CHAPTER XI 



A TRIP TO VLADIKAVKAZ AND KARBARDA 



But this exceeding posting day and night 

 Must wear your spirits low. 



AlFs Well that Ends Well. 



Gratitude 

 From flinty Tartar's bosom would peep forth. 



All's Well that Eiids Well. 



TiFLis, on our return to it from the cool heights of 

 Daghestan, was Hke a Httle Inferno. The white houses 

 and red and green roofs of the city reflected the sun's 

 rays in lances of fiery heat — there was no shade or air, 

 and nothing to do but drowse. No rain had fallen since 

 our departure, and nobody seemed to expect any. At 

 night the sky over the engirdling brown hills was ahght 

 with vivid flashes of lightning, and the low rumble 

 of the distant thunder encouraged the hopes of a shower 

 which never came. 



We made hurried haste to leave the enervating 

 oven. Kenneth departed for the health resort of 

 Borjom, about eighty miles away — the lady of the 

 hoca provocativa mouth had flown thither. Cecily 

 and I, chez our retainer Ali Ghirik, whom we con- 

 tinued to retain because he resolutely refused to be 

 cast off, gathered our kit together for a trip, via the 

 Georgian Road, to Vladikavkaz, thence to the wilds of 



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