recipe for happiness and considered himself capable of identifying his life with Daddy Eróshka’s, but then he quickly bethought himself and promptly clutched at the idea of conscious self-sacrifice, and from that basis looked calmly and proudly at all men and at their happiness. Chapter XXVII Just before the vintage Lukáshka came on horseback to see Olénin. He looked more dashing than ever. “Well? Are you getting married?” asked Olénin, greeting him merrily. Lukáshka gave no direct reply. “There, I’ve exchanged your horse across the river. This _is_ a horse! A Kabardá horse from the Lov stud. I know horses.” They examined the new horse and made him caracole about the yard. The horse really was an exceptionally fine one, a broad and long gelding, with glossy coat, thick silky tail, and the soft fine mane and crest of a thoroughbred. He was so well fed that “you might go to sleep on his back” as Lukáshka expressed it. His hoofs, eyes, teeth, were exquisitely shaped and sharply outlined, as one only finds them in very pure-bred horses. Olénin could not help admiring the horse, he had not yet met with such a beauty in the Caucasus. “And how it goes!” said Lukáshka, patting its neck. “What a step! And so clever—he simply runs after his master.” “Did you have to add much to make the exchange?” asked Olénin. “I did not count it,” answered Lukáshka with a smile. “I got him from a _kunak_.” “A wonderfully beautiful horse! What would you take for it?” asked Olénin. “I have been offered a hundred and fifty rubles for it, but I’ll give it you for nothing,” said Lukáshka, merrily. “Only say the word and it’s yours. I’ll unsaddle it and you may take it. Only give me some sort of a horse for my duties.” “No, on no account.” “Well then, here is a dagger I’ve brought you,” said Lukáshka, unfastening his girdle and taking out one of the two daggers which hung from it. “I got it from across the river.” “Oh, thank you!” “And mother has promised to bring you some grapes herself.” “That’s quite unnecessary. We’ll balance up some day. You see I don’t offer you any money for the dagger!” “How could you? We are _kunaks_. It’s just the same as when Giréy Khan across the river took me into his home and said, ‘Choose what you like!’ So I took this sword. It’s our custom.” They went into the hut and had a drink. “Are you staying here awhile?” asked Olénin. “No, I have come to say good-bye. They are sending me from the cordon to a company beyond the Térek. I am going tonight with my comrade Nazárka.” “And when is the wedding to be?” “I shall be coming back for the betrothal, and then I shall return to the company again,” Lukáshka replied reluctantly. “What, and see nothing of your betrothed?” “Just so—what is the good of looking at her? When you go on campaign ask in our company for Lukáshka the Broad. But what a lot of boars there are in our parts! I’ve killed two. I’ll take you.” “Well, good-bye! Christ save you.”