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382 ADVENTURES IN TIBET.
on like a whirlwind ; we could hear the thud-thud of the
horses’ hoofs on the bare ground. The men were uttering
blood-curdling war-whoops, and brandishing their spears
and lances over their heads with threatening gestures. On
they came with reins dangling and spurs digging into their
horses’ sides. In two minutes, in one minute, they will be
upon us ! We shall be crushed as by an avalanche ! But
no ; at a given signal—two of them waved their swords in a
particular way—the troop divided, one half wheeling sharply
to the right, the other half to the left. But they were so
near to us that the foam from the mouths of the leading
horses dropped at our feet. Then they returned to the
point from which they had started.
Twice more they repeated this unpleasant manoeuvre,
the object of which plainly was to inspire us with a proper
degree of respect. Upon reaching their tents, they dis-
mounted and began to shoot or practice with their long
black muskets. At two o’clock they again mounted, and
pulling their cloaks about them, for it was raining pitch-
forks, they rode off in the direction from which we had come.
At this I grew decidedly uneasy, for I feared they were going
to attack the headquarters camp. I was just burning with
impatience to be up and after them, and slvdve in the
defence of the camp ; but, unfortunately, we were prisoners,
and unable to move from the spot.
As soon as the field was thus clear, two nomads came to
visit us, bringing with them fat and sour milk. They were
forbidden, they said, to take payment for what they brought.
The most pertinacious of our visitors were, however, four
old men, who appeared as if they meant to stay for good.
As we could not get rid of them in any other way we went
and lay down, and pretended to sleep ; but as just then the
rain began to come down again, they all four crept into the
tent after us, notwithstanding that there was scant room
enough for the three of us before. One old man showed his
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