THE SHADOW OF FATE Our ride from the plains up the pass that led to the high tableland of Mur was long and, in its way, wonderful enough.

I doubt whether in the whole world there exists another home of men more marvellously defended by nature.

Apparently the road by which we climbed was cut in the first instance, not by human hands, but by the action of primaeval floods, pouring, perhaps, from the huge lake which doubtless once covered the whole area within the circle of the mountains, although to-day it is but a moderate-sized sheet of water, about twenty miles long by ten in breadth.

However this may be, the old inhabitants had worked on it, the marks of their tools may still be seen upon the rock.
For the first mile or two the road is broad and the ascent so gentle that my horse was able to gallop up it on that dreadful night when, after seeing my son's face, accident, or rather Providence, enabled me to escape the Fung.

But from the spot where the lions pulled the poor beast down, its character changes.