QUARREL ABOUT A LAMB. 93 



having succeeded in making himself understood, 

 had quitted me. The consequences, however, 

 might have been serious, if I had not understood 

 him, or if I had been able, whilst he had hold of 

 my gun, and was brandishing his yataghan at my 

 breast, to fire at him. 



Immediately he let me go, although the thought 

 did certainly strike me at the instant whether I 

 ought not to make him pay dearly for his teme- 

 rity, yet having had an instant to consider, se- 

 cond thoughts were best, and I quickly resolved 

 to be generous. His countenance, too, although 

 betraying his rage and indignation at the injury 

 his flock was sustaining, was one of the most 

 open, good-natured, and expressive, I ever saw, 

 and went far, I am sure, to moderate my anger and 

 lessen any desire of revenge I might at the first 

 moment have felt inclined to indulge in ; for I 

 really think if he had been one of the ill-looking 

 fellows one sometimes meets in that barbarous 

 country, in whose countenances are written, in the 

 most legible characters, distrust, savage ferocity, 

 and murder, I should have hesitated little on 

 doing him some grievous bodily harm. 



Any repugnance I might have felt to taking 



