Camp had long been In the minds of a number of scouts who eagerly awaited the arrival of the Pujah Holidays. At last they arrived. Nine boys gave in their names to "Dods." Skipper changed his mind about a standing camp and decided on a long hike. Monday was awaited by these nine, quite fed up with school and eager for the "wide open spaces."

At last, however, the time came and we were told our route. (I will mention it by and by). Three rucksacks with our necessities were divided between us and two loads with two coolies. Skipper told us to proceed to "Hospy" and await his arrival. Here he met us with two old boys and Jackie Jacob and some more grub. Now we set off by "Serpent's Puck" to Mountain Road and reached Deorali Village in good time. From here we proceeded to "Chimney" where we had lunch with the visitors, who then left us, while we proceeded to Bagora, 7,000 feet. Bagora was reached, the Moors soon had tea ready and we were all set. There were two patrols, the Moors and the Dodos, names after the patrol leaders, Moore and Dodsworth, the latter "Dods" for short.

Bagora was by far the finest bungalow we occupied. It was very cold and in spite of a blazing fire we required two blankets. Mr. Hill paid us a surprise visit that evening on his way to Mungpoo. We accompanied him a mile and a half to set him on a short "puck." That night we had an indoor camp,fire. Needless to say we were tired and went to sleep soon.

Now let me describe the two coolies, "Tough Guy" and "Simple Simon." The former was really a he man of the prehistoric age. To illustrate his toughness I will give two examples. , When he wanted to light his cigarette he picked out a red hot coal from the fire. Also, he carried two beddings, Bhutia fashion for six miles down a jhora and when he stepped on the edge once boulders fell about his leg and on being asked, "chot paya?" he merely grunted "Nahi." Simple Simon looked simple enough. Tough Guy gave him all the dirty work to do and he did it without a word. He would sit in the kitchen and smoke Khukri Fags all day as the Indians say "chup charp."

The next morning the "Dodos" were cooks and about ten o'clock we left for Mana (5,000 feet) in a drizzle which gradually increased as we neared Mana. Here our plans were changed; for we were to stay at Mana one night and then go on to Latpanchor the next day. But Skip said "No use getting wet again, let's go on to Latpanchor." So after a cup of sugarless tea, (the. sugar was with the coolies) we left for Latpanchor (3,674 feet). On the way we were bitten by leeches. So bad were they that it was impossible to leave the precincts of the bungalow without being bitten. At Latpanchor we spent two nights making up for the one we did not stay at Mana. The day was one of bloody execution, the necks of two chickens were severed on blocks, with a single stroke of Tough Guy's Kukri, in a matter of a split second.

Latpanchor to Sevoke (500 feet) was our next trek, eight miles. But man proposes and God disposes: for about four miles from Latpanchor there had been a slip a couple of years earlier and now this was overgrown with jungle and so we failed to find the road on the other side. We spent two hours searching for it but with no result. So as we had an appointment at Sevoke, both with Father Prior, with food, and the General Manager, D.H.Railway, we decided to cut our way through the forest. Thereupon Tough Guy was made to cut a way for us to follow. Suddenly we heard "Bagh! Bagh I" and we thought Tough had stumbled upon a sleeping tiger, but on closer examination we found it to be only pug marks. He absolutely refused to go any further and that was the end of that effort. Tough will take a long time to live that down as we chaff him saying "If you see a cat, you will say 'Tiger ! Tiger !" Now Skipper said "We must go back to Latpanchor" and we groaned but he commanded "Come on," so back we went. But Skip was looking grim. He saw a thin trickle of a stream emerging from a spring. He told Tough Guy he may go back to Latpanchor. We were going down. Tough followed. So down we went springing like mountain goats from rock to rock wading, scrambling over boulders, making a detour on account of a canyon and doing other things demanded by a flowering jhora. Eventually we reached a point where the stream turned eastwards and Grout after careful study of the map decided we were on the Sevoke Khola, which enters the Tista near the station. Every half hour we halted for a five minutes rest, the going was so hard. To do six miles we took eight hours. Poor old Simple fell down and wet his Pujah togs and in consequence all his legs were blue. But that is not the end of the tale. All our grub was wet too and Dugie rescued the degchies from the stream. Anyway, to cut a long story short, we arrived within a mile of Sevoke Bridge, just where the Sevoke Khola touched the plains. Here the skipper pulled out the brandy and made a loving cup of an enamel mug to warm up us and celebrate our achievement. Then we reached Sevoke and Father Prior was there to welcome us with open arms.

We set to and finished four chickens and four loaves of bread in double quick time, for we had nothing to eat from 6 a.m. except a few biscuits. Now was the problem. The special goods train had waited till 1 p.m. The skipper telegraphed Siliguri for two taxis in which we went to Riang (750 feet) where we stayed in the beautiful fishing rest house of the D.H. Railway officers. We wired Mr. Plackett requesting that he should let us stay the night in the bungalow and we received an answer in the affirmative. Cooks soon prepared supper and an early bed followed. Next morning we went to see the Ropeway to Kalimpong.

At about 10 a.m. we set off for Mungpoo, a trek of seven and a half miles and a climb of 3,000 feet. Under a burning sun we climbed and reached Mr. Joe Macdonald's (Mr. Mac. is an old boy and was head prefect in '25) at Lubdah 3,000 feet, after having been regaled of hot tea and oranges given by Mr. Osborne at Mungpoo (3,759 feet) Father Prior who is fifty nine and weighs fifteen stone did the journey, a marvellous climb. Next clay was a slack day and we all went through the plantation and Mr. Macdonald explained to us the mysteries of Cinchona and Quinine. We swam in a delightful pool, 1,500 feet below. The whole MacDonald household came and we had an enjoyable time. Every night we had a camp fire and Father Prior told us weird stories of Victoria in its early days. Our stay came to an end as all good things do. Early on Sunday morning we left after the Protestant boys had had Service. Father Prior rode on a horse. On the twelve miles to school via Bagora we had two meals and eventually arrived at Deorali. From here we went across Dow Hill flat and arrived at School (6,000 feet) at 3 p.m.

Our trek was now over, in which we covered 60 miles, 48 by foot, 12 by car in six days, averaging 8 miles per day and considering we had small chaps like "Pinky" Haslam and the child Lochner with us, we did very well. We are waiting for next year for another hike as tough as this. All of us came back better scouts for the trek having passed tests, proficiency badges and vastly improved our knowledge of the topography of part of the Darjeeling District.

"Cheer, boys, cheer
For our glorious trek this year
We'll sing you a song
As we march along
The mighty mountain ridges."

(To the tune of the Sea Shanty Sacrimento).