"Well, these mountains do give out the most extraordinary thing in echoes I ever struck," he said. "Or else that's about the strangest peal of thunder I ever heard." A clinking sound behind caused both to turn. Mehrab Khan, who, with the other sowar, had been some way behind, was galloping to overtake them, and that at a pace which is hardly put on in ascending such an acclivity unless under weighty necessity. But even before he could come up with them, the dark figure of a horseman appeared on the kotal above, and came flying down the rough and stony road. They made him out to be another of the Levy Sowars. The pace was too great, or the rider too weak. He was flung off, almost at their very feet--a terrible sight, covered with blood and dust. With a word to Hilda Clive to wait where she was, Raynier and Mehrab Khan went forward to examine the man. They were only just in time. He could gasp forth a few words, and then fell back dead. Raynier's voice was very serious as he returned to the girl. "We cannot go back to camp now, Miss Clive," he said. "We must travel the other way. But keep up your courage--you have plenty of it--and we will bring you through all safe." CHAPTER FIFTEEN. "A LAND OF SURPRISES." "Raynier may be a smart chap, and a smart official, and all that, but he doesn't know this country a little hang. He oughtn't to get wandering about all alone as he does. It isn't safe--and--it isn't _pukka_!" And Haslam, having delivered himself of the above opinion, drained his "peg" and yelled for his bearer to bring him another. "But he isn't all by himself," objected Tarleton. "He's got Miss Clive with him, and two Levy Sowars." "Oh, as to the first, that of course," returned the Forest Officer, looking knowing, "he generally has. Think that'll be a _bundobust_, Tarleton?" "I don't know--and don't care. It's no concern of mine." "Don't care what?" said Mrs Tarleton, joining the two, who, seated in long chairs and clad in easy attire, were indulging in "pegs" and cheroots. "We were talking about Raynier, Mrs Tarleton," said Haslam. "We agreed he oughtn't to go and look up a man like Sarbaland Khan attended by only two Levy Sowars." "And Miss Clive, Haslam said," appended Tarleton. "It isn't _pukka_, you know," repeated Haslam, "nor is it altogether safe." "Mercy on us, Mr Haslam! Why, he'd never go taking Hilda anywhere that's dangerous, surely? Besides, the country's quite quiet now, and the people friendly." "Yes. Still, you never know exactly what may happen next. This is a land of surprises. I don't trust these _soors_ any further than I can see them, and however friendly it may suit them to be for the moment they hate us like poison underneath it all." "Why, you quite frighten me," said Mrs Tarleton, anxiously. "I wish they'd come back. It's getting late too. Oh, what if anything should happen!"