254 CASUALS IN THE CAUCASUS 



out later that a little sect of religious enthusiasts had 

 established themselves in this back of beyond, far 

 away from priestly interference. I could not fathom 

 what they called themselves, but their creed was inter- 

 esting. They believe that a High Power put them 

 into a cruel world solely to find out how to do good, 

 principally to others, and, until the secret of doing 

 good without doing harm is vouchsafed, it is better, 

 think these discouraged adherents, to hide away lest 

 evil is wrought for want of knowledge. The finished 

 product of this quaint sect, if he ever evolves, will go 

 through all kinds of adversities which will purge him 

 of all sin, and then, and then only, will he be ready for 

 final beatification. It is really a sort of Theosophy, 

 perhaps Caucasian Theosophy. 



So many of us are Theosophists at heart without 

 the least knowing it. Shakespeare was a Theosophist 

 unawares, and many more intellectual kings whom I 

 could name. 



Night began to fall, and our hearts also as we 

 pictured ourselves wandering in this forest maze all 

 through the dark hours. Our guide did not under- 

 stand a single word we said. Cecily tried him with 

 Russian and I with Manx, but it was all quite hopeless. 

 How far we were from our journey's end we could not 

 guess, and there was nothing to do but follow our 

 leader blindly. 



Now we floundered through marshes which flooded 

 above our horses' thighs, so we tossed the stirrups 

 across the saddles and rode Arab-fashion, with bent 

 legs, a very cramping position for long at a time. 



