“I have come,” said Ivan, “to give you the chance of earning two hundred roubles, and to ask a service of you. No doubt you have heard of Major Kaskambo, a prisoner among the mountaineers. Well, I have rescued him; he is here, a step off, ill and in your power. Should you please to give him up again to his enemies, they will praise you no doubt, but, you know well, they will not reward you. If on the contrary you consent to save him, by keeping him in your house for three days only, I will go to Mozdok, and will bring you two hundred roubles in hard cash for his ransom; while, if you dare to stir from your place,” (he added, drawing his dagger) “and to give the alarm to have me seized, I will kill you. Your word at once, or you are dead.”
Ivan’s assured tone convinced the Tchetchen without alarming him. “Young man,” he said, calmly putting on his boot, “I also have a dagger in my girdle, and yours does not terrify me. Had you entered my house as a friend, I would never have betrayed a man who had passed my threshold; but now I promise nothing. Sit down there, and say what you will.”
Ivan, seeing with whom he had to deal, sheathed his dagger again, sat down, and repeated his proposal.
“What security will you give me,” asked the Tchetchen, “for the fulfilment of your promise?”
“I will leave you the major himself,” Ivan answered; “do you think I would have suffered for fifteen months, and brought my master to you, to desert him?”
“That is all right, I believe you; but two hundred roubles is not enough: I must have four hundred.”
“Why not ask four thousand? it is easy enough; but I, who wish to keep my word, offer you two hundred, because I know where to get them, and not a copeck more. Do you want to make me deceive you?”
“Well, be it so; I agree to two hundred roubles; and you will return alone, and in three days?”
“Yes, alone, and in three days, I give you my word! But have you given me yours? is the major your guest?”
“He is my guest, and you as well, from this moment, you have my word for it.”