22 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



will only have to declare his nationality to 

 find in them ready and excellent servants. 

 Of course Platon quarrelled with them before 

 starting, but then that was his way ; and to 

 me the marvel of our travels was that one 

 of the many he rated like hounds did not 

 turn and give him the thrashing he often 

 deserved. 



About midday, I think it must have been, 

 when Frank and I managed to get breakfast, 

 and soon after that the horses were brought 

 — two sorry-looking screws, but reputed to 

 be wonderful mountaineers, and able to travel 

 the difficult road before us, or rather behind 

 us ; for, much against the grain, we found 

 that we had to return on our tracks to the 

 debatable land between Radcha and Svanetia 

 to find tur. 



Platon we decided to leave behind us to 

 guard our property, and, if possible, get it 

 housed at the priest's at the other end of the 



