Page:My Climbs in the Alps and Caucasus.djvu/350

Rh disappeared. With true wisdom, Zurfluh had used my hoots for the ornamentation of the tent-poles, and during the night a more violent gust than usual had carried one bodily away. Subsequent search discovered it submerged in a slimy pool!

The shepherd from the pastures opposite had promised to come over and act as second porter; so, whilst waiting for him, my boot was duly washed and as much of the internal moisture wiped out as possible; we also utilised Zurfluh's hammer and anvil and drove in hobnails where required. We then passed under review the various remaining joints of boiled lamb, selecting those which had the least offensive and damaged appearance. The knapsacks were at last all packed and ready, but still the shepherd tarried. Finally, at 6 a.m., there being no signs of his arrival, we re-distributed the baggage and started without him.

Our interpreter, almost hidden beneath a gigantic burka, struggled along bravely till we had ascended two or three thousand feet of the screes leading towards the Zanner pass. We began, however, at this point to feel the full strength of the gale, and his allusions to the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob became constantly more frequent, till at length he sank down in a heap and expressed his intention of promptly giving up the ghost. Our party grouped