d I won't teach you wrong:
make him take an oath, then it will be all right. And if you go with
him, have your pistol ready all the same, especially when it comes to
dividing up the horses. I was nearly killed that way once by a Chechen.
I wanted ten rubles from him for a horse. Trusting is all right, but
don't go to sleep without a gun.' Lukashka listened attentively to the
old man.

'I say. Daddy, have you any stone-break grass?' he asked after a pause.

'No, I haven't any, but I'll teach you how to get it. You're a good lad
and won't forget the old man.... Shall I tell you?'

'Tell me, Daddy.'

'You know a tortoise? She's a devil, the tortoise is!'

'Of course I know!'

'Find her nest and fence it round so that she can't get in. Well,
she'll come, go round it, and then will go off to find the stone-break
grass and will bring some along and destroy the fence. Anyhow next
morning come in good time, and where the fence is broken there you'll
find the stone-break grass lying. Take it wherever you like. No lock
and no bar will be able to stop you.'

'Have you tried it yourself. Daddy?'

'As for trying, I have not tried it, but I was told of it by good
people. I used only one charm: that was to repeat the Pilgrim rhyme
when mounting my horse; and no one ever killed me!'

'What is the Pilgrim rhyme. Daddy?'

'What, don't you know it? Oh, what people! You're right to ask Daddy.
Well, listen, and repeat after me:

'Hail! Ye, living in Sion, This is your King, Our steeds we shall sit
on, Sophonius is weeping. Zacharias is speaking, Father Pilgrim,
Mankind ever loving.'

'Kind ever loving,' the old man repeated. 'Do you know it now? Try it.'

Lukashka laughed.

'Come, Daddy, was it that that hindered their killing you? Maybe it
just happened so!'

'You've grown too clever! You learn it all, and say it. It will do you
no harm. Well, suppose you have sung "Pilgrim", it's all right,' and
the old man himself began laughing. 'But just one thing, Luke, don't
you go to Nogay!'

'Why?'

'Times have changed. You are not the same men. You've become rubbishy
Cossacks! And see how many Russians have come down on us! You'd get to
prison. Really, give it up! Just as if you could! Now Girchik and I, we
used...'

And the old man was about to begin one of his endless tales, but
Lukashka glanced at the window and interrupted him.

'It is quite light. Daddy. It's time to be off. Look us up some day.'

'May Christ save