134 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



themselves in the only position in which it is possible 

 to acquire any accuracy of aim from the back of a 

 galloping horse, they ride with one stirrup longer than 

 the other. They also ride with a loose rein, which 

 is found to be indispensable to secure the safe footing 

 of their steeds over the precipitous ground which they 

 traverse, because it leaves the animal to trust entirely 

 to his own judgment and exertion. But on the plain 

 this habit greatly impairs its speed, as the natural 

 tendency of the horse is to take short rapid steps 

 instead of long sweeping strides, which he can only 

 venture on when accustomed, by the assisting hand 

 of his rider, to gather himself together like the bent 

 bow, ready for fresh distension. 



The warfare waged by the Russians against the 

 mountaineers of the Caucasus is one of blockade 

 merely ; the invading armies have never felt strong 

 enough to advance beyond the protection of their forts 

 in the low grounds, or to make any decisive inroads 

 into the territory of the natives. Death or captivity 

 is the invariable fate of every Russian bold enough to 

 separate two hundred yards from his column, even if 

 no enemy should have previously been in sight. 

 Often, when a Russian force is on the march, the 

 Circassians dash through the lines and kill or carry 

 off the officers, who consider all resistance so hope- 

 less that, on such occasions, they seldom offer any. 

 The mountaineers, penetrating their line of skirmish- 



