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 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 ! ♦ 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
ON THE WORLD'S ROOF 
 
 ni 
 
KKNT S FIUST TKiKU. 
 
 Fruntitpiece, 
 
1 
 
 -% 
 
 ;^ 
 
 ON 
 THE WORLD'S ROOF 
 
 BY 
 
 J. MACDOXALD OXLEY 
 
 ACTUOK OF "IN THE SWING OK THE SEA," ETC. 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS BY 
 
 CHAS. WHYMPKU 
 
 M 
 
 * 
 
 lEontion 
 
 JAMES NISBET k CO., LIMITED 
 
 iil BEUXEUS STREE'J' 
 

 Printed by Ballantynb. Hanson * Co. 
 At the Ballautync Press 
 
NOTE 
 
 The Author desires to express his special 
 obligations in regard to this story to Andrew 
 Wilson's ''Abode of Snow," and E. F. 
 Knight's " Where Three Empires Meet." 
 
 y. M. o. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 OB A p. 
 I. 
 
 II. 
 ill. 
 IV. 
 
 V. 
 
 VI. 
 
 VII. 
 
 viir. 
 
 IX. 
 
 X. 
 
 XI. 
 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 
 xiv 
 
 XV, 
 
 THB START FOTl THE HEIGHTS . 
 
 A TIMELY RESCUE . 
 
 THE KILLING OP THE MAN-EATER 
 
 INTO THE MIDST OP THE MOUNTAINS 
 
 AN EXTRAORDINARY STEED 
 
 STRANGE VISITORS AT NIGHT 
 
 AT THE GATEWAY OP THIBET . 
 
 TURNED BACK FROM TARTARY . 
 
 PERILS BY THE WAY 
 
 MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS 
 
 IN THE VALLEY OP GLACIERS . 
 
 WITH THE HIMALAYAN HIGHLANDERS 
 
 THE GREAT PADAM STEEPLECHASE 
 
 SICKNESS AND PERIL 
 
 ROBBERS AND BEARS 
 
 vll ' 
 
 TAOE 
 I 
 
 IS 
 
 29 
 
 44 
 ■ 57 
 70 
 84 
 98 
 1 12 
 . 126 
 . 140 
 
 • 154 
 . 167 
 
 181 
 • '94 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 ▼to ' 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 XVI. INTO THE GARDEN OP EDEN 
 XVII. A CHAPTER OP ADVENTURES 
 XVIII. THE STORMING OP NILT PORTRESS 
 XIX. THE BATTLE IN THE CLOUDS 
 XX. THE END OP THE JOURNEY 
 
 PAOB 
 
 . 207 
 220 
 
 . 233 
 
 . 246 
 
 • 259 
 
PAOB 
 
 M 
 
 207 
 
 
 220 
 
 !>j 
 
 233 
 
 1 
 
 J46 
 •59 
 
 
 ON THE WORLD'S ROOF 
 
 f 
 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE START FOB THE HEIGHTS 
 
 When Kent Stannard returned to India from 
 England, where he had been at school ever since 
 his eighth year, he found his father full of 
 an enterprise that at once enlisted his keenest 
 
 interest. 
 
 Kent was a typical English boy in mental as 
 weU as physical characteristics. Somewhat above 
 the usual stature for his age, now sixteen years 
 he had the light curly hair, blue eyes, clear skin,' 
 »d regular features that bespoke the Anglo-Saxon. 
 His well-proportioned frame had been thorou^hlv 
 developed by a long course of cricket, football, 
 rowing, and other athletic exercises ; and his mind 
 richly stored with knowledge, for he was one who 
 put his heart into his studies no less than into his 
 sports Among the trophies he brought back with 
 Inm, to proudly show his father, were as many 
 
ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 prizes for high standing in his classes as for prowess 
 in the field or on the river. 
 
 In common with other sturdy boys he cherished 
 a keen craving for adventure, and when his father, 
 after the first raptures of their reunion were over, 
 in a burst of confidence not usual with him, but 
 due no doubt to the excitement of the occasion, let 
 out something about what he contemplated doing, 
 Kent at once exclaimed, "What a grand idea! 
 You'll take me with you, of course ? " 
 
 At first Mr. Stannard seemed doubtful. He had 
 not fully made up his mind to have his boy accom- 
 pany him, for there were sure to be great hardships 
 and no small danger involved in the undertaking; 
 and as he looked at him now, presenting a perfect 
 picture of boyish vigour, it seemed as if, perhaps, he 
 ought not to be exposed to such trials and perils. 
 
 But Kent was not to be gainsaid. He had 
 carried away with him to his English school a 
 lively sense of the romantic side of life in India, 
 wbi'^h had been nurtured by his father's letters 
 and his own reading, so that he returned to the 
 country full of determination to have all the sport 
 and excitement possible before settling down to the 
 serious business of life. 
 
 His father's project promised him precisely what 
 he desired, and he waa glad that Mr. Stannard had 
 waited until his return before carrying it out. 
 
^^■I 
 
 lat 
 iad 
 
 THE STAET FOR THE HEIGHTS J 
 
 As a matter of fact this was due more to the 
 force of circum&tances than to any thought of Kent 
 in the matter. Mr. Stannard, who held a high 
 position in the Forestry Department of the Indian 
 Service, and whose duties often brought him to the 
 foot of the Himalayan Mountains, had for some 
 years past been planning a trip into the mysterious 
 regions on the other side of that mightiest of 
 earthly barriers. Again and again, from one cause 
 and another, he had been compelled to postpone 
 his purpose, but he never gave it up ; and now at 
 last the way was clear — a long furlough had been 
 granted him by the Department, his own private 
 affairs could be left to themselves for a while, and 
 only one difficulty stood in his way. 
 
 This was Kent himself, for when he had written 
 for him to come home from school he had not 
 known that the chance to carry out his long- 
 cherished design would come so soon ; otherwise he 
 would have delayed his son's return for another 
 year. To Kent, however, this falling out of events 
 seemed quite providential. 
 
 "Why, father," he argued, as they talked to- 
 gether, " what could be more proper than that you 
 should take me along ? You'll have nobody else with 
 you except your servants, and you'll soon get tired of 
 their company; and then, if anything were to happen 
 to you, who'd look after you, I'd like to know ? " 
 
 ■s^" 
 
ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 Mr. Stannard's coimtenance, which had been fur- 
 rowed with serious thoughts, relaxed into a smile 
 of indulgent pride. 
 
 " And do you think, Kent," he asked, " that you 
 would be equal to taking care of me if I should fall 
 sick, or break my leg, or something equally foolish ? " 
 
 Straightening himself up, Kent gave his father a 
 look of warm affection as he responded with great 
 vigour, " I could do my best any way, father, and 
 that would be a good deal better for you than being 
 alone, wouldn't it ? " 
 
 "To be sure, Kent; to be sure," returned Mr. 
 Stannard. " I'll have to think it over, and see if I 
 can arrange to have you go with me." 
 
 Satisfied with this, for he felt no debt as to the 
 final issue of his father's deliberations in the matt'^r, 
 Kent said nothing more, and went out for a ride 
 upon his pony. 
 
 Mr. Stannard and his son were practically alone 
 in the world ; for, although they had some relatives 
 in England, there was but little communication with 
 them, and they had only themselves to look to in 
 India. While this rendered it easy in one way 
 for them to make the venture together that Mr. 
 Stannard had in mind, in another way it created 
 an obstacle; for if any catastrophe should befall 
 them entailing the loss of both their lives, it would 
 mean the extinction of their branch of the family, 
 
:?S»6 
 
 THE START FOR THE HEIGHTS | 
 
 a possibility which Mr. Stannard shrank from con- 
 templating. There were, tlien, many things to be 
 considered before a conclusion could be reached 
 and it was not until the next day that Mr. Stannard 
 announced his decision. 
 
 " I've thought it all over thoroughly, Kent," said 
 iie. " As to your going or remaining here, there's 
 much to be said on both sides. For some reasons 
 I would prefer your staying behind. But, on the 
 other hand, your heart is set on going, and I'm free 
 to confess your company will be a great comfort, 
 and so I've decided to " 
 
 " To take me along — hurrah ! " shouted Kent, 
 finishing the sentence for his father, and at the 
 same time throwing his arms about his neck in the 
 exuberance of his joy. " You're a dear, kind pater, 
 so you are, and I'll be the best boy you ever knew, 
 all the time; you see if I'm not." 
 
 Mr. Stannard returned the embrace, saying with 
 a laugh, "It's easy promising, Kent, isn't it, when 
 you have just been allowed to have your own way. 
 We'll see what yv.ur fine words are worth when 
 they're a month old." 
 
 And so the matter was settled, and the wide 
 boundaries of India did not contain a happier boy 
 than Kent Stannard, whose first impulse, naturally, 
 was to rush out and tell the good news to the rest 
 of the world. 
 
6 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 Having abundant time at his command, Mr. 
 Stannard tiiought it a good opportunity to let his 
 son see something of the wonderful country of 
 which he knew but little ; and so the journey from 
 Bombay to the foot of the mountains was made in 
 a very leisurely fashion. 
 
 It was in the middle of the month of March 
 when they set out, the railway train bearing them 
 swiftly along in artificially cooled carriages that 
 enabled them to be comfortable in spite of the 
 blinding sunlight and the golden dust of the Indian 
 plain. Halts of a day or two were made at Nasik, 
 a city so holy in the estimation of the Hindoos that 
 the mere mention of the name with due reverence 
 is supposed to effect the forgiveness of sins, and 
 at Nandgaum, where a visit was made to the 
 wonderful rock - temples and sculptured caves of 
 Ellora. 
 
 But neither of these places made so deep an 
 impression upon Kent as Jubbulpore, or rather the 
 famous Marble Rocks, ten miles from that city. 
 They drove thither in a comfortable horse-carriage 
 that was a pleasant change after the monotony of 
 the train, and put up at the beautifully situated 
 government bungalow, where an aged but active 
 kha'nsamah prepared for them a remarkably good 
 dinner. 
 
 The visit to the Marble Rocks was made at 
 
THE START FOR THB HEIGHTS 
 
 dawn, while the moojj, then in full glory, still 
 held her place in the sky, and the scene was one 
 of surpassing beauty. The Nurbudda River, after 
 being pent up in a narrow chasm and plunging 
 madly over a lofty ledge, flowed quietly through a 
 cafion enclosed by cliffs of snowy marble. 
 
 Mr. Stannard and Kent went up in a boat, and 
 so still was it at that early hour that only the soft 
 splash of the paddles broke the silence. The marble 
 walls on which the moon shone, sparkling like silver 
 under her rays, reflected so brilliant a radiance as 
 almost to break the gloom of the opposite side, that 
 was deep in shadow, and here and there shafts of 
 dazzling light brightened the bosom of the stream, 
 otherwise as black as ink. As the boat glided by 
 a cleft in the rocks one of the boatmen sent a thrill 
 through his passengers by indicating the spot as the 
 favourite drinking-place of a man-eating tiger that 
 had been levying its awful toll of human life upon 
 the neighbourhood. 
 
 " Is there any chance of our seeing him ? " asked 
 Kent eagerly. " I'd so like to see a real wild tiger 
 with my own eyes." 
 
 " But suppose he saw you, and took it into his 
 head to make his breakfast of you ? " suggested Mr. 
 Stannard, with a smile. 
 
 "Oh, there's no fear of that," responded Kent 
 gaily. " So long as we stayed in the boat we'd be 
 
(^f-^ 
 
 •fmsB^nmrn 
 
 8 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 III 
 
 all right. He'd never dare to swim out after us, 
 no matter how hungry he was." 
 
 He had hardly spoken when the boatman in the 
 bow suddenly gave a cry of terror ind slirank down 
 in the bottom of the boat as if to dodge some 
 missile. 
 
 By a common impulse the others looked at once 
 in the same direction, and there, seen plainly in 
 the moonlight on the very edge of the river, was 
 an enormous tiger whose stripes showed black and 
 white in the silver radiance. 
 
 The boat was not more than twenty yards from 
 the shore, and the terrible creature seemed so near 
 that at first even Mr. Stannard was paralysed with 
 panic. But it was only for an instant Grasping 
 his rifle, w hich lay beside him, and preparing to fire 
 if the tiger showed the slightest sign of springing 
 after them, he commanded the boatmen to paddle 
 for their lives. 
 
 At the sound f^f his voice the tiger, who had 
 up to that moment seemed unconscious of their 
 proximity, lifted his huge head from the water he 
 had been vigorously lapping and gave an ominous 
 growl that sent a shiver through all Kent's frame. 
 
 " father, he's coming after us ! " he cried in a 
 terror-stricken tone, making the light boat rock by 
 a sudden movement towards the stern, where his 
 father sat. 
 
THE START FOR THE HEIGHTS 9 
 
 " Keop Still and be quiet, Kent ! " commanded 
 Mr. Stannard sternly, without taking his eyes off 
 tho tiger. 
 
 By this time the boatmen had recovered their 
 self-possGSsion sufficiently to ply the paddles strenu- 
 ously, and the distance between the man-eater and 
 the boat rapidly increased. 
 
 Still growling fiercely and switching his tail from 
 side to side, the tiger kept his baneful eyes fastened 
 on the boat, yet made no effort to follow it, and in 
 a few moments more it was completely beyond his 
 reach. Not until then did Mr. Stannard lower his 
 rifle. He had not pulled the trigger, although he 
 was an excellent marksman, because he feared the 
 consequence of inflicting a wound that would infu- 
 riate the fierce creature without instantly rendering 
 it powerless for harm. 
 
 But his motive was misunderstood by Kent, who, 
 as soon as his first fright had passed, said reproach- 
 fully— 
 
 " Why didn't you shoot the brute, father ? You 
 had such a splendid chance." 
 
 " Because you were with me, Kent," replied Mr. 
 Stannard gravely. " Had I been alone I wouldn't 
 have hesitated a moment." 
 
 Kent blushed, and said no more. For the first 
 time he realised how much his presence added to 
 his father's care, and he registered a vow with him- 
 
10 
 
 ON THB WORLDS ROOF 
 
 ;n 
 
 self to give him as little trouble as possible while 
 the long journey before them continued. Propelled 
 by vigorous paddlinj,', the light boat went on to the 
 end of the cafion, where a brief halt was made to 
 rest the boatmen. 
 
 As they set out to return, the sun rose in un- 
 clouded splendour, lighting up every nook and 
 crevice of the chasm, which, although it lost the 
 weird appearance it xiad borne in the moonshine, 
 seemed even more extraordinary in the light of day. 
 Glittering fish leaped from the glassy water in 
 pursuit of the brilliant dragon-flies that skimmed 
 rashly near the surface; monkeys of all ages and 
 sizes scrambled about the rocky banks, disturbing 
 the morning silence with volleys of simian billings- 
 gate to show how hotly they resented the intrusion 
 of "humans" upon their domain; while on the 
 ledges above them peacocks spread their splendid 
 tails, and called attention to their beauty by their 
 harsh, piercing cries, that seemed so strangely out of 
 character, 
 
 Kent, who carried his own rifle, a particularly 
 fine one he had got in London before leaving 
 England, was just about to take a shot at one of 
 the peacocks, when the boatman nearest him laid 
 a restraining hand upon his arm, saying in an 
 earnest, entreating voice — 
 
 " Young sahib not shoot ! It make the bees mad.' 
 
 .m 
 
 
 
THI START FOR THE HEIQHTS 
 
 II 
 
 "Make the bees mad — and what harm if it 
 does?" demanded Kent somewhat angrily, throwing 
 off the brown hand from his arm. 
 
 Mr. Stannard, who had not visited the Marble 
 Eocks before, was puzzled on his part by the 
 Hindoo's action. 
 
 " What do you mean ?" he inquired. " Why is 
 it dangerous to fire ? " 
 
 The Hindoo's expression was a curious blending 
 of humility and determination as he hastened to 
 explain as best he could, in his broken way, that 
 the big bees'-nests which could be seen hanging 
 here and there against the clififs were the homes of 
 a very large and ferocious kind of bee, whose sting 
 was almost as poisonous as a snake-bite, and which, 
 if aroused, would pursue them with relentless fury. 
 
 When the boat had passed down beyond all the 
 nests, the boatman, evidently much easier in his 
 mind, told of how two sahibs out on a hunting 
 expedition, and not aware of the dreadful character 
 of the bees, had, in firing at a peacock, unfortu- 
 nately chanced to hit one of the nests. Instantly 
 the bees flew out and swarmed to the attack of the 
 Englishmen, one of whom was so badly stung that 
 he died, while the other only saved his life by leap- 
 ing into the water and diving constantly until he 
 had shaken off his merciless assailants. 
 
 The hearing of this sad incident impressed Kent 
 
12 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 deeply. It aecined such a dreadful way for a man 
 to die — stung to deatli by bees. 
 
 "The poor fellow," he murmured. "I suppose 
 he could not swim, or he would have jumped into 
 the water too." 
 
 From Jubbulpore the travellers went on to Alla- 
 habad, the city famous as the point at which the 
 awful tide of mutiny was stemmed and the Indian 
 Empire saved, and thence to Agra, where, of course, 
 they did not fail to spend many hours admiring the 
 Taj Mahal, the Dewan-i-Khas, the Moti Musjid, 
 and other marvellous structures which seem more 
 like the fabulous palaces of the "Arabian Nights" 
 relations than the actual work of human hands. 
 Kent, who had a markedly artistic temperament, 
 took great delight in these miracles of architecture, 
 and his father was fain to delay their departure in 
 order that they might make yet one more visit to 
 them. 
 
 The evening they spent at the Taj Mahal, when 
 the moon shone in all her glory, was an ever- 
 memorable one ; and they would both have been 
 glad to linger longer in a city so rich in splendid 
 spectacles, but it was necessary to push on that 
 they might reach the foot of the mountain before 
 the beginning of summer. For this reason they 
 made no further halt of any duration until they 
 reached Delhi, where Kent again had the oppor- 
 
THE STAKT FOU TIIF, HKIGHTS 
 
 13 
 
 tunity of feasting his eyes upon palaces and 
 mosques of marvellous beauty. 
 
 For two days they gave themselves up to these 
 splendid proofs of Mogul wealth and power, the 
 Jama Masjid, in the heart of the city, and the 
 wonderful Kutab Minar, ten miles to the south, 
 claiming their special attention. 
 
 Of course Kent could not be content without 
 ascending to the top of the latter ; but Mr. Stannard, 
 having made the ascent on his own account more 
 than once 'previously, and not feeling quite up to 
 the mark l- .t day, remained below. Up the dark 
 winding staircase Kent made his way, starting off 
 at great speed, which soon, however, was reduced to 
 a walk as the steepness of the climb told upon his 
 legs and lungs. 
 
 Beaching the top in due course, he shouted and 
 waved his hat triumphantly to his father, who was 
 sitting on a block of stone in a shady corner nearly 
 two hundred and fifty feet below him, and who 
 returned the salute by waving his handkerchief 
 without making any attempt to shout back. 
 
 The view from Kent's lofty stand -point was 
 glorious beyond all description, and he lingered so 
 long enjoying it that his father grew impatient. 
 It was some time before he could attract Kent's 
 attention, but after much expenditure of breath 
 and waving of arms he finally succeeded. Kent 
 
I 
 
 
 14 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 at once began the descent, whistling merrily, and 
 feeling well satisfied with himself. 
 
 He had passed the highest balcony, from which 
 he signalled to his father to let him know he was 
 on his way down, and was about half-way between 
 it and the next, when, in a dusky part of the stair- 
 case, he found his progress barred by a most repul- 
 sive-looking being, who opposed his passage with 
 outspread arms and menacing mien. 
 
 ir 
 
 Fi I 
 

 CHAPTEE II 
 
 A TIMELY RESCUE 
 
 Now Kent had his full share of British pluck. 
 Indeed lie was inclined to be brave to the verge 
 of rashness ; but to meet such a dirty, half-naked, 
 and wild-looking creature when alone on the dimly 
 lighted interior of a tower full two hundred feet up 
 in the air, was surely sufficient to try the nerve of 
 a stout-hearted man, not to mention a boy scarce 
 half through his teens. 
 
 "What do you want? Why are you standing 
 in my way ? " he demanded, with a tremor in his 
 voice, of which he was himself conscious. 
 
 The mysterious being's answer was only to brace 
 himself still more firmly in the middle of the narrow 
 passage, and to glare fiercely back as though Kent 
 weie his deadliest enemy. His attitude and ex- 
 pression were so suggestive of violent, if not indeed 
 of murderous intent, that Kent broke out into a cry 
 of " Help ! help ! " and sought to retrace his steps 
 to the balcony he had just left, and from which he 
 could appeal to his father for aid. 
 
 »5 
 
 m 
 

 if 
 
 i6 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 But the fakir — for such was the character of his 
 assailant — had no idea of permitting this. Stretch- 
 ing out a long, bony, sinewy arm, he caught Kent 
 by the collar of his coat and roughly held him back, 
 muttering something that was, of course, quite unin- 
 telligible to the terrified boy. 
 
 Frantic with fear, Kent struggled furiously, and 
 even struck at the fakir's arm, striving with all hia 
 might to break away, and shouting — 
 
 " Let go of me ! What business have you to 
 hold me like this ? " 
 
 But the fakir, smiling sardonically at these vain 
 efforts — for Kent, sturdy lad though he was, seemed 
 a mere child in his powerful grasp — repeated his 
 guttural words, whatever they meant, and evidently 
 intended to hold on to Kent until he granted his 
 request. 
 
 Kent would have been only too glad to do any- 
 thing in his power could lie have understood what 
 was required of him, but no comprehension on his 
 part being possilile, he increased his struggles for 
 liberty, and his cries for help. At length, finding 
 his utmost strength unavailing, he resorted to 
 strategy ; for, his first panic having passed away, he 
 had in some measure recovered his mental balance. 
 Ceasing all efibrt, he stood still, and looking the 
 fakir hard in the face, asked of him in an indignant 
 tone — 
 
A TIMELY RESCUE 
 
 17 
 
 any- 
 what 
 )n his 
 s for 
 ing 
 to 
 ly, he 
 ance. 
 g the 
 gnaiit 
 
 " What do you want of me ? Why do you try 
 to keep rae here ? " 
 
 The man, seeming taken aback at this action, let 
 go of Kent, and agaui repeated the strange gib- 
 berish. This gave Kent the opportunity he had 
 hoped for. Like a flash out went his right arm, 
 and his tightly clenched fist caught the fakir in the 
 bridcre of the nose, at the same moment that his 
 right foot receiveil a sharp kick at the heel. 
 
 Utterly unprepared for such an attack, he went 
 over like a nine-pin, and springing past him, Kent 
 dashed down the steps at a break-neck speed, not 
 stopping until he plunged plump into the arms of 
 ills father, who, growing uneasy at hie delay, had 
 come up part of the way in quest of him. 
 
 " Hello ! what's the matter ? Is there a tiger 
 after you ? " queried Mr. Stannard, seeing from his 
 son's face that he was not descending so recklessly 
 for mere amusement. 
 
 " Not a tiger, but a horrid man," panted Kent. 
 " That is, if he's picked himself up again." 
 
 " Why, what do you mean, my boy ? What man 
 is chasing you ? There's no one coming down 
 behind you," said Mr. Stannard, with puzzled ex- 
 pression, after listening for a moment. 
 
 Kent then proceeded to tell his story, at which 
 his father first laughed, and then looked grave. 
 
 "It was no doubt one of those so-called holy 
 
 B 
 
 1 
 
if 
 
 If I 
 
 i 
 
 i8 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 men that go about the country living upon their 
 betters," explained Mr. Stannard. "He wanted a 
 few annas from you, to at was all, and was deter- 
 mined not to let you pass until you handed them 
 over. But, although he went the wrong way about 
 it, you shouldn't have knocked him down all the 
 same, and he can make things very nasty for us if 
 he sees fit. "We'd better get away from here as 
 soon as possible." 
 
 " Well, I'm sure I don't know what else I could 
 have done," exclaimed Kent, somewhat crestfallen 
 at being reproved instead of applauded for his treat- 
 ment of the fakir. " The rascal wouldn't let go 
 of me, and I had no idea what mischief he was 
 up to." 
 
 " I'm not blaming you a bit, my son," responded 
 Mr. Stannard. " What you did was perfectly natural, 
 but the dirty wretch will not be likely to take that 
 view of it, and if he makes his grievance known to 
 his own people there'll be trouble for us." 
 
 While they were talking they were hastening 
 away from the Kutab Minar, Kent looking back 
 every few steps to see if the fakir was following. 
 But whether he had knocked the senses out of him 
 for a time by banging his head against the stone 
 walls, or gave him such a scare that he dare not 
 show himself again, certain it was that they saw 
 nothing more of him. 
 
A TIMELY RESCUE 
 
 19 
 
 back 
 jwing. 
 him 
 1 stone 
 not 
 saw 
 
 Leaving Delhi that same day, they continued on 
 without further halt for sight-seeing until they 
 reached Simla, where some time would have to be 
 spent in making the necessary preparations for the 
 journey into the mountains. Arriving as they did 
 late in April, they avoided the great confusion 
 consequent upon the coming of the Viceroy, the 
 Commander-in-Chief of the army, and the other 
 high and mighty officials of the supreme Govern- 
 ment, who always spend the hot summer months, 
 that would be unendurable down on the burning 
 plains, on the cool lieights of the Himalayan hills. 
 They were therefore able to secure comfortable 
 quarters in a big bungalow, and Kent settled down 
 for a good look at the awe-imposing powers upon 
 whom rested the responsibility of the most im- 
 portant portion of England's colonial empire. 
 
 Even to a boy who had no social ambitious to 
 satisfy, no personal ends to serve, Simla could not 
 fail to be full of interest, and being of a very 
 observant and inquiring turn of mind, Kent found 
 abundant diversion in the brilliant life eddying 
 about him, while his father busied himself with 
 ;jetting ready for their expedition into the moun- 
 tain regions beyond. 
 
 A favourite amusement with him was riding one 
 of the spirited little horses that were to be had for 
 hire up and down the steep hill roads. They were 
 
 ■ S 
 'S 
 
20 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 |i :il 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 1 > 
 
 usually polo ponies which had played their parts at 
 that exciting and exhausting sport, and been sold 
 by their owners to native livery-stables for what- 
 ever price they would bring. One delicious evening, 
 while Kent was trotting along over a beautiful bit 
 of road a couple of niiles from the tower, enjoying 
 the pleasant gait of his pony and admiring the 
 lovely landscape, that seemed to improve with every 
 turn of the winding way, he overtook a lady out for 
 her day's ride, accompanied only by a native groom. 
 Slie was mounted upon a grey Arab mare, that 
 pulled at the bit and pranced about on the road 
 in a way that betrayed a very high-strung and 
 nervous nature. 
 
 Kent, who had a pretty good knowledge of horses 
 tor a, boy of his age, having spent his liolidays witii 
 an uncle who kept a hunting-stable, was greatly 
 taken with the lady's mount. 
 
 " What a little beauty ! " he exclaimed to himself, 
 " and how well she sits her ! But it seems to me 
 she'd have a hard job stopping her if once she got 
 the bit in her teeth. That duffer of a groom 
 wouldn't count for much then ; " and he gave a 
 contemptuous glance back at the groom, who was 
 pounding along on a big " waler " that had evi- 
 dently seen its best days some time ago. 
 
 As he passed he saw that the lady was both 
 young and pretty, and quickly made up his mind 
 
A TIMELY RESCUE 
 
 21 
 
 both 
 rain<l 
 
 that she was the wife of some officer, summering 
 at Simla, while her husband sweltered at his dreary 
 post down on the plains. 
 
 " I wish I knew her," ho murmured regretfully, 
 " I'd like to challenge her to a little brush when we 
 come to a straight bit of road." 
 
 He said this because he happened to be mounted 
 upon a pony that had shown quite a turn of speed, 
 and to have tried conclusions with the clever- 
 lookuig Arab would have been just the thing to 
 suit him that fine, cool evening. But, of course, 
 he could not, under the circumstances, venture to 
 propose such a thing ; although it seemed to him, 
 as he clattered by, and the curveting Arab showed 
 signs of oljeciion to being passed, his fair rider 
 shot a bright glance at him that had a spark of 
 challenge in it 
 
 He had gone on about a furlong, and had just 
 decided to turn around to retrace his way, when 
 the sharp rattle of hoofs beating hard and fast 
 upon the rocky mountain road came to his ears, 
 and looking back, he saw the grey Arab galloping 
 towards him at the top of her speed, while her 
 rider was evidently making a frantic but futile 
 effort to rein her in. 
 
 "The little vixen's bolted!" exclaimed Kent. 
 "And such a place for a runaway ! I must do my 
 best to stop her, or the dear knows what'll happen." 
 
 i 
 I ' 
 
 y^.f': 
 
 i 
 
 r.\ 
 
 
 M 
 
 11 
 m I 
 
 ('•J 5 i 
 
 ^ 
 
r 
 
 t 
 
 22 
 
 ON THE WORLD'S ROOF 
 
 •! ! 
 
 I 
 
 His own pony, hearing the rapid hoof- beats, 
 showed signs of excitement also, aud knowing that 
 if the Arab once got a good start of him he might 
 be unable to catch up in time to be of any service, 
 Kent gave him the rein, and in a moment he too 
 was off at a gallop, with the runaway clattering 
 behind. 
 
 Having been over that part of the road before, 
 Kent knew that, while it was good enough going 
 for another half-mile or so, beyond that there were 
 sharp turns and quick descents that could not fail 
 to give trouble. 
 
 " If I don't stop her soon," he murmured, " she 
 stands a good chance of breaking her neck." 
 
 Looking back, he saw that the flying Arab was 
 rapidly overtaking him, for his pony was going at 
 little more than half-speed, and his plan of action 
 was promptly decided upon. 
 
 A moment more aud the runaway was up to 
 him, her rider still tugging frantically at the reins, 
 though her ghastly face and wide, staring eyes be- 
 tokened how extreme was her terror. Kent, hur- 
 riedly glancing over his shoulder, could see her lips 
 move in appeal to him for help, although not a word 
 was audible, and he nodded his head vigorously in 
 response. 
 
 As the Arab rushed past he pressed his own 
 pony to her head, and leaning forward, by great 
 
A TIMELY KESCUE 
 
 2$ 
 
 good fortune succeeded in getting a grip of the 
 riuht rein in his left hand 
 
 Then began a struggle the like of which Kent 
 had never taken part in before. Throwing himself 
 back in his saddle, he strove to rein in the two 
 galloping steeds simultaneously. Even had his own 
 mount been entirely under control, this would have 
 l)een no easy feat. But, as a matter of fact, the pony 
 had caught the spirit of the Arab in some measure, 
 and was disposed to keep right on, while the lady, 
 who seemed to be on the verge of fainting, let the rein 
 go, and grasped the pommel of her saddle instead. 
 
 Well was it then for Kent that he not only had 
 the seat of a Centaur, but a strength of arm few 
 boys of his years could equal. The two horses 
 plunged and pressed against each other, bringing 
 tlieir riders in such close contact that Kent could 
 have lifted the lady out of her saddle had he been 
 equal to such an effort. As it was, he managed 
 to steady her for a moment when it appeared as if 
 she must fall off. 
 
 Presently, however, his efforts began to tell. 
 Hampered as they were by being crowded together, 
 the horses had perforce to slacken speed. Their 
 strides quickly shortened ; the pony began to pull 
 up ; and at length, just before the dangerous por- 
 tion of the road was reached, both pony and Arab 
 came to a stop, blown, wearied, and conquered. 
 
 
 
 
 
24 
 
 ON TUK WORLDS HOOF 
 
 Springing to the ground, Kent held out his arms 
 to the lady, who, murmuring faintly, "God bless 
 you ; you've saved my life," let herself slip from 
 the saddle on to his shoulder, and instantly fainted 
 dead away. 
 
 " Hello ! here's a pretty go !" said Kent to him- 
 self, as he bore his helpless burden to the roadside 
 and laid her down gently on a convenient bit of 
 turf. " What on earth am I to do now ? " 
 
 It certainly was a rather bewildering situation 
 for a boy who had never been thrown nmch into 
 the society of ladies, and consequently still felt 
 somewhat ill at ease in tlieir presence. Here he 
 found himself wholly responsible for the care of 
 a beautiful woman, to whom he was an entire 
 stranger, and whose present need he hardly knew 
 how to meet. 
 
 The sound of heavy hoof-beats rapidly approach- 
 ing was therefore welcome music to his ears, and 
 when there appeared around the curve of the road 
 a lady and gentleman cantering gaily homeward, it 
 was a wonderful relief to him. 
 
 Taking in the situation at a glance, the riders 
 reined up, and the gentleman inquired anxiously, 
 "You've had an accident, I see. Is the lady 
 seriously hurt ? " 
 
 " I don't think she's hurt at all, sir," responded 
 Kent. "She's only fainted from fright." 
 
A TIMELY RKSCUK 
 
 25 
 
 " All, then, my dear," said tlio gentleman, turn- 
 ing to his companion, " it is a case for you. Let 
 me assist you to dismount;" and so saying, he 
 sprang to the ground and lifted the lady ofif her 
 horse. 
 
 There was a spring of clear, cool water close by, 
 and Kent havitig brouL,dit a capful of this, the lady 
 bathed her unconscious sister's face with it, and 
 soon the latter opened her eyes again, looking about 
 in a startled way, and murmuring — 
 
 " What a fright I've had ! " and then turning to 
 Kent, she said gratefully, " You managed that 
 splendidly. I would hardly have thought it pos- 
 sible if you had not done it." 
 
 Kent blushed, and bowed his acknowledgment 
 of the compliment, and soon conversation became 
 general, during which time the groom lumbered 
 up on his " waler," his countenance full of concern, 
 until he saw that neither his mistress nor her 
 fractious steed had come to any harm. 
 
 The Arab having quite calmed down again, his 
 plucky mistress insisted on remounting, and the 
 four new acquaintances rode back to Simla together, 
 with the relieved groom bringing up the rear. 
 
 Kent's exploit, of course, was quickly noised 
 throughout the place, and he found himself the 
 object of a great deal of attention. The lady to 
 whom he had rendered such timely service, and 
 
ftT'' 
 
 Bt 
 
 ON TIIK world's roof 
 
 i 
 ! 
 
 who proved to be tho young wife of Colonel 
 Courtenay, of a famous Sikh regiment, was profuse 
 in her proofs of gratitude, among other things in- 
 sisting upon Kent accepting a gold locket of curious 
 workmanship as a memento of the event. 
 
 Having plenty of time on his hands — for his 
 father had to overcome a good many difficulties 
 in getting ready to start — Kent seized the oppor- 
 tunity to get acquainted with the game of polo. 
 After his gallant rescue of Mrs. Courtenay he need 
 never lack for the use of a good polo pony, and he 
 had lively times in the afternoon chasing the white 
 wooden ball up and down the bit of plain that was 
 utilised for a polo-ground. 
 
 Then he had a chance to do some hunting, too, 
 for good sport could be obtained without going very 
 far from Simla. Indeed he there made his first 
 acquaintance with real tiger-hunting, and the ex- 
 perience was so thrilling as to quite satisfy his 
 interest in the royal brute, for the time being at 
 least. 
 
 Reports had been coming to Simla of the dread- 
 ful doings of a man-eater, which had suddenly n)ade 
 its appearance on the edge of one of the valleys 
 below, and carried off so many pe-jple as to threaten 
 to depopulate what was a prosperous community. 
 As soon as the gravity of the case became clear, 
 a party was organised for the destruction of the 
 
I 
 
 A TIMELY RESCUE 
 
 ^f 
 
 monster, which Mr. Stannard, who had several 
 tigers to his credit already, made haste to join. 
 When Kent heard of it nothing would do but that 
 he must be taken along also, and after considerable 
 persuasion, he was allowed to have his own way, 
 on condition that he contented himself with a safe 
 place in the rear of the party when the hunt took 
 place. 
 
 The leader of the party was a Captain Tnglis, who 
 had won great renown as a tiger-slayer ; and with 
 him, besides the Stannards, was a dashing young 
 lieutenant and a member of the Viceroy's staff. 
 Half a score of servants accompanied then), and 
 they were fitted out with tents, supplies, and other 
 baggage sufficient for their needs for a week, as 
 they were determined not to return until they 
 accomplished their beneficent purpose. 
 
 The journey to the scene of the tiger's bloody 
 operations occupied a whole day, and Kent was 
 sorely tired of riding under the hot sun by the 
 time they went into camp for the night. 
 
 Kent had never camped out in India before, and 
 the novelty of the situation made it difficult for him 
 to sleep. During the day the intense heat had 
 made the dense woodlands through which their 
 way led as silent and lonesome as if no living 
 creature breathed in their dim recesses. But no 
 sooner had the short twilight deepened into the 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
28 
 
 ON THE WOllLDS ROOF 
 
 gloom of night than the air, before vacant save for 
 the wide sweeps of some solitary bird of prey, 
 became filled with the voices of feathered flocks 
 returning to their roosts. Flying foxes shot across 
 the open vistas in the forest, and great horned owls 
 swept past on muffled wings ; while to one peering 
 eagerly into the dusk there appeared those spectral 
 shapes that haunt such scenes, the confusing con- 
 trasts of shade, the strange play of waving boughs 
 and rijjid tree-trunks, and the dimly discerned forms 
 of animals moving stealthily from shadow to shadow. 
 
 All this was familiar enough to the other mem- 
 bers of the party, and not even the weird booming 
 of the great rock- monkey, the hoarse bark of the 
 sam'our, nor the horrid half-laughing shriek of the 
 hyena ruffled the placidity of their evening smoke, 
 nor delayed the moment of their falling asleep. 
 But Kent lay awake until long past midnight, lis- 
 tening to these strange noises, and now and then 
 rising from his camp-bed to look out through the 
 flajis of the tent to assure himself that the wild 
 creatures were not investing the camp and pre- 
 paring for a night attack, so furious did the chorus 
 seem at times. 
 
 At lengtl. in sheer weariness, he dozed off, to 
 dream of fleeing from a huge rnan -eater with caver- 
 nous mouth and blazing eyes, bent upon claiming 
 him for its next victim. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 THE KILLING OF THE MAN-EATER 
 
 It took another day's riding to bring the hunting- 
 party upon the scene of the man-eater's depreda- 
 tions, and when they camped that night they had 
 many visitors, who brought accdunts of the awful 
 brute that fairly made Kent's flesh creep. With 
 eyes starting from their sockets and much Oriental 
 extravagance of language, the panic-stricken natives 
 described the tiger's tremendous size and terrifying 
 appearance : how his great belly, into which so 
 many of their dear ones had gone, almost touched 
 the ground as he strode along ; how he had a dia- 
 bolical way of holding up a party of wayfarers 
 while he rolled himself playfully on the sand beforo 
 them, and at last, inspecting them all around, care- 
 fully chose the fattest for his victim. 
 
 Not satisfied with such wonders as these, they 
 went on to relate that this monster had the powei 
 of transforming himself into an innoceiit-lookin'' 
 wood-cutter, and of calling or whistling throuuh 
 the jungle until an unsuspecting victim apjiroached ; 
 
 »9 
 
 i 
 
 
 m 
 
 ny 
 
30 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 i I 
 
 
 
 while, finally, one wrinkled old villager capped 
 the climax by gravely asserting that the spirits of 
 all the man-eater's victims rode upon his head, 
 forewarning him of every danger, and guiding 
 him to the most favourable spot for ambushing an 
 unwary traveller. 
 
 Mr. Stannard and his companions, of course, paid 
 no heed to these marvellous tales. They had been 
 hearing similar ones ever since they began to hunt 
 in India. But Kent, possessing a strong imagina- 
 tion, and being, indeed, more willing to believe than 
 to be sceptical, was deeply impressed by them. 
 " They're greatly exaggerated, to be sure," he said. 
 " But there must be some truth in them, all the 
 same, and we're bound to have a big fight before 
 we're done with the man-eater." 
 
 As soon as the news spread that the sahibs had 
 come to rid the country of its dreadful pest the 
 rejoicing people crowded in to offer assistance, or to 
 be spectators of the operation, and the hunters had 
 no difficulty in obtaining all the assistance in the 
 way of native shikaris and beaters they required. 
 They were also fortunate in being able to secure 
 two elephants which had had some experience in 
 hunting, and could be relied upon to maintain a 
 firm front before the foe. 
 
 At daybreak of the morning after their arrival 
 on the field, word was brought that one of a party 
 
THE KILLING OF THE MAN-EATER 
 
 31 
 
 of pilgrims, travelling unsuspectingly through a. 
 jungle road not far distant, had been carried oflf by 
 the tiger. At once the command was given for the 
 hunt to begin, and the elephants being harnessed, 
 Mr. Stannard and Kent occupied one howdah, 
 while Captain Inglis and Lieutenant Fordyce had 
 the other. 
 
 Captain Inglis, having had the most experience 
 in tiger-hunting, naturally took command, and from 
 the way he disposed his forces it was quite evident 
 that he thoroughly understood his work. 
 
 It was still early in the morning when they 
 reached the scene of the last tragedy. The unfor- 
 tunate pilgrim had been struck down where a small 
 ravine crossed the lonely road. There, lying in 
 a dried-up pool of blood, they found the shoulder- 
 stick with its pendent baskets, in which he had 
 been carrying the holy-water from his place of 
 pilgrimage, while shreds of cotton sticking to the 
 bushes showed where he had been dragged down 
 into the bed of the nullah. 
 
 Kent turned sick at the sight. It was the first 
 time he had ever been brought so close to death 
 by violence, and his heart went out in passionate 
 sympathy for the poor Hindoo thus foully mur- 
 dered. But quickly upon this sense of sickness 
 and of sympathy followed the burning desire for 
 retribution, for revenge upon the abominable man- 
 
 
 ill 
 
 I 
 
32 
 
 ON THE WORLD .S ROOF 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 eater ; and from the bottom of his heart Kent liopi d 
 that he might have the chance of putting at least 
 one bullet into that striped body, even though it 
 should not be the fatal one. 
 
 *' I hope Captain Inglis won't have it all to 
 himself," he said to his father as they remounted 
 their elephant, " and that you and I will be able 
 to get in a shot before it's all over." 
 
 " I hope so too, Kent," responded Mr. Stannard, 
 whose own heart had been deeply stirred by the 
 pitiful sight. " But we mustn't run any unneces- 
 sary risks, however strongly we feel, and we must 
 do exactly what Captain Inglis says." 
 
 The track of the destroyer was easily followed 
 into a very thick grass cover, where he had broken 
 up and devoured the greater part of the body. 
 Some shreds of flesh, and the skull, hands, and feet, 
 were all that remained. Thence the trail led into 
 a dense jungle on the river- bank, through which 
 the trackers worked in fear and treml)lin>^', covered 
 by Captain Inglis' rifle, as his elephant trod in their 
 footsteps. 
 
 At the river the pugs (footprints) went out on a 
 long sand-pit, showing how the tiger had refreshed 
 himself with a good drink after his horrid meal, 
 and then they came back to be lost amid a great 
 mass of rocks full of caverns and crannies. A 
 day's hard work was spent searching in this locality 
 
THE KILLING OF THE MAN-EATER 
 
 33 
 
 a 
 
 led 
 
 [al, 
 
 ?at 
 
 A 
 
 without avail, and at sunset the hunters returned 
 to camp, much disappointed at their lack of success. 
 
 But if they had nothing to show for their toils, 
 the object of their eager quest was in better case so 
 far as he was concerned ; for they had hardly sat 
 down to dinner when a carrier came rushing in to 
 report that one of his company had been taken out 
 of the middle of their train of bullocks by the tiger 
 just as they were going into camp for the night. 
 
 Of course nothing could be done that night, but 
 oh, how impatiently every member of the party 
 longed for the return of daylight ! After a hasty 
 breakfast the start was made, and soon they came 
 upon the tiger's track and the remains of his last 
 hideous butchery. 
 
 " We must have him to-day at all hazards," ex- 
 claimed Captain Inglis, looking down at the half- 
 eaten body of the ill-starred carrier. " This is awful 
 work." 
 
 The elephants were pushed ahead at as rapid a 
 pace as the nature of the ground permitted. There 
 was difficulty in following the destroyer's trail. He 
 had gone down the nullah some distance and then 
 turned off into the grass, and finally made his way 
 into a dense jungle of jaman and tamarisk in the 
 bed and on the banks of a small river. 
 
 " If I'm not much mistaken, we'll find our friend 
 here," said Captain Inglis, after a survey of the 
 
 C 
 
! 
 
 n 
 
 34 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 ground. " We've been driving him pretty hard. 
 He must be longing for a rest, and this is as 
 good a place as he could wish for water and 
 sliade." 
 
 The trackers were accordingly sent out to circle 
 the cover, and in the course of an hour they 
 returned with the gratifying intelligence that there 
 was no sign of the tiger liaving left the jungle, 
 and without doubt he had been cornered at last. 
 
 The heat of the day, the best time for the grim 
 business before ^hc' vvas near at hand, and without 
 delay Captain Inglis arranged his order of attack. 
 The cover wu.. co^i^plel'-\v surrounded by a circle 
 of beaters, and look-outs placed in commanding 
 positions in the trees, who were instructed at a 
 given signal to make all the noise of which they 
 were capable. Then, having posted the elephant 
 upon which Mr. Stannard and Kent were at the 
 only point where the tiger could easily get up the 
 high bank and make ofl", the veteran hunter pushed 
 his own elephant, which was well used to this sort 
 of work, slowly and carefully into the dense cover. 
 
 The air was scorching hot, and utterly still aave 
 for the soft footfalls of the elephant and the whir- 
 ring of wings as peafowl rose in alarm before the 
 advance of the huge creatures. Near the centre 
 the jungle grew extremely dense, and its bottom 
 was cut up into a number of water-channels among 
 
at a 
 they 
 )hant 
 the 
 the 
 lished 
 sort 
 (ver. 
 yave 
 hir- 
 le the 
 lentre 
 ittoin 
 
 luoiig 
 
 THE KILLING OF THE MAN-EATER 
 
 35 
 
 
 the tough roots and overhanging branches of the 
 tamarisk. 
 
 Sitting up in the howdah witli liis rifle held 
 ready for instant use, and watching as far as he 
 could the progress of Captain Inglis, it seemed to 
 Kent as though the loud beating of his heart must 
 be as audible as the tones of a bell. He dare not 
 speak to his father, who stood erect, gazing fixedly 
 into the dim obscurity of the jungle. The one 
 thought in his mind was, " Which way will the 
 tiger come ? and will I have anv chance to fire at 
 him ? " 
 
 Presently Captain Inglis' shrewd old elephant 
 paused and began to kick the earth, and to utter 
 the low, tremulous sound by which it would indicate 
 the close presence of the fierce quarry so eagerly 
 sought. 
 
 " I see him ! " exclaimed the keen-eyed mahout, 
 who, being lower down on the elephant's neck 
 than hia inaster, was in a better position to peer 
 into the fateful gloom. " He's lying under that 
 jaman bush." 
 
 Captain Inglis could not make him out, but, to 
 prove the accuracy of the mahout's vision, directed 
 his companion to throw a stone into the bush, a 
 number of such missiles having been provided for 
 the purpose. 
 
 Lieutenant Fordyce, with the skill of an expert 
 
36 
 
 ON THE WORLD S ROOF 
 
 ii! 
 
 '1 
 
 II 
 ii 
 
 !i I 
 
 M' 
 
 cricketer, threw a large stone iuto the precise spot, 
 and instantly the man-eater rose up with an angry 
 roar, and sprang to meet the daring intruders on his 
 privacy. The sight of him when he emerged from 
 the shade of the jaman bush was sufficient to try 
 the stoutest nerve. Not even Captain Inglis had ever 
 seen one of larger size, and as he stood his ground 
 for an instant, the personification of merciless fury, 
 and the white moon on the top of his broad fore- 
 head seemed to shine in the sun, while the bristles 
 stuck out from his mighty jaws like barbs of steel, 
 it was no wonder that the mahout shrank back 
 against the howdah trembling like an aspen-leaf, 
 and Lieutenant Fordyce felt cold chills running 
 down his spine. 
 
 Yet not a fibre in Captain Inglis* body quivered 
 as he covered the terrible creature with his double- 
 barrelled rifle, and had not his elephant given a 
 sudden start, no doubt the doom of the man-eater 
 would at that moment have been sealed. 
 
 As it was, the first ball found its way to the 
 tiger's shoulder, and the second caught him in the 
 belly as he sprang convulsively aside. But neither 
 shot was fatal, and, growling horribly, the mad- 
 dened brute broke away in the direction of Mr. 
 Stannard and Kent. 
 
 Never will the latter forget that moment. The 
 tiger had evidently counted upon escaping by the 
 
THE KILLING OF THE MAN-EATKR 
 
 37 
 
 the 
 the 
 
 way which their elephant, thanks to Captain Tnglis' 
 foresight, blocked, and this interference with his 
 plans seemed, if possible, to intensify his fury. 
 
 On he came, death and destruction speaking 
 from every hair of his great striped body, and Mr. 
 Stanuard could hardly be blamed for the tremor of 
 nerve that caused his arm to swerve sufficiently to 
 send the bullet into the tiger's jaw instead of right 
 between his glaring eyes, as he had intended. 
 
 For a moment the brute was checked. But it 
 was only for a moment. Shaking his head savagely, 
 he sprang forward again, and, seized with panic, the 
 elephant whirled about, thereby so disconcerting 
 Mr. Stannard that he let his second barrel go off 
 harmlessly into the jungle. 
 
 The next instant a horrid worrying sound be- 
 hind, and the wild plunging of the elephant, made 
 it clear that the tiger's last spring had carried him 
 within striking distance of his foes. 
 
 " Fire at him, Kent, for Heaven's sake ! " cried 
 Mr. Stannard excitedly. " My rilie is empty." 
 
 The huge head of the tiger, dripping with its 
 own blood, was now only six feet from Kent, and 
 as his father spoke, the boy, barely knowing what 
 he did, leaned forward, and thrusting tlie muzzle 
 of his rifle almost into the ravening mouth, pulled 
 the trigger. 
 
 As it proved, Captain Inglis himself could 
 
 ■•-'■Hi 
 
 n 
 
I 
 
 
 |i Mi 
 
 I li 
 
 I I 
 
 : ? 
 
 38 
 
 ON THE WORLDS RQuF 
 
 hardly have done better. The bullet craslied 
 tlirou.;h the roof of the tiger's mouth into his 
 brain, and, losing its hold upon the elephant, the 
 lifeless body fell heavily to the ground. 
 
 The whole thing had been so startling that for 
 a moment Kent stood silent and motionless. The 
 mad leap of the tiger, that awful gory head coming 
 so close to the howdah that the foul breath tainted 
 the air, the quick thrust of the rifle into that yawn- 
 ing cavern of death, and then the crack of the 
 rifle and the sudden collapse of the appalling 
 monster — was it all a wild dream ? 
 
 A hearty thump on the back brought him to 
 himself, and he heard his father exclaiming — 
 
 " Splendidly done, my boy ! You gave him the 
 coi'.p de grace in fine style." And then turning to 
 Ca[)tain Inglis, who had hurried up on his elephant, 
 " That was not at all bad for a boy, was it ? " 
 
 " No, indeed," replied the veteran hunter cor- 
 dially. "I congratulate you heartily, Kent. My 
 bullets were bound to kill him in time, but he 
 needed another to quicken the business. Did yours 
 find him anywhere ? " he added, looking to Mr. 
 Stannard. 
 
 " Unless my eyes played me false, it found him 
 somewhere about the head," answered Mr. Stan- 
 nard. " Let us look him over and see." 
 
 The beaters by this time had gathered around 
 
I 
 
 TIIK KILLING OF THE MAN-E\THK 
 
 39 
 
 and begun their choru.s of rejoicings over the death 
 of their enemy, giving vent to tlieir feelings in 
 showers of opprobrious epithets and grossly in- 
 sulting insinuiitions as to the family history of 
 their fallen foe. 
 
 On examination it was found that either of the 
 wounds inflicted by Captain Inglis' bullets would 
 have been sufficient to kill any other animal than 
 a tiger, which seems to have quite as many lives as 
 the proverbial cat (of which it is, after all, only an 
 enlarged specimen), and that Mr. Stannard's shot 
 had taken effect on the right side of the lower 
 jaw. 
 
 Lieutenant Fordyce was therefore the only 
 member of the party who could not claim a share 
 in the triumph over the man-eater, and he was 
 wise enough, instead of taking that to heart, to 
 content himself with congratulating the others 
 upon their good fortune. 
 
 Great was the gratitude of the natives to the 
 sahibs at their being freed I'rom the monster whose 
 depredations had during the past year rendered a 
 wliole district almost uninhabitable, and closed up 
 the roads previously much frequented by travellers. 
 
 Kent was so impressed by the importance given 
 to the affair that he began to cherish thoughts of 
 becoming a white shikari, and making a speciality 
 of tiger-slaying. It seemed to him a career com- 
 
 
40 
 
 ON THE world's ROOK 
 
 h 
 
 i 
 
 bluing entertainment for oneself and benefit to 
 others in a unique manner. 
 
 On the return of the party to Simla their suc- 
 cessful exploit was the talk of the place, and Kent 
 camo in for a lot of liand-shaking and warm words 
 of praise, which he found very pleasant indeed. 
 But, Mr. Stannard's preparations being nearly com- 
 plete, the social attractions of Simla had to be 
 disregarded in order that the final arrangements 
 for the journey to the heights might be hurried 
 through with. By the first of June everything 
 was in readiness, and, having bidden " good-bye " 
 to their many friends and received their good wishes 
 for a prosperous trip, the little party set forth upon 
 its adventures. It comprised some thirty persons 
 in all, of whom, however, only two besides Mr. 
 Stannard and Kent require special mention, the 
 others being merely coolies to carry the provisions 
 and baggage. These two were rather remarkable 
 characters in their way. They were to act as the 
 personal attendants of the two sahibs, and Mr. 
 Stannard had taken the utmost pains in their 
 selection. Standing side by side they presented 
 a striking contrast. 
 
 " They're the long and short of it," Mr. Stannard 
 said, laughing, when he first introduced them to 
 Kent. 
 
 Chunna Lai was a splendid specimen of a Sikh. 
 
 1 
 
THK KILLING OF THE MAN-K\TER 
 
 41 
 
 1 
 
 His stature exceeded six feet, and his frame was 
 one mass of boue and sinew, without an ounce of 
 superfkious flesh. He had a handsome, lionest 
 countenance, adorned by a moustache and beard of 
 raven hue, which he sedulously cultivated. His 
 skin was of a dark olive tint, and his big black 
 eyes looked out upon the world with a frank, 
 fearless gaze that seemed to say, " Respect me as I 
 respect myself." He was Mr. Stannard's attendant, 
 and was to act as butler or steward, if such a term 
 could be applied undijr the circumstances. He had 
 already been through a good part of the country it 
 was proposed to traverse, and had a kn< wledge of 
 the people and their different dialects that would be 
 of immense value. 
 
 His associate in service, a Goorkha named 
 Bahadur Kan war, was so ridiculously dissimilar 
 that the warm friendship soon established between 
 Liiaii- ^-^rtainly could not be explained upon the 
 principle that like likes like. A scant five feet 
 was the most that Bahadur could claim in height. 
 But what he lacked in this direction he made a 
 noble attempt to atone for in the other. So broad 
 and sturdy was he that the activity he could 
 display when necessary was a constant surprise to 
 the Stannards. In him were strangely united the 
 strength of a bull and the agility of a monkey. 
 At first glance his countenance seemed rather re- 
 
 i 
 
42 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 I' 
 
 I m 
 
 pellent, so strongly marked were his features, so 
 small and sharp liis eyes, aud so swarthy his skiu. 
 But once he smiled all doubt as to his character 
 vanished Genuine good humour twinkled in every 
 line of his rugged face. He could, it was true, be 
 capable of fearful outbreaks of temper, and at such 
 times be transformed into a veritable demon. Such 
 occasions, however, were extremely rare, and there 
 was little probability of the fury ever being aroused 
 by Mr. Stannard or Kent. It would be those who 
 might attempt to do them wrong or injury that 
 would call it forth. Bahadur was a capital cook, 
 therefore the duty of preparing the meals devolved 
 upon him ; and he evidently took both pride aud 
 pleasure in his work, while the Stannards had 
 good reason to be well satisfied with the menu he 
 managed to prepare for them out of wonderfully 
 simple materials. 
 
 Of course Kent could not think of calling these 
 two men by the names that respectively belonged 
 to them. In true schoolboy fashion, he must needs 
 find some easier appellation ; and so, after much 
 activity of mind, he succeeded in evolving some- 
 thing to his satisfaction. The stalwart Sikh he 
 called Champ, being short for champion, the man 
 being the finest specimen of a native he had so far 
 seen ; while to the sturdy Goorkha was appended 
 the appropriate nickname of Bunty. Both men took 
 
THE KILLING OF THE MAN-EATER 
 
 43 
 
 quite kindly to Kent's revision of their cognomens, 
 for only he used the new titles, and they evidently 
 looked upon him with great favour from the very 
 start. 
 
 Such were the principal meuibers of the little 
 party whose adventures and experiences amid the 
 most mighty and mysterious of mountain ranges ou 
 this globe have now to be related. 
 
 *f 
 
 /? 
 
 
 i 
 i 
 
 ■' f 
 
 ; I 
 
 ; {' 
 
! 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 INTO THE MIDST OF THE MOUNTAINS 
 
 Mr. Stannard and Kent, with Champ and Bunty, 
 rode shaggy, sure-footed mountain ponies, but the 
 baggage-bearers went on foot. The rule, therefore, 
 was to start them off a couple of hours in advance, 
 and to follow them in a leisurely fashion. 
 
 Anything like speedy progress was not to be 
 considered. The " Great Hindustan and Thibet 
 Road," as was its high-sounding designation, proved 
 to be nothing more than a cut bridle-path leading 
 along the sides of the hills from Simla to the Nar- 
 kunda Ghaut, and from Narkunda up the valley of 
 the Sutlej to Chiui and Pangay. 
 
 Although its difficulties were nothing in com- 
 parison to what were to follow, Kent, who was 
 having his first experience of mountain - riding, 
 found the strain on his nerves pretty heavy for the 
 first few days. The road, which was never more 
 than eight feet broad, and often narrower, had no 
 parapet or railing of any kind, although it climbed 
 across the face of enormous precipices and well- 
 
 44 
 
n 
 
 INTO THE MIDST OF THE MOUNTAINS 
 
 45 
 
 nigh precipitous slopes, where a fall meant inevi- 
 table death. 
 
 Bunty and Champ, who had both traversed it 
 several times, were at pains to tell Kent of the 
 fatal accidents which had taken place, and to de- 
 scribe graphically just how they had occurred. 
 
 Thus, the young daughter of the missionary at 
 Kotgarb had been riding across the tremendous 
 Eogi cliffs, when the pony shied at a stone that 
 came rolling down in front of it, and sprang into 
 the merciless abyss to instant death. 
 
 In another case, on the way between Serahan 
 and Taranda, a Mr. Leith, who was on his wedding 
 trip, with his bride following close beside him, in 
 trying to cure his steed of a provoking way it had 
 of rubbing against the rough rock wall, caused it to 
 back towards the precipice, and its hind- feet going 
 over, it could not recover itself, and both horse and 
 rider were dashed to pieces. 
 
 Mr. Stannard, not to be outdone, told how a 
 judge of the Supreme Court, who, in company with 
 some ladies, was passing along this road, lost his 
 life through his horse starting at a strange-looking 
 mountaineer, who suddenly appeared round a sharp 
 turn of the cliff. The animal lield on for some 
 time with its fore-legs, long enough for an agile 
 rider to have disengaged himself from the saddle. 
 But the judge was stout and slow of movement, 
 
 11 
 
 Ml 
 
 m 
 ■% 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 fl 
 
 »"18 
 Hi 
 
m 
 
 I' ' 
 
 ; ,f 
 
 40 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOK 
 
 and, moreover, seemed paralysed with fear, so that 
 he could do nothing to save himself. 
 
 It need hardly be said that these mournful re- 
 lations did not tend to put Kent at his ease, and 
 he gave such attention to the direction of his pony 
 that the creature showed signs of restiveness, which 
 being noticed by Mr. Stannard, he called back, 
 " Give him his head, Kent ; give him his head. 
 Don't try to keep a tight rein on him. He knows 
 the way better than you do." 
 
 Taking his father's advice, Kent let the reins 
 hang loose, and all went well until they reached 
 the Narkunda Ghaut, where the road rose nearly 
 ten thousand feet above sea-level, and from its 
 narrow shelf one could look down a vast distance 
 into the gloomy abyss of the Siitlej valley. Here, 
 at one of the very worst bits of the road, where by 
 necessity the little party was strung out in single 
 file, a big monkey, disturbed by Mr. Stannard's 
 horse, sprang across the way right in front of 
 Kent's pony, and before fleeing up the face of 
 the clilf, paused for an instant to make hideous 
 grimaces and shrill gibbering cries at the in- 
 truders upon its peace and privacy. 
 
 Hitherto Kent's pony, a sturdy little mare, as 
 sure-footed as a mountain goat, had borne herself 
 with most commendable composure in the face of 
 falling rocks and other excuses for a sudden shy. 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
INTO THE MIDBT OF THE MOUNTAl^■S 
 
 47 
 
 i f 
 
 
 lUii the sight and sound of the monkey proved too 
 severe a trial for her nerves, and backing quickly 
 away from the ugly creature, she got her hind-legs 
 over the edge of the road, at this point utterly 
 undefended by a parapet or railing. 
 
 Eealising his peril in an instant, Kent flung 
 himself forward on his pony's neck, crying, " Help ! . 
 father, help ! I'm going over ! " 
 
 Mr. Stannard, who was about ten yards ahead, 
 at once tried to turn his horse to get to his son's 
 aid, but the animal, hearing the noises behind with- 
 out understanding what they meant, became fright- 
 ened in its turn, so that, instead of obeying him, it 
 took the bit in its teeth and hurried off in spite of 
 his frantic tugging at the reins. 
 
 So soon as he saw that he could not control the 
 horse, Mr. Stannard flung himself off, and ran back 
 at the top of his speed. But if Kent had had to 
 depend upon him alone for rescue his case had 
 been hopeless. 
 
 His wiry pony fought desperately for life, cling- 
 ing to the edge of the road with her fore-feet as 
 thou;_;h they were hands, and digging her hind- 
 feet into the side of the cliff. She maintained her 
 position in this way long enough for Kent to have 
 discngiiged himself from the saddle had not his 
 right foot got caught in the stirrup-leatlier, so that 
 he could not instantly free himself. 
 
 ')'{ 
 
 t 
 
 
 If 
 
 El 
 
i r 
 
 1 
 
 48 
 
 ON THE WOULD S KOOF 
 
 Another moment and it would have been all 
 over with him, but, happily, before that moment 
 passed the Sikh interposed. Springing from his 
 horse, he rushed towards Kent, crying out, " Hold 
 on, Sahib ! I pull you up." 
 
 When he came to him he reached down his long 
 arm, and catching Kent by the collar of his coat, 
 drew him up beside him as though he had been a 
 mere child instead of a well-grown lad. It was a 
 marvellous feat of strength, and even in the midst 
 of his awful peril the wonder of it filled Kent's 
 heart. 
 
 Nor was the giant content with this. Relieved 
 from her rider's weight, the pony still struggled 
 bravely against the pitiless rocks, and having set 
 Kent upon his feet, Champ proceeded to render a 
 like service to his steed. Bending down, he grasped 
 the reins close to her mouth, and then throwing him- 
 self back, dragged the little creature, who cleverly 
 helped all she could, up on the road again, where 
 she stood trembling and exhausted, but otherwise 
 none the worse for her narrow escape. 
 
 By this time Mr. Stannard had come up, and 
 throwing his left arm about Kent in a glad embrace, 
 held out his right hand to the Sikh, exclaiming, 
 " God bless you, Chunna Lai ! But for you I'd have 
 no son to-day. Your splendid strength was never 
 put to better purpose." 
 
INTO THE MIDST OF THE MOUNTAINS 
 
 49 
 
 Looking as composed as though nothing remiirk- 
 iible had just tp.ken place, the Sikh gave his hand 
 modestly, saying, "That's all right, Sahib. Bad 
 pony to be frightened by monkey; mustn't do that 
 
 again. 
 
 Kent, on his part, hardly knew how to express 
 his gratitude, but he managed somehow to say 
 enough to make clear to his rescuer how deeply he 
 felt, and in his mind he registered a resolve never 
 to forget the timely service. 
 
 Being afraid to remount his own pony after tliis 
 proof of its readiness to shy, Kent exchanged with 
 the Goorkha, who had a slow, steady animal, which 
 could be implicitly trusted, and who, on his part, 
 was quite willing to take the more lively little 
 mare. 
 
 Farther on the road, when they were resting for 
 the evening at the Serahan bungalow, Kent had the 
 opportunity of seeing for himself the fate from 
 which Champ's strong arms had delivered him. 
 They had just finished dinner, and were sitting in 
 front of the bungalow, Mr. Stannard enjoying his 
 pipe, and Kent idly throwing pebbles at the dogs 
 that hung about, when Mr. Stannard drew his son's 
 attention to some hiil-raen who were chasing each 
 other on the grassy brow of a precipice that rose 
 above the road leading to Gawraa. 
 
 " That seems dangerous sport these fellows are 
 
 P 
 
 Ml 
 
 m 
 
 ■ m 
 
 m i! 
 
 HI 
 
 1^ 
 
 II 
 
r 
 
 1 ;l 
 
 Hi 
 
 I f 
 
 S I 
 
 t 
 
 50 
 
 ON TIIK world's hoof 
 
 having up there," Mr. Stannard said, eyeing them 
 with interest. " But I suppose they know what 
 they're about." 
 
 He had hardly spoken when one of the men, in 
 trying to evade the hot pursuit of a companion, 
 lost his footing, slipped on the edge of the cliff', 
 and then, with a shrill cry, that pierced far down 
 into the valloy beneath, plunged over the precipice, 
 striking the road hundreds of feet below with an 
 awful thud, and bouncing off to fall still farther 
 into the rocky ravine. 
 
 Kent shuddered and shut his eyes at the sight. 
 It made him so sick and faint that for the moment 
 the power of speech or motion seemed gone from 
 him. 
 
 But his father, springing up and thrusting his 
 pipe into his pocket, started off, crying, " Come 
 along, Kent, and see if the poor fellow's killed." 
 
 Kent, glad to be of service if possible, hurried 
 after his father. They had some difficulty in reach- 
 ing the spot where the unfortunate hill-man lay, and, 
 as Mr. Stannard fully expected, found him beyond 
 all human aid. Strange to say the body showed 
 no signs of a bruise. There was blood in the 
 mouth and nostrils, but otherwise no indication 
 even of the cause of death. Kent wondered very 
 much at this, but his father explained it by saying 
 that no doubt the man became insensible duriuL' 
 
INTO THE MIDST OF THE MOUNTAINS 
 
 51 
 
 ' V? 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 his fearful fall, and so offered no resiatauce when 
 he struck the road, contact with which had, of 
 course, knocked every particle of life out of him. 
 
 As he looked at the inanimate body, which but 
 a few minutes before had been so full of life and 
 energy, Kent naturally thought how narrowly he 
 had escaped a like death. 
 
 " father ! " he exclaimed, with a shudder, 
 • that's just what would have become of me if 
 Champ had not saved me, isn't it ? How thankful 
 1 ought to be that nothing happened me ! " 
 
 " You may well say so, Kent," responded Mr. 
 Stannard, laying his hand aflfectionately upon Kent's 
 shoulder, while he regarded him with looks of love 
 and pride. " I'm afraid I've not been wise in taking 
 you with me on tliis wild trip and exposing you to 
 such dangers." 
 
 " Now, don't say that, father," said Kent plead- 
 ingly. " It is very good of you to let me come, 
 and I'm just as safe with you as I could be any- 
 where else ; and when there are only the two of us 
 out here, and I've been away from you so long, 
 it would have been cruel to have gone ofif with- 
 out me." 
 
 Kent's reasoning was so sound, and it so thoroughly 
 fell in with Mr. Staunard's own inclinations, that 
 there was no need of continuing the argument. For 
 better or worse, through fair weather and foul, in 
 
 ( 
 
 
 Mi : 
 
 t ;i 
 
 > 
 
Sa 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 journeyings far and perils many, they would be in- 
 separable companions, to the great content of both. 
 
 The road along which tliey made steady if not 
 very rapid progress presented an ever -changing 
 panorama of wonderful beauty and grandeur. Now 
 they would be brought face to face with a mighty 
 peak, clothed in eternal snow, soaring twenty 
 thousand feet into the clear, cold air ; and then they 
 would be gazing down into a dark gorge so deep 
 that the head reeled at the sight. From time to 
 time they would come upon Himalayan hamlets 
 hidden on the lower slope of the tremendous moun- 
 tains, perched upon bare ridges of rock, or placed 
 beside green meadows with enormous deodar-trees, 
 giving them shade from the burning sun. 
 
 The trees of the Sutlej valley were remarkable 
 for their size and beauty ; and Mr. Stannard was 
 continually calling Kent's attention to a graceful 
 weeping fir or a sky-piercing " silver pine." But 
 grandest of all were the deodars, the cedars, which 
 sometimes attained a girth of forty feet, and towered 
 two hundred feet or more above the scanty soil that 
 seemed so poor a support for so glorious a growth. 
 With their straight stems, their graceful pendent 
 branches covered by a work of Virginia creepers 
 and clematis blooming generously, they certainly 
 were worthy of the travellers' warmest admiration. 
 
 At Panguay, where there was a large, comfortable 
 
INTO THE MIDST OF THE MOUNTAINS 
 
 53 
 
 
 bungalow, Mr. Staunard halted for a day or two in 
 order to rearrange his party ; for liere the Hindo- 
 stan and Thibet road, so far as it was a pathway 
 upon which any labour had been expended, came 
 to an end, and henceforth not even the hardy, sure- 
 footed hill-ponies could be relied upon. It was 
 necessary to secure some additional bearers, and 
 especially a dandy on which Kent could be carried 
 when the fatigue of foot-travel proved too much 
 for his strength. 
 
 At the bungalow they met a couple of English 
 travellers who had set forth from Panguay the 
 week before, intending to go as far as Shipki, and 
 possibly a little way into Thibet if permitted to do 
 so. But they had found the difficulties of travel so 
 much worse than their expectations that they had 
 to confess themselves beaten, and to return without 
 accomplishing any part of their programme. Natu- 
 rally enough they sought to dissuade Mr. Stannard 
 from proceeding. 
 
 " It's the most abominable apology for a path you 
 ever imagined," protested one of them. "You've 
 just got to hang on by your eyelids in lots of 
 places." 
 
 " Oh, I know how bad it is ; I've been over it 
 before," responded Mr. Stannard, with a serene 
 smile. 
 
 " Well, you must be fond of hard work," retorted 
 
 I 
 
 I; n 
 
 I m 
 
 ' : l'\ 
 
 i 
 
94 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 ! W 
 
 the other, looking Mr. Stannanl over as though lie 
 was trying to understand liini. " One experience 
 of a road like that ouglit to satisfy anybody for a 
 lifetime ; but there's no accounting for taste." 
 
 Having been discomfited themselves, the officers 
 would no doubt have found satisfaction in persuad- 
 ing Mr. Staiinard to turn back without even making 
 the venture ; but they did not know their man. 
 He was not one to give up a purpose fully deter- 
 mined upon at the urging of another. If he did 
 not make his way to Sliipki, and thence into 
 Thibet, it would be because he could not accom- 
 plish it himself, not because somebody else had 
 failed. 
 
 It was near the end of the month of June when, 
 the preparations being completed, the journey was 
 resumed. Henceforth they would have no bunga- 
 lows to rest in at the end of each stage, and as 
 it would not be prudent to sleep in any of the 
 native huts, they took with them two small tents 
 especially adapted to their needs. One of them 
 Mr. Stannard and Kent could occupy, and the 
 other would be shared by Bunty and Champ. As 
 for the coolies, they looked after themselves, build- 
 ing big fires at night and curling up close to them, 
 like so many dogs. 
 
 Kent took very kindly to the idea of tenting , 
 it was so much more romantic than spending the 
 
11 
 
 INTO TIIK MIDST OF THE MOUNTAINH 
 
 55 
 
 i 
 
 nights in the gloomy stone bung.ihnvs. liiit before 
 they had got far on their way lie began to long for 
 the bungalow again, the wild winds of the Hima- 
 layas rendering a canvas tent anything but an 
 adequate shelter from their bufleting. 
 
 The roughness of the road defied de>Jcription ; it 
 required the exercise of the utmost faculties of head 
 and loot to get over it safely. 
 
 On the way to Jangi the remains of a granite 
 avalanche were encountered that it took an im- 
 mense amount of trouble to pass. For a great 
 distance the whole mountain-side was covered with 
 huge blocks of gneiss and granite, over which the 
 travellers had to scramble as best they could. 
 
 Nor was this the most trying feature of their 
 situation. Where so many rocks had fallen, it 
 was quite reasonable to suppose that there were 
 others yet to come down, and the ever-present 
 possibility of some huge boulder high above them 
 taking the notion of charging down upon them, 
 made the passage of the avalanche d<',bris quite a 
 serious business. 
 
 The most critical point of the crossing was where 
 they had to get round the corner of a giddy preci- 
 pice by means of two long poles that rested on a 
 niche, and were there met by two shnilar poles 
 comin;^ from the other side which were on a lower 
 level, and therefore more difficult to connect with. 
 
 I 
 
 • C' 
 
 ^1 
 
I f 
 
 
 56 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 Mr. Stannard and the Goorkha went round with- 
 out difficulty, but when it came to Kent's turn, 
 he, for the first time, got so dizzy that he could 
 not proceed. He was just at the corner, and in 
 spite of his father's injunctions to " keep cool " and 
 " come along," he dropped upon the poles, and 
 clung to them desperately, not daring either to 
 advance or retreat. 
 
Q, 
 
 d 
 n 
 d 
 d 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 AN EXTRAORDINARY STEED 
 
 Kent's situation was as curious as it was perilous 
 Neither his father nor the servants could go to 
 him, because the pole-bridge was too frail to bear 
 two persons at the same time, and it seemed as 
 if they would have to confine their efforts in his 
 behalf to shouting at him, when a bright idea 
 sprang into Bunty's brain. 
 
 Snatching off his turban, he proceeded to un- 
 wmd it with eager haste. In a trice it became a 
 long band of linen that would easily reach to where 
 Kent hung helplessly. Tying a stone tightly into 
 one end, he threw it to Kent, crying, " You catch 
 It, Sahib. Me pull you along." 
 
 After a couple of misses Kent caught the stone- 
 weighted turban, and drew it tight 
 
 " Now you hold on, Sahib," enjoined the Goorkha. 
 " You come along all right." 
 
 It was wonderful the difference it made to Kent 
 having the turban in his hand. His attack of 
 dizzmess was due to fatigue and long exposure to 
 
 57 
 
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 M: 
 
 s I 1 
 
 i Is 
 
 
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 I 
 
^msmmmm 
 
 I) 
 
 [i 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 58 
 
 ON THE WOKLD'S HOOF 
 
 the blinding sun while toiling over the broken 
 granite, and the confidence the sense of connection 
 with the other side of the difficult crossing inspired 
 was sufficient to banish his temporary weakness. 
 
 " That's splendid, Bunty," he said, brightening up. 
 '^ Just keep it taut and I'll get along first-rate." 
 
 Stepping firmly but carefully, he soon accom- 
 plished the remainder of the passage, and stood 
 at his father's side. 
 
 " Please don't think me a baby, father," he 
 pleaded, laying his hand on Mr. Stannard's arm. 
 " It was not that I was frightened, but I was 
 dreadfully tired, and my head suddenly seemed 
 to go so that I did not dare take another step. 
 I won't make such a goose of myself again in a 
 hurry, I promise you." 
 
 " I quite understood how it was, Kent," replied 
 his father tenderly. " I've worked you too hard 
 to-day, I know, but I was anxious to get across 
 this abominable place as soon as possible. How- 
 ever, we've passed the worst of it now, and we'll 
 camp at the first good place we come to." 
 
 The Goorkha was warmly praised for his clever 
 expedient, and this put him in great spirits. 
 
 " You and me even now," said he exultingly to 
 Champ. " You help young Sahib, I help young 
 Sahib. Both of us help young Sahib. That's 
 all right, eh ? " 
 
i 
 
 AN EXTRAORDINARY STEED 
 
 59 
 
 Champ nodded a dignified assent, and Bunty 
 tossed his head as though to say, " What a fine 
 pair of fellows we are, to be sure ! " 
 
 At Jangi they found a charming camping-place, 
 in a fine grove of walnuts and edible pines. There 
 was a small village close by, in which was a Lama 
 temple that contained an automatic prayer - mill, 
 which interested Kent greatly. 
 
 He had already seen the ordinary prayer-wheels, 
 small brass affairs which were to he held in the 
 hand, and turned from left to right by an axle 
 passing through the centre. But here was some- 
 thing that surpassed them all — a huge thing some 
 eight feet in diameter, made of bronze, and so con- 
 structed that a stream of water falling upon it kept 
 it turning continually. As eacli revolution meant 
 not m-erely one but ever so many repetitions of the 
 great Lama prayer, " Oin ma ni pad ma houn," and 
 this doing it by deputy was considered quite as 
 efficacious as personal pleading, the present and 
 eternal advantages of such an p^rangement were 
 easily apparent. 
 
 Wlien he understood the whole thin<,' Kent was 
 much tickled, although he courteously concealed 
 his amusement from the eyes of their yuide, a 
 young Lama, who had over a million prayers 
 reeled off while they stood about the machine. 
 
 As they came away from the temple Kent said 
 
! 
 
 'J i s 
 
 60 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 to his father, with a quizzical smile, " Wouldn't 
 these prayer-wheels be a fine thing for the boys at 
 school ? Instead of saying their own prayers at 
 night, when they're so tired and in a hurry to get 
 to bed, they would just give the wheel a couple of 
 turns, and then turn in themselves with a clear 
 conscience." 
 
 " Kent, my son ! " said his father, " how can 
 we be sufficiently grateful for the fuller light that 
 we have in this all-in)portant matter ? To think 
 of men intelligent enough to pray to God at all 
 being so foolish as to imagine that He can be 
 reached by machine-made prayers ! And yet I'm 
 afraid that only too many Christian prayers are 
 hardly less mechanical, so we mustn't boast our- 
 selves." 
 
 Beside the big prayer-wheel, the Jangi Temple 
 contained Thibetan inscriptions and paintings of 
 Chinese devils that showed the travellers were 
 passing from the region of the Hindoo into that 
 of the Mongol. Henceforward the people they 
 would meet would be almost entirely Thibetan. 
 Not a change for the better in any way, but one 
 to which they had to become accustomed. 
 
 The next day's journey seemed a comparatively 
 lazy one after the dangers and difficulties of the 
 preceding ones. It took them away from the 
 Sutlej valley, which they were only too glad to 
 
 fj/i' 
 
AN EXTRAORDINAUY STEED 
 
 6l 
 
 leave, up the ri<,'ht bank of the Teti river, and so 
 on to Lippe, a large village, near which they camped 
 for the night. 
 
 Here Bnnty, who was a great admirer of the 
 fair sex, got himself into a bit of a scrape by 
 showing some attention to an almond-eyed, chubby- 
 faced woman whom he happened to encounter as 
 she was returning from herding a flock of goats. 
 An old ram was giving her some trouble, and 
 Bunty gallantly going to her assistance, she seemed 
 so appreciative of his services that he was em- 
 boldened to make advances. He could make 
 himself understood pretty well in her dialect, and 
 they were getting along famously, when her hus- 
 band appeared upon the scene, the incarnation of 
 the green-eyed monster. 
 
 He at once began to shower abuse upon his wife, 
 which proceeding roused Bunty 's quick temper to 
 such a pitch that, springing upon him, he caught 
 him by tlie shoulders and shook him until he had 
 completely shaken the breath out of him, and for 
 very lack of it the fellow had perforce to cease 
 his tirade, while the woman vanished, leaving the 
 goats to take care of themselves. 
 
 The man, having recovered from his first sur- 
 prise, now turned upon Bunty, and there was every 
 prospect of a first-class fight ensuing, which might 
 have ended in a disastrous appeal to weapons, 
 
 H/ 
 
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 62 
 
 ON THK WORLDS ROOF 
 
 when Mr. Stannard opportunely appeared on the 
 scene. 
 
 Without waiting to ask any questions he called 
 out, " Hello ! what are you about there ? Stop 
 that instantly," and laid a restraining hand upon 
 each of the angry men. 
 
 They instantly let go their bold of one another, 
 for the Sahib's commands carried unquestionable 
 authority, but stood glaring furiously, in evident 
 eagerness to press the matter to an issue. 
 
 Taking it for granted that his servant was in 
 some way to blame, Mr. Stannard then asked for 
 explanations, whereupon both men started talking 
 at a tremendous rate, each endeavouring to shout 
 down the other. The din was appalling, and 
 quickly attracted a crowd, who gathered around in 
 evident enjoyment of the excitement. 
 
 With much diilficulty Mr. Stannard succeeded 
 in getting both sides of the story, and then set 
 himself to restore peace. It seemed that the 
 indignant husband was the chief man of the 
 village, and the woman his young wife, only lately 
 espoused, of whom he was more than ordinarily 
 jealous. Mr. Stannard therefore thought it ex- 
 pedient to offer an apology on behalf of his retainer, 
 the Goorkha having flatly refused to do it himself, 
 and to salve the official's feelings by a present of 
 some good cigars, whereby he was entirely mollified. 
 
n 
 
 AN EXTRAORDINARY STEED 
 
 63 
 
 To Bunty, after the whole thing had blown over, 
 he administered a lecture, threatening to send him 
 back if he got into further trouble, as it was of 
 the utmost importance that they should maintain 
 friendly relations with the people along the route. 
 
 The Goorkha took his scolding with his wonted 
 imperturbability. Whatever the Sahib might do 
 and say was all right. He would stand anything 
 from him, but as for apologising to that chump of a 
 Tartar, who did not have the sense to perceive that 
 his appreciation of his wife's attractions was some- 
 thing to be pleased with instead of resenting, he 
 would not demean himself by doing it, and Mr. 
 Stannard had been wise in forbearing to compel 
 him. 
 
 At Lippe, Mr. Stannard was able to procure for 
 Kent, who found the incessant climbing beyond his 
 strength at times, a steed the like of which he had 
 never imagined he would bestride. 
 
 This was the yak, or wild ox of Thibet, Bos 
 grunniens, or grunting ox, as it was most appro- 
 priately called, the only animal equal to the task 
 of overcoming the tremendous difficulties that 
 awaited the travellers. 
 
 The one Mr. Stannard secured was a splendid 
 specimen of its kind. It stood nearly six feet in 
 height at the shoulders, and must have weighed 
 not less than twelve hundred pounds. A dense 
 
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 64 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 coat of shaggy brown and white hair covered its 
 broad flanks and short, stout limbs, while the tail was 
 finished ofif with a great white tult, that was admir- 
 ably adapted for whisking away flies. The long, 
 narrow head bore a pair of smooth, sharp-pointed 
 horns, curving upwards and outwards, that seemed 
 capable of any amount of mischief, and the whole 
 appearance of the animal was decidedly awe- 
 inspiring. 
 
 Kent viewed the new acquisition with some 
 trepidation. 
 
 " You don't mean that I'm to ride on that extra- 
 ordinary-looking thing, do you ? " he queried, with 
 an incredulous glance at the yak, which was grunt- 
 ing away, and shaking its head as if very anxious 
 to give somebody a taste of its horns. 
 
 " Not unless you want to, Kent," replied his 
 father. " If you prefer going on foot, we can load 
 the fellow up with baggage. But, if I'm not much 
 mistaken, you'll be glad enough to jump on his 
 broad back before the day's journey is over." 
 
 A spirit of mipchief and daring suddenly taking 
 the place of his first feeling of apprehension, Kent, 
 without giving any hint of his purpose, retreating 
 a few steps, sprang forward again, and vaulted very 
 cleverly right on to the yak's shoulders. 
 
 This startled the great creature so that it broke 
 away from its driver, who had been holding it by a 
 
AN EXTRAORDINARY STEED 
 
 65 
 
 stout rope attached to a ring iu its nose, and the 
 moment it realised that it was free it lowered 
 its liead, and raising its continuous grunting to a 
 savage bellow, charged straight into the group of 
 people right in front of it, among whom were 
 Champ and Bunty. The vigorous scramble that 
 took place was highly amusing, and as nobody was 
 hurt, those who were not concerned in it could 
 afford to laugh at the frantic motions of the others. 
 
 Happily the yak, though his first attempt at 
 tossing somebody proved a complete iailure, showed 
 no sign of trying aj^ain, but put off down the valley 
 at a lumbering gallop, grunting fiercely. 
 
 The Sikh's sense of dignity had been so touched 
 by the sudden voltc-facc he had been compelled to 
 execute that he made no effort to pursue the run- 
 away, although his young master was clinging help- 
 lessly to its back. 
 
 But the Goorkha's feelings had not been hurt 
 in the least. Though it were necessary to turn a 
 somersault to save himself, he would have done it, 
 and then bobbed up serenely. When, therefore, 
 the yak made off, Bunty, the moment he recovered 
 himself, began pursuit, and running much faster 
 than the clumsy creature, not only caught up with 
 it, but caught hold of its long tail as it streamed 
 out behind, the big tuft at the end affording hira a 
 splendid grip. 
 
 
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 Mi 
 
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 66 
 
 OK TIIK world's hook 
 
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 w< 
 
 !ll 
 
 
 If the sudden scatterin;,' of the little group was 
 runny to witness, the scene that now ensued was 
 far more amusing. 
 
 Kent had no difficulty in retaining his seat, 
 thanks to the thickness of hair on the animal's 
 humped shoulders, and did not feel the least bit 
 alarmed, for they were on a com})aratively level bit 
 of ground, and there were no chasms ahead. 
 
 As tor Bunty, he was manifestly enjoying him- 
 self famously, a vast grin irradiating his homely 
 features, while he pulled back on the yak's tail 
 with a vigour that threatened to have it out by 
 the roots. 
 
 The village folks flocked from their houses to see 
 the fun, and Mr. Stannard, having no fear for his 
 boy's safety, was so overcome with the absurdity of 
 the whole thing that he could scarcely stand up 
 for laughing. 
 
 After careering down the valley in this wild 
 fashion for the space of a couple of hundred yards, 
 the yak began to let up. Into its slow brain had 
 come the question as to what all the fun was about 
 any way, and whether there was any sense in its 
 exerting itself to such an extent. It accordingly 
 slackened its pace until it came down to a walk, 
 when Bunty exchanged the tail for the rope at the 
 animal's nose, and thus getting control of it, led it 
 back in triumph. 
 
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AN KXTKAORDINARY STEED 
 
 67 
 
 That night Mr. Stannard told Kent many in- 
 teresting things about this curious creature, which 
 cannot live away from the cold, snowy regions of 
 the Himalayas, and therefore has never been seen 
 in any menagerie, however extensive. 
 
 " Away up in Chinese Thibet, and in some parts 
 of Ladak, you see the wild yak in his perfection, 
 and he is really a magnificent fellow. There is no 
 liarder animal in the world to shoot, and the hunter 
 that can stalk one successfully may well boast of 
 his trophy. The natives have an odd way of hunt- 
 ing them that often succeeds. They dig two pits 
 in the ground at some place frequented by a herd, 
 there being a connecting tunnel between the pits. 
 Then, if the first shot only wounds the yak — and he 
 is as hard to kill as a wild cat — he charges furiously 
 at the hole from which the bullet came, whereupon 
 the hunter scuttles away to the other hole, and 
 fires at him from that. At once the yak turns 
 his attention to the second hole, while the hunter 
 hastens to the first for another shot, and so the 
 game is kept up until at last the noble brute suc- 
 cumbs to many wounds. It's not according to our 
 idea of sport, Kent, but it bags the game, and that's 
 the main point with the natives." 
 
 The following day's journey proved so arduous a 
 one that ere it was half over Kent was only too 
 ^dad to avail himself of the help of the Bos grun- 
 
 ts 
 
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 1 1 
 
 I 
 
 68 
 
 ON THE WOULD S ROOF 
 
 l\l 
 
 niens. Usually two days were allowed for the 
 distance between Lippe and Sugnam ; but Mr. 
 Stannard was anxious to accomplish it in one, and 
 to do this would require not less than twelve hours 
 of continuous climbing. The path led over the 
 terrible Kuhang Pass, which reaches a height of 
 nearly 15,000 feet, and in crossing its summit it 
 was necessary to ascend, and then descend, over 
 8000 feet before Sugnam was reached. 
 
 All this involved a great deal of difficult and 
 dangerous work. In one place the road, if such it 
 could be called, slanted across the face of an im- 
 mense slate precipice where one slip of the foot 
 would have meant destruction. So narrow was this 
 pathway that at times Kent had to dismount, and 
 even the saddle had to be taken off the yak in order 
 to get it around a critical corner. 
 
 But nothing could have been more comforting 
 than the yak's method of progression. It was slow 
 yet sure with a vengeance. It never put weight 
 upon a hoof until it felt it could rely upon its foot- 
 ing, and it thus crept on with a steadiness that was 
 as admirable as it was reassuring. 
 
 The worst part of the day'a travel came in the 
 afternoon, when a long and woefully steep ascent 
 led up to a great bank of snow, the iirst the party 
 had encountered. 
 
 High up in the world as they were, the heat and 
 
 r 
 
 i\ 
 
AN EXTKAOUDINAKY STEED 69 
 
 glare of t),e sun while passing over tl,e rooks had 
 been trying in the extreme ; bnt as they approached 
 the snow the sky darkened, and a violent wind came 
 sweeping over the summit of the pass from the fields 
 of ice beyond tliat chilled them to the bone. 
 
 By this time they were all more or less weary 
 from the extra fatigue of their forced march, and 
 the rarefied air made breathing difBcult. But they 
 dare not halt even for a moment. To have done so 
 would have only added to the perils of their situa- 
 tion. They must press on resolutely until thev 
 were beyond the summit, and had got son.e dis- 
 tance below it, before they could venture to call 
 a Iidlt. 
 
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 CHAPTER VI 
 
 STRANGE VISITORS AT NIGHT 
 
 So severe was the toil of conquering the Ruhaiig 
 Pass that even the Sikh and Goorkha showed signs 
 of faltering, while some of the poor coolies fairly 
 broke down and cried as they staggered along under 
 their burdens, which, after all, were not more than 
 fifty pounds apiece. 
 
 But Mr. Stanuard's spirits and energy seemed 
 limitless. He poked fun at Champ and Bunty for 
 being no better than a pair of boys, he scolded or. 
 cheered the coolies according to his knowledge of 
 their nature, and he had always a helping hand 
 for everybody thai might be in difficulties. 
 
 He was the first to try the dangerous places, 
 and his example so inspired the others that, in 
 spite of wind and cold and snow, Sugnam was 
 reached ere nightfall without mishap or damage 
 of any kind. 
 
 Sugnam being a large village where the people 
 
 seemed well-to-do, Mr. Stannard Jecided to rest 
 
 for a day, in order to recover from their great 
 
 n 
 
III! 
 
 STRANGE VISITORS AT NIGHT /I 
 
 exertion. So the tents were pitched in a pleasant 
 place shaded by large willow-trees, while near at 
 hand were abundance of apricot-trees and vines, 
 that gave good promise of bearing big purple grapes 
 iu plenty. 
 
 Kent lamented that the fruit season was not at 
 hand. Apricots and grapes would have made a 
 very pleasant addition to their rather monotonous 
 bill of fare. But they could hardly wait for the 
 fruit to ripen. So he had to content himself with 
 the hope that on the return journey they would be 
 in good season. 
 
 So refreshed was everybody by the day's rest 
 that Mr. Stannard determined upon another forced 
 march. The usual thing was to count from Sugnam 
 to Shaso a short day's journey, and from Shaso to 
 Pu another ; but Mr. Stannard would put the two 
 stages into one. 
 
 " We're all sound in wind and limb still," he 
 told his party, " and the faster we get on the better 
 for us in every way. There's no tellinir what acci- 
 dents or delays may befall us farther on. Let's make 
 hay while the sun shines." 
 
 Nor was he content with words of cheer. When- 
 ever he called upon the coolies for any extra exer- 
 tion, he always added a couple of aniuis to that 
 day's pay, a recompense wliich amply atoned for 
 the additional labours tliey had to endure. 
 
 
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 ■n 
 
 mmm 
 
 mm 
 
 72 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 i 
 
 li; ii 
 
 
 
 From Sugnam to Shaso was comparatively easy 
 going, but there were some spots on the way from 
 Shaso to Pu that tried the nerves and muscles of 
 the travellers severely. 
 
 The track ran across the face of tremendous slate 
 precipices, which rose up in a steep slope thousands 
 of feet from the foaming and thundering Sutlej. 
 The weather had worn away the softer parts of the 
 slate in many places, leaving the liardened ends 
 sticking out, and where these protruding portions 
 were close together, long slabs of slate had been 
 laid across them, forming a precarious footpath 
 that a mountain goat might well have refused to 
 trust himself upon. Where these projections were 
 not sufficiently on line, or were too far distant from 
 each other to allow of the slabs being fixed, the 
 travellers had to work their way along as best they 
 could. 
 
 If, however, a long gap made this out of the 
 question, ropes of twifted juniper-branches had 
 been stretched from one point to another, upon 
 which slabs of slate were placed, with their inner 
 ends resting on crevices in the precipice wall, thus 
 forming a footpath with many gaps in it, through 
 which a view could be had into awful depths 
 beneath. 
 
 Nor was the danger of losing one's tooting the 
 only oue the mountaiu-climbers had to fact-. Tiiu 
 
STRANGE VISITORS AT NIGHT 
 
 73 
 
 rope-bridges were about <i3 insecure as such things 
 could possibly be, bending and shaking so beneath 
 the strain put upon them that every now and then 
 a slab would drop out, and go clattering down the 
 chasm until smashed to atoms ; while from aliove 
 loose fragments of slate were continually falling, 
 as if the mountain were keeping up a fusillade 
 upon the daring wayfarers. 
 
 Kent was very silent during this difficult and 
 dangerous travel. The tremendous sublimity of 
 their surroundings, the sombre jag'j^ed precipices 
 all around, the sunless gorge of the Sutlej beneath, 
 the frowning clifls above, no less than the strain of 
 keeping his place in the little procession of climbers 
 while the hot July sun beat mercilessly upon the 
 bare slate, producing a heat that was almost sick- 
 ening — these in€uences tied his tongue, and he 
 plodded along with little more than one thought in 
 his mind — to wit, When would thaV, awful journey 
 come to an eud ? 
 
 The yak had, of course been dismissed before 
 this part of the route had been entered upon, and 
 Kent had only " shanks' mare " to carry him. But 
 he kept up with really admirable fortitude, winning 
 many a warm word of praise from his father, and 
 materially increasing the respect which the Sikh 
 and Goorkha were coming to entertain tor the 
 young Sahib's powers. 
 
 V ' III 
 
 "II 
 
 HI 
 
 I 
 
pi! ' 
 
 \4 
 
 74 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 But it seemed that he had overcome the toils 
 and trials of that day's travel only to lace a more 
 insidious, though no less dangerous, foe which now 
 attacked him. It was in the evening, after dinner 
 — for which, by the way, Kent did not show his 
 wonted appetite — had been disposed of, that the 
 first signs of trouble showed themselves. 
 
 He had been feeling strange for some time 
 before saying anything, but at last thought it 
 necessary to speak. 
 
 " It seems to me as if I was going to have a sick 
 spell, father," he said. " I'm feeling awfully queer. 
 What can be the matter ? " 
 
 " I'm afraid I've let you overdo yourself to-day, 
 my boy," responded Mr. Stanuard, in a tone of 
 tender self-reproach. "I was so anxious to reach 
 here by sunset that I've not sufficiently considered 
 your young strength." 
 
 " Oh, I don't think it's that, father," returned 
 Kent, with a grave attempt at a smile. " I'm tired, 
 of course, but not more than I've been after a foot- 
 ball match at school. It's my head that's bothering 
 me, and I've got horrid little pains here," placing 
 his hand upon his stomach. 
 
 At this Mr. Stannard looked grave, and taking 
 Kent's hand, felt his pulse, and also pressed his own 
 palm upon his forehead. 
 
 " I hope }' 're not in fur an attack of dysentery, 
 
STRANGE VISITORS AT NIGUT 
 
 75 
 
 Kent," said he. " But if it should be that, Fni 
 glad to say I've got the right medicine with me." 
 
 In the event Mr. Stannard's apprehensions proved 
 well formed. Kent grew much worse during the 
 night, and had to take big doses of ipecacuanha and 
 calomel, which nauseous remedies were almost as 
 hard to stand as the cramps. 
 
 Of course no progress could be thought of until 
 Kent had quite recovered, and Mr. Stannard con- 
 gratulated himself that, since this untoward event 
 had to occur, it came to them when they were so 
 advantageously camped. 
 
 Pu was a good-sized village, well situated on the 
 slope of a mountain, and the tents had been pitched 
 on its outskirts in a terraced field, where the apricot- 
 trees gave them protection from both sun and wind. 
 
 Among the residents of Pu was a Moravian mis- 
 sionary and his wife, and the good woman, as soon 
 as she heard of Kent's condition, became a very 
 angel of mercy to him. They could not converse, 
 because he spoke only English and French, while 
 she knew German and Thibetan. But she had 
 such a kind, motherly face, and knew so thoroughly 
 how to soothe his fevered pillow, and to tempt his 
 appetite with daintily cooked food, that the mother- 
 less boy's heart went out unreservedly to her, and 
 he spoke to her eloquently with his eyes, though 
 he could say nothing with his tongue, 
 
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 76 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
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 It was a whole week lie fore Kent fully recovered, 
 and during the long night-watches, when he was 
 lying awake, while the others slept soundly, he saw 
 some stranfje sights — so strange, indeed, that at 
 first he said nothing about them, thinking that they 
 might be the mere figments of his brain, upset for 
 the time by his sufTerings. The door of the tent 
 was kept open for the sake of coolness, and the 
 moon being at the full, Kent could see clearly all 
 that went on outside. 
 
 His first sensation came from the sight of 
 serpents, big fellows, full six feet long, that went 
 gliding past the tent, happily too intent on some 
 other business to pay him a visit. 
 
 Now Kent had heard his father say that there 
 were no snakes in the Himalayas, and at first he 
 thought he was dreaming, but when he not only 
 saw the repulsive things, but actually heard them 
 moving about, he doubted no longer, and, sure 
 enough, the Sikh, happening once to get up 
 through the night, caught sight of a serpent not 
 three yards from the tent, and, uttering an ex- 
 clamation of horror, crushed its head by a for- 
 tunate blow from a stone that he promptly hurled 
 at it. 
 
 Other nocturnal visitors were great Thibetan 
 mastitis belonging to a Lama nunnery higher up 
 the mountain, that used to be let loose at night, 
 
 
STKAi^GE VISITORS AT NIGHT 
 
 [ 
 
 77 
 
 and came down to the tents to prowl about, pro- 
 bably in quest of food. 
 
 At the outset Kent did not mind them. Indeed, 
 he liked their coming. He was very fond of dogs, 
 and these huge creatures were the finest of their 
 kind he had ever seen. 
 
 There was one especially big fellow of whom he 
 had begun to feel quite fond. In fact, he had 
 quite made up his mind to try and buy him when 
 he got well. But one night he was awakened from 
 a kind of nightmare by finding the dog standing 
 over him with his fore-paw on his chest, while he 
 fumbled at his throat with his tremendous jaws as 
 if about to devour him. 
 
 In a trice Kent's growing affection gave way to 
 wild terror, and throwing off the brute by a frantic 
 effort, he shouted, " Father ! father ! wake up and 
 shoot him ! " 
 
 Mr. Stannard had the happy faculty of waking 
 at once from sound sleep with all his faculties 
 about him. He responded to Kent's call with won- 
 derful promptitude, and seized his rifle just as the 
 dog, growling fiercely, was retreating from the tent. 
 
 Taking rapid aim, he pulled the trigger, and the 
 buij.et, traversing nearly the whole length of the 
 mastiff's body, buried itself in the tent. The animal 
 gave one awful roar of mingled rage and agony, 
 and rolled over dead. 
 
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 78 
 
 ON TlIK WORLDS KOOF 
 
 After this incident Kent was never left alone at 
 night, Mr. Stannard taking turns witli Champ and 
 Bunty in keeping watch beside him. 
 
 Yet the most exciting experience was still to 
 come. It was drawing near tlie close of the week, 
 and Kent was decidedly on the mend. In a 
 couple of days he would be able to resume travel- 
 ling, Bunty was sitting up with him, and Kent 
 had been sleeping so soundly during the first part 
 of the night that the Goorkha, who had eaten a 
 particularly large dinner of roast mutton and rice, 
 allowed his vigilance to relax, and dozed o£P, until 
 finally he fell into a profound sleep himself. 
 
 A little after midnight Kent woke up, for no 
 particular reason so far as he knew, and glancing 
 through the door of the tent, was surprised to 
 see a very strange-looking figure moving about 
 with the unsteady swaying motion of a drunken 
 man. 
 
 There were some Chinese-Tartar pilgrims en- 
 camped near the Lama temple, and Kent thought 
 at first it must be one of these arrayed in a clumsy 
 sheepskin coat, who had wandered down while too 
 drunk to know just what he was about. He 
 therefore kept still, for he had no apprehension 
 of danger from that source. 
 
 But when the strange object went over to an 
 apricot-tree, and began to climb in a curious 
 
 
 % 
 
 i 
 

 i li 1 
 
 STUANGE VISITORS AT NiGlIT 
 
 79 
 
 fashion ihat certainly was not human, Kent's sus- 
 picious were arouse J. and he called out, " Bunty, 
 wake up ! See what that thing is 1 " 
 
 At tlie sound of his voice the mysterious 
 creature turned its head — for it had hitherto had 
 its back to the tent — and uttered a ferocious growl 
 that at once gave Kent a clue to its identity. 
 Without doubt it was a bear, and a big one too ! 
 
 Kent's call awoke not only Bunty, but Mr. 
 Stannard also, and both sprang to their feet, the 
 one grasping his rifle, the other the famous 
 Goorkha knife, with which in the right hand 
 such terrible execution can be done. 
 
 The bear was now sending forth menacing 
 prowls and grunts that said as plainly as 
 words could have done it, " Touch me, if you 
 dare." 
 
 But Mr. Stannard was not one to be intimidated 
 in this fashion. He had promptly come to the con- 
 clusion that the midnight visitor was no common- 
 place Indian blaok bear, nor even a Thibetan bear, 
 but one of the big yellow snow-bears, which rarely 
 descend below the snow-line, and are known to be 
 very fierce and dangerous. 
 
 "We must have that fellow, Kent," he said. 
 " It's the first chance I've had to kill one, and we 
 won't let him ofi'." 
 
 By this time the bear had got well up into the 
 
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 80 
 
 ON THE WOULD S ROOF 
 
 apricot-tree, where the foliage hid him, so that good 
 aim could not be taken. 
 
 " Throw some stones at him, Bahadur," ordered 
 Mr. Stannard, and the Goorkha sent a big volley of 
 rocks at the hidden animal. They were at once 
 effective ; for, resuming his growling, which he had 
 given over when he began eating the fruit, the bear 
 promptly started to descend again to give battle to 
 his challengers. 
 
 Sitting up in bed, Kent had a full view of the 
 whole proceedings, and watched them with intense 
 interest, not altogether free from concern lest his 
 father might suffer some harm. 
 
 Tail first the great clumsy creature came down 
 the tree-trunk, halting every yard or two to turn 
 its head towards the tent and give a thunderous 
 growl that meant plainly : " Take advantage of me 
 now, if you dare. I'll make you suffer for it the 
 moment I get my four feet on the ground again." 
 
 " Why don't you fire at him, father ? " screamed 
 Kent, quivering with excitement. 
 
 But Mr. Stannard was waiting until the bear 
 should expose his full front, and thus present a 
 target that could hardly be missed. 
 
 Bunty stood at his side, his heavy, keen-edged 
 kuilo in hand, ready to decapitate the creature at 
 one blow if he got a good chance. 
 
 As Mr. Stannard expected, the bear, on reaching 
 
STRANGE VISITORS AT NIGHT 
 
 8i 
 
 the ground, reared upon its hind-legs to face its 
 assailants. This was the hunter's opportunity. 
 Aiming carefully at the shaggy beast, he pulled 
 the trigger, confident that with the report the bear 
 would pitch forward stone-dead. 
 
 But whether owing to the uncertain light, or to 
 a trembling of the nerves due to the midnight dis- 
 turbance, Mr. Stannard's wonted accuracy failed him 
 for once, and the leaden messenger did not find its 
 way straight to the animal's heart. With a quick- 
 ness almost incredible in so large and heavy a 
 creature, the bear, dropping on to its four feet, 
 charged furiously at Mr. Stannard. 
 
 Thr latter had no time to reload, or to snatch 
 up another rifle, but clubbing the one he had, he 
 brought it down with all his might upon the bear's 
 head. It was a blow that might have felled an ox, 
 yet the bear hardly seemed to feel it, and the next 
 instant he had knocked Mr. Stannard down and was 
 standing over him growling horribly. 
 
 Mr. Stannard might have avoided his fierce 
 charge, indeed, but to have done so would have left 
 undefended the tent where Kent lay helpless, and 
 this his father's heart could not for a moment 
 consider. 
 
 As Kent saw him fall he sprang out of bed 
 himself, crying to the Goorkha, " Save him, Bunty ! 
 — oh, save him ! " 
 
 I 
 
 ii 
 
82 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 The plucky fellow needed no such appeal. He 
 had only been waiting for the right moment to 
 intervene. Darting forward, he swung hie huge 
 knife on high, and with a thrilling swish it de- 
 scended upon the bear's neck just behind the ears. 
 
 He could not have done it more scientifically if 
 he had taken long minutes instead of a brief second 
 to get his aim. The Hashing blade shore through 
 fur and flesh, snapping the spinal cord and well- 
 nigh severing the head from the body. Without 
 even a final growl the bear sank down dead, beyond 
 a perad venture. 
 
 " Father 1 father ! are you hurt ? Did the bear 
 bite you ? " cried Kent, standing at the tent door, 
 and looking like a ghost in the moonlight. 
 
 Mr. Stannard, throwing ofif the inert body that 
 pressed heavily upon him, rose up and shook 
 himself. 
 
 " Hurt, Kent — not a bit, thank God ! although I 
 did come down rather hard on these stones. Go 
 back to bed, my boy, or you'll be getting worse again." 
 
 Quite relieved by his father's cheery tone, Kent 
 went back to his cot, while Mr. Stannard and the 
 Goorkha proceeded to examine their prize. It 
 proved to be an unusually fine specimen of the 
 Ursus Isahellinus, one of the most savage of its 
 kind, and Mr. Stannard felt very proud indeed of 
 having bagged it with Bunty's aid. 
 
 s 
 
STRANGE VISITORS AT NIGHT 
 
 83 
 
 "I know many a white shikari that would envy 
 me this night's work, Kent," said he exultantly 
 when the heavy carcass had been hung up to the 
 tree, so as to be out of the way of the dogs that 
 were so continually prowling around. " Why, my 
 boy, it is not unusual for one of those fellows to 
 pull down a yak and make a meal off him if he 
 gets the chance, which he does in midsummer, when 
 the yaks ^ve sent up to the heights to graze. I 
 haven't had a kill for some time that gave me as 
 much satisfaction as this one." 
 
 This was the last of Kent's nocturnal disturbers, 
 and the remaining nights of their stay at Pu were 
 quiet enough, but they were all none the less glad 
 when his complete recovery enabled them to pro- 
 ceed again. 
 
 Their next stopping-place of importance would be 
 Shipki, just across the borders of Chiiese Thibet, 
 and Mr. Stannard was anxious to reach it as soon 
 as possible, for there would be decided the momen- 
 tous question whether they would be permitted to 
 enter the mysterious region to which it was the 
 gateway, or be compelled to turn away baffled from 
 the portal at which so many before them had applied 
 in vain. 
 
 ill 
 
 mn 
 
 m 
 
r 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 AT THE GATEWAY OF THIBET 
 
 Bidding farewell to the kind missionary and to his 
 wife, whose motherly attention had helped so much 
 in bringing Kent back to health, and not forgetting 
 to make them presents that they highly appreciated, 
 the travellers set out from Pu in high spirits. 
 
 While their journey was undoubtedly growing 
 more difficult, it was also increasing in interest, and 
 if it should be that they could slip past Shipki 
 unchallenged, or obtain permission to pass by any 
 diplomacy, and thus make their way to the strange 
 city of Lh'asa, the jealously guarded capital of the 
 Thibetan empire, then would the purpose of their 
 expedition be gloriously accomplished. 
 
 "But I confess I am far from sanguine as to 
 getting past Shipki," said Mr. Stannard to Kent as 
 they talked together over their plans. " Why those 
 ugly, dirty heathens should be so afraid of letting 
 Europeans see their capital beats my comprehension. 
 We certainly don't want to take it from them. It 
 would be of no use to us whatever, and they have 
 
 ,' 
 
 :l 
 
AT THE GATEWAY OF THIBET 
 
 85 
 
 everything to gain by opening their country to 
 commerce. But they're as obstinate as they are 
 dirty. However," he added, brightening up, " per- 
 haps they may let us througli ; and if they do, we'll 
 certainly push on to Lh'asa, and if we succeed in 
 reaching it, Kent, you'll be able to boast of being the 
 tirst English boy to set foot inside its walls." 
 
 Kent's eyes glistened and his cheeks flushed. 
 " Wouldn't that be splendid, father ? " he exclaimed. 
 
 "It would, my boy," responded Mr. Stannard. 
 " But don't set your heart too much upon it. The 
 chances are about nine to one that we shall be 
 turned back." 
 
 It was a good two days' march to Shipki, and 
 they made it without accident or incident of special 
 sort. In crossing the Sutlej river at Dubling they 
 made their first acquaintance with the sangpa^ a 
 curious kind of wooden bridge, which is supposed 
 to have suggested the cantilever principle, on which 
 the famous Forth Bridge and other great structures 
 of the kind have been built. 
 
 Mr. Stannard pointed out to Kent how cleverly 
 the native builders had done their work, great beams 
 being pushed out from each side of the gorge one 
 over the other, with their shore - ends securely 
 weighted down, until they came close enough to- 
 gether to permit of their extremities being joined 
 by long planks. Tliere was no sign of a railing, 
 
 ,i 
 
 j 
 
 ii ■ 
 
 
86 
 
 ON THK WORLDS ROOF 
 
 and the bridge, being but three feet broad and de- 
 cidedly shaky, while the river rushed roaring nearly 
 a hundred feet below it, called for a sure foot and a 
 steady head to cross it safely. 
 
 All of Mr. Stannard's party got over without 
 mishap, but just behind them came a Tartar mer- 
 chant, returning to his home beyond the border, who 
 had a big yak laden with goods. This animal took 
 it into his stupid head to balk just when it reached 
 the middle of the bridge, and the most strenuous 
 efforts of the man who was leading it by the nose- 
 ring, supplemented by the frantic shouting of the 
 merchant, who brought up the rear, availed nothing 
 to make it move on. 
 
 Though powerless to render any assistance, Mr. 
 Stannard and those with him waited to see what 
 would be the end of the matter. 
 
 The old bridge had bee a shaky enough under 
 their weight, but with the great bulk of the yak 
 bearing heavily upon it, it swayed and cracked in a 
 manner ominously prophetic of an early collapse. 
 
 There was a comical aspect to the afifair that 
 Kent was quick to appreciate. 
 
 " Just see what a state of excitement that chap's 
 in," he said laughingly. "If he don't take care 
 he'll be over the bridge himself." 
 
 " I imagine you would be pretty well worked 
 up too," replied his father, " if all you were worth 
 
AT THE GATEWAY OF THIBET 
 
 87 
 
 in the world was on the back of that provoking 
 brute." 
 
 The Tartar merchant certainly presented a mov- 
 ing picture as he raged away at the stubborn 
 animal, no doubt aspersing its ancestors unto the 
 third and fourth generation, and bespeaking male- 
 dictions upon its posterity in like measure. 
 
 For full ten minutes the great creature stood as 
 motionless as if cast in bronze. Then, as though 
 stung by a hornet, it suddenly plunged forward, 
 causing the man in front to narrowly escape a 
 tumble over the side of the bridge in his effort to 
 get out of its way, and letting the merchant, who 
 had been shoving behind with all his might, fall for- 
 ward on his face, to the serious detriment of his nose, 
 which got a nasty scrape against the rough planks. 
 
 But that was not the worst of the matter. In 
 thus darting forward, the yak, unaccustomed to any 
 such rash and rapid movements, lost its footing, and 
 amid the loud wails of master and driver, lurched 
 heavily oflf the bridge into the raging torrent far 
 below. 
 
 " Bless my heart ! that's too bad," exclaimed Mr. 
 Stannard, in a tone of genuine sympathy. " I'm 
 afraid that's a hopeless case." 
 
 "He's gone for sure," said Kent, pressing for- 
 ward to the end of the chasm to see the last of the 
 unfortunate yak. 
 
 1^ i 
 
 I ; 
 
 nil 
 
88 
 
 ON THB WORLD 8 ROOP 
 
 But neither of them knew how much Bos grun- 
 niens could stand. At the first plunge the clumsy 
 creature vanished out of sight, only to emerge again 
 fifty feet farther down, and to strike out bravely 
 for life. 
 
 " Just look at him, father ! " cried Kent, dancing 
 about in his excitement. "He can swim like a 
 duck." 
 
 True enough, the yak evidently could swim as- 
 tonishingly well, and Mr. Stannard, glancing down 
 the stream saw an eddy just below from which, if 
 the animal got into it, there might be some ciiance 
 of a rescue. 
 
 " Come along, Kent," said Mr. Stannard ; " that 
 fellow may be pulled out after all." 
 
 "Whether the yak had sufficient instinct or in- 
 telligence to take in the situation it would be hard 
 to say. As a matter of fact, it struggled towards 
 the eddy, and succeeded in reaching it, thus escap- 
 ing the merciless grpsp of the torrent. 
 
 Mr. Stannard, accompanied by Kent and the 
 two servants, besides a number of the coolies, now 
 addressed themselves to the task of getting the 
 animal out of its precarious position, its owner and 
 driver looking on with intense interest, but not 
 offering the slightest help. It was a tough job ; 
 but Mr. Stannard was not one to give up in a 
 hurry anything he undertook, and at the end of 
 
 \. 
 
 M 
 
AT THE GATEWAY OK THIBET 
 
 89 
 
 an hour the yak was up on the river-bank again, 
 very little the worse for its rough experience. 
 
 The merchant's gratitude was quite embarrassing. 
 If Mr. Stannard had been minded to take literally 
 what he said, his possessions would have been 
 rescued from the torrent only to be the reward 
 of their rescuer. 
 
 But Mr. Stannard would have nothing save 
 thanks, and leaving the man to examine his goods, 
 and see how much they had sufl'ered from the 
 mishap, he went his way, quite content with his 
 part in the transaction. 
 
 They camped in a terraced field a little beyond 
 Namgea, where water and firewood were in abun- 
 dance. Here the view outspread before them was 
 indescribably grand. They were themselves at a 
 height of over twelve thousand feet, but right in 
 front, from the opposite bank of the Sutlej, rose the 
 mountain called Lio Porgyul, so sheer and stark that 
 a stone could be rolled from its summit, twenty-three 
 thousand feet in height, down into the waters of 
 the river running ten thousand feet below its snow- 
 capped peak. This glorious mountain sent so many 
 towers and aiguilles up into the cold, clear air that 
 it reminded Mr. Stannard of Milan Cathedral. 
 
 " That's a sight worth travelling far to see, even 
 over such rough roads as we've had to put up with, 
 isn't it, Kent ? " he said enthusiastically, as they 
 
1 
 
 90 
 
 ON THE WORLDS UOOF 
 
 watched the wonderful play of the departing sunlight 
 upon the mountain's vari-coloured flank. 
 
 " It is indeed, father," replied Kent ; " and I'm 
 so glad you let me come with you. I'm enjoying 
 every bit of the way." 
 
 Mr. Stannard gave his son a look of profound 
 pride and affection. 
 
 " You're a regular chip of tlie old block, my boy," 
 he said, throwing his arm about him. " You've got 
 my taste for travel, and for seeing strange places 
 and people. If your poor dear mother were still 
 alive, I'm afraid we would fill her heart with 
 anxiety ; " and then, the sense of his bereavement 
 coming over him afresh at the mention of his dear 
 wife, his eyes filled with tears, and he said no more. 
 
 But Kent understood, and taking his father's 
 hand, he pressed it tenderly between his own, in 
 gentle, silent sympathy. There was something 
 very beautiful about the perfect mutual under- 
 standing that existed between the father and son. 
 It seldom found expression in words or deeds, but 
 it was the very atmosphere in which they lived, 
 and they rarely held any difference of opinion that 
 was of consequence. 
 
 But if Lio Porgyul was impressive by day, it 
 became almost overpowering at night, when the 
 moon was slowly rising behind the dark precipice, 
 on a shelf of which the camp had been pitched. 
 
AT THE GATEWAY OP THIBET 
 
 91 
 
 .1 * 
 
 Before it bLcanio visible itself, the orb of night's 
 wliite raya lit up the deep gorges of the Spiti river, 
 and batlied in silvery splendour the multitudinous 
 towers and battleineuta of the mighty mountain. 
 " It did not at all appear as if any external light 
 were falling, but rather as if the great castle of the 
 gods, being transparent as alabaster, were lighted 
 up from within, and shone in its own radiance, 
 throwing its supernatural light on the savage scene 
 around." 
 
 So magnificent was the effect, and with such 
 skill did it seem to be numaged, that Kent could 
 hardly be blamed for being id^iinded of a mar- 
 vellous transformation 3ne that had struck him 
 spell-bound with admiration in a Christmas pan- 
 tomime at the Adelphi the previous winter. His 
 father was much amused at his making any com- 
 parison between the glorious work of Nature and 
 the paltry imitation of man, but Kent stuck man- 
 fully to it that the latter was by no means to be 
 despised. 
 
 In getting from the Namgea fields to Shipki it 
 was necessary to reach an altitude of some sixteen 
 thousand feet, and fearing that the exertion involved 
 would be rather too much for Kent, Mr. Stanuard 
 obtained for him the use of a yak, which Kent was 
 only too glad to ride. 
 
 The creature moved with exasperating slowness, 
 
 ^1 
 
 ^ 
 
92 
 
 ON THE world's ROOr 
 
 I 
 
 1! 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 grunting protests at every step, but it was as sure 
 as it was slow, and it kept on steadily without 
 stopping to rest. 
 
 Bunty, most of whose life had been spent among 
 the mountains of Nepaul, did not seem to mind the 
 stiff qlimbing at all, his tongue going incessantly 
 as he trotted along. 
 
 But the tall Sikh found it very hard work, the 
 rarefied air being so difficult to breathe that he was 
 attacked with a bleeding at the nose, which scared 
 him a good deal until Mr. Stannard reassured bins. 
 
 The latter led the v,'ay with seemingly tireless 
 step, neither the thinness of the air nor the dififi- 
 culties of the path giving him any concern. 
 
 During the middle of the day the heat reflected 
 from the bare rock, upon which the sun poured 
 down with unsparing energy, was very harassing ; 
 but when at length the summit of the path was 
 reached, and they halted upon the open brow of 
 the mountain, which here was covered with grass 
 and flowers, they felt fully repaid for the toils of 
 the ascent. A superb panorama unrolled itself 
 before their eyes as they gazed north, south, east, 
 and west, the most remarkable feature being the 
 gigantic semicircle of appalling precipices, lofty 
 rock-per.ks, and snowy summits more than twenty 
 thousand feet high. 
 
 Kent, having ridden at his ease on tlie yak, 
 
 |i, « 
 
AT THE GATEWAY OF THIBET 
 
 93 
 
 while the others toiled on foot, set off in quest of 
 flowers while they rested for a spell, and brought 
 back to his father a beautiful bouquet of blue 
 Alpine blossoms, whose loveliness was enhanced 
 by the savage grandeur of the sunoundings amid 
 which they ventured to bloom. 
 
 About the middle of the afternoon they came 
 to the Thibetan boundary, and from the extreme 
 summit of the pass had a clear view into Tar- 
 tary, the strange region that was the goal of their 
 expedition. 
 
 It presented to their eyes a great expanse of 
 bare and rounded, but smooth-looking, hills, fading 
 away into the elevated plane beyond. Hardly a 
 tree was visible, and there were no high peaks 
 nor abrupt precipices. Here and there were great 
 patches of dark brown furze that bore a strong 
 resemblance to Scotch heather. 
 
 Kent, who had spent a summer in the High- 
 lands, noticed this, and drew his fathers attention 
 to it. 
 
 " You're quite right, Kent," he responded. " It 
 does certainly look very much like a Scotch moor 
 in those places; but," he addeti, sweeping his hand 
 around the wide scene, " the rest of it is very 
 different from dear old Scotland, isn't it?" 
 
 And certainly there was nothing in Scotland 
 to be compared to the wild sterility of those 
 
 
94 
 
 ON THE W0I{LD'S ROOF 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 Tartary plains, or to the tremendous mass of Lio 
 Porgyul. 
 
 Six thoupand feet in direct descent from where 
 they stood lay the large village of Shipki, and they 
 could see the inhabitants moving about on their 
 terraced fields, or resting on their house-tops, and 
 looking more like ants than human beings. 
 
 " That's where our fate will be decided, Kent," 
 said Mr. Stannard, with a grave expression ; " and 
 I'm by no means confident as to the result, for if 
 the people refuse to supply us with yaks and coolies 
 we've got to turn back." 
 
 It was a very tiresome and dreary business getting 
 down to Shipki, anticipating which, Mr. Stannard 
 had sent the Sikh and Gocrkha on ahead with the 
 tents, so that they might be all ready for them to 
 rest on their arrival. 
 
 Great, therefore, was their disappointment, on 
 reaching the village completely done out, to find 
 not only that the tents were not put up, but 
 that the chance of their being so seemed decidedly 
 small. 
 
 Provoking as it was, the situation was not with- 
 out its amusing aspect, which helped to keep Mr. 
 Stannard in good humour while he set himself to 
 solve the problem presented. 
 
 The village of Shipki stood on the steep slope of 
 a hill above a foaming river, and was remarkably 
 
AT THB GATEWAY OF THIBET 
 
 95 
 
 deficient in level ground; in fact, the only level 
 place was the roofs of the houses and the long ter- 
 raced fields, the entrances to which were jealously 
 guarded by prickly hedges or stout stone walls. 
 
 Now, it is not practicable to pitch a tent on the 
 side of a hill covered with big stones, and having a 
 slope of 45°, so that the choice lay between the 
 roof of a house and a terraced field ; and just here 
 came the dilemma that Champ and Bunty had 
 found facing them. Upon every house-top stood 
 a ferocious Thibetan mastiff, bristling with eager- 
 ness to attack the strangers ; while, whenever the 
 tent-carriers sought to enter one of the fields, their 
 way was barred by a band of handsome and sturdy 
 young Tartar women, clad in red and black tunics, 
 loose trousers, and immense cloth hoods, who not 
 only placed their bulky persons in opposition to 
 any entrance, but even showed fight. 
 
 Such was the condition of affairs when Mr. 
 Stannard arrived ; the stalwart Sikh still stately 
 and dignified, although the flash of his eye betrayed 
 his anger, and the more excitable Goorklia dodging 
 this way and that, and laying his hand upon his 
 terrible knife with a significance that was un- 
 mistakable. 
 
 " Hello ! what's the matter now ? " inquired 
 Mr. Stannard, with a half-perplexed, half-amused 
 expression. " What have you been saying to 
 
 f^ 
 
 : 
 
 (II 
 
 \i 
 
Ij 
 
 96 
 
 ON THE WORLD S ROOF 
 
 the ladies that they are giving you so warm a 
 reception ? " 
 
 Chunna Lai hastened to explain that all his 
 efforts to find a suitable camping-place had been 
 foiled by the belligerent damsels, who were evi- 
 dently resolved that the travellers should find no 
 resting-spot within the borders of the village. 
 
 Seeing how the wind blew, and understanding 
 better than his servants the real state of affairs, Mr. 
 Stannard, assuming his most conciliatory manner, 
 strove to obtain by diplomacy, and the ofifer of 
 liberal payment, the privilege his men had failed 
 to secure by arguments or a show of force. 
 
 But the Tartar women were obdurate. If the 
 Sahibs wanted to camp, there was a capital place 
 just half-way up the mountain-side down which 
 they had just come, and there was plenty of time 
 to get back there before nightfall. 
 
 Meanwhile groups of men seated on the roofs of 
 the houses were watching the proceedings with 
 lively interest. They were quite willing that the 
 women should do all the talking and block the 
 purpose of the white visitors, but they were none 
 the less ready to resent any insult or violence 
 that might be offered to their brawny wives or 
 daughters. 
 
 Kent began to get alarmed. It seemed hope- 
 less to carry the day when men, women, and dogs 
 
 Mi 
 
 
AT THE GATEWAY OF THIBET 
 
 97 
 
 were all so unanimous in obstruction, so he said to 
 his father — 
 
 " Hadn't we better go back ? It might not be 
 safe to stay here all night any way." 
 
 But Mr. Stannard's resources were not yet ex- 
 hausted. He had espied a Lama coming slowly 
 down the street, and in the hope that he might 
 prove more tractable than the rest of tiie villagers, 
 he hastened to meet him. Nor was his confidence 
 misplaced. The Lama promptly took tlie travellers' 
 part, and in default of obtaining better quarters, 
 offered them a field of his own, which, although 
 very limited in size, yet, with a little management, 
 proved adequate for the accommodation of the whole 
 party. 
 
 Strange to say, on their taking possession of 
 this plot, the villagers, finding themselves outwitted, 
 instead of showing resentment, took their discom- 
 fiture quite good-humouredly, even the dogs ceasing 
 their angry growlings and seeming resigned to the 
 situation. 
 
 " Tiiey're not such a bad lot after all," said Mr. 
 Staniiard. "Perhaps it may not be so hard a job 
 as I feared getting into Thibet." 
 
 But in speaking thus he was reckoning without 
 his host, as the events of the morrow would show 
 only too plainly. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 ii 
 
 TURNED BACK FROM TARTARY 
 
 At Shipki the obligations of the coolies and yak- 
 men who had been Mr. Stannard's carriers ended, 
 and nothing would induce them to go farther. 
 They were anxious to return to their homes, and 
 neither entreaties nor money had any influence 
 upon them. 
 
 Moreover, they assured Mr. Staunard that they 
 did not dare to go on ; for, if the Tartars did not 
 fall upon them then, they would certainly do so at 
 the first opportunity. They therefore hastened to 
 betake themselves homeward soon after daybreak, 
 leaving Mr. Stannard with only Chunna Lai and 
 Bahadur Kanwar to assist him. 
 
 Now, even if these two had been willing to act 
 as carriers, which, however, they were not, they 
 would have been entirely inadequate to the task. 
 Not less than a dozen coolies were absolutely neces- 
 sary, and to obtain these Mr. Stannard turned to 
 the Tartars. 
 
 Only then did the full difficulties of his situa- 
 
 gS 
 
 I 
 
TURNED BACK FROM TARTARY 
 
 99 
 
 § 
 
 tion reveal themselves to him. The people of 
 Shipki with one consent laughed at his endeavour- 
 ing to go farther into their country, and flatly 
 refused to give him any assistance whatever. 
 
 On being pressed to explain their curious con- 
 duct, seeing that Mr. Stannard was only a harmless 
 traveller, with nothing more in view than his own 
 amusement or information, they stated that they 
 had express orders from the Lh'asa Government not 
 to let any Europeans pass, and that it would be 
 as much as their lives and properties were worth 
 to allow them to do so. 
 
 They even took the trouble to enter into particu- 
 lars as to the dreadful modes of torture and death- 
 such as crucifying, ripping open the body, press- 
 ing and cutting out the eyes, and burying in tlie 
 ground with only the head exposed, to be a prey 
 to all kinds of insects — which might be visited upon 
 them if they disobeyed the Government's orders. 
 
 Mr. Stannard took it for granted that there was 
 a good deal of exaggeration about all this, and 
 spent a whole day arguing with the chief men of 
 the village. But it proved a waste of time and 
 breath. The Tartars were as obdurate as the 
 rocks around them, and at the end of the day 
 Mr. 8 annard had to give up the job of overcom- 
 ing their opposition as hopeless. 
 
 "It's no use, Kent," he said, with a deep sigh. 
 
 \i 1 
 
I 
 
 lOO 
 
 ON THE world's KOOF 
 
 that showed how keea was his disappointment. 
 "Tliey won't let us go ahead. We'll have to go 
 up to Kashmir instead. 
 
 Kent did his oest to look sympathetically sorrow- 
 ful at his father's discomliture, but in Lis heart he 
 was rather glad of it. From what little he had 
 seen of the Tartars and their country, he was quite 
 satisfied without any further acquaintance ; and, 
 moreover, he was very anxious to see the Happy 
 Valley of Kashmir, concerning whicli famous place 
 he had heard enough to fire his imagination and 
 excite his curiosity to a high pitch. 
 
 Had the Tartars been content witli passive re- 
 sistance to Mr. Stannard's progress, their conduct 
 would have been provoking en )Ugh ; but when they 
 resorted to more active measures, the consequences 
 narrowly escaped being serious, if not, indeed, fatal, 
 to some of those concerned. 
 
 It would appear that they had misgivings lest 
 Mr. Stannard should push forward in spite of them, 
 and they therefore resolved to give him such a 
 fright that he would be only too glad to retrace 
 his steps as rapidly as possible. Accordingly they 
 decided upon a night-attack on the little encamp- 
 ment. 
 
 Not feeling altogether safe amidst such inhos- 
 pitable folk, Mr. Stannard had directed the Sikh 
 and Goorkha to take watch by turns during the 
 
 f 
 
 4 
 
h 
 
 it 
 
 I' 
 
 1 
 
 
 TURNED BACK FROM TARTAllY 
 
 lOI 
 
 night, and both men were too apprehensive of 
 danger themselves to leave any doubt as to their 
 being alert sentinels. 
 
 The moon, already far in decline, was obscured 
 by masses of cloud, and the dark stillness of the 
 night was broken only by the deep bay of some 
 shjepless mastiff, or the rattle and crash of small 
 rock-avalanches on the mountain-side, when the 
 keen eyes of the Goorkha, whose turn it was to be 
 on guard, detected a human head lifted cautiously 
 over the stone wall at the rear of the tents. 
 
 He was himself so concealed by the shadow of 
 the tentp as to be invisible, and, knowing this, he 
 waited for further development before giving the 
 alarm. It might be only some sneak-thief, with 
 no more fell design tiian to steal the first thing of 
 the Sahibs that he could lay his hands upon. 
 
 Everything was so quiet about the little camp 
 that the nocturnal visitor was evidently encouraged, 
 and gave a signal which caused several other heads 
 to show up beside his own. 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! " said Bauty under his breath ; " this 
 is beginning to look serious. I must rouse the 
 others." 
 
 Creeping carefully about, he first woke up the 
 Sikh, and then Mr. Stannard and Kent, explaining 
 in a low whisper what he had seen. 
 
 Mr. Stannard instantly determined to put a bold 
 
 I: 
 
 
 m 
 
 II 
 
 ii. 
 
102 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 front on the matter, although he had no idea as to 
 the strength of the disturbers of his rest. Rifle in 
 hand, he stepped out before the tents, the others 
 standing by him similarly armed, and demanded in 
 a peremptory tone that betrayed not the slightest 
 sense of nervousness — 
 
 " Who are you ? and what do you want here ? *' 
 
 For answer a number of dark forms appeared 
 suddenly from behind the walls, and the loud report 
 of several matchlocks rang out with startling rever- 
 beration. 
 
 Involuntarily the two servants and Kent ducked 
 their heads as though to dodge the bullets, but Mr. 
 Stannard never flinched. 
 
 " All together now. Fire ! " he cried, levelling 
 his rifle at the place whence the firing had come. 
 
 With remarkable promptitude the others obeyed, 
 and almost as one tlie crack of the four rifles made 
 reply to the matchlocks. ■ 
 
 The instant the latter had gone off the Tartars 
 vanished behind the wall, so that the rifles did 
 no execution. And this was precisely what Mr. 
 Stannard intended. He had no desire for blood- 
 shed. On the contrary, he was extremely anxious 
 to avoid it. But he knew very well that the best 
 way to prevent any such catastrophe was to show 
 himself ready to fight desperately in his own 
 defence. 
 
 
 
 
p 
 
 m 
 
 TUKNED HACK FROM TAKTARY 
 
 103 
 
 Followiug close upon the volley from the ritles, 
 Mr. Stanimrd shouted, " Now then, after them ! 
 Keep together ! " and the others again obeying 
 without a moment's hesitation, the gallant little 
 band dashed across the terraced field, with 
 their rifles in hand, ready for use as clubs if 
 need be. 
 
 So daring a response to an attack that was con- 
 fidently expected to throw its objects into a panic 
 turned the tables upon the Tartars with a vengeance, 
 and giving vent to shouts and grunts of terror, they 
 fled precipitately into the darkness. 
 
 Content with the advantage thus gained, Mr. 
 Stanuard made no attempt to follow them, but 
 during the remainder of that night not an eye 
 was closed in the tents. With rifles and revolvers 
 loaded, all four sat watching, ready for the first sign 
 of a renewal of the attack. 
 
 But the Tartars made no further attempt. The 
 first had shown them clearly enough that the 
 Sahibs were not to be caught napping, and as their 
 real purpose was only to give them a bad scare, 
 they had no idea of risking their precious lives 
 again. 
 
 Through it all Kent bore himself with such 
 composure that his father felt bound to give him 
 warm praise. 
 
 "You acted like a veteran, Kent," he said, with 
 
 
' 
 
 I 
 
 t 
 
 1 
 
 104 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 an applauding clap upon his shoulders, "though 
 it was your first time to be under fire." 
 
 Kent blushed to the roots of his hair with plea- 
 sure at the compliment. 
 
 " I waa a good deal scared all the same, you 
 know/* he replied. " But I wouldn't have these 
 rascals know it for the world. Do you think they'll 
 come at us again, father ? " 
 
 " I doubt if they will," responded Mr. Stannard. 
 " The more I think of it, the more convinced I am 
 that they did it only to frighten us away. They 
 just want to cure us of our crazy notion of pene- 
 trating any farther into their country, which they 
 are so strani;ely anxious to shut us out from." 
 
 That Mr. Stannard's reading of the situation was 
 correct the following morning showed ; for, while 
 they were at breakfast, the headman of the village, 
 attended by three companions, appeared, and assum- 
 ing utter unconsciousness of the events of the pre- 
 ceding night, graciously inquired if the Sahibs 
 wished to hire bearers and yaks to take them back 
 whence they had come. 
 
 " You see I was right in my suspicions, Kent," 
 said Mr. Stannard, as soon as the village embassy 
 had made known their business. " That little 
 demonstration last night was their pleasant way of 
 giving us notice to quit." 
 
 " And what will you do about it, father ? " asked 
 
 
TUUNED RACK FROM TAKTAKY 
 
 105 
 
 fl 
 
 Kent eagerly, for he was mdeed impatient to get 
 away from Shipki, where the men, women, and 
 dogs united in being so inhospitable. 
 
 " Well," replied Mr. Stannard, with evident re- 
 luctance, "I think perhaps it is better that we 
 should accept their notice, although I confess it 
 goes much against my grain to do so." 
 
 " Will we go back to Simla, then? " inquired Kent. 
 
 *' Why, no, my boy ; if we can't get into Thibet, 
 we shall go up to Kashmir," ^ ; ^^onded Mr. Stan- 
 nard. "We've got plenty of time to reach there 
 before there's any risk of being snowed up, and we 
 can stay there all winter if we like." 
 
 " Oh ! that will be splendid, father ! " exclaimed 
 Kent enthusiastically. " Let us start right away." 
 
 There being nothing to gain by waiting, Mr. 
 Stannard engaged what coolies he required, as well 
 as a couple of yaks, and about the middle of the 
 morning they turned back from Shipki, and re- 
 traced their way to the Namgea Fields. 
 
 " I'll carry out my purpose of seeing Lh'asa yet, 
 in spite of those stupid, obstinate fellows," said Mr. 
 Stannard, with considerable show of feeling, as he 
 looked down at the village, and away off across the 
 windy steppes of Tartary. " That is not the only 
 way of getting into the country. There's a still 
 better way through China, and some day or other, 
 my boy, you and I will try it." 
 
 !• 
 
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 ON THE world's ROOP 
 
 li ii 
 
 I H 
 
 mi !! 
 
 " All right, father," replied Kent heartily. " Where 
 thou j.^oest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will 
 lodge, as Ruth said to Naomi. It would certainly 
 be a great satisfaction to get to Lh'asa after the 
 way we've been treated." 
 
 From Namgea Fields the way leads across the 
 Sutlej river, and over a shoulder of the great 
 mountain Lio Porgyul, and at the crossing of 
 the Sutlej, Kent made his first acquaintance 
 vviLu a jhula in a way he was not likely to soon 
 forget. 
 
 The Jkttla is a kind of bridge peculiar to the 
 Himalayas, and certainly not worth imitating by 
 any other part of the world. It is constructed in 
 this fashion. Two ropes of twisted beach-twigs 
 about the thickness of a man's thigh are stretched 
 across the torrent at a distance of from four to 
 six feet from each other, while between them, but 
 some three feet lower, runs a similar rope, which is 
 connected with the two upper ones by more slender 
 ropes placed at intervals of nve feet. 
 
 Tlie whole affair sags in the middle in a most 
 unpleasant fashion, and sways to and fro alarmingly 
 with every blast of the high wind which prevails 
 in the Himalayas during the day. 
 
 Now the upper ropes of this curious contrivance, 
 which would seem specially intended to test the 
 nerves of the wayfarers, are so thick and rough 
 
 ^ 
 
 :^ 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 TURNED BACK FROM TARTARY 
 
 107 
 
 that they can with difficulty be grasped by the 
 hand, and yet it is not safe to rest the feet on 
 the lower rope except where it is supported by 
 the transvers.3 ones; while, finally, in the very 
 centre of the jhula, just where the ropes are farthest 
 apart, there is a cross-bar of wood to keep the two 
 main ropes separate, and this has to be climbed 
 over. 
 
 The proper way to manage a jhula is to cross it 
 with a continuous but not too rapid motion, riuiting 
 one's step, so far as possible, to the swaying of the 
 structure. 
 
 Mr. Stannard had had many previous experiences 
 with these bridges, and after explaining to Kent 
 how they were to be crossed, he went ahead to 
 show him the way, reaching the other side without 
 diiBculty. 
 
 Taking courage from his good example, Kent 
 set forth bravely, and got along all right until he 
 came to the middle of the bridge, where the cross- 
 bar had to be got over. As it chanced, while he 
 was doing this a sudden blast of wind rushed 
 roaring down the gorge, and not only made the 
 jhula sway most perilously, so that Kent was 
 lain to hold on for dear life, but it blew out his 
 coat, and caused the tail of it to catch on a twi« 
 just behind him. 
 
 Kent tried to tear himself free, but both cloth 
 
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 Hi 
 
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 io8 
 
 ON TUB world's ROOK 
 
 and twig were too strong for him, and only his 
 hands could extricate him. 
 
 His position at once became one of extreme 
 peril. He could not for an instant let go the 
 ropes with either hand in order to free his coat, 
 yet he could not go forward another inch until 
 he was free. Naturally he tried to extricate himself 
 by moving backwards, but this availed nothing, 
 for the strong wind had so twisted the cloth in 
 among the twigs that neither forward nor V)ack- 
 ward motion had any effect upon their tenacious 
 grip of it. 
 
 For a moment he thought of getting out of 
 his coat, and leaving it on the bridge, and had 
 the frail structure been still for a moment, it is 
 possible he might liave accomplished this. But, 
 instead of keeping still, it was swaying with such 
 violence that poor Kent could scarcely maintain 
 his position by the utmost use of both hands, and 
 to let go with either for an instant was out of 
 the question. 
 
 Far below, the fierce waters of the Sutlej foamed 
 and roared as if eager for their prey, and the 
 tumultuous torrent made him so dizzy that he 
 did not dare look down, but kept his eyes fixed 
 on the brink, where his father stood in an agony 
 of apprehension. 
 
 Mr. Stannard knew not what to do in the 
 
 1 
 
 # 
 
 ! ! 
 
TUKNED BACK FBOM TAUTAKY 
 
 109 
 
 emergency. He could not go to his son's assist- 
 ance, because tlie jhula, already half rotten from 
 lung neglect, could not possibly bear their double 
 weight, and for the same reason neither the Sikh 
 nor the Goorkha could render any service. 
 
 The latter had, indeed, with noble disregard of 
 the risk to himself, started out on the bridge; 
 but Mr. Stannard, seeing how ominously it bent, 
 had ordered him to go back, lest it should break 
 away altogether. 
 
 All that Mr. Stannard could do was to cry 
 cheeringly, " Keep cool, Kent. Don't be frightened. 
 We'll ge,. you over all right yet;" and to" lift up. 
 his heart in earnest prayer that Providence would 
 indicate some way of saving his son. 
 
 It often appears that Providence employs strange 
 instruments to effect its purposes, and in this case 
 the service so passionately sought came from a 
 most unexpected source. Among tiie bearers was 
 the wife of one of the zemindars, or landholders, 
 who, hearing of the good wages offered by Mr. 
 Stannard, had thriftily determined to earn u .1 honest 
 penny for herself. 
 
 She was short of stature, as are nearly all Tartar 
 women, but although somewhat slenderly built, 
 possessed an unusual degree of strength and 
 activity ; so that when Mr. Stannard, out of con- 
 sideration for her sex, would have her carry only 
 
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 ON TUB WORLDS ROOF 
 
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 half the load of a man, she, moved probably more 
 by fear of getting only half - wages than l)y any 
 desire to assert woman's rights, insisted upon 
 being allotted a full load, which she bore with 
 gay indifference. 
 
 She had been watching Kent with deep interest, 
 and wonaering no doubt how he would succeed 
 in extricating himself. Although she could not 
 understand what Mr. Stannard was shouting across 
 the chasm, her intelligence was keen enough to 
 reveal to her its purport, and presently tliere stirred 
 within her soul a strange impulse to heroisna. 
 
 Well she knew the peril of addini: even her 
 light weight to that frail fabric that sagged and 
 swayed so alarminrjly as Kent strove to break 
 loose from the twigs which held him fast. 
 
 But even clearer was the conviction that she 
 alone of all the party could venture to go to 
 his assistance. Accustomed to the crossing of 
 jhulas from her childhood, she thoroughly under- 
 stood the business, and her experience was now 
 to be put to such a test as it had never stood 
 before. 
 
 Casting aside everything that might add to 
 her weight, she called out in her own language, 
 " Keep still, Sahib ; I am coming to help you," 
 and with extreme carefulness started out on the 
 ihula. 
 
 It h 
 
TUli^'ED BACK FKOM TAllTAKY 
 
 I I I 
 
 "God be thanked 1" cried Mr. Stauiiard fer- 
 vently, claspiug his hands in the agony of his 
 anxiety, and bending far over the brink of the 
 chfl" to watch her cautious yet steady progress. 
 " If any one can help my boy, slie can." 
 
 i 
 
 111 
 
 S! 
 
 s U 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 PERILS BY THE WAY 
 
 1 i 
 
 Moving in that continuous gliding manner which 
 best suits the treacherous jhula, the Tartar woman 
 soon reached Kent, and with a quick, deft sweep of 
 her hand, disengaged his coat from where it had 
 been caught. 
 
 " Bo quick now, Sahib," she commanded. " Get 
 to the other side." 
 
 Kent needed no urging. Through it all he had 
 retained his self-command remarkably well, and 
 the moment he was freed he resumed the progress 
 which had been so summarily stayed. 
 
 His father's heart stood still as he saw how the 
 jhula bent beneath the double weight, but he for- 
 bore to say a word. With arms outstretched, he 
 stood at the end of the bridge, and the moment 
 Kent was within reach he caught hold of him 
 and swung him up beside him, while Champ and 
 Buiity gave th^ best imitation of a British cheer 
 they con- »: . 
 
 As £,' :v' K _i, had safely landed, the little 
 
 i: 
 
 # 
 
 tl3 
 
PERILS BY THE WAY 
 
 113 
 
 f 
 
 woman went back for her load and brought it over, 
 her homely countenance betraying no more excite- 
 ment or pride than if she had done nothing out of 
 the ordinary run of duty. But Mr. Stannard and 
 Kent showered their warm thanks upon her; and 
 the former, saying in a jocular tone, although the 
 tears of grateful joy filled his eyes, " You certainly 
 deserve a medal for your heroic action, you blessed 
 little woman ; and you shall have one, and a gold 
 one at that," took from his pocket-book a fine spade 
 guinea that he had long carried as a sort of luck- 
 penny, and placed it in her hands. 
 
 The black eyes of the brave little Tartar beamed 
 with delight, and indicating by signs, as well as by 
 her words, that she would never allow this precious 
 coin to be spent, but would treasure it as her own 
 special possession, she made it very clear that she 
 considered herself quite adequately rewarded for 
 her plucky service. 
 
 Kent crossed many a jhula in the course of his 
 further travels through the Himalayas, but happily 
 had no repetition of his experience at this one, 
 though some of them were in shocking bad 
 condition, and seemed to be only awaiting the 
 slightest excuse in order to tumble into the roar- 
 ing torrent or hideous chasm over which they were 
 flung. 
 
 But he never forgot the passage of the Sutlej 
 
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 114 
 
 ON THE WOKLD'S ROOF 
 
 jhula. That always remained iu his memory as 
 one of the most thrilling experiences of his life. 
 
 The remainder of the party having got over 
 without loss of life or baggage, the march was 
 continued as far as Gyumur, a charming spot on 
 the side of Lio Porgyul, nearly twelve thousand 
 feet above sea-level. 
 
 It was very pretty at Gyumur, the place having 
 many terraced fields and plenty of willow-trees, 
 with rills of pure water running through meads of 
 i "u, thick green grass. Moreover, the mountain 
 gave shade from the heat of the sun, and allowed 
 the travellers to spend a long, cool, pleasant after- 
 noon, which they heartily appreciated after the toils 
 and perils of the earlier part of the day. 
 
 Not far from their camping-place was a large 
 Lama monastery, which Mr. Stannard took Kent 
 to visit. They saw a number of the Lamas, who 
 showed little or no interest in the strangers, though 
 some of them possibly had never seen Europeans 
 before. For a moment they would lift their dark, 
 dreamy eyes, and give the visitors a far-away look, 
 and then drop their lids without manifesting the 
 faintest degree of curiosity. 
 
 "What a queer lot they are!" said Kent as 
 they came away from the monastery. "What 
 good are they in any way, father?" 
 
 "It would puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer to 
 
 
 
 ■i 
 
"15 
 
 « 
 
 f 
 
 PERILS BY THE WAY 
 
 115 
 
 answer that question, my son," replied Mr. Stan- 
 iiard. '' So far as I can see, more idle, useless 
 creatures than these Lamas do not exist. They do 
 nothing for the good of their fellows, and they hide 
 themselves away up here among the mountains, 
 where even a good example, supposing they should 
 set one, would be utterly wasted." 
 
 " Theirs must be a very comfortable kind of re- 
 ligion, though, father," said Kent. " If the Christian 
 religion were like that, there soon wouldn't be any 
 heathen left. They'd all want to be Christians." 
 
 "I am rr so sure about that, my boy," re- 
 sponded M "iannard, smiling at his son's inference. 
 " After all, it's only lazy, indolent, cowardly people 
 who can be satisfied with Buddhism." 
 
 " Oh, of course," assented Kent. " The people 
 of Europe or of North America could never put up 
 with such a sleepy religion. They must have some- 
 thing with life in it." 
 
 Had the Lamas overheard this conversation, carried 
 on by both speakers in a comfortable tone of superi- 
 ority, it is not likely that they would have resented 
 it in the least. All they wanted was to be let alone, 
 and what the rest of the world might think of 
 them or their religion mattered less than a grain 
 of mustard-seed. 
 
 From Gyumur to Nako the way wound along 
 the top of terrific precipices running some five 
 
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 "<8 
 
 'i 
 
 4 
 
 in 
 
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 Ll:l 
 
I 
 
 li 
 
 ll '■> 
 
 ii6 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 thousand feet almost perpeudicularly above the 
 river Lee, and full fourteen thousand feet above 
 sea-level. But Nako itself was prettily situated 
 beside a small lake, and a comfortable camping- 
 I)lace was readily found on a grassy bank. 
 
 Here a halt was made for a couple of days in 
 order to secure a fresh lot of coolies, and to lay 
 in supplies, the commissariat department being 
 pietty well exhausted. 
 
 The weather was bright and fine, and the ser- 
 vants took the opportunity to indulge in various 
 athletic games, which Kent entered heartily into 
 and enjoyed immensely. 
 
 It was very hot at midday, and getting well 
 warmed up by their amusements, longing eyes 
 were cast at the lake, that looked very inviting, 
 with its clear, calm water. Kent said somethini,' 
 to his father about having a dip, but Mr. Staunard 
 promptly vetoed the idea. 
 
 " Just feel the water and see how icy cold it is," 
 he said. " You'd be almost sure to take a cramp, 
 and then the best of your swimming wouldn't save 
 
 you." 
 
 Although Kent's own opinion was that a bath 
 in the lake would do him no harm, but, on the 
 contrary, would be extremely refreshing, ho obeyed 
 his father without protest. 
 
 The Goorkha, however, did not take his master 
 
 
 ; 
 
i ■ 
 t 
 
 PKUILS BY THE WAY 
 
 117 
 
 
 into his confidence as to his intention, and when 
 the racing and wrestling and other sports had come 
 to an end, he ran down to the lake-shore, threw 
 off his clothes, and plunged into the water before 
 Mr. Stannard could interfere. 
 
 As soon as he saw Bunty's action he ordered 
 him to return to the shore, but the fellow was 
 splashing and snorting like a porpoise, and did 
 not hear him until he had got full fifty yards from 
 the shore. 
 
 Then the deadly chill of the water, which came 
 from the glaciers above, made itself felt, and he 
 quickly gave up the idea he had first entertained 
 of swimming to the other side of the lake. But 
 on turning to retrace his way, he found himself 
 suddenly stricken with a numbness that rendered 
 him well-nigh helpless. It was not so much a 
 cramp as an almost complete loss of power. He 
 could just keep his head above water, but he could 
 not make the slightest progress shoreward. 
 
 Mr. Stannard had become somewhat incensed at 
 the Goorkha failing to obey him promptly, but when 
 he saw his terror-stricken countenance and heard his 
 bubbling cry for help, his anger changed at once to 
 sympathy. 
 
 " Don't lose your head now ! " he shouted to him. 
 " Keep yourself afloat for a couple of minutes and 
 I'll get you out all right." 
 
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 ON THE world's ROOP 
 
 ft'i 
 
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 It. 
 
 " You're not going in after him, are you, fatlior ? " 
 .asked Kent anxiously, as Mr. Stannard threw off his 
 coat and vest and kicked off his boots. 
 
 " That's just what I am going to do, my son," 
 responded Mr. Stannard in a tone that brooked no 
 argument. " Here, lay liold of this rope, and stand 
 ready to pull us ashore if necessary." 
 
 Mr. Stannard had caught up a long thin rope 
 used in connection with the tents, and closing his 
 teeth tightly over one end, he tlirew himself into 
 the water and struck out for the Goorkha. 
 
 With quick powerful strokes he made his way 
 to the man, who was just about to sink, when he 
 grasped him by the shoulders. 
 
 *' Keep quiet, man," he commanded him sternly. 
 "Don't try to take hold of me, or I'll let you 
 drown." 
 
 Terrified as Bunty was, he had sufficient sense 
 left to obey, and submitting himself entirely to Mr. 
 Stannard's control, the latter slowly but steadily 
 pushed hira towards the shore. It was by no 
 means an easy task, for the merciless cold of the 
 glacier-fed lake laid its numbing grasp upon his 
 strength also. 
 
 Then it was that the rope, which he still held 
 fast between his teeth, came into play. Kent 
 had tight hold of it, and the moment he saw his 
 fatlier's stroke slacken he began to pull upon it very 
 
 r" 
 
 
PERILS nY THE WAY 
 
 119 
 
 I 
 
 \\ 
 
 cautiously. An approvini,' nod from Mr. Stannanl, 
 vvlio, of course, could not open his mouth to speak, 
 showed him that he was doing right, aud so he con- 
 tinued to pull gently yet firmly, thus keeping his 
 fatlier's head above water, and efficiently supple- 
 menting his struL'gles, until presently both men had 
 reached shallow water, and all danger was over. 
 
 Wiien Mr. Stannard recovered his breath, he said, 
 with as merry a smile as if he had been in no 
 special danger — 
 
 " Well done, Kent ! That's the best bit of fish- 
 ing you've ever done. To land two men at once is 
 certainly a great performance." 
 
 Bunty wanted to shower his thanks upon his 
 rescuer, but he would have none of it. 
 
 " Say nothing more, my man," said Mr. Stan- 
 nard ; " I did no more than common humanity dic- 
 tated ; but I hope you've learned a lesson in caution 
 you will not speedily forget." 
 
 The Goorkha certainly looked as if he had. He 
 was shivering with cold, and still under the influ- 
 ence of his fright, and would never have been taken 
 for the self-satisfied, consequential individual of but 
 a few minutes previous. 
 
 While they were at Nako, Kent's fancy was 
 taken by a huge dog that was guarding a flock of 
 sheep on the mountain-side. A more superb speci- 
 men of the famous Thibetan mastiff not even Mr. 
 
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 .111 
 
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 i 
 
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 Hi* 
 
 
 I 20 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 Stannard had ever seen, and when Kent pressed 
 him eagerly to purchase it, he willingly enough 
 consented. 
 
 Strange to say, while bargaining with the owner, 
 who with some difficulty was persuaded to part 
 with the dog for a good round sum, the intelligent 
 creature, apparently divining what was in the wind, 
 suddenly set off up the mountain at the top of its 
 speed, paying no heed whatever to the frantic calls 
 of its master. 
 
 Kent was greatly disappointed, fearing he would 
 not see his dog again ; but the next morning, as they 
 were about to resume their journey, the shepherd 
 appeared dragging the dog, which resisted stoutly. 
 
 Kent welcomed him joyously, and, in his impul- 
 sive way, was about to pat the mastiff lovingly on 
 the head, when the great creature snapped at him 
 furiously, and he had a narrow escape from being 
 badly bitten. 
 
 " Take care, Kent," cried his father, in no small 
 alarm. " The brute is not to be trusted yet. You 
 must win his heart first." 
 
 For days to come this seemed a hopeless task. 
 So fierce was this d •.., and so eager to use his 
 teeth upon everybody within reach, that it could 
 be managed only by means of a long stick fastened 
 to its neck. Thus secured it was put in charge of 
 the Goorkha, who had a verv trving week with it, 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
 
 yi 
 
PERILS BY THE WAY 121 
 
 for it was continually whining and growling and 
 howling, and pulling back, besides being ever on 
 the alert to make a bolt back to whence it had 
 come. 
 
 For two days it utterly refused food, and then, 
 overcome by hunger, it accepted some at Kent's' 
 hand. Thereafter Kent fed it regularly, and thus 
 won his way into the creature's affections, until 
 finally Mr. Stannard thought it safe to liberate it, 
 and, sure enough, it was from that hour Kent's 
 shadow by day and sentinel by night. 
 
 In view of the new acquisition's splendid pro- 
 portions and unusual strength, Kent felt justified 
 in calling him Hercules, which, as a matter of 
 course, was soon shortened into Here. 
 
 While Here became as devoted and docile to 
 Kent as any spaniel, he could never be induced 
 to more than tolerate the others. Towards Mr. 
 Stannard he did, indeed, show a certain amount of 
 respect, but no manifestation of kindness could win 
 from him any really gracious response. His strange 
 wild heart evidently had room for but one occupant 
 at a time, and Kent now filled the place which 
 had been held by the Nako shepherd. 
 
 He was in every respect a perfect specimen of 
 his kind, having a grand head, with deep-set eyes, 
 many-wrinkled cheeks, and "flews" worthy of a' 
 bloodhound. A coat of long shaggy hair covered 
 
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 122 
 
 ON THE WORLD S ROOF 
 
 his mighty frame, and he carried his large bushy 
 tail curled high over his broad back as if it were 
 a sign of royalty. His colour was a dense black, 
 except for some tan-markings on his head and 
 breast. In size he easily surpassed the biggest 
 St. Bernard Kent had ever seen. 
 
 Such was the remarkable pet Kent had secured, 
 and, although he little thought it at the time, this 
 animal was destined to render him signal service 
 on more than one occasion before the end of their 
 long journey over the roof of the world was reached. 
 
 The first day's travel was tolerably easy, as the 
 way led over comparatively level ground and there 
 were few ascents and descents to be made. But 
 this pleasant condition of things did not last long, 
 and for several successive days they had mighty 
 hard going, so that Kent was fain to make frequent 
 use of one of the yaks which they still had with 
 them. 
 
 Pushing on steadily, however, in spite of all diffi- 
 culty, the travellers passed out of the dominions of 
 the Eajah of Bussahir, through which they had been 
 journeying, and entered the province of Chumurti, 
 which belonged to Chinese Thibet. 
 
 " We shall have to be on the look-out while we 
 are in this part of the country, Kent," said Mr. 
 Stannard, " for we are no longer under the British 
 lion. 
 
 ) 
 
 
 ri ! 
 
PERILS BY THE WAY 
 
 123 
 
 " Whose country is this, then, father ? " said 
 Kent. " I suppose somebody rules over it." 
 
 " It's nominally a part of the possessions of the 
 Chinese dragon," replied Mr. Stannard, " but I'm 
 afraid the Son of Heaven takes very little interest 
 in it, and that the inhabitants respect his authority 
 only so far as seems to them good." 
 
 " What sort of people are they, father ? " in- 
 quired Kent. "Are they any better than those 
 we have already seen ? " 
 
 " No, indeed," answered Mr. Stannard ; " quite 
 the contrary. They're a poor lot compared to 
 them. They are nomads, dwelling in tents instead 
 of villages, and they have a very shady reputation, 
 whether they deserve it or not. But we won't be 
 long in their territory, and will probably be across 
 the border before they know we're here." 
 
 " But, father," exclaimed Kent, eager to express 
 the thought that had just occurred to him, " now 
 that we are inside Chinese Thibet, why don't we go 
 ahead to L'hasa ? There is nobody to stop us, is 
 there ? " 
 
 "No, no, my boy," responded Mr. Stannard, 
 shaking his head. "It would be great folly for 
 us to try that. Our presence in the country would 
 soon be discovered, and we'd be treated a good 
 deal more hardly than we were at Shipki." 
 
 The camp that night was pitched at To-tzo, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
124 
 
 ON THE WORLDS KOOF 
 
 near the river-bank, and Mr. Stannard took care 
 to select the location to provide as far as possible 
 against a night-attack. 
 
 " It's better to be sure than sorry," he said. 
 " There may be nothing worse to fear than flies, 
 which are such a nuisance, but I'll take no 
 chance." 
 
 The Sikh and the Goorkha were therefore again 
 detailed to keep watch by turns while the others 
 slept, and Mr. Stannard saw that the rifles and 
 revolvers were all loaded, and ready for immediate 
 use if required. 
 
 The night was extremely dark, and there was 
 something so wild and bleak about the surround- 
 ings of the camp that when a wind sprang up, and 
 came moaning down the dark valley, joining its 
 weird voice to the roar of the river, the effect 
 upon not only Kent, but his father also, was to 
 give them a feeling of uneasiness and apprehension 
 that kept them awake long after their usual hour 
 for sleep. 
 
 But they were both too tired to stay awake all 
 night, and shortly after Champ was heard reliev- 
 ing Bunty, they both fell into a deep dreamless 
 slumber. 
 
 They had not been at rest more than an hour, 
 when they were suddenly startled from their sleep 
 by a wild cry of mingled terror and pain, that rang 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
PERILS BY THE WAY 
 
 125 
 
 high above the wailing of the wiud and the dull 
 roar of the river. Close upon this cry came a 
 commanding shout from Champ of, "Who goes 
 there ? Stay where you are, or I'll lire." 
 
 And then there followed a confused chorus of 
 unintelligible exclamations and guttural cries, that 
 bespoke the immediate presence of a number of 
 people, into whose midst the Sikh's rifle was pre- 
 sently discharged with a sharp report. 
 
 t ;? 
 
 H ' f 
 
 \ m 
 
 •M- 
 
 I ui 
 
^m 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS 
 
 i! I 
 
 " Have you your rifle ready, and your revolver, 
 Kent?" asked Mr. Stannard, re.ioiii , ^ within the 
 tent for a moment to make sure of his own ar- 
 mament. "The Tartars are ai!:ack"^or \^ nd we 
 must defend ourselves as best we can." 
 
 In a voice whose steadiness surprised himself, 
 Kent responded, " Yes, father, I'm all ready. Shall 
 we po out ? " 
 
 " I 'iVill go out, my boy ; but at first you keep 
 within the protection of the tent," said Mr. Stan- 
 nard, stepping out into the night, with his rifle 
 ready for instant use. 
 
 In the meantime the uproar had been increased 
 by the addition of Bunty's deep bass voice, and by 
 the frightened cries of the coolies, who had crowded 
 about the tents like a flock of startled sheep. 
 
 So dense was the darkness that nothing could be 
 discerned of the midnight disturbers, although their 
 strange noises continued, and they were evidently 
 close at hand. 
 
 ■•6 
 

 
 
 MLDNIGHT ] 
 
 MAEAUDERS 
 
 
 127 
 
 
 It 
 
 was 
 
 altogether too 
 
 exciting for 
 
 Kent 
 
 to do 
 
 
 as his fat' 
 
 ler had bid hin 
 
 1, and he too 
 
 stepped out 
 
 
 from 
 
 the 
 
 tent, turning a 
 
 little to the 
 
 left 
 
 to try 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 and pierce the obscurity which added so greatly 
 to the terrifying nature of the situation. As he 
 did so he almost fell over Hercules, whose huge 
 form he could just dimly discern as he stood over 
 a dark object that was prostrate on the ground, 
 and uttering pitiful moans of pain and fright. 
 
 "What have you here. Here?" asked Kent 
 anxiously. " Let me see, good dog," and he bent 
 down to examine. 
 
 But the mastifi's only response was a savage 
 growl and a crouching closer over his prey ; so 
 that, seeing he could do nothing, and fearing lest 
 his interference would do no good, Kent moved ofif 
 to his father's side. 
 
 Mr. Stannard carried a repeating - rifle, and 
 hoping to frighten away the marauders without 
 shedding any blood, he fired three shots from this 
 in close succession in the direction whence most of 
 the sounds seemed to come. This fusillade, which 
 Bunty supported by emptying the whole chambers of 
 his revolver, produced the desired effect. There was 
 a sudden cessation of the guttural cries, and then a 
 sound of feet scampering in panic over the stony 
 ground, followed by a silence broken only by the 
 voices of the wind and the river. 
 
 ■ 
 
 I 
 
 ^^i 
 
 ^ i 
 
 i sfc 
 
r 
 
 128 
 
 ON THE WORLD S ROOF 
 
 l^ ' 
 
 !i I 
 
 " Thank Heaven, they've bolted ! " exclaimed Mr. 
 Staunard, with a vast sigh of relief. " I wonder 
 were any of them hit." 
 
 " I don't know about that, father," answered 
 Kent, who through all the commotion had borne 
 himself with wonderful fortitude ; " but Here's got 
 hold of one of them, I hope he hasn't killed him 
 by this time." 
 
 " What's that you say, Kent ? " cried Mr. Stan- 
 nard. " Where is the creature ? " Then turning to 
 the Sikh, he ordered him to get a light at once. 
 
 The lantern being brought, they went to where 
 Hercules still stood guard, and found that he had 
 taken captive one of the would-be robbers, and 
 held him pinned to the ground as helpless as a 
 mouse in the paws of a cat. Fortunately the man 
 was heavily muffled about the throat, or he cer- 
 tainly would have been killed. As it was his face 
 was torn somewhat, and he had in his arms and 
 legs such proof of the tremendous power of the 
 mastiflfs jaws as he would be a long time in for- 
 getting. 
 
 It was not an easy job to persuade Hercules to 
 release his prisoner, but finally he was coaxed off, 
 and then Mr. Stanuard saw that the Tartar's wounds 
 had attention before questioning him as to the 
 meaning of the night-attack. 
 
 The Tartar was at first very reluctant to speak, 
 
 
 ; V.' i 
 
MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS 
 
 [5 
 IS 
 
 129 
 
 
 but after Bimty, at Mr. Stannard's direction, stood 
 over him with his terrible knife held in one hand, 
 while he felt its edge meaningly with the other, the 
 fellow's tongue became unloosed, and he told the 
 whole story. 
 
 It seemed that a larcie band of Tartars had been 
 watching Mr. Stannard's party from the time they 
 crossed the border, with the idea of making a 
 night-attack, and of not only scaring them back 
 into Indian territory, but also of looting the camp 
 if they had the chance. 
 
 Under cover of the midnight darkness, and trust- 
 ing to the noise of the torrent to render their ap- 
 proach inaudible, they had surrounded the tents in 
 spite of the Sikh's vigilance, and were just about to 
 make a combined rush that would infallibly have 
 effected their object, when the big mastiff, without 
 giving a note of warning, had sprung upon one of 
 them and borne him to the ground. 
 
 The cry thus forced from the captive then gave 
 the alarm, and led to the failure of the plan. To 
 Hercules, therefore, belonged the whole credit of 
 having saved the camp. Great was Kent's joy and 
 pride on this being estabhshed. 
 
 " You good old dog ! " he exclaimed, hugging the 
 mastiff's huge head to his own breast, a bit of 
 demonstration that the big fellow seemed not quite 
 to understand. "You just saved us all, didn't you ? 
 
 I 
 
 'il 
 
 ■i 
 
 lit 
 
 ■5!' 
 
 i II 
 
 i.,;,:'i 
 
 i 
 
i3o 
 
 ON TIIK WORLDS ilOOF 
 
 m \ 
 
 \ 
 
 i 
 ! 
 
 And when we get to Kashmir you shall have the 
 finest silver collar that can be made for you ; won't 
 he, father ? " 
 
 " He will indeed, Kent," responded Mr. Stannard 
 heartily, venturing, in the enthusiasm of his grati- 
 tude, to give the dog a warm pat on the head, to 
 which the strange creature returned a deep grunt as 
 of distant thunder. " Bless my heart 1 " cried Mr. 
 Stannard, " he won't even let me pat him. Well, 
 so long as he takes such good care of us at night I'll 
 put up with his little eccentricities, but I confess 
 I'd much prefer if he'd get more sociable." 
 
 As early as possible the following morning the 
 travellers set off again, the Tartar, who had been 
 pretty well punished by Hercules, being released, with 
 a warning to behave better in future, and a message 
 for his people to the effect that any interference with 
 or attacks upon British visitors to their country would 
 bring upon them the wrath of the British Empire, 
 and be a bad thing for them in every way; all of 
 which he promised earnestly to remember. 
 
 Having turned their backs upon Thibet for good, 
 the travellers made their way into the province of 
 Spiti, and at the end of the day camped at Lari, under 
 a solitary apricot-tree, which, they were informed, 
 was the only one of its kind in the whole province. 
 Certainly what they could see of Spiti from their 
 camp fully bore out the statement. Not a house 
 
 
MIDNIGHT MARAUDEUS 
 
 131 
 
 er 
 
 a, 
 
 se 
 
 nor a tree, and hardly even a bush, broke the stern 
 monotony of the landscape. 
 
 " I don't see how people can live in such k 
 country," Kent broke out, after a survey of tho 
 scene. " I'm sure I should go crazy if I had to 
 stay six months in it." 
 
 "If you didn't quite do that you'd find it ex- 
 tremely depressing, that's certain," said Mr. Stannard. 
 " One needs to be born, bred, and brought up in 
 such a place as this to live in it with any con- 
 tentment." 
 
 " It's a precious poor living that's to be got out of 
 it, too, it seems to me,'' returned Kent. " Why, I 
 should think even the goats would have a hard time 
 of it finding enough to eat." 
 
 " Yet the people do manage to get along some- 
 how, poor creatures," said Mr. Stannard in a tone 
 of sympathy. " You ought to be thankful, Kent, 
 that vour lot did not lie among them." 
 
 " I am indeed thankful, father," responded Kent. 
 " I often think how lucky I've been to see so much 
 of the beautiful part of the world as I have done, 
 and to be free to spend my life where the scenery 
 is fine and the people are pleasant." 
 
 But if the way to Lari was dreary, how much 
 more so was that to Dunkar, which led through a 
 series of caiions and chasms that were simply appal- 
 ling ! Kent was being constantly reminded of the 
 
 •\ 
 
 ! i 
 
 : Pi 
 
132 
 
 ON THE WORLDS KOOF 
 
 '^ 
 
 Valley r ' the Shadow of Death as tliey toiled slowly 
 and painfully onward. 
 
 Their road, if such it could with any accuracy 
 be called, ran along a dry water-course, cut through 
 soft stratified deposits whose walls rose straight up 
 to hundreds, and in some places to thousands, of 
 feet in height. Though the water-course twisted 
 and curved in every direction, its sides were as 
 straight as if they had been cut with a knife ; while 
 high up on the edges of this extraordinary ravine 
 the action of the elements had worn away the strata, 
 so as to form spires, and towers, and all sorts of 
 fantastic shapes, some of which seemed ready to fall 
 into the chasm at any moment. 
 
 Again and again did Kent give apprehensive 
 glances at these tottering towers, and exclaim, 
 " Look, father ! just look at that one ! "Wouldn't 
 you think it was coming right down on us ? " 
 
 The coolies showed great reluctance at passing 
 through this gorge. Indeed, at one place they came 
 to a full stop, and as they were bringing up the 
 rear, Mr. Stannard did not know it until Bunty 
 came running after him looking very indignant, 
 and reported what they were about. 
 
 Mr. Stannard knew it was not a time for 
 argument or entreaty. Although he with his son 
 and servants made only a quartette, while of the 
 coolies there were three times that number, there 
 
MroNIGlIT MARAUDERS 
 
 133 
 
 was but one course to pursue. Taking his revolver 
 iu hand, and bidding Kent do the same, while the 
 Sikh ind Ghoorka were ordered to draw, the one 
 his J. sword, and the other his kuife, Mr. Stan- 
 nard hastened back to where the coolies had come 
 to a halt. 
 
 They visibly cowered at his presence, and looked 
 quite scared though sullen ; but, saying not a word 
 to hem, he strode through their ranks until he was 
 beh. ad them all, Kent, Champ, and Bunty being 
 bes* le him. 
 
 ' hen, with levelled revolvers and uplifted weapons, 
 the four marched iu line upon the coolies, Mr. 
 St in' calling out in his most commanding tone, 
 " *ic*K ^j your loads, and go on at once." 
 
 The terrified alacrity with which they obeyed was 
 so iud:'.!' •■■«« that Kent couldn't refrain from burst- 
 ing out iuto a laugh, r>- -^"^e infection communicated 
 itself to both Champ and Bunty, although the gravity 
 of Mi. Stanuard's countenance in no wise relaxed. 
 
 Like one man the coolies snatched up their 
 packs, threw them upon their shoulders, and almost 
 tumbled over one another in their frantic eager- 
 ness to get as far as possible from Mr. Stanuard's 
 revolver. 
 
 When they had all got started, and their backs 
 were turned, Mr. Stanuard gave way to a smile of 
 satisfaction. 
 
 ^i 
 
 ' 
 
 ' 
 
134 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 i 
 
 " That's not always the best way to deal with 
 them, Kent," said he, "but it suited the present 
 occasion best. They won't get over their scare 
 before we reach Dunkar, and there I'll discharge 
 the whole batch, and engage a fresh lot." 
 
 They reached Dunkar before sundown, and found 
 it as remarkable in its way as the path by which 
 they had approached it. The town was perched a 
 thousand feet above the Lee river, on the ledges 
 and towers of an immense ridge of soft strata, 
 which broke off with a sudden fall, after affording 
 ground for the fort, houses, and Lama temples of 
 Dunkar. 
 
 The result was so extraordinary, not to say 
 picturesque, that it was the most natural thing in 
 the world for Kent, when he came in sight of it, to 
 exclaim — 
 
 " What a queer place for a town ! What 
 ever possessed people to build up there ? Have 
 the inhabitants wings, or do they use llyiug- 
 machines ? " 
 
 "I don't imagine they have either, Kent," answered 
 Mr. Stannard. "Their reason for choosing so strange 
 a site for their town was probably twofold. They 
 wanted to be quite safe from attack, and it was 
 the only tolerably level spot they could find in 
 the whole neighbourhood." 
 
 " I should think they'd need to keep a sharp 
 
 :: .t 
 
MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS 
 
 : 
 
 135 
 
 watch on their children when they begin running 
 about on their own account," said Kent, "for if 
 any of them were to fall over the precipice it would 
 be the end of them, surely." 
 
 "I am afraid the parents wouldn't take that 
 very much to heart, Kent," responded Mr. Stannard 
 gravely. "They're none too fond of their little 
 ones in this part of the country." 
 
 But if Dunkar was strikingly picturesque in 
 its situation, it had nothing else to recommend it, 
 being so dirty and miserable in every way that 
 Mr. Stannard camped at some distance, for fear of 
 carrying away too many of its smallest and most 
 active inhabitants. 
 
 He had no difficulty in securing a fresh lot of 
 coolies, the mukea, or functionary whose duty it 
 was to look after travellers, being very polite, and 
 anxious to please ; and the next morning the journey 
 was resumed at an improved rate of speed. 
 
 Before leaving Dunkar, Mr. Stannard purchased 
 two of the Spiti ghunts, a species of small horse 
 famous for their unfailing sure-footedness, their saga- 
 city, and their ability to carry their riders safely 
 up and down the most dangerous and fatiguing 
 paths. 
 
 Kent was greatly pleased at this new acquisition. 
 His father gave him his choice of them, and he 
 selected the smaller of the two, a shaggy little mare 
 
 '' ! 
 i i 
 
 
 iiy 
 
 11! 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 if. 
 
 m i[ 
 
136 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 ■| I 
 
 with flowing tail and mane, from either side of 
 whose heavy forelock there gleamed as bright and 
 kindly an eye as ever a pony possessed. He called 
 her by the first syllable of the land of her birth, 
 and now that he had Spy and Hercules to take 
 care of him between them, he felt very well looked 
 after indeed. 
 
 One day's riding was sufficient to prove Spy a 
 perfect treasure. No matter how rough the path, 
 she could pick her way steadily along it, and the 
 cleverness with which she would keep her footing 
 through a wild confusion of boulders was a wonder 
 to witness. 
 
 The travellers now had before them difficulties 
 of the most formidable kind. At Dunkar, which 
 was the capital of Spiti Province, they were some 
 thirteen thousand feet above sea-level, and they 
 had passed through some woefully desolate and 
 dreary country to reach it ; yet they were soon to 
 climb to still loftier altitudes, and to traverse still 
 wilder and lonelier stretches of country. 
 
 Between Dunkar and Loisar there were several 
 very shaky sangpas to be crossed, which would 
 have brought any ordinary horse to a full stop. 
 Then the one at Kazeh had for its central span 
 three logs laid side by side, without railing of any 
 kind, and overlaid with loose branches that made 
 the footing very treacherous. Yet the Spiti ponies 
 
 I 
 
 s a 
 
MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS 
 
 137 
 
 went over it without a slip, and seemed rather to 
 like the job, the roaring of the river far below 
 having no effect whatever on their nerves. 
 
 At Loisar, which is one of the highest villages 
 in the world, being nearly fourteen thousand feet 
 above the level of the sea, the nights were so cold 
 that Mr. Stannard was glad to exchange his tent 
 for a small house provided by the Indian Govern- 
 ment for the benefit of travellers. 
 
 Though built of mud, it was dry and clean, and 
 in view of the rain which fell during the night, 
 proved a particularly welcome refuge. 
 
 But Hercules would have none of it, in spife of 
 Kent's coaxings. He insisted upon staying outside 
 the door, and as this exposed him to attacks from 
 the dogs of the village, he had to defend himself 
 all night long, so that the noise of his growling and 
 barking proved the reverse of soporific. Indeed, 
 the situation became so acute more than once, that 
 Kent was fain to get up and endeavour to secure 
 silence, though without any permanent result. 
 
 Beyond Loisar lay a wild stretch of country 
 where there were no villages, no houses, and no 
 wood, so that it was necessary for the party to take 
 supplies of every kind along with them. This 
 meant an increase of their force of coolies, and, 
 owing to the impossibility of getting as many 
 men as were required, Mr. Stannard had to employ 
 
 i'i 
 
 N 
 
 i 
 
 I' <,' 
 
 I' : u 
 
 
 ii 
 
 
 II ■! 
 
138 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 ii 
 
 1 1 
 'ij 
 
 lialf-a-dozen women, who were only too glad to 
 have the opportunity of earning a little money. 
 
 Mr. Stannard also took along with him a small 
 flock of milch goats and a couple of sheep, the latter 
 to be turned into mutton en route. So that, what 
 with coolies, ponies, goats, sheep, and the mastiff, 
 quite an imposing caravan was made up. 
 
 Kent, riding at the head of it by his father's side, 
 felt like the aide-de-camp to the commander of an 
 army expedition, and tried to put on the airs of a 
 cavalry-man ; to which, however, the irregular pace 
 of his pony was ill adapted, and he soon tired of 
 the aniusenient. 
 
 Up the difficult Kansum pass they toiled, cross- 
 ing the summit at a height of fifteen thousand feet, 
 and then descended into the Shigri valley, so ap- 
 propriately called the " Valley of Glaciers." As far 
 as the eye could reach nothing but banks of snow 
 and ice were to be seen, and the great ice-serpents 
 crept over into the valley from every direction. 
 
 " Bare is it, without house or track, and destitute 
 of obvious shelter as a shipless sea," said Mr. Stan- 
 nard, after gazing about him. " I hope we'll not 
 have to be long in this dreadful valley." 
 
 "I hope not, indeed, father," responded Kent, 
 with a significant shiver. "It's the worst place 
 we've got into yet." 
 
 Had they known as they spoke the kind of 
 
 
MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS 
 
 139 
 
 reception the monsoon was already preparing for 
 them among the mountain-tops, and what suflPer- 
 ings tliey were to endure ere they left the Shigri 
 valley behind, they might have expressed them- 
 
 f 
 
 selves in still stronger terms. 
 
 ; 
 
 1 1' 
 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
ii, 
 
 i 
 
 
 • i I 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 IN THE VALLEY OF GLACIERS 
 
 During the afternoon the heavens had been wear- 
 ing threatening looks, which finally, towards sunset, 
 fulfilled their menace by a storm of wind and rain 
 and snow, that broke fiercely upon the travellers. 
 The thermometer sank thirty degrees in as many 
 minutes, and there was scarcely time to put up the 
 tents ere the full fury of the elements revealed 
 itself. 
 
 From the interior of a comfortable house the 
 sight would have been very grand indeed, as the 
 storm-clouds rolled in great masses down from the 
 snowy peaks, enveloping mountain and valley in 
 their fleecy folds. But with only the thin walls of 
 a tent for protection, the sublimity of the scene 
 offered poor compensation for the misery involved, 
 and Kent found it very hard to keep from 
 grumbling. 
 
 Yet how much better off was he than the poor 
 coolies, who, without any shelter whatever from 
 the inclemency of the weather, had to manage as 
 
 ^ 1 
 
IN THE VALLEY OF GLACIERS 
 
 141 
 
 best they could, crouching close together about a 
 big fire and saying not a word, whatever they felt ! 
 The sight of them sealed Kent's lips, and he made 
 no complaints, enduring cheerfully the discomforts 
 of the situation. 
 
 Mr. Stannard's face had an usually grave look 
 that evening. He had hoped to get through the 
 dreaded Shigri valley without having to face a 
 snow-storm, it being very early in the season for 
 snow. But now that one had come, there was no 
 telling how many more might follow in its train, 
 and a succession of such storms might mean his 
 having to retrace his way, if nothing worse. 
 
 " I confess I don't like the look of things at all, 
 Kent," said he as they sat together over the dinner, 
 which, in spite of all difficulties, the Sikh and 
 Goorkha had managed between them to prepare. 
 " I shall not breathe freely until we are clear of 
 this miserable place." 
 
 "There's no fear of our being snowed up here, 
 is there, father ? " asked Kent, with some apprehen- 
 sion in his tone. 
 
 " Oh, it is not likely to turn out so bad as that," 
 replied Mr. Stannard. "But you know every day 
 counts if we would reach Kashmir before winter, 
 which sets in so early in these mountains, and 
 that's what is bothering me most." 
 
 " And will you go ahead to-morrow morning 
 
 I 
 
 
 n 
 
142 
 
 ON THE WOKLDS ROOF 
 
 even if it is still snowing ? " inquired Kent hoping 
 that the reply would be in the negative, for he 
 shrank from the idea of facing such a storm. 
 
 " Certainly," responded Mr. Stannard resolutely. 
 " We must push ahead as best we can. There's 
 nothing to be gained by staying here." 
 
 The snow continued to fall heavily all night, and 
 by morning it was nearly a foot deep. The coolies 
 were very reluctant to advance. They besought 
 Mr. Stannard to turn back, assuring him that they 
 knew another pass over the mountains that was 
 quite free from snow. 
 
 But Mr. Stannard was one of those men who, 
 having put their hand to the plough, are not to be 
 easily turned back ; and, moreover, he had good 
 reason to believe that the inducement of a better 
 route was not founded upon fact. So the orders 
 were given to go aliead, and the coolies had no 
 alternative but to obey. 
 
 The tramping through the snow was toilsome 
 work, and Kent's heart was full of pity for the 
 female carriers, although he could do nothing to 
 help them. 
 
 Soon after midday they came to a place where 
 a glacier reached right down to the river, and it 
 was necessary to cross its foot, for there was no 
 flanking it. 
 
 Then did Kont have striking proof of the won- 
 
 
IN THE VALLEY OF GLACIERS 
 
 M3 
 
 derful powers of the Spiti pony he rode. Tlic 
 glacier was thickly covered with slabs of slate, 
 intermingled with boulders of granite and gneiss, 
 while here and there yawned gaping crevasses open- 
 ing into unknown depths. The way the clever little 
 mare carried her young rider across the glacier was 
 almost too wonderful to be believed without being 
 witnessed. Up and down the ridge of ice, and 
 over the great rough blocks of granite and the 
 treacherous slabs of slate, she went without a step 
 or stumble. She would spring from one boulder 
 to another like an ibex, in spite of the burden she 
 bore, and she faltered not at fathomless crevasses, 
 although there was nothing better than a slippery 
 slope to spring from, and a sharply slanting block 
 of stone to land upon. 
 
 Once it seemed as if her marvellous skill had 
 failed her, for in descending some high steps in 
 the rock her feet slipped, and it seemed as if 
 she must go over the precipice ; so that Mr. 
 Stannard, who saw it all, cried aloud for fear, 
 and Kent for the moment shut his eyes in sheer 
 terror. 
 
 Yet were not Spy's resources at an end. Drop- 
 ping upon her knees for an instant, slie thereby 
 checked her fall, and then, with an indescribable 
 sort of side-spring, recovered her footing again, and 
 went on as if nothing had happened. 
 
 
 1^ 
 
 s i 
 
 I 
 
 iiti 
 
 il 
 
 1 ■■ 
 
 i a 
 

 !* 
 
 1,1 
 
 i ^ 
 
 144 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 Again and again was Kent moved to exclaim in 
 admiration and pride of his pony's achievements — 
 
 " Hurrah for you, Spy ! You're game for any- 
 thing. There's not a steeplechaser in England 
 could match you at this." 
 
 They halted at midday for lunch, and having 
 carefully selected a place where they were shel- 
 tered from the wind, were just in the middle of 
 their meal, when the ice beneath the stones on 
 which they were seated gave a startling crack, and 
 the stones themselves began to sink so rapidly that 
 there was a ludicrously hasty scramble for solid 
 ground. 
 
 " Why, what's the meaning of this ? " cried Mr. 
 Stannard, when he had seen to it that not only 
 the different members of his party, but the lunch- 
 things also, were out of danger. " Have we been 
 resting near the mouth of a crevasse ? " 
 
 A careful examination showed that this was 
 precisely what they had done. Their resting-place 
 was right between the lips of a crevasse which had 
 become blocked up with stones, and it was a 
 miracle that they had escaped without injury. 
 
 Soon after they set out again the snow, which 
 had held off since the previous night, returned in 
 full force, and they had to face a blinding storm 
 that opposed every step of their progress. The 
 storm would have been bad enough in itself had 
 
IN THE VALLEY OP GLACIERS 
 
 145 
 
 
 fche going been in any wise tolera])le, but it was, if 
 possible, worse than ever. The road was literally 
 frightful, leading as it did over great boulders, with 
 scarcely a pretence of a track. Here it followed 
 the bed of the Chandra river, and there it climbed 
 its steep stony banks, while again it wound along 
 the edge of precipices on paths fit only for wild 
 goats. 
 
 And finally, to make matters worse, there were 
 a number of glacier-fed streams to be forded, whose 
 icy waters brought plaintive cries from the women 
 that made Mr. Stanuard repent having been per- 
 suaded into engaging them as carriers. 
 
 For several hours the travellers floundered and 
 fought their way through the storm, and then, late 
 in the afternoon, they were brought to a halt by 
 the native who was acting as guide making the 
 startling announcement that he had lost his way, 
 and would not go any farther that day. Mr. 
 Stannard reasoned with him and threatened him 
 to no avail ; not even a revolver held at his head 
 had any effect. He was tired out and utterly 
 despondent owing to the numbing influence of the 
 cold, and seemed quite prepared to die rather than 
 proceed. 
 
 In this emergency the only thing to be done 
 was to look round for some sheltered place where 
 they might camp for the night. 
 
 
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 146 
 
 ON THE WOULD S ROOF 
 
 After some searching about, a kind of cave under 
 an overarching precipice was discovered, and here, 
 in default of anything better, they went into camp. 
 The tents could not be put up for lack of a suffi- 
 ciently level space, and Mr, Staniiard and Kent 
 therefore had to share in the sufferings of the 
 others, which were by no means to be made 
 light of. 
 
 That long night of misery was one never to be 
 forgotten. Without pause or rest the storm raged 
 and roared, sending the snow in flying wreaths 
 into the farthest corner of the cave, and making 
 it difficult to maintain the fire which Bunty had, 
 with infinite pains, succeeded in lighting. 
 
 Kent found his hm mastiff a better friend than 
 
 even his own father that night ; for, while Mr. 
 Stannard had all he could do to keep his own 
 blood in circulation, Hercules not only kept him- 
 self warm, but by allowing his young master to 
 curl up close to his great furry body, afforded him 
 a protection from the cold that greatly mitigated 
 his misery. 
 
 " You dear old chap ! " he murmured, as he 
 nestled against the mastiff's side. " How glad I 
 am I've got you ! You're the best dog that ever 
 breathed." 
 
 The longest night, however, must come to an 
 end, and this dreadful one did finally drag itself 
 
IN THE VALLEY OF GLACIKUS 
 
 H7 
 
 
 away without any actual catastrophe, although 
 several of the coolies got painful frost-bites, aud 
 even Mr. Stannard had to confess that another 
 such experience would certainly cause him to give 
 up his plan and return to India. 
 
 But happily the Shigri valley had done its 
 worst. The following day was bright and clear, 
 and although the fallen snow made the walking 
 heavy and toilsome, by midday the travellers had 
 left the valley behind, and got into an entirely 
 different region, where there was grass in abun- 
 dance, and clumps of willow-trees, the sight of 
 which was exceedingly refreshing after the desola- 
 tion of the " Valley of Glaciers." 
 
 Late in the alternoon Kent came near losing 
 his life while going down some natural steps that 
 skirted the edge of a tremendous precipice. 
 
 He was riding Spy, because he had come to put 
 more faith in the little mare's sure-footedness than 
 in his own, and had got along very well, in spite 
 of the extreme difficulty of the descent, until the 
 last step was reached. 
 
 Here, just at the most critical moment, when 
 S' y had planted both her fore- feet upon the ledge, 
 iid Kent vas leaning back as far as he could, 
 holding her in with all his might, the crupper gave 
 wa^, and the saddle slid forward on to the pony's 
 neck, thus upsetting he animal's balance. 
 
 
 II 
 
 In ii 
 
 1 
 
 
 : ii 
 
148 
 
 ON THE WORLD S ROOF 
 
 Well was it then for both rider and horse that the 
 former was no less quick of wit than strong of arm. 
 
 There was only one possible thing to be done 
 to save both from destruction, and that one thing 
 Kent saw and did. Throwing himself off the 
 saddle on to the ledge, he drew the little mare 
 down after him by tightly grasping her mane, and 
 the intelligent creature, seeming to clearly realise, 
 kept perfectly still until Champ came up and 
 rescued both from their perilous situation. 
 
 Although sorely bruised by the fall, Kent was 
 greatly elated at having by his prompt action saved 
 not only his own life, but his beloved Spy's also. 
 
 Mr. Stannard.who was some little way ahead, knew 
 nothing of the occurrence until it was all over, but 
 when he heard about it he praised Kent warmly. 
 
 " Your quickness of decision and action is a very 
 valuable quality, my boy," said he, regarding him 
 fondly. " In this case it meant the difference 
 between picking up a mangled corpse from the 
 bottom of the ravine and having you before me 
 none the worse save for a few bruises. I think 
 there must be some fine future in store for you, 
 Kent; you get out of your scrapes and perils so 
 triumphantly." 
 
 "I'm sure I don't know anything about the fine 
 future, father," responded Kent. " But I know 
 this, that I'm not at all anxious to lose my life up 
 
IN THE VALLEY OF GLAClERft 
 
 149 
 
 here in the Himalayas, and that I'm going to take 
 tlie best care of myself that I can." 
 
 After leaving the Shigri valley tlie travellers had 
 some tremendous climbing to do m cheir journey 
 over the Shinkal pass, the crest of which was an 
 enormous glacier. In this glacier were innumer- 
 able narrow crevasses, many of them concealed by 
 white honeycombed ice, and the greatest care had 
 to be exercised in going ahead. 
 
 Here the Goorkha proved himself simply invalu- 
 able. He seemed to be able to divine the proxi- 
 mity of a crevasse by some instinct not possessed 
 by any of the others, and over and over again 
 saved the party from accident by his timely warn- 
 ings. He evidently took great pride in his sagacity, 
 hailing the location of each crevasse with as°much 
 lively satisfaction as if it were a decided advantage 
 instead of a drawback, necessitating, as it usually 
 did, a more or less lengthy detour. 
 
 The summit of the pas^ was not less than 
 eighteen thousand ieet high, and the effect upon 
 the climbers of this great altitude, and the rarity 
 of the atmosphere, was to set many of them 
 bleeding at the nose, and to render exertion very 
 difiacult. ' ^ 
 
 Kent was quite sure he never could have got 
 across but for Spy, upon whose energy neither 
 the difficult going nor tlie rarity of the air seemed 
 
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 .' 
 
 ii 
 
 8 
 
 150 
 
 ON THE WOULD .S ROOF 
 
 to have any effect. As it was, his nose bled pro- 
 fusely, and he fouud it so hard to breathe that he 
 vowed he would suffocate if they did not soon get 
 down to lower ground. 
 
 Near the summit of the pass lay a great glacial 
 lake, which they had to cross, and they halted for 
 their midday rest at its centre. 
 
 " Here now, Kent," said Mr. Stannard, " is the 
 home of eternal winter — the region of perpetual 
 snow. How would you like to spend your life 
 here ? " 
 
 Kent looked about him, and gave a shudder, so 
 expressive as to render words superfluous. Cer- 
 tainly human imagination could scarcely conceive a 
 scene more savagely dreary and desolate, withal so 
 grandly beautiful. 
 
 From all sides of the glacial lake rose the snow- 
 slopes, a thousand feet or more in height, and 
 dazzling white in their unsullied purity ; while 
 above them towered vast overhanging walls of 
 stratified ice, from which every few moments huge 
 masses would detach themselves, and come plung- 
 ing down the slopes with the rattle and roar of 
 an avalanche. There was absolutely nothing to 
 relieve the stern sublimity of Nature, entrenched 
 in her citadel of unchanging cold. 
 
 It began to snow before the travellers got off 
 the glacier, and when they had descended a few 
 
IN THE VALLEY OF GLACIERS 
 
 151 
 
 hundred feet it was snowiug so heavily on the 
 ice-lake that, had they still been there, they could 
 not have seen more than two yards before their 
 faces, and consequently would have been in inces- 
 sant danger of falling into one of the innumerable 
 crevasses. 
 
 Happily, however, that danger was now past, and 
 they could make good speed with easy minds. 
 
 The following day found them well within the 
 borders of the mysterious province of Zanskar, 
 whither few Europeans had ever preceded them. 
 
 " I am not at all sure as to the kind of recep- 
 tion we shall get in this region, Kent," said Mr. 
 Stannard. " There is very little known about the 
 people or country and from what I have been able 
 to learn, they're not at all anxious to become 
 better known, so that I won't be surprised if 
 we find them inclined to be inhospitable. But 
 we won't stay any longer in their province than 
 we can help, and perhaps they'll treat us decently 
 enough." 
 
 Certainly, if the people were anythmj^- like as 
 extraordinary as the land in which they lived, they 
 were a queer lot. 
 
 The mountains of Zanskar presented ever- 
 changing views of the most weird and astonish- 
 ing character. There were castles, spires, domes, 
 and needles of solid rock, and mighty bastions that 
 
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 152 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 looked exactly as if they had been shaped by some 
 gigantic hand. 
 
 Kent, reminded by them of the fairy tales of 
 his childhood, exclaimed, with mingled wonder and 
 delight, " Why, look, father, isn't that like a grand 
 castle ? I'm afraid Jack the Giant-Killer would 
 have had a harder time of it if he'd had to attack 
 such a stronghold as that ; wouldn't he ? " 
 
 Not only was the formation of these mountains 
 marvellously varied, but their tints and colours 
 were almost bewildering in their richness and 
 variety. Green, purple, orange, brown, black, and 
 yellow abounded, and there were other shades not 
 so prominent, yet to be discerned by the care- 
 ful eye. 
 
 Over all rose the intensely blue vault of heaven, 
 from which the sunlight poured in dazzling splen- 
 dour, working out wonderful efifects in light and 
 shadow with the aid of the surrounding mountain- 
 peaks. 
 
 After passing down the valley for several hours, 
 the first village of Zanskar came into sight. It 
 was not a large place, yet the number of yaks 
 and ponies pasturing in the fields adjoining seemed 
 to betoken the presence of a good many people. 
 
 The approach of Mr. Stannard's party evidently 
 created a sensation in the valley, and the in- 
 habitants could be seen moving excitedly about 
 
IN THE VALLEY OF GLACIEUS 
 
 153 
 
 and gathering in little groups, which presently 
 combined into one band, and came out to meet 
 the strangers. 
 
 " Now," said Mr. Standard, his countenance indi- 
 cating some concern, " we will soon know what the 
 people of Zanskar are going to do with us." 
 
 "They don't look particularly friendly," said 
 Kent, after an anxious scrutiny of the approacli- 
 ing throng. " What'll we do if they turn us back, 
 as they did at Sliipki ? " 
 
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 CHAPTER XII 
 
 WITH THE HIMALAYAN HIGHLANDERS 
 
 At first glance the Zanskar folks looked so like 
 a party of Highlanders that Mr. Stannard was led 
 to exclaim, " Why, one would think we were in 
 Scotland ! Just see their tartans, Kent." 
 
 Not only the appearance of the men, who had 
 tall, athletic forms, long faces, and aquiline noses, 
 but the clothes they wore, certainly bore a striking 
 resemblance to the clans of Auld Scotia. 
 
 If there were no kilts, there were plaids in 
 abundance, and great variety of patterns ; both 
 men and women weaving them, and fastening 
 them up with brooches, as did the Macgregors 
 and Campbells of the other land. 
 
 The men, who kept well to the front, the women 
 following behind evidently from pure curiosity, 
 were stern and warlike of countenance, and armed 
 with matchlocks and swords, which would render 
 them formidable foes in the event of a fight. 
 
 " There'll be no frightening these fellows, Kent," 
 said Mr. Stannard. " We'll have to make our way 
 
 154 
 
WITH THE HIMALAYAN HIGHLANDKRS 
 
 155 
 
 by diplomatic means if we're going to get ahead 
 at all." 
 
 When the two parties were about a hundred 
 yards apart Mr. Stannard halted, and the Zanskar 
 folks did the same. 
 
 By Mr. Stannard's instructions, one of the higar- 
 ries, or carriers, who claimed to be familiar with 
 tlie dialect of the country, then went ahead to 
 arrange for a conference. He was met half-way 
 by the Talukdar, or principal man of the village, 
 who, still wearing a stern look, began to question 
 him as to who the Sahibs were, and wliat they were 
 doing in Zanskar. 
 
 The higarry, finding the questions pour in too 
 fast upon him for his poor wits, appealed to Mr. 
 Stannard, who then came forward, and using the 
 carrier as an interpreter, explained the purpose of 
 his coming and the composition of his party. He 
 did this with the utmost courtesy, being anxious to 
 make the best possible impression upon the Talukdar. 
 
 This official listened to him with grave atten- 
 tion, and then, signifying that he shouhL not 
 advance any farther, returned to his own people 
 to report what he had heard, and to consult with 
 them as to the reception of the strangers. 
 
 " I wish we could make out what they're saying, 
 father," said Kent, as they watched the conference 
 with eager eyes. 
 
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156 
 
 ON THK WORLt/s ROOP 
 
 i I' 
 
 But the people were talking with such earnest- 
 ness that it was impossible to guess from their 
 manner how their decision might go, and of course 
 even if their words had been audible they would 
 not have been intelligible. 
 
 It must have been full fifteen minutes before 
 the consultation ended, and then the Talukdar 
 once more approached. This time coming right up 
 to Mr. Stannard, he held out to him a rupee. At 
 once the sliadow of anxiety fled from Mr. Stan- 
 nard's countenance, and bowing low, he said — 
 
 " I thank you with all my heart, Talukdar, and 
 shall pay liberally for whatever I or my men may 
 require of you." 
 
 Which, being translated by the higarry, caused 
 the hitherto grave face of the mountaineer to relax 
 into a gracious smile, and returning the bow, he 
 indicated by a wave of his hand that the way to 
 the village was open. 
 
 As they moved forward in response to this invita- 
 tion Kent asked his father what the giving of the 
 rupee meant. 
 
 " Oh," replied Mr. Stannard, " that was huzur, 
 an act of obeisance. By it he meant that every- 
 thing in the village was at our command." 
 
 Kent laughed out loud in his relief and joy at 
 this turn of affairs. 
 
 " Why," he cried, " they're only too glad to be 
 
 i 1 
 
 
WITH THE HIMALAYAN HIGHLANDEKS 
 
 157 
 
 friends, and yet we were vrorrying ourselves as to 
 how they would treat us." 
 
 The people of Kharjak proved thoroughly hospi- 
 table and kind. Not only was Mr. Stannard able 
 to secure without difficulty all the carriers he 
 needed for the next stage of his journey, but as 
 many more insisted upon accompanying them, and 
 helping to carry their burdens out of pure kindness, 
 without any expectation of pay. 
 
 Although nearly fourteen thousand feet high, 
 Kharjak was inhabited all the year round, and its 
 inhabitants seemed to live in tolerable comfort, de- 
 spite the scarcity of good soil in the neighbourhood. 
 
 Kent was much interested by the Choten and 
 Mani, of which there were a great many round 
 about Kharjah. 
 
 " What on earth can they want with such a lot of 
 sacred buildings ? " he exclaimed, half indignant at 
 such a foolish waste of work and material. " One- 
 quarter of them would surely be enough. There 
 must be one apiece for every man, woman, and 
 child in the place ! " 
 
 The Choten were nearly solid edifices composed 
 of large square platforms, placed one above another, 
 and surrounded by the larger half of an inverted 
 cone, which supported a tapering pillar bearing a 
 sacred emblem. They were usually the receptacles 
 for the relics of departed saints, and some had eyes 
 
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 11 -^ ^ ■ 
 
 I'M 
 
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 158 
 
 ON THE WOBLD S ROOF 
 
 painted roughly upon them, thereby indicating that 
 they were dedicated to Buddha, " the eye of the 
 universe." 
 
 The Mani were quite different, being simply long 
 dikes of stones, many of the stones being inscribed 
 or sculptured. They varied in length from thirty 
 to a thousand feet, and were usually about five 
 feet in height and ten in breadth. The favourite 
 inscription on these Mani was the Lama prayer, 
 " Om mani pad me haun," which is so constantly in 
 the mouths of the Thibetans. 
 
 " What do those words mean, father ? " Kent 
 asked. " They never seem to have put anything 
 else on their walls." 
 
 '*I can tell you what their literal translation is, 
 Kent," replied Mr. Stannard. " It is simply, ' 
 God ! the jewel in the Lotus, amen ! ' But what the 
 people understand by it, and why they think saying 
 it over and over again can do them any good, is 
 more than I can tell you. You had better ask the 
 first Lama you meet. He may be able to explain 
 it all." 
 
 Fully determined to get to the bottom of the 
 matter if possible, Kent, at the first opportunity, 
 cross- questioned a Lama by the aid of one of the 
 carriers. But when the Lama, in reply, poured 
 forth a flood of words which completely paralysed 
 the poor higarry's powers of translation, Kent was 
 
WITH THE HIMALAYAN HIGHLANDEU8 
 
 159 
 
 fain to confess defeat, and to leave the mystery of 
 the Thibetan prayer unsolved. 
 
 Between Kharjak and Padam, the capital of the 
 province of Zanskar, the travelling was compara- 
 tively easy, except for the crossing of two rivers, 
 the Kharjak Chu and the Tsarap Lingti. 
 
 The first of these had to be forded, there being 
 not even a jhula across it, and the stream was so 
 broad and swift that a person going alone would 
 infallibly have been swept away. The whole party 
 therefore joined hands, and thus sustaining one 
 another, got across in safety, although the Sikh 
 came near creating a panic by losing his footing 
 in mid-stream, and almost pulling down those next 
 him in his violent efiforts to regain it. 
 
 The passage of the second river proved still more 
 exciting. Here there was nothing but a single 
 rope suspended across the rapid torrent, like a 
 strand from a spider's web. 
 
 When Kent saw it he exclaimed, with a puzzled 
 laugh, " "Who's going to walk that rope ? Why, it 
 isn't even tight! Or do you get across by going 
 hand -over-hand ? " 
 
 "Neither way, my boy," said Mr. Stannard. 
 "There are more ways of killing a cat than by 
 amputating her tail behind her ears. Do you see 
 that little rope running alongside the big one ? 
 Well, take hold of that and pull." 
 
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 ON THE WOKLD'S HOOP 
 
 J a 
 
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 Hi ' 
 
 Kent (lid as he was bid, and in response to liis 
 pulling there came over from the otlier side a sort of 
 single trapeze, whicli ran freely along the big rope. 
 
 " Now," said his father, " get into tliat thing, hold 
 on tight, and you'll be on the other side before you 
 can say Jack Robinson." 
 
 With some little quaking of heart Kent obeyed, 
 and as soon as he was settled on the wooden bar 
 Mr Stannard let go, and the slope of the rope being 
 pretty sharp, he flew across to the other bank with 
 the swoop of a bird. 
 
 The experience was so exhilarating that Kent 
 would have liked very well to repeat it, but the 
 whole party had to be got over, and the horses 
 across beside, and there was no time to spare, so 
 he was fain to content himself with the hope that 
 there were similar bridges ahead. 
 
 " I like it ever so much better than those horrid 
 jhulas," he said emphatically. " They always make 
 my heart beat as if it wanted to jump out of my 
 body." 
 
 They reached Padam early in the afternoon, and 
 found it the largest village they had seen since 
 leaving inhospitable Shipki. Being the capital of 
 the province, it was the residence of the Thanadar, 
 who governed in the name of the Maharajah of 
 Kashmir, and who had a small force of horse and 
 foot soldiers to support his dignity. 
 
i 
 
 WITH TlllO HIMALAYAN HKimiANUKHS 
 
 l6l 
 
 Mr. Stannard at once set out to call upon thiu 
 official, takin<^ Kent and the Sikh and Goorkha 
 along with him. They were very civilly received, 
 and Mr. Stann.ird given to understand that what- 
 ever he required would be furnished him. 
 
 Wishing to make some study of the place and its 
 people, Mr. Stannard decided to remain for a few 
 days, and so the camping-place was moved from 
 the first location, which was not at all desirable, 
 to a fine grassy terrace, where an immense rock 
 afforded welcome protection from the almost cease- 
 less wind. 
 
 Kent was very glad of the stay. He was grow- 
 ing weary of the continuous travelling, and the 
 prospect of three or four days' rest in one place 
 was quite to his mind. 
 
 The morning after their arrival he mounted Spy, 
 and, accompanied only by Hercules, set out to explore 
 the town. There was not much to be seen. The 
 houses were all of stone, and as alike as peas in a 
 pot ; low, square, solid buildings, with fiat roofs and 
 few windows, not at all attractive as dwellings. 
 The streets were narrow and crooked, and there 
 seemed to be no shops, although there must have 
 been such establishments somewhere, even if Kent 
 could not find them. 
 
 "I just wish I could light upon a candy-store," 
 said he to himself, jingling some coins in his pocket. 
 
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 ON THE WORLD y ROOF 
 
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 " How 1 should eigoy a pound of good caudy ! It 
 seems a perfect age since I tasted any," and he 
 smacked his lips in regretful recollection of his 
 last blow-out. 
 
 But there was manifestly no candy to be had 
 for love or money, and giving up the town in 
 disgust, he rode out into the outskirts, where he 
 presently came upon a herd of horses tended by 
 several boys of about his own age. The horses 
 were of the small sturdy kind usually found in 
 the mountains, and as he watched them grazing 
 contentedly on the rank grass there came into his 
 head a scheme which he proceeded to act upon 
 without delay. 
 
 He was in quest of diversion. What could be 
 more diverting than a good pony-race ? His little 
 Spy was far from being a slow-coach. Perhaps 
 she might prove more than a match for the pick 
 of the herd. At all events if she didn't there 
 would be some fun in having a trial of speed. 
 
 But how was he to make himself understood to 
 the boys in charge of the herd ? They could not 
 speak a word of English, and he was no less ignorant 
 of Zanskarese. 
 
 How it was managed it would be hard to explain. 
 When Kent first attempted to hold converse with 
 the boys they seemed scared, and crowded together 
 iu a silent, constrained group. But when he, in 
 
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WITH TIIK HIMALAYAN HIGHLANDEKS 
 
 10' 
 
 nowise disconcerLed by their shyness, coutinued to 
 speak earnestly and to indicate by pantomime what 
 he was driving at, the subtle freemasonry that pre- 
 vuils among boys the world over helped him out, 
 and presently the brightest of the group began to 
 nod his head as though to say, " Oh, I understand 
 you now," and after a few words to his companions, 
 went towards the band of ponies. 
 
 He caught one without difficulty, and springing 
 upon his back, rode up alongside Kent witli a 
 smiling face. 
 
 Kent smiled cordially in return, and forgetting 
 for the moment that they could not understand 
 each other's speech, asked him, " Now, where shall 
 we run to ? You know the best course." 
 
 The boy shook his head to show that he did 
 not comprehend, whereupon Kent once more had 
 recourse to pantomime. By dint of many grimaces 
 and much gesturing Kent at length succeeded in 
 making his meaning clear, and then the boy pointed 
 out a stunted willow-tree about a quarter of a mile 
 away, and by an expressive swoop of his hand 
 suggested that they should ride around that and 
 back. 
 
 Kent having signified his consent to this, tin- 
 boy had a brief but earnest conference with hi.s 
 companions, and then ranged up beside Kent, sig- 
 nifying that he was ready for the race. 
 
 
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 llfJtSS 
 
 
 164 
 
 ON TIIK world's KOOF 
 
 He had no saddle, and a bit of rope was his 
 only bridle, but he sat the pony as if he was a 
 part of it, and Kent realised that his own better 
 equipment would count for little. 
 
 The course was over a stone-strewed level that 
 it would have been sheer madness to send any 
 ordinary horse across at full speed. But neither 
 Kent nor the young Zanskarite had any fears for 
 their mounts. They had no less entire confidence 
 in them than in themselves, and they looked as 
 composedly at the rough and dangerous stretch of 
 ground as if it had been a smoothly turfed rac(;Course. 
 
 The start was by mutual consent. The riders 
 just gave one glance at each other by way of a 
 signal, and then off" they pelted, the four pairs of 
 hoofs rattling over the stones like so many cas- 
 tanets. Little Spy entered into the spirit of the 
 contest with all her heart; so much so, indeed, 
 that if Kent had let her have her own way she 
 would have extended herself to the utmost from 
 the very start. 
 
 But he knew better than to allow her to do this. 
 Though the course was little more than half-a-mile 
 in length, it was too rough to be galloped over at 
 top speed. He therefore put a strong pull on Spy, 
 and kept her back while the other pony shot past, 
 its rider seeming to have no other thought than to 
 get as far ahead as possible. 
 
i 
 
 WITH THE HIMALAYAN HIGHLAXDKRS 
 
 165 
 
 " Easy now, Spy — easy, my girl," said Kent 
 eoothingly. " He's going too hard to hold out. 
 We'll catch him time enough." 
 
 The Zanskarite, by dint of urging his pony to 
 the utmost, had got a lead of full twenty yards be- 
 fore they reached the tree. But a good half of this 
 he lost in making the turn, Kent's bridle giving 
 Idra so much better control over his steed, and 
 when they straightened out for home not more 
 than ten yards separated them. 
 
 Kent now gave his pony the reins and clapped 
 his heels to her sides, shouting cheerily, " Away 
 with you, Pyy I Catch up to him, quick '" Half- 
 way to th'^ fimsh the boys were side by side, and 
 Kent was already beginning to count the victory, 
 when a most provoking thing happened. 
 
 Hercules had hitherto been bounding along be- 
 side Spy, barking lustily, but making no attempt to 
 interfere. Just at this critical point in the race, 
 however, it somehow got into his big head that 
 his friend the pony needed encourayement, and 
 the way he proceeded to impart it was by getting 
 in front of her and springing at her head, mean- 
 while sending forth explosive barks that would 
 have shaken the nerves of a mule. 
 
 lu vain did Kent shout fiercely, " Down, Here, 
 down ! Get oat of the way, will you ? " and aim 
 fierce blows at him with his riding-whip. 
 
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 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
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 The niastifif, instead of being checked by this, 
 only jumped and barked the harder, and of course 
 his foolish action could not fail to impede the 
 progress of the pony, the result being that, greatly 
 to Kent's chagrin, he was beaten by a couple of 
 lengths. 
 
 The Zanskar boys were highly elated at the 
 victory of their entry for this improvised race, but 
 Kent was furious. 
 
 Had Hercules not interfered he would have won 
 hands down, he felt confident, and nothing would 
 satisfy him but another race. 
 
 To his great disgust, the Zanskarites refused. 
 They were too well content witli their tirst success 
 to try again, and having tired himself out endea- 
 vourino- to change their mind, Kent was fain to 
 come away in a very bad humour. 
 
 As soon as he returned to the camp he told 
 his father what had occurred, and how eager he was 
 for a chance to redeem himself. Mr. Staniiard, 
 seeing that he really took the matter to heart, 
 then promised to try what could be done, and went 
 off at once to see the Thanadar. 
 
 The result of his conference with him was, that 
 a race was arrnnged to take place the following 
 morning between Kent's pony and the est that 
 Padara could produce ; whereat Kent was entirely 
 satisfied, for ho put implicit faith in Spy. 
 
 •)' 
 

 
 IH 
 
 • • 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 i^: i 
 
 THE GREAT PADAM STEEPLECHASE 
 
 Kent was so worked up about the race that he 
 could hardly get to sleep, and as he lay in bed 
 wide awake and staring out through the door of 
 the tent, an idea came to him that at once took 
 possession of his mind. 
 
 " The very thing ! " he murmured, giving himself 
 a slap on the thigh in expression of his satisfaction. 
 " Even if there be ponies here that can beat Spy 
 racing on the level, I'm perfectly sure there's not 
 one that can beat her at a steeplechase, and that 
 is the kind of a race we'll have if I can manage it." 
 
 So soon as his father was awake in the morninw 
 Kent decbred for a steeplechase, and vowed that 
 nothing else would satisfy him. 
 
 Mr. Stannard at first demurred. 
 
 " Haven't you had enough escapes from breaking 
 your neck," he asked, "that you are so eager to 
 risk it riding a steeplechase over such country as 
 this ? " 
 
 But Kent pleaded earnestly, and finally prevailed 
 
 167 
 
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 i6S 
 
 ON TIIF. world's roof 
 
 SO far as to secure his father's pledge that if the 
 other side liad no objection he would give way. 
 
 When the tiling was proposed to the Thanadar 
 he agreed at once. There would be far more 
 excitement about such a race, and as it involved 
 the possibility of somebody's neck or limb being 
 broken, it quite approved itself to his half-savage 
 mind. 
 
 Long before the time appointed for the contest 
 the people of Padam were throngL^g out to the 
 level where it was to take place. 
 
 Mr. Stannard and the Thanadar had arranged 
 the details between them, to the entire satisfaction 
 of both. The course selected was along the bottom 
 of the valley, its length being altogether more than 
 a mile, and its character such as to give even an 
 Irish steeplechaser pause. There were stone walls 
 to be leaped over, irrigating brooks to be crossed, 
 big boulders to be surmounted, and, above all 
 things, various Choten and Maui to be scrupulously 
 avoided, for it would have been sacrilege to race 
 across them. 
 
 The starting-point was at the upper end of the 
 valley, and the racers were to go to the lower end 
 and back, thus making up the two miles. 
 
 Sharp on time everything was in readiness, Kent 
 having taken the precaution to fasten Hercules 
 securely at the camp, so that he would not again 
 
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THE GREAT PADAM STEEPLECHASE 
 
 169 
 
 interfere in so untimely and provoking a fashion. 
 The big fellow roaiad and tugged furiously at his 
 cliain, but he could not break his bonds, and had 
 perforce to submit to his temporary captivity. 
 
 By way of preparation for the event, the Sikh 
 and Goorkha had combed and brushed up little 
 Spy until she presented quite a jaunty appearance, 
 her mane and tail being plaited in true racing 
 fashion. 
 
 The Padam pony had also received an amount 
 of attention that must have caused it some aston- 
 ishment, and this time was bridled and saddled in 
 proper style. The rider was the same boy that 
 had been Kent's opponent before, the Thanadnr 
 evidently considering that that v^ould be fair for 
 both parties. 
 
 Every nerve in Kent's frame was a-quiver with 
 excitement, and his heart beat like the ticks of 
 a watch. Noting this, Mr Stannard said warn- 
 ingly — 
 
 "Don't lose your head, Kent, my boy. It's 
 going to be a hard race, and you'll need all your 
 wits to win it. Keep your puny well in hand, and 
 don't attempt to make the running. The other 
 chap will do that for you." 
 
 Kent nodded his head vigorously in token of 
 heeding his father's advice, but said nothing in 
 reply. He was too excite-! to trust himself to speak. 
 
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 170 
 
 ON THE world's HOOF 
 
 There was almost perfect silence in the throng 
 of spectators as the ponies got into position for 
 the start. The Tiianadar had courteously insisted 
 upon Mr. Stannard giving the signal, which was 
 to be the dropping of a handkerchief. 
 
 The nervousness of the riders had communicated 
 itself to their mounts, and there were a couple of 
 false starts before they got away well together, 
 amid the cheers and cries of the men, women, and 
 children gathered for the contest. 
 
 As Mr. Stannard anticipated, the Padam boy 
 sent his pony off at full speed, just as though the 
 race were a half-mile dash instead of a long pull 
 over the very roughest of courses. This caused 
 the Thanadar to look grave, and to mutter some- 
 thing under his moustache that at least was not 
 a blessing, while Mr. Stannard looked at Champ 
 and Bunty with a meaning smile. 
 
 In the first quarter of a mile the Padam boy got 
 a long lead, for although the temptation to keep 
 close to him was very great, Kent managed to re- 
 strain the ardour of both himself and his pony. 
 
 " We mustn't go too fast at first, my good little 
 Spy," he said to the excited little mare. " There's 
 lots of work to be done yet." 
 
 The racers now came to the first jump, a low, 
 broad stone wall, well worth the attention of a 
 veteran cross-country rider. The Padam pony, 
 
THE GKEAT PADAM STEEPLECHASE 
 
 171 
 
 baulked for an instant, sprang on the top of the 
 wall and down on the other side ; but Spy took it 
 in her stride with a leap that was beautiful to 
 witness. 
 
 " Hurrah, my girl ! " shouted Kent gleefully, seeing 
 at once how his opponent's speed over the Qat 
 was to be matched by Spy's superiority in jumping. 
 " We've got them all right, see if we haven't." 
 
 The next jump to be negotiated was an irrigating 
 brook whose stony sides gave a poor take-off, but 
 the Padam pony flew over it unhesitatingly, a long 
 jump evidently coming easier to it than a high one. 
 
 Spy did equally well, and on the two went, the 
 distance between them remaining practically un- 
 changed. 
 
 Another stone wall and another brook were 
 passed in much the same way. Spy gaining slightly 
 because of the Padam pony's manner of surmount- 
 ing the wall ; and then came the field of boulders, 
 a bit of riding that might have daunted the 
 pluckiest riders to hounds in England or pig-chasers 
 in India. 
 
 " Take care now. Spy," said Kent, pulling hard 
 on the reins. " Mind where you put your little 
 feet." 
 
 In the case of any ordinary horse the warning 
 would certainly have been most timely, but for Spy 
 it seemed to be quite superduous. She did it with 
 
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 172 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 skill little short of miraculous. Her instinct was as 
 quick as lightning, and, without hesitating for a 
 moment, she chose just the right thing to do. 
 
 Now she would spring to the top of a boulder, 
 and drop lightly on the other side. Then she would 
 dod^e around another, never failing to take the 
 shortest cut. Again, she would shy off to the right 
 or left, thus securing the only bit of smooth footing 
 within reach. 
 
 Meantime the Padam pony was floundering 
 along in an undecided, worried way, that caused it 
 to lose ground steadily, so that by the time the 
 boulders were passed half its lead had been lost, 
 and Kent began to grow jubilant. 
 
 At the turn Kent was not more than twenty 
 yards behind, and now he ventured upon a little 
 strategy that at first caused his father some bewil- 
 derment and concern, so that he exclaimed to 
 Champ and Bunty — 
 
 " Why, what is Kent about ? Surely Spy has 
 not bolted and he can't keep her in the course ? " 
 
 From their point of view it certainly looked as 
 if something of the kind might have happened, for 
 Kent, instead of following at the other's heels, was 
 making a wide divergence, the reason of which did 
 not appear at all clear. 
 
 But Kent knew just what he was doing. His 
 keen eye had noticed off to one side a kind of path 
 
 ii !• > . 
 
THE UHKAT PADAM STKEPLKCHASK 
 
 ^7S 
 
 through the boulders that offered au easier way, 
 aud at the risk of losing a little ground he deter- 
 mined to take it, because it would be such a saving 
 to his pony's strength. 
 
 It proved more of a swerve from the straight 
 course than he expected, and while he took it the 
 Padam boy regained all the lead he had lost. 
 
 But when they were once more straightened out 
 for home the wisdom of Kent's action l)ecame mani- 
 fest, for the exertion of getting over and around the 
 boulders had evidently told upon the other pony, 
 and it was beginning to show signs of exhaustion. 
 Still, it had some fight left in it, and Kent could not 
 afford to crow. 
 
 The bit of smooth going that came after the 
 boulders enabled it to recover a little, and it took 
 the first brook quite gamely. 
 
 " Kent's got his work ahead of him yet," said 
 Mr. Stannard, twitching his moustache nervously. 
 " That Padam pony will take a lot of beating." 
 
 In spite of its plucky efforts, however, Spy was 
 gaining upon it at every stride. Foot by foot the 
 distance between the straining animals lessened, 
 and Kent could see the Padara ridur glancing over 
 his shoulder at him with a look that was pathetic 
 in its intense anxiety. 
 
 At the fir?t stone wall the Padam pony stumbled 
 and nearly fell ; but its rider held it up with the 
 
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 ON THE world's liOOF 
 
 skill of a professional jockey, and it went on again 
 bravely. 
 
 Meanwhile Spy was on her part beginning to 
 tire, and Kent, instead of holding her back, found it 
 necessary to cheer her on. 
 
 The second stone wall tried both ponies hard, 
 and the succeeding brook found them with little 
 jump left in them. The Padam pony, indeed, made 
 no effort to clear the brook at all, being content to 
 scramble down one ateep bank and up the other. 
 
 But Kent would not let Spy do it in that way. 
 Checking her for a moment that she might catch 
 breath and have a good look at the water-course, he 
 then sent her at it with a whoop of encouragement. 
 Eesponding gamely to the demand upon her. Spy 
 gathered lierself together and made a noble effort 
 to clear the brook. But her previous exertion had 
 taken too much of her strength, and only her fore- 
 feet cleared the brink of the bank, her hind-feet 
 striking the slope. 
 
 Had Kent's knowledge of riding been limited to 
 trotting comfortably along smooth country roads or 
 galloping over breezy downs, that would have been 
 an end of the race so far as he was concerned. As 
 it was, he came so near being thrown, that his father 
 shouted ill mingled alarm and dismay, and Champ 
 and Bunty both made a start towards him. 
 
 But his unsteadiness was only for a moment. 
 
THE GUKAT PADAM STEKPLECIIASE 
 
 »;s 
 
 In auother instant he had both himself and Spy 
 well in hand, and with a lift of the knees and tug 
 of the reins, got her up the bank and away again. 
 
 He was now not more than a furlong from the 
 goal, and the Padam boy was about ten yards ahead. 
 But his pony was manifestly hanging out signals of 
 distress, and if Spy could only put on a little bit of 
 a spurt the victory would be in his hands. 
 
 Summoning all his strength of mind and body 
 for the supreme effort, Kent strove to inspire his 
 flagging pony with energy for a final effort. He 
 did not go to the whip, for the simple reason that 
 he had none in his hands. It was repugnant to 
 his nature to lay the whip upon an animal already 
 doing its utmost. 
 
 But by word and hand and knee he cheered on 
 his doughty little mount, and so gallantly did she 
 respond, that he could see he was gaining at every 
 stride. Ere one-half the furlong had been covered 
 Spy's nose was beside the Padam pony's flank. Foot 
 by foot she continued to gain, despite the des- 
 perate and cruel blows rained by its rider upon 
 her opponent. 
 
 Now the two bays were side by side, the Padam 
 lad lashing furiously at his pony's flanks, while 
 Kent, a rein in each hand, bent forward and spoke 
 kindly to his straining steed. 
 
 Absolute silence held the crowd of spectators, so 
 
176 
 
 ON THE WOULD S liOOF 
 
 [ 
 
 '■ , ? 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 intense was the excitement ; and had Kent glanced 
 up he would have seen his father's face set with 
 anxiety, showing white among the dark-skinned 
 tlirong that surrounded him. But Kent saw 
 nothing save his pony's head, and heard nothing 
 save the faithful creature's laboured breathing. 
 
 The Padam pony, stung by the repeated blows of 
 the whip into a desperate effort, held Spy for full 
 twenty yards, and a sharp sense of fear of defeat 
 sent a shudder through Kent. But the next 
 moment, and with the goal still fifty yards away, 
 down went the exhausted animal, pitching its rider 
 clean over its head, where he lay stunned by the 
 shock, while Kent galloped home an undisputed 
 winner, amid a chorus of glad hurrahs from his own 
 party, in which even some of the Padam folks did 
 not refuse to join. 
 
 As soon as he had passed the winning-post Kent 
 turned Spy around, and, without waiting for his 
 father's congratulation, rode back to where his rival 
 was being assisted to his feet. Happily he had 
 received no serious injury, nor was his pony hurt 
 in any way beyond being utterly used up for the 
 time, so that there was nothing to mar Kent's satis- 
 faction in a victory that certainly reflected no small 
 credit upon both Spy and himself. 
 
 The Thanadar was not at all content with the 
 result, and tried hard to induce Mr. Stannard to 
 
f 
 
 THE GREAT PADAM STEEPLECHASE 1 77 
 
 have another race arranged. But, although Kent 
 was nothing loath, Mr. Stannaid would not consent. 
 Spy had gloriously proved her superiority, and there 
 was nothing to be gained by risking her legs and 
 her young owner's neck in another race. 
 
 Moreover, he was impatient to proceed, and did 
 not wish to remain at Padam longer than day- 
 break of the following day. 
 
 "We must hurry on to Kashmir before the 
 snowstorms begin to come in force and rtmder 
 the passes impracticable, Kent," he explained. 
 "We've got a good deal of hard climbing ahead 
 of us still, and the less snow we have to reckon 
 with the better." 
 
 Small notion had Mr. Stannard as he spoke then, 
 that for a much weightier reason than the running of 
 another race he would be compelled to prolong his 
 stay at Padam far beyond his plans, and that the 
 effort to reach Kashmir before the snows would 
 entail more hardship and difficulty than he for the 
 moment imagined. 
 
 That night the Thanadar gave a feast in honour 
 of his visitors, and although feeliug somewhat out 
 of sorts, Mr. Stannard, accompanied by Kent, took 
 part in the festivities, and did his best 10 show 
 appreciation of the entertainment provided. But 
 as the night waxed late Mr. Stannard's indis- 
 position increased, until at length he had to beg 
 
 m 
 
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 178 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 his host to allow him to withdraw to his own tent, 
 as he could hardly keep upon his feet. 
 
 Kent's face, which had been full of smiles at the 
 absurd performances of some native jugglers, who 
 were better as clowns than as sleight-of-hand per- 
 formers, grew suddenly grave when he saw how 
 ill his father seemed, and as soon as they had left 
 the Thanadar he began to question him anxiously. 
 
 " Do you know what's the matter with you, 
 father ? I hope you're not going to be ill, as I 
 was when the missionary's wife was so good to me. 
 There's nobody here to look after you." 
 
 " Except you, Kent," replied Mr. Stannard, with a 
 warm smile of pride and afifection. " You wouldn't 
 mind being my nurse for a while, would you ? " 
 
 " Why, no, father, of course not," responded Ke jt 
 eagerly, grasping his father's hand. " But I hope 
 you're not going to need a nurse all the same." 
 
 " I hope not too, my boy, from the bottom of my 
 heart," echoed Mr. Stannard. " But you needn't 
 be frightened. It's nothing serious, I imagine. 
 Just a touch of indigestion, or something equally 
 trifling." 
 
 Now, although Mr. Stannard thus affected to 
 treat the matter lightly, as a matter of fact his 
 mind was troubled with grave appreliensions. He 
 was for the most part a very healthy man, and had 
 had little experience of illnes<, yet somehow his 
 
THE GREAT PADAM STEEPLECHASE 
 
 179 
 
 present feelings told him that it was much more 
 than a touch of indigestion, or even of gout, that 
 was now troubling him. 
 
 "God grant it may not be dysentery 1" he 
 murmured, so low that Kent might not liear him. 
 Yet that was precisely what he feared, and the dread 
 weighed heavily upon his heart. 
 
 Kent was full of concern for his father, and 
 proposed one thing after another, until at last Mr. 
 Stannard, mustering a cheery smile, ordered him 
 oflf to bed, saying — 
 
 "Make your mind easy, Kent dear. I'm not 
 going to collapse to-night any way. We'll see how 
 matters are in ohe morning. That will be time 
 enough." 
 
 Despite his father's resolute cheeriness, Kent's 
 mind was very uneasy, and he spent that night 
 with one eye open, so to speak, and so lightly did 
 he sleep that his father could hardly turi) in bed 
 without arousing him. 
 
 Mr. Stannard was very restless too. His sick- 
 ness grew worse with every hour. His body 
 became full of pain, and a burning fever possessed 
 him, accompanied by such weakness that he 
 realised that there was small chance of his beinf^ 
 about on the morrow. 
 
 By the morning there was no further doubt 
 as to the nature of Mr. Stannard's illness. He 
 
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 ON THE world's KOOK 
 
 had been attacked by dysentery, and such a hold 
 liad that dangerous disease already taken of him 
 that the utmost care would be required to ensure 
 his recovery. 
 
 When Kent under.stood this a Strang" sense of 
 dismay chilled his beart. It was certainly a 
 trying position for a mere boy to liave thus sud- 
 denly cast upon him such a weight of responsi- 
 bility, for while his fatlier continued ill he must 
 assume charge of him and the whole party. 
 
 Was he equal to such a task ? 
 
 11 i 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 ! !) 
 
 SICKNESS AND PKRIL 
 
 "Kent, my dear boy," said Mr. Stannard, doing 
 his best to muster up a cheerful smile iu spite of 
 the suffering that racked him, " you'll have to take 
 my place for a time. I've no idea how long I'll 
 be laid up, but it's bound to be some days, and 
 you must take charge of everything in the mean- 
 time." 
 
 " I'll do my best, futlier," responded Kent, with 
 a quivering of the lip and suffusion of the eyes 
 that refused to be entirely suppressed; "and I'm 
 sure I do hope it won't be long before you arc 
 all right again." 
 
 "It is fortunate we've got two such faithful 
 fellows as Champ and Bunty for servants," con- 
 tinued Mr. Stannard. "They'll stand by us 
 through tliick and thin. But the curriers you 
 might as well pay off at once. We can easily 
 get as many as we want from the Thanadar when 
 we are ready to start again." 
 
 The carriers were accordingly dischirged, greatly 
 
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 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
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 to their disappointment, for they had counted upon 
 having a week's idleness at the Sahib's expense, 
 and there was considerable muttering among them 
 when they received their pay. 
 
 The Sikh and Goorkha manifested genuine con- 
 cern for their master, and there could be no mistake 
 about the sincerity with which they affirmed their 
 readiness to be faithful to him and Kent, whatever 
 might be the issue. 
 
 During the afternoon a change for the worse 
 took place in the weather, and fearing the conse- 
 quence of exposure in a thin canvas tent to such 
 snowstorms as they had endured in the Shigri 
 valley, Kent set about finding quarters for his 
 father in one of the houses of Padam. 
 
 This proved to be no easy task. Whether the 
 people were i fraid of the sickness extending to 
 them, or whether they had some superstitious 
 antipathy to admitting the Sahib into their homes, 
 it was impossible to make out. This much, how- 
 ever, was perfectly clear, that not even money had 
 power over their objections, and that some other 
 influence would be required to obtain for Kent 
 what he sought. 
 
 Happily this influence was forthcoming. In 
 despair of accomplishing his purpose unaided, Kent 
 bethought himself of applying to the Thauadar, 
 and the application was successful. 
 
i ( 
 
 SICKNESS AND PERIL 
 
 183 
 
 He at once took an interest in the matter, 
 and assured Kent that a room would be obtained 
 for him ; and he was as good as his word. Before 
 sundown a Sowar came to the tents with the wel- 
 come news that excellent accommodation liad been 
 arranged tor at a house to which the Sowar would 
 conduct the party, now reduced to four members. 
 
 Kent lost no time in making the move. The 
 Thanadar had tlioughtfully sent a litter for Mr. 
 Stannard's use, and as soon as he was safely started 
 with Kent at his side, the tents were struck, and, 
 under Champ and Bunty's direction, carried with 
 the rest of the baggage into the town, arriving at 
 the house not long after the invalid. 
 
 The " excellent accommodation " promised by 
 the Thanadar proved anything but that from an 
 English point of view, though no doubt it was 
 the best obtainable under the circumstances. 
 
 The house belonged to one of the principal 
 Zemindars, or landed proprietors, and was a typical 
 Thibetan residence of the better class, being built 
 of stone without mortar, and strengthened by large 
 beams that must have come from a long distance. 
 It was a two-story house, the ground floor being 
 practically a stable, tenanted by a happy family 
 of cattle, sheep, and ponies, whose presence was 
 continually manifested by the variety of smells and 
 sounds that ascended from their quarters. 
 
 i 
 
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 184 
 
 ON THE WORLD 8 UOOP 
 
 The upper flat was divided into a number of 
 rooms, some of which were occirj>ied by the women 
 and children of the family, others as store-rooms, 
 and one as a chapel, while tlie largest room of all 
 was set apart for the men. It was here Mr. 
 Stannard and his party were to put up, and when 
 Kent first looked about him his thought was, *' How 
 can my father ever get well here ? " 
 
 Although a spacious apartment, being nearly 
 forty feet square, it had no window, the only source 
 of light and air, save the door, being a large square 
 hole in the roof, through which the rain, dnow, 
 and cold came freely, although the smoke from the 
 struggling fire seemed reluctant to go out by it, 
 and preferred hanging about the room, rendering 
 the atmosphere dense and choking. 
 
 But the worst part of the room was its roof, 
 which was composed of thorn-bushes pressed closely 
 together, and although over four feet thick, it did 
 not keep out the wet, the melting snow percolating 
 through, and falling in frequent drops upon the floor. 
 An unpleasant feature of this dropping water was its 
 being so dirty, for the smoke had thickly coated the 
 ceiling of tlie room with soot, and the drops were 
 the colour of ink. 
 
 Before Kent had been many minutes in the 
 room, he made up his mind that his father iiiust 
 be protected so far as possible from both the 
 
 i 
 
SICKNESS AND I'EIJIL 
 
 185 
 
 .^nioke and the rain. But the question was how to 
 manage it. 
 
 Mr. Stannard could sufrgest nothing, and bef,'f,'ed 
 Kent not to bother. " It won't make me any worse, 
 even if it doesn't help me to get better," he said, 
 with one of Ids brave smiles. "I'll dodge as 
 many of the drops as I can, and say nothing about 
 the rest." 
 
 Rut Kent could not rest content, unH his busy 
 brain worried over the matter, until finally he gave 
 a shout of relief — « I've got it I The very thing ! 
 Come along, Bunty, and we'll fix it i_ a minute " 
 
 Tlh idea certainly was a good one, un.l when 
 put into execution seemed to meet the ditficultv 
 remarkably well. It was nothing more or less 
 than to put up one of the tents inside the room, 
 and have his father occupy it, just as if they were 
 still out in the open air. 
 
 Mr. Stannard seemed much amused at the plan, 
 but made no objection, and in a short time the 
 tent was securely set up, and he was comfortably 
 ensconced within it, to Kent's entire satisfaction. 
 
 " There now, father," said he exultingly, « you're 
 as snug as a bug in a rug, and you'll not be bothered 
 any more by having those horrid dirty drops come 
 s})lashiug down on you all the time." 
 
 " You certainly iiave made mo far more com- 
 fortable, my dear boy," replied Mr. Stannard, " an 1 
 
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 1 86 
 
 cj; THE world's roof 
 
 if I don't hurry up and get well, it won't be your 
 fault." 
 
 Although he did put such a brave face on the 
 matter, Mr. Stannard in reality was much troubled 
 about himself. He had taken a good supply of 
 medicine along with him, but he had given a great 
 deal away to the sick and suffering he had en- 
 countered on the route, and he had not in stock 
 the exact remedies he required, while, of course, 
 there was nothing to be had in Padam that would 
 be of any benefit. 
 
 The week that ensued was one full of anxiety on 
 the part of Kent and the two faithful servants. The 
 fell disease struggled hard with Mr. Stannard for 
 his life, and there were days when the issue seemed 
 so doubtful that Kent could liardly eat or sleep for 
 keen concern. He spent as little time from his 
 father's side as possible, going out only when it 
 was nece.-^sary to look after supplies and so forth, 
 and when Mr. Stannard ordered him off that he 
 might fill his lungs with fresh air and keep the 
 colour in his cheeks. 
 
 Champ and Bunty were beyond praise in their 
 devotion and usefulness, the Sikh always taking 
 Kent's place at Mr. Stannard's bedside when the 
 former was out, and Bunty managing to concoct 
 dainty dishes wherewith to tempt the sutferer's 
 palate with a skill and resource that were simply 
 
SICKNESS AND PERIL 
 
 187 
 
 marvellous in view of the difficulties as to mate- 
 rials and means of cooking with which he had to 
 contend. 
 
 During the long hours of nursing, Kent had 
 one means of diversion in which he found great 
 pleasure — to wit, the companionship of two children 
 belonging to the family in whose house they were 
 lodging. These youngsters, a boy and girl, the 
 one five and the other six years old, spent most 
 of their time in the other end of the room from 
 that in which Mr. Stannard was lying. 
 
 Here they were tended, like the pair of frolic- 
 some lambs they were, by their grandmother, a 
 blear-eyed, bent -backed dame, with whom they 
 were on the best of terms, although she did her 
 utmost to keep them busy winding yarn and 
 incessantly repeating the monotonous prayer, " Om 
 mani pad me haun" 
 
 Although their parents were black-haired and 
 swarthy-skinned, these children had as fair com- 
 plexions and as light hair as if they were Danes, 
 and, barring the dirt which usually obscured their 
 faces, were bonny enough youngsters to rejoice 
 the hearts of any ordinary parents. Kent had to 
 win his way into their confidence, for at first they 
 were very shy. But ere long a thoroughly friendly 
 footing was established, and he found much enjoy- 
 ment in their merry pranks. They seemed so 
 
 hi! 
 
 * ■ i 
 ill 
 
j 
 
 i 
 
 lb 
 
 ■■ . 
 
 ■'■ 
 
 1 88 
 
 ON THE WOKLI) S ROOF 
 
 bright and clever that he was impelled to try and 
 teach them some of his own language, and naturally 
 enough, seeing that their chief business in life, 
 next to winding endless lengths of yarn, seemed 
 to be equally interminable repetition of the mean- 
 ingless Lama prayer, he bethought him of having 
 them learn the Lord's Prayer. 
 
 The old grandmother, evidently taking in that 
 the lesson was a religious exercise of some sort, 
 offered no objection, and Kent's winning ways, 
 and unfailing rewards in the way of toothsome 
 cakes prepared by the ingenious Bunty, were so 
 effective that by the end of the week both children 
 could repeat the Lord's Prayer without a mistake. 
 It was really beautiful and touching to hear them 
 go through it with their quaint pronunciation and 
 sweet childish voices. 
 
 " Of course they don't understand a word of it," 
 said Kent to his father alter the first triumphant 
 demonstration of his success as a teacher, "but 
 they know that much English any way ; and the 
 next white people that come along, if they hear 
 them saying the Lord's Prayer, it'll be sure to set 
 them wondering how they came to learn it, and 
 then perhaps they'll teach them something more 
 themselves." 
 
 Young though they were, the children evidently 
 understood that their new accomplishmeut was 
 
 li 
 
SICKNESS AND PERIL 
 
 189 
 
 something much to their credit, and they could 
 be heard from time to time rehearsing it to one 
 another while winding aw-.y at the yarn. 
 
 Whenever the weather permitted Kent had a 
 canter on Spy, Hercules bounding and barkin- 
 along beside him ; and this daily outing had much 
 to do with keeping up his health and vigour during 
 those days of anxiety and care. Mr. Stannard 
 had been ill just a week, and was beginning to 
 show signs of amendment, when Kent took a 
 longer ride than usual, the day being unusually 
 fine and the ground fairly free from snow. He 
 had gone away down to the lower end of the 
 valley, leaving Padam some miles behind, and 
 was about to retrace his steps, when Hercules 
 started off in fierce pursuit of some small animal, 
 whether a young bear or marmot Kent had not 
 time to see. Away he went up a narrow gorge, 
 and Kent, being unable to recall him by shouts 
 of "Come back, Here! Come back, sir!" had 
 prepared to follow, lest his big pet should be lost 
 to him. 
 
 The gorge grew narrower and darker as K.mt 
 proceeded, until at last he dared not go any farther. 
 Happily, just when this conclusion forced itself 
 upon him, Hercules decided that he had no chance 
 of securing the object of his chase, and returned to 
 his master, looking very crestfallen. Kent gave 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 \U 1 
 
 r ? 
 
u 
 
 r 
 
 111 
 
 i 
 
 ■ i 
 
 190 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 him a good rating, and turned Spy around, intend- 
 ing to make all haste back to the town, when, 
 to his surprise and consternation, lie found his way 
 barred by a quartette of as villainous-looking natives 
 as he had seen since leaving Simla. They stood 
 right in his path, and the leader of them, a tall, 
 swarthy, sinewy fellow, armed with a long match- 
 lock, was saying something in his own language, 
 the purport of which Kent rightly took to be a 
 summons to stand and deliver. 
 
 Now Kent was as quick to act as he was brave 
 of heart, and taking in the situation at the first 
 glance, he made response to the rascal's demand by 
 clapping his heels to his pony's sides and charging 
 straight at him. It was a daring thing to do, aud 
 in a less confined space might have had the success 
 it deserved. But although Spy did bowl over the 
 first fellow, knocking the matchlock from his grasp 
 and nearly stunning him by his fall, the other three 
 were too close to be avoided, and they instantly threw 
 themselves upon Kent, one pulling him from his 
 saddle, while two laid hold of the reins aud threw 
 Spy back on her haunches. 
 
 By this time Hercules had come up, and, needing 
 no urging from Kent, took part in the struggle. 
 He first sprang at the prostrate robber, but finding 
 him practically hors de combat, turned his attention 
 to the one that had hold of Kont. 
 
SICKNESS AND PEUIL 
 
 191 
 
 Wasting no breath in a premonitory growl, he 
 seized him by the thick of the thigli and gave 
 him a crunching bite that caused him to roar in 
 pain, and to let go of Kent at once. 
 
 "Good dog !" cried Kent, cheering him on. "Good 
 old Here ! Give it to the rascals." 
 
 Quick to utilise the momentary dismay caused 
 by tiie failing of one of tlie quartette, and the biting 
 of the otlier, Kent now sought to regain possession 
 of Spy. But in this he was foiled by the two 
 uninjured men, and although Hercules did his best 
 to get his teeth into them, they managed to keep 
 him off without letting go of either the pony or 
 Kent. 
 
 Matters were at this pass, and Kent was pretty 
 clearly convinced that for the present at least further 
 struggle was useless, when it flashed into his mind 
 that if he could only get Hercules off to Padam his 
 return alone would give the alarm, and a rescuing 
 party would be sent ai'ter his master. Saying, there- 
 fore, to the man who held him, " Let me alone ; I 
 won't try to g<3t away," and showing by his actions 
 what his words meant, he called out to Hercules, 
 " Go home. Here ! Go home, sir ! Off with you ! " 
 
 The dog ceased his hostile demonstrations at the 
 sound of Kent's voice, looked up into his face with 
 a very puzzled expression for a moment, and then, 
 evidently taking in what he wanted, gave a short. 
 
 
 1 ; 
 
 f 
 
 i u 
 
 I, 
 
 I 
 
192 
 
 ON THE WOULD'S KOOF 
 
 I 1 
 
 J , 
 
 ,1 ; 
 
 sharp bark, as though to say, " I understand you ; 
 I'll do it," and bounded off in the direction of 
 Padam. The man who had the matchlock tried to 
 stop him with a bullet, but the clumsy firearm 
 made a bad miss, and before he could reload 
 Hercules had vanished around a projecting clifif. 
 
 " Now then, what is it that you want of me ? " 
 demanded Kent, turning to his captors, after hv 
 had seen Hercules safely out of sight. 
 
 The men all looked very sulky and throatening, 
 but Kent determined to put on as boLl a front as 
 possible, so that, if they could not understand his 
 words, they might be in no mistake about his 
 meaning. 
 
 The man who was knocked down by Spy, and 
 the other who was bitten by Hercules, having 
 examined their respective injuries, and attended to 
 them in a rough fashion, the four scoundrels now 
 sat down to confer together, one of them holding 
 the pony's bridle, and the other Kent's arm. Tiiey 
 rightly judged that lie would not be able to make 
 out a word of their talk, and they could therefore 
 discuss their plans with perfect freedom. 
 
 It was a strange and trying situation for Kent, 
 and he certainly carried himself with wonderful 
 fortitude. Here he was, miles away from all help, 
 his father powerless to help him even were he 
 aware of his danger, and no way of making his 
 
Ir\ 
 
 SICKNESS AN]) PEUn, j 
 
 C' '■''' '"""" ""'-^ "-<^'"«» should succecHl 
 m arousmg anxiety concerning l,iu, hI Z , 
 studi«l the conntenances of th '^^ 
 
 talked to..etl.er in C "'' ""'" "' '""^y 
 
 . ound for enco„rageu,ent to bo found there. 
 ijo of the men were tall, sinewy fellows of lil.„ 
 
 -|^d w„h Ch.,n.p; one of them^aa sit S 
 hok-set,- and the fourth a thin, shrunken, w as 
 
 emedT':""'' """' '"^ -'"P--- an".!' 
 seemed to be their leader. They all h»^ ^ 
 
 eviMookin, countenances, and tl e^ L i,n:'to 
 "ne glanced at Kent out of the cornera o the 
 eyes ,n a way that ma.le him shudder. 
 
 I ; 
 
 i ! 
 
 i i 
 
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 ;i 
 
 (. ' 
 
 i\t 
 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 ROBBERS AND BEARS 
 
 
 As Kent watched the rascals into whose hands he 
 had so unexpectedly fallen, he noticed that his pony 
 Spy seemed to be as much a matter of interest to 
 them as he was himself, and presently it became 
 clear that the conference was not proceeding alto- 
 gether amicably. 
 
 How he did long for the power to understand 
 their talk, which grew more noisy and earnest every 
 minute ! The little old man evidently wanted to 
 lay down the law for the others, but they were 
 not willing to ^ccept it at his hands, and the 
 argument grew more heated, until finally all four 
 were upon their feet, talking simultaneously at 
 the top of their voices. Then the old man made 
 some proposition which succeeded in producing 
 a temporary calm, and they all squatted down 
 again. 
 
 " I wonder what they're going to do now," soli- 
 loquised Kent anxiously. " I hope they don't in- 
 tend to cut my head off," he added, for one of the 
 
 
 •94 
 
KOBDEHS AND BEARS 
 
 195 
 
 to 
 jre 
 the 
 )ur 
 at 
 ide 
 ing 
 Iwn 
 
 Dli- 
 lin- 
 the 
 
 big fellows seemed to be lingering his sword in a 
 suggestive way. 
 
 But matters had not got quite so bad as that yet. 
 What thev were about to do was to draw lots, and 
 to this they proceeded in a primitive fashion, Kent 
 following every movement with keenest interest, 
 lor he realised that iiis fate was somehow in the 
 issue. 
 
 But it soon became evident that the drawing of 
 lots would not prove any more harmonious a trans- 
 action than the preceding wrangle had been, and 
 lime and time again the leader, if such he could be 
 called when the others so stoutly refused to be con- 
 trolled by him, manifested a degree of anger that 
 made him seem a very devil incarnate. He would 
 draw his sword anc' swing it about his head, while 
 fairly slirieking with fury, and once he made a 
 lunge at Kent with the gleaming steel as though 
 he would stab him to the heart. 
 
 Yet none of these tactics were of any avail in 
 carrying his point, and having spent his breath 
 and strength for nought, he paused for a moment 
 to consider what he would do next, when the still- 
 ness was suddenly broken in a startling manner by 
 the report of rifles, and several bullets whistled 
 through the air just above the heads of the little 
 group, and flattened themselves against the rocks 
 beyond. 
 
 •,'" 
 I 
 
 ■ t 
 
 
196 
 
 ON THK WORLDS BOOK 
 
 ^, 1 
 
 : ii 
 
 Close upon the crack of the firearms came the 
 roar of a mighty dog furious for the attack, and the 
 niixt instant the leader of the scoundrelly quartette 
 was borne backward to the ground with Hercules 
 at his throat ; while the two tall robbers, before their 
 momentary amazement was over, found themselves 
 pinioned in the iron grip of the Sikh and theGoorkha, 
 the fourtli member of the gang being left to the 
 care of one of the Thanadar's oflicers, who promptly 
 knocked him down witli the butt of his pistol. 
 
 So sudden and silent was tlie onslaught, so per- 
 fect the surprise, and so complete the capture, that 
 Kent was fairly dazed, and for a moment stood 
 there with his mouth wide open and his eyes start- 
 ing from their sockets, like one bewitched. Pre- 
 sently, however, his wits came back to him, and 
 with a shout of triumph he sprang at Hercules, and 
 strove to pull him off the prostrate man, whose life 
 was in no small danger. 
 
 " Easy, Here ! Easy, good dog ! " he said per- 
 suasively. " Don't kill him, even if he does richly 
 deserve it. Let him alone, there's a good chap." 
 
 At the sound of his young master's voice the 
 mastiff ceased his awful muzzling of the wretched 
 man's throat, so suggestive of torn veins and gashed 
 windpipe, but still stood over his victim, the bloody 
 foam that dropped from his tremendous jaw show- 
 ing that his teeth had not been idle. 
 
ROBBERS AND BEAKS 
 
 197 
 
 " Come off, Here ! Come off, I tell you ! " com- 
 mandel Kent, a sickening feeling passing over him at 
 the sight ; and then, as the great brute seemed reluc- 
 tant to obey, he caught him by his ears, and with 
 a great effort flung him to one side. " Now then, 
 get up, quick," he cried to the robber; " Here hasn't 
 killed you." The man needrd no second bidding. 
 Although the mastiffs teeth had torn the thickest 
 part of his throat badly, they had not touched any 
 vital spot, and he was not rendered helpless. 
 
 " Don't you move now one step, or I'll let him at 
 you again," said Kent to him in his fiercest tones, 
 and the frightened wretch stood still, looking the 
 very picture of abject terror and misery as he strove 
 to stanch the wounds in his throat. 
 
 By this time both Champ and Bunty had their 
 meu safely secured, and were free to exchange 
 greetings with Kent, whose first question was, 
 " Was it Here got you to come after rau ? " Both 
 the Sikh and Goorkha tried to answer the question, 
 and so full of joy were they at having made such 
 a timely and effective appearance upon the scene, 
 that neither seemed to notice the other was talkini:. 
 Kent was therefore fain to exclaim, " Please, don't 
 both speak at once. You tell me how it was, 
 Champ." The Sikh accordingly explained, assiste 1 
 by additions from Bunty, who could not keep quiet 
 to save his life, that Hercules had come back very 
 
 ( 
 
 \l 
 
 
 I 
 
 i I 
 
 It 
 
198 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 much out of breath, and had sliowii as plainly as 
 it was })0S9ibl(> for a dog to do that he wanted 
 them to return with him. 
 
 They confessed they had not at first understood 
 his strange actions, but Mr. Stannard almost iiuine- 
 diately grasped their import, ami, susix-'ctiiig that all 
 was not well, had sent them oti' to see what was 
 the matter. On the way tlie Ihanadnr's olUcer 
 had joined them out of mere curiosity ; and so, 
 led by Hercules, who went before at such an im- 
 patient pace tliat they cuuld luirdly keep him in 
 sight, they came upon the robbers, with the satis- 
 factory results already detailed. 
 
 As niglit was fast coming on, they now made all 
 haste back to Padam, driving the would-be robbers 
 ahead of them with hands tied behind their backs. 
 On reaching the town the ])risoners were handed 
 over to the Thanadar's otlicers for trial in the 
 
 morning. 
 
 } 
 
 Mr. Stannard was immensely relieved by Kent's 
 return. From the time the servants set out under 
 the guidance of the mastiff he had been worrying 
 greatly, not knowing whether his boy might have 
 been thrown from the pony or fallen into some 
 ravine, or perchance, as was actually the case, have 
 been attacked by robbers. 
 
 When Kent had described all that had taken 
 place his lather called Hercules to his bedside, and 
 
ROBUbUti AND bEAHS 
 
 199 
 
 taking his huge head in both hands, kissed him 
 a'fectionately 011 his broad forehead, saying, " You 
 grand, good dog 1 How can I ever be grateful 
 enough to you for the service you have rendered 
 us to-day ? " . 
 
 Hercules, as a rule, did not appreciate demou- 
 strationa of this kind save from Kent, but he 
 seemed to realise tliia was a special occasion, and 
 submitted with a diguiiied grace that was q^uite 
 edifying. 
 
 Tl. • loUowiug morning the foiled highwaymen 
 were put on trial before the Thanadar, and it 
 then appeared from their confession that their evil 
 designs were not so much directed against Kent 
 as against his pony. It seemed that the old 
 man, who was chief of the gang, owned the pony 
 which Spy had defeated, and he had taken such 
 a fancy to the clever little victor that he deter- 
 mined to possess her at any cost. He had accord- 
 ingly got the other men to help him, but when 
 the capture was effected it turned out that all 
 four of them wanted the pony, and their heated 
 t[uarrelling over the matter had led to their 
 undoing. 
 
 But for the intercession of Kent, who could not 
 bear to think of the poor fellows suffering severely 
 on his account, the Thanadar would have visited 
 condign punishment upun the robbers. As it was, 
 
 i 
 
 f 
 
 li 
 
 H 
 
 'M 
 
 li 
 
 t 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 U:il 
 
RRs^pSBSSB 
 
 200 
 
 ON THE WORIJ/S UOOF 
 
 \ ^1 I 1 
 
 l«r 
 
 they got off with a nionUi's impiisoumeut and a 
 sharp warning fur the Future. 
 
 Mr. Stannard was now sufficiently recovered to 
 be anxious to resume the journey. He had l^een 
 fretting at the delay in Padani, inevitable though 
 it was, and bad mad(3 up his mind to try proceed- 
 ing by means of a litter, f(»r which there would 
 be no difhculby in securing bearers, as the wages he 
 offered were liberal enough to tempt the majority 
 of the able-bodied men of the place. 
 
 The travellers Tuado quite an imposing party 
 when they started the following morning, after 
 bidding farewell to the kind Thanadar, and giving 
 him a present that thoroughly satisiied him. For 
 Mr, Stannard's littor there were a full dozen of 
 bearers, '^s the work would be exceed' gly trying in 
 view of the rough ground to be traversed. Then^ 
 instead of higarries for all the baggage, tents, &c., 
 several additional ponies and yaks were hired, their 
 owners accompanying them as drivers ; and these, 
 witli half-a-dozen carriers for general purposes, and 
 the Sikh and Goorkha, constituted a small force 
 that any of the hillmen with plunde ing propen- 
 sities would be bound to respect. 
 
 Kent, riding upon Spy, reviewed the procession 
 as it moved awny from Padam with considerable 
 pride. " We look quite imposing, don't we, Here ? " 
 he said to his unfailing com[)anion. " T wonder what 
 
in 
 
 ROBBERS AND BEARS 2Gt 
 
 they'd think of us if we were to go throu.:jh the 
 streets of Loudon in this fashion. We'dmake 
 a big sensation no doubt, and perhaps be hauled 
 up by the ))obbies for obstructing the traffic." 
 
 Hercules gave a baik thai signified, "I'm sure I 
 don't understand whac you're sayin-, but it's all 
 right any way," and bounded ahead to sliow that 
 he considered his master was being too dilatory • 
 whereupon Kent touched up Spy, and cantered' 
 alongside Mr. Stannard's litter. "I l.ope these 
 fellows are carrying you comfortably, father," he 
 said, with a look of aftectionate solicitude. " They 
 look as if tliey were doing their best to be careful.'" 
 " They're getting on famously, Kent," responded 
 Mr. Stannard cheerfully. "It seems absurd for 
 ma to have to be on my l^ack like this, but if 1 
 attempted to ride IM only have to lie iip again, 
 and we must make; Kashmir before anything like 
 that happens." 
 
 The first day's journey was au easy and pleasant 
 one, and it was with lioht hearts and mucli merry 
 talk that the travellers made good progress. Their 
 way ran first through an open valley, lying between 
 ranges of mountains whose steep slopes clear to 
 their peaks were covered with snow of dazzling 
 purity, whi](> high above their summits arched a 
 sky of cloudless blue, in which great eagles could 
 be seen soaring serenely on expanded pinions. 
 
 5 
 
 I 
 
 III 
 
 i 
 
 i;!': 
 
 
 Ml 
 
 li 
 
 1 1\ 
 
 1 < 
 
 ! i 
 
 I i 
 
 if 
 
iBmffil 
 
 1 
 
 mm: 
 
 202 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 Close to tlie river which ran through the bottom 
 of the valley the blaziug suii kept the snow in 
 check, and here bloomed many varieties of beautiful 
 autumn flowers, posies of which Kent was ever 
 jumping off Spy to pick and present to his father. 
 
 The clear, keen air was full of the music of 
 numberless snow-rivulets rushing down to lose 
 themselves in the river, punctuated by the shrill 
 whistle of marmots standing bt^side their holes, and 
 exchanging comments, no doubt, upon the strange 
 passers-by. 
 
 Hercules made himself utterly ridiculous by 
 furious dashes at, the marmots, although he might 
 as well have chased his own shadow so far as any 
 jjractical results were concerned. The provoking 
 little animals would wait until he was within a 
 lew yards of theiu, and then, with a derisive whistle, 
 take a header into tlioir holes, leaving the mastilf 
 in the lurch in a way that ought to have taught 
 him a lesson. But it did not, for he was always 
 ready for a fresh attempt in spite of the fruitless- 
 noss of his former ones. Kent tried several shots 
 at the marmots, with no better results than attended 
 Hercules' el'lbrts. I'lie clever creatures seemed to 
 know the instant of the pulling of the trigger, and 
 would dive out of sight before the bullet reached 
 them. 
 
 After this valley, which all were sorry to leave, 
 
ROBBERS AND BEARS 
 
 203 
 
 came a succession of picturesque small vales, end- 
 ing in a more open tract of country, on one side 
 of which was a clump of birch bushes that Kent 
 thought it would be well to camp by. 
 
 They were now well up in the Pense-la Pass, and 
 surrouuded by snow on all sides. Indeed, the tents 
 had to be pitched upon snow, for it was too deep to 
 be swept away ; and for the next week the same 
 thing had to be done. Kent took good care that 
 his father was as fully protected from ex;-)osure as 
 possible, and the abundance of fuel enabled the 
 servants and Ugarries to have roaring fires, which 
 they heartily enjoyed. 
 
 Nor was it only for the sake of warmth that the 
 fires were kept burning merrily. Tlie Ugarries 
 professed to be very nervous about bears, which 
 they said were numerous in the neighbourhood ; and 
 they had so much to say about the size and fero- 
 city of the animals that Kent's hunting sjarit was 
 deeply stirred, and he said to his father, " T wouldn't 
 mind if a bear did pay us a visit. We'd have no 
 difficulty in disposing of him, I imagine." 
 
 "Don't be too sure, my boy," responded Mr. 
 Stannard, with a smile. "The Himalayan boars 
 are not to be despised when they mean business." 
 
 The bears wi re so much <>n Kent's mind that he 
 fell to dreaming of them that night, and had such 
 an exciting tussle witli a very big fellow in the 
 
 ( \ 
 
 ■J i 
 
 ' 11 
 
 
 i Ml 
 
 
!■ I- 
 
 204 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 course of his dreams that he woke up, and for a 
 moment or two was uncertain as to whether the 
 struggle was not a real one. It was bright moon- 
 light, and he had got so thorougldy awake that he 
 could not at once fall asleep again. Hearing 
 Hercules, who always slept at the tent door, give 
 a deep growl, he arose, and, lifting the flaps, 
 looked out. 
 
 The entire camp was buried in slumber, and the 
 neglected fire had nearly burned itself out. From 
 before the tents the mountain-side rose up in a 
 steep slope, on which the moon was pouring the 
 full flood of her silver light, and coming slowly yet 
 steadily down the snowy slope was a dark shape, the 
 sight of which made the boy's heart bound within 
 him and set every nerve a- tingle. 
 
 Beyond question it was a bear, and a big fellow 
 too, bent on a visit to the camp, and if not 
 frightened he would soon be within range. In 
 an instant Kent's nund was made up. H(j would, 
 with only the aid of Hcrcule?, go out to attack the 
 bear. It would indeed be something to boast of if 
 success crowned his venture. 
 
 Stepping softly to where his father lay, he made 
 sure he was too sound asleep to be conscious of 
 what was going on. Then he hastened to put on his 
 clothes, and to get together his rifle, revolver, and 
 hunting-knife. He succeeded in accomplishing this 
 
 i § 
 
 . 
 
id for a 
 ther the 
 it moon- 
 that he 
 Hearing' 
 oor, give 
 le flaps, 
 
 and the 
 From 
 up in a 
 ring the 
 )wly yet 
 aape, the 
 d within 
 
 g fellow 
 if not 
 ige. In 
 e would, 
 ;tack the 
 )ast of if 
 
 he made 
 5ciou3 of 
 lit on his 
 Iver, and 
 tiing this 
 
 1= I f 
 
 i 
 
 •i! ^?; 
 
rlP 
 
 h 
 
 i ' 
 
 im 
 
 -< n 's 
 
 KKNT STALKS THK BKAIl 
 
 I '(I III' 205. 
 
 •6 i! 
 
■ 1 
 
 ^ -^ 
 
 ) m' 
 
 
 ./ C*.. 
 
 KKNT MAI.KS THK liKAK. 
 
 y '(/-/(• 
 
it 
 
 KOBBEKB AND BEAKS 
 
 205 
 
 r. ■ X 
 
 without disturbing his father, and in a lew minutes 
 was outside the tent ready for the Iray. The mas- 
 tiff at once bounded to his side, and, commanding 
 him to be quiet, Kent stole past the sleeping ser- 
 vants and natives and disappeared in the clump of 
 birch. 
 
 He had observed that by creeping tli rough this 
 clump for some distance hn could get to one side of 
 the bear, which continued to advance in a cautious, 
 deliberate fashion, and his plan of attack was at 
 once laid down. 
 
 He found it hard to restrain Hercules* ardour 
 as they made their way through the bushes, for 
 although the big dog had not as yet detected the 
 presence of the bear, he instinctively divined that 
 some game was afloat, and this rendered him rather 
 obstreperous, liut by keeping a lieavy hand on 
 his collar, Kent managed to hold him in check 
 until he had carefully worked along through tho 
 dense underbrush to the position he sought. The 
 bear now presented his full broadside to him, an'.i 
 was not more than fifty yards away. 
 
 Up to this point the creature evidently had no 
 hint of the nearness of danger, but now he stopped 
 short and sniffed about him in a way tliat showed' 
 his suspicions were aroused. Realising that this 
 was his opportunity, Kent took as careful aim as 
 his throbbing pulses permitted, and pulled the 
 
 I 
 
 ■:i ' 
 
 ' t 
 
 i ■' 
 
 iw. 
 

 206 
 
 ON THK WORLDS liOOF 
 
 triL',!:^er. Almost simultaneously with the report 
 of the rifle Hercules broke out into a fierce roar 
 and rushed at the bear, which had rolled over upon 
 the snow, to all appearances mortally wornded. 
 
 Throwing all prudence aside in his exultation at 
 the success of his shot, Kent followed the mastiff, 
 and had just reached the prostrate bear, when, sud- 
 denly rising to its feet, it charged at him, and hurled 
 him backwards with such violence that, his head 
 coming in contact with a block of ice, he was 
 rendered insensible. 
 
 ! 
 
 ii i!^ 
 
CllAPTEli XVI 
 
 INTO THE GARDEN OF KDEV 
 
 Seeing that tlie bear was, to use a popular ex- 
 pression, not killed, but ouly scotched, Keut couM 
 hardly have doue anything better than lose his 
 senses ; for the wounded brute, finding him utterly 
 inert, took it for granted that he was disposed of, 
 and gave his whole attention to Hercules, who was 
 now making play with him in fine style. 
 
 The contest between bear and mastiff was like 
 to be a long and lively one, despite the former's 
 wound, from which blood was flowing freely, had 
 not Bunty now appeared on the scene brandishing 
 his redoubtable Goorklia knife and shouting at the 
 top of his voice. He had no idea that Kent was 
 lying out on the snow insensibh^ but the noise of 
 the struggle had aroused him, and it was not his 
 nature to let anything in the way of a fight go on 
 without liaving a hand in the fun. 
 
 By the time lie reached the two combatants they 
 were so closely locked in a relentless embrace that 
 
 he could not at first distinguish the one from the 
 
 207 
 
 if 
 
 n 
 
 Ki ^: 
 
 i t 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 If 
 
 I. i 
 
 
208 
 
 ON I'llE WUKLU S KOni' 
 
 \"ir ■ 
 
 i 
 I Life 
 
 M 
 
 otluT in the iaoonlii,'ht, ami vvlioii lio did make uut 
 which Wiis the mastiir, thuy rolled about so in tlioir 
 I'uiy that he dared not strike for fear of woundinj,' iiim. 
 
 The combined noises had now awakened the whole 
 camp, and great confusion prevailed, in the midwt of 
 which Mr. Stannard called loudly for Kent, whom 
 he at once missed from the tent. 
 
 Getting no i-esponse, he naturally enough became 
 much alarmed, and shouted for th'i Sikh or Gooikha 
 to come to him. But Champ had already hurried 
 to his fellow-servant's support, and so poor Mr. 
 Stauufird was left unanswered, while his anxiety 
 grew keener every moment. 
 
 " How wretched it is to have to lie here so 
 helplessly," he cried, " when, for aught I know, 
 my boy may be in peril of his life ! 1 must try 
 and get up." 
 
 A single attempt, however, was sulHcient to 
 prove to him his weakness, and he fell back on 
 his bed with a bitter groan. 
 
 Meanwhile Champ had reached Bunty's side, 
 and the two were dancing t'bout the strug'-linu 
 animals in a fashion that wuuid have been highly 
 amusing to a disinterestca spectator. At last 
 Bunty saw his opportunity, aud with one tre- 
 mendous stroke of his knife almost cut the bear's 
 head from his shoulders, completely severing the 
 spinal cord, and producing instant death. 
 
INTO THE OARDKN OF EDEN 
 
 209 
 
 Just at this moment Kent recovered hia senses 
 and raising himself to a sittin- posture, looked 
 about him in a ].ewildered way, asking, "Is he 
 dead ? Have you killed him ? ' 
 
 This was the first intimation either the Goorkha 
 or Sikh had of their young master's presence, and 
 they both started back in as much surprise as if 
 they had seen a ghost. 
 
 Bunty was the first to recover his self-possession, 
 and hastening to Kent's side, he lifted him upon' 
 his feet, inquiring anxiously, " Is the young Sahib 
 hurt? Did the vile bear dare to do hL anv 
 harm ? " ^ 
 
 Though his head was aching violently, Kent gave 
 a careless laugh as he responded in a voice that 
 quavered a little in spite of himself— 
 
 "He bumped my head very hard on the ice, 
 that's all. Which one of you was it killed him ? 
 Is Here wounded at all ? " 
 
 Bunty having claimed the honour of the kill, 
 Kent, before looking at the bear, called the mastiff 
 to him, and examined him carefully for signs of 
 injury. To his great relief, there seemed °to be 
 none of any account, the dog's thick coat of hair 
 having efficiently protected him; and Kent now 
 turned his attention to the bear. 
 
 This proved to be an unusually fine specimen. 
 Though not so large as the ordinary brown bear, 
 
 
 
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 \\ 
 
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 r, 
 
 'Ml 
 
 I 
 
 i- '. 
 'i. * 
 
210 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 Ma 
 
 and not more than half the bulk of the great 
 grizzly, it was still quite a formidable animal. 
 The fur was glossy black, except on the chest, 
 where a white chevron showed conspicuously, 
 stretching from shoulder to shoulder, and looking 
 more like some artificial decoration than a natural 
 feature. 
 
 From this mark the bear got its scientific name, 
 Ursus torquatus, as Kent learned from Mr. Stan- 
 nard when the latter was able to look at the 
 creature the following morning. 
 
 Of course, when it was all over Kent hastened 
 back to the tent, where he found his father as 
 near to being in a fury as he ever saw him in 
 his life. The poor man, distracted with anxiety 
 and fuming at his own helplessness, had been 
 shouting and calling in vain until he was ex- 
 hausted, and when Kent appeared his first ques- 
 tion, asked in a tone of decided asperity, was — 
 
 " Where have you been, sir ? What's the mean- 
 ing of all this disturbance ? Why did you go out 
 without letting me know ? " 
 
 In the high excitement of his daring enterprise 
 ind its thrilling denouement, Kent had for the time 
 completely forgotten his father, and when triumph 
 perched so signally upon his banners, he had hur- 
 ried back to the tent in the full glow of pride at 
 his exploit. But his father's question checked him 
 

 INTO THE GARDEN OF EDEN 21 1 
 
 like 80 much cold water suddenly splashed in his 
 face, and instead of pouring out his story in his 
 usual way, he stood abashed and tongue-tied, for 
 only at that moment did it dawn upon him 'that 
 he had really acted in a very undutiful way. 
 
 " What's the matter with you ? Why don't you 
 explain yourself ? » demanded Mr. Stannard in the 
 same sharp tone. 
 
 In a very hesitating, humble way, Kent then 
 proceeded to relate what had taken place, and as 
 the story proceeded it was evident his father's ire 
 abated, until at length it vanished entirely, and 
 with one of his hearty laughs he threw himself 
 
 back on his camp-bed, exclaiming 
 
 " A chip off the old block, verily ! It's no use 
 my preaching to you, Kent, to be cautious and 
 prudent, and all that. You'd need to be born 
 again, and off some other stock, to take into account 
 the dangers of anything that offered good sport. 
 I forgive you, my boy, for I know I would have 
 done exactly the same myself under the circum- 
 stances. The verdict is, ' Not guilty, but don't do 
 it again.' " 
 
 Greatly relieved at this turn of affairs, Kent 
 went back to bed, and being thoroughly tired out 
 slept soundly until his father roused him late the' 
 next morning. 
 
 On awaking he was glad to find his headache 
 
 
 iili^ 
 
 !•' 
 
 I i 
 
 i 
 
212 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 I V' 
 
 gone, although his head was still sore at the spot 
 where it had come in contact with the ice. To 
 his great disappointment the skin of the bear 
 proved to be utterly worthless, owing to its being 
 so saturated with oil, as the animal was very fat 
 at that time of the year. 
 
 "You'll have to come earlier in the season, 
 Kent," said Mr. Stannard, smiling at his chagrin. 
 " These bears always get as fat as porpoises before 
 going into their winter quarters. But you can 
 console yourself with the reflection that at their 
 best the skins are not of much account. Come 
 along now, we must be getting ahead." 
 
 The difficulties and dangers of the next two 
 days' travel in 'many respects exceeded any pre- 
 vious experience. Their way led over the col of 
 the Pense-la Pass, and compelled them to climb 
 the rocky slopes of the great glacier which flowed 
 over it. This proved such extremely tedious and 
 tiring work, that when they had ascended some 
 distance they ventured out on the bosom of the 
 glacier, which was covered with an immensely thick 
 sheet of snow, into which the horses sank almost 
 to the girths. 
 
 Nor was the difficulty of getting through the 
 snow the only troublesome feature of the day's trial. 
 There are no glaciers without crevasses, and as the 
 snow completely masked all that there were in the 
 
INTO THE GARDEN OF EDEN 
 
 1- f ■ 
 
 ! I 
 
 213 
 
 Penae-Ia Pass glacier, the travellers had perforce to 
 push on, trusting to luck rather than to any ability 
 to detect the dangers under foot. 
 
 In addition to all this, there was the blazing, 
 blinding sunshine, which, coming through the rarefied 
 atmosphere (they were nearly fifteen thousand feet 
 above sea-level), and being reflected from the vast 
 sheets of spotless snow, had tremendous power. By 
 way of protection, Kent wore heavy blue goggles over 
 his eyes and a thick veil on his face, and yet his 
 skin seemed to fairly burn, and peeled off in great 
 patches, causing him intense discomfort. 
 
 In view of so many sources of anxiety and suffering, 
 there were naturally no eyes for the surrounding 
 scenery, superb as it was, and the whole party 
 ploughed their way through the snow in complete 
 silence save for the cries of the drivers to the yaks 
 and ponies they had in charge. 
 
 Mr. Stannard's litter had to keep in the rear, 
 so that its bearers might have the benefit of the* 
 path beaten by the others, and as he was able to be 
 entirely sheltered from the sun's rays, he got along 
 very comfortably. 
 
 To spend the night on the glacier was a thing not 
 to be considered, if it could by any possibility be 
 avoided ; so, in spite of possible crevasses and merci- 
 less sunshine, the party plodded on hour after hour, 
 with the satisfactory result of finally making their way 
 
 II 
 
 i \ 
 
 * f 
 
214 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 I 
 
 Vi. 
 
 down a steep snow-slope leadings to a narrow valley, 
 along which they continued until they reached a 
 clump of brush in a sheltered place, where they went 
 into camp with the assurance of having abundant 
 firewood in hand. 
 
 The next niorning Mr. Stannard declared himself 
 sufficiently recovered to ride one of the ponies instead 
 of being toted along on the litter, and he had quite 
 an ovation from the servants and carriers when he 
 made his appearance in the saddle. 
 
 There were no more glaciers to be crossed for 
 some time, the road running through a series of 
 beautiful open valleys, whose principal inhabitants 
 seemed to be large brown marmots, called Pea by 
 the Thibetans, from their peculiar cry. 
 
 Kent of course took a shot at them occasionally, 
 and succeeded in bagging several, but had great 
 difficulty in securing them, they dived so quickly 
 into their holes, unless killed outright at the first 
 shot. The skins were in prime condition, and 
 Mr. Stannard was very glad to have them. 
 
 Three days of this pleasant and easy travelling 
 brought them to Suru, where they passed out 
 of the Thibetan regions into the territory of 
 Kashmir. 
 
 Mr. Stannard was in high spirits as they settled 
 into camp at Suru. " We're all right now, I think, 
 Kent," he said, rubbing his hands complacently. 
 
INTO THE GARDEN OF EDEN 
 
 215 
 
 " Barring accidents, we'll reach the Garden of Eden 
 in another week." 
 
 " Tlie Garden of Eden, father ! " exclaimed Kent. 
 " Why, what do you mean ? The Garden of Eden 
 isn't up among these mountains here, is it ? " 
 Mr. Stannard laughed at his son's surprise. 
 " It's only a legend, my boy," he replied. " But 
 when you see the Vale of Kashmir you'll not wonder 
 at such a notion having got into people's minds." 
 
 But although Suru was within Kashmir territory, 
 there was still some difficult and dangerous country 
 to be traversed before the traditional Garden of Eden 
 would open before the eyes of the eager travellers. 
 
 This part of the journey occupied several days, 
 and was full of exciting incidents. Thus, half- 
 way between Suru and Kartse, at a place where 
 the path was extremely narrow and ran athwart 
 precipices and steep slopes of shingle, Kent, riding 
 ahead on Spy, met a native also on pony-back. 
 There was no room for the ponies to pass each 
 other, and no possibility of turning from right to 
 left. What was to be done ? The native did not 
 seem at all inclined to retreat, while Kent, remem- 
 bering that he represented the caravan now close 
 behind him, could not think of giving ground. 
 
 For a few minutes he was puzzled how to act, as 
 he could not make himself understood to the other. 
 Then, realising that it was an occasion for action, 
 
 ! 
 
 W 
 
 
 
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2l6 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 • \m 
 
 1|l|: 
 
 not indecision, he drew his revolver, and, pointing 
 it at the native, said in the sternest voice he could 
 muster — 
 
 "Eight about face now, and go back to some 
 place that's wide enough to let me get by you." 
 
 The native laid hold of his sword, and for a 
 moment it seemed as if a duel A Voutrance were 
 inevitable. Then he suddenly changed his mind, 
 and began to back his pony, looking as sulky as a 
 sick bear ull the time ; but he kept at it until a 
 widenin- of ; ledge gave space enough for Kent 
 to go past him. By this time both Champ and 
 Bunty iiifcd •^'^me '';f> and if the irate native enter- 
 tained any notion of giving Kent a sudden shove 
 over the precipice as he went by him, he was fain 
 to leave it unfulfilled. 
 
 Then, again, the crossing of the Omba Pass proved 
 an unexpectedly heavy bit of work that kept the 
 party out until far into the night. Long slopes of 
 snow had to be crept across by the uncertain light of 
 a crescent moon, and the height of sixteen thousand 
 feet was reached before the summit of the pass had 
 been overcome. Then came the descent into the 
 darkness of the valleys. Kent could not repress 
 a shudder of fear as the guide led the way into 
 a deep gorge where it was impossible to ride, and 
 where he could not see a yard in front of him. 
 
 The passage through this gorge was one of the 
 
INTO THE GARDEN OP EDEN 
 
 217 
 
 worst experiences in the whole trip. The way led 
 along the bed of a stream full of boulders, over 
 which different members of the party were continu- 
 ally stumbling. Then at frequent intervals were 
 pools of water thinly coated with ice, which broke 
 under foot, while more than once they came 
 to sudden descents where one man had to be let 
 down first that the others might climb down on 
 his shoulders. 
 
 It was not far from midnight when this tremen- 
 dous day's tramp came to an end in a sheltered 
 valley abounding in brushwood, that was soon blaz- 
 ing up cheerfully, and giving light for the erection 
 of the tents. 
 
 But the worst of the journey had been got over ; 
 and the tired travellers could aflTord to sleep late 
 next morning, which, indeed, none of them failed 
 to do, so that it was midday before they set oflf 
 
 agam. 
 
 There remained yet one more pass, the Zoji-la, 
 but this was only a trifle of twelve thousand feet 
 high, and, in spite of a disagreeable rain, they made 
 good time over it; and then they came at once 
 into the rich woodland scenery of Kashmir, whicli 
 was inexpressibly grateful and refreshing after the 
 almost treeless territory in which they had spent 
 so many eventful weeks. 
 
 " father, how beautiful this is ! " Kent ex- 
 
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 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
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 claimed, looking around with eyes full of admiration 
 and delight at the wide level meadows, enamelled 
 with flowers and threaded by a silver stream, be- 
 yond whose borders rose ranges of mountains whose 
 lower slopes were richly clothed with foliage already 
 glowing with the splendid pageantry of autumn. 
 " I am beginning to understand why they imagined 
 the Garden of Eden to be here." 
 
 " You'll understand it better when we get really 
 into the Kashmir Valley, Kent," responded his 
 father. " We are only on the fringe of it yet." 
 
 They pushed on rapidly, for Mr. Stannard had 
 by this time completely regained his wonted vigour, 
 and presently came to Srinagar, the capital city. 
 Here the extraordinary beauty of the valley fully 
 revealed itself to the eyes of the ravished travellers, 
 and they felt that they were well rewarded for all 
 the labours and perils of their journey thither. 
 
 "It gives me a strange sense of satisfaction to 
 have at last reached the place, Kent," said Mr. 
 Stannard. "I've been cherishing the notion since 
 my first year in India, and I'm awfully glad you're 
 with me to share the realisation of my dream." 
 
 " You're not more glad than I am, father," re- 
 sponded Kent, hugging his father's arm affection- 
 ately. "And are we going to spend the winter 
 here ? " 
 
 "That's my present plan," answered Mr. Stan- 
 
 M 
 
 i m 
 
 I 
 
INTO THE GARDEN OF EDEN 
 
 219 
 
 nard. "I must see about getting comfortable 
 quarters right away." 
 
 With his wonted energy he addressed himself to 
 the business of getting settled, and Kent was free 
 to indulge his spirit of enterprise by doing the city 
 on his own account. 
 
 As a matter of course this led him into various 
 adventures, one of which threatened at first to as- 
 sume a rather serious aspect, and yet never was 
 person more innocent of giving offence or breaking 
 the law than Kent on this occasion. 
 
 II 
 
 h 
 
 m 
 
li ! 
 
 .'4 ;(, li 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 A CHAPTER OF ADVENTURES 
 
 It was the morning after their arrival that Kent 
 sallied forth alone, save for the companionship of 
 Hercules, to see the lions of Srinagar ; Mr. Stannard, 
 accompanied by his two servants by way of increas- 
 ing his dignity, having gone to seek an audience 
 with the Maharajah. 
 
 The day was fine and bright, the air pleasantly 
 cool, and Kent in excellent spirits, for he rejoiced 
 at the prospect of a lengthened stay in so beautiful 
 a place. 
 
 " There'll be no trouble about putting in the 
 winter here," he soliloquised, as his eyes ranged 
 over the wonderful scenery of the Kashmir Valley, 
 and then turned to the quaint and curious sights 
 that were round about him. " I'll be able to have 
 lots of boating, and of bathing too, until the water 
 gets too cold ; and there must be some good hunting 
 in those woods at the foot of the mountains." 
 
 Of boating and bathing there certainly need be 
 no lack, for the whole wide valley was intersected by 
 
 aao 
 
 m 
 
A CHAPTER OF ADVENTURES 
 
 221 
 
 gently flowing streams, and broad reaches of placid 
 river almost worthy to be called lakes. 
 
 But it was neither boating nor bathing that 
 Kent had in mind that morning ; he wanted to 
 " do the town " first, and so he strode along with 
 keen eyes for all that was of interest to him. 
 
 Presently he found himself by the banks of the 
 river Jhelam, which forms the chief highway to the 
 city, and is always crowded with boats. Having 
 spent an hour watching the boats glide to and fro, 
 and listening to the strange cries of the boatmen, 
 he turned back, intending to make a short cut to 
 his starting-point. In order to do this he had to 
 cross a large field wherein were grazing some cattle, 
 and had he not for the moment forgotten one of 
 Hercules' bad habits, he would certainly not have 
 entered the enclosure. 
 
 It was not until the mastiff bounced away from 
 him barking furiously, and charging upon the cattle 
 as though he was minded to devour at least a couple 
 of them, that his young master realised his error. 
 
 " Come back, Here ! Come back here, you rascal ! " 
 he shouted angrily. " Leave those cows alone ! " 
 
 But if Hercules heard him, he did not obey him. 
 On the contrary, he bayed only the more fie ^'^7, 
 and sprang at the animals' throats in a way that 
 threatened serious injury to some of them if he was 
 not summarily checked. 
 
 
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 n'-' 
 
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222 
 
 ON THE world's ROOP 
 
 M "1 
 
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 Provoked by his dog's conduct, and apprehensive 
 of its getting him into trouble, Kent picked up a large 
 stick from the ground, and rushed after him, swinging 
 the stick over his head, and crying — 
 
 " Down, Here, down, or I'll thrash the life out 
 of you ! " 
 
 The panic-stricken cattle had stampeded towards 
 one corner of the field, followed by the mastiff and, 
 of course, by Kent, and they were there huddled 
 up in a closely packed mass, when there suddenly 
 appeared on the other side of the stone wall four 
 Kashmir soldiers, whose swarthy countenances ex- 
 pressed such horror and indignation that Kent was 
 fairly struck spell-bound, and the uplifted stick 
 dropped to his side. 
 
 For a moment they seemed undecided which to 
 first throw themselves upon, the dog or his master. 
 Then one of them grunted out something, where- 
 upon they divided forces, two of them making for 
 Kent, and two for Hercules. If ever the raastifif 
 showed his sagacity, it was then ; for, instead of 
 showing fight, as Kent fully expected he would, 
 he suddenly stopped baying at the cattle, took one 
 good look at the coming soldiers, and — bolted in- 
 continently, leaving his master to face the music 
 alone. 
 
 Kent felt no less hurt than astonished at this un- 
 expected desertion ; but he had no time to nurse his 
 
A CHAPTER OF ADVENTURES 
 
 223 
 
 imagination, for all four of the soldiers now turned 
 their attention on him, and their bearing was so 
 menacing that almost instinctively he began to 
 apologise for his dog's misbehaviour. 
 
 "I'm really very sorry that Here chased the 
 cows," he said in quite a humble tone. " I never 
 knew him do such a thing before, and I shall cer- 
 tainly give him a treraendmis thrashing as soon as I 
 get hold of him." 
 
 He had no idea how far the men would un- 
 derstand him. He bimply spoke what was in his 
 heart, and was therefore highly indignant when, 
 instead of accepting his apology, they threw them- 
 selves upon him as though he had been a violent 
 malefactor, and proceeded to bind his hands behind 
 his back with the girdle of one of their number. 
 
 " What do you mean ? " he demanded, too full 
 of wrath at this indignity to have room for fear. 
 '' What right have you to treat me in this way ? " 
 
 But they took no notica of his irate protests, and 
 when he strove mightily to burst his bonds, one of 
 them, who seemed to be the chief of the quartette, 
 drew forth an ugly-looking dagger, and pointed it 
 meaningly at Kent's throat. 
 
 This threat was not without effect. Kent's com- 
 mon-sense now came to his rescue, and realising 
 that further resistance was not only vain, but might 
 lead to serious consequences, he ceased both speech 
 
 '"» 
 
 "I 
 
 !'•,'' I 
 
 f ■ 
 
 
224 
 
 ON THE WOivLD S ROOF 
 
 !-i 
 
 ii ^ 
 
 I i. 
 
 , 
 
 and struggle, and resigned himself to his fate. All 
 the time he was marvelling what offence he could 
 have committed. That he was in the hands of the 
 authorities seemed clear enough, for his captors 
 certainly were not highway robbers. Beyond that, 
 however, he was entirely in the dark. 
 
 "Oh, well," he finally said to himself, as he 
 trudged along he knew not whither, with the four 
 soldiers forming a bodyguard about him, " I'll be 
 taken before some kind of a magistrate, I suppose, 
 and then I'll know what it's all about." 
 
 The soldiers went back into the city, and while 
 passing through one of the streets whom should 
 they meet but Bunty, who had a little while before 
 been despatched by Mr. Stannard in quest of Kent. 
 
 On seeing the boy in so strange a plight the 
 faithful Goorkha's swarthy countenance first ex- 
 pressed blank amazement, and then fierce indigna- 
 tion, and clapping his hand on his huge knife, it 
 seemed for a minute as though he would rush upon 
 the soldiers single-handed. 
 
 But Kent called out to him, " Take care, Bunty. 
 Don't do that. It'll only make matters worse. 
 Come along with them, and see if you can't help 
 me out of this scrape." 
 
 Very reluctantly Bunty withdrew his hand from 
 his knife and did as he was bid, keeping so close 
 to the little group that the soldiers glanced appro- 
 
m 
 
 A CHAPTER OF ADVKNTUHES 
 
 225 
 
 hensively at him, evidently fearing that the big 
 knife might yet be brought into play. 
 
 Thus escorted, Kent presently reached the palace 
 of the Maharajah, where the soldiers handed him 
 over to an important-looking official, with a report 
 as to the reasons for his arrest. Buiity followed 
 sturdily, scorning the half-hearted efforts of the 
 soldiers to detain him, and soon they came into the 
 presence of a grave, grey-bearded, dignified official, 
 who was evidently a kind of magistrate. 
 
 Not until tlien did Kent learn what the trouble 
 was and why he had been arrested. 
 
 The magistrate being a Hindoo, Bunty understood 
 his language, and acted as interpreter. When Kent 
 was then told the charge against him, his first 
 impulse was to break into a laugh, it seemed so 
 utterly trivial; but, noting the concern on the 
 devoted Goorkha's countenance, he restrained him- 
 self by an effort, and strove to put himself right. 
 
 It seemed that the Maharajah and all the ruHng 
 caste in Kashmir were Hindoos, and, of course, an 
 important principle in their religion was profound 
 reverence for cattle. The cow was so sacred an 
 animal that it must not be abused in any way, 
 while to kill it for eating purposes was almost a 
 capital offence. 
 
 Now the herd of cattle that Hercules had so in- 
 opportunely chased belonged to no less a personage 
 
 p 
 
 ;P1 
 
226 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 ii ' 
 
 than tlie Maharajah himself, and as, accordiiiL; to 
 the statements of the soldiers, Kent had been aiding 
 and abetting the sacrilegious conduct of his dog, it 
 was plain enough that he had got himself into an 
 awkward fix. 
 
 So soon as Kent realised this he sent Bunty off 
 for his father, feeling confident that he would be able 
 to straighten out matters for him. Mr. Stan. ..rd, 
 on being informed of his son's plight, at once went 
 to the British Kesident, and having secured his good 
 offices, hastened to the palace, where Kent greeted 
 him joyously. 
 
 " father, I'm so glad you've come ! " he ex- 
 claimed. " They're trying to scare the life out of 
 me here, when I have not done any harm at all." 
 
 " You're not easily scared, are you, my boy ? " 
 responded Mr. Stannard cheerily ; and then, takinpf 
 out his pocket-knife, he severed the girdle which 
 bound Kent's wrists and threw it indignantly upon 
 the floor, saying, " Did they take you for some 
 desperate character that they tied you up that 
 way ? " 
 
 The magistrate frowned at this summary pro- 
 ceeding, but the British Kesident said something to 
 liini that restored the amiable expression to his face. 
 
 The whole matter was then gone into, with the 
 result that Kent succeeded in satisfying the magis- 
 trate that neither he nor his dog had any thought 
 
 I I 
 
 iir, iv 
 
i 
 
 to 
 
 ?" 
 
 A CHAITEK OF ADVENTURES 
 
 227 
 
 of showing disrespect to the State religion ; aud on 
 Mr. Stannard undertaking to see that the mastiff 
 was lienceforth kept chained up, or not allowed out 
 except in leash, the magistrate expressed himself 
 satisfied, and Kent was released. 
 
 Oddly enough, before a week had passed Hercules 
 got into another scrape, and again it was with the 
 Maharajah's animals. 
 
 Kent and his father had him out with them 
 one day for a walk, Kent leading him by u long strap, 
 ivhen, in the suburbs of the city, they encountered 
 a hunting-party returning from the mountains. 
 
 The Maharajah was one of the party, and his 
 servants were leading several dogs that" had been 
 in the chase. They were splendid creatures, longer 
 and higher in body even than Hercules, but not 
 so strongly framed, and somewhat resembling 
 Newfoundland dogs in the colour and character ot 
 their fur. 
 
 Not anticipating any trouble, Kent stopped to 
 admire them, exclaiming, " Just look, father ! Aren't 
 those huge fellows ? Why, I believe they're bigger 
 than Hercules ! " 
 
 The words had hardly left his mouth, when 
 Hercules let out a roar worthy of an African lion, 
 aud with a plunge that tore the strap from Kent's 
 hand, rushed at one of the hunting-dogs as though 
 it were some beast of prey. 
 
 -i 
 
 
 ■ i ' 
 
228 
 
 ON THE WORLD S ROOF 
 
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 4-1 
 
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 Instantly there was wild confusion Mr. Stannard 
 and Kent doing their best to haul the mastiff off his 
 prostrate victim, while the latter's mates strained at 
 their leashes in frantic eagerness to join in the row, 
 and the swarthy servants shouted and rushed around, 
 seeming to have completely lost their wits. 
 
 The Maharajah had been some distance behind, 
 but, seeing the disturbance, galloped up, and 
 angrily asked what was the matter. One look from 
 his own eyes was sufficient to afford him an answer, 
 and, his face suddenly blazing with wrath, he gave 
 orders that his dog's assailant should be killed at 
 once. 
 
 Happily Mr. Stannard overheard the command, 
 and although there was certainly no excuse for 
 Hercules, he was very loath to have the creature 
 killed, seeing how much attached to him Kent was. 
 He accordingly at once placed himself in front of 
 the still struggling dogs, saying firmly yet politely^ 
 " My dog must not be killed, your Excellency. 
 I will be answerable for any injury he may do." 
 
 Recognising Mr. Stannard, the Maharajah checked 
 his anger, and responded with equal courtesy — 
 " Your wishes shall be respected, Sahib. "Will you 
 please see if you can separate the dogs ? " 
 
 Just at that moment Hercules drew off a little 
 for a front attack, and seizing the opportunity, 
 Kent caught him around the neck and held him 
 
 i : 
 
A CHAPTER OF ADVENTURES 
 
 229 
 
 back. But he had to suffer for his interference. 
 With marvellous quickness, the hunting-dog sprang' 
 at his assailant, and his great teeth caught one of 
 Kent's hands as in a vice. 
 
 The pain was so intense as almost to make 
 him faint, and having to let go Hercules, the 
 fight would instantly have been renewed, had not 
 Mr. Stannard grasped the mastiff at the same 
 moment as two of the Maharajah's servants got 
 hold of their dog, and the combatants were finally 
 separated. 
 
 Of course Mr. Stannard made every possible 
 apology for the misconduct of the mastiff, and it 
 being found that the hunting-dog was not seriously 
 injured, thanks to his thick fur, the matter was 
 smoothed over satisfactorily, and the whole party 
 returned together to the city. 
 
 " Now, Kent," said Mr. Stannard when they got 
 back to their own quarters, "you must have a 
 muzzle made for Hercules immediately. He can't 
 be unchained again until it is on." 
 
 Kent quite concurred in this, and so a stout 
 muzzle was procured ; and, strange to say, when it 
 was put on, much against his will, it seemed to 
 take all the fight out of the mastiff. He became 
 as gentle as a spaniel, and never attempted to 
 fly at anything in the street, so that Kent could 
 safely take him with him wherever he went. 
 
 1 
 
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 ::|-^ 
 
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230 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 k< ! 
 
 The more Kent saw of the Kashmir Valley the 
 more inclined he was to accept the legend of its 
 having been the original Garden of Eden. Although 
 they had come to it in the autumn, vegetation 
 was still fresh and verdurous ; indeed the verdure 
 lasted all through the winter, so that it might be 
 said with truth of this wonderful region, " There 
 eternal summer dwells." 
 
 The rich green plains, studded with groves of 
 elms and plane-trees, or laid with stately lines of 
 poplars, were intersected in every direction by gentle 
 streams and sluggish canals, while here and there 
 rivers expanded into broad reaches worthy of the 
 name of lakes. 
 
 Along these water-ways Kent delighted to glide 
 in one of the light boats to be had at the city, 
 and in the management of which he boon became 
 so expert that he would often leave the boatman 
 behind when he went out for a row. 
 
 Within easy reach of Srinagar was the beautiful 
 Dal Lake, an expanse of transparent water seven 
 miles long by three miles wide, and here Kent saw 
 the famous floatiui' islands of which he had heard 
 so much. They certainly were very curious affairs, 
 being formed by the reeds, sedges, water-lilies, and 
 other aquatic plants growing together in riotous 
 confusion, and entwining their stems until they 
 formed a matted mass, which presently would break 
 
m 
 
 A CHAPTEli OF ADVENTUKES 
 
 231 
 
 away from its roots and go floating off. The 
 people living on the borders of the lake would then 
 spread out the leaves of these plants over the stem?, 
 and covering them with a layer of earth, plant 
 melons and cucumbers, which grew luxuriantly. 
 The islands thus became floating gardens, and upon 
 some of them vines were cultivated successfully, so 
 that they formed valuable possessions. 
 
 On one of their excursions to Dal Lake, Kent 
 went off" alone to one of these islands, while his 
 father was exploring the ruins of an old temple 
 which did not interest his son at all. There were 
 many fine melons on this island, and Kent's mouth 
 watered as he saw them sleeping on its surface in 
 their green and golden beauty. 
 
 At last he made up his mind that he must have 
 one of them, for they seemed altogether too luscious 
 to be left untasted. 
 
 " I wonder where the owner of this island is," he 
 said to himself, looking around in all directions. 
 " I'd be glad to pay him whatever he wants for a 
 good big melon/' and he clinked some silver coins 
 in his pocket. 
 
 But there was no owner in sight, and allowing 
 the righteous intention to pay if he could to quiet 
 the prickings of conscience, Kent ran his boat 
 alongside the island, and landed on its quaking 
 bosom. 
 
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 h. 
 
 
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 Mi: 
 
 t 1 1 
 
 ! Ill 
 
232 
 
 ON THE world's roof 
 
 The best melons were in the centre of the island, 
 and thinking that he might as well be hung for 
 a sheep as for a lamb, he cautiously picked his 
 way thither. After some deliberation he at length 
 selected his melon, and having picked it up, was 
 just about to return to the boat, when the treach- 
 erous soil gave way beneath him, and he sank to 
 his shoulders in the muck. 
 
 Nor was this the full measure of his misfortune ; 
 for, on turning his eyes shoreward in quest of aid, 
 he saw hastening towards the island a boat contain- 
 ing two men, whose faces betokened that they were 
 bent on avenging the trespass on their property. 
 
 w i 
 
^m 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 THE STORMING OF NILT FORTRESS 
 
 Thinking only of the danger of being swallowed up 
 in the foul, tenacious muck, Kent shouted to the 
 approaching man, " Quick ! quick ! I'm sinking 
 fast ! " Whereat one of them gave him a ferocious 
 scowl that plainly showed what his intentions were. 
 
 In another minute they had reached the island, 
 and springing ashore recklessly — for they were too 
 angry to pick their steps — made their way to Kent's 
 side. 
 
 By a desperate effort he had succeeded in getting 
 his feet upon a bunch of roots that afforded him 
 support, and was thus enabled to free his arms. 
 
 The first intention of the men was undoubtedly 
 to fall upon him and belabour him soundly, but just 
 as they came within striking distance Kent waved 
 them off with his arms, shouting in a warning tone, 
 "Don't you dare strike me; I'm English." 
 
 The last word in the sentence was probably the 
 only one they understood, but it was sufhcient to 
 give them pause. 
 
 •33 
 
 ii 
 
 I 
 
 iii 
 
■p 
 
 • 
 
 234 
 
 ON THE world's UOOP 
 
 i t 
 
 if 
 
 II 
 
 
 II I 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 1 
 
 { 
 
 Tiiey came to a full stop, and whispered together 
 ftiiniestly, Kent being able to make out the word 
 " Sahib." 
 
 Then they both looked at him carefully, while he 
 exclaimed Impatiently, " Hurry up, won't you, and 
 get me out of this beastly hole ! " 
 
 Suddenly the expression of their countenances 
 changed. Anger gave way to surprise, and then to 
 interest, and after a few more words tOL;ether, one 
 went to each side of Kent, and taking him under 
 the arms, in a trice they had him up on firmer 
 ground. 
 
 " Thank you very much," said Kent, offering his 
 hand to them, the meaning of which, however, they 
 evidently did not understand, and therefore failed 
 to reciprocate. " But I'm in an awful mess, to be 
 sure," he continued, looking down ruefully at his 
 reeking garments. " How on earth am I to get this 
 horrible stufl* cleaned off ? " 
 
 The men were now talking together, and pointing 
 at the melon, which had fallen from Kent's hands 
 when he tumbled in, and lay among the leaves in 
 front of him. He noted their glances, and saying 
 pleasantly, " Oh, that's all right ; I'll pay for that," 
 he took some coins out of his pocket and offered 
 them in payment. 
 
 This honourable proceeding cleared away all the 
 clouds. Both men grew amiable at once, and 
 
 aimmmigem 
 
7 
 
 m 
 
 THE STORMING OF NILT F0UTUES8 
 
 235 
 
 liaving accepted the coins, manifested their utmost 
 eagerness to be helpful. With their aid Kent 
 cleaned up as best he could, and then went to 
 rejoin his father, not forgetting to take the melon 
 along. ' 
 
 Mr. Stannard was greatly amused when the 
 adventure was described to him. 
 
 "That was a happy thought of yours proclaiming 
 yourself English, Kent," he said. "We are well 
 thought of by the people here, and they would not 
 do anything to offend us. I hope your melon will 
 prove worth all the trouble you had in getting 
 it." 
 
 They had the melon at dinner that night, and 
 it proved so luscious and exquisite of flavour that 
 Kent declared he would be quite willing to endure 
 a similar experience in order to procure another. 
 
 In riding, hunting, sight-seeing, boating, and 
 making the acquaintance of the people the winter 
 months slipped quickly and pleasantly by, and the 
 time came to lay out the programme for the spring 
 season. 
 
 Mr. Stannard was somewhat undecided what to 
 do. There were many attractive plans open before 
 him, and he was weighing one against another, 
 while Kent gave his opinion freely, when news 
 came to Kashmir that at once gave a definite direc- 
 tion to his thoughts. 
 
 M 
 
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 HI 
 
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 IMF 
 
236 
 
 ON THE world's ROOP 
 
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 1 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 Some two hundred and fifty miles to the north 
 of Sriiiagar stood Gilgit, the farthest outpost of the 
 Indian Empire, and the key to all the good passes 
 over the Hindoo Koosh mountains into India. As 
 may be easily imagined, it was, from a strategic 
 point of view, a place of the first importance, keep- 
 ing open as it did the way to Chitral, that invalu- 
 able buffo: against the aggressions of the relentless 
 Eussian bear. 
 
 "When, therefore, the alarming report was brought 
 that Gilgit was threatened by the Hunza-Nagars, 
 the blood-thirsty mountaineers who never ceased 
 fighting each other except to combine against some 
 common foe, it caused great excitement in Kash- 
 mir, and the Maharajah's Government and the 
 British representatives at once took counsel together 
 to meet the emergency. 
 
 The result of their deliberation was, that they 
 determined to despatch as promptly as possible a 
 force sufficient not only to foil the tribesmen's de- 
 signs, but to prevent their making another attempt 
 in the future. 
 
 So soon as this was decided upon, Mr. Stannard 
 asked permission to join the expedition. His re- 
 quest was granted at once, and Kent learned of hi-* 
 father's project with unqualified delight. 
 
 " And will we take Champ and Bunty with u., " 
 he asked eagerly. 
 
if 
 
 ii 
 
 13 <» 
 
 I 
 
 THK STORMING OF NILT FOKTHESS 
 
 237 
 
 " Why, certainly, Kent," replied Mr. Stannard. 
 "They will be very useful to us." 
 
 " And may Here come too ? " Kent asked again, 
 this time with some uncertainty in his tone. 
 
 Mr. Stannard looked thoughtful; indeed he was 
 about to say "No," when a glance at the boy's 
 anxious, entreating countenance made him change 
 his mind. "Oh, I suppose so," he responded, 
 with a certain show of reluctance, whereupon 
 Kent sprang at him and gave him a great hug, 
 exclaiming — 
 
 " You dear old pater, you ; you're just as good 
 as you can be ! I'm so glad you don't mind Here 
 coming too." 
 
 After any amount of bustle and bother, the little 
 army that was to teach the tribesmen a lesson in 
 right behaviour got itself to Gilgit in good order and 
 condition, Kent enjoying every stage of the journey 
 thither, because of the novelty and interest of his 
 surroundings. The little mountain town, thus be- 
 come so suddenly a centre of intense life and 
 activity, swarmed with soldiers, of whom some two 
 thousand were assembled. 
 
 Kent at once set himself to get acquainted 
 with the different kinds of troops, and by the 
 end of a couple of days could have passed a highly 
 creditable examination upon their various charac- 
 teristics. 
 
 
 
 1 4h 
 
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 Si • 
 
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mmm 
 
 238 
 
 ON THE WORLD S ROOF 
 
 n'\m 
 
 There were sturdy, swarthy Goorkhas, with whom 
 I'uiity promptly fraternised joyously ; grave and 
 stalwart Sikhs, among whom Champ found many 
 friends ; tall, wiry Pathans, with the speed and 
 endurance of deerhounds ; and odd little Punialis, 
 who insisted upon retaining their native swords 
 and shields, although they were all armed with 
 good carbines. 
 
 The officers were mainly English, and made up 
 a very pleasant and congenial circle, to which 
 Mr. Stannard and Kent found themselves cordially 
 welcomed. 
 
 While the main body of troops was winding its 
 slow way along through the deep rocky valleys, the 
 staff officers pushed on ahead, the Stannards accom- 
 panying them, and presently reached the Kotal, a 
 lofty peak, from whose summit could be obtained 
 a clear view of the Kaujut Valley, in the heart 
 of which stood Nilt Fort, whose thick walls and 
 tall towers promised a stern resistance, for there 
 the enemy lay in waiting. 
 
 " That fort looks as if it would give us some 
 fun before it is taken, Mr. Stannard," said the com- 
 manding officer, who had been sludying it through 
 his field-glass. 
 
 " It does indeed, Colonel Durand," replied Mr. 
 Stannard. " If the case were reversed, and you had 
 the fort, with plenty of supplies and ammunition, 
 
 'l\ 
 
m 
 
 THE STORMING OF NILT FORTRESS 
 
 239 
 
 I think you might safely defy all the tribes iu 
 the country round about to turn you out; but I 
 expect you'll not be long in taking it by storm." 
 
 On the following day the preparations for attack- 
 ing the fort began, and Kent watched them with 
 keenest interest. It would be his first taste of real 
 warfare, and his heart burned to take part in it him- 
 self ; but to this his father would not at all consent. 
 "No, no, my boy," he said firmly. " I didn't 
 bring you here to make you a target for these blood- 
 thirsty heathens. It will be time enough for you 
 to share in the fighting when it falls to your duty 
 to do so. In this case you are simply a spectator, 
 and must conduct yourself accordingly." 
 
 Omitting no precaution against surprises and 
 sudden attacks, the British force, now reduced to 
 a thousand men, the others having been left as 
 garrisons on the way, advanced along the maidan 
 by the river - side, crossing frightful mUlahs and 
 scrambling up rocky slopes, until at last it reached 
 the terraces before Mlt, pnd the mountaineers' 
 citadel stood within striking distance. It was cer- 
 tainly a formidable place to attack, seeing that the 
 British had with them none of the requisites for a 
 siege, and only a couple of seven-pounder field-guns 
 for artillery. 
 
 Nilt was a very rabbit-warren of strongly built 
 stone houses, two or three stories high, with narrow 
 
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 ilM 
 
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 i '■: '■ 1. 1 
 
 I f r 
 
240 
 
 ON THE WOULD S ROOF 
 
 ; I 
 
 alleys between, and the whole enclosed by a great 
 stone wall fifteen to twenty feet in height and twelve 
 feet thick, with large square towers at intervals. 
 Another wall about eight feet high, and loopholed 
 for musketry, surrounded the main wall ; and beyond 
 it the ground fell away precipitously on all sides, 
 save at one point where there was a narrow approach 
 to the chief gate. 
 
 Such was the place which the peculiar situa- 
 tion of the invading force rendered it necessary 
 to capture in a few hours, although the Kanjutis 
 flattered themselves that it could hold out for a 
 year or more. 
 
 With a rare mingling of caution and daring, the 
 commanding officer laid out his plan of attack, and 
 with a really remarkable degree of intelligence and 
 docility, the native troops put his commands into 
 execution. 
 
 The Nilt garrison deemed themselves thoroughly 
 secure behind their massive stone walls, whose many 
 loopholes commanded every avenue of approach, so 
 that it meant no small risk to get near enough to 
 the fort to send in an effective fire. Yet the plucky 
 little Goorkhas advanced blithely across the broken 
 ground, making short rushes, and utilising every 
 bit of cover until they were within short range, and 
 could open a brisk fire upon the riflemen at the 
 loopholes and upon the parapets. 
 
THE STOKMING OF NILT FORTRESS 24 1 
 
 While they were doing this, the Punialis swarmed 
 up a height which comiiianded tiie fort and peppered 
 away from that point, the Sikhs, under the cover 
 of their fire, venturing to descend the hill into the 
 trench before the fort, and then audaciously firing 
 into the loopholes only a few yards distant. 
 
 Mr. Stannard had taken Kent up to a bluff at the 
 edge of the river-cliff, whence a clear view of the 
 whole proceedings could be obtained, and here they 
 stood watching everything with breathless interest, 
 Kent crying out from time to time in enthusiastic' 
 admiration of the daring and address of the different 
 bodies of troops engaged in the attack. 
 
 Not far from them the Gatling gun and the two 
 seven-pounders had got into position, and blazed 
 away at Nilt, without, however, doing any great 
 damage, the walls of the fortress being so tremen- 
 dously thick. 
 
 The siege had gone on for over an hour without 
 the British force gaining any appreciable advantage, 
 when Kent's keen eyes ^etected through the smoke' 
 and dust below a baud of men, not more than a 
 hundred in all, making a rush for the outer wall. 
 
 "Look! father, look!" he cried, graspin- his 
 father excitedly by the arm. "They're going to 
 storm the fort ! " 
 
 " With such a handful of men ! " exclaimed Mr. 
 Stannard, his face expressing both astonishment 
 
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 I X 
 
 
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 ; 
 
 
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 4 
 
>42 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 and disapproval. " Why, they must be mad ! 
 They'll never reach the inner wall alive, let alone 
 go over it." 
 
 If the members of the little storming party were 
 mad, there certainly was much method in their 
 madness. Charging across the open space, regard- 
 less of the hail of bullets from the fort, they came 
 to the wooden gate of the outer wall, which the 
 Goorkhas quickly hacked into splinters with their 
 irresistible kukris. 
 
 The daring fellows were now in front of the 
 main wall, and so close to it tliat the officers fired 
 their revolvers into the loopholes. It seemed as 
 if every one of tuem must be shot down, and the 
 fall of several brought sympathetic groans from 
 Kent, who was in danger of tumbling over the 
 edge of the cliff in the intensity of his feelings. 
 
 Yet Captain Aylmer, accompanied by his Pathan 
 orderly, dashed gallantly forward to the main gate, 
 wliich was very strongly built, and placing a heavy 
 charge of gun-cotton at its foot, fixed and ignited 
 the fuse, all the while being exposed to the fire 
 from the towers which Hanked the gate, as well as 
 from loopholes in the gate itself. The coolness no 
 less than the brilliancy of this feat was beyond 
 all praise, and Kent was simply spell-bound with 
 admiration, so that he could only murmur, " Oh ! I 
 hope he won't be shot ! I hope he won't be shot ! " 
 
THE STORMING OP NILT FORTRESS 
 
 243 
 
 Captain Aylmer was shot, and at such short 
 range that his clotlies and flesh were burned by 
 the gunpowder. Happily, however, it was only a 
 nasty flesh-wound in the leg, that did not put hinj 
 hors de cumbat. 
 
 There were some moments of thrilling suspense as 
 the expected explosion was awaited. But no explo- 
 sion came ; and Captain Aylmer, who had retreated a 
 little distance along the wall, was seen to return to the 
 gate, readjust the fuse, and, after several attempts, 
 get it properly lighted. While accomplishing this 
 he was again wounded, one hand l)eing terribly 
 crushed by a big stone hurled from the battlements. 
 Next moment there came a tremendous explosion, 
 and the air was full of dust and flying stones; but, 
 without waiting for either to clear away, the British 
 officers and their handful of Goorkhas rushed 
 through the breach, and engaged in a hand-to-hand 
 conflict with the garrison. 
 
 At first they were so few in numbers that it 
 seemed as if they must be driven back or killed 
 where they stood, and one of the ofticers returned 
 for reinforcements, thus exposing himself to a 
 double danger, the fire from the walls and the 
 covering tire of his own supporters. Yet in a few 
 minutes he was back again untouched, and accom- 
 panied by a number of Goorkhas and Sikhs, who 
 charged through the gate and into the narrow 
 
 i ' 
 
 H 
 
 5 ;' 
 
 
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 * I 
 
 ■'t 
 
fVWJ 
 
 244 
 
 ON tup: world s roof 
 
 UU''\ 
 
 
 alleys, driving the defenders of the fort before 
 them like chaff before the wind. 
 
 One rush did it. The Kanjutis stayed not upon 
 the order of their going, but went at once, fleeing 
 through the back gate of the fort and down into 
 Nilt nullah behind, where they found refuge among 
 the numerous sangas which had been erected in 
 the nullah or on the opposite lieights. 
 
 Great were the rejoicings in the British camp 
 at the capture of the fortress of Nilt. Captain 
 Aylmer and his gallant associates came in for 
 unstinted praise, and the commanding officer let 
 it be known that at least three recommendations 
 for the Victoria Cross would be made by him. 
 
 Kent was very proud of the way the Goorkhas 
 and Sikhs had borne themselves, and he congratu- 
 lated Champ and Bunty as warmly upon the con- 
 duct of their tribesmen as if they were all their 
 own brothers. 
 
 But although Nilt was taken, there was plenty 
 of work yet to be done. The Kanjutis still held 
 the valley by virtue of their forts and sangas on 
 the opposite heights, from which they must needs 
 be cleared. This was likely to be a business 
 requiring time and patience, so the little army 
 set about securing quarters until the way should 
 be clear to go on. 
 
 The following days were full of skirmishes and 
 
 ;| 
 
THE STORMING OF NILT FOUTKESS 245 
 
 artillery duels (for the natives had some small 
 cannon of their own), without any definite result 
 being accomplished. Kent each day grew increas- 
 ingly impatient to be allowed to join one of these 
 skirmishing parties, but Mr. Staunard would not 
 give his consent. 
 
 At last one afternoon, when Mr. Stannard had 
 gone up on the heights and Kent had remained 
 behind, the boy's eagerness overcame his sense of 
 filial duty, and he joined a small band of Goorkhas 
 sent out on a reconnaisance. 
 
 Finding the coast clear, as they imagined, they 
 advanced farther than they should have done, and 
 suddenly found themselves in a trap. A heavy 
 volley from jezails and Winchesters was poured 
 upon them by hidden marksmen. Several of the 
 party fell, mortally wounded. There was no 
 resource but flight, and Kent had joined with the 
 others in showing his heels, when he tripped upon 
 a loose stone and fell headlong, just as the Kan- 
 jutis rushed howling after their enemies. The 
 next moment they were upon him. 
 
 II! 
 
 I 
 
 ■ i : 
 
 
T^ 
 
 m 
 
 if 
 
 CHAFTEK XIX 
 
 THE BATTLE IN THE CLOUDS 
 
 When Kent realised that he was a prisoner in the 
 hands of the Kanjutis his heart almost stood still 
 for terror. While with the British forces he had 
 heard many blood-curdling tales of the ferocity and 
 cruelty of these hill-men, and he expected nothing 
 else than that he would be subjected to horrible 
 tortures and ultimate death at their hands. 
 
 Indeed, for that matter, to judge from first ap- 
 pearances, his expectation was not ill founded, his 
 captors manifested such malignant glee at having 
 him in their power, and hastened away so eagerly 
 to their stronghold beyond the nullah, chattering 
 volubly to one another as they ran. 
 
 ** I suppose they're talking about what they'll do 
 with me when they get me over there," poor Kent 
 soliloquised, his mind filled with the darkest appre- 
 hensions. " I wish I could make out what they 
 are saying." 
 
 Had he been able to do so he would hardly have 
 
 been much wiser as to his fate, for it soon appeared 
 
 946 
 
 , 
 
 I 
 
THK BATTLE IN THE CLOUDS 
 
 247 
 
 that there was a very decided difference of opinion 
 upon the point, some crying out for puttin;^^ the 
 young Sahib thus at their mercy to the torture, 
 while cooler heads advocated keei'iiig him as a 
 prisoner who mi^-ht be exchanged to a^lvantage. 
 
 Kent was taken to the Thol fort, on the far side 
 of the Nilt nullah — a citadel not so strong in itself 
 as Nilt, but having a better natural situation, and 
 being more fully protected by sangas along the edge 
 of the cliff in front of it and upon the heights above. 
 This Thol fort, and its mate, the Maiun fort, on 
 the opposite side of the Kanjut river, completely 
 commanded the valley, and until they were both 
 taken by the British the expedition could not ad 
 vance a yard beyond Nilt. 
 
 On reaching the fort Kent was rudely flung into 
 a dark, noisome den of a place, with low stone roof 
 and earthen fioor, and left there to vex his soul with 
 vain conjectures as to his doom. 
 
 Never before in his life had he been in circum- 
 stances of such utter misery. There was absolutely 
 no redeeming feature about his case. He had gone 
 out with the skirmishing party in direct disobedi- 
 ence to his father's commands. He had been cap- 
 tured, not when boldly facing the ('iiemy, but wlien 
 ignobly fleeing before them, and now he was a help- 
 less i>risoner, not even able to plead for mercy were 
 he disposed to do so. 
 
248 
 
 ON THE WORIJVS KOOF 
 
 1 
 
 "Ah, Kent!" he murnmred, shaking his heiul 
 sorrowfully, " you've brought this all upon yourself 
 and, whatever happens, you alone are to blame.* 
 Then the thouf'ht of his father's anxietv cotninfr to 
 him, his eyes filled witli tears as he sighed, " Poor 
 father ! how distressed he will be, and how hurt at 
 my disobeying him I Oh ! why was I such a fool ? " 
 and in an agony of contrition and remorse, he threw 
 himself down upon a heap of dirty straw that filled 
 one corner of his cell. 
 
 Meanwhile Mr. Stannard had returned to Nilfc, 
 and learned, with consternation and sinking at heart 
 of his son's foolish conduct and its consequences' 
 All the others of the party had escaped scatheless, 
 and Mr. Stannard, in the poignancy of his grief, was 
 at first moved to condemn them strongly for having 
 ileserted his boy. But he reflected thut Kent had 
 no business to be with them^ and that they were in 
 nowise bound to stand by him ; and then, after all, 
 they had their own heads to save. 
 
 When the first outburst of passion had spent 
 itself Mr. Stannard grew calm and collected. 11 
 his son were to be rescued alive the utmost skill 
 and strategy would be necessary, and there was 
 nothing to be gained by wild manifestations of 
 feeling. 
 
 When Jaunty learned of the serious plight of his 
 young master he became almost IVuntic with fury at 
 
THE BATTLK IN THE CLOUDS 
 
 249 
 
 
 the insolence of the Kaiijutis, and was all for rret- 
 tiiig up a volunteer party from among his country- 
 men, and following hot upon the tribesmen's trail. 
 But that, of course, was impracticable in every way, 
 and, realising this, he subsided suffici.^ntly to take 
 counsel with Mr. Stannard as to the possibility of 
 securing Kent's release alive. 
 
 For the present there seemed nothing to be done. 
 The Kanjutis could not be driven from their two 
 strong fortresses, Thol and Miiiun, in the same man- 
 ner as they had been from Nilt fort, without very 
 heavy loss. The approaches to the forts were too 
 well guarded by saiir/as and lines of breastworks, 
 the vigilance of whose numerous occupants was un- 
 remitting, to render any other plan of campaign 
 than one based upon the shrewdest strategy and 
 most patient persistence of any avail. 
 
 Poor Mr. Stannard therefore had no other alter- 
 native than to possess his soul in patience, mean- 
 while praying fervently for the preservation of his 
 beloved boy from a cruel death. 
 
 If the British had only had with them a battery 
 of heavy field-guns the problem of clearing a way 
 through the valley would have been settled in short 
 measure. 'Tis true they got lots of work out of 
 their two seven-pounders and their one Gatling, in 
 spite of its fondness for jamming. 15nt the tribes- 
 men had so SLrengthened thoir sangas with timbers 
 
 tf 
 
250 
 
 ON THE WORLDS KOOF 
 
 ) f 
 
 
 tm 
 
 .iiii 
 
 ilii 
 
 and stones as to render tlitnii practicuUy shell-proof, 
 and it seemed a waste of time and ammunition to 
 pound away at them. 
 
 Not less than four thousand brave and sturdy 
 fighting-nicn were opposed to the small British 
 force, and the commanding officer realised that no 
 undue risks could be taken and no men wasted in 
 doubtful experiments. 
 
 All this meant delay, and delay meant the pro- 
 longing of Mr. Stannard's agony, so that at times he 
 felt like giving himself up to the Kanjutis, if thereby 
 he might be assured of his son being still alive, and 
 be permitted to share his captivity. 
 
 In the meantime the days were full of reconnais- 
 sauces and skirmishes, rifle duels at long range in 
 the valley, and artillery duels high up among the 
 mountain peaks. 
 
 The Kanjutis had a kind of roughly constructed 
 cannon, called sher bachas, that threw shot and 
 shell in some cases heavier than the seven-pounders, 
 but fortunately their marksmen were very wild, and 
 the missiles did little harm. 
 
 A constant source of trouble was the presence of 
 spies in the British camp, who somehow contrived 
 to get word to the enemy of what was projected, 
 and in this way more than one attempt to storm 
 the nearer sangas was foiled. 
 
 In spite of all these drawbacks and difTiculties, 
 
 / 
 
THE BATTLE IN THE CLOUDS 
 
 251 
 
 n 
 
 thn British troops kept up their spirits, and when 
 they could not be fighting amused tlieniselves with 
 sport. A thouglitful officer had brouglit up some 
 footballs from Gilgit, and lively games were i)layed 
 in the afternoons, in which officers and men joined 
 heartily, without regard to difference of rank. The 
 little Goorkhas threw themselves into the game 
 with great energy and noisy laughter, getting lots 
 of amusement out of it in spite of the roughness of 
 the ground. 
 
 Very soon, however, the enemy began to object 
 to their invaders thus enjoying themselves right 
 before their eyes, and made their objections known 
 by means of the numerous sher hachas they liad 
 placed on the mountain - side. Football under 
 artillery fire was certainly a novel experier ;e for all 
 the players, yet the native guns made such very 
 bad practice that neither players nor spectators paid 
 any heed to them, and nobody was a whit the 
 worse. 
 
 Some of the officers who had brought their golf- 
 clubs along even tried to introduce the good old 
 game into these mountainous wilds, but they soon 
 found that there were too many " hazards," for botli 
 ball and player, to be able to do much at the game. 
 
 It need hardly be said that Mr. Stannard had no 
 heart for any of these amusements. The football, 
 indeed, added a further pang to his sorrow by 
 
 ' 1 1 
 
 i 
 
R i\ 
 
 H 
 
 il 
 
 .s ; 
 
 252 
 
 ON TIIK world's roof 
 
 making him think ho.v heartily Kent would have 
 gone in for it had he been at hand, 
 
 " He'd have shown them how to do better than 
 that," he murmured, with a sad smile at the awk- 
 wardness of the impulsive Goorkhas, who would 
 kick without bending the knee, and consequently 
 made ludicrous misses. " Poor dear boy ! God 
 alone knows if he'll ever play football again." 
 
 While Mr. Stunnard was thus pondering and 
 praying, the faithful, loving little Goorkha was 
 devoting all his powers of mind and body to the 
 problem of finding the way to his young master. 
 
 From a ca})tured Kunjati he learned that Kent 
 still lived, and was kept a close prisoner in Thol 
 fort, although how long his life would be spared 
 there was no telling. This fort then became the 
 goal of his desires, and certain it was that nothing 
 short of his own death would prevent him from 
 reaching it. 
 
 He was a skilled cragsman. Nothing in the 
 way of dizzy heights or narrow ledge or slippery 
 slope could daunt him. Where the chamois itself 
 would have had to turn back, Bunty, holding on 
 more like a fly than a human being, would find a 
 footing somehow. 
 
 So numerous were the enemy's sangas, and so 
 excellent the use to which they put the many 
 varieties of rifles with which they were armed, that 
 
THE bATTLE IN THE CLOUDS 
 
 253 
 
 have 
 
 the 
 
 on 
 
 any attempt to explore the clifis during the day 
 was out of the question. At night only could the 
 work be done, and then, what with fire-balls and 
 rock-avalanches that came rolling down the seem- 
 ingly impregnable cliffs at the first warning of 
 danger, to say nothing of the perils of a false step 
 in the darkness, the risk was quite sufficient to 
 deter any but the bravest men. Yet night after 
 night Buuty went forth from Nilt fort, and spent 
 long weary hoars groping in the obscurity for some 
 path that would lead the British troops up to the 
 heights above Thol, whence they could descend in 
 force upon the fortress, and carry it by storm as 
 they had done Nilt. 
 
 Mr. Stannard would gladly have joined him had 
 he been equal to the task. But he recognised his 
 own unfitness, and was fain to content himself 
 with warm words of encouragement, and repeated 
 promises of a rich reward should the Goorkha's 
 gallant endeavours be crowned with success. 
 
 " Nothing that you can ask of me that it is in 
 my power to give will I refuse you if you only 
 succeed," he would say ; while Bunty would shake 
 his head, and, with a strange look of love and re- 
 solution in his dark eyes, reply, " 1 want nothing 
 but the young Saliib." 
 
 One night Bunty's lieart beat high with hope. 
 He had hit upon a way up the high clifls wIkmv 
 
i 
 
 w 
 
 i'.i 
 
 Hi 4 
 
 ■' I 
 
 .!:■■', 
 
 254 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 they faced the blockhouse built by the British ou 
 the ridge. With a dozen of his countrymen he 
 noiselessly descended into the Nilt nullah and 
 began the difficult ascent of the opposite cliffs. 
 For a time all went well, but they had not accom- 
 plished one-third of the distance when the watchful 
 or well-informed Kanjutis revealed their knowledge 
 of the daring design. 
 
 First a gun was fired as a signal from the 
 enemy's lower samja. Then a loud shout was 
 carried up the mountain-side from sciwia to sanga, 
 in response to which, amid rattle and roar of tom- 
 toms, fire-balls and rojk-avalanches plunged down 
 the precipices, and the quick cracking of a hundred 
 rifles and jezails filled the air. 
 
 Poor Bunty and his plucky companions were 
 compelled to shrink into hoi! )ws of the cliffs, and 
 then creep back to the fort, chagrined at the failure 
 of their essav. 
 
 Nexi morning it was observed that two new 
 sangas had arisen in the night just over the por- 
 tion of the cliff which Bunty had planned to scale. 
 
 Battled but not beaten, Bunty persevered in his 
 daring explorations under the cover of darkness, 
 and a few nights later announced to Mr. Stannard 
 that he had now found a better path than before, 
 and that the enemy could be driven from their 
 strongholds if the right means were taken. 
 
 - 1 
 
 I 
 
 :%vV^ 
 
 m 
 
 ',i 5( 
 
 ^' ■ )i\ 
 
THE BATTLE IN THE CLOUDS 
 
 255 
 
 
 Mr. Stannard at once brought him to the com- 
 manding officer, and a council of war was lield, 
 with the result that Bunty's plan was approved, 
 and the decision made to give it a trial without 
 delay. The great thing was to keep the plan of 
 attack secret, and so admirably was this done that 
 not one of the numerous spies in the British camp 
 got any suspicion of what was in the wind. 
 
 A force of one hundred mou, fifty Goorkhas and 
 fifty Dogras, all hill-men, and equal to anything in 
 the way of cliff-climbing, was detailed, under com- 
 mand of Lieutenant Manners -Smith and the ^uid- 
 ance of Bunty, to slip away quietly at dinner-time 
 and take up a position in the mdlah at the foot of 
 the cliffs, to hide there until daybreak. 
 
 With the dawn of day a covering party, com- 
 posed of the best rifle-shots in camp, took up u 
 position on the ridge facing the four sangas that 
 were to be stormed by the hundred men still hiding 
 in the mdlah. Supporting this covering party 
 were the two seven-pounders, and as soon as it 
 became light enough to see clearly, a storm of 
 bullets, solid shot, and shrapnel was directed upon 
 the doomed mngas. The moment this firing 
 opened the storming party began their ascent" 
 Bunty showing the way. 
 
 They had to scale a cliff more than twelve 
 hundred feet in height, while exposed every foot of 
 

 ■mivanM 
 
 I] '% 
 
 i if 
 
 » ■ 
 
 
 256 
 
 ON THE WOKLD'S HOOF 
 
 the way to the fire from the lower sanr/a^, and to 
 the even more dangerous avalanches of rocks from 
 the upper sangas. It was in every way a most 
 daring venture, yet Lieutenant Manners-Smith and 
 his men went at it as gaily as though it were some 
 competition lor a prize. 
 
 As lor Bunty, he had but one thought in his 
 mind — to reach and to deliver his imperilled young 
 master. 
 
 It was certainly an extraordinary scene for a 
 battle. To adopt the language of one who was 
 a spectator of it all : " From their lofty ridge 
 the covering party looked down upon the Kanjut 
 Valley, with its rushing river, its terraced fields, 
 and its numerous fortified villages, while high above 
 the nearer mountains the snowy summits of the 
 Hindoo Koosh rose into a cloudless sky. The 
 parapets and roofs of the towered fortresses below 
 — Maiuu, Thol, and the Ziarat — were crowded 
 with spectators, anxiously watching the decisive 
 action that was being fought out on the mountain 
 sky-line high above them, while from every sanga 
 and rude sher hacha battery all along the enemy's 
 line of defences the tribesmen looked on in }ier- 
 plexed crowds, wondering what would be the 
 result. 
 
 From their lofty position the covering party 
 could see the little storming party gradually crawl- 
 
THE JUTTLE IN THE CLOUDS 
 
 257 
 
 |Lirty 
 iwl- 
 
 ing up the clift'-sides, looking more like aiits 
 picking their way up a rugged wall than humau 
 beiiigs. 
 
 For some time the garrison of the upper sawjas 
 had no suspicion of the danger menacing them 
 from below, and it was not until the warning came 
 across from Maiun that they woke up to tlie situa- 
 tion. Then, in spite of the fierce fire from the 
 covering party, they hurled showers of stones down 
 the cliff, boldly venturing out into the open to roll 
 over the ready-piled rocks, and thereby render- 
 ing the position of the climbers perilous in the 
 extreme. 
 
 Yet, by great good fortune, none of these were 
 swept away, although some were badly bruised, and 
 they kept on dauntlessly, until at last Bunty and 
 Lieutenant Manners-Smith side by side, CL<'sely 
 followed by the men, reached the foot of the 
 nearest sanga, and running round behind, were 
 able for the first time to bring their rities into 
 play. 
 
 One after another the sangas were stormed and 
 their defenders put to flight, the charge of the 
 British soldiers being so impetuous that the natives 
 tied before it like chaff before the wind, making 
 such poor use of their weapons that four men 
 wounded represented the total of casualties among 
 the storming party. 
 
 ! c- 
 
i:i 
 
 258 
 
 ON THE WORLD S ROOF 
 
 Amid the echoing cheers from the British camp 
 the brave little baud under Lieutenant Manners- 
 Smith rushed down the mountain-side towards 
 Thol, Bunty twenty yards ahead of all, for he was 
 determined to get inside the fort ere its garrison 
 could have a chance to carry off Kent. 
 
 At the same time a wonderful thing was happen- 
 ing that Mr. Stannard never clearly understood. 
 
 Ever since Kent's disappearance Hercules had 
 been acting do oddly that it was necessary to keep 
 him shut up. Now in some way he obtained his 
 liberty, and at once employed it to make straight 
 for Thol, as if divining by some instinct that there 
 his master was to be found. With great eager 
 leaps he bounded down the hillside, across the 
 nullah, and up the steep slope, catching Bunty 
 just as he reached the gate of the fortress. 
 
 Mr. Stannard's heart thrilled with hope as 
 Goorkha and mastiff vanished together. 
 
 " God in heaven grant that they may be in 
 time!" he prayed through parched lips. 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 THE END OF THE JOURNEY 
 
 While all this was taking place, poor Kent, immured 
 in his dark, dismal dungeon, to which the reports of 
 the rifles and the cries of the Kanjutis indistinctly 
 penetrated, was in a perfect agony of suspense. 
 He realised that a decisive struggle was in progress 
 and he felt as if he would have consented to Tacri- 
 fice almost anything if he could only be a witness 
 of the conflict and see how the tide of battle 
 turned. 
 
 Not only was he concerned about the issue of 
 the engagement, but there came to his mind the 
 question, '' What will the Kanjutis do with me ? 
 Will they carry me away with them, if they are 
 driven out of this fort, or "-and the notion sent . 
 chill shudder through him-" will they kill me in 
 revenge for their defeat ? " 
 
 There was no one to help him solve this awful 
 problem. If his place of confinement were guarded, 
 the sentinel made no sound. 
 
 Kent listened at the crack of the door for some 
 
 ^ I- 
 I il - 
 
 a ,1 
 
 ! 11 
 
 II 
 
■?n' 
 
 in* 
 
 ' M 
 
 260 
 
 ON THE WOKLDS KOOK 
 
 minutes with wildly throbbing heart, but not 
 a movement could he detect outside the rude 
 though strong door that shut him in. Oh, how 
 hard it was to be thus confined, when one's own 
 fate was in the balance ! For Kent reasoned that 
 either victory or defeat for the natives might mean 
 death to him. 
 
 If they suffered defeat, they might kill him by 
 way of avenging the death of their own kinsmen 
 If they achieved victory, although this he thought 
 hardly possible, they might sacrifice him in sava^^'c 
 exultation over their enemies. All this filled the 
 poor boy's mind with torturing apprehensions, as 
 he vainly strove to make out from the muffled 
 sounds that found their way to him how the struggle 
 was tending. 
 
 In the meantime Bunty, with the dashing reckless- 
 ness of a Viking in a Berserk fury, charged into the 
 fort, swiugiug his kukris high in the air, and utter- 
 ing appalling cries. Not one of the garrison dared 
 to face him, and several that he overtook he cut 
 down with one resistless sweep of his terrible 
 weapon. 
 
 Just as he entered the gate Hercules joined him, 
 quite as fear-inspiring a creature in his own way 
 as the Goorkha was in his, and side by side the 
 two rushed hithe and thither, seeking the young 
 master they both so dearly loved. 
 
 8 
 
 ii 
 
THE END OF THE JOURNEY 
 
 261 
 
 From the moment the storming party, small as 
 It was. reached the walls of Thol fort panic reigned 
 supreme amongst its occupants. Scarce any attLpt 
 was made at defence, and, hardly striking a blow, 
 the Kanjutis fled out through the back gate and 
 down into tlie valley, where they were joined by the 
 people from Maiuu, and, the two streams of terror- 
 stricken fugitives mingling into one mad mob, jostled 
 and fought their way up the rough narrow road 
 leadmg farther into the mountains. 
 
 The great majority of the Goorkhas went on 
 after them, but Bunty stayed to search for Kent. 
 Whether he would have ever found him unaided 
 by Hercules cannot be said. Certain it is that, 
 after following at his heels for a wliile, the mastiff,' 
 as if doubting the man's ability to accomplish tlie' 
 object of their search, went off on his own account. 
 A few minutes lat.T Kent, wondering what the 
 sudden silence meant, for the noise of battle had 
 swept on up the valley, leaving Thol far behind, 
 heard a loud sniffing at the door of his prison 
 that for the moment filled him with alarm. Yet 
 he could not forbear striking the door with his feet 
 and calling out, " Who is that ? What do you 
 want ? " for anything was better than such har- 
 rowing uncertainty. 
 
 What words can then describe the thrill of deli<r],t 
 with which lie heard the sniffing cl.anoe into" u 
 
262 
 
 ON THE WORLD S ROOF 
 
 W I 
 
 Hi 
 
 ■1 
 
 iJi 
 
 f • 
 
 i 
 
 !li 
 
 
 
 11, 
 
 i' 
 
 wild outburst of joyous barkin;^^ that he at once 
 recognised ? 
 
 " Here ! Here ! Oh, you darling fellow !" ho 
 shouted in tones almost hysterical, for the revulsion of 
 feeling unmanned him for the moment. Then he flung 
 himself at the door, and strained his strength to the 
 utmost in a furious endeavour to force it open. 
 
 But the sturdy barrier defied all his effort.^, 
 and he gave up the attempt, while he tried to 
 devise some other way of escape ; the mastiff out- 
 side all the time barking his loudest, as though to 
 give him encouragement. 
 
 Had this been all that the presence of Hercules 
 effected, it would have been no slight service in 
 itself, for Kent sorely needed cheering up. But 
 the dog's tremendous uproar did something better. 
 It reached the c[uick ears of the alert Bunty, who 
 was darting hither and thither on his quest of love, 
 and presently he too stood before the door of Kent's 
 prison-liouse. 
 
 " Is the young Sahib in there ? " he cried in a 
 voice tremulous with eagerness. 
 
 " Yes, yes, I'm in here, Bunty ! " Kent replied. 
 " Break down the door, and let me oat." 
 
 " All right, sir," responded the Goorkha cheerily. 
 " Me get you out quick, quick," and he ran off for 
 a piece of timber that he had noticed near at hand. 
 
 Keturniug with this, he called out to Kent to 
 
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THE END OF THE JOURNEY 
 
 263 
 
 stand away from the door, and then, using the 
 timber as a battering-ram, attacked the barrier with 
 such force that, stout as it was, it had to give way 
 before him, and at the third charge it fell in with a 
 loud crash. 
 
 Kent was ready to spring forward on the moment, 
 and in the excess of his gratitude and delight, he 
 first flung his arms around Bunty's fat neck and 
 hugged liim like a long-lost brother, and then 
 repeated the operation with Hercules. It would 
 not have been easy to say which of the two, the 
 man or the mastiff, manifested the most joy at the 
 recovery of their master, and certainly the boun- 
 daries of India did not contain a happier trio that 
 morning. 
 
 " Where is my father ? Is he all right ? " were 
 Kent's eager questions as soon as he got his breatli. 
 
 " Sahib all right. Him looking for you," replied 
 Bunty, nodding vigorously. 
 
 There was no need for further speech. Grabbing 
 the Goorkha's arm Kent rushed off, impatient to be 
 outside the hateful walls which had confined him. 
 There was no one to oppose him, and he soon stood 
 on the maidan, with the whole valley outspread 
 before him. 
 
 There was still much of interest in the scene, for 
 the British soldiers were now in full cry after the 
 fleeing hill-raeu, but it was towards Nilt that Kent 
 
 si* I 
 ftif 
 
 m 
 
264 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 ||3J 
 
 turned his eyes, and a cry of joy broke from him 
 when he descried a familiar form descending rather 
 recklessly into the nullah, evidently making for 
 Th.jl fort. 
 
 " Father ! father ! " he cried exultantly, and 
 away he dashed across the maidan and down the 
 hillside, Hercules bounding and barking beside him, 
 and Bunty bringing up the rear. 
 
 Father and sou met at the bottom of the nullah, 
 and Kent was folded to his father's heart in a pas- 
 sionate embrace, that meant not only joy beyond 
 expression at his escape, but forgiveness in full for 
 the disobedience which had put him in such peril. 
 
 While they were rejoicing together, the pursuit 
 of the panic-stricken Kanjutis went on, and it was 
 not until after midday that the weary but trium- 
 phant troops returned to be refreshed with dinner, 
 and to receive further orders. 
 
 Although the valley was effectually cleared, the 
 strongholds that protected it emptied of their de- 
 fenders, and the sangas destroyed, the commanding 
 officer of the expedition considered that the work 
 would not be complete until he had followed the 
 enemy right up to their capitals, and there clenched 
 the advantages already gained. Accordingly, as 
 soon as the troops were fed and rested, the line of 
 march was taken up, and, burdened by as little 
 baggage as possible, the victorious force pushed 
 
THE END OF THE JOURNEY 
 
 265 
 
 on up the valley into the heart of the Kanjuti 
 territory. 
 
 They were prepared to fight their way if neces- 
 sary, but their commander was counting upon little 
 or no resistance being offered, as the day's defeat 
 would have so demoralised the natives. 
 
 In this expectation he was not disappointed. 
 As the little army advanced it passed through a 
 desolate and deserted region, although on every 
 hand were evidences of a dense population. 
 
 Now, however, the villages were emptied of their 
 inhabitants, and the forts of their garrisons, and in 
 many cases given up to the flames. They had been 
 fired by the Kanjutis themselves, not by the British, 
 and it would take a generation to repair the damage 
 thus needlessly done. 
 
 " V/hat a pity it seems, all this destruction ! " 
 said Kent to his father as they walked along to- 
 gether with the vanguard of the invaders. " Why 
 did they do it ? To keep us from taidng posses- 
 sion?" 
 
 "For some such reason, my boy," replied Mr. 
 Stannard. "They evidently have as poor an idea 
 of us as thfiy have of their native foes. They'll 
 think better of us after they've got to know us 
 better." 
 
 But for the depressing influence of so much 
 wanton destruction and piteous desolation, the 
 
 11 
 
^ ? 
 
 1 1'! 
 
 266 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 scenes through which tlio British passed would 
 have been extremely interesting. The villages 
 were well built of stone, with flat-roofed houses 
 and lofty walls, having towers at intervals, and 
 deep moats that made them seem like mediaeval 
 European cities on a small scale; while many of 
 the forts were perched high up on fearful crags 
 in the most romantic positions possible. 
 
 The deep valley through which they were march- 
 ing formed the division line between the Hunzas 
 and the Nagaris, the two tribes which had united 
 to oppose the British advance, and the army was 
 on the Nagar side of the Kan jut river, that filled 
 the bottom of the valley. 
 
 They had not gone far into the Narjar territory 
 when the natives began to evince ret irning con- 
 fidence. They drove their cattle down from the 
 mountains, in whose recesses they had hidden them, 
 and came to meet the strangers with smiling faces 
 and presents of food. 
 
 Kent always had a clear recollection of this stage 
 of the march, because for the first time for many 
 days it was possible to get fine beef and excellent 
 mutton in abundance. He had been on pretty 
 poor fare as to quality while at Nilt fort, and had 
 been allowc'l only sufficient to keep him alive while 
 a prisoner at Thol. It was no wonder, therefore, 
 that he hailed the juicy roasts and crisp brown 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
THE END OF THE JOURNEY 
 
 267 
 
 chops with great enthusiasm, and felt grateful to 
 the Nagaris for supplying the British force so 
 liberally. 
 
 Hercules fairly revelled in bones, and had so 
 many good meals a day that he threatened to get 
 too fat for his own good. 
 
 In this comfortable fashion, and without a shot 
 from the enemy, the capital city of Nagar was 
 reached, where the invaders were permitted to halt 
 for a wliile before proceeding on to Hunza. 
 
 In the castle of Nagar, which was quite an im- 
 posing structure, and capable of holding out against 
 a strong force if properly defended, Kent saw the 
 Thum, ihe ruler of the little mountain state, a 
 feeble-looking old man, who seemed completely 
 bewildeidid by the calamities of war, and evidently 
 longed for peace at any price. 
 
 " Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown — 
 eh, Kent ? " said Mr. Stannard as they left the 
 poor old fellow's presence. " If he'd only been 
 allowed to have his own way there'd have been no 
 trouble at all. But his bloodthirsty, blustering 
 neighbour, the Thum of Hunza, bullied him into 
 fighting us, and now hr's sorry enough to cry over 
 his folly." 
 
 It was this same Thum of Hunza that the com- 
 manding officer had upon his mind, and was parti- 
 cularly anxious to meet. But the Thum was no 
 
i 
 
 268 
 
 ON THE world's ROOF 
 
 less anxious to avoid a meeting. In fact, from 
 all that could be learned it seemed clear that he 
 had made good use of his head-start to put the 
 utmost possible distance between himself and his 
 pursuers. 
 
 Notwithstanding this, the British pushed on as 
 fast as the extremely rough character of the valley 
 road permitted, until at last they came to Huuza 
 city, only to find that the chief object of their 
 quest had departed many hours previously, taking 
 with him all the treasure he could carry beyond 
 the Hindoo Koosh, and leaving his people to 
 settle matters with the British force as best they 
 might. 
 
 The situation of the Hunza capital was superb 
 beyond description, the magnificent mountains 
 towering up behind it, and the terraced slopes of 
 the foot-bills spreading out before it, descending 
 step by step until they ended at the river's edge. 
 
 Mr. Stannard and Kent were among those who 
 secured quarters in the castle, and the zenana por- 
 tion being the most comfortable, they chose one of 
 those rooms for their occupation. 
 
 The poor ladies of the harem had evidently been 
 hurried away with scant ceremony, and there were 
 many pathetic proofs of their panic-stricken flight. 
 Scattered about in wild confusion were work-boxes 
 filled with Manchester cotton and Birmingham 
 
THE END OF THE JOUKNEY 269 
 
 needles, artificial flowers, and unfinished sewing; 
 while boxes of tooth-powder, pots of rouge, parasols, 
 bits of silk, and other feminine fopperies showed 
 that even in these far-away mountain wilds the 
 heart of woman was the same as in the centres of 
 civilisation. 
 
 Kent's feelings were moved by these touching 
 tokens of terror. " The poor things," he said ; " it 
 seems a shame to have scared them away. I'm 
 sure we wouldn't have doae them harm if they had 
 stayed. And," he added, with a gleam of humour 
 in his eye, " I'd like very much to have seen some 
 of them, too." 
 
 But this curiosity of his was not to be satisfied, 
 although he accompanied the expedition all the 
 way to Misgar, a miserable little settlement that 
 was the farthest inhabited spot in the Kanjut 
 Valley. 
 
 The Thum of Hunza being out of reach beyond 
 the Hindoo Koosh, on his way to the dreary Pamirs, 
 the commanding officer made Misgar the end of the 
 chase, and after a brief occupation the order to return 
 to Kashmir was given. 
 
 As Mr. Stanuard and Kent were standing on one 
 of the towers watching the troops getting under way, 
 Mr. Stannard said in a consoling tone — 
 
 " Well, Kent, my boy, if we were turned back 
 from Thibet, and had our plans balked in that 
 
 I 
 
270 
 
 ON THE WORLDS ROOF 
 
 direction, we at least have the satisfaction of being 
 to-day at the very end of the road to Central Asia, 
 so far as it has been opened up by British influence. 
 Of course England is not going to stop here. 
 It won't be long before she's got her foot in Ohitral. 
 But we won't stay for that. We'll get back to India 
 now as fast as we can. We've both had enough 
 of this sort of life for the present." 
 
 " But, father," cried Kent, his face flushing 
 with eagerness, " you haven't given up the notion 
 of getting to L'hasa, have you ? You'll surely 
 try again ? " 
 
 Mr. Stannard was silent for a moment before 
 replying. " Perhaps I will," he said in a thoughtful 
 tone. " I cannot say now, although I confess I 
 hate the idea of being beaten by a lot of ignorant 
 mountaineers." 
 
 The return to Simla was effected without mishap, 
 and without any especially exciting incident. Here 
 they remained until the rains were over, and then 
 went down to Calcutta for the winter. 
 
 The Sikh and Goorkha accompanied them, but 
 Hercules had to be left behind, for the climate 
 of Lower India would soon prove fatal to him. 
 Happily good quarters were obtained for him, 
 Kent refusing flatly to give him up altogether. 
 
 " No indeed," he said. " I'll not part with dear 
 old Here. We'll be sure to want him when we 
 
 r 
 
being 
 
 THK END OF TIIK JOUli.N'KY 
 
 271 
 
 try again to get to L'hasa/' anci he gave his 
 father an arch look that showed how firmly t.he 
 idea was fixed in his mind of making another 
 attempt to visit the mysterious capital of the heart 
 of Asia. 
 
 THE END 
 
 Printed by IUi.laktyne, Hanj-on & uo. 
 EJinburali 6- Londuu 
 
J 
 
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 ON THE WORLD'S ROOF. By J. Macdonald Oxley. 
 
 THE THREE MUSKETEERS. By Alexandre Dumas. 
 
 OFF TO KLONDYKE. By Gordon Stables. 
 
 TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. 
 Jules Verne. 
 
 IN THE SWING OF THE SEA. By J. M. Oxlet. 
 
 REMEMBER THE MAINE. By Gordon Stable* 
 
 THE LADS OF LUNDA. By J. M. E. Saxby. 
 
 ABOVEBOARD. By W. C. Metcalfe. 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. VERDANT GREBN. By 
 Cdthbbbt Beds, B.A. 
 
 By 
 
 22 
 
 
Books for Youiig Readers. 
 
 m:i. 
 
 \\i 
 
 THE ILLUSTRATED ENGLFSH LIBRARY. 
 
 Crown 8vo. With Sixieen lUuttrations. St. 6d. each. 
 
 THIS HISTORY OF IIP^NRY ESMOND. By W. M. Thackkrat. 
 IlluBtrated by CDRis. Uahmonl-. 
 
 TUB HISTORY OF TENDENNIS. By W. M. Thackkrat. 
 Illustrated by Chris. Uahmond. 
 
 THE NEWCOMES. By W. M. TuAOKERAT. Illustrated by Chris. 
 Hammond. 
 
 VANITY FAIR. By W. M. Thackkrat. Illustrated by Ohbib. 
 Hammond. 
 
 JANE EYRR. An Autobiography. By Charlotte BRONTE. Illus- 
 trated by F. H. ToWNSEND. 
 
 SHIRLEY. A Tale. By CHARLOTTE Bront«. Illustrated by F. 
 
 U. TOWNSBND. 
 
 UYPATIA. By Charles Kingslet. Illustrated by Lancelot 
 
 Si'BKD. 
 
 THE LAST OF THE BARONS. By LORD Lttton. Illustrated 
 by Fred. Pkoram. 
 
 THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII. By LoRD Ltxton. Illustrated 
 by LANCELOT Speed. 
 
 THE CAXTONS. By Lord Lttton. Illustrated by Chris. 
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 CHARLES O'MALLKY. IJy Charles Lever. Illustrated by 
 Arthur Eickham. 
 
 CRANFORD. By Mrs. Gaskell. Illustrated by H. M. Brook. 
 
 THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. By Oliver Goldsmith. Illus- 
 trated by C. E. Brook. 
 
 THE BRIDE OF LAMMERMOOR. By Sir Waltkr Scott. Illus- 
 trated by Fred. Pkoram. 
 
 IVANHOE. By Sir Walter Scott. Illustrated by C. E. Buock. 
 
 OLD MORTALITY. By Sir Walter Scott. Illustrated by Sidnet 
 Paobt. 
 
 THE PIRATE. By Sir Walter Scott. Illustrated by E. J. 
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 ROB ROY. By Sir Walter Scott. Illustrated by F. H. Townsend. 
 
 WAVERLEY. By Sir Walter Scott. Illustrated by C. B. Brock. 
 
 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. Illustrated by 
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 ROBINSON CRUSOE. By Daniel Depok. Illustrated by C. E. 
 
 BROOK. 
 
 JOHN HALIFAX, Gentleman. By Mrs. Oraik. Illustrated by 
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 THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS. By J. Fbnimobe Cooper. 
 " Charmingly Illustrated. "—rA« Magazine of Art. 
 "Exquisitely prlated."— Black and Whit«. 
 " Tastefully bovuxi-'—Wegtminste^ OcuttU. 
 
 «3 
 
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James Nisbet tt Go's List. 
 
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 Crown 8vo. Nutneroui lUuttrationt. gs. each, 
 W.^NING HIS LAUREM ; or, The Boys of St. Raglan'.. B, 
 
 THAT AGGRAVATING SCHOOLGIRL. By Grao. Stm- 
 
 BINO. 
 
 WHAT A MAN SOWETH. By Gbaob Stmbino. 
 
 ^ u^^l^^ii^ ^"^^ ^^^^^^ ' «'• '^^« "'•'^-J. Sweet Song. 
 By Mrs. Mausuall. 
 
 THE LADS OF LUNDA. By Jessie M. E. Saxbt. 
 
 THE YARL'S YACHT. By Jessie M. E. S.^xbt. 
 
 GRACE MURRAY. A Story. By Ella Stone. 
 
 MR. ORDB'S GRANDCHILDREN. By Cecilia Selbt 
 Lowndes. 
 
 WHERE THE DEW FALLS IN LONDON. By Sarau 
 
 DOUDNKT. 
 
 TOM AND HIS CROWS. By Mrs. Saxby, Author of " Vikin<. 
 ■"oye, ' &o. " 
 
 WATCH AND WATCH. By W. C. METOALrE, Author of 
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 THE VIKING BOYS. By Jessie M. E. Saxby. 
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 A YOUNG STOWAWAY. By Mrs. Cokbett. 
 
 A MAN EVERY INCH OF HIM. By Rev. J. Jackson 
 What. 
 
 GOOD LUCK. By L. T. Meade. 
 DECIMA'S PROMISE. By Aqnes Giberne. 
 GARTON ROWLEY. By Rev. J. Jackson Wray. 
 THE BISHOP'S SHADOW. By I, T. Tuuhston. 
 
 24 
 
 ; il 
 
Books for Young Eeaders, 
 
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 Crown 8vo. It. 6<L lUustrakd. 
 
 STEPHEN, M.D. By Sdsan Wabnbb. 
 
 LITTLE WOMEN AND GOOD WIVES. By L. M. Aloott. 
 
 THE LETTEK OF CREDIT. By Susan Wahnkb. 
 
 DAINTRIJK By the Author of " Expelled." 
 
 BOX ALL SCHOOL. By the Author of "Expelled." 
 
 ST. MARTIN'S SUMMER. By Rose Porter. 
 
 MRS. LESTER'S GIRLS AND THEIR SERVICE. By the 
 Author of "Mi's. Marston's Giria and their Confirmation." 
 
 FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS. By AoNES Gibbrnb. 
 
 READY, AYE READY ! By AoNES Gibi:knb. 
 
 JOHN HALIFAX. GENTLEMAN. 
 
 THE OLDER BROTHER. By Pansy. 
 
 GERALD AND DOLLY. By D'Estkrrb. 
 
 A SUMMER IN THE LIFE OF TWO LITTLE CHILDREN. 
 
 OLIVER'S OLD PICTURES; or. The Magic Circle. By Mrs. 
 Marshall. 
 
 RUBY AND PEARL ; or. The Children at Castle Aylmer. By Mri. 
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 LADY TEMPLE'S GRANDCHILDREN. By Mias Evibbtt 
 Grben. 
 
 A LONDON BABY : The Story of King Roy. By L. T. Meade. 
 
 HIDDEN HOMES; or. The Children's Discoveries. 
 
 SIR VALENTINE'S VICTORY. By Emma Marshall. 
 
 THE HOME AT GREYLOCK. 
 
 A VANISHED HAND. 
 
 STEPPING HEAVENWARD. 
 
 IN THE DAYS OF BRUCE. By Grace Aqoilab. 
 
 TIME TRIES. By Mrs. Marshall. 
 
 CISSY'S TROUBLES. By Darlet Dale. 
 
 IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. 
 
 25 
 
James Nishet & Co.'s List. 
 
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 POPULAR EDITIONS OF STANDARD BOOKS 
 Cr<mn 8vo, numerou, lUuHratio.^, 2,. tacK ; mih gUt edge,. 
 
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 81. 
 82. 
 33. 
 34. 
 85. 
 36. 
 
 37. 
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 BUNYAN'S PILGRIMS PROGRESS. 
 BUNYAN'S HOLY WAR. 
 FOXES BOOK OF ilARTYRS 
 THE THRONE OF DAVID 
 
 MY DESIRE. By Susan Wabnbr. 
 NOBODY. By Sdsan Warner. 
 
 lllJi hWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. 
 DERRY. By Charlottb Elizabi th 
 
 ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY Rv P tt r«a= 
 GREAT MWVT » c. • f^'^^^i^^^n.x. liy P. H. GOSSS. 
 UKiiAi MEN : A Series of Lectures. By Rev F Mrpna ivr * 
 TOO LATE FOR THE TIDE-MILL By Rev" E A wf: ^^ 
 LITTLE WOMEN. By L. M. Alcott. "^ ^' ^*'^- 
 
 S^EN™?^''?''^- ^^ScsanWabneb, 
 GLEN LUNA. By Anna Warner. 
 DIANA. By Susan Warner 
 
 Si^^^?^' ^^■^' ^y ^^'^^ Earner. 
 MELBOURNE HOUSE. By Susan Warner. 
 BIBLE WARNINGS. By Rev. Dr Ne™ 
 THE PHYSICIANS DAUGHTER 
 
 DMSY '?• 5^^ V'^^'^LD. By Susan Wabnee. 
 
 DAISY. By SusAN Warner. 
 
 DAISY IN THE FIELD. By Susan Warner 
 
 NOR-ARD OF THE DOGGER BTEJ.^rrxHER. 
 
 A DREAM OF THE NORTH SEA By J RuNomAM 
 
 SOLDIERS AND SERVANTS oF CHRIST 
 
 QUEECHY. By SusA.v Warner, 
 
 DARE TO DO RIGHT. By Jui.iA Mathews 
 
 TVANDERING HOMKS AND THEIR INFLUENOF"* 
 FRANK WEATHERALL. By W. 0. Mktcal« 
 
 36 
 
 I ■ 
 
Books for Young Headers. 
 
 THE "PILGRIM" SERIES-continued. 
 
 39. SHORT LIVKS OF MEN WITH A MISSION : Charles Kingaley, 
 
 Lord Lawrence, Henry M. Stanley. With Portraits. 
 
 40. EXPELLED. By the Author of " Dorrinoourt." 
 
 41. YOKED TOGETHER. By Ellen Davis. 
 
 42. BESSIE HARRINGTON'S VENTURE. By JoLiA Matubwb. 
 
 43. OPENING OF A CHESTNUT BURR. By E. P. Roi. 
 
 44. ST. ELMO. By A. J. E. Wilson. 
 
 45. THE CHILDREN'S PILGRIMAGE. By L. T. Mbade. 
 
 46. ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY, Second Series. 
 
 47. NAOML By Mrs. J. B. Wbbb. 
 
 48. BARRIERS BURNED AWAY. By E. P. ROB. 
 
 49. WYCH HAZEL. By S. and A. Wabnbr. 
 
 60. THE GOLD OF CHICKAREE. By 3. and A. Warneb. 
 
 51. THE OLD HELMET. By SusAN Warner. 
 
 52. THE YOUNG MAROONERS. By F. R. GOULDINO. 
 
 53. A LETTER OF CREDIT. By Sdban Warner. 
 
 54. LIFE OF GENERAL GORDON. By Major Skton Uhurohill. 
 
 55. CULTURE OF PLEASURE. By W. Haio Miller. 
 
 56. A KNIGHT of the NINETEEN TH CENTURY. By E. P. RoE. 
 
 57. IN THE DAYS OF BRUCE. By Graok Aodilar. 
 
 58. HOME INFLUENCE. By GRACE Aquilar. 
 
 59. A MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE. By Grace Aquilar. 
 
 GO. THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. By Oliver Goldsmith. 
 
 61. A CANDLE IN THE SEA, By Rev. E. A. Rand. 
 
 62. JOHN KNOX AND HIS TIMES. By Miss Warren. 
 
 63. THE VALE OF CEDARS. By Graok Aquilar. 
 
 64. THE GOLDEN LADDER. By S. and A. Wakner. 
 
 65. C. H. SPURGEON. The Story of his Life. 
 
 66. INFELICE. By A. J. E. Wilson. 
 
 67. AT THE MERCY OF TIBERIUS. By A. J. E. WasON. 
 
 68. DORRINCOURT. By the Author of "Expelled." 
 
 70. SEVEN SONS. By Darlky Dale. 
 
 71. WESTWARD HO ! By Chas. Kingslet. 
 
 72. HOLDEN WITH THE CORDS. By W. RI. L. Jat. 
 
 73. A RED WALLFLOWER. By SusAN Warner. 
 
 74. JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN. 
 
 75. VINEGAR HILL. By Anna Warner. 
 7(j. CROSS CORNERS. By Anna Warner. 
 
 77. ONE LITTLE VEIN OF DROSS. 
 
 78. MISTRESS MATCHETT'S MISTAKE. 
 
 79. ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. 
 
 80. CRANFORD. By Mrs. Gabkkll. 
 
 81. WAVERLEY. By Sir Walter SooTT. 
 
 82. HYPATIA. By Charles Kingslky. 
 
 83. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. 
 
 37 
 
 i.^ 
 
 
James Nishet dk Co.'s List 
 
 THE "GOLDEN SILENCE" SERIES. 
 
 With /Uuttrations. 
 Small Crown 8vo. Attractively hound in cloth. U. each. 
 
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 '"^ ^MrfBr^:^"^ "^"^^^° ^^^^^ ^^^ ^-HAT IT COST. 
 WHAT KATY DID. By SosAN Coolidqe. 
 
 ^' B^'Lr HT.^J;.r ™'« ^^^ ^^ ^^ -OOD. 
 
 BESSIE AT SCHOOL. By Joanna H. Math.ws. 
 
 BESSIE IN THE MOUNTAINS. By Joanna H. Mathews 
 
 BESSIE AT THE SEASIDE. By Joanna H. Mathews 
 
 THE THREE LITTLE SPADES. By Anna B. Wakneb. 
 
 MICHAEL'S TREASURES; or. Choice Silver. By Mrs. Maksha.u 
 
 LITTLE BRICKS. By Dabley Dale. 
 
 EFFIES FRIENDS ; or. Chronicles of the Woods and Shore 
 
 nX^SL!^^^^^^' - --« --^-'» Miasio. 
 
 MY LADY BOUNTIFUL. By Mrs. MAasHALU 
 
 STELLAFONT ABBEY; or. "Nothi.,New. ' By Emma M.ushau. 
 

 Books for Young Headers, 
 
 THE "GOLDEN SILENCE" SERIES-continued. 
 
 SUSY'S SACRIFICE. 
 
 KENNETH FORBES. 
 
 PAT'S INHERITANCE. By Mri. MABsnALt. 
 
 NATURE'S GENTLEMAN. By Mrs. Maerhall. 
 
 THE BRIDE'S HOME. By Mrs. Mabbhall. 
 
 MILES MURCHISON. By Miss Gibkrnk. 
 
 THE FOOTSTEPS OF FORTUNE. By EsmiI Stuabt. 
 
 MY SON'S WIFE. By Rose Porter. 
 
 THE STORY OF JOHN MARBECK : A Windaor Organiit of 300 
 Years Ago. By flirs. Marshall. 
 
 MY GRANDMOTHER'S PICTURES. By Mrs. Makbhall. 
 
 HIGH AND LOWLY. By Ellen Davis. 
 
 PETER PENGELLY. By Ro7. Jaokson What. 
 
 NELLIE GRAHAM; or, The Story of a Commonplace Woman. 
 By Ella Stonk. 
 
 JACK HORNER THE SECOND. By Rev. Jaokbon Wrat. 
 
 A SUNBEAM'S INFLUENCE. By Lady Ddnbotnk. 
 
 A BOY'S WILL. By Ellkn Davis. 
 
 THREE LITTLE SISTERS. By Mrs. Marshall. 
 
 THREE LITTLE BROTHERS. By Mrs. Marshall. 
 
 THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING OF KARL KRINKEN. 
 
 WHEN I WiVS YOUNG. By Mrs. Marshall. 
 
 GOLDEN SILENCE. By Mrs. Marshall. 
 
 LETTICE LAWSON'S LEGACY. By Mrs. Marshall. 
 
 SIR BENJAMIN'S BOUNTY. By Mrs. Marshall. 
 
 MASTER MARTIN. By Mrs. Marshall. 
 
 KITTEN PILGRIMS. By R. M. Ballanttnb. 
 
 GEOFFREY HALLAM; or, The Clerk of the Parish. 
 BON WrAY. 
 
 "A SONG OF SIXPENCE ' FOR THE BAIRNS, 
 
 SON WBAT. 
 
 DAISY OF OLD MEADOW. By Aqnes Gibkbnb. 
 OLD UMBRELLAS. By AoifES Gibebne. 
 
 39 
 
 By J. Jack- 
 By J. Jack- 
 
LIST OF WORKS 
 
 BY 
 
 Mr. R. M. BALLANTYNE. 
 
 ''•^■^■^■^■^■^yj-j-^j 
 
 thitt wnttt^^j;^.^^;;^^?^ *•;« forest and tl.o flame«. and in all 
 paths of lif,. Mhich a ro nn^ ^ ^° "'l^'"'^ ''^"'^ ''^ l<n„wle,lKe of " VJ 
 
 THE WALRUS HUNTERS. 
 
 ^ A 1 ALE OP ESQUIMAUX Land. 
 
 ERLING THE BOLD. 
 
 ^^ Taie of NoiisK Ska-Kixgs. 
 A capital tale of the Norse Sea-Ku,gs."-7'.V«.. 
 
 CHARLIE TO THE RESCUE 
 
 sufficiency of battles, sieL a uf°' "'^ ^vell-satisfied one-with a 
 whose lives are throatlzl?',; f t^i;^, a'l T/''^^'^^ "^ ^--^h-' " 
 adnurably reproduced. It is a capital ftory;''^^^;^^.^"'''^ '"'"^ 
 
 BLOWN TO BITS. 
 
 BLUE LIGHTS- 
 
 Or, Hot \Vo„K ,-.. Tm Sormv A Tmf 'o„ s„. 
 
!i. 
 
 !U 
 
 2 List of IVorks by Mr. li. M. Ballantiine — continued. 
 
 Lanjp. Crown 8?'o. 2s. M. Fully Ulunf rated. 
 
 THE YOUNG TRAWLER. 
 
 A Stouy of Life and Death and Rescue in thk 
 NouTH Sea. 
 
 "Few inon liave laboured so steadfastly in tliuir generation to 
 provide sound, wholesome fare for 'our boys' as Air. ISallantyne, 
 and ''J'iu! Young Trawler" is worthy of his reputation." — Aradimy. 
 
 RIVERS OF ICE. 
 
 A Tale Illustrative of Alpine ADVENxruE and Glaciek 
 
 Action. 
 
 "A tale brimful of iuten/st and , tirring adventure." — Olafjoio 
 Iff rail I. 
 
 THE FLOATING LIGHT OF THE 
 GOODWIN SANDS. 
 
 "The tale will be especially interesting to adventure-loving 
 boys." — Ihcord. 
 
 THE BUFFALO RUNNERS. 
 
 A Tale of the Red RivEii Plains. 
 
 "Mr. Ballantync tells an admirable story of 'the struggle for 
 life' valiautly and victoriously fought by the early colonists of the 
 Red River region in North-Western America."— Daihj Telegraph. 
 
 FIGHTING THE FLAMES. 
 
 A Tale of tjie Fire-I^rigade. 
 
 " RTany a schoolboy will fmd keen enjoyment in the perusal of 
 ' Fighting the I'^lames,' and assure his little sisters with suitable 
 emphasis that Mr. Baliantyne is 'a stunning good story-teller.'"— 
 Athena inn. 
 
lAi^t of lyorh h)/ Mr. 11. M. BaUanfiinc — continued. 
 
 Larfje Crown 8vo. 2.'*. Qd. Fulhj ilhiMrate.d. 
 
 THE NORSEMEN IN THE WEST; 
 
 Or, Amkhica r.EioKK Columucs. 
 
 " This thoroughly deliglitful l)i)ok is an adaptation of the Saga of 
 IcL'hmd, and also of Mr. Laiiig's ' Heiinskingla; or. Chronicles of 
 the Kings of Norway,' supplcnienttd by Mr, Jlallantyne's own 
 experience and adventures in the wilderness of America. 'J'hose 
 ingredients are put together with the skill and spirit of an accom- 
 plished story-teller; and the result is a hook tliat cannot possil)ly 
 he laid down till the very last word of the last line has beei read." 
 — Athcmtum. 
 
 THE SETTLER AND THE SAVAGE. 
 
 A Tale of Peace and Wau in South Akiuca. 
 
 "A capital story of South African life. Mr. Uallantync, through 
 the medium of a tliorouglily manly and healthy tale of sport and 
 war, frolic and danger, full of stirring yet not exaggerated scenes, 
 presents a sketch of a very important period of the early history of 
 our colony at the Cape of Cood Hope." — Tinuji. 
 
 UNDER THE WAVES; 
 
 Or, Diving in Dkep Watkus. 
 
 "Mr. Ballantync enlarges the already gigantic deht due to him 
 by the young l)y his ' Under the \\ aves,' a story meant to illustrate 
 the practice and peril of diving in deep water, wliich it does in not 
 only an interesting, but often in an anuising manner." — Timex. 
 
 BLACK IVORY. 
 
 A Tale of Adventure among the Slaveks of Ea.st Aikica. 
 
 " A captivating story. We heartily recommend it."— livrord. 
 *' Boys will find the book about as delightful a story of adventure 
 as any of them could possibly desire." — Scotsman. 
 
 THE FUGITIVES; 
 
 Or, The Tvkant Qcken of Madaoahcar, 
 " There is plenty of adventure in the shape of imprisomnent and 
 combats with men and animals, and a negro and a sailor l)etween 
 them supply a comic element of the best ipiality. Everything con- 
 sidered, tiiis is one of the best stories even Mr. Ballantync 1ims 
 published." — Academy. 
 
4 List of IKur/cs by Mr. It. M. Ballavtijne — contiiiwd, 
 
 Lanje Crown 8/*o. 'Js. (v/. Fully UlmtraUd. 
 
 THE ROVER OF THE ANDES. 
 
 A Tale of AuvENTrRE in South Amekica. 
 " An admiraMc boys' story." — Scotsman. 
 
 THE BATTERY AND THE BOILER; 
 
 Or, The ELECxiacAr, Advemikeh ok a Teleohaimi 
 
 C'AnLE-LAYER. 
 
 "The interest never Hags." — Acmhrny. 
 
 THE LONELY ISLAND; 
 
 Or, The Rekuoe of the Mctinefirs. 
 
 "Mr. Rallantyne weaves the romantic episode of the mutiny of 
 the 'Bounty' into a moi;t etlective nairati\'e."" — flraphir. 
 
 POST HASTE. 
 
 A Tale of IlEii Ma.)e.>ty"s Mails. 
 
 "The liook shouM find a place in every boy'.s library; it is full 
 of interest." — Lttih Mtrcary. 
 
 t I' 
 
 RED ROON EY; 
 
 Or, The Last of the Ckew. 
 
 DUSTY DIAMONDS, CUT AND 
 POLISHED, 
 
 A Talk of City-Akab Life. 
 
 IH 
 
 mou 
 
 THE GIANT OF THE NORTH; 
 
 Or, PoKLNGS Round the Pole. 
 
 "Of variety of porilous adventure, and peril ingeniously sur 
 )unted, there is no lai k." — Daily S'tw^. 
 
onfiniti't/. 
 
 Lur.je Cro,on Svo. 2s. (iU. Fully rllustraUd. ^ 
 
 'N THE TRACK OF THE TROOPS. 
 
 A Tam: of iMoDERx Wab 
 
 THE PIRATE CITY. 
 
 •An Algerinj: Tale. 
 
 ^^^^^^^in^yli::^:^:^^ usual foUcitv, and .s 
 
 THE HOT SWAMP. 
 
 ^ ^ l^"-^i^^>'C£ OF Old Albion. 
 
 I "11 of acfon and adventure. "-6Vo.,v,„,, 
 
 THE IRON HORSE; 
 
 " \ .. .•'^': ^^'? ""'' '"' ^''''^^- ^^ ^'^-^^^^VAv Talk 
 A captivating Look for ^^oy.,' ^auarUian. 
 
 DEEP DOWN. 
 
 amount ;ft^,J^^,^;;i^;;j;-'«a^"'r^l^ «tory a very l..e 
 whilst from the facfofX Sf.^on ti "'"'^^ "'^ '^ ^'^^ 
 connected narrative, it is not HI nt '"^ g'von in the form of ■ 
 
 A book wen .vorthy'of ^^^^^^^ ^ ,^" '-forgotten. ^^ '.^ 
 
 ly leaci. ~Miiun<j Journal. 
 
 if'tth Illnslratiom. Cnncu 8ro. 
 
 Iv. 
 
 THE KITTEN PILGRIMS; 
 
 tyne stands at the head of -.n , f,"ecessary. .Mr. ]>a]i..„ 
 
 ■Princep..''--Churchman "^^ ""'" children's story-tellers;^';/", 
 
i 
 
 II I 
 
 i! 
 
 
 G Li.st iij lyurks 1)1/ Mr. It. M. Jialltintyne — continneil. 
 
 H'i'h I/lnntralionn. Cfomn Sco. Is. (id. tacit. 
 HUNTED AND HARRIED. A Talk ok tiik Sccrnsii Cove- 
 
 NANTKUa. 
 
 A COXSWAIN'S BRIDE) Or, TuE RlsiNu Tide: And other 
 Tiiles. 
 
 THE GARRET AND THE GARDEN : And JEFF BENSON; 
 
 or, TllK YOUNO COASTOUAHDSMAN. 
 
 THE CREW OF THE WATER WAGTAIL. A Stoky ok 
 
 N E W KO f N DLA N D . 
 
 THE MIDDY AND THE MOORS. An Au;ekine Tale. 
 
 THE PRAIRIE CHIEF. 
 
 LIFE IN THE RED BRIGADE. A Fiery Tale. And FORT 
 DESOLATION ; or, Solitude in the Wilderness. 
 
 THE ISLAND QUEEN ; Or, Dethroned uy K're and Water. 
 
 TWICE BOUGHT. A Tale of the Oregon Gold Fields. 
 
 THE MADMAN AND THE PIRATE, 
 
 PHILOSOPHER JACK. A Tale of the Southern Seas. 
 
 THE RED MAN'S REVENGE, 
 
 MY DOGGIE AND I. 
 
 SIX MONTHS AT THE CAPE. A Record ok Pex;sonal K.v 
 
 TERIENCE AND ADVENTURE. 
 
 AN AUTHOR'S ADVENTURES ; Or, Personal Reminlscences. 
 
 BATTLES WITH THE SEA; Or, Heroes of the Lifeboat 
 AND THE Rocket. 
 
 THE CORAL ISLAND. A Tale of the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 THE GOLDEN DREAM. A Talk ok the Digotnos. 
 
 I 
 I 
 
ued. 
 
 sii Cove- 
 Ind other 
 :NS0N; 
 
 5T()UY OF 
 LE. 
 
 • FORT 
 
 i. 
 
 Water. 
 
 ELU.S. 
 
 SAS. 
 
 SAL 10 X- 
 
 SCENCES. 
 ilFEBOAT 
 
 MR. R. M. BALLANTYNE'S 
 
 MISCELLANY OF ENTERTAINING 
 AND INSTRUCTIVE TALES. 
 
 With Illustrations, is. 
 
 each. 
 
 The A/hf7i'r)itn savs • "Tlior 
 
 coninmiiiriitiiiL' elenientirv inf^.l!, !^ '?, '"^""^ pi'actical way of 
 a.lc.pted in this S^ V f" 7",^"" "''" *''"•' ^^'''^^'' '"'« '^•^^ 
 
 education shoulfl possess ahnnt.Vni '"^o^^at'on as a man „f fa,> 
 
 ncidu>ts of an Arctic voyage ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Y"'' ''^" '''^^ '"■'''"'^'•y 
 
 tive, we nmst admit tlmt al'oorwo k .^ I ''"'j •^«""«-t^<» "arra". 
 author desorve.. the L'ratitudo oVfh r'"'"/^""''' '""' that the 
 especially designed, an^ a^o^o^^oL^^^o^;: jUl^'^j^t J:"^^^ ^'^ 
 
 I. 
 
 Fighting the Whales, or, Doings and Da 
 
 ngcrs on a Fishing Cruise. 
 
 11. 
 
 Away in the Wildernficre. ^., t v 
 
 l^'ur Trade., of SlfAmjHi;' "'"'"" ''" ^^^"' ^-'■■''^'- -1 
 
 III. 
 
 Fast in the Ice , or, Adventures in the Polar Regions. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Chasing the Sun , or, Rambles in Norwr 
 
 way. 
 
 V. 
 
 Sunk at Sea- nr tu^ a i 
 
 Pacific Adventures of Wr 
 
 hindering Will in tij^ 
 
 Lost in the Forest ; or, 
 
 America. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Wandering Will'.s Adventures in .South 
 
(T^ — 
 
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