“That depends on thee,” replied the Sultan.  “It is upon the right heir of the Shamkhalat[32] that it depends to draw the sword from the scabbard.”

[32] The father of Ammalat was the eldest of the family, and consequently the true heir to the Shamkhalat.  But the Russians, having conquered Daghestan, not trusting to the good intentions of this chief, gave the power to the younger brother.

“To sheath it no more, Khan?  An unenviable destiny.  Methinks it is better to reign in Bouinaki, than for an empty title to be obliged to hide in the mountains like a jackal.”

“To bound from the mountains like a lion, Ammalat; and to repose, after your glorious toils, in the palace of your ancestors.”

“To repose?  Is it not better not to be awakened at all?

“Would you behold but in a dream what you ought to possess in reality?  The Russians are giving you the poppy, and will lull you with tales, while another plucks the golden flowers of the garden."[33]

     [33] A jeu-de-mots which the Asiatics admire much;
     “kizil-gulliar” means simply roses, but the Khan alludes to
     “kizil,” ducats.

“What can I do with my force?”

“Force—­that is in thy soul, Ammalat!...  Despise dangers and they bend before you....  Dost thou hear that?” added Sultan Akhmet Khan, as the sound of firing reached them from the town.  “It is the voice of victory!”

Saphir-Ali rushed into the chamber with an agitated face.

“Bouinaki is in revolt,” he hurriedly began; “a crowd of rioters has overpowered the detachment, and they have begun to fire from the rocks."[34]

     [34] The Tartars, like the North American Indians, always, if
     possible, shelter themselves behind rocks and enclosures, &c.,
     when engaged in battle.

“Rascals!” cried Ammalat, as he threw his gun over his shoulder.  “How dared they to rise without me!  Run, Saphir-Ali, threaten them with my name; kill the first who disobeys.”

“I have done all I could to restrain them,” said Saphir-Ali, “but none would listen to me, for the noukers of Sultan Akhmet Khan were urging them on, saying that he had ordered them to slay the Russians.”

“Indeed! did my noukers say that?” asked the Khan.

“They did not say so much, but they set the example,” said Saphir-Ali.

“In that case they have done well,” replied Sultan Akhmet Khan:  “this is brave!”

“What hast thou done, Khan!” cried Ammalat, angrily.

“What you might have done long ago!”

“How can I justify myself to the Russians?”

“With lead and steel....  The firing is begun....  Fate works for you ... the sword is drawn ... let us go seek the Russians!”

“They are here!” cried the Captain, who, followed by two men, had broken through the disorderly ranks of the Tartars, and dashed into the house of their chief.  Confounded by the unexpected outbreak in which he was certain to be considered a party, Ammalat saluted his enraged guest—­“Come in peace!” he said to him in Tartar.