Guy Boothby

“ As soon as the caravansary was hidden by the corner of the mountain Nikola called me up to him and said—
“In a few moments I am going to push forward as fast as I can to a village lying off the track a few miles to the northward. I hear that four days out of the week they have camels for sale there, and it will be hard if I cannot purchase one, and with it a silver- plated red saddle, before dusk. You must continue your journey on to the ford, where you will in all probability arrive to find the messenger awaiting you. ”

“ I rode ahead and reconnoitred, and having ascertained that it would not be discernible from the path, bade them pitch our camp there. With in ten minutes of our arrival the donkeys were picketed, the tents erected, and the camp fires lighted. Then leaving the men to the preparation of the evening meal I returned to the track and hurried along it in the direction of the ford.
When I was within fifty yards of the turning which would bring me within full sight of the river I heard a soft whistle. Next moment a man mounted on a camel came into view and pulled up alongside me. ”

“ By the middle of the afternoon another of our coolies dropped, and seeing this Nikola decided to camp.
Choosing the most sheltered spot we could discover we cleared away the snow and erected our tents, and when this was done lit a fire and picketed the remaining donkeys. The sick coolie we made as comfortable as possible with all the clothing we could spare, but we need not have given ourselves the trouble for at nightfall he too reached the end of his journey. ”

“ When they dropped he cut their throats and then returned to the tent.
“What did you do that for?” I asked, at a loss to understand his last action.
“If you want an answer,” he said quietly, “examine the state of our larder, and then review our position. We are here on the tops of these mountains; one track is like another; where the monastery is I cannot tell you; and now, to add to our sorrows, our provisions are running short. Donkeys are not venison, but they are better than cold snow. ”

“ Give him this letter from the chief priest of Llamaserai, warning the Great Ones of the mountains of my coming, and bestow upon him this largess.” Here he handed me a number of gold pieces. “Then be sure to hasten his departure as much as you can, for we must run no risk of his meeting those who are behind us. I turn off here, with one man, so press forward yourself with all speed, and good luck go with you.”
“But when I have despatched the messenger back to the monastery, what am I to do?”
“Wait till he is out of sight and then follow in his track for about half a mile. ”

“ He handed it to Nikola, who placed it inside his wadded coat, and then proceeded towards his camel, which he mounted. When he was up he turned to the small party who were watching him and said—
“Turn back on your path. Camp not near the ford, for the spirits of the lost pass up and down in the still hours of the night, and it is death to hear them.” ”

“ Him Nikola largely rewarded, and, in return for his generosity, the gates were opened without disturbing the household. We filed out and then picked our way down the rocky path into the valley. Arriving at the bottom we continued our journey, ascending and descending according to the nature of the path. Every hour the country was growing more and more mountainous, and by midday we could plainly discern snow upon the highest peaks. ”

“ That the man would do his best to accomplish his mission, we had not the slightest doubt, for the reward promised him was large enough to obviate the necessity of his doing any more work as long as he should live. ”

“ So small was the animal that the water was well above the saddle flaps when I reached the deepest part. But in spite of much snorting and endeavouring to turn back I persuaded him to go on, and we finally reached the other side in safety. ”