THE RED FOREST AND 



ten minutes lie had put me through the usual 

 catechism, to which time and experience had 

 taught me to submit with the greatest placidity. 

 Who was my father ? What was my trade ? 

 Was I rich ? Married ? Why did I come here, 

 &c. ? To all these questions I had regular stereo- 

 typed answers. But when to the last I answered 

 that my only object was to kill big game, the old 

 gentleman's interest considerably increased. He, 

 too, was a sportsman, and knew the Caucasus 

 better than any man living, having spent his 

 whole life in fighting in it. At this very moment 

 he was on his way to an estate of his, three days' 

 journey from the Red Forest, on the Black Sea 

 coast, where bears and boars (if one were to 

 believe him) were so numerous as to seriously 

 impede one's movements. Would I come with 

 him and see for myself ? Naturally, as an Eng- 

 lishman I imagined little was meant by such an 

 off-hand invitation as this ; but to my surprise 

 the forester backed up his suggestion, assuring me 

 that if I did not assent I should miss a chance I 

 might never get again. Only half credulous, and 

 never expecting it would come to anything, I 

 assented, and, before I well knew where I was, my 

 things were bundled into the tarantasse, myself 

 after them, the old Cossack on top of all, the 

 farewells said, and I was under way again for 

 Ekaterinodar. 



