166 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



we were on terms of hospitality. We were chatting 

 about one thing and another, when all on a sudden, 

 I saw Kasbitch start and change colour. 'What is 

 the matter ?' said I. 



' My horse ! my horse !' he cried, trembling all 

 over. 



' Well, I did hear the sound of a horse. Some 

 Cossack, I suppose* 



' No! Russian treachery! treachery !' he bellowed, 

 dashing headlong out of doors, like a wild panther. 

 In two bounds he was in the open air. The sentinel 

 at the gate levelled his piece at him, and barred his 

 way : he leaped over the soldier's gun, and ran with 

 all his might and main along the road. The dust was 

 flying at a distance Asamat was gallopping away on 

 the back of Karagos. Kasbitch uncased [his gun 

 as he ran, and fired, then stood motionless till he had 

 assured himself he had missed his aim ; then howled 

 with rage, flung the weapon from his hand, shattering 

 it against the stones, and began to cry like a child. 

 Numbers had gathered around him from the fort 

 he heeded nothing : they lingered with him, tried to 

 talk with him, and at last left him. I ordered the 

 money for the sheep to be laid beside him : he never 

 touched it, but lay with his face on the ground like a 

 dead man. Would you believe it ? He lay there 



