1 70 RETURN TO KERTCH. 



the bridge trembled as the droggie passed over 

 it, there was not much chance of an accident so 

 long as you and your horse could see where you 

 were going. After my day's shooting I stayed 

 late at the young Germans', waiting to share with 

 them their evening meal, so that it was already 

 dark when I prepared for my ride home. I had 

 calculated on a moon, but, the night being stormy, 

 I was disappointed, and when I did make a start 

 it was on a young horse, in almost utter darkness, 

 and knowing very little of my way. However, 

 the Germans consoled me by telling me that the 

 road to Duapse was the only road from their farm 

 to anywhere, and it had no roads branching from it 

 moreover, the horse knew his way. 



At supper they had told me that one of them, 

 riding into Duapse some weeks prior to my visit, 

 had been sprung at by some animal from the trees 

 overhanging the path ; and though there was 

 not sufficient light to distinguish the beast by, 

 it was supposed by them to have been a lynx 

 or a leopard. Not much distressed about this 

 danger, but anxious about the bridges, I started 

 on my lonely ride. All went well until I was half 

 way to the river which separates Duapse from the 

 base of the hill. Then, as we got to the darkest 

 part of the road, where the trees overhung it most, 

 my horse suddenly turned back, and tried to bolt 

 for home. In spite of all my exertions I could 



