may as well get rid of this black stuff now;" and as he spoke he
dashed the water from alongside upon his face and hands, and removed
a coat of black from them.

"Now give way again; let us get in, and separate before any one is
stirring abroad."

Leaving Krometz and his companion to pursue their own business, and
the clipper craft with her course laid for the Sea of Marmora, we
will, with the reader, return once more to the mountain side where
we met Komel and Aphiz.

In time of peace, or rather when there was no open outbreak between
the Circassians and the Russian forces, Aphiz Adegah passed his time
in hunting among the rugged hills and cliffs, and with the early
morn was abroad with his gun strapped to his back, and in his hand
the long iron-pointed staff that helped him to climb the otherwise
inaccessible rocks of the mountain's sides. Thus equipped, he came,
in the morning referred to above, to the cottage of Komel's parents,
but, instead of the cheerful, happy welcome that usually greeted him
on such occasions, he beheld consternation and misery written in the
father's face, while the mother wept as though her heart would
break.

"What means this strange scene?" asked the young hunter, hastily.
"Where is Komel?"

"Alas! gone, gone," sighed both.

"Gone!"