Part 3 (1/2)

After a while the road beca in fact but a watercourse, and Foster-father began to doubt if they could be on the right way Possibly, when they were all excited over theBut as the path led ever upwards, he judged it better to go on, though it was terribly hard work

Every moment the road became worse and worse until it ceased to be more than a mere ladder of rocks which puzzled even Horse-chestnut More than once he stopped dead and would no doubt have refused any further atteraze But there was nothing; nothing but rocks So, after a pause he s, sought a foothold for his fore feet in some crevice, and then scrambled up Only the two children enjoyed the his hands over all the slips and slitherings which even nimble Horse-chestnut made, and which reduced Head-nurse and Wet-nurse to piteous wails to Roy not for Heaven's sake to let go of the Heir-to-Ey trousers And Ada soballs in the drifts which, ere long, were to be seen sheltering froht of theh,” he said

”Heaven send we have not to cliive way altogether She wept loudly, saying in that case she had better stay and die where she was, thus saving the her down the hill

At that veryhis ar:

”He says 'The top! the top!'” cried Roy, as keen in hearing as in everything else ”Courage, mother! our troubles are over!”

They had not _quite_ ended, but in a fewof the pass proper Before theently upwards between higher rockier slopes A little streah a perfect wilderness of flowers, and without one word the tired travellers threw themselves beside it for rest and refreshment

But Baby Akbar looked a little troubled

”Amma, Dadda 'ay in a 'ky,” he said solerass For he could not walk yet, though he spoke so well

They say he began to talk when he was nine months old

CHAPTER IV

TUMBU-DOWN

After a while the party started on their way once reatly brisked up But the heat of the day was now upon theh the snow lay close beside the path, the fierce sunit ular steam bath

The perspiration ran down the travellers' faces and especially down poor Head-nurse's; for she had insisted on taking off her veil to twist it turbanwise round Baby Akbar's head since the Royal Umbrella was forbidden Foster-rily forbidden her to do any such thing If she, Head-nurse, died of sunstroke what h one back tooth had been gloriously cut--would become of the Heir-to-Empire, the Admired-of-the-World, the Great-in-Po titles as she struggled along, the sun beating fiercely on her bare head Such a quaint head, with sleek black hair parted and plaited and hung with jewels, even down the long pigtail of broool that was added on to the back to ht and Foster-mother was so conscious of the devotion it ood soul though a hard one to et this day”

”Nor I,” groaned Head-nurse, ”but 'tis for the Heir-to-Empire”

It was a full hour before the slope ended in a level bog, on the other side of which began a visible descent Then in the angled hills a blue shadow began to rise, telling of a valley below them

”Bismillah!” (Thanks be to God) cried Foster-father piously And every one echoed the remark except Baby Akbar He turned round and looked back at the snowy peaks which were beginning to show behind theretfully and his little mouth went down as for a cry, when everybody's attention was distracted by the sudden appearance of a huge furry black dog which ca as it uttered shrill, sharp, growling barks

Head-nurse and Foster-ht, little Adam ran like a hare for the shelter of hishis bare legs--for like all Indian scullions he wore short cotton drawers--squatted dohere he was standing, in order to protect them Even Roy, brave boy that he was, looked uncomfortable, and both Foster-father and Old Faithful whipped out their swords

These were not needed, however, for the next instant a wild-looking figure clad in a brown blanket started up fro It stopped instantly, but stood still--snarling, though obedient

It was the funniest looking dog you can i collie, it was furry all over even to its tail And it was black as ink

In fact with its tiny prick ears and se soft black ruff and nothing to be seen but red tongue, white teeth and beady black eyes, it was a regular golliwog of a dog

When Foster-father saw the man in the brown blanket, who froh of relief ”Now,” he said, ”we shall be able to find out our way”

But he was mistaken The man did not understand a word they said, neither could they understand a word he said