One time a Tatar fell ill; they came to Zhilin: "Come cure him!" Zhilin knew nothing of medicine. He went, looked at the sick man, said to himself, "Perhaps he will get well, anyway." He went into the barn, took water and sand, and shook them up together. He whispered a few words to the water in presence of the Tatars, and gave it to the sick man to drink. Fortunately for him, the Tatar got well. Zhilin had by this time learned something of their language. And some of the Tatars became accustomed to him; when they wanted him, they called him by name, "Iván, Iván;" but others always looked at him as though he was a wild beast. The red-bearded Tatar did not like Zhilin; when he saw him, he scowled and turned away, or else insulted him. There was another old man among them; he did not live in the aul, but came down from the mountain. Zhilin never saw him except when he came to the mosque to prayer. He was of small stature; on his cap, he wore a white handkerchief as an ornament. His beard and mustaches were trimmed; they were white as wool, and his face was wrinkled and brick-red. His nose was hooked like a hawk's, and his eyes were gray and cruel, and he had no teeth except two tusks. He used to come in his turban, leaning on his staff, and glare like a wolf; whenever he saw Zhilin, he would snort, and turn his back. One time Zhilin went to the mountain to see where the old man lived. He descended a narrow path, and sees a little stone-walled garden. On the other side of the wall are cherry-trees, peach-trees, and a little hut with a flat roof. He went nearer; he sees bee-hives made of straw, and bees flying and humming around them. And the old man is on his knees before the hives, hammering something. Zhilin raised himself up, so as to get a better view, and his clog made a noise. The old man looked up,--squealed; he pulled his pistol from his belt, and fired at Zhilin, who had barely time to hide behind the wall. The old man came to make his complaint to Zhilin's master. Abdul called him in, grinned, and asked him: "Why did you go to the old man's?" "I didn't do him any harm. I wanted to see how he lived." Abdul explained it to the old man; but he was angry, hissed, mumbled something, showed his tusks, and threatened Zhilin with his hands. Zhilin did not understand it all; but he made out that the old man wished Abdul to kill the two Russians, and not have them in the aul. The old man went off. Zhilin began to ask his master, "Who is that old man?" And the master replied,--