 
was therefore treated as a beast of burden from the 
very outset. A Kirghiz, riding or on foot, led him 
by his nose-rope the whole time, while another cudgelled 
him behind. For whenever the animal thought my plans 
were unduly ambitious, he stopped to cogitate, wondering 
