By watching their preparations Michael found to his joy
that the detachment were not thinking of visiting the copse,
but only bivouacking near, to rest their horses and allow the men
to take some refreshment. The horses were soon unsaddled,
and began to graze on the thick grass which carpeted the ground.
The men meantime stretched themselves by the side of the road,
and partook of the provisions they produced from their knapsacks.
Michael's self-possession had never deserted him, and creeping amongst
the high grass he endeavored not only to examine the new-comers,
but to hear what they said. It was a detachment from Omsk,
composed of Usbeck horsemen, a race of the Mongolian type.
These men, well built, above the medium height, rough, and wild-featured,
wore on their heads the "talpak," or black sheep-skin cap,
and on their feet yellow high-heeled boots with turned-up toes,
like the shoes of the Middle Ages. Their tunics were close-fitting,
and confined at the waist by a leathern belt braided with red.
They were armed defensively with a shield, and offensively with a
curved sword, and a flintlock musket slung at the saddle-bow. From
their shoulders hung gay-colored cloaks.
The horses, which were feeding at liberty at the edge
of the wood, were, like their masters, of the Usbeck race.
These animals are rather smaller than the Turcomanian horses,
but are possessed of remarkable strength, and know no other pace
than the gallop.
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