six armed mountaineers, who seemed, by all appearance, to belong to those gangs of robbers—­the free Tabasaranetzes.  They were lying in the shade, close to their horses, which were feeding.  I was astounded.  I immediately reflected how foolishly I had acted in riding so far from Derbend without an escort.  To gallop back, among such bushes and rocks, would have been impossible; to fight six such desperate fellows, would have been foolhardiness.  Nevertheless, I seized a holster-pistol; but Ammalat Bek, seeing how matters stood, advanced, and cried in a calm slow voice:  “Do not handle your arms, or we are dead men!”

The robbers, perceiving us, jumped up and cocked their guns, one fine, broad-shouldered, but extremely savage-looking Lezghin, remaining stretched on the ground.  He lifted his head coolly, looked at us, and waved his hand to his companions.  In a moment we found ourselves surrounded by them, while a path in front was stopped by the Ataman.

“Pray, dismount from your horses, dear guests,” said he with a smile, though one could see that the next invitation would be a bullet.  I hesitated; but Ammalat Bek jumped speedily from his horse, and walked up to the Ataman.

“Hail!” He said to him:  “hail, sorvi golova!  I thought not of seeing you.  I thought the devils had long ago made a feast of you.”

“Softly, Ammalat Bek!” answered the other; “I hope yet to feed the eagles with the bodies of the Russians and of you Tartars, whose purse is bigger than your heart.”

“Well, and what luck, Shermadan?” carelessly enquired Ammalat Bek.

“But poor.  The Russians are watchful:  and we have seldom been able to drive the cattle of a regiment, or to sell two Russian soldiers at a time in the hills.  It is difficult to transport madder and silk; and of Persian tissue, very little is now carried on the arbas.  We should have had to quest like wolves again to-day, but Allah has had mercy; he has given into our hands a rich bek and a Russian colonel!”

My heart died within me, as I heard these words.

“Do not sell a hawk in the sky:  sell him,” answered Ammalat, “when you have him on your glove.”

The robber sat down, laid his hand on the cock of his gun, and fixed on us a piercing look.  “Hark’e, Ammalat!” said he; “is it possible that you think to escape me?—­is it possible that you will dare to defend yourselves?”

“Be quiet,” said Ammalat; “are we fools, to fight two to six?  Gold is dear to us, but dearer is our life.  We have fallen into your hands, so there is nothing to be done, unless you extort an unreasonable price for our ransom.  I have, as you know, neither father nor mother:  and the Colonel has yet less—­neither kinsmen nor tribe.”

“If you have no father, you have your father’s inheritance.  There is no need then to count your relations with you:  however, I am a man of conscience.  If you have no ducats, I will take your ransom in sheep.  But about the colonel, don’t talk any more nonsense.  I know for him the soldiers would give the last button on their uniforms.  Why, if for Sh——­ a ransom of ten thousand rubles was paid, they will give more for this man.  However, we shall see, we shall see.  If you will be quiet....  Why, I am not a Jew, or a cannibal—­Perviader (the Almighty) forgive me!”