snow mound remained, and, in fact, had widened, but
jumping down has not the terrors of the reverse
movement. For many miles there was nothing of great
interest to note, but so many days of marching were
beginning to tell, and I found the last mile or two into
Gagangair very long. To my dismay and annoyance,
when I arrived at that beautiful camping-ground,
expecting a rest under the shade of its magnificent
walnuts, not a sign of my camp was to be seen—my
men had passed me early in-the day when I was flower-
hunting. A sleepy coolie dragged himself up put of a
hut and remarked that he had been left behind to show
the Sahib the rest of the way, as they had gone on to
Revel, knowing I should like that ground best. Well
did I understand their little trick. Afraid that if
they remained behind to consult me as to my wishes
they would be ordered to stay at Gagangair, they had
pushed on to Revel, having heard probably that some
other camp was there, for, above all things, a native
loves society. I was in a dilemma, for if I did not
weakly give in, but held out and satisfied myself that
I was showing moral strength, the probabilities were
that I might have many hours to wait before my things
arrived, and there would be no dinner procurable. So,
most reluctantly, I put my pride in my pocket, and tried
to march on the least used-up portions of my very weary
feet; but I wondered whether six miles had ever been
so long drawn out, though luckily, for a greater part
of the way, the track was beautifully shaded by trees,
and though rough, not too much on the lines of a,
switchback, the general slope descending. Some roses
had appeared to add their decorating graces since I
had last passed, and there was a promise in the air of
summer. Already Sonamerg was more than two
thousand feet above, and every yard brought nearer
the gay blossoms and balmier airs of the lower valley.
My guess was proved to be correct by the appearance
of various tents at the mouth of the Revel nullah, but
the ready appearance of tea on my arrival, and the
whisper that the Miss Sahib’s bath was prepared,
weakened my stern resolve, and soothed my ruffled
temper so much as to make a very severe lecture an
impossibility, and when rested and refreshed, it was
some pleasure to “ pass the time of day ” with fellow-
wanderers, hear where they had been and what they
were doing, and find that two of the party were old
friends. They were on shooting intent, and hoped to
add to their already fairly good bag oi bear—the
ripening of the mulberries bringing Bruin out of his
ordinary high lairs in search of such delightful tit-bits—
and they intended to delay their progress to higher
regions till fine weather was more certain. A pleasant
evening round a fire, good-nights in the open under the
star-lit sky, and the party broke up, I to turn in and
rest, so as to be ready for an early start. By half-past
five I was again on the road, the camp looking very
quiet after the bustle of the previous evening, for the
sportsmen were already away in the dark for a difficult
stalk to a distant height, and the ladies were not yet
ready for their morning outing, though I saw the syees
rubbing down the hardy, sure-footed hill pomes they
habitually used on the rough tracks, gaining such confidence
in their mounts that they even ventured across
the rickety swinging bridges, feeling certain that it
there was danger the I tats I (ponies) would be the first