OF THE OLD WORLD. 405 



to gain a place where the pass became broader, 

 when he broke out into a profuse perspiration from 

 terror. As soon as I was able to draw a full breath, 

 I ordered my followers to dismount and go over 

 first, leading their horses with a cord, in which 

 manner all managed to get over safely. It was an 

 anxious moment, and I do not think any induce- 

 ment would cause me to repeat the feat; for, 

 although a fearless horseman, and endued with a 

 sailor's eye, my heart often palpitates when I think 

 of that perilous scramble. 



We continued to descend until nearly dusk, when 

 we halted for the night in the dense forest that 

 clothes the lower spurs of these mountains, lighting 

 huge fires to keep away the wolves, which kind of 

 " vermin " were to be met with in packs, and bears' 

 tracks were not at all uncommon. Frequently dur- 

 ing the night we were alarmed by their infernal 

 howling close at hand, but they did not dare to 

 approach our fire. The next morning we got into 

 the plain, and towards noon arrived at a Circassian 

 konac, where we were made extremely welcome, 

 more especially when our guide, who was well 

 known in the hamlet, told them that I was an 

 Englishman who had fought against the Eussians, 

 both in the Crimea and in Asia Minor, for at first 

 they had taken me for one of " the Faithful." A 

 comfortable log-hut was placed at my disposal, with 

 a shed for the horses, and Iloossain obtained a 

 bountiful supply of fowls, eggs, corn-flour, and half 



