in the Odyssey, anointing the bow which no one else could bend, first felt the edge, waved the weapon thrice in the air, and at length addressed himself to the feat.  The betters had hardly time to strike hands when the buffalo’s head bounded at their feet on the earth.  So swift and sure was the blow, that the trunk stood for some instants on its legs, and then gently, softly, sank down.  A cry of astonishment arose from all:  Alexei Petrovitch quietly looked whether his sabre was notched—­for the weapon had cost him many thousands [of roubles], and presented it as a keepsake to Captain Bekovitch.

We were still whispering among ourselves when there appeared before the commander-in-chief an officer of the Kazaks of the Line, with a message from Colonel Kortsareff, who was stationed on the frontier.  When he had received the report, the countenance of Alexei Petrovitch brightenened—­“Kortsareff has gloriously trounced the mountaineers!” said he.  “These rascals have made a plundering expedition beyond the Terek; they have passed far within the Line, and have plundered a village—­but they have lost not only the cattle they had taken, but fallen a sacrifice to their own fool-hardiness.”  Having minutely questioned Yesoual respecting the details of the affair, he ordered the prisoners whom they had taken, wounded or recovering, to be brought before him.  Five were led into the presence of the commander-in-chief.

A cloud passed over his countenance as he beheld them; his brow contracted, his eyes sparkled.  “Villains!” said he to the Ouzdens; “you have thrice sworn not to plunder; and thrice have you broken your oath.  What is it that you seek?  Lands?  Flocks?  Means to defend the one or the other?  But no! you are willing to accept presents from the Russians as allies, and at the same time to guide the Tcherkess to plunder our villages, and to plunder along with them.  Hang them!” said he sternly; “hang them up by their own thievish arkaus (girdles)!  Let them draw lots:  the fourth shall be spared—­let him go and tell his countrymen that I am coming to teach them to keep faith, and keep the peace, as I will have it.”

The Ouzdens were conducted away.

There remained one Tartar bek, whom we had not remarked.  This was a young man of twenty-five, of unusual beauty, graceful as the Belvidere Apollo.  He bowed slightly to the commander-in chief as he approached him, raised his cap, and again resumed his proud indifferent expression; unshaken resignation to his fate was written on his features.

The commander-in-chief fixed his stern eye upon his face, but the young man neither changed countenance nor quivered an eyelash.

“Ammalat Bek,” said Alexei Petrovitch, after a pause, “do you remember that you are a Russian subject? that the Russian laws are above you?”

“It would have been impossible to forget that,” replied the Bek:  “if I had found in those laws a protection for my rights, I should not now stand before you a prisoner.”