Harold Lamb

“ Out of the darkness behind him Omelko spoke.
“The gray friends are hunting. The pack has come down out of the heights.”
Among the Cossacks, wolves were called gray brothers, yet these words stirred the interest of the young warrior.
“They hunt, aye,” he said. “But one pack is like another.”
“But that is the great one, from the heights. Often it passes through the Wolky Gorlo. Its leader is of large size with part of his tail torn off.”
Kirdy knew now how the gorge had been named, probably by Tatars who had reason to fear the hunger-maddened packs of the steppe, especially in winter. ”

“ Only by an effort did he restrain his impatience, and settle down to watch for the chance that might open the way into the steppe.
That evening Nada held the entire attention of the three men. First she sang—the half barbaric and wholly plaintive songs of the Cossacks that quickened Kirdy's blood and made her father call for more gorilka. Then she teased Omelko to tell the young warrior stories of the past, and the lame man took fire at her persuasion. ”

“ Kirdy pondered this in silence, and Nada met his eyes.
“It is true, my Falcon,” she said," that the wolves have not harmed this choutar. At times, when I have hunted, I have seen the pack running about me. The Tatars believe that my father has power over the wolves, and they will not enter this place.” ”

“ Kirdy looked up quickly.
“Don't let the Tatars harm him. I want him alive.”
“Why? What good is he?”
“He can tell you the meaning of a dream. The science of the tabir is much esteemed by Moslems. They glean prophecies out of dreams, and no doubt the prophets glean gold. Jahia, or Al-Tâbir is well born.”
Upon this Nada went off to ply the captive with questions and Kirdy continued to sit by the hut, drawing lines in the trodden snow with the butt of his riding-whip. He had gone among Nogais to try to get tidings of the man he sought ”

“ Al-Tâbir searched his memory, with an eye on the Cossack's sword, and decided not to lie. The young warrior knew a deal too much to make lying either safe or profitable.
“To the place where the sun rises. It lies behind the Mountains of the Eagles, and it is the country of the Golden Horde.”
FOR the second time Otrèpiev had hidden his trail. Only, the first time he had slain a friend so that he might leave the body in his own bed; now he had slain hundreds, and the dead and dying along the river had concealed all trace of him. ”