186 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



ground, but which becomes absurd when the path is 

 level. This objection he based not on his own ina- 

 bility to keep up with us, but on the theory that 

 rapid travelling was bad for his horses, whose natural 

 pace was a walk ! We, however, weary of this slow 

 progress, persisted in urging our steeds to a trot or 

 gallop when occasion offered. We had many dis- 

 putes on the subject in the course of the day ; but at 

 last, when we were fairly on level ground, we would 

 stand his tyranny no longer, but pushed on our horses 

 to a gallop. The man, who was hot-tempered and 

 obstinate, losing all control over himself, rushed after 

 us, seized the bridle of one of the foremost horses, 

 and drew his knife upon the rider. Luckily he had 

 selected the only one of us who carried a revolver. 

 The arrested rider, with great presence of mind, drew 

 this weapon from his pocket, and pointed it at his 

 assailant's breast. So for a few seconds they stood 

 at a dead-lock. Then the Greek, with a sulky air, 

 jerked the knife back into his girdle, and bared his 

 breast in the most magnificently tragic way, courting 

 destruction. To his disappointment, however, the 

 revolver was quietly put back, and we all galloped 

 past our tormentor, whom we saw no more till we 

 were safe in Megalopolis. 



Megalopolis the great city has now little claim 

 to its high-sounding title. It is a mere village, hardly 

 larger than its neighbours. The streets are very wide, 

 the houses picturesque, the whole effect of the place 



