So we remained till, at last, about two a.m., I caught sight of a light on a small hill not very far away in the west, and, on going over to it, found a sort of recluse, or holy man, quietly cooking his food. After the usual courtesies I asked him to come and help me to pull my car out. He replied that he was an old man and could not do much by himself, but that a caravan of nomads, who had arrived the evening before, were encamped close by. So off I went again, flushed my "quarry", and, with the help of large bribes, persuaded all the able-bodied men to come back to the car. Fortunately we carried a good strong rope as part of our kit, so soon had the car out and running again.
Allan was never again ordered to drive through water on that route.
IN DIFFICULTIES BETWEEN NASARATABAD AND ROBAT.
On the second day our troubles recommenced, for we had barely done a dozen miles than we stuck in another sand-hill, and the laborious digging-out process had to be done all over again. Fortunately, the party who had got the car out of the lake the night before were close behind, and for an obvious reason. They had been given so many rupees for their timely help that, knowing the difficulties lying ahead, they had followed in the hope of further largesse. They got it.
Once safely out again I made a tour of inspection round the car, but only to find more trouble.
"Hullo, what on earth is this, Allan? She's leaking!"
Allan smiled a superior smile. "I don't think so, sir. My cars don't leak."
But a moment later his superiority turned to consternation, and he was burying his head in the bowels of the car.