isation！ Why even our Kabardians or Chechenes； robbers and ragamuffins though they be； are regular dare…devils for all that。 Whereas these others have no liking for arms； and you'll never see a decent dagger on one of them！ Ossetes all over！〃
〃You have been a long time in the Chechenes' country？〃
〃Yes； I was quartered there for about ten years along with my company in a fortress； near Kamennyi Brod。＇1＇ Do you know the place？〃
＇1＇ Rocky Ford。
〃I have heard the name。〃
〃I can tell you； my boy； we had quite enough of those dare…devil Chechenes。 At the present time； thank goodness； things are quieter； but in the old days you had only to put a hundred paces between you and the rampart and wherever you went you would be sure to find a shaggy devil lurking in wait for you。 You had just to let your thoughts wander and at any moment a lasso would be round your neck or a bullet in the back of your head！ Brave fellows； though！〃 。 。 。
〃You used to have many an adventure； I dare say？〃 I said； spurred by curiosity。
〃Of course！ Many a one。〃 。 。 。
Hereupon he began to tug at his left moustache； let his head sink on to his breast； and became lost in thought。 I had a very great mind to extract some little anecdote out of him a desire natural to all who travel and make notes。
Meanwhile； tea was ready。 I took two travel… ling…tumblers out of my portmanteau； and； filling one of them； set it before the staff…captain。 He sipped his tea and said； as if speaking to himself； 〃Yes； many a one！〃 This exclamation gave me great hopes。 Your old Caucasian officer loves； I know； to talk and yarn a bit； he so rarely succeeds in getting a chance to do so。 It may be his fate to be quartered five years or so with his company in some out…of…the…way place； and during the whole of that time he will not hear 〃good morning〃 from a soul （because the sergeant says 〃good health〃）。 And； indeed； he would have good cause to wax loquacious with a wild and interesting people all around him； danger to be faced every day； and many a marvellous incident happening。 It is in circum… stances like this that we involuntarily complain that so few of our countrymen take notes。
〃Would you care to put some rum in your tea？〃 I said to my companion。 〃I have some white rum with me from Tiflis； and the weather is cold now。〃
〃No； thank you； sir； I don't drink。〃
〃Really？〃
〃Just so。 I have sworn off drinking。 Once； you know； when I was a sub…lieutenant； some of us had a drop too much。 That very night there was an alarm； and out we went to the front； half seas over！ We did catch it； I can tell you； when Aleksei Petrovich came to hear about us！ Heaven save us； what a rage he was in！ He was within an ace of having us court…martialled。 That's just how things happen！ You might easily spend a whole year without seeing a soul； but just go and have a drop and you're a lost man！〃
On hearing this I almost lost hope。
〃Take the Circassians； now；〃 he continued； 〃once let them drink their fill of buza＇1＇ at a wedding or a funeral； and out will come their knives。 On one occasion I had some difficulty in getting away with a whole skin； and yet it was at the house of a 'friendly'＇2＇ prince； where I was a guest； that the affair happened。〃
＇1＇ A kind of beer made from millet。
＇2＇ i。e。 acknowledging Russian supremacy。
〃How was that？〃 I asked。
〃Here； I'll tell you。〃 。 。 。
He filled his pipe； drew in the smoke； and began his story。
CHAPTER II
〃YOU see； sir；〃 said the staff…captain； 〃I was quartered； at the time； with a com… pany in a fortress beyond the Terek getting on for five years ago now。 One autumn day； a transport arrived with provisions； in charge of an officer； a young man of about twenty…five。 He reported himself to me in full uniform； and announced that he had been ordered to remain in the fortress with me。 He was so very elegant； his complexion so nice and white； his uniform so brand new； that I immediately guessed that he had not been long with our army in the Caucasus。
〃'I suppose you have been transferred from Russia？' I asked。
〃'Exactly； captain；' he answered。
〃I took him by the hand and said：
〃'I'm delighted to see you delighted！ It will be a bit dull for you 。 。 。 but there； we will live together like a couple of friends。 But； please； call me simply 〃Maksim Maksimych〃； and； tell me； what is this full uniform for？ Just wear your forage…cap whenever you come to me！'
〃Quarters were assigned to him and he settled down in the fortress。〃
〃What was his name？〃 I asked Maksim Maksimych。
〃His name was Grigori Aleksandrovich Pe… chorin。 He was a splendid fellow； I can assure you； but a little peculiar。 Why； to give you an instance； one time he would stay out hunting the whole day； in the rain and cold； the others would all be frozen through and tired out； but he wouldn't mind either cold or fatigue。 Then； another time； he would be sitting in his own room； and； if there was a breath of wind； he would declare that he had caught cold； if the shutters rattled against the window he would start and turn pale： yet I myself have seen him attack a boar single…handed。 Often enough you couldn't drag a word out of him for hours together； but then； on the other hand； sometimes； when he started telling stories； you would split your sides with laughing。 Yes； sir； a very eccentric man； and he must have been wealthy too。 What a lot of expensive trinkets he had！〃 。 。 。
〃Did he stay there long with you？〃 I went on to ask。
〃Yes； about a year。 And； for that very reason； it was a memorable year to me。 He gave me a great deal of trouble but there； let bygones be bygones！ 。 。 。 You see； it is true enough； there are people like that； fated from birth to have all sorts of strange things happening to them！〃
〃Strange？〃 I exclaimed； with an air of curiosity； as I poured out some tea。
CHAPTER III
〃WELL； then； I'll tell you；〃 said Maksim Maksimych。 〃About six versts from the fortress there lived a certain 'friendly' prince。 His son； a brat of about fifteen； was accustomed to ride over to visit us。 Not a day passed but he would come； now for one thing； now for another。 And； indeed； Grigori Aleksandrovich and I spoiled him。 What a dare…devil the boy was！ Up to anything； picking up a cap at full gallop； or bringing things down with his gun！ He had one bad quality； he was terribly greedy for money。 Once； for the fun of the thing； Grigori Aleksandrovich promised to give him a ducat if he would steal the best he…goat from his father's herd for him； and； what do you think？ The very next night he came lugging it in by the horns！ At times we used to take it into our heads to tease him； and then his eyes would become bloodshot and his hand would fly to his dagger immediately。
〃'You'll be losing your life if you are not careful； Azamat；' I would say to him。 'That hot head of yours will get you into trouble。'
〃On one occasion； the old prince himself came to invite us to the wedding of his eldest daughter； and； as we were guest…friends with him； it was impossible to decline； Tartar though he was。 We set off。 In the village we were met by a number of dogs； all barking loudly。 The women； when they saw us coming； hid them… selves； but those whose faces we were able to get a view of were far from being beauties。
〃'I had a much better opinion of the Cir… cassian women；' remarked Grigori Aleksandrovich。
〃'Wait a bit！' I answered； with a smile； I had my own views on the subject。
〃A number of people had already gathered at the prince's hut。 It is the custom of the Asiatics； you know； to invite all and sundry to a wedding。 We were received with every mark of honour and conducted to the guest…chamber。 All the same； I did not forget quietly to mark where our horses were put； in case anything unforeseen should happen。〃
〃How are weddings celebrated amongst them？〃 I asked the staff…captain。
〃Oh； in the usual way。 First of all； the Mullah reads them something out of the Koran； then gifts are bestowed upon the young couple and all their relations； the next thing is eating and drinking of buza； then the dance on horse… back； and there is always some ragamuffin； bedaubed with grease； bestriding a wretched； lame jade； and grimacing； buffooning； and making the worshipful company laugh。 Finally； when darkness falls； they proceed to hold what we should call a ball in the guest…chamber。 A poor； old greybeard strums on a three…stringed in… strument I forget what they call it； but anyhow； it is something in the nature of our balalaika。＇1＇ The girls and young children set themselves in two ranks； one opposite the other； and clap their hands and sing。 Then a girl and a man come out into the centre and begin to chant verses to each other whatever comes into their heads and the rest join in as a chorus。 Pechorin and I sat in the place of honour。 All at once up came our host's youngest daughter； a girl of about sixteen； and chanted to Pechorin how shall I put it？ something in the nature of a compliment。〃 。 。 。
＇1＇ A kind of two…stringed or three…stringed guitar。
〃What was it she sang do you remember？〃
〃It went like this； I fancy： 'Handsome； they say； are our young horsemen； and the tunics they wear are garnished with silver； but handsomer still is the young Russian officer； and the lace on his tunic is wrought of gold。 Like a poplar amongst them he stands； but in gardens of ours such trees will grow not nor bloom！'
〃Pechorin rose； bowed to her； put his hand to his forehead and heart； and asked me to answer her。 I know their language well； and I translated his reply。
〃When she had left us I whispered to Grigori Aleksandrovich：
〃'Well； now； what do you think of her？'
〃'Charming！' he replied。 'What is her name？'
〃'Her name is Bela；' I answered。
〃And a beautiful girl she was indeed； her figure was tall and slender； her eyes black as those of a mountain chamois； and they fairly looked into your soul。 Pechorin； deep in thought； kept his gaze fixed upon her； and she； for her part； stole glances at him often enough from under her lashes。 Pechorin； however； was not the only one who was admiring the pretty princess； another pair of eyes； fixed and fiery； were gazing at her from