92 THE RED FOREST AND BLACK SEA COAST. 



of which was that he became helplessly drunk, and 

 the ' plunger ' only irritably so. In this condition 

 the nature of the man showed itself, and he amused 

 himself by baiting me, a stranger, and his friend's 

 guest, for the amusement of his servants. At last 

 his insolence became so intolerable that, risking all 

 possible consequences, I got him by the scruff of 

 the neck and gave him such a shaking as he had 

 not experienced even during the rough ride of the 

 last few days. It was, of course, extremely un- 

 pleasant for me, but my host was too drunk to 

 interfere, and there are some things which a man 

 cannot stand. 



Next morning, after having spent the night 

 awake in a state of siege, uncertain what my quon- 

 dam friend's servants might think fit to do to me, I 

 had a wretched ride in my own society to Duapse, 

 the little seaport town which was to be the end of 

 our journey. The ' plunger ' neither apologised nor 

 called me out, as I had thought he might, but the 

 good old Cossack behaved like a gentleman, and 

 although, of course, we were glad to say good-by to 

 one another at Duapse, we parted good friends, and 

 I believe he exonerated me from all blame in the 

 matter. 



