India 2001 books

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CHAPTER IV
ACROSS THE FRONTIER

We got up in good time, breakfasted, but there was no sign of horses.
After waiting two hours a square man was brought up to us by the waiter
and introduced as our guide. The professor, who had promised to see us
off, was apparently clinging to his bed, for he did not come. Our guide
was a taciturn, loose-limbed fellow, but had nice eyes and a charming
manner; he helped us on to our horses, and off we went. Jan was rather
anxious at the start, for he had done very little riding since
childhood; but his horse was quiet, and soon he had persuaded himself
that he was a cavalier from birth. Jo was riding astride for the second
time in her life.
We took the road to Zlatibor (golden hill). There was a heavy mist, the
hills were just outlined in faint washes on the fog, and as we mounted
the zig-zag path, higher and higher, the town became small and fairylike
beneath us; and a soldiers' camp made a queer chessboard on the green of
the valley.


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