for we told the monk that we were searching for the tracks ofwild sheep
A week later came our opportunity of making this ascent of the moun-tain. forin mid-winter it ceased storming and hard frost set in,which made it possible to walk upon the surface of the snow.
Learningfrom the monks that at this season ovis poli and other kinds of big-hormedsheep and game descended from the hills to take refuge in certain valleys, where they scraped away the snow to find food, we announced thawe were going out to hunt. The excuse we gave was that we were suffer-ing from confinement and needed exercise, having by the teaching of orreligion no scruples about killing gamOur hosts replied that the adventure was dangerous, as the weathermight change at any moment. They told us, however, that on the slopesof this very mountain which we desired to climb, there was a large nat-ural cave where if need be. we could take shelter and to this cave one ofthem, somewhat younger and more active than the rest, offered to guideSo, having manufactured a rougri tent from skins, and laden our oldak, now in the best of condition, with food and garments, on one stillmoming we started as soon as it was light Under the guidance of themonk, who, notwithstanding his years, walked very well, we reached thenorthern slope of the peak before mid-day. Here, as he had said, wefound a great cave of which the opening was protected by an over-hanging ledge of rock. Evidently this cave was the favourite place ofshelter for game at certain seasons of the year, since in it were heapedvast accumulations of their droppings, which removed any fear of a lackof fuelThe rest of that short day we spent in setting up our tent in the cave, infront of which we lit a large fire, and in a survey of the slopes of themountain. for we told the monk that we were searching for the tracks ofwild sheep. Indeed, as it happened, on our way back to the cave wecame across a small herd of ewes feeding upon the mosses in a shelteredspot where in summer a streamlet ran Of these we were so fortunate asto kill two, for no sportsman had ever come here, and they were tameenough, poor things. As meat would keep for ever in that temperaturewe had now sufficient food to last us for a fortnight, and dragging theanimals down the snow slopes to theskinned them by the dy-ing light.
That evering we supped upon fresh mutton, a great luxury, which thmonk enjoyed as much as we did, since, whatever might be his views astaking life, he liked mutton. Then we tumed into the tent and huddledth, as the temperature must have been somedegrees below zero. The old monk rested well enough, but neither LeoI slept over much, for wonder as to what we might see from the topof that mountain banished sleepNext morning at the dawn. the weather being still favourable, ourompanion returned to the monastery, whither we said we would followtwoNow at last we were alone and without wasting an instant began ourascent of the peak. It was many thousand feet high and in certain placessteep enough, but the deep, frozen snow made climbing easy so that bymidday we reached the top. Hence the view was magnificent. Beneath usstretched the desert, and beyond it a broad belt of fantastically shaped,right, to the left, as far as the eye could reachThey are just as I saw them in my dream so many years ago,muttered Leo; the same, the veryAnd where was the fiery light?I asked.Yonder, I think, and he pointed north by east.Well, it is not there now, I answered, and this place is cold.So. since it was dangerous to linger. lest the darkness should overtakeus on our return joumey we descended the peak again, reaching thave about sunset. The next four days we spent in the same way. Everymoming we crawled up those wearisome banks of snow, and every af-moon we slid and tobogganed down them again, till I grew heartilred of the exercisOn the fourth night, instead of coming to sleep in the tent Leo sat himself down at the entrance to the cave. I asked him why he did this. but henswered impatiently, because he wished it, so I left him alone. I couldee, indeed, that he was in a strange and irritable mood, for the failure ofour search oppressed him. Moreover, we knew, both of us, that it couldnot be much prolonged, since the weather might break at any momentwhen ascents of the mountain would become impossible
Ir. the middle of the night I was awakened by Leo shaking me andCome here, Horace, I have something to show you.Reluctantly enough I crept from between the rugs and out of the tent.To dress there was no need, for we slept in all our garments. He led methe mouth of the cave and pointed northward. Looked. The night wvery dark; but far, far away appeared a faint patch of light upon the sky,such as might be caused by the reflection of a distant fireWhat do you make of it? he asked arduouslyNothing in particular, I answered, it may be anything. Theno, there is none, dawn-no, it is too northerly, and it does not break forbyrethere be such things here? I give it upI think it is a reflection, and that if we were on the peak we shone light which throws it, said Leo slowlyYYesnot, and cannot get there in the dark.Then, Horace, we must spend a night there.It will be our last in this incarnation, I answered with a laugh, that isit it comes on to snowWe must risk it, or I will risk it. Look, the light has faded; and thereat least he was right, for undoubtedly it had. The night was as black asLets talk it over to-morrow I said, and went back to the tent, for Iwas sleepy and incredulous, but Leo sat on by the mouth of the caveAt dawn awoke and found breakfast already cookeI must start early Leo explainedAre you mad?I asked. How can we camp on that place?Idont know but I am going. I must go, Horace.Whichthat we both must go. But how about the yak.Where we can climb. it can follow.he answered.So we strapped the tent and other baggage, including a good supply ofooked meat, upon the beasts back, and started. The tramp was longsince we were obliged to makedetours to avoid slopes of frozennow in which, on our previous ascents, we had cut footholds with araxe, for up these the laden animal could not clamber. Reaching the sum-mit at length, we dug a hole, and there pitched the tent, piling the excav-ated snow about its sides. By this time it began to grow dark, and havingdescended into the tent vak and all. we ate our food and waited
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