262 THE LESGHIAN MOUNTAINS. 



from the village governor or elder, warning us that 

 we must on no account dream of passing the night 

 in the village, for that although he had every desire 

 to protect us, the people were beyond his control, 

 and we should inevitably get our throats cut. So, 

 though the clouds were gathering black, and the 

 evening drawing in apace, we left the ' duchan,' and 

 went forward farther and farther into the shadows 

 of the mountains, leaving behind an angry mur- 

 muring crowd that for one rash act would have 

 worried us as terriers worry rats. 



And now, as we trudged wearily up the pass, 

 Allai rode up to me, and, with many ejaculations, 

 besought me not only to ride with my gun at the 

 ready, but the moment I caught a glimpse of a 

 man behind either bush or boulder to fire at him 

 first, and ask questions after. His fear was that 

 some of the rascals of the village we had just left 

 would get on ahead, form an ambuscade, and fire 

 upon us as we approached. He himself was evi- 

 dently determined to use his gun whenever he got 

 a chance ; and, in spite of all I could say, made us 

 all uncomfortable by his nervousness throughout 

 the journey ; the more so, as we had opportunities 

 of seeing that in most things Allai was as hardy 

 as other men. All things have an cud even the 

 windings of a mountain torrent : and :it last, when 



O 



our limbs were aching with fatigue, a tiny hamlet in 

 the deepest recess of that shadowy ravine cheered 



