Francis Worcester Doughty

“ Let me break the spell by recording the end of our long journey at once.
Our ascent from the plains below was discovered by those in the lamasery, and upon reaching the gates we found ourselves challenged by a young lama of the yellow order, who bowed low before us.
“Peace be unto you, my lords lamas!” he said, in that subdued tone which one sometimes observes among Catholic devotees, “may your days be days of happiness and your nights be nights of peaceful sleep. What is your business at the holy house of Psam-dagong?” ”

“ The rain last night has done the work for us. Almost never rains at this season in Thibet, so we may take it as quite a miracle. There is now nothing to hinder us from making a start.”
“How long will it take us to reach the lamasery?” I inquired by way of answer.
“That depends. If the crust continues to bear the mules all the way, we can make splendid time—I should think a day and a night ought to do it.”
“Camping on the snow,” groaned the Doctor.
“I fear so. When I passed here before it was summer, and I remember no inn, not even a guard house, in fact, until we reached this point.” ”

“ Didn’t you tell me you’d had enough of the women? Can’t you see that those big eyes ain’t turning your way? Be as I am, man! I wouldn’t waste a moment’s thought on the prettiest piece of femininity that ever stepped.”
I turned on him then and administered a scathing rebuke. Heavens! I wished most devoutly I could echo his sentiments before we saw the great gate that admitted us to the lamasery of Psam-dagong.
It was just at sundown. The thermometer must have been far below zero. We had enjoyed snow, rain, almost spring-like warmth and piercing cold all in the space of a few short days. ”

“ Philpot admitted that never in all his wanderings had he seen beauty equal to Walla Benjow’s, and that is saying a great deal.
As for the character of the poor child I need only say here that she was all affection and most gentle in her manners. Still I never dreamed of the intensity of passion of which she was capable, and I am sure Maurice didn’t; furthermore—but I have said too much already. Let what remains develope itself. ”

“ Maurice is sympathetic by nature which attracts her toward him—that is all.”
He gave me a curious look—a look which set me to wondering if he possessed some small share of the adept’s powers and could read the thoughts then uppermost in my mind.
“Nothing absurd about it,” he answered, digging his heel into the thick crust which now covered the snow everywhere. “I’m no fool, Wylde. No man has studied the fair sex more carefully than I have. Let me tell you a secret. The girl is in love!” ”

“ Philpot as he and I were returning from our point of observation, shortly after daylight that morning. “Do you know, Wylde, it’s my humble opinion that we shall never succeed in reaching the lamasery. By Jove! I’d give something if we had Mirrikh’s levitating powers and could with one jump throw ourselves back into the big courtyard of the Nagkon Wat. Summer is what I’m sighing for now.”
“You don’t wish it any more than I do then,” I replied gloomily.
“I suppose nothing that either you or I could say would move Maurice in the least.”
“Nothing. He is completely under that man’s influence.” ”

“ I said quietly enough. “The question we are most interested in now is the crust. Is it strong enough to bear us? Are we going to start to-day or remain housed till another storm catches us.”
“Here comes old double face!” exclaimed the Doctor. “He’s running the whole business. ”