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276 ADVENTURES IN TIBET.
But what had become of Tokta Akhun ? There were
no indications that human beings had been anywhere
in the locahty. The shore-hne appeared to extend west-
wards all the way to Kum-chapghan. Somewhere along
that line, probably quite close to us, the relief caravan
must be waiting. It could not, of course, have advanced
as far as the spot where we then were, because it would be
dependent upon grazing and fresh water, and there was
neither of these there. I now ordered Khodai Kullu to
go in search of Tokta Akhun’s party, and not to rest day
or night until he found them. We would wait where we
were until he came back with them ; it would not be more
than a day at the outside. We did not give our scout
anything to eat, for the simple reason that we had not
anything to give him ; but, whatever happened, he would
not perish of thirst.
After Khodai Kullu had disappeared in the mist, we
once more began to live the life of Robinson Crusoe. Our
first thought was to get hold of something to eat. Shagdur
therefore took his sporting rifle, and went out and brought
back two fat ducks, which we shared equally amongst
us ; but we were so ravenously hungry that we hardly
gave them time to get warmed through over the embers
before we devoured them.
It was a blessing we had finished our measuring when we
did, for early that evening we were assailed by the fourth
sand-storm of the spring, and it continued to rage un-
interruptedly for two days and three nights on end. I
was sorry then that I had sent off honest Khodai Kullu ;
but I hoped he would find shelter somewhere during the
night. He had a box of matches with him, so that he could
make a signal-fire in case of need ; but in such weather,
with the air as thick as muddy water, no fire would have
been seen more than 200 paces away.
When the second evening came, and brought no tidings
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