ZAMBÔK FROZEN TO DEATH 247
was unbounded, and if at liberty when within reach of four-footed game he could not be restrained. His sporting proclivities had been annoying in Tibet and Aksai Chin, for he often scented or saw antelopes and was off in pursuit before we had even suspected their presence in the neighbourhood. To have a chance of getting near game we found it necessary to tie him up and lead him, but he soon became expert in eluding us. He used to slink away early in the morning and, keeping at several hundred yards' distance from the camp or caravan, would listen to no commands or coaxings or promises which were intended to bring him back. If he found no game on the march he would still keep his distance till camp was pitched and then would cautiously rejoin us. Zambôk had been in our company when we set out from Chadder Tash towards Pilipert ; our slow progress • had annoyed him, for he went forward and returned repeatedly to ascertain what was wrong. He bounded away again, satisfied each time with-being patted on the head, but from one excursion he never came back. When our company had got past the shaly, stony declivity on the way to Raskam, Abdul Karim, who was a short distance ahead, shouted to me that he had found Zambôk frozen to death. The dog had seen or scented far off a herd of ibex or burrhel and, promptly giving chase, had pursued the game across the Mamakul Pass and over the steep glacier, where he had slipped and fallen, breaking a leg on the rocks below. I_was not the only member of the caravan that lamented his decease, for Zambôk, with his close-cropped ears, had a fierce and threatening appearance which made him a valuable watch-dog, his mere look frightening away natives who were disposed to pay us troublesome visits.
When the daylight began to wane we were still high up in a region destitute of shelter, of fuel, and even of ice, and though men and animals were hungry, thirsty,
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