He grew frightened.

He remembered the abreks and the murders he had been told about, and he expected every moment that an abrek would spring from behind every bush and he would have to defend his life and die, or be a coward.

He thought of God and of the future life as for long he had not thought about them.

And all around was that same gloomy stern wild nature.

'And is it worth while living for oneself,' thought he, 'when at any moment you may die, and die without having done any good, and so that no one will know of it ?' He went in the direction where he fancied the village lay.