text:  By an ancient custom of Avar the hunters were obliged to swear upon the Koran that they would not desert one another either in the combat with the beast or in the chase; that they would not quit each other when wounded; if fate willed that the animal should attack them that they would defend each other to the last and die side by side careless of life; and that in any case they would not return without the animal's skin; that he who betrayed this oath should be hurled from the rocks as a coward and traitor