THE FORLORN HOPE.

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the bairactar, or standard-bearer of Adheu

cum.

A gallant fellow was Pakako! though by no means an Adonis-and his native ugliness he had, on the present occasion, sought to improve still further, by turning inside out his long goatskin kalpak, which, added to the excitement of the moment, made his looks almost preternaturally ferocious. Waving his standard high over his head, he broke with a scornful yell from the council, and, followed helter-skelter by the Deli-Kans, dashed up the avenue. Close at his heels was my brave companion Nadir; and not far behind, being curious to see how the mad career would terminate, was the writer of this narrative. But ere they had proceeded half way, the state of the road, which was heavy and deep in mud, made it difficult for their horses to advance, and gave leisure to Djanboulat to overtake them. He was an umpire, whose known bravery raised him above all suspicion. Never, perhaps, had he counselled retreat before, and his bold countenance was suffused with a deep blush, as he told them, if they could not make their way through the reeds, they must return. "We will try, however," he added; and accompanied by Khattow, he plunged among the reeds, where he sank almost immediately to the stirrups in the bog.

Every attempt, after the failure of this experiment, to advance any farther, was relinquished. Our party was compelled reluctantly to retreat and disperse with the main body on the opposite bank.

RETURN TO SEMEZ.

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CHAPTER XVI.

Nadir Bey leaves Circassia-Mr. Bell proceeds to the southCapture of a Russian fort by the Circassians-Preparations for my own departure from the country-Homeward bound-Return to Constantinople.

FROM the 8th of February, the period of our return to Semez, till the 24th of June, when I took my departure from Circassia, there occurred few events deserving of circumstantial detail. Many of those, indeed, I have already recorded, may appear useless, perhaps, as illustrative of the character and customs of the Circassians, tedious as they are trivial. I shall hasten, therefore, to a conclusion.

On the 20th of February, our countryman Nadir Bey parted from us, setting out, accompanied by Shamiz, to Djanhoté, a point of the coast between Pchat and Ghelenjik, where there

was then lying perdu a small Turkish vessel about to sail for the coast of Asia Minor.

The impression he had left behind him in Natu-koitch is highly honourable to himself and his country. His gallantry and proficiency in the exercises, martial and equestrian, that are so much esteemed among them, greatly endeared him to the young folks of both sexes there. Not having had the pleasure of meeting him since we parted at Semez, I am not aware what impression he may retain with respect to the Circassians; yet I cannot but believe that his thoughts, amidst the gaiety and splendour of European civilisation, must sometimes revert to the romantic scenes and primitive manners of those among whom he sojourned in the shadows of the mighty Caucasus, and that the record of our wanderings there will, to him at least, not be altogether devoid of interest. He set sail from Djanhoté on the 8th of March, and we received shortly afterwards a letter from him, dated Trebisond, where he had arrived after a safe voyage of three days. The Russian consul at that port had, in pursuance of instructions from his government, insisted that the Pacha should severely punish the captain of the vessel that had brought him over. Ship and cargo were accordingly confiscated, and the poor man was thrown into prison. Nadir had

DEPARTURE OF MR. BELL.

323

afterwards to indemnify him at his own expense. He informed us also in his letter that the Emperor Nicholas had had the audacity to give orders that if any of us were taken we should be hanged. The little respect he had shown for the property of Englishmen rendered it probable that their lives would be held as cheap by him; still we flattered ourselves that the people of England, who through inadvertence had allowed our ministers to sacrifice the former, would have called him to a strict account for the latter.

In the mean while, we knew from experience that there was perhaps no place in the world where we were safer from his vengeance, where his threats were likely to prove more impotent, and the machinations of his emissaries more abortive, than in Circassia.

On the 24th of the same month, Mr. Bell proceeded to the south, to take possession of some merchandise which had been brought from Turkey for us by Nadir's dragoman. He purposed returning to Semez in the course of a month, but in consequence of a misunderstanding with Shamiz, who accompanied him, he was prevented from doing as he had intended, and we were not destined to meet again in Circassia.

The details of this unpleasant affair will probably be given in the narrative of Mr. Bell-here