152 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



pretty safe about him, but Red Shirt still 

 kept raving and handling his knife. 



Threatening to shoot any one who at- 

 tempted to offer violence, I now tried to 

 frighten the men mto a more peaceful mood ; 

 and, ordermg Platon to bring me the whiskey 

 jar, proceeded to pour out its contents on the 

 ground. If this course had no other eflFect, it 

 diverted the thoughts of the belligerents 

 momentarily from their quarrel, and all parties 

 were loud in their prayers that I should not 

 waste the precious fluid. But I was firm, 

 reserving only just enough for myself and 

 friend. Then I set the party in motion 

 ao;ain, and thouo^h there were evil looks and a 

 great deal of muttered thunder all that day and 

 the next, there was no further open outbreak 

 between our hunters during the expedition. 

 Perhaps the threat that I would refer the 

 case to the prince on my return to Betcho 

 kept the fellows quiet. 



