Chapter 10
AS HE REACHED the Tibetan the latter chuckled triumphantly. 'As simple as eating tsamba— or fooling a woman.'
'And as grim as death! Press on while the snow lasts.'
'So? There was trouble?'
'The guard would have struck the gong. Narani―'
'She was there?' cried Nima. 'In one of those doorways! She or one who was with her slew the guard with a flying knife. 'A queen among women!' laughed Nima. 'But for her we had been lying dead in the snow by this.'
'Unquestionably! Do you see any of the guards the goatherd spoke of?'
'No. But one could not see Nanga Parbat in this mirk, let alone a crouching marksman.'
'A good thing! We ourselves shall not be seen clearly. Press forward!'
The path was narrow— a mere mule track. The cliffs on either side rose almost sheer, and at the bot
