3i6 CASUALS IN THE CAUCASUS 



later. A Prince could not possibly wish to retain 

 another person's dressing-case, even if it is gold-fitted. 

 What do you think ? ' ' 



And so it was arranged. That evening we were to be 

 specially nice to our compulsory host, acquiesce in our 

 gilded capture, and at dawn, long ere his sluggard High- 

 ness thought of waking, Ali would have our horses 

 ready for us. 



As the result of the interview in which he played 

 interpreter our henchman was all for setting off at 

 once, so afraid was he that the delights of Tiflis would 

 never be his again. All Karbardans were untrust- 

 worthy, he said. Did they not fail Schamyl ? " Tscher- 

 kesses, every one of them ! " 



It was comical. But to have made a bid for safety 

 then would have ruined all our chances of escape. 

 Ali Ghirik, I knew, was more than inclined to leave us 

 to our fate, and secure his own freedom, which was in 

 no way jeopardized. As I pointed out, nobody was in 

 love with him. 



When one does not stop to think one is prone to 

 act for oneself only. That is the old law, old as Time 

 — each man for himself. He harks back. 



By waiting until the early morning we could get away 

 more or less comfortably, for it was our custom to set 

 out at a very ungodly hour from a Karbardan point 

 of view. And after a while our servant was convinced. 



Any duffer can grasp an opportunity, but it takes 

 a wise man to know when to let it slip. 



We could not leave without saying " Farewell " to 

 our friend Mazan, poor manacled Mazan, and it did not 



