"Judging by this inn, I should say you were; but how goes it, old chap?"
"How in the world did you get here?"
"Boat, train, and horse; but I'm waiting for you to say that you are pleased to see me."
"Pleased? You bet I am; why, there is nothing could have pleased me more; but how did you know where to find us?"
"Your mother gave me your probable route, so I chanced it. I have three months' leave, and I'm going to enjoy my little self."
"Good! Now, look here, we are just going to start on a tramp to the capital: are you game to come now, or shall we postpone it?"
"I'll come right away. I've only a bag, and I'll leave that here to be forwarded."
"It can go on our transport animal--they call it a horse--fetch it while I settle up; Mr. Neville is outside."
It was the final touch to my happiness to have Carruthers with us; Mr. Neville, too, was delighted. There was such a tremendous lot to tell each other: all the multitude of happenings of the last two years.
The path along which we were travelling was only a bridle track at most and led us by a zigzag route up the mountain. We had too much to do, in seeing that we put our feet on firm ground, to talk, and as there was little beside rock to look at we did not make any great delay. It was hard work, though; how the horse managed some parts beats me altogether. Our guide Piotr kept ahead at a steady pace. Just as it was getting dusk, he stopped.