THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 155 



him than of seeing the back of your own neck. Tell 

 me, though, what would you give the man who should 

 procure you the animal ? " 



" Anything he desired," replied Asamat, 



" If that is the case, I am your man ; you shall have 

 the horse, but on one condition swear that you will 

 fulfil it." 



" I swear ! You, too, swear." 



" Very good. I swear the horse shall be yours ; 

 only you must give me your sister Bela in return. 

 The bargain I think will be a profitable one for you." 

 Asamat was silent. 



" You will not do it ? As you please. I thought 

 you were a full grown man, but I see you are still 

 only a boy. It is too soon for you to back a horse 

 like" 



Asamat was on fire. "But my father? " said he. 



" Does he never leave home ? " 



" Well, he does, sometimes." 



" Then it is done ! " 



" Done !" whispered Asamat, as pale as death. 

 "The time?" 



" The first time Kasbitch comes here. He pro- 

 mised to bring ten sheep to the fort. Leave the rest 

 to me. Do you do your part, Asamat." 



And thus they arranged the whole affair between 

 them, no very creditable affair, to say the least of it. 

 I expressed this opinion subsequently to Petchorin, 



