CAUCASIAN TORRENTS. 149 



it together. It was terribly strong and deep, 

 that source of the Tchosura, and the way it 

 surged and swept round its great boulders, 

 wetting us above our waists, was the reverse 

 of reassuring. Besides, it was cold as death. 

 But we kept a good grip of each other's hands, 

 and struggled safe to shore to stamp the 

 water out of oar sandals, and laugh at the 

 rueful face of our friend upon the further 

 shore. My gallant Simon soon plunged m 

 agam, and for a moment, as he and A^assili 

 staggered about in mid-stream, blundering 

 amongst the big boulders, I was afraid I 

 should have to wade back alone. If they had 

 lost their footing, as they so nearly did, I 

 should have been powerless to help them, but 

 as good luck would have it, they just managed 

 to right themselves in time. 



Crossing these little mountain rapids costs 

 many a good man's life in the Caucasus, and 

 one of the best of servants, my poor Stepan, 



