He would simply shoot you and destroy the boat," I answered.
It was not more than half-an-hour before I saw horses coming in our direction from the village.

At sight of them the man on the gray horse lost heart.

With a final burst of eloquence, in which he spread his breast to heaven and shook both fists in witness that he was absolved and no blood-guilt could rest on his head, he rode away at top speed straight up the ravine down which he originally came.
The horses proved to be a very mixed lot--some good, some very bad, and some indifferent.

But again they treated me as honoured guest and provided me a mare with four sound legs and nothing much the matter except vice.

She came at me with open teeth when I tried to mount, but four men held her and I climbed aboard, somehow or other.