ant to get all the
sport we can, and if possible to cross the mountains into Turkestan. I
am rather keen on geographical work just now, and there's a bit of land
up here which wants exploring."

The lady laughed. "That sounds like poor dear Mr. Gribton. I suppose
you remember him? He left here in the summer, but when he lived in
Bardur he had got that northern frontier-line on the brain. He was a
horrible bore, for he would always work the conversation round to it
sooner or later. I think it was really Mr. Gribton who made people
often lose interest in these questions. They had to assume an indolent
attitude in pure opposition to his fussiness."

"When will your husband be home?" Lewis asked.

"In two days, or possibly three. I am so sorry about it. I'll wire at
once, but it's a slow journey, especially if he is bringing ponies. Of
course you want to see him before you start. It's such a pity, but
Bardur is fearfully empty of men just now. Captain Thwaite has gone off
after ibex, and though I think he will be back to-morrow, I am afraid he
will be too late for my dance. Oh, really, this is lucky. I had
forgotten all about it. Of course you two will come. That will make
two more men, and we shall be quite a respectable party. We are having
a dance to-morrow night, and as the English people here are so few and
uncertain in their movements we can't afford to miss a chance. You
_must_ come. I've got the Thwaites and the Beresfords and the Waltons,
and some of the garrison people who are down on leave. Oh, and there's
a man coming whom you must know. A Mr. Marker, a most delightful
person. I don't think you met him before, but you must have heard my
husband talk about him. He is the very man for your purpose. Gilbert
says he knows the hills better than any of the Hunza tribesmen, and that
he is the best sportsman he ever met. Besides, he is such an
interesting person, very much a man of the world, you know, who has been
everywhere and knows everybody."

Lewis congratulated himself on his luck. "I should like very much to
come to the dance, and I especially want to meet Mr. Marker."

"He is half Scotch, too," said the lady. "His mother was a Kirkpatrick
or some name like that, and he actually seems to talk English with a
kind of Scotch accent. Of course that may be the German part of him.
He is a Pomeranian count or something of the sort, and very rich. You
might get him to go with you into the hills."

"I wish we coul