“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.