made in ancient times, which is called the rampart of Akos. The road which in part follows it is good enough as far as the Lazaretto; then it becomes difficult and slippery in descending towards the coast.
The horses could not proceed very fast during the morning, so Van Mitten had an opportunity to look over this portion of the Chersonese at leisure. He perceived a Russian steppe in all its bareness. Some caravans were crossing the plain, or seeking shade under the rampart of Akos in camp, with all the picturesque surroundings of an Oriental halt. Innumerable khourghans covered the country, and gave the plain the appearance of an immense cemetery. These, or similar tombs, had furnished antiquaries with the jewels, Etruscan vases, cenotaph stones, and other relics which now bedeck the walls of the temple and the halls of the museum at Kertsch.
Towards midday the travellers came in sight of a great square tower, flanked by four turrets: this is the fort which is situated to the north of the village of Yenikale. To the south, at the extremity of the Bay of Kertsch, is Cape Au-Bouroum, dominating the shore of the Black Sea. Then the strait opens with its two points, which enclose the Bay of Taman. In the distance the nearest profiles of the Caucasian range are visible.
The strait certainly resembles an arm of the sea at the point where Van Mitten, aware of his friend's antipathy, gazed at Ahmet in consternation.
Ahmet made him a sign to hold his tongue. Fortunately his uncle was just then dozing, and saw nothing of the Black Sea or the Sea of Azof, which confronted him in the sound, whose narrowest part measures five or six miles across.
"Diable!" muttered Van Mitten.
It was certainly annoying that Seigneur Kéraban did not live a hundred years later. Had his journey been made at that time, Ahmet would not have felt so uneasy.[1] For the sand in that strait has a growing tendency to silt up, and this cause will limit the passage to a swiftly running stream
- ↑ Nor would this tale have been written,—Translator.
