THE ROOF OF THE WORLD 695 
perfect unconcern. The jarring interests of men never 
invade the solitude of their sublime abodes. They are 
the subjects of none ; they share their empire with the 
eternal snows alone. 
Meanwhile the days flew past like hours, and I was 
amazed when September came, and I still found myself 
amongst that bright circle of officers of the two most 
powerful nations of the world. Several times I spoke of 
breaking camp for the little-known mountainous regions 
which tower up like fierce, snow-crowned giants around 
the head- waters of the Yarkand-daria. But every time 
I sounded that note, both of the generous generals, whose 
personal friend I am proud to say I gradually became, 
urged that I should remain a few days longer. 
But finding nothing else would do, and as there 
were important matters calling me back to Kashgar, 1 
determined to try a little r7ise de guerre. One fine day 1 
bade Islam Bai have the caravan all ready for a start, and 
went to General Pavalo-Shveikovsky to take my leave of 
bim, telling him my caravan was ready and waiting for 
me. With a twinkle of mystery in his eye, the general 
answered that, if 1 would wait just one day longer, I 
should witness a remarkable event. Thus my little plot 
was nipped in the bud. 1 stayed on, not one day longer, 
but several. 
The remarkable event, which, rightly enough, did 
happen on the following day, was the arrival of a telegram 
sent by Lord Salisbury to the telegraph-station which lay 
nearest the northern frontier of India, conveying the 
important announcement, that the British Government 
accepted the frontier which the Russians proposed to 
them. 
This intelligence occasioned the greatest rejoicing in 
both camps. At every step 1 met happy, contented faces. 
The younger officers even danced for joy. During the 
following days the frontier pillars Nos. IX. to XII. were 
erected, thus finishing the labours of the Commission. 
They had defined and marked the frontier between 
England’s and Russia’s possessions on the Pamirs, and 
