[26] The Asiatics mark their horses by burning them on their
     haunch with a hot iron.  This peculiar mark, the [Greek:  stigma]
     or [Greek:  kotpa] of the Greeks is called “tavro.”

“All horses are alike; but not so those who ride them:  Ammalat Bek is my aga (lord.)”

“That is, if you had taken it into your head to refuse him, he would have had your ears cropped; but you will not work for me, in the hope that I would not dare to do the same.  Very well, my friend!  I certainly will not crop your ears, but be assured that I will warm that orthodox back of yours with two hundred pretty stinging nogaikas (lashes with a whip) if you won’t leave off your nonsense—­do you hear?”

“I hear—­and I answer as I did before:  I will not shoe the horse—­for I am a good Mussulman.”

“And I will make you shoe him, because I am a good soldier.  As you have worked at the will of your Bek, you shall work for the need of a Russian officer—­without this I cannot proceed.  Corporals, forward!”

In the mean time a circle of gazers had been extending round the obstinate blacksmith, like a ring made in the water by casting a stone into it.  Some in the crowd were disputing the best places, hardly knowing what they were running to see; and at last more cries were heard:  “It is not fair—­it cannot be:  to-day is a holiday:  to-day it is a sin to work!” Some of the boldest, trusting to their numbers, pulled their caps over their eyes, and felt at the hilts of their daggers, pressing close up to the Captain, and crying “Don’t shoe him, Alekper!  Do nothing for him:  here’s news, my masters!  What new prophets for us are these unwashed Russians?” The Captain was a brave man, and thoroughly understood the Asiatics.  “Away, ye rascals!” he cried in a rage, laying his hand on the butt of his pistol.  “Be silent, or the first that dares to let an insult pass his teeth, shall have them closed with a leaden seal!”

This threat, enforced by the bayonets of some of the soldiers, succeeded immediately:  they who were timid took to their heels—­the bolder held their tongues.  Even the orthodox blacksmith, seeing that the affair was becoming serious, looked round on all sides, and muttered “Nedjelaim?” (What can I do?) tucked up his sleeves, pulled out from his bag the hammer and pincers, and began to shoe the Russian’s horse, grumbling between his teeth, “Vala billa beetmi eddeem, (I will not do it, by God!)” It must be remarked that all this took place out of Ammalat’s presence.  He had hardly looked at the Russians, when, in order to avoid a disagreeable rencontre, he mounted the horse which had just been shod, and galloped off to Bouinaki, where his house was situated.