r
old men trusted more to prayer, and God oftener listened to them; but
now, my friends, there is a better hope--your valour! _Our_ omens are
in the scabbards of our shooshkas, (sabres,) and we must show that we
are not ashamed of them. Harkye, Ammalat," he continued, twisting his
mustache, "I will not conceal from you that the affair may be warm. I
have just heard that Colonel K---- has collected his division; but
where he is, or how many troops he has, nobody knows."

"The more Russians there are the better," replied Ammalat, quietly;
"the fewer mistakes will be made."

"And the heavier will be the plunder."

"I care not for that. I seek revenge and glory."

"Glory is a good bird, when she lays a golden egg; but he that
returns with his toroks (straps behind the saddle) empty, is ashamed
to appear before his wife. Winter is near, and we must provide our
households at the expense of the Russians, that we may feast our
friends and allies. Choose your station, Ammalat Bek. Do you prefer
to advance in front to carry off the flocks, or will you remain with
me in the rear? I and the Abreks will march at a foot's pace to
restrain the pursuers."

"That is what I also intend. I will be where the greatest peril is.
But what are the Abreks, Djemboulat?"

"It is not easy to explain. You sometimes see several of our boldest
cavaliers take an oath, binding them for two or three years, or as
long as they like, never to mingle in games or gayeties, never to
spare their lives in battle, to give no quarter, never to pardon the
least offence in a brother or a friend, to seize the goods of others
without fear or scruple--in a word, to be the foes of all mankind,
strangers in their family, men whom any person may slay if he can;
in the village they are dangerous neighbours, and in meeting them
you must keep your hand on the trigger; but in war one can trust them."
[22]

"For what motive, or reason, can the Ouzdens make such an engagement?"

"Some simply to show their courage, others from poverty, a third
class from some misfortune. See, for instance, yonder tall Kabardinetz;
he has sworn to be an Abrek for five years, since his mistress
died of the small-pox. Since that year it would be as well to make
acquaintance with a tiger as with him. He has already been wounded
three times for blood-vengeance; but he cares not for that."

"Strange custom! How will he return from the life of an Abrek to a
peaceable existence?"

"What i