THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 157 



" 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 galloping 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 

 the whole livelong night. It was not till next morn- 

 ing he returned to the fort, and entreated our people 

 to tell him the name of the thief. The sentinel, who 

 had seen Asamat untie the horse and gallop away with 

 him, did not think it necessary to make any secret of 

 the matter. Kasbitch's eyes flashed fire at that name, 

 and, turning on his heel, he made straight for the 

 hamlet where Asamat's father lived. But he did not 



