acrossasiaminoro00chiluoft

;
AT YELATIN KHAN' 267
as wild and forsaken as any in the valley, and the
low grey khan, which on one side buried itself in the
hillside, looked more like a stone -walled cattle-pen
than a place of warm rest and refreshment for man.
The only guest-room was a dark loft above the
stable, itself partiall}'' underground and covered by
a low sloping roof In this sleeping apartment the
wind howled and whistled through chinks and openings,
and stirred the dust of the boarded floor into
clouds and eddies. Going round this airy chamber
with a candle to take stock of my quarters, I
came upon a heap of rags against the wall— a man
asleep, and by the crooked iron rod still in his
hand one of the railway labourers. Not caring for
his company during the night, I woke him, and
proposed that with the equivalent of a shilling in
compensation he should surrender the room and accommodate
himself below. In his view the bargain
was just and profitable. He closed with it as though
the certain gain were his and the doubtful side of
the transaction clearly mine, and withdrew as pleased
as one who, dreaming of riches, awakens to find them
real.
Just as this ragged fellow went out with his
bundle, Ighsan came up with more than usual energy.
He had news, in which he found the liveliest personal
interest. The Circassians were about, and had been
seen on the hillside behind the khan an hour earlier
they were also said to have attacked the khan the
previous night, seeking to steal horses. It was this
revelation of their purpose, that they were in search of
horses, which disturbed him so greatly. They would
come again to-night, of that he was sure. He turned
out his ammunition with the air of a man about to
defend his home, and spent half an hour in barricading
the stable-door and contriving that it could be
opened only from the inside, except by being driven
bodily inwards. That done he barricaded the door
of the loft, and looked out loopholes commanding the
approaches, especially to the stable entrance. I do