40 IN TIBET AND CHINESE TURKESTAN.
that he saw Pike on the way back to camp. I hastened to meet him, and soon learned the result of his expedition. After ascertaining that the Chukpas had returned to Camp 31 and taken more of our supplies, he had pushed on rapidly, following their track, till he came in sight of their tents. Then he reconnoitred the position, and bivouacked for the night in a small nullah, where he would escape observation. Next morning, before daylight, he proceeded to pay a surprise visit to the Chukpas. On the way there was a stream to be forded, and Utam Singh without hesitation leapt with him i into the ice-cold water and waded across. Changfûnchuk, however, was deliberate in his proceedings, waited on the bank, took off his boots, and then crossed at his leisure, so that, in spite of emphatic remonstrances by Pike, he secured a position well in the rear and free from immediate risk. By the time it was daylight they had reached the Chukpas camp and found that the inmates werd on the move. The approach had been accomplished so stealthily that the Chukpas were quite unsuspicious, and when one of them stepped out of his tent and found Pike standing at only a couple of yards' distance, presenting a revolver at his head, he stared in surprise and then ran off. Here were found the rice, suttoo, and other provisions of which we had been robbed, but there was no sign of the lost mules. Other Chukpa tents were standing not far off, and it seemed expedient to retire at once with the recovered stores. Pike thought it prudent also to deprive the owner of the tent of arms and ammunition, and, as security for the mules which were not recovered, he seized two fine ponies. Some may be inclined to pity the poor nomads and to condemn Pike's proceedings as harsh, but it has to be considered that we were entirely dependent on our supplies for our life, and that beasts of burden were indispensable for transport. Successful robbery perpetrated on
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