ThemiddaysunwhichHirsthadforetoldwasbeginningtobeatdownhotly。Thehighertheygotthemoreoftheskyappeared，untilthemountainwasonlyasmalltentofearthagainstanenormousbluebackground。TheEnglishfellsilent；thenativeswhowalkedbesidethedonkeysbrokeintoqueerwaveringsongsandtossedjokesfromonetotheother。Thewaygrewverysteep，andeachriderkepthiseyesfixedonthehobblingcurvedformoftherideranddonkeydirectlyinfrontofhim。Rathermorestrainwasbeingputupontheirbodiesthanisquitelegitimateinapartyofpleasure，andHewetoverheardoneortwoslightlygrumblingremarks。
“Expeditionsinsuchheatareperhapsalittleunwise，“Mrs。ElliotmurmuredtoMissAllan。
ButMissAllanreturned，“Ialwaysliketogettothetop“；
anditwastrue，althoughshewasabigwoman，stiffinthejoints，andunusedtodonkey-riding，butasherholidayswerefewshemadethemostofthem。
Thevivaciouswhitefigurerodewellinfront；shehadsomehowpossessedherselfofaleafybranchandworeitroundherhatlikeagarland。