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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Beasts, Men and Gods, by Ferdinand Ossendowski
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Beasts, Men and Gods
+
+Author: Ferdinand Ossendowski
+
+Translator: Lewis Stanton Palen
+
+Release Date: May 13, 2006 [EBook #2067]
+Last Updated: November 17, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEASTS, MEN AND GODS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Donald Lainson
+
+
+
+
+
+BEASTS, MEN AND GODS
+
+by Ferdinand Ossendowski
+
+
+
+
+EXPLANATORY NOTE
+
+
+When one of the leading publicists in America, Dr. Albert Shaw of
+the Review of Reviews, after reading the manuscript of Part I of
+this volume, characterized the author as “The Robinson Crusoe of the
+Twentieth Century,” he touched the feature of the narrative which is at
+once most attractive and most dangerous; for the succession of trying
+and thrilling experiences recorded seems in places too highly colored
+to be real or, sometimes, even possible in this day and generation.
+I desire, therefore, to assure the reader at the outset that Dr.
+Ossendowski is a man of long and diverse experience as a scientist and
+writer with a training for careful observation which should put
+the stamp of accuracy and reliability on his chronicle. Only the
+extraordinary events of these extraordinary times could have thrown one
+with so many talents back into the surroundings of the “Cave Man” and
+thus given to us this unusual account of personal adventure, of great
+human mysteries and of the political and religious motives which are
+energizing the “Heart of Asia.”
+
+My share in the work has been to induce Dr. Ossendowski to write his
+story at this time and to assist him in rendering his experiences into
+English.
+
+LEWIS STANTON PALEN.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+PART I. DRAWING LOTS WITH DEATH
+
+
+CHAPTER
+
+I.      INTO THE FORESTS
+
+II.     THE SECRET OF MY FELLOW TRAVELER
+
+III.    THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
+
+IV.     A FISHERMAN
+
+V.      A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOR
+
+VI.     A RIVER IN TRAVAIL
+
+VII.    THROUGH SOVIET SIBERIA
+
+VIII.   THREE DAYS ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE
+
+IX.     TO THE SAYANS AND SAFETY
+
+X.      THE BATTLE OF THE SEYBI
+
+XI.     THE BARRIER OF RED PARTISANS
+
+XII.    IN THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL PEACE
+
+XIII.   MYSTERIES, MIRACLES AND A NEW FIGHT
+
+XIV.    THE RIVER OF THE DEVIL
+
+XV.     THE MARCH OF GHOSTS
+
+XVI.    IN MYSTERIOUS TIBET
+
+
+
+PART II. THE LAND OF DEMONS
+
+
+XVII.    MYSTERIOUS MONGOLIA
+
+XVIII.   THE MYSTERIOUS LAMA AVENGER
+
+XIX.     WILD CHAHARS
+
+XX.      THE DEMON OF JAGISSTAI
+
+XXI.     THE NEST OF DEATH
+
+XXII.    AMONG THE MURDERERS
+
+XXIII.   ON A VOLCANO
+
+XXIV.    A BLOODY CHASTISEMENT
+
+XXV.     HARASSING DAYS
+
+XXVI.    THE BAND OF WHITE HUNGHUTZES
+
+XXVII.   MYSTERY IN A SMALL TEMPLE
+
+XXVIII.  THE BREATH OF DEATH
+
+
+
+PART III. THE STRAINING HEART OF ASIA
+
+
+XXIX.    ON THE ROAD OF GREAT CONQUERORS
+
+XXX.     ARRESTED!
+
+XXXI.    TRAVELING BY “URGA”
+
+XXXII.   AN OLD FORTUNE TELLER
+
+XXXIII.  “DEATH FROM THE WHITE MAN WILL STAND BEHIND YOU”
+
+XXXIV.   THE HORROR OF WAR!
+
+XXXV.    IN THE CITY OF LIVING GODS, 30,000 BUDDHAS AND 60,000 MONKS
+
+XXXVI.   A SON OF CRUSADERS AND PRIVATEERS
+
+XXXVII.  THE CAMP OF MARTYRS
+
+XXXVIII. BEFORE THE FACE OF BUDDHA
+
+XXXIX.   “THE MAN WITH A HEAD LIKE A SADDLE”
+
+
+
+PART IV. THE LIVING BUDDHA
+
+
+XL.     IN THE BLISSFUL GARDEN OF A THOUSAND JOYS
+
+XLI.    THE DUST OF CENTURIES
+
+XLII.   THE BOOKS OF MIRACLES
+
+XLIII.  THE BIRTH OF THE LIVING BUDDHA
+
+XLIV.   A PAGE IN THE HISTORY OF THE PRESENT LIVING BUDDHA
+
+XLV.    THE VISION OF THE LIVING BUDDHA OF MAY 17, 1921
+
+
+
+PART V. MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES--THE KING OF THE WORLD
+
+
+XLVI.   THE SUBTERRANEAN KINGDOM
+
+XLVII.  THE KING OF THE WORLD BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD
+
+XLVIII. REALITY OR RELIGIOUS FANTASY?
+
+XLIX.   THE PROPHECY OF THE KING OF THE WORLD IN 1890
+
+
+There are times, men and events about which History alone can record the
+final judgments; contemporaries and individual observers must only write
+what they have seen and heard. The very truth demands it.
+
+TITUS LIVIUS.
+
+
+
+
+BEASTS, MEN AND GODS
+
+
+
+
+Part I
+
+DRAWING LOTS WITH DEATH
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+INTO THE FORESTS
+
+
+In the beginning of the year 1920 I happened to be living in the
+Siberian town of Krasnoyarsk, situated on the shores of the River
+Yenisei, that noble stream which is cradled in the sun-bathed mountains
+of Mongolia to pour its warming life into the Arctic Ocean and to whose
+mouth Nansen has twice come to open the shortest road for commerce from
+Europe to the heart of Asia. There in the depths of the still Siberian
+winter I was suddenly caught up in the whirling storm of mad revolution
+raging all over Russia, sowing in this peaceful and rich land vengeance,
+hate, bloodshed and crimes that go unpunished by the law. No one could
+tell the hour of his fate. The people lived from day to day and left
+their homes not knowing whether they should return to them or whether
+they should be dragged from the streets and thrown into the dungeons of
+that travesty of courts, the Revolutionary Committee, more terrible
+and more bloody than those of the Mediaeval Inquisition. We who were
+strangers in this distraught land were not saved from its persecutions
+and I personally lived through them.
+
+One morning, when I had gone out to see a friend, I suddenly received
+the news that twenty Red soldiers had surrounded my house to arrest me
+and that I must escape. I quickly put on one of my friend’s old hunting
+suits, took some money and hurried away on foot along the back ways of
+the town till I struck the open road, where I engaged a peasant, who in
+four hours had driven me twenty miles from the town and set me down
+in the midst of a deeply forested region. On the way I bought a rifle,
+three hundred cartridges, an ax, a knife, a sheepskin overcoat, tea,
+salt, dry bread and a kettle. I penetrated into the heart of the wood to
+an abandoned half-burned hut. From this day I became a genuine trapper
+but I never dreamed that I should follow this role as long as I did.
+The next morning I went hunting and had the good fortune to kill two
+heathcock. I found deer tracks in plenty and felt sure that I should not
+want for food. However, my sojourn in this place was not for long. Five
+days later when I returned from hunting I noticed smoke curling up out
+of the chimney of my hut. I stealthily crept along closer to the cabin
+and discovered two saddled horses with soldiers’ rifles slung to the
+saddles. Two disarmed men were not dangerous for me with a weapon, so I
+quickly rushed across the open and entered the hut. From the bench
+two soldiers started up in fright. They were Bolsheviki. On their big
+Astrakhan caps I made out the red stars of Bolshevism and on their
+blouses the dirty red bands. We greeted each other and sat down. The
+soldiers had already prepared tea and so we drank this ever welcome
+hot beverage and chatted, suspiciously eyeing one another the while.
+To disarm this suspicion on their part, I told them that I was a hunter
+from a distant place and was living there because I found it good
+country for sables. They announced to me that they were soldiers of
+a detachment sent from a town into the woods to pursue all suspicious
+people.
+
+“Do you understand, ‘Comrade,’” said one of them to me, “we are looking
+for counter-revolutionists to shoot them?”
+
+I knew it without his explanations. All my forces were directed to
+assuring them by my conduct that I was a simple peasant hunter and that
+I had nothing in common with the counter-revolutionists. I was thinking
+also all the time of where I should go after the departure of my
+unwelcome guests. It grew dark. In the darkness their faces were even
+less attractive. They took out bottles of vodka and drank and the
+alcohol began to act very noticeably. They talked loudly and constantly
+interrupted each other, boasting how many bourgeoisie they had killed
+in Krasnoyarsk and how many Cossacks they had slid under the ice in the
+river. Afterwards they began to quarrel but soon they were tired and
+prepared to sleep. All of a sudden and without any warning the door of
+the hut swung wide open and the steam of the heated room rolled out in
+a great cloud, out of which seemed to rise like a genie, as the steam
+settled, the figure of a tall, gaunt peasant impressively crowned with
+the high Astrakhan cap and wrapped in the great sheepskin overcoat that
+added to the massiveness of his figure. He stood with his rifle ready
+to fire. Under his girdle lay the sharp ax without which the Siberian
+peasant cannot exist. Eyes, quick and glimmering like those of a wild
+beast, fixed themselves alternately on each of us. In a moment he took
+off his cap, made the sign of the cross on his breast and asked of us:
+“Who is the master here?”
+
+I answered him.
+
+“May I stop the night?”
+
+“Yes,” I replied, “places enough for all. Take a cup of tea. It is still
+hot.”
+
+The stranger, running his eyes constantly over all of us and over
+everything about the room, began to take off his skin coat after putting
+his rifle in the corner. He was dressed in an old leather blouse with
+trousers of the same material tucked in high felt boots. His face was
+quite young, fine and tinged with something akin to mockery. His white,
+sharp teeth glimmered as his eyes penetrated everything they rested
+upon. I noticed the locks of grey in his shaggy head. Lines of
+bitterness circled his mouth. They showed his life had been very stormy
+and full of danger. He took a seat beside his rifle and laid his ax on
+the floor below.
+
+“What? Is it your wife?” asked one of the drunken soldiers, pointing to
+the ax.
+
+The tall peasant looked calmly at him from the quiet eyes under their
+heavy brows and as calmly answered:
+
+“One meets a different folk these days and with an ax it is much safer.”
+
+He began to drink tea very greedily, while his eyes looked at me many
+times with sharp inquiry in them and ran often round the whole cabin in
+search of the answer to his doubts. Very slowly and with a guarded drawl
+he answered all the questions of the soldiers between gulps of the
+hot tea, then he turned his glass upside down as evidence of having
+finished, placed on the top of it the small lump of sugar left and
+remarked to the soldiers:
+
+“I am going out to look after my horse and will unsaddle your horses for
+you also.”
+
+“All right,” exclaimed the half-sleeping young soldier, “bring in our
+rifles as well.”
+
+The soldiers were lying on the benches and thus left for us only the
+floor. The stranger soon came back, brought the rifles and set them in
+the dark corner. He dropped the saddle pads on the floor, sat down on
+them and began to take off his boots. The soldiers and my guest soon
+were snoring but I did not sleep for thinking of what next to do.
+Finally as dawn was breaking, I dozed off only to awake in the
+broad daylight and find my stranger gone. I went outside the hut and
+discovered him saddling a fine bay stallion.
+
+“Are you going away?” I asked.
+
+“Yes, but I want to go together with these ---- comrades,’” he
+whispered, “and afterwards I shall come back.”
+
+I did not ask him anything further and told him only that I would wait
+for him. He took off the bags that had been hanging on his saddle, put
+them away out of sight in the burned corner of the cabin, looked over
+the stirrups and bridle and, as he finished saddling, smiled and said:
+
+“I am ready. I’m going to awake my ‘comrades.’” Half an hour after the
+morning drink of tea, my three guests took their leave. I remained out
+of doors and was engaged in splitting wood for my stove. Suddenly,
+from a distance, rifle shots rang through the woods, first one, then
+a second. Afterwards all was still. From the place near the shots a
+frightened covey of blackcock broke and came over me. At the top of a
+high pine a jay cried out. I listened for a long time to see if anyone
+was approaching my hut but everything was still.
+
+On the lower Yenisei it grows dark very early. I built a fire in my
+stove and began to cook my soup, constantly listening for every noise
+that came from beyond the cabin walls. Certainly I understood at all
+times very clearly that death was ever beside me and might claim me
+by means of either man, beast, cold, accident or disease. I knew that
+nobody was near me to assist and that all my help was in the hands of
+God, in the power of my hands and feet, in the accuracy of my aim and in
+my presence of mind. However, I listened in vain. I did not notice the
+return of my stranger. Like yesterday he appeared all at once on the
+threshold. Through the steam I made out his laughing eyes and his fine
+face. He stepped into the hut and dropped with a good deal of noise
+three rifles into the corner.
+
+“Two horses, two rifles, two saddles, two boxes of dry bread, half a
+brick of tea, a small bag of salt, fifty cartridges, two overcoats, two
+pairs of boots,” laughingly he counted out. “In truth today I had a very
+successful hunt.”
+
+In astonishment I looked at him.
+
+“What are you surprised at?” he laughed. “Komu nujny eti tovarischi?
+Who’s got any use for these fellows? Let us have tea and go to sleep.
+Tomorrow I will guide you to another safer place and then go on.”
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE SECRET OF MY FELLOW TRAVELER
+
+
+At the dawn of day we started forth, leaving my first place of refuge.
+Into the bags we packed our personal estate and fastened them on one of
+the saddles.
+
+“We must go four or five hundred versts,” very calmly announced my
+fellow traveler, who called himself “Ivan,” a name that meant nothing to
+my mind or heart in this land where every second man bore the same.
+
+“We shall travel then for a very long time,” I remarked regretfully.
+
+“Not more than one week, perhaps even less,” he answered.
+
+That night we spent in the woods under the wide spreading branches of
+the fir trees. It was my first night in the forest under the open sky.
+How many like this I was destined to spend in the year and a half of my
+wanderings! During the day there was very sharp cold. Under the hoofs of
+the horses the frozen snow crunched and the balls that formed and broke
+from their hoofs rolled away over the crust with a sound like crackling
+glass. The heathcock flew from the trees very idly, hares loped slowly
+down the beds of summer streams. At night the wind began to sigh and
+whistle as it bent the tops of the trees over our heads; while below it
+was still and calm. We stopped in a deep ravine bordered by heavy trees,
+where we found fallen firs, cut them into logs for the fire and, after
+having boiled our tea, dined.
+
+Ivan dragged in two tree trunks, squared them on one side with his ax,
+laid one on the other with the squared faces together and then drove in
+a big wedge at the butt ends which separated them three or four inches.
+Then we placed live coals in this opening and watched the fire run
+rapidly the whole length of the squared faces vis-a-vis.
+
+“Now there will be a fire in the morning,” he announced. “This is the
+‘naida’ of the gold prospectors. We prospectors wandering in the woods
+summer and winter always sleep beside this ‘naida.’ Fine! You shall see
+for yourself,” he continued.
+
+He cut fir branches and made a sloping roof out of them, resting it on
+two uprights toward the naida. Above our roof of boughs and our naida
+spread the branches of protecting fir. More branches were brought and
+spread on the snow under the roof, on these were placed the saddle
+cloths and together they made a seat for Ivan to rest on and to take off
+his outer garments down to his blouse. Soon I noticed his forehead was
+wet with perspiration and that he was wiping it and his neck on his
+sleeves.
+
+“Now it is good and warm!” he exclaimed.
+
+In a short time I was also forced to take off my overcoat and soon lay
+down to sleep without any covering at all, while through the branches
+of the fir trees and our roof glimmered the cold bright stars and
+just beyond the naida raged a stinging cold, from which we were cosily
+defended. After this night I was no longer frightened by the cold.
+Frozen during the days on horseback, I was thoroughly warmed through
+by the genial naida at night and rested from my heavy overcoat, sitting
+only in my blouse under the roofs of pine and fir and sipping the ever
+welcome tea.
+
+During our daily treks Ivan related to me the stories of his wanderings
+through the mountains and woods of Transbaikalia in the search for gold.
+These stories were very lively, full of attractive adventure, danger and
+struggle. Ivan was a type of these prospectors who have discovered in
+Russia, and perhaps in other countries, the richest gold mines, while
+they themselves remain beggars. He evaded telling me why he left
+Transbaikalia to come to the Yenisei. I understood from his manner that
+he wished to keep his own counsel and so did not press him. However, the
+blanket of secrecy covering this part of his mysterious life was one day
+quite fortuitously lifted a bit. We were already at the objective point
+of our trip. The whole day we had traveled with difficulty through a
+thick growth of willow, approaching the shore of the big right branch of
+the Yenisei, the Mana. Everywhere we saw runways packed hard by the feet
+of the hares living in this bush. These small white denizens of the wood
+ran to and fro in front of us. Another time we saw the red tail of a fox
+hiding behind a rock, watching us and the unsuspecting hares at the same
+time.
+
+Ivan had been silent for a long while. Then he spoke up and told me that
+not far from there was a small branch of the Mana, at the mouth of which
+was a hut.
+
+“What do you say? Shall we push on there or spend the night by the
+naida?”
+
+I suggested going to the hut, because I wanted to wash and because it
+would be agreeable to spend the night under a genuine roof again. Ivan
+knitted his brows but acceded.
+
+It was growing dark when we approached a hut surrounded by the dense
+wood and wild raspberry bushes. It contained one small room with two
+microscopic windows and a gigantic Russian stove. Against the building
+were the remains of a shed and a cellar. We fired the stove and prepared
+our modest dinner. Ivan drank from the bottle inherited from the
+soldiers and in a short time was very eloquent, with brilliant eyes and
+with hands that coursed frequently and rapidly through his long locks.
+He began relating to me the story of one of his adventures, but suddenly
+stopped and, with fear in his eyes, squinted into a dark corner.
+
+“Is it a rat?” he asked.
+
+“I did not see anything,” I replied.
+
+He again became silent and reflected with knitted brow. Often we were
+silent through long hours and consequently I was not astonished. Ivan
+leaned over near to me and began to whisper.
+
+“I want to tell you an old story. I had a friend in Transbaikalia. He
+was a banished convict. His name was Gavronsky. Through many woods
+and over many mountains we traveled in search of gold and we had an
+agreement to divide all we got into even shares. But Gavronsky suddenly
+went out to the ‘Taiga’ on the Yenisei and disappeared. After five years
+we heard that he had found a very rich gold mine and had become a rich
+man; then later that he and his wife with him had been murdered. . . .”
+ Ivan was still for a moment and then continued:
+
+“This is their old hut. Here he lived with his wife and somewhere on
+this river he took out his gold. But he told nobody where. All the
+peasants around here know that he had a lot of money in the bank
+and that he had been selling gold to the Government. Here they were
+murdered.”
+
+Ivan stepped to the stove, took out a flaming stick and, bending over,
+lighted a spot on the floor.
+
+“Do you see these spots on the floor and on the wall? It is their
+blood, the blood of Gavronsky. They died but they did not disclose the
+whereabouts of the gold. It was taken out of a deep hole which they had
+drifted into the bank of the river and was hidden in the cellar under
+the shed. But Gavronsky gave nothing away. . . . AND LORD HOW I TORTURED
+THEM! I burned them with fire; I bent back their fingers; I gouged out
+their eyes; but Gavronsky died in silence.”
+
+He thought for a moment, then quickly said to me:
+
+“I have heard all this from the peasants.” He threw the log into the
+stove and flopped down on the bench. “It’s time to sleep,” he snapped
+out, and was still.
+
+I listened for a long time to his breathing and his whispering to
+himself, as he turned from one side to the other and smoked his pipe.
+
+In the morning we left this scene of so much suffering and crime and on
+the seventh day of our journey we came to the dense cedar wood growing
+on the foothills of a long chain of mountains.
+
+“From here,” Ivan explained to me, “it is eighty versts to the next
+peasant settlement. The people come to these woods to gather cedar nuts
+but only in the autumn. Before then you will not meet anyone. Also you
+will find many birds and beasts and a plentiful supply of nuts, so that
+it will be possible for you to live here. Do you see this river? When
+you want to find the peasants, follow along this stream and it will
+guide you to them.”
+
+Ivan helped me build my mud hut. But it was not the genuine mud hut. It
+was one formed by the tearing out of the roots of a great cedar, that
+had probably fallen in some wild storm, which made for me the deep hole
+as the room for my house and flanked this on one side with a wall of
+mud held fast among the upturned roots. Overhanging ones formed also
+the framework into which we interlaced the poles and branches to make
+a roof, finished off with stones for stability and snow for warmth.
+The front of the hut was ever open but was constantly protected by the
+guardian naida. In that snow-covered den I spent two months like summer
+without seeing any other human being and without touch with the outer
+world where such important events were transpiring. In that grave under
+the roots of the fallen tree I lived before the face of nature with my
+trials and my anxiety about my family as my constant companions, and in
+the hard struggle for my life. Ivan went off the second day, leaving for
+me a bag of dry bread and a little sugar. I never saw him again.
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
+
+
+Then I was alone. Around me only the wood of eternally green cedars
+covered with snow, the bare bushes, the frozen river and, as far as I
+could see out through the branches and the trunks of the trees, only
+the great ocean of cedars and snow. Siberian taiga! How long shall I be
+forced to live here? Will the Bolsheviki find me here or not? Will my
+friends know where I am? What is happening to my family? These questions
+were constantly as burning fires in my brain. Soon I understood why Ivan
+guided me so long. We passed many secluded places on the journey, far
+away from all people, where Ivan could have safely left me but he always
+said that he would take me to a place where it would be easier to live.
+And it was so. The charm of my lone refuge was in the cedar wood and
+in the mountains covered with these forests which stretched to every
+horizon. The cedar is a splendid, powerful tree with wide-spreading
+branches, an eternally green tent, attracting to its shelter every
+living being. Among the cedars was always effervescent life. There the
+squirrels were continually kicking up a row, jumping from tree to tree;
+the nut-jobbers cried shrilly; a flock of bullfinches with carmine
+breasts swept through the trees like a flame; or a small army of
+goldfinches broke in and filled the amphitheatre of trees with their
+whistling; a hare scooted from one tree trunk to another and behind him
+stole up the hardly visible shadow of a white ermine, crawling on the
+snow, and I watched for a long time the black spot which I knew to be
+the tip of his tail; carefully treading the hard crusted snow approached
+a noble deer; at last there visited me from the top of the mountain the
+king of the Siberian forest, the brown bear. All this distracted me
+and carried away the black thoughts from my brain, encouraging me to
+persevere. It was good for me also, though difficult, to climb to the
+top of my mountain, which reached up out of the forest and from which I
+could look away to the range of red on the horizon. It was the red cliff
+on the farther bank of the Yenisei. There lay the country, the towns,
+the enemies and the friends; and there was even the point which I
+located as the place of my family. It was the reason why Ivan had guided
+me here. And as the days in this solitude slipped by I began to miss
+sorely this companion who, though the murderer of Gavronsky, had taken
+care of me like a father, always saddling my horse for me, cutting the
+wood and doing everything to make me comfortable. He had spent many
+winters alone with nothing except his thoughts, face to face with
+nature--I should say, before the face of God. He had tried the horrors
+of solitude and had acquired facility in bearing them. I thought
+sometimes, if I had to meet my end in this place, that I would spend my
+last strength to drag myself to the top of the mountain to die there,
+looking away over the infinite sea of mountains and forest toward the
+point where my loved ones were.
+
+However, the same life gave me much matter for reflection and yet more
+occupation for the physical side. It was a continuous struggle for
+existence, hard and severe. The hardest work was the preparation of the
+big logs for the naida. The fallen trunks of the trees were covered
+with snow and frozen to the ground. I was forced to dig them out and
+afterwards, with the help of a long stick as a lever, to move them from
+their place. For facilitating this work I chose the mountain for my
+supplies, where, although difficult to climb, it was easy to roll the
+logs down. Soon I made a splendid discovery. I found near my den a great
+quantity of larch, this beautiful yet sad forest giant, fallen during
+a big storm. The trunks were covered with snow but remained attached to
+their stumps, where they had broken off. When I cut into these stumps
+with the ax, the head buried itself and could with difficulty be drawn
+and, investigating the reason, I found them filled with pitch. Chips of
+this wood needed only a spark to set them aflame and ever afterward I
+always had a stock of them to light up quickly for warming my hands on
+returning from the hunt or for boiling my tea.
+
+The greater part of my days was occupied with the hunt. I came to
+understand that I must distribute my work over every day, for it
+distracted me from my sad and depressing thoughts. Generally, after
+my morning tea, I went into the forest to seek heathcock or blackcock.
+After killing one or two I began to prepare my dinner, which never had
+an extensive menu. It was constantly game soup with a handful of dried
+bread and afterwards endless cups of tea, this essential beverage of the
+woods. Once, during my search for birds, I heard a rustle in the dense
+shrubs and, carefully peering about, I discovered the points of a deer’s
+horns. I crawled along toward the spot but the watchful animal heard my
+approach. With a great noise he rushed from the bush and I saw him very
+clearly, after he had run about three hundred steps, stop on the slope
+of the mountain. It was a splendid animal with dark grey coat, with
+almost a black spine and as large as a small cow. I laid my rifle across
+a branch and fired. The animal made a great leap, ran several steps and
+fell. With all my strength I ran to him but he got up again and half
+jumped, half dragged himself up the mountain. The second shot stopped
+him. I had won a warm carpet for my den and a large stock of meat. The
+horns I fastened up among the branches of my wall, where they made a
+fine hat rack.
+
+I cannot forget one very interesting but wild picture, which was staged
+for me several kilometres from my den. There was a small swamp covered
+with grass and cranberries scattered through it, where the blackcock
+and sand partridges usually came to feed on the berries. I approached
+noiselessly behind the bushes and saw a whole flock of blackcock
+scratching in the snow and picking out the berries. While I was
+surveying this scene, suddenly one of the blackcock jumped up and the
+rest of the frightened flock immediately flew away. To my astonishment
+the first bird began going straight up in a spiral flight and afterwards
+dropped directly down dead. When I approached there sprang from the
+body of the slain cock a rapacious ermine that hid under the trunk of a
+fallen tree. The bird’s neck was badly torn. I then understood that the
+ermine had charged the cock, fastened itself on his neck and had been
+carried by the bird into the air, as he sucked the blood from its
+throat, and had been the cause of the heavy fall back to the earth.
+Thanks to his aeronautic ability I saved one cartridge.
+
+So I lived fighting for the morrow and more and more poisoned by hard
+and bitter thoughts. The days and weeks passed and soon I felt the
+breath of warmer winds. On the open places the snow began to thaw. In
+spots the little rivulets of water appeared. Another day I saw a fly
+or a spider awakened after the hard winter. The spring was coming. I
+realized that in spring it was impossible to go out from the forest.
+Every river overflowed its banks; the swamps became impassable; all the
+runways of the animals turned into beds for streams of running water.
+I understood that until summer I was condemned to a continuation of my
+solitude. Spring very quickly came into her rights and soon my mountain
+was free from snow and was covered only with stones, the trunks of birch
+and aspen trees and the high cones of ant hills; the river in places
+broke its covering of ice and was coursing full with foam and bubbles.
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A FISHERMAN
+
+
+One day during the hunt, I approached the bank of the river and noticed
+many very large fish with red backs, as though filled with blood. They
+were swimming on the surface enjoying the rays of the sun. When the
+river was entirely free from ice, these fish appeared in enormous
+quantities. Soon I realized that they were working up-stream for the
+spawning season in the smaller rivers. I thought to use a plundering
+method of catching, forbidden by the law of all countries; but all the
+lawyers and legislators should be lenient to one who lives in a den
+under the roots of a fallen tree and dares to break their rational laws.
+
+Gathering many thin birch and aspen trees I built in the bed of the
+stream a weir which the fish could not pass and soon I found them
+trying to jump over it. Near the bank I left a hole in my barrier about
+eighteen inches below the surface and fastened on the up-stream side a
+high basket plaited from soft willow twigs, into which the fish came as
+they passed the hole. Then I stood cruelly by and hit them on the head
+with a strong stick. All my catch were over thirty pounds, some more
+than eighty. This variety of fish is called the taimen, is of the trout
+family and is the best in the Yenisei.
+
+After two weeks the fish had passed and my basket gave me no more
+treasure, so I began anew the hunt.
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOR
+
+
+The hunt became more and more profitable and enjoyable, as spring
+animated everything. In the morning at the break of day the forest was
+full of voices, strange and undiscernible to the inhabitant of the town.
+There the heathcock clucked and sang his song of love, as he sat on the
+top branches of the cedar and admired the grey hen scratching in the
+fallen leaves below. It was very easy to approach this full-feathered
+Caruso and with a shot to bring him down from his more poetic to his
+more utilitarian duties. His going out was an euthanasia, for he was in
+love and heard nothing. Out in the clearing the blackcocks with their
+wide-spread spotted tails were fighting, while the hens strutting
+near, craning and chattering, probably some gossip about their fighting
+swains, watched and were delighted with them. From the distance flowed
+in a stern and deep roar, yet full of tenderness and love, the mating
+call of the deer; while from the crags above came down the short and
+broken voice of the mountain buck. Among the bushes frolicked the hares
+and often near them a red fox lay flattened to the ground watching his
+chance. I never heard any wolves and they are usually not found in the
+Siberian regions covered with mountains and forest.
+
+But there was another beast, who was my neighbor, and one of us had
+to go away. One day, coming back from the hunt with a big heathcock, I
+suddenly noticed among the trees a black, moving mass. I stopped and,
+looking very attentively, saw a bear, digging away at an ant-hill.
+Smelling me, he snorted violently, and very quickly shuffled away,
+astonishing me with the speed of his clumsy gait. The following morning,
+while still lying under my overcoat, I was attracted by a noise behind
+my den. I peered out very carefully and discovered the bear. He stood on
+his hind legs and was noisily sniffing, investigating the question as
+to what living creature had adopted the custom of the bears of housing
+during the winter under the trunks of fallen trees. I shouted and struck
+my kettle with the ax. My early visitor made off with all his energy;
+but his visit did not please me. It was very early in the spring that
+this occurred and the bear should not yet have left his hibernating
+place. He was the so-called “ant-eater,” an abnormal type of bear
+lacking in all the etiquette of the first families of the bear clan.
+
+I knew that the “ant-eaters” were very irritable and audacious and
+quickly I prepared myself for both the defence and the charge. My
+preparations were short. I rubbed off the ends of five of my cartridges,
+thus making dum-dums out of them, a sufficiently intelligible argument
+for so unwelcome a guest. Putting on my coat I went to the place where
+I had first met the bear and where there were many ant-hills. I made
+a detour of the whole mountain, looked in all the ravines but nowhere
+found my caller. Disappointed and tired, I was approaching my shelter
+quite off my guard when I suddenly discovered the king of the forest
+himself just coming out of my lowly dwelling and sniffing all around the
+entrance to it. I shot. The bullet pierced his side. He roared with pain
+and anger and stood up on his hind legs. As the second bullet broke
+one of these, he squatted down but immediately, dragging the leg and
+endeavoring to stand upright, moved to attack me. Only the third bullet
+in his breast stopped him. He weighed about two hundred to two hundred
+fifty pounds, as near as I could guess, and was very tasty. He appeared
+at his best in cutlets but only a little less wonderful in the Hamburg
+steaks which I rolled and roasted on hot stones, watching them swell out
+into great balls that were as light as the finest souffle omelettes we
+used to have at the “Medved” in Petrograd. On this welcome addition to
+my larder I lived from then until the ground dried out and the stream
+ran down enough so that I could travel down along the river to the
+country whither Ivan had directed me.
+
+Ever traveling with the greatest precautions I made the journey down
+along the river on foot, carrying from my winter quarters all my
+household furniture and goods, wrapped up in the deerskin bag which I
+formed by tying the legs together in an awkward knot; and thus laden
+fording the small streams and wading through the swamps that lay across
+my path. After fifty odd miles of this I came to the country called
+Sifkova, where I found the cabin of a peasant named Tropoff, located
+closest to the forest that came to be my natural environment. With him I
+lived for a time.
+
+* * * * *
+
+Now in these unimaginable surroundings of safety and peace, summing up
+the total of my experience in the Siberian taiga, I make the following
+deductions. In every healthy spiritual individual of our times,
+occasions of necessity resurrect the traits of primitive man, hunter and
+warrior, and help him in the struggle with nature. It is the prerogative
+of the man with the trained mind and spirit over the untrained, who does
+not possess sufficient science and will power to carry him through. But
+the price that the cultured man must pay is that for him there exists
+nothing more awful than absolute solitude and the knowledge of complete
+isolation from human society and the life of moral and aesthetic
+culture. One step, one moment of weakness and dark madness will seize
+a man and carry him to inevitable destruction. I spent awful days of
+struggle with the cold and hunger but I passed more terrible days in
+the struggle of the will to kill weakening destructive thoughts. The
+memories of these days freeze my heart and mind and even now, as I
+revive them so clearly by writing of my experiences, they throw me
+back into a state of fear and apprehension. Moreover, I am compelled
+to observe that the people in highly civilized states give too little
+regard to the training that is useful to man in primitive conditions, in
+conditions incident to the struggle against nature for existence. It is
+the single normal way to develop a new generation of strong, healthy,
+iron men, with at the same time sensitive souls.
+
+Nature destroys the weak but helps the strong, awakening in the soul
+emotions which remain dormant under the urban conditions of modern life.
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+A RIVER IN TRAVAIL
+
+
+My presence in the Sifkova country was not for long but I used it in
+full measure. First, I sent a man in whom I had confidence and whom I
+considered trustworthy to my friends in the town that I had left and
+received from them linen, boots, money and a small case of first aid
+materials and essential medicines, and, what was most important, a
+passport in another name, since I was dead for the Bolsheviki. Secondly,
+in these more or less favorable conditions I reflected upon the plan for
+my future actions. Soon in Sifkova the people heard that the Bolshevik
+commissar would come for the requisition of cattle for the Red Army. It
+was dangerous to remain longer. I waited only until the Yenisei should
+lose its massive lock of ice, which kept it sealed long after the small
+rivulets had opened and the trees had taken on their spring foliage.
+For one thousand roubles I engaged a fisherman who agreed to take me
+fifty-five miles up the river to an abandoned gold mine as soon as the
+river, which had then only opened in places, should be entirely clear
+of ice. At last one morning I heard a deafening roar like a tremendous
+cannonade and ran out to find the river had lifted its great bulk of ice
+and then given way to break it up. I rushed on down to the bank, where I
+witnessed an awe-inspiring but magnificent scene. The river had brought
+down the great volume of ice that had been dislodged in the south and
+was carrying it northward under the thick layer which still covered
+parts of the stream until finally its weight had broken the winter dam
+to the north and released the whole grand mass in one last rush for the
+Arctic. The Yenisei, “Father Yenisei,” “Hero Yenisei,” is one of the
+longest rivers in Asia, deep and magnificent, especially through the
+middle range of its course, where it is flanked and held in canyon-like
+by great towering ranges. The huge stream had brought down whole miles
+of ice fields, breaking them up on the rapids and on isolated rocks,
+twisting them with angry swirls, throwing up sections of the black
+winter roads, carrying down the tepees built for the use of passing
+caravans which in the Winter always go from Minnusinsk to Krasnoyarsk on
+the frozen river. From time to time the stream stopped in its flow, the
+roar began and the great fields of ice were squeezed and piled upward,
+sometimes as high as thirty feet, damming up the water behind, so that
+it rapidly rose and ran out over the low places, casting on the shore
+great masses of ice. Then the power of the reinforced waters conquered
+the towering dam of ice and carried it downward with a sound like
+breaking glass. At the bends in the river and round the great rocks
+developed terrifying chaos. Huge blocks of ice jammed and jostled until
+some were thrown clear into the air, crashing against others already
+there, or were hurled against the curving cliffs and banks, tearing
+out boulders, earth and trees high up the sides. All along the low
+embankments this giant of nature flung upward with a suddenness that
+leaves man but a pigmy in force a great wall of ice fifteen to twenty
+feet high, which the peasants call “Zaberega” and through which they
+cannot get to the river without cutting out a road. One incredible feat
+I saw the giant perform, when a block many feet thick and many yards
+square was hurled through the air and dropped to crush saplings and
+little trees more than a half hundred feet from the bank.
+
+Watching this glorious withdrawal of the ice, I was filled with terror
+and revolt at seeing the awful spoils which the Yenisei bore away
+in this annual retreat. These were the bodies of the executed
+counter-revolutionaries--officers, soldiers and Cossacks of the former
+army of the Superior Governor of all anti-Bolshevik Russia, Admiral
+Kolchak. They were the results of the bloody work of the “Cheka” at
+Minnusinsk. Hundreds of these bodies with heads and hands cut off, with
+mutilated faces and bodies half burned, with broken skulls, floated and
+mingled with the blocks of ice, looking for their graves; or, turning
+in the furious whirlpools among the jagged blocks, they were ground and
+torn to pieces into shapeless masses, which the river, nauseated with
+its task, vomited out upon the islands and projecting sand bars. I
+passed the whole length of the middle Yenisei and constantly came across
+these putrifying and terrifying reminders of the work of the Bolsheviki.
+In one place at a turn of the river I saw a great heap of horses, which
+had been cast up by the ice and current, in number not less than three
+hundred. A verst below there I was sickened beyond endurance by the
+discovery of a grove of willows along the bank which had raked from the
+polluted stream and held in their finger-like drooping branches human
+bodies in all shapes and attitudes with a semblance of naturalness
+which made an everlasting picture on my distraught mind. Of this pitiful
+gruesome company I counted seventy.
+
+At last the mountain of ice passed by, followed by the muddy freshets
+that carried down the trunks of fallen trees, logs and bodies, bodies,
+bodies. The fisherman and his son put me and my luggage into their
+dugout made from an aspen tree and poled upstream along the bank.
+Poling in a swift current is very hard work. At the sharp curves we were
+compelled to row, struggling against the force of the stream and even in
+places hugging the cliffs and making headway only by clutching the rocks
+with our hands and dragging along slowly. Sometimes it took us a long
+while to do five or six metres through these rapid holes. In two days we
+reached the goal of our journey. I spent several days in this gold mine,
+where the watchman and his family were living. As they were short of
+food, they had nothing to spare for me and consequently my rifle again
+served to nourish me, as well as contributing something to my hosts.
+One day there appeared here a trained agriculturalist. I did not hide
+because during my winter in the woods I had raised a heavy beard, so
+that probably my own mother could not have recognized me. However, our
+guest was very shrewd and at once deciphered me. I did not fear him
+because I saw that he was not a Bolshevik and later had confirmation of
+this. We found common acquaintances and a common viewpoint on current
+events. He lived close to the gold mine in a small village where he
+superintended public works. We determined to escape together from
+Russia. For a long time I had puzzled over this matter and now my plan
+was ready. Knowing the position in Siberia and its geography, I decided
+that the best way to safety was through Urianhai, the northern part of
+Mongolia on the head waters of the Yenisei, then through Mongolia and
+out to the Far East and the Pacific. Before the overthrow of the Kolchak
+Government I had received a commission to investigate Urianhai and
+Western Mongolia and then, with great accuracy, I studied all the
+maps and literature I could get on this question. To accomplish this
+audacious plan I had the great incentive of my own safety.
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THROUGH SOVIET SIBERIA
+
+
+After several days we started through the forest on the left bank of the
+Yenisei toward the south, avoiding the villages as much as possible in
+fear of leaving some trail by which we might be followed. Whenever we
+did have to go into them, we had a good reception at the hands of the
+peasants, who did not penetrate our disguise; and we saw that they hated
+the Bolsheviki, who had destroyed many of their villages. In one place
+we were told that a detachment of Red troops had been sent out from
+Minnusinsk to chase the Whites. We were forced to work far back from
+the shore of the Yenisei and to hide in the woods and mountains. Here we
+remained nearly a fortnight, because all this time the Red soldiers were
+traversing the country and capturing in the woods half-dressed unarmed
+officers who were in hiding from the atrocious vengeance of the
+Bolsheviki. Afterwards by accident we passed a meadow where we found the
+bodies of twenty-eight officers hung to the trees, with their faces and
+bodies mutilated. There we determined never to allow ourselves to come
+alive into the hands of the Boisheviki. To prevent this we had our
+weapons and a supply of cyanide of potassium.
+
+Passing across one branch of the Yenisei, once we saw a narrow, miry
+pass, the entrance to which was strewn with the bodies of men and
+horses. A little farther along we found a broken sleigh with rifled
+boxes and papers scattered about. Near them were also torn garments and
+bodies. Who were these pitiful ones? What tragedy was staged in this
+wild wood? We tried to guess this enigma and we began to investigate the
+documents and papers. These were official papers addressed to the Staff
+of General Pepelaieff. Probably one part of the Staff during the retreat
+of Kolchak’s army went through this wood, striving to hide from the
+enemy approaching from all sides; but here they were caught by the Reds
+and killed. Not far from here we found the body of a poor unfortunate
+woman, whose condition proved clearly what had happened before relief
+came through the beneficent bullet. The body lay beside a shelter of
+branches, strewn with bottles and conserve tins, telling the tale of the
+bantering feast that had preceded the destruction of this life.
+
+The further we went to the south, the more pronouncedly hospitable the
+people became toward us and the more hostile to the Bolsheviki. At last
+we emerged from the forests and entered the spacious vastness of the
+Minnusinsk steppes, crossed by the high red mountain range called
+the “Kizill-Kaiya” and dotted here and there with salt lakes. It is a
+country of tombs, thousands of large and small dolmens, the tombs of the
+earliest proprietors of this land: pyramids of stone ten metres high,
+the marks set by Jenghiz Khan along his road of conquest and afterwards
+by the cripple Tamerlane-Temur. Thousands of these dolmens and stone
+pyramids stretch in endless rows to the north. In these plains the
+Tartars now live. They were robbed by the Bolsheviki and therefore hated
+them ardently. We openly told them that we were escaping. They gave us
+food for nothing and supplied us with guides, telling us with whom we
+might stop and where to hide in case of danger.
+
+After several days we looked down from the high bank of the Yenisei upon
+the first steamer, the “Oriol,” from Krasnoyarsk to Minnusinsk, laden
+with Red soldiers. Soon we came to the mouth of the river Tuba, which
+we were to follow straight east to the Sayan mountains, where Urianhai
+begins. We thought the stage along the Tuba and its branch, the Amyl,
+the most dangerous part of our course, because the valleys of these two
+rivers had a dense population which had contributed large numbers
+of soldiers to the celebrated Communist Partisans, Schetinkin and
+Krafcheno.
+
+A Tartar ferried us and our horses over to the right bank of the Yenisei
+and afterwards sent us some Cossacks at daybreak who guided us to the
+mouth of the Tuba, where we spent the whole day in rest, gratifying
+ourselves with a feast of wild black currants and cherries.
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THREE DAYS ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE
+
+
+Armed with our false passports, we moved along up the valley of the
+Tuba. Every ten or fifteen versts we came across large villages of from
+one to six hundred houses, where all administration was in the hands of
+Soviets and where spies scrutinized all passers-by. We could not avoid
+these villages for two reasons. First, our attempts to avoid them
+when we were constantly meeting the peasants in the country would have
+aroused suspicion and would have caused any Soviet to arrest us and
+send us to the “Cheka” in Minnusinsk, where we should have sung our
+last song. Secondly, in his documents my fellow traveler was granted
+permission to use the government post relays for forwarding him on his
+journey. Therefore, we were forced to visit the village Soviets and
+change our horses. Our own mounts we had given to the Tartar and Cossack
+who helped us at the mouth of the Tuba, and the Cossack brought us in
+his wagon to the first village, where we received the post horses. All
+except a small minority of the peasants were against the Bolsheviki and
+voluntarily assisted us. I paid them for their help by treating their
+sick and my fellow traveler gave them practical advice in the management
+of their agriculture. Those who helped us chiefly were the old
+dissenters and the Cossacks.
+
+Sometimes we came across villages entirely Communistic but very soon we
+learned to distinguish them. When we entered a village with our horse
+bells tinkling and found the peasants who happened to be sitting in
+front of their houses ready to get up with a frown and a grumble that
+here were more new devils coming, we knew that this was a village
+opposed to the Communists and that here we could stop in safety. But,
+if the peasants approached and greeted us with pleasure, calling us
+“Comrades,” we knew at once that we were among the enemy and took great
+precautions. Such villages were inhabited by people who were not the
+Siberian liberty-loving peasants but by emigrants from the Ukraine,
+idle and drunk, living in poor dirty huts, though their village
+were surrounded with the black and fertile soil of the steppes. Very
+dangerous and pleasant moments we spent in the large village of Karatuz.
+It is rather a town. In the year 1912 two colleges were opened here and
+the population reached 15,000 people. It is the capital of the South
+Yenisei Cossacks. But by now it is very difficult to recognize this
+town. The peasant emigrants and Red army murdered all the Cossack
+population and destroyed and burned most of the houses; and it is at
+present the center of Bolshevism and Communism in the eastern part of
+the Minnusinsk district. In the building of the Soviet, where we came to
+exchange our horses, there was being held a meeting of the “Cheka.” We
+were immediately surrounded and questioned about our documents. We were
+not any too calm about the impression which might be made by our papers
+and attempted to avoid this examination. My fellow traveler afterwards
+often said to me:
+
+“It is great good fortune that among the Bolsheviki the good-for-nothing
+shoemaker of yesterday is the Governor of today and scientists sweep
+the streets or clean the stables of the Red cavalry. I can talk with
+the Bolsheviki because they do not know the difference between
+‘disinfection’ and ‘diphtheria,’ ‘anthracite’ and ‘appendicitis’ and can
+talk them round in all things, even up to persuading them not to put a
+bullet into me.”
+
+And so we talked the members of the “Cheka” round to everything that we
+wanted. We presented to them a bright scheme for the future development
+of their district, when we would build the roads and bridges which would
+allow them to export the wood from Urianhai, iron and gold from the
+Sayan Mountains, cattle and furs from Mongolia. What a triumph of
+creative work for the Soviet Government! Our ode occupied about an
+hour and afterwards the members of the “Cheka,” forgetting about our
+documents, personally changed our horses, placed our luggage on the
+wagon and wished us success. It was the last ordeal within the borders
+of Russia.
+
+When we had crossed the valley of the river Amyl, Happiness smiled on
+us. Near the ferry we met a member of the militia from Karatuz. He had
+on his wagon several rifles and automatic pistols, mostly Mausers,
+for outfitting an expedition through Urianhai in quest of some Cossack
+officers who had been greatly troubling the Bolsheviki. We stood upon
+our guard. We could very easily have met this expedition and we were
+not quite assured that the soldiers would be so appreciative of our
+high-sounding phrases as were the members of the “Cheka.” Carefully
+questioning the militiaman, we ferreted out the route their expedition
+was to take. In the next village we stayed in the same house with him. I
+had to open my luggage and suddenly I noticed his admiring glance fixed
+upon my bag.
+
+“What pleases you so much?” I asked.
+
+He whispered: “Trousers . . . Trousers.”
+
+I had received from my townsmen quite new trousers of black thick
+cloth for riding. Those trousers attracted the rapt attention of the
+militiaman.
+
+“If you have no other trousers. . . .” I remarked, reflecting upon my
+plan of attack against my new friend.
+
+“No,” he explained with sadness, “the Soviet does not furnish trousers.
+They tell me they also go without trousers. And my trousers are
+absolutely worn out. Look at them.”
+
+With these words he threw back the corner of his overcoat and I was
+astonished how he could keep himself inside these trousers, for they
+had such large holes that they were more of a net than trousers, a net
+through which a small shark could have slipped.
+
+“Sell me,” he whispered, with a question in his voice.
+
+“I cannot, for I need them myself,” I answered decisively.
+
+He reflected for a few minutes and afterward, approaching me, said: “Let
+us go out doors and talk. Here it is inconvenient.”
+
+We went outside. “Now, what about it?” he began. “You are going into
+Urianhai. There the Soviet bank-notes have no value and you will not
+be able to buy anything, where there are plenty of sables, fox-skins,
+ermine and gold dust to be purchased, which they very willingly exchange
+for rifles and cartridges. You have each of you a rifle and I will
+give you one more rifle with a hundred cartridges if you give me the
+trousers.”
+
+“We do not need weapons. We are protected by our documents,” I answered,
+as though I did not understand.
+
+“But no,” he interrupted, “you can change that rifle there into furs and
+gold. I shall give you that rifle outright.”
+
+“Ah, that’s it, is it? But it’s very little for those trousers. Nowhere
+in Russia can you now find trousers. All Russia goes without trousers
+and for your rifle I should receive a sable and what use to me is one
+skin?”
+
+Word by word I attained to my desire. The militia-man got my trousers
+and I received a rifle with one hundred cartridges and two automatic
+pistols with forty cartridges each. We were armed now so that we could
+defend ourselves. Moreover, I persuaded the happy possessor of my
+trousers to give us a permit to carry the weapons. Then the law and
+force were both on our side.
+
+In a distant village we bought three horses, two for riding and one for
+packing, engaged a guide, purchased dried bread, meat, salt and butter
+and, after resting twenty-four hours, began our trip up the Amyl toward
+the Sayan Mountains on the border of Urianhai. There we hoped not to
+meet Bolsheviki, either sly or silly. In three days from the mouth of
+the Tuba we passed the last Russian village near the Mongolian-Urianhai
+border, three days of constant contact with a lawless population, of
+continuous danger and of the ever present possibility of fortuitous
+death. Only iron will power, presence of mind and dogged tenacity
+brought us through all the dangers and saved us from rolling back down
+our precipice of adventure, at whose foot lay so many others who
+had failed to make this same climb to freedom which we had just
+accomplished. Perhaps they lacked the persistence or the presence of
+mind, perhaps they had not the poetic ability to sing odes about “roads,
+bridges and gold mines” or perhaps they simply had no spare trousers.
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+TO THE SAYANS AND SAFETY
+
+
+Dense virgin wood surrounded us. In the high, already yellow grass the
+trail wound hardly noticeable in among bushes and trees just beginning
+to drop their many colored leaves. It is the old, already forgotten Amyl
+pass road. Twenty-five years ago it carried the provisions, machinery
+and workers for the numerous, now abandoned, gold mines of the
+Amyl valley. The road now wound along the wide and rapid Amyl, then
+penetrated into the deep forest, guiding us round the swampy ground
+filled with those dangerous Siberian quagmires, through the dense
+bushes, across mountains and wide meadows. Our guide probably did not
+surmise our real intention and sometimes, apprehensively looking down at
+the ground, would say:
+
+“Three riders on horses with shoes on have passed here. Perhaps they
+were soldiers.”
+
+His anxiety was terminated when he discovered that the tracks led off to
+one side and then returned to the trail.
+
+“They did not proceed farther,” he remarked, slyly smiling.
+
+“That’s too bad,” we answered. “It would have been more lively to travel
+in company.”
+
+But the peasant only stroked his beard and laughed. Evidently he was not
+taken in by our statement.
+
+We passed on the way a gold mine that had been formerly planned and
+equipped on splendid lines but was now abandoned and the buildings all
+destroyed. The Bolsheviki had taken away the machinery, supplies and
+also some parts of the buildings. Nearby stood a dark and gloomy church
+with windows broken, the crucifix torn off and the tower burned, a
+pitifully typical emblem of the Russia of today. The starving family of
+the watchman lived at the mine in continuing danger and privation. They
+told us that in this forest region were wandering about a band of Reds
+who were robbing anything that remained on the property of the gold
+mine, were working the pay dirt in the richest part of the mine and,
+with a little gold washed, were going to drink and gamble it away in
+some distant villages where the peasants were making the forbidden vodka
+out of berries and potatoes and selling it for its weight in gold. A
+meeting with this band meant death. After three days we crossed the
+northern ridge of the Sayan chain, passed the border river Algiak and,
+after this day, were abroad in the territory of Urianhai.
+
+This wonderful land, rich in most diverse forms of natural wealth, is
+inhabited by a branch of the Mongols, which is now only sixty thousand
+and which is gradually dying off, speaking a language quite different
+from any of the other dialects of this folk and holding as their life
+ideal the tenet of “Eternal Peace.” Urianhai long ago became the scene
+of administrative attempts by Russians, Mongols and Chinese, all of whom
+claimed sovereignty over the region whose unfortunate inhabitants, the
+Soyots, had to pay tribute to all three of these overlords. It was due
+to this that the land was not an entirely safe refuge for us. We had
+heard already from our militiaman about the expedition preparing to go
+into Urianhai and from the peasants we learned that the villages along
+the Little Yenisei and farther south had formed Red detachments, who
+were robbing and killing everyone who fell into their hands. Recently
+they had killed sixty-two officers attempting to pass Urianhai into
+Mongolia; robbed and killed a caravan of Chinese merchants; and killed
+some German war prisoners who escaped from the Soviet paradise. On the
+fourth day we reached a swampy valley where, among open forests, stood a
+single Russian house. Here we took leave of our guide, who hastened away
+to get back before the snows should block his road over the Sayans. The
+master of the establishment agreed to guide us to the Seybi River for
+ten thousand roubles in Soviet notes. Our horses were tired and we were
+forced to give them a rest, so we decided to spend twenty-four hours
+here.
+
+We were drinking tea when the daughter of our host cried:
+
+“The Soyots are coming!” Into the room with their rifles and pointed
+hats came suddenly four of them.
+
+“Mende,” they grunted to us and then, without ceremony, began examining
+us critically. Not a button or a seam in our entire outfit escaped their
+penetrating gaze. Afterwards one of them, who appeared to be the local
+“Merin” or governor, began to investigate our political views. Listening
+to our criticisms of the Bolsheviki, he was evidently pleased and began
+talking freely.
+
+“You are good people. You do not like Bolsheviki. We will help you.”
+
+I thanked him and presented him with the thick silk cord which I was
+wearing as a girdle. Before night they left us saying that they would
+return in the morning. It grew dark. We went to the meadow to look after
+our exhausted horses grazing there and came back to the house. We were
+gaily chatting with the hospitable host when suddenly we heard horses’
+hoofs in the court and raucous voices, followed by the immediate entry
+of five Red soldiers armed with rifles and swords. Something unpleasant
+and cold rolled up into my throat and my heart hammered. We knew the
+Reds as our enemies. These men had the red stars on their Astrakhan caps
+and red triangles on their sleeves. They were members of the detachment
+that was out to look for Cossack officers. Scowling at us they took
+off their overcoats and sat down. We first opened the conversation,
+explaining the purpose of our journey in exploring for bridges, roads
+and gold mines. From them we then learned that their commander would
+arrive in a little while with seven more men and that they would take
+our host at once as a guide to the Seybi River, where they thought the
+Cossack officers must be hidden. Immediately I remarked that our affairs
+were moving fortunately and that we must travel along together. One of
+the soldiers replied that that would depend upon the “Comrade-officer.”
+
+During our conversation the Soyot Governor entered. Very attentively he
+studied again the new arrivals and then asked: “Why did you take from
+the Soyots the good horses and leave bad ones?”
+
+The soldiers laughed at him.
+
+“Remember that you are in a foreign country!” answered the Soyot, with a
+threat in his voice.
+
+“God and the Devil!” cried one of the soldiers.
+
+But the Soyot very calmly took a seat at the table and accepted the cup
+of tea the hostess was preparing for him. The conversation ceased. The
+Soyot finished the tea, smoked his long pipe and, standing up, said:
+
+“If tomorrow morning the horses are not back at the owner’s, we shall
+come and take them.” And with these words he turned and went out.
+
+I noticed an expression of apprehension on the faces of the soldiers.
+Shortly one was sent out as a messenger while the others sat silent with
+bowed heads. Late in the night the officer arrived with his other seven
+men. As he received the report about the Soyot, he knitted his brows and
+said:
+
+“It’s a bad mess. We must travel through the swamp where a Soyot will be
+behind every mound watching us.”
+
+He seemed really very anxious and his trouble fortunately prevented him
+from paying much attention to us. I began to calm him and promised on
+the morrow to arrange this matter with the Soyots. The officer was a
+coarse brute and a silly man, desiring strongly to be promoted for the
+capture of the Cossack officers, and feared that the Soyot could prevent
+him from reaching the Seybi.
+
+At daybreak we started together with the Red detachment. When we had
+made about fifteen kilometers, we discovered behind the bushes two
+riders. They were Soyots. On their backs were their flint rifles.
+
+“Wait for me!” I said to the officer. “I shall go for a parley with
+them.”
+
+I went forward with all the speed of my horse. One of the horsemen was
+the Soyot Governor, who said to me:
+
+“Remain behind the detachment and help us.”
+
+“All right,” I answered, “but let us talk a little, in order that they
+may think we are parleying.”
+
+After a moment I shook the hand of the Soyot and returned to the
+soldiers.
+
+“All right,” I exclaimed, “we can continue our journey. No hindrance
+will come from the Soyots.”
+
+We moved forward and, when we were crossing a large meadow, we espied at
+a long distance two Soyots riding at full gallop right up the side of a
+mountain. Step by step I accomplished the necessary manoeuvre to bring
+me and my fellow traveler somewhat behind the detachment. Behind
+our backs remained only one soldier, very brutish in appearance and
+apparently very hostile to us. I had time to whisper to my companion
+only one word: “Mauser,” and saw that he very carefully unbuttoned the
+saddle bag and drew out a little the handle of his pistol.
+
+Soon I understood why these soldiers, excellent woodsmen as they were,
+would not attempt to go to the Seybi without a guide. All the country
+between the Algiak and the Seybi is formed by high and narrow mountain
+ridges separated by deep swampy valleys. It is a cursed and dangerous
+place. At first our horses mired to the knees, lunging about and
+catching their feet in the roots of bushes in the quagmires, then
+falling and pinning us under their sides, breaking parts of their
+saddles and bridles. Then we would go in up to the riders’ knees. My
+horse went down once with his whole breast and head under the red fluid
+mud and we just saved it and no more. Afterwards the officer’s horse
+fell with him so that he bruised his head on a stone. My companion
+injured one knee against a tree. Some of the men also fell and were
+injured. The horses breathed heavily. Somewhere dimly and gloomily
+a crow cawed. Later the road became worse still. The trail followed
+through the same miry swamp but everywhere the road was blocked with
+fallen tree trunks. The horses, jumping over the trunks, would land in
+an unexpectedly deep hole and flounder. We and all the soldiers were
+covered with blood and mud and were in great fear of exhausting our
+mounts. For a long distance we had to get down and lead them. At last we
+entered a broad meadow covered with bushes and bordered with rocks. Not
+only horses but riders also began to sink to their middle in a quagmire
+with apparently no bottom. The whole surface of the meadow was but a
+thin layer of turf, covering a lake with black putrefying water. When
+we finally learned to open our column and proceed at big intervals, we
+found we could keep on this surface that undulated like rubber ice and
+swayed the bushes up and down. In places the earth buckled up and broke.
+
+Suddenly, three shots sounded. They were hardly more than the report of
+a Flobert rifle; but they were genuine shots, because the officer and
+two soldiers fell to the ground. The other soldiers grabbed their rifles
+and, with fear, looked about for the enemy. Four more were soon unseated
+and suddenly I noticed our rearguard brute raise his rifle and aim
+right at me. However, my Mauser outstrode his rifle and I was allowed to
+continue my story.
+
+“Begin!” I cried to my friend and we took part in the shooting. Soon the
+meadow began to swarm with Soyots, stripping the fallen, dividing the
+spoils and recapturing their horses. In some forms of warfare it is
+never safe to leave any of the enemy to renew hostilities later with
+overwhelming forces.
+
+After an hour of very difficult road we began to ascend the mountain and
+soon arrived on a high plateau covered with trees.
+
+“After all, Soyots are not a too peaceful people,” I remarked,
+approaching the Governor.
+
+He looked at me very sharply and replied:
+
+“It was not Soyots who did the killing.”
+
+He was right. It was the Abakan Tartars in Soyot clothes who killed the
+Bolsheviki. These Tartars were running their herds of cattle and horses
+down out of Russia through Urianhai to Mongolia. They had as their
+guide and negotiator a Kalmuck Lamaite. The following morning we were
+approaching a small settlement of Russian colonists and noticed some
+horsemen looking out from the woods. One of our young and brave Tartars
+galloped off at full speed toward these men in the wood but soon wheeled
+and returned with a reassuring smile.
+
+“All right,” he exclaimed, laughing, “keep right on.”
+
+We continued our travel on a good broad road along a high wooden fence
+surrounding a meadow filled with a fine herd of wapiti or izubr, which
+the Russian colonists breed for the horns that are so valuable in the
+velvet for sale to Tibetan and Chinese medicine dealers. These horns,
+when boiled and dried, are called panti and are sold to the Chinese at
+very high prices.
+
+We were received with great fear by the settlers.
+
+“Thank God!” exclaimed the hostess, “we thought . . .” and she broke off,
+looking at her husband.
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE BATTLE ON THE SEYBI
+
+
+Constant dangers develop one’s watchfulness and keenness of perception.
+We did not take off our clothes nor unsaddle our horses, tired as
+we were. I put my Mauser inside my coat and began to look about and
+scrutinize the people. The first thing I discovered was the butt end of
+a rifle under the pile of pillows always found on the peasants’ large
+beds. Later I noticed the employees of our host constantly coming into
+the room for orders from him. They did not look like simple peasants,
+although they had long beards and were dressed very dirtily. They
+examined me with very attentive eyes and did not leave me and my friend
+alone with the host. We could not, however, make out anything. But then
+the Soyot Governor came in and, noticing our strained relations, began
+explaining in the Soyot language to the host all about us.
+
+“I beg your pardon,” the colonist said, “but you know yourself that now
+for one honest man we have ten thousand murderers and robbers.”
+
+With this we began chatting more freely. It appeared that our host knew
+that a band of Bolsheviki would attack him in the search for the band of
+Cossack officers who were living in his house on and off. He had heard
+also about the “total loss” of one detachment. However, it did not
+entirely calm the old man to have our news, for he had heard of the
+large detachment of Reds that was coming from the border of the Usinsky
+District in pursuit of the Tartars who were escaping with their cattle
+south to Mongolia.
+
+“From one minute to another we are awaiting them with fear,” said
+our host to me. “My Soyot has come in and announced that the Reds are
+already crossing the Seybi and the Tartars are prepared for the fight.”
+
+We immediately went out to look over our saddles and packs and then took
+the horses and hid them in the bushes not far off. We made ready our
+rifles and pistols and took posts in the enclosure to wait for our
+common enemy. An hour of trying impatience passed, when one of the
+workmen came running in from the wood and whispered:
+
+“They are crossing our swamp. . . . The fight is on.”
+
+In fact, like an answer to his words, came through the woods the sound
+of a single rifle-shot, followed closely by the increasing rat-tat-tat
+of the mingled guns. Nearer to the house the sounds gradually came. Soon
+we heard the beating of the horses’ hoofs and the brutish cries of the
+soldiers. In a moment three of them burst into the house, from off
+the road where they were being raked now by the Tartars from both
+directions, cursing violently. One of them shot at our host. He stumbled
+along and fell on his knee, as his hand reached out toward the rifle
+under his pillows.
+
+“Who are YOU?” brutally blurted out one of the soldiers, turning to us
+and raising his rifle. We answered with Mausers and successfully, for
+only one soldier in the rear by the door escaped, and that merely to
+fall into the hands of a workman in the courtyard who strangled him.
+The fight had begun. The soldiers called on their comrades for help.
+The Reds were strung along in the ditch at the side of the road, three
+hundred paces from the house, returning the fire of the surrounding
+Tartars. Several soldiers ran to the house to help their comrades but
+this time we heard the regular volley of the workmen of our host. They
+fired as though in a manoeuvre calmly and accurately. Five Red soldiers
+lay on the road, while the rest now kept to their ditch. Before long we
+discovered that they began crouching and crawling out toward the end of
+the ditch nearest the wood where they had left their horses. The sounds
+of shots became more and more distant and soon we saw fifty or sixty
+Tartars pursuing the Reds across the meadow.
+
+Two days we rested here on the Seybi. The workmen of our host, eight in
+number, turned out to be officers hiding from the Bolsheviks. They asked
+permission to go on with us, to which we agreed.
+
+When my friend and I continued our trip we had a guard of eight armed
+officers and three horses with packs. We crossed a beautiful valley
+between the Rivers Seybi and Ut. Everywhere we saw splendid grazing
+lands with numerous herds upon them, but in two or three houses along
+the road we did not find anyone living. All had hidden away in fear
+after hearing the sounds of the fight with the Reds. The following day
+we went up over the high chain of mountains called Daban and, traversing
+a great area of burned timber where our trail lay among the fallen
+trees, we began to descend into a valley hidden from us by the
+intervening foothills. There behind these hills flowed the Little
+Yenisei, the last large river before reaching Mongolia proper. About ten
+kilometers from the river we spied a column of smoke rising up out of
+the wood. Two of the officers slipped away to make an investigation.
+For a long time they did not return and we, fearful lest something had
+happened, moved off carefully in the direction of the smoke, all ready
+for a fight if necessary. We finally came near enough to hear the voices
+of many people and among them the loud laugh of one of our scouts.
+In the middle of a meadow we made out a large tent with two tepees of
+branches and around these a crowd of fifty or sixty men. When we broke
+out of the forest all of them rushed forward with a joyful welcome
+for us. It appeared that it was a large camp of Russian officers and
+soldiers who, after their escape from Siberia, had lived in the houses
+of the Russian colonists and rich peasants in Urianhai.
+
+“What are you doing here?” we asked with surprise.
+
+“Oh, ho, you know nothing at all about what has been going on?” replied
+a fairly old man who called himself Colonel Ostrovsky. “In Urianhai an
+order has been issued from the Military Commissioner to mobilize all
+men over twenty-eight years of age and everywhere toward the town of
+Belotzarsk are moving detachments of these Partisans. They are robbing
+the colonists and peasants and killing everyone that falls into their
+hands. We are hiding here from them.”
+
+The whole camp counted only sixteen rifles and three bombs, belonging
+to a Tartar who was traveling with his Kalmuck guide to his herds in
+Western Mongolia. We explained the aim of our journey and our intention
+to pass through Mongolia to the nearest port on the Pacific.
+The officers asked me to bring them out with us. I agreed. Our
+reconnaissance proved to us that there were no Partisans near the house
+of the peasant who was to ferry us over the Little Yenisei. We moved off
+at once in order to pass as quickly as possible this dangerous zone of
+the Yenisei and to sink ourselves into the forest beyond. It snowed but
+immediately thawed. Before evening a cold north wind sprang up, bringing
+with it a small blizzard. Late in the night our party reached the river.
+Our colonist welcomed us and offered at once to ferry us over and swim
+the horses, although there was ice still floating which had come down
+from the head-waters of the stream. During this conversation there was
+present one of the peasant’s workmen, red-haired and squint-eyed. He
+kept moving around all the time and suddenly disappeared. Our host
+noticed it and, with fear in his voice, said:
+
+“He has run to the village and will guide the Partisans here. We must
+cross immediately.”
+
+Then began the most terrible night of my whole journey. We proposed
+to the colonist that he take only our food and ammunition in the boat,
+while we would swim our horses across, in order to save the time of
+the many trips. The width of the Yenisei in this place is about three
+hundred metres. The stream is very rapid and the shore breaks away
+abruptly to the full depth of the stream. The night was absolutely dark
+with not a star in the sky. The wind in whistling swirls drove the snow
+and sleet sharply against our faces. Before us flowed the stream of
+black, rapid water, carrying down thin, jagged blocks of ice, twisting
+and grinding in the whirls and eddies. For a long time my horse refused
+to take the plunge down the steep bank, snorted and braced himself. With
+all my strength I lashed him with my whip across his neck until, with a
+pitiful groan, he threw himself into the cold stream. We both went all
+the way under and I hardly kept my seat in the saddle. Soon I was some
+metres from the shore with my horse stretching his head and neck far
+forward in his efforts and snorting and blowing incessantly. I felt the
+every motion of his feet churning the water and the quivering of his
+whole body under me in this trial. At last we reached the middle of the
+river, where the current became exceedingly rapid and began to carry us
+down with it. Out of the ominous darkness I heard the shoutings of my
+companions and the dull cries of fear and suffering from the horses. I
+was chest deep in the icy water. Sometimes the floating blocks struck
+me; sometimes the waves broke up over my head and face. I had no time to
+look about or to feel the cold. The animal wish to live took possession
+of me; I became filled with the thought that, if my horse’s strength
+failed in his struggle with the stream, I must perish. All my attention
+was turned to his efforts and to his quivering fear. Suddenly he groaned
+loudly and I noticed he was sinking. The water evidently was over his
+nostrils, because the intervals of his frightened snorts through the
+nostrils became longer. A big block of ice struck his head and turned
+him so that he was swimming right downstream. With difficulty I reined
+him around toward the shore but felt now that his force was gone. His
+head several times disappeared under the swirling surface. I had no
+choice. I slipped from the saddle and, holding this by my left hand,
+swam with my right beside my mount, encouraging him with my shouts. For
+a time he floated with lips apart and his teeth set firm. In his widely
+opened eyes was indescribable fear. As soon as I was out of the saddle,
+he had at once risen in the water and swam more calmly and rapidly.
+At last under the hoofs of my exhausted animal I heard the stones.
+One after another my companions came up on the shore. The well-trained
+horses had brought all their burdens over. Much farther down our
+colonist landed with the supplies. Without a moment’s loss we packed
+our things on the horses and continued our journey. The wind was growing
+stronger and colder. At the dawn of day the cold was intense. Our soaked
+clothes froze and became hard as leather; our teeth chattered; and in
+our eyes showed the red fires of fever: but we traveled on to put as
+much space as we could between ourselves and the Partisans. Passing
+about fifteen kilometres through the forest we emerged into an open
+valley, from which we could see the opposite bank of the Yenisei. It was
+about eight o’clock. Along the road on the other shore wound the black
+serpent-like line of riders and wagons which we made out to be a column
+of Red soldiers with their transport. We dismounted and hid in the
+bushes in order to avoid attracting their attention.
+
+All the day with the thermometer at zero and below we continued our
+journey, only at night reaching the mountains covered with larch
+forests, where we made big fires, dried our clothes and warmed ourselves
+thoroughly. The hungry horses did not leave the fires but stood right
+behind us with drooped heads and slept. Very early in the morning
+several Soyots came to our camp.
+
+“Ulan? (Red?)” asked one of them.
+
+“No! No!” exclaimed all our company.
+
+“Tzagan? (White?)” followed the new question.
+
+“Yes, yes,” said the Tartar, “all are Whites.”
+
+“Mende! Mende!” they grunted and, after starting their cups of tea,
+began to relate very interesting and important news. It appeared that
+the Red Partisans, moving from the mountains Tannu Ola, occupied with
+their outposts all the border of Mongolia to stop and seize the peasants
+and Soyots driving out their cattle. To pass the Tannu Ola now would be
+impossible. I saw only one way--to turn sharp to the southeast, pass
+the swampy valley of the Buret Hei and reach the south shore of Lake
+Kosogol, which is already in the territory of Mongolia proper. It was
+very unpleasant news. To the first Mongol post in Samgaltai was not more
+than sixty miles from our camp, while to Kosogol by the shortest line
+not less than two hundred seventy-five. The horses my friend and I were
+riding, after having traveled more than six hundred miles over hard
+roads and without proper food or rest, could scarcely make such an
+additional distance. But, reflecting upon the situation and studying my
+new fellow travelers, I determined not to attempt to pass the Tannu Ola.
+They were nervous, morally weary men, badly dressed and armed and most
+of them were without weapons. I knew that during a fight there is no
+danger so great as that of disarmed men. They are easily caught
+by panic, lose their heads and infect all the others. Therefore, I
+consulted with my friends and decided to go to Kosogol. Our company
+agreed to follow us. After luncheon, consisting of soup with big
+lumps of meat, dry bread and tea, we moved out. About two o’clock the
+mountains began to rise up before us. They were the northeast outspurs
+of the Tannu Ola, behind which lay the Valley of Buret Hei.
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE BARRIER OF RED PARTISANS
+
+
+In a valley between two sharp ridges we discovered a herd of yaks and
+cattle being rapidly driven off to the north by ten mounted Soyots.
+Approaching us warily they finally revealed that Noyon (Prince) of Todji
+had ordered them to drive the herds along the Buret Hei into Mongolia,
+apprehending the pillaging of the Red Partisans. They proceeded but
+were informed by some Soyot hunters that this part of the Tannu Ola was
+occupied by the Partisans from the village of Vladimirovka. Consequently
+they were forced to return. We inquired from them the whereabouts of
+these outposts and how many Partisans were holding the mountain pass
+over into Mongolia. We sent out the Tartar and the Kalmuck for a
+reconnaissance while all of us prepared for the further advance by
+wrapping the feet of our horses in our shirts and by muzzling their
+noses with straps and bits of rope so that they could not neigh. It
+was dark when our investigators returned and reported to us that about
+thirty Partisans had a camp some ten kilometers from us, occupying the
+yurtas of the Soyots. At the pass were two outposts, one of two soldiers
+and the other of three. From the outposts to the camp was a little over
+a mile. Our trail lay between the two outposts. From the top of the
+mountain one could plainly see the two posts and could shoot them all.
+When we had come near to the top of this mountain, I left our party and,
+taking with me my friend, the Tartar, the Kalmuck and two of the young
+officers, advanced. From the mountain I saw about five hundred yards
+ahead two fires. At each of the fires sat a soldier with his rifle and
+the others slept. I did not want to fight with the Partisans but we
+had to do away with these outposts and that without firing or we never
+should get through the pass. I did not believe the Partisans could
+afterwards track us because the whole trail was thickly marked with the
+spoors of horses and cattle.
+
+“I shall take for my share these two,” whispered my friend, pointing to
+the left outpost.
+
+The rest of us were to take care of the second post. I crept along
+through the bushes behind my friend in order to help him in case of
+need; but I am bound to admit that I was not at all worried about him.
+He was about seven feet tall and so strong that, when a horse used to
+refuse sometimes to take the bit, he would wrap his arm around its neck,
+kick its forefeet out from under it and throw it so that he could easily
+bridle it on the ground. When only a hundred paces remained, I stood
+behind the bushes and watched. I could see very distinctly the fire and
+the dozing sentinel. He sat with his rifle on his knees. His companion,
+asleep beside him, did not move. Their white felt boots were plainly
+visible to me. For a long time I did not remark my friend. At the fire
+all was quiet. Suddenly from the other outpost floated over a few dim
+shouts and all was still. Our sentinel slowly raised his head. But just
+at this moment the huge body of my friend rose up and blanketed the fire
+from me and in a twinkling the feet of the sentinel flashed through the
+air, as my companion had seized him by the throat and swung him
+clear into the bushes, where both figures disappeared. In a second he
+re-appeared, flourished the rifle of the Partisan over his head and I
+heard the dull blow which was followed by an absolute calm. He came back
+toward me and, confusedly smiling, said:
+
+“It is done. God and the Devil! When I was a boy, my mother wanted to
+make a priest out of me. When I grew up, I became a trained agronome in
+order . . . to strangle the people and smash their skulls. Revolution is
+a very stupid thing!”
+
+And with anger and disgust he spit and began to smoke his pipe.
+
+At the other outpost also all was finished. During this night we reached
+the top of the Tannu Ola and descended again into a valley covered
+with dense bushes and twined with a whole network of small rivers and
+streams. It was the headwaters of the Buret Hei. About one o’clock we
+stopped and began to feed our horses, as the grass just there was
+very good. Here we thought ourselves in safety. We saw many calming
+indications. On the mountains were seen the grazing herds of reindeers
+and yaks and approaching Soyots confirmed our supposition. Here behind
+the Tannu Ola the Soyots had not seen the Red soldiers. We presented to
+these Soyots a brick of tea and saw them depart happy and sure that we
+were “Tzagan,” a “good people.”
+
+While our horses rested and grazed on the well-preserved grass, we sat
+by the fire and deliberated upon our further progress. There developed
+a sharp controversy between two sections of our company, one led by a
+Colonel who with four officers were so impressed by the absence of Reds
+south of the Tannu Ola that they determined to work westward to Kobdo
+and then on to the camp on the Emil River where the Chinese authorities
+had interned six thousand of the forces of General Bakitch, which had
+come over into Mongolian territory. My friend and I with sixteen of the
+officers chose to carry through our old plan to strike for the shores
+of Lake Kosogol and thence out to the Far East. As neither side could
+persuade the other to abandon its ideas, our company was divided and the
+next day at noon we took leave of one another. It turned out that our
+own wing of eighteen had many fights and difficulties on the way, which
+cost us the lives of six of our comrades, but that the remainder of us
+came through to the goal of our journey so closely knit by the ties of
+devotion which fighting and struggling for our very lives entailed
+that we have ever preserved for one another the warmest feelings of
+friendship. The other group under Colonel Jukoff perished. He met a big
+detachment of Red cavalry and was defeated by them in two fights. Only
+two officers escaped. They related to me this sad news and the details
+of the fights when we met four months later in Urga.
+
+Our band of eighteen riders with five packhorses moved up the valley
+of the Buret Hei. We floundered in the swamps, passed innumerable miry
+streams, were frozen by the cold winds and were soaked through by the
+snow and sleet; but we persisted indefatigably toward the south end of
+Kosogol. As a guide our Tartar led us confidently over these trails well
+marked by the feet of many cattle being run out of Urianhai to Mongolia.
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+IN THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL PEACE
+
+
+The inhabitants of Urianhai, the Soyots, are proud of being the genuine
+Buddhists and of retaining the pure doctrine of holy Rama and the deep
+wisdom of Sakkia-Mouni. They are the eternal enemies of war and of the
+shedding of blood. Away back in the thirteenth century they preferred to
+move out from their native land and take refuge in the north rather than
+fight or become a part of the empire of the bloody conqueror Jenghiz
+Khan, who wanted to add to his forces these wonderful horsemen and
+skilled archers. Three times in their history they have thus trekked
+northward to avoid struggle and now no one can say that on the hands
+of the Soyots there has ever been seen human blood. With their love of
+peace they struggled against the evils of war. Even the severe Chinese
+administrators could not apply here in this country of peace the
+full measure of their implacable laws. In the same manner the Soyots
+conducted themselves when the Russian people, mad with blood and crime,
+brought this infection into their land. They avoided persistently
+meetings and encounters with the Red troops and Partisans, trekking off
+with their families and cattle southward into the distant principalities
+of Kemchik and Soldjak. The eastern branch of this stream of emigration
+passed through the valley of the Buret Hei, where we constantly
+outstrode groups of them with their cattle and herds.
+
+We traveled quickly along the winding trail of the Buret Hei and in
+two days began to make the elevations of the mountain pass between the
+valleys of the Buret Hei and Kharga. The trail was not only very
+steep but was also littered with fallen larch trees and frequently
+intercepted, incredible as it may seem, with swampy places where the
+horses mired badly. Then again we picked our dangerous road over cobbles
+and small stones that rolled away under our horses’ feet and bumped off
+over the precipice nearby. Our horses fatigued easily in passing this
+moraine that had been strewn by ancient glaciers along the mountain
+sides. Sometimes the trail led right along the edge of the precipices
+where the horses started great slides of stones and sand. I remember
+one whole mountain covered with these moving sands. We had to leave our
+saddles and, taking the bridles in our hands, to trot for a mile or more
+over these sliding beds, sometimes sinking in up to our knees and
+going down the mountain side with them toward the precipices below. One
+imprudent move at times would have sent us over the brink. This destiny
+met one of our horses. Belly down in the moving trap, he could not work
+free to change his direction and so slipped on down with a mass of it
+until he rolled over the precipice and was lost to us forever. We heard
+only the crackling of breaking trees along his road to death. Then with
+great difficulty we worked down to salvage the saddle and bags. Further
+along we had to abandon one of our pack horses which had come all the
+way from the northern border of Urianhai with us. We first unburdened
+it but this did not help; no more did our shouting and threats. He only
+stood with his head down and looked so exhausted that we realized he
+had reached the further bourne of his land of toil. Some Soyots with us
+examined him, felt of his muscles on the fore and hind legs, took his
+head in their hands and moved it from side to side, examined his head
+carefully after that and then said:
+
+“That horse will not go further. His brain is dried out.” So we had to
+leave him.
+
+That evening we came to a beautiful change in scene when we topped a
+rise and found ourselves on a broad plateau covered with larch. On it we
+discovered the yurtas of some Soyot hunters, covered with bark instead
+of the usual felt. Out of these ten men with rifles rushed toward us as
+we approached. They informed us that the Prince of Soldjak did not
+allow anyone to pass this way, as he feared the coming of murderers and
+robbers into his dominions.
+
+“Go back to the place from which you came,” they advised us with fear in
+their eyes.
+
+I did not answer but I stopped the beginnings of a quarrel between an
+old Soyot and one of my officers. I pointed to the small stream in the
+valley ahead of us and asked him its name.
+
+“Oyna,” replied the Soyot. “It is the border of the principality and the
+passage of it is forbidden.”
+
+“All right,” I said, “but you will allow us to warm and rest ourselves a
+little.”
+
+“Yes, yes!” exclaimed the hospitable Soyots, and led us into their
+tepees.
+
+On our way there I took the opportunity to hand to the old Soyot a
+cigarette and to another a box of matches. We were all walking along
+together save one Soyot who limped slowly in the rear and was holding
+his hand up over his nose.
+
+“Is he ill?” I asked.
+
+“Yes,” sadly answered the old Soyot. “That is my son. He has been losing
+blood from the nose for two days and is now quite weak.”
+
+I stopped and called the young man to me.
+
+“Unbutton your outer coat,” I ordered, “bare your neck and chest and
+turn your face up as far as you can.” I pressed the jugular vein on both
+sides of his head for some minutes and said to him:
+
+“The blood will not flow from your nose any more. Go into your tepee and
+lie down for some time.”
+
+The “mysterious” action of my fingers created on the Soyots a strong
+impression. The old Soyot with fear and reverence whispered:
+
+“Ta Lama, Ta Lama! (Great Doctor).”
+
+In the yurta we were given tea while the old Soyot sat thinking deeply
+about something. Afterwards he took counsel with his companions and
+finally announced:
+
+“The wife of our Prince is sick in her eyes and I think the Prince will
+be very glad if I lead the ‘Ta Lama’ to him. He will not punish me,
+for he ordered that no ‘bad people’ should be allowed to pass; but that
+should not stop the ‘good people’ from coming to us.
+
+“Do as you think best,” I replied rather indifferently. “As a matter of
+fact, I know how to treat eye diseases but I would go back if you say
+so.”
+
+“No, no!” the old man exclaimed with fear. “I shall guide you myself.”
+
+Sitting by the fire, he lighted his pipe with a flint, wiped
+the mouthpiece on his sleeve and offered it to me in true native
+hospitality. I was “comme il faut” and smoked. Afterwards he offered his
+pipe to each one of our company and received from each a cigarette, a
+little tobacco or some matches. It was the seal on our friendship. Soon
+in our yurta many persons piled up around us, men, women, children and
+dogs. It was impossible to move. From among them emerged a Lama with
+shaved face and close cropped hair, dressed in the flowing red garment
+of his caste. His clothes and his expression were very different from
+the common mass of dirty Soyots with their queues and felt caps finished
+off with squirrel tails on the top. The Lama was very kindly disposed
+towards us but looked ever greedily at our gold rings and watches. I
+decided to exploit this avidity of the Servant of Buddha. Supplying
+him with tea and dried bread, I made known to him that I was in need of
+horses.
+
+“I have a horse. Will you buy it from me?” he asked. “But I do not
+accept Russian bank notes. Let us exchange something.”
+
+For a long time I bargained with him and at last for my gold wedding
+ring, a raincoat and a leather saddle bag I received a fine Soyot
+horse--to replace one of the pack animals we had lost--and a young goat.
+We spent the night here and were feasted with fat mutton. In the morning
+we moved off under the guidance of the old Soyot along the trail that
+followed the valley of the Oyna, free from both mountains and swamps.
+But we knew that the mounts of my friend and myself, together with three
+others, were too worn down to make Kosogol and determined to try to buy
+others in Soldjak. Soon we began to meet little groups of Soyot yurtas
+with their cattle and horses round about. Finally we approached the
+shifting capital of the Prince. Our guide rode on ahead for the parley
+with him after assuring us that the Prince would be glad to welcome the
+Ta Lama, though at the time I remarked great anxiety and fear in his
+features as he spoke. Before long we emerged on to a large plain well
+covered with small bushes. Down by the shore of the river we made out
+big yurtas with yellow and blue flags floating over them and easily
+guessed that this was the seat of government. Soon our guide returned
+to us. His face was wreathed with smiles. He flourished his hands and
+cried:
+
+“Noyon (the Prince) asks you to come! He is very glad!”
+
+From a warrior I was forced to change myself into a diplomat. As we
+approached the yurta of the Prince, we were met by two officials,
+wearing the peaked Mongol caps with peacock feathers rampants behind.
+With low obeisances they begged the foreign “Noyon” to enter the yurta.
+My friend the Tartar and I entered. In the rich yurta draped with
+expensive silk we discovered a feeble, wizen-faced little old man with
+shaven face and cropped hair, wearing also a high pointed beaver cap
+with red silk apex topped off with a dark red button with the long
+peacock feathers streaming out behind. On his nose were big Chinese
+spectacles. He was sitting on a low divan, nervously clicking the beads
+of his rosary. This was Ta Lama, Prince of Soldjak and High Priest of
+the Buddhist Temple. He welcomed us very cordially and invited us to
+sit down before the fire burning in the copper brazier. His surprisingly
+beautiful Princess served us with tea and Chinese confections and
+cakes. We smoked our pipes, though the Prince as a Lama did not indulge,
+fulfilling, however, his duty as a host by raising to his lips the pipes
+we offered him and handing us in return the green nephrite bottle of
+snuff. Thus with the etiquette accomplished we awaited the words of the
+Prince. He inquired whether our travels had been felicitous and what
+were our further plans. I talked with him quite frankly and requested
+his hospitality for the rest of our company and for the horses. He
+agreed immediately and ordered four yurtas set up for us.
+
+“I hear that the foreign Noyon,” the Prince said, “is a good doctor.”
+
+“Yes, I know some diseases and have with me some medicines,” I answered,
+“but I am not a doctor. I am a scientist in other branches.”
+
+But the Prince did not understand this. In his simple directness a man
+who knows how to treat disease is a doctor.
+
+“My wife has had constant trouble for two months with her eyes,” he
+announced. “Help her.”
+
+I asked the Princess to show me her eyes and I found the typical
+conjunctivitis from the continual smoke of the yurta and the general
+uncleanliness. The Tartar brought me my medicine case. I washed her eyes
+with boric acid and dropped a little cocaine and a feeble solution of
+sulphurate of zinc into them.
+
+“I beg you to cure me,” pleaded the Princess. “Do not go away until
+you have cured me. We shall give you sheep, milk and flour for all
+your company. I weep now very often because I had very nice eyes and my
+husband used to tell me they shone like the stars and now they are red.
+I cannot bear it, I cannot!”
+
+She very capriciously stamped her foot and, coquettishly smiling at me,
+asked:
+
+“Do you want to cure me? Yes?”
+
+The character and manners of lovely woman are the same everywhere: on
+bright Broadway, along the stately Thames, on the vivacious boulevards
+of gay Paris and in the silk-draped yurta of the Soyot Princess behind
+the larch covered Tannu Ola.
+
+“I shall certainly try,” assuringly answered the new oculist.
+
+We spent here ten days, surrounded by the kindness and friendship of the
+whole family of the Prince. The eyes of the Princess, which eight years
+ago had seduced the already old Prince Lama, were now recovered. She was
+beside herself with joy and seldom left her looking-glass.
+
+The Prince gave me five fairly good horses, ten sheep and a bag of
+flour, which was immediately transformed into dry bread. My friend
+presented him with a Romanoff five-hundred-rouble note with a picture
+of Peter the Great upon it, while I gave to him a small nugget of gold
+which I had picked up in the bed of a stream. The Prince ordered one of
+the Soyots to guide us to the Kosogol. The whole family of the Prince
+conducted us to the monastery ten kilometres from the “capital.” We did
+not visit the monastery but we stopped at the “Dugun,” a Chinese trading
+establishment. The Chinese merchants looked at us in a very hostile
+manner though they simultaneously offered us all sorts of goods,
+thinking especially to catch us with their round bottles (lanhon) of
+maygolo or sweet brandy made from aniseed. As we had neither lump silver
+nor Chinese dollars, we could only look with longing at these attractive
+bottles, till the Prince came to the rescue and ordered the Chinese to
+put five of them in our saddle bags.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+MYSTERIES, MIRACLES AND A NEW FIGHT
+
+
+In the evening of the same day we arrived at the Sacred Lake of Teri
+Noor, a sheet of water eight kilometres across, muddy and yellow, with
+low unattractive shores studded with large holes. In the middle of the
+lake lay what was left of a disappearing island. On this were a few
+trees and some old ruins. Our guide explained to us that two centuries
+ago the lake did not exist and that a very strong Chinese fortress
+stood here on the plain. A Chinese chief in command of the fortress gave
+offence to an old Lama who cursed the place and prophesied that it would
+all be destroyed. The very next day the water began rushing up from the
+ground, destroyed the fortress and engulfed all the Chinese soldiers.
+Even to this day when storms rage over the lake the waters cast up on
+the shores the bones of men and horses who perished in it. This Teri
+Noor increases its size every year, approaching nearer and nearer to the
+mountains. Skirting the eastern shore of the lake, we began to climb a
+snow-capped ridge. The road was easy at first but the guide warned us
+that the most difficult bit was there ahead. We reached this point two
+days later and found there a steep mountain side thickly set with forest
+and covered with snow. Beyond it lay the lines of eternal snow--ridges
+studded with dark rocks set in great banks of the white mantle that
+gleamed bright under the clear sunshine. These were the eastern and
+highest branches of the Tannu Ola system. We spent the night beneath
+this wood and began the passage of it in the morning. At noon the guide
+began leading us by zigzags in and out but everywhere our trail was
+blocked by deep ravines, great jams of fallen trees and walls of rock
+caught in their mad tobogganings from the mountain top. We struggled for
+several hours, wore out our horses and, all of a sudden, turned up at
+the place where we had made our last halt. It was very evident our Soyot
+had lost his way; and on his face I noticed marked fear.
+
+“The old devils of the cursed forest will not allow us to pass,” he
+whispered with trembling lips. “It is a very ominous sign. We must
+return to Kharga to the Noyon.”
+
+But I threatened him and he took the lead again evidently without hope
+or effort to find the way. Fortunately, one of our party, an Urianhai
+hunter, noticed the blazes on the trees, the signs of the road which our
+guide had lost. Following these, we made our way through the wood, came
+into and crossed a belt of burned larch timber and beyond this dipped
+again into a small live forest bordering the bottom of the mountains
+crowned with the eternal snows. It grew dark so that we had to camp for
+the night. The wind rose high and carried in its grasp a great white
+sheet of snow that shut us off from the horizon on every side and buried
+our camp deep in its folds. Our horses stood round like white ghosts,
+refusing to eat or to leave the circle round our fire. The wind combed
+their manes and tails. Through the niches in the mountains it roared and
+whistled. From somewhere in the distance came the low rumble of a pack
+of wolves, punctuated at intervals by the sharp individual barking that
+a favorable gust of wind threw up into high staccato.
+
+As we lay by the fire, the Soyot came over to me and said: “Noyon, come
+with me to the obo. I want to show you something.”
+
+We went there and began to ascend the mountain. At the bottom of a very
+steep slope was laid up a large pile of stones and tree trunks, making
+a cone of some three metres in height. These obo are the Lamaite sacred
+signs set up at dangerous places, the altars to the bad demons, rulers
+of these places. Passing Soyots and Mongols pay tribute to the spirits
+by hanging on the branches of the trees in the obo hatyk, long streamers
+of blue silk, shreds torn from the lining of their coats or simply tufts
+of hair cut from their horses’ manes; or by placing on the stones lumps
+of meat or cups of tea and salt.
+
+“Look at it,” said the Soyot. “The hatyks are torn off. The demons are
+angry, they will not allow us to pass, Noyon. . . .”
+
+He caught my hand and with supplicating voice whispered: “Let us go
+back, Noyon; let us! The demons do not wish us to pass their mountains.
+For twenty years no one has dared to pass these mountains and all bold
+men who have tried have perished here. The demons fell upon them with
+snowstorm and cold. Look! It is beginning already. . . . Go back to our
+Noyon, wait for the warmer days and then. . . .”
+
+I did not listen further to the Soyot but turned back to the fire, which
+I could hardly see through the blinding snow. Fearing our guide might
+run away, I ordered a sentry to be stationed for the night to watch him.
+Later in the night I was awakened by the sentry, who said to me: “Maybe
+I am mistaken, but I think I heard a rifle.”
+
+What could I say to it? Maybe some stragglers like ourselves were giving
+a sign of their whereabouts to their lost companions, or perhaps the
+sentry had mistaken for a rifle shot the sound of some falling rock
+or frozen ice and snow. Soon I fell asleep again and suddenly saw in a
+dream a very clear vision. Out on the plain, blanketed deep with snow,
+was moving a line of riders. They were our pack horses, our Kalmuck and
+the funny pied horse with the Roman nose. I saw us descending from this
+snowy plateau into a fold in the mountains. Here some larch trees
+were growing, close to which gurgled a small, open brook. Afterwards I
+noticed a fire burning among the trees and then woke up.
+
+It grew light. I shook up the others and asked them to prepare quickly
+so as not to lose time in getting under way. The storm was raging. The
+snow blinded us and blotted out all traces of the road. The cold also
+became more intense. At last we were in the saddles. The Soyot went
+ahead trying to make out the trail. As we worked higher the guide less
+seldom lost the way. Frequently we fell into deep holes covered with
+snow; we scrambled up over slippery rocks. At last the Soyot swung his
+horse round and, coming up to me, announced very positively: “I do not
+want to die with you and I will not go further.”
+
+My first motion was the swing of my whip back over my head. I was so
+close to the “Promised Land” of Mongolia that this Soyot, standing in
+the way of fulfilment of my wishes, seemed to me my worst enemy. But I
+lowered my flourishing hand. Into my head flashed a quite wild thought.
+
+“Listen,” I said. “If you move your horses, you will receive a bullet in
+the back and you will perish not at the top of the mountain but at the
+bottom. And now I will tell you what will happen to us. When we shall
+have reached these rocks above, the wind will have ceased and the
+snowstorm will have subsided. The sun will shine as we cross the snowy
+plain above and afterwards we shall descend into a small valley where
+there are larches growing and a stream of open running water. There we
+shall light our fires and spend the night.”
+
+The Soyot began to tremble with fright.
+
+“Noyon has already passed these mountains of Darkhat Ola?” he asked in
+amazement.
+
+“No,” I answered, “but last night I had a vision and I know that we
+shall fortunately win over this ridge.”
+
+“I will guide you!” exclaimed the Soyot, and, whipping his horse, led
+the way up the steep slope to the top of the ridge of eternal snows.
+
+As we were passing along the narrow edge of a precipice, the Soyot
+stopped and attentively examined the trail.
+
+“Today many shod horses have passed here!” he cried through the roar
+of the storm. “Yonder on the snow the lash of a whip has been dragged.
+These are not Soyots.”
+
+The solution of this enigma appeared instantly. A volley rang out. One
+of my companions cried out, as he caught hold of his right shoulder; one
+pack horse fell dead with a bullet behind his ear. We quickly tumbled
+out of our saddles, lay down behind the rocks and began to study the
+situation. We were separated from a parallel spur of the mountain by a
+small valley about one thousand paces across. There we made out about
+thirty riders already dismounted and firing at us. I had never allowed
+any fighting to be done until the initiative had been taken by the
+other side. Our enemy fell upon us unawares and I ordered my company to
+answer.
+
+“Aim at the horses!” cried Colonel Ostrovsky. Then he ordered the Tartar
+and Soyot to throw our own animals. We killed six of theirs and probably
+wounded others, as they got out of control. Also our rifles took toll
+of any bold man who showed his head from behind his rock. We heard the
+angry shouting and maledictions of Red soldiers who shot up our position
+more and more animatedly.
+
+Suddenly I saw our Soyot kick up three of the horses and spring into the
+saddle of one with the others in leash behind. Behind him sprang up the
+Tartar and the Kalmuck. I had already drawn my rifle on the Soyot but,
+as soon as I saw the Tartar and Kalmuck on their lovely horses behind
+him, I dropped my gun and knew all was well. The Reds let off a volley
+at the trio but they made good their escape behind the rocks and
+disappeared. The firing continued more and more lively and I did not
+know what to do. From our side we shot rarely, saving our cartridges.
+Watching carefully the enemy, I noticed two black points on the snow
+high above the Reds. They slowly approached our antagonists and finally
+were hidden from view behind some sharp hillocks. When they emerged from
+these, they were right on the edge of some overhanging rocks at the foot
+of which the Reds lay concealed from us. By this time I had no doubt
+that these were the heads of two men. Suddenly these men rose up and
+I watched them flourish and throw something that was followed by two
+deafening roars which re-echoed across the mountain valley. Immediately
+a third explosion was followed by wild shouts and disorderly firing
+among the Reds. Some of the horses rolled down the slope into the snow
+below and the soldiers, chased by our shots, made off as fast as they
+could down into the valley out of which we had come.
+
+Afterward the Tartar told me the Soyot had proposed to guide them around
+behind the Reds to fall upon their rear with the bombs. When I had bound
+up the wounded shoulder of the officer and we had taken the pack off the
+killed animal, we continued our journey. Our position was complicated.
+We had no doubt that the Red detachment came up from Mongolia.
+Therefore, were there Red troops in Mongolia? What was their strength?
+Where might we meet them? Consequently, Mongolia was no more the
+Promised Land? Very sad thoughts took possession of us.
+
+But Nature pleased us. The wind gradually fell. The storm ceased. The
+sun more and more frequently broke through the scudding clouds. We were
+traveling upon a high, snow-covered plateau, where in one place the wind
+blew it clean and in another piled it high with drifts which caught our
+horses and held them so that they could hardly extricate themselves at
+times. We had to dismount and wade through the white piles up to our
+waists and often a man or horse was down and had to be helped to his
+feet. At last the descent began and at sunset we stopped in the small
+larch grove, spent the night at the fire among the trees and drank the
+tea boiled in the water carried from the open mountain brook. In various
+places we came across the tracks of our recent antagonists.
+
+Everything, even Nature herself and the angry demons of Darkhat Ola, had
+helped us: but we were not gay, because again before us lay the dread
+uncertainty that threatened us with new and possibly destructive
+dangers.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE RIVER OF THE DEVIL
+
+
+Ulan Taiga with Darkhat Ola lay behind us. We went forward very rapidly
+because the Mongol plains began here, free from the impediments of
+mountains. Everywhere splendid grazing lands stretched away. In places
+there were groves of larch. We crossed some very rapid streams but they
+were not deep and they had hard beds. After two days of travel over
+the Darkhat plain we began meeting Soyots driving their cattle rapidly
+toward the northwest into Orgarkha Ola. They communicated to us very
+unpleasant news.
+
+The Bolsheviki from the Irkutsk district had crossed the Mongolian
+border, captured the Russian colony at Khathyl on the southern shore
+of Lake Kosogol and turned, off south toward Muren Kure, a Russian
+settlement beside a big Lamaite monastery sixty miles south of Kosogol.
+The Mongols told us there were no Russian troops between Khathyl and
+Muren Kure, so we decided to pass between these two points to reach Van
+Kure farther to the east. We took leave of our Soyot guide and, after
+having sent three scouts in advance, moved forward. From the mountains
+around the Kosogol we admired the splendid view of this broad Alpine
+lake. It was set like a sapphire in the old gold of the surrounding
+hills, chased with lovely bits of rich dark forestry. At night we
+approached Khathyl with great precaution and stopped on the shore of the
+river that flows from Kosogol, the Yaga or Egingol. We found a Mongol
+who agreed to transport us to the other bank of the frozen stream and to
+lead us by a safe road between Khathyl and Muren Kure. Everywhere along
+the shore of the river were found large obo and small shrines to the
+demons of the stream.
+
+“Why are there so many obo?” we asked the Mongol.
+
+“It is the River of the Devil, dangerous and crafty,” replied the
+Mongol. “Two days ago a train of carts went through the ice and three of
+them with five soldiers were lost.”
+
+We started to cross. The surface of the river resembled a thick piece
+of looking-glass, being clear and without snow. Our horses walked very
+carefully but some fell and floundered before they could regain their
+feet. We were leading them by the bridle. With bowed heads and trembling
+all over they kept their frightened eyes ever on the ice at their feet.
+I looked down and understood their fear. Through the cover of one foot
+of transparent ice one could clearly see the bottom of the river. Under
+the lighting of the moon all the stones, the holes and even some of the
+grasses were distinctly visible, even though the depth was ten metres
+and more. The Yaga rushed under the ice with a furious speed, swirling
+and marking its course with long bands of foam and bubbles. Suddenly I
+jumped and stopped as though fastened to the spot. Along the surface of
+the river ran the boom of a cannon, followed by a second and a third.
+
+“Quicker, quicker!” cried our Mongol, waving us forward with his hand.
+
+Another cannon boom and a crack ran right close to us. The horses
+swung back on their haunches in protest, reared and fell, many of them
+striking their heads severely on the ice. In a second it opened up two
+feet wide, so that I could follow its jagged course along the surface.
+Immediately up out of the opening the water spread over the ice with a
+rush.
+
+“Hurry, hurry!” shouted the guide.
+
+With great difficulty we forced our horses to jump over this cleavage
+and to continue on further. They trembled and disobeyed and only the
+strong lash forced them to forget this panic of fear and go on.
+
+When we were safe on the farther bank and well into the woods, our
+Mongol guide recounted to us how the river at times opens in this
+mysterious way and leaves great areas of clear water. All the men and
+animals on the river at such times must perish. The furious current of
+cold water will always carry them down under the ice. At other times a
+crack has been known to pass right under a horse and, where he fell in
+with his front feet in the attempt to get back to the other side, the
+crack has closed up and ground his legs or feet right off.
+
+The valley of Kosogol is the crater of an extinct volcano. Its outlines
+may be followed from the high west shore of the lake. However, the
+Plutonic force still acts and, asserting the glory of the Devil, forces
+the Mongols to build obo and offer sacrifices at his shrines. We spent
+all the night and all the next day hurrying away eastward to avoid a
+meeting with the Reds and seeking good pasturage for our horses. At
+about nine o’clock in the evening a fire shone out of the distance. My
+friend and I made toward it with the feeling that it was surely a Mongol
+yurta beside which we could camp in safety. We traveled over a mile
+before making out distinctly the lines of a group of yurtas. But nobody
+came out to meet us and, what astonished us more, we were not surrounded
+by the angry black Mongolian dogs with fiery eyes. Still, from the
+distance we had seen the fire and so there must be someone there. We
+dismounted from our horses and approached on foot. From out of the yurta
+rushed two Russian soldiers, one of whom shot at me with his pistol but
+missed me and wounded my horse in the back through the saddle. I brought
+him to earth with my Mauser and the other was killed by the butt end of
+my friend’s rifle. We examined the bodies and found in their pockets
+the papers of soldiers of the Second Squadron of the Communist Interior
+Defence. Here we spent the night. The owners of the yurtas had evidently
+run away, for the Red soldiers had collected and packed in sacks the
+property of the Mongols. Probably they were just planning to leave, as
+they were fully dressed. We acquired two horses, which we found in the
+bushes, two rifles and two automatic pistols with cartridges. In the
+saddle bags we also found tea, tobacco, matches and cartridges--all of
+these valuable supplies to help us keep further hold on our lives.
+
+Two days later we were approaching the shore of the River Uri when
+we met two Russian riders, who were the Cossacks of a certain Ataman
+Sutunin, acting against the Bolsheviki in the valley of the River
+Selenga. They were riding to carry a message from Sutunin to
+Kaigorodoff, chief of the Anti-Bolsheviki in the Altai region. They
+informed us that along the whole Russian-Mongolian border the Bolshevik
+troops were scattered; also that Communist agitators had penetrated to
+Kiakhta, Ulankom and Kobdo and had persuaded the Chinese authorities
+to surrender to the Soviet authorities all the refugees from Russia.
+We knew that in the neighborhood of Urga and Van Kure engagements were
+taking place between the Chinese troops and the detachments of the
+Anti-Bolshevik Russian General Baron Ungern Sternberg and Colonel
+Kazagrandi, who were fighting for the independence of Outer Mongolia.
+Baron Ungern had now been twice defeated, so that the Chinese were
+carrying on high-handed in Urga, suspecting all foreigners of having
+relations with the Russian General.
+
+We realized that the whole situation was sharply reversed. The route to
+the Pacific was closed. Reflecting very carefully over the problem,
+I decided that we had but one possible exit left. We must avoid all
+Mongolian cities with Chinese administration, cross Mongolia from north
+to south, traverse the desert in the southern part of the Principality
+of Jassaktu Khan, enter the Gobi in the western part of Inner Mongolia,
+strike as rapidly as possible through sixty miles of Chinese territory
+in the Province of Kansu and penetrate into Tibet. Here I hoped to
+search out one of the English Consuls and with his help to reach some
+English port in India. I understood thoroughly all the difficulties
+incident to such an enterprise but I had no other choice. It only
+remained to make this last foolish attempt or to perish without doubt
+at the hands of the Boisheviki or languish in a Chinese prison. When I
+announced my plan to my companions, without in any way hiding from them
+all its dangers and quixotism, all of them answered very quickly and
+shortly: “Lead us! We will follow.”
+
+One circumstance was distinctly in our favor. We did not fear hunger,
+for we had some supplies of tea, tobacco and matches and a surplus of
+horses, saddles, rifles, overcoats and boots, which were an excellent
+currency for exchange. So then we began to initiate the plan of the new
+expedition. We should start to the south, leaving the town of Uliassutai
+on our right and taking the direction of Zaganluk, then pass through the
+waste lands of the district of Balir of Jassaktu Khan, cross the Naron
+Khuhu Gobi and strike for the mountains of Boro. Here we should be able
+to take a long rest to recuperate the strength of our horses and of
+ourselves. The second section of our journey would be the passage
+through the western part of Inner Mongolia, through the Little Gobi,
+through the lands of the Torguts, over the Khara Mountains, across
+Kansu, where our road must be chosen to the west of the Chinese town of
+Suchow. From there we should have to enter the Dominion of Kuku Nor and
+then work on southward to the head waters of the Yangtze River. Beyond
+this I had but a hazy notion, which however I was able to verify from a
+map of Asia in the possession of one of the officers, to the effect that
+the mountain chains to the west of the sources of the Yangtze separated
+that river system from the basin of the Brahmaputra in Tibet Proper,
+where I expected to be able to find English assistance.
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE MARCH OF GHOSTS
+
+
+In no other way can I describe the journey from the River Ero to the
+border of Tibet. About eleven hundred miles through the snowy steppes,
+over mountains and across deserts we traveled in forty-eight days.
+We hid from the people as we journeyed, made short stops in the most
+desolate places, fed for whole weeks on nothing but raw, frozen meat in
+order to avoid attracting attention by the smoke of fires. Whenever we
+needed to purchase a sheep or a steer for our supply department, we sent
+out only two unarmed men who represented to the natives that they were
+the workmen of some Russian colonists. We even feared to shoot, although
+we met a great herd of antelopes numbering as many as five thousand
+head. Behind Balir in the lands of the Lama Jassaktu Khan, who had
+inherited his throne as a result of the poisoning of his brother at Urga
+by order of the Living Buddha, we met wandering Russian Tartars who had
+driven their herds all the way from Altai and Abakan. They welcomed us
+very cordially, gave us oxen and thirty-six bricks of tea. Also they
+saved us from inevitable destruction, for they told us that at this
+season it was utterly impossible for horses to make the trip across the
+Gobi, where there was no grass at all. We must buy camels by exchanging
+for them our horses and some other of our bartering supplies. One of the
+Tartars the next day brought to their camp a rich Mongol with whom he
+drove the bargain for this trade. He gave us nineteen camels and took
+all our horses, one rifle, one pistol and the best Cossack saddle. He
+advised us by all means to visit the sacred Monastery of Narabanchi, the
+last Lamaite monastery on the road from Mongolia to Tibet. He told us
+that the Holy Hutuktu, “the Incarnate Buddha,” would be greatly offended
+if we did not visit the monastery and his famous “Shrine of Blessings,”
+ where all travelers going to Tibet always offered prayers. Our Kalmuck
+Lamaite supported the Mongol in this. I decided to go there with the
+Kalmuck. The Tartars gave me some big silk hatyk as presents and loaned
+us four splendid horses. Although the monastery was fifty-five miles
+distant, by nine o’clock in the evening I entered the yurta of this holy
+Hutuktu.
+
+He was a middle-aged, clean shaven, spare little man, laboring under the
+name of Jelyb Djamsrap Hutuktu. He received us very cordially and was
+greatly pleased with the presentation of the hatyk and with my
+knowledge of the Mongol etiquette in which my Tartar had been long and
+persistently instructing me. He listened to me most attentively and gave
+valuable advice about the road, presenting me then with a ring which has
+since opened for me the doors of all Lamaite monasteries. The name of
+this Hutuktu is highly esteemed not only in all Mongolia but in Tibet
+and in the Lamaite world of China. We spent the night in his splendid
+yurta and on the following morning visited the shrines where they were
+conducting very solemn services with the music of gongs, tom-toms and
+whistling. The Lamas with their deep voices were intoning the prayers
+while the lesser priests answered with their antiphonies. The sacred
+phrase: “Om! Mani padme Hung!” was endlessly repeated.
+
+The Hutuktu wished us success, presented us with a large yellow hatyk
+and accompanied us to the monastery gate. When we were in our saddles he
+said:
+
+“Remember that you are always welcome guests here. Life is very
+complicated and anything may happen. Perhaps you will be forced in
+future to re-visit distant Mongolia and then do not miss Narabanchi
+Kure.”
+
+That night we returned to the Tartars and the next day continued our
+journey. As I was very tired, the slow, easy motion of the camel was
+welcome and restful to me. All the day I dozed off at intervals to
+sleep. It turned out to be very disastrous for me; for, when my camel
+was going up the steep bank of a river, in one of my naps I fell off
+and hit my head on a stone, lost consciousness and woke up to find
+my overcoat covered with blood. My friends surrounded me with their
+frightened faces. They bandaged my head and we started off again. I only
+learned long afterwards from a doctor who examined me that I had cracked
+my skull as the price of my siesta.
+
+We crossed the eastern ranges of the Altai and the Karlik Tag, which are
+the most oriental sentinels the great Tian Shan system throws out into
+the regions of the Gobi; and then traversed from the north to the south
+the entire width of the Khuhu Gobi. Intense cold ruled all this time and
+fortunately the frozen sands gave us better speed. Before passing the
+Khara range, we exchanged our rocking-chair steeds for horses, a deal in
+which the Torguts skinned us badly like the true “old clothes men” they
+are.
+
+Skirting around these mountains we entered Kansu. It was a dangerous
+move, for the Chinese were arresting all refugees and I feared for my
+Russian fellow-travelers. During the days we hid in the ravines, the
+forests and bushes, making forced marches at night. Four days we thus
+used in this passage of Kansu. The few Chinese peasants we did encounter
+were peaceful appearing and most hospitable. A marked sympathetic
+interest surrounded the Kalmuck, who could speak a bit of Chinese,
+and my box of medicines. Everywhere we found many ill people, chiefly
+afflicted with eye troubles, rheumatism and skin diseases.
+
+As we were approaching Nan Shan, the northeast branch of the Altyn Tag
+(which is in turn the east branch of the Pamir and Karakhorum system),
+we overhauled a large caravan of Chinese merchants going to Tibet
+and joined them. For three days we were winding through the endless
+ravine-like valleys of these mountains and ascending the high passes.
+But we noticed that the Chinese knew how to pick the easiest routes
+for caravans over all these difficult places. In a state of
+semi-consciousness I made this whole journey toward the large group of
+swampy lakes, feeding the Koko Nor and a whole network of large rivers.
+From fatigue and constant nervous strain, probably helped by the blow
+on my head, I began suffering from sharp attacks of chills and fever,
+burning up at times and then chattering so with my teeth that I
+frightened my horse who several times threw me from the saddle. I raved,
+cried out at times and even wept. I called my family and instructed them
+how they must come to me. I remember as though through a dream how I was
+taken from the horse by my companions, laid on the ground, supplied with
+Chinese brandy and, when I recovered a little, how they said to me:
+
+“The Chinese merchants are heading for the west and we must travel
+south.”
+
+“No! To the north,” I replied very sharply.
+
+“But no, to the south,” my companions assured me.
+
+“God and the Devil!” I angrily ejaculated, “we have just swum the Little
+Yenisei and Algyak is to the north!”
+
+“We are in Tibet,” remonstrated my companions. “We must reach the
+Brahmaputra.”
+
+Brahmaputra. . . . Brahmaputra. . . . This word revolved in my fiery
+brain, made a terrible noise and commotion. Suddenly I remembered
+everything and opened my eyes. I hardly moved my lips and soon I
+again lost consciousness. My companions brought me to the monastery of
+Sharkhe, where the Lama doctor quickly brought me round with a solution
+of fatil or Chinese ginseng. In discussing our plans he expressed grave
+doubt as to whether we would get through Tibet but he did not wish to
+explain to me the reason for his doubts.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+IN MYSTERIOUS TIBET
+
+
+A fairly broad road led out from Sharkhe through the mountains and on
+the fifth day of our two weeks’ march to the south from the monastery
+we emerged into the great bowl of the mountains in whose center lay the
+large lake of Koko Nor. If Finland deserves the ordinary title of the
+“Land of Ten Thousand Lakes,” the dominion of Koko Nor may certainly
+with justice be called the “Country of a Million Lakes.” We skirted
+this lake on the west between it and Doulan Kitt, zigzagging between the
+numerous swamps, lakes and small rivers, deep and miry. The water was
+not here covered with ice and only on the tops of the mountains did we
+feel the cold winds sharply. We rarely met the natives of the country
+and only with greatest difficulty did our Kalmuck learn the course of
+the road from the occasional shepherds we passed. From the eastern shore
+of the Lake of Tassoun we worked round to a monastery on the further
+side, where we stopped for a short rest. Besides ourselves there was
+also another group of guests in the holy place. These were Tibetans.
+Their behavior was very impertinent and they refused to speak with us.
+They were all armed, chiefly with the Russian military rifles and were
+draped with crossed bandoliers of cartridges with two or three pistols
+stowed beneath belts with more cartridges sticking out. They examined
+us very sharply and we readily realized that they were estimating our
+martial strength. After they had left on that same day I ordered our
+Kalmuck to inquire from the High Priest of the temple exactly who they
+were. For a long time the monk gave evasive answers but when I showed
+him the ring of Hutuktu Narabanchi and presented him with a large yellow
+hatyk, he became more communicative.
+
+“Those are bad people,” he explained. “Have a care of them.”
+
+However, he was not willing to give their names, explaining his refusal
+by citing the Law of Buddhist lands against pronouncing the name of
+one’s father, teacher or chief. Afterwards I found out that in North
+Tibet there exists the same custom as in North China. Here and there
+bands of hunghutze wander about. They appear at the headquarters of the
+leading trading firms and at the monasteries, claim tribute and after
+their collections become the protectors of the district. Probably this
+Tibetan monastery had in this band just such protectors.
+
+When we continued our trip, we frequently noticed single horsemen far
+away or on the horizon, apparently studying our movements with care. All
+our attempts to approach them and enter into conversation with them were
+entirely unsuccessful. On their speedy little horses they disappeared
+like shadows. As we reached the steep and difficult Pass on the Hamshan
+and were preparing to spend the night there, suddenly far up on a ridge
+above us appeared about forty horsemen with entirely white mounts and
+without formal introduction or warning spattered us with a hail of
+bullets. Two of our officers fell with a cry. One had been instantly
+killed while the other lived some few minutes. I did not allow my men
+to shoot but instead I raised a white flag and started forward with
+the Kalmuck for a parley. At first they fired two shots at us but then
+ceased firing and sent down a group of riders from the ridge toward
+us. We began the parley. The Tibetans explained that Hamshan is a holy
+mountain and that here one must not spend the night, advising us to
+proceed farther where we could consider ourselves in safety. They
+inquired from us whence we came and whither we were going, stated in
+answer to our information about the purpose of our journey that they
+knew the Bolsheviki and considered them the liberators of the people of
+Asia from the yoke of the white race. I certainly did not want to begin
+a political quarrel with them and so turned back to our companions.
+Riding down the slope toward our camp, I waited momentarily for a shot
+in the back but the Tibetan hunghutze did not shoot.
+
+We moved forward, leaving among the stones the bodies of two of our
+companions as sad tribute to the difficulties and dangers of our
+journey. We rode all night, with our exhausted horses constantly
+stopping and some lying down under us, but we forced them ever onward.
+At last, when the sun was at its zenith, we finally halted. Without
+unsaddling our horses, we gave them an opportunity to lie down for a
+little rest. Before us lay a broad, swampy plain, where was evidently
+the sources of the river Ma-chu. Not far beyond lay the Lake of Aroung
+Nor. We made our fire of cattle dung and began boiling water for our
+tea. Again without any warning the bullets came raining in from all
+sides. Immediately we took cover behind convenient rocks and waited
+developments. The firing became faster and closer, the raiders appeared
+on the whole circle round us and the bullets came ever in increasing
+numbers. We had fallen into a trap and had no hope but to perish. We
+realized this clearly. I tried anew to begin the parley; but when I
+stood up with my white flag, the answer was only a thicker rain of
+bullets and unfortunately one of these, ricocheting off a rock, struck
+me in the left leg and lodged there. At the same moment another one of
+our company was killed. We had no other choice and were forced to begin
+fighting. The struggle continued for about two hours. Besides myself
+three others received slight wounds. We resisted as long as we could.
+The hunghutze approached and our situation became desperate.
+
+“There’s no choice,” said one of my associates, a very expert Colonel.
+“We must mount and ride for it . . . anywhere.”
+
+“Anywhere. . . .” It was a terrible word! We consulted for but an
+instant. It was apparent that with this band of cut-throats behind us
+the farther we went into Tibet, the less chance we had of saving our
+lives.
+
+We decided to return to Mongolia. But how? That we did not know. And
+thus we began our retreat. Firing all the time, we trotted our horses
+as fast as we could toward the north. One after another three of my
+companions fell. There lay my Tartar with a bullet through his neck.
+After him two young and fine stalwart officers were carried from their
+saddles with cries of death, while their scared horses broke out across
+the plain in wild fear, perfect pictures of our distraught selves. This
+emboldened the Tibetans, who became more and more audacious. A bullet
+struck the buckle on the ankle strap of my right foot and carried it,
+with a piece of leather and cloth, into my leg just above the ankle.
+My old and much tried friend, the agronome, cried out as he grasped his
+shoulder and then I saw him wiping and bandaging as best as he could his
+bleeding forehead. A second afterward our Kalmuck was hit twice right
+through the palm of the same hand, so that it was entirely shattered.
+Just at this moment fifteen of the hunghutze rushed against us in a
+charge.
+
+“Shoot at them with volley fire!” commanded our Colonel.
+
+Six robber bodies lay on the turf, while two others of the gang were
+unhorsed and ran scampering as fast as they could after their retreating
+fellows. Several minutes later the fire of our antagonists ceased and
+they raised a white flag. Two riders came forward toward us. In the
+parley it developed that their chief had been wounded through the chest
+and they came to ask us to “render first aid.” At once I saw a ray
+of hope. I took my box of medicines and my groaning, cursing, wounded
+Kalmuck to interpret for me.
+
+“Give that devil some cyanide of potassium,” urged my companions.
+
+But I devised another scheme.
+
+We were led to the wounded chief. There he lay on the saddle cloths
+among the rocks, represented to us to be a Tibetan but I at once
+recognized him from his cast of countenance to be a Sart or Turcoman,
+probably from the southern part of Turkestan. He looked at me with
+a begging and frightened gaze. Examining him, I found the bullet had
+passed through his chest from left to right, that he had lost much blood
+and was very weak. Conscientiously I did all that I could for him. In
+the first place I tried on my own tongue all the medicines to be used on
+him, even the iodoform, in order to demonstrate that there was no
+poison among them. I cauterized the wound with iodine, sprinkled it with
+iodoform and applied the bandages. I ordered that the wounded man be not
+touched nor moved and that he be left right where he lay. Then I taught
+a Tibetan how the dressing must be changed and left with him medicated
+cotton, bandages and a little iodoform. To the patient, in whom the
+fever was already developing, I gave a big dose of aspirin and left
+several tablets of quinine with them. Afterwards, addressing myself to
+the bystanders through my Kalmuck, I said very solemnly:
+
+“The wound is very dangerous but I gave to your Chief very strong
+medicine and hope that he will recover. One condition, however,
+is necessary: the bad demons which have rushed to his side for his
+unwarranted attack upon us innocent travelers will instantly kill him,
+if another shot is let off against us. You must not even keep a single
+cartridge in your rifles.”
+
+With these words I ordered the Kalmuck to empty his rifle and I, at
+the same time, took all the cartridges out of my Mauser. The Tibetans
+instantly and very servilely followed my example.
+
+“Remember that I told you: ‘Eleven days and eleven nights do not move
+from this place and do not charge your rifles.’ Otherwise the demon of
+death will snatch off your Chief and will pursue you!”--and with these
+words I solemnly drew forth and raised above their heads the ring of
+Hutuktu Narabanchi.
+
+I returned to my companions and calmed them. I told them we were safe
+against further attack from the robbers and that we must only guess the
+way to reach Mongolia. Our horses were so exhausted and thin that on
+their bones we could have hung our overcoats. We spent two days here,
+during which time I frequently visited my patient. It also gave us
+opportunity to bandage our own fortunately light wounds and to secure
+a little rest; though unfortunately I had nothing but a jackknife
+with which to dig the bullet out of my left calf and the shoemaker’s
+accessories from my right ankle. Inquiring from the brigands about the
+caravan roads, we soon made our way out to one of the main routes and
+had the good fortune to meet there the caravan of the young Mongol
+Prince Pounzig, who was on a holy mission carrying a message from
+the Living Buddha in Urga to the Dalai Lama in Lhasa. He helped us to
+purchase horses, camels and food.
+
+With all our arms and supplies spent in barter during the journey for
+the purchase of transport and food, we returned stripped and broken to
+the Narabanchi Monastery, where we were welcomed by the Hutuktu.
+
+“I knew you would come back,” said he. “The divinations revealed it all
+to me.”
+
+With six of our little band left behind us in Tibet to pay the eternal
+toll of our dash for the south we returned but twelve to the Monastery
+and waited there two weeks to re-adjust ourselves and learn how events
+would again set us afloat on this turbulent sea to steer for any port
+that Destiny might indicate. The officers enlisted in the detachment
+which was then being formed in Mongolia to fight against the destroyers
+of their native land, the Bolsheviki. My original companion and I
+prepared to continue our journey over Mongolian plains with whatever
+further adventures and dangers might come in the struggle to escape to a
+place of safety.
+
+And now, with the scenes of that trying march so vividly recalled, I
+would dedicate these chapters to my gigantic, old and ruggedly tried
+friend, the agronome, to my Russian fellow-travelers, and especially, to
+the sacred memory of those of our companions whose bodies lie cradled
+in the sleep among the mountains of Tibet--Colonel Ostrovsky, Captains
+Zuboff and Turoff, Lieutenant Pisarjevsky, Cossack Vernigora and
+Tartar Mahomed Spirin. Also here I express my deep thanks for help and
+friendship to the Prince of Soldjak, Hereditary Noyon Ta Lama and to
+the Kampo Gelong of Narabanchi Monastery, the honorable Jelyb Djamsrap
+Hutuktu.
+
+
+
+
+Part II
+
+THE LAND OF DEMONS
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+MYSTERIOUS MONGOLIA
+
+
+In the heart of Asia lies the enormous, mysterious and rich country of
+Mongolia. From somewhere on the snowy slopes of the Tian Shan and from
+the hot sands of Western Zungaria to the timbered ridges of the Sayan
+and to the Great Wall of China it stretches over a huge portion of
+Central Asia. The cradle of peoples, histories and legends; the native
+land of bloody conquerors, who have left here their capitals covered
+by the sand of the Gobi, their mysterious rings and their ancient nomad
+laws; the states of monks and evil devils, the country of wandering
+tribes administered by the descendants of Jenghiz Khan and Kublai
+Khan--Khans and Princes of the Junior lines: that is Mongolia.
+
+Mysterious country of the cults of Rama, Sakkia-Mouni, Djonkapa and
+Paspa, cults guarded by the very person of the living Buddha--Buddha
+incarnated in the third dignitary of the Lamaite religion--Bogdo Gheghen
+in Ta Kure or Urga; the land of mysterious doctors, prophets, sorcerers,
+fortune-tellers and witches; the land of the sign of the swastika; the
+land which has not forgotten the thoughts of the long deceased great
+potentates of Asia and of half of Europe: that is Mongolia.
+
+The land of nude mountains, of plains burned by the sun and killed by
+the cold, of ill cattle and ill people; the nest of pests, anthrax
+and smallpox; the land of boiling hot springs and of mountain passes
+inhabited by demons; of sacred lakes swarming with fish; of wolves, rare
+species of deer and mountain goats, marmots in millions, wild horses,
+wild donkeys and wild camels that have never known the bridle, ferocious
+dogs and rapacious birds of prey which devour the dead bodies cast out
+on the plains by the people: that is Mongolia.
+
+The land whose disappearing primitive people gaze upon the bones of
+their forefathers whitening in the sands and dust of their plains; where
+are dying out the people who formerly conquered China, Siam, Northern
+India and Russia and broke their chests against the iron lances of
+the Polish knights, defending then all the Christian world against the
+invasion of wild and wandering Asia: that is Mongolia.
+
+The land swelling with natural riches, producing nothing, in need of
+everything, destitute and suffering from the world’s cataclysm: that is
+Mongolia.
+
+In this land, by order of Fate, after my unsuccessful attempt to reach
+the Indian Ocean through Tibet, I spent half a year in the struggle to
+live and to escape. My old and faithful friend and I were compelled,
+willy-nilly, to participate in the exceedingly important and dangerous
+events transpiring in Mongolia in the year of grace 1921. Thanks to
+this, I came to know the calm, good and honest Mongolian people; I
+read their souls, saw their sufferings and hopes; I witnessed the whole
+horror of their oppression and fear before the face of Mystery, there
+where Mystery pervades all life. I watched the rivers during the severe
+cold break with a rumbling roar their chains of ice; saw lakes cast up
+on their shores the bones of human beings; heard unknown wild voices
+in the mountain ravines; made out the fires over miry swamps of the
+will-o’-the-wisps; witnessed burning lakes; gazed upward to mountains
+whose peaks could not be scaled; came across great balls of writhing
+snakes in the ditches in winter; met with streams which are eternally
+frozen, rocks like petrified caravans of camels, horsemen and carts; and
+over all saw the barren mountains whose folds looked like the mantle of
+Satan, which the glow of the evening sun drenched with blood.
+
+“Look up there!” cried an old shepherd, pointing to the slope of the
+cursed Zagastai. “That is no mountain. It is HE who lies in his red
+mantle and awaits the day when he will rise again to begin the fight
+with the good spirits.”
+
+And as he spoke I recalled the mystic picture of the noted painter
+Vroubel. The same nude mountains with the violet and purple robes of
+Satan, whose face is half covered by an approaching grey cloud. Mongolia
+is a terrible land of mystery and demons. Therefore it is no wonder that
+here every violation of the ancient order of life of the wandering nomad
+tribes is transformed into streams of red blood and horror, ministering
+to the demonic pleasure of Satan couched on the bare mountains and robed
+in the grey cloak of dejection and sadness, or in the purple mantle of
+war and vengeance.
+
+After returning from the district of Koko Nor to Mongolia and resting a
+few days at the Narabanchi Monastery, we went to live in Uliassutai, the
+capital of Western Outer Mongolia. It is the last purely Mongolian town
+to the west. In Mongolia there are but three purely Mongolian towns,
+Urga, Uliassutai and Ulankom. The fourth town, Kobdo, has an essentially
+Chinese character, being the center of Chinese administration in this
+district inhabited by the wandering tribes only nominally recognizing
+the influence of either Peking or Urga. In Uliassutai and Ulankom,
+besides the unlawful Chinese commissioners and troops, there were
+stationed Mongolian governors or “Saits,” appointed by the decree of the
+Living Buddha.
+
+When we arrived in that town, we were at once in the sea of political
+passions. The Mongols were protesting in great agitation against the
+Chinese policy in their country; the Chinese raged and demanded from the
+Mongolians the payment of taxes for the full period since the autonomy
+of Mongolia had been forcibly extracted from Peking; Russian colonists
+who had years before settled near the town and in the vicinity of the
+great monasteries or among the wandering tribes had separated into
+factions and were fighting against one another; from Urga came the
+news of the struggle for the maintenance of the independence of Outer
+Mongolia, led by the Russian General, Baron Ungern von Sternberg;
+Russian officers and refugees congregated in detachments, against which
+the Chinese authorities protested but which the Mongols welcomed; the
+Bolsheviki, worried by the formation of White detachments in Mongolia,
+sent their troops to the borders of Mongolia; from Irkutsk and Chita
+to Uliassutai and Urga envoys were running from the Bolsheviki to the
+Chinese commissioners with various proposals of all kinds; the Chinese
+authorities in Mongolia were gradually entering into secret relations
+with the Bolsheviki and in Kiakhta and Ulankom delivered to them the
+Russian refugees, thus violating recognized international law; in
+Urga the Bolsheviki set up a Russian communistic municipality; Russian
+Consuls were inactive; Red troops in the region of Kosogol and the
+valley of the Selenga had encounters with Anti-Bolshevik officers; the
+Chinese authorities established garrisons in the Mongolian towns
+and sent punitive expeditions into the country; and, to complete the
+confusion, the Chinese troops carried out house-to-house searches,
+during which they plundered and stole.
+
+Into what an atmosphere we had fallen after our hard and dangerous trip
+along the Yenisei, through Urianhai, Mongolia, the lands of the Turguts,
+Kansu and Koko Nor!
+
+“Do you know,” said my old friend to me, “I prefer strangling Partisans
+and fighting with the hunghutze to listening to news and more anxious
+news!”
+
+He was right; for the worst of it was that in this bustle and whirl of
+facts, rumours and gossip the Reds could approach troubled Uliassutai
+and take everyone with their bare hands. We should very willingly have
+left this town of uncertainties but we had no place to go. In the north
+were the hostile Partisans and Red troops; to the south we had already
+lost our companions and not a little of our own blood; to the west raged
+the Chinese administrators and detachments; and to the east a war had
+broken out, the news of which, in spite of the attempts of the Chinese
+authorities at secrecy, had filtered through and had testified to
+the seriousness of the situation in this part of Outer Mongolia.
+Consequently we had no choice but to remain in Uliassutai. Here also
+were living several Polish soldiers who had escaped from the prison
+camps in Russia, two Polish families and two American firms, all in
+the same plight as ourselves. We joined together and made our own
+intelligence department, very carefully watching the evolution of
+events. We succeeded in forming good connections with the Chinese
+commissioner and with the Mongolian Sait, which greatly helped us in our
+orientation.
+
+What was behind all these events in Mongolia? The very clever Mongol
+Sait of Uliassutai gave me the following explanation.
+
+“According to the agreements between Mongolia, China and Russia of
+October 21, 1912, of October 23, 1913, and of June 7, 1915, Outer
+Mongolia was accorded independence and the Moral Head of our ‘Yellow
+Faith,’ His Holiness the Living Buddha, became the Suzerain of the
+Mongolian people of Khalkha or Outer Mongolia with the title of ‘Bogdo
+Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu Khan.’ While Russia was still strong and
+carefully watched her policy in Asia, the Government of Peking kept the
+treaty; but, when, at the beginning of the war with Germany, Russia was
+compelled to withdraw her troops from Siberia, Peking began to claim the
+return of its lost rights in Mongolia. It was because of this that the
+first two treaties of 1912 and 1913 were supplemented by the convention
+of 1915. However, in 1916, when all the forces of Russia were
+pre-occupied in the unsuccessful war and afterwards when the first
+Russian revolution broke out in February, 1917, overthrowing the
+Romanoff Dynasty, the Chinese Government openly retook Mongolia. They
+changed all the Mongolian ministers and Saits, replacing them with
+individuals friendly to China; arrested many Mongolian autonomists and
+sent them to prison in Peking; set up their administration in Urga and
+other Mongol towns; actually removed His Holiness Bogdo Khan from the
+affairs of administration; made him only a machine for signing Chinese
+decrees; and at last introduced into Mongolia their troops. From that
+moment there developed an energetic flow of Chinese merchants and
+coolies into Mongolia. The Chinese began to demand the payment of taxes
+and dues from 1912. The Mongolian population were rapidly stripped of
+their wealth and now in the vicinities of our towns and monasteries you
+can see whole settlements of beggar Mongols living in dugouts. All our
+Mongol arsenals and treasuries were requisitioned. All monasteries
+were forced to pay taxes; all Mongols working for the liberty of their
+country were persecuted; through bribery with Chinese silver, orders and
+titles the Chinese secured a following among the poorer Mongol Princes.
+It is easy to understand how the governing class, His Holiness, Khans,
+Princes, and high Lamas, as well as the ruined and oppressed people,
+remembering that the Mongol rulers had once held Peking and China in
+their hands and under their reign had given her the first place in
+Asia, were definitely hostile to the Chinese administrators acting thus.
+Insurrection was, however, impossible. We had no arms. All our leaders
+were under surveillance and every movement by them toward an armed
+resistance would have ended in the same prison at Peking where eighty
+of our Nobles, Princes and Lamas died from hunger and torture after a
+previous struggle for the liberty of Mongolia. Some abnormally strong
+shock was necessary to drive the people into action. This was given by
+the Chinese administrators, General Cheng Yi and General Chu Chi-hsiang.
+They announced that His Holiness Bogdo Khan was under arrest in his
+own palace, and they recalled to his attention the former decree of
+the Peking Government--held by the Mongols to be unwarranted and
+illegal--that His Holiness was the last Living Buddha. This was enough.
+Immediately secret relations were made between the people and their
+Living God, and plans were at once elaborated for the liberation of His
+Holiness and for the struggle for liberty and freedom of our people. We
+were helped by the great Prince of the Buriats, Djam Bolon, who began
+parleys with General Ungern, then engaged in fighting the Bolsheviki
+in Transbaikalia, and invited him to enter Mongolia and help in the war
+against the Chinese. Then our struggle for liberty began.”
+
+Thus the Sait of Uliassutai explained the situation to me. Afterwards
+I heard that Baron Ungern, who had agreed to fight for the liberty
+of Mongolia, directed that the mobilization of the Mongolians in the
+northern districts be forwarded at once and promised to enter Mongolia
+with his own small detachment, moving along the River Kerulen.
+Afterwards he took up relations with the other Russian detachment of
+Colonel Kazagrandi and, together with the mobilized Mongolian riders,
+began the attack on Urga. Twice he was defeated but on the third of
+February, 1921, he succeeded in capturing the town and replaced the
+Living Buddha on the throne of the Khans.
+
+At the end of March, however, these events were still unknown in
+Uliassutai. We knew neither of the fall of Urga nor of the destruction
+of the Chinese army of nearly 15,000 in the battles of Maimachen on the
+shore of the Tola and on the roads between Urga and Ude. The Chinese
+carefully concealed the truth by preventing anybody from passing
+westward from Urga. However, rumours existed and troubled all. The
+atmosphere became more and more tense, while the relations between the
+Chinese on the one side and the Mongolians and Russians on the other
+became more and more strained. At this time the Chinese Commissioner
+in Uliassutai was Wang Tsao-tsun and his advisor, Fu Hsiang, both very
+young and inexperienced men. The Chinese authorities had dismissed the
+Uliassutai Sait, the prominent Mongolian patriot, Prince Chultun
+Beyle, and had appointed a Lama Prince friendly to China, the former
+Vice-Minister of War in Urga. Oppression increased. The searching of
+Russian officers’ and colonists’ houses and quarters commenced, open
+relations with the Bolsheviki followed and arrest and beatings became
+common. The Russian officers formed a secret detachment of sixty men
+so that they could defend themselves. However, in this detachment
+disagreements soon sprang up between Lieutenant-Colonel M. M. Michailoff
+and some of his officers. It was evident that in the decisive moment the
+detachment must separate into factions.
+
+We foreigners in council decided to make a thorough reconnaissance in
+order to know whether there was danger of Red troops arriving. My old
+companion and I agreed to do this scouting. Prince Chultun Beyle gave
+us a very good guide--an old Mongol named Tzeren, who spoke and read
+Russian perfectly. He was a very interesting personage, holding the
+position of interpreter with the Mongolian authorities and sometimes
+with the Chinese Commissioner. Shortly before he had been sent as
+a special envoy to Peking with very important despatches and this
+incomparable horseman had made the journey between Uliassutai and
+Peking, that is 1,800 miles, in nine days, incredible as it may seem. He
+prepared himself for the journey by binding all his abdomen and chest,
+legs, arms and neck with strong cotton bandages to protect himself from
+the wracks and strains of such a period in the saddle. In his cap he
+bore three eagle feathers as a token that he had received orders to fly
+like a bird. Armed with a special document called a tzara, which gave
+him the right to receive at all post stations the best horses, one
+to ride and one fully saddled to lead as a change, together with two
+oulatchen or guards to accompany him and bring back the horses from the
+next station or ourton, he made the distance of from fifteen to thirty
+miles between stations at full gallop, stopping only long enough to have
+the horses and guards changed before he was off again. Ahead of him rode
+one oulatchen with the best horses to enable him to announce and prepare
+in advance the complement of steeds at the next station. Each oulatchen
+had three horses in all, so that he could swing from one that had given
+out and release him to graze until his return to pick him up and lead or
+ride him back home. At every third ourton, without leaving his saddle,
+he received a cup of hot green tea with salt and continued his race
+southward. After seventeen or eighteen hours of such riding he stopped
+at the ourton for the night or what was left of it, devoured a leg of
+boiled mutton and slept. Thus he ate once a day and five times a day had
+tea; and so he traveled for nine days!
+
+With this servant we moved out one cold winter morning in the direction
+of Kobdo, just over three hundred miles, because from there we had
+received the disquieting rumours that the Red troops had entered
+Ulankom and that the Chinese authorities had handed over to them all the
+Europeans in the town. We crossed the River Dzaphin on the ice. It is a
+terrible stream. Its bed is full of quicksands, which in summer suck
+in numbers of camels, horses and men. We entered a long, winding valley
+among the mountains covered with deep snow and here and there with
+groves of the black wood of the larch. About halfway to Kobdo we came
+across the yurta of a shepherd on the shore of the small Lake of Baga
+Nor, where evening and a strong wind whirling gusts of snow in our faces
+easily persuaded us to stop. By the yurta stood a splendid bay horse
+with a saddle richly ornamerited with silver and coral. As we turned
+in from the road, two Mongols left the yurta very hastily; one of them
+jumped into the saddle and quickly disappeared in the plain behind the
+snowy hillocks. We clearly made out the flashing folds of his yellow
+robe under the great outer coat and saw his large knife sheathed in a
+green leather scabbard and handled with horn and ivory. The other man
+was the host of the yurta, the shepherd of a local prince, Novontziran.
+He gave signs of great pleasure at seeing us and receiving us in his
+yurta.
+
+“Who was the rider on the bay horse?” we asked.
+
+He dropped his eyes and was silent.
+
+“Tell us,” we insisted. “If you do not wish to speak his name, it means
+that you are dealing with a bad character.”
+
+“No! No!” he remonstrated, flourishing his hands. “He is a good, great
+man; but the law does not permit me to speak his name.”
+
+We at once understood that the man was either the chief of the shepherd
+or some high Lama. Consequently we did not further insist and began
+making our sleeping arrangements. Our host set three legs of mutton to
+boil for us, skillfully cutting out the bones with his heavy knife. We
+chatted and learned that no one had seen Red troops around this region
+but in Kobdo and in Ulankom the Chinese soldiers were oppressing the
+population, and were beating to death with the bamboo Mongol men who
+were defending their women against the ravages of these Chinese troops.
+Some of the Mongols had retreated to the mountains to join detachments
+under the command of Kaigordoff, an Altai Tartar officer who was
+supplying them with weapons.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE MYSTERIOUS LAMA AVENGER
+
+
+We rested soundly in the yurta after the two days of travel which had
+brought us one hundred seventy miles through the snow and sharp cold.
+Round the evening meal of juicy mutton we were talking freely and
+carelessly when suddenly we heard a low, hoarse voice:
+
+“Sayn--Good evening!”
+
+We turned around from the brazier to the door and saw a medium height,
+very heavy set Mongol in deerskin overcoat and cap with side flaps and
+the long, wide tying strings of the same material. Under his girdle
+lay the same large knife in the green sheath which we had seen on the
+departing horseman.
+
+“Amoursayn,” we answered.
+
+He quickly untied his girdle and laid aside his overcoat. He stood
+before us in a wonderful gown of silk, yellow as beaten gold and girt
+with a brilliant blue sash. His cleanly shaven face, short hair, red
+coral rosary on the left hand and his yellow garment proved clearly that
+before us stood some high Lama Priest,--with a big Colt under his blue
+sash!
+
+I turned to my host and Tzeren and read in their faces fear and
+veneration. The stranger came over to the brazier and sat down.
+
+“Let’s speak Russian,” he said and took a bit of meat.
+
+The conversation began. The stranger began to find fault with the
+Government of the Living Buddha in Urga.
+
+“There they liberate Mongolia, capture Urga, defeat the Chinese army and
+here in the west they give us no news of it. We are without action here
+while the Chinese kill our people and steal from them. I think that
+Bogdo Khan might send us envoys. How is it the Chinese can send their
+envoys from Urga and Kiakhta to Kobdo, asking for assistance, and the
+Mongol Government cannot do it? Why?”
+
+“Will the Chinese send help to Urga?” I asked.
+
+Our guest laughed hoarsely and said: “I caught all the envoys, took away
+their letters and then sent them back . . . into the ground.”
+
+He laughed again and glanced around peculiarly with his blazing eyes.
+Only then did I notice that his cheekbones and eyes had lines strange to
+the Mongols of Central Asia. He looked more like a Tartar or a Kirghiz.
+We were silent and smoked our pipes.
+
+“How soon will the detachment of Chahars leave Uliassutai?” he asked.
+
+We answered that we had not heard about them. Our guest explained
+that from Inner Mongolia the Chinese authorities had sent out a strong
+detachment, mobilized from among the most warlike tribe of Chahars,
+which wander about the region just outside the Great Wall. Its chief was
+a notorious hunghutze leader promoted by the Chinese Government to the
+rank of captain on promising that he would bring under subjugation to
+the Chinese authorities all the tribes of the districts of Kobdo and
+Urianhai. When he learned whither we were going and for what purpose,
+he said he could give us the most accurate news and relieve us from the
+necessity of going farther.
+
+“Besides that, it is very dangerous,” he said, “because Kobdo will be
+massacred and burned. I know this positively.”
+
+When he heard of our unsuccessful attempt to pass through Tibet, he
+became attentive and very sympathetic in his bearing toward us and, with
+evident feeling of regret, expressed himself strongly:
+
+“Only I could have helped you in this enterprise, but not the Narabanchi
+Hutuktu. With my laissez-passer you could have gone anywhere in Tibet. I
+am Tushegoun Lama.”
+
+Tushegoun Lama! How many extraordinary tales I had heard about him.
+He is a Russian Kalmuck, who because of his propaganda work for the
+independence of the Kalmuck people made the acquaintance of many Russian
+prisons under the Czar and, for the same cause, added to his list under
+the Bolsheviki. He escaped to Mongolia and at once attained to great
+influence among the Mongols. It was no wonder, for he was a close friend
+and pupil of the Dalai Lama in Potala (Lhasa), was the most learned
+among the Lamites, a famous thaumaturgist and doctor. He occupied an
+almost independent position in his relationship with the Living Buddha
+and achieved to the leadership of all the old wandering tribes of
+Western Mongolia and Zungaria, even extending his political domination
+over the Mongolian tribes of Turkestan. His influence was irresistible,
+based as it was on his great control of mysterious science, as he
+expressed it; but I was also told that it has its foundation largely
+in the panicky fear which he could produce in the Mongols. Everyone who
+disobeyed his orders perished. Such an one never knew the day or the
+hour when, in his yurta or beside his galloping horse on the plains, the
+strange and powerful friend of the Dalai Lama would appear. The stroke
+of a knife, a bullet or strong fingers strangling the neck like a vise
+accomplished the justice of the plans of this miracle worker.
+
+Without the walls of the yurta the wind whistled and roared and drove
+the frozen snow sharply against the stretched felt. Through the roar of
+the wind came the sound of many voices in mingled shouting, wailing
+and laughter. I felt that in such surroundings it were not difficult to
+dumbfound a wandering nomad with miracles, because Nature herself had
+prepared the setting for it. This thought had scarcely time to flash
+through my mind before Tushegoun Lama suddenly raised his head, looked
+sharply at me and said:
+
+“There is very much unknown in Nature and the skill of using the unknown
+produces the miracle; but the power is given to few. I want to prove it
+to you and you may tell me afterwards whether you have seen it before or
+not.”
+
+He stood up, pushed back the sleeves of his yellow garment, seized his
+knife and strode across to the shepherd.
+
+“Michik, stand up!” he ordered.
+
+When the shepherd had risen, the Lama quickly unbuttoned his coat
+and bared the man’s chest. I could not yet understand what was his
+intention, when suddenly the Tushegoun with all his force struck his
+knife into the chest of the shepherd. The Mongol fell all covered with
+blood, a splash of which I noticed on the yellow silk of the Lama’s
+coat.
+
+“What have you done?” I exclaimed.
+
+“Sh! Be still,” he whispered turning to me his now quite blanched face.
+
+With a few strokes of the knife he opened the chest of the Mongol and
+I saw the man’s lungs softly breathing and the distinct palpitations of
+the heart. The Lama touched these organs with his fingers but no more
+blood appeared to flow and the face of the shepherd was quite calm.
+He was lying with his eyes closed and appeared to be in deep and quiet
+sleep. As the Lama began to open his abdomen, I shut my eyes in fear and
+horror; and, when I opened them a little while later, I was still more
+dumbfounded at seeing the shepherd with his coat still open and his
+breast normal, quietly sleeping on his side and Tushegoun Lama sitting
+peacefully by the brazier, smoking his pipe and looking into the fire in
+deep thought.
+
+“It is wonderful!” I confessed. “I have never seen anything like it!”
+
+“About what are you speaking?” asked the Kalmuck.
+
+“About your demonstration or ‘miracle,’ as you call it,” I answered.
+
+“I never said anything like that,” refuted the Kalmuck, with coldness in
+his voice.
+
+“Did you see it?” I asked of my companion.
+
+“What?” he queried in a dozing voice.
+
+I realized that I had become the victim of the hypnotic power of
+Tushegoun Lama; but I preferred this to seeing an innocent Mongolian
+die, for I had not believed that Tushegoun Lama, after slashing open the
+bodies of his victims, could repair them again so readily.
+
+The following day we took leave of our hosts. We decided to return,
+inasmuch as our mission was accomplished; and Tushegoun Lama explained
+to us that he would “move through space.” He wandered over all Mongolia,
+lived both in the single, simple yurta of the shepherd and hunter and in
+the splendid tents of the princes and tribal chiefs, surrounded by deep
+veneration and panic-fear, enticing and cementing to him rich and poor
+alike with his miracles and prophecies. When bidding us adieu, the
+Kalmuck sorcerer slyly smiled and said:
+
+“Do not give any information about me to the Chinese authorities.”
+
+Afterwards he added: “What happened to you yesterday evening was
+a futile demonstration. You Europeans will not recognize that we
+dark-minded nomads possess the powers of mysterious science. If you
+could only see the miracles and power of the Most Holy Tashi Lama, when
+at his command the lamps and candles before the ancient statue of Buddha
+light themselves and when the ikons of the gods begin to speak and
+prophesy! But there exists a more powerful and more holy man. . .”
+
+“Is it the King of the World in Agharti?” I interrupted.
+
+He stared and glanced at me in amazement.
+
+“Have you heard about him?” he asked, as his brows knit in thought.
+
+After a few seconds he raised his narrow eyes and said: “Only one man
+knows his holy name; only one man now living was ever in Agharti. That
+is I. This is the reason why the Most Holy Dalai Lama has honored me and
+why the Living Buddha in Urga fears me. But in vain, for I shall never
+sit on the Holy Throne of the highest priest in Lhasa nor reach that
+which has come down from Jenghiz Khan to the Head of our yellow Faith. I
+am no monk. I am a warrior and avenger.”
+
+He jumped smartly into the saddle, whipped his horse and whirled away,
+flinging out as he left the common Mongolian phrase of adieu: “Sayn!
+Sayn-bayna!”
+
+On the way back Tzeren related to us the hundreds of legends surrounding
+Tushegoun Lama. One tale especially remained in my mind. It was in 1911
+or 1912 when the Mongols by armed force tried to attain their liberty in
+a struggle with the Chinese. The general Chinese headquarters in Western
+Mongolia was Kobdo, where they had about ten thousand soldiers under the
+command of their best officers. The command to capture Kobdo was sent
+to Hun Baldon, a simple shepherd who had distinguished himself in fights
+with the Chinese and received from the Living Buddha the title of Prince
+of Hun. Ferocious, absolutely without fear and possessing gigantic
+strength, Baldon had several times led to the attack his poorly armed
+Mongols but each time had been forced to retreat after losing many of
+his men under the machine-gun fire. Unexpectedly Tushegoun Lama arrived.
+He collected all the soldiers and then said to them:
+
+“You must not fear death and must not retreat. You are fighting and
+dying for Mongolia, for which the gods have appointed a great destiny.
+See what the fate of Mongolia will be!”
+
+He made a great sweeping gesture with his hand and all the soldiers saw
+the country round about set with rich yurtas and pastures covered
+with great herds of horses and cattle. On the plains appeared numerous
+horsemen on richly saddled steeds. The women were gowned in the finest
+of silk with massive silver rings in their ears and precious ornaments
+in their elaborate head dresses. Chinese merchants led an endless
+caravan of merchandise up to distinguished looking Mongol Saits,
+surrounded by the gaily dressed tzirik or soldiers and proudly
+negotiating with the merchants for their wares.
+
+Shortly the vision disappeared and Tushegoun began to speak.
+
+“Do not fear death! It is a release from our labor on earth and the path
+to the state of constant blessings. Look to the East! Do you see your
+brothers and friends who have fallen in battle?”
+
+“We see, we see!” the Mongol warriors exclaimed in astonishment, as they
+all looked upon a great group of dwellings which might have been yurtas
+or the arches of temples flushed with a warm and kindly light. Red and
+yellow silk were interwoven in bright bands that covered the walls and
+floor, everywhere the gilding on pillars and walls gleamed brightly;
+on the great red altar burned the thin sacrificial candles in gold
+candelabra, beside the massive silver vessels filled with milk and nuts;
+on soft pillows about the floor sat the Mongols who had fallen in the
+previous attack on Kobdo. Before them stood low, lacquered tables laden
+with many dishes of steaming, succulent flesh of the lamb and the kid,
+with high jugs of wine and tea, with plates of borsuk, a kind of sweet,
+rich cakes, with aromatic zatouran covered with sheep’s fat, with bricks
+of dried cheese, with dates, raisins and nuts. These fallen soldiers
+smoked golden pipes and chatted gaily.
+
+This vision in turn also disappeared and before the gazing Mongols stood
+only the mysterious Kalmuck with his hand upraised.
+
+“To battle and return not without victory! I am with you in the fight.”
+
+The attack began. The Mongols fought furiously, perished by the hundreds
+but not before they had rushed into the heart of Kobdo. Then was
+re-enacted the long forgotten picture of Tartar hordes destroying
+European towns. Hun Baldon ordered carried over him a triangle of lances
+with brilliant red streamers, a sign that he gave up the town to the
+soldiers for three days. Murder and pillage began. All the Chinese met
+their death there. The town was burned and the walls of the fortress
+destroyed. Afterwards Hun Baldon came to Uliassutai and also destroyed
+the Chinese fortress there. The ruins of it still stand with the broken
+embattlements and towers, the useless gates and the remnants of the
+burned official quarters and soldiers’ barracks.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+WILD CHAHARS
+
+
+After our return to Uliassutai we heard that disquieting news had been
+received by the Mongol Sait from Muren Kure. The letter stated that Red
+Troops were pressing Colonel Kazagrandi very hard in the region of Lake
+Kosogol. The Sait feared the advance of the Red troops southward to
+Uliassutai. Both the American firms liquidated their affairs and all
+our friends were prepared for a quick exit, though they hesitated at
+the thought of leaving the town, as they were afraid of meeting the
+detachment of Chahars sent from the east. We decided to await the
+arrival of this detachment, as their coming could change the whole
+course of events. In a few days they came, two hundred warlike Chahar
+brigands under the command of a former Chinese hunghutze. He was a tall,
+skinny man with hands that reached almost to his knees, a face blackened
+by wind and sun and mutilated with two long scars down over his forehead
+and cheek, the making of one of which had also closed one of his
+hawklike eyes, topped off with a shaggy coonskin cap--such was the
+commander of the detachment of Chahars. A personage very dark and stern,
+with whom a night meeting on a lonely street could not be considered a
+pleasure by any bent of the imagination.
+
+The detachment made camp within the destroyed fortress, near to the
+single Chinese building that had not been razed and which was now
+serving as headquarters for the Chinese Commissioner. On the very day of
+their arrival the Chahars pillaged a Chinese dugun or trading house not
+half a mile from the fortress and also offended the wife of the Chinese
+Commissioner by calling her a “traitor.” The Chahars, like the Mongols,
+were quite right in their stand, because the Chinese Commissioner Wang
+Tsao-tsun had on his arrival in Uliassutai followed the Chinese custom
+of demanding a Mongolian wife. The servile new Sait had given orders
+that a beautiful and suitable Mongolian girl be found for him. One was
+so run down and placed in his yamen, together with her big wrestling
+Mongol brother who was to be a guard for the Commissioner but who
+developed into the nurse for the little white Pekingese pug which the
+official presented to his new wife.
+
+Burglaries, squabbles and drunken orgies of the Chahars followed, so
+that Wang Tsoa-tsun exerted all his efforts to hurry the detachment
+westward to Kobdo and farther into Urianhai.
+
+One cold morning the inhabitants of Uliassutai rose to witness a very
+stern picture. Along the main street of the town the detachment was
+passing. They were riding on small, shaggy ponies, three abreast; were
+dressed in warm blue coats with sheepskin overcoats outside and crowned
+with the regulation coonskin caps; armed from head to foot. They rode
+with wild shouts and cheers, very greedily eyeing the Chinese shops and
+the houses of the Russian colonists. At their head rode the one-eyed
+hunghutze chief with three horsemen behind him in white overcoats,
+who carried waving banners and blew what may have been meant for music
+through great conch shells. One of the Chahars could not resist and so
+jumped out of his saddle and made for a Chinese shop along the street.
+Immediately the anxious cries of the Chinese merchants came from the
+shop. The hunghutze swung round, noticed the horse at the door of the
+shop and realized what was happening. Immediately he reined his horse
+and made for the spot. With his raucous voice he called the Chahar out.
+As he came, he struck him full in the face with his whip and with all
+his strength. Blood flowed from the slashed cheek. But the Chahar was in
+the saddle in a second without a murmur and galloped to his place in
+the file. During this exit of the Chahars all the people were hidden
+in their houses, anxiously peeping through cracks and corners of the
+windows. But the Chahars passed peacefully out and only when they met a
+caravan carrying Chinese wine about six miles from town did their
+native tendency display itself again in pillaging and emptying several
+containers. Somewhere in the vicinity of Hargana they were ambushed by
+Tushegoun Lama and so treated that never again will the plains of Chahar
+welcome the return of these warrior sons who were sent out to conquer
+the Soyot descendants of the ancient Tuba.
+
+The day the column left Uliassutai a heavy snow fell, so that the road
+became impassable. The horses first were up to their knees, tired out
+and stopped. Some Mongol horsemen reached Uliassutai the following day
+after great hardship and exertion, having made only twenty-five miles in
+forty-eight hours. Caravans were compelled to stop along the routes. The
+Mongols would not consent even to attempt journeys with oxen and yaks
+which made but ten or twelve miles a day. Only camels could be used but
+there were too few and their drivers did not feel that they could make
+the first railway station of Kuku-Hoto, which was about fourteen hundred
+miles away. We were forced again to wait: for which? Death or salvation?
+Only our own energy and force could save us. Consequently my friend
+and I started out, supplied with a tent, stove and food, for a new
+reconnaissance along the shore of Lake Kosogol, whence the Mongol Sait
+expected the new invasion of Red troops.
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE DEMON OF JAGISSTAI
+
+
+Our small group consisting of four mounted and one pack camel moved
+northward along the valley of the River Boyagol in the direction of the
+Tarbagatai Mountains. The road was rocky and covered deep with snow. Our
+camels walked very carefully, sniffing out the way as our guide shouted
+the “Ok! Ok!” of the camel drivers to urge them on. We left behind us
+the fortress and Chinese dugun, swung round the shoulder of a ridge
+and, after fording several times an open stream, began the ascent of the
+mountain. The scramble was hard and dangerous. Our camels picked their
+way most cautiously, moving their ears constantly, as is their habit in
+such stress. The trail zigzagged into mountain ravines, passed over the
+tops of ridges, slipped back down again into shallower valleys but ever
+made higher and higher altitudes. At one place under the grey clouds
+that tipped the ridges we saw away up on the wide expanse of snow some
+black spots.
+
+“Those are the obo, the sacred signs and altars for the bad demons
+watching this pass,” explained the guide. “This pass is called
+Jagisstai. Many very old tales about it have been kept alive, ancient as
+these mountains themselves.”
+
+We encouraged him to tell us some of them.
+
+The Mongol, rocking on his camel and looking carefully all around him,
+began his tale.
+
+“It was long ago, very long ago. . . . The grandson of the great Jenghiz
+Khan sat on the throne of China and ruled all Asia. The Chinese killed
+their Khan and wanted to exterminate all his family but a holy old Lama
+slipped the wife and little son out of the palace and carried them off
+on swift camels beyond the Great Wall, where they sank into our native
+plains. The Chinese made a long search for the trails of our refugees
+and at last found where they had gone. They despatched a strong
+detachment on fleet horses to capture them. Sometimes the Chinese nearly
+came up with the fleeing heir of our Khan but the Lama called down from
+Heaven a deep snow, through which the camels could pass while the horses
+were inextricably held. This Lama was from a distant monastery. We shall
+pass this hospice of Jahantsi Kure. In order to reach it one must cross
+over the Jagisstai. And it was just here the old Lama suddenly became
+ill, rocked in his saddle and fell dead. Ta Sin Lo, the widow of the
+Great Khan, burst into tears; but, seeing the Chinese riders galloping
+there below across the valley, pressed on toward the pass. The camels
+were tired, stopping every moment, nor did the woman know how to
+stimulate and drive them on. The Chinese riders came nearer and nearer.
+Already she heard their shouts of joy, as they felt within their grasp
+the prize of the mandarins for the murder of the heir of the Great
+Khan. The heads of the mother and the son would be brought to Peking and
+exposed on the Ch’ien Men for the mockery and insults of the people. The
+frightened mother lifted her little son toward heaven and exclaimed:
+
+“‘Earth and Gods of Mongolia, behold the offspring of the man who has
+glorified the name of the Mongols from one end of the world to the
+other! Allow not this very flesh of Jenghiz Khan to perish!’
+
+“At this moment she noticed a white mouse sitting on a rock nearby. It
+jumped to her knees and said:
+
+“‘I am sent to help you. Go on calmly and do not fear. The pursuers of
+you and your son, to whom is destined a life of glory, have come to the
+last bourne of their lives.’
+
+“Ta Sin Lo did not see how one small mouse could hold in check three
+hundred men. The mouse jumped back to the ground and again spoke:
+
+“‘I am the demon of Tarbagatai, Jagasstai. I am mighty and beloved of
+the Gods but, because you doubted the powers of the miracle-speaking
+mouse, from this day the Jagasstai will be dangerous for the good and
+bad alike.’
+
+“The Khan’s widow and son were saved but Jagasstai has ever remained
+merciless. During the journey over this pass one must always be on one’s
+guard. The demon of the mountain is ever ready to lead the traveler to
+destruction.”
+
+All the tops of the ridges of the Tarbagatai are thickly dotted with the
+obo of rocks and branches. In one place there was even erected a tower
+of stones as an altar to propitiate the Gods for the doubts of Ta Sin
+Lo. Evidently the demon expected us. When we began our ascent of the
+main ridge, he blew into our faces with a sharp, cold wind, whistled and
+roared and afterwards began casting over us whole blocks of snow torn
+off the drifts above. We could not distinguish anything around us,
+scarcely seeing the camel immediately in front. Suddenly I felt a
+shock and looked about me. Nothing unusual was visible. I was seated
+comfortably between two leather saddle bags filled with meat and bread
+but . . . I could not see the head of my camel. He had disappeared. It
+seemed that he had slipped and fallen to the bottom of a shallow ravine,
+while the bags which were slung across his back without straps had
+caught on a rock and stopped with myself there in the snow. This time
+the demon of Jagasstai only played a joke but one that did not satisfy
+him. He began to show more and more anger. With furious gusts of wind he
+almost dragged us and our bags from the camels and nearly knocked over
+our humped steeds, blinded us with frozen snow and prevented us from
+breathing. Through long hours we dragged slowly on in the deep snow,
+often falling over the edge of the rocks. At last we entered a small
+valley where the wind whistled and roared with a thousand voices. It
+had grown dark. The Mongol wandered around searching for the trail and
+finally came back to us, flourishing his arms and saying:
+
+“We have lost the road. We must spend the night here. It is very bad
+because we shall have no wood for our stove and the cold will grow
+worse.”
+
+With great difficulties and with frozen hands we managed to set up our
+tent in the wind, placing in it the now useless stove. We covered the
+tent with snow, dug deep, long ditches in the drifts and forced our
+camels to lie down in them by shouting the “Dzuk! Dzuk!” command to
+kneel. Then we brought our packs into the tent.
+
+My companion rebelled against the thought of spending a cold night with
+a stove hard by.
+
+“I am going out to look for firewood,” said he very decisively; and at
+that took up the ax and started. He returned after an hour with a big
+section of a telegraph pole.
+
+“You, Jenghiz Khans,” said he, rubbing his frozen hands, “take your
+axes and go up there to the left on the mountain and you will find the
+telegraph poles that have been cut down. I made acquaintance with the
+old Jagasstai and he showed me the poles.”
+
+Just a little way from us the line of the Russian telegraphs passed,
+that which had connected Irkutsk with Uliassutai before the days of the
+Bolsheviki and which the Chinese had commanded the Mongols to cut
+down and take the wire. These poles are now the salvation of travelers
+crossing the pass. Thus we spent the night in a warm tent, supped
+well from hot meat soup with vermicelli, all in the very center of the
+dominion of the angered Jagasstai. Early the next morning we found
+the road not more than two or three hundred paces from our tent and
+continued our hard trip over the ridge of Tarbagatai. At the head of
+the Adair River valley we noticed a flock of the Mongolian crows with
+carmine beaks circling among the rocks. We approached the place and
+discovered the recently fallen bodies of a horse and rider. What had
+happened to them was difficult to guess. They lay close together; the
+bridle was wound around the right wrist of the man; no trace of knife or
+bullet was found. It was impossible to make out the features of the man.
+His overcoat was Mongolian but his trousers and under jacket were not of
+the Mongolian pattern. We asked ourselves what had happened to him.
+
+Our Mongol bowed his head in anxiety and said in hushed but assured
+tones: “It is the vengeance of Jagasstai. The rider did not make
+sacrifice at the southern obo and the demon has strangled him and his
+horse.”
+
+At last Tarbagatai was behind us. Before us lay the valley of the Adair.
+It was a narrow zigzagging plain following along the river bed between
+close mountain ranges and covered with a rich grass. It was cut into two
+parts by the road along which the prostrate telegraph poles now lay, as
+the stumps of varying heights and long stretches of wire completed
+the debris. This destruction of the telegraph line between Irkutsk and
+Uliassutai was necessary and incident to the aggressive Chinese policy
+in Mongolia.
+
+Soon we began to meet large herds of sheep, which were digging through
+the snow to the dry but very nutritious grass. In some places yaks and
+oxen were seen on the high slopes of the mountains. Only once, however,
+did we see a shepherd, for all of them, spying us first, had made off
+to the mountains or hidden in the ravines. We did not even discover any
+yurtas along the way. The Mongols had also concealed all their movable
+homes in the folds of the mountains out of sight and away from the reach
+of the strong winds. Nomads are very skilful in choosing the places
+for their winter dwellings. I had often in winter visited the Mongolian
+yurtas set in such sheltered places that, as I came off the windy
+plains, I felt as though I were in a conservatory. Once we came up to
+a big herd of sheep. But as we approached most of the herd gradually
+withdrew, leaving one part that remained unmoved as the other worked
+off across the plains. From this section soon about thirty of forty head
+emerged and went scrambling and leaping right up the mountain side. I
+took up my glasses and began to observe them. The part of the herd that
+remained behind were common sheep; the large section that had drawn off
+over the plain were Mongolian antelopes (gazella gutturosa); while
+the few that had taken to the mountain were the big horned sheep (ovis
+argali). All this company had been grazing together with the domestic
+sheep on the plains of the Adair, which attracted them with its good
+grass and clear water. In many places the river was not frozen and in
+some places I saw great clouds of steam over the surface of the open
+water. In the meantime some of the antelopes and the mountain sheep
+began looking at us.
+
+“Now they will soon begin to cross our trail,” laughed the Mongol; “very
+funny beasts. Sometimes the antelopes course for miles in their endeavor
+to outrun and cross in front of our horses and then, when they have done
+so, go loping quietly off.”
+
+I had already seen this strategy of the antelopes and I decided to make
+use of it for the purpose of the hunt. We organized our chase in the
+following manner. We let one Mongol with the pack camel proceed as
+we had been traveling and the other three of us spread out like a fan
+headed toward the herd on the right of our true course. The herd stopped
+and looked about puzzled, for their etiquette required that they should
+cross the path of all four of these riders at once. Confusion began.
+They counted about three thousand heads. All this army began to run
+from one side to another but without forming any distinct groups. Whole
+squadrons of them ran before us and then, noticing another rider, came
+coursing back and made anew the same manoeuvre. One group of about fifty
+head rushed in two rows toward my point. When they were about a hundred
+and fifty paces away I shouted and fired. They stopped at once and began
+to whirl round in one spot, running into one another and even jumping
+over one another. Their panic cost them dear, for I had time to shoot
+four times to bring down two beautiful heads. My friend was even more
+fortunate than I, for he shot only once into the herd as it rushed past
+him in parallel lines and dropped two with the same bullet.
+
+Meanwhile the argali had gone farther up the mountainside and taken
+stand there in a row like so many soldiers, turning to gaze at us. Even
+at this distance I could clearly distinguish their muscular bodies
+with their majestic heads and stalwart horns. Picking up our prey, we
+overtook the Mongol who had gone on ahead and continued our way. In many
+places we came across the carcasses of sheep with necks torn and the
+flesh of the sides eaten off.
+
+“It is the work of wolves,” said the Mongol. “They are always hereabout
+in large numbers.”
+
+We came across several more herds of antelope, which ran along quietly
+enough until they had made a comfortable distance ahead of us and then
+with tremendous leaps and bounds crossed our bows like the proverbial
+chicken on the road. Then, after a couple of hundred paces at this
+speed, they stopped and began to graze quite calmly. Once I turned my
+camel back and the whole herd immediately took up the challenge again,
+coursed along parallel with me until they had made sufficient distance
+for their ideas of safety and then once more rushed across the road
+ahead of me as though it were paved with red hot stones, only to assume
+their previous calmness and graze back on the same side of the trail
+from which our column had first started them. On another occasion I did
+this three times with a particular herd and laughed long and heartily at
+their stupid customs.
+
+We passed a very unpleasant night in this valley. We stopped on the
+shore of the frozen stream in a spot where we found shelter from the
+wind under the lee of a high shore. In our stove we did have a fire and
+in our kettle boiling water. Also our tent was warm and cozy. We were
+quietly resting with pleasant thoughts of supper to soothe us, when
+suddenly a howling and laughter as though from some inferno burst upon
+us from just outside the tent, while from the other side of the valley
+came the long and doleful howls in answer.
+
+“Wolves,” calmly explained the Mongol, who took my revolver and went out
+of the tent. He did not return for some time but at last we heard a shot
+and shortly after he entered.
+
+“I scared them a little,” said he. “They had congregated on the shore of
+the Adair around the body of a camel.”
+
+“And they have not touched our camels?” we asked.
+
+“We shall make a bonfire behind our tent; then they will not bother us.”
+
+After our supper we turned in but I lay awake for a long time listening
+to the crackle of the wood in the fire, the deep sighing breaths of the
+camels and the distant howling of the packs of wolves; but finally, even
+with all these noises, fell asleep. How long I had been asleep I did not
+know when suddenly I was awakened by a strong blow in the side. I was
+lying at the very edge of the tent and someone from outside had, without
+the least ceremony, pushed strongly against me. I thought it was one of
+the camels chewing the felt of the tent. I took my Mauser and struck the
+wall. A sharp scream was followed by the sound of quick running over the
+pebbles. In the morning we discovered the tracks of wolves approaching
+our tent from the side opposite to the fire and followed them to where
+they had begun to dig under the tent wall; but evidently one of the
+would-be robbers was forced to retreat with a bruise on his head from
+the handle of the Mauser.
+
+Wolves and eagles are the servants of Jagasstai, the Mongol very
+seriously instructed us. However, this does not prevent the Mongols from
+hunting them. Once in the camp of Prince Baysei I witnessed such a hunt.
+The Mongol horsemen on the best of his steeds overtook the wolves on the
+open plain and killed them with heavy bamboo sticks or tashur. A Russian
+veterinary surgeon taught the Mongols to poison wolves with strychnine
+but the Mongols soon abandoned this method because of its danger to
+the dogs, the faithful friends and allies of the nomad. They do not,
+however, touch the eagles and hawks but even feed them. When the Mongols
+are slaughtering animals they often cast bits of meat up into the air
+for the hawks and eagles to catch in flight, just as we throw a bit of
+meat to a dog. Eagles and hawks fight and drive away the magpies and
+crows, which are very dangerous for cattle and horses, because they
+scratch and peck at the smallest wound or abrasion on the backs of the
+animals until they make them into uncurable areas which they continue to
+harass.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE NEST OF DEATH
+
+
+Our camels were trudging to a slow but steady measure on toward the
+north. We were making twenty-five to thirty miles a day as we approached
+a small monastery that lay to the left of our route. It was in the
+form of a square of large buildings surrounded by a high fence of
+thick poles. Each side had an opening in the middle leading to the four
+entrances of the temple in the center of the square. The temple was
+built with the red lacquered columns and the Chinese style roofs and
+dominated the surrounding low dwellings of the Lamas. On the opposite
+side of the road lay what appeared to be a Chinese fortress but which
+was in reality a trading compound or dugun, which the Chinese always
+build in the form of a fortress with double walls a few feet apart,
+within which they place their houses and shops and usually have twenty
+or thirty traders fully armed for any emergency. In case of need these
+duguns can be used as blockhouses and are capable of withstanding long
+sieges. Between the dugun and the monastery and nearer to the road I
+made out the camp of some nomads. Their horses and cattle were nowhere
+to be seen. Evidently the Mongols had stopped here for some time and
+had left their cattle in the mountains. Over several yurtas waved
+multi-colored triangular flags, a sign of the presence of disease. Near
+some yurtas high poles were stuck into the ground with Mongol caps at
+their tops, which indicated that the host of the yurta had died. The
+packs of dogs wandering over the plain showed that the dead bodies lay
+somewhere near, either in the ravines or along the banks of the river.
+
+As we approached the camp, we heard from a distance the frantic beating
+of drums, the mournful sounds of the flute and shrill, mad shouting.
+Our Mongol went forward to investigate for us and reported that several
+Mongolian families had come here to the monastery to seek aid from the
+Hutuktu Jahansti who was famed for his miracles of healing. The people
+were stricken with leprosy and black smallpox and had come from long
+distances only to find that the Hutuktu was not at the monastery but had
+gone to the Living Buddha in Urga. Consequently they had been forced to
+invite the witch doctors. The people were dying one after another. Just
+the day before they had cast on the plain the twenty-seventh man.
+
+Meanwhile, as we talked, the witch doctor came out of one of the yurtas.
+He was an old man with a cataract on one eye and with a face deeply
+scarred by smallpox. He was dressed in tatters with various colored bits
+of cloth hanging down from his waist. He carried a drum and a flute. We
+could see froth on his blue lips and madness in his eyes. Suddenly he
+began to whirl round and dance with a thousand prancings of his long
+legs and writhings of his arms and shoulders, still beating the drum and
+playing the flute or crying and raging at intervals, ever accelerating
+his movements until at last with pallid face and bloodshot eyes he fell
+on the snow, where he continued to writhe and give out his incoherent
+cries. In this manner the doctor treated his patients, frightening with
+his madness the bad devils that carry disease. Another witch doctor gave
+his patients dirty, muddy water, which I learned was the water from the
+bath of the very person of the Living Buddha who had washed in it his
+“divine” body born from the sacred flower of the lotus.
+
+“Om! Om!” both witches continuously screamed.
+
+While the doctors fought with the devils, the ill people were left to
+themselves. They lay in high fever under the heaps of sheepskins and
+overcoats, were delirious, raved and threw themselves about. By the
+braziers squatted adults and children who were still well, indifferently
+chatting, drinking tea and smoking. In all the yurtas I saw the
+diseased and the dead and such misery and physical horrors as cannot be
+described.
+
+And I thought: “Oh, Great Jenghiz Khan! Why did you with your keen
+understanding of the whole situation of Asia and Europe, you who devoted
+all your life to the glory of the name of the Mongols, why did you not
+give to your own people, who preserve their old morality, honesty and
+peaceful customs, the enlightenment that would have saved them from such
+death? Your bones in the mausoleum at Karakorum being destroyed by
+the centuries that pass over them must cry out against the rapid
+disappearance of your formerly great people, who were feared by half the
+civilized world!”
+
+Such thoughts filled my brain when I saw this camp of the dead tomorrow
+and when I heard the groans, shoutings and raving of dying men,
+women and children. Somewhere in the distance the dogs were howling
+mournfully, and monotonously the drum of the tired witch rolled.
+
+“Forward!” I could not witness longer this dark horror, which I had
+no means or force to eradicate. We quickly passed on from the ominous
+place. Nor could we shake the thought that some horrible invisible
+spirit was following us from this scene of terror. “The devils of
+disease?” “The pictures of horror and misery?” “The souls of men
+who have been sacrificed on the altar of darkness of Mongolia?” An
+inexplicable fear penetrated into our consciousness from whose grasp
+we could not release ourselves. Only when we had turned from the road,
+passed over a timbered ridge into a bowl in the mountains from which we
+could see neither Jahantsi Kure, the dugun nor the squirming grave of
+dying Mongols could we breathe freely again.
+
+Presently we discovered a large lake. It was Tisingol. Near the shore
+stood a large Russian house, the telegraph station between Kosogol and
+Uliassutai.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+AMONG THE MURDERERS
+
+
+As we approached the telegraph station, we were met by a blonde young
+man who was in charge of the office, Kanine by name. With some little
+confusion he offered us a place in his house for the night. When we
+entered the room, a tall, lanky man rose from the table and indecisively
+walked toward us, looking very attentively at us the while.
+
+“Guests . . .” explained Kanine. “They are going to Khathyl. Private
+persons, strangers, foreigners . . .”
+
+“A-h,” drawled the stranger in a quiet, comprehending tone.
+
+While we were untying our girdles and with difficulty getting out of our
+great Mongolian coats, the tall man was animatedly whispering something
+to our host. As we approached the table to sit down and rest, I
+overheard him say: “We are forced to postpone it,” and saw Kanine simply
+nod in answer.
+
+Several other people were seated at the table, among them the assistant
+of Kanine, a tall blonde man with a white face, who talked like a
+Gatling gun about everything imaginable. He was half crazy and his
+semi-madness expressed itself when any loud talking, shouting or sudden
+sharp report led him to repeat the words of the one to whom he was
+talking at the time or to relate in a mechanical, hurried manner stories
+of what was happening around him just at this particular juncture. The
+wife of Kanine, a pale, young, exhausted-looking woman with frightened
+eyes and a face distorted by fear, was also there and near her a young
+girl of fifteen with cropped hair and dressed like a man, as well as
+the two small sons of Kanine. We made acquaintance with all of them.
+The tall stranger called himself Gorokoff, a Russian colonist from
+Samgaltai, and presented the short-haired girl as his sister. Kanine’s
+wife looked at us with plainly discernible fear and said nothing,
+evidently displeased over our being there. However, we had no choice and
+consequently began drinking tea and eating our bread and cold meat.
+
+Kanine told us that ever since the telegraph line had been destroyed all
+his family and relatives had felt very keenly the poverty and hardship
+that naturally followed. The Bolsheviki did not send him any salary from
+Irkutsk, so that he was compelled to shift for himself as best he
+could. They cut and cured hay for sale to the Russian colonists,
+handled private messages and merchandise from Khathyl to Uliassutai and
+Samgaltai, bought and sold cattle, hunted and in this manner managed to
+exist. Gorokoff announced that his commercial affairs compelled him
+to go to Khathyl and that he and his sister would be glad to join
+our caravan. He had a most unprepossessing, angry-looking face with
+colorless eyes that always avoided those of the person with whom he was
+speaking. During the conversation we asked Kanine if there were Russian
+colonists near by, to which he answered with knitted brow and a look of
+disgust on his face:
+
+“There is one rich old man, Bobroff, who lives a verst away from our
+station; but I would not advise you to visit him. He is a miserly,
+inhospitable old fellow who does not like guests.”
+
+During these words of her husband Madame Kanine dropped her eyes and
+contracted her shoulders in something resembling a shudder. Gorokoff and
+his sister smoked along indifferently. I very clearly remarked all this
+as well as the hostile tone of Kanine, the confusion of his wife and
+the artificial indifference of Gorokoff; and I determined to see the
+old colonist given such a bad name by Kanine. In Uliassutai I knew
+two Bobroffs. I said to Kanine that I had been asked to hand a letter
+personally to Bobroff and, after finishing my tea, put on my overcoat
+and went out.
+
+The house of Bobroff stood in a deep sink in the mountains, surrounded
+by a high fence over which the low roofs of the houses could be seen. A
+light shone through the window. I knocked at the gate. A furious barking
+of dogs answered me and through the cracks of the fence I made out four
+huge black Mongol dogs, showing their teeth and growling as they rushed
+toward the gate. Inside the court someone opened the door and called
+out: “Who is there?”
+
+I answered that I was traveling through from Uliassutai. The dogs were
+first caught and chained and I was then admitted by a man who looked me
+over very carefully and inquiringly from head to foot. A revolver handle
+stuck out of his pocket. Satisfied with his observations and learning
+that I knew his relatives, he warmly welcomed me to the house and
+presented me to his wife, a dignified old woman, and to his beautiful
+little adopted daughter, a girl of five years. She had been found on
+the plain beside the dead body of her mother exhausted in her attempt to
+escape from the Bolsheviki in Siberia.
+
+Bobroff told me that the Russian detachment of Kazagrandi had succeeded
+in driving the Red troops away from the Kosogol and that we could
+consequently continue our trip to Khathyl without danger.
+
+“Why did you not stop with me instead of with those brigands?” asked the
+old fellow.
+
+I began to question him and received some very important news. It
+seemed that Kanine was a Bolshevik, the agent of the Irkutsk Soviet, and
+stationed here for purposes of observation. However, now he was rendered
+harmless, because the road between him and Irkutsk was interrupted.
+Still from Biisk in the Altai country had just come a very important
+commissar.
+
+“Gorokoff?” I asked.
+
+“That’s what he calls himself,” replied the old fellow; “but I am also
+from Biisk and I know everyone there. His real name is Pouzikoff and the
+short-haired girl with him is his mistress. He is the commissar of the
+‘Cheka’ and she is the agent of this establishment. Last August the two
+of them shot with their revolvers seventy bound officers from Kolchak’s
+army. Villainous, cowardly murderers! Now they have come here for a
+reconnaissance. They wanted to stay in my house but I knew them too well
+and refused them place.”
+
+“And you do not fear him?” I asked, remembering the different words and
+glances of these people as they sat at the table in the station.
+
+“No,” answered the old man. “I know how to defend myself and my family
+and I have a protector too--my son, such a shot, a rider and a fighter
+as does not exist in all Mongolia. I am very sorry that you will not
+make the acquaintance of my boy. He has gone off to the herds and will
+return only tomorrow evening.”
+
+We took most cordial leave of each other and I promised to stop with him
+on my return.
+
+“Well, what yarns did Bobroff tell you about us?” was the question with
+which Kanine and Gorokoff met me when I came back to the station.
+
+“Nothing about you,” I answered, “because he did not even want to speak
+with me when he found out that I was staying in your house. What is the
+trouble between you?” I asked of them, expressing complete astonishment
+on my face.
+
+“It is an old score,” growled Gorokoff.
+
+“A malicious old churl,” Kanine added in agreement, the while the
+frightened, suffering-laden eyes of his wife again gave expression
+to terrifying horror, as if she momentarily expected a deadly blow.
+Gorokoff began to pack his luggage in preparation for the journey with
+us the following morning. We prepared our simple beds in an adjoining
+room and went to sleep. I whispered to my friend to keep his revolver
+handy for anything that might happen but he only smiled as he dragged
+his revolver and his ax from his coat to place them under his pillow.
+
+“This people at the outset seemed to me very suspicious,” he whispered.
+“They are cooking up something crooked. Tomorrow I shall ride behind
+this Gorokoff and shall prepare for him a very faithful one of my
+bullets, a little dum-dum.”
+
+The Mongols spent the night under their tent in the open court beside
+their camels, because they wanted to be near to feed them. About seven
+o’clock we started. My friend took up his post as rear guard to our
+caravan, keeping all the time behind Gorokoff, who with his sister, both
+armed from tip to toe, rode splendid mounts.
+
+“How have you kept your horses in such fine condition coming all the way
+from Samgaltai?” I inquired as I looked over their fine beasts.
+
+When he answered that these belonged to his host, I realized that Kanine
+was not so poor as he made out; for any rich Mongol would have given him
+in exchange for one of these lovely animals enough sheep to have kept
+his household in mutton for a whole year.
+
+Soon we came to a large swamp surrounded by dense brush, where I was
+much astonished by seeing literally hundreds of white kuropatka or
+partridges. Out of the water rose a flock of duck with a mad rush as
+we hove in sight. Winter, cold driving wind, snow and wild ducks! The
+Mongol explained it to me thus:
+
+“This swamp always remains warm and never freezes. The wild ducks live
+here the year round and the kuropatka too, finding fresh food in the
+soft warm earth.”
+
+As I was speaking with the Mongol I noticed over the swamp a tongue of
+reddish-yellow flame. It flashed and disappeared at once but later, on
+the farther edge, two further tongues ran upward. I realized that here
+was the real will-o’-the-wisp surrounded by so many thousands of legends
+and explained so simply by chemistry as merely a flash of methane or
+swamp gas generated by the putrefying of vegetable matter in the warm
+damp earth.
+
+“Here dwell the demons of Adair, who are in perpetual war with those of
+Muren,” explained the Mongol.
+
+“Indeed,” I thought, “if in prosaic Europe in our days the inhabitants
+of our villages believe these flames to be some wild sorcery, then
+surely in the land of mystery they must be at least the evidences of war
+between the demons of two neighboring rivers!”
+
+After passing this swamp we made out far ahead of us a large monastery.
+Though this was some half mile off the road, the Gorokoffs said they
+would ride over to it to make some purchases in the Chinese shops there.
+They quickly rode away, promising to overtake us shortly, but we did not
+see them again for a while. They slipped away without leaving any trail
+but we met them later in very unexpected circumstances of fatal portent
+for them. On our part we were highly satisfied that we were rid of
+them so soon and, after they were gone, I imparted to my friend the
+information gleaned from Bobroff the evening before.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+ON A VOLCANO
+
+
+The following evening we arrived at Khathyl, a small Russian settlement
+of ten scattered houses in the valley of the Egingol or Yaga, which here
+takes its waters from the Kosogol half a mile above the village. The
+Kosogol is a huge Alpine lake, deep and cold, eighty-five miles in
+length and from ten to thirty in width. On the western shore live the
+Darkhat Soyots, who call it Hubsugul, the Mongols, Kosogol. Both the
+Soyots and Mongols consider this a terrible and sacred lake. It is very
+easy to understand this prejudice because the lake lies in a region of
+present volcanic activity, where in the summer on perfectly calm sunny
+days it sometimes lashes itself into great waves that are dangerous not
+only to the native fishing boats but also to the large Russian passenger
+steamers that ply on the lake. In winter also it sometimes entirely
+breaks up its covering of ice and gives off great clouds of steam.
+Evidently the bottom of the lake is sporadically pierced by discharging
+hot springs or, perhaps, by streams of lava. Evidence of some great
+underground convulsion like this is afforded by the mass of killed fish
+which at times dams the outlet river in its shallow places. The lake is
+exceedingly rich in fish, chiefly varieties of trout and salmon, and
+is famous for its wonderful “white fish,” which was previously sent all
+over Siberia and even down into Manchuria so far as Moukden. It is fat
+and remarkably tender and produces fine caviar. Another variety in
+the lake is the white khayrus or trout, which in the migration season,
+contrary to the customs of most fish, goes down stream into the Yaga,
+where it sometimes fills the river from bank to bank with swarms of
+backs breaking the surface of the water. However, this fish is not
+caught, because it is infested with worms and is unfit for food. Even
+cats and dogs will not touch it. This is a very interesting phemonenon
+and was being investigated and studied by Professor Dorogostaisky of the
+University at Irkutsk when the coming of the Bolsheviki interrupted his
+work.
+
+In Khathyl we found a panic. The Russian detachment of Colonel
+Kazagrandi, after having twice defeated the Bolsheviki and well on its
+march against Irkutsk, was suddenly rendered impotent and scattered
+through internal strife among the officers. The Bolsheviki took
+advantage of this situation, increased their forces to one thousand men
+and began a forward movement to recover what they had lost, while the
+remnants of Colonel Kazagrandi’s detachment were retreating on Khathyl,
+where he determined to make his last stand against the Reds. The
+inhabitants were loading their movable property with their families into
+carts and scurrying away from the town, leaving all their cattle and
+horses to whomsoever should have the power to seize and hold them.
+One party intended to hide in the dense larch forest and the mountain
+ravines not far away, while another party made southward for Muren Kure
+and Uliassutai. The morning following our arrival the Mongol official
+received word that the Red troops had outflanked Colonel Kazagrandi’s
+men and were approaching Khathyl. The Mongol loaded his documents and
+his servants on eleven camels and left his yamen. Our Mongol guides,
+without ever saying a word to us, secretly slipped off with him and left
+us without camels. Our situation thus became desperate. We hastened to
+the colonists who had not yet got away to bargain with them for camels,
+but they had previously, in anticipation of trouble, sent their herds
+to distant Mongols and so could do nothing to help us. Then we betook
+ourselves to Dr. V. G. Gay, a veterinarian living in the town, famous
+throughout Mongolia for his battle against rinderpest. He lived here
+with his family and after being forced to give up his government work
+became a cattle dealer. He was a most interesting person, clever and
+energetic, and the one who had been appointed under the Czarist regime
+to purchase all the meat supplies from Mongolia for the Russian Army on
+the German Front. He organized a huge enterprise in Mongolia but when
+the Bolsheviki seized power in 1917 he transferred his allegiance and
+began to work with them. Then in May, 1918, when the Kolchak forces
+drove the Bolsheviki out of Siberia, he was arrested and taken for
+trial. However, he was released because he was looked upon as the single
+individual to organize this big Mongolian enterprise and he handed
+to Admiral Kolchak all the supplies of meat and the silver formerly
+received from the Soviet commissars. At this time Gay had been serving
+as the chief organizer and supplier of the forces of Kazagrandi.
+
+When we went to him, he at once suggested that we take the only thing
+left, some poor, broken-down horses which would be able to carry us the
+sixty miles to Muren Kure, where we could secure camels to return to
+Uliassutai. However, even these were being kept some distance from the
+town so that we should have to spend the night there, the night in which
+the Red troops were expected to arrive. Also we were much astonished to
+see that Gay was remaining there with his family right up to the time of
+the expected arrival of the Reds. The only others in the town were a few
+Cossacks, who had been ordered to stay behind to watch the movements of
+the Red troops. The night came. My friend and I were prepared either
+to fight or, in the last event, to commit suicide. We stayed in a small
+house near the Yaga, where some workmen were living who could not, and
+did not feel it necessary to, leave. They went up on a hill from which
+they could scan the whole country up to the range from behind which the
+Red detachment must appear. From this vantage point in the forest one of
+the workmen came running in and cried out:
+
+“Woe, woe to us! The Reds have arrived. A horseman is galloping fast
+through the forest road. I called to him but he did not answer me. It
+was dark but I knew the horse was a strange one.”
+
+“Do not babble so,” said another of the workmen. “Some Mongol rode by
+and you jumped to the conclusion that he was a Red.”
+
+“No, it was not a Mongol,” he replied. “The horse was shod. I heard the
+sound of iron shoes on the road. Woe to us!”
+
+“Well,” said my friend, “it seems that this is our finish. It is a silly
+way for it all to end.”
+
+He was right. Just then there was a knock at our door but it was that
+of the Mongol bringing us three horses for our escape. Immediately we
+saddled them, packed the third beast with our tent and food and rode off
+at once to take leave of Gay.
+
+In his house we found the whole war council. Two or three colonists and
+several Cossacks had galloped from the mountains and announced that the
+Red detachment was approaching Khathyl but would remain for the night
+in the forest, where they were building campfires. In fact, through
+the house windows we could see the glare of the fires. It seemed very
+strange that the enemy should await the morning there in the forest when
+they were right on the village they wished to capture.
+
+An armed Cossack entered the room and announced that two armed men from
+the detachment were approaching. All the men in the room pricked up
+their ears. Outside were heard the horses’ hoofs followed by men’s
+voices and a knock at the door.
+
+“Come in,” said Gay.
+
+Two young men entered, their moustaches and beards white and their
+cheeks blazing red from the cold. They were dressed in the common
+Siberian overcoat with the big Astrakhan caps, but they had no weapons.
+Questions began. It developed that it was a detachment of White peasants
+from the Irkutsk and Yakutsk districts who had been fighting with the
+Bolsheviki. They had been defeated somewhere in the vicinity of Irkutsk
+and were now trying to make a junction with Kazagrandi. The leader of
+this band was a socialist, Captain Vassilieff, who had suffered much
+under the Czar because of his tenets.
+
+Our troubles had vanished but we decided to start immediately to Muren
+Kure, as we had gathered our information and were in a hurry to make
+our report. We started. On the road we overtook three Cossacks who were
+going out to bring back the colonists who were fleeing to the south. We
+joined them and, dismounting, we all led our horses over the ice. The
+Yaga was mad. The subterranean forces produced underneath the ice great
+heaving waves which with a swirling roar threw up and tore loose great
+sections of ice, breaking them into small blocks and sucking them under
+the unbroken downstream field. Cracks ran like snakes over the surface
+in different directions. One of the Cossacks fell into one of these
+but we had just time to save him. He was forced by his ducking in such
+extreme cold to turn back to Khathyl. Our horses slipped about and fell
+several times. Men and animals felt the presence of death which hovered
+over them and momentarily threatened them with destruction. At last we
+made the farther bank and continued southward down the valley, glad to
+have left the geological and figurative volcanoes behind us. Ten miles
+farther on we came up with the first party of refugees. They had spread
+a big tent and made a fire inside, filling it with warmth and smoke.
+Their camp was made beside the establishment of a large Chinese trading
+house, where the owners refused to let the colonists come into their
+amply spacious buildings, even though there were children, women and
+invalids among the refugees. We spent but half an hour here. The road
+as we continued was easy, save in places where the snow lay deep. We
+crossed the fairly high divide between the Egingol and Muren. Near the
+pass one very unexpected event occurred to us. We crossed the mouth of
+a fairly wide valley whose upper end was covered with a dense wood. Near
+this wood we noticed two horsemen, evidently watching us. Their manner
+of sitting in their saddles and the character of their horses told us
+that they were not Mongols. We began shouting and waving to them; but
+they did not answer. Out of the wood emerged a third and stopped to
+look at us. We decided to interview them and, whipping up our horses,
+galloped toward them. When we were about one thousand yards from them,
+they slipped from their saddles and opened on us with a running fire.
+Fortunately we rode a little apart and thus made a poor target for them.
+We jumped off our horses, dropped prone on the ground and prepared to
+fight. However, we did not fire because we thought it might be a mistake
+on their part, thinking that we were Reds. They shortly made off. Their
+shots from the European rifles had given us further proof that they were
+not Mongols. We waited until they had disappeared into the woods and
+then went forward to investigate their tracks, which we found were those
+of shod horses, clearly corroborating the earlier evidence that they
+were not Mongols. Who could they have been? We never found out; yet what
+a different relationship they might have borne to our lives, had their
+shots been true!
+
+After we had passed over the divide, we met the Russian colonist D. A.
+Teternikoff from Muren Kure, who invited us to stay in his house and
+promised to secure camels for us from the Lamas. The cold was intense
+and heightened by a piercing wind. During the day we froze to the bone
+but at night thawed and warmed up nicely by our tent stove. After two
+days we entered the valley of Muren and from afar made out the square
+of the Kure with its Chinese roofs and large red temples. Nearby was
+a second square, the Chinese and Russian settlement. Two hours more
+brought us to the house of our hospitable companion and his attractive
+young wife who feasted us with a wonderful luncheon of tasty dishes. We
+spent five days at Muren waiting for the camels to be engaged. During
+this time many refugees arrived from Khathyl because Colonel Kazagrandi
+was gradually falling back upon the town. Among others there were two
+Colonels, Plavako and Maklakoff, who had caused the disruption of the
+Kazagrandi force. No sooner had the refugees appeared in Muren Kure
+than the Mongolian officials announced that the Chinese authorities had
+ordered them to drive out all Russian refugees.
+
+“Where can we go now in winter with women and children and no homes of
+our own?” asked the distraught refugees.
+
+“That is of no moment to us,” answered the Mongolian officials. “The
+Chinese authorities are angry and have ordered us to drive you away. We
+cannot help you at all.”
+
+The refugees had to leave Muren Kure and so erected their tents in the
+open not far away. Plavako and Maklakoff bought horses and started out
+for Van Kure. Long afterwards I learned that both had been killed by the
+Chinese along the road.
+
+We secured three camels and started out with a large group of Chinese
+merchants and Russian refugees to make Uliassutai, preserving
+the warmest recollections of our courteous hosts, T. V. and D. A.
+Teternikoff. For the trip we had to pay for our camels the very high
+price of 33 lan of the silver bullion which had been supplied us by an
+American firm in Uliassutai, the equivalent roughly of 2.7 pounds of the
+white metal.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+A BLOODY CHASTISEMENT
+
+
+Before long we struck the road which we had travelled coming north and
+saw again the kindly rows of chopped down telegraph poles which had once
+so warmly protected us. Over the timbered hillocks north of the valley
+of Tisingol we wended just as it was growing dark. We decided to stay
+in Bobroff’s house and our companions thought to seek the hospitality of
+Kanine in the telegraph station. At the station gate we found a soldier
+with a rifle, who questioned us as to who we were and whence we had come
+and, being apparently satisfied, whistled out a young officer from the
+house.
+
+“Lieutenant Ivanoff,” he introduced himself. “I am staying here with my
+detachment of White Partisans.”
+
+He had come from near Irkutsk with his following of ten men and had
+formed a connection with Lieutenant-Colonel Michailoff at Uliassutai,
+who commanded him to take possession of this blockhouse.
+
+“Enter, please,” he said hospitably.
+
+I explained to him that I wanted to stay with Bobroff, whereat he made a
+despairing gesture with his hand and said:
+
+“Don’t trouble yourself. The Bobroffs are killed and their house
+burned.”
+
+I could not keep back a cry of horror.
+
+The Lieutenant continued: “Kanine and the Pouzikoffs killed them,
+pillaged the place and afterwards burned the house with their dead
+bodies in it. Do you want to see it?”
+
+My friend and I went with the Lieutenant and looked over the ominous
+site. Blackened uprights stood among charred beams and planks while
+crockery and iron pots and pans were scattered all around. A little
+to one side under some felt lay the remains of the four unfortunate
+individuals. The Lieutenant first spoke:
+
+“I reported the case to Uliassutai and received word back that the
+relatives of the deceased would come with two officers, who would
+investigate the affair. That is why I cannot bury the bodies.”
+
+“How did it happen?” we asked, oppressed by the sad picture.
+
+“It was like this,” he began. “I was approaching Tisingol at night with
+my ten soldiers. Fearing that there might be Reds here, we sneaked up
+to the station and looked into the windows. We saw Pouzikoff, Kanine
+and the short-haired girl, looking over and dividing clothes and
+other things and weighing lumps of silver. I did not at once grasp the
+significance of all this; but, feeling the need for continued caution,
+ordered one of my soldiers to climb the fence and open the gate. We
+rushed into the court. The first to run from the house was Kanine’s
+wife, who threw up her hands and shrieked in fear: ‘I knew that
+misfortune would come of all this!’ and then fainted. One of the men ran
+out of a side door to a shed in the yard and there tried to get over the
+fence. I had not noticed him but one of my soldiers caught him. We were
+met at the door by Kanine, who was white and trembling. I realized
+that something important had taken place, placed them all under arrest,
+ordered the men tied and placed a close guard. All my questions were
+met with silence save by Madame Kanine who cried: ‘Pity, pity for the
+children! They are innocent!’ as she dropped on her knees and stretched
+out her hands in supplication to us. The short-haired girl laughed out
+of impudent eyes and blew a puff of smoke into my face. I was forced to
+threaten them and said:
+
+“‘I know that you have committed some crime, but you do not want to
+confess. If you do not, I shall shoot the men and take the women to
+Uliassutai to try them there.’
+
+“I spoke with definiteness of voice and intention, for they roused my
+deepest anger. Quite to my surprise the short-haired girl first began to
+speak.
+
+“‘I want to tell you about everything,’ she said.
+
+“I ordered ink, paper and pen brought me. My soldiers were the
+witnesses. Then I prepared the protocol of the confession of Pouzikoff’s
+wife. This was her dark and bloody tale.
+
+“‘My husband and I are Bolshevik commissars and we have been sent to
+find out how many White officers are hidden in Mongolia. But the old
+fellow Bobroff knew us. We wanted to go away but Kanine kept us, telling
+us that Bobroff was rich and that he had for a long time wanted to kill
+him and pillage his place. We agreed to join him. We decoyed the young
+Bobroff to come and play cards with us. When he was going home my
+husband stole along behind and shot him. Afterwards we all went to
+Bobroff’s place. I climbed upon the fence and threw some poisoned meat
+to the dogs, who were dead in a few minutes. Then we all climbed over.
+The first person to emerge from the house was Bobroff’s wife. Pouzikoff,
+who was hidden behind the door, killed her with his ax. The old fellow
+we killed with a blow of the ax as he slept. The little girl ran out
+into the room as she heard the noise and Kanine shot her in the head
+with buckshot. Afterwards we looted the house and burned it, even
+destroying the horses and cattle. Later all would have been completely
+burned, so that no traces remained, but you suddenly arrived and these
+stupid fellows at once betrayed us.’
+
+“It was a dastardly affair,” continued the Lieutenant, as we returned
+to the station. “The hair raised on my head as I listened to the calm
+description of this young woman, hardly more than a girl. Only then did
+I fully realize what depravity Bolshevism had brought into the world,
+crushing out faith, fear of God and conscience. Only then did I
+understand that all honest people must fight without compromise against
+this most dangerous enemy of mankind, so long as life and strength
+endure.”
+
+As we walked I noticed at the side of the road a black spot. It
+attracted and fixed my attention.
+
+“What is that?” I asked, pointing to the spot.
+
+“It is the murderer Pouzikoff whom I shot,” answered the Lieutenant. “I
+would have shot both Kanine and the wife of Pouzikoff but I was sorry
+for Kanine’s wife and children and I haven’t learned the lesson
+of shooting women. Now I shall send them along with you under the
+surveillance of my soldiers to Uliassutai. The same result will come,
+for the Mongols who try them for the murder will surely kill them.”
+
+This is what happened at Tisingol, on whose shores the will-o’-the-wisp
+flits over the marshy pools and near which runs the cleavage of over two
+hundred miles that the last earthquake left in the surface of the land.
+Maybe it was out of this cleavage that Pouzikoff, Kanine and the others
+who have sought to infect the whole world with horror and crime made
+their appearance from the land of the inferno. One of Lieutenant
+Ivanoff’s soldiers, who was always praying and pale, called them all
+“the servants of Satan.”
+
+Our trip from Tisingol to Uliassutai in the company of these criminals
+was very unpleasant. My friend and I entirely lost our usual strength
+of spirit and healthy frame of mind. Kanine persistently brooded and
+thought while the impudent woman laughed, smoked and joked with the
+soldiers and several of our companions. At last we crossed the Jagisstai
+and in a few hours descried at first the fortress and then the low adobe
+houses huddled on the plain, which we knew to be Uliassutai.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+HARASSING DAYS
+
+
+Once more we found ourselves in the whirl of events. During our
+fortnight away a great deal had happened here. The Chinese Commissioner
+Wang Tsao-tsun had sent eleven envoys to Urga but none had returned. The
+situation in Mongolia remained far from clear. The Russian detachment
+had been increased by the arrival of new colonists and secretly
+continued its illegal existence, although the Chinese knew about it
+through their omnipresent system of spies. In the town no Russian or
+foreign citizens left their houses and all remained armed and ready to
+act. At night armed sentinels stood guard in all their court-yards.
+It was the Chinese who induced such precautions. By order of their
+Commissioner all the Chinese merchants with stocks of rifles armed their
+staffs and handed over any surplus guns to the officials, who with
+these formed and equipped a force of two hundred coolies into a special
+garrison of gamins. Then they took possession of the Mongolian arsenal
+and distributed these additional guns among the Chinese vegetable
+farmers in the nagan hushun, where there was always a floating
+population of the lowest grade of transient Chinese laborers. This
+trash of China now felt themselves strong, gathered together in
+excited discussions and evidently were preparing for some outburst of
+aggression. At night the coolies transported many boxes of cartridges
+from the Chinese shops to the nagan hushun and the behaviour of the
+Chinese mob became unbearably audacious. These coolies and gamins
+impertinently stopped and searched people right on the streets and
+sought to provoke fights that would allow them to take anything they
+wanted. Through secret news we received from certain Chinese quarters
+we learned that the Chinese were preparing a pogrom for all the Russians
+and Mongols in Uliassutai. We fully realized that it was only necessary
+to fire one single house at the right part of the town and the entire
+settlement of wooden buildings would go up in flames. The whole
+population prepared to defend themselves, increased the sentinels in the
+compounds, appointed leaders for certain sections of the town, organized
+a special fire brigade and prepared horses, carts and food for a hasty
+flight. The situation became worse when news arrived from Kobdo that
+the Chinese there had made a pogrom, killing some of the inhabitants and
+burning the whole town after a wild looting orgy. Most of the people
+got away to the forests on the mountains but it was at night and
+consequently without warm clothes and without food. During the following
+days these mountains around Kobdo heard many cries of misfortune, woe
+and death. The severe cold and hunger killed off the women and children
+out under the open sky of the Mongolian winter. This news was soon known
+to the Chinese. They laughed in mockery and soon organized a big meeting
+at the nagan hushun to discuss letting the mob and gamins loose on the
+town.
+
+A young Chinese, the son of a cook of one of the colonists, revealed
+this news. We immediately decided to make an investigation. A Russian
+officer and my friend joined me with this young Chinese as a guide for
+a trip to the outskirts of the town. We feigned simply a stroll but were
+stopped by the Chinese sentinel on the side of the city toward the nagan
+hushun with an impertinent command that no one was allowed to leave
+the town. As we spoke with him, I noticed that between the town and the
+nagan hushun Chinese guards were stationed all along the way and that
+streams of Chinese were moving in that direction. We saw at once it was
+impossible to reach the meeting from this approach, so we chose another
+route. We left the city from the eastern side and passed along by the
+camp of the Mongolians who had been reduced to beggary by the Chinese
+impositions. There also they were evidently anxiously awaiting the turn
+of events, for, in spite of the lateness of the hour, none had gone to
+sleep. We slipped out on the ice and worked around by the river to the
+nagan hushun. As we passed free of the city we began to sneak cautiously
+along, taking advantage of every bit of cover. We were armed with
+revolvers and hand grenades and knew that a small detachment had been
+prepared in the town to come to our aid, if we should be in danger.
+First the young Chinese stole forward with my friend following him like
+a shadow, constantly reminding him that he would strangle him like a
+mouse if he made one move to betray us. I fear the young guide did not
+greatly enjoy the trip with my gigantic friend puffing all too loudly
+with the unusual exertions. At last the fences of nagan hushun were in
+sight and nothing between us and them save the open plain, where our
+group would have been easily spotted; so that we decided to crawl up one
+by one, save that the Chinese was retained in the society of my trusted
+friend. Fortunately there were many heaps of frozen manure on the plain,
+which we made use of as cover to lead us right up to our objective
+point, the fence of the enclosures. In the shadow of this we slunk along
+to the courtyard where the voices of the excited crowd beckoned us. As
+we took good vantage points in the darkness for listening and making
+observations, we remarked two extraordinary things in our immediate
+neighborhood.
+
+Another invisible guest was present with us at the Chinese gathering.
+He lay on the ground with his head in a hole dug by the dogs under the
+fence. He was perfectly still and evidently had not heard our advance.
+Nearby in a ditch lay a white horse with his nose muzzled and a little
+further away stood another saddled horse tied to a fence.
+
+In the courtyard there was a great hubbub. About two thousand men
+were shouting, arguing and flourishing their arms about in wild
+gesticulations. Nearly all were armed with rifles, revolvers, swords
+and axes. In among the crowd circulated the gamins, constantly
+talking, handing out papers, explaining and assuring. Finally a big,
+broad-shouldered Chinese mounted the well combing, waved his rifle about
+over his head and opened a tirade in strong, sharp tones.
+
+“He is assuring the people,” said our interpreter, “that they must
+do here what the Chinese have done in Kobdo and must secure from the
+Commissioner the assurance of an order to his guard not to prevent the
+carrying out of their plans. Also that the Chinese Commissioner
+must demand from the Russians all their weapons. ‘Then we shall take
+vengeance on the Russians for their Blagoveschensk crime when they
+drowned three thousand Chinese in 1900. You remain here while I go to
+the Commissioner and talk with him.’”
+
+He jumped down from the well and quickly made his way to the gate toward
+the town. At once I saw the man who was lying with his head under the
+fence draw back out of his hole, take his white horse from the ditch and
+then run over to untie the other horse and lead them both back to our
+side, which was away from the city. He left the second horse there and
+hid himself around the corner of the hushun. The spokesman went out of
+the gate and, seeing his horse over on the other side of the enclosure,
+slung his rifle across his back and started for his mount. He had gone
+about half way when the stranger behind the corner of the fence suddenly
+galloped out and in a flash literally swung the man clear from the
+ground up across the pommel of his saddle, where we saw him tie the
+mouth of the semi-strangled Chinese with a cloth and dash off with him
+toward the west away from the town.
+
+“Who do you suppose he is?” I asked of my friend, who answered up at
+once: “It must be Tushegoun Lama. . . .”
+
+His whole appearance did strongly remind me of this mysterious Lama
+avenger and his manner of addressing himself to his enemy was a strict
+replica of that of Tushegoun. Late in the night we learned that some
+time after their orator had gone to seek the Commissioner’s cooperation
+in their venture, his head had been flung over the fence into the midst
+of the waiting audience and that eight gamins had disappeared on their
+way from the hushun to the town without leaving trace or trail. This
+event terrorized the Chinese mob and calmed their heated spirits.
+
+The next day we received very unexpected aid. A young Mongol galloped in
+from Urga, his overcoat torn, his hair all dishevelled and fallen to
+his shoulders and a revolver prominent beneath his girdle. Proceeding
+directly to the market where the Mongols are always gathered, without
+leaving his saddle he cried out:
+
+“Urga is captured by our Mongols and Chiang Chun Baron Ungern! Bogdo
+Hutuktu is once more our Khan! Mongols, kill the Chinese and pillage
+their shops! Our patience is exhausted!”
+
+Through the crowd rose the roar of excitement. The rider was surrounded
+with a mob of insistent questioners. The old Mongol Sait, Chultun Beyli,
+who had been dismissed by the Chinese, was at once informed of this news
+and asked to have the messenger brought to him. After questioning the
+man he arrested him for inciting the people to riot, but he refused to
+turn him over to the Chinese authorities. I was personally with the
+Sait at the time and heard his decision in the matter. When the Chinese
+Commissioner, Wang Tsao-tsun, threatened the Sait for disobedience to
+his authority, the old man simply fingered his rosary and said:
+
+“I believe the story of this Mongol in its every word and I apprehend
+that you and I shall soon have to reverse our relationship.”
+
+I felt that Wang Tsao-tsun also accepted the correctness of the Mongol’s
+story, because he did not insist further. From this moment the Chinese
+disappeared from the streets of Uliassutai as though they never had
+been, and synchronously the patrols of the Russian officers and of
+our foreign colony took their places. The panic among the Chinese was
+heightened by the receipt of a letter containing the news that the
+Mongols and Altai Tartars under the leadership of the Tartar officer
+Kaigorodoff pursued the Chinese who were making off with their booty
+from the sack of Kobdo and overtook and annihilated them on the borders
+of Sinkiang. Another part of the letter told how General Bakitch and
+the six thousand men who had been interned with him by the Chinese
+authorities on the River Amyl had received arms and started to join with
+Ataman Annenkoff, who had been interned in Kuldja, with the ultimate
+intention of linking up with Baron Ungern. This rumour proved to be
+wrong because neither Bakitch nor Annenkoff entertained this intention,
+because Annenkoff had been transported by the Chinese into the Depths of
+Turkestan. However, the news produced veritable stupefaction among the
+Chinese.
+
+Just at this time there arrived at the house of the Bolshevist Russian
+colonist Bourdukoff three Bolshevik agents from Irkutsk named Saltikoff,
+Freimann and Novak, who started an agitation among the Chinese
+authorities to get them to disarm the Russian officers and hand them
+over to the Reds. They persuaded the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to
+petition the Irkutsk Soviet to send a detachment of Reds to Uliassutai
+for the protection of the Chinese against the White detachments.
+Freimann brought with him communistic pamphlets in Mongolian and
+instructions to begin the reconstruction of the telegraph line to
+Irkutsk. Bourdukoff also received some messages from the Bolsheviki.
+This quartette developed their policy very successfully and soon
+saw Wang Tsao-tsun fall in with their schemes. Once more the days of
+expecting a pogrom in Uliassutai returned to us. The Russian officers
+anticipated attempts to arrest them. The representative of one of the
+American firms went with me to the Commissioner for a parley. We pointed
+out to him the illegality of his acts, inasmuch as he was not authorized
+by his Government to treat with the Bolsheviki when the Soviet
+Government had not been recognized by Peking. Wang Tsao-tsun and his
+advisor Fu Hsiang were palpably confused at finding we knew of his
+secret meetings with the Bolshevik agents. He assured us that his guard
+was sufficient to prevent any such pogrom. It was quite true that his
+guard was very capable, as it consisted of well trained and disciplined
+soldiers under the command of a serious-minded and well educated
+officer; but, what could eighty soldiers do against a mob of three
+thousand coolies, one thousand armed merchants and two hundred gamins?
+We strongly registered our apprehensions and urged him to avoid any
+bloodshed, pointing out that the foreign and Russian population were
+determined to defend themselves to the last moment. Wang at once ordered
+the establishment of strong guards on the streets and thus made a very
+interesting picture with all the Russian, foreign and Chinese patrols
+moving up and down throughout the whole town. Then we did not know there
+were three hundred more sentinels on duty, the men of Tushegoun Lama
+hidden nearby in the mountains.
+
+Once more the picture changed very sharply and suddenly. The Mongolian
+Sait received news through the Lamas of the nearest monastery that
+Colonel Kazagrandi, after fighting with the Chinese irregulars, had
+captured Van Kure and had formed there Russian-Mongolian brigades of
+cavalry, mobilizing the Mongols by the order of the Living Buddha and
+the Russians by order of Baron Ungern. A few hours later it became known
+that in the large monastery of Dzain the Chinese soldiers had killed the
+Russian Captain Barsky and as a result some of the troops of Kazagrandi
+attacked and swept the Chinese out of the place. At the taking of Van
+Kure the Russians arrested a Korean Communist who was on his way from
+Moscow with gold and propaganda to work in Korea and America. Colonel
+Kazagrandi sent this Korean with his freight of gold to Baron Ungern.
+After receiving this news the chief of the Russian detachment in
+Uliassutai arrested all the Bolsheviki agents and passed judgment upon
+them and upon the murderers of the Bobroffs. Kanine, Madame Pouzikoff
+and Freimann were shot. Regarding Saltikoff and Novak some doubt sprang
+up and, moreover, Saltikoff escaped and hid, while Novak, under advice
+from Lieutenant Colonel Michailoff, left for the west. The chief of the
+Russian detachment gave out orders for the mobilization of the Russian
+colonists and openly took Uliassutai under his protection with the tacit
+agreement of the Mongolian authorities. The Mongol Sait, Chultun Beyli,
+convened a council of the neighboring Mongolian Princes, the soul of
+which was the noted Mongolian patriot, Hun Jap Lama. The Princes quickly
+formulated their demands upon the Chinese for the complete evacuation of
+the territory subject to the Sait Chultun Beyli. Out of it grew parleys,
+threats and friction between the various Chinese and Mongolian elements.
+Wang Tsao-tsun proposed his scheme of settlement, which some of the
+Mongolian Princes accepted; but Jap Lama at the decisive moment threw
+the Chinese document to the ground, drew his knife and swore that
+he would die by his own hand rather than set it as a seal upon this
+treacherous agreement. As a result the Chinese proposals were rejected
+and the antagonists began to prepare themselves for the struggle. All
+the armed Mongols were summoned from Jassaktu Khan, Sain-Noion Khan and
+the dominion of Jahantsi Lama. The Chinese authorities placed their
+four machine guns and prepared to defend the fortress. Continuous
+deliberations were held by both the Chinese and Mongols. Finally, our
+old acquaintance Tzeren came to me as one of the unconcerned foreigners
+and handed to me the joint requests of Wang Tsao-tsun and Chultun Beyli
+to try to pacify the two elements and to work out a fair agreement
+between them. Similar requests were handed to the representative of an
+American firm. The following evening we held the first meeting of
+the arbitrators and the Chinese and Mongolian representatives. It
+was passionate and stormy, so that we foreigners lost all hope of the
+success of our mission. However, at midnight when the speakers were
+tired, we secured agreement on two points: the Mongols announced that
+they did not want to make war and that they desired to settle this
+matter in such a way as to retain the friendship of the great Chinese
+people; while the Chinese Commissioner acknowledged that China had
+violated the treaties by which full independence had been legally
+granted to Mongolia.
+
+These two points formed for us the groundwork of the next meeting and
+gave us the starting points for urging reconciliation. The deliberations
+continued for three days and finally turned so that we foreigners could
+propose our suggestions for an agreement. Its chief provisions were that
+the Chinese authorities should surrender administrative powers, return
+the arms to the Mongolians, disarm the two hundred gamins and leave
+the country; and that the Mongols on their side should give free and
+honorable passage of their country to the Commissioner with his armed
+guard of eighty men. This Chinese-Mongolian Treaty of Uliassutai was
+signed and sealed by the Chinese Commissioners, Wang Tsao-tsun and Fu
+Hsiang, by both Mongolian Saits, by Hun Jap Lama and other Princes,
+as well as by the Russian and Chinese Presidents of the Chambers of
+Commerce and by us foreign arbitrators. The Chinese officials and convoy
+began at once to pack up their belongings and prepare for departure. The
+Chinese merchants remained in Uliassutai because Sait Chultun Beyli,
+now having full authority and power, guaranteed their safety. The day of
+departure for the expedition of Wang Tsao-tsun arrived. The camels with
+their packs already filled the yamen court-yard and the men only awaited
+the arrival of their horses from the plains. Suddenly the news spread
+everywhere that the herd of horses had been stolen during the night
+and run off toward the south. Of two soldiers that had been sent out to
+follow the tracks of the herd only one came back with the news that the
+other had been killed. Astonishment spread over the whole town while
+among the Chinese it turned to open panic. It perceptibly increased when
+some Mongols from a distant ourton to the east came in and announced
+that in various places along the post road to Urga they had discovered
+the bodies of sixteen of the soldiers whom Wang Tsao-tsun had sent
+out with letters for Urga. The mystery of these events will soon be
+explained.
+
+The chief of the Russian detachment received a letter from a Cossack
+Colonel, V. N. Domojiroff, containing the order to disarm immediately
+the Chinese garrison, to arrest all Chinese officials for transport
+to Baron Ungern at Urga, to take control of Uliassutai, by force if
+necessary, and to join forces with his detachment. At the very same time
+a messenger from the Narabanchi Hutuktu galloped in with a letter to the
+effect that a Russian detachment under the leadership of Hun Boldon and
+Colonel Domojiroff from Urga had pillaged some Chinese firms and killed
+the merchants, had come to the Monastery and demanded horses, food and
+shelter. The Hutuktu asked for help because the ferocious conqueror of
+Kobdo, Hun Boldon, could very easily pillage the unprotected isolated
+monastery. We strongly urged Colonel Michailoff not to violate the
+sealed treaty and discountenance all the foreigners and Russians who had
+taken part in making it, for this would but be to imitate the Bolshevik
+principle of making deceit the leading rule in all acts of state.
+This touched Michailoff and he answered Domojiroff that Uliassutai was
+already in his hands without a fight; that over the building of the
+former Russian Consulate the tri-color flag of Russia was flying; the
+gamins had been disarmed but that the other orders could not be carried
+out, because their execution would violate the Chinese-Mongolian treaty
+just signed in Uliassutai.
+
+Daily several envoys traveled from Narabanchi Hutuktu to Uliassutai.
+The news became more and more disquieting. The Hutuktu reported that Hun
+Boldon was mobilizing the Mongolian beggars and horse stealers, arming
+and training them; that the soldiers were taking the sheep of the
+monastery; that the “Noyon” Domojiroff was always drunk; and that the
+protests of the Hutuktu were answered with jeers and scolding. The
+messengers gave very indefinite information regarding the strength of
+the detachment, some placing it at about thirty while others stated that
+Domojiroff said he had eight hundred in all. We could not understand
+it at all and soon the messengers ceased coming. All the letters of the
+Sait remained unanswered and the envoys did not return. There seemed to
+be no doubt that the men had been killed or captured.
+
+Prince Chultun Beyli determined to go himself. He took with him the
+Russian and Chinese Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce and two
+Mongolian officers. Three days elapsed without receiving any news
+from him whatever. The Mongols began to get worried. Then the Chinese
+Commissioner and Hun Jap Lama addressed a request to the foreigner
+group to send some one to Narabanchi, in order to try to resolve the
+controversy there and to persuade Domojiroff to recognize the treaty and
+not permit the “great insult of violation” of a covenant between the two
+great peoples. Our group asked me once more to accomplish this mission
+pro bono publico. I had assigned me as interpreter a fine young Russian
+colonist, the nephew of the murdered Bobroff, a splendid rider as well
+as a cool, brave man. Lt.-Colonel Michailoff gave me one of his officers
+to accompany me. Supplied with an express tzara for the post horses and
+guides, we traveled rapidly over the way which was now familiar to me
+to find my old friend, Jelib Djamsrap Huktuktu of Narabanchi. Although
+there was deep snow in some places, we made from one hundred to one
+hundred and fifteen miles per day.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+THE BAND OF WHITE HUNGHUTZES
+
+
+We arrived at Narabanchi late at night on the third day out. As we were
+approaching, we noticed several riders who, as soon as they had seen us,
+galloped quickly back to the monastery. For some time we looked for the
+camp of the Russian detachment without finding it. The Mongols led us
+into the monastery, where the Hutuktu immediately received me. In his
+yurta sat Chultun Beyli. There he presented me with hatyks and said to
+me: “The very God has sent you here to us in this difficult moment.”
+
+It seems Domojiroff had arrested both the Presidents of the Chambers of
+Commerce and had threatened to shoot Prince Chultun. Both Domojiroff and
+Hun Boldon had no documents legalizing their activities. Chultun Beyli
+was preparing to fight with them.
+
+I asked them to take me to Domojiroff. Through the dark I saw four big
+yurtas and two Mongol sentinels with Russian rifles. We entered the
+Russian “Noyon’s” tent. A very strange picture was presented to our
+eyes. In the middle of the yurta the brazier was burning. In the usual
+place for the altar stood a throne, on which the tall, thin, grey-haired
+Colonel Domojiroff was seated. He was only in his undergarments and
+stockings, was evidently a little drunk and was telling stories. Around
+the brazier lay twelve young men in various picturesque poses. My
+officer companion reported to Domojiroff about the events in Uliassutai
+and during the conversation I asked Domojiroff where his detachment was
+encamped. He laughed and answered, with a sweep of his hand: “This is my
+detachment.” I pointed out to him that the form of his orders to us in
+Uliassutai had led us to believe that he must have a large company with
+him. Then I informed him that Lt.-Colonel Michailoff was preparing to
+cross swords with the Bolshevik force approaching Uliassutai.
+
+“What?” he exclaimed with fear and confusion, “the Reds?”
+
+We spent the night in his yurta and, when I was ready to lie down, my
+officer whispered to me:
+
+“Be sure to keep your revolver handy,” to which I laughed and said:
+
+“But we are in the center of a White detachment and therefore in perfect
+safety!”
+
+“Uh-huh!” answered my officer and finished the response with one eye
+closed.
+
+The next day I invited Domojiroff to walk with me over the plain, when
+I talked very frankly with him about what had been happening. He and Hun
+Boldon had received orders from Baron Ungern simply to get into touch
+with General Bakitch, but instead they began pillaging Chinese firms
+along the route and he had made up his mind to become a great conqueror.
+On the way he had run across some of the officers who deserted Colonel
+Kazagrandi and formed his present band. I succeeded in persuading
+Domojiroff to arrange matters peacefully with Chultun Beyli and not to
+violate the treaty. He immediately went ahead to the monastery. As I
+returned, I met a tall Mongol with a ferocious face, dressed in a blue
+silk outercoat--it was Hun Boldon. He introduced himself and spoke
+with me in Russian. I had only time to take off my coat in the tent of
+Domojiroff when a Mongol came running to invite me to the yurta of
+Hun Boldon. The Prince lived just beside me in a splendid blue yurta.
+Knowing the Mongolian custom, I jumped into the saddle and rode the ten
+paces to his door. Hun Boldon received me with coldness and pride.
+
+“Who is he?” he inquired of the interpreter, pointing to me with his
+finger.
+
+I understood his desire to offend me and I answered in the same manner,
+thrusting out my finger toward him and turning to the interpreter with
+the same question in a slightly more unpleasant tone:
+
+“Who is he? High Prince and warrior or shepherd and brute?”
+
+Boldon at once became confused and, with trembling voice and agitation
+in his whole manner, blurted out to me that he would not allow me to
+interfere in his affairs and would shoot every man who dared to run
+counter to his orders. He pounded on the low table with his fist and
+then rose up and drew his revolver. But I was much traveled among the
+nomads and had studied them thoroughly--Princes, Lamas, shepherds and
+brigands. I grasped my whip and, striking it on the table with all my
+strength, I said to the interpreter:
+
+“Tell him that he has the honor to speak with neither Mongol nor Russian
+but with a foreigner, a citizen of a great and free state. Tell him he
+must first learn to be a man and then he can visit me and we can talk
+together.”
+
+I turned and went out. Ten minutes later Hun Boldon entered my yurta and
+offered his apologies. I persuaded him to parley with Chultun Beyli
+and not to offend the free Mongol people with his activities. That very
+night all was arranged. Hun Boldon dismissed his Mongols and left for
+Kobdo, while Domojiroff with his band started for Jassaktu Khan to
+arrange for the mobilization of the Mongols there. With the consent of
+Chultun Beyli he wrote to Wang Tsao-tsun a demand to disarm his guard,
+as all of the Chinese troops in Urga had been so treated; but this
+letter arrived after Wang had bought camels to replace the stolen horses
+and was on his way to the border. Later Lt.-Colonel Michailoff sent
+a detachment of fifty men under the command of Lieutenant Strigine to
+overhaul Wang and receive their arms.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+MYSTERY IN A SMALL TEMPLE
+
+
+Prince Chultun Beyli and I were ready to leave the Narabanchi Kure.
+While the Hutuktu was holding service for the Sait in the Temple of
+Blessing, I wandered around through the narrow alleyways between the
+walls of the houses of the various grades of Lama Gelongs, Getuls,
+Chaidje and Rabdjampa; of schools where the learned doctors of theology
+or Maramba taught together with the doctors of medicine or Ta Lama;
+of the residences for students called Bandi; of stores, archives and
+libraries. When I returned to the yurta of the Hutuktu, he was inside.
+He presented me with a large hatyk and proposed a walk around the
+monastery. His face wore a preoccupied expression from which I gathered
+that he had something he wished to discuss with me. As we went out of
+the yurta, the liberated President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce
+and a Russian officer joined us. The Hutuktu led us to a small building
+just back of a bright yellow stone wall.
+
+“In that building once stopped the Dalai Lama and Bogdo Khan and we
+always paint the buildings yellow where these holy persons have lived.
+Enter!”
+
+The interior of the building was arranged with splendor. On the ground
+floor was the dining-room, furnished with richly carved, heavy blackwood
+Chinese tables and cabinets filled with porcelains and bronze. Above
+were two rooms, the first a bed-room hung with heavy yellow silk
+curtains; a large Chinese lantern richly set with colored stones hung
+by a thin bronze chain from the carved wooden ceiling beam. Here stood
+a large square bed covered with silken pillows, mattresses and blankets.
+The frame work of the bed was also of the Chinese blackwood and carried,
+especially on the posts that held the roof-like canopy, finely executed
+carvings with the chief motive the conventional dragon devouring the
+sun. By the side stood a chest of drawers completely covered with
+carvings setting forth religious pictures. Four comfortable easy chairs
+completed the furniture, save for the low oriental throne which stood on
+a dais at the end of the room.
+
+“Do you see this throne?” said the Hutuktu to me. “One night in winter
+several horsemen rode into the monastery and demanded that all the
+Gelongs and Getuls with the Hutuktu and Kanpo at their head should
+congregate in this room. Then one of the strangers mounted the throne,
+where he took off his bashlyk or cap-like head covering. All of the
+Lamas fell to their knees as they recognized the man who had been long
+ago described in the sacred bulls of Dalai Lama, Tashi Lama and Bogdo
+Khan. He was the man to whom the whole world belongs and who has
+penetrated into all the mysteries of Nature. He pronounced a short
+Tibetan prayer, blessed all his hearers and afterwards made predictions
+for the coming half century. This was thirty years ago and in the
+interim all his prophecies are being fulfilled. During his prayers
+before that small shrine in the next room this door opened of its own
+accord, the candles and lights before the altar lighted themselves and
+the sacred braziers without coals gave forth great streams of incense
+that filled the room. And then, without warning, the King of the World
+and his companions disappeared from among us. Behind him remained no
+trace save the folds in the silken throne coverings which smoothed
+themselves out and left the throne as though no one had sat upon it.”
+
+The Hutuktu entered the shrine, kneeled down, covering his eyes with his
+hands, and began to pray. I looked at the calm, indifferent face of the
+golden Buddha, over which the flickering lamps threw changing shadows,
+and then turned my eyes to the side of the throne. It was wonderful and
+difficult to believe but I really saw there the strong, muscular figure
+of a man with a swarthy face of stern and fixed expression about the
+mouth and jaws, thrown into high relief by the brightness of the eyes.
+Through his transparent body draped in white raiment I saw the Tibetan
+inscriptions on the back of the throne. I closed my eyes and opened
+them again. No one was there but the silk throne covering seemed to be
+moving.
+
+“Nervousness,” I thought. “Abnormal and over-emphasized
+impressionability growing out of the unusual surroundings and strains.”
+
+The Hutuktu turned to me and said: “Give me your hatyk. I have the
+feeling that you are troubled about those whom you love, and I want
+to pray for them. And you must pray also, importune God and direct the
+sight of your soul to the King of the World who was here and sanctified
+this place.”
+
+The Hutuktu placed the hatyk on the shoulder of the Buddha and,
+prostrating himself on the carpet before the altar, whispered the words
+of prayer. Then he raised his head and beckoned me to him with a slight
+movement of his hand.
+
+“Look at the dark space behind the statue of Buddha and he will show
+your beloved to you.”
+
+Readily obeying his deep-voiced command, I began to look into the dark
+niche behind the figure of the Buddha. Soon out of the darkness began to
+appear streams of smoke or transparent threads. They floated in the air,
+becoming more and more dense and increasing in number, until gradually
+they formed the bodies of several persons and the outlines of various
+objects. I saw a room that was strange to me with my family there,
+surrounded by some whom I knew and others whom I did not. I recognized
+even the dress my wife wore. Every line of her dear face was clearly
+visible. Gradually the vision became too dark, dissipated itself into
+the streams of smoke and transparent threads and disappeared. Behind the
+golden Buddha was nothing but the darkness. The Hutuktu arose, took my
+hatyk from the shoulder of the Buddha and handed it to me with these
+words:
+
+“Fortune is always with you and with your family. God’s goodness will
+not forsake you.”
+
+We left the building of this unknown King of the World, where he had
+prayed for all mankind and had predicted the fate of peoples and states.
+I was greatly astonished to find that my companions had also seen my
+vision and to hear them describe to me in minute detail the appearance
+and the clothes of the persons whom I had seen in the dark niche behind
+the head of Buddha.*
+
+     * In order that I might have the evidence of others on this
+     extraordinarily impressive vision, I asked them to make
+     protocols or affidavits concerning what they saw.  This they
+     did and I now have these statements in my possession.
+
+The Mongol officer also told me that Chultun Beyli had the day before
+asked the Hutuktu to reveal to him his fate in this important juncture
+of his life and in this crisis of his country but the Hutuktu only waved
+his hand in an expression of fear and refused. When I asked the Hutuktu
+for the reason of his refusal, suggesting to him that it might calm and
+help Chultun Beyli as the vision of my beloved had strengthened me, the
+Hutuktu knitted his brow and answered:
+
+“No! The vision would not please the Prince. His fate is black.
+Yesterday I thrice sought his fortune on the burned shoulder blades and
+with the entrails of sheep and each time came to the same dire result,
+the same dire result! . . .”
+
+He did not really finish speaking but covered his face with his hands
+in fear. He was convinced that the lot of Chultun Beyli was black as the
+night.
+
+In an hour we were behind the low hills that hid the Narabanchi Kure
+from our sight.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+THE BREATH OF DEATH
+
+
+We arrived at Uliassutai on the day of the return of the detachment
+which had gone out to disarm the convoy of Wang Tsao-tsun. This
+detachment had met Colonel Domojiroff, who ordered them not only to
+disarm but to pillage the convoy and, unfortunately, Lieutenant Strigine
+executed this illegal and unwarranted command. It was compromising and
+ignominious to see Russian officers and soldiers wearing the Chinese
+overcoats, boots and wrist watches which had been taken from the Chinese
+officials and the convoy. Everyone had Chinese silver and gold also from
+the loot. The Mongol wife of Wang Tsao-tsun and her brother returned
+with the detachment and entered a complaint of having been robbed by
+the Russians. The Chinese officials and their convoy, deprived of their
+supplies, reached the Chinese border only after great distress
+from hunger and cold. We foreigners were astounded that Lt.-Colonel
+Michailoff received Strigine with military honors but we caught the
+explanation of it later when we learned that Michailoff had been given
+some of the Chinese silver and his wife the handsomely decorated saddle
+of Fu Hsiang. Chultun Beyli demanded that all the weapons taken from the
+Chinese and all the stolen property be turned over to him, as it must
+later be returned to the Chinese authorities; but Michailoff refused.
+Afterwards we foreigners cut off all contact with the Russian
+detachment. The relations between the Russians and Mongols became very
+strained. Several of the Russian officers protested against the acts of
+Michailoff and Strigine and controversies became more and more serious.
+
+At this time, one morning in April, an extraordinary group of armed
+horsemen arrived at Uliassutai. They stayed at the house of the
+Bolshevik Bourdukoff, who gave them, so we were told, a great quantity
+of silver. This group explained that they were former officers in the
+Imperial Guard. They were Colonels Poletika, N. N. Philipoff and three
+of the latter’s brothers. They announced that they wanted to collect all
+the White officers and soldiers then in Mongolia and China and lead them
+to Urianhai to fight the Bolsheviki; but that first they wanted to wipe
+out Ungern and return Mongolia to China. They called themselves the
+representatives of the Central Organization of the Whites in Russia.
+
+The society of Russian officers in Uliassutai invited them to a meeting,
+examined their documents and interrogated them. Investigation proved
+that all the statements of these officers about their former connections
+were entirely wrong, that Poletika occupied an important position in the
+war commissariat of the Bolsheviki, that one of the Philipoff brothers
+was the assistant of Kameneff in his first attempt to reach England,
+that the Central White Organization in Russia did not exist, that the
+proposed fighting in Urianhai was but a trap for the White officers and
+that this group was in close relations with the Bolshevik Bourdukoff.
+
+A discussion at once sprang up among the officers as to what they
+should do with this group, which split the detachment into two distinct
+parties. Lt.-Colonel Michailoff with several officers joined themselves
+to Poletika’s group just as Colonel Domojiroff arrived with his
+detachment. He began to get in touch with both factions and to feel out
+the politics of the situation, finally appointing Poletika to the post
+of Commandant of Uliassutai and sending to Baron Ungern a full report
+of the events in the town. In this document he devoted much space to me,
+accusing me of standing in the way of the execution of his orders. His
+officers watched me continuously. From different quarters I received
+warnings to take great care. This band and its leader openly demanded
+to know what right this foreigner had to interfere in the affairs of
+Mongolia, one of Domojiroff’s officers directly giving me the challenge
+in a meeting in the attempt to provoke a controversy. I quietly answered
+him:
+
+“And on what basis do the Russian refugees interfere, they who have
+rights neither at home nor abroad?”
+
+The officer made no verbal reply but in his eyes burned a definite
+answer. My huge friend who sat beside me noticed this, strode over
+toward him and, towering over him, stretched his arms and hands as
+though just waking from sleep and remarked: “I’m looking for a little
+boxing exercise.”
+
+On one occasion Domojiroff’s men would have succeeded in taking me if I
+had not been saved by the watchfulness of our foreign group. I had gone
+to the fortress to negotiate with the Mongol Sait for the departure of
+the foreigners from Uliassutai. Chultun Beyli detained me for a long
+time, so that I was forced to return about nine in the evening. My horse
+was walking. Half a mile from the town three men sprang up out of the
+ditch and ran at me. I whipped up my horse but noticed several more men
+coming out of the other ditch as though to head me off. They, however,
+made for the other group and captured them and I heard the voice of a
+foreigner calling me back. There I found three of Domojiroff’s officers
+surrounded by the Polish soldiers and other foreigners under the
+leadership of my old trusted agronome, who was occupied with tying the
+hands of the officers behind their backs so strongly that the bones
+cracked. Ending his work and still smoking his perpetual pipe, he
+announced in a serious and important manner: “I think it best to throw
+them into the river.”
+
+Laughing at his seriousness and the fear of Domojiroff’s officers, I
+asked them why they had started to attack me. They dropped their eyes
+and were silent. It was an eloquent silence and we perfectly understood
+what they had proposed to do. They had revolvers hidden in their
+pockets.
+
+“Fine!” I said. “All is perfectly clear. I shall release you but you
+must report to your sender that he will not welcome you back the next
+time. Your weapons I shall hand to the Commandant of Uliassutai.”
+
+My friend, using his former terrifying care, began to untie them,
+repeating over and over: “And I would have fed you to the fishes in the
+river!” Then we all returned to the town, leaving them to go their way.
+
+Domojiroff continued to send envoys to Baron Ungern at Urga with
+requests for plenary powers and money and with reports about Michailoff,
+Chultun Beyli, Poletika, Philipoff and myself. With Asiatic cunning
+he was then maintaining good relations with all those for whom he was
+preparing death at the hands of the severe warrior, Baron Ungern,
+who was receiving only one-sided reports about all the happenings in
+Uliassutai. Our whole colony was greatly agitated. The officers split
+into different parties; the soldiers collected in groups and discussed
+the events of the day, criticising their chiefs, and under the influence
+of some of Domojiroff’s men began making such statements as:
+
+“We have now seven Colonels, who all want to be in command and are all
+quarreling among themselves. They all ought to be pegged down and given
+good sound thrashings. The one who could take the greatest number of
+blows ought to be chosen as our chief.”
+
+It was an ominous joke that proved the demoralization of the Russian
+detachment.
+
+“It seems,” my friend frequently observed, “that we shall soon have the
+pleasure of seeing a Council of Soldiers here in Uliassutai. God and
+the Devil! One thing here is very unfortunate--there are no forests
+near into which good Christian men may dive and get away from all these
+cursed Soviets. It’s bare, frightfully bare, this wretched Mongolia,
+with no place for us to hide.”
+
+Really this possibility of the Soviet was approaching. On one occasion
+the soldiers captured the arsenal containing the weapons surrendered
+by the Chinese and carried them off to their barracks. Drunkenness,
+gambling and fighting increased. We foreigners, carefully watching
+events and in fear of a catastrophe, finally decided to leave
+Uliassutai, that caldron of passions, controversies and denunciations.
+We heard that the group of Poletika was also preparing to get out a few
+days later. We foreigners separated into two parties, one traveling by
+the old caravan route across the Gobi considerably to the south of Urga
+to Kuku-Hoto or Kweihuacheng and Kalgan, and mine, consisting of my
+friend, two Polish soldiers and myself, heading for Urga via Zain Shabi,
+where Colonel Kazagrandi had asked me in a recent letter to meet him.
+Thus we left the Uliassutai where we had lived through so many exciting
+events.
+
+On the sixth day after our departure there arrived in the town the
+Mongol-Buriat detachment under the command of the Buriat Vandaloff and
+the Russian Captain Bezrodnoff. Afterwards I met them in Zain Shabi. It
+was a detachment sent out from Urga by Baron Ungern to restore order
+in Uliassutai and to march on to Kobdo. On the way from Zain Shabi
+Bezrodnoff came across the group of Poletika and Michailoff. He
+instituted a search which disclosed suspicious documents in their
+baggage and in that of Michailoff and his wife the silver and other
+possessions taken from the Chinese. From this group of sixteen he sent
+N. N. Philipoff to Baron Ungern, released three others and shot the
+remaining twelve. Thus ended in Zain Shabi the life of one party of
+Uliassutai refugees and the activities of the group of Poletika. In
+Uliassutai Bezrodnoff shot Chultun Beyli for the violation of the treaty
+with the Chinese, and also some Bolshevist Russian colonists; arrested
+Domojiroff and sent him to Urga; and . . . restored order. The
+predictions about Chultun Beyli were fulfilled.
+
+I knew of Domojiroff’s reports regarding myself but I decided,
+nevertheless, to proceed to Urga and not to swing round it, as Poletika
+had started to do when he was accidentally captured by Bezrodnoff. I was
+accustomed now to looking into the eyes of danger and I set out to meet
+the terrible “bloody Baron.” No one can decide his own fate. I did not
+think myself in the wrong and the feeling of fear had long since ceased
+to occupy a place in my menage. On the way a Mongol rider who overhauled
+us brought the news of the death of our acquaintances at Zain Shabi. He
+spent the night with me in the yurta at the ourton and related to me the
+following legend of death.
+
+“It was a long time ago when the Mongolians ruled over China. The
+Prince of Uliassutai, Beltis Van, was mad. He executed any one he wished
+without trial and no one dared to pass through his town. All the other
+Princes and rich Mongols surrounded Uliassutai, where Beltis raged,
+cut off communication on every road and allowed none to pass in or out.
+Famine developed in the town. They consumed all the oxen, sheep and
+horses and finally Beltis Van determined to make a dash with his
+soldiers through to the west to the land of one of his tribes, the
+Olets. He and his men all perished in the fight. The Princes, following
+the advice of the Hutuktu Buyantu, buried the dead on the slopes of the
+mountains surrounding Uliassutai. They buried them with incantations and
+exorcisings in order that Death by Violence might be kept from a further
+visitation to their land. The tombs were covered with heavy stones and
+the Hutuktu predicted that the bad demon of Death by Violence would
+only leave the earth when the blood of a man should be spilled upon the
+covering stone. Such a legend lived among us. Now it is fulfilled. The
+Russians shot there three Bolsheviki and the Chinese two Mongols. The
+evil spirit of Beltis Van broke loose from beneath the heavy stone and
+now mows down the people with his scythe. The noble Chultun Beyli has
+perished; the Russian Noyon Michailoff also has fallen; and death has
+flowed out from Uliassutai all over our boundless plains. Who shall be
+able to stem it now? Who shall tie the ferocious hands? An evil time has
+fallen upon the Gods and the Good Spirits. The Evil Demons have made war
+upon the Good Spirits. What can man now do? Only perish, only
+perish. . . .”
+
+
+
+
+Part III
+
+THE STRAINING HEART OF ASIA
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+ON THE ROAD OF GREAT CONQUERORS
+
+
+The great conqueror, Jenghiz Khan, the son of sad, stern, severe
+Mongolia, according to an old Mongolian legend “mounted to the top of
+Karasu Togol and with his eyes of an eagle looked to the west and the
+east. In the west he saw whole seas of human blood over which floated
+a bloody fog that blanketed all the horizon. There he could not discern
+his fate. But the gods ordered him to proceed to the west, leading with
+him all his warriors and Mongolian tribes. To the east he saw wealthy
+towns, shining temples, crowds of happy people, gardens and fields of
+rich earth, all of which pleased the great Mongol. He said to his sons:
+‘There in the west I shall be fire and sword, destroyer, avenging
+Fate; in the east I shall come as the merciful, great builder, bringing
+happiness to the people and to the land.’”
+
+Thus runs the legend. I found much of truth in it. I had passed over
+much of his road to the west and always identified it by the old tombs
+and the impertinent monuments of stone to the merciless conqueror. I saw
+also a part of the eastern road of the hero, over which he traveled to
+China. Once when we were making a trip out of Uliassutai we stopped the
+night in Djirgalantu. The old host of the ourton, knowing me from my
+previous trip to Narabanchi, welcomed us very kindly and regaled us with
+stories during our evening meal. Among other things he led us out of the
+yurta and pointed out a mountain peak brightly lighted by the full moon
+and recounted to us the story of one of the sons of Jenghiz, afterwards
+Emperor of China, Indo-China and Mongolia, who had been attracted by the
+beautiful scenery and grazing lands of Djirgalantu and had founded here
+a town. This was soon left without inhabitants, for the Mongol is a
+nomad who cannot live in artificial cities. The plain is his house and
+the world his town. For a time this town witnessed battles between the
+Chinese and the troops of Jenghiz Khan but afterwards it was forgotten.
+At present there remains only a half-ruined tower, from which in the
+early days the heavy rocks were hurled down upon the heads of the
+enemy, and the dilapidated gate of Kublai, the grandson of Jenghiz Khan.
+Against the greenish sky drenched with the rays of the moon stood out
+the jagged line of the mountains and the black silhouette of the tower
+with its loopholes, through which the alternate scudding clouds and
+light flashed.
+
+When our party left Uliassutai, we traveled on leisurely, making
+thirty-five to fifty miles a day until we were within sixty miles of
+Zain Shabi, where I took leave of the others to go south to this place
+in order to keep my engagement with Colonel Kazagrandi. The sun had just
+risen as my single Mongol guide and I without any pack animals began to
+ascend the low, timbered ridges, from the top of which I caught the last
+glimpses of my companions disappearing down the valley. I had no idea
+then of the many and almost fatal dangers which I should have to pass
+through during this trip by myself, which was destined to prove much
+longer than I had anticipated. As we were crossing a small river with
+sandy shores, my Mongol guide told me how the Mongolians came there
+during the summer to wash gold, in spite of the prohibitions of the
+Lamas. The manner of working the placer was very primitive but the
+results testified clearly to the richness of these sands. The Mongol
+lies flat on the ground, brushes the sand aside with a feather and keeps
+blowing into the little excavation so formed. From time to time he wets
+his finger and picks up on it a small bit of grain gold or a diminutive
+nugget and drops these into a little bag hanging under his chin. In such
+manner this primitive dredge wins about a quarter of an ounce or five
+dollars’ worth of the yellow metal per day.
+
+I determined to make the whole distance to Zain Shabi in a single day.
+At the ourtons I hurried them through the catching and saddling of the
+horses as fast as I could. At one of these stations about twenty-five
+miles from the monastery the Mongols gave me a wild horse, a big, strong
+white stallion. Just as I was about to mount him and had already touched
+my foot to the stirrup, he jumped and kicked me right on the leg which
+had been wounded in the Ma-chu fight. The leg soon began to swell and
+ache. At sunset I made out the first Russian and Chinese buildings
+and later the monastery at Zain. We dropped into the valley of a small
+stream which flowed along a mountain on whose peak were set white rocks
+forming the words of a Tibetan prayer. At the bottom of this mountain
+was a cemetery for the Lamas, that is, piles of bones and a pack
+of dogs. At last the monastery lay right below us, a common square
+surrounded with wooden fences. In the middle rose a large temple quite
+different from all those of western Mongolia, not in the Chinese but in
+the Tibetan style of architecture, a white building with perpendicular
+walls and regular rows of windows in black frames, with a roof of black
+tiles and with a most unusual damp course laid between the stone walls
+and the roof timbers and made of bundles of twigs from a Tibetan tree
+which never rots. Another small quadrangle lay a little to the east and
+contained Russian buildings connected with the monastery by telephone.
+
+“That is the house of the Living God of Zain,” the Mongol explained,
+pointing to this smaller quadrangle. “He likes Russian customs and
+manners.”
+
+To the north on a conical-shaped hill rose a tower that recalled the
+Babylonian zikkurat. It was the temple where the ancient books and
+manuscripts were kept and the broken ornaments and objects used in
+the religious ceremonies together with the robes of deceased Hutuktus
+preserved. A sheer cliff rose behind this museum, which it was
+impossible for one to climb. On the face of this were carved images of
+the Lamaite gods, scattered about without any special order. They were
+from one to two and a half metres high. At night the monks lighted
+lamps before them, so that one could see these images of the gods and
+goddesses from far away.
+
+We entered the trading settlement. The streets were deserted and from
+the windows only women and children looked out. I stopped with a Russian
+firm whose other branches I had known throughout the country. Much to my
+astonishment they welcomed me as an acquaintance. It appeared that
+the Hutuktu of Narabanchi had sent word to all the monasteries that,
+whenever I should come, they must all render me aid, inasmuch as I
+had saved the Narabanchi Monastery and, by the clear signs of the
+divinations, I was an incarnate Buddha beloved of the Gods. This letter
+of this kindly disposed Hutuktu helped me very much--perhaps I should
+even say more, that it saved me from death. The hospitality of my hosts
+proved of great and much needed assistance to me because my injured leg
+had swelled and was aching severely. When I took off my boot, I found
+my foot all covered with blood and my old wound re-opened by the blow. A
+felcher was called to assist me with treatment and bandaging, so that I
+was able to walk again three days later.
+
+I did not find Colonel Kazagrandi at Zain Shabi. After destroying the
+Chinese gamins who had killed the local Commandant, he had returned via
+Van Kure. The new Commandment handed me the letter of Kazagrandi, who
+very cordially asked me to visit him after I had rested in Zain. A
+Mongolian document was enclosed in the letter giving me the right to
+receive horses and carts from herd to herd by means of the “urga,” which
+I shall later describe and which opened for me an entirely new vista of
+Mongolian life and country that I should otherwise never have seen. The
+making of this journey of over two hundred miles was a very disagreeable
+task for me; but evidently Kazagrandi, whom I had never met, had serious
+reasons for wishing this meeting.
+
+At one o’clock the day after my arrival I was visited by the local
+“Very God,” Gheghen Pandita Hutuktu. A more strange and extraordinary
+appearance of a god I could not imagine. He was a short, thin young man
+of twenty or twenty-two years with quick, nervous movements and with an
+expressive face lighted and dominated, like the countenances of all the
+Mongol gods, by large, frightened eyes. He was dressed in a blue silk
+Russian uniform with yellow epaulets with the sacred sign of Pandita
+Hutuktu, in blue silk trousers and high boots, all surmounted by a white
+Astrakhan cap with a yellow pointed top. At his girdle a revolver and
+sword were slung. I did not know quite what to think of this disguised
+god. He took a cup of tea from the host and began to talk with a mixture
+of Mongolian and Russian.
+
+“Not far from my Kure is located the ancient monastery of Erdeni Dzu,
+erected on the site of the ruins of Karakorum, the ancient capital
+of Jenghiz Khan and afterwards frequently visited by Kublai Kahn for
+sanctuary and rest after his labors as Emperor of China, India, Persia,
+Afghanistan, Mongolia and half of Europe. Now only ruins and tombs
+remain to mark this former ‘Garden of Beatific Days.’ The pious monks of
+Baroun Kure found in the underground chambers of the ruins manuscripts
+that were much older than Erdeni Dzu itself. In these my Maramba
+Meetchik-Atak found the prediction that the Hutuktu of Zain who should
+carry the title of ‘Pandita,’ should be but twenty-one years of age, be
+born in the heart of the lands of Jenghiz Khan and have on his chest
+the natural sign of the swastika--such Hutuktu would be honored by the
+people in the days of a great war and trouble, would begin the fight
+with the servants of Red evil and would conquer them and bring order
+into the universe, celebrating this happy day in the city with white
+temples and with the songs of ten thousand bells. It is I, Pandita
+Hutuktu! The signs and symbols have met in me. I shall destroy the
+Bolsheviki, the bad ‘servants of the Red evil,’ and in Moscow I shall
+rest from my glorious and great work. Therefore I have asked Colonel
+Kazagrandi to enlist me in the troops of Baron Ungern and give me the
+chance to fight. The Lamas seek to prevent me from going but who is the
+god here?”
+
+He very sternly stamped his foot, while the Lamas and guard who
+accompanied him reverently bowed their heads.
+
+As he left he presented me with a hatyk and, rummaging through my saddle
+bags, I found a single article that might be considered worthy as a
+gift for a Hutuktu, a small bottle of osmiridium, this rare, natural
+concomitant of platinum.
+
+“This is the most stable and hardest of metals,” I said. “Let it be the
+sign of your glory and strength, Hutuktu!”
+
+The Pandita thanked me and invited me to visit him. When I had recovered
+a little, I went to his house, which was arranged in European style:
+electric lights, push bells and telephone. He feasted me with wine and
+sweets and introduced me to two very interesting personages, one an old
+Tibetan surgeon with a face deeply pitted by smallpox, a heavy thick
+nose and crossed eyes. He was a peculiar surgeon, consecrated in Tibet.
+His duties consisted in treating and curing Hutuktus when they were
+ill and . . . in poisoning them when they became too independent or
+extravagant or when their policies were not in accord with the wishes
+of the Council of Lamas of the Living Buddha or the Dalai Lama. By
+now Pandita Hutuktu probably rests in eternal peace on the top of some
+sacred mountain, sent thither by the solicitude of his extraordinary
+court physician. The martial spirit of Pandita Hutuktu was very
+unwelcome to the Council of Lamas, who protested against the
+adventuresomeness of this “Living God.”
+
+Pandita liked wine and cards. One day when he was in the company of
+Russians and dressed in a European suit, some Lamas came running to
+announce that divine service had begun and that the “Living God” must
+take his place on the altar to be prayed to but he had gone out from his
+abode and was playing cards! Without any confusion Pandita drew his red
+mantle of the Hutuktu over his European coat and long grey trousers and
+allowed the shocked Lamas to carry their “God” away in his palanquin.
+
+Besides the surgeon-poisoner I met at the Hutuktu’s a lad of thirteen
+years, whose youthfulness, red robe and cropped hair led me to suppose
+he was a Bandi or student servant in the home of the Hutuktu; but it
+turned out otherwise. This boy was the first Hubilgan, also an incarnate
+Buddha, an artful teller of fortunes and the successor of Pandita
+Hutuktu. He was drunk all the time and a great card player, always
+making side-splitting jokes that greatly offended the Lamas.
+
+That same evening I made the acquaintance of the second Hubilgan
+who called on me, the real administrator of Zain Shabi, which is
+an independent dominion subject directly to the Living Buddha. This
+Hubilgan was a serious and ascetic man of thirty-two, well educated and
+deeply learned in Mongol lore. He knew Russian and read much in that
+language, being interested chiefly in the life and stories of other
+peoples. He had a high respect for the creative genius of the American
+people and said to me:
+
+“When you go to America, ask the Americans to come to us and lead us out
+from the darkness that surrounds us. The Chinese and Russians will lead
+us to destruction and only the Americans can save us.”
+
+It is a deep satisfaction for me to carry out the request of this
+influential Mongol, Hubilgan, and to urge his appeal to the American
+people. Will you not save this honest, uncorrupted but dark, deceived
+and oppressed people? They should not be allowed to perish, for within
+their souls they carry a great store of strong moral forces. Make of
+them a cultured people, believing in the verity of humankind; teach them
+to use the wealth of their land; and the ancient people of Jenghiz Khan
+will ever be your faithful friends.
+
+When I had sufficiently recovered, the Hutuktu invited me to travel with
+him to Erdeni Dzu, to which I willingly agreed. On the following morning
+a light and comfortable carriage was brought for me. Our trip lasted
+five days, during which we visited Erdeni Dzu, Karakorum, Hoto-Zaidam
+and Hara-Balgasun. All these are the ruins of monasteries and cities
+erected by Jenghiz Khan and his successors, Ugadai Khan and Kublai
+in the thirteenth century. Now only the remnants of walls and towers
+remain, some large tombs and whole books of legends and stories.
+
+“Look at these tombs!” said the Hutuktu to me. “Here the son of Khan
+Uyuk was buried. This young prince was bribed by the Chinese to kill his
+father but was frustrated in his attempt by his own sister, who killed
+him in her watchful care of her old father, the Emperor and Khan. There
+is the tomb of Tsinilla, the beloved spouse of Khan Mangu. She left the
+capital of China to go to Khara Bolgasun, where she fell in love with
+the brave shepherd Damcharen, who overtook the wind on his steed and
+who captured wild yaks and horses with his bare hands. The enraged Khan
+ordered his unfaithful wife strangled but afterwards buried her with
+imperial honors and frequently came to her tomb to weep for his lost
+love.”
+
+“And what happened to Damcharen?” I inquired.
+
+The Hutuktu himself did not know; but his old servant, the real archive
+of legends, answered:
+
+“With the aid of ferocious Chahar brigands he fought with China for a
+long time. It is, however, unknown how he died.”
+
+Among the ruins the monks pray at certain fixed times and they also
+search for sacred books and objects concealed or buried in the debris.
+Recently they found here two Chinese rifles and two gold rings and big
+bundles of old manuscripts tied with leather thongs.
+
+“Why did this region attract the powerful emperors and Khans who ruled
+from the Pacific to the Adriatic?” I asked myself. Certainly not these
+mountains and valleys covered with larch and birch, not these vast
+sands, receding lakes and barren rocks. It seems that I found the
+answer.
+
+The great emperors, remembering the vision of Jenghiz Khan, sought here
+new revelations and predictions of his miraculous, majestic destiny,
+surrounded by the divine honors, obeisance and hate. Where could they
+come into touch with the gods, the good and bad spirits? Only there
+where they abode. All the district of Zain with these ancient ruins is
+just such a place.
+
+“On this mountain only such men can ascend as are born of the direct
+line of Jenghiz Khan,” the Pandita explained to me. “Half way up the
+ordinary man suffocates and dies, if he ventures to go further. Recently
+Mongolian hunters chased a pack of wolves up this mountain and, when
+they came to this part of the mountainside, they all perished. There on
+the slopes of the mountain lie the bones of eagles, big horned sheep and
+the kabarga antelope, light and swift as the wind. There dwells the bad
+demon who possesses the book of human destinies.”
+
+“This is the answer,” I thought.
+
+In the Western Caucasus I once saw a mountain between Soukhoum Kale and
+Tuopsei where wolves, eagles and wild goats also perish, and where men
+would likewise perish if they did not go on horseback through this zone.
+There the earth breathes out carbonic acid gas through holes in the
+mountainside, killing all animal life. The gas clings to the earth in a
+layer about half a metre thick. Men on horseback pass above this and the
+horses always hold their heads way up and snuff and whinny in fear until
+they cross the dangerous zone. Here on the top of this mountain
+where the bad demon peruses the book of human destinies is the same
+phenomenon, and I realized the sacred fear of the Mongols as well as the
+stern attraction of this place for the tall, almost gigantic descendants
+of Jenghiz Khan. Their heads tower above the layers of poisonous gas,
+so that they can reach the top of this mysterious and terrible mountain.
+Also it is possible to explain this phenomenon geologically, because
+here in this region is the southern edge of the coal deposits which are
+the source of carbonic acid and swamp gases.
+
+Not far from the ruins in the lands of Hun Doptchin Djamtso there is
+a small lake which sometimes burns with a red flame, terrifying the
+Mongols and herds of horses. Naturally this lake is rich with legends.
+Here a meteor formerly fell and sank far into the earth. In the hole
+this lake appeared. Now, it seems, the inhabitants of the subterranean
+passages, semi-man and semi-demon, are laboring to extract this “stone
+of the sky” from its deep bed and it is setting the water on fire as it
+rises and falls back in spite of their every effort. I did not see the
+lake myself but a Russian colonist told me that it may be petroleum on
+the lake that is fired either from the campfires of the shepherds or by
+the blazing rays of the sun.
+
+At any rate all this makes it very easy to understand the attractions
+for the great Mongol potentates. The strongest impression was produced
+upon me by Karakorum, the place where the cruel and wise Jenghiz Khan
+lived and laid his gigantic plans for overrunning all the west with
+blood and for covering the east with a glory never before seen. Two
+Karakorums were erected by Jenghiz Khan, one here near Tatsa Gol on the
+Caravan Road and the other in Pamir, where the sad warriors buried the
+greatest of human conquerors in the mausoleum built by five hundred
+captives who were sacrificed to the spirit of the deceased when their
+work was done.
+
+The warlike Pandita Hutuktu prayed on the ruins where the shades of
+these potentates who had ruled half the world wandered, and his soul
+longed for the chimerical exploits and for the glory of Jenghiz and
+Tamerlane.
+
+On the return journey we were invited not far from Zain to visit a very
+rich Mongol by the way. He had already prepared the yurtas suitable for
+Princes, ornamented with rich carpets and silk draperies. The Hutuktu
+accepted. We arranged ourselves on the soft pillows in the yurtas as the
+Hutuktu blessed the Mongol, touching his head with his holy hand, and
+received the hatyks. The host then had a whole sheep brought in to us,
+boiled in a huge vessel. The Hutuktu carved off one hind leg and offered
+it to me, while he reserved the other for himself. After this he gave a
+large piece of meat to the smallest son of the host, which was the sign
+that Pandita Hutuktu invited all to begin the feast. In a trice the
+sheep was entirely carved or torn up and in the hands of the banqueters.
+When the Hutuktu had thrown down by the brazier the white bones without
+a trace of meat left on them, the host on his knees withdrew from the
+fire a piece of sheepskin and ceremoniously offered it on both his hands
+to the Hutuktu. Pandita began to clean off the wool and ashes with his
+knife and, cutting it into thin strips, fell to eating this really tasty
+course. It is the covering from just above the breast bone and is called
+in Mongolian tarach or “arrow.” When a sheep is skinned, this small
+section is cut out and placed on the hot coals, where it is broiled very
+slowly. Thus prepared it is considered the most dainty bit of the
+whole animal and is always presented to the guest of honor. It is
+not permissible to divide it, such is the strength of the custom and
+ceremony.
+
+After dinner our host proposed a hunt for bighorns, a large herd of
+which was known to graze in the mountains within less than a mile from
+the yurtas. Horses with rich saddles and bridles were led up. All the
+elaborate harness of the Hutuktu’s mount was ornamented with red and
+yellow bits of cloth as a mark of his rank. About fifty Mongol riders
+galloped behind us. When we left our horses, we were placed behind
+the rocks roughly three hundred paces apart and the Mongols began the
+encircling movement around the mountain. After about half an hour I
+noticed way up among the rocks something flash and soon made out a fine
+bighorn jumping with tremendous springs from rock to rock, and behind
+him a herd of some twenty odd head leaping like lightning over the
+ground. I was vexed beyond words when it appeared that the Mongols had
+made a mess of it and pushed the herd out to the side before having
+completed their circle. But happily I was mistaken. Behind a rock right
+ahead of the herd a Mongol sprang up and waved his hands. Only the big
+leader was not frightened and kept right on past the unarmed Mongol
+while all the rest of the herd swung suddenly round and rushed right
+down upon me. I opened fire and dropped two of them. The Hutuktu also
+brought down one as well as a musk antelope that came unexpectedly from
+behind a rock hard by. The largest pair of horns weighed about thirty
+pounds, but they were from a young sheep.
+
+The day following our return to Zain Shabi, as I was feeling quite
+recovered, I decided to go on to Van Kure. At my leave-taking from
+the Hutuktu I received a large hatyk from him together with warmest
+expressions of thanks for the present I had given him on the first day
+of our acquaintance.
+
+“It is a fine medicine!” he exclaimed. “After our trip I felt quite
+exhausted but I took your medicine and am now quite rejuvenated. Many,
+many thanks!”
+
+The poor chap had swallowed my osmiridium. To be sure it could not
+harm him; but to have helped him was wonderful. Perhaps doctors in the
+Occident may wish to try this new, harmless and very cheap remedy--only
+eight pounds of it in the whole world--and I merely ask that they leave
+me the patent rights for it for Mongolia, Barga, Sinkiang, Koko Nor and
+all the other lands of Central Asia.
+
+An old Russian colonist went as guide for me. They gave me a big but
+light and comfortable cart hitched and drawn in a marvelous way. A
+straight pole four metres long was fastened athwart the front of the
+shafts. On either side two riders took this pole across their saddle
+pommels and galloped away with me across the plains. Behind us galloped
+four other riders with four extra horses.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+ARRESTED!
+
+
+About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of
+riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later
+on the shore of a deep, swampy stream. The group consisted of Mongols,
+Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles. At the head of the
+column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black
+felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and,
+in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you
+from and where are you going?”
+
+I gave also a laconic answer. They then said that they were a detachment
+of troops from Baron Ungern under the command of Captain Vandaloff. “I
+am Captain Bezrodnoff, military judge.”
+
+Suddenly he laughed loudly. His insolent, stupid face did not please me
+and, bowing to the officers, I ordered my riders to move.
+
+“Oh no!” he remonstrated, as he blocked the road again. “I cannot allow
+you to go farther. I want to have a long and serious conversation with
+you and you will have to come back to Zain for it.”
+
+I protested and called attention to the letter of Colonel Kazagrandi,
+only to hear Bezrodnoff answer with coldness:
+
+“This letter is a matter of Colonel Kazagrandi’s and to bring you back
+to Zain and talk with you is my affair. Now give me your weapon.”
+
+But I could not yield to this demand, even though death were threatened.
+
+“Listen,” I said. “Tell me frankly. Is yours really a detachment
+fighting against the Boisheviki or is it a Red contingent?”
+
+“No, I assure you!” replied the Buriat officer Vandaloff, approaching
+me. “We have already been fighting the Bolsheviki for three years.”
+
+“Then I cannot hand you my weapon,” I calmly replied. “I brought it from
+Soviet Siberia, have had many fights with this faithful weapon and now
+I am to be disarmed by White officers! It is an offence that I cannot
+allow.”
+
+With these words I threw my rifle and my Mauser into the stream. The
+officers were confused. Bezrodnoff turned red with anger.
+
+“I freed you and myself from humiliation,” I explained.
+
+Bezrodnoff in silence turned his horse, the whole detachment of three
+hundred men passed immediately before me and only the last two riders
+stopped, ordered my Mongols to turn my cart round and then fell in
+behind my little group. So I was arrested! One of the horsemen behind me
+was a Russian and he told me that Bezrodnoff carried with him many death
+decrees. I was sure that mine was among them.
+
+Stupid, very stupid! What was the use of fighting one’s way through Red
+detachments, of being frozen and hungry, of almost perishing in Tibet
+only to die from a bullet of one of Bezrodnoff’s Mongols? For such a
+pleasure it was not worth while to travel so long and so far! In every
+Siberian “Cheka” I could have had this end so joyfully accorded me.
+
+When we arrived at Zain Shabi, my luggage was examined and Bezrodnoff
+began to question me in minutest detail about the events in Uliassutai.
+We talked about three hours, during which I tried to defend all the
+officers of Uliassutai, maintaining that one must not trust only the
+reports of Domojiroff. When our conversation was finished, the Captain
+stood up and offered his apologies for detaining me in my journey.
+Afterwards he presented me a fine Mauser with silver mountings on the
+handle and said:
+
+“Your pride greatly pleased me. I beg you to receive this weapon as a
+memento of me.”
+
+The following morning I set out anew from Zain Shabi, having in my
+pocket the laissez-passer of Bezrodnoff for his outposts.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI
+
+TRAVELING BY “URGA”
+
+
+Once more we traveled along the now known places, the mountain from
+which I espied the detachment of Bezrodnoff, the stream into which I had
+thrown my weapon, and soon all this lay behind us. At the first ourton
+we were disappointed because we did not find horses there. In the yurtas
+were only the host with two of his sons. I showed him my document and he
+exclaimed:
+
+“Noyon has the right of ‘urga.’ Horses will be brought very soon.”
+
+He jumped into his saddle, took two of my Mongols with him, providing
+them and himself with long thin poles, four or five metres in length,
+and fitted at the end with a loop of rope, and galloped away. My cart
+moved behind them. We left the road, crossed the plain for an hour and
+came upon a big herd of horses grazing there. The Mongol began to catch
+a quota of them for us with his pole and noose or urga, when out of the
+mountains nearby came galloping the owners of the herds. When the
+old Mongol showed my papers to them, they submissively acquiesced and
+substituted four of their men for those who had come with me thus far.
+In this manner the Mongols travel, not along the ourton or station road
+but directly from one herd to another, where the fresh horses are caught
+and saddled and the new owners substituted for those of the last herd.
+All the Mongols so effected by the right of urga try to finish their
+task as rapidly as possible and gallop like mad for the nearest herd
+in your general direction of travel to turn over their task to their
+neighbor. Any traveler having this right of urga can catch horses
+himself and, if there are no owners, can force the former ones to carry
+on and leave the animals in the next herd he requisitions. But this
+happens very rarely because the Mongol never likes to seek out his
+animals in another’s herd, as it always gives so many chances for
+controversy.
+
+It was from this custom, according to one explanation, that the town
+of Urga took its name among outsiders. By the Mongols themselves it is
+always referred to as Ta Kure, “The Great Monastery.” The reason the
+Buriats and Russians, who were the first to trade into this region,
+called it Urga was because it was the principal destination of all the
+trading expeditions which crossed the plains by this old method or right
+of travel. A second explanation is that the town lies in a “loop” whose
+sides are formed by three mountain ridges, along one of which the River
+Tola runs like the pole or stick of the familiar urga of the plains.
+
+Thanks to this unique ticket of urga I crossed quite untraveled
+sections of Mongolia for about two hundred miles. It gave me the welcome
+opportunity to observe the fauna of this part of the country. I saw many
+huge herds of Mongolian antelopes running from five to six thousand,
+many groups of bighorns, wapiti and kabarga antelopes. Sometimes small
+herds of wild horses and wild asses flashed as a vision on the horizon.
+
+In one place I observed a big colony of marmots. All over an area of
+several square miles their mounds were scattered with the holes leading
+down to their runways below, the dwellings of the marmot. In and out
+among these mounds the greyish-yellow or brown animals ran in all sizes
+up to half that of an average dog. They ran heavily and the skin on
+their fat bodies moved as though it were too big for them. The marmots
+are splendid prospectors, always digging deep ditches, throwing out on
+the surface all the stones. In many places I saw mounds the marmots had
+made from copper ore and farther north some from minerals containing
+wolfram and vanadium. Whenever the marmot is at the entrance of his
+hole, he sits up straight on his hind legs and looks like a bit of wood,
+a small stump or a stone. As soon as he spies a rider in the distance,
+he watches him with great curiosity and begins whistling sharply. This
+curiosity of the marmots is taken advantage of by the hunters, who sneak
+up to their holes flourishing streamers of cloth on the tips of long
+poles. The whole attention of the small animals is concentrated on this
+small flag and only the bullet that takes his life explains to him the
+reason for this previously unknown object.
+
+I saw a very exciting picture as I passed through a marmot colony near
+the Orkhon River. There were thousands of holes here so that my Mongols
+had to use all their skill to keep the horses from breaking their legs
+in them. I noticed an eagle circling high overhead. All of a sudden he
+dropped like a stone to the top of a mound, where he sat motionless as
+a rock. The marmot in a few minutes ran out of his hole to a neighbor’s
+doorway. The eagle calmly jumped down from the top and with one wing
+closed the entrance to the hole. The rodent heard the noise, turned back
+and rushed to the attack, trying to break through to his hole where he
+had evidently left his family. The struggle began. The eagle fought with
+one free wing, one leg and his beak but did not withdraw the bar to the
+entrance. The marmot jumped at the rapacious bird with great boldness
+but soon fell from a blow on the head. Only then the eagle withdrew his
+wing, approached the marmot, finished him off and with difficulty
+lifted him in his talons to carry him away to the mountains for a tasty
+luncheon.
+
+In the more barren places with only occasional spears of grass in the
+plain another species of rodent lives, called imouran, about the size of
+a squirrel. They have a coat the same color as the prairie and, running
+about it like snakes, they collect the seeds that are blown across by
+the wind and carry them down into their diminutive homes. The imouran
+has a truly faithful friend, the yellow lark of the prairie with a brown
+back and head. When he sees the imouran running across the plain, he
+settles on his back, flaps his wings in balance and rides well this
+swiftly galloping mount, who gaily flourishes his long shaggy tail. The
+lark during his ride skilfully and quickly catches the parasites living
+on the body of his friend, giving evidence of his enjoyment of his work
+with a short agreeable song. The Mongols call the imouran “the steed of
+the gay lark.” The lark warns the imouran of the approach of eagles and
+hawks with three sharp whistles the moment he sees the aerial brigand
+and takes refuge himself behind a stone or in a small ditch. After this
+signal no imouran will stick his head out of his hole until the danger
+is past. Thus the gay lark and his steed live in kindly neighborliness.
+
+In other parts of Mongolia where there was very rich grass I saw another
+type of rodent, which I had previously come across in Urianhai. It is
+a gigantic black prairie rat with a short tail and lives in colonies
+of from one to two hundred. He is interesting and unique as the most
+skilful farmer among the animals in his preparation of his winter supply
+of fodder. During the weeks when the grass is most succulent he actually
+mows it down with swift jerky swings of his head, cutting about twenty
+or thirty stalks with his sharp long front teeth. Then he allows his
+grass to cure and later puts up his prepared hay in a most scientific
+manner. First he makes a mound about a foot high. Through this he pushes
+down into the ground four slanting stakes, converging toward the middle
+of the pile, and binds them close over the surface of the hay with the
+longest strands of grass, leaving the ends protruding enough for him
+to add another foot to the height of the pile, when he again binds the
+surface with more long strands--all this to keep his winter supply of
+food from blowing away over the prairie. This stock he always locates
+right at the door of his den to avoid long winter hauls. The horses and
+camels are very fond of this small farmer’s hay, because it is always
+made from the most nutritious grass. The haycocks are so strongly made
+that one can hardly kick them to pieces.
+
+Almost everywhere in Mongolia I met either single pairs or whole flocks
+of the greyish-yellow prairie partridges, salga or “partridge swallow,”
+ so called because they have long sharp tails resembling those of
+swallows and because their flight also is a close copy of that of the
+swallow. These birds are very tame or fearless, allowing men to come
+within ten or fifteen paces of them; but, when they do break, they go
+high and fly long distances without lighting, whistling all the time
+quite like swallows. Their general markings are light grey and yellow,
+though the males have pretty chocolate spots on the backs and wings,
+while their legs and feet are heavily feathered.
+
+My opportunity to make these observations came from traveling
+through unfrequented regions by the urga, which, however, had its
+counterbalancing disadvantages. The Mongols carried me directly and
+swiftly toward my destination, receiving with great satisfaction the
+presents of Chinese dollars which I gave them. But after having made
+about five thousand miles on my Cossack saddle that now lay behind me
+on the cart all covered with dust like common merchandise, I rebelled
+against being wracked and torn by the rough riding of the cart as it was
+swung heedlessly over stones, hillocks and ditches by the wild horses
+with their equally wild riders, bounding and cracking and holding
+together only through its tenacity of purpose in demonstrating the
+cosiness and attractiveness of a good Mongol equipage! All my bones
+began to ache. Finally I groaned at every lunge and at last I suffered
+a very sharp attack of ischias or sciatica in my wounded leg. At night
+I could neither sleep, lie down nor sit with comfort and spent the whole
+night pacing up and down the plain, listening to the loud snoring of
+the inhabitants of the yurta. At times I had to fight the two huge black
+dogs which attacked me. The following day I could endure the wracking
+only until noon and was then forced to give up and lie down. The pain
+was unbearable. I could not move my leg nor my back and finally fell
+into a high fever. We were forced to stop and rest. I swallowed all
+my stock of aspirin and quinine but without relief. Before me was a
+sleepless night about which I could not think without weakening fear. We
+had stopped in the yurta for guests by the side of a small monastery. My
+Mongols invited the Lama doctor to visit me, who gave me two very bitter
+powders and assured me I should be able to continue in the morning. I
+soon felt a stimulated palpitation of the heart, after which the pain
+became even sharper. Again I spent the night without any sleep but when
+the sun arose the pain ceased instantly and, after an hour, I ordered
+them to saddle me a horse, as I was afraid to continue further in the
+cart.
+
+While the Mongols were catching the horses, there came to my tent
+Colonel N. N. Philipoff, who told me that he denied all the accusations
+that he and his brother and Poletika were Bolsheviki and that Bezrodnoff
+allowed him to go to Van Kure to meet Baron Ungern, who was expected
+there. Only Philipoff did not know that his Mongol guide was armed with
+a bomb and that another Mongol had been sent on ahead with a letter to
+Baron Ungern. He did not know that Poletika and his brothers were shot
+at the same time in Zain Shabi. Philipoff was in a hurry and wanted to
+reach Van Kure that day. I left an hour after him.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII
+
+AN OLD FORTUNE TELLER
+
+
+From this point we began traveling along the ourton road. In this region
+the Mongols had very poor and exhausted horses, because they were forced
+continuously to supply mounts to the numerous envoys of Daichin Van and
+of Colonel Kazagrandi. We were compelled to spend the night at the last
+ourton before Van Kure, where a stout old Mongol and his son kept the
+station. After our supper he took the shoulder-blade of the sheep, which
+had been carefully scraped clean of all the flesh, and, looking at me,
+placed this bone in the coals with some incantations and said:
+
+“I want to tell your fortune. All my predictions come true.”
+
+When the bone had been blackened he drew it out, blew off the ashes and
+began to scrutinize the surface very closely and to look through it into
+the fire. He continued his examination for a long time and then, with
+fear in his face, placed the bone back in the coals.
+
+“What did you see?” I asked, laughing.
+
+“Be silent!” he whispered. “I made out horrible signs.”
+
+He again took out the bone and began examining it all over, all the time
+whispering prayers and making strange movements. In a very solemn quiet
+voice he began his predictions.
+
+“Death in the form of a tall white man with red hair will stand behind
+you and will watch you long and close. You will feel it and wait but
+Death will withdraw. . . . Another white man will become your friend.
+. . . Before the fourth day you will lose your acquaintances. They will
+die by a long knife. I already see them being eaten by the dogs. Beware
+of the man with a head like a saddle. He will strive for your death.”
+
+For a long time after the fortune had been told we sat smoking and
+drinking tea but still the old fellow looked at me only with fear.
+Through my brain flashed the thought that thus must his companions in
+prison look at one who is condemned to death.
+
+The next morning we left the fortune teller before the sun was up, and,
+when we had made about fifteen miles, hove in sight of Van Kure. I found
+Colonel Kazagrandi at his headquarters. He was a man of good family,
+an experienced engineer and a splendid officer, who had distinguished
+himself in the war at the defence of the island of Moon in the Baltic
+and afterwards in the fight with the Bolsheviki on the Volga. Colonel
+Kazagrandi offered me a bath in a real tub, which had its habitat in
+the house of the president of the local Chamber of Commerce. As I was in
+this house, a tall young captain entered. He had long curly red hair and
+an unusually white face, though heavy and stolid, with large, steel-cold
+eyes and with beautiful, tender, almost girlish lips. But in his eyes
+there was such cold cruelty that it was quite unpleasant to look at his
+otherwise fine face. When he left the room, our host told me that he was
+Captain Veseloffsky, the adjutant of General Rezukhin, who was fighting
+against the Bolsheviki in the north of Mongolia. They had just that day
+arrived for a conference with Baron Ungern.
+
+After luncheon Colonel Kazagrandi invited me to his yurta and began
+discussing events in western Mongolia, where the situation had become
+very tense.
+
+“Do you know Dr. Gay?” Kazagrandi asked me. “You know he helped me
+to form my detachment but Urga accuses him of being the agent of the
+Soviets.”
+
+I made all the defences I could for Gay. He had helped me and had been
+exonerated by Kolchak.
+
+“Yes, yes, and I justified Gay in such a manner,” said the Colonel, “but
+Rezukhin, who has just arrived today, has brought letters of Gay’s to
+the Bolsheviki which were seized in transit. By order of Baron Ungern,
+Gay and his family have today been sent to the headquarters of Rezukhin
+and I fear that they will not reach this destination.”
+
+“Why?” I asked.
+
+“They will be executed on the road!” answered Colonel Kazagrandi.
+
+“What are we to do?” I responded. “Gay cannot be a Bolshevik, because
+he is too well educated and too clever for it.”
+
+“I don’t know; I don’t know!” murmured the Colonel with a despondent
+gesture. “Try to speak with Rezukhin.”
+
+I decided to proceed at once to Rezukhin but just then Colonel Philipoff
+entered and began talking about the errors being made in the training of
+the soldiers. When I had donned my coat, another man came in. He was a
+small sized officer with an old green Cossack cap with a visor, a torn
+grey Mongol overcoat and with his right hand in a black sling tied
+around his neck. It was General Rezukhin, to whom I was at once
+introduced. During the conversation the General very politely and very
+skilfully inquired about the lives of Philipoff and myself during the
+last three years, joking and laughing with discretion and modesty. When
+he soon took his leave, I availed myself of the chance and went out with
+him.
+
+He listened very attentively and politely to me and afterwards, in his
+quiet voice, said:
+
+“Dr. Gay is the agent of the Soviets, disguised as a White in order
+the better to see, hear and know everything. We are surrounded by our
+enemies. The Russian people are demoralized and will undertake any
+treachery for money. Such is Gay. Anyway, what is the use of discussing
+him further? He and his family are no longer alive. Today my men cut
+them to pieces five kilometres from here.”
+
+In consternation and fear I looked at the face of this small, dapper man
+with such soft voice and courteous manners. In his eyes I read such hate
+and tenacity that I understood at once the trembling respect of all the
+officers whom I had seen in his presence. Afterwards in Urga I learned
+more of this General Rezukhin distinguished by his absolute bravery and
+boundless cruelty. He was the watchdog of Baron Ungern, ready to throw
+himself into the fire and to spring at the throat of anyone his master
+might indicate.
+
+Only four days then had elapsed before “my acquaintances” died “by a
+long knife,” so that one part of the prediction had been thus fulfilled.
+And now I have to await Death’s threat to me. The delay was not long.
+Only two days later the Chief of the Asiatic Division of Cavalry
+arrived--Baron Ungern von Sternberg.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII
+
+“DEATH FROM THE WHITE MAN WILL STAND BEHIND YOU”
+
+
+“The terrible general, the Baron,” arrived quite unexpectedly, unnoticed
+by the outposts of Colonel Kazagrandi. After a talk with Kazagrandi the
+Baron invited Colonel N. N. Philipoff and me into his presence. Colonel
+Kazagrandi brought the word to me. I wanted to go at once but was
+detained about half an hour by the Colonel, who then sped me with the
+words:
+
+“Now God help you! Go!”
+
+It was a strange parting message, not reassuring and quite enigmatical.
+I took my Mauser and also hid in the cuff of my coat my cyanide of
+potassium. The Baron was quartered in the yurta of the military doctor.
+When I entered the court, Captain Veseloffsky came up to me. He had a
+Cossack sword and a revolver without its holster beneath his girdle. He
+went into the yurta to report my arrival.
+
+“Come in,” he said, as he emerged from the tent.
+
+At the entrance my eyes were struck with the sight of a pool of blood
+that had not yet had time to drain down into the ground--an ominous
+greeting that seemed to carry the very voice of one just gone before me.
+I knocked.
+
+“Come in!” was the answer in a high tenor. As I passed the threshold,
+a figure in a red silk Mongolian coat rushed at me with the spring of a
+tiger, grabbed and shook my hand as though in flight across my path and
+then fell prone on the bed at the side of the tent.
+
+“Tell me who you are! Hereabouts are many spies and agitators,” he cried
+out in an hysterical voice, as he fixed his eyes upon me. In one
+moment I perceived his appearance and psychology. A small head on wide
+shoulders; blonde hair in disorder; a reddish bristling moustache; a
+skinny, exhausted face, like those on the old Byzantine ikons. Then
+everything else faded from view save a big, protruding forehead
+overhanging steely sharp eyes. These eyes were fixed upon me like those
+of an animal from a cave. My observations lasted for but a flash but I
+understood that before me was a very dangerous man ready for an instant
+spring into irrevocable action. Though the danger was evident, I felt
+the deepest offence.
+
+“Sit down,” he snapped out in a hissing voice, as he pointed to a chair
+and impatiently pulled at his moustache. I felt my anger rising through
+my whole body and I said to him without taking the chair:
+
+“You have allowed yourself to offend me, Baron. My name is well enough
+known so that you cannot thus indulge yourself in such epithets. You can
+do with me as you wish, because force is on your side, but you cannot
+compel me to speak with one who gives me offence.”
+
+At these words of mine he swung his feet down off the bed and with
+evident astonishment began to survey me, holding his breath and pulling
+still at his moustache. Retaining my exterior calmness, I began to
+glance indifferently around the yurta, and only then I noticed General
+Rezukhin. I bowed to him and received his silent acknowledgment. After
+that I swung my glance back to the Baron, who sat with bowed head and
+closed eyes, from time to time rubbing his brow and mumbling to himself.
+
+Suddenly he stood up and sharply said, looking past and over me:
+
+“Go out! There is no need of more. . . .”
+
+I swung round and saw Captain Veseloffsky with his white, cold face. I
+had not heard him enter. He did a formal “about face” and passed out of
+the door.
+
+“‘Death from the white man’ has stood behind me,” I thought; “but has it
+quite left me?”
+
+The Baron stood thinking for some time and then began to speak in
+jumbled, unfinished phrases.
+
+“I ask your pardon. . . . You must understand there are so many
+traitors! Honest men have disappeared. I cannot trust anybody. All
+names are false and assumed; documents are counterfeited. Eyes and
+words deceive. . . . All is demoralized, insulted by Bolshevism. I
+just ordered Colonel Philipoff cut down, he who called himself the
+representative of the Russian White Organization. In the lining of his
+garments were found two secret Bolshevik codes. . . . When my officer
+flourished his sword over him, he exclaimed: ‘Why do you kill me,
+Tavarische?’ I cannot trust anybody. . . .”
+
+He was silent and I also held my peace.
+
+“I beg your pardon!” he began anew. “I offended you; but I am not simply
+a man, I am a leader of great forces and have in my head so much care,
+sorrow and woe!”
+
+In his voice I felt there was mingled despair and sincerity. He frankly
+put out his hand to me. Again silence. At last I answered:
+
+“What do you order me to do now, for I have neither counterfeit nor real
+documents? But many of your officers know me and in Urga I can find many
+who will testify that I could be neither agitator nor. . .”
+
+“No need, no need!” interrupted the Baron. “All is clear, all is
+understood! I was in your soul and I know all. It is the truth which
+Hutuktu Narabanchi has written about you. What can I do for you?”
+
+I explained how my friend and I had escaped from Soviet Russia in the
+effort to reach our native land and how a group of Polish soldiers had
+joined us in the hope of getting back to Poland; and I asked that help
+be given us to reach the nearest port.
+
+“With pleasure, with pleasure. . . . I will help you all,” he answered
+excitedly. “I shall drive you to Urga in my motor car. Tomorrow we shall
+start and there in Urga we shall talk about further arrangements.”
+
+Taking my leave, I went out of the yurta. On arriving at my quarters, I
+found Colonel Kazagrandi in great anxiety walking up and down my room.
+
+“Thanks be to God!” he exclaimed and crossed himself.
+
+His joy was very touching but at the same time I thought that the
+Colonel could have taken much more active measures for the salvation of
+his guest, if he had been so minded. The agitation of this day had
+tired me and made me feel years older. When I looked in the mirror I
+was certain there were more white hairs on my head. At night I could
+not sleep for the flashing thoughts of the young, fine face of Colonel
+Philipoff, the pool of blood, the cold eyes of Captain Veseloffsky, the
+sound of Baron Ungern’s voice with its tones of despair and woe, until
+finally I sank into a heavy stupor. I was awakened by Baron Ungern who
+came to ask pardon that he could not take me in his motor car, because
+he was obliged to take Daichin Van with him. But he informed me that he
+had left instructions to give me his own white camel and two Cossacks as
+servants. I had no time to thank him before he rushed out of my room.
+
+Sleep then entirely deserted me, so I dressed and began smoking pipe
+after pipe of tobacco, as I thought: “How much easier to fight the
+Bolsheviki on the swamps of Seybi and to cross the snowy peaks of Ulan
+Taiga, where the bad demons kill all the travelers they can! There
+everything was simple and comprehensible, but here it is all a mad
+nightmare, a dark and foreboding storm!” I felt some tragedy, some
+horror in every movement of Baron Ungern, behind whom paced this silent,
+white-faced Veseloffsky and Death.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV
+
+THE HORROR OF WAR!
+
+
+At dawn of the following morning they led up the splendid white camel
+for me and we moved away. My company consisted of the two Cossacks, two
+Mongol soldiers and one Lama with two pack camels carrying the tent and
+food. I still apprehended that the Baron had it in mind not to dispose
+of me before my friends there in Van Kure but to prepare this journey
+for me under the guise of which it would be so easy to do away with
+me by the road. A bullet in the back and all would be finished.
+Consequently I was momentarily ready to draw my revolver and defend
+myself. I took care all the time to have the Cossacks either ahead of me
+or at the side. About noon we heard the distant honk of a motor car and
+soon saw Baron Ungern whizzing by us at full speed. With him were two
+adjutants and Prince Daichin Van. The Baron greeted me very kindly and
+shouted:
+
+“Shall see you again in Urga!”
+
+“Ah!” I thought, “evidently I shall reach Urga. So I can be at ease
+during my trip, and in Urga I have many friends beside the presence
+there of the bold Polish soldiers whom I had worked with in Uliassutai
+and who had outdistanced me in this journey.”
+
+After the meeting with the Baron my Cossacks became very attentive to
+me and sought to distract me with stories. They told me about their
+very severe struggles with the Bolsheviki in Transbaikalia and Mongolia,
+about the battle with the Chinese near Urga, about finding communistic
+passports on several Chinese soldiers from Moscow, about the bravery of
+Baron Ungern and how he would sit at the campfire smoking and drinking
+tea right on the battle line without ever being touched by a bullet.
+At one fight seventy-four bullets entered his overcoat, saddle and
+the boxes by his side and again left him untouched. This is one of
+the reasons for his great influence over the Mongols. They related how
+before the battle he had made a reconnaissance in Urga with only
+one Cossack and on his way back had killed a Chinese officer and two
+soldiers with his bamboo stick or tashur; how he had no outfit save one
+change of linen and one extra pair of boots; how he was always calm and
+jovial in battle and severe and morose in the rare days of peace; and
+how he was everywhere his soldiers were fighting.
+
+I told them, in turn, of my escape from Siberia and with chatting thus
+the day slipped by very quickly. Our camels trotted all the time, so
+that instead of the ordinary eighteen to twenty miles per day we made
+nearly fifty. My mount was the fastest of them all. He was a huge white
+animal with a splendid thick mane and had been presented to Baron Ungern
+by some Prince of Inner Mongolia with two black sables tied on the
+bridle. He was a calm, strong, bold giant of the desert, on whose back
+I felt myself as though perched on the tower of a building. Beyond the
+Orkhon River we came across the first dead body of a Chinese soldier,
+which lay face up and arms outstretched right in the middle of the road.
+When we had crossed the Burgut Mountains, we entered the Tola River
+valley, farther up which Urga is located. The road was strewn with the
+overcoats, shirts, boots, caps and kettles which the Chinese had thrown
+away in their flight; and marked by many of their dead. Further on the
+road crossed a morass, where on either side lay great mounds of the dead
+bodies of men, horses and camels with broken carts and military debris
+of every sort. Here the Tibetans of Baron Ungern had cut up the escaping
+Chinese baggage transport; and it was a strange and gloomy contrast to
+see the piles of dead besides the effervescing awakening life of spring.
+In every pool wild ducks of different kinds floated about; in the high
+grass the cranes performed their weird dance of courtship; on the lakes
+great flocks of swans and geese were swimming; through the swampy places
+like spots of light moved the brilliantly colored pairs of the Mongolian
+sacred bird, the turpan or “Lama goose”; on the higher dry places flocks
+of wild turkey gamboled and fought as they fed; flocks of the salga
+partridge whistled by; while on the mountain side not far away the
+wolves lay basking and turning in the lazy warmth of the sun, whining
+and occasionally barking like playful dogs.
+
+Nature knows only life. Death is for her but an episode whose traces
+she rubs out with sand and snow or ornaments with luxuriant greenery
+and brightly colored bushes and flowers. What matters it to Nature if a
+mother at Chefoo or on the banks of the Yangtse offers her bowl of rice
+with burning incense at some shrine and prays for the return of her son
+that has fallen unknown for all time on the plains along the Tola, where
+his bones will dry beneath the rays of Nature’s dissipating fire and be
+scattered by her winds over the sands of the prairie? It is splendid,
+this indifference of Nature to death, and her greediness for life!
+
+On the fourth day we made the shores of the Tola well after nightfall.
+We could not find the regular ford and I forced my camel to enter
+the stream in the attempt to make a crossing without guidance. Very
+fortunately I found a shallow, though somewhat miry, place and we got
+over all right. This is something to be thankful for in fording a river
+with a camel; because, when your mount finds the water too deep, coming
+up around his neck, he does not strike out and swim like a horse will do
+but just rolls over on his side and floats, which is vastly inconvenient
+for his rider. Down by the river we pegged our tent.
+
+Fifteen miles further on we crossed a battlefield, where the third great
+battle for the independence of Mongolia had been fought. Here the troops
+of Baron Ungern clashed with six thousand Chinese moving down from
+Kiakhta to the aid of Urga. The Chinese were completely defeated and
+four thousand prisoners taken. However, these surrendered Chinese tried
+to escape during the night. Baron Ungern sent the Transbaikal Cossacks
+and Tibetans in pursuit of them and it was their work which we saw on
+this field of death. There were still about fifteen hundred unburied and
+as many more interred, according to the statements of our Cossacks,
+who had participated in this battle. The killed showed terrible sword
+wounds; everywhere equipment and other debris were scattered about.
+The Mongols with their herds moved away from the neighborhood and their
+place was taken by the wolves which hid behind every stone and in every
+ditch as we passed. Packs of dogs that had become wild fought with the
+wolves over the prey.
+
+At last we left this place of carnage to the cursed god of war. Soon we
+approached a shallow, rapid stream, where the Mongols slipped from their
+camels, took off their caps and began drinking. It was a sacred stream
+which passed beside the abode of the Living Buddha. From this winding
+valley we suddenly turned into another where a great mountain ridge
+covered with dark, dense forest loomed up before us.
+
+“Holy Bogdo-Ol!” exclaimed the Lama. “The abode of the Gods which guard
+our Living Buddha!”
+
+Bogdo-Ol is the huge knot which ties together here three mountain
+chains: Gegyl from the southwest, Gangyn from the south, and Huntu from
+the north. This mountain covered with virgin forest is the property of
+the Living Buddha. The forests are full of nearly all the varieties
+of animals found in Mongolia, but hunting is not allowed. Any Mongol
+violating this law is condemned to death, while foreigners are deported.
+Crossing the Bogdo-Ol is forbidden under penalty of death. This command
+was transgressed by only one man, Baron Ungern, who crossed the mountain
+with fifty Cossacks, penetrated to the palace of the Living Buddha,
+where the Pontiff of Urga was being held under arrest by the Chinese,
+and stole him.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV
+
+IN THE CITY OF LIVING GODS, OF 30,000 BUDDHAS AND 60,000 MONKS
+
+
+At last before our eyes the abode of the Living Buddha! At the foot of
+Bogdo-Ol behind white walls rose a white Tibetan building covered with
+greenish-blue tiles that glittered under the sunshine. It was richly set
+among groves of trees dotted here and there with the fantastic roofs
+of shrines and small palaces, while further from the mountain it was
+connected by a long wooden bridge across the Tola with the city of
+monks, sacred and revered throughout all the East as Ta Kure or Urga.
+Here besides the Living Buddha live whole throngs of secondary miracle
+workers, prophets, sorcerers and wonderful doctors. All these people
+have divine origin and are honored as living gods. At the left on the
+high plateau stands an old monastery with a huge, dark red tower, which
+is known as the “Temple Lamas City,” containing a gigantic bronze gilded
+statue of Buddha sitting on the golden flower of the lotus; tens of
+smaller temples, shrines, obo, open altars, towers for astrology and the
+grey city of the Lamas consisting of single-storied houses and yurtas,
+where about 60,000 monks of all ages and ranks dwell; schools, sacred
+archives and libraries, the houses of Bandi and the inns for the honored
+guests from China, Tibet, and the lands of the Buriat and Kalmuck.
+
+Down below the monastery is the foreign settlement where the Russian,
+foreign and richest Chinese merchants live and where the multi-colored
+and crowded oriental bazaar carries forward its bustling life. A
+kilometre away the greyish enclosure of Maimachen surrounds the
+remaining Chinese trading establishments, while farther on one sees a
+long row of Russian private houses, a hospital, church, prison and, last
+of all, the awkward four-storied red brick building that was formerly
+the Russian Consulate.
+
+We were already within a short distance of the monastery, when I noticed
+several Mongol soldiers in the mouth of a ravine nearby, dragging back
+and concealing in the ravine three dead bodies.
+
+“What are they doing?” I asked.
+
+The Cossacks only smiled without answering. Suddenly they straightened
+up with a sharp salute. Out of the ravine came a small, stocky Mongolian
+pony with a short man in the saddle. As he passed us, I noticed the
+epaulets of a colonel and the green cap with a visor. He examined me
+with cold, colorless eyes from under dense brows. As he went on ahead,
+he took off his cap and wiped the perspiration from his bald head. My
+eyes were struck by the strange undulating line of his skull. It was the
+man “with the head like a saddle,” against whom I had been warned by the
+old fortune teller at the last ourton outside Van Kure!
+
+“Who is this officer?” I inquired.
+
+Although he was already quite a distance in front of us, the Cossacks
+whispered: “Colonel Sepailoff, Commandant of Urga City.”
+
+Colonel Sepailoff, the darkest person on the canvas of Mongolian events!
+Formerly a mechanician, afterwards a gendarme, he had gained quick
+promotion under the Czar’s regime. He was always nervously jerking and
+wriggling his body and talking ceaselessly, making most unattractive
+sounds in his throat and sputtering with saliva all over his lips, his
+whole face often contracted with spasms. He was mad and Baron Ungern
+twice appointed a commission of surgeons to examine him and ordered him
+to rest in the hope he could rid the man of his evil genius. Undoubtedly
+Sepailoff was a sadist. I heard afterwards that he himself executed
+the condemned people, joking and singing as he did his work. Dark,
+terrifying tales were current about him in Urga. He was a bloodhound,
+fastening his victims with the jaws of death. All the glory of the
+cruelty of Baron Ungern belonged to Sepailoff. Afterwards Baron Ungern
+once told me in Urga that this Sepailoff annoyed him and that Sepailoff
+could kill him just as well as others. Baron Ungern feared Sepailoff,
+not as a man, but dominated by his own superstition, because Sepailoff
+had found in Transbaikalia a witch doctor who predicted the death of the
+Baron if he dismissed Sepailoff. Sepailoff knew no pardon for Bolshevik
+nor for any one connected with the Bolsheviki in any way. The reason for
+his vengeful spirit was that the Bolsheviki had tortured him in prison
+and, after his escape, had killed all his family. He was now taking his
+revenge.
+
+I put up with a Russian firm and was at once visited by my associates
+from Uliassutai, who greeted me with great joy because they had been
+much exercised about the events in Van Kure and Zain Shabi. When I had
+bathed and spruced up, I went out with them on the street. We entered
+the bazaar. The whole market was crowded. To the lively colored groups
+of men buying, selling and shouting their wares, the bright streamers of
+Chinese cloth, the strings of pearls, the earrings and bracelets gave an
+air of endless festivity; while on another side buyers were feeling of
+live sheep to see whether they were fat or not, the butcher was cutting
+great pieces of mutton from the hanging carcasses and everywhere these
+sons of the plain were joking and jesting. The Mongolian women in their
+huge coiffures and heavy silver caps like saucers on their heads were
+admiring the variegated silk ribbons and long chains of coral beads; an
+imposing big Mongol attentively examined a small herd of splendid
+horses and bargained with the Mongol zahachine or owner of the horses; a
+skinny, quick, black Tibetan, who had come to Urga to pray to the Living
+Buddha or, maybe, with a secret message from the other “God” in Lhasa,
+squatted and bargained for an image of the Lotus Buddha carved in agate;
+in another corner a big crowd of Mongols and Buriats had collected and
+surrounded a Chinese merchant selling finely painted snuff-bottles of
+glass, crystal, porcelain, amethyst, jade, agate and nephrite, for one
+of which made of a greenish milky nephrite with regular brown veins
+running through it and carved with a dragon winding itself around a bevy
+of young damsels the merchant was demanding of his Mongol inquirers ten
+young oxen; and everywhere Buriats in their long red coats and small
+red caps embroidered with gold helped the Tartars in black overcoats
+and black velvet caps on the back of their heads to weave the pattern of
+this Oriental human tapestry. Lamas formed the common background for it
+all, as they wandered about in their yellow and red robes, with capes
+picturesquely thrown over their shoulders and caps of many forms, some
+like yellow mushrooms, others like the red Phrygian bonnets or old
+Greek helmets in red. They mingled with the crowd, chatting serenely and
+counting their rosaries, telling fortunes for those who would hear but
+chiefly searching out the rich Mongols whom they could cure or exploit
+by fortune telling, predictions or other mysteries of a city of 60,000
+Lamas. Simultaneously religious and political espionage was being
+carried out. Just at this time many Mongols were arriving from Inner
+Mongolia and they were continuously surrounded by an invisible but
+numerous network of watching Lamas. Over the buildings around floated
+the Russian, Chinese and Mongolian national flags with a single one of
+the Stars and Stripes above a small shop in the market; while over the
+nearby tents and yurtas streamed the ribbons, the squares, the circles
+and triangles of the princes and private persons afflicted or dying
+from smallpox and leprosy. All were mingled and mixed in one bright mass
+strongly lighted by the sun. Occasionally one saw the soldiers of Baron
+Ungern rushing about in long blue coats; Mongols and Tibetans in red
+coats with yellow epaulets bearing the swastika of Jenghiz Khan and
+the initials of the Living Buddha; and Chinese soldiers from their
+detachment in the Mongolian army. After the defeat of the Chinese army
+two thousand of these braves petitioned the Living Buddha to enlist them
+in his legions, swearing fealty and faith to him. They were accepted
+and formed into two regiments bearing the old Chinese silver dragons on
+their caps and shoulders.
+
+As we crossed this market, from around a corner came a big motor car
+with the roar of a siren. There was Baron Ungern in the yellow silk
+Mongolian coat with a blue girdle. He was going very fast but recognized
+me at once, stopping and getting out to invite me to go with him to his
+yurta. The Baron lived in a small, simply arranged yurta, set up in the
+courtyard of a Chinese hong. He had his headquarters in two other yurtas
+nearby, while his servants occupied one of the Chinese fang-tzu. When
+I reminded him of his promise to help me to reach the open ports, the
+General looked at me with his bright eyes and spoke in French:
+
+“My work here is coming to an end. In nine days I shall begin the war
+with the Bolsheviki and shall go into the Transbaikal. I beg that you
+will spend this time here. For many years I have lived without civilized
+society. I am alone with my thoughts and I would like to have you know
+them, speaking with me not as the ‘bloody mad Baron,’ as my enemies call
+me, nor as the ‘severe grandfather,’ which my officers and soldiers call
+me, but as an ordinary man who has sought much and has suffered even
+more.”
+
+The Baron reflected for some minutes and then continued:
+
+“I have thought about the further trip of your group and I shall arrange
+everything for you, but I ask you to remain here these nine days.”
+
+What was I to do? I agreed. The Baron shook my hand warmly and ordered
+tea.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI
+
+A SON OF CRUSADERS AND PRIVATEERS
+
+
+“Tell me about yourself and your trip,” he urged. In response I related
+all that I thought would interest him and he appeared quite excited over
+my tale.
+
+“Now I shall tell you about myself, who and what I am! My name is
+surrounded with such hate and fear that no one can judge what is the
+truth and what is false, what is history and what myth. Some time you
+will write about it, remembering your trip through Mongolia and your
+sojourn at the yurta of the ‘bloody General.’”
+
+He shut his eyes, smoking as he spoke, and tumbling out his sentences
+without finishing them as though some one would prevent him from
+phrasing them.
+
+“The family of Ungern von Sternberg is an old family, a mixture of
+Germans with Hungarians--Huns from the time of Attila. My warlike
+ancestors took part in all the European struggles. They participated
+in the Crusades and one Ungern was killed under the walls of Jerusalem,
+fighting under Richard Coeur de Lion. Even the tragic Crusade of the
+Children was marked by the death of Ralph Ungern, eleven years old.
+When the boldest warriors of the country were despatched to the eastern
+border of the German Empire against the Slavs in the twelfth century, my
+ancestor Arthur was among them, Baron Halsa Ungern Sternberg. Here these
+border knights formed the order of Monk Knights or Teutons, which
+with fire and sword spread Christianity among the pagan Lithuanians,
+Esthonians, Latvians and Slavs. Since then the Teuton Order of Knights
+has always had among its members representatives of our family. When the
+Teuton Order perished in the Grunwald under the swords of the Polish and
+Lithuanian troops, two Barons Ungern von Sternberg were killed there.
+Our family was warlike and given to mysticism and asceticism.
+
+“During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries several Barons von
+Ungern had their castles in the lands of Latvia and Esthonia. Many
+legends and tales lived after them. Heinrich Ungern von Sternberg,
+called ‘Ax,’ was a wandering knight. The tournaments of France, England,
+Spain and Italy knew his name and lance, which filled the hearts of his
+opponents with fear. He fell at Cadiz ‘neath the sword of a knight who
+cleft both his helmet and his skull. Baron Ralph Ungern was a brigand
+knight between Riga and Reval. Baron Peter Ungern had his castle on
+the island of Dago in the Baltic Sea, where as a privateer he ruled the
+merchantmen of his day.
+
+“In the beginning of the eighteenth century there was also a well-known
+Baron Wilhelm Ungern, who was referred to as the ‘brother of Satan’
+because he was an alchemist. My grandfather was a privateer in the
+Indian Ocean, taking his tribute from the English traders whose warships
+could not catch him for several years. At last he was captured and
+handed to the Russian Consul, who transported him to Russia where he was
+sentenced to deportation to the Transbaikal. I am also a naval officer
+but the Russo-Japanese War forced me to leave my regular profession to
+join and fight with the Zabaikal Cossacks. I have spent all my life in
+war or in the study and learning of Buddhism. My grandfather brought
+Buddhism to us from India and my father and I accepted and professed it.
+In Transbaikalia I tried to form the order of Military Buddhists for an
+uncompromising fight against the depravity of revolution.”
+
+He fell into silence and began drinking cup after cup of tea as strong
+and black as coffee.
+
+“Depravity of revolution! . . . Has anyone ever thought of it besides
+the French philosopher, Bergson, and the most learned Tashi Lama in
+Tibet?”
+
+The grandson of the privateer, quoting scientific theories, works, the
+names of scientists and writers, the Holy Bible and Buddhist books,
+mixing together French, German, Russian and English, continued:
+
+“In the Buddhistic and ancient Christian books we read stern predictions
+about the time when the war between the good and evil spirits must
+begin. Then there must come the unknown ‘Curse’ which will conquer the
+world, blot out culture, kill morality and destroy all the people. Its
+weapon is revolution. During every revolution the previously experienced
+intellect-creator will be replaced by the new rough force of the
+destroyer. He will place and hold in the first rank the lower instincts
+and desires. Man will be farther removed from the divine and the
+spiritual. The Great War proved that humanity must progress upward
+toward higher ideals; but then appeared that Curse which was seen and
+felt by Christ, the Apostle John, Buddha, the first Christian martyrs,
+Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Goethe and Dostoyevsky. It appeared, turned
+back the wheel of progress and blocked our road to the Divinity.
+Revolution is an infectious disease and Europe making the treaty with
+Moscow deceived itself and the other parts of the world. The Great
+Spirit put at the threshold of our lives Karma, who knows neither anger
+nor pardon. He will reckon the account, whose total will be famine,
+destruction, the death of culture, of glory, of honor and of spirit,
+the death of states and the death of peoples. I see already this horror,
+this dark, mad destruction of humanity.”
+
+The door of the yurta suddenly swung open and an adjutant snapped into a
+position of attention and salute.
+
+“Why do you enter a room by force?” the General exclaimed in anger.
+
+“Your Excellency, our outpost on the border has caught a Bolshevik
+reconnaissance party and brought them here.”
+
+The Baron arose. His eyes sparkled and his face contracted with spasms.
+
+“Bring them in front of my yurta!” he ordered.
+
+All was forgotten--the inspired speech, the penetrating voice--all were
+sunk in the austere order of the severe commander. The Baron put on his
+cap, caught up the bamboo tashur which he always carried with him and
+rushed from the yurta. I followed him out. There in front of the yurta
+stood six Red soldiers surrounded by the Cossacks.
+
+The Baron stopped and glared sharply at them for several minutes. In his
+face one could see the strong play of his thoughts. Afterwards he turned
+away from them, sat down on the doorstep of the Chinese house and for a
+long time was buried in thought. Then he rose, walked over to them and,
+with an evident show of decisiveness in his movements, touched all the
+prisoners on the shoulder with his tashur and said: “You to the left and
+you to the right!” as he divided the squad into two sections, four on
+the right and two on the left.
+
+“Search those two! They must be commissars!” commanded the Baron and,
+turning to the other four, asked: “Are you peasants mobilized by the
+Bolsheviki?”
+
+“Just so, Your Excellency!” cried the frightened soldiers.
+
+“Go to the Commandant and tell him that I have ordered you to be
+enlisted in my troops!”
+
+On the two to the left they found passports of Commissars of the
+Communist Political Department. The General knitted his brows and slowly
+pronounced the following:
+
+“Beat them to death with sticks!”
+
+He turned and entered the yurta. After this our conversation did not
+flow readily and so I left the Baron to himself.
+
+After dinner in the Russian firm where I was staying some of Ungern’s
+officers came in. We were chatting animatedly when suddenly we heard the
+horn of an automobile, which instantly threw the officers into silence.
+
+“The General is passing somewhere near,” one of them remarked in a
+strangely altered voice.
+
+Our interrupted conversation was soon resumed but not for long. The
+clerk of the firm came running into the room and exclaimed: “The Baron!”
+
+He entered the door but stopped on the threshold. The lamps had not yet
+been lighted and it was getting dark inside, but the Baron instantly
+recognized us all, approached and kissed the hand of the hostess,
+greeted everyone very cordially and, accepting the cup of tea offered
+him, drew up to the table to drink. Soon he spoke:
+
+“I want to steal your guest,” he said to the hostess and then, turning
+to me, asked: “Do you want to go for a motor ride? I shall show you the
+city and the environs.”
+
+Donning my coat, I followed my established custom and slipped my
+revolver into it, at which the Baron laughed.
+
+“Leave that trash behind! Here you are in safety. Besides you must
+remember the prediction of Narabanchi Hutuktu that Fortune will ever be
+with you.”
+
+“All right,” I answered, also with a laugh. “I remember very well this
+prediction. Only I do not know what the Hutuktu thinks ‘Fortune’ means
+for me. Maybe it is death like the rest after my hard, long trip, and I
+must confess that I prefer to travel farther and am not ready to die.”
+
+We went out to the gate where the big Fiat stood with its intruding
+great lights. The chauffeur officer sat at the wheel like a statue and
+remained at salute all the time we were entering and seating ourselves.
+
+“To the wireless station!” commanded the Baron.
+
+We veritably leapt forward. The city swarmed, as earlier, with the
+Oriental throng, but its appearance now was even more strange and
+miraculous. In among the noisy crowd Mongol, Buriat and Tibetan riders
+threaded swiftly; caravans of camels solemnly raised their heads as we
+passed; the wooden wheels of the Mongol carts screamed in pain; and all
+was illumined by splendid great arc lights from the electric station
+which Baron Ungern had ordered erected immediately after the capture
+of Urga, together with a telephone system and wireless station. He also
+ordered his men to clean and disinfect the city which had probably not
+felt the broom since the days of Jenghiz Khan. He arranged an auto-bus
+traffic between different parts of the city; built bridges over the Tola
+and Orkhon; published a newspaper; arranged a veterinary laboratory
+and hospitals; re-opened the schools; protected commerce, mercilessly
+hanging Russian and Mongolian soldiers for pillaging Chinese firms.
+
+In one of these cases his Commandant arrested two Cossacks and a Mongol
+soldier who had stolen brandy from one of the Chinese shops and brought
+them before him. He immediately bundled them all into his car, drove off
+to the shop, delivered the brandy back to the proprietor and as promptly
+ordered the Mongol to hang one of the Russians to the big gate of the
+compound. With this one swung he commanded: “Now hang the other!” and
+this had only just been accomplished when he turned to the Commandant
+and ordered him to hang the Mongol beside the other two. That seemed
+expeditious and just enough until the Chinese proprietor came in dire
+distress to the Baron and plead with him:
+
+“General Baron! General Baron! Please take those men down from my
+gateway, for no one will enter my shop!”
+
+After the commercial quarter was flashed past our eyes, we entered the
+Russian settlement across a small river. Several Russian soldiers and
+four very spruce-looking Mongolian women stood on the bridge as we
+passed. The soldiers snapped to salute like immobile statues and fixed
+their eyes on the severe face of their Commander. The women first began
+to run and shift about and then, infected by the discipline and order
+of events, swung their hands up to salute and stood as immobile as their
+northern swains. The Baron looked at me and laughed:
+
+“You see the discipline! Even the Mongolian women salute me.”
+
+Soon we were out on the plain with the car going like an arrow, with the
+wind whistling and tossing the folds of our coats and caps. But Baron
+Ungern, sitting with closed eyes, repeated: “Faster! Faster!” For a long
+time we were both silent.
+
+“And yesterday I beat my adjutant for rushing into my yurta and
+interrupting my story,” he said.
+
+“You can finish it now,” I answered.
+
+“And are you not bored by it? Well, there isn’t much left and this
+happens to be the most interesting. I was telling you that I wanted
+to found an order of military Buddhists in Russia. For what? For
+the protection of the processes of evolution of humanity and for the
+struggle against revolution, because I am certain that evolution leads
+to the Divinity and revolution to bestiality. But I worked in Russia!
+In Russia, where the peasants are rough, untutored, wild and constantly
+angry, hating everybody and everything without understanding why. They
+are suspicious and materialistic, having no sacred ideals. Russian
+intelligents live among imaginary ideals without realities. They have a
+strong capacity for criticising everything but they lack creative power.
+Also they have no will power, only the capacity for talking and talking.
+With the peasants, they cannot like anything or anybody. Their love and
+feelings are imaginary. Their thoughts and sentiments pass without trace
+like futile words. My companions, therefore, soon began to violate the
+regulations of the Order. Then I introduced the condition of celibacy,
+the entire negation of woman, of the comforts of life, of superfluities,
+according to the teachings of the Yellow Faith; and, in order that the
+Russian might be able to live down his physical nature, I introduced the
+limitless use of alcohol, hasheesh and opium. Now for alcohol I hang
+my officers and soldiers; then we drank to the ‘white fever,’ delirium
+tremens. I could not organize the Order but I gathered round me
+and developed three hundred men wholly bold and entirely ferocious.
+Afterward they were heroes in the war with Germany and later in the
+fight against the Bolsheviki, but now only a few remain.”
+
+“The wireless, Excellency!” reported the chauffeur.
+
+“Turn in there!” ordered the General.
+
+On the top of a flat hill stood the big, powerful radio station which
+had been partially destroyed by the retreating Chinese but reconstructed
+by the engineers of Baron Ungern. The General perused the telegrams and
+handed them to me. They were from Moscow, Chita, Vladivostok and Peking.
+On a separate yellow sheet were the code messages, which the Baron
+slipped into his pocket as he said to me:
+
+“They are from my agents, who are stationed in Chita, Irkutsk, Harbin
+and Vladivostok. They are all Jews, very skilled and very bold men,
+friends of mine all. I have also one Jewish officer, Vulfovitch, who
+commands my right flank. He is as ferocious as Satan but clever and
+brave. . . . Now we shall fly into space.”
+
+Once more we rushed away, sinking into the darkness of night. It was a
+wild ride. The car bounded over small stones and ditches, even taking
+narrow streamlets, as the skilled chauffeur only seemed to guide it
+round the larger rocks. On the plain, as we sped by, I noticed several
+times small bright flashes of fire which lasted but for a second and
+then were extinguished.
+
+“The eyes of wolves,” smiled my companion. “We have fed them to satiety
+from the flesh of ourselves and our enemies!” he quietly interpolated,
+as he turned to continue his confession of faith.
+
+“During the War we saw the gradual corruption of the Russian army and
+foresaw the treachery of Russia to the Allies as well as the approaching
+danger of revolution. To counteract this latter a plan was formed to
+join together all the Mongolian peoples which had not forgotten their
+ancient faiths and customs into one Asiatic State, consisting of
+autonomous tribal units, under the moral and legislative leadership of
+China, the country of loftiest and most ancient culture. Into this State
+must come the Chinese, Mongols, Tibetans, Afghans, the Mongol tribes of
+Turkestan, Tartars, Buriats, Kirghiz and Kalmucks. This State must
+be strong, physically and morally, and must erect a barrier against
+revolution and carefully preserve its own spirit, philosophy and
+individual policy. If humanity, mad and corrupted, continues to threaten
+the Divine Spirit in mankind, to spread blood and to obstruct moral
+development, the Asiatic State must terminate this movement decisively
+and establish a permanent, firm peace. This propaganda even during the
+War made splendid progress among the Turkomans, Kirghiz, Buriats and
+Mongols. . . . ‘Stop!’ suddenly shouted the Baron.”
+
+The car pulled up with a jerk. The General jumped out and called me to
+follow. We started walking over the prairie and the Baron kept bending
+down all the time as though he were looking for something on the ground.
+
+“Ah!” he murmured at last, “He has gone away. . . .”
+
+I looked at him in amazement.
+
+“A rich Mongol formerly had his yurta here. He was the outfitter for the
+Russian merchant, Noskoff. Noskoff was a ferocious man as shown by the
+name the Mongols gave him--‘Satan.’ He used to have his Mongol debtors
+beaten or imprisoned through the instrumentality of the Chinese
+authorities. He ruined this Mongol, who lost everything and escaped to
+a place thirty miles away; but Noskoff found him there, took all that he
+had left of cattle and horses and left the Mongol and his family to die
+of hunger. When I captured Urga, this Mongol appeared and brought with
+him thirty other Mongol families similarly ruined by Noskoff. They
+demanded his death. . . . So I hung ‘Satan’ . . .”
+
+Anew the motor car was rushing along, sweeping a great circle on the
+prairie, and anew Baron Ungern with his sharp, nervous voice carried his
+thoughts round the whole circumference of Asian life.
+
+“Russia turned traitor to France, England and America, signed the
+Brest-Litovsk Treaty and ushered in a reign of chaos. We then decided
+to mobilize Asia against Germany. Our envoys penetrated Mongolia, Tibet,
+Turkestan and China. At this time the Bolsheviki began to kill all the
+Russian officers and we were forced to open civil war against them,
+giving up our Pan-Asiatic plans; but we hope later to awake all Asia
+and with their help to bring peace and God back to earth. I want to feel
+that I have helped this idea by the liberation of Mongolia.”
+
+He became silent and thought for a moment.
+
+“But some of my associates in the movement do not like me because of
+my atrocities and severity,” he remarked in a sad voice. “They cannot
+understand as yet that we are not fighting a political party but a sect
+of murderers of all contemporary spiritual culture. Why do the Italians
+execute the ‘Black Hand’ gang? Why are the Americans electrocuting
+anarchistic bomb throwers? and I am not allowed to rid the world of
+those who would kill the soul of the people? I, a Teuton, descendant of
+crusaders and privateers, I recognize only death for murderers! . . .
+Return!” he commanded the chauffeur.
+
+An hour and a half later we saw the electric lights of Urga.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII
+
+THE CAMP OF MARTYRS
+
+
+Near the entrance to the town, a motor car stood before a small house.
+
+“What does that mean?” exclaimed the Baron. “Go over there!”
+
+Our car drew up beside the other. The house door opened sharply, several
+officers rushed out and tried to hide.
+
+“Stand!” commanded the General. “Go back inside.” They obeyed and he
+entered after them, leaning on his tashur. As the door remained open, I
+could see and hear everything.
+
+“Woe to them!” whispered the chauffeur. “Our officers knew that the
+Baron had gone out of the town with me, which means always a long
+journey, and must have decided to have a good time. He will order them
+beaten to death with sticks.”
+
+I could see the end of the table covered with bottles and tinned things.
+At the side two young women were seated, who sprang up at the
+appearance of the General. I could hear the hoarse voice of Baron Ungern
+pronouncing sharp, short, stern phrases.
+
+“Your native land is perishing. . . . The shame of it is upon all you
+Russians . . . and you cannot understand it . . . nor feel it. . . . You
+need wine and women. . . . Scoundrels! Brutes! . . . One hundred fifty
+tashur for every man of you.”
+
+The voice fell to a whisper.
+
+“And you, Mesdames, do you not realize the ruin of your people? No? For
+you it is of no moment. And have you no feeling for your husbands at
+the front who may even now be killed? You are not women. . . . I honor
+woman, who feels more deeply and strongly than man; but you are not
+women! . . . Listen to me, Mesdames. Once more and I will hang
+you. . . .”
+
+He came back to the car and himself sounded the horn several times.
+Immediately Mongol horsemen galloped up.
+
+“Take these men to the Commandant. I will send my orders later.”
+
+On the way to the Baron’s yurta we were silent. He was excited and
+breathed heavily, lighting cigarette after cigarette and throwing them
+aside after but a single puff or two.
+
+“Take supper with me,” he proposed.
+
+He also invited his Chief of Staff, a very retiring, oppressed but
+splendidly educated man. The servants spread a Chinese hot course for
+us followed by cold meat and fruit compote from California with
+the inevitable tea. We ate with chopsticks. The Baron was greatly
+distraught.
+
+Very cautiously I began speaking of the offending officers and tried to
+justify their actions by the extremely trying circumstances under which
+they were living.
+
+“They are rotten through and through, demoralized, sunk into the
+depths,” murmured the General.
+
+The Chief of Staff helped me out and at last the Baron directed him to
+telephone the Commandant to release these gentlemen.
+
+The following day I spent with my friends, walking a great deal about
+the streets and watching their busy life. The great energy of the Baron
+demanded constant nervous activity from himself and every one round him.
+He was everywhere, seeing everything but never, interfering with the
+work of his subordinate administrators. Every one was at work.
+
+In the evening I was invited by the Chief of Staff to his quarters,
+where I met many intelligent officers. I related again the story of my
+trip and we were all chatting along animatedly when suddenly Colonel
+Sepailoff entered, singing to himself. All the others at once became
+silent and one by one under various pretexts they slipped out. He handed
+our host some papers and, turning to us, said:
+
+“I shall send you for supper a splendid fish pie and some hot tomato
+soup.”
+
+As he left, my host clasped his head in desperation and said:
+
+“With such scum of the earth are we now forced after this revolution to
+work!”
+
+A few minutes later a soldier from Sepailoff brought us a tureen full
+of soup and the fish pie. As the soldier bent over the table to set the
+dishes down, the Chief motioned me with his eyes and slipped to me the
+words: “Notice his face.”
+
+When the man went out, my host sat attentively listening until the
+sounds of the man’s steps ceased.
+
+“He is Sepailoff’s executioner who hangs and strangles the unfortunate
+condemned ones.”
+
+Then, to my amazement, he began to pour out the soup on the ground
+beside the brazier and, going out of the yurta, threw the pie over the
+fence.
+
+“It is Sepailoff’s feast and, though it may be very tasty, it may
+also be poison. In Sepailoff’s house it is dangerous to eat or drink
+anything.”
+
+Distinctly oppressed by these doings, I returned to my house. My host
+was not yet asleep and met me with a frightened look. My friends were
+also there.
+
+“God be thanked!” they all exclaimed. “Has nothing happened to you?”
+
+“What is the matter?” I asked.
+
+“You see,” began the host, “after your departure a soldier came from
+Sepailoff and took your luggage, saying that you had sent him for
+it; but we knew what it meant--that they would first search it and
+afterwards. . . .”
+
+I at once understood the danger. Sepailoff could place anything he
+wanted in my luggage and afterwards accuse me. My old friend, the
+agronome, and I started at once for Sepailoff’s, where I left him at the
+door while I went in and was met by the same soldier who had brought the
+supper to us. Sepailoff received me immediately. In answer to my protest
+he said that it was a mistake and, asking me to wait for a moment, went
+out. I waited five, ten, fifteen minutes but nobody came. I knocked on
+the door but no one answered me. Then I decided to go to Baron Ungern
+and started for the exit. The door was locked. Then I tried the other
+door and found that also locked. I had been trapped! I wanted at once to
+whistle to my friend but just then noticed a telephone on the wall
+and called up Baron Ungern. In a few minutes he appeared together with
+Sepailoff.
+
+“What is this?” he asked Sepailoff in a severe, threatening voice; and,
+without waiting for an answer, struck him a blow with his tashur that
+sent him to the floor.
+
+We went out and the General ordered my luggage produced. Then he brought
+me to his own yurta.
+
+“Live here, now,” he said. “I am very glad of this accident,” he
+remarked with a smile, “for now I can say all that I want to.”
+
+This drew from me the question:
+
+“May I describe all that I have heard and seen here?”
+
+He thought a moment before replying: “Give me your notebook.”
+
+I handed him the album with my sketches of the trip and he wrote
+therein: “After my death, Baron Ungern.”
+
+“But I am older than you and I shall die before you,” I remarked.
+
+He shut his eyes, bowed his head and whispered:
+
+“Oh, no! One hundred thirty days yet and it is finished; then . . .
+Nirvana! How wearied I am with sorrow, woe and hate!”
+
+We were silent for a long time. I felt that I had now a mortal enemy
+in Colonel Sepailoff and that I should get out of Urga at the earliest
+possible moment. It was two o’clock at night. Suddenly Baron Ungern
+stood up.
+
+“Let us go to the great, good Buddha,” he said with a countenance held
+in deep thought and with eyes aflame, his whole face contracted by a
+mournful, bitter smile. He ordered the car brought.
+
+Thus lived this camp of martyrs, refugees pursued by events to their
+tryst with Death, driven on by the hate and contempt of this offspring
+of Teutons and privateers! And he, martyring them, knew neither day nor
+night of peace. Fired by impelling, poisonous thoughts, he tormented
+himself with the pains of a Titan, knowing that every day in this
+shortening chain of one hundred thirty links brought him nearer to the
+precipice called “Death.”
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII
+
+BEFORE THE FACE OF BUDDHA
+
+
+As we came to the monastery we left the automobile and dipped into the
+labyrinth of narrow alleyways until at last we were before the greatest
+temple of Urga with the Tibetan walls and windows and its pretentious
+Chinese roof. A single lantern burned at the entrance. The heavy gate
+with the bronze and iron trimmings was shut. When the General struck the
+big brass gong hanging by the gate, frightened monks began running up
+from all directions and, seeing the “General Baron,” fell to the earth
+in fear of raising their heads.
+
+“Get up,” said the Baron, “and let us into the Temple!”
+
+The inside was like that of all Lama temples, the same multi-colored
+flags with the prayers, symbolic signs and the images of holy saints;
+the big bands of silk cloth hanging from the ceiling; the images of the
+gods and goddesses. On both sides of the approach to the altar were the
+low red benches for the Lamas and choir. On the altar small lamps threw
+their rays on the gold and silver vessels and candlesticks. Behind it
+hung a heavy yellow silk curtain with Tibetan inscriptions. The Lamas
+drew the curtain aside. Out of the dim light from the flickering lamps
+gradually appeared the great gilded statue of Buddha seated in the
+Golden Lotus. The face of the god was indifferent and calm with only a
+soft gleam of light animating it. On either side he was guarded by many
+thousands of lesser Buddhas brought by the faithful as offerings in
+prayer. The Baron struck the gong to attract Great Buddha’s attention to
+his prayer and threw a handful of coins into the large bronze bowl. And
+then this scion of crusaders who had read all the philosophers of the
+West, closed his eyes, placed his hands together before his face and
+prayed. I noticed a black rosary on his left wrist. He prayed about ten
+minutes. Afterwards he led me to the other end of the monastery and,
+during our passage, said to me:
+
+“I do not like this temple. It is new, erected by the Lamas when the
+Living Buddha became blind. I do not find on the face of the golden
+Buddha either tears, hopes, distress or thanks of the people. They have
+not yet had time to leave these traces on the face of the god. We shall
+go now to the old Shrine of Prophecies.”
+
+This was a small building, blackened with age and resembling a tower
+with a plain round roof. The doors stood open. At both sides of the door
+were prayer wheels ready to be spun; over it a slab of copper with the
+signs of the zodiac. Inside two monks, who were intoning the sacred
+sutras, did not lift their eyes as we entered. The General approached
+them and said:
+
+“Cast the dice for the number of my days!”
+
+The priests brought two bowls with many dice therein and rolled them
+out on their low table. The Baron looked and reckoned with them the sum
+before he spoke:
+
+“One hundred thirty! Again one hundred thirty!”
+
+Approaching the altar carrying an ancient stone statue of Buddha brought
+all the way from India, he again prayed. As day dawned, we wandered out
+through the monastery, visited all the temples and shrines, the museum
+of the medical school, the astrological tower and then the court where
+the Bandi and young Lamas have their daily morning wrestling exercises.
+In other places the Lamas were practising with the bow and arrow. Some
+of the higher Lamas feasted us with hot mutton, tea and wild onions.
+After we returned to the yurta I tried to sleep but in vain. Too many
+different questions were troubling me. “Where am I? In what epoch am
+I living?” I knew not but I dimly felt the unseen touch of some great
+idea, some enormous plan, some indescribable human woe.
+
+After our noon meal the General said he wanted to introduce me to the
+Living Buddha. It is so difficult to secure audience with the Living
+Buddha that I was very glad to have this opportunity offered me.
+Our auto soon drew up at the gate of the red and white striped wall
+surrounding the palace of the god. Two hundred Lamas in yellow and red
+robes rushed to greet the arriving “Chiang Chun,” General, with the
+low-toned, respectful whisper “Khan! God of War!” As a regiment of
+formal ushers they led us to a spacious great hall softened by its
+semi-darkness. Heavy carved doors opened to the interior parts of the
+palace. In the depths of the hall stood a dais with the throne covered
+with yellow silk cushions. The back of the throne was red inside a
+gold framing; at either side stood yellow silk screens set in highly
+ornamented frames of black Chinese wood; while against the walls at
+either side of the throne stood glass cases filled with varied objects
+from China, Japan, India and Russia. I noticed also among them a pair of
+exquisite Marquis and Marquises in the fine porcelain of Sevres. Before
+the throne stood a long, low table at which eight noble Mongols were
+seated, their chairman, a highly esteemed old man with a clever,
+energetic face and with large penetrating eyes. His appearance reminded
+me of the authentic wooden images of the Buddhist holymen with eyes
+of precious stones which I saw at the Tokyo Imperial Museum in the
+department devoted to Buddhism, where the Japanese show the ancient
+statues of Amida, Daunichi-Buddha, the Goddess Kwannon and the jolly old
+Hotei.
+
+This man was the Hutuktu Jahantsi, Chairman of the Mongolian Council of
+Ministers, and honored and revered far beyond the bournes of Mongolia.
+The others were the Ministers--Khans and the Highest Princes of Khalkha.
+Jahantsi Hutuktu invited Baron Ungern to the place at his side, while
+they brought in a European chair for me. Baron Ungern announced to the
+Council of Ministers through an interpreter that he would leave Mongolia
+in a few days and urged them to protect the freedom won for the lands
+inhabited by the successors of Jenghiz Khan, whose soul still lives
+and calls upon the Mongols to become anew a powerful people and reunite
+again into one great Mid-Asiatic State all the Asian kingdoms he had
+ruled.
+
+The General rose and all the others followed him. He took leave of each
+one separately and sternly. Only before Jahantsi Lama he bent low while
+the Hutuktu placed his hands on the Baron’s head and blessed him. From
+the Council Chamber we passed at once to the Russian style house which
+is the personal dwelling of the Living Buddha. The house was wholly
+surrounded by a crowd of red and yellow Lamas; servants, councilors of
+Bogdo, officials, fortune tellers, doctors and favorites. From the front
+entrance stretched a long red rope whose outer end was thrown over the
+wall beside the gate. Crowds of pilgrims crawling up on their knees
+touch this end of the rope outside the gate and hand the monk a silken
+hatyk or a bit of silver. This touching of the rope whose inner end is
+in the hand of the Bogdo establishes direct communication with the holy,
+incarnated Living God. A current of blessing is supposed to flow through
+this cable of camel’s wool and horse hair. Any Mongol who has touched
+the mystic rope receives and wears about his neck a red band as the sign
+of his accomplished pilgrimage.
+
+I had heard very much about the Bogdo Khan before this opportunity
+to see him. I had heard of his love of alcohol, which had brought on
+blindness, about his leaning toward exterior western culture and about
+his wife drinking deep with him and receiving in his name numerous
+delegations and envoys.
+
+In the room which the Bogdo used as his private study, where two Lama
+secretaries watched day and night over the chest that contained his
+great seals, there was the severest simplicity. On a low, plain, Chinese
+lacquered table lay his writing implements, a case of seals given by
+the Chinese Government and by the Dalai Lama and wrapped in a cloth of
+yellow silk. Nearby was a low easy chair, a bronze brazier with an
+iron stovepipe leading up from it; on the walls were the signs of the
+swastika, Tibetan and Mongolian inscriptions; behind the easy chair a
+small altar with a golden statue of Buddha before which two tallow lamps
+were burning; the floor was covered with a thick yellow carpet.
+
+When we entered, only the two Lama secretaries were there, for the
+Living Buddha was in the small private shrine in an adjoining chamber,
+where no one is allowed to enter save the Bogdo Khan himself and one
+Lama, Kanpo-Gelong, who cares for the temple arrangements and assists
+the Living Buddha during his prayers of solitude. The secretary told
+us that the Bogdo had been greatly excited this morning. At noon he had
+entered his shrine. For a long time the voice of the head of the Yellow
+Faith was heard in earnest prayer and after his another unknown voice
+came clearly forth. In the shrine had taken place a conversation between
+the Buddha on earth and the Buddha of heaven--thus the Lamas phrased it
+to us.
+
+“Let us wait a little,” the Baron proposed. “Perhaps he will soon come
+out.”
+
+As we waited the General began telling me about Jahantsi Lama, saying
+that, when Jahantsi is calm, he is an ordinary man but, when he is
+disturbed and thinks very deeply, a nimbus appears about his head.
+
+After half an hour the Lama secretaries suddenly showed signs of deep
+fear and began listening closely by the entrance to the shrine. Shortly
+they fell on their faces on the ground. The door slowly opened and there
+entered the Emperor of Mongolia, the Living Buddha, His Holiness Bogdo
+Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu, Khan of Outer Mongolia. He was a stout old man
+with a heavy shaven face resembling those of the Cardinals of Rome. He
+was dressed in the yellow silken Mongolian coat with a black binding.
+The eyes of the blind man stood widely open. Fear and amazement were
+pictured in them. He lowered himself heavily into the easy chair and
+whispered: “Write!”
+
+A secretary immediately took paper and a Chinese pen as the Bogdo began
+to dictate his vision, very complicated and far from clear. He finished
+with the following words:
+
+“This I, Bogdo Hutuktu Khan, saw, speaking with the great wise Buddha,
+surrounded by the good and evil spirits. Wise Lamas, Hutuktus, Kanpos,
+Marambas and Holy Gheghens, give the answer to my vision!”
+
+As he finished, he wiped the perspiration from his head and asked who
+were present.
+
+“Khan Chiang Chin Baron Ungern and a stranger,” one of the secretaries
+answered on his knees.
+
+The General presented me to the Bogdo, who bowed his head as a sign of
+greeting. They began speaking together in low tones. Through the open
+door I saw a part of the shrine. I made out a big table with a heap of
+books on it, some open and others lying on the floor below; a brazier
+with the red charcoal in it; a basket containing the shoulder blades and
+entrails of sheep for telling fortunes. Soon the Baron rose and bowed
+before the Bogdo. The Tibetan placed his hands on the Baron’s head and
+whispered a prayer. Then he took from his own neck a heavy ikon and hung
+it around that of the Baron.
+
+“You will not die but you will be incarnated in the highest form of
+being. Remember that, Incarnated God of War, Khan of grateful Mongolia!”
+ I understood that the Living Buddha blessed the “Bloody General” before
+death.
+
+
+During the next two days I had the opportunity to visit the Living
+Buddha three times together with a friend of the Bogdo, the Buriat
+Prince Djam Bolon. I shall describe these visits in Part IV.
+
+Baron Ungern organized the trip for me and my party to the shore of the
+Pacific. We were to go on camels to northern Manchuria, because there
+it was easy to avoid cavilling with the Chinese authorities so badly
+oriented in the international relationship with Poland. Having sent a
+letter from Uliassutai to the French Legation at Peking and bearing with
+me a letter from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, expressing thanks
+for the saving of Uliassutai from a pogrom, I intended to make for the
+nearest station on the Chinese Eastern Railway and from there proceed to
+Peking. The Danish merchant E. V. Olufsen was to have traveled out with
+me and also a learned Lama Turgut, who was headed for China.
+
+Never shall I forget the night of May 19th to 20th of 1921! After dinner
+Baron Ungern proposed that we go to the yurta of Djam Bolon, whose
+acquaintance I had made on the first day after my arrival in Urga.
+His yurta was placed on a raised wooden platform in a compound located
+behind the Russian settlement. Two Buriat officers met us and took us
+in. Djam Bolon was a man of middle age, tall and thin with an unusually
+long face. Before the Great War he had been a simple shepherd but had
+fought together with Baron Ungern on the German front and afterwards
+against the Bolsheviki. He was a Grand Duke of the Buriats, the
+successor of former Buriat kings who had been dethroned by the Russian
+Government after their attempt to establish the Independence of the
+Buriat people. The servants brought us dishes with nuts, raisins, dates
+and cheese and served us tea.
+
+“This is the last night, Djam Bolon!” said Baron Ungern. “You promised
+me . . .”
+
+“I remember,” answered the Buriat, “all is ready.”
+
+For a long time I listened to their reminiscences about former battles
+and friends who had been lost. The clock pointed to midnight when Djam
+Bolon got up and went out of the yurta.
+
+“I want to have my fortune told once more,” said Baron Ungern, as though
+he were justifying himself. “For the good of our cause it is too early
+for me to die. . . .”
+
+Djam Bolon came back with a little woman of middle years, who squatted
+down eastern style before the brazier, bowed low and began to stare at
+Baron Ungern. Her face was whiter, narrower and thinner than that of a
+Mongol woman. Her eyes were black and sharp. Her dress resembled that of
+a gypsy woman. Afterwards I learned that she was a famous fortune teller
+and prophet among the Buriats, the daughter of a gypsy woman and a
+Buriat. She drew a small bag very slowly from her girdle, took from it
+some small bird bones and a handful of dry grass. She began whispering
+at intervals unintelligible words, as she threw occasional handfuls of
+the grass into the fire, which gradually filled the tent with a soft
+fragrance. I felt a distinct palpitation of my heart and a swimming in
+my head. After the fortune teller had burned all her grass, she placed
+the bird bones on the charcoal and turned them over again and again with
+a small pair of bronze pincers. As the bones blackened, she began to
+examine them and then suddenly her face took on an expression of fear
+and pain. She nervously tore off the kerchief which bound her head and,
+contracted with convulsions, began snapping out short, sharp phrases.
+
+“I see . . . I see the God of War. . . . His life runs out . . .
+horribly. . . . After it a shadow . . . black like the night. . . .
+Shadow. . . . One hundred thirty steps remain. . . . Beyond darkness.
+. . . Nothing . . . I see nothing. . . . The God of War has
+disappeared. . . .”
+
+Baron Ungern dropped his head. The woman fell over on her back with her
+arms stretched out. She had fainted, but it seemed to me that I noticed
+once a bright pupil of one of her eyes showing from under the closed
+lashes. Two Buriats carried out the lifeless form, after which a long
+silence reigned in the yurta of the Buriat Prince. Baron Ungern finally
+got up and began to walk around the brazier, whispering to himself.
+Afterwards he stopped and began speaking rapidly:
+
+“I shall die! I shall die! . . . but no matter, no matter. . . . The
+cause has been launched and will not die. . . . I know the roads this
+cause will travel. The tribes of Jenghiz Khan’s successors are awakened.
+Nobody shall extinguish the fire in the heart of the Mongols! In Asia
+there will be a great State from the Pacific and Indian Oceans to the
+shore of the Volga. The wise religion of Buddha shall run to the north
+and the west. It will be the victory of the spirit. A conqueror and
+leader will appear stronger and more stalwart than Jenghiz Khan and
+Ugadai. He will be more clever and more merciful than Sultan Baber
+and he will keep power in his hands until the happy day when, from his
+subterranean capital, shall emerge the King of the World. Why, why shall
+I not be in the first ranks of the warriors of Buddhism? Why has Karma
+decided so? But so it must be! And Russia must first wash herself from
+the insult of revolution, purifying herself with blood and death; and
+all people accepting Communism must perish with their families in order
+that all their offspring may be rooted out!”
+
+The Baron raised his hand above his head and shook it, as though he were
+giving his orders and bequests to some invisible person.
+
+Day was dawning.
+
+“My time has come!” said the General. “In a little while I shall leave
+Urga.”
+
+He quickly and firmly shook hands with us and said:
+
+“Good-bye for all time! I shall die a horrible death but the world has
+never seen such a terror and such a sea of blood as it shall now
+see. . . .”
+
+The door of the yurta slammed shut and he was gone. I never saw him
+again.
+
+“I must go also, for I am likewise leaving Urga today.”
+
+“I know it,” answered the Prince, “the Baron has left you with me for
+some purpose. I will give you a fourth companion, the Mongol Minister of
+War. You will accompany him to your yurta. It is necessary for you. . .
+.”
+
+Djam Bolon pronounced this last with an accent on every word. I did
+not question him about it, as I was accustomed to the mystery of this
+country of the mysteries of good and evil spirits.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX
+
+“THE MAN WITH A HEAD LIKE A SADDLE”
+
+
+After drinking tea at Djam Bolon’s yurta I rode back to my quarters and
+packed my few belongings. The Lama Turgut was already there.
+
+“The Minister of War will travel with us,” he whispered. “It is
+necessary.”
+
+“All right,” I answered, and rode off to Olufsen to summon him. But
+Olufsen unexpectedly announced that he was forced to spend some few
+days more in Urga--a fatal decision for him, for a month later he was
+reported killed by Sepailoff who remained as Commandant of the city
+after Baron Ungern’s departure. The War Minister, a stout, young Mongol,
+joined our caravan. When we had gone about six miles from the city, we
+saw an automobile coming up behind us. The Lama shrunk up inside his
+coat and looked at me with fear. I felt the now familiar atmosphere of
+danger and so opened my holster and threw over the safety catch of
+my revolver. Soon the motor stopped alongside our caravan. In it sat
+Sepailoff with a smiling face and beside him his two executioners,
+Chestiakoff and Jdanoff. Sepailoff greeted us very warmly and asked:
+
+“You are changing your horses in Khazahuduk? Does the road cross that
+pass ahead? I don’t know the way and must overtake an envoy who went
+there.”
+
+The Minister of War answered that we would be in Khazahuduk that evening
+and gave Sepailoff directions as to the road. The motor rushed away and,
+when it had topped the pass, he ordered one of the Mongols to gallop
+forward to see whether it had not stopped somewhere near the other side.
+The Mongol whipped his steed and sped away. We followed slowly.
+
+“What is the matter?” I asked. “Please explain!”
+
+The Minister told me that Djam Bolon yesterday received information
+that Sepailoff planned to overtake me on the way and kill me. Sepailoff
+suspected that I had stirred up the Baron against him. Djam Bolon
+reported the matter to the Baron, who organized this column for my
+safety. The returning Mongol reported that the motor car had gone on out
+of sight.
+
+“Now,” said the Minister, “we shall take quite another route so that the
+Colonel will wait in vain for us at Khazahuduk.”
+
+We turned north at Undur Dobo and at night were in the camp of a local
+prince. Here we took leave of our Minister, received splendid fresh
+horses and quickly continued our trip to the east, leaving behind us
+“the man with the head like a saddle” against whom I had been warned by
+the old fortune teller in the vicinity of Van Kure.
+
+After twelve days without further adventures we reached the first
+railway station on the Chinese Eastern Railway, from where I traveled in
+unbelievable luxury to Peking.
+
+* * * * *
+
+Surrounded by the comforts and conveniences of the splendid hotel
+at Peking, while shedding all the attributes of traveler, hunter and
+warrior, I could not, however, throw off the spell of those nine days
+spent in Urga, where I had daily met Baron Ungern, “Incarnated God of
+War.” The newspapers carrying accounts of the bloody march of the Baron
+through Transbaikalia brought the pictures ever fresh to my mind. Even
+now, although more than seven months have elapsed, I cannot forget those
+nights of madness, inspiration and hate.
+
+The predictions are fulfilled. Approximately one hundred thirty days
+afterwards Baron Ungern was captured by the Bolsheviki through the
+treachery of his officers and, it is reported, was executed at the end
+of September.
+
+Baron R. F. Ungern von Sternberg. . . . Like a bloody storm of avenging
+Karma he spread over Central Asia. What did he leave behind him? The
+severe order to his soldiers closing with the words of the Revelations
+of St. John:
+
+“Let no one check the revenge against the corrupter and slayer of the
+soul of the Russian people. Revolution must be eradicated from the
+World. Against it the Revelations of St. John have warned us thus: ‘And
+the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and
+precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of
+abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication, and upon her
+forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF
+THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman
+drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs
+of Jesus.’”
+
+It is a human document, a document of Russian and, perhaps, of world
+tragedy.
+
+But there remained another and more important trace. In the Mongol
+yurtas and at the fires of Buriat, Mongol, Djungar, Kirkhiz, Kalmuck and
+Tibetan shepherds still speak the legend born of this son of crusaders
+and privateers:
+
+“From the north a white warrior came and called on the Mongols to break
+their chains of slavery, which fell upon our freed soil. This white
+warrior was the Incarnated Jenghiz Khan and he predicted the coming of
+the greatest of all Mongols who will spread the fair faith of Buddha and
+the glory and power of the offspring of Jenghiz, Ugadai and Kublai Khan.
+So it shall be!”
+
+Asia is awakened and her sons utter bold words.
+
+It were well for the peace of the world if they go forth as disciples of
+the wise creators, Ugadai and Sultan Baber, rather than under the spell
+of the “bad demons” of the destructive Tamerlane.
+
+
+
+
+Part IV
+
+THE LIVING BUDDHA
+
+
+CHAPTER XL
+
+IN THE BLISSFUL GARDEN OF A THOUSAND JOYS
+
+
+In Mongolia, the country of miracles and mysteries, lives the custodian
+of all the mysterious and unknown, the Living Buddha, His Holiness
+Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu Khan or Bogdo Gheghen, Pontiff of Ta Kure. He
+is the incarnation of the never-dying Buddha, the representative of the
+unbroken, mysteriously continued line of spiritual emperors ruling
+since 1670, concealing in themselves the ever refining spirit of Buddha
+Amitabha joined with Chan-ra-zi or the “Compassionate Spirit of the
+Mountains.” In him is everything, even the Sun Myth and the fascination
+of the mysterious peaks of the Himalayas, tales of the Indian pagoda,
+the stern majesty of the Mongolian Conquerors--Emperors of All Asia--and
+the ancient, hazy legends of the Chinese sages; immersion in the
+thoughts of the Brahmans; the severities of life of the monks of the
+“Virtuous Order”; the vengeance of the eternally wandering warriors, the
+Olets, with their Khans, Batur Hun Taigi and Gushi; the proud bequests
+of Jenghiz and Kublai Khan; the clerical reactionary psychology of the
+Lamas; the mystery of Tibetan kings beginning from Srong-Tsang Gampo;
+and the mercilessness of the Yellow Sect of Paspa. All the hazy history
+of Asia, of Mongolia, Pamir, Himalayas, Mesopotamia, Persia and China,
+surrounds the Living God of Urga. It is little wonder that his name
+is honored along the Volga, in Siberia, Arabia, between the Tigris and
+Euphrates, in Indo-China and on the shores of the Arctic Ocean.
+
+During my stay in Urga I visited the abode of the Living Buddha several
+times, spoke with him and observed his life. His favorite learned
+Marambas gave me long accounts of him. I saw him reading horoscopes, I
+heard his predictions, I looked over his archives of ancient books and
+the manuscripts containing the lives and predictions of all the Bogdo
+Khans. The Lamas were very frank and open with me, because the letter of
+the Hutuktu of Narabanchi won for me their confidence.
+
+The personality of the Living Buddha is double, just as everything in
+Lamaism is double. Clever, penetrating, energetic, he at the same time
+indulges in the drunkenness which has brought on blindness. When he
+became blind, the Lamas were thrown into a state of desperation. Some of
+them maintained that Bogdo Khan must be poisoned and another Incarnate
+Buddha set in his place; while the others pointed out the great merits
+of the Pontiff in the eyes of Mongolians and the followers of the Yellow
+Faith. They finally decided to propitiate the gods by building a great
+temple with a gigantic statue of Buddha. However, this did not help
+the Bogdo’s sight but the whole incident gave him the opportunity of
+hurrying on to their higher life those among the Lamas who had shown too
+much radicalism in their proposed method of solving his problem.
+
+He never ceases to ponder upon the cause of the church and of Mongolia
+and at the same time likes to indulge himself with useless trifles. He
+amuses himself with artillery. A retired Russian officer presented him
+with two old guns, for which the donor received the title of Tumbaiir
+Hun, that is, “Prince Dear-to-my-Heart.” On holidays these cannon were
+fired to the great amusement of the blind man. Motorcars, gramophones,
+telephones, crystals, porcelains, pictures, perfumes, musical
+instruments, rare animals and birds; elephants, Himalayan bears,
+monkeys, Indian snakes and parrots--all these were in the palace of “the
+god” but all were soon cast aside and forgotten.
+
+To Urga come pilgrims and presents from all the Lamaite and Buddhist
+world. Once the treasurer of the palace, the Honorable Balma Dorji,
+took me into the great hall where the presents were kept. It was a most
+unique museum of precious articles. Here were gathered together rare
+objects unknown to the museums of Europe. The treasurer, as he opened a
+case with a silver lock, said to me:
+
+“These are pure gold nuggets from Bei Kem; here are black sables from
+Kemchick; these the miraculous deer horns; this a box sent by the
+Orochons and filled with precious ginseng roots and fragrant musk; this
+a bit of amber from the coast of the ‘frozen sea’ and it weighs 124 lans
+(about ten pounds); these are precious stones from India, fragrant zebet
+and carved ivory from China.”
+
+He showed the exhibits and talked of them for a long time and evidently
+enjoyed the telling. And really it was wonderful! Before my eyes lay the
+bundles of rare furs; white beaver, black sables, white, blue and black
+fox and black panthers; small beautifully carved tortoise shell boxes
+containing hatyks ten or fifteen yards long, woven from Indian silk as
+fine as the webs of the spider; small bags made of golden thread
+filled with pearls, the presents of Indian Rajahs; precious rings with
+sapphires and rubies from China and India; big pieces of jade, rough
+diamonds; ivory tusks ornamented with gold, pearls and precious stones;
+bright clothes sewn with gold and silver thread; walrus tusks carved in
+bas-relief by the primitive artists on the shores of the Behring Sea;
+and much more that one cannot recall or recount. In a separate room
+stood the cases with the statues of Buddha, made of gold, silver,
+bronze, ivory, coral, mother of pearl and from a rare colored and
+fragrant species of wood.
+
+“You know when conquerors come into a country where the gods are
+honored, they break the images and throw them down. So it was more than
+three hundred years ago when the Kalmucks went into Tibet and the same
+was repeated in Peking when the European troops looted the place in
+1900. But do you know why this is done? Take one of the statues and
+examine it.”
+
+I picked up one nearest the edge, a wooden Buddha, and began examining
+it. Inside something was loose and rattled.
+
+“Do you hear it?” the Lama asked. “These are precious stones and bits of
+gold, the entrails of the god. This is the reason why the conquerors at
+once break up the statues of the gods. Many famous precious stones have
+appeared from the interior of the statues of the gods in India, Babylon
+and China.”
+
+Some rooms were devoted to the library, where manuscripts and volumes
+of different epochs in different languages and with many diverse themes
+fill the shelves. Some of them are mouldering or pulverizing away and
+the Lamas cover these now with a solution which partially solidifies
+like a jelly to protect what remains from the ravages of the air. There
+also we saw tablets of clay with the cuneiform inscriptions, evidently
+from Babylonia; Chinese, Indian and Tibetan books shelved beside those
+of Mongolia; tomes of the ancient pure Buddhism; books of the “Red Caps”
+ or corrupt Buddhism; books of the “Yellow” or Lamaite Buddhism; books
+of traditions, legends and parables. Groups of Lamas were perusing,
+studying and copying these books, preserving and spreading the ancient
+wisdom for their successors.
+
+One department is devoted to the mysterious books on magic, the
+historical lives and works of all the thirty-one Living Buddhas, with
+the bulls of the Dalai Lama, of the Pontiff from Tashi Lumpo, of the
+Hutuktu of Utai in China, of the Pandita Gheghen of Dolo Nor in Inner
+Mongolia and of the Hundred Chinese Wise Men. Only the Bogdo Hutuktu and
+Maramba Ta-Rimpo-Cha can enter this room of mysterious lore. The keys to
+it rest with the seals of the Living Buddha and the ruby ring of Jenghiz
+Khan ornamented with the sign of the swastika in the chest in the
+private study of the Bogdo.
+
+The person of His Holiness is surrounded by five thousand Lamas. They
+are divided into many ranks from simple servants to the “Councillors of
+God,” of which latter the Government consists. Among these Councillors
+are all the four Khans of Mongolia and the five highest Princes.
+
+Of all the Lamas there are three classes of peculiar interest, about
+which the Living Buddha himself told me when I visited him with Djam
+Bolon.
+
+“The God” sorrowfully mourned over the demoralized and sumptuous life
+led by the Lamas which decreased rapidly the number of fortune tellers
+and clairvoyants among their ranks, saying of it:
+
+“If the Jahantsi and Narabanchi monasteries had not preserved their
+strict regime and rules, Ta Kure would have been left without prophets
+and fortune tellers. Barun Abaga Nar, Dorchiul-Jurdok and the other holy
+Lamas who had the power of seeing that which is hidden from the sight of
+the common people have gone with the blessing of the gods.”
+
+This class of Lamas is a very important one, because every important
+personage visiting the monasteries at Urga is shown to the Lama Tzuren
+or fortune teller without the knowledge of the visitor for the study of
+his destiny and fate, which are then communicated to the Bogdo Hutuktu,
+so that with these facts in his possession the Bogdo knows in what way
+to treat his guest and what policy to follow toward him. The Tzurens are
+mostly old men, skinny, exhausted and severe ascetics. But I have met
+some who were young, almost boys. They were the Hubilgan, “incarnate
+gods,” the future Hutuktus and Gheghens of the various Mongolian
+monasteries.
+
+The second class is the doctors or “Ta Lama.” They observe the actions
+of plants and certain products from animals upon people, preserve
+Tibetan medicines and cures, and study anatomy very carefully but
+without making use of vivisection and the scalpel. They are skilful
+bone setters, masseurs and great connoisseurs of hypnotism and animal
+magnetism.
+
+The third class is the highest rank of doctors, consisting chiefly of
+Tibetans and Kalmucks--poisoners. They may be said to be “doctors of
+political medicine.” They live by themselves, apart from any associates,
+and are the great silent weapon in the hands of the Living Buddha. I
+was informed that a large portion of them are dumb. I saw one such
+doctor,--the very person who poisoned the Chinese physician sent by the
+Chinese Emperor from Peking to “liquidate” the Living Buddha,--a small
+white old fellow with a deeply wrinkled face, a curl of white hairs on
+his chin and with vivacious eyes that were ever shifting inquiringly
+about him. Whenever he comes to a monastery, the local “god” ceases to
+eat and drink in fear of the activities of this Mongolian Locusta. But
+even this cannot save the condemned, for a poisoned cap or shirt or
+boots, or a rosary, a bridle, books or religious articles soaked in a
+poisonous solution will surely accomplish the object of the Bogdo-Khan.
+
+The deepest esteem and religious faithfulness surround the blind
+Pontiff. Before him all fall on their faces. Khans and Hutuktus approach
+him on their knees. Everything about him is dark, full of Oriental
+antiquity. The drunken blind man, listening to the banal arias of the
+gramophone or shaking his servants with an electric current from his
+dynamo, the ferocious old fellow poisoning his political enemies,
+the Lama keeping his people in darkness and deceiving them with his
+prophecies and fortune telling,--he is, however, not an entirely
+ordinary man.
+
+One day we sat in the room of the Bogdo and Prince Djam Bolon translated
+to him my story of the Great War. The old fellow was listening very
+carefully but suddenly opened his eyes widely and began to give
+attention to some sounds coming in from outside the room. His face
+became reverent, supplicant and frightened.
+
+“The Gods call me,” he whispered and slowly moved into his private
+shrine, where he prayed loudly about two hours, kneeling immobile as a
+statue. His prayer consists of conversation with the invisible gods, to
+whose questions he himself gave the answers. He came out of the shrine
+pale and exhausted but pleased and happy. It was his personal prayer.
+During the regular temple service he did not participate in the prayers,
+for then he is “God.” Sitting on his throne, he is carried and placed
+on the altar and there prayed to by the Lamas and the people. He only
+receives the prayers, hopes, tears, woe and desperation of the people,
+immobilely gazing into space with his sharp and bright but blind
+eyes. At various times in the service the Lamas robe him in different
+vestments, combinations of yellow and red, and change his caps. The
+service always finishes at the solemn moment when the Living Buddha
+with the tiara on his head pronounces the pontifical blessing upon
+the congregation, turning his face to all four cardinal points of the
+compass and finally stretching out his hands toward the northwest, that
+is, to Europe, whither in the belief of the Yellow Faith must travel the
+teachings of the wise Buddha.
+
+After earnest prayers or long temple services the Pontiff seems very
+deeply shaken and often calls his secretaries and dictates his visions
+and prophecies, always very complicated and unaccompanied by his
+deductions.
+
+Sometimes with the words “Their souls are communicating,” he puts on his
+white robes and goes to pray in his shrine. Then all the gates of the
+palace are shut and all the Lamas are sunk in solemn, mystic fear; all
+are praying, telling their rosaries and whispering the orison: “Om!
+Mani padme Hung!” or turning the prayer wheels with their prayers or
+exorcisings; the fortune tellers read their horoscopes; the clairvoyants
+write out their visions; while Marambas search the ancient books for
+explanations of the words of the Living Buddha.
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI
+
+THE DUST OF CENTURIES
+
+
+Have you ever seen the dusty cobwebs and the mould in the cellars of
+some ancient castle in Italy, France or England? This is the dust of
+centuries. Perhaps it touched the faces, helmets and swords of a Roman
+Augustus, St. Louis, the Inquisitor, Galileo or King Richard. Your heart
+is involuntarily contracted and you feel a respect for these witnesses
+of elapsed ages. This same impression came to me in Ta Kure, perhaps
+more deep, more realistic. Here life flows on almost as it flowed eight
+centuries ago; here man lives only in the past; and the contemporary
+only complicates and prevents the normal life.
+
+“Today is a great day,” the Living Buddha once said to me, “the day of
+the victory of Buddhism over all other religions. It was a long time
+ago--on this day Kublai Khan called to him the Lamas of all religions
+and ordered them to state to him how and what they believed. They
+praised their Gods and their Hutuktus. Discussions and quarrels began.
+Only one Lama remained silent. At last he mockingly smiled and said:
+
+“‘Great Emperor! Order each to prove the power of his Gods by the
+performance of a miracle and afterwards judge and choose.’
+
+“Kublai Khan so ordered all the Lamas to show him a miracle but all were
+silent, confused and powerless before him.
+
+“‘Now,’ said the Emperor, addressing the Lama who had tendered this
+suggestion, ‘now you must prove the power of your Gods!’
+
+“The Lama looked long and silently at the Emperor, turned and gazed at
+the whole assembly and then quietly stretched out his hand toward them.
+At this instant the golden goblet of the Emperor raised itself from
+the table and tipped before the lips of the Khan without a visible hand
+supporting it. The Emperor felt the delight of a fragrant wine. All were
+struck with astonishment and the Emperor spoke:
+
+“‘I elect to pray to your Gods and to them all people subject to me must
+pray. What is your faith? Who are you and from where do you come?’
+
+“‘My faith is the teaching of the wise Buddha. I am Pandita Lama, Turjo
+Gamba, from the distant and glorious monastery of Sakkia in Tibet, where
+dwells incarnate in a human body the Spirit of Buddha, his Wisdom and
+his Power. Remember, Emperor, that the peoples who hold our faith shall
+possess all the Western Universe and during eight hundred and eleven
+years shall spread their faith throughout the whole world.’
+
+“Thus it happened on this same day many centuries ago! Lama Turjo Gamba
+did not return to Tibet but lived here in Ta Kure, where there was then
+only a small temple. From here he traveled to the Emperor at Karakorum
+and afterwards with him to the capital of China to fortify him in
+the Faith, to predict the fate of state affairs and to enlighten him
+according to the will of God.”
+
+The Living Buddha was silent for a time, whispered a prayer and then
+continued:
+
+“Urga, the ancient nest of Buddhism. . . . With Jenghiz Khan on his
+European conquest went out the Olets or Kalmucks. They remained there
+almost four hundred years, living on the plains of Russia. Then they
+returned to Mongolia because the Yellow Lamas called them to light
+against the Kings of Tibet, Lamas of the ‘red caps,’ who were oppressing
+the people. The Kalmucks helped the Yellow Faith but they realized that
+Lhasa was too distant from the whole world and could not spread our
+Faith throughout the earth. Consequently the Kalmuck Gushi Khan brought
+up from Tibet a holy Lama, Undur Gheghen, who had visited the ‘King of
+the World.’ From that day the Bogdo Gheghen has continuously lived in
+Urga, a protector of the freedom of Mongolia and of the Chinese Emperors
+of Mongolian origin. Undur Gheghen was the first Living Buddha in the
+land of the Mongols. He left to us, his successors, the ring of Jenghiz
+Khan, which was sent by Kublai Khan to Dalai Lama in return for the
+miracle shown by the Lama Turjo Gamba; also the top of the skull of
+a black, mysterious miracle worker from India, using which as a bowl,
+Strongtsan, King of Tibet, drank during the temple ceremonies one
+thousand six hundred years ago; as well as an ancient stone statue of
+Buddha brought from Delhi by the founder of the Yellow Faith, Paspa.”
+
+The Bogdo clapped his hands and one of the secretaries took from a red
+kerchief a big silver key with which he unlocked the chest with the
+seals. The Living Buddha slipped his hand into the chest and drew forth
+a small box of carved ivory, from which he took out and showed to me a
+large gold ring set with a magnificent ruby carved with the sign of the
+swastika.
+
+“This ring was always worn on the right hand of the Khans Jenghiz and
+Kublai,” said the Bogdo.
+
+When the secretary had closed the chest, the Bogdo ordered him to
+summon his favorite Maramba, whom he directed to read some pages from an
+ancient book lying on the table. The Lama began to read monotonously.
+
+“When Gushi Khan, the Chief of all the Olets or Kalmucks, finished the
+war with the ‘Red Caps’ in Tibet, he carried out with him the miraculous
+‘black stone’ sent to the Dalai Lama by the ‘King of the World.’ Gushi
+Khan wanted to create in Western Mongolia the capital of the Yellow
+Faith; but the Olets at that time were at war with the Manchu Emperors
+for the throne of China and suffered one defeat after another. The last
+Khan of the Olets, Amursana, ran away into Russia but before his escape
+sent to Urga the sacred ‘black stone.’ While it remained in Urga so that
+the Living Buddha could bless the people with it, disease and misfortune
+never touched the Mongolians and their cattle. About one hundred years
+ago, however, some one stole the sacred stone and since then Buddhists
+have vainly sought it throughout the whole world. With its disappearance
+the Mongol people began gradually to die.”
+
+“Enough!” ordered Bogdo Gheghen. “Our neighbors hold us in contempt.
+They forget that we were their sovereigns but we preserve our holy
+traditions and we know that the day of triumph of the Mongolian tribes
+and the Yellow Faith will come. We have the Protectors of the Faith, the
+Buriats. They are the truest guardians of the bequests of Jenghiz Khan.”
+
+So spoke the Living Buddha and so have spoken the ancient books!
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII
+
+THE BOOKS OF MIRACLES
+
+
+Prince Djam Bolon asked a Maramba to show us the library of the Living
+Buddha. It is a big room occupied by scores of writers who prepare the
+works dealing with the miracles of all the Living Buddhas, beginning
+with Undur Gheghen and ending with those of the Gheghens and Hutuktus of
+the different Mongol monasteries. These books are afterwards distributed
+through all the Lama Monasteries, temples and schools of Bandi. A
+Maramba read two selections:
+
+“. . . The beatific Bogdo Gheghen breathed on a mirror. Immediately
+as through a haze there appeared the picture of a valley in which many
+thousands of thousands of warriors fought one against another. . . .”
+
+“The wise and favored-of-the-gods Living Buddha burned incense in a
+brazier and prayed to the Gods to reveal the lot of the Princes. In the
+blue smoke all saw a dark prison and the pallid, tortured bodies of the
+dead Princes. . . .”
+
+A special book, already done into thousands of copies, dwelt upon the
+miracles of the present Living Buddha. Prince Djam Bolon described to me
+some of the contents of this volume.
+
+“There exists an ancient wooden Buddha with open eyes. He was brought
+here from India and Bogdo Gheghen placed him on the altar and began to
+pray. When he returned from the shrine, he ordered the statue of Buddha
+brought out. All were struck with amazement, for the eyes of the God
+were shut and tears were falling from them; from the wooden body green
+sprouts appeared; and the Bogdo said:
+
+“‘Woe and joy are awaiting me. I shall become blind but Mongolia will be
+free.’
+
+“The prophecy is fulfilled. At another time, on a day when the Living
+Buddha was very much excited, he ordered a basin of water brought and
+set before the altar. He called the Lamas and began to pray. Suddenly
+the altar candles and lamps lighted themselves and the water in the
+basin became iridescent.”
+
+Afterwards the Prince described to me how the Bogdo Khan tells fortunes
+with fresh blood, upon whose surface appear words and pictures; with the
+entrails of sheep and goats, according to whose distribution the Bogdo
+reads the fate of the Princes and knows their thoughts; with stones and
+bones from which the Living Buddha with great accuracy reads the lot of
+all men; and by the stars, in accordance with whose positions the Bogdo
+prepares amulets against bullets and disease.
+
+“The former Bogdo Khans told fortunes only by the use of the ‘black
+stone,’” said the Maramba. “On the surface of the stone appeared Tibetan
+inscriptions which the Bogdo read and thus learned the lot of whole
+nations.”
+
+When the Maramba spoke of the black stone with the Tibetan legends
+appearing on it, I at once recalled that it was possible. In
+southeastern Urianhai, in Ulan Taiga, I came across a place where black
+slate was decomposing. All the pieces of this slate were covered with a
+special white lichen, which formed very complicated designs, reminding
+me of a Venetian lace pattern or whole pages of mysterious runes. When
+the slate was wet, these designs disappeared; and then, as they were
+dried, the patterns came out again.
+
+Nobody has the right or dares to ask the Living Buddha to tell his
+fortune. He predicts only when he feels the inspiration or when a
+special delegate comes to him bearing a request for it from the Dalai
+Lama or the Tashi Lama. When the Russian Czar, Alexander I, fell under
+the influence of Baroness Kzudener and of her extreme mysticism,
+he despatched a special envoy to the Living Buddha to ask about his
+destiny. The then Bogdo Khan, quite a young man, told his fortune
+according to the “black stone” and predicted that the White Czar would
+finish his life in very painful wanderings unknown to all and everywhere
+pursued. In Russia today there exists a popular belief that Alexander
+I spent the last days of his life as a wanderer throughout Russia and
+Siberia under the pseudonym of Feodor Kusmitch, helping and consoling
+prisoners, beggars and other suffering people, often pursued and
+imprisoned by the police and finally dying at Tomsk in Siberia, where
+even until now they have preserved the house where he spent his
+last days and have kept his grave sacred, a place of pilgrimages and
+miracles. The former dynasty of Romanoff was deeply interested in the
+biography of Feodor Kusmitch and this interest fixed the opinion that
+Kusmitch was really the Czar Alexander I, who had voluntarily taken upon
+himself this severe penance.
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII
+
+THE BIRTH OF THE LIVING BUDDHA
+
+
+The Living Buddha does not die. His soul sometimes passes into that of
+a child born on the day of his death and sometimes transfers itself to
+another being during the life of the Buddha. This new mortal dwelling
+of the sacred spirit of the Buddha almost always appears in the yurta
+of some poor Tibetan or Mongol family. There is a reason of policy for
+this. If the Buddha appears in the family of a rich prince, it could
+result in the elevation of a family that would not yield obedience to
+the clergy (and such has happened in the past), while on the other
+hand any poor, unknown family that becomes the heritor of the throne
+of Jenghiz Khan acquires riches and is readily submissive to the Lamas.
+Only three or four Living Buddhas were of purely Mongolian origin; the
+remainder were Tibetans.
+
+One of the Councillors of the Living Buddha, Lama-Khan Jassaktu, told me
+the following:
+
+“In the monasteries at Lhasa and Tashi Lumpo they are kept constantly
+informed through letters from Urga about the health of the Living
+Buddha. When his human body becomes old and the Spirit of Buddha strives
+to extricate itself, special solemn services begin in the Tibetan
+temples together with the telling of fortunes by astrology. These rites
+indicate the specially pious Lamas who must discover where the Spirit
+of the Buddha will be re-incarnated. For this purpose they travel
+throughout the whole land and observe. Often God himself gives them
+signs and indications. Sometimes the white wolf appears near the yurta
+of a poor shepherd or a lamb with two heads is born or a meteor falls
+from the sky. Some Lamas take fish from the sacred lake Tangri Nor and
+read on the scales thereof the name of the new Bogdo Khan; others pick
+out stones whose cracks indicate to them where they must search and
+whom they must find; while others secrete themselves in narrow mountain
+ravines to listen to the voices of the spirits of the mountains,
+pronouncing the name of the new choice of the Gods. When he is found,
+all the possible information about his family is secretly collected and
+presented to the Most Learned Tashi Lama, having the name of Erdeni,
+“The Great Gem of Learning,” who, according to the runes of Rama,
+verifies the selection. If he is in agreement with it, he sends a secret
+letter to the Dalai Lama, who holds a special sacrifice in the Temple of
+the ‘Spirit of the Mountains’ and confirms the election by putting his
+great seal on this letter of the Tashi Lama.
+
+“If the old Living Buddha be still alive, the name of his successor is
+kept a deep secret; if the Spirit of Buddha has already gone out from
+the body of Bogdo Khan, a special legation appears from Tibet with the
+new Living Buddha. The same process accompanies the election of the
+Gheghen and Hutuktus in all the Lamaite monasteries in Mongolia; but
+confirmation of the election resides with the Living Buddha and is only
+announced to Lhasa after the event.”
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV
+
+A PAGE IN THE HISTORY OF THE PRESENT LIVING BUDDHA
+
+
+The present Bogdo Khan of Outer Mongolia is a Tibetan. He sprang from a
+poor family living in the neighborhood of Sakkia Kure in western Tibet.
+From earliest youth he had a stormy, quite unaesthetic nature. He was
+fired with the idea of the independence and glorification of Mongolia
+and the successors of Jenghiz Khan. This gave him at once a great
+influence among the Lamas, Princes and Khans of Mongolia and also with
+the Russian Government which always tried to attract him to their side.
+He did not fear to arraign himself against the Manchu dynasty in China
+and always had the help of Russia, Tibet, the Buriats and Kirghiz,
+furnishing him with money, weapons, warriors and diplomatic aid. The
+Chinese Emperors avoided open war with the Living God, because it might
+arouse the protests of the Chinese Buddhists. At one time they sent to
+the Bogdo Khan a skilful doctor-poisoner. The Living Buddha, however, at
+once understood the meaning of this medical attention and, knowing the
+power of Asiatic poisons, decided to make a journey through the Mongol
+monasteries and through Tibet. As his substitute he left a Hubilgan who
+made friends with the Chinese doctor and inquired from him the purposes
+and details of his arrival. Very soon the Chinese died from some unknown
+cause and the Living Buddha returned to his comfortable capital.
+
+On another occasion danger threatened the Living God. It was when Lhasa
+decided that the Bogdo Khan was carrying out a policy too independent of
+Tibet. The Dalai Lama began negotiations with several Khans and Princes
+with the Sain Noion Khan and Jassaktu Khan leading the movement and
+persuaded them to accelerate the immigration of the Spirit of Buddha
+into another human form. They came to Urga where the Bogdo Khan met
+them with honors and rejoicings. A great feast was made for them and the
+conspirators already felt themselves the accomplishers of the orders
+of the Dalai Lama. However, at the end of the feast, they had different
+feelings and died with them during the night. The Living Buddha ordered
+their bodies sent with full honors to their families.
+
+The Bogdo Khan knows every thought, every movement of the Princes and
+Khans, the slightest conspiracy against himself, and the offender is
+usually kindly invited to Urga, from where he does not return alive.
+
+The Chinese Government decided to terminate the line of the Living
+Buddhas. Ceasing to fight with the Pontiff of Urga, the Government
+contrived the following scheme for accomplishing its ends.
+
+Peking invited the Pandita Gheghen from Dolo Nor and the head of the
+Chinese Lamaites, the Hutuktu of Utai, both of whom do not recognize the
+supremacy of the Living Buddha, to come to the capital. They decided,
+after consulting the old Buddhistic books, that the present Bogdo Khan
+was to be the last Living Buddha, because that part of the Spirit of
+Buddha which dwells in the Bogdo Khans can abide only thirty-one times
+in the human body. Bogdo Khan is the thirty-first Incarnated Buddha from
+the time of Undur Gheghen and with him, therefore, the dynasty of
+the Urga Pontiffs must cease. However, on hearing this the Bogdo Khan
+himself did some research work and found in the old Tibetan manuscripts
+that one of the Tibetan Pontiffs was married and his son was a natural
+Incarnated Buddha. So the Bogdo Khan married and now has a son, a
+very capable and energetic young man, and thus the religious throne of
+Jenghiz Khan will not be left empty. The dynasty of the Chinese emperors
+disappeared from the stage of political events but the Living Buddha
+continues to be a center for the Pan-Asiatic idea.
+
+The new Chinese Government in 1920 held the Living Buddha under arrest
+in his palace but at the beginning of 1921 Baron Ungern crossed the
+sacred Bogdo-Ol and approached the palace from the rear. Tibetan riders
+shot the Chinese sentries with bow and arrow and afterwards the Mongols
+penetrated into the palace and stole their “God,” who immediately
+stirred up all Mongolia and awakened the hopes of the Asiatic peoples
+and tribes.
+
+In the great palace of the Bogdo a Lama showed me a special casket
+covered with a precious carpet, wherein they keep the bulls of the Dalai
+and Tashi Lamas, the decrees of the Russian and Chinese Emperors and the
+Treaties between Mongolia, Russia, China and Tibet. In this same casket
+is the copper plate bearing the mysterious sign of the “King of the
+World” and the chronicle of the last vision of the Living Buddha.
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV
+
+THE VISION OF THE LIVING BUDDHA OF MAY 17, 1921
+
+
+“I prayed and saw that which is hidden from the eyes of the people. A
+vast plain was spread before me surrounded by distant mountains. An old
+Lama carried a basket filled with heavy stones. He hardly moved. From
+the north a rider appeared in white robes and mounted on a white horse.
+He approached the Lama and said to him:
+
+“‘Give me your basket. I shall help you to carry them to the Kure.’
+
+“The Lama handed his heavy burden up to him but the rider could not
+raise it to his saddle so that the old Lama had to place it back on his
+shoulder and continue on his way, bent under its heavy weight. Then from
+the north came another rider in black robes and on a black horse, who
+also approached the Lama and said:
+
+“‘Stupid! Why do you carry these stones when they are everywhere about
+the ground?’
+
+“With these words he pushed the Lama over with the breast of his horse
+and scattered the stones about the ground. When the stones touched the
+earth, they became diamonds. All three rushed to raise them but not
+one of them could break them loose from the ground. Then the old Lama
+exclaimed:
+
+“‘Oh Gods! All my life I have carried this heavy burden and now, when
+there was left so little to go, I have lost it. Help me, great, good
+Gods!’
+
+“Suddenly a tottering old man appeared. He collected all the diamonds
+into the basket without trouble, cleaned the dust from them, raised the
+burden to his shoulder and started out, speaking with the Lama:
+
+“‘Rest a while, I have just carried my burden to the goal and I am glad
+to help you with yours.’
+
+“They went on and were soon out of sight, while the riders began to
+fight. They fought one whole day and then the whole night and, when the
+sun rose over the plain, neither was there, either alive or dead, and no
+trace of either remained. This I saw, Bogdo Hutuktu Khan, speaking with
+the Great and Wise Buddha, surrounded by the good and bad demons! Wise
+Lamas, Hutuktus, Kampos, Marambas and Holy Gheghens, give the answer to
+my vision!”
+
+This was written in my presence on May 17th, 1921, from the words of the
+Living Buddha just as he came out of his private shrine to his study.
+I do not know what the Hutuktu and Gheghens, the fortune tellers,
+sorcerers and clairvoyants replied to him; but does not the answer seem
+clear, if one realizes the present situation in Asia?
+
+Awakened Asia is full of enigmas but it is also full of answers to
+the questions set by the destiny of humankind. This great continent of
+mysterious Pontiffs, Living Gods, Mahatmas and readers of the terrible
+book of Karma is awakening and the ocean of hundreds of millions of
+human lives is lashed with monstrous waves.
+
+
+
+
+Part V
+
+MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES--THE KING OF THE WORLD
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI
+
+THE SUBTERRANEAN KINGDOM
+
+
+“Stop!” whispered my old Mongol guide, as we were one day crossing the
+plain near Tzagan Luk. “Stop!”
+
+He slipped from his camel which lay down without his bidding. The Mongol
+raised his hands in prayer before his face and began to repeat the
+sacred phrase: “Om! Mani padme Hung!” The other Mongols immediately
+stopped their camels and began to pray.
+
+“What has happened?” I thought, as I gazed round over the tender green
+grass, up to the cloudless sky and out toward the dreamy soft rays of
+the evening sun.
+
+The Mongols prayed for some time, whispered among themselves and, after
+tightening up the packs on the camels, moved on.
+
+“Did you see,” asked the Mongol, “how our camels moved their ears in
+fear? How the herd of horses on the plain stood fixed in attention and
+how the herds of sheep and cattle lay crouched close to the ground? Did
+you notice that the birds did not fly, the marmots did not run and the
+dogs did not bark? The air trembled softly and bore from afar the music
+of a song which penetrated to the hearts of men, animals and birds
+alike. Earth and sky ceased breathing. The wind did not blow and the sun
+did not move. At such a moment the wolf that is stealing up on the sheep
+arrests his stealthy crawl; the frightened herd of antelopes suddenly
+checks its wild course; the knife of the shepherd cutting the sheep’s
+throat falls from his hand; the rapacious ermine ceases to stalk the
+unsuspecting salga. All living beings in fear are involuntarily thrown
+into prayer and waiting for their fate. So it was just now. Thus it has
+always been whenever the King of the World in his subterranean palace
+prays and searches out the destiny of all peoples on the earth.”
+
+In this wise the old Mongol, a simple, coarse shepherd and hunter, spoke
+to me.
+
+Mongolia with her nude and terrible mountains, her limitless plains,
+covered with the widely strewn bones of the forefathers, gave birth
+to Mystery. Her people, frightened by the stormy passions of Nature or
+lulled by her deathlike peace, feel her mystery. Her “Red” and “Yellow
+Lamas” preserve and poetize her mystery. The Pontiffs of Lhasa and Urga
+know and possess her mystery.
+
+On my journey into Central Asia I came to know for the first time about
+“the Mystery of Mysteries,” which I can call by no other name. At the
+outset I did not pay much attention to it and did not attach to it such
+importance as I afterwards realized belonged to it, when I had analyzed
+and connoted many sporadic, hazy and often controversial bits of
+evidence.
+
+The old people on the shore of the River Amyl related to me an ancient
+legend to the effect that a certain Mongolian tribe in their escape from
+the demands of Jenghiz Khan hid themselves in a subterranean country.
+Afterwards a Soyot from near the Lake of Nogan Kul showed me the smoking
+gate that serves as the entrance to the “Kingdom of Agharti.” Through
+this gate a hunter formerly entered into the Kingdom and, after his
+return, began to relate what he had seen there. The Lamas cut out
+his tongue in order to prevent him from telling about the Mystery of
+Mysteries. When he arrived at old age, he came back to the entrance of
+this cave and disappeared into the subterranean kingdom, the memory of
+which had ornamented and lightened his nomad heart.
+
+I received more realistic information about this from Hutuktu Jelyb
+Djamsrap in Narabanchi Kure. He told me the story of the semi-realistic
+arrival of the powerful King of the World from the subterranean kingdom,
+of his appearance, of his miracles and of his prophecies; and only then
+did I begin to understand that in that legend, hypnosis or mass vision,
+whichever it may be, is hidden not only mystery but a realistic and
+powerful force capable of influencing the course of the political life
+of Asia. From that moment I began making some investigations.
+
+The favorite Gelong Lama of Prince Chultun Beyli and the Prince himself
+gave me an account of the subterranean kingdom.
+
+“Everything in the world,” said the Gelong, “is constantly in a state of
+change and transition--peoples science, religions, laws and customs. How
+many great empires and brilliant cultures have perished! And that alone
+which remains unchanged is Evil, the tool of Bad Spirits. More than
+sixty thousand years ago a Holyman disappeared with a whole tribe of
+people under the ground and never appeared again on the surface of the
+earth. Many people, however, have since visited this kingdom, Sakkia
+Mouni, Undur Gheghen, Paspa, Khan Baber and others. No one knows where
+this place is. One says Afghanistan, others India. All the people there
+are protected against Evil and crimes do not exist within its bournes.
+Science has there developed calmly and nothing is threatened with
+destruction. The subterranean people have reached the highest knowledge.
+Now it is a large kingdom, millions of men with the King of the World
+as their ruler. He knows all the forces of the world and reads all the
+souls of humankind and the great book of their destiny. Invisibly he
+rules eight hundred million men on the surface of the earth and they
+will accomplish his every order.”
+
+Prince Chultun Beyli added: “This kingdom is Agharti. It extends
+throughout all the subterranean passages of the whole world. I heard a
+learned Lama of China relating to Bogdo Khan that all the subterranean
+caves of America are inhabited by the ancient people who have
+disappeared underground. Traces of them are still found on the surface
+of the land. These subterranean peoples and spaces are governed by
+rulers owing allegiance to the King of the World. In it there is not
+much of the wonderful. You know that in the two greatest oceans of the
+east and the west there were formerly two continents. They disappeared
+under the water but their people went into the subterranean kingdom. In
+underground caves there exists a peculiar light which affords growth to
+the grains and vegetables and long life without disease to the people.
+There are many different peoples and many different tribes. An old
+Buddhist Brahman in Nepal was carrying out the will of the Gods in
+making a visit to the ancient kingdom of Jenghiz,--Siam,--where he met a
+fisherman who ordered him to take a place in his boat and sail with him
+upon the sea. On the third day they reached an island where he met a
+people having two tongues which could speak separately in different
+languages. They showed to him peculiar, unfamiliar animals, tortoises
+with sixteen feet and one eye, huge snakes with a very tasty flesh and
+birds with teeth which caught fish for their masters in the sea. These
+people told him that they had come up out of the subterranean kingdom
+and described to him certain parts of the underground country.”
+
+The Lama Turgut traveling with me from Urga to Peking gave me further
+details.
+
+“The capital of Agharti is surrounded with towns of high priests and
+scientists. It reminds one of Lhasa where the palace of the Dalai
+Lama, the Potala, is the top of a mountain covered with monasteries and
+temples. The throne of the King of the World is surrounded by millions
+of incarnated Gods. They are the Holy Panditas. The palace itself is
+encircled by the palaces of the Goro, who possess all the visible and
+invisible forces of the earth, of inferno and of the sky and who can do
+everything for the life and death of man. If our mad humankind should
+begin a war against them, they would be able to explode the whole
+surface of our planet and transform it into deserts. They can dry up
+the seas, transform lands into oceans and scatter the mountains into the
+sands of the deserts. By his order trees, grasses and bushes can be made
+to grow; old and feeble men can become young and stalwart; and the dead
+can be resurrected. In cars strange and unknown to us they rush through
+the narrow cleavages inside our planet. Some Indian Brahmans and Tibetan
+Dalai Lamas during their laborious struggles to the peaks of mountains
+which no other human feet had trod have found there inscriptions carved
+on the rocks, footprints in the snow and the tracks of wheels. The
+blissful Sakkia Mouni found on one mountain top tablets of stone
+carrying words which he only understood in his old age and afterwards
+penetrated into the Kingdom of Agharti, from which he brought back
+crumbs of the sacred learning preserved in his memory. There in palaces
+of wonderful crystal live the invisible rulers of all pious people, the
+King of the World or Brahytma, who can speak with God as I speak with
+you, and his two assistants, Mahytma, knowing the purposes of future
+events, and Mahynga, ruling the causes of these events.”
+
+“The Holy Panditas study the world and all its forces. Sometimes the
+most learned among them collect together and send envoys to that place
+where the human eyes have never penetrated. This is described by
+the Tashi Lama living eight hundred and fifty years ago. The highest
+Panditas place their hands on their eyes and at the base of the brain of
+younger ones and force them into a deep sleep, wash their bodies with an
+infusion of grass and make them immune to pain and harder than stones,
+wrap them in magic cloths, bind them and then pray to the Great God. The
+petrified youths lie with eyes and ears open and alert, seeing, hearing
+and remembering everything. Afterwards a Goro approaches and fastens a
+long, steady gaze upon them. Very slowly the bodies lift themselves from
+the earth and disappear. The Goro sits and stares with fixed eyes to the
+place whither he has sent them. Invisible threads join them to his will.
+Some of them course among the stars, observe their events, their unknown
+peoples, their life and their laws. They listen to their talk, read
+their books, understand their fortunes and woes, their holiness and
+sins, their piety and evil. Some are mingled with flame and see the
+creature of fire, quick and ferocious, eternally fighting, melting and
+hammering metals in the depths of planets, boiling the water for geysers
+and springs, melting the rocks and pushing out molten streams over the
+surface of the earth through the holes in the mountains. Others rush
+together with the ever elusive, infinitesimally small, transparent
+creatures of the air and penetrate into the mysteries of their existence
+and into the purposes of their life. Others slip into the depths of the
+seas and observe the kingdom of the wise creatures of the water, who
+transport and spread genial warmth all over the earth, ruling the winds,
+waves and storms. . . . In Erdeni Dzu formerly lived Pandita Hutuktu,
+who had come from Agharti. As he was dying, he told about the time when
+he lived according to the will of the Goro on a red star in the east,
+floated in the ice-covered ocean and flew among the stormy fires in the
+depths of the earth.”
+
+These are the tales which I heard in the Mongolian yurtas of Princes and
+in the Lamaite monasteries. These stories were all related in a solemn
+tone which forbade challenge and doubt.
+
+Mystery. . . .
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII
+
+THE KING OF THE WORLD BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD
+
+
+During my stay in Urga I tried to find an explanation of this legend
+about the King of the World. Of course, the Living Buddha could tell
+me most of all and so I endeavored to get the story from him. In a
+conversation with him I mentioned the name of the King of the World.
+The old Pontiff sharply turned his head toward me and fixed upon me his
+immobile, blind eyes. Unwillingly I became silent. Our silence was a
+long one and after it the Pontiff continued the conversation in such
+a way that I understood he did not wish to accept the suggestion of my
+reference. On the faces of the others present I noticed expressions of
+astonishment and fear produced by my words, and especially was this
+true of the custodian of the library of the Bogdo Khan. One can readily
+understand that all this only made me the more anxious to press the
+pursuit.
+
+As I was leaving the study of the Bogdo Hutuktu, I met the librarian
+who had stepped out ahead of me and asked him if he would show me the
+library of the Living Buddha and used a very simple, sly trick with him.
+
+“Do you know, my dear Lama,” I said, “once I rode in the plain at the
+hour when the King of the World spoke with God and I felt the impressive
+majesty of this moment.”
+
+To my astonishment the old Lama very quietly answered me: “It is not
+right that the Buddhist and our Yellow Faith should conceal it. The
+acknowledgment of the existence of the most holy and most powerful man,
+of the blissful kingdom, of the great temple of sacred science is such
+a consolation to our sinful hearts and our corrupt lives that to
+conceal it from humankind is a sin. . . . Well, listen,” he continued,
+“throughout the whole year the King of the World guides the work of the
+Panditas and Goros of Agharti. Only at times he goes to the temple cave
+where the embalmed body of his predecessor lies in a black stone coffin.
+This cave is always dark, but when the King of the World enters it
+the walls are striped with fire and from the lid of the coffin appear
+tongues of flame. The eldest Goro stands before him with covered head
+and face and with hands folded across his chest. This Goro never removes
+the covering from his face, for his head is a nude skull with living
+eyes and a tongue that speaks. He is in communion with the souls of all
+who have gone before.
+
+“The King of the World prays for a long time and afterwards approaches
+the coffin and stretches out his hand. The flames thereon burn brighter;
+the stripes of fire on the walls disappear and revive, interlace and
+form mysterious signs from the alphabet vatannan. From the coffin
+transparent bands of scarcely noticeable light begin to flow forth.
+These are the thoughts of his predecessor. Soon the King of the World
+stands surrounded by an auriole of this light and fiery letters write
+and write upon the walls the wishes and orders of God. At this moment
+the King of the World is in contact with the thoughts of all the men who
+influence the lot and life of all humankind: with Kings, Czars, Khans,
+warlike leaders, High Priests, scientists and other strong men. He
+realizes all their thoughts and plans. If these be pleasing before God,
+the King of the World will invisibly help them; if they are unpleasant
+in the sight of God, the King will bring them to destruction. This power
+is given to Agharti by the mysterious science of ‘Om,’ with which we
+begin all our prayers. ‘Om’ is the name of an ancient Holyman, the first
+Goro, who lived three hundred thirty thousand years ago. He was the
+first man to know God and who taught humankind to believe, hope and
+struggle with Evil. Then God gave him power over all forces ruling the
+visible world.
+
+“After his conversation with his predecessor the King of the World
+assembles the ‘Great Council of God,’ judges the actions and thoughts
+of great men, helps them or destroys them. Mahytma and Mahynga find the
+place for these actions and thoughts in the causes ruling the world.
+Afterwards the King of the World enters the great temple and prays in
+solitude. Fire appears on the altar, gradually spreading to all the
+altars near, and through the burning flame gradually appears the face of
+God. The King of the World reverently announces to God the decisions and
+awards of the ‘Council of God’ and receives in turn the Divine orders of
+the Almighty. As he comes forth from the temple, the King of the World
+radiates with Divine Light.”
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII
+
+REALITY OR RELIGIOUS FANTASY?
+
+
+“Has anybody seen the King of the World?” I asked.
+
+“Oh, yes!” answered the Lama. “During the solemn holidays of the ancient
+Buddhism in Siam and India the King of the World appeared five times.
+He rode in a splendid car drawn by white elephants and ornamented with
+gold, precious stones and finest fabrics; he was robed in a white mantle
+and red tiara with strings of diamonds masking his face. He blessed the
+people with a golden apple with the figure of a Lamb above it. The
+blind received their sight, the dumb spoke, the deaf heard, the crippled
+freely moved and the dead arose, wherever the eyes of the King of the
+World rested. He also appeared five hundred and forty years ago in
+Erdeni Dzu, he was in the ancient Sakkai Monastery and in the Narabanchi
+Kure.
+
+“One of our Living Buddhas and one of the Tashi Lamas received a message
+from him, written with unknown signs on golden tablets. No one could
+read these signs. The Tashi Lama entered the temple, placed the golden
+tablet on his head and began to pray. With this the thoughts of the
+King of the World penetrated his brain and, without having read the
+enigmatical signs, he understood and accomplished the message of the
+King.”
+
+“How many persons have ever been to Agharti?” I questioned him.
+
+“Very many,” answered the Lama, “but all these people have kept secret
+that which they saw there. When the Olets destroyed Lhasa, one of their
+detachments in the southwestern mountains penetrated to the outskirts
+of Agharti. Here they learned some of the lesser mysterious sciences
+and brought them to the surface of our earth. This is why the Olets
+and Kalmucks are artful sorcerers and prophets. Also from the eastern
+country some tribes of black people penetrated to Agharti and lived
+there many centuries. Afterwards they were thrust out from the kingdom
+and returned to the earth, bringing with them the mystery of predictions
+according to cards, grasses and the lines of the palm. They are the
+Gypsies. . . . Somewhere in the north of Asia a tribe exists which is
+now dying and which came from the cave of Agharti, skilled in calling
+back the spirits of the dead as they float through the air.”
+
+The Lama was silent and afterwards, as though answering my thoughts,
+continued.
+
+“In Agharti the learned Panditas write on tablets of stone all the
+science of our planet and of the other worlds. The Chinese learned
+Buddhists know this. Their science is the highest and purest. Every
+century one hundred sages of China collect in a secret place on
+the shores of the sea, where from its depths come out one hundred
+eternally-living tortoises. On their shells the Chinese write all the
+developments of the divine science of the century.”
+
+As I write I am involuntarily reminded of a tale of an old Chinese bonze
+in the Temple of Heaven at Peking. He told me that tortoises live more
+than three thousand years without food and air and that this is the
+reason why all the columns of the blue Temple of Heaven were set on live
+tortoises to preserve the wood from decay.
+
+“Several times the Pontiffs of Lhasa and Urga have sent envoys to the
+King of the World,” said the Lama librarian, “but they could not find
+him. Only a certain Tibetan leader after a battle with the Olets found
+the cave with the inscription: ‘This is the gate to Agharti.’ From the
+cave a fine appearing man came forth, presented him with a gold tablet
+bearing the mysterious signs and said:
+
+“‘The King of the World will appear before all people when the time
+shall have arrived for him to lead all the good people of the world
+against all the bad; but this time has not yet come. The most evil among
+mankind have not yet been born.
+
+“Chiang Chun Baron Ungern sent the young Prince Pounzig to seek out the
+King of the World but he returned with a letter from the Dalai Lama from
+Lhasa. When the Baron sent him a second time, he did not come back.”
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX
+
+THE PROPHECY OF THE KING OF THE WORLD IN 1890
+
+
+The Hutuktu of Narabanchi related the following to me, when I visited
+him in his monastery in the beginning of 1921:
+
+“When the King of the World appeared before the Lamas, favored of God,
+in this monastery thirty years ago he made a prophecy for the coming
+half century. It was as follows:
+
+“‘More and more the people will forget their souls and care about their
+bodies. The greatest sin and corruption will reign on the earth. People
+will become as ferocious animals, thirsting for the blood and death
+of their brothers. The ‘Crescent’ will grow dim and its followers will
+descend into beggary and ceaseless war. Its conquerors will be stricken
+by the sun but will not progress upward and twice they will be visited
+with the heaviest misfortune, which will end in insult before the eye of
+the other peoples. The crowns of kings, great and small, will fall . . .
+one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. . . . There will be
+a terrible battle among all the peoples. The seas will become red . . .
+the earth and the bottom of the seas will be strewn with bones . . .
+kingdoms will be scattered . . . whole peoples will die . . . hunger,
+disease, crimes unknown to the law, never before seen in the world. The
+enemies of God and of the Divine Spirit in man will come. Those who take
+the hand of another shall also perish. The forgotten and pursued shall
+rise and hold the attention of the whole world. There will be fogs
+and storms. Bare mountains shall suddenly be covered with forests.
+Earthquakes will come. . . . Millions will change the fetters of slavery
+and humiliation for hunger, disease and death. The ancient roads will
+be covered with crowds wandering from one place to another. The greatest
+and most beautiful cities shall perish in fire . . . one, two, three.
+. . . Father shall rise against son, brother against brother and mother
+against daughter. . . . Vice, crime and the destruction of body and soul
+shall follow. . . . Families shall be scattered. . . . Truth and love
+shall disappear. . . . From ten thousand men one shall remain; he shall
+be nude and mad and without force and the knowledge to build him a house
+and find his food. . . . He will howl as the raging wolf, devour dead
+bodies, bite his own flesh and challenge God to fight. . . . All the
+earth will be emptied. God will turn away from it and over it there will
+be only night and death. Then I shall send a people, now unknown, which
+shall tear out the weeds of madness and vice with a strong hand and will
+lead those who still remain faithful to the spirit of man in the fight
+against Evil. They will found a new life on the earth purified by the
+death of nations. In the fiftieth year only three great kingdoms will
+appear, which will exist happily seventy-one years. Afterwards there
+will be eighteen years of war and destruction. Then the peoples of
+Agharti will come up from their subterranean caverns to the surface of
+the earth.’”
+
+* * * * *
+
+Afterwards, as I traveled farther through Eastern Mongolia and to
+Peking, I often thought:
+
+“And what if . . . ? What if whole peoples of different colors, faiths
+and tribes should begin their migration toward the West?”
+
+And now, as I write these final lines, my eyes involuntarily turn to
+this limitless Heart of Asia over which the trails of my wanderings
+twine. Through whirling snow and driving clouds of sand of the Gobi they
+travel back to the face of the Narabanchi Hutuktu as, with quiet voice
+and a slender hand pointing to the horizon, he opened to me the doors of
+his innermost thoughts:
+
+“Near Karakorum and on the shores of Ubsa Nor I see the huge,
+multi-colored camps, the herds of horses and cattle and the blue yurtas
+of the leaders. Above them I see the old banners of Jenghiz Khan, of
+the Kings of Tibet, Siam, Afghanistan and of Indian Princes; the sacred
+signs of all the Lamaite Pontiffs; the coats of arms of the Khans of the
+Olets; and the simple signs of the north Mongolian tribes. I do not hear
+the noise of the animated crowd. The singers do not sing the mournful
+songs of mountain, plain and desert. The young riders are not delighting
+themselves with the races on their fleet steeds. . . . There are
+innumerable crowds of old men, women and children and beyond in the
+north and west, as far as the eye can reach, the sky is red as a flame,
+there is the roar and crackling of fire and the ferocious sound of
+battle. Who is leading these warriors who there beneath the reddened sky
+are shedding their own and others’ blood? Who is leading these crowds
+of unarmed old men and women? I see severe order, deep religious
+understanding of purposes, patience and tenacity . . . a new great
+migration of peoples, the last march of the Mongols. . . .”
+
+Karma may have opened a new page of history!
+
+And what if the King of the World be with them?
+
+But this greatest Mystery of Mysteries keeps its own deep silence.
+
+
+GLOSSARY
+
+
+Agronome.--Russian for trained agriculturalist.
+
+Amour sayn.--Good-bye.
+
+Ataman.--Headman or chief of the Cossacks.
+
+Bandi.--Pupil or student of theological school in the Buddhist faith.
+
+Buriat.--The most civilized Mongol tribe, living in the valley of the
+Selenga in Transbaikalia.
+
+Chahars.--A warlike Mongolian tribe living along the Great Wall of China
+in Inner Mongolia.
+
+Chaidje.--A high Lamaite priest, but not an incarnate god.
+
+Cheka.--The Bolshevik Counter-Revolutionary Committee, the most
+relentless establishment of the Bolsheviki, organized for the
+persecution of the enemies of the Communistic government in Russia.
+
+Chiang Chun.--Chinese for “General”--Chief of all Chinese troops in
+Mongolia.
+
+Dalai Lama.--The first and highest Pontiff of the Lamaite or “Yellow
+Faith,” living at Lhasa in Tibet.
+
+Djungar.--A West Mongolian tribe.
+
+Dugun.--Chinese commercial and military post.
+
+Dzuk.--Lie down!
+
+Fang-tzu.--Chinese for “house.”
+
+Fatil.--A very rare and precious root much prized in Chinese and Tibetan
+medicines.
+
+Felcher.--Assistant of a doctor (surgeon).
+
+Gelong.--Lamaite priest having the right to offer sacrifices to God.
+
+Getul.--The third rank in the Lamaite monks.
+
+Goro.--The high priest of the King of the World.
+
+Hatyk.--An oblong piece of blue (or yellow) silk cloth, presented to
+honored guests, chiefs, Lamas and gods. Also a kind of coin, worth from
+25 to 50 cents.
+
+Hong.--A Chinese mercantile establishment.
+
+Hun.--The lowest rank of princes.
+
+Hunghutze.--Chinese brigand.
+
+Hushun.--A fenced enclosure, containing the houses, paddocks, stores,
+stables, etc., of Russian Cossacks in Mongolia.
+
+Hutuktu.--The highest rank of Lamaite monks; the form of any incarnated
+god; holy.
+
+Imouran.--A small rodent like a gopher.
+
+Izubr.--The American elk.
+
+Kabarga.--The musk antelope.
+
+Kalmuck.--A Mongolian tribe, which migrated from Mongolia under Jenghiz
+Khan (where they were known as the Olets or Eleuths), and now live in
+the Urals and on the shores of the Volga in Russia.
+
+Kanpo.--The abbot of a Lamaite monastery, a monk; also the first rank of
+“white” clergy (not monks).
+
+Kanpo-Gelong.--The highest rank of Gelongs (q.v.); an honorary title.
+
+Karma.--The Buddhist materialization of the idea of Fate, a parallel
+with the Greek and Roman Nemesis (Justice).
+
+Khan.--A king.
+
+Khayrus.--A kind of trout.
+
+Khirghiz.--The great Mongol nation living between the river Irtish in
+western Siberia, Lake Balhash and the Volga in Russia.
+
+Kuropatka.--A partridge.
+
+Lama.--The common name for a Lamaite priest.
+
+Lan.--A weight of silver or gold equivalent to about one-eleventh of a
+Russian pound, or 9/110ths of a pound avoirdupois.
+
+Lanhon.--A round bottle of clay.
+
+Maramba.--A doctor of theology.
+
+Merin.--The civil chief of police in every district of the Soyot country
+in Urianhai.
+
+“Om! Mani padme Hung!”.--“Om” has two meanings. It is the name of the
+first Goro and also means: “Hail!” In this connection: “Hail! Great Lama
+in the Lotus Flower!”
+
+Mende.--Soyot greeting--“Good Day.”
+
+Nagan-hushun.--A Chinese vegetable garden or enclosure in Mongolia.
+
+Naida.--A form of fire used by Siberian woodsmen.
+
+Noyon.--A Prince or Khan. In polite address: “Chief,” “Excellency.”
+
+Obo.--The sacred and propitiatory signs in all the dangerous places in
+Urianhai and Mongolia.
+
+Olets.--Vid: Kalmuck.
+
+Om.--The name of the first Goro (q.v.) and also of the mysterious, magic
+science of the Subterranean State. It means, also: “Hail!”
+
+Orochons.--A Mongolian tribe, living near the shores of the Amur River
+in Siberia.
+
+Oulatchen.--The guard for the post horses; official guide.
+
+Ourton.--A post station, where the travelers change horses and
+oulatchens.
+
+Pandita.--The high rank of Buddhist monks.
+
+Panti.--Deer horns in the velvet, highly prized as a Tibetan and Chinese
+medicine.
+
+Pogrom.--A wholesale slaughter of unarmed people; a massacre.
+
+Paspa.--The founder of the Yellow Sect, predominating now in the Lamaite
+faith.
+
+Sait.--A Mongolian governor.
+
+Salga.--A sand partridge.
+
+Sayn.--“Good day!” “Good morning!” “Good evening!” All right; good.
+
+Taiga.--A Siberian word for forest.
+
+Taimen.--A species of big trout, reaching 120 pounds.
+
+Ta Lama.--Literally: “the great priest,” but it means now “a doctor of
+medicine.”
+
+Tashur.--A strong bamboo stick.
+
+Turpan.--The red wild goose or Lama-goose.
+
+Tzagan.--White.
+
+Tzara.--A document, giving the right to receive horses and oulatchens at
+the post stations.
+
+Tsirik.--Mongolian soldiers mobilized by levy.
+
+Tzuren.--A doctor-poisoner.
+
+Ulan.--Red.
+
+Urga.--The name of the capital of Mongolia; (2) a kind of Mongolian
+lasso.
+
+Vatannen.--The language of the Subterranean State of the King of the
+World.
+
+Wapiti.--The American elk.
+
+Yurta.--The common Mongolian tent or house, made of felt.
+
+Zahachine.--A West Mongolian wandering tribe.
+
+Zaberega.--The ice-mountains formed along the shores of a river in
+spring.
+
+Zikkurat.--A high tower of Babylonish style.
+
+
+
+
+
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@@ -0,0 +1,10255 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+
+<!DOCTYPE html
+   PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+   "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" >
+
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en">
+  <head>
+    <title>
+      Beasts, Men and Gods, by Ferdinand Ossendowski
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve">
+
+    body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify}
+    P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; }
+    H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; }
+    hr  { width: 50%; text-align: center;}
+    .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; }
+    blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;}
+    .mynote    {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;}
+    .toc       { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;}
+    .toc2      { margin-left: 20%;}
+    div.fig    { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; }
+    div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; }
+    .figleft   {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;}
+    .figright  {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;}
+    .pagenum   {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal;
+               margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%;
+               text-align: right;}
+    pre        { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;}
+
+</style>
+  </head>
+  <body>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Beasts, Men and Gods, by Ferdinand Ossendowski
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Beasts, Men and Gods
+
+Author: Ferdinand Ossendowski
+
+Translator: Lewis Stanton Palen
+
+Release Date: May 13, 2006 [EBook #2067]
+Last Updated: November 17, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEASTS, MEN AND GODS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <h1>
+      BEASTS, MEN AND GODS
+    </h1>
+    <p>
+      <br />
+    </p>
+    <h2>
+      by Ferdinand Ossendowski
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <h2>
+      EXPLANATORY NOTE
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      When one of the leading publicists in America, Dr. Albert Shaw of the
+      Review of Reviews, after reading the manuscript of Part I of this volume,
+      characterized the author as &ldquo;The Robinson Crusoe of the Twentieth
+      Century,&rdquo; he touched the feature of the narrative which is at once most
+      attractive and most dangerous; for the succession of trying and thrilling
+      experiences recorded seems in places too highly colored to be real or,
+      sometimes, even possible in this day and generation. I desire, therefore,
+      to assure the reader at the outset that Dr. Ossendowski is a man of long
+      and diverse experience as a scientist and writer with a training for
+      careful observation which should put the stamp of accuracy and reliability
+      on his chronicle. Only the extraordinary events of these extraordinary
+      times could have thrown one with so many talents back into the
+      surroundings of the &ldquo;Cave Man&rdquo; and thus given to us this unusual account
+      of personal adventure, of great human mysteries and of the political and
+      religious motives which are energizing the &ldquo;Heart of Asia.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      My share in the work has been to induce Dr. Ossendowski to write his story
+      at this time and to assist him in rendering his experiences into English.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      LEWIS STANTON PALEN. <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <blockquote>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> EXPLANATORY NOTE </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> <big><b>BEASTS, MEN AND GODS</b></big> </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br /> <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_PART1"> <b>Part I: DRAWING LOTS WITH DEATH</b> </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br /> <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_PART2"> <b>Part II: THE LAND OF DEMONS</b> </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0023"> CHAPTER XXIII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0024"> CHAPTER XXIV </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0025"> CHAPTER XXV </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0026"> CHAPTER XXVI </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0027"> CHAPTER XXVII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0028"> CHAPTER XXVIII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br /> <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_PART3"> <b>Part III: THE STRAINING HEART OF ASIA</b>
+        </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0029"> CHAPTER XXIX </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0030"> CHAPTER XXX </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0031"> CHAPTER XXXI </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0032"> CHAPTER XXXII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0033"> CHAPTER XXXIII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0034"> CHAPTER XXXIV </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0035"> CHAPTER XXXV </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0036"> CHAPTER XXXVI </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0037"> CHAPTER XXXVII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0038"> CHAPTER XXXVIII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0039"> CHAPTER XXXIX </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br /> <br /> <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_PART4"> <b>Part IV: THE LIVING BUDDHA</b> </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0040"> CHAPTER XL </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0041"> CHAPTER XLI </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0042"> CHAPTER XLII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0043"> CHAPTER XLIII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0044"> CHAPTER XLIV </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0045"> CHAPTER XLV </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br /> <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_PART5"> <b>Part V: MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES&mdash;THE KING
+        OF THE WORLD</b> </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0046"> CHAPTER XLVI </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0047"> CHAPTER XLVII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0048"> CHAPTER XLVIII </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2HCH0049"> CHAPTER XLIX </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_GLOS"> <b>GLOSSARY</b> </a>
+      </p>
+    </blockquote>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <blockquote>
+      <p>
+        There are times, men and events about which History alone can record the
+        final judgments; contemporaries and individual observers must only write
+        what they have seen and heard. The very truth demands it.
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        TITUS LIVIUS.
+      </p>
+    </blockquote>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      BEASTS, MEN AND GODS
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_PART1" id="link2H_PART1">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      Part I
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      DRAWING LOTS WITH DEATH
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER I
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      INTO THE FORESTS
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      In the beginning of the year 1920 I happened to be living in the Siberian
+      town of Krasnoyarsk, situated on the shores of the River Yenisei, that
+      noble stream which is cradled in the sun-bathed mountains of Mongolia to
+      pour its warming life into the Arctic Ocean and to whose mouth Nansen has
+      twice come to open the shortest road for commerce from Europe to the heart
+      of Asia. There in the depths of the still Siberian winter I was suddenly
+      caught up in the whirling storm of mad revolution raging all over Russia,
+      sowing in this peaceful and rich land vengeance, hate, bloodshed and
+      crimes that go unpunished by the law. No one could tell the hour of his
+      fate. The people lived from day to day and left their homes not knowing
+      whether they should return to them or whether they should be dragged from
+      the streets and thrown into the dungeons of that travesty of courts, the
+      Revolutionary Committee, more terrible and more bloody than those of the
+      Mediaeval Inquisition. We who were strangers in this distraught land were
+      not saved from its persecutions and I personally lived through them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One morning, when I had gone out to see a friend, I suddenly received the
+      news that twenty Red soldiers had surrounded my house to arrest me and
+      that I must escape. I quickly put on one of my friend&rsquo;s old hunting suits,
+      took some money and hurried away on foot along the back ways of the town
+      till I struck the open road, where I engaged a peasant, who in four hours
+      had driven me twenty miles from the town and set me down in the midst of a
+      deeply forested region. On the way I bought a rifle, three hundred
+      cartridges, an ax, a knife, a sheepskin overcoat, tea, salt, dry bread and
+      a kettle. I penetrated into the heart of the wood to an abandoned
+      half-burned hut. From this day I became a genuine trapper but I never
+      dreamed that I should follow this role as long as I did. The next morning
+      I went hunting and had the good fortune to kill two heathcock. I found
+      deer tracks in plenty and felt sure that I should not want for food.
+      However, my sojourn in this place was not for long. Five days later when I
+      returned from hunting I noticed smoke curling up out of the chimney of my
+      hut. I stealthily crept along closer to the cabin and discovered two
+      saddled horses with soldiers&rsquo; rifles slung to the saddles. Two disarmed
+      men were not dangerous for me with a weapon, so I quickly rushed across
+      the open and entered the hut. From the bench two soldiers started up in
+      fright. They were Bolsheviki. On their big Astrakhan caps I made out the
+      red stars of Bolshevism and on their blouses the dirty red bands. We
+      greeted each other and sat down. The soldiers had already prepared tea and
+      so we drank this ever welcome hot beverage and chatted, suspiciously
+      eyeing one another the while. To disarm this suspicion on their part, I
+      told them that I was a hunter from a distant place and was living there
+      because I found it good country for sables. They announced to me that they
+      were soldiers of a detachment sent from a town into the woods to pursue
+      all suspicious people.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you understand, &lsquo;Comrade,&rsquo;&rdquo; said one of them to me, &ldquo;we are looking
+      for counter-revolutionists to shoot them?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I knew it without his explanations. All my forces were directed to
+      assuring them by my conduct that I was a simple peasant hunter and that I
+      had nothing in common with the counter-revolutionists. I was thinking also
+      all the time of where I should go after the departure of my unwelcome
+      guests. It grew dark. In the darkness their faces were even less
+      attractive. They took out bottles of vodka and drank and the alcohol began
+      to act very noticeably. They talked loudly and constantly interrupted each
+      other, boasting how many bourgeoisie they had killed in Krasnoyarsk and
+      how many Cossacks they had slid under the ice in the river. Afterwards
+      they began to quarrel but soon they were tired and prepared to sleep. All
+      of a sudden and without any warning the door of the hut swung wide open
+      and the steam of the heated room rolled out in a great cloud, out of which
+      seemed to rise like a genie, as the steam settled, the figure of a tall,
+      gaunt peasant impressively crowned with the high Astrakhan cap and wrapped
+      in the great sheepskin overcoat that added to the massiveness of his
+      figure. He stood with his rifle ready to fire. Under his girdle lay the
+      sharp ax without which the Siberian peasant cannot exist. Eyes, quick and
+      glimmering like those of a wild beast, fixed themselves alternately on
+      each of us. In a moment he took off his cap, made the sign of the cross on
+      his breast and asked of us: &ldquo;Who is the master here?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I answered him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;May I stop the night?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;places enough for all. Take a cup of tea. It is still
+      hot.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The stranger, running his eyes constantly over all of us and over
+      everything about the room, began to take off his skin coat after putting
+      his rifle in the corner. He was dressed in an old leather blouse with
+      trousers of the same material tucked in high felt boots. His face was
+      quite young, fine and tinged with something akin to mockery. His white,
+      sharp teeth glimmered as his eyes penetrated everything they rested upon.
+      I noticed the locks of grey in his shaggy head. Lines of bitterness
+      circled his mouth. They showed his life had been very stormy and full of
+      danger. He took a seat beside his rifle and laid his ax on the floor
+      below.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What? Is it your wife?&rdquo; asked one of the drunken soldiers, pointing to
+      the ax.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The tall peasant looked calmly at him from the quiet eyes under their
+      heavy brows and as calmly answered:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;One meets a different folk these days and with an ax it is much safer.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He began to drink tea very greedily, while his eyes looked at me many
+      times with sharp inquiry in them and ran often round the whole cabin in
+      search of the answer to his doubts. Very slowly and with a guarded drawl
+      he answered all the questions of the soldiers between gulps of the hot
+      tea, then he turned his glass upside down as evidence of having finished,
+      placed on the top of it the small lump of sugar left and remarked to the
+      soldiers:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am going out to look after my horse and will unsaddle your horses for
+      you also.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All right,&rdquo; exclaimed the half-sleeping young soldier, &ldquo;bring in our
+      rifles as well.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The soldiers were lying on the benches and thus left for us only the
+      floor. The stranger soon came back, brought the rifles and set them in the
+      dark corner. He dropped the saddle pads on the floor, sat down on them and
+      began to take off his boots. The soldiers and my guest soon were snoring
+      but I did not sleep for thinking of what next to do. Finally as dawn was
+      breaking, I dozed off only to awake in the broad daylight and find my
+      stranger gone. I went outside the hut and discovered him saddling a fine
+      bay stallion.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Are you going away?&rdquo; I asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, but I want to go together with these &mdash;&mdash; comrades,&rsquo;&rdquo; he
+      whispered, &ldquo;and afterwards I shall come back.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I did not ask him anything further and told him only that I would wait for
+      him. He took off the bags that had been hanging on his saddle, put them
+      away out of sight in the burned corner of the cabin, looked over the
+      stirrups and bridle and, as he finished saddling, smiled and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am ready. I&rsquo;m going to awake my &lsquo;comrades.&rsquo;&rdquo; Half an hour after the
+      morning drink of tea, my three guests took their leave. I remained out of
+      doors and was engaged in splitting wood for my stove. Suddenly, from a
+      distance, rifle shots rang through the woods, first one, then a second.
+      Afterwards all was still. From the place near the shots a frightened covey
+      of blackcock broke and came over me. At the top of a high pine a jay cried
+      out. I listened for a long time to see if anyone was approaching my hut
+      but everything was still.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On the lower Yenisei it grows dark very early. I built a fire in my stove
+      and began to cook my soup, constantly listening for every noise that came
+      from beyond the cabin walls. Certainly I understood at all times very
+      clearly that death was ever beside me and might claim me by means of
+      either man, beast, cold, accident or disease. I knew that nobody was near
+      me to assist and that all my help was in the hands of God, in the power of
+      my hands and feet, in the accuracy of my aim and in my presence of mind.
+      However, I listened in vain. I did not notice the return of my stranger.
+      Like yesterday he appeared all at once on the threshold. Through the steam
+      I made out his laughing eyes and his fine face. He stepped into the hut
+      and dropped with a good deal of noise three rifles into the corner.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Two horses, two rifles, two saddles, two boxes of dry bread, half a brick
+      of tea, a small bag of salt, fifty cartridges, two overcoats, two pairs of
+      boots,&rdquo; laughingly he counted out. &ldquo;In truth today I had a very successful
+      hunt.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In astonishment I looked at him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What are you surprised at?&rdquo; he laughed. &ldquo;Komu nujny eti tovarischi? Who&rsquo;s
+      got any use for these fellows? Let us have tea and go to sleep. Tomorrow I
+      will guide you to another safer place and then go on.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER II
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE SECRET OF MY FELLOW TRAVELER
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      At the dawn of day we started forth, leaving my first place of refuge.
+      Into the bags we packed our personal estate and fastened them on one of
+      the saddles.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We must go four or five hundred versts,&rdquo; very calmly announced my fellow
+      traveler, who called himself &ldquo;Ivan,&rdquo; a name that meant nothing to my mind
+      or heart in this land where every second man bore the same.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We shall travel then for a very long time,&rdquo; I remarked regretfully.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not more than one week, perhaps even less,&rdquo; he answered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      That night we spent in the woods under the wide spreading branches of the
+      fir trees. It was my first night in the forest under the open sky. How
+      many like this I was destined to spend in the year and a half of my
+      wanderings! During the day there was very sharp cold. Under the hoofs of
+      the horses the frozen snow crunched and the balls that formed and broke
+      from their hoofs rolled away over the crust with a sound like crackling
+      glass. The heathcock flew from the trees very idly, hares loped slowly
+      down the beds of summer streams. At night the wind began to sigh and
+      whistle as it bent the tops of the trees over our heads; while below it
+      was still and calm. We stopped in a deep ravine bordered by heavy trees,
+      where we found fallen firs, cut them into logs for the fire and, after
+      having boiled our tea, dined.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ivan dragged in two tree trunks, squared them on one side with his ax,
+      laid one on the other with the squared faces together and then drove in a
+      big wedge at the butt ends which separated them three or four inches. Then
+      we placed live coals in this opening and watched the fire run rapidly the
+      whole length of the squared faces vis-a-vis.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now there will be a fire in the morning,&rdquo; he announced. &ldquo;This is the
+      &lsquo;naida&rsquo; of the gold prospectors. We prospectors wandering in the woods
+      summer and winter always sleep beside this &lsquo;naida.&rsquo; Fine! You shall see
+      for yourself,&rdquo; he continued.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He cut fir branches and made a sloping roof out of them, resting it on two
+      uprights toward the naida. Above our roof of boughs and our naida spread
+      the branches of protecting fir. More branches were brought and spread on
+      the snow under the roof, on these were placed the saddle cloths and
+      together they made a seat for Ivan to rest on and to take off his outer
+      garments down to his blouse. Soon I noticed his forehead was wet with
+      perspiration and that he was wiping it and his neck on his sleeves.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now it is good and warm!&rdquo; he exclaimed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In a short time I was also forced to take off my overcoat and soon lay
+      down to sleep without any covering at all, while through the branches of
+      the fir trees and our roof glimmered the cold bright stars and just beyond
+      the naida raged a stinging cold, from which we were cosily defended. After
+      this night I was no longer frightened by the cold. Frozen during the days
+      on horseback, I was thoroughly warmed through by the genial naida at night
+      and rested from my heavy overcoat, sitting only in my blouse under the
+      roofs of pine and fir and sipping the ever welcome tea.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      During our daily treks Ivan related to me the stories of his wanderings
+      through the mountains and woods of Transbaikalia in the search for gold.
+      These stories were very lively, full of attractive adventure, danger and
+      struggle. Ivan was a type of these prospectors who have discovered in
+      Russia, and perhaps in other countries, the richest gold mines, while they
+      themselves remain beggars. He evaded telling me why he left Transbaikalia
+      to come to the Yenisei. I understood from his manner that he wished to
+      keep his own counsel and so did not press him. However, the blanket of
+      secrecy covering this part of his mysterious life was one day quite
+      fortuitously lifted a bit. We were already at the objective point of our
+      trip. The whole day we had traveled with difficulty through a thick growth
+      of willow, approaching the shore of the big right branch of the Yenisei,
+      the Mana. Everywhere we saw runways packed hard by the feet of the hares
+      living in this bush. These small white denizens of the wood ran to and fro
+      in front of us. Another time we saw the red tail of a fox hiding behind a
+      rock, watching us and the unsuspecting hares at the same time.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ivan had been silent for a long while. Then he spoke up and told me that
+      not far from there was a small branch of the Mana, at the mouth of which
+      was a hut.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What do you say? Shall we push on there or spend the night by the naida?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I suggested going to the hut, because I wanted to wash and because it
+      would be agreeable to spend the night under a genuine roof again. Ivan
+      knitted his brows but acceded.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was growing dark when we approached a hut surrounded by the dense wood
+      and wild raspberry bushes. It contained one small room with two
+      microscopic windows and a gigantic Russian stove. Against the building
+      were the remains of a shed and a cellar. We fired the stove and prepared
+      our modest dinner. Ivan drank from the bottle inherited from the soldiers
+      and in a short time was very eloquent, with brilliant eyes and with hands
+      that coursed frequently and rapidly through his long locks. He began
+      relating to me the story of one of his adventures, but suddenly stopped
+      and, with fear in his eyes, squinted into a dark corner.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Is it a rat?&rdquo; he asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I did not see anything,&rdquo; I replied.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He again became silent and reflected with knitted brow. Often we were
+      silent through long hours and consequently I was not astonished. Ivan
+      leaned over near to me and began to whisper.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I want to tell you an old story. I had a friend in Transbaikalia. He was
+      a banished convict. His name was Gavronsky. Through many woods and over
+      many mountains we traveled in search of gold and we had an agreement to
+      divide all we got into even shares. But Gavronsky suddenly went out to the
+      &lsquo;Taiga&rsquo; on the Yenisei and disappeared. After five years we heard that he
+      had found a very rich gold mine and had become a rich man; then later that
+      he and his wife with him had been murdered. . . .&rdquo; Ivan was still for a
+      moment and then continued:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This is their old hut. Here he lived with his wife and somewhere on this
+      river he took out his gold. But he told nobody where. All the peasants
+      around here know that he had a lot of money in the bank and that he had
+      been selling gold to the Government. Here they were murdered.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Ivan stepped to the stove, took out a flaming stick and, bending over,
+      lighted a spot on the floor.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you see these spots on the floor and on the wall? It is their blood,
+      the blood of Gavronsky. They died but they did not disclose the
+      whereabouts of the gold. It was taken out of a deep hole which they had
+      drifted into the bank of the river and was hidden in the cellar under the
+      shed. But Gavronsky gave nothing away. . . . AND LORD HOW I TORTURED THEM!
+      I burned them with fire; I bent back their fingers; I gouged out their
+      eyes; but Gavronsky died in silence.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He thought for a moment, then quickly said to me:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have heard all this from the peasants.&rdquo; He threw the log into the stove
+      and flopped down on the bench. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s time to sleep,&rdquo; he snapped out, and
+      was still.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I listened for a long time to his breathing and his whispering to himself,
+      as he turned from one side to the other and smoked his pipe.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the morning we left this scene of so much suffering and crime and on
+      the seventh day of our journey we came to the dense cedar wood growing on
+      the foothills of a long chain of mountains.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;From here,&rdquo; Ivan explained to me, &ldquo;it is eighty versts to the next
+      peasant settlement. The people come to these woods to gather cedar nuts
+      but only in the autumn. Before then you will not meet anyone. Also you
+      will find many birds and beasts and a plentiful supply of nuts, so that it
+      will be possible for you to live here. Do you see this river? When you
+      want to find the peasants, follow along this stream and it will guide you
+      to them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Ivan helped me build my mud hut. But it was not the genuine mud hut. It
+      was one formed by the tearing out of the roots of a great cedar, that had
+      probably fallen in some wild storm, which made for me the deep hole as the
+      room for my house and flanked this on one side with a wall of mud held
+      fast among the upturned roots. Overhanging ones formed also the framework
+      into which we interlaced the poles and branches to make a roof, finished
+      off with stones for stability and snow for warmth. The front of the hut
+      was ever open but was constantly protected by the guardian naida. In that
+      snow-covered den I spent two months like summer without seeing any other
+      human being and without touch with the outer world where such important
+      events were transpiring. In that grave under the roots of the fallen tree
+      I lived before the face of nature with my trials and my anxiety about my
+      family as my constant companions, and in the hard struggle for my life.
+      Ivan went off the second day, leaving for me a bag of dry bread and a
+      little sugar. I never saw him again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER III
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Then I was alone. Around me only the wood of eternally green cedars
+      covered with snow, the bare bushes, the frozen river and, as far as I
+      could see out through the branches and the trunks of the trees, only the
+      great ocean of cedars and snow. Siberian taiga! How long shall I be forced
+      to live here? Will the Bolsheviki find me here or not? Will my friends
+      know where I am? What is happening to my family? These questions were
+      constantly as burning fires in my brain. Soon I understood why Ivan guided
+      me so long. We passed many secluded places on the journey, far away from
+      all people, where Ivan could have safely left me but he always said that
+      he would take me to a place where it would be easier to live. And it was
+      so. The charm of my lone refuge was in the cedar wood and in the mountains
+      covered with these forests which stretched to every horizon. The cedar is
+      a splendid, powerful tree with wide-spreading branches, an eternally green
+      tent, attracting to its shelter every living being. Among the cedars was
+      always effervescent life. There the squirrels were continually kicking up
+      a row, jumping from tree to tree; the nut-jobbers cried shrilly; a flock
+      of bullfinches with carmine breasts swept through the trees like a flame;
+      or a small army of goldfinches broke in and filled the amphitheatre of
+      trees with their whistling; a hare scooted from one tree trunk to another
+      and behind him stole up the hardly visible shadow of a white ermine,
+      crawling on the snow, and I watched for a long time the black spot which I
+      knew to be the tip of his tail; carefully treading the hard crusted snow
+      approached a noble deer; at last there visited me from the top of the
+      mountain the king of the Siberian forest, the brown bear. All this
+      distracted me and carried away the black thoughts from my brain,
+      encouraging me to persevere. It was good for me also, though difficult, to
+      climb to the top of my mountain, which reached up out of the forest and
+      from which I could look away to the range of red on the horizon. It was
+      the red cliff on the farther bank of the Yenisei. There lay the country,
+      the towns, the enemies and the friends; and there was even the point which
+      I located as the place of my family. It was the reason why Ivan had guided
+      me here. And as the days in this solitude slipped by I began to miss
+      sorely this companion who, though the murderer of Gavronsky, had taken
+      care of me like a father, always saddling my horse for me, cutting the
+      wood and doing everything to make me comfortable. He had spent many
+      winters alone with nothing except his thoughts, face to face with nature&mdash;I
+      should say, before the face of God. He had tried the horrors of solitude
+      and had acquired facility in bearing them. I thought sometimes, if I had
+      to meet my end in this place, that I would spend my last strength to drag
+      myself to the top of the mountain to die there, looking away over the
+      infinite sea of mountains and forest toward the point where my loved ones
+      were.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      However, the same life gave me much matter for reflection and yet more
+      occupation for the physical side. It was a continuous struggle for
+      existence, hard and severe. The hardest work was the preparation of the
+      big logs for the naida. The fallen trunks of the trees were covered with
+      snow and frozen to the ground. I was forced to dig them out and
+      afterwards, with the help of a long stick as a lever, to move them from
+      their place. For facilitating this work I chose the mountain for my
+      supplies, where, although difficult to climb, it was easy to roll the logs
+      down. Soon I made a splendid discovery. I found near my den a great
+      quantity of larch, this beautiful yet sad forest giant, fallen during a
+      big storm. The trunks were covered with snow but remained attached to
+      their stumps, where they had broken off. When I cut into these stumps with
+      the ax, the head buried itself and could with difficulty be drawn and,
+      investigating the reason, I found them filled with pitch. Chips of this
+      wood needed only a spark to set them aflame and ever afterward I always
+      had a stock of them to light up quickly for warming my hands on returning
+      from the hunt or for boiling my tea.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The greater part of my days was occupied with the hunt. I came to
+      understand that I must distribute my work over every day, for it
+      distracted me from my sad and depressing thoughts. Generally, after my
+      morning tea, I went into the forest to seek heathcock or blackcock. After
+      killing one or two I began to prepare my dinner, which never had an
+      extensive menu. It was constantly game soup with a handful of dried bread
+      and afterwards endless cups of tea, this essential beverage of the woods.
+      Once, during my search for birds, I heard a rustle in the dense shrubs
+      and, carefully peering about, I discovered the points of a deer&rsquo;s horns. I
+      crawled along toward the spot but the watchful animal heard my approach.
+      With a great noise he rushed from the bush and I saw him very clearly,
+      after he had run about three hundred steps, stop on the slope of the
+      mountain. It was a splendid animal with dark grey coat, with almost a
+      black spine and as large as a small cow. I laid my rifle across a branch
+      and fired. The animal made a great leap, ran several steps and fell. With
+      all my strength I ran to him but he got up again and half jumped, half
+      dragged himself up the mountain. The second shot stopped him. I had won a
+      warm carpet for my den and a large stock of meat. The horns I fastened up
+      among the branches of my wall, where they made a fine hat rack.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I cannot forget one very interesting but wild picture, which was staged
+      for me several kilometres from my den. There was a small swamp covered
+      with grass and cranberries scattered through it, where the blackcock and
+      sand partridges usually came to feed on the berries. I approached
+      noiselessly behind the bushes and saw a whole flock of blackcock
+      scratching in the snow and picking out the berries. While I was surveying
+      this scene, suddenly one of the blackcock jumped up and the rest of the
+      frightened flock immediately flew away. To my astonishment the first bird
+      began going straight up in a spiral flight and afterwards dropped directly
+      down dead. When I approached there sprang from the body of the slain cock
+      a rapacious ermine that hid under the trunk of a fallen tree. The bird&rsquo;s
+      neck was badly torn. I then understood that the ermine had charged the
+      cock, fastened itself on his neck and had been carried by the bird into
+      the air, as he sucked the blood from its throat, and had been the cause of
+      the heavy fall back to the earth. Thanks to his aeronautic ability I saved
+      one cartridge.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So I lived fighting for the morrow and more and more poisoned by hard and
+      bitter thoughts. The days and weeks passed and soon I felt the breath of
+      warmer winds. On the open places the snow began to thaw. In spots the
+      little rivulets of water appeared. Another day I saw a fly or a spider
+      awakened after the hard winter. The spring was coming. I realized that in
+      spring it was impossible to go out from the forest. Every river overflowed
+      its banks; the swamps became impassable; all the runways of the animals
+      turned into beds for streams of running water. I understood that until
+      summer I was condemned to a continuation of my solitude. Spring very
+      quickly came into her rights and soon my mountain was free from snow and
+      was covered only with stones, the trunks of birch and aspen trees and the
+      high cones of ant hills; the river in places broke its covering of ice and
+      was coursing full with foam and bubbles.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER IV
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      A FISHERMAN
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      One day during the hunt, I approached the bank of the river and noticed
+      many very large fish with red backs, as though filled with blood. They
+      were swimming on the surface enjoying the rays of the sun. When the river
+      was entirely free from ice, these fish appeared in enormous quantities.
+      Soon I realized that they were working up-stream for the spawning season
+      in the smaller rivers. I thought to use a plundering method of catching,
+      forbidden by the law of all countries; but all the lawyers and legislators
+      should be lenient to one who lives in a den under the roots of a fallen
+      tree and dares to break their rational laws.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Gathering many thin birch and aspen trees I built in the bed of the stream
+      a weir which the fish could not pass and soon I found them trying to jump
+      over it. Near the bank I left a hole in my barrier about eighteen inches
+      below the surface and fastened on the up-stream side a high basket plaited
+      from soft willow twigs, into which the fish came as they passed the hole.
+      Then I stood cruelly by and hit them on the head with a strong stick. All
+      my catch were over thirty pounds, some more than eighty. This variety of
+      fish is called the taimen, is of the trout family and is the best in the
+      Yenisei.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After two weeks the fish had passed and my basket gave me no more
+      treasure, so I began anew the hunt.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER V
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOR
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      The hunt became more and more profitable and enjoyable, as spring animated
+      everything. In the morning at the break of day the forest was full of
+      voices, strange and undiscernible to the inhabitant of the town. There the
+      heathcock clucked and sang his song of love, as he sat on the top branches
+      of the cedar and admired the grey hen scratching in the fallen leaves
+      below. It was very easy to approach this full-feathered Caruso and with a
+      shot to bring him down from his more poetic to his more utilitarian
+      duties. His going out was an euthanasia, for he was in love and heard
+      nothing. Out in the clearing the blackcocks with their wide-spread spotted
+      tails were fighting, while the hens strutting near, craning and
+      chattering, probably some gossip about their fighting swains, watched and
+      were delighted with them. From the distance flowed in a stern and deep
+      roar, yet full of tenderness and love, the mating call of the deer; while
+      from the crags above came down the short and broken voice of the mountain
+      buck. Among the bushes frolicked the hares and often near them a red fox
+      lay flattened to the ground watching his chance. I never heard any wolves
+      and they are usually not found in the Siberian regions covered with
+      mountains and forest.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But there was another beast, who was my neighbor, and one of us had to go
+      away. One day, coming back from the hunt with a big heathcock, I suddenly
+      noticed among the trees a black, moving mass. I stopped and, looking very
+      attentively, saw a bear, digging away at an ant-hill. Smelling me, he
+      snorted violently, and very quickly shuffled away, astonishing me with the
+      speed of his clumsy gait. The following morning, while still lying under
+      my overcoat, I was attracted by a noise behind my den. I peered out very
+      carefully and discovered the bear. He stood on his hind legs and was
+      noisily sniffing, investigating the question as to what living creature
+      had adopted the custom of the bears of housing during the winter under the
+      trunks of fallen trees. I shouted and struck my kettle with the ax. My
+      early visitor made off with all his energy; but his visit did not please
+      me. It was very early in the spring that this occurred and the bear should
+      not yet have left his hibernating place. He was the so-called &ldquo;ant-eater,&rdquo;
+       an abnormal type of bear lacking in all the etiquette of the first
+      families of the bear clan.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I knew that the &ldquo;ant-eaters&rdquo; were very irritable and audacious and quickly
+      I prepared myself for both the defence and the charge. My preparations
+      were short. I rubbed off the ends of five of my cartridges, thus making
+      dum-dums out of them, a sufficiently intelligible argument for so
+      unwelcome a guest. Putting on my coat I went to the place where I had
+      first met the bear and where there were many ant-hills. I made a detour of
+      the whole mountain, looked in all the ravines but nowhere found my caller.
+      Disappointed and tired, I was approaching my shelter quite off my guard
+      when I suddenly discovered the king of the forest himself just coming out
+      of my lowly dwelling and sniffing all around the entrance to it. I shot.
+      The bullet pierced his side. He roared with pain and anger and stood up on
+      his hind legs. As the second bullet broke one of these, he squatted down
+      but immediately, dragging the leg and endeavoring to stand upright, moved
+      to attack me. Only the third bullet in his breast stopped him. He weighed
+      about two hundred to two hundred fifty pounds, as near as I could guess,
+      and was very tasty. He appeared at his best in cutlets but only a little
+      less wonderful in the Hamburg steaks which I rolled and roasted on hot
+      stones, watching them swell out into great balls that were as light as the
+      finest souffle omelettes we used to have at the &ldquo;Medved&rdquo; in Petrograd. On
+      this welcome addition to my larder I lived from then until the ground
+      dried out and the stream ran down enough so that I could travel down along
+      the river to the country whither Ivan had directed me.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ever traveling with the greatest precautions I made the journey down along
+      the river on foot, carrying from my winter quarters all my household
+      furniture and goods, wrapped up in the deerskin bag which I formed by
+      tying the legs together in an awkward knot; and thus laden fording the
+      small streams and wading through the swamps that lay across my path. After
+      fifty odd miles of this I came to the country called Sifkova, where I
+      found the cabin of a peasant named Tropoff, located closest to the forest
+      that came to be my natural environment. With him I lived for a time.
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      Now in these unimaginable surroundings of safety and peace, summing up the
+      total of my experience in the Siberian taiga, I make the following
+      deductions. In every healthy spiritual individual of our times, occasions
+      of necessity resurrect the traits of primitive man, hunter and warrior,
+      and help him in the struggle with nature. It is the prerogative of the man
+      with the trained mind and spirit over the untrained, who does not possess
+      sufficient science and will power to carry him through. But the price that
+      the cultured man must pay is that for him there exists nothing more awful
+      than absolute solitude and the knowledge of complete isolation from human
+      society and the life of moral and aesthetic culture. One step, one moment
+      of weakness and dark madness will seize a man and carry him to inevitable
+      destruction. I spent awful days of struggle with the cold and hunger but I
+      passed more terrible days in the struggle of the will to kill weakening
+      destructive thoughts. The memories of these days freeze my heart and mind
+      and even now, as I revive them so clearly by writing of my experiences,
+      they throw me back into a state of fear and apprehension. Moreover, I am
+      compelled to observe that the people in highly civilized states give too
+      little regard to the training that is useful to man in primitive
+      conditions, in conditions incident to the struggle against nature for
+      existence. It is the single normal way to develop a new generation of
+      strong, healthy, iron men, with at the same time sensitive souls.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Nature destroys the weak but helps the strong, awakening in the soul
+      emotions which remain dormant under the urban conditions of modern life.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER VI
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      A RIVER IN TRAVAIL
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      My presence in the Sifkova country was not for long but I used it in full
+      measure. First, I sent a man in whom I had confidence and whom I
+      considered trustworthy to my friends in the town that I had left and
+      received from them linen, boots, money and a small case of first aid
+      materials and essential medicines, and, what was most important, a
+      passport in another name, since I was dead for the Bolsheviki. Secondly,
+      in these more or less favorable conditions I reflected upon the plan for
+      my future actions. Soon in Sifkova the people heard that the Bolshevik
+      commissar would come for the requisition of cattle for the Red Army. It
+      was dangerous to remain longer. I waited only until the Yenisei should
+      lose its massive lock of ice, which kept it sealed long after the small
+      rivulets had opened and the trees had taken on their spring foliage. For
+      one thousand roubles I engaged a fisherman who agreed to take me
+      fifty-five miles up the river to an abandoned gold mine as soon as the
+      river, which had then only opened in places, should be entirely clear of
+      ice. At last one morning I heard a deafening roar like a tremendous
+      cannonade and ran out to find the river had lifted its great bulk of ice
+      and then given way to break it up. I rushed on down to the bank, where I
+      witnessed an awe-inspiring but magnificent scene. The river had brought
+      down the great volume of ice that had been dislodged in the south and was
+      carrying it northward under the thick layer which still covered parts of
+      the stream until finally its weight had broken the winter dam to the north
+      and released the whole grand mass in one last rush for the Arctic. The
+      Yenisei, &ldquo;Father Yenisei,&rdquo; &ldquo;Hero Yenisei,&rdquo; is one of the longest rivers in
+      Asia, deep and magnificent, especially through the middle range of its
+      course, where it is flanked and held in canyon-like by great towering
+      ranges. The huge stream had brought down whole miles of ice fields,
+      breaking them up on the rapids and on isolated rocks, twisting them with
+      angry swirls, throwing up sections of the black winter roads, carrying
+      down the tepees built for the use of passing caravans which in the Winter
+      always go from Minnusinsk to Krasnoyarsk on the frozen river. From time to
+      time the stream stopped in its flow, the roar began and the great fields
+      of ice were squeezed and piled upward, sometimes as high as thirty feet,
+      damming up the water behind, so that it rapidly rose and ran out over the
+      low places, casting on the shore great masses of ice. Then the power of
+      the reinforced waters conquered the towering dam of ice and carried it
+      downward with a sound like breaking glass. At the bends in the river and
+      round the great rocks developed terrifying chaos. Huge blocks of ice
+      jammed and jostled until some were thrown clear into the air, crashing
+      against others already there, or were hurled against the curving cliffs
+      and banks, tearing out boulders, earth and trees high up the sides. All
+      along the low embankments this giant of nature flung upward with a
+      suddenness that leaves man but a pigmy in force a great wall of ice
+      fifteen to twenty feet high, which the peasants call &ldquo;Zaberega&rdquo; and
+      through which they cannot get to the river without cutting out a road. One
+      incredible feat I saw the giant perform, when a block many feet thick and
+      many yards square was hurled through the air and dropped to crush saplings
+      and little trees more than a half hundred feet from the bank.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Watching this glorious withdrawal of the ice, I was filled with terror and
+      revolt at seeing the awful spoils which the Yenisei bore away in this
+      annual retreat. These were the bodies of the executed
+      counter-revolutionaries&mdash;officers, soldiers and Cossacks of the
+      former army of the Superior Governor of all anti-Bolshevik Russia, Admiral
+      Kolchak. They were the results of the bloody work of the &ldquo;Cheka&rdquo; at
+      Minnusinsk. Hundreds of these bodies with heads and hands cut off, with
+      mutilated faces and bodies half burned, with broken skulls, floated and
+      mingled with the blocks of ice, looking for their graves; or, turning in
+      the furious whirlpools among the jagged blocks, they were ground and torn
+      to pieces into shapeless masses, which the river, nauseated with its task,
+      vomited out upon the islands and projecting sand bars. I passed the whole
+      length of the middle Yenisei and constantly came across these putrifying
+      and terrifying reminders of the work of the Bolsheviki. In one place at a
+      turn of the river I saw a great heap of horses, which had been cast up by
+      the ice and current, in number not less than three hundred. A verst below
+      there I was sickened beyond endurance by the discovery of a grove of
+      willows along the bank which had raked from the polluted stream and held
+      in their finger-like drooping branches human bodies in all shapes and
+      attitudes with a semblance of naturalness which made an everlasting
+      picture on my distraught mind. Of this pitiful gruesome company I counted
+      seventy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At last the mountain of ice passed by, followed by the muddy freshets that
+      carried down the trunks of fallen trees, logs and bodies, bodies, bodies.
+      The fisherman and his son put me and my luggage into their dugout made
+      from an aspen tree and poled upstream along the bank. Poling in a swift
+      current is very hard work. At the sharp curves we were compelled to row,
+      struggling against the force of the stream and even in places hugging the
+      cliffs and making headway only by clutching the rocks with our hands and
+      dragging along slowly. Sometimes it took us a long while to do five or six
+      metres through these rapid holes. In two days we reached the goal of our
+      journey. I spent several days in this gold mine, where the watchman and
+      his family were living. As they were short of food, they had nothing to
+      spare for me and consequently my rifle again served to nourish me, as well
+      as contributing something to my hosts. One day there appeared here a
+      trained agriculturalist. I did not hide because during my winter in the
+      woods I had raised a heavy beard, so that probably my own mother could not
+      have recognized me. However, our guest was very shrewd and at once
+      deciphered me. I did not fear him because I saw that he was not a
+      Bolshevik and later had confirmation of this. We found common
+      acquaintances and a common viewpoint on current events. He lived close to
+      the gold mine in a small village where he superintended public works. We
+      determined to escape together from Russia. For a long time I had puzzled
+      over this matter and now my plan was ready. Knowing the position in
+      Siberia and its geography, I decided that the best way to safety was
+      through Urianhai, the northern part of Mongolia on the head waters of the
+      Yenisei, then through Mongolia and out to the Far East and the Pacific.
+      Before the overthrow of the Kolchak Government I had received a commission
+      to investigate Urianhai and Western Mongolia and then, with great
+      accuracy, I studied all the maps and literature I could get on this
+      question. To accomplish this audacious plan I had the great incentive of
+      my own safety.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER VII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THROUGH SOVIET SIBERIA
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      After several days we started through the forest on the left bank of the
+      Yenisei toward the south, avoiding the villages as much as possible in
+      fear of leaving some trail by which we might be followed. Whenever we did
+      have to go into them, we had a good reception at the hands of the
+      peasants, who did not penetrate our disguise; and we saw that they hated
+      the Bolsheviki, who had destroyed many of their villages. In one place we
+      were told that a detachment of Red troops had been sent out from
+      Minnusinsk to chase the Whites. We were forced to work far back from the
+      shore of the Yenisei and to hide in the woods and mountains. Here we
+      remained nearly a fortnight, because all this time the Red soldiers were
+      traversing the country and capturing in the woods half-dressed unarmed
+      officers who were in hiding from the atrocious vengeance of the
+      Bolsheviki. Afterwards by accident we passed a meadow where we found the
+      bodies of twenty-eight officers hung to the trees, with their faces and
+      bodies mutilated. There we determined never to allow ourselves to come
+      alive into the hands of the Boisheviki. To prevent this we had our weapons
+      and a supply of cyanide of potassium.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Passing across one branch of the Yenisei, once we saw a narrow, miry pass,
+      the entrance to which was strewn with the bodies of men and horses. A
+      little farther along we found a broken sleigh with rifled boxes and papers
+      scattered about. Near them were also torn garments and bodies. Who were
+      these pitiful ones? What tragedy was staged in this wild wood? We tried to
+      guess this enigma and we began to investigate the documents and papers.
+      These were official papers addressed to the Staff of General Pepelaieff.
+      Probably one part of the Staff during the retreat of Kolchak&rsquo;s army went
+      through this wood, striving to hide from the enemy approaching from all
+      sides; but here they were caught by the Reds and killed. Not far from here
+      we found the body of a poor unfortunate woman, whose condition proved
+      clearly what had happened before relief came through the beneficent
+      bullet. The body lay beside a shelter of branches, strewn with bottles and
+      conserve tins, telling the tale of the bantering feast that had preceded
+      the destruction of this life.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The further we went to the south, the more pronouncedly hospitable the
+      people became toward us and the more hostile to the Bolsheviki. At last we
+      emerged from the forests and entered the spacious vastness of the
+      Minnusinsk steppes, crossed by the high red mountain range called the
+      &ldquo;Kizill-Kaiya&rdquo; and dotted here and there with salt lakes. It is a country
+      of tombs, thousands of large and small dolmens, the tombs of the earliest
+      proprietors of this land: pyramids of stone ten metres high, the marks set
+      by Jenghiz Khan along his road of conquest and afterwards by the cripple
+      Tamerlane-Temur. Thousands of these dolmens and stone pyramids stretch in
+      endless rows to the north. In these plains the Tartars now live. They were
+      robbed by the Bolsheviki and therefore hated them ardently. We openly told
+      them that we were escaping. They gave us food for nothing and supplied us
+      with guides, telling us with whom we might stop and where to hide in case
+      of danger.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After several days we looked down from the high bank of the Yenisei upon
+      the first steamer, the &ldquo;Oriol,&rdquo; from Krasnoyarsk to Minnusinsk, laden with
+      Red soldiers. Soon we came to the mouth of the river Tuba, which we were
+      to follow straight east to the Sayan mountains, where Urianhai begins. We
+      thought the stage along the Tuba and its branch, the Amyl, the most
+      dangerous part of our course, because the valleys of these two rivers had
+      a dense population which had contributed large numbers of soldiers to the
+      celebrated Communist Partisans, Schetinkin and Krafcheno.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A Tartar ferried us and our horses over to the right bank of the Yenisei
+      and afterwards sent us some Cossacks at daybreak who guided us to the
+      mouth of the Tuba, where we spent the whole day in rest, gratifying
+      ourselves with a feast of wild black currants and cherries.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER VIII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THREE DAYS ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Armed with our false passports, we moved along up the valley of the Tuba.
+      Every ten or fifteen versts we came across large villages of from one to
+      six hundred houses, where all administration was in the hands of Soviets
+      and where spies scrutinized all passers-by. We could not avoid these
+      villages for two reasons. First, our attempts to avoid them when we were
+      constantly meeting the peasants in the country would have aroused
+      suspicion and would have caused any Soviet to arrest us and send us to the
+      &ldquo;Cheka&rdquo; in Minnusinsk, where we should have sung our last song. Secondly,
+      in his documents my fellow traveler was granted permission to use the
+      government post relays for forwarding him on his journey. Therefore, we
+      were forced to visit the village Soviets and change our horses. Our own
+      mounts we had given to the Tartar and Cossack who helped us at the mouth
+      of the Tuba, and the Cossack brought us in his wagon to the first village,
+      where we received the post horses. All except a small minority of the
+      peasants were against the Bolsheviki and voluntarily assisted us. I paid
+      them for their help by treating their sick and my fellow traveler gave
+      them practical advice in the management of their agriculture. Those who
+      helped us chiefly were the old dissenters and the Cossacks.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Sometimes we came across villages entirely Communistic but very soon we
+      learned to distinguish them. When we entered a village with our horse
+      bells tinkling and found the peasants who happened to be sitting in front
+      of their houses ready to get up with a frown and a grumble that here were
+      more new devils coming, we knew that this was a village opposed to the
+      Communists and that here we could stop in safety. But, if the peasants
+      approached and greeted us with pleasure, calling us &ldquo;Comrades,&rdquo; we knew at
+      once that we were among the enemy and took great precautions. Such
+      villages were inhabited by people who were not the Siberian liberty-loving
+      peasants but by emigrants from the Ukraine, idle and drunk, living in poor
+      dirty huts, though their village were surrounded with the black and
+      fertile soil of the steppes. Very dangerous and pleasant moments we spent
+      in the large village of Karatuz. It is rather a town. In the year 1912 two
+      colleges were opened here and the population reached 15,000 people. It is
+      the capital of the South Yenisei Cossacks. But by now it is very difficult
+      to recognize this town. The peasant emigrants and Red army murdered all
+      the Cossack population and destroyed and burned most of the houses; and it
+      is at present the center of Bolshevism and Communism in the eastern part
+      of the Minnusinsk district. In the building of the Soviet, where we came
+      to exchange our horses, there was being held a meeting of the &ldquo;Cheka.&rdquo; We
+      were immediately surrounded and questioned about our documents. We were
+      not any too calm about the impression which might be made by our papers
+      and attempted to avoid this examination. My fellow traveler afterwards
+      often said to me:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is great good fortune that among the Bolsheviki the good-for-nothing
+      shoemaker of yesterday is the Governor of today and scientists sweep the
+      streets or clean the stables of the Red cavalry. I can talk with the
+      Bolsheviki because they do not know the difference between &lsquo;disinfection&rsquo; 
+      and &lsquo;diphtheria,&rsquo; &lsquo;anthracite&rsquo; and &lsquo;appendicitis&rsquo; and can talk them round
+      in all things, even up to persuading them not to put a bullet into me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And so we talked the members of the &ldquo;Cheka&rdquo; round to everything that we
+      wanted. We presented to them a bright scheme for the future development of
+      their district, when we would build the roads and bridges which would
+      allow them to export the wood from Urianhai, iron and gold from the Sayan
+      Mountains, cattle and furs from Mongolia. What a triumph of creative work
+      for the Soviet Government! Our ode occupied about an hour and afterwards
+      the members of the &ldquo;Cheka,&rdquo; forgetting about our documents, personally
+      changed our horses, placed our luggage on the wagon and wished us success.
+      It was the last ordeal within the borders of Russia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When we had crossed the valley of the river Amyl, Happiness smiled on us.
+      Near the ferry we met a member of the militia from Karatuz. He had on his
+      wagon several rifles and automatic pistols, mostly Mausers, for outfitting
+      an expedition through Urianhai in quest of some Cossack officers who had
+      been greatly troubling the Bolsheviki. We stood upon our guard. We could
+      very easily have met this expedition and we were not quite assured that
+      the soldiers would be so appreciative of our high-sounding phrases as were
+      the members of the &ldquo;Cheka.&rdquo; Carefully questioning the militiaman, we
+      ferreted out the route their expedition was to take. In the next village
+      we stayed in the same house with him. I had to open my luggage and
+      suddenly I noticed his admiring glance fixed upon my bag.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What pleases you so much?&rdquo; I asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He whispered: &ldquo;Trousers . . . Trousers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I had received from my townsmen quite new trousers of black thick cloth
+      for riding. Those trousers attracted the rapt attention of the militiaman.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you have no other trousers. . . .&rdquo; I remarked, reflecting upon my plan
+      of attack against my new friend.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; he explained with sadness, &ldquo;the Soviet does not furnish trousers.
+      They tell me they also go without trousers. And my trousers are absolutely
+      worn out. Look at them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words he threw back the corner of his overcoat and I was
+      astonished how he could keep himself inside these trousers, for they had
+      such large holes that they were more of a net than trousers, a net through
+      which a small shark could have slipped.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sell me,&rdquo; he whispered, with a question in his voice.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I cannot, for I need them myself,&rdquo; I answered decisively.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He reflected for a few minutes and afterward, approaching me, said: &ldquo;Let
+      us go out doors and talk. Here it is inconvenient.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We went outside. &ldquo;Now, what about it?&rdquo; he began. &ldquo;You are going into
+      Urianhai. There the Soviet bank-notes have no value and you will not be
+      able to buy anything, where there are plenty of sables, fox-skins, ermine
+      and gold dust to be purchased, which they very willingly exchange for
+      rifles and cartridges. You have each of you a rifle and I will give you
+      one more rifle with a hundred cartridges if you give me the trousers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We do not need weapons. We are protected by our documents,&rdquo; I answered,
+      as though I did not understand.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But no,&rdquo; he interrupted, &ldquo;you can change that rifle there into furs and
+      gold. I shall give you that rifle outright.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah, that&rsquo;s it, is it? But it&rsquo;s very little for those trousers. Nowhere in
+      Russia can you now find trousers. All Russia goes without trousers and for
+      your rifle I should receive a sable and what use to me is one skin?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Word by word I attained to my desire. The militia-man got my trousers and
+      I received a rifle with one hundred cartridges and two automatic pistols
+      with forty cartridges each. We were armed now so that we could defend
+      ourselves. Moreover, I persuaded the happy possessor of my trousers to
+      give us a permit to carry the weapons. Then the law and force were both on
+      our side.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In a distant village we bought three horses, two for riding and one for
+      packing, engaged a guide, purchased dried bread, meat, salt and butter
+      and, after resting twenty-four hours, began our trip up the Amyl toward
+      the Sayan Mountains on the border of Urianhai. There we hoped not to meet
+      Bolsheviki, either sly or silly. In three days from the mouth of the Tuba
+      we passed the last Russian village near the Mongolian-Urianhai border,
+      three days of constant contact with a lawless population, of continuous
+      danger and of the ever present possibility of fortuitous death. Only iron
+      will power, presence of mind and dogged tenacity brought us through all
+      the dangers and saved us from rolling back down our precipice of
+      adventure, at whose foot lay so many others who had failed to make this
+      same climb to freedom which we had just accomplished. Perhaps they lacked
+      the persistence or the presence of mind, perhaps they had not the poetic
+      ability to sing odes about &ldquo;roads, bridges and gold mines&rdquo; or perhaps they
+      simply had no spare trousers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER IX
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      TO THE SAYANS AND SAFETY
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Dense virgin wood surrounded us. In the high, already yellow grass the
+      trail wound hardly noticeable in among bushes and trees just beginning to
+      drop their many colored leaves. It is the old, already forgotten Amyl pass
+      road. Twenty-five years ago it carried the provisions, machinery and
+      workers for the numerous, now abandoned, gold mines of the Amyl valley.
+      The road now wound along the wide and rapid Amyl, then penetrated into the
+      deep forest, guiding us round the swampy ground filled with those
+      dangerous Siberian quagmires, through the dense bushes, across mountains
+      and wide meadows. Our guide probably did not surmise our real intention
+      and sometimes, apprehensively looking down at the ground, would say:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Three riders on horses with shoes on have passed here. Perhaps they were
+      soldiers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      His anxiety was terminated when he discovered that the tracks led off to
+      one side and then returned to the trail.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;They did not proceed farther,&rdquo; he remarked, slyly smiling.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That&rsquo;s too bad,&rdquo; we answered. &ldquo;It would have been more lively to travel
+      in company.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      But the peasant only stroked his beard and laughed. Evidently he was not
+      taken in by our statement.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We passed on the way a gold mine that had been formerly planned and
+      equipped on splendid lines but was now abandoned and the buildings all
+      destroyed. The Bolsheviki had taken away the machinery, supplies and also
+      some parts of the buildings. Nearby stood a dark and gloomy church with
+      windows broken, the crucifix torn off and the tower burned, a pitifully
+      typical emblem of the Russia of today. The starving family of the watchman
+      lived at the mine in continuing danger and privation. They told us that in
+      this forest region were wandering about a band of Reds who were robbing
+      anything that remained on the property of the gold mine, were working the
+      pay dirt in the richest part of the mine and, with a little gold washed,
+      were going to drink and gamble it away in some distant villages where the
+      peasants were making the forbidden vodka out of berries and potatoes and
+      selling it for its weight in gold. A meeting with this band meant death.
+      After three days we crossed the northern ridge of the Sayan chain, passed
+      the border river Algiak and, after this day, were abroad in the territory
+      of Urianhai.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This wonderful land, rich in most diverse forms of natural wealth, is
+      inhabited by a branch of the Mongols, which is now only sixty thousand and
+      which is gradually dying off, speaking a language quite different from any
+      of the other dialects of this folk and holding as their life ideal the
+      tenet of &ldquo;Eternal Peace.&rdquo; Urianhai long ago became the scene of
+      administrative attempts by Russians, Mongols and Chinese, all of whom
+      claimed sovereignty over the region whose unfortunate inhabitants, the
+      Soyots, had to pay tribute to all three of these overlords. It was due to
+      this that the land was not an entirely safe refuge for us. We had heard
+      already from our militiaman about the expedition preparing to go into
+      Urianhai and from the peasants we learned that the villages along the
+      Little Yenisei and farther south had formed Red detachments, who were
+      robbing and killing everyone who fell into their hands. Recently they had
+      killed sixty-two officers attempting to pass Urianhai into Mongolia;
+      robbed and killed a caravan of Chinese merchants; and killed some German
+      war prisoners who escaped from the Soviet paradise. On the fourth day we
+      reached a swampy valley where, among open forests, stood a single Russian
+      house. Here we took leave of our guide, who hastened away to get back
+      before the snows should block his road over the Sayans. The master of the
+      establishment agreed to guide us to the Seybi River for ten thousand
+      roubles in Soviet notes. Our horses were tired and we were forced to give
+      them a rest, so we decided to spend twenty-four hours here.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We were drinking tea when the daughter of our host cried:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The Soyots are coming!&rdquo; Into the room with their rifles and pointed hats
+      came suddenly four of them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mende,&rdquo; they grunted to us and then, without ceremony, began examining us
+      critically. Not a button or a seam in our entire outfit escaped their
+      penetrating gaze. Afterwards one of them, who appeared to be the local
+      &ldquo;Merin&rdquo; or governor, began to investigate our political views. Listening
+      to our criticisms of the Bolsheviki, he was evidently pleased and began
+      talking freely.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are good people. You do not like Bolsheviki. We will help you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I thanked him and presented him with the thick silk cord which I was
+      wearing as a girdle. Before night they left us saying that they would
+      return in the morning. It grew dark. We went to the meadow to look after
+      our exhausted horses grazing there and came back to the house. We were
+      gaily chatting with the hospitable host when suddenly we heard horses&rsquo; 
+      hoofs in the court and raucous voices, followed by the immediate entry of
+      five Red soldiers armed with rifles and swords. Something unpleasant and
+      cold rolled up into my throat and my heart hammered. We knew the Reds as
+      our enemies. These men had the red stars on their Astrakhan caps and red
+      triangles on their sleeves. They were members of the detachment that was
+      out to look for Cossack officers. Scowling at us they took off their
+      overcoats and sat down. We first opened the conversation, explaining the
+      purpose of our journey in exploring for bridges, roads and gold mines.
+      From them we then learned that their commander would arrive in a little
+      while with seven more men and that they would take our host at once as a
+      guide to the Seybi River, where they thought the Cossack officers must be
+      hidden. Immediately I remarked that our affairs were moving fortunately
+      and that we must travel along together. One of the soldiers replied that
+      that would depend upon the &ldquo;Comrade-officer.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      During our conversation the Soyot Governor entered. Very attentively he
+      studied again the new arrivals and then asked: &ldquo;Why did you take from the
+      Soyots the good horses and leave bad ones?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The soldiers laughed at him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Remember that you are in a foreign country!&rdquo; answered the Soyot, with a
+      threat in his voice.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;God and the Devil!&rdquo; cried one of the soldiers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But the Soyot very calmly took a seat at the table and accepted the cup of
+      tea the hostess was preparing for him. The conversation ceased. The Soyot
+      finished the tea, smoked his long pipe and, standing up, said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If tomorrow morning the horses are not back at the owner&rsquo;s, we shall come
+      and take them.&rdquo; And with these words he turned and went out.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I noticed an expression of apprehension on the faces of the soldiers.
+      Shortly one was sent out as a messenger while the others sat silent with
+      bowed heads. Late in the night the officer arrived with his other seven
+      men. As he received the report about the Soyot, he knitted his brows and
+      said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a bad mess. We must travel through the swamp where a Soyot will be
+      behind every mound watching us.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He seemed really very anxious and his trouble fortunately prevented him
+      from paying much attention to us. I began to calm him and promised on the
+      morrow to arrange this matter with the Soyots. The officer was a coarse
+      brute and a silly man, desiring strongly to be promoted for the capture of
+      the Cossack officers, and feared that the Soyot could prevent him from
+      reaching the Seybi.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At daybreak we started together with the Red detachment. When we had made
+      about fifteen kilometers, we discovered behind the bushes two riders. They
+      were Soyots. On their backs were their flint rifles.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Wait for me!&rdquo; I said to the officer. &ldquo;I shall go for a parley with them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I went forward with all the speed of my horse. One of the horsemen was the
+      Soyot Governor, who said to me:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Remain behind the detachment and help us.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All right,&rdquo; I answered, &ldquo;but let us talk a little, in order that they may
+      think we are parleying.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After a moment I shook the hand of the Soyot and returned to the soldiers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All right,&rdquo; I exclaimed, &ldquo;we can continue our journey. No hindrance will
+      come from the Soyots.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We moved forward and, when we were crossing a large meadow, we espied at a
+      long distance two Soyots riding at full gallop right up the side of a
+      mountain. Step by step I accomplished the necessary manoeuvre to bring me
+      and my fellow traveler somewhat behind the detachment. Behind our backs
+      remained only one soldier, very brutish in appearance and apparently very
+      hostile to us. I had time to whisper to my companion only one word:
+      &ldquo;Mauser,&rdquo; and saw that he very carefully unbuttoned the saddle bag and
+      drew out a little the handle of his pistol.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Soon I understood why these soldiers, excellent woodsmen as they were,
+      would not attempt to go to the Seybi without a guide. All the country
+      between the Algiak and the Seybi is formed by high and narrow mountain
+      ridges separated by deep swampy valleys. It is a cursed and dangerous
+      place. At first our horses mired to the knees, lunging about and catching
+      their feet in the roots of bushes in the quagmires, then falling and
+      pinning us under their sides, breaking parts of their saddles and bridles.
+      Then we would go in up to the riders&rsquo; knees. My horse went down once with
+      his whole breast and head under the red fluid mud and we just saved it and
+      no more. Afterwards the officer&rsquo;s horse fell with him so that he bruised
+      his head on a stone. My companion injured one knee against a tree. Some of
+      the men also fell and were injured. The horses breathed heavily. Somewhere
+      dimly and gloomily a crow cawed. Later the road became worse still. The
+      trail followed through the same miry swamp but everywhere the road was
+      blocked with fallen tree trunks. The horses, jumping over the trunks,
+      would land in an unexpectedly deep hole and flounder. We and all the
+      soldiers were covered with blood and mud and were in great fear of
+      exhausting our mounts. For a long distance we had to get down and lead
+      them. At last we entered a broad meadow covered with bushes and bordered
+      with rocks. Not only horses but riders also began to sink to their middle
+      in a quagmire with apparently no bottom. The whole surface of the meadow
+      was but a thin layer of turf, covering a lake with black putrefying water.
+      When we finally learned to open our column and proceed at big intervals,
+      we found we could keep on this surface that undulated like rubber ice and
+      swayed the bushes up and down. In places the earth buckled up and broke.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Suddenly, three shots sounded. They were hardly more than the report of a
+      Flobert rifle; but they were genuine shots, because the officer and two
+      soldiers fell to the ground. The other soldiers grabbed their rifles and,
+      with fear, looked about for the enemy. Four more were soon unseated and
+      suddenly I noticed our rearguard brute raise his rifle and aim right at
+      me. However, my Mauser outstrode his rifle and I was allowed to continue
+      my story.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Begin!&rdquo; I cried to my friend and we took part in the shooting. Soon the
+      meadow began to swarm with Soyots, stripping the fallen, dividing the
+      spoils and recapturing their horses. In some forms of warfare it is never
+      safe to leave any of the enemy to renew hostilities later with
+      overwhelming forces.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After an hour of very difficult road we began to ascend the mountain and
+      soon arrived on a high plateau covered with trees.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;After all, Soyots are not a too peaceful people,&rdquo; I remarked, approaching
+      the Governor.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He looked at me very sharply and replied:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It was not Soyots who did the killing.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He was right. It was the Abakan Tartars in Soyot clothes who killed the
+      Bolsheviki. These Tartars were running their herds of cattle and horses
+      down out of Russia through Urianhai to Mongolia. They had as their guide
+      and negotiator a Kalmuck Lamaite. The following morning we were
+      approaching a small settlement of Russian colonists and noticed some
+      horsemen looking out from the woods. One of our young and brave Tartars
+      galloped off at full speed toward these men in the wood but soon wheeled
+      and returned with a reassuring smile.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All right,&rdquo; he exclaimed, laughing, &ldquo;keep right on.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We continued our travel on a good broad road along a high wooden fence
+      surrounding a meadow filled with a fine herd of wapiti or izubr, which the
+      Russian colonists breed for the horns that are so valuable in the velvet
+      for sale to Tibetan and Chinese medicine dealers. These horns, when boiled
+      and dried, are called panti and are sold to the Chinese at very high
+      prices.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We were received with great fear by the settlers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Thank God!&rdquo; exclaimed the hostess, &ldquo;we thought . . .&rdquo; and she broke off,
+      looking at her husband.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER X
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE BATTLE ON THE SEYBI
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Constant dangers develop one&rsquo;s watchfulness and keenness of perception. We
+      did not take off our clothes nor unsaddle our horses, tired as we were. I
+      put my Mauser inside my coat and began to look about and scrutinize the
+      people. The first thing I discovered was the butt end of a rifle under the
+      pile of pillows always found on the peasants&rsquo; large beds. Later I noticed
+      the employees of our host constantly coming into the room for orders from
+      him. They did not look like simple peasants, although they had long beards
+      and were dressed very dirtily. They examined me with very attentive eyes
+      and did not leave me and my friend alone with the host. We could not,
+      however, make out anything. But then the Soyot Governor came in and,
+      noticing our strained relations, began explaining in the Soyot language to
+      the host all about us.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I beg your pardon,&rdquo; the colonist said, &ldquo;but you know yourself that now
+      for one honest man we have ten thousand murderers and robbers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With this we began chatting more freely. It appeared that our host knew
+      that a band of Bolsheviki would attack him in the search for the band of
+      Cossack officers who were living in his house on and off. He had heard
+      also about the &ldquo;total loss&rdquo; of one detachment. However, it did not
+      entirely calm the old man to have our news, for he had heard of the large
+      detachment of Reds that was coming from the border of the Usinsky District
+      in pursuit of the Tartars who were escaping with their cattle south to
+      Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;From one minute to another we are awaiting them with fear,&rdquo; said our host
+      to me. &ldquo;My Soyot has come in and announced that the Reds are already
+      crossing the Seybi and the Tartars are prepared for the fight.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We immediately went out to look over our saddles and packs and then took
+      the horses and hid them in the bushes not far off. We made ready our
+      rifles and pistols and took posts in the enclosure to wait for our common
+      enemy. An hour of trying impatience passed, when one of the workmen came
+      running in from the wood and whispered:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;They are crossing our swamp. . . . The fight is on.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In fact, like an answer to his words, came through the woods the sound of
+      a single rifle-shot, followed closely by the increasing rat-tat-tat of the
+      mingled guns. Nearer to the house the sounds gradually came. Soon we heard
+      the beating of the horses&rsquo; hoofs and the brutish cries of the soldiers. In
+      a moment three of them burst into the house, from off the road where they
+      were being raked now by the Tartars from both directions, cursing
+      violently. One of them shot at our host. He stumbled along and fell on his
+      knee, as his hand reached out toward the rifle under his pillows.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Who are YOU?&rdquo; brutally blurted out one of the soldiers, turning to us and
+      raising his rifle. We answered with Mausers and successfully, for only one
+      soldier in the rear by the door escaped, and that merely to fall into the
+      hands of a workman in the courtyard who strangled him. The fight had
+      begun. The soldiers called on their comrades for help. The Reds were
+      strung along in the ditch at the side of the road, three hundred paces
+      from the house, returning the fire of the surrounding Tartars. Several
+      soldiers ran to the house to help their comrades but this time we heard
+      the regular volley of the workmen of our host. They fired as though in a
+      manoeuvre calmly and accurately. Five Red soldiers lay on the road, while
+      the rest now kept to their ditch. Before long we discovered that they
+      began crouching and crawling out toward the end of the ditch nearest the
+      wood where they had left their horses. The sounds of shots became more and
+      more distant and soon we saw fifty or sixty Tartars pursuing the Reds
+      across the meadow.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Two days we rested here on the Seybi. The workmen of our host, eight in
+      number, turned out to be officers hiding from the Bolsheviks. They asked
+      permission to go on with us, to which we agreed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When my friend and I continued our trip we had a guard of eight armed
+      officers and three horses with packs. We crossed a beautiful valley
+      between the Rivers Seybi and Ut. Everywhere we saw splendid grazing lands
+      with numerous herds upon them, but in two or three houses along the road
+      we did not find anyone living. All had hidden away in fear after hearing
+      the sounds of the fight with the Reds. The following day we went up over
+      the high chain of mountains called Daban and, traversing a great area of
+      burned timber where our trail lay among the fallen trees, we began to
+      descend into a valley hidden from us by the intervening foothills. There
+      behind these hills flowed the Little Yenisei, the last large river before
+      reaching Mongolia proper. About ten kilometers from the river we spied a
+      column of smoke rising up out of the wood. Two of the officers slipped
+      away to make an investigation. For a long time they did not return and we,
+      fearful lest something had happened, moved off carefully in the direction
+      of the smoke, all ready for a fight if necessary. We finally came near
+      enough to hear the voices of many people and among them the loud laugh of
+      one of our scouts. In the middle of a meadow we made out a large tent with
+      two tepees of branches and around these a crowd of fifty or sixty men.
+      When we broke out of the forest all of them rushed forward with a joyful
+      welcome for us. It appeared that it was a large camp of Russian officers
+      and soldiers who, after their escape from Siberia, had lived in the houses
+      of the Russian colonists and rich peasants in Urianhai.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What are you doing here?&rdquo; we asked with surprise.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, ho, you know nothing at all about what has been going on?&rdquo; replied a
+      fairly old man who called himself Colonel Ostrovsky. &ldquo;In Urianhai an order
+      has been issued from the Military Commissioner to mobilize all men over
+      twenty-eight years of age and everywhere toward the town of Belotzarsk are
+      moving detachments of these Partisans. They are robbing the colonists and
+      peasants and killing everyone that falls into their hands. We are hiding
+      here from them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The whole camp counted only sixteen rifles and three bombs, belonging to a
+      Tartar who was traveling with his Kalmuck guide to his herds in Western
+      Mongolia. We explained the aim of our journey and our intention to pass
+      through Mongolia to the nearest port on the Pacific. The officers asked me
+      to bring them out with us. I agreed. Our reconnaissance proved to us that
+      there were no Partisans near the house of the peasant who was to ferry us
+      over the Little Yenisei. We moved off at once in order to pass as quickly
+      as possible this dangerous zone of the Yenisei and to sink ourselves into
+      the forest beyond. It snowed but immediately thawed. Before evening a cold
+      north wind sprang up, bringing with it a small blizzard. Late in the night
+      our party reached the river. Our colonist welcomed us and offered at once
+      to ferry us over and swim the horses, although there was ice still
+      floating which had come down from the head-waters of the stream. During
+      this conversation there was present one of the peasant&rsquo;s workmen,
+      red-haired and squint-eyed. He kept moving around all the time and
+      suddenly disappeared. Our host noticed it and, with fear in his voice,
+      said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He has run to the village and will guide the Partisans here. We must
+      cross immediately.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then began the most terrible night of my whole journey. We proposed to the
+      colonist that he take only our food and ammunition in the boat, while we
+      would swim our horses across, in order to save the time of the many trips.
+      The width of the Yenisei in this place is about three hundred metres. The
+      stream is very rapid and the shore breaks away abruptly to the full depth
+      of the stream. The night was absolutely dark with not a star in the sky.
+      The wind in whistling swirls drove the snow and sleet sharply against our
+      faces. Before us flowed the stream of black, rapid water, carrying down
+      thin, jagged blocks of ice, twisting and grinding in the whirls and
+      eddies. For a long time my horse refused to take the plunge down the steep
+      bank, snorted and braced himself. With all my strength I lashed him with
+      my whip across his neck until, with a pitiful groan, he threw himself into
+      the cold stream. We both went all the way under and I hardly kept my seat
+      in the saddle. Soon I was some metres from the shore with my horse
+      stretching his head and neck far forward in his efforts and snorting and
+      blowing incessantly. I felt the every motion of his feet churning the
+      water and the quivering of his whole body under me in this trial. At last
+      we reached the middle of the river, where the current became exceedingly
+      rapid and began to carry us down with it. Out of the ominous darkness I
+      heard the shoutings of my companions and the dull cries of fear and
+      suffering from the horses. I was chest deep in the icy water. Sometimes
+      the floating blocks struck me; sometimes the waves broke up over my head
+      and face. I had no time to look about or to feel the cold. The animal wish
+      to live took possession of me; I became filled with the thought that, if
+      my horse&rsquo;s strength failed in his struggle with the stream, I must perish.
+      All my attention was turned to his efforts and to his quivering fear.
+      Suddenly he groaned loudly and I noticed he was sinking. The water
+      evidently was over his nostrils, because the intervals of his frightened
+      snorts through the nostrils became longer. A big block of ice struck his
+      head and turned him so that he was swimming right downstream. With
+      difficulty I reined him around toward the shore but felt now that his
+      force was gone. His head several times disappeared under the swirling
+      surface. I had no choice. I slipped from the saddle and, holding this by
+      my left hand, swam with my right beside my mount, encouraging him with my
+      shouts. For a time he floated with lips apart and his teeth set firm. In
+      his widely opened eyes was indescribable fear. As soon as I was out of the
+      saddle, he had at once risen in the water and swam more calmly and
+      rapidly. At last under the hoofs of my exhausted animal I heard the
+      stones. One after another my companions came up on the shore. The
+      well-trained horses had brought all their burdens over. Much farther down
+      our colonist landed with the supplies. Without a moment&rsquo;s loss we packed
+      our things on the horses and continued our journey. The wind was growing
+      stronger and colder. At the dawn of day the cold was intense. Our soaked
+      clothes froze and became hard as leather; our teeth chattered; and in our
+      eyes showed the red fires of fever: but we traveled on to put as much
+      space as we could between ourselves and the Partisans. Passing about
+      fifteen kilometres through the forest we emerged into an open valley, from
+      which we could see the opposite bank of the Yenisei. It was about eight
+      o&rsquo;clock. Along the road on the other shore wound the black serpent-like
+      line of riders and wagons which we made out to be a column of Red soldiers
+      with their transport. We dismounted and hid in the bushes in order to
+      avoid attracting their attention.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      All the day with the thermometer at zero and below we continued our
+      journey, only at night reaching the mountains covered with larch forests,
+      where we made big fires, dried our clothes and warmed ourselves
+      thoroughly. The hungry horses did not leave the fires but stood right
+      behind us with drooped heads and slept. Very early in the morning several
+      Soyots came to our camp.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ulan? (Red?)&rdquo; asked one of them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No! No!&rdquo; exclaimed all our company.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Tzagan? (White?)&rdquo; followed the new question.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, yes,&rdquo; said the Tartar, &ldquo;all are Whites.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mende! Mende!&rdquo; they grunted and, after starting their cups of tea, began
+      to relate very interesting and important news. It appeared that the Red
+      Partisans, moving from the mountains Tannu Ola, occupied with their
+      outposts all the border of Mongolia to stop and seize the peasants and
+      Soyots driving out their cattle. To pass the Tannu Ola now would be
+      impossible. I saw only one way&mdash;to turn sharp to the southeast, pass
+      the swampy valley of the Buret Hei and reach the south shore of Lake
+      Kosogol, which is already in the territory of Mongolia proper. It was very
+      unpleasant news. To the first Mongol post in Samgaltai was not more than
+      sixty miles from our camp, while to Kosogol by the shortest line not less
+      than two hundred seventy-five. The horses my friend and I were riding,
+      after having traveled more than six hundred miles over hard roads and
+      without proper food or rest, could scarcely make such an additional
+      distance. But, reflecting upon the situation and studying my new fellow
+      travelers, I determined not to attempt to pass the Tannu Ola. They were
+      nervous, morally weary men, badly dressed and armed and most of them were
+      without weapons. I knew that during a fight there is no danger so great as
+      that of disarmed men. They are easily caught by panic, lose their heads
+      and infect all the others. Therefore, I consulted with my friends and
+      decided to go to Kosogol. Our company agreed to follow us. After luncheon,
+      consisting of soup with big lumps of meat, dry bread and tea, we moved
+      out. About two o&rsquo;clock the mountains began to rise up before us. They were
+      the northeast outspurs of the Tannu Ola, behind which lay the Valley of
+      Buret Hei.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XI
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE BARRIER OF RED PARTISANS
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      In a valley between two sharp ridges we discovered a herd of yaks and
+      cattle being rapidly driven off to the north by ten mounted Soyots.
+      Approaching us warily they finally revealed that Noyon (Prince) of Todji
+      had ordered them to drive the herds along the Buret Hei into Mongolia,
+      apprehending the pillaging of the Red Partisans. They proceeded but were
+      informed by some Soyot hunters that this part of the Tannu Ola was
+      occupied by the Partisans from the village of Vladimirovka. Consequently
+      they were forced to return. We inquired from them the whereabouts of these
+      outposts and how many Partisans were holding the mountain pass over into
+      Mongolia. We sent out the Tartar and the Kalmuck for a reconnaissance
+      while all of us prepared for the further advance by wrapping the feet of
+      our horses in our shirts and by muzzling their noses with straps and bits
+      of rope so that they could not neigh. It was dark when our investigators
+      returned and reported to us that about thirty Partisans had a camp some
+      ten kilometers from us, occupying the yurtas of the Soyots. At the pass
+      were two outposts, one of two soldiers and the other of three. From the
+      outposts to the camp was a little over a mile. Our trail lay between the
+      two outposts. From the top of the mountain one could plainly see the two
+      posts and could shoot them all. When we had come near to the top of this
+      mountain, I left our party and, taking with me my friend, the Tartar, the
+      Kalmuck and two of the young officers, advanced. From the mountain I saw
+      about five hundred yards ahead two fires. At each of the fires sat a
+      soldier with his rifle and the others slept. I did not want to fight with
+      the Partisans but we had to do away with these outposts and that without
+      firing or we never should get through the pass. I did not believe the
+      Partisans could afterwards track us because the whole trail was thickly
+      marked with the spoors of horses and cattle.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I shall take for my share these two,&rdquo; whispered my friend, pointing to
+      the left outpost.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The rest of us were to take care of the second post. I crept along through
+      the bushes behind my friend in order to help him in case of need; but I am
+      bound to admit that I was not at all worried about him. He was about seven
+      feet tall and so strong that, when a horse used to refuse sometimes to
+      take the bit, he would wrap his arm around its neck, kick its forefeet out
+      from under it and throw it so that he could easily bridle it on the
+      ground. When only a hundred paces remained, I stood behind the bushes and
+      watched. I could see very distinctly the fire and the dozing sentinel. He
+      sat with his rifle on his knees. His companion, asleep beside him, did not
+      move. Their white felt boots were plainly visible to me. For a long time I
+      did not remark my friend. At the fire all was quiet. Suddenly from the
+      other outpost floated over a few dim shouts and all was still. Our
+      sentinel slowly raised his head. But just at this moment the huge body of
+      my friend rose up and blanketed the fire from me and in a twinkling the
+      feet of the sentinel flashed through the air, as my companion had seized
+      him by the throat and swung him clear into the bushes, where both figures
+      disappeared. In a second he re-appeared, flourished the rifle of the
+      Partisan over his head and I heard the dull blow which was followed by an
+      absolute calm. He came back toward me and, confusedly smiling, said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is done. God and the Devil! When I was a boy, my mother wanted to make
+      a priest out of me. When I grew up, I became a trained agronome in order .
+      . . to strangle the people and smash their skulls. Revolution is a very
+      stupid thing!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And with anger and disgust he spit and began to smoke his pipe.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At the other outpost also all was finished. During this night we reached
+      the top of the Tannu Ola and descended again into a valley covered with
+      dense bushes and twined with a whole network of small rivers and streams.
+      It was the headwaters of the Buret Hei. About one o&rsquo;clock we stopped and
+      began to feed our horses, as the grass just there was very good. Here we
+      thought ourselves in safety. We saw many calming indications. On the
+      mountains were seen the grazing herds of reindeers and yaks and
+      approaching Soyots confirmed our supposition. Here behind the Tannu Ola
+      the Soyots had not seen the Red soldiers. We presented to these Soyots a
+      brick of tea and saw them depart happy and sure that we were &ldquo;Tzagan,&rdquo; a
+      &ldquo;good people.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      While our horses rested and grazed on the well-preserved grass, we sat by
+      the fire and deliberated upon our further progress. There developed a
+      sharp controversy between two sections of our company, one led by a
+      Colonel who with four officers were so impressed by the absence of Reds
+      south of the Tannu Ola that they determined to work westward to Kobdo and
+      then on to the camp on the Emil River where the Chinese authorities had
+      interned six thousand of the forces of General Bakitch, which had come
+      over into Mongolian territory. My friend and I with sixteen of the
+      officers chose to carry through our old plan to strike for the shores of
+      Lake Kosogol and thence out to the Far East. As neither side could
+      persuade the other to abandon its ideas, our company was divided and the
+      next day at noon we took leave of one another. It turned out that our own
+      wing of eighteen had many fights and difficulties on the way, which cost
+      us the lives of six of our comrades, but that the remainder of us came
+      through to the goal of our journey so closely knit by the ties of devotion
+      which fighting and struggling for our very lives entailed that we have
+      ever preserved for one another the warmest feelings of friendship. The
+      other group under Colonel Jukoff perished. He met a big detachment of Red
+      cavalry and was defeated by them in two fights. Only two officers escaped.
+      They related to me this sad news and the details of the fights when we met
+      four months later in Urga.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Our band of eighteen riders with five packhorses moved up the valley of
+      the Buret Hei. We floundered in the swamps, passed innumerable miry
+      streams, were frozen by the cold winds and were soaked through by the snow
+      and sleet; but we persisted indefatigably toward the south end of Kosogol.
+      As a guide our Tartar led us confidently over these trails well marked by
+      the feet of many cattle being run out of Urianhai to Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      IN THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL PEACE
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      The inhabitants of Urianhai, the Soyots, are proud of being the genuine
+      Buddhists and of retaining the pure doctrine of holy Rama and the deep
+      wisdom of Sakkia-Mouni. They are the eternal enemies of war and of the
+      shedding of blood. Away back in the thirteenth century they preferred to
+      move out from their native land and take refuge in the north rather than
+      fight or become a part of the empire of the bloody conqueror Jenghiz Khan,
+      who wanted to add to his forces these wonderful horsemen and skilled
+      archers. Three times in their history they have thus trekked northward to
+      avoid struggle and now no one can say that on the hands of the Soyots
+      there has ever been seen human blood. With their love of peace they
+      struggled against the evils of war. Even the severe Chinese administrators
+      could not apply here in this country of peace the full measure of their
+      implacable laws. In the same manner the Soyots conducted themselves when
+      the Russian people, mad with blood and crime, brought this infection into
+      their land. They avoided persistently meetings and encounters with the Red
+      troops and Partisans, trekking off with their families and cattle
+      southward into the distant principalities of Kemchik and Soldjak. The
+      eastern branch of this stream of emigration passed through the valley of
+      the Buret Hei, where we constantly outstrode groups of them with their
+      cattle and herds.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We traveled quickly along the winding trail of the Buret Hei and in two
+      days began to make the elevations of the mountain pass between the valleys
+      of the Buret Hei and Kharga. The trail was not only very steep but was
+      also littered with fallen larch trees and frequently intercepted,
+      incredible as it may seem, with swampy places where the horses mired
+      badly. Then again we picked our dangerous road over cobbles and small
+      stones that rolled away under our horses&rsquo; feet and bumped off over the
+      precipice nearby. Our horses fatigued easily in passing this moraine that
+      had been strewn by ancient glaciers along the mountain sides. Sometimes
+      the trail led right along the edge of the precipices where the horses
+      started great slides of stones and sand. I remember one whole mountain
+      covered with these moving sands. We had to leave our saddles and, taking
+      the bridles in our hands, to trot for a mile or more over these sliding
+      beds, sometimes sinking in up to our knees and going down the mountain
+      side with them toward the precipices below. One imprudent move at times
+      would have sent us over the brink. This destiny met one of our horses.
+      Belly down in the moving trap, he could not work free to change his
+      direction and so slipped on down with a mass of it until he rolled over
+      the precipice and was lost to us forever. We heard only the crackling of
+      breaking trees along his road to death. Then with great difficulty we
+      worked down to salvage the saddle and bags. Further along we had to
+      abandon one of our pack horses which had come all the way from the
+      northern border of Urianhai with us. We first unburdened it but this did
+      not help; no more did our shouting and threats. He only stood with his
+      head down and looked so exhausted that we realized he had reached the
+      further bourne of his land of toil. Some Soyots with us examined him, felt
+      of his muscles on the fore and hind legs, took his head in their hands and
+      moved it from side to side, examined his head carefully after that and
+      then said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That horse will not go further. His brain is dried out.&rdquo; So we had to
+      leave him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      That evening we came to a beautiful change in scene when we topped a rise
+      and found ourselves on a broad plateau covered with larch. On it we
+      discovered the yurtas of some Soyot hunters, covered with bark instead of
+      the usual felt. Out of these ten men with rifles rushed toward us as we
+      approached. They informed us that the Prince of Soldjak did not allow
+      anyone to pass this way, as he feared the coming of murderers and robbers
+      into his dominions.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Go back to the place from which you came,&rdquo; they advised us with fear in
+      their eyes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I did not answer but I stopped the beginnings of a quarrel between an old
+      Soyot and one of my officers. I pointed to the small stream in the valley
+      ahead of us and asked him its name.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oyna,&rdquo; replied the Soyot. &ldquo;It is the border of the principality and the
+      passage of it is forbidden.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All right,&rdquo; I said, &ldquo;but you will allow us to warm and rest ourselves a
+      little.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, yes!&rdquo; exclaimed the hospitable Soyots, and led us into their tepees.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On our way there I took the opportunity to hand to the old Soyot a
+      cigarette and to another a box of matches. We were all walking along
+      together save one Soyot who limped slowly in the rear and was holding his
+      hand up over his nose.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Is he ill?&rdquo; I asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; sadly answered the old Soyot. &ldquo;That is my son. He has been losing
+      blood from the nose for two days and is now quite weak.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I stopped and called the young man to me.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Unbutton your outer coat,&rdquo; I ordered, &ldquo;bare your neck and chest and turn
+      your face up as far as you can.&rdquo; I pressed the jugular vein on both sides
+      of his head for some minutes and said to him:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The blood will not flow from your nose any more. Go into your tepee and
+      lie down for some time.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The &ldquo;mysterious&rdquo; action of my fingers created on the Soyots a strong
+      impression. The old Soyot with fear and reverence whispered:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ta Lama, Ta Lama! (Great Doctor).&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In the yurta we were given tea while the old Soyot sat thinking deeply
+      about something. Afterwards he took counsel with his companions and
+      finally announced:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The wife of our Prince is sick in her eyes and I think the Prince will be
+      very glad if I lead the &lsquo;Ta Lama&rsquo; to him. He will not punish me, for he
+      ordered that no &lsquo;bad people&rsquo; should be allowed to pass; but that should
+      not stop the &lsquo;good people&rsquo; from coming to us.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do as you think best,&rdquo; I replied rather indifferently. &ldquo;As a matter of
+      fact, I know how to treat eye diseases but I would go back if you say so.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, no!&rdquo; the old man exclaimed with fear. &ldquo;I shall guide you myself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Sitting by the fire, he lighted his pipe with a flint, wiped the
+      mouthpiece on his sleeve and offered it to me in true native hospitality.
+      I was &ldquo;comme il faut&rdquo; and smoked. Afterwards he offered his pipe to each
+      one of our company and received from each a cigarette, a little tobacco or
+      some matches. It was the seal on our friendship. Soon in our yurta many
+      persons piled up around us, men, women, children and dogs. It was
+      impossible to move. From among them emerged a Lama with shaved face and
+      close cropped hair, dressed in the flowing red garment of his caste. His
+      clothes and his expression were very different from the common mass of
+      dirty Soyots with their queues and felt caps finished off with squirrel
+      tails on the top. The Lama was very kindly disposed towards us but looked
+      ever greedily at our gold rings and watches. I decided to exploit this
+      avidity of the Servant of Buddha. Supplying him with tea and dried bread,
+      I made known to him that I was in need of horses.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have a horse. Will you buy it from me?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;But I do not accept
+      Russian bank notes. Let us exchange something.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      For a long time I bargained with him and at last for my gold wedding ring,
+      a raincoat and a leather saddle bag I received a fine Soyot horse&mdash;to
+      replace one of the pack animals we had lost&mdash;and a young goat. We
+      spent the night here and were feasted with fat mutton. In the morning we
+      moved off under the guidance of the old Soyot along the trail that
+      followed the valley of the Oyna, free from both mountains and swamps. But
+      we knew that the mounts of my friend and myself, together with three
+      others, were too worn down to make Kosogol and determined to try to buy
+      others in Soldjak. Soon we began to meet little groups of Soyot yurtas
+      with their cattle and horses round about. Finally we approached the
+      shifting capital of the Prince. Our guide rode on ahead for the parley
+      with him after assuring us that the Prince would be glad to welcome the Ta
+      Lama, though at the time I remarked great anxiety and fear in his features
+      as he spoke. Before long we emerged on to a large plain well covered with
+      small bushes. Down by the shore of the river we made out big yurtas with
+      yellow and blue flags floating over them and easily guessed that this was
+      the seat of government. Soon our guide returned to us. His face was
+      wreathed with smiles. He flourished his hands and cried:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Noyon (the Prince) asks you to come! He is very glad!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      From a warrior I was forced to change myself into a diplomat. As we
+      approached the yurta of the Prince, we were met by two officials, wearing
+      the peaked Mongol caps with peacock feathers rampants behind. With low
+      obeisances they begged the foreign &ldquo;Noyon&rdquo; to enter the yurta. My friend
+      the Tartar and I entered. In the rich yurta draped with expensive silk we
+      discovered a feeble, wizen-faced little old man with shaven face and
+      cropped hair, wearing also a high pointed beaver cap with red silk apex
+      topped off with a dark red button with the long peacock feathers streaming
+      out behind. On his nose were big Chinese spectacles. He was sitting on a
+      low divan, nervously clicking the beads of his rosary. This was Ta Lama,
+      Prince of Soldjak and High Priest of the Buddhist Temple. He welcomed us
+      very cordially and invited us to sit down before the fire burning in the
+      copper brazier. His surprisingly beautiful Princess served us with tea and
+      Chinese confections and cakes. We smoked our pipes, though the Prince as a
+      Lama did not indulge, fulfilling, however, his duty as a host by raising
+      to his lips the pipes we offered him and handing us in return the green
+      nephrite bottle of snuff. Thus with the etiquette accomplished we awaited
+      the words of the Prince. He inquired whether our travels had been
+      felicitous and what were our further plans. I talked with him quite
+      frankly and requested his hospitality for the rest of our company and for
+      the horses. He agreed immediately and ordered four yurtas set up for us.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I hear that the foreign Noyon,&rdquo; the Prince said, &ldquo;is a good doctor.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, I know some diseases and have with me some medicines,&rdquo; I answered,
+      &ldquo;but I am not a doctor. I am a scientist in other branches.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      But the Prince did not understand this. In his simple directness a man who
+      knows how to treat disease is a doctor.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My wife has had constant trouble for two months with her eyes,&rdquo; he
+      announced. &ldquo;Help her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I asked the Princess to show me her eyes and I found the typical
+      conjunctivitis from the continual smoke of the yurta and the general
+      uncleanliness. The Tartar brought me my medicine case. I washed her eyes
+      with boric acid and dropped a little cocaine and a feeble solution of
+      sulphurate of zinc into them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I beg you to cure me,&rdquo; pleaded the Princess. &ldquo;Do not go away until you
+      have cured me. We shall give you sheep, milk and flour for all your
+      company. I weep now very often because I had very nice eyes and my husband
+      used to tell me they shone like the stars and now they are red. I cannot
+      bear it, I cannot!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She very capriciously stamped her foot and, coquettishly smiling at me,
+      asked:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you want to cure me? Yes?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The character and manners of lovely woman are the same everywhere: on
+      bright Broadway, along the stately Thames, on the vivacious boulevards of
+      gay Paris and in the silk-draped yurta of the Soyot Princess behind the
+      larch covered Tannu Ola.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I shall certainly try,&rdquo; assuringly answered the new oculist.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We spent here ten days, surrounded by the kindness and friendship of the
+      whole family of the Prince. The eyes of the Princess, which eight years
+      ago had seduced the already old Prince Lama, were now recovered. She was
+      beside herself with joy and seldom left her looking-glass.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Prince gave me five fairly good horses, ten sheep and a bag of flour,
+      which was immediately transformed into dry bread. My friend presented him
+      with a Romanoff five-hundred-rouble note with a picture of Peter the Great
+      upon it, while I gave to him a small nugget of gold which I had picked up
+      in the bed of a stream. The Prince ordered one of the Soyots to guide us
+      to the Kosogol. The whole family of the Prince conducted us to the
+      monastery ten kilometres from the &ldquo;capital.&rdquo; We did not visit the
+      monastery but we stopped at the &ldquo;Dugun,&rdquo; a Chinese trading establishment.
+      The Chinese merchants looked at us in a very hostile manner though they
+      simultaneously offered us all sorts of goods, thinking especially to catch
+      us with their round bottles (lanhon) of maygolo or sweet brandy made from
+      aniseed. As we had neither lump silver nor Chinese dollars, we could only
+      look with longing at these attractive bottles, till the Prince came to the
+      rescue and ordered the Chinese to put five of them in our saddle bags.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XIII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      MYSTERIES, MIRACLES AND A NEW FIGHT
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      In the evening of the same day we arrived at the Sacred Lake of Teri Noor,
+      a sheet of water eight kilometres across, muddy and yellow, with low
+      unattractive shores studded with large holes. In the middle of the lake
+      lay what was left of a disappearing island. On this were a few trees and
+      some old ruins. Our guide explained to us that two centuries ago the lake
+      did not exist and that a very strong Chinese fortress stood here on the
+      plain. A Chinese chief in command of the fortress gave offence to an old
+      Lama who cursed the place and prophesied that it would all be destroyed.
+      The very next day the water began rushing up from the ground, destroyed
+      the fortress and engulfed all the Chinese soldiers. Even to this day when
+      storms rage over the lake the waters cast up on the shores the bones of
+      men and horses who perished in it. This Teri Noor increases its size every
+      year, approaching nearer and nearer to the mountains. Skirting the eastern
+      shore of the lake, we began to climb a snow-capped ridge. The road was
+      easy at first but the guide warned us that the most difficult bit was
+      there ahead. We reached this point two days later and found there a steep
+      mountain side thickly set with forest and covered with snow. Beyond it lay
+      the lines of eternal snow&mdash;ridges studded with dark rocks set in
+      great banks of the white mantle that gleamed bright under the clear
+      sunshine. These were the eastern and highest branches of the Tannu Ola
+      system. We spent the night beneath this wood and began the passage of it
+      in the morning. At noon the guide began leading us by zigzags in and out
+      but everywhere our trail was blocked by deep ravines, great jams of fallen
+      trees and walls of rock caught in their mad tobogganings from the mountain
+      top. We struggled for several hours, wore out our horses and, all of a
+      sudden, turned up at the place where we had made our last halt. It was
+      very evident our Soyot had lost his way; and on his face I noticed marked
+      fear.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The old devils of the cursed forest will not allow us to pass,&rdquo; he
+      whispered with trembling lips. &ldquo;It is a very ominous sign. We must return
+      to Kharga to the Noyon.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      But I threatened him and he took the lead again evidently without hope or
+      effort to find the way. Fortunately, one of our party, an Urianhai hunter,
+      noticed the blazes on the trees, the signs of the road which our guide had
+      lost. Following these, we made our way through the wood, came into and
+      crossed a belt of burned larch timber and beyond this dipped again into a
+      small live forest bordering the bottom of the mountains crowned with the
+      eternal snows. It grew dark so that we had to camp for the night. The wind
+      rose high and carried in its grasp a great white sheet of snow that shut
+      us off from the horizon on every side and buried our camp deep in its
+      folds. Our horses stood round like white ghosts, refusing to eat or to
+      leave the circle round our fire. The wind combed their manes and tails.
+      Through the niches in the mountains it roared and whistled. From somewhere
+      in the distance came the low rumble of a pack of wolves, punctuated at
+      intervals by the sharp individual barking that a favorable gust of wind
+      threw up into high staccato.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As we lay by the fire, the Soyot came over to me and said: &ldquo;Noyon, come
+      with me to the obo. I want to show you something.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We went there and began to ascend the mountain. At the bottom of a very
+      steep slope was laid up a large pile of stones and tree trunks, making a
+      cone of some three metres in height. These obo are the Lamaite sacred
+      signs set up at dangerous places, the altars to the bad demons, rulers of
+      these places. Passing Soyots and Mongols pay tribute to the spirits by
+      hanging on the branches of the trees in the obo hatyk, long streamers of
+      blue silk, shreds torn from the lining of their coats or simply tufts of
+      hair cut from their horses&rsquo; manes; or by placing on the stones lumps of
+      meat or cups of tea and salt.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Look at it,&rdquo; said the Soyot. &ldquo;The hatyks are torn off. The demons are
+      angry, they will not allow us to pass, Noyon. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He caught my hand and with supplicating voice whispered: &ldquo;Let us go back,
+      Noyon; let us! The demons do not wish us to pass their mountains. For
+      twenty years no one has dared to pass these mountains and all bold men who
+      have tried have perished here. The demons fell upon them with snowstorm
+      and cold. Look! It is beginning already. . . . Go back to our Noyon, wait
+      for the warmer days and then. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I did not listen further to the Soyot but turned back to the fire, which I
+      could hardly see through the blinding snow. Fearing our guide might run
+      away, I ordered a sentry to be stationed for the night to watch him. Later
+      in the night I was awakened by the sentry, who said to me: &ldquo;Maybe I am
+      mistaken, but I think I heard a rifle.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      What could I say to it? Maybe some stragglers like ourselves were giving a
+      sign of their whereabouts to their lost companions, or perhaps the sentry
+      had mistaken for a rifle shot the sound of some falling rock or frozen ice
+      and snow. Soon I fell asleep again and suddenly saw in a dream a very
+      clear vision. Out on the plain, blanketed deep with snow, was moving a
+      line of riders. They were our pack horses, our Kalmuck and the funny pied
+      horse with the Roman nose. I saw us descending from this snowy plateau
+      into a fold in the mountains. Here some larch trees were growing, close to
+      which gurgled a small, open brook. Afterwards I noticed a fire burning
+      among the trees and then woke up.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It grew light. I shook up the others and asked them to prepare quickly so
+      as not to lose time in getting under way. The storm was raging. The snow
+      blinded us and blotted out all traces of the road. The cold also became
+      more intense. At last we were in the saddles. The Soyot went ahead trying
+      to make out the trail. As we worked higher the guide less seldom lost the
+      way. Frequently we fell into deep holes covered with snow; we scrambled up
+      over slippery rocks. At last the Soyot swung his horse round and, coming
+      up to me, announced very positively: &ldquo;I do not want to die with you and I
+      will not go further.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      My first motion was the swing of my whip back over my head. I was so close
+      to the &ldquo;Promised Land&rdquo; of Mongolia that this Soyot, standing in the way of
+      fulfilment of my wishes, seemed to me my worst enemy. But I lowered my
+      flourishing hand. Into my head flashed a quite wild thought.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Listen,&rdquo; I said. &ldquo;If you move your horses, you will receive a bullet in
+      the back and you will perish not at the top of the mountain but at the
+      bottom. And now I will tell you what will happen to us. When we shall have
+      reached these rocks above, the wind will have ceased and the snowstorm
+      will have subsided. The sun will shine as we cross the snowy plain above
+      and afterwards we shall descend into a small valley where there are
+      larches growing and a stream of open running water. There we shall light
+      our fires and spend the night.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Soyot began to tremble with fright.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Noyon has already passed these mountains of Darkhat Ola?&rdquo; he asked in
+      amazement.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; I answered, &ldquo;but last night I had a vision and I know that we shall
+      fortunately win over this ridge.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I will guide you!&rdquo; exclaimed the Soyot, and, whipping his horse, led the
+      way up the steep slope to the top of the ridge of eternal snows.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As we were passing along the narrow edge of a precipice, the Soyot stopped
+      and attentively examined the trail.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Today many shod horses have passed here!&rdquo; he cried through the roar of
+      the storm. &ldquo;Yonder on the snow the lash of a whip has been dragged. These
+      are not Soyots.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The solution of this enigma appeared instantly. A volley rang out. One of
+      my companions cried out, as he caught hold of his right shoulder; one pack
+      horse fell dead with a bullet behind his ear. We quickly tumbled out of
+      our saddles, lay down behind the rocks and began to study the situation.
+      We were separated from a parallel spur of the mountain by a small valley
+      about one thousand paces across. There we made out about thirty riders
+      already dismounted and firing at us. I had never allowed any fighting to
+      be done until the initiative had been taken by the other side. Our enemy
+      fell upon us unawares and I ordered my company to answer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Aim at the horses!&rdquo; cried Colonel Ostrovsky. Then he ordered the Tartar
+      and Soyot to throw our own animals. We killed six of theirs and probably
+      wounded others, as they got out of control. Also our rifles took toll of
+      any bold man who showed his head from behind his rock. We heard the angry
+      shouting and maledictions of Red soldiers who shot up our position more
+      and more animatedly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Suddenly I saw our Soyot kick up three of the horses and spring into the
+      saddle of one with the others in leash behind. Behind him sprang up the
+      Tartar and the Kalmuck. I had already drawn my rifle on the Soyot but, as
+      soon as I saw the Tartar and Kalmuck on their lovely horses behind him, I
+      dropped my gun and knew all was well. The Reds let off a volley at the
+      trio but they made good their escape behind the rocks and disappeared. The
+      firing continued more and more lively and I did not know what to do. From
+      our side we shot rarely, saving our cartridges. Watching carefully the
+      enemy, I noticed two black points on the snow high above the Reds. They
+      slowly approached our antagonists and finally were hidden from view behind
+      some sharp hillocks. When they emerged from these, they were right on the
+      edge of some overhanging rocks at the foot of which the Reds lay concealed
+      from us. By this time I had no doubt that these were the heads of two men.
+      Suddenly these men rose up and I watched them flourish and throw something
+      that was followed by two deafening roars which re-echoed across the
+      mountain valley. Immediately a third explosion was followed by wild shouts
+      and disorderly firing among the Reds. Some of the horses rolled down the
+      slope into the snow below and the soldiers, chased by our shots, made off
+      as fast as they could down into the valley out of which we had come.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Afterward the Tartar told me the Soyot had proposed to guide them around
+      behind the Reds to fall upon their rear with the bombs. When I had bound
+      up the wounded shoulder of the officer and we had taken the pack off the
+      killed animal, we continued our journey. Our position was complicated. We
+      had no doubt that the Red detachment came up from Mongolia. Therefore,
+      were there Red troops in Mongolia? What was their strength? Where might we
+      meet them? Consequently, Mongolia was no more the Promised Land? Very sad
+      thoughts took possession of us.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But Nature pleased us. The wind gradually fell. The storm ceased. The sun
+      more and more frequently broke through the scudding clouds. We were
+      traveling upon a high, snow-covered plateau, where in one place the wind
+      blew it clean and in another piled it high with drifts which caught our
+      horses and held them so that they could hardly extricate themselves at
+      times. We had to dismount and wade through the white piles up to our
+      waists and often a man or horse was down and had to be helped to his feet.
+      At last the descent began and at sunset we stopped in the small larch
+      grove, spent the night at the fire among the trees and drank the tea
+      boiled in the water carried from the open mountain brook. In various
+      places we came across the tracks of our recent antagonists.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Everything, even Nature herself and the angry demons of Darkhat Ola, had
+      helped us: but we were not gay, because again before us lay the dread
+      uncertainty that threatened us with new and possibly destructive dangers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XIV
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE RIVER OF THE DEVIL
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Ulan Taiga with Darkhat Ola lay behind us. We went forward very rapidly
+      because the Mongol plains began here, free from the impediments of
+      mountains. Everywhere splendid grazing lands stretched away. In places
+      there were groves of larch. We crossed some very rapid streams but they
+      were not deep and they had hard beds. After two days of travel over the
+      Darkhat plain we began meeting Soyots driving their cattle rapidly toward
+      the northwest into Orgarkha Ola. They communicated to us very unpleasant
+      news.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Bolsheviki from the Irkutsk district had crossed the Mongolian border,
+      captured the Russian colony at Khathyl on the southern shore of Lake
+      Kosogol and turned, off south toward Muren Kure, a Russian settlement
+      beside a big Lamaite monastery sixty miles south of Kosogol. The Mongols
+      told us there were no Russian troops between Khathyl and Muren Kure, so we
+      decided to pass between these two points to reach Van Kure farther to the
+      east. We took leave of our Soyot guide and, after having sent three scouts
+      in advance, moved forward. From the mountains around the Kosogol we
+      admired the splendid view of this broad Alpine lake. It was set like a
+      sapphire in the old gold of the surrounding hills, chased with lovely bits
+      of rich dark forestry. At night we approached Khathyl with great
+      precaution and stopped on the shore of the river that flows from Kosogol,
+      the Yaga or Egingol. We found a Mongol who agreed to transport us to the
+      other bank of the frozen stream and to lead us by a safe road between
+      Khathyl and Muren Kure. Everywhere along the shore of the river were found
+      large obo and small shrines to the demons of the stream.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why are there so many obo?&rdquo; we asked the Mongol.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is the River of the Devil, dangerous and crafty,&rdquo; replied the Mongol.
+      &ldquo;Two days ago a train of carts went through the ice and three of them with
+      five soldiers were lost.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We started to cross. The surface of the river resembled a thick piece of
+      looking-glass, being clear and without snow. Our horses walked very
+      carefully but some fell and floundered before they could regain their
+      feet. We were leading them by the bridle. With bowed heads and trembling
+      all over they kept their frightened eyes ever on the ice at their feet. I
+      looked down and understood their fear. Through the cover of one foot of
+      transparent ice one could clearly see the bottom of the river. Under the
+      lighting of the moon all the stones, the holes and even some of the
+      grasses were distinctly visible, even though the depth was ten metres and
+      more. The Yaga rushed under the ice with a furious speed, swirling and
+      marking its course with long bands of foam and bubbles. Suddenly I jumped
+      and stopped as though fastened to the spot. Along the surface of the river
+      ran the boom of a cannon, followed by a second and a third.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Quicker, quicker!&rdquo; cried our Mongol, waving us forward with his hand.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Another cannon boom and a crack ran right close to us. The horses swung
+      back on their haunches in protest, reared and fell, many of them striking
+      their heads severely on the ice. In a second it opened up two feet wide,
+      so that I could follow its jagged course along the surface. Immediately up
+      out of the opening the water spread over the ice with a rush.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Hurry, hurry!&rdquo; shouted the guide.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      With great difficulty we forced our horses to jump over this cleavage and
+      to continue on further. They trembled and disobeyed and only the strong
+      lash forced them to forget this panic of fear and go on.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When we were safe on the farther bank and well into the woods, our Mongol
+      guide recounted to us how the river at times opens in this mysterious way
+      and leaves great areas of clear water. All the men and animals on the
+      river at such times must perish. The furious current of cold water will
+      always carry them down under the ice. At other times a crack has been
+      known to pass right under a horse and, where he fell in with his front
+      feet in the attempt to get back to the other side, the crack has closed up
+      and ground his legs or feet right off.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The valley of Kosogol is the crater of an extinct volcano. Its outlines
+      may be followed from the high west shore of the lake. However, the
+      Plutonic force still acts and, asserting the glory of the Devil, forces
+      the Mongols to build obo and offer sacrifices at his shrines. We spent all
+      the night and all the next day hurrying away eastward to avoid a meeting
+      with the Reds and seeking good pasturage for our horses. At about nine
+      o&rsquo;clock in the evening a fire shone out of the distance. My friend and I
+      made toward it with the feeling that it was surely a Mongol yurta beside
+      which we could camp in safety. We traveled over a mile before making out
+      distinctly the lines of a group of yurtas. But nobody came out to meet us
+      and, what astonished us more, we were not surrounded by the angry black
+      Mongolian dogs with fiery eyes. Still, from the distance we had seen the
+      fire and so there must be someone there. We dismounted from our horses and
+      approached on foot. From out of the yurta rushed two Russian soldiers, one
+      of whom shot at me with his pistol but missed me and wounded my horse in
+      the back through the saddle. I brought him to earth with my Mauser and the
+      other was killed by the butt end of my friend&rsquo;s rifle. We examined the
+      bodies and found in their pockets the papers of soldiers of the Second
+      Squadron of the Communist Interior Defence. Here we spent the night. The
+      owners of the yurtas had evidently run away, for the Red soldiers had
+      collected and packed in sacks the property of the Mongols. Probably they
+      were just planning to leave, as they were fully dressed. We acquired two
+      horses, which we found in the bushes, two rifles and two automatic pistols
+      with cartridges. In the saddle bags we also found tea, tobacco, matches
+      and cartridges&mdash;all of these valuable supplies to help us keep
+      further hold on our lives.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Two days later we were approaching the shore of the River Uri when we met
+      two Russian riders, who were the Cossacks of a certain Ataman Sutunin,
+      acting against the Bolsheviki in the valley of the River Selenga. They
+      were riding to carry a message from Sutunin to Kaigorodoff, chief of the
+      Anti-Bolsheviki in the Altai region. They informed us that along the whole
+      Russian-Mongolian border the Bolshevik troops were scattered; also that
+      Communist agitators had penetrated to Kiakhta, Ulankom and Kobdo and had
+      persuaded the Chinese authorities to surrender to the Soviet authorities
+      all the refugees from Russia. We knew that in the neighborhood of Urga and
+      Van Kure engagements were taking place between the Chinese troops and the
+      detachments of the Anti-Bolshevik Russian General Baron Ungern Sternberg
+      and Colonel Kazagrandi, who were fighting for the independence of Outer
+      Mongolia. Baron Ungern had now been twice defeated, so that the Chinese
+      were carrying on high-handed in Urga, suspecting all foreigners of having
+      relations with the Russian General.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We realized that the whole situation was sharply reversed. The route to
+      the Pacific was closed. Reflecting very carefully over the problem, I
+      decided that we had but one possible exit left. We must avoid all
+      Mongolian cities with Chinese administration, cross Mongolia from north to
+      south, traverse the desert in the southern part of the Principality of
+      Jassaktu Khan, enter the Gobi in the western part of Inner Mongolia,
+      strike as rapidly as possible through sixty miles of Chinese territory in
+      the Province of Kansu and penetrate into Tibet. Here I hoped to search out
+      one of the English Consuls and with his help to reach some English port in
+      India. I understood thoroughly all the difficulties incident to such an
+      enterprise but I had no other choice. It only remained to make this last
+      foolish attempt or to perish without doubt at the hands of the Boisheviki
+      or languish in a Chinese prison. When I announced my plan to my
+      companions, without in any way hiding from them all its dangers and
+      quixotism, all of them answered very quickly and shortly: &ldquo;Lead us! We
+      will follow.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      One circumstance was distinctly in our favor. We did not fear hunger, for
+      we had some supplies of tea, tobacco and matches and a surplus of horses,
+      saddles, rifles, overcoats and boots, which were an excellent currency for
+      exchange. So then we began to initiate the plan of the new expedition. We
+      should start to the south, leaving the town of Uliassutai on our right and
+      taking the direction of Zaganluk, then pass through the waste lands of the
+      district of Balir of Jassaktu Khan, cross the Naron Khuhu Gobi and strike
+      for the mountains of Boro. Here we should be able to take a long rest to
+      recuperate the strength of our horses and of ourselves. The second section
+      of our journey would be the passage through the western part of Inner
+      Mongolia, through the Little Gobi, through the lands of the Torguts, over
+      the Khara Mountains, across Kansu, where our road must be chosen to the
+      west of the Chinese town of Suchow. From there we should have to enter the
+      Dominion of Kuku Nor and then work on southward to the head waters of the
+      Yangtze River. Beyond this I had but a hazy notion, which however I was
+      able to verify from a map of Asia in the possession of one of the
+      officers, to the effect that the mountain chains to the west of the
+      sources of the Yangtze separated that river system from the basin of the
+      Brahmaputra in Tibet Proper, where I expected to be able to find English
+      assistance.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XV
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE MARCH OF GHOSTS
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      In no other way can I describe the journey from the River Ero to the
+      border of Tibet. About eleven hundred miles through the snowy steppes,
+      over mountains and across deserts we traveled in forty-eight days. We hid
+      from the people as we journeyed, made short stops in the most desolate
+      places, fed for whole weeks on nothing but raw, frozen meat in order to
+      avoid attracting attention by the smoke of fires. Whenever we needed to
+      purchase a sheep or a steer for our supply department, we sent out only
+      two unarmed men who represented to the natives that they were the workmen
+      of some Russian colonists. We even feared to shoot, although we met a
+      great herd of antelopes numbering as many as five thousand head. Behind
+      Balir in the lands of the Lama Jassaktu Khan, who had inherited his throne
+      as a result of the poisoning of his brother at Urga by order of the Living
+      Buddha, we met wandering Russian Tartars who had driven their herds all
+      the way from Altai and Abakan. They welcomed us very cordially, gave us
+      oxen and thirty-six bricks of tea. Also they saved us from inevitable
+      destruction, for they told us that at this season it was utterly
+      impossible for horses to make the trip across the Gobi, where there was no
+      grass at all. We must buy camels by exchanging for them our horses and
+      some other of our bartering supplies. One of the Tartars the next day
+      brought to their camp a rich Mongol with whom he drove the bargain for
+      this trade. He gave us nineteen camels and took all our horses, one rifle,
+      one pistol and the best Cossack saddle. He advised us by all means to
+      visit the sacred Monastery of Narabanchi, the last Lamaite monastery on
+      the road from Mongolia to Tibet. He told us that the Holy Hutuktu, &ldquo;the
+      Incarnate Buddha,&rdquo; would be greatly offended if we did not visit the
+      monastery and his famous &ldquo;Shrine of Blessings,&rdquo; where all travelers going
+      to Tibet always offered prayers. Our Kalmuck Lamaite supported the Mongol
+      in this. I decided to go there with the Kalmuck. The Tartars gave me some
+      big silk hatyk as presents and loaned us four splendid horses. Although
+      the monastery was fifty-five miles distant, by nine o&rsquo;clock in the evening
+      I entered the yurta of this holy Hutuktu.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He was a middle-aged, clean shaven, spare little man, laboring under the
+      name of Jelyb Djamsrap Hutuktu. He received us very cordially and was
+      greatly pleased with the presentation of the hatyk and with my knowledge
+      of the Mongol etiquette in which my Tartar had been long and persistently
+      instructing me. He listened to me most attentively and gave valuable
+      advice about the road, presenting me then with a ring which has since
+      opened for me the doors of all Lamaite monasteries. The name of this
+      Hutuktu is highly esteemed not only in all Mongolia but in Tibet and in
+      the Lamaite world of China. We spent the night in his splendid yurta and
+      on the following morning visited the shrines where they were conducting
+      very solemn services with the music of gongs, tom-toms and whistling. The
+      Lamas with their deep voices were intoning the prayers while the lesser
+      priests answered with their antiphonies. The sacred phrase: &ldquo;Om! Mani
+      padme Hung!&rdquo; was endlessly repeated.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Hutuktu wished us success, presented us with a large yellow hatyk and
+      accompanied us to the monastery gate. When we were in our saddles he said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Remember that you are always welcome guests here. Life is very
+      complicated and anything may happen. Perhaps you will be forced in future
+      to re-visit distant Mongolia and then do not miss Narabanchi Kure.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      That night we returned to the Tartars and the next day continued our
+      journey. As I was very tired, the slow, easy motion of the camel was
+      welcome and restful to me. All the day I dozed off at intervals to sleep.
+      It turned out to be very disastrous for me; for, when my camel was going
+      up the steep bank of a river, in one of my naps I fell off and hit my head
+      on a stone, lost consciousness and woke up to find my overcoat covered
+      with blood. My friends surrounded me with their frightened faces. They
+      bandaged my head and we started off again. I only learned long afterwards
+      from a doctor who examined me that I had cracked my skull as the price of
+      my siesta.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We crossed the eastern ranges of the Altai and the Karlik Tag, which are
+      the most oriental sentinels the great Tian Shan system throws out into the
+      regions of the Gobi; and then traversed from the north to the south the
+      entire width of the Khuhu Gobi. Intense cold ruled all this time and
+      fortunately the frozen sands gave us better speed. Before passing the
+      Khara range, we exchanged our rocking-chair steeds for horses, a deal in
+      which the Torguts skinned us badly like the true &ldquo;old clothes men&rdquo; they
+      are.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Skirting around these mountains we entered Kansu. It was a dangerous move,
+      for the Chinese were arresting all refugees and I feared for my Russian
+      fellow-travelers. During the days we hid in the ravines, the forests and
+      bushes, making forced marches at night. Four days we thus used in this
+      passage of Kansu. The few Chinese peasants we did encounter were peaceful
+      appearing and most hospitable. A marked sympathetic interest surrounded
+      the Kalmuck, who could speak a bit of Chinese, and my box of medicines.
+      Everywhere we found many ill people, chiefly afflicted with eye troubles,
+      rheumatism and skin diseases.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As we were approaching Nan Shan, the northeast branch of the Altyn Tag
+      (which is in turn the east branch of the Pamir and Karakhorum system), we
+      overhauled a large caravan of Chinese merchants going to Tibet and joined
+      them. For three days we were winding through the endless ravine-like
+      valleys of these mountains and ascending the high passes. But we noticed
+      that the Chinese knew how to pick the easiest routes for caravans over all
+      these difficult places. In a state of semi-consciousness I made this whole
+      journey toward the large group of swampy lakes, feeding the Koko Nor and a
+      whole network of large rivers. From fatigue and constant nervous strain,
+      probably helped by the blow on my head, I began suffering from sharp
+      attacks of chills and fever, burning up at times and then chattering so
+      with my teeth that I frightened my horse who several times threw me from
+      the saddle. I raved, cried out at times and even wept. I called my family
+      and instructed them how they must come to me. I remember as though through
+      a dream how I was taken from the horse by my companions, laid on the
+      ground, supplied with Chinese brandy and, when I recovered a little, how
+      they said to me:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The Chinese merchants are heading for the west and we must travel south.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No! To the north,&rdquo; I replied very sharply.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But no, to the south,&rdquo; my companions assured me.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;God and the Devil!&rdquo; I angrily ejaculated, &ldquo;we have just swum the Little
+      Yenisei and Algyak is to the north!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We are in Tibet,&rdquo; remonstrated my companions. &ldquo;We must reach the
+      Brahmaputra.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Brahmaputra. . . . Brahmaputra. . . . This word revolved in my fiery
+      brain, made a terrible noise and commotion. Suddenly I remembered
+      everything and opened my eyes. I hardly moved my lips and soon I again
+      lost consciousness. My companions brought me to the monastery of Sharkhe,
+      where the Lama doctor quickly brought me round with a solution of fatil or
+      Chinese ginseng. In discussing our plans he expressed grave doubt as to
+      whether we would get through Tibet but he did not wish to explain to me
+      the reason for his doubts.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XVI
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      IN MYSTERIOUS TIBET
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      A fairly broad road led out from Sharkhe through the mountains and on the
+      fifth day of our two weeks&rsquo; march to the south from the monastery we
+      emerged into the great bowl of the mountains in whose center lay the large
+      lake of Koko Nor. If Finland deserves the ordinary title of the &ldquo;Land of
+      Ten Thousand Lakes,&rdquo; the dominion of Koko Nor may certainly with justice
+      be called the &ldquo;Country of a Million Lakes.&rdquo; We skirted this lake on the
+      west between it and Doulan Kitt, zigzagging between the numerous swamps,
+      lakes and small rivers, deep and miry. The water was not here covered with
+      ice and only on the tops of the mountains did we feel the cold winds
+      sharply. We rarely met the natives of the country and only with greatest
+      difficulty did our Kalmuck learn the course of the road from the
+      occasional shepherds we passed. From the eastern shore of the Lake of
+      Tassoun we worked round to a monastery on the further side, where we
+      stopped for a short rest. Besides ourselves there was also another group
+      of guests in the holy place. These were Tibetans. Their behavior was very
+      impertinent and they refused to speak with us. They were all armed,
+      chiefly with the Russian military rifles and were draped with crossed
+      bandoliers of cartridges with two or three pistols stowed beneath belts
+      with more cartridges sticking out. They examined us very sharply and we
+      readily realized that they were estimating our martial strength. After
+      they had left on that same day I ordered our Kalmuck to inquire from the
+      High Priest of the temple exactly who they were. For a long time the monk
+      gave evasive answers but when I showed him the ring of Hutuktu Narabanchi
+      and presented him with a large yellow hatyk, he became more communicative.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Those are bad people,&rdquo; he explained. &ldquo;Have a care of them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      However, he was not willing to give their names, explaining his refusal by
+      citing the Law of Buddhist lands against pronouncing the name of one&rsquo;s
+      father, teacher or chief. Afterwards I found out that in North Tibet there
+      exists the same custom as in North China. Here and there bands of
+      hunghutze wander about. They appear at the headquarters of the leading
+      trading firms and at the monasteries, claim tribute and after their
+      collections become the protectors of the district. Probably this Tibetan
+      monastery had in this band just such protectors.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When we continued our trip, we frequently noticed single horsemen far away
+      or on the horizon, apparently studying our movements with care. All our
+      attempts to approach them and enter into conversation with them were
+      entirely unsuccessful. On their speedy little horses they disappeared like
+      shadows. As we reached the steep and difficult Pass on the Hamshan and
+      were preparing to spend the night there, suddenly far up on a ridge above
+      us appeared about forty horsemen with entirely white mounts and without
+      formal introduction or warning spattered us with a hail of bullets. Two of
+      our officers fell with a cry. One had been instantly killed while the
+      other lived some few minutes. I did not allow my men to shoot but instead
+      I raised a white flag and started forward with the Kalmuck for a parley.
+      At first they fired two shots at us but then ceased firing and sent down a
+      group of riders from the ridge toward us. We began the parley. The
+      Tibetans explained that Hamshan is a holy mountain and that here one must
+      not spend the night, advising us to proceed farther where we could
+      consider ourselves in safety. They inquired from us whence we came and
+      whither we were going, stated in answer to our information about the
+      purpose of our journey that they knew the Bolsheviki and considered them
+      the liberators of the people of Asia from the yoke of the white race. I
+      certainly did not want to begin a political quarrel with them and so
+      turned back to our companions. Riding down the slope toward our camp, I
+      waited momentarily for a shot in the back but the Tibetan hunghutze did
+      not shoot.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We moved forward, leaving among the stones the bodies of two of our
+      companions as sad tribute to the difficulties and dangers of our journey.
+      We rode all night, with our exhausted horses constantly stopping and some
+      lying down under us, but we forced them ever onward. At last, when the sun
+      was at its zenith, we finally halted. Without unsaddling our horses, we
+      gave them an opportunity to lie down for a little rest. Before us lay a
+      broad, swampy plain, where was evidently the sources of the river Ma-chu.
+      Not far beyond lay the Lake of Aroung Nor. We made our fire of cattle dung
+      and began boiling water for our tea. Again without any warning the bullets
+      came raining in from all sides. Immediately we took cover behind
+      convenient rocks and waited developments. The firing became faster and
+      closer, the raiders appeared on the whole circle round us and the bullets
+      came ever in increasing numbers. We had fallen into a trap and had no hope
+      but to perish. We realized this clearly. I tried anew to begin the parley;
+      but when I stood up with my white flag, the answer was only a thicker rain
+      of bullets and unfortunately one of these, ricocheting off a rock, struck
+      me in the left leg and lodged there. At the same moment another one of our
+      company was killed. We had no other choice and were forced to begin
+      fighting. The struggle continued for about two hours. Besides myself three
+      others received slight wounds. We resisted as long as we could. The
+      hunghutze approached and our situation became desperate.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no choice,&rdquo; said one of my associates, a very expert Colonel. &ldquo;We
+      must mount and ride for it . . . anywhere.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Anywhere. . . .&rdquo; It was a terrible word! We consulted for but an instant.
+      It was apparent that with this band of cut-throats behind us the farther
+      we went into Tibet, the less chance we had of saving our lives.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We decided to return to Mongolia. But how? That we did not know. And thus
+      we began our retreat. Firing all the time, we trotted our horses as fast
+      as we could toward the north. One after another three of my companions
+      fell. There lay my Tartar with a bullet through his neck. After him two
+      young and fine stalwart officers were carried from their saddles with
+      cries of death, while their scared horses broke out across the plain in
+      wild fear, perfect pictures of our distraught selves. This emboldened the
+      Tibetans, who became more and more audacious. A bullet struck the buckle
+      on the ankle strap of my right foot and carried it, with a piece of
+      leather and cloth, into my leg just above the ankle. My old and much tried
+      friend, the agronome, cried out as he grasped his shoulder and then I saw
+      him wiping and bandaging as best as he could his bleeding forehead. A
+      second afterward our Kalmuck was hit twice right through the palm of the
+      same hand, so that it was entirely shattered. Just at this moment fifteen
+      of the hunghutze rushed against us in a charge.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Shoot at them with volley fire!&rdquo; commanded our Colonel.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Six robber bodies lay on the turf, while two others of the gang were
+      unhorsed and ran scampering as fast as they could after their retreating
+      fellows. Several minutes later the fire of our antagonists ceased and they
+      raised a white flag. Two riders came forward toward us. In the parley it
+      developed that their chief had been wounded through the chest and they
+      came to ask us to &ldquo;render first aid.&rdquo; At once I saw a ray of hope. I took
+      my box of medicines and my groaning, cursing, wounded Kalmuck to interpret
+      for me.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Give that devil some cyanide of potassium,&rdquo; urged my companions.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But I devised another scheme.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We were led to the wounded chief. There he lay on the saddle cloths among
+      the rocks, represented to us to be a Tibetan but I at once recognized him
+      from his cast of countenance to be a Sart or Turcoman, probably from the
+      southern part of Turkestan. He looked at me with a begging and frightened
+      gaze. Examining him, I found the bullet had passed through his chest from
+      left to right, that he had lost much blood and was very weak.
+      Conscientiously I did all that I could for him. In the first place I tried
+      on my own tongue all the medicines to be used on him, even the iodoform,
+      in order to demonstrate that there was no poison among them. I cauterized
+      the wound with iodine, sprinkled it with iodoform and applied the
+      bandages. I ordered that the wounded man be not touched nor moved and that
+      he be left right where he lay. Then I taught a Tibetan how the dressing
+      must be changed and left with him medicated cotton, bandages and a little
+      iodoform. To the patient, in whom the fever was already developing, I gave
+      a big dose of aspirin and left several tablets of quinine with them.
+      Afterwards, addressing myself to the bystanders through my Kalmuck, I said
+      very solemnly:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The wound is very dangerous but I gave to your Chief very strong medicine
+      and hope that he will recover. One condition, however, is necessary: the
+      bad demons which have rushed to his side for his unwarranted attack upon
+      us innocent travelers will instantly kill him, if another shot is let off
+      against us. You must not even keep a single cartridge in your rifles.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words I ordered the Kalmuck to empty his rifle and I, at the
+      same time, took all the cartridges out of my Mauser. The Tibetans
+      instantly and very servilely followed my example.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Remember that I told you: &lsquo;Eleven days and eleven nights do not move from
+      this place and do not charge your rifles.&rsquo; Otherwise the demon of death
+      will snatch off your Chief and will pursue you!&rdquo;&mdash;and with these
+      words I solemnly drew forth and raised above their heads the ring of
+      Hutuktu Narabanchi.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I returned to my companions and calmed them. I told them we were safe
+      against further attack from the robbers and that we must only guess the
+      way to reach Mongolia. Our horses were so exhausted and thin that on their
+      bones we could have hung our overcoats. We spent two days here, during
+      which time I frequently visited my patient. It also gave us opportunity to
+      bandage our own fortunately light wounds and to secure a little rest;
+      though unfortunately I had nothing but a jackknife with which to dig the
+      bullet out of my left calf and the shoemaker&rsquo;s accessories from my right
+      ankle. Inquiring from the brigands about the caravan roads, we soon made
+      our way out to one of the main routes and had the good fortune to meet
+      there the caravan of the young Mongol Prince Pounzig, who was on a holy
+      mission carrying a message from the Living Buddha in Urga to the Dalai
+      Lama in Lhasa. He helped us to purchase horses, camels and food.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      With all our arms and supplies spent in barter during the journey for the
+      purchase of transport and food, we returned stripped and broken to the
+      Narabanchi Monastery, where we were welcomed by the Hutuktu.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I knew you would come back,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;The divinations revealed it all to
+      me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With six of our little band left behind us in Tibet to pay the eternal
+      toll of our dash for the south we returned but twelve to the Monastery and
+      waited there two weeks to re-adjust ourselves and learn how events would
+      again set us afloat on this turbulent sea to steer for any port that
+      Destiny might indicate. The officers enlisted in the detachment which was
+      then being formed in Mongolia to fight against the destroyers of their
+      native land, the Bolsheviki. My original companion and I prepared to
+      continue our journey over Mongolian plains with whatever further
+      adventures and dangers might come in the struggle to escape to a place of
+      safety.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And now, with the scenes of that trying march so vividly recalled, I would
+      dedicate these chapters to my gigantic, old and ruggedly tried friend, the
+      agronome, to my Russian fellow-travelers, and especially, to the sacred
+      memory of those of our companions whose bodies lie cradled in the sleep
+      among the mountains of Tibet&mdash;Colonel Ostrovsky, Captains Zuboff and
+      Turoff, Lieutenant Pisarjevsky, Cossack Vernigora and Tartar Mahomed
+      Spirin. Also here I express my deep thanks for help and friendship to the
+      Prince of Soldjak, Hereditary Noyon Ta Lama and to the Kampo Gelong of
+      Narabanchi Monastery, the honorable Jelyb Djamsrap Hutuktu.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_PART2" id="link2H_PART2">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      Part II
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE LAND OF DEMONS
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XVII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      MYSTERIOUS MONGOLIA
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      In the heart of Asia lies the enormous, mysterious and rich country of
+      Mongolia. From somewhere on the snowy slopes of the Tian Shan and from the
+      hot sands of Western Zungaria to the timbered ridges of the Sayan and to
+      the Great Wall of China it stretches over a huge portion of Central Asia.
+      The cradle of peoples, histories and legends; the native land of bloody
+      conquerors, who have left here their capitals covered by the sand of the
+      Gobi, their mysterious rings and their ancient nomad laws; the states of
+      monks and evil devils, the country of wandering tribes administered by the
+      descendants of Jenghiz Khan and Kublai Khan&mdash;Khans and Princes of the
+      Junior lines: that is Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mysterious country of the cults of Rama, Sakkia-Mouni, Djonkapa and Paspa,
+      cults guarded by the very person of the living Buddha&mdash;Buddha
+      incarnated in the third dignitary of the Lamaite religion&mdash;Bogdo
+      Gheghen in Ta Kure or Urga; the land of mysterious doctors, prophets,
+      sorcerers, fortune-tellers and witches; the land of the sign of the
+      swastika; the land which has not forgotten the thoughts of the long
+      deceased great potentates of Asia and of half of Europe: that is Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The land of nude mountains, of plains burned by the sun and killed by the
+      cold, of ill cattle and ill people; the nest of pests, anthrax and
+      smallpox; the land of boiling hot springs and of mountain passes inhabited
+      by demons; of sacred lakes swarming with fish; of wolves, rare species of
+      deer and mountain goats, marmots in millions, wild horses, wild donkeys
+      and wild camels that have never known the bridle, ferocious dogs and
+      rapacious birds of prey which devour the dead bodies cast out on the
+      plains by the people: that is Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The land whose disappearing primitive people gaze upon the bones of their
+      forefathers whitening in the sands and dust of their plains; where are
+      dying out the people who formerly conquered China, Siam, Northern India
+      and Russia and broke their chests against the iron lances of the Polish
+      knights, defending then all the Christian world against the invasion of
+      wild and wandering Asia: that is Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The land swelling with natural riches, producing nothing, in need of
+      everything, destitute and suffering from the world&rsquo;s cataclysm: that is
+      Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In this land, by order of Fate, after my unsuccessful attempt to reach the
+      Indian Ocean through Tibet, I spent half a year in the struggle to live
+      and to escape. My old and faithful friend and I were compelled,
+      willy-nilly, to participate in the exceedingly important and dangerous
+      events transpiring in Mongolia in the year of grace 1921. Thanks to this,
+      I came to know the calm, good and honest Mongolian people; I read their
+      souls, saw their sufferings and hopes; I witnessed the whole horror of
+      their oppression and fear before the face of Mystery, there where Mystery
+      pervades all life. I watched the rivers during the severe cold break with
+      a rumbling roar their chains of ice; saw lakes cast up on their shores the
+      bones of human beings; heard unknown wild voices in the mountain ravines;
+      made out the fires over miry swamps of the will-o&rsquo;-the-wisps; witnessed
+      burning lakes; gazed upward to mountains whose peaks could not be scaled;
+      came across great balls of writhing snakes in the ditches in winter; met
+      with streams which are eternally frozen, rocks like petrified caravans of
+      camels, horsemen and carts; and over all saw the barren mountains whose
+      folds looked like the mantle of Satan, which the glow of the evening sun
+      drenched with blood.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Look up there!&rdquo; cried an old shepherd, pointing to the slope of the
+      cursed Zagastai. &ldquo;That is no mountain. It is HE who lies in his red mantle
+      and awaits the day when he will rise again to begin the fight with the
+      good spirits.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And as he spoke I recalled the mystic picture of the noted painter
+      Vroubel. The same nude mountains with the violet and purple robes of
+      Satan, whose face is half covered by an approaching grey cloud. Mongolia
+      is a terrible land of mystery and demons. Therefore it is no wonder that
+      here every violation of the ancient order of life of the wandering nomad
+      tribes is transformed into streams of red blood and horror, ministering to
+      the demonic pleasure of Satan couched on the bare mountains and robed in
+      the grey cloak of dejection and sadness, or in the purple mantle of war
+      and vengeance.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After returning from the district of Koko Nor to Mongolia and resting a
+      few days at the Narabanchi Monastery, we went to live in Uliassutai, the
+      capital of Western Outer Mongolia. It is the last purely Mongolian town to
+      the west. In Mongolia there are but three purely Mongolian towns, Urga,
+      Uliassutai and Ulankom. The fourth town, Kobdo, has an essentially Chinese
+      character, being the center of Chinese administration in this district
+      inhabited by the wandering tribes only nominally recognizing the influence
+      of either Peking or Urga. In Uliassutai and Ulankom, besides the unlawful
+      Chinese commissioners and troops, there were stationed Mongolian governors
+      or &ldquo;Saits,&rdquo; appointed by the decree of the Living Buddha.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When we arrived in that town, we were at once in the sea of political
+      passions. The Mongols were protesting in great agitation against the
+      Chinese policy in their country; the Chinese raged and demanded from the
+      Mongolians the payment of taxes for the full period since the autonomy of
+      Mongolia had been forcibly extracted from Peking; Russian colonists who
+      had years before settled near the town and in the vicinity of the great
+      monasteries or among the wandering tribes had separated into factions and
+      were fighting against one another; from Urga came the news of the struggle
+      for the maintenance of the independence of Outer Mongolia, led by the
+      Russian General, Baron Ungern von Sternberg; Russian officers and refugees
+      congregated in detachments, against which the Chinese authorities
+      protested but which the Mongols welcomed; the Bolsheviki, worried by the
+      formation of White detachments in Mongolia, sent their troops to the
+      borders of Mongolia; from Irkutsk and Chita to Uliassutai and Urga envoys
+      were running from the Bolsheviki to the Chinese commissioners with various
+      proposals of all kinds; the Chinese authorities in Mongolia were gradually
+      entering into secret relations with the Bolsheviki and in Kiakhta and
+      Ulankom delivered to them the Russian refugees, thus violating recognized
+      international law; in Urga the Bolsheviki set up a Russian communistic
+      municipality; Russian Consuls were inactive; Red troops in the region of
+      Kosogol and the valley of the Selenga had encounters with Anti-Bolshevik
+      officers; the Chinese authorities established garrisons in the Mongolian
+      towns and sent punitive expeditions into the country; and, to complete the
+      confusion, the Chinese troops carried out house-to-house searches, during
+      which they plundered and stole.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Into what an atmosphere we had fallen after our hard and dangerous trip
+      along the Yenisei, through Urianhai, Mongolia, the lands of the Turguts,
+      Kansu and Koko Nor!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you know,&rdquo; said my old friend to me, &ldquo;I prefer strangling Partisans
+      and fighting with the hunghutze to listening to news and more anxious
+      news!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He was right; for the worst of it was that in this bustle and whirl of
+      facts, rumours and gossip the Reds could approach troubled Uliassutai and
+      take everyone with their bare hands. We should very willingly have left
+      this town of uncertainties but we had no place to go. In the north were
+      the hostile Partisans and Red troops; to the south we had already lost our
+      companions and not a little of our own blood; to the west raged the
+      Chinese administrators and detachments; and to the east a war had broken
+      out, the news of which, in spite of the attempts of the Chinese
+      authorities at secrecy, had filtered through and had testified to the
+      seriousness of the situation in this part of Outer Mongolia. Consequently
+      we had no choice but to remain in Uliassutai. Here also were living
+      several Polish soldiers who had escaped from the prison camps in Russia,
+      two Polish families and two American firms, all in the same plight as
+      ourselves. We joined together and made our own intelligence department,
+      very carefully watching the evolution of events. We succeeded in forming
+      good connections with the Chinese commissioner and with the Mongolian
+      Sait, which greatly helped us in our orientation.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What was behind all these events in Mongolia? The very clever Mongol Sait
+      of Uliassutai gave me the following explanation.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;According to the agreements between Mongolia, China and Russia of October
+      21, 1912, of October 23, 1913, and of June 7, 1915, Outer Mongolia was
+      accorded independence and the Moral Head of our &lsquo;Yellow Faith,&rsquo; His
+      Holiness the Living Buddha, became the Suzerain of the Mongolian people of
+      Khalkha or Outer Mongolia with the title of &lsquo;Bogdo Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu
+      Khan.&rsquo; While Russia was still strong and carefully watched her policy in
+      Asia, the Government of Peking kept the treaty; but, when, at the
+      beginning of the war with Germany, Russia was compelled to withdraw her
+      troops from Siberia, Peking began to claim the return of its lost rights
+      in Mongolia. It was because of this that the first two treaties of 1912
+      and 1913 were supplemented by the convention of 1915. However, in 1916,
+      when all the forces of Russia were pre-occupied in the unsuccessful war
+      and afterwards when the first Russian revolution broke out in February,
+      1917, overthrowing the Romanoff Dynasty, the Chinese Government openly
+      retook Mongolia. They changed all the Mongolian ministers and Saits,
+      replacing them with individuals friendly to China; arrested many Mongolian
+      autonomists and sent them to prison in Peking; set up their administration
+      in Urga and other Mongol towns; actually removed His Holiness Bogdo Khan
+      from the affairs of administration; made him only a machine for signing
+      Chinese decrees; and at last introduced into Mongolia their troops. From
+      that moment there developed an energetic flow of Chinese merchants and
+      coolies into Mongolia. The Chinese began to demand the payment of taxes
+      and dues from 1912. The Mongolian population were rapidly stripped of
+      their wealth and now in the vicinities of our towns and monasteries you
+      can see whole settlements of beggar Mongols living in dugouts. All our
+      Mongol arsenals and treasuries were requisitioned. All monasteries were
+      forced to pay taxes; all Mongols working for the liberty of their country
+      were persecuted; through bribery with Chinese silver, orders and titles
+      the Chinese secured a following among the poorer Mongol Princes. It is
+      easy to understand how the governing class, His Holiness, Khans, Princes,
+      and high Lamas, as well as the ruined and oppressed people, remembering
+      that the Mongol rulers had once held Peking and China in their hands and
+      under their reign had given her the first place in Asia, were definitely
+      hostile to the Chinese administrators acting thus. Insurrection was,
+      however, impossible. We had no arms. All our leaders were under
+      surveillance and every movement by them toward an armed resistance would
+      have ended in the same prison at Peking where eighty of our Nobles,
+      Princes and Lamas died from hunger and torture after a previous struggle
+      for the liberty of Mongolia. Some abnormally strong shock was necessary to
+      drive the people into action. This was given by the Chinese
+      administrators, General Cheng Yi and General Chu Chi-hsiang. They
+      announced that His Holiness Bogdo Khan was under arrest in his own palace,
+      and they recalled to his attention the former decree of the Peking
+      Government&mdash;held by the Mongols to be unwarranted and illegal&mdash;that
+      His Holiness was the last Living Buddha. This was enough. Immediately
+      secret relations were made between the people and their Living God, and
+      plans were at once elaborated for the liberation of His Holiness and for
+      the struggle for liberty and freedom of our people. We were helped by the
+      great Prince of the Buriats, Djam Bolon, who began parleys with General
+      Ungern, then engaged in fighting the Bolsheviki in Transbaikalia, and
+      invited him to enter Mongolia and help in the war against the Chinese.
+      Then our struggle for liberty began.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Thus the Sait of Uliassutai explained the situation to me. Afterwards I
+      heard that Baron Ungern, who had agreed to fight for the liberty of
+      Mongolia, directed that the mobilization of the Mongolians in the northern
+      districts be forwarded at once and promised to enter Mongolia with his own
+      small detachment, moving along the River Kerulen. Afterwards he took up
+      relations with the other Russian detachment of Colonel Kazagrandi and,
+      together with the mobilized Mongolian riders, began the attack on Urga.
+      Twice he was defeated but on the third of February, 1921, he succeeded in
+      capturing the town and replaced the Living Buddha on the throne of the
+      Khans.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At the end of March, however, these events were still unknown in
+      Uliassutai. We knew neither of the fall of Urga nor of the destruction of
+      the Chinese army of nearly 15,000 in the battles of Maimachen on the shore
+      of the Tola and on the roads between Urga and Ude. The Chinese carefully
+      concealed the truth by preventing anybody from passing westward from Urga.
+      However, rumours existed and troubled all. The atmosphere became more and
+      more tense, while the relations between the Chinese on the one side and
+      the Mongolians and Russians on the other became more and more strained. At
+      this time the Chinese Commissioner in Uliassutai was Wang Tsao-tsun and
+      his advisor, Fu Hsiang, both very young and inexperienced men. The Chinese
+      authorities had dismissed the Uliassutai Sait, the prominent Mongolian
+      patriot, Prince Chultun Beyle, and had appointed a Lama Prince friendly to
+      China, the former Vice-Minister of War in Urga. Oppression increased. The
+      searching of Russian officers&rsquo; and colonists&rsquo; houses and quarters
+      commenced, open relations with the Bolsheviki followed and arrest and
+      beatings became common. The Russian officers formed a secret detachment of
+      sixty men so that they could defend themselves. However, in this
+      detachment disagreements soon sprang up between Lieutenant-Colonel M. M.
+      Michailoff and some of his officers. It was evident that in the decisive
+      moment the detachment must separate into factions.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We foreigners in council decided to make a thorough reconnaissance in
+      order to know whether there was danger of Red troops arriving. My old
+      companion and I agreed to do this scouting. Prince Chultun Beyle gave us a
+      very good guide&mdash;an old Mongol named Tzeren, who spoke and read
+      Russian perfectly. He was a very interesting personage, holding the
+      position of interpreter with the Mongolian authorities and sometimes with
+      the Chinese Commissioner. Shortly before he had been sent as a special
+      envoy to Peking with very important despatches and this incomparable
+      horseman had made the journey between Uliassutai and Peking, that is 1,800
+      miles, in nine days, incredible as it may seem. He prepared himself for
+      the journey by binding all his abdomen and chest, legs, arms and neck with
+      strong cotton bandages to protect himself from the wracks and strains of
+      such a period in the saddle. In his cap he bore three eagle feathers as a
+      token that he had received orders to fly like a bird. Armed with a special
+      document called a tzara, which gave him the right to receive at all post
+      stations the best horses, one to ride and one fully saddled to lead as a
+      change, together with two oulatchen or guards to accompany him and bring
+      back the horses from the next station or ourton, he made the distance of
+      from fifteen to thirty miles between stations at full gallop, stopping
+      only long enough to have the horses and guards changed before he was off
+      again. Ahead of him rode one oulatchen with the best horses to enable him
+      to announce and prepare in advance the complement of steeds at the next
+      station. Each oulatchen had three horses in all, so that he could swing
+      from one that had given out and release him to graze until his return to
+      pick him up and lead or ride him back home. At every third ourton, without
+      leaving his saddle, he received a cup of hot green tea with salt and
+      continued his race southward. After seventeen or eighteen hours of such
+      riding he stopped at the ourton for the night or what was left of it,
+      devoured a leg of boiled mutton and slept. Thus he ate once a day and five
+      times a day had tea; and so he traveled for nine days!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      With this servant we moved out one cold winter morning in the direction of
+      Kobdo, just over three hundred miles, because from there we had received
+      the disquieting rumours that the Red troops had entered Ulankom and that
+      the Chinese authorities had handed over to them all the Europeans in the
+      town. We crossed the River Dzaphin on the ice. It is a terrible stream.
+      Its bed is full of quicksands, which in summer suck in numbers of camels,
+      horses and men. We entered a long, winding valley among the mountains
+      covered with deep snow and here and there with groves of the black wood of
+      the larch. About halfway to Kobdo we came across the yurta of a shepherd
+      on the shore of the small Lake of Baga Nor, where evening and a strong
+      wind whirling gusts of snow in our faces easily persuaded us to stop. By
+      the yurta stood a splendid bay horse with a saddle richly ornamerited with
+      silver and coral. As we turned in from the road, two Mongols left the
+      yurta very hastily; one of them jumped into the saddle and quickly
+      disappeared in the plain behind the snowy hillocks. We clearly made out
+      the flashing folds of his yellow robe under the great outer coat and saw
+      his large knife sheathed in a green leather scabbard and handled with horn
+      and ivory. The other man was the host of the yurta, the shepherd of a
+      local prince, Novontziran. He gave signs of great pleasure at seeing us
+      and receiving us in his yurta.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Who was the rider on the bay horse?&rdquo; we asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He dropped his eyes and was silent.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Tell us,&rdquo; we insisted. &ldquo;If you do not wish to speak his name, it means
+      that you are dealing with a bad character.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No! No!&rdquo; he remonstrated, flourishing his hands. &ldquo;He is a good, great
+      man; but the law does not permit me to speak his name.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We at once understood that the man was either the chief of the shepherd or
+      some high Lama. Consequently we did not further insist and began making
+      our sleeping arrangements. Our host set three legs of mutton to boil for
+      us, skillfully cutting out the bones with his heavy knife. We chatted and
+      learned that no one had seen Red troops around this region but in Kobdo
+      and in Ulankom the Chinese soldiers were oppressing the population, and
+      were beating to death with the bamboo Mongol men who were defending their
+      women against the ravages of these Chinese troops. Some of the Mongols had
+      retreated to the mountains to join detachments under the command of
+      Kaigordoff, an Altai Tartar officer who was supplying them with weapons.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XVIII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE MYSTERIOUS LAMA AVENGER
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      We rested soundly in the yurta after the two days of travel which had
+      brought us one hundred seventy miles through the snow and sharp cold.
+      Round the evening meal of juicy mutton we were talking freely and
+      carelessly when suddenly we heard a low, hoarse voice:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sayn&mdash;Good evening!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We turned around from the brazier to the door and saw a medium height,
+      very heavy set Mongol in deerskin overcoat and cap with side flaps and the
+      long, wide tying strings of the same material. Under his girdle lay the
+      same large knife in the green sheath which we had seen on the departing
+      horseman.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Amoursayn,&rdquo; we answered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He quickly untied his girdle and laid aside his overcoat. He stood before
+      us in a wonderful gown of silk, yellow as beaten gold and girt with a
+      brilliant blue sash. His cleanly shaven face, short hair, red coral rosary
+      on the left hand and his yellow garment proved clearly that before us
+      stood some high Lama Priest,&mdash;with a big Colt under his blue sash!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I turned to my host and Tzeren and read in their faces fear and
+      veneration. The stranger came over to the brazier and sat down.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s speak Russian,&rdquo; he said and took a bit of meat.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The conversation began. The stranger began to find fault with the
+      Government of the Living Buddha in Urga.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There they liberate Mongolia, capture Urga, defeat the Chinese army and
+      here in the west they give us no news of it. We are without action here
+      while the Chinese kill our people and steal from them. I think that Bogdo
+      Khan might send us envoys. How is it the Chinese can send their envoys
+      from Urga and Kiakhta to Kobdo, asking for assistance, and the Mongol
+      Government cannot do it? Why?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Will the Chinese send help to Urga?&rdquo; I asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Our guest laughed hoarsely and said: &ldquo;I caught all the envoys, took away
+      their letters and then sent them back . . . into the ground.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He laughed again and glanced around peculiarly with his blazing eyes. Only
+      then did I notice that his cheekbones and eyes had lines strange to the
+      Mongols of Central Asia. He looked more like a Tartar or a Kirghiz. We
+      were silent and smoked our pipes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How soon will the detachment of Chahars leave Uliassutai?&rdquo; he asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We answered that we had not heard about them. Our guest explained that
+      from Inner Mongolia the Chinese authorities had sent out a strong
+      detachment, mobilized from among the most warlike tribe of Chahars, which
+      wander about the region just outside the Great Wall. Its chief was a
+      notorious hunghutze leader promoted by the Chinese Government to the rank
+      of captain on promising that he would bring under subjugation to the
+      Chinese authorities all the tribes of the districts of Kobdo and Urianhai.
+      When he learned whither we were going and for what purpose, he said he
+      could give us the most accurate news and relieve us from the necessity of
+      going farther.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Besides that, it is very dangerous,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;because Kobdo will be
+      massacred and burned. I know this positively.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      When he heard of our unsuccessful attempt to pass through Tibet, he became
+      attentive and very sympathetic in his bearing toward us and, with evident
+      feeling of regret, expressed himself strongly:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Only I could have helped you in this enterprise, but not the Narabanchi
+      Hutuktu. With my laissez-passer you could have gone anywhere in Tibet. I
+      am Tushegoun Lama.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Tushegoun Lama! How many extraordinary tales I had heard about him. He is
+      a Russian Kalmuck, who because of his propaganda work for the independence
+      of the Kalmuck people made the acquaintance of many Russian prisons under
+      the Czar and, for the same cause, added to his list under the Bolsheviki.
+      He escaped to Mongolia and at once attained to great influence among the
+      Mongols. It was no wonder, for he was a close friend and pupil of the
+      Dalai Lama in Potala (Lhasa), was the most learned among the Lamites, a
+      famous thaumaturgist and doctor. He occupied an almost independent
+      position in his relationship with the Living Buddha and achieved to the
+      leadership of all the old wandering tribes of Western Mongolia and
+      Zungaria, even extending his political domination over the Mongolian
+      tribes of Turkestan. His influence was irresistible, based as it was on
+      his great control of mysterious science, as he expressed it; but I was
+      also told that it has its foundation largely in the panicky fear which he
+      could produce in the Mongols. Everyone who disobeyed his orders perished.
+      Such an one never knew the day or the hour when, in his yurta or beside
+      his galloping horse on the plains, the strange and powerful friend of the
+      Dalai Lama would appear. The stroke of a knife, a bullet or strong fingers
+      strangling the neck like a vise accomplished the justice of the plans of
+      this miracle worker.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Without the walls of the yurta the wind whistled and roared and drove the
+      frozen snow sharply against the stretched felt. Through the roar of the
+      wind came the sound of many voices in mingled shouting, wailing and
+      laughter. I felt that in such surroundings it were not difficult to
+      dumbfound a wandering nomad with miracles, because Nature herself had
+      prepared the setting for it. This thought had scarcely time to flash
+      through my mind before Tushegoun Lama suddenly raised his head, looked
+      sharply at me and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There is very much unknown in Nature and the skill of using the unknown
+      produces the miracle; but the power is given to few. I want to prove it to
+      you and you may tell me afterwards whether you have seen it before or
+      not.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He stood up, pushed back the sleeves of his yellow garment, seized his
+      knife and strode across to the shepherd.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Michik, stand up!&rdquo; he ordered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When the shepherd had risen, the Lama quickly unbuttoned his coat and
+      bared the man&rsquo;s chest. I could not yet understand what was his intention,
+      when suddenly the Tushegoun with all his force struck his knife into the
+      chest of the shepherd. The Mongol fell all covered with blood, a splash of
+      which I noticed on the yellow silk of the Lama&rsquo;s coat.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What have you done?&rdquo; I exclaimed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sh! Be still,&rdquo; he whispered turning to me his now quite blanched face.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      With a few strokes of the knife he opened the chest of the Mongol and I
+      saw the man&rsquo;s lungs softly breathing and the distinct palpitations of the
+      heart. The Lama touched these organs with his fingers but no more blood
+      appeared to flow and the face of the shepherd was quite calm. He was lying
+      with his eyes closed and appeared to be in deep and quiet sleep. As the
+      Lama began to open his abdomen, I shut my eyes in fear and horror; and,
+      when I opened them a little while later, I was still more dumbfounded at
+      seeing the shepherd with his coat still open and his breast normal,
+      quietly sleeping on his side and Tushegoun Lama sitting peacefully by the
+      brazier, smoking his pipe and looking into the fire in deep thought.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is wonderful!&rdquo; I confessed. &ldquo;I have never seen anything like it!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;About what are you speaking?&rdquo; asked the Kalmuck.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;About your demonstration or &lsquo;miracle,&rsquo; as you call it,&rdquo; I answered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I never said anything like that,&rdquo; refuted the Kalmuck, with coldness in
+      his voice.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Did you see it?&rdquo; I asked of my companion.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What?&rdquo; he queried in a dozing voice.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I realized that I had become the victim of the hypnotic power of Tushegoun
+      Lama; but I preferred this to seeing an innocent Mongolian die, for I had
+      not believed that Tushegoun Lama, after slashing open the bodies of his
+      victims, could repair them again so readily.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The following day we took leave of our hosts. We decided to return,
+      inasmuch as our mission was accomplished; and Tushegoun Lama explained to
+      us that he would &ldquo;move through space.&rdquo; He wandered over all Mongolia,
+      lived both in the single, simple yurta of the shepherd and hunter and in
+      the splendid tents of the princes and tribal chiefs, surrounded by deep
+      veneration and panic-fear, enticing and cementing to him rich and poor
+      alike with his miracles and prophecies. When bidding us adieu, the Kalmuck
+      sorcerer slyly smiled and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do not give any information about me to the Chinese authorities.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Afterwards he added: &ldquo;What happened to you yesterday evening was a futile
+      demonstration. You Europeans will not recognize that we dark-minded nomads
+      possess the powers of mysterious science. If you could only see the
+      miracles and power of the Most Holy Tashi Lama, when at his command the
+      lamps and candles before the ancient statue of Buddha light themselves and
+      when the ikons of the gods begin to speak and prophesy! But there exists a
+      more powerful and more holy man. . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Is it the King of the World in Agharti?&rdquo; I interrupted.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He stared and glanced at me in amazement.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Have you heard about him?&rdquo; he asked, as his brows knit in thought.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After a few seconds he raised his narrow eyes and said: &ldquo;Only one man
+      knows his holy name; only one man now living was ever in Agharti. That is
+      I. This is the reason why the Most Holy Dalai Lama has honored me and why
+      the Living Buddha in Urga fears me. But in vain, for I shall never sit on
+      the Holy Throne of the highest priest in Lhasa nor reach that which has
+      come down from Jenghiz Khan to the Head of our yellow Faith. I am no monk.
+      I am a warrior and avenger.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He jumped smartly into the saddle, whipped his horse and whirled away,
+      flinging out as he left the common Mongolian phrase of adieu: &ldquo;Sayn!
+      Sayn-bayna!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      On the way back Tzeren related to us the hundreds of legends surrounding
+      Tushegoun Lama. One tale especially remained in my mind. It was in 1911 or
+      1912 when the Mongols by armed force tried to attain their liberty in a
+      struggle with the Chinese. The general Chinese headquarters in Western
+      Mongolia was Kobdo, where they had about ten thousand soldiers under the
+      command of their best officers. The command to capture Kobdo was sent to
+      Hun Baldon, a simple shepherd who had distinguished himself in fights with
+      the Chinese and received from the Living Buddha the title of Prince of
+      Hun. Ferocious, absolutely without fear and possessing gigantic strength,
+      Baldon had several times led to the attack his poorly armed Mongols but
+      each time had been forced to retreat after losing many of his men under
+      the machine-gun fire. Unexpectedly Tushegoun Lama arrived. He collected
+      all the soldiers and then said to them:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You must not fear death and must not retreat. You are fighting and dying
+      for Mongolia, for which the gods have appointed a great destiny. See what
+      the fate of Mongolia will be!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He made a great sweeping gesture with his hand and all the soldiers saw
+      the country round about set with rich yurtas and pastures covered with
+      great herds of horses and cattle. On the plains appeared numerous horsemen
+      on richly saddled steeds. The women were gowned in the finest of silk with
+      massive silver rings in their ears and precious ornaments in their
+      elaborate head dresses. Chinese merchants led an endless caravan of
+      merchandise up to distinguished looking Mongol Saits, surrounded by the
+      gaily dressed tzirik or soldiers and proudly negotiating with the
+      merchants for their wares.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Shortly the vision disappeared and Tushegoun began to speak.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do not fear death! It is a release from our labor on earth and the path
+      to the state of constant blessings. Look to the East! Do you see your
+      brothers and friends who have fallen in battle?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We see, we see!&rdquo; the Mongol warriors exclaimed in astonishment, as they
+      all looked upon a great group of dwellings which might have been yurtas or
+      the arches of temples flushed with a warm and kindly light. Red and yellow
+      silk were interwoven in bright bands that covered the walls and floor,
+      everywhere the gilding on pillars and walls gleamed brightly; on the great
+      red altar burned the thin sacrificial candles in gold candelabra, beside
+      the massive silver vessels filled with milk and nuts; on soft pillows
+      about the floor sat the Mongols who had fallen in the previous attack on
+      Kobdo. Before them stood low, lacquered tables laden with many dishes of
+      steaming, succulent flesh of the lamb and the kid, with high jugs of wine
+      and tea, with plates of borsuk, a kind of sweet, rich cakes, with aromatic
+      zatouran covered with sheep&rsquo;s fat, with bricks of dried cheese, with
+      dates, raisins and nuts. These fallen soldiers smoked golden pipes and
+      chatted gaily.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This vision in turn also disappeared and before the gazing Mongols stood
+      only the mysterious Kalmuck with his hand upraised.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To battle and return not without victory! I am with you in the fight.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The attack began. The Mongols fought furiously, perished by the hundreds
+      but not before they had rushed into the heart of Kobdo. Then was
+      re-enacted the long forgotten picture of Tartar hordes destroying European
+      towns. Hun Baldon ordered carried over him a triangle of lances with
+      brilliant red streamers, a sign that he gave up the town to the soldiers
+      for three days. Murder and pillage began. All the Chinese met their death
+      there. The town was burned and the walls of the fortress destroyed.
+      Afterwards Hun Baldon came to Uliassutai and also destroyed the Chinese
+      fortress there. The ruins of it still stand with the broken embattlements
+      and towers, the useless gates and the remnants of the burned official
+      quarters and soldiers&rsquo; barracks.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XIX
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      WILD CHAHARS
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      After our return to Uliassutai we heard that disquieting news had been
+      received by the Mongol Sait from Muren Kure. The letter stated that Red
+      Troops were pressing Colonel Kazagrandi very hard in the region of Lake
+      Kosogol. The Sait feared the advance of the Red troops southward to
+      Uliassutai. Both the American firms liquidated their affairs and all our
+      friends were prepared for a quick exit, though they hesitated at the
+      thought of leaving the town, as they were afraid of meeting the detachment
+      of Chahars sent from the east. We decided to await the arrival of this
+      detachment, as their coming could change the whole course of events. In a
+      few days they came, two hundred warlike Chahar brigands under the command
+      of a former Chinese hunghutze. He was a tall, skinny man with hands that
+      reached almost to his knees, a face blackened by wind and sun and
+      mutilated with two long scars down over his forehead and cheek, the making
+      of one of which had also closed one of his hawklike eyes, topped off with
+      a shaggy coonskin cap&mdash;such was the commander of the detachment of
+      Chahars. A personage very dark and stern, with whom a night meeting on a
+      lonely street could not be considered a pleasure by any bent of the
+      imagination.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The detachment made camp within the destroyed fortress, near to the single
+      Chinese building that had not been razed and which was now serving as
+      headquarters for the Chinese Commissioner. On the very day of their
+      arrival the Chahars pillaged a Chinese dugun or trading house not half a
+      mile from the fortress and also offended the wife of the Chinese
+      Commissioner by calling her a &ldquo;traitor.&rdquo; The Chahars, like the Mongols,
+      were quite right in their stand, because the Chinese Commissioner Wang
+      Tsao-tsun had on his arrival in Uliassutai followed the Chinese custom of
+      demanding a Mongolian wife. The servile new Sait had given orders that a
+      beautiful and suitable Mongolian girl be found for him. One was so run
+      down and placed in his yamen, together with her big wrestling Mongol
+      brother who was to be a guard for the Commissioner but who developed into
+      the nurse for the little white Pekingese pug which the official presented
+      to his new wife.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Burglaries, squabbles and drunken orgies of the Chahars followed, so that
+      Wang Tsoa-tsun exerted all his efforts to hurry the detachment westward to
+      Kobdo and farther into Urianhai.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One cold morning the inhabitants of Uliassutai rose to witness a very
+      stern picture. Along the main street of the town the detachment was
+      passing. They were riding on small, shaggy ponies, three abreast; were
+      dressed in warm blue coats with sheepskin overcoats outside and crowned
+      with the regulation coonskin caps; armed from head to foot. They rode with
+      wild shouts and cheers, very greedily eyeing the Chinese shops and the
+      houses of the Russian colonists. At their head rode the one-eyed hunghutze
+      chief with three horsemen behind him in white overcoats, who carried
+      waving banners and blew what may have been meant for music through great
+      conch shells. One of the Chahars could not resist and so jumped out of his
+      saddle and made for a Chinese shop along the street. Immediately the
+      anxious cries of the Chinese merchants came from the shop. The hunghutze
+      swung round, noticed the horse at the door of the shop and realized what
+      was happening. Immediately he reined his horse and made for the spot. With
+      his raucous voice he called the Chahar out. As he came, he struck him full
+      in the face with his whip and with all his strength. Blood flowed from the
+      slashed cheek. But the Chahar was in the saddle in a second without a
+      murmur and galloped to his place in the file. During this exit of the
+      Chahars all the people were hidden in their houses, anxiously peeping
+      through cracks and corners of the windows. But the Chahars passed
+      peacefully out and only when they met a caravan carrying Chinese wine
+      about six miles from town did their native tendency display itself again
+      in pillaging and emptying several containers. Somewhere in the vicinity of
+      Hargana they were ambushed by Tushegoun Lama and so treated that never
+      again will the plains of Chahar welcome the return of these warrior sons
+      who were sent out to conquer the Soyot descendants of the ancient Tuba.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The day the column left Uliassutai a heavy snow fell, so that the road
+      became impassable. The horses first were up to their knees, tired out and
+      stopped. Some Mongol horsemen reached Uliassutai the following day after
+      great hardship and exertion, having made only twenty-five miles in
+      forty-eight hours. Caravans were compelled to stop along the routes. The
+      Mongols would not consent even to attempt journeys with oxen and yaks
+      which made but ten or twelve miles a day. Only camels could be used but
+      there were too few and their drivers did not feel that they could make the
+      first railway station of Kuku-Hoto, which was about fourteen hundred miles
+      away. We were forced again to wait: for which? Death or salvation? Only
+      our own energy and force could save us. Consequently my friend and I
+      started out, supplied with a tent, stove and food, for a new
+      reconnaissance along the shore of Lake Kosogol, whence the Mongol Sait
+      expected the new invasion of Red troops.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XX
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE DEMON OF JAGISSTAI
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Our small group consisting of four mounted and one pack camel moved
+      northward along the valley of the River Boyagol in the direction of the
+      Tarbagatai Mountains. The road was rocky and covered deep with snow. Our
+      camels walked very carefully, sniffing out the way as our guide shouted
+      the &ldquo;Ok! Ok!&rdquo; of the camel drivers to urge them on. We left behind us the
+      fortress and Chinese dugun, swung round the shoulder of a ridge and, after
+      fording several times an open stream, began the ascent of the mountain.
+      The scramble was hard and dangerous. Our camels picked their way most
+      cautiously, moving their ears constantly, as is their habit in such
+      stress. The trail zigzagged into mountain ravines, passed over the tops of
+      ridges, slipped back down again into shallower valleys but ever made
+      higher and higher altitudes. At one place under the grey clouds that
+      tipped the ridges we saw away up on the wide expanse of snow some black
+      spots.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Those are the obo, the sacred signs and altars for the bad demons
+      watching this pass,&rdquo; explained the guide. &ldquo;This pass is called Jagisstai.
+      Many very old tales about it have been kept alive, ancient as these
+      mountains themselves.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We encouraged him to tell us some of them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Mongol, rocking on his camel and looking carefully all around him,
+      began his tale.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It was long ago, very long ago. . . . The grandson of the great Jenghiz
+      Khan sat on the throne of China and ruled all Asia. The Chinese killed
+      their Khan and wanted to exterminate all his family but a holy old Lama
+      slipped the wife and little son out of the palace and carried them off on
+      swift camels beyond the Great Wall, where they sank into our native
+      plains. The Chinese made a long search for the trails of our refugees and
+      at last found where they had gone. They despatched a strong detachment on
+      fleet horses to capture them. Sometimes the Chinese nearly came up with
+      the fleeing heir of our Khan but the Lama called down from Heaven a deep
+      snow, through which the camels could pass while the horses were
+      inextricably held. This Lama was from a distant monastery. We shall pass
+      this hospice of Jahantsi Kure. In order to reach it one must cross over
+      the Jagisstai. And it was just here the old Lama suddenly became ill,
+      rocked in his saddle and fell dead. Ta Sin Lo, the widow of the Great
+      Khan, burst into tears; but, seeing the Chinese riders galloping there
+      below across the valley, pressed on toward the pass. The camels were
+      tired, stopping every moment, nor did the woman know how to stimulate and
+      drive them on. The Chinese riders came nearer and nearer. Already she
+      heard their shouts of joy, as they felt within their grasp the prize of
+      the mandarins for the murder of the heir of the Great Khan. The heads of
+      the mother and the son would be brought to Peking and exposed on the
+      Ch&rsquo;ien Men for the mockery and insults of the people. The frightened
+      mother lifted her little son toward heaven and exclaimed:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Earth and Gods of Mongolia, behold the offspring of the man who has
+      glorified the name of the Mongols from one end of the world to the other!
+      Allow not this very flesh of Jenghiz Khan to perish!&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;At this moment she noticed a white mouse sitting on a rock nearby. It
+      jumped to her knees and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;I am sent to help you. Go on calmly and do not fear. The pursuers of you
+      and your son, to whom is destined a life of glory, have come to the last
+      bourne of their lives.&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ta Sin Lo did not see how one small mouse could hold in check three
+      hundred men. The mouse jumped back to the ground and again spoke:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;I am the demon of Tarbagatai, Jagasstai. I am mighty and beloved of the
+      Gods but, because you doubted the powers of the miracle-speaking mouse,
+      from this day the Jagasstai will be dangerous for the good and bad alike.&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The Khan&rsquo;s widow and son were saved but Jagasstai has ever remained
+      merciless. During the journey over this pass one must always be on one&rsquo;s
+      guard. The demon of the mountain is ever ready to lead the traveler to
+      destruction.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      All the tops of the ridges of the Tarbagatai are thickly dotted with the
+      obo of rocks and branches. In one place there was even erected a tower of
+      stones as an altar to propitiate the Gods for the doubts of Ta Sin Lo.
+      Evidently the demon expected us. When we began our ascent of the main
+      ridge, he blew into our faces with a sharp, cold wind, whistled and roared
+      and afterwards began casting over us whole blocks of snow torn off the
+      drifts above. We could not distinguish anything around us, scarcely seeing
+      the camel immediately in front. Suddenly I felt a shock and looked about
+      me. Nothing unusual was visible. I was seated comfortably between two
+      leather saddle bags filled with meat and bread but . . . I could not see
+      the head of my camel. He had disappeared. It seemed that he had slipped
+      and fallen to the bottom of a shallow ravine, while the bags which were
+      slung across his back without straps had caught on a rock and stopped with
+      myself there in the snow. This time the demon of Jagasstai only played a
+      joke but one that did not satisfy him. He began to show more and more
+      anger. With furious gusts of wind he almost dragged us and our bags from
+      the camels and nearly knocked over our humped steeds, blinded us with
+      frozen snow and prevented us from breathing. Through long hours we dragged
+      slowly on in the deep snow, often falling over the edge of the rocks. At
+      last we entered a small valley where the wind whistled and roared with a
+      thousand voices. It had grown dark. The Mongol wandered around searching
+      for the trail and finally came back to us, flourishing his arms and
+      saying:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We have lost the road. We must spend the night here. It is very bad
+      because we shall have no wood for our stove and the cold will grow worse.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With great difficulties and with frozen hands we managed to set up our
+      tent in the wind, placing in it the now useless stove. We covered the tent
+      with snow, dug deep, long ditches in the drifts and forced our camels to
+      lie down in them by shouting the &ldquo;Dzuk! Dzuk!&rdquo; command to kneel. Then we
+      brought our packs into the tent.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      My companion rebelled against the thought of spending a cold night with a
+      stove hard by.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am going out to look for firewood,&rdquo; said he very decisively; and at
+      that took up the ax and started. He returned after an hour with a big
+      section of a telegraph pole.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You, Jenghiz Khans,&rdquo; said he, rubbing his frozen hands, &ldquo;take your axes
+      and go up there to the left on the mountain and you will find the
+      telegraph poles that have been cut down. I made acquaintance with the old
+      Jagasstai and he showed me the poles.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Just a little way from us the line of the Russian telegraphs passed, that
+      which had connected Irkutsk with Uliassutai before the days of the
+      Bolsheviki and which the Chinese had commanded the Mongols to cut down and
+      take the wire. These poles are now the salvation of travelers crossing the
+      pass. Thus we spent the night in a warm tent, supped well from hot meat
+      soup with vermicelli, all in the very center of the dominion of the
+      angered Jagasstai. Early the next morning we found the road not more than
+      two or three hundred paces from our tent and continued our hard trip over
+      the ridge of Tarbagatai. At the head of the Adair River valley we noticed
+      a flock of the Mongolian crows with carmine beaks circling among the
+      rocks. We approached the place and discovered the recently fallen bodies
+      of a horse and rider. What had happened to them was difficult to guess.
+      They lay close together; the bridle was wound around the right wrist of
+      the man; no trace of knife or bullet was found. It was impossible to make
+      out the features of the man. His overcoat was Mongolian but his trousers
+      and under jacket were not of the Mongolian pattern. We asked ourselves
+      what had happened to him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Our Mongol bowed his head in anxiety and said in hushed but assured tones:
+      &ldquo;It is the vengeance of Jagasstai. The rider did not make sacrifice at the
+      southern obo and the demon has strangled him and his horse.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At last Tarbagatai was behind us. Before us lay the valley of the Adair.
+      It was a narrow zigzagging plain following along the river bed between
+      close mountain ranges and covered with a rich grass. It was cut into two
+      parts by the road along which the prostrate telegraph poles now lay, as
+      the stumps of varying heights and long stretches of wire completed the
+      debris. This destruction of the telegraph line between Irkutsk and
+      Uliassutai was necessary and incident to the aggressive Chinese policy in
+      Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Soon we began to meet large herds of sheep, which were digging through the
+      snow to the dry but very nutritious grass. In some places yaks and oxen
+      were seen on the high slopes of the mountains. Only once, however, did we
+      see a shepherd, for all of them, spying us first, had made off to the
+      mountains or hidden in the ravines. We did not even discover any yurtas
+      along the way. The Mongols had also concealed all their movable homes in
+      the folds of the mountains out of sight and away from the reach of the
+      strong winds. Nomads are very skilful in choosing the places for their
+      winter dwellings. I had often in winter visited the Mongolian yurtas set
+      in such sheltered places that, as I came off the windy plains, I felt as
+      though I were in a conservatory. Once we came up to a big herd of sheep.
+      But as we approached most of the herd gradually withdrew, leaving one part
+      that remained unmoved as the other worked off across the plains. From this
+      section soon about thirty of forty head emerged and went scrambling and
+      leaping right up the mountain side. I took up my glasses and began to
+      observe them. The part of the herd that remained behind were common sheep;
+      the large section that had drawn off over the plain were Mongolian
+      antelopes (gazella gutturosa); while the few that had taken to the
+      mountain were the big horned sheep (ovis argali). All this company had
+      been grazing together with the domestic sheep on the plains of the Adair,
+      which attracted them with its good grass and clear water. In many places
+      the river was not frozen and in some places I saw great clouds of steam
+      over the surface of the open water. In the meantime some of the antelopes
+      and the mountain sheep began looking at us.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now they will soon begin to cross our trail,&rdquo; laughed the Mongol; &ldquo;very
+      funny beasts. Sometimes the antelopes course for miles in their endeavor
+      to outrun and cross in front of our horses and then, when they have done
+      so, go loping quietly off.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I had already seen this strategy of the antelopes and I decided to make
+      use of it for the purpose of the hunt. We organized our chase in the
+      following manner. We let one Mongol with the pack camel proceed as we had
+      been traveling and the other three of us spread out like a fan headed
+      toward the herd on the right of our true course. The herd stopped and
+      looked about puzzled, for their etiquette required that they should cross
+      the path of all four of these riders at once. Confusion began. They
+      counted about three thousand heads. All this army began to run from one
+      side to another but without forming any distinct groups. Whole squadrons
+      of them ran before us and then, noticing another rider, came coursing back
+      and made anew the same manoeuvre. One group of about fifty head rushed in
+      two rows toward my point. When they were about a hundred and fifty paces
+      away I shouted and fired. They stopped at once and began to whirl round in
+      one spot, running into one another and even jumping over one another.
+      Their panic cost them dear, for I had time to shoot four times to bring
+      down two beautiful heads. My friend was even more fortunate than I, for he
+      shot only once into the herd as it rushed past him in parallel lines and
+      dropped two with the same bullet.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile the argali had gone farther up the mountainside and taken stand
+      there in a row like so many soldiers, turning to gaze at us. Even at this
+      distance I could clearly distinguish their muscular bodies with their
+      majestic heads and stalwart horns. Picking up our prey, we overtook the
+      Mongol who had gone on ahead and continued our way. In many places we came
+      across the carcasses of sheep with necks torn and the flesh of the sides
+      eaten off.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is the work of wolves,&rdquo; said the Mongol. &ldquo;They are always hereabout in
+      large numbers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We came across several more herds of antelope, which ran along quietly
+      enough until they had made a comfortable distance ahead of us and then
+      with tremendous leaps and bounds crossed our bows like the proverbial
+      chicken on the road. Then, after a couple of hundred paces at this speed,
+      they stopped and began to graze quite calmly. Once I turned my camel back
+      and the whole herd immediately took up the challenge again, coursed along
+      parallel with me until they had made sufficient distance for their ideas
+      of safety and then once more rushed across the road ahead of me as though
+      it were paved with red hot stones, only to assume their previous calmness
+      and graze back on the same side of the trail from which our column had
+      first started them. On another occasion I did this three times with a
+      particular herd and laughed long and heartily at their stupid customs.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We passed a very unpleasant night in this valley. We stopped on the shore
+      of the frozen stream in a spot where we found shelter from the wind under
+      the lee of a high shore. In our stove we did have a fire and in our kettle
+      boiling water. Also our tent was warm and cozy. We were quietly resting
+      with pleasant thoughts of supper to soothe us, when suddenly a howling and
+      laughter as though from some inferno burst upon us from just outside the
+      tent, while from the other side of the valley came the long and doleful
+      howls in answer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Wolves,&rdquo; calmly explained the Mongol, who took my revolver and went out
+      of the tent. He did not return for some time but at last we heard a shot
+      and shortly after he entered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I scared them a little,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;They had congregated on the shore of
+      the Adair around the body of a camel.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And they have not touched our camels?&rdquo; we asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We shall make a bonfire behind our tent; then they will not bother us.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After our supper we turned in but I lay awake for a long time listening to
+      the crackle of the wood in the fire, the deep sighing breaths of the
+      camels and the distant howling of the packs of wolves; but finally, even
+      with all these noises, fell asleep. How long I had been asleep I did not
+      know when suddenly I was awakened by a strong blow in the side. I was
+      lying at the very edge of the tent and someone from outside had, without
+      the least ceremony, pushed strongly against me. I thought it was one of
+      the camels chewing the felt of the tent. I took my Mauser and struck the
+      wall. A sharp scream was followed by the sound of quick running over the
+      pebbles. In the morning we discovered the tracks of wolves approaching our
+      tent from the side opposite to the fire and followed them to where they
+      had begun to dig under the tent wall; but evidently one of the would-be
+      robbers was forced to retreat with a bruise on his head from the handle of
+      the Mauser.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Wolves and eagles are the servants of Jagasstai, the Mongol very seriously
+      instructed us. However, this does not prevent the Mongols from hunting
+      them. Once in the camp of Prince Baysei I witnessed such a hunt. The
+      Mongol horsemen on the best of his steeds overtook the wolves on the open
+      plain and killed them with heavy bamboo sticks or tashur. A Russian
+      veterinary surgeon taught the Mongols to poison wolves with strychnine but
+      the Mongols soon abandoned this method because of its danger to the dogs,
+      the faithful friends and allies of the nomad. They do not, however, touch
+      the eagles and hawks but even feed them. When the Mongols are slaughtering
+      animals they often cast bits of meat up into the air for the hawks and
+      eagles to catch in flight, just as we throw a bit of meat to a dog. Eagles
+      and hawks fight and drive away the magpies and crows, which are very
+      dangerous for cattle and horses, because they scratch and peck at the
+      smallest wound or abrasion on the backs of the animals until they make
+      them into uncurable areas which they continue to harass.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXI
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE NEST OF DEATH
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Our camels were trudging to a slow but steady measure on toward the north.
+      We were making twenty-five to thirty miles a day as we approached a small
+      monastery that lay to the left of our route. It was in the form of a
+      square of large buildings surrounded by a high fence of thick poles. Each
+      side had an opening in the middle leading to the four entrances of the
+      temple in the center of the square. The temple was built with the red
+      lacquered columns and the Chinese style roofs and dominated the
+      surrounding low dwellings of the Lamas. On the opposite side of the road
+      lay what appeared to be a Chinese fortress but which was in reality a
+      trading compound or dugun, which the Chinese always build in the form of a
+      fortress with double walls a few feet apart, within which they place their
+      houses and shops and usually have twenty or thirty traders fully armed for
+      any emergency. In case of need these duguns can be used as blockhouses and
+      are capable of withstanding long sieges. Between the dugun and the
+      monastery and nearer to the road I made out the camp of some nomads. Their
+      horses and cattle were nowhere to be seen. Evidently the Mongols had
+      stopped here for some time and had left their cattle in the mountains.
+      Over several yurtas waved multi-colored triangular flags, a sign of the
+      presence of disease. Near some yurtas high poles were stuck into the
+      ground with Mongol caps at their tops, which indicated that the host of
+      the yurta had died. The packs of dogs wandering over the plain showed that
+      the dead bodies lay somewhere near, either in the ravines or along the
+      banks of the river.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As we approached the camp, we heard from a distance the frantic beating of
+      drums, the mournful sounds of the flute and shrill, mad shouting. Our
+      Mongol went forward to investigate for us and reported that several
+      Mongolian families had come here to the monastery to seek aid from the
+      Hutuktu Jahansti who was famed for his miracles of healing. The people
+      were stricken with leprosy and black smallpox and had come from long
+      distances only to find that the Hutuktu was not at the monastery but had
+      gone to the Living Buddha in Urga. Consequently they had been forced to
+      invite the witch doctors. The people were dying one after another. Just
+      the day before they had cast on the plain the twenty-seventh man.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile, as we talked, the witch doctor came out of one of the yurtas.
+      He was an old man with a cataract on one eye and with a face deeply
+      scarred by smallpox. He was dressed in tatters with various colored bits
+      of cloth hanging down from his waist. He carried a drum and a flute. We
+      could see froth on his blue lips and madness in his eyes. Suddenly he
+      began to whirl round and dance with a thousand prancings of his long legs
+      and writhings of his arms and shoulders, still beating the drum and
+      playing the flute or crying and raging at intervals, ever accelerating his
+      movements until at last with pallid face and bloodshot eyes he fell on the
+      snow, where he continued to writhe and give out his incoherent cries. In
+      this manner the doctor treated his patients, frightening with his madness
+      the bad devils that carry disease. Another witch doctor gave his patients
+      dirty, muddy water, which I learned was the water from the bath of the
+      very person of the Living Buddha who had washed in it his &ldquo;divine&rdquo; body
+      born from the sacred flower of the lotus.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Om! Om!&rdquo; both witches continuously screamed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      While the doctors fought with the devils, the ill people were left to
+      themselves. They lay in high fever under the heaps of sheepskins and
+      overcoats, were delirious, raved and threw themselves about. By the
+      braziers squatted adults and children who were still well, indifferently
+      chatting, drinking tea and smoking. In all the yurtas I saw the diseased
+      and the dead and such misery and physical horrors as cannot be described.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And I thought: &ldquo;Oh, Great Jenghiz Khan! Why did you with your keen
+      understanding of the whole situation of Asia and Europe, you who devoted
+      all your life to the glory of the name of the Mongols, why did you not
+      give to your own people, who preserve their old morality, honesty and
+      peaceful customs, the enlightenment that would have saved them from such
+      death? Your bones in the mausoleum at Karakorum being destroyed by the
+      centuries that pass over them must cry out against the rapid disappearance
+      of your formerly great people, who were feared by half the civilized
+      world!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Such thoughts filled my brain when I saw this camp of the dead tomorrow
+      and when I heard the groans, shoutings and raving of dying men, women and
+      children. Somewhere in the distance the dogs were howling mournfully, and
+      monotonously the drum of the tired witch rolled.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Forward!&rdquo; I could not witness longer this dark horror, which I had no
+      means or force to eradicate. We quickly passed on from the ominous place.
+      Nor could we shake the thought that some horrible invisible spirit was
+      following us from this scene of terror. &ldquo;The devils of disease?&rdquo; &ldquo;The
+      pictures of horror and misery?&rdquo; &ldquo;The souls of men who have been sacrificed
+      on the altar of darkness of Mongolia?&rdquo; An inexplicable fear penetrated
+      into our consciousness from whose grasp we could not release ourselves.
+      Only when we had turned from the road, passed over a timbered ridge into a
+      bowl in the mountains from which we could see neither Jahantsi Kure, the
+      dugun nor the squirming grave of dying Mongols could we breathe freely
+      again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Presently we discovered a large lake. It was Tisingol. Near the shore
+      stood a large Russian house, the telegraph station between Kosogol and
+      Uliassutai.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      AMONG THE MURDERERS
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      As we approached the telegraph station, we were met by a blonde young man
+      who was in charge of the office, Kanine by name. With some little
+      confusion he offered us a place in his house for the night. When we
+      entered the room, a tall, lanky man rose from the table and indecisively
+      walked toward us, looking very attentively at us the while.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Guests . . .&rdquo; explained Kanine. &ldquo;They are going to Khathyl. Private
+      persons, strangers, foreigners . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A-h,&rdquo; drawled the stranger in a quiet, comprehending tone.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      While we were untying our girdles and with difficulty getting out of our
+      great Mongolian coats, the tall man was animatedly whispering something to
+      our host. As we approached the table to sit down and rest, I overheard him
+      say: &ldquo;We are forced to postpone it,&rdquo; and saw Kanine simply nod in answer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Several other people were seated at the table, among them the assistant of
+      Kanine, a tall blonde man with a white face, who talked like a Gatling gun
+      about everything imaginable. He was half crazy and his semi-madness
+      expressed itself when any loud talking, shouting or sudden sharp report
+      led him to repeat the words of the one to whom he was talking at the time
+      or to relate in a mechanical, hurried manner stories of what was happening
+      around him just at this particular juncture. The wife of Kanine, a pale,
+      young, exhausted-looking woman with frightened eyes and a face distorted
+      by fear, was also there and near her a young girl of fifteen with cropped
+      hair and dressed like a man, as well as the two small sons of Kanine. We
+      made acquaintance with all of them. The tall stranger called himself
+      Gorokoff, a Russian colonist from Samgaltai, and presented the
+      short-haired girl as his sister. Kanine&rsquo;s wife looked at us with plainly
+      discernible fear and said nothing, evidently displeased over our being
+      there. However, we had no choice and consequently began drinking tea and
+      eating our bread and cold meat.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kanine told us that ever since the telegraph line had been destroyed all
+      his family and relatives had felt very keenly the poverty and hardship
+      that naturally followed. The Bolsheviki did not send him any salary from
+      Irkutsk, so that he was compelled to shift for himself as best he could.
+      They cut and cured hay for sale to the Russian colonists, handled private
+      messages and merchandise from Khathyl to Uliassutai and Samgaltai, bought
+      and sold cattle, hunted and in this manner managed to exist. Gorokoff
+      announced that his commercial affairs compelled him to go to Khathyl and
+      that he and his sister would be glad to join our caravan. He had a most
+      unprepossessing, angry-looking face with colorless eyes that always
+      avoided those of the person with whom he was speaking. During the
+      conversation we asked Kanine if there were Russian colonists near by, to
+      which he answered with knitted brow and a look of disgust on his face:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There is one rich old man, Bobroff, who lives a verst away from our
+      station; but I would not advise you to visit him. He is a miserly,
+      inhospitable old fellow who does not like guests.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      During these words of her husband Madame Kanine dropped her eyes and
+      contracted her shoulders in something resembling a shudder. Gorokoff and
+      his sister smoked along indifferently. I very clearly remarked all this as
+      well as the hostile tone of Kanine, the confusion of his wife and the
+      artificial indifference of Gorokoff; and I determined to see the old
+      colonist given such a bad name by Kanine. In Uliassutai I knew two
+      Bobroffs. I said to Kanine that I had been asked to hand a letter
+      personally to Bobroff and, after finishing my tea, put on my overcoat and
+      went out.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The house of Bobroff stood in a deep sink in the mountains, surrounded by
+      a high fence over which the low roofs of the houses could be seen. A light
+      shone through the window. I knocked at the gate. A furious barking of dogs
+      answered me and through the cracks of the fence I made out four huge black
+      Mongol dogs, showing their teeth and growling as they rushed toward the
+      gate. Inside the court someone opened the door and called out: &ldquo;Who is
+      there?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I answered that I was traveling through from Uliassutai. The dogs were
+      first caught and chained and I was then admitted by a man who looked me
+      over very carefully and inquiringly from head to foot. A revolver handle
+      stuck out of his pocket. Satisfied with his observations and learning that
+      I knew his relatives, he warmly welcomed me to the house and presented me
+      to his wife, a dignified old woman, and to his beautiful little adopted
+      daughter, a girl of five years. She had been found on the plain beside the
+      dead body of her mother exhausted in her attempt to escape from the
+      Bolsheviki in Siberia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bobroff told me that the Russian detachment of Kazagrandi had succeeded in
+      driving the Red troops away from the Kosogol and that we could
+      consequently continue our trip to Khathyl without danger.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why did you not stop with me instead of with those brigands?&rdquo; asked the
+      old fellow.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I began to question him and received some very important news. It seemed
+      that Kanine was a Bolshevik, the agent of the Irkutsk Soviet, and
+      stationed here for purposes of observation. However, now he was rendered
+      harmless, because the road between him and Irkutsk was interrupted. Still
+      from Biisk in the Altai country had just come a very important commissar.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Gorokoff?&rdquo; I asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what he calls himself,&rdquo; replied the old fellow; &ldquo;but I am also
+      from Biisk and I know everyone there. His real name is Pouzikoff and the
+      short-haired girl with him is his mistress. He is the commissar of the
+      &lsquo;Cheka&rsquo; and she is the agent of this establishment. Last August the two of
+      them shot with their revolvers seventy bound officers from Kolchak&rsquo;s army.
+      Villainous, cowardly murderers! Now they have come here for a
+      reconnaissance. They wanted to stay in my house but I knew them too well
+      and refused them place.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And you do not fear him?&rdquo; I asked, remembering the different words and
+      glances of these people as they sat at the table in the station.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; answered the old man. &ldquo;I know how to defend myself and my family and
+      I have a protector too&mdash;my son, such a shot, a rider and a fighter as
+      does not exist in all Mongolia. I am very sorry that you will not make the
+      acquaintance of my boy. He has gone off to the herds and will return only
+      tomorrow evening.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We took most cordial leave of each other and I promised to stop with him
+      on my return.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, what yarns did Bobroff tell you about us?&rdquo; was the question with
+      which Kanine and Gorokoff met me when I came back to the station.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nothing about you,&rdquo; I answered, &ldquo;because he did not even want to speak
+      with me when he found out that I was staying in your house. What is the
+      trouble between you?&rdquo; I asked of them, expressing complete astonishment on
+      my face.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is an old score,&rdquo; growled Gorokoff.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A malicious old churl,&rdquo; Kanine added in agreement, the while the
+      frightened, suffering-laden eyes of his wife again gave expression to
+      terrifying horror, as if she momentarily expected a deadly blow. Gorokoff
+      began to pack his luggage in preparation for the journey with us the
+      following morning. We prepared our simple beds in an adjoining room and
+      went to sleep. I whispered to my friend to keep his revolver handy for
+      anything that might happen but he only smiled as he dragged his revolver
+      and his ax from his coat to place them under his pillow.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This people at the outset seemed to me very suspicious,&rdquo; he whispered.
+      &ldquo;They are cooking up something crooked. Tomorrow I shall ride behind this
+      Gorokoff and shall prepare for him a very faithful one of my bullets, a
+      little dum-dum.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Mongols spent the night under their tent in the open court beside
+      their camels, because they wanted to be near to feed them. About seven
+      o&rsquo;clock we started. My friend took up his post as rear guard to our
+      caravan, keeping all the time behind Gorokoff, who with his sister, both
+      armed from tip to toe, rode splendid mounts.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How have you kept your horses in such fine condition coming all the way
+      from Samgaltai?&rdquo; I inquired as I looked over their fine beasts.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When he answered that these belonged to his host, I realized that Kanine
+      was not so poor as he made out; for any rich Mongol would have given him
+      in exchange for one of these lovely animals enough sheep to have kept his
+      household in mutton for a whole year.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Soon we came to a large swamp surrounded by dense brush, where I was much
+      astonished by seeing literally hundreds of white kuropatka or partridges.
+      Out of the water rose a flock of duck with a mad rush as we hove in sight.
+      Winter, cold driving wind, snow and wild ducks! The Mongol explained it to
+      me thus:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This swamp always remains warm and never freezes. The wild ducks live
+      here the year round and the kuropatka too, finding fresh food in the soft
+      warm earth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      As I was speaking with the Mongol I noticed over the swamp a tongue of
+      reddish-yellow flame. It flashed and disappeared at once but later, on the
+      farther edge, two further tongues ran upward. I realized that here was the
+      real will-o&rsquo;-the-wisp surrounded by so many thousands of legends and
+      explained so simply by chemistry as merely a flash of methane or swamp gas
+      generated by the putrefying of vegetable matter in the warm damp earth.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Here dwell the demons of Adair, who are in perpetual war with those of
+      Muren,&rdquo; explained the Mongol.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indeed,&rdquo; I thought, &ldquo;if in prosaic Europe in our days the inhabitants of
+      our villages believe these flames to be some wild sorcery, then surely in
+      the land of mystery they must be at least the evidences of war between the
+      demons of two neighboring rivers!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After passing this swamp we made out far ahead of us a large monastery.
+      Though this was some half mile off the road, the Gorokoffs said they would
+      ride over to it to make some purchases in the Chinese shops there. They
+      quickly rode away, promising to overtake us shortly, but we did not see
+      them again for a while. They slipped away without leaving any trail but we
+      met them later in very unexpected circumstances of fatal portent for them.
+      On our part we were highly satisfied that we were rid of them so soon and,
+      after they were gone, I imparted to my friend the information gleaned from
+      Bobroff the evening before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXIII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      ON A VOLCANO
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      The following evening we arrived at Khathyl, a small Russian settlement of
+      ten scattered houses in the valley of the Egingol or Yaga, which here
+      takes its waters from the Kosogol half a mile above the village. The
+      Kosogol is a huge Alpine lake, deep and cold, eighty-five miles in length
+      and from ten to thirty in width. On the western shore live the Darkhat
+      Soyots, who call it Hubsugul, the Mongols, Kosogol. Both the Soyots and
+      Mongols consider this a terrible and sacred lake. It is very easy to
+      understand this prejudice because the lake lies in a region of present
+      volcanic activity, where in the summer on perfectly calm sunny days it
+      sometimes lashes itself into great waves that are dangerous not only to
+      the native fishing boats but also to the large Russian passenger steamers
+      that ply on the lake. In winter also it sometimes entirely breaks up its
+      covering of ice and gives off great clouds of steam. Evidently the bottom
+      of the lake is sporadically pierced by discharging hot springs or,
+      perhaps, by streams of lava. Evidence of some great underground convulsion
+      like this is afforded by the mass of killed fish which at times dams the
+      outlet river in its shallow places. The lake is exceedingly rich in fish,
+      chiefly varieties of trout and salmon, and is famous for its wonderful
+      &ldquo;white fish,&rdquo; which was previously sent all over Siberia and even down
+      into Manchuria so far as Moukden. It is fat and remarkably tender and
+      produces fine caviar. Another variety in the lake is the white khayrus or
+      trout, which in the migration season, contrary to the customs of most
+      fish, goes down stream into the Yaga, where it sometimes fills the river
+      from bank to bank with swarms of backs breaking the surface of the water.
+      However, this fish is not caught, because it is infested with worms and is
+      unfit for food. Even cats and dogs will not touch it. This is a very
+      interesting phemonenon and was being investigated and studied by Professor
+      Dorogostaisky of the University at Irkutsk when the coming of the
+      Bolsheviki interrupted his work.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In Khathyl we found a panic. The Russian detachment of Colonel Kazagrandi,
+      after having twice defeated the Bolsheviki and well on its march against
+      Irkutsk, was suddenly rendered impotent and scattered through internal
+      strife among the officers. The Bolsheviki took advantage of this
+      situation, increased their forces to one thousand men and began a forward
+      movement to recover what they had lost, while the remnants of Colonel
+      Kazagrandi&rsquo;s detachment were retreating on Khathyl, where he determined to
+      make his last stand against the Reds. The inhabitants were loading their
+      movable property with their families into carts and scurrying away from
+      the town, leaving all their cattle and horses to whomsoever should have
+      the power to seize and hold them. One party intended to hide in the dense
+      larch forest and the mountain ravines not far away, while another party
+      made southward for Muren Kure and Uliassutai. The morning following our
+      arrival the Mongol official received word that the Red troops had
+      outflanked Colonel Kazagrandi&rsquo;s men and were approaching Khathyl. The
+      Mongol loaded his documents and his servants on eleven camels and left his
+      yamen. Our Mongol guides, without ever saying a word to us, secretly
+      slipped off with him and left us without camels. Our situation thus became
+      desperate. We hastened to the colonists who had not yet got away to
+      bargain with them for camels, but they had previously, in anticipation of
+      trouble, sent their herds to distant Mongols and so could do nothing to
+      help us. Then we betook ourselves to Dr. V. G. Gay, a veterinarian living
+      in the town, famous throughout Mongolia for his battle against rinderpest.
+      He lived here with his family and after being forced to give up his
+      government work became a cattle dealer. He was a most interesting person,
+      clever and energetic, and the one who had been appointed under the Czarist
+      regime to purchase all the meat supplies from Mongolia for the Russian
+      Army on the German Front. He organized a huge enterprise in Mongolia but
+      when the Bolsheviki seized power in 1917 he transferred his allegiance and
+      began to work with them. Then in May, 1918, when the Kolchak forces drove
+      the Bolsheviki out of Siberia, he was arrested and taken for trial.
+      However, he was released because he was looked upon as the single
+      individual to organize this big Mongolian enterprise and he handed to
+      Admiral Kolchak all the supplies of meat and the silver formerly received
+      from the Soviet commissars. At this time Gay had been serving as the chief
+      organizer and supplier of the forces of Kazagrandi.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When we went to him, he at once suggested that we take the only thing
+      left, some poor, broken-down horses which would be able to carry us the
+      sixty miles to Muren Kure, where we could secure camels to return to
+      Uliassutai. However, even these were being kept some distance from the
+      town so that we should have to spend the night there, the night in which
+      the Red troops were expected to arrive. Also we were much astonished to
+      see that Gay was remaining there with his family right up to the time of
+      the expected arrival of the Reds. The only others in the town were a few
+      Cossacks, who had been ordered to stay behind to watch the movements of
+      the Red troops. The night came. My friend and I were prepared either to
+      fight or, in the last event, to commit suicide. We stayed in a small house
+      near the Yaga, where some workmen were living who could not, and did not
+      feel it necessary to, leave. They went up on a hill from which they could
+      scan the whole country up to the range from behind which the Red
+      detachment must appear. From this vantage point in the forest one of the
+      workmen came running in and cried out:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Woe, woe to us! The Reds have arrived. A horseman is galloping fast
+      through the forest road. I called to him but he did not answer me. It was
+      dark but I knew the horse was a strange one.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do not babble so,&rdquo; said another of the workmen. &ldquo;Some Mongol rode by and
+      you jumped to the conclusion that he was a Red.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, it was not a Mongol,&rdquo; he replied. &ldquo;The horse was shod. I heard the
+      sound of iron shoes on the road. Woe to us!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said my friend, &ldquo;it seems that this is our finish. It is a silly
+      way for it all to end.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He was right. Just then there was a knock at our door but it was that of
+      the Mongol bringing us three horses for our escape. Immediately we saddled
+      them, packed the third beast with our tent and food and rode off at once
+      to take leave of Gay.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In his house we found the whole war council. Two or three colonists and
+      several Cossacks had galloped from the mountains and announced that the
+      Red detachment was approaching Khathyl but would remain for the night in
+      the forest, where they were building campfires. In fact, through the house
+      windows we could see the glare of the fires. It seemed very strange that
+      the enemy should await the morning there in the forest when they were
+      right on the village they wished to capture.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      An armed Cossack entered the room and announced that two armed men from
+      the detachment were approaching. All the men in the room pricked up their
+      ears. Outside were heard the horses&rsquo; hoofs followed by men&rsquo;s voices and a
+      knock at the door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Come in,&rdquo; said Gay.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Two young men entered, their moustaches and beards white and their cheeks
+      blazing red from the cold. They were dressed in the common Siberian
+      overcoat with the big Astrakhan caps, but they had no weapons. Questions
+      began. It developed that it was a detachment of White peasants from the
+      Irkutsk and Yakutsk districts who had been fighting with the Bolsheviki.
+      They had been defeated somewhere in the vicinity of Irkutsk and were now
+      trying to make a junction with Kazagrandi. The leader of this band was a
+      socialist, Captain Vassilieff, who had suffered much under the Czar
+      because of his tenets.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Our troubles had vanished but we decided to start immediately to Muren
+      Kure, as we had gathered our information and were in a hurry to make our
+      report. We started. On the road we overtook three Cossacks who were going
+      out to bring back the colonists who were fleeing to the south. We joined
+      them and, dismounting, we all led our horses over the ice. The Yaga was
+      mad. The subterranean forces produced underneath the ice great heaving
+      waves which with a swirling roar threw up and tore loose great sections of
+      ice, breaking them into small blocks and sucking them under the unbroken
+      downstream field. Cracks ran like snakes over the surface in different
+      directions. One of the Cossacks fell into one of these but we had just
+      time to save him. He was forced by his ducking in such extreme cold to
+      turn back to Khathyl. Our horses slipped about and fell several times. Men
+      and animals felt the presence of death which hovered over them and
+      momentarily threatened them with destruction. At last we made the farther
+      bank and continued southward down the valley, glad to have left the
+      geological and figurative volcanoes behind us. Ten miles farther on we
+      came up with the first party of refugees. They had spread a big tent and
+      made a fire inside, filling it with warmth and smoke. Their camp was made
+      beside the establishment of a large Chinese trading house, where the
+      owners refused to let the colonists come into their amply spacious
+      buildings, even though there were children, women and invalids among the
+      refugees. We spent but half an hour here. The road as we continued was
+      easy, save in places where the snow lay deep. We crossed the fairly high
+      divide between the Egingol and Muren. Near the pass one very unexpected
+      event occurred to us. We crossed the mouth of a fairly wide valley whose
+      upper end was covered with a dense wood. Near this wood we noticed two
+      horsemen, evidently watching us. Their manner of sitting in their saddles
+      and the character of their horses told us that they were not Mongols. We
+      began shouting and waving to them; but they did not answer. Out of the
+      wood emerged a third and stopped to look at us. We decided to interview
+      them and, whipping up our horses, galloped toward them. When we were about
+      one thousand yards from them, they slipped from their saddles and opened
+      on us with a running fire. Fortunately we rode a little apart and thus
+      made a poor target for them. We jumped off our horses, dropped prone on
+      the ground and prepared to fight. However, we did not fire because we
+      thought it might be a mistake on their part, thinking that we were Reds.
+      They shortly made off. Their shots from the European rifles had given us
+      further proof that they were not Mongols. We waited until they had
+      disappeared into the woods and then went forward to investigate their
+      tracks, which we found were those of shod horses, clearly corroborating
+      the earlier evidence that they were not Mongols. Who could they have been?
+      We never found out; yet what a different relationship they might have
+      borne to our lives, had their shots been true!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After we had passed over the divide, we met the Russian colonist D. A.
+      Teternikoff from Muren Kure, who invited us to stay in his house and
+      promised to secure camels for us from the Lamas. The cold was intense and
+      heightened by a piercing wind. During the day we froze to the bone but at
+      night thawed and warmed up nicely by our tent stove. After two days we
+      entered the valley of Muren and from afar made out the square of the Kure
+      with its Chinese roofs and large red temples. Nearby was a second square,
+      the Chinese and Russian settlement. Two hours more brought us to the house
+      of our hospitable companion and his attractive young wife who feasted us
+      with a wonderful luncheon of tasty dishes. We spent five days at Muren
+      waiting for the camels to be engaged. During this time many refugees
+      arrived from Khathyl because Colonel Kazagrandi was gradually falling back
+      upon the town. Among others there were two Colonels, Plavako and
+      Maklakoff, who had caused the disruption of the Kazagrandi force. No
+      sooner had the refugees appeared in Muren Kure than the Mongolian
+      officials announced that the Chinese authorities had ordered them to drive
+      out all Russian refugees.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Where can we go now in winter with women and children and no homes of our
+      own?&rdquo; asked the distraught refugees.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is of no moment to us,&rdquo; answered the Mongolian officials. &ldquo;The
+      Chinese authorities are angry and have ordered us to drive you away. We
+      cannot help you at all.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The refugees had to leave Muren Kure and so erected their tents in the
+      open not far away. Plavako and Maklakoff bought horses and started out for
+      Van Kure. Long afterwards I learned that both had been killed by the
+      Chinese along the road.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We secured three camels and started out with a large group of Chinese
+      merchants and Russian refugees to make Uliassutai, preserving the warmest
+      recollections of our courteous hosts, T. V. and D. A. Teternikoff. For the
+      trip we had to pay for our camels the very high price of 33 lan of the
+      silver bullion which had been supplied us by an American firm in
+      Uliassutai, the equivalent roughly of 2.7 pounds of the white metal.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXIV
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      A BLOODY CHASTISEMENT
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Before long we struck the road which we had travelled coming north and saw
+      again the kindly rows of chopped down telegraph poles which had once so
+      warmly protected us. Over the timbered hillocks north of the valley of
+      Tisingol we wended just as it was growing dark. We decided to stay in
+      Bobroff&rsquo;s house and our companions thought to seek the hospitality of
+      Kanine in the telegraph station. At the station gate we found a soldier
+      with a rifle, who questioned us as to who we were and whence we had come
+      and, being apparently satisfied, whistled out a young officer from the
+      house.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lieutenant Ivanoff,&rdquo; he introduced himself. &ldquo;I am staying here with my
+      detachment of White Partisans.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He had come from near Irkutsk with his following of ten men and had formed
+      a connection with Lieutenant-Colonel Michailoff at Uliassutai, who
+      commanded him to take possession of this blockhouse.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Enter, please,&rdquo; he said hospitably.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I explained to him that I wanted to stay with Bobroff, whereat he made a
+      despairing gesture with his hand and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t trouble yourself. The Bobroffs are killed and their house burned.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I could not keep back a cry of horror.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Lieutenant continued: &ldquo;Kanine and the Pouzikoffs killed them, pillaged
+      the place and afterwards burned the house with their dead bodies in it. Do
+      you want to see it?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      My friend and I went with the Lieutenant and looked over the ominous site.
+      Blackened uprights stood among charred beams and planks while crockery and
+      iron pots and pans were scattered all around. A little to one side under
+      some felt lay the remains of the four unfortunate individuals. The
+      Lieutenant first spoke:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I reported the case to Uliassutai and received word back that the
+      relatives of the deceased would come with two officers, who would
+      investigate the affair. That is why I cannot bury the bodies.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How did it happen?&rdquo; we asked, oppressed by the sad picture.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It was like this,&rdquo; he began. &ldquo;I was approaching Tisingol at night with my
+      ten soldiers. Fearing that there might be Reds here, we sneaked up to the
+      station and looked into the windows. We saw Pouzikoff, Kanine and the
+      short-haired girl, looking over and dividing clothes and other things and
+      weighing lumps of silver. I did not at once grasp the significance of all
+      this; but, feeling the need for continued caution, ordered one of my
+      soldiers to climb the fence and open the gate. We rushed into the court.
+      The first to run from the house was Kanine&rsquo;s wife, who threw up her hands
+      and shrieked in fear: &lsquo;I knew that misfortune would come of all this!&rsquo; and
+      then fainted. One of the men ran out of a side door to a shed in the yard
+      and there tried to get over the fence. I had not noticed him but one of my
+      soldiers caught him. We were met at the door by Kanine, who was white and
+      trembling. I realized that something important had taken place, placed
+      them all under arrest, ordered the men tied and placed a close guard. All
+      my questions were met with silence save by Madame Kanine who cried: &lsquo;Pity,
+      pity for the children! They are innocent!&rsquo; as she dropped on her knees and
+      stretched out her hands in supplication to us. The short-haired girl
+      laughed out of impudent eyes and blew a puff of smoke into my face. I was
+      forced to threaten them and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;I know that you have committed some crime, but you do not want to
+      confess. If you do not, I shall shoot the men and take the women to
+      Uliassutai to try them there.&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I spoke with definiteness of voice and intention, for they roused my
+      deepest anger. Quite to my surprise the short-haired girl first began to
+      speak.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;I want to tell you about everything,&rsquo; she said.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I ordered ink, paper and pen brought me. My soldiers were the witnesses.
+      Then I prepared the protocol of the confession of Pouzikoff&rsquo;s wife. This
+      was her dark and bloody tale.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;My husband and I are Bolshevik commissars and we have been sent to find
+      out how many White officers are hidden in Mongolia. But the old fellow
+      Bobroff knew us. We wanted to go away but Kanine kept us, telling us that
+      Bobroff was rich and that he had for a long time wanted to kill him and
+      pillage his place. We agreed to join him. We decoyed the young Bobroff to
+      come and play cards with us. When he was going home my husband stole along
+      behind and shot him. Afterwards we all went to Bobroff&rsquo;s place. I climbed
+      upon the fence and threw some poisoned meat to the dogs, who were dead in
+      a few minutes. Then we all climbed over. The first person to emerge from
+      the house was Bobroff&rsquo;s wife. Pouzikoff, who was hidden behind the door,
+      killed her with his ax. The old fellow we killed with a blow of the ax as
+      he slept. The little girl ran out into the room as she heard the noise and
+      Kanine shot her in the head with buckshot. Afterwards we looted the house
+      and burned it, even destroying the horses and cattle. Later all would have
+      been completely burned, so that no traces remained, but you suddenly
+      arrived and these stupid fellows at once betrayed us.&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It was a dastardly affair,&rdquo; continued the Lieutenant, as we returned to
+      the station. &ldquo;The hair raised on my head as I listened to the calm
+      description of this young woman, hardly more than a girl. Only then did I
+      fully realize what depravity Bolshevism had brought into the world,
+      crushing out faith, fear of God and conscience. Only then did I understand
+      that all honest people must fight without compromise against this most
+      dangerous enemy of mankind, so long as life and strength endure.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      As we walked I noticed at the side of the road a black spot. It attracted
+      and fixed my attention.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What is that?&rdquo; I asked, pointing to the spot.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is the murderer Pouzikoff whom I shot,&rdquo; answered the Lieutenant. &ldquo;I
+      would have shot both Kanine and the wife of Pouzikoff but I was sorry for
+      Kanine&rsquo;s wife and children and I haven&rsquo;t learned the lesson of shooting
+      women. Now I shall send them along with you under the surveillance of my
+      soldiers to Uliassutai. The same result will come, for the Mongols who try
+      them for the murder will surely kill them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This is what happened at Tisingol, on whose shores the will-o&rsquo;-the-wisp
+      flits over the marshy pools and near which runs the cleavage of over two
+      hundred miles that the last earthquake left in the surface of the land.
+      Maybe it was out of this cleavage that Pouzikoff, Kanine and the others
+      who have sought to infect the whole world with horror and crime made their
+      appearance from the land of the inferno. One of Lieutenant Ivanoff&rsquo;s
+      soldiers, who was always praying and pale, called them all &ldquo;the servants
+      of Satan.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Our trip from Tisingol to Uliassutai in the company of these criminals was
+      very unpleasant. My friend and I entirely lost our usual strength of
+      spirit and healthy frame of mind. Kanine persistently brooded and thought
+      while the impudent woman laughed, smoked and joked with the soldiers and
+      several of our companions. At last we crossed the Jagisstai and in a few
+      hours descried at first the fortress and then the low adobe houses huddled
+      on the plain, which we knew to be Uliassutai.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0025" id="link2HCH0025">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXV
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      HARASSING DAYS
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Once more we found ourselves in the whirl of events. During our fortnight
+      away a great deal had happened here. The Chinese Commissioner Wang
+      Tsao-tsun had sent eleven envoys to Urga but none had returned. The
+      situation in Mongolia remained far from clear. The Russian detachment had
+      been increased by the arrival of new colonists and secretly continued its
+      illegal existence, although the Chinese knew about it through their
+      omnipresent system of spies. In the town no Russian or foreign citizens
+      left their houses and all remained armed and ready to act. At night armed
+      sentinels stood guard in all their court-yards. It was the Chinese who
+      induced such precautions. By order of their Commissioner all the Chinese
+      merchants with stocks of rifles armed their staffs and handed over any
+      surplus guns to the officials, who with these formed and equipped a force
+      of two hundred coolies into a special garrison of gamins. Then they took
+      possession of the Mongolian arsenal and distributed these additional guns
+      among the Chinese vegetable farmers in the nagan hushun, where there was
+      always a floating population of the lowest grade of transient Chinese
+      laborers. This trash of China now felt themselves strong, gathered
+      together in excited discussions and evidently were preparing for some
+      outburst of aggression. At night the coolies transported many boxes of
+      cartridges from the Chinese shops to the nagan hushun and the behaviour of
+      the Chinese mob became unbearably audacious. These coolies and gamins
+      impertinently stopped and searched people right on the streets and sought
+      to provoke fights that would allow them to take anything they wanted.
+      Through secret news we received from certain Chinese quarters we learned
+      that the Chinese were preparing a pogrom for all the Russians and Mongols
+      in Uliassutai. We fully realized that it was only necessary to fire one
+      single house at the right part of the town and the entire settlement of
+      wooden buildings would go up in flames. The whole population prepared to
+      defend themselves, increased the sentinels in the compounds, appointed
+      leaders for certain sections of the town, organized a special fire brigade
+      and prepared horses, carts and food for a hasty flight. The situation
+      became worse when news arrived from Kobdo that the Chinese there had made
+      a pogrom, killing some of the inhabitants and burning the whole town after
+      a wild looting orgy. Most of the people got away to the forests on the
+      mountains but it was at night and consequently without warm clothes and
+      without food. During the following days these mountains around Kobdo heard
+      many cries of misfortune, woe and death. The severe cold and hunger killed
+      off the women and children out under the open sky of the Mongolian winter.
+      This news was soon known to the Chinese. They laughed in mockery and soon
+      organized a big meeting at the nagan hushun to discuss letting the mob and
+      gamins loose on the town.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A young Chinese, the son of a cook of one of the colonists, revealed this
+      news. We immediately decided to make an investigation. A Russian officer
+      and my friend joined me with this young Chinese as a guide for a trip to
+      the outskirts of the town. We feigned simply a stroll but were stopped by
+      the Chinese sentinel on the side of the city toward the nagan hushun with
+      an impertinent command that no one was allowed to leave the town. As we
+      spoke with him, I noticed that between the town and the nagan hushun
+      Chinese guards were stationed all along the way and that streams of
+      Chinese were moving in that direction. We saw at once it was impossible to
+      reach the meeting from this approach, so we chose another route. We left
+      the city from the eastern side and passed along by the camp of the
+      Mongolians who had been reduced to beggary by the Chinese impositions.
+      There also they were evidently anxiously awaiting the turn of events, for,
+      in spite of the lateness of the hour, none had gone to sleep. We slipped
+      out on the ice and worked around by the river to the nagan hushun. As we
+      passed free of the city we began to sneak cautiously along, taking
+      advantage of every bit of cover. We were armed with revolvers and hand
+      grenades and knew that a small detachment had been prepared in the town to
+      come to our aid, if we should be in danger. First the young Chinese stole
+      forward with my friend following him like a shadow, constantly reminding
+      him that he would strangle him like a mouse if he made one move to betray
+      us. I fear the young guide did not greatly enjoy the trip with my gigantic
+      friend puffing all too loudly with the unusual exertions. At last the
+      fences of nagan hushun were in sight and nothing between us and them save
+      the open plain, where our group would have been easily spotted; so that we
+      decided to crawl up one by one, save that the Chinese was retained in the
+      society of my trusted friend. Fortunately there were many heaps of frozen
+      manure on the plain, which we made use of as cover to lead us right up to
+      our objective point, the fence of the enclosures. In the shadow of this we
+      slunk along to the courtyard where the voices of the excited crowd
+      beckoned us. As we took good vantage points in the darkness for listening
+      and making observations, we remarked two extraordinary things in our
+      immediate neighborhood.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Another invisible guest was present with us at the Chinese gathering. He
+      lay on the ground with his head in a hole dug by the dogs under the fence.
+      He was perfectly still and evidently had not heard our advance. Nearby in
+      a ditch lay a white horse with his nose muzzled and a little further away
+      stood another saddled horse tied to a fence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the courtyard there was a great hubbub. About two thousand men were
+      shouting, arguing and flourishing their arms about in wild gesticulations.
+      Nearly all were armed with rifles, revolvers, swords and axes. In among
+      the crowd circulated the gamins, constantly talking, handing out papers,
+      explaining and assuring. Finally a big, broad-shouldered Chinese mounted
+      the well combing, waved his rifle about over his head and opened a tirade
+      in strong, sharp tones.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He is assuring the people,&rdquo; said our interpreter, &ldquo;that they must do here
+      what the Chinese have done in Kobdo and must secure from the Commissioner
+      the assurance of an order to his guard not to prevent the carrying out of
+      their plans. Also that the Chinese Commissioner must demand from the
+      Russians all their weapons. &lsquo;Then we shall take vengeance on the Russians
+      for their Blagoveschensk crime when they drowned three thousand Chinese in
+      1900. You remain here while I go to the Commissioner and talk with him.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He jumped down from the well and quickly made his way to the gate toward
+      the town. At once I saw the man who was lying with his head under the
+      fence draw back out of his hole, take his white horse from the ditch and
+      then run over to untie the other horse and lead them both back to our
+      side, which was away from the city. He left the second horse there and hid
+      himself around the corner of the hushun. The spokesman went out of the
+      gate and, seeing his horse over on the other side of the enclosure, slung
+      his rifle across his back and started for his mount. He had gone about
+      half way when the stranger behind the corner of the fence suddenly
+      galloped out and in a flash literally swung the man clear from the ground
+      up across the pommel of his saddle, where we saw him tie the mouth of the
+      semi-strangled Chinese with a cloth and dash off with him toward the west
+      away from the town.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Who do you suppose he is?&rdquo; I asked of my friend, who answered up at once:
+      &ldquo;It must be Tushegoun Lama. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      His whole appearance did strongly remind me of this mysterious Lama
+      avenger and his manner of addressing himself to his enemy was a strict
+      replica of that of Tushegoun. Late in the night we learned that some time
+      after their orator had gone to seek the Commissioner&rsquo;s cooperation in
+      their venture, his head had been flung over the fence into the midst of
+      the waiting audience and that eight gamins had disappeared on their way
+      from the hushun to the town without leaving trace or trail. This event
+      terrorized the Chinese mob and calmed their heated spirits.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The next day we received very unexpected aid. A young Mongol galloped in
+      from Urga, his overcoat torn, his hair all dishevelled and fallen to his
+      shoulders and a revolver prominent beneath his girdle. Proceeding directly
+      to the market where the Mongols are always gathered, without leaving his
+      saddle he cried out:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Urga is captured by our Mongols and Chiang Chun Baron Ungern! Bogdo
+      Hutuktu is once more our Khan! Mongols, kill the Chinese and pillage their
+      shops! Our patience is exhausted!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Through the crowd rose the roar of excitement. The rider was surrounded
+      with a mob of insistent questioners. The old Mongol Sait, Chultun Beyli,
+      who had been dismissed by the Chinese, was at once informed of this news
+      and asked to have the messenger brought to him. After questioning the man
+      he arrested him for inciting the people to riot, but he refused to turn
+      him over to the Chinese authorities. I was personally with the Sait at the
+      time and heard his decision in the matter. When the Chinese Commissioner,
+      Wang Tsao-tsun, threatened the Sait for disobedience to his authority, the
+      old man simply fingered his rosary and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I believe the story of this Mongol in its every word and I apprehend that
+      you and I shall soon have to reverse our relationship.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I felt that Wang Tsao-tsun also accepted the correctness of the Mongol&rsquo;s
+      story, because he did not insist further. From this moment the Chinese
+      disappeared from the streets of Uliassutai as though they never had been,
+      and synchronously the patrols of the Russian officers and of our foreign
+      colony took their places. The panic among the Chinese was heightened by
+      the receipt of a letter containing the news that the Mongols and Altai
+      Tartars under the leadership of the Tartar officer Kaigorodoff pursued the
+      Chinese who were making off with their booty from the sack of Kobdo and
+      overtook and annihilated them on the borders of Sinkiang. Another part of
+      the letter told how General Bakitch and the six thousand men who had been
+      interned with him by the Chinese authorities on the River Amyl had
+      received arms and started to join with Ataman Annenkoff, who had been
+      interned in Kuldja, with the ultimate intention of linking up with Baron
+      Ungern. This rumour proved to be wrong because neither Bakitch nor
+      Annenkoff entertained this intention, because Annenkoff had been
+      transported by the Chinese into the Depths of Turkestan. However, the news
+      produced veritable stupefaction among the Chinese.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Just at this time there arrived at the house of the Bolshevist Russian
+      colonist Bourdukoff three Bolshevik agents from Irkutsk named Saltikoff,
+      Freimann and Novak, who started an agitation among the Chinese authorities
+      to get them to disarm the Russian officers and hand them over to the Reds.
+      They persuaded the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to petition the Irkutsk
+      Soviet to send a detachment of Reds to Uliassutai for the protection of
+      the Chinese against the White detachments. Freimann brought with him
+      communistic pamphlets in Mongolian and instructions to begin the
+      reconstruction of the telegraph line to Irkutsk. Bourdukoff also received
+      some messages from the Bolsheviki. This quartette developed their policy
+      very successfully and soon saw Wang Tsao-tsun fall in with their schemes.
+      Once more the days of expecting a pogrom in Uliassutai returned to us. The
+      Russian officers anticipated attempts to arrest them. The representative
+      of one of the American firms went with me to the Commissioner for a
+      parley. We pointed out to him the illegality of his acts, inasmuch as he
+      was not authorized by his Government to treat with the Bolsheviki when the
+      Soviet Government had not been recognized by Peking. Wang Tsao-tsun and
+      his advisor Fu Hsiang were palpably confused at finding we knew of his
+      secret meetings with the Bolshevik agents. He assured us that his guard
+      was sufficient to prevent any such pogrom. It was quite true that his
+      guard was very capable, as it consisted of well trained and disciplined
+      soldiers under the command of a serious-minded and well educated officer;
+      but, what could eighty soldiers do against a mob of three thousand
+      coolies, one thousand armed merchants and two hundred gamins? We strongly
+      registered our apprehensions and urged him to avoid any bloodshed,
+      pointing out that the foreign and Russian population were determined to
+      defend themselves to the last moment. Wang at once ordered the
+      establishment of strong guards on the streets and thus made a very
+      interesting picture with all the Russian, foreign and Chinese patrols
+      moving up and down throughout the whole town. Then we did not know there
+      were three hundred more sentinels on duty, the men of Tushegoun Lama
+      hidden nearby in the mountains.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Once more the picture changed very sharply and suddenly. The Mongolian
+      Sait received news through the Lamas of the nearest monastery that Colonel
+      Kazagrandi, after fighting with the Chinese irregulars, had captured Van
+      Kure and had formed there Russian-Mongolian brigades of cavalry,
+      mobilizing the Mongols by the order of the Living Buddha and the Russians
+      by order of Baron Ungern. A few hours later it became known that in the
+      large monastery of Dzain the Chinese soldiers had killed the Russian
+      Captain Barsky and as a result some of the troops of Kazagrandi attacked
+      and swept the Chinese out of the place. At the taking of Van Kure the
+      Russians arrested a Korean Communist who was on his way from Moscow with
+      gold and propaganda to work in Korea and America. Colonel Kazagrandi sent
+      this Korean with his freight of gold to Baron Ungern. After receiving this
+      news the chief of the Russian detachment in Uliassutai arrested all the
+      Bolsheviki agents and passed judgment upon them and upon the murderers of
+      the Bobroffs. Kanine, Madame Pouzikoff and Freimann were shot. Regarding
+      Saltikoff and Novak some doubt sprang up and, moreover, Saltikoff escaped
+      and hid, while Novak, under advice from Lieutenant Colonel Michailoff,
+      left for the west. The chief of the Russian detachment gave out orders for
+      the mobilization of the Russian colonists and openly took Uliassutai under
+      his protection with the tacit agreement of the Mongolian authorities. The
+      Mongol Sait, Chultun Beyli, convened a council of the neighboring
+      Mongolian Princes, the soul of which was the noted Mongolian patriot, Hun
+      Jap Lama. The Princes quickly formulated their demands upon the Chinese
+      for the complete evacuation of the territory subject to the Sait Chultun
+      Beyli. Out of it grew parleys, threats and friction between the various
+      Chinese and Mongolian elements. Wang Tsao-tsun proposed his scheme of
+      settlement, which some of the Mongolian Princes accepted; but Jap Lama at
+      the decisive moment threw the Chinese document to the ground, drew his
+      knife and swore that he would die by his own hand rather than set it as a
+      seal upon this treacherous agreement. As a result the Chinese proposals
+      were rejected and the antagonists began to prepare themselves for the
+      struggle. All the armed Mongols were summoned from Jassaktu Khan,
+      Sain-Noion Khan and the dominion of Jahantsi Lama. The Chinese authorities
+      placed their four machine guns and prepared to defend the fortress.
+      Continuous deliberations were held by both the Chinese and Mongols.
+      Finally, our old acquaintance Tzeren came to me as one of the unconcerned
+      foreigners and handed to me the joint requests of Wang Tsao-tsun and
+      Chultun Beyli to try to pacify the two elements and to work out a fair
+      agreement between them. Similar requests were handed to the representative
+      of an American firm. The following evening we held the first meeting of
+      the arbitrators and the Chinese and Mongolian representatives. It was
+      passionate and stormy, so that we foreigners lost all hope of the success
+      of our mission. However, at midnight when the speakers were tired, we
+      secured agreement on two points: the Mongols announced that they did not
+      want to make war and that they desired to settle this matter in such a way
+      as to retain the friendship of the great Chinese people; while the Chinese
+      Commissioner acknowledged that China had violated the treaties by which
+      full independence had been legally granted to Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      These two points formed for us the groundwork of the next meeting and gave
+      us the starting points for urging reconciliation. The deliberations
+      continued for three days and finally turned so that we foreigners could
+      propose our suggestions for an agreement. Its chief provisions were that
+      the Chinese authorities should surrender administrative powers, return the
+      arms to the Mongolians, disarm the two hundred gamins and leave the
+      country; and that the Mongols on their side should give free and honorable
+      passage of their country to the Commissioner with his armed guard of
+      eighty men. This Chinese-Mongolian Treaty of Uliassutai was signed and
+      sealed by the Chinese Commissioners, Wang Tsao-tsun and Fu Hsiang, by both
+      Mongolian Saits, by Hun Jap Lama and other Princes, as well as by the
+      Russian and Chinese Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce and by us
+      foreign arbitrators. The Chinese officials and convoy began at once to
+      pack up their belongings and prepare for departure. The Chinese merchants
+      remained in Uliassutai because Sait Chultun Beyli, now having full
+      authority and power, guaranteed their safety. The day of departure for the
+      expedition of Wang Tsao-tsun arrived. The camels with their packs already
+      filled the yamen court-yard and the men only awaited the arrival of their
+      horses from the plains. Suddenly the news spread everywhere that the herd
+      of horses had been stolen during the night and run off toward the south.
+      Of two soldiers that had been sent out to follow the tracks of the herd
+      only one came back with the news that the other had been killed.
+      Astonishment spread over the whole town while among the Chinese it turned
+      to open panic. It perceptibly increased when some Mongols from a distant
+      ourton to the east came in and announced that in various places along the
+      post road to Urga they had discovered the bodies of sixteen of the
+      soldiers whom Wang Tsao-tsun had sent out with letters for Urga. The
+      mystery of these events will soon be explained.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The chief of the Russian detachment received a letter from a Cossack
+      Colonel, V. N. Domojiroff, containing the order to disarm immediately the
+      Chinese garrison, to arrest all Chinese officials for transport to Baron
+      Ungern at Urga, to take control of Uliassutai, by force if necessary, and
+      to join forces with his detachment. At the very same time a messenger from
+      the Narabanchi Hutuktu galloped in with a letter to the effect that a
+      Russian detachment under the leadership of Hun Boldon and Colonel
+      Domojiroff from Urga had pillaged some Chinese firms and killed the
+      merchants, had come to the Monastery and demanded horses, food and
+      shelter. The Hutuktu asked for help because the ferocious conqueror of
+      Kobdo, Hun Boldon, could very easily pillage the unprotected isolated
+      monastery. We strongly urged Colonel Michailoff not to violate the sealed
+      treaty and discountenance all the foreigners and Russians who had taken
+      part in making it, for this would but be to imitate the Bolshevik
+      principle of making deceit the leading rule in all acts of state. This
+      touched Michailoff and he answered Domojiroff that Uliassutai was already
+      in his hands without a fight; that over the building of the former Russian
+      Consulate the tri-color flag of Russia was flying; the gamins had been
+      disarmed but that the other orders could not be carried out, because their
+      execution would violate the Chinese-Mongolian treaty just signed in
+      Uliassutai.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Daily several envoys traveled from Narabanchi Hutuktu to Uliassutai. The
+      news became more and more disquieting. The Hutuktu reported that Hun
+      Boldon was mobilizing the Mongolian beggars and horse stealers, arming and
+      training them; that the soldiers were taking the sheep of the monastery;
+      that the &ldquo;Noyon&rdquo; Domojiroff was always drunk; and that the protests of the
+      Hutuktu were answered with jeers and scolding. The messengers gave very
+      indefinite information regarding the strength of the detachment, some
+      placing it at about thirty while others stated that Domojiroff said he had
+      eight hundred in all. We could not understand it at all and soon the
+      messengers ceased coming. All the letters of the Sait remained unanswered
+      and the envoys did not return. There seemed to be no doubt that the men
+      had been killed or captured.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Prince Chultun Beyli determined to go himself. He took with him the
+      Russian and Chinese Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce and two
+      Mongolian officers. Three days elapsed without receiving any news from him
+      whatever. The Mongols began to get worried. Then the Chinese Commissioner
+      and Hun Jap Lama addressed a request to the foreigner group to send some
+      one to Narabanchi, in order to try to resolve the controversy there and to
+      persuade Domojiroff to recognize the treaty and not permit the &ldquo;great
+      insult of violation&rdquo; of a covenant between the two great peoples. Our
+      group asked me once more to accomplish this mission pro bono publico. I
+      had assigned me as interpreter a fine young Russian colonist, the nephew
+      of the murdered Bobroff, a splendid rider as well as a cool, brave man.
+      Lt.-Colonel Michailoff gave me one of his officers to accompany me.
+      Supplied with an express tzara for the post horses and guides, we traveled
+      rapidly over the way which was now familiar to me to find my old friend,
+      Jelib Djamsrap Huktuktu of Narabanchi. Although there was deep snow in
+      some places, we made from one hundred to one hundred and fifteen miles per
+      day.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0026" id="link2HCH0026">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXVI
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE BAND OF WHITE HUNGHUTZES
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      We arrived at Narabanchi late at night on the third day out. As we were
+      approaching, we noticed several riders who, as soon as they had seen us,
+      galloped quickly back to the monastery. For some time we looked for the
+      camp of the Russian detachment without finding it. The Mongols led us into
+      the monastery, where the Hutuktu immediately received me. In his yurta sat
+      Chultun Beyli. There he presented me with hatyks and said to me: &ldquo;The very
+      God has sent you here to us in this difficult moment.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It seems Domojiroff had arrested both the Presidents of the Chambers of
+      Commerce and had threatened to shoot Prince Chultun. Both Domojiroff and
+      Hun Boldon had no documents legalizing their activities. Chultun Beyli was
+      preparing to fight with them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I asked them to take me to Domojiroff. Through the dark I saw four big
+      yurtas and two Mongol sentinels with Russian rifles. We entered the
+      Russian &ldquo;Noyon&rsquo;s&rdquo; tent. A very strange picture was presented to our eyes.
+      In the middle of the yurta the brazier was burning. In the usual place for
+      the altar stood a throne, on which the tall, thin, grey-haired Colonel
+      Domojiroff was seated. He was only in his undergarments and stockings, was
+      evidently a little drunk and was telling stories. Around the brazier lay
+      twelve young men in various picturesque poses. My officer companion
+      reported to Domojiroff about the events in Uliassutai and during the
+      conversation I asked Domojiroff where his detachment was encamped. He
+      laughed and answered, with a sweep of his hand: &ldquo;This is my detachment.&rdquo; I
+      pointed out to him that the form of his orders to us in Uliassutai had led
+      us to believe that he must have a large company with him. Then I informed
+      him that Lt.-Colonel Michailoff was preparing to cross swords with the
+      Bolshevik force approaching Uliassutai.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What?&rdquo; he exclaimed with fear and confusion, &ldquo;the Reds?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We spent the night in his yurta and, when I was ready to lie down, my
+      officer whispered to me:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Be sure to keep your revolver handy,&rdquo; to which I laughed and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But we are in the center of a White detachment and therefore in perfect
+      safety!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Uh-huh!&rdquo; answered my officer and finished the response with one eye
+      closed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The next day I invited Domojiroff to walk with me over the plain, when I
+      talked very frankly with him about what had been happening. He and Hun
+      Boldon had received orders from Baron Ungern simply to get into touch with
+      General Bakitch, but instead they began pillaging Chinese firms along the
+      route and he had made up his mind to become a great conqueror. On the way
+      he had run across some of the officers who deserted Colonel Kazagrandi and
+      formed his present band. I succeeded in persuading Domojiroff to arrange
+      matters peacefully with Chultun Beyli and not to violate the treaty. He
+      immediately went ahead to the monastery. As I returned, I met a tall
+      Mongol with a ferocious face, dressed in a blue silk outercoat&mdash;it
+      was Hun Boldon. He introduced himself and spoke with me in Russian. I had
+      only time to take off my coat in the tent of Domojiroff when a Mongol came
+      running to invite me to the yurta of Hun Boldon. The Prince lived just
+      beside me in a splendid blue yurta. Knowing the Mongolian custom, I jumped
+      into the saddle and rode the ten paces to his door. Hun Boldon received me
+      with coldness and pride.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Who is he?&rdquo; he inquired of the interpreter, pointing to me with his
+      finger.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I understood his desire to offend me and I answered in the same manner,
+      thrusting out my finger toward him and turning to the interpreter with the
+      same question in a slightly more unpleasant tone:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Who is he? High Prince and warrior or shepherd and brute?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Boldon at once became confused and, with trembling voice and agitation in
+      his whole manner, blurted out to me that he would not allow me to
+      interfere in his affairs and would shoot every man who dared to run
+      counter to his orders. He pounded on the low table with his fist and then
+      rose up and drew his revolver. But I was much traveled among the nomads
+      and had studied them thoroughly&mdash;Princes, Lamas, shepherds and
+      brigands. I grasped my whip and, striking it on the table with all my
+      strength, I said to the interpreter:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Tell him that he has the honor to speak with neither Mongol nor Russian
+      but with a foreigner, a citizen of a great and free state. Tell him he
+      must first learn to be a man and then he can visit me and we can talk
+      together.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I turned and went out. Ten minutes later Hun Boldon entered my yurta and
+      offered his apologies. I persuaded him to parley with Chultun Beyli and
+      not to offend the free Mongol people with his activities. That very night
+      all was arranged. Hun Boldon dismissed his Mongols and left for Kobdo,
+      while Domojiroff with his band started for Jassaktu Khan to arrange for
+      the mobilization of the Mongols there. With the consent of Chultun Beyli
+      he wrote to Wang Tsao-tsun a demand to disarm his guard, as all of the
+      Chinese troops in Urga had been so treated; but this letter arrived after
+      Wang had bought camels to replace the stolen horses and was on his way to
+      the border. Later Lt.-Colonel Michailoff sent a detachment of fifty men
+      under the command of Lieutenant Strigine to overhaul Wang and receive
+      their arms.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0027" id="link2HCH0027">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXVII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      MYSTERY IN A SMALL TEMPLE
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Prince Chultun Beyli and I were ready to leave the Narabanchi Kure. While
+      the Hutuktu was holding service for the Sait in the Temple of Blessing, I
+      wandered around through the narrow alleyways between the walls of the
+      houses of the various grades of Lama Gelongs, Getuls, Chaidje and
+      Rabdjampa; of schools where the learned doctors of theology or Maramba
+      taught together with the doctors of medicine or Ta Lama; of the residences
+      for students called Bandi; of stores, archives and libraries. When I
+      returned to the yurta of the Hutuktu, he was inside. He presented me with
+      a large hatyk and proposed a walk around the monastery. His face wore a
+      preoccupied expression from which I gathered that he had something he
+      wished to discuss with me. As we went out of the yurta, the liberated
+      President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and a Russian officer joined
+      us. The Hutuktu led us to a small building just back of a bright yellow
+      stone wall.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In that building once stopped the Dalai Lama and Bogdo Khan and we always
+      paint the buildings yellow where these holy persons have lived. Enter!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The interior of the building was arranged with splendor. On the ground
+      floor was the dining-room, furnished with richly carved, heavy blackwood
+      Chinese tables and cabinets filled with porcelains and bronze. Above were
+      two rooms, the first a bed-room hung with heavy yellow silk curtains; a
+      large Chinese lantern richly set with colored stones hung by a thin bronze
+      chain from the carved wooden ceiling beam. Here stood a large square bed
+      covered with silken pillows, mattresses and blankets. The frame work of
+      the bed was also of the Chinese blackwood and carried, especially on the
+      posts that held the roof-like canopy, finely executed carvings with the
+      chief motive the conventional dragon devouring the sun. By the side stood
+      a chest of drawers completely covered with carvings setting forth
+      religious pictures. Four comfortable easy chairs completed the furniture,
+      save for the low oriental throne which stood on a dais at the end of the
+      room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you see this throne?&rdquo; said the Hutuktu to me. &ldquo;One night in winter
+      several horsemen rode into the monastery and demanded that all the Gelongs
+      and Getuls with the Hutuktu and Kanpo at their head should congregate in
+      this room. Then one of the strangers mounted the throne, where he took off
+      his bashlyk or cap-like head covering. All of the Lamas fell to their
+      knees as they recognized the man who had been long ago described in the
+      sacred bulls of Dalai Lama, Tashi Lama and Bogdo Khan. He was the man to
+      whom the whole world belongs and who has penetrated into all the mysteries
+      of Nature. He pronounced a short Tibetan prayer, blessed all his hearers
+      and afterwards made predictions for the coming half century. This was
+      thirty years ago and in the interim all his prophecies are being
+      fulfilled. During his prayers before that small shrine in the next room
+      this door opened of its own accord, the candles and lights before the
+      altar lighted themselves and the sacred braziers without coals gave forth
+      great streams of incense that filled the room. And then, without warning,
+      the King of the World and his companions disappeared from among us. Behind
+      him remained no trace save the folds in the silken throne coverings which
+      smoothed themselves out and left the throne as though no one had sat upon
+      it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Hutuktu entered the shrine, kneeled down, covering his eyes with his
+      hands, and began to pray. I looked at the calm, indifferent face of the
+      golden Buddha, over which the flickering lamps threw changing shadows, and
+      then turned my eyes to the side of the throne. It was wonderful and
+      difficult to believe but I really saw there the strong, muscular figure of
+      a man with a swarthy face of stern and fixed expression about the mouth
+      and jaws, thrown into high relief by the brightness of the eyes. Through
+      his transparent body draped in white raiment I saw the Tibetan
+      inscriptions on the back of the throne. I closed my eyes and opened them
+      again. No one was there but the silk throne covering seemed to be moving.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nervousness,&rdquo; I thought. &ldquo;Abnormal and over-emphasized impressionability
+      growing out of the unusual surroundings and strains.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Hutuktu turned to me and said: &ldquo;Give me your hatyk. I have the feeling
+      that you are troubled about those whom you love, and I want to pray for
+      them. And you must pray also, importune God and direct the sight of your
+      soul to the King of the World who was here and sanctified this place.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Hutuktu placed the hatyk on the shoulder of the Buddha and,
+      prostrating himself on the carpet before the altar, whispered the words of
+      prayer. Then he raised his head and beckoned me to him with a slight
+      movement of his hand.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Look at the dark space behind the statue of Buddha and he will show your
+      beloved to you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Readily obeying his deep-voiced command, I began to look into the dark
+      niche behind the figure of the Buddha. Soon out of the darkness began to
+      appear streams of smoke or transparent threads. They floated in the air,
+      becoming more and more dense and increasing in number, until gradually
+      they formed the bodies of several persons and the outlines of various
+      objects. I saw a room that was strange to me with my family there,
+      surrounded by some whom I knew and others whom I did not. I recognized
+      even the dress my wife wore. Every line of her dear face was clearly
+      visible. Gradually the vision became too dark, dissipated itself into the
+      streams of smoke and transparent threads and disappeared. Behind the
+      golden Buddha was nothing but the darkness. The Hutuktu arose, took my
+      hatyk from the shoulder of the Buddha and handed it to me with these
+      words:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Fortune is always with you and with your family. God&rsquo;s goodness will not
+      forsake you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We left the building of this unknown King of the World, where he had
+      prayed for all mankind and had predicted the fate of peoples and states. I
+      was greatly astonished to find that my companions had also seen my vision
+      and to hear them describe to me in minute detail the appearance and the
+      clothes of the persons whom I had seen in the dark niche behind the head
+      of Buddha.*
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     * In order that I might have the evidence of others on this
+     extraordinarily impressive vision, I asked them to make
+     protocols or affidavits concerning what they saw.  This they
+     did and I now have these statements in my possession.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The Mongol officer also told me that Chultun Beyli had the day before
+      asked the Hutuktu to reveal to him his fate in this important juncture of
+      his life and in this crisis of his country but the Hutuktu only waved his
+      hand in an expression of fear and refused. When I asked the Hutuktu for
+      the reason of his refusal, suggesting to him that it might calm and help
+      Chultun Beyli as the vision of my beloved had strengthened me, the Hutuktu
+      knitted his brow and answered:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No! The vision would not please the Prince. His fate is black. Yesterday
+      I thrice sought his fortune on the burned shoulder blades and with the
+      entrails of sheep and each time came to the same dire result, the same
+      dire result! . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He did not really finish speaking but covered his face with his hands in
+      fear. He was convinced that the lot of Chultun Beyli was black as the
+      night.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In an hour we were behind the low hills that hid the Narabanchi Kure from
+      our sight.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0028" id="link2HCH0028">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXVIII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE BREATH OF DEATH
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      We arrived at Uliassutai on the day of the return of the detachment which
+      had gone out to disarm the convoy of Wang Tsao-tsun. This detachment had
+      met Colonel Domojiroff, who ordered them not only to disarm but to pillage
+      the convoy and, unfortunately, Lieutenant Strigine executed this illegal
+      and unwarranted command. It was compromising and ignominious to see
+      Russian officers and soldiers wearing the Chinese overcoats, boots and
+      wrist watches which had been taken from the Chinese officials and the
+      convoy. Everyone had Chinese silver and gold also from the loot. The
+      Mongol wife of Wang Tsao-tsun and her brother returned with the detachment
+      and entered a complaint of having been robbed by the Russians. The Chinese
+      officials and their convoy, deprived of their supplies, reached the
+      Chinese border only after great distress from hunger and cold. We
+      foreigners were astounded that Lt.-Colonel Michailoff received Strigine
+      with military honors but we caught the explanation of it later when we
+      learned that Michailoff had been given some of the Chinese silver and his
+      wife the handsomely decorated saddle of Fu Hsiang. Chultun Beyli demanded
+      that all the weapons taken from the Chinese and all the stolen property be
+      turned over to him, as it must later be returned to the Chinese
+      authorities; but Michailoff refused. Afterwards we foreigners cut off all
+      contact with the Russian detachment. The relations between the Russians
+      and Mongols became very strained. Several of the Russian officers
+      protested against the acts of Michailoff and Strigine and controversies
+      became more and more serious.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At this time, one morning in April, an extraordinary group of armed
+      horsemen arrived at Uliassutai. They stayed at the house of the Bolshevik
+      Bourdukoff, who gave them, so we were told, a great quantity of silver.
+      This group explained that they were former officers in the Imperial Guard.
+      They were Colonels Poletika, N. N. Philipoff and three of the latter&rsquo;s
+      brothers. They announced that they wanted to collect all the White
+      officers and soldiers then in Mongolia and China and lead them to Urianhai
+      to fight the Bolsheviki; but that first they wanted to wipe out Ungern and
+      return Mongolia to China. They called themselves the representatives of
+      the Central Organization of the Whites in Russia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The society of Russian officers in Uliassutai invited them to a meeting,
+      examined their documents and interrogated them. Investigation proved that
+      all the statements of these officers about their former connections were
+      entirely wrong, that Poletika occupied an important position in the war
+      commissariat of the Bolsheviki, that one of the Philipoff brothers was the
+      assistant of Kameneff in his first attempt to reach England, that the
+      Central White Organization in Russia did not exist, that the proposed
+      fighting in Urianhai was but a trap for the White officers and that this
+      group was in close relations with the Bolshevik Bourdukoff.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A discussion at once sprang up among the officers as to what they should
+      do with this group, which split the detachment into two distinct parties.
+      Lt.-Colonel Michailoff with several officers joined themselves to
+      Poletika&rsquo;s group just as Colonel Domojiroff arrived with his detachment.
+      He began to get in touch with both factions and to feel out the politics
+      of the situation, finally appointing Poletika to the post of Commandant of
+      Uliassutai and sending to Baron Ungern a full report of the events in the
+      town. In this document he devoted much space to me, accusing me of
+      standing in the way of the execution of his orders. His officers watched
+      me continuously. From different quarters I received warnings to take great
+      care. This band and its leader openly demanded to know what right this
+      foreigner had to interfere in the affairs of Mongolia, one of Domojiroff&rsquo;s
+      officers directly giving me the challenge in a meeting in the attempt to
+      provoke a controversy. I quietly answered him:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And on what basis do the Russian refugees interfere, they who have rights
+      neither at home nor abroad?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The officer made no verbal reply but in his eyes burned a definite answer.
+      My huge friend who sat beside me noticed this, strode over toward him and,
+      towering over him, stretched his arms and hands as though just waking from
+      sleep and remarked: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking for a little boxing exercise.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      On one occasion Domojiroff&rsquo;s men would have succeeded in taking me if I
+      had not been saved by the watchfulness of our foreign group. I had gone to
+      the fortress to negotiate with the Mongol Sait for the departure of the
+      foreigners from Uliassutai. Chultun Beyli detained me for a long time, so
+      that I was forced to return about nine in the evening. My horse was
+      walking. Half a mile from the town three men sprang up out of the ditch
+      and ran at me. I whipped up my horse but noticed several more men coming
+      out of the other ditch as though to head me off. They, however, made for
+      the other group and captured them and I heard the voice of a foreigner
+      calling me back. There I found three of Domojiroff&rsquo;s officers surrounded
+      by the Polish soldiers and other foreigners under the leadership of my old
+      trusted agronome, who was occupied with tying the hands of the officers
+      behind their backs so strongly that the bones cracked. Ending his work and
+      still smoking his perpetual pipe, he announced in a serious and important
+      manner: &ldquo;I think it best to throw them into the river.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Laughing at his seriousness and the fear of Domojiroff&rsquo;s officers, I asked
+      them why they had started to attack me. They dropped their eyes and were
+      silent. It was an eloquent silence and we perfectly understood what they
+      had proposed to do. They had revolvers hidden in their pockets.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Fine!&rdquo; I said. &ldquo;All is perfectly clear. I shall release you but you must
+      report to your sender that he will not welcome you back the next time.
+      Your weapons I shall hand to the Commandant of Uliassutai.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      My friend, using his former terrifying care, began to untie them,
+      repeating over and over: &ldquo;And I would have fed you to the fishes in the
+      river!&rdquo; Then we all returned to the town, leaving them to go their way.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Domojiroff continued to send envoys to Baron Ungern at Urga with requests
+      for plenary powers and money and with reports about Michailoff, Chultun
+      Beyli, Poletika, Philipoff and myself. With Asiatic cunning he was then
+      maintaining good relations with all those for whom he was preparing death
+      at the hands of the severe warrior, Baron Ungern, who was receiving only
+      one-sided reports about all the happenings in Uliassutai. Our whole colony
+      was greatly agitated. The officers split into different parties; the
+      soldiers collected in groups and discussed the events of the day,
+      criticising their chiefs, and under the influence of some of Domojiroff&rsquo;s
+      men began making such statements as:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We have now seven Colonels, who all want to be in command and are all
+      quarreling among themselves. They all ought to be pegged down and given
+      good sound thrashings. The one who could take the greatest number of blows
+      ought to be chosen as our chief.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It was an ominous joke that proved the demoralization of the Russian
+      detachment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It seems,&rdquo; my friend frequently observed, &ldquo;that we shall soon have the
+      pleasure of seeing a Council of Soldiers here in Uliassutai. God and the
+      Devil! One thing here is very unfortunate&mdash;there are no forests near
+      into which good Christian men may dive and get away from all these cursed
+      Soviets. It&rsquo;s bare, frightfully bare, this wretched Mongolia, with no
+      place for us to hide.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Really this possibility of the Soviet was approaching. On one occasion the
+      soldiers captured the arsenal containing the weapons surrendered by the
+      Chinese and carried them off to their barracks. Drunkenness, gambling and
+      fighting increased. We foreigners, carefully watching events and in fear
+      of a catastrophe, finally decided to leave Uliassutai, that caldron of
+      passions, controversies and denunciations. We heard that the group of
+      Poletika was also preparing to get out a few days later. We foreigners
+      separated into two parties, one traveling by the old caravan route across
+      the Gobi considerably to the south of Urga to Kuku-Hoto or Kweihuacheng
+      and Kalgan, and mine, consisting of my friend, two Polish soldiers and
+      myself, heading for Urga via Zain Shabi, where Colonel Kazagrandi had
+      asked me in a recent letter to meet him. Thus we left the Uliassutai where
+      we had lived through so many exciting events.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On the sixth day after our departure there arrived in the town the
+      Mongol-Buriat detachment under the command of the Buriat Vandaloff and the
+      Russian Captain Bezrodnoff. Afterwards I met them in Zain Shabi. It was a
+      detachment sent out from Urga by Baron Ungern to restore order in
+      Uliassutai and to march on to Kobdo. On the way from Zain Shabi Bezrodnoff
+      came across the group of Poletika and Michailoff. He instituted a search
+      which disclosed suspicious documents in their baggage and in that of
+      Michailoff and his wife the silver and other possessions taken from the
+      Chinese. From this group of sixteen he sent N. N. Philipoff to Baron
+      Ungern, released three others and shot the remaining twelve. Thus ended in
+      Zain Shabi the life of one party of Uliassutai refugees and the activities
+      of the group of Poletika. In Uliassutai Bezrodnoff shot Chultun Beyli for
+      the violation of the treaty with the Chinese, and also some Bolshevist
+      Russian colonists; arrested Domojiroff and sent him to Urga; and . . .
+      restored order. The predictions about Chultun Beyli were fulfilled.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I knew of Domojiroff&rsquo;s reports regarding myself but I decided,
+      nevertheless, to proceed to Urga and not to swing round it, as Poletika
+      had started to do when he was accidentally captured by Bezrodnoff. I was
+      accustomed now to looking into the eyes of danger and I set out to meet
+      the terrible &ldquo;bloody Baron.&rdquo; No one can decide his own fate. I did not
+      think myself in the wrong and the feeling of fear had long since ceased to
+      occupy a place in my menage. On the way a Mongol rider who overhauled us
+      brought the news of the death of our acquaintances at Zain Shabi. He spent
+      the night with me in the yurta at the ourton and related to me the
+      following legend of death.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It was a long time ago when the Mongolians ruled over China. The Prince
+      of Uliassutai, Beltis Van, was mad. He executed any one he wished without
+      trial and no one dared to pass through his town. All the other Princes and
+      rich Mongols surrounded Uliassutai, where Beltis raged, cut off
+      communication on every road and allowed none to pass in or out. Famine
+      developed in the town. They consumed all the oxen, sheep and horses and
+      finally Beltis Van determined to make a dash with his soldiers through to
+      the west to the land of one of his tribes, the Olets. He and his men all
+      perished in the fight. The Princes, following the advice of the Hutuktu
+      Buyantu, buried the dead on the slopes of the mountains surrounding
+      Uliassutai. They buried them with incantations and exorcisings in order
+      that Death by Violence might be kept from a further visitation to their
+      land. The tombs were covered with heavy stones and the Hutuktu predicted
+      that the bad demon of Death by Violence would only leave the earth when
+      the blood of a man should be spilled upon the covering stone. Such a
+      legend lived among us. Now it is fulfilled. The Russians shot there three
+      Bolsheviki and the Chinese two Mongols. The evil spirit of Beltis Van
+      broke loose from beneath the heavy stone and now mows down the people with
+      his scythe. The noble Chultun Beyli has perished; the Russian Noyon
+      Michailoff also has fallen; and death has flowed out from Uliassutai all
+      over our boundless plains. Who shall be able to stem it now? Who shall tie
+      the ferocious hands? An evil time has fallen upon the Gods and the Good
+      Spirits. The Evil Demons have made war upon the Good Spirits. What can man
+      now do? Only perish, only perish. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_PART3" id="link2H_PART3">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      Part III
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE STRAINING HEART OF ASIA
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0029" id="link2HCH0029">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXIX
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      ON THE ROAD OF GREAT CONQUERORS
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      The great conqueror, Jenghiz Khan, the son of sad, stern, severe Mongolia,
+      according to an old Mongolian legend &ldquo;mounted to the top of Karasu Togol
+      and with his eyes of an eagle looked to the west and the east. In the west
+      he saw whole seas of human blood over which floated a bloody fog that
+      blanketed all the horizon. There he could not discern his fate. But the
+      gods ordered him to proceed to the west, leading with him all his warriors
+      and Mongolian tribes. To the east he saw wealthy towns, shining temples,
+      crowds of happy people, gardens and fields of rich earth, all of which
+      pleased the great Mongol. He said to his sons: &lsquo;There in the west I shall
+      be fire and sword, destroyer, avenging Fate; in the east I shall come as
+      the merciful, great builder, bringing happiness to the people and to the
+      land.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Thus runs the legend. I found much of truth in it. I had passed over much
+      of his road to the west and always identified it by the old tombs and the
+      impertinent monuments of stone to the merciless conqueror. I saw also a
+      part of the eastern road of the hero, over which he traveled to China.
+      Once when we were making a trip out of Uliassutai we stopped the night in
+      Djirgalantu. The old host of the ourton, knowing me from my previous trip
+      to Narabanchi, welcomed us very kindly and regaled us with stories during
+      our evening meal. Among other things he led us out of the yurta and
+      pointed out a mountain peak brightly lighted by the full moon and
+      recounted to us the story of one of the sons of Jenghiz, afterwards
+      Emperor of China, Indo-China and Mongolia, who had been attracted by the
+      beautiful scenery and grazing lands of Djirgalantu and had founded here a
+      town. This was soon left without inhabitants, for the Mongol is a nomad
+      who cannot live in artificial cities. The plain is his house and the world
+      his town. For a time this town witnessed battles between the Chinese and
+      the troops of Jenghiz Khan but afterwards it was forgotten. At present
+      there remains only a half-ruined tower, from which in the early days the
+      heavy rocks were hurled down upon the heads of the enemy, and the
+      dilapidated gate of Kublai, the grandson of Jenghiz Khan. Against the
+      greenish sky drenched with the rays of the moon stood out the jagged line
+      of the mountains and the black silhouette of the tower with its loopholes,
+      through which the alternate scudding clouds and light flashed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When our party left Uliassutai, we traveled on leisurely, making
+      thirty-five to fifty miles a day until we were within sixty miles of Zain
+      Shabi, where I took leave of the others to go south to this place in order
+      to keep my engagement with Colonel Kazagrandi. The sun had just risen as
+      my single Mongol guide and I without any pack animals began to ascend the
+      low, timbered ridges, from the top of which I caught the last glimpses of
+      my companions disappearing down the valley. I had no idea then of the many
+      and almost fatal dangers which I should have to pass through during this
+      trip by myself, which was destined to prove much longer than I had
+      anticipated. As we were crossing a small river with sandy shores, my
+      Mongol guide told me how the Mongolians came there during the summer to
+      wash gold, in spite of the prohibitions of the Lamas. The manner of
+      working the placer was very primitive but the results testified clearly to
+      the richness of these sands. The Mongol lies flat on the ground, brushes
+      the sand aside with a feather and keeps blowing into the little excavation
+      so formed. From time to time he wets his finger and picks up on it a small
+      bit of grain gold or a diminutive nugget and drops these into a little bag
+      hanging under his chin. In such manner this primitive dredge wins about a
+      quarter of an ounce or five dollars&rsquo; worth of the yellow metal per day.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I determined to make the whole distance to Zain Shabi in a single day. At
+      the ourtons I hurried them through the catching and saddling of the horses
+      as fast as I could. At one of these stations about twenty-five miles from
+      the monastery the Mongols gave me a wild horse, a big, strong white
+      stallion. Just as I was about to mount him and had already touched my foot
+      to the stirrup, he jumped and kicked me right on the leg which had been
+      wounded in the Ma-chu fight. The leg soon began to swell and ache. At
+      sunset I made out the first Russian and Chinese buildings and later the
+      monastery at Zain. We dropped into the valley of a small stream which
+      flowed along a mountain on whose peak were set white rocks forming the
+      words of a Tibetan prayer. At the bottom of this mountain was a cemetery
+      for the Lamas, that is, piles of bones and a pack of dogs. At last the
+      monastery lay right below us, a common square surrounded with wooden
+      fences. In the middle rose a large temple quite different from all those
+      of western Mongolia, not in the Chinese but in the Tibetan style of
+      architecture, a white building with perpendicular walls and regular rows
+      of windows in black frames, with a roof of black tiles and with a most
+      unusual damp course laid between the stone walls and the roof timbers and
+      made of bundles of twigs from a Tibetan tree which never rots. Another
+      small quadrangle lay a little to the east and contained Russian buildings
+      connected with the monastery by telephone.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is the house of the Living God of Zain,&rdquo; the Mongol explained,
+      pointing to this smaller quadrangle. &ldquo;He likes Russian customs and
+      manners.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      To the north on a conical-shaped hill rose a tower that recalled the
+      Babylonian zikkurat. It was the temple where the ancient books and
+      manuscripts were kept and the broken ornaments and objects used in the
+      religious ceremonies together with the robes of deceased Hutuktus
+      preserved. A sheer cliff rose behind this museum, which it was impossible
+      for one to climb. On the face of this were carved images of the Lamaite
+      gods, scattered about without any special order. They were from one to two
+      and a half metres high. At night the monks lighted lamps before them, so
+      that one could see these images of the gods and goddesses from far away.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We entered the trading settlement. The streets were deserted and from the
+      windows only women and children looked out. I stopped with a Russian firm
+      whose other branches I had known throughout the country. Much to my
+      astonishment they welcomed me as an acquaintance. It appeared that the
+      Hutuktu of Narabanchi had sent word to all the monasteries that, whenever
+      I should come, they must all render me aid, inasmuch as I had saved the
+      Narabanchi Monastery and, by the clear signs of the divinations, I was an
+      incarnate Buddha beloved of the Gods. This letter of this kindly disposed
+      Hutuktu helped me very much&mdash;perhaps I should even say more, that it
+      saved me from death. The hospitality of my hosts proved of great and much
+      needed assistance to me because my injured leg had swelled and was aching
+      severely. When I took off my boot, I found my foot all covered with blood
+      and my old wound re-opened by the blow. A felcher was called to assist me
+      with treatment and bandaging, so that I was able to walk again three days
+      later.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I did not find Colonel Kazagrandi at Zain Shabi. After destroying the
+      Chinese gamins who had killed the local Commandant, he had returned via
+      Van Kure. The new Commandment handed me the letter of Kazagrandi, who very
+      cordially asked me to visit him after I had rested in Zain. A Mongolian
+      document was enclosed in the letter giving me the right to receive horses
+      and carts from herd to herd by means of the &ldquo;urga,&rdquo; which I shall later
+      describe and which opened for me an entirely new vista of Mongolian life
+      and country that I should otherwise never have seen. The making of this
+      journey of over two hundred miles was a very disagreeable task for me; but
+      evidently Kazagrandi, whom I had never met, had serious reasons for
+      wishing this meeting.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At one o&rsquo;clock the day after my arrival I was visited by the local &ldquo;Very
+      God,&rdquo; Gheghen Pandita Hutuktu. A more strange and extraordinary appearance
+      of a god I could not imagine. He was a short, thin young man of twenty or
+      twenty-two years with quick, nervous movements and with an expressive face
+      lighted and dominated, like the countenances of all the Mongol gods, by
+      large, frightened eyes. He was dressed in a blue silk Russian uniform with
+      yellow epaulets with the sacred sign of Pandita Hutuktu, in blue silk
+      trousers and high boots, all surmounted by a white Astrakhan cap with a
+      yellow pointed top. At his girdle a revolver and sword were slung. I did
+      not know quite what to think of this disguised god. He took a cup of tea
+      from the host and began to talk with a mixture of Mongolian and Russian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not far from my Kure is located the ancient monastery of Erdeni Dzu,
+      erected on the site of the ruins of Karakorum, the ancient capital of
+      Jenghiz Khan and afterwards frequently visited by Kublai Kahn for
+      sanctuary and rest after his labors as Emperor of China, India, Persia,
+      Afghanistan, Mongolia and half of Europe. Now only ruins and tombs remain
+      to mark this former &lsquo;Garden of Beatific Days.&rsquo; The pious monks of Baroun
+      Kure found in the underground chambers of the ruins manuscripts that were
+      much older than Erdeni Dzu itself. In these my Maramba Meetchik-Atak found
+      the prediction that the Hutuktu of Zain who should carry the title of
+      &lsquo;Pandita,&rsquo; should be but twenty-one years of age, be born in the heart of
+      the lands of Jenghiz Khan and have on his chest the natural sign of the
+      swastika&mdash;such Hutuktu would be honored by the people in the days of
+      a great war and trouble, would begin the fight with the servants of Red
+      evil and would conquer them and bring order into the universe, celebrating
+      this happy day in the city with white temples and with the songs of ten
+      thousand bells. It is I, Pandita Hutuktu! The signs and symbols have met
+      in me. I shall destroy the Bolsheviki, the bad &lsquo;servants of the Red evil,&rsquo; 
+      and in Moscow I shall rest from my glorious and great work. Therefore I
+      have asked Colonel Kazagrandi to enlist me in the troops of Baron Ungern
+      and give me the chance to fight. The Lamas seek to prevent me from going
+      but who is the god here?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He very sternly stamped his foot, while the Lamas and guard who
+      accompanied him reverently bowed their heads.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As he left he presented me with a hatyk and, rummaging through my saddle
+      bags, I found a single article that might be considered worthy as a gift
+      for a Hutuktu, a small bottle of osmiridium, this rare, natural
+      concomitant of platinum.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This is the most stable and hardest of metals,&rdquo; I said. &ldquo;Let it be the
+      sign of your glory and strength, Hutuktu!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Pandita thanked me and invited me to visit him. When I had recovered a
+      little, I went to his house, which was arranged in European style:
+      electric lights, push bells and telephone. He feasted me with wine and
+      sweets and introduced me to two very interesting personages, one an old
+      Tibetan surgeon with a face deeply pitted by smallpox, a heavy thick nose
+      and crossed eyes. He was a peculiar surgeon, consecrated in Tibet. His
+      duties consisted in treating and curing Hutuktus when they were ill and .
+      . . in poisoning them when they became too independent or extravagant or
+      when their policies were not in accord with the wishes of the Council of
+      Lamas of the Living Buddha or the Dalai Lama. By now Pandita Hutuktu
+      probably rests in eternal peace on the top of some sacred mountain, sent
+      thither by the solicitude of his extraordinary court physician. The
+      martial spirit of Pandita Hutuktu was very unwelcome to the Council of
+      Lamas, who protested against the adventuresomeness of this &ldquo;Living God.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Pandita liked wine and cards. One day when he was in the company of
+      Russians and dressed in a European suit, some Lamas came running to
+      announce that divine service had begun and that the &ldquo;Living God&rdquo; must take
+      his place on the altar to be prayed to but he had gone out from his abode
+      and was playing cards! Without any confusion Pandita drew his red mantle
+      of the Hutuktu over his European coat and long grey trousers and allowed
+      the shocked Lamas to carry their &ldquo;God&rdquo; away in his palanquin.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Besides the surgeon-poisoner I met at the Hutuktu&rsquo;s a lad of thirteen
+      years, whose youthfulness, red robe and cropped hair led me to suppose he
+      was a Bandi or student servant in the home of the Hutuktu; but it turned
+      out otherwise. This boy was the first Hubilgan, also an incarnate Buddha,
+      an artful teller of fortunes and the successor of Pandita Hutuktu. He was
+      drunk all the time and a great card player, always making side-splitting
+      jokes that greatly offended the Lamas.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      That same evening I made the acquaintance of the second Hubilgan who
+      called on me, the real administrator of Zain Shabi, which is an
+      independent dominion subject directly to the Living Buddha. This Hubilgan
+      was a serious and ascetic man of thirty-two, well educated and deeply
+      learned in Mongol lore. He knew Russian and read much in that language,
+      being interested chiefly in the life and stories of other peoples. He had
+      a high respect for the creative genius of the American people and said to
+      me:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;When you go to America, ask the Americans to come to us and lead us out
+      from the darkness that surrounds us. The Chinese and Russians will lead us
+      to destruction and only the Americans can save us.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It is a deep satisfaction for me to carry out the request of this
+      influential Mongol, Hubilgan, and to urge his appeal to the American
+      people. Will you not save this honest, uncorrupted but dark, deceived and
+      oppressed people? They should not be allowed to perish, for within their
+      souls they carry a great store of strong moral forces. Make of them a
+      cultured people, believing in the verity of humankind; teach them to use
+      the wealth of their land; and the ancient people of Jenghiz Khan will ever
+      be your faithful friends.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When I had sufficiently recovered, the Hutuktu invited me to travel with
+      him to Erdeni Dzu, to which I willingly agreed. On the following morning a
+      light and comfortable carriage was brought for me. Our trip lasted five
+      days, during which we visited Erdeni Dzu, Karakorum, Hoto-Zaidam and
+      Hara-Balgasun. All these are the ruins of monasteries and cities erected
+      by Jenghiz Khan and his successors, Ugadai Khan and Kublai in the
+      thirteenth century. Now only the remnants of walls and towers remain, some
+      large tombs and whole books of legends and stories.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Look at these tombs!&rdquo; said the Hutuktu to me. &ldquo;Here the son of Khan Uyuk
+      was buried. This young prince was bribed by the Chinese to kill his father
+      but was frustrated in his attempt by his own sister, who killed him in her
+      watchful care of her old father, the Emperor and Khan. There is the tomb
+      of Tsinilla, the beloved spouse of Khan Mangu. She left the capital of
+      China to go to Khara Bolgasun, where she fell in love with the brave
+      shepherd Damcharen, who overtook the wind on his steed and who captured
+      wild yaks and horses with his bare hands. The enraged Khan ordered his
+      unfaithful wife strangled but afterwards buried her with imperial honors
+      and frequently came to her tomb to weep for his lost love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And what happened to Damcharen?&rdquo; I inquired.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Hutuktu himself did not know; but his old servant, the real archive of
+      legends, answered:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;With the aid of ferocious Chahar brigands he fought with China for a long
+      time. It is, however, unknown how he died.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Among the ruins the monks pray at certain fixed times and they also search
+      for sacred books and objects concealed or buried in the debris. Recently
+      they found here two Chinese rifles and two gold rings and big bundles of
+      old manuscripts tied with leather thongs.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why did this region attract the powerful emperors and Khans who ruled
+      from the Pacific to the Adriatic?&rdquo; I asked myself. Certainly not these
+      mountains and valleys covered with larch and birch, not these vast sands,
+      receding lakes and barren rocks. It seems that I found the answer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The great emperors, remembering the vision of Jenghiz Khan, sought here
+      new revelations and predictions of his miraculous, majestic destiny,
+      surrounded by the divine honors, obeisance and hate. Where could they come
+      into touch with the gods, the good and bad spirits? Only there where they
+      abode. All the district of Zain with these ancient ruins is just such a
+      place.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;On this mountain only such men can ascend as are born of the direct line
+      of Jenghiz Khan,&rdquo; the Pandita explained to me. &ldquo;Half way up the ordinary
+      man suffocates and dies, if he ventures to go further. Recently Mongolian
+      hunters chased a pack of wolves up this mountain and, when they came to
+      this part of the mountainside, they all perished. There on the slopes of
+      the mountain lie the bones of eagles, big horned sheep and the kabarga
+      antelope, light and swift as the wind. There dwells the bad demon who
+      possesses the book of human destinies.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This is the answer,&rdquo; I thought.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the Western Caucasus I once saw a mountain between Soukhoum Kale and
+      Tuopsei where wolves, eagles and wild goats also perish, and where men
+      would likewise perish if they did not go on horseback through this zone.
+      There the earth breathes out carbonic acid gas through holes in the
+      mountainside, killing all animal life. The gas clings to the earth in a
+      layer about half a metre thick. Men on horseback pass above this and the
+      horses always hold their heads way up and snuff and whinny in fear until
+      they cross the dangerous zone. Here on the top of this mountain where the
+      bad demon peruses the book of human destinies is the same phenomenon, and
+      I realized the sacred fear of the Mongols as well as the stern attraction
+      of this place for the tall, almost gigantic descendants of Jenghiz Khan.
+      Their heads tower above the layers of poisonous gas, so that they can
+      reach the top of this mysterious and terrible mountain. Also it is
+      possible to explain this phenomenon geologically, because here in this
+      region is the southern edge of the coal deposits which are the source of
+      carbonic acid and swamp gases.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Not far from the ruins in the lands of Hun Doptchin Djamtso there is a
+      small lake which sometimes burns with a red flame, terrifying the Mongols
+      and herds of horses. Naturally this lake is rich with legends. Here a
+      meteor formerly fell and sank far into the earth. In the hole this lake
+      appeared. Now, it seems, the inhabitants of the subterranean passages,
+      semi-man and semi-demon, are laboring to extract this &ldquo;stone of the sky&rdquo;
+       from its deep bed and it is setting the water on fire as it rises and
+      falls back in spite of their every effort. I did not see the lake myself
+      but a Russian colonist told me that it may be petroleum on the lake that
+      is fired either from the campfires of the shepherds or by the blazing rays
+      of the sun.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At any rate all this makes it very easy to understand the attractions for
+      the great Mongol potentates. The strongest impression was produced upon me
+      by Karakorum, the place where the cruel and wise Jenghiz Khan lived and
+      laid his gigantic plans for overrunning all the west with blood and for
+      covering the east with a glory never before seen. Two Karakorums were
+      erected by Jenghiz Khan, one here near Tatsa Gol on the Caravan Road and
+      the other in Pamir, where the sad warriors buried the greatest of human
+      conquerors in the mausoleum built by five hundred captives who were
+      sacrificed to the spirit of the deceased when their work was done.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The warlike Pandita Hutuktu prayed on the ruins where the shades of these
+      potentates who had ruled half the world wandered, and his soul longed for
+      the chimerical exploits and for the glory of Jenghiz and Tamerlane.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On the return journey we were invited not far from Zain to visit a very
+      rich Mongol by the way. He had already prepared the yurtas suitable for
+      Princes, ornamented with rich carpets and silk draperies. The Hutuktu
+      accepted. We arranged ourselves on the soft pillows in the yurtas as the
+      Hutuktu blessed the Mongol, touching his head with his holy hand, and
+      received the hatyks. The host then had a whole sheep brought in to us,
+      boiled in a huge vessel. The Hutuktu carved off one hind leg and offered
+      it to me, while he reserved the other for himself. After this he gave a
+      large piece of meat to the smallest son of the host, which was the sign
+      that Pandita Hutuktu invited all to begin the feast. In a trice the sheep
+      was entirely carved or torn up and in the hands of the banqueters. When
+      the Hutuktu had thrown down by the brazier the white bones without a trace
+      of meat left on them, the host on his knees withdrew from the fire a piece
+      of sheepskin and ceremoniously offered it on both his hands to the
+      Hutuktu. Pandita began to clean off the wool and ashes with his knife and,
+      cutting it into thin strips, fell to eating this really tasty course. It
+      is the covering from just above the breast bone and is called in Mongolian
+      tarach or &ldquo;arrow.&rdquo; When a sheep is skinned, this small section is cut out
+      and placed on the hot coals, where it is broiled very slowly. Thus
+      prepared it is considered the most dainty bit of the whole animal and is
+      always presented to the guest of honor. It is not permissible to divide
+      it, such is the strength of the custom and ceremony.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After dinner our host proposed a hunt for bighorns, a large herd of which
+      was known to graze in the mountains within less than a mile from the
+      yurtas. Horses with rich saddles and bridles were led up. All the
+      elaborate harness of the Hutuktu&rsquo;s mount was ornamented with red and
+      yellow bits of cloth as a mark of his rank. About fifty Mongol riders
+      galloped behind us. When we left our horses, we were placed behind the
+      rocks roughly three hundred paces apart and the Mongols began the
+      encircling movement around the mountain. After about half an hour I
+      noticed way up among the rocks something flash and soon made out a fine
+      bighorn jumping with tremendous springs from rock to rock, and behind him
+      a herd of some twenty odd head leaping like lightning over the ground. I
+      was vexed beyond words when it appeared that the Mongols had made a mess
+      of it and pushed the herd out to the side before having completed their
+      circle. But happily I was mistaken. Behind a rock right ahead of the herd
+      a Mongol sprang up and waved his hands. Only the big leader was not
+      frightened and kept right on past the unarmed Mongol while all the rest of
+      the herd swung suddenly round and rushed right down upon me. I opened fire
+      and dropped two of them. The Hutuktu also brought down one as well as a
+      musk antelope that came unexpectedly from behind a rock hard by. The
+      largest pair of horns weighed about thirty pounds, but they were from a
+      young sheep.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The day following our return to Zain Shabi, as I was feeling quite
+      recovered, I decided to go on to Van Kure. At my leave-taking from the
+      Hutuktu I received a large hatyk from him together with warmest
+      expressions of thanks for the present I had given him on the first day of
+      our acquaintance.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is a fine medicine!&rdquo; he exclaimed. &ldquo;After our trip I felt quite
+      exhausted but I took your medicine and am now quite rejuvenated. Many,
+      many thanks!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The poor chap had swallowed my osmiridium. To be sure it could not harm
+      him; but to have helped him was wonderful. Perhaps doctors in the Occident
+      may wish to try this new, harmless and very cheap remedy&mdash;only eight
+      pounds of it in the whole world&mdash;and I merely ask that they leave me
+      the patent rights for it for Mongolia, Barga, Sinkiang, Koko Nor and all
+      the other lands of Central Asia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      An old Russian colonist went as guide for me. They gave me a big but light
+      and comfortable cart hitched and drawn in a marvelous way. A straight pole
+      four metres long was fastened athwart the front of the shafts. On either
+      side two riders took this pole across their saddle pommels and galloped
+      away with me across the plains. Behind us galloped four other riders with
+      four extra horses.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0030" id="link2HCH0030">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXX
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      ARRESTED!
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of
+      riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on
+      the shore of a deep, swampy stream. The group consisted of Mongols,
+      Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles. At the head of the column
+      were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape
+      with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse,
+      harsh voice, demanded of me: &ldquo;Who are you, where are you from and where
+      are you going?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I gave also a laconic answer. They then said that they were a detachment
+      of troops from Baron Ungern under the command of Captain Vandaloff. &ldquo;I am
+      Captain Bezrodnoff, military judge.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Suddenly he laughed loudly. His insolent, stupid face did not please me
+      and, bowing to the officers, I ordered my riders to move.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh no!&rdquo; he remonstrated, as he blocked the road again. &ldquo;I cannot allow
+      you to go farther. I want to have a long and serious conversation with you
+      and you will have to come back to Zain for it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I protested and called attention to the letter of Colonel Kazagrandi, only
+      to hear Bezrodnoff answer with coldness:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This letter is a matter of Colonel Kazagrandi&rsquo;s and to bring you back to
+      Zain and talk with you is my affair. Now give me your weapon.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      But I could not yield to this demand, even though death were threatened.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Listen,&rdquo; I said. &ldquo;Tell me frankly. Is yours really a detachment fighting
+      against the Boisheviki or is it a Red contingent?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, I assure you!&rdquo; replied the Buriat officer Vandaloff, approaching me.
+      &ldquo;We have already been fighting the Bolsheviki for three years.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then I cannot hand you my weapon,&rdquo; I calmly replied. &ldquo;I brought it from
+      Soviet Siberia, have had many fights with this faithful weapon and now I
+      am to be disarmed by White officers! It is an offence that I cannot
+      allow.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words I threw my rifle and my Mauser into the stream. The
+      officers were confused. Bezrodnoff turned red with anger.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I freed you and myself from humiliation,&rdquo; I explained.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bezrodnoff in silence turned his horse, the whole detachment of three
+      hundred men passed immediately before me and only the last two riders
+      stopped, ordered my Mongols to turn my cart round and then fell in behind
+      my little group. So I was arrested! One of the horsemen behind me was a
+      Russian and he told me that Bezrodnoff carried with him many death
+      decrees. I was sure that mine was among them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Stupid, very stupid! What was the use of fighting one&rsquo;s way through Red
+      detachments, of being frozen and hungry, of almost perishing in Tibet only
+      to die from a bullet of one of Bezrodnoff&rsquo;s Mongols? For such a pleasure
+      it was not worth while to travel so long and so far! In every Siberian
+      &ldquo;Cheka&rdquo; I could have had this end so joyfully accorded me.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When we arrived at Zain Shabi, my luggage was examined and Bezrodnoff
+      began to question me in minutest detail about the events in Uliassutai. We
+      talked about three hours, during which I tried to defend all the officers
+      of Uliassutai, maintaining that one must not trust only the reports of
+      Domojiroff. When our conversation was finished, the Captain stood up and
+      offered his apologies for detaining me in my journey. Afterwards he
+      presented me a fine Mauser with silver mountings on the handle and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your pride greatly pleased me. I beg you to receive this weapon as a
+      memento of me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The following morning I set out anew from Zain Shabi, having in my pocket
+      the laissez-passer of Bezrodnoff for his outposts.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0031" id="link2HCH0031">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXXI
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      TRAVELING BY &ldquo;URGA&rdquo;
+     </h3>
+    <p>
+      Once more we traveled along the now known places, the mountain from which
+      I espied the detachment of Bezrodnoff, the stream into which I had thrown
+      my weapon, and soon all this lay behind us. At the first ourton we were
+      disappointed because we did not find horses there. In the yurtas were only
+      the host with two of his sons. I showed him my document and he exclaimed:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Noyon has the right of &lsquo;urga.&rsquo; Horses will be brought very soon.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He jumped into his saddle, took two of my Mongols with him, providing them
+      and himself with long thin poles, four or five metres in length, and
+      fitted at the end with a loop of rope, and galloped away. My cart moved
+      behind them. We left the road, crossed the plain for an hour and came upon
+      a big herd of horses grazing there. The Mongol began to catch a quota of
+      them for us with his pole and noose or urga, when out of the mountains
+      nearby came galloping the owners of the herds. When the old Mongol showed
+      my papers to them, they submissively acquiesced and substituted four of
+      their men for those who had come with me thus far. In this manner the
+      Mongols travel, not along the ourton or station road but directly from one
+      herd to another, where the fresh horses are caught and saddled and the new
+      owners substituted for those of the last herd. All the Mongols so effected
+      by the right of urga try to finish their task as rapidly as possible and
+      gallop like mad for the nearest herd in your general direction of travel
+      to turn over their task to their neighbor. Any traveler having this right
+      of urga can catch horses himself and, if there are no owners, can force
+      the former ones to carry on and leave the animals in the next herd he
+      requisitions. But this happens very rarely because the Mongol never likes
+      to seek out his animals in another&rsquo;s herd, as it always gives so many
+      chances for controversy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was from this custom, according to one explanation, that the town of
+      Urga took its name among outsiders. By the Mongols themselves it is always
+      referred to as Ta Kure, &ldquo;The Great Monastery.&rdquo; The reason the Buriats and
+      Russians, who were the first to trade into this region, called it Urga was
+      because it was the principal destination of all the trading expeditions
+      which crossed the plains by this old method or right of travel. A second
+      explanation is that the town lies in a &ldquo;loop&rdquo; whose sides are formed by
+      three mountain ridges, along one of which the River Tola runs like the
+      pole or stick of the familiar urga of the plains.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thanks to this unique ticket of urga I crossed quite untraveled sections
+      of Mongolia for about two hundred miles. It gave me the welcome
+      opportunity to observe the fauna of this part of the country. I saw many
+      huge herds of Mongolian antelopes running from five to six thousand, many
+      groups of bighorns, wapiti and kabarga antelopes. Sometimes small herds of
+      wild horses and wild asses flashed as a vision on the horizon.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In one place I observed a big colony of marmots. All over an area of
+      several square miles their mounds were scattered with the holes leading
+      down to their runways below, the dwellings of the marmot. In and out among
+      these mounds the greyish-yellow or brown animals ran in all sizes up to
+      half that of an average dog. They ran heavily and the skin on their fat
+      bodies moved as though it were too big for them. The marmots are splendid
+      prospectors, always digging deep ditches, throwing out on the surface all
+      the stones. In many places I saw mounds the marmots had made from copper
+      ore and farther north some from minerals containing wolfram and vanadium.
+      Whenever the marmot is at the entrance of his hole, he sits up straight on
+      his hind legs and looks like a bit of wood, a small stump or a stone. As
+      soon as he spies a rider in the distance, he watches him with great
+      curiosity and begins whistling sharply. This curiosity of the marmots is
+      taken advantage of by the hunters, who sneak up to their holes flourishing
+      streamers of cloth on the tips of long poles. The whole attention of the
+      small animals is concentrated on this small flag and only the bullet that
+      takes his life explains to him the reason for this previously unknown
+      object.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I saw a very exciting picture as I passed through a marmot colony near the
+      Orkhon River. There were thousands of holes here so that my Mongols had to
+      use all their skill to keep the horses from breaking their legs in them. I
+      noticed an eagle circling high overhead. All of a sudden he dropped like a
+      stone to the top of a mound, where he sat motionless as a rock. The marmot
+      in a few minutes ran out of his hole to a neighbor&rsquo;s doorway. The eagle
+      calmly jumped down from the top and with one wing closed the entrance to
+      the hole. The rodent heard the noise, turned back and rushed to the
+      attack, trying to break through to his hole where he had evidently left
+      his family. The struggle began. The eagle fought with one free wing, one
+      leg and his beak but did not withdraw the bar to the entrance. The marmot
+      jumped at the rapacious bird with great boldness but soon fell from a blow
+      on the head. Only then the eagle withdrew his wing, approached the marmot,
+      finished him off and with difficulty lifted him in his talons to carry him
+      away to the mountains for a tasty luncheon.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the more barren places with only occasional spears of grass in the
+      plain another species of rodent lives, called imouran, about the size of a
+      squirrel. They have a coat the same color as the prairie and, running
+      about it like snakes, they collect the seeds that are blown across by the
+      wind and carry them down into their diminutive homes. The imouran has a
+      truly faithful friend, the yellow lark of the prairie with a brown back
+      and head. When he sees the imouran running across the plain, he settles on
+      his back, flaps his wings in balance and rides well this swiftly galloping
+      mount, who gaily flourishes his long shaggy tail. The lark during his ride
+      skilfully and quickly catches the parasites living on the body of his
+      friend, giving evidence of his enjoyment of his work with a short
+      agreeable song. The Mongols call the imouran &ldquo;the steed of the gay lark.&rdquo;
+       The lark warns the imouran of the approach of eagles and hawks with three
+      sharp whistles the moment he sees the aerial brigand and takes refuge
+      himself behind a stone or in a small ditch. After this signal no imouran
+      will stick his head out of his hole until the danger is past. Thus the gay
+      lark and his steed live in kindly neighborliness.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In other parts of Mongolia where there was very rich grass I saw another
+      type of rodent, which I had previously come across in Urianhai. It is a
+      gigantic black prairie rat with a short tail and lives in colonies of from
+      one to two hundred. He is interesting and unique as the most skilful
+      farmer among the animals in his preparation of his winter supply of
+      fodder. During the weeks when the grass is most succulent he actually mows
+      it down with swift jerky swings of his head, cutting about twenty or
+      thirty stalks with his sharp long front teeth. Then he allows his grass to
+      cure and later puts up his prepared hay in a most scientific manner. First
+      he makes a mound about a foot high. Through this he pushes down into the
+      ground four slanting stakes, converging toward the middle of the pile, and
+      binds them close over the surface of the hay with the longest strands of
+      grass, leaving the ends protruding enough for him to add another foot to
+      the height of the pile, when he again binds the surface with more long
+      strands&mdash;all this to keep his winter supply of food from blowing away
+      over the prairie. This stock he always locates right at the door of his
+      den to avoid long winter hauls. The horses and camels are very fond of
+      this small farmer&rsquo;s hay, because it is always made from the most
+      nutritious grass. The haycocks are so strongly made that one can hardly
+      kick them to pieces.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Almost everywhere in Mongolia I met either single pairs or whole flocks of
+      the greyish-yellow prairie partridges, salga or &ldquo;partridge swallow,&rdquo; so
+      called because they have long sharp tails resembling those of swallows and
+      because their flight also is a close copy of that of the swallow. These
+      birds are very tame or fearless, allowing men to come within ten or
+      fifteen paces of them; but, when they do break, they go high and fly long
+      distances without lighting, whistling all the time quite like swallows.
+      Their general markings are light grey and yellow, though the males have
+      pretty chocolate spots on the backs and wings, while their legs and feet
+      are heavily feathered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      My opportunity to make these observations came from traveling through
+      unfrequented regions by the urga, which, however, had its counterbalancing
+      disadvantages. The Mongols carried me directly and swiftly toward my
+      destination, receiving with great satisfaction the presents of Chinese
+      dollars which I gave them. But after having made about five thousand miles
+      on my Cossack saddle that now lay behind me on the cart all covered with
+      dust like common merchandise, I rebelled against being wracked and torn by
+      the rough riding of the cart as it was swung heedlessly over stones,
+      hillocks and ditches by the wild horses with their equally wild riders,
+      bounding and cracking and holding together only through its tenacity of
+      purpose in demonstrating the cosiness and attractiveness of a good Mongol
+      equipage! All my bones began to ache. Finally I groaned at every lunge and
+      at last I suffered a very sharp attack of ischias or sciatica in my
+      wounded leg. At night I could neither sleep, lie down nor sit with comfort
+      and spent the whole night pacing up and down the plain, listening to the
+      loud snoring of the inhabitants of the yurta. At times I had to fight the
+      two huge black dogs which attacked me. The following day I could endure
+      the wracking only until noon and was then forced to give up and lie down.
+      The pain was unbearable. I could not move my leg nor my back and finally
+      fell into a high fever. We were forced to stop and rest. I swallowed all
+      my stock of aspirin and quinine but without relief. Before me was a
+      sleepless night about which I could not think without weakening fear. We
+      had stopped in the yurta for guests by the side of a small monastery. My
+      Mongols invited the Lama doctor to visit me, who gave me two very bitter
+      powders and assured me I should be able to continue in the morning. I soon
+      felt a stimulated palpitation of the heart, after which the pain became
+      even sharper. Again I spent the night without any sleep but when the sun
+      arose the pain ceased instantly and, after an hour, I ordered them to
+      saddle me a horse, as I was afraid to continue further in the cart.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      While the Mongols were catching the horses, there came to my tent Colonel
+      N. N. Philipoff, who told me that he denied all the accusations that he
+      and his brother and Poletika were Bolsheviki and that Bezrodnoff allowed
+      him to go to Van Kure to meet Baron Ungern, who was expected there. Only
+      Philipoff did not know that his Mongol guide was armed with a bomb and
+      that another Mongol had been sent on ahead with a letter to Baron Ungern.
+      He did not know that Poletika and his brothers were shot at the same time
+      in Zain Shabi. Philipoff was in a hurry and wanted to reach Van Kure that
+      day. I left an hour after him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0032" id="link2HCH0032">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXXII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      AN OLD FORTUNE TELLER
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      From this point we began traveling along the ourton road. In this region
+      the Mongols had very poor and exhausted horses, because they were forced
+      continuously to supply mounts to the numerous envoys of Daichin Van and of
+      Colonel Kazagrandi. We were compelled to spend the night at the last
+      ourton before Van Kure, where a stout old Mongol and his son kept the
+      station. After our supper he took the shoulder-blade of the sheep, which
+      had been carefully scraped clean of all the flesh, and, looking at me,
+      placed this bone in the coals with some incantations and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I want to tell your fortune. All my predictions come true.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      When the bone had been blackened he drew it out, blew off the ashes and
+      began to scrutinize the surface very closely and to look through it into
+      the fire. He continued his examination for a long time and then, with fear
+      in his face, placed the bone back in the coals.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What did you see?&rdquo; I asked, laughing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Be silent!&rdquo; he whispered. &ldquo;I made out horrible signs.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He again took out the bone and began examining it all over, all the time
+      whispering prayers and making strange movements. In a very solemn quiet
+      voice he began his predictions.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Death in the form of a tall white man with red hair will stand behind you
+      and will watch you long and close. You will feel it and wait but Death
+      will withdraw. . . . Another white man will become your friend. . . .
+      Before the fourth day you will lose your acquaintances. They will die by a
+      long knife. I already see them being eaten by the dogs. Beware of the man
+      with a head like a saddle. He will strive for your death.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      For a long time after the fortune had been told we sat smoking and
+      drinking tea but still the old fellow looked at me only with fear. Through
+      my brain flashed the thought that thus must his companions in prison look
+      at one who is condemned to death.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The next morning we left the fortune teller before the sun was up, and,
+      when we had made about fifteen miles, hove in sight of Van Kure. I found
+      Colonel Kazagrandi at his headquarters. He was a man of good family, an
+      experienced engineer and a splendid officer, who had distinguished himself
+      in the war at the defence of the island of Moon in the Baltic and
+      afterwards in the fight with the Bolsheviki on the Volga. Colonel
+      Kazagrandi offered me a bath in a real tub, which had its habitat in the
+      house of the president of the local Chamber of Commerce. As I was in this
+      house, a tall young captain entered. He had long curly red hair and an
+      unusually white face, though heavy and stolid, with large, steel-cold eyes
+      and with beautiful, tender, almost girlish lips. But in his eyes there was
+      such cold cruelty that it was quite unpleasant to look at his otherwise
+      fine face. When he left the room, our host told me that he was Captain
+      Veseloffsky, the adjutant of General Rezukhin, who was fighting against
+      the Bolsheviki in the north of Mongolia. They had just that day arrived
+      for a conference with Baron Ungern.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After luncheon Colonel Kazagrandi invited me to his yurta and began
+      discussing events in western Mongolia, where the situation had become very
+      tense.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you know Dr. Gay?&rdquo; Kazagrandi asked me. &ldquo;You know he helped me to form
+      my detachment but Urga accuses him of being the agent of the Soviets.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I made all the defences I could for Gay. He had helped me and had been
+      exonerated by Kolchak.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, yes, and I justified Gay in such a manner,&rdquo; said the Colonel, &ldquo;but
+      Rezukhin, who has just arrived today, has brought letters of Gay&rsquo;s to the
+      Bolsheviki which were seized in transit. By order of Baron Ungern, Gay and
+      his family have today been sent to the headquarters of Rezukhin and I fear
+      that they will not reach this destination.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why?&rdquo; I asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;They will be executed on the road!&rdquo; answered Colonel Kazagrandi.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What are we to do?&rdquo; I responded. &ldquo;Gay cannot be a Bolshevik, because he
+      is too well educated and too clever for it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know; I don&rsquo;t know!&rdquo; murmured the Colonel with a despondent
+      gesture. &ldquo;Try to speak with Rezukhin.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I decided to proceed at once to Rezukhin but just then Colonel Philipoff
+      entered and began talking about the errors being made in the training of
+      the soldiers. When I had donned my coat, another man came in. He was a
+      small sized officer with an old green Cossack cap with a visor, a torn
+      grey Mongol overcoat and with his right hand in a black sling tied around
+      his neck. It was General Rezukhin, to whom I was at once introduced.
+      During the conversation the General very politely and very skilfully
+      inquired about the lives of Philipoff and myself during the last three
+      years, joking and laughing with discretion and modesty. When he soon took
+      his leave, I availed myself of the chance and went out with him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He listened very attentively and politely to me and afterwards, in his
+      quiet voice, said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dr. Gay is the agent of the Soviets, disguised as a White in order the
+      better to see, hear and know everything. We are surrounded by our enemies.
+      The Russian people are demoralized and will undertake any treachery for
+      money. Such is Gay. Anyway, what is the use of discussing him further? He
+      and his family are no longer alive. Today my men cut them to pieces five
+      kilometres from here.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In consternation and fear I looked at the face of this small, dapper man
+      with such soft voice and courteous manners. In his eyes I read such hate
+      and tenacity that I understood at once the trembling respect of all the
+      officers whom I had seen in his presence. Afterwards in Urga I learned
+      more of this General Rezukhin distinguished by his absolute bravery and
+      boundless cruelty. He was the watchdog of Baron Ungern, ready to throw
+      himself into the fire and to spring at the throat of anyone his master
+      might indicate.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Only four days then had elapsed before &ldquo;my acquaintances&rdquo; died &ldquo;by a long
+      knife,&rdquo; so that one part of the prediction had been thus fulfilled. And
+      now I have to await Death&rsquo;s threat to me. The delay was not long. Only two
+      days later the Chief of the Asiatic Division of Cavalry arrived&mdash;Baron
+      Ungern von Sternberg.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0033" id="link2HCH0033">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXXIII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      &ldquo;DEATH FROM THE WHITE MAN WILL STAND BEHIND YOU&rdquo;
+     </h3>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The terrible general, the Baron,&rdquo; arrived quite unexpectedly, unnoticed
+      by the outposts of Colonel Kazagrandi. After a talk with Kazagrandi the
+      Baron invited Colonel N. N. Philipoff and me into his presence. Colonel
+      Kazagrandi brought the word to me. I wanted to go at once but was detained
+      about half an hour by the Colonel, who then sped me with the words:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now God help you! Go!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It was a strange parting message, not reassuring and quite enigmatical. I
+      took my Mauser and also hid in the cuff of my coat my cyanide of
+      potassium. The Baron was quartered in the yurta of the military doctor.
+      When I entered the court, Captain Veseloffsky came up to me. He had a
+      Cossack sword and a revolver without its holster beneath his girdle. He
+      went into the yurta to report my arrival.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Come in,&rdquo; he said, as he emerged from the tent.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At the entrance my eyes were struck with the sight of a pool of blood that
+      had not yet had time to drain down into the ground&mdash;an ominous
+      greeting that seemed to carry the very voice of one just gone before me. I
+      knocked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Come in!&rdquo; was the answer in a high tenor. As I passed the threshold, a
+      figure in a red silk Mongolian coat rushed at me with the spring of a
+      tiger, grabbed and shook my hand as though in flight across my path and
+      then fell prone on the bed at the side of the tent.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Tell me who you are! Hereabouts are many spies and agitators,&rdquo; he cried
+      out in an hysterical voice, as he fixed his eyes upon me. In one moment I
+      perceived his appearance and psychology. A small head on wide shoulders;
+      blonde hair in disorder; a reddish bristling moustache; a skinny,
+      exhausted face, like those on the old Byzantine ikons. Then everything
+      else faded from view save a big, protruding forehead overhanging steely
+      sharp eyes. These eyes were fixed upon me like those of an animal from a
+      cave. My observations lasted for but a flash but I understood that before
+      me was a very dangerous man ready for an instant spring into irrevocable
+      action. Though the danger was evident, I felt the deepest offence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sit down,&rdquo; he snapped out in a hissing voice, as he pointed to a chair
+      and impatiently pulled at his moustache. I felt my anger rising through my
+      whole body and I said to him without taking the chair:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You have allowed yourself to offend me, Baron. My name is well enough
+      known so that you cannot thus indulge yourself in such epithets. You can
+      do with me as you wish, because force is on your side, but you cannot
+      compel me to speak with one who gives me offence.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At these words of mine he swung his feet down off the bed and with evident
+      astonishment began to survey me, holding his breath and pulling still at
+      his moustache. Retaining my exterior calmness, I began to glance
+      indifferently around the yurta, and only then I noticed General Rezukhin.
+      I bowed to him and received his silent acknowledgment. After that I swung
+      my glance back to the Baron, who sat with bowed head and closed eyes, from
+      time to time rubbing his brow and mumbling to himself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Suddenly he stood up and sharply said, looking past and over me:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Go out! There is no need of more. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I swung round and saw Captain Veseloffsky with his white, cold face. I had
+      not heard him enter. He did a formal &ldquo;about face&rdquo; and passed out of the
+      door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Death from the white man&rsquo; has stood behind me,&rdquo; I thought; &ldquo;but has it
+      quite left me?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Baron stood thinking for some time and then began to speak in jumbled,
+      unfinished phrases.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I ask your pardon. . . . You must understand there are so many traitors!
+      Honest men have disappeared. I cannot trust anybody. All names are false
+      and assumed; documents are counterfeited. Eyes and words deceive. . . .
+      All is demoralized, insulted by Bolshevism. I just ordered Colonel
+      Philipoff cut down, he who called himself the representative of the
+      Russian White Organization. In the lining of his garments were found two
+      secret Bolshevik codes. . . . When my officer flourished his sword over
+      him, he exclaimed: &lsquo;Why do you kill me, Tavarische?&rsquo; I cannot trust
+      anybody. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He was silent and I also held my peace.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I beg your pardon!&rdquo; he began anew. &ldquo;I offended you; but I am not simply a
+      man, I am a leader of great forces and have in my head so much care,
+      sorrow and woe!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In his voice I felt there was mingled despair and sincerity. He frankly
+      put out his hand to me. Again silence. At last I answered:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What do you order me to do now, for I have neither counterfeit nor real
+      documents? But many of your officers know me and in Urga I can find many
+      who will testify that I could be neither agitator nor. . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No need, no need!&rdquo; interrupted the Baron. &ldquo;All is clear, all is
+      understood! I was in your soul and I know all. It is the truth which
+      Hutuktu Narabanchi has written about you. What can I do for you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I explained how my friend and I had escaped from Soviet Russia in the
+      effort to reach our native land and how a group of Polish soldiers had
+      joined us in the hope of getting back to Poland; and I asked that help be
+      given us to reach the nearest port.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;With pleasure, with pleasure. . . . I will help you all,&rdquo; he answered
+      excitedly. &ldquo;I shall drive you to Urga in my motor car. Tomorrow we shall
+      start and there in Urga we shall talk about further arrangements.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Taking my leave, I went out of the yurta. On arriving at my quarters, I
+      found Colonel Kazagrandi in great anxiety walking up and down my room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Thanks be to God!&rdquo; he exclaimed and crossed himself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      His joy was very touching but at the same time I thought that the Colonel
+      could have taken much more active measures for the salvation of his guest,
+      if he had been so minded. The agitation of this day had tired me and made
+      me feel years older. When I looked in the mirror I was certain there were
+      more white hairs on my head. At night I could not sleep for the flashing
+      thoughts of the young, fine face of Colonel Philipoff, the pool of blood,
+      the cold eyes of Captain Veseloffsky, the sound of Baron Ungern&rsquo;s voice
+      with its tones of despair and woe, until finally I sank into a heavy
+      stupor. I was awakened by Baron Ungern who came to ask pardon that he
+      could not take me in his motor car, because he was obliged to take Daichin
+      Van with him. But he informed me that he had left instructions to give me
+      his own white camel and two Cossacks as servants. I had no time to thank
+      him before he rushed out of my room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Sleep then entirely deserted me, so I dressed and began smoking pipe after
+      pipe of tobacco, as I thought: &ldquo;How much easier to fight the Bolsheviki on
+      the swamps of Seybi and to cross the snowy peaks of Ulan Taiga, where the
+      bad demons kill all the travelers they can! There everything was simple
+      and comprehensible, but here it is all a mad nightmare, a dark and
+      foreboding storm!&rdquo; I felt some tragedy, some horror in every movement of
+      Baron Ungern, behind whom paced this silent, white-faced Veseloffsky and
+      Death.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0034" id="link2HCH0034">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXXIV
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE HORROR OF WAR!
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      At dawn of the following morning they led up the splendid white camel for
+      me and we moved away. My company consisted of the two Cossacks, two Mongol
+      soldiers and one Lama with two pack camels carrying the tent and food. I
+      still apprehended that the Baron had it in mind not to dispose of me
+      before my friends there in Van Kure but to prepare this journey for me
+      under the guise of which it would be so easy to do away with me by the
+      road. A bullet in the back and all would be finished. Consequently I was
+      momentarily ready to draw my revolver and defend myself. I took care all
+      the time to have the Cossacks either ahead of me or at the side. About
+      noon we heard the distant honk of a motor car and soon saw Baron Ungern
+      whizzing by us at full speed. With him were two adjutants and Prince
+      Daichin Van. The Baron greeted me very kindly and shouted:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Shall see you again in Urga!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah!&rdquo; I thought, &ldquo;evidently I shall reach Urga. So I can be at ease during
+      my trip, and in Urga I have many friends beside the presence there of the
+      bold Polish soldiers whom I had worked with in Uliassutai and who had
+      outdistanced me in this journey.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After the meeting with the Baron my Cossacks became very attentive to me
+      and sought to distract me with stories. They told me about their very
+      severe struggles with the Bolsheviki in Transbaikalia and Mongolia, about
+      the battle with the Chinese near Urga, about finding communistic passports
+      on several Chinese soldiers from Moscow, about the bravery of Baron Ungern
+      and how he would sit at the campfire smoking and drinking tea right on the
+      battle line without ever being touched by a bullet. At one fight
+      seventy-four bullets entered his overcoat, saddle and the boxes by his
+      side and again left him untouched. This is one of the reasons for his
+      great influence over the Mongols. They related how before the battle he
+      had made a reconnaissance in Urga with only one Cossack and on his way
+      back had killed a Chinese officer and two soldiers with his bamboo stick
+      or tashur; how he had no outfit save one change of linen and one extra
+      pair of boots; how he was always calm and jovial in battle and severe and
+      morose in the rare days of peace; and how he was everywhere his soldiers
+      were fighting.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I told them, in turn, of my escape from Siberia and with chatting thus the
+      day slipped by very quickly. Our camels trotted all the time, so that
+      instead of the ordinary eighteen to twenty miles per day we made nearly
+      fifty. My mount was the fastest of them all. He was a huge white animal
+      with a splendid thick mane and had been presented to Baron Ungern by some
+      Prince of Inner Mongolia with two black sables tied on the bridle. He was
+      a calm, strong, bold giant of the desert, on whose back I felt myself as
+      though perched on the tower of a building. Beyond the Orkhon River we came
+      across the first dead body of a Chinese soldier, which lay face up and
+      arms outstretched right in the middle of the road. When we had crossed the
+      Burgut Mountains, we entered the Tola River valley, farther up which Urga
+      is located. The road was strewn with the overcoats, shirts, boots, caps
+      and kettles which the Chinese had thrown away in their flight; and marked
+      by many of their dead. Further on the road crossed a morass, where on
+      either side lay great mounds of the dead bodies of men, horses and camels
+      with broken carts and military debris of every sort. Here the Tibetans of
+      Baron Ungern had cut up the escaping Chinese baggage transport; and it was
+      a strange and gloomy contrast to see the piles of dead besides the
+      effervescing awakening life of spring. In every pool wild ducks of
+      different kinds floated about; in the high grass the cranes performed
+      their weird dance of courtship; on the lakes great flocks of swans and
+      geese were swimming; through the swampy places like spots of light moved
+      the brilliantly colored pairs of the Mongolian sacred bird, the turpan or
+      &ldquo;Lama goose&rdquo;; on the higher dry places flocks of wild turkey gamboled and
+      fought as they fed; flocks of the salga partridge whistled by; while on
+      the mountain side not far away the wolves lay basking and turning in the
+      lazy warmth of the sun, whining and occasionally barking like playful
+      dogs.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Nature knows only life. Death is for her but an episode whose traces she
+      rubs out with sand and snow or ornaments with luxuriant greenery and
+      brightly colored bushes and flowers. What matters it to Nature if a mother
+      at Chefoo or on the banks of the Yangtse offers her bowl of rice with
+      burning incense at some shrine and prays for the return of her son that
+      has fallen unknown for all time on the plains along the Tola, where his
+      bones will dry beneath the rays of Nature&rsquo;s dissipating fire and be
+      scattered by her winds over the sands of the prairie? It is splendid, this
+      indifference of Nature to death, and her greediness for life!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On the fourth day we made the shores of the Tola well after nightfall. We
+      could not find the regular ford and I forced my camel to enter the stream
+      in the attempt to make a crossing without guidance. Very fortunately I
+      found a shallow, though somewhat miry, place and we got over all right.
+      This is something to be thankful for in fording a river with a camel;
+      because, when your mount finds the water too deep, coming up around his
+      neck, he does not strike out and swim like a horse will do but just rolls
+      over on his side and floats, which is vastly inconvenient for his rider.
+      Down by the river we pegged our tent.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Fifteen miles further on we crossed a battlefield, where the third great
+      battle for the independence of Mongolia had been fought. Here the troops
+      of Baron Ungern clashed with six thousand Chinese moving down from Kiakhta
+      to the aid of Urga. The Chinese were completely defeated and four thousand
+      prisoners taken. However, these surrendered Chinese tried to escape during
+      the night. Baron Ungern sent the Transbaikal Cossacks and Tibetans in
+      pursuit of them and it was their work which we saw on this field of death.
+      There were still about fifteen hundred unburied and as many more interred,
+      according to the statements of our Cossacks, who had participated in this
+      battle. The killed showed terrible sword wounds; everywhere equipment and
+      other debris were scattered about. The Mongols with their herds moved away
+      from the neighborhood and their place was taken by the wolves which hid
+      behind every stone and in every ditch as we passed. Packs of dogs that had
+      become wild fought with the wolves over the prey.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At last we left this place of carnage to the cursed god of war. Soon we
+      approached a shallow, rapid stream, where the Mongols slipped from their
+      camels, took off their caps and began drinking. It was a sacred stream
+      which passed beside the abode of the Living Buddha. From this winding
+      valley we suddenly turned into another where a great mountain ridge
+      covered with dark, dense forest loomed up before us.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Holy Bogdo-Ol!&rdquo; exclaimed the Lama. &ldquo;The abode of the Gods which guard
+      our Living Buddha!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Bogdo-Ol is the huge knot which ties together here three mountain chains:
+      Gegyl from the southwest, Gangyn from the south, and Huntu from the north.
+      This mountain covered with virgin forest is the property of the Living
+      Buddha. The forests are full of nearly all the varieties of animals found
+      in Mongolia, but hunting is not allowed. Any Mongol violating this law is
+      condemned to death, while foreigners are deported. Crossing the Bogdo-Ol
+      is forbidden under penalty of death. This command was transgressed by only
+      one man, Baron Ungern, who crossed the mountain with fifty Cossacks,
+      penetrated to the palace of the Living Buddha, where the Pontiff of Urga
+      was being held under arrest by the Chinese, and stole him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0035" id="link2HCH0035">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXXV
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      IN THE CITY OF LIVING GODS, OF 30,000 BUDDHAS AND 60,000 MONKS
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      At last before our eyes the abode of the Living Buddha! At the foot of
+      Bogdo-Ol behind white walls rose a white Tibetan building covered with
+      greenish-blue tiles that glittered under the sunshine. It was richly set
+      among groves of trees dotted here and there with the fantastic roofs of
+      shrines and small palaces, while further from the mountain it was
+      connected by a long wooden bridge across the Tola with the city of monks,
+      sacred and revered throughout all the East as Ta Kure or Urga. Here
+      besides the Living Buddha live whole throngs of secondary miracle workers,
+      prophets, sorcerers and wonderful doctors. All these people have divine
+      origin and are honored as living gods. At the left on the high plateau
+      stands an old monastery with a huge, dark red tower, which is known as the
+      &ldquo;Temple Lamas City,&rdquo; containing a gigantic bronze gilded statue of Buddha
+      sitting on the golden flower of the lotus; tens of smaller temples,
+      shrines, obo, open altars, towers for astrology and the grey city of the
+      Lamas consisting of single-storied houses and yurtas, where about 60,000
+      monks of all ages and ranks dwell; schools, sacred archives and libraries,
+      the houses of Bandi and the inns for the honored guests from China, Tibet,
+      and the lands of the Buriat and Kalmuck.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Down below the monastery is the foreign settlement where the Russian,
+      foreign and richest Chinese merchants live and where the multi-colored and
+      crowded oriental bazaar carries forward its bustling life. A kilometre
+      away the greyish enclosure of Maimachen surrounds the remaining Chinese
+      trading establishments, while farther on one sees a long row of Russian
+      private houses, a hospital, church, prison and, last of all, the awkward
+      four-storied red brick building that was formerly the Russian Consulate.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We were already within a short distance of the monastery, when I noticed
+      several Mongol soldiers in the mouth of a ravine nearby, dragging back and
+      concealing in the ravine three dead bodies.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What are they doing?&rdquo; I asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Cossacks only smiled without answering. Suddenly they straightened up
+      with a sharp salute. Out of the ravine came a small, stocky Mongolian pony
+      with a short man in the saddle. As he passed us, I noticed the epaulets of
+      a colonel and the green cap with a visor. He examined me with cold,
+      colorless eyes from under dense brows. As he went on ahead, he took off
+      his cap and wiped the perspiration from his bald head. My eyes were struck
+      by the strange undulating line of his skull. It was the man &ldquo;with the head
+      like a saddle,&rdquo; against whom I had been warned by the old fortune teller
+      at the last ourton outside Van Kure!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Who is this officer?&rdquo; I inquired.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Although he was already quite a distance in front of us, the Cossacks
+      whispered: &ldquo;Colonel Sepailoff, Commandant of Urga City.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Colonel Sepailoff, the darkest person on the canvas of Mongolian events!
+      Formerly a mechanician, afterwards a gendarme, he had gained quick
+      promotion under the Czar&rsquo;s regime. He was always nervously jerking and
+      wriggling his body and talking ceaselessly, making most unattractive
+      sounds in his throat and sputtering with saliva all over his lips, his
+      whole face often contracted with spasms. He was mad and Baron Ungern twice
+      appointed a commission of surgeons to examine him and ordered him to rest
+      in the hope he could rid the man of his evil genius. Undoubtedly Sepailoff
+      was a sadist. I heard afterwards that he himself executed the condemned
+      people, joking and singing as he did his work. Dark, terrifying tales were
+      current about him in Urga. He was a bloodhound, fastening his victims with
+      the jaws of death. All the glory of the cruelty of Baron Ungern belonged
+      to Sepailoff. Afterwards Baron Ungern once told me in Urga that this
+      Sepailoff annoyed him and that Sepailoff could kill him just as well as
+      others. Baron Ungern feared Sepailoff, not as a man, but dominated by his
+      own superstition, because Sepailoff had found in Transbaikalia a witch
+      doctor who predicted the death of the Baron if he dismissed Sepailoff.
+      Sepailoff knew no pardon for Bolshevik nor for any one connected with the
+      Bolsheviki in any way. The reason for his vengeful spirit was that the
+      Bolsheviki had tortured him in prison and, after his escape, had killed
+      all his family. He was now taking his revenge.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I put up with a Russian firm and was at once visited by my associates from
+      Uliassutai, who greeted me with great joy because they had been much
+      exercised about the events in Van Kure and Zain Shabi. When I had bathed
+      and spruced up, I went out with them on the street. We entered the bazaar.
+      The whole market was crowded. To the lively colored groups of men buying,
+      selling and shouting their wares, the bright streamers of Chinese cloth,
+      the strings of pearls, the earrings and bracelets gave an air of endless
+      festivity; while on another side buyers were feeling of live sheep to see
+      whether they were fat or not, the butcher was cutting great pieces of
+      mutton from the hanging carcasses and everywhere these sons of the plain
+      were joking and jesting. The Mongolian women in their huge coiffures and
+      heavy silver caps like saucers on their heads were admiring the variegated
+      silk ribbons and long chains of coral beads; an imposing big Mongol
+      attentively examined a small herd of splendid horses and bargained with
+      the Mongol zahachine or owner of the horses; a skinny, quick, black
+      Tibetan, who had come to Urga to pray to the Living Buddha or, maybe, with
+      a secret message from the other &ldquo;God&rdquo; in Lhasa, squatted and bargained for
+      an image of the Lotus Buddha carved in agate; in another corner a big
+      crowd of Mongols and Buriats had collected and surrounded a Chinese
+      merchant selling finely painted snuff-bottles of glass, crystal,
+      porcelain, amethyst, jade, agate and nephrite, for one of which made of a
+      greenish milky nephrite with regular brown veins running through it and
+      carved with a dragon winding itself around a bevy of young damsels the
+      merchant was demanding of his Mongol inquirers ten young oxen; and
+      everywhere Buriats in their long red coats and small red caps embroidered
+      with gold helped the Tartars in black overcoats and black velvet caps on
+      the back of their heads to weave the pattern of this Oriental human
+      tapestry. Lamas formed the common background for it all, as they wandered
+      about in their yellow and red robes, with capes picturesquely thrown over
+      their shoulders and caps of many forms, some like yellow mushrooms, others
+      like the red Phrygian bonnets or old Greek helmets in red. They mingled
+      with the crowd, chatting serenely and counting their rosaries, telling
+      fortunes for those who would hear but chiefly searching out the rich
+      Mongols whom they could cure or exploit by fortune telling, predictions or
+      other mysteries of a city of 60,000 Lamas. Simultaneously religious and
+      political espionage was being carried out. Just at this time many Mongols
+      were arriving from Inner Mongolia and they were continuously surrounded by
+      an invisible but numerous network of watching Lamas. Over the buildings
+      around floated the Russian, Chinese and Mongolian national flags with a
+      single one of the Stars and Stripes above a small shop in the market;
+      while over the nearby tents and yurtas streamed the ribbons, the squares,
+      the circles and triangles of the princes and private persons afflicted or
+      dying from smallpox and leprosy. All were mingled and mixed in one bright
+      mass strongly lighted by the sun. Occasionally one saw the soldiers of
+      Baron Ungern rushing about in long blue coats; Mongols and Tibetans in red
+      coats with yellow epaulets bearing the swastika of Jenghiz Khan and the
+      initials of the Living Buddha; and Chinese soldiers from their detachment
+      in the Mongolian army. After the defeat of the Chinese army two thousand
+      of these braves petitioned the Living Buddha to enlist them in his
+      legions, swearing fealty and faith to him. They were accepted and formed
+      into two regiments bearing the old Chinese silver dragons on their caps
+      and shoulders.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As we crossed this market, from around a corner came a big motor car with
+      the roar of a siren. There was Baron Ungern in the yellow silk Mongolian
+      coat with a blue girdle. He was going very fast but recognized me at once,
+      stopping and getting out to invite me to go with him to his yurta. The
+      Baron lived in a small, simply arranged yurta, set up in the courtyard of
+      a Chinese hong. He had his headquarters in two other yurtas nearby, while
+      his servants occupied one of the Chinese fang-tzu. When I reminded him of
+      his promise to help me to reach the open ports, the General looked at me
+      with his bright eyes and spoke in French:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My work here is coming to an end. In nine days I shall begin the war with
+      the Bolsheviki and shall go into the Transbaikal. I beg that you will
+      spend this time here. For many years I have lived without civilized
+      society. I am alone with my thoughts and I would like to have you know
+      them, speaking with me not as the &lsquo;bloody mad Baron,&rsquo; as my enemies call
+      me, nor as the &lsquo;severe grandfather,&rsquo; which my officers and soldiers call
+      me, but as an ordinary man who has sought much and has suffered even
+      more.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Baron reflected for some minutes and then continued:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have thought about the further trip of your group and I shall arrange
+      everything for you, but I ask you to remain here these nine days.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      What was I to do? I agreed. The Baron shook my hand warmly and ordered
+      tea.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0036" id="link2HCH0036">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXXVI
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      A SON OF CRUSADERS AND PRIVATEERS
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Tell me about yourself and your trip,&rdquo; he urged. In response I related
+      all that I thought would interest him and he appeared quite excited over
+      my tale.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now I shall tell you about myself, who and what I am! My name is
+      surrounded with such hate and fear that no one can judge what is the truth
+      and what is false, what is history and what myth. Some time you will write
+      about it, remembering your trip through Mongolia and your sojourn at the
+      yurta of the &lsquo;bloody General.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He shut his eyes, smoking as he spoke, and tumbling out his sentences
+      without finishing them as though some one would prevent him from phrasing
+      them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The family of Ungern von Sternberg is an old family, a mixture of Germans
+      with Hungarians&mdash;Huns from the time of Attila. My warlike ancestors
+      took part in all the European struggles. They participated in the Crusades
+      and one Ungern was killed under the walls of Jerusalem, fighting under
+      Richard Coeur de Lion. Even the tragic Crusade of the Children was marked
+      by the death of Ralph Ungern, eleven years old. When the boldest warriors
+      of the country were despatched to the eastern border of the German Empire
+      against the Slavs in the twelfth century, my ancestor Arthur was among
+      them, Baron Halsa Ungern Sternberg. Here these border knights formed the
+      order of Monk Knights or Teutons, which with fire and sword spread
+      Christianity among the pagan Lithuanians, Esthonians, Latvians and Slavs.
+      Since then the Teuton Order of Knights has always had among its members
+      representatives of our family. When the Teuton Order perished in the
+      Grunwald under the swords of the Polish and Lithuanian troops, two Barons
+      Ungern von Sternberg were killed there. Our family was warlike and given
+      to mysticism and asceticism.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries several Barons von Ungern
+      had their castles in the lands of Latvia and Esthonia. Many legends and
+      tales lived after them. Heinrich Ungern von Sternberg, called &lsquo;Ax,&rsquo; was a
+      wandering knight. The tournaments of France, England, Spain and Italy knew
+      his name and lance, which filled the hearts of his opponents with fear. He
+      fell at Cadiz &lsquo;neath the sword of a knight who cleft both his helmet and
+      his skull. Baron Ralph Ungern was a brigand knight between Riga and Reval.
+      Baron Peter Ungern had his castle on the island of Dago in the Baltic Sea,
+      where as a privateer he ruled the merchantmen of his day.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In the beginning of the eighteenth century there was also a well-known
+      Baron Wilhelm Ungern, who was referred to as the &lsquo;brother of Satan&rsquo; 
+      because he was an alchemist. My grandfather was a privateer in the Indian
+      Ocean, taking his tribute from the English traders whose warships could
+      not catch him for several years. At last he was captured and handed to the
+      Russian Consul, who transported him to Russia where he was sentenced to
+      deportation to the Transbaikal. I am also a naval officer but the
+      Russo-Japanese War forced me to leave my regular profession to join and
+      fight with the Zabaikal Cossacks. I have spent all my life in war or in
+      the study and learning of Buddhism. My grandfather brought Buddhism to us
+      from India and my father and I accepted and professed it. In Transbaikalia
+      I tried to form the order of Military Buddhists for an uncompromising
+      fight against the depravity of revolution.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He fell into silence and began drinking cup after cup of tea as strong and
+      black as coffee.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Depravity of revolution! . . . Has anyone ever thought of it besides the
+      French philosopher, Bergson, and the most learned Tashi Lama in Tibet?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The grandson of the privateer, quoting scientific theories, works, the
+      names of scientists and writers, the Holy Bible and Buddhist books, mixing
+      together French, German, Russian and English, continued:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In the Buddhistic and ancient Christian books we read stern predictions
+      about the time when the war between the good and evil spirits must begin.
+      Then there must come the unknown &lsquo;Curse&rsquo; which will conquer the world,
+      blot out culture, kill morality and destroy all the people. Its weapon is
+      revolution. During every revolution the previously experienced
+      intellect-creator will be replaced by the new rough force of the
+      destroyer. He will place and hold in the first rank the lower instincts
+      and desires. Man will be farther removed from the divine and the
+      spiritual. The Great War proved that humanity must progress upward toward
+      higher ideals; but then appeared that Curse which was seen and felt by
+      Christ, the Apostle John, Buddha, the first Christian martyrs, Dante,
+      Leonardo da Vinci, Goethe and Dostoyevsky. It appeared, turned back the
+      wheel of progress and blocked our road to the Divinity. Revolution is an
+      infectious disease and Europe making the treaty with Moscow deceived
+      itself and the other parts of the world. The Great Spirit put at the
+      threshold of our lives Karma, who knows neither anger nor pardon. He will
+      reckon the account, whose total will be famine, destruction, the death of
+      culture, of glory, of honor and of spirit, the death of states and the
+      death of peoples. I see already this horror, this dark, mad destruction of
+      humanity.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The door of the yurta suddenly swung open and an adjutant snapped into a
+      position of attention and salute.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why do you enter a room by force?&rdquo; the General exclaimed in anger.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your Excellency, our outpost on the border has caught a Bolshevik
+      reconnaissance party and brought them here.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Baron arose. His eyes sparkled and his face contracted with spasms.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Bring them in front of my yurta!&rdquo; he ordered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      All was forgotten&mdash;the inspired speech, the penetrating voice&mdash;all
+      were sunk in the austere order of the severe commander. The Baron put on
+      his cap, caught up the bamboo tashur which he always carried with him and
+      rushed from the yurta. I followed him out. There in front of the yurta
+      stood six Red soldiers surrounded by the Cossacks.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Baron stopped and glared sharply at them for several minutes. In his
+      face one could see the strong play of his thoughts. Afterwards he turned
+      away from them, sat down on the doorstep of the Chinese house and for a
+      long time was buried in thought. Then he rose, walked over to them and,
+      with an evident show of decisiveness in his movements, touched all the
+      prisoners on the shoulder with his tashur and said: &ldquo;You to the left and
+      you to the right!&rdquo; as he divided the squad into two sections, four on the
+      right and two on the left.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Search those two! They must be commissars!&rdquo; commanded the Baron and,
+      turning to the other four, asked: &ldquo;Are you peasants mobilized by the
+      Bolsheviki?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Just so, Your Excellency!&rdquo; cried the frightened soldiers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Go to the Commandant and tell him that I have ordered you to be enlisted
+      in my troops!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      On the two to the left they found passports of Commissars of the Communist
+      Political Department. The General knitted his brows and slowly pronounced
+      the following:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Beat them to death with sticks!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He turned and entered the yurta. After this our conversation did not flow
+      readily and so I left the Baron to himself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After dinner in the Russian firm where I was staying some of Ungern&rsquo;s
+      officers came in. We were chatting animatedly when suddenly we heard the
+      horn of an automobile, which instantly threw the officers into silence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The General is passing somewhere near,&rdquo; one of them remarked in a
+      strangely altered voice.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Our interrupted conversation was soon resumed but not for long. The clerk
+      of the firm came running into the room and exclaimed: &ldquo;The Baron!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He entered the door but stopped on the threshold. The lamps had not yet
+      been lighted and it was getting dark inside, but the Baron instantly
+      recognized us all, approached and kissed the hand of the hostess, greeted
+      everyone very cordially and, accepting the cup of tea offered him, drew up
+      to the table to drink. Soon he spoke:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I want to steal your guest,&rdquo; he said to the hostess and then, turning to
+      me, asked: &ldquo;Do you want to go for a motor ride? I shall show you the city
+      and the environs.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Donning my coat, I followed my established custom and slipped my revolver
+      into it, at which the Baron laughed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Leave that trash behind! Here you are in safety. Besides you must
+      remember the prediction of Narabanchi Hutuktu that Fortune will ever be
+      with you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All right,&rdquo; I answered, also with a laugh. &ldquo;I remember very well this
+      prediction. Only I do not know what the Hutuktu thinks &lsquo;Fortune&rsquo; means for
+      me. Maybe it is death like the rest after my hard, long trip, and I must
+      confess that I prefer to travel farther and am not ready to die.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We went out to the gate where the big Fiat stood with its intruding great
+      lights. The chauffeur officer sat at the wheel like a statue and remained
+      at salute all the time we were entering and seating ourselves.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To the wireless station!&rdquo; commanded the Baron.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We veritably leapt forward. The city swarmed, as earlier, with the
+      Oriental throng, but its appearance now was even more strange and
+      miraculous. In among the noisy crowd Mongol, Buriat and Tibetan riders
+      threaded swiftly; caravans of camels solemnly raised their heads as we
+      passed; the wooden wheels of the Mongol carts screamed in pain; and all
+      was illumined by splendid great arc lights from the electric station which
+      Baron Ungern had ordered erected immediately after the capture of Urga,
+      together with a telephone system and wireless station. He also ordered his
+      men to clean and disinfect the city which had probably not felt the broom
+      since the days of Jenghiz Khan. He arranged an auto-bus traffic between
+      different parts of the city; built bridges over the Tola and Orkhon;
+      published a newspaper; arranged a veterinary laboratory and hospitals;
+      re-opened the schools; protected commerce, mercilessly hanging Russian and
+      Mongolian soldiers for pillaging Chinese firms.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In one of these cases his Commandant arrested two Cossacks and a Mongol
+      soldier who had stolen brandy from one of the Chinese shops and brought
+      them before him. He immediately bundled them all into his car, drove off
+      to the shop, delivered the brandy back to the proprietor and as promptly
+      ordered the Mongol to hang one of the Russians to the big gate of the
+      compound. With this one swung he commanded: &ldquo;Now hang the other!&rdquo; and this
+      had only just been accomplished when he turned to the Commandant and
+      ordered him to hang the Mongol beside the other two. That seemed
+      expeditious and just enough until the Chinese proprietor came in dire
+      distress to the Baron and plead with him:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;General Baron! General Baron! Please take those men down from my gateway,
+      for no one will enter my shop!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After the commercial quarter was flashed past our eyes, we entered the
+      Russian settlement across a small river. Several Russian soldiers and four
+      very spruce-looking Mongolian women stood on the bridge as we passed. The
+      soldiers snapped to salute like immobile statues and fixed their eyes on
+      the severe face of their Commander. The women first began to run and shift
+      about and then, infected by the discipline and order of events, swung
+      their hands up to salute and stood as immobile as their northern swains.
+      The Baron looked at me and laughed:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You see the discipline! Even the Mongolian women salute me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Soon we were out on the plain with the car going like an arrow, with the
+      wind whistling and tossing the folds of our coats and caps. But Baron
+      Ungern, sitting with closed eyes, repeated: &ldquo;Faster! Faster!&rdquo; For a long
+      time we were both silent.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And yesterday I beat my adjutant for rushing into my yurta and
+      interrupting my story,&rdquo; he said.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You can finish it now,&rdquo; I answered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And are you not bored by it? Well, there isn&rsquo;t much left and this happens
+      to be the most interesting. I was telling you that I wanted to found an
+      order of military Buddhists in Russia. For what? For the protection of the
+      processes of evolution of humanity and for the struggle against
+      revolution, because I am certain that evolution leads to the Divinity and
+      revolution to bestiality. But I worked in Russia! In Russia, where the
+      peasants are rough, untutored, wild and constantly angry, hating everybody
+      and everything without understanding why. They are suspicious and
+      materialistic, having no sacred ideals. Russian intelligents live among
+      imaginary ideals without realities. They have a strong capacity for
+      criticising everything but they lack creative power. Also they have no
+      will power, only the capacity for talking and talking. With the peasants,
+      they cannot like anything or anybody. Their love and feelings are
+      imaginary. Their thoughts and sentiments pass without trace like futile
+      words. My companions, therefore, soon began to violate the regulations of
+      the Order. Then I introduced the condition of celibacy, the entire
+      negation of woman, of the comforts of life, of superfluities, according to
+      the teachings of the Yellow Faith; and, in order that the Russian might be
+      able to live down his physical nature, I introduced the limitless use of
+      alcohol, hasheesh and opium. Now for alcohol I hang my officers and
+      soldiers; then we drank to the &lsquo;white fever,&rsquo; delirium tremens. I could
+      not organize the Order but I gathered round me and developed three hundred
+      men wholly bold and entirely ferocious. Afterward they were heroes in the
+      war with Germany and later in the fight against the Bolsheviki, but now
+      only a few remain.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The wireless, Excellency!&rdquo; reported the chauffeur.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Turn in there!&rdquo; ordered the General.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On the top of a flat hill stood the big, powerful radio station which had
+      been partially destroyed by the retreating Chinese but reconstructed by
+      the engineers of Baron Ungern. The General perused the telegrams and
+      handed them to me. They were from Moscow, Chita, Vladivostok and Peking.
+      On a separate yellow sheet were the code messages, which the Baron slipped
+      into his pocket as he said to me:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;They are from my agents, who are stationed in Chita, Irkutsk, Harbin and
+      Vladivostok. They are all Jews, very skilled and very bold men, friends of
+      mine all. I have also one Jewish officer, Vulfovitch, who commands my
+      right flank. He is as ferocious as Satan but clever and brave. . . . Now
+      we shall fly into space.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Once more we rushed away, sinking into the darkness of night. It was a
+      wild ride. The car bounded over small stones and ditches, even taking
+      narrow streamlets, as the skilled chauffeur only seemed to guide it round
+      the larger rocks. On the plain, as we sped by, I noticed several times
+      small bright flashes of fire which lasted but for a second and then were
+      extinguished.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The eyes of wolves,&rdquo; smiled my companion. &ldquo;We have fed them to satiety
+      from the flesh of ourselves and our enemies!&rdquo; he quietly interpolated, as
+      he turned to continue his confession of faith.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;During the War we saw the gradual corruption of the Russian army and
+      foresaw the treachery of Russia to the Allies as well as the approaching
+      danger of revolution. To counteract this latter a plan was formed to join
+      together all the Mongolian peoples which had not forgotten their ancient
+      faiths and customs into one Asiatic State, consisting of autonomous tribal
+      units, under the moral and legislative leadership of China, the country of
+      loftiest and most ancient culture. Into this State must come the Chinese,
+      Mongols, Tibetans, Afghans, the Mongol tribes of Turkestan, Tartars,
+      Buriats, Kirghiz and Kalmucks. This State must be strong, physically and
+      morally, and must erect a barrier against revolution and carefully
+      preserve its own spirit, philosophy and individual policy. If humanity,
+      mad and corrupted, continues to threaten the Divine Spirit in mankind, to
+      spread blood and to obstruct moral development, the Asiatic State must
+      terminate this movement decisively and establish a permanent, firm peace.
+      This propaganda even during the War made splendid progress among the
+      Turkomans, Kirghiz, Buriats and Mongols. . . . &lsquo;Stop!&rsquo; suddenly shouted
+      the Baron.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The car pulled up with a jerk. The General jumped out and called me to
+      follow. We started walking over the prairie and the Baron kept bending
+      down all the time as though he were looking for something on the ground.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah!&rdquo; he murmured at last, &ldquo;He has gone away. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I looked at him in amazement.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A rich Mongol formerly had his yurta here. He was the outfitter for the
+      Russian merchant, Noskoff. Noskoff was a ferocious man as shown by the
+      name the Mongols gave him&mdash;&lsquo;Satan.&rsquo; He used to have his Mongol
+      debtors beaten or imprisoned through the instrumentality of the Chinese
+      authorities. He ruined this Mongol, who lost everything and escaped to a
+      place thirty miles away; but Noskoff found him there, took all that he had
+      left of cattle and horses and left the Mongol and his family to die of
+      hunger. When I captured Urga, this Mongol appeared and brought with him
+      thirty other Mongol families similarly ruined by Noskoff. They demanded
+      his death. . . . So I hung &lsquo;Satan&rsquo; . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Anew the motor car was rushing along, sweeping a great circle on the
+      prairie, and anew Baron Ungern with his sharp, nervous voice carried his
+      thoughts round the whole circumference of Asian life.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Russia turned traitor to France, England and America, signed the
+      Brest-Litovsk Treaty and ushered in a reign of chaos. We then decided to
+      mobilize Asia against Germany. Our envoys penetrated Mongolia, Tibet,
+      Turkestan and China. At this time the Bolsheviki began to kill all the
+      Russian officers and we were forced to open civil war against them, giving
+      up our Pan-Asiatic plans; but we hope later to awake all Asia and with
+      their help to bring peace and God back to earth. I want to feel that I
+      have helped this idea by the liberation of Mongolia.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He became silent and thought for a moment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But some of my associates in the movement do not like me because of my
+      atrocities and severity,&rdquo; he remarked in a sad voice. &ldquo;They cannot
+      understand as yet that we are not fighting a political party but a sect of
+      murderers of all contemporary spiritual culture. Why do the Italians
+      execute the &lsquo;Black Hand&rsquo; gang? Why are the Americans electrocuting
+      anarchistic bomb throwers? and I am not allowed to rid the world of those
+      who would kill the soul of the people? I, a Teuton, descendant of
+      crusaders and privateers, I recognize only death for murderers! . . .
+      Return!&rdquo; he commanded the chauffeur.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      An hour and a half later we saw the electric lights of Urga.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0037" id="link2HCH0037">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXXVII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE CAMP OF MARTYRS
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Near the entrance to the town, a motor car stood before a small house.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What does that mean?&rdquo; exclaimed the Baron. &ldquo;Go over there!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Our car drew up beside the other. The house door opened sharply, several
+      officers rushed out and tried to hide.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Stand!&rdquo; commanded the General. &ldquo;Go back inside.&rdquo; They obeyed and he
+      entered after them, leaning on his tashur. As the door remained open, I
+      could see and hear everything.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Woe to them!&rdquo; whispered the chauffeur. &ldquo;Our officers knew that the Baron
+      had gone out of the town with me, which means always a long journey, and
+      must have decided to have a good time. He will order them beaten to death
+      with sticks.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I could see the end of the table covered with bottles and tinned things.
+      At the side two young women were seated, who sprang up at the appearance
+      of the General. I could hear the hoarse voice of Baron Ungern pronouncing
+      sharp, short, stern phrases.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your native land is perishing. . . . The shame of it is upon all you
+      Russians . . . and you cannot understand it . . . nor feel it. . . . You
+      need wine and women. . . . Scoundrels! Brutes! . . . One hundred fifty
+      tashur for every man of you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The voice fell to a whisper.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And you, Mesdames, do you not realize the ruin of your people? No? For
+      you it is of no moment. And have you no feeling for your husbands at the
+      front who may even now be killed? You are not women. . . . I honor woman,
+      who feels more deeply and strongly than man; but you are not women! . . .
+      Listen to me, Mesdames. Once more and I will hang you. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He came back to the car and himself sounded the horn several times.
+      Immediately Mongol horsemen galloped up.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Take these men to the Commandant. I will send my orders later.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      On the way to the Baron&rsquo;s yurta we were silent. He was excited and
+      breathed heavily, lighting cigarette after cigarette and throwing them
+      aside after but a single puff or two.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Take supper with me,&rdquo; he proposed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He also invited his Chief of Staff, a very retiring, oppressed but
+      splendidly educated man. The servants spread a Chinese hot course for us
+      followed by cold meat and fruit compote from California with the
+      inevitable tea. We ate with chopsticks. The Baron was greatly distraught.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Very cautiously I began speaking of the offending officers and tried to
+      justify their actions by the extremely trying circumstances under which
+      they were living.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;They are rotten through and through, demoralized, sunk into the depths,&rdquo;
+       murmured the General.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Chief of Staff helped me out and at last the Baron directed him to
+      telephone the Commandant to release these gentlemen.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The following day I spent with my friends, walking a great deal about the
+      streets and watching their busy life. The great energy of the Baron
+      demanded constant nervous activity from himself and every one round him.
+      He was everywhere, seeing everything but never, interfering with the work
+      of his subordinate administrators. Every one was at work.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the evening I was invited by the Chief of Staff to his quarters, where
+      I met many intelligent officers. I related again the story of my trip and
+      we were all chatting along animatedly when suddenly Colonel Sepailoff
+      entered, singing to himself. All the others at once became silent and one
+      by one under various pretexts they slipped out. He handed our host some
+      papers and, turning to us, said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I shall send you for supper a splendid fish pie and some hot tomato
+      soup.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      As he left, my host clasped his head in desperation and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;With such scum of the earth are we now forced after this revolution to
+      work!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A few minutes later a soldier from Sepailoff brought us a tureen full of
+      soup and the fish pie. As the soldier bent over the table to set the
+      dishes down, the Chief motioned me with his eyes and slipped to me the
+      words: &ldquo;Notice his face.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      When the man went out, my host sat attentively listening until the sounds
+      of the man&rsquo;s steps ceased.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He is Sepailoff&rsquo;s executioner who hangs and strangles the unfortunate
+      condemned ones.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, to my amazement, he began to pour out the soup on the ground beside
+      the brazier and, going out of the yurta, threw the pie over the fence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is Sepailoff&rsquo;s feast and, though it may be very tasty, it may also be
+      poison. In Sepailoff&rsquo;s house it is dangerous to eat or drink anything.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Distinctly oppressed by these doings, I returned to my house. My host was
+      not yet asleep and met me with a frightened look. My friends were also
+      there.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;God be thanked!&rdquo; they all exclaimed. &ldquo;Has nothing happened to you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What is the matter?&rdquo; I asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You see,&rdquo; began the host, &ldquo;after your departure a soldier came from
+      Sepailoff and took your luggage, saying that you had sent him for it; but
+      we knew what it meant&mdash;that they would first search it and
+      afterwards. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I at once understood the danger. Sepailoff could place anything he wanted
+      in my luggage and afterwards accuse me. My old friend, the agronome, and I
+      started at once for Sepailoff&rsquo;s, where I left him at the door while I went
+      in and was met by the same soldier who had brought the supper to us.
+      Sepailoff received me immediately. In answer to my protest he said that it
+      was a mistake and, asking me to wait for a moment, went out. I waited
+      five, ten, fifteen minutes but nobody came. I knocked on the door but no
+      one answered me. Then I decided to go to Baron Ungern and started for the
+      exit. The door was locked. Then I tried the other door and found that also
+      locked. I had been trapped! I wanted at once to whistle to my friend but
+      just then noticed a telephone on the wall and called up Baron Ungern. In a
+      few minutes he appeared together with Sepailoff.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What is this?&rdquo; he asked Sepailoff in a severe, threatening voice; and,
+      without waiting for an answer, struck him a blow with his tashur that sent
+      him to the floor.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      We went out and the General ordered my luggage produced. Then he brought
+      me to his own yurta.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Live here, now,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I am very glad of this accident,&rdquo; he remarked
+      with a smile, &ldquo;for now I can say all that I want to.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This drew from me the question:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;May I describe all that I have heard and seen here?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He thought a moment before replying: &ldquo;Give me your notebook.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I handed him the album with my sketches of the trip and he wrote therein:
+      &ldquo;After my death, Baron Ungern.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But I am older than you and I shall die before you,&rdquo; I remarked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He shut his eyes, bowed his head and whispered:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, no! One hundred thirty days yet and it is finished; then . . .
+      Nirvana! How wearied I am with sorrow, woe and hate!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We were silent for a long time. I felt that I had now a mortal enemy in
+      Colonel Sepailoff and that I should get out of Urga at the earliest
+      possible moment. It was two o&rsquo;clock at night. Suddenly Baron Ungern stood
+      up.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Let us go to the great, good Buddha,&rdquo; he said with a countenance held in
+      deep thought and with eyes aflame, his whole face contracted by a
+      mournful, bitter smile. He ordered the car brought.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thus lived this camp of martyrs, refugees pursued by events to their tryst
+      with Death, driven on by the hate and contempt of this offspring of
+      Teutons and privateers! And he, martyring them, knew neither day nor night
+      of peace. Fired by impelling, poisonous thoughts, he tormented himself
+      with the pains of a Titan, knowing that every day in this shortening chain
+      of one hundred thirty links brought him nearer to the precipice called
+      &ldquo;Death.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0038" id="link2HCH0038">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXXVIII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      BEFORE THE FACE OF BUDDHA
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      As we came to the monastery we left the automobile and dipped into the
+      labyrinth of narrow alleyways until at last we were before the greatest
+      temple of Urga with the Tibetan walls and windows and its pretentious
+      Chinese roof. A single lantern burned at the entrance. The heavy gate with
+      the bronze and iron trimmings was shut. When the General struck the big
+      brass gong hanging by the gate, frightened monks began running up from all
+      directions and, seeing the &ldquo;General Baron,&rdquo; fell to the earth in fear of
+      raising their heads.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Get up,&rdquo; said the Baron, &ldquo;and let us into the Temple!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The inside was like that of all Lama temples, the same multi-colored flags
+      with the prayers, symbolic signs and the images of holy saints; the big
+      bands of silk cloth hanging from the ceiling; the images of the gods and
+      goddesses. On both sides of the approach to the altar were the low red
+      benches for the Lamas and choir. On the altar small lamps threw their rays
+      on the gold and silver vessels and candlesticks. Behind it hung a heavy
+      yellow silk curtain with Tibetan inscriptions. The Lamas drew the curtain
+      aside. Out of the dim light from the flickering lamps gradually appeared
+      the great gilded statue of Buddha seated in the Golden Lotus. The face of
+      the god was indifferent and calm with only a soft gleam of light animating
+      it. On either side he was guarded by many thousands of lesser Buddhas
+      brought by the faithful as offerings in prayer. The Baron struck the gong
+      to attract Great Buddha&rsquo;s attention to his prayer and threw a handful of
+      coins into the large bronze bowl. And then this scion of crusaders who had
+      read all the philosophers of the West, closed his eyes, placed his hands
+      together before his face and prayed. I noticed a black rosary on his left
+      wrist. He prayed about ten minutes. Afterwards he led me to the other end
+      of the monastery and, during our passage, said to me:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do not like this temple. It is new, erected by the Lamas when the
+      Living Buddha became blind. I do not find on the face of the golden Buddha
+      either tears, hopes, distress or thanks of the people. They have not yet
+      had time to leave these traces on the face of the god. We shall go now to
+      the old Shrine of Prophecies.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This was a small building, blackened with age and resembling a tower with
+      a plain round roof. The doors stood open. At both sides of the door were
+      prayer wheels ready to be spun; over it a slab of copper with the signs of
+      the zodiac. Inside two monks, who were intoning the sacred sutras, did not
+      lift their eyes as we entered. The General approached them and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Cast the dice for the number of my days!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The priests brought two bowls with many dice therein and rolled them out
+      on their low table. The Baron looked and reckoned with them the sum before
+      he spoke:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;One hundred thirty! Again one hundred thirty!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Approaching the altar carrying an ancient stone statue of Buddha brought
+      all the way from India, he again prayed. As day dawned, we wandered out
+      through the monastery, visited all the temples and shrines, the museum of
+      the medical school, the astrological tower and then the court where the
+      Bandi and young Lamas have their daily morning wrestling exercises. In
+      other places the Lamas were practising with the bow and arrow. Some of the
+      higher Lamas feasted us with hot mutton, tea and wild onions. After we
+      returned to the yurta I tried to sleep but in vain. Too many different
+      questions were troubling me. &ldquo;Where am I? In what epoch am I living?&rdquo; I
+      knew not but I dimly felt the unseen touch of some great idea, some
+      enormous plan, some indescribable human woe.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After our noon meal the General said he wanted to introduce me to the
+      Living Buddha. It is so difficult to secure audience with the Living
+      Buddha that I was very glad to have this opportunity offered me. Our auto
+      soon drew up at the gate of the red and white striped wall surrounding the
+      palace of the god. Two hundred Lamas in yellow and red robes rushed to
+      greet the arriving &ldquo;Chiang Chun,&rdquo; General, with the low-toned, respectful
+      whisper &ldquo;Khan! God of War!&rdquo; As a regiment of formal ushers they led us to
+      a spacious great hall softened by its semi-darkness. Heavy carved doors
+      opened to the interior parts of the palace. In the depths of the hall
+      stood a dais with the throne covered with yellow silk cushions. The back
+      of the throne was red inside a gold framing; at either side stood yellow
+      silk screens set in highly ornamented frames of black Chinese wood; while
+      against the walls at either side of the throne stood glass cases filled
+      with varied objects from China, Japan, India and Russia. I noticed also
+      among them a pair of exquisite Marquis and Marquises in the fine porcelain
+      of Sevres. Before the throne stood a long, low table at which eight noble
+      Mongols were seated, their chairman, a highly esteemed old man with a
+      clever, energetic face and with large penetrating eyes. His appearance
+      reminded me of the authentic wooden images of the Buddhist holymen with
+      eyes of precious stones which I saw at the Tokyo Imperial Museum in the
+      department devoted to Buddhism, where the Japanese show the ancient
+      statues of Amida, Daunichi-Buddha, the Goddess Kwannon and the jolly old
+      Hotei.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This man was the Hutuktu Jahantsi, Chairman of the Mongolian Council of
+      Ministers, and honored and revered far beyond the bournes of Mongolia. The
+      others were the Ministers&mdash;Khans and the Highest Princes of Khalkha.
+      Jahantsi Hutuktu invited Baron Ungern to the place at his side, while they
+      brought in a European chair for me. Baron Ungern announced to the Council
+      of Ministers through an interpreter that he would leave Mongolia in a few
+      days and urged them to protect the freedom won for the lands inhabited by
+      the successors of Jenghiz Khan, whose soul still lives and calls upon the
+      Mongols to become anew a powerful people and reunite again into one great
+      Mid-Asiatic State all the Asian kingdoms he had ruled.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The General rose and all the others followed him. He took leave of each
+      one separately and sternly. Only before Jahantsi Lama he bent low while
+      the Hutuktu placed his hands on the Baron&rsquo;s head and blessed him. From the
+      Council Chamber we passed at once to the Russian style house which is the
+      personal dwelling of the Living Buddha. The house was wholly surrounded by
+      a crowd of red and yellow Lamas; servants, councilors of Bogdo, officials,
+      fortune tellers, doctors and favorites. From the front entrance stretched
+      a long red rope whose outer end was thrown over the wall beside the gate.
+      Crowds of pilgrims crawling up on their knees touch this end of the rope
+      outside the gate and hand the monk a silken hatyk or a bit of silver. This
+      touching of the rope whose inner end is in the hand of the Bogdo
+      establishes direct communication with the holy, incarnated Living God. A
+      current of blessing is supposed to flow through this cable of camel&rsquo;s wool
+      and horse hair. Any Mongol who has touched the mystic rope receives and
+      wears about his neck a red band as the sign of his accomplished
+      pilgrimage.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I had heard very much about the Bogdo Khan before this opportunity to see
+      him. I had heard of his love of alcohol, which had brought on blindness,
+      about his leaning toward exterior western culture and about his wife
+      drinking deep with him and receiving in his name numerous delegations and
+      envoys.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the room which the Bogdo used as his private study, where two Lama
+      secretaries watched day and night over the chest that contained his great
+      seals, there was the severest simplicity. On a low, plain, Chinese
+      lacquered table lay his writing implements, a case of seals given by the
+      Chinese Government and by the Dalai Lama and wrapped in a cloth of yellow
+      silk. Nearby was a low easy chair, a bronze brazier with an iron stovepipe
+      leading up from it; on the walls were the signs of the swastika, Tibetan
+      and Mongolian inscriptions; behind the easy chair a small altar with a
+      golden statue of Buddha before which two tallow lamps were burning; the
+      floor was covered with a thick yellow carpet.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When we entered, only the two Lama secretaries were there, for the Living
+      Buddha was in the small private shrine in an adjoining chamber, where no
+      one is allowed to enter save the Bogdo Khan himself and one Lama,
+      Kanpo-Gelong, who cares for the temple arrangements and assists the Living
+      Buddha during his prayers of solitude. The secretary told us that the
+      Bogdo had been greatly excited this morning. At noon he had entered his
+      shrine. For a long time the voice of the head of the Yellow Faith was
+      heard in earnest prayer and after his another unknown voice came clearly
+      forth. In the shrine had taken place a conversation between the Buddha on
+      earth and the Buddha of heaven&mdash;thus the Lamas phrased it to us.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Let us wait a little,&rdquo; the Baron proposed. &ldquo;Perhaps he will soon come
+      out.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      As we waited the General began telling me about Jahantsi Lama, saying
+      that, when Jahantsi is calm, he is an ordinary man but, when he is
+      disturbed and thinks very deeply, a nimbus appears about his head.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After half an hour the Lama secretaries suddenly showed signs of deep fear
+      and began listening closely by the entrance to the shrine. Shortly they
+      fell on their faces on the ground. The door slowly opened and there
+      entered the Emperor of Mongolia, the Living Buddha, His Holiness Bogdo
+      Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu, Khan of Outer Mongolia. He was a stout old man
+      with a heavy shaven face resembling those of the Cardinals of Rome. He was
+      dressed in the yellow silken Mongolian coat with a black binding. The eyes
+      of the blind man stood widely open. Fear and amazement were pictured in
+      them. He lowered himself heavily into the easy chair and whispered:
+      &ldquo;Write!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A secretary immediately took paper and a Chinese pen as the Bogdo began to
+      dictate his vision, very complicated and far from clear. He finished with
+      the following words:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This I, Bogdo Hutuktu Khan, saw, speaking with the great wise Buddha,
+      surrounded by the good and evil spirits. Wise Lamas, Hutuktus, Kanpos,
+      Marambas and Holy Gheghens, give the answer to my vision!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      As he finished, he wiped the perspiration from his head and asked who were
+      present.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Khan Chiang Chin Baron Ungern and a stranger,&rdquo; one of the secretaries
+      answered on his knees.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The General presented me to the Bogdo, who bowed his head as a sign of
+      greeting. They began speaking together in low tones. Through the open door
+      I saw a part of the shrine. I made out a big table with a heap of books on
+      it, some open and others lying on the floor below; a brazier with the red
+      charcoal in it; a basket containing the shoulder blades and entrails of
+      sheep for telling fortunes. Soon the Baron rose and bowed before the
+      Bogdo. The Tibetan placed his hands on the Baron&rsquo;s head and whispered a
+      prayer. Then he took from his own neck a heavy ikon and hung it around
+      that of the Baron.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You will not die but you will be incarnated in the highest form of being.
+      Remember that, Incarnated God of War, Khan of grateful Mongolia!&rdquo; I
+      understood that the Living Buddha blessed the &ldquo;Bloody General&rdquo; before
+      death.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      During the next two days I had the opportunity to visit the Living Buddha
+      three times together with a friend of the Bogdo, the Buriat Prince Djam
+      Bolon. I shall describe these visits in Part IV.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Baron Ungern organized the trip for me and my party to the shore of the
+      Pacific. We were to go on camels to northern Manchuria, because there it
+      was easy to avoid cavilling with the Chinese authorities so badly oriented
+      in the international relationship with Poland. Having sent a letter from
+      Uliassutai to the French Legation at Peking and bearing with me a letter
+      from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, expressing thanks for the saving of
+      Uliassutai from a pogrom, I intended to make for the nearest station on
+      the Chinese Eastern Railway and from there proceed to Peking. The Danish
+      merchant E. V. Olufsen was to have traveled out with me and also a learned
+      Lama Turgut, who was headed for China.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Never shall I forget the night of May 19th to 20th of 1921! After dinner
+      Baron Ungern proposed that we go to the yurta of Djam Bolon, whose
+      acquaintance I had made on the first day after my arrival in Urga. His
+      yurta was placed on a raised wooden platform in a compound located behind
+      the Russian settlement. Two Buriat officers met us and took us in. Djam
+      Bolon was a man of middle age, tall and thin with an unusually long face.
+      Before the Great War he had been a simple shepherd but had fought together
+      with Baron Ungern on the German front and afterwards against the
+      Bolsheviki. He was a Grand Duke of the Buriats, the successor of former
+      Buriat kings who had been dethroned by the Russian Government after their
+      attempt to establish the Independence of the Buriat people. The servants
+      brought us dishes with nuts, raisins, dates and cheese and served us tea.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This is the last night, Djam Bolon!&rdquo; said Baron Ungern. &ldquo;You promised me
+      . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I remember,&rdquo; answered the Buriat, &ldquo;all is ready.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      For a long time I listened to their reminiscences about former battles and
+      friends who had been lost. The clock pointed to midnight when Djam Bolon
+      got up and went out of the yurta.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I want to have my fortune told once more,&rdquo; said Baron Ungern, as though
+      he were justifying himself. &ldquo;For the good of our cause it is too early for
+      me to die. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Djam Bolon came back with a little woman of middle years, who squatted
+      down eastern style before the brazier, bowed low and began to stare at
+      Baron Ungern. Her face was whiter, narrower and thinner than that of a
+      Mongol woman. Her eyes were black and sharp. Her dress resembled that of a
+      gypsy woman. Afterwards I learned that she was a famous fortune teller and
+      prophet among the Buriats, the daughter of a gypsy woman and a Buriat. She
+      drew a small bag very slowly from her girdle, took from it some small bird
+      bones and a handful of dry grass. She began whispering at intervals
+      unintelligible words, as she threw occasional handfuls of the grass into
+      the fire, which gradually filled the tent with a soft fragrance. I felt a
+      distinct palpitation of my heart and a swimming in my head. After the
+      fortune teller had burned all her grass, she placed the bird bones on the
+      charcoal and turned them over again and again with a small pair of bronze
+      pincers. As the bones blackened, she began to examine them and then
+      suddenly her face took on an expression of fear and pain. She nervously
+      tore off the kerchief which bound her head and, contracted with
+      convulsions, began snapping out short, sharp phrases.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I see . . . I see the God of War. . . . His life runs out . . . horribly.
+      . . . After it a shadow . . . black like the night. . . . Shadow. . . .
+      One hundred thirty steps remain. . . . Beyond darkness. . . . Nothing . .
+      . I see nothing. . . . The God of War has disappeared. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Baron Ungern dropped his head. The woman fell over on her back with her
+      arms stretched out. She had fainted, but it seemed to me that I noticed
+      once a bright pupil of one of her eyes showing from under the closed
+      lashes. Two Buriats carried out the lifeless form, after which a long
+      silence reigned in the yurta of the Buriat Prince. Baron Ungern finally
+      got up and began to walk around the brazier, whispering to himself.
+      Afterwards he stopped and began speaking rapidly:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I shall die! I shall die! . . . but no matter, no matter. . . . The cause
+      has been launched and will not die. . . . I know the roads this cause will
+      travel. The tribes of Jenghiz Khan&rsquo;s successors are awakened. Nobody shall
+      extinguish the fire in the heart of the Mongols! In Asia there will be a
+      great State from the Pacific and Indian Oceans to the shore of the Volga.
+      The wise religion of Buddha shall run to the north and the west. It will
+      be the victory of the spirit. A conqueror and leader will appear stronger
+      and more stalwart than Jenghiz Khan and Ugadai. He will be more clever and
+      more merciful than Sultan Baber and he will keep power in his hands until
+      the happy day when, from his subterranean capital, shall emerge the King
+      of the World. Why, why shall I not be in the first ranks of the warriors
+      of Buddhism? Why has Karma decided so? But so it must be! And Russia must
+      first wash herself from the insult of revolution, purifying herself with
+      blood and death; and all people accepting Communism must perish with their
+      families in order that all their offspring may be rooted out!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Baron raised his hand above his head and shook it, as though he were
+      giving his orders and bequests to some invisible person.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Day was dawning.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My time has come!&rdquo; said the General. &ldquo;In a little while I shall leave
+      Urga.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He quickly and firmly shook hands with us and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Good-bye for all time! I shall die a horrible death but the world has
+      never seen such a terror and such a sea of blood as it shall now see. . .
+      .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The door of the yurta slammed shut and he was gone. I never saw him again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I must go also, for I am likewise leaving Urga today.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I know it,&rdquo; answered the Prince, &ldquo;the Baron has left you with me for some
+      purpose. I will give you a fourth companion, the Mongol Minister of War.
+      You will accompany him to your yurta. It is necessary for you. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Djam Bolon pronounced this last with an accent on every word. I did not
+      question him about it, as I was accustomed to the mystery of this country
+      of the mysteries of good and evil spirits.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0039" id="link2HCH0039">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXXIX
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      &ldquo;THE MAN WITH A HEAD LIKE A SADDLE&rdquo;
+     </h3>
+    <p>
+      After drinking tea at Djam Bolon&rsquo;s yurta I rode back to my quarters and
+      packed my few belongings. The Lama Turgut was already there.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The Minister of War will travel with us,&rdquo; he whispered. &ldquo;It is
+      necessary.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All right,&rdquo; I answered, and rode off to Olufsen to summon him. But
+      Olufsen unexpectedly announced that he was forced to spend some few days
+      more in Urga&mdash;a fatal decision for him, for a month later he was
+      reported killed by Sepailoff who remained as Commandant of the city after
+      Baron Ungern&rsquo;s departure. The War Minister, a stout, young Mongol, joined
+      our caravan. When we had gone about six miles from the city, we saw an
+      automobile coming up behind us. The Lama shrunk up inside his coat and
+      looked at me with fear. I felt the now familiar atmosphere of danger and
+      so opened my holster and threw over the safety catch of my revolver. Soon
+      the motor stopped alongside our caravan. In it sat Sepailoff with a
+      smiling face and beside him his two executioners, Chestiakoff and Jdanoff.
+      Sepailoff greeted us very warmly and asked:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are changing your horses in Khazahuduk? Does the road cross that pass
+      ahead? I don&rsquo;t know the way and must overtake an envoy who went there.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Minister of War answered that we would be in Khazahuduk that evening
+      and gave Sepailoff directions as to the road. The motor rushed away and,
+      when it had topped the pass, he ordered one of the Mongols to gallop
+      forward to see whether it had not stopped somewhere near the other side.
+      The Mongol whipped his steed and sped away. We followed slowly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What is the matter?&rdquo; I asked. &ldquo;Please explain!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Minister told me that Djam Bolon yesterday received information that
+      Sepailoff planned to overtake me on the way and kill me. Sepailoff
+      suspected that I had stirred up the Baron against him. Djam Bolon reported
+      the matter to the Baron, who organized this column for my safety. The
+      returning Mongol reported that the motor car had gone on out of sight.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said the Minister, &ldquo;we shall take quite another route so that the
+      Colonel will wait in vain for us at Khazahuduk.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      We turned north at Undur Dobo and at night were in the camp of a local
+      prince. Here we took leave of our Minister, received splendid fresh horses
+      and quickly continued our trip to the east, leaving behind us &ldquo;the man
+      with the head like a saddle&rdquo; against whom I had been warned by the old
+      fortune teller in the vicinity of Van Kure.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After twelve days without further adventures we reached the first railway
+      station on the Chinese Eastern Railway, from where I traveled in
+      unbelievable luxury to Peking.
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      Surrounded by the comforts and conveniences of the splendid hotel at
+      Peking, while shedding all the attributes of traveler, hunter and warrior,
+      I could not, however, throw off the spell of those nine days spent in
+      Urga, where I had daily met Baron Ungern, &ldquo;Incarnated God of War.&rdquo; The
+      newspapers carrying accounts of the bloody march of the Baron through
+      Transbaikalia brought the pictures ever fresh to my mind. Even now,
+      although more than seven months have elapsed, I cannot forget those nights
+      of madness, inspiration and hate.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The predictions are fulfilled. Approximately one hundred thirty days
+      afterwards Baron Ungern was captured by the Bolsheviki through the
+      treachery of his officers and, it is reported, was executed at the end of
+      September.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Baron R. F. Ungern von Sternberg. . . . Like a bloody storm of avenging
+      Karma he spread over Central Asia. What did he leave behind him? The
+      severe order to his soldiers closing with the words of the Revelations of
+      St. John:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Let no one check the revenge against the corrupter and slayer of the soul
+      of the Russian people. Revolution must be eradicated from the World.
+      Against it the Revelations of St. John have warned us thus: &lsquo;And the woman
+      was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious
+      stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations,
+      even the unclean things of her fornication, and upon her forehead a name
+      written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE
+      ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of
+      the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It is a human document, a document of Russian and, perhaps, of world
+      tragedy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But there remained another and more important trace. In the Mongol yurtas
+      and at the fires of Buriat, Mongol, Djungar, Kirkhiz, Kalmuck and Tibetan
+      shepherds still speak the legend born of this son of crusaders and
+      privateers:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;From the north a white warrior came and called on the Mongols to break
+      their chains of slavery, which fell upon our freed soil. This white
+      warrior was the Incarnated Jenghiz Khan and he predicted the coming of the
+      greatest of all Mongols who will spread the fair faith of Buddha and the
+      glory and power of the offspring of Jenghiz, Ugadai and Kublai Khan. So it
+      shall be!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Asia is awakened and her sons utter bold words.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It were well for the peace of the world if they go forth as disciples of
+      the wise creators, Ugadai and Sultan Baber, rather than under the spell of
+      the &ldquo;bad demons&rdquo; of the destructive Tamerlane.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_PART4" id="link2H_PART4">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      Part IV
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE LIVING BUDDHA
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0040" id="link2HCH0040">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XL
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      IN THE BLISSFUL GARDEN OF A THOUSAND JOYS
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      In Mongolia, the country of miracles and mysteries, lives the custodian of
+      all the mysterious and unknown, the Living Buddha, His Holiness Djebtsung
+      Damba Hutuktu Khan or Bogdo Gheghen, Pontiff of Ta Kure. He is the
+      incarnation of the never-dying Buddha, the representative of the unbroken,
+      mysteriously continued line of spiritual emperors ruling since 1670,
+      concealing in themselves the ever refining spirit of Buddha Amitabha
+      joined with Chan-ra-zi or the &ldquo;Compassionate Spirit of the Mountains.&rdquo; In
+      him is everything, even the Sun Myth and the fascination of the mysterious
+      peaks of the Himalayas, tales of the Indian pagoda, the stern majesty of
+      the Mongolian Conquerors&mdash;Emperors of All Asia&mdash;and the ancient,
+      hazy legends of the Chinese sages; immersion in the thoughts of the
+      Brahmans; the severities of life of the monks of the &ldquo;Virtuous Order&rdquo;; the
+      vengeance of the eternally wandering warriors, the Olets, with their
+      Khans, Batur Hun Taigi and Gushi; the proud bequests of Jenghiz and Kublai
+      Khan; the clerical reactionary psychology of the Lamas; the mystery of
+      Tibetan kings beginning from Srong-Tsang Gampo; and the mercilessness of
+      the Yellow Sect of Paspa. All the hazy history of Asia, of Mongolia,
+      Pamir, Himalayas, Mesopotamia, Persia and China, surrounds the Living God
+      of Urga. It is little wonder that his name is honored along the Volga, in
+      Siberia, Arabia, between the Tigris and Euphrates, in Indo-China and on
+      the shores of the Arctic Ocean.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      During my stay in Urga I visited the abode of the Living Buddha several
+      times, spoke with him and observed his life. His favorite learned Marambas
+      gave me long accounts of him. I saw him reading horoscopes, I heard his
+      predictions, I looked over his archives of ancient books and the
+      manuscripts containing the lives and predictions of all the Bogdo Khans.
+      The Lamas were very frank and open with me, because the letter of the
+      Hutuktu of Narabanchi won for me their confidence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The personality of the Living Buddha is double, just as everything in
+      Lamaism is double. Clever, penetrating, energetic, he at the same time
+      indulges in the drunkenness which has brought on blindness. When he became
+      blind, the Lamas were thrown into a state of desperation. Some of them
+      maintained that Bogdo Khan must be poisoned and another Incarnate Buddha
+      set in his place; while the others pointed out the great merits of the
+      Pontiff in the eyes of Mongolians and the followers of the Yellow Faith.
+      They finally decided to propitiate the gods by building a great temple
+      with a gigantic statue of Buddha. However, this did not help the Bogdo&rsquo;s
+      sight but the whole incident gave him the opportunity of hurrying on to
+      their higher life those among the Lamas who had shown too much radicalism
+      in their proposed method of solving his problem.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He never ceases to ponder upon the cause of the church and of Mongolia and
+      at the same time likes to indulge himself with useless trifles. He amuses
+      himself with artillery. A retired Russian officer presented him with two
+      old guns, for which the donor received the title of Tumbaiir Hun, that is,
+      &ldquo;Prince Dear-to-my-Heart.&rdquo; On holidays these cannon were fired to the
+      great amusement of the blind man. Motorcars, gramophones, telephones,
+      crystals, porcelains, pictures, perfumes, musical instruments, rare
+      animals and birds; elephants, Himalayan bears, monkeys, Indian snakes and
+      parrots&mdash;all these were in the palace of &ldquo;the god&rdquo; but all were soon
+      cast aside and forgotten.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To Urga come pilgrims and presents from all the Lamaite and Buddhist
+      world. Once the treasurer of the palace, the Honorable Balma Dorji, took
+      me into the great hall where the presents were kept. It was a most unique
+      museum of precious articles. Here were gathered together rare objects
+      unknown to the museums of Europe. The treasurer, as he opened a case with
+      a silver lock, said to me:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;These are pure gold nuggets from Bei Kem; here are black sables from
+      Kemchick; these the miraculous deer horns; this a box sent by the Orochons
+      and filled with precious ginseng roots and fragrant musk; this a bit of
+      amber from the coast of the &lsquo;frozen sea&rsquo; and it weighs 124 lans (about ten
+      pounds); these are precious stones from India, fragrant zebet and carved
+      ivory from China.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He showed the exhibits and talked of them for a long time and evidently
+      enjoyed the telling. And really it was wonderful! Before my eyes lay the
+      bundles of rare furs; white beaver, black sables, white, blue and black
+      fox and black panthers; small beautifully carved tortoise shell boxes
+      containing hatyks ten or fifteen yards long, woven from Indian silk as
+      fine as the webs of the spider; small bags made of golden thread filled
+      with pearls, the presents of Indian Rajahs; precious rings with sapphires
+      and rubies from China and India; big pieces of jade, rough diamonds; ivory
+      tusks ornamented with gold, pearls and precious stones; bright clothes
+      sewn with gold and silver thread; walrus tusks carved in bas-relief by the
+      primitive artists on the shores of the Behring Sea; and much more that one
+      cannot recall or recount. In a separate room stood the cases with the
+      statues of Buddha, made of gold, silver, bronze, ivory, coral, mother of
+      pearl and from a rare colored and fragrant species of wood.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You know when conquerors come into a country where the gods are honored,
+      they break the images and throw them down. So it was more than three
+      hundred years ago when the Kalmucks went into Tibet and the same was
+      repeated in Peking when the European troops looted the place in 1900. But
+      do you know why this is done? Take one of the statues and examine it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I picked up one nearest the edge, a wooden Buddha, and began examining it.
+      Inside something was loose and rattled.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you hear it?&rdquo; the Lama asked. &ldquo;These are precious stones and bits of
+      gold, the entrails of the god. This is the reason why the conquerors at
+      once break up the statues of the gods. Many famous precious stones have
+      appeared from the interior of the statues of the gods in India, Babylon
+      and China.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Some rooms were devoted to the library, where manuscripts and volumes of
+      different epochs in different languages and with many diverse themes fill
+      the shelves. Some of them are mouldering or pulverizing away and the Lamas
+      cover these now with a solution which partially solidifies like a jelly to
+      protect what remains from the ravages of the air. There also we saw
+      tablets of clay with the cuneiform inscriptions, evidently from Babylonia;
+      Chinese, Indian and Tibetan books shelved beside those of Mongolia; tomes
+      of the ancient pure Buddhism; books of the &ldquo;Red Caps&rdquo; or corrupt Buddhism;
+      books of the &ldquo;Yellow&rdquo; or Lamaite Buddhism; books of traditions, legends
+      and parables. Groups of Lamas were perusing, studying and copying these
+      books, preserving and spreading the ancient wisdom for their successors.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One department is devoted to the mysterious books on magic, the historical
+      lives and works of all the thirty-one Living Buddhas, with the bulls of
+      the Dalai Lama, of the Pontiff from Tashi Lumpo, of the Hutuktu of Utai in
+      China, of the Pandita Gheghen of Dolo Nor in Inner Mongolia and of the
+      Hundred Chinese Wise Men. Only the Bogdo Hutuktu and Maramba Ta-Rimpo-Cha
+      can enter this room of mysterious lore. The keys to it rest with the seals
+      of the Living Buddha and the ruby ring of Jenghiz Khan ornamented with the
+      sign of the swastika in the chest in the private study of the Bogdo.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The person of His Holiness is surrounded by five thousand Lamas. They are
+      divided into many ranks from simple servants to the &ldquo;Councillors of God,&rdquo;
+       of which latter the Government consists. Among these Councillors are all
+      the four Khans of Mongolia and the five highest Princes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Of all the Lamas there are three classes of peculiar interest, about which
+      the Living Buddha himself told me when I visited him with Djam Bolon.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The God&rdquo; sorrowfully mourned over the demoralized and sumptuous life led
+      by the Lamas which decreased rapidly the number of fortune tellers and
+      clairvoyants among their ranks, saying of it:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If the Jahantsi and Narabanchi monasteries had not preserved their strict
+      regime and rules, Ta Kure would have been left without prophets and
+      fortune tellers. Barun Abaga Nar, Dorchiul-Jurdok and the other holy Lamas
+      who had the power of seeing that which is hidden from the sight of the
+      common people have gone with the blessing of the gods.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This class of Lamas is a very important one, because every important
+      personage visiting the monasteries at Urga is shown to the Lama Tzuren or
+      fortune teller without the knowledge of the visitor for the study of his
+      destiny and fate, which are then communicated to the Bogdo Hutuktu, so
+      that with these facts in his possession the Bogdo knows in what way to
+      treat his guest and what policy to follow toward him. The Tzurens are
+      mostly old men, skinny, exhausted and severe ascetics. But I have met some
+      who were young, almost boys. They were the Hubilgan, &ldquo;incarnate gods,&rdquo; the
+      future Hutuktus and Gheghens of the various Mongolian monasteries.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The second class is the doctors or &ldquo;Ta Lama.&rdquo; They observe the actions of
+      plants and certain products from animals upon people, preserve Tibetan
+      medicines and cures, and study anatomy very carefully but without making
+      use of vivisection and the scalpel. They are skilful bone setters,
+      masseurs and great connoisseurs of hypnotism and animal magnetism.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The third class is the highest rank of doctors, consisting chiefly of
+      Tibetans and Kalmucks&mdash;poisoners. They may be said to be &ldquo;doctors of
+      political medicine.&rdquo; They live by themselves, apart from any associates,
+      and are the great silent weapon in the hands of the Living Buddha. I was
+      informed that a large portion of them are dumb. I saw one such doctor,&mdash;the
+      very person who poisoned the Chinese physician sent by the Chinese Emperor
+      from Peking to &ldquo;liquidate&rdquo; the Living Buddha,&mdash;a small white old
+      fellow with a deeply wrinkled face, a curl of white hairs on his chin and
+      with vivacious eyes that were ever shifting inquiringly about him.
+      Whenever he comes to a monastery, the local &ldquo;god&rdquo; ceases to eat and drink
+      in fear of the activities of this Mongolian Locusta. But even this cannot
+      save the condemned, for a poisoned cap or shirt or boots, or a rosary, a
+      bridle, books or religious articles soaked in a poisonous solution will
+      surely accomplish the object of the Bogdo-Khan.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The deepest esteem and religious faithfulness surround the blind Pontiff.
+      Before him all fall on their faces. Khans and Hutuktus approach him on
+      their knees. Everything about him is dark, full of Oriental antiquity. The
+      drunken blind man, listening to the banal arias of the gramophone or
+      shaking his servants with an electric current from his dynamo, the
+      ferocious old fellow poisoning his political enemies, the Lama keeping his
+      people in darkness and deceiving them with his prophecies and fortune
+      telling,&mdash;he is, however, not an entirely ordinary man.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day we sat in the room of the Bogdo and Prince Djam Bolon translated
+      to him my story of the Great War. The old fellow was listening very
+      carefully but suddenly opened his eyes widely and began to give attention
+      to some sounds coming in from outside the room. His face became reverent,
+      supplicant and frightened.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The Gods call me,&rdquo; he whispered and slowly moved into his private shrine,
+      where he prayed loudly about two hours, kneeling immobile as a statue. His
+      prayer consists of conversation with the invisible gods, to whose
+      questions he himself gave the answers. He came out of the shrine pale and
+      exhausted but pleased and happy. It was his personal prayer. During the
+      regular temple service he did not participate in the prayers, for then he
+      is &ldquo;God.&rdquo; Sitting on his throne, he is carried and placed on the altar and
+      there prayed to by the Lamas and the people. He only receives the prayers,
+      hopes, tears, woe and desperation of the people, immobilely gazing into
+      space with his sharp and bright but blind eyes. At various times in the
+      service the Lamas robe him in different vestments, combinations of yellow
+      and red, and change his caps. The service always finishes at the solemn
+      moment when the Living Buddha with the tiara on his head pronounces the
+      pontifical blessing upon the congregation, turning his face to all four
+      cardinal points of the compass and finally stretching out his hands toward
+      the northwest, that is, to Europe, whither in the belief of the Yellow
+      Faith must travel the teachings of the wise Buddha.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After earnest prayers or long temple services the Pontiff seems very
+      deeply shaken and often calls his secretaries and dictates his visions and
+      prophecies, always very complicated and unaccompanied by his deductions.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Sometimes with the words &ldquo;Their souls are communicating,&rdquo; he puts on his
+      white robes and goes to pray in his shrine. Then all the gates of the
+      palace are shut and all the Lamas are sunk in solemn, mystic fear; all are
+      praying, telling their rosaries and whispering the orison: &ldquo;Om! Mani padme
+      Hung!&rdquo; or turning the prayer wheels with their prayers or exorcisings; the
+      fortune tellers read their horoscopes; the clairvoyants write out their
+      visions; while Marambas search the ancient books for explanations of the
+      words of the Living Buddha.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0041" id="link2HCH0041">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XLI
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE DUST OF CENTURIES
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Have you ever seen the dusty cobwebs and the mould in the cellars of some
+      ancient castle in Italy, France or England? This is the dust of centuries.
+      Perhaps it touched the faces, helmets and swords of a Roman Augustus, St.
+      Louis, the Inquisitor, Galileo or King Richard. Your heart is
+      involuntarily contracted and you feel a respect for these witnesses of
+      elapsed ages. This same impression came to me in Ta Kure, perhaps more
+      deep, more realistic. Here life flows on almost as it flowed eight
+      centuries ago; here man lives only in the past; and the contemporary only
+      complicates and prevents the normal life.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Today is a great day,&rdquo; the Living Buddha once said to me, &ldquo;the day of the
+      victory of Buddhism over all other religions. It was a long time ago&mdash;on
+      this day Kublai Khan called to him the Lamas of all religions and ordered
+      them to state to him how and what they believed. They praised their Gods
+      and their Hutuktus. Discussions and quarrels began. Only one Lama remained
+      silent. At last he mockingly smiled and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Great Emperor! Order each to prove the power of his Gods by the
+      performance of a miracle and afterwards judge and choose.&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Kublai Khan so ordered all the Lamas to show him a miracle but all were
+      silent, confused and powerless before him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Now,&rsquo; said the Emperor, addressing the Lama who had tendered this
+      suggestion, &lsquo;now you must prove the power of your Gods!&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The Lama looked long and silently at the Emperor, turned and gazed at the
+      whole assembly and then quietly stretched out his hand toward them. At
+      this instant the golden goblet of the Emperor raised itself from the table
+      and tipped before the lips of the Khan without a visible hand supporting
+      it. The Emperor felt the delight of a fragrant wine. All were struck with
+      astonishment and the Emperor spoke:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;I elect to pray to your Gods and to them all people subject to me must
+      pray. What is your faith? Who are you and from where do you come?&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;My faith is the teaching of the wise Buddha. I am Pandita Lama, Turjo
+      Gamba, from the distant and glorious monastery of Sakkia in Tibet, where
+      dwells incarnate in a human body the Spirit of Buddha, his Wisdom and his
+      Power. Remember, Emperor, that the peoples who hold our faith shall
+      possess all the Western Universe and during eight hundred and eleven years
+      shall spread their faith throughout the whole world.&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Thus it happened on this same day many centuries ago! Lama Turjo Gamba
+      did not return to Tibet but lived here in Ta Kure, where there was then
+      only a small temple. From here he traveled to the Emperor at Karakorum and
+      afterwards with him to the capital of China to fortify him in the Faith,
+      to predict the fate of state affairs and to enlighten him according to the
+      will of God.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Living Buddha was silent for a time, whispered a prayer and then
+      continued:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Urga, the ancient nest of Buddhism. . . . With Jenghiz Khan on his
+      European conquest went out the Olets or Kalmucks. They remained there
+      almost four hundred years, living on the plains of Russia. Then they
+      returned to Mongolia because the Yellow Lamas called them to light against
+      the Kings of Tibet, Lamas of the &lsquo;red caps,&rsquo; who were oppressing the
+      people. The Kalmucks helped the Yellow Faith but they realized that Lhasa
+      was too distant from the whole world and could not spread our Faith
+      throughout the earth. Consequently the Kalmuck Gushi Khan brought up from
+      Tibet a holy Lama, Undur Gheghen, who had visited the &lsquo;King of the World.&rsquo; 
+      From that day the Bogdo Gheghen has continuously lived in Urga, a
+      protector of the freedom of Mongolia and of the Chinese Emperors of
+      Mongolian origin. Undur Gheghen was the first Living Buddha in the land of
+      the Mongols. He left to us, his successors, the ring of Jenghiz Khan,
+      which was sent by Kublai Khan to Dalai Lama in return for the miracle
+      shown by the Lama Turjo Gamba; also the top of the skull of a black,
+      mysterious miracle worker from India, using which as a bowl, Strongtsan,
+      King of Tibet, drank during the temple ceremonies one thousand six hundred
+      years ago; as well as an ancient stone statue of Buddha brought from Delhi
+      by the founder of the Yellow Faith, Paspa.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Bogdo clapped his hands and one of the secretaries took from a red
+      kerchief a big silver key with which he unlocked the chest with the seals.
+      The Living Buddha slipped his hand into the chest and drew forth a small
+      box of carved ivory, from which he took out and showed to me a large gold
+      ring set with a magnificent ruby carved with the sign of the swastika.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This ring was always worn on the right hand of the Khans Jenghiz and
+      Kublai,&rdquo; said the Bogdo.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When the secretary had closed the chest, the Bogdo ordered him to summon
+      his favorite Maramba, whom he directed to read some pages from an ancient
+      book lying on the table. The Lama began to read monotonously.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;When Gushi Khan, the Chief of all the Olets or Kalmucks, finished the war
+      with the &lsquo;Red Caps&rsquo; in Tibet, he carried out with him the miraculous
+      &lsquo;black stone&rsquo; sent to the Dalai Lama by the &lsquo;King of the World.&rsquo; Gushi
+      Khan wanted to create in Western Mongolia the capital of the Yellow Faith;
+      but the Olets at that time were at war with the Manchu Emperors for the
+      throne of China and suffered one defeat after another. The last Khan of
+      the Olets, Amursana, ran away into Russia but before his escape sent to
+      Urga the sacred &lsquo;black stone.&rsquo; While it remained in Urga so that the
+      Living Buddha could bless the people with it, disease and misfortune never
+      touched the Mongolians and their cattle. About one hundred years ago,
+      however, some one stole the sacred stone and since then Buddhists have
+      vainly sought it throughout the whole world. With its disappearance the
+      Mongol people began gradually to die.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Enough!&rdquo; ordered Bogdo Gheghen. &ldquo;Our neighbors hold us in contempt. They
+      forget that we were their sovereigns but we preserve our holy traditions
+      and we know that the day of triumph of the Mongolian tribes and the Yellow
+      Faith will come. We have the Protectors of the Faith, the Buriats. They
+      are the truest guardians of the bequests of Jenghiz Khan.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So spoke the Living Buddha and so have spoken the ancient books!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0042" id="link2HCH0042">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XLII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE BOOKS OF MIRACLES
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Prince Djam Bolon asked a Maramba to show us the library of the Living
+      Buddha. It is a big room occupied by scores of writers who prepare the
+      works dealing with the miracles of all the Living Buddhas, beginning with
+      Undur Gheghen and ending with those of the Gheghens and Hutuktus of the
+      different Mongol monasteries. These books are afterwards distributed
+      through all the Lama Monasteries, temples and schools of Bandi. A Maramba
+      read two selections:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;. . . The beatific Bogdo Gheghen breathed on a mirror. Immediately as
+      through a haze there appeared the picture of a valley in which many
+      thousands of thousands of warriors fought one against another. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The wise and favored-of-the-gods Living Buddha burned incense in a
+      brazier and prayed to the Gods to reveal the lot of the Princes. In the
+      blue smoke all saw a dark prison and the pallid, tortured bodies of the
+      dead Princes. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A special book, already done into thousands of copies, dwelt upon the
+      miracles of the present Living Buddha. Prince Djam Bolon described to me
+      some of the contents of this volume.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There exists an ancient wooden Buddha with open eyes. He was brought here
+      from India and Bogdo Gheghen placed him on the altar and began to pray.
+      When he returned from the shrine, he ordered the statue of Buddha brought
+      out. All were struck with amazement, for the eyes of the God were shut and
+      tears were falling from them; from the wooden body green sprouts appeared;
+      and the Bogdo said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Woe and joy are awaiting me. I shall become blind but Mongolia will be
+      free.&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The prophecy is fulfilled. At another time, on a day when the Living
+      Buddha was very much excited, he ordered a basin of water brought and set
+      before the altar. He called the Lamas and began to pray. Suddenly the
+      altar candles and lamps lighted themselves and the water in the basin
+      became iridescent.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Afterwards the Prince described to me how the Bogdo Khan tells fortunes
+      with fresh blood, upon whose surface appear words and pictures; with the
+      entrails of sheep and goats, according to whose distribution the Bogdo
+      reads the fate of the Princes and knows their thoughts; with stones and
+      bones from which the Living Buddha with great accuracy reads the lot of
+      all men; and by the stars, in accordance with whose positions the Bogdo
+      prepares amulets against bullets and disease.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The former Bogdo Khans told fortunes only by the use of the &lsquo;black
+      stone,&rsquo;&rdquo; said the Maramba. &ldquo;On the surface of the stone appeared Tibetan
+      inscriptions which the Bogdo read and thus learned the lot of whole
+      nations.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      When the Maramba spoke of the black stone with the Tibetan legends
+      appearing on it, I at once recalled that it was possible. In southeastern
+      Urianhai, in Ulan Taiga, I came across a place where black slate was
+      decomposing. All the pieces of this slate were covered with a special
+      white lichen, which formed very complicated designs, reminding me of a
+      Venetian lace pattern or whole pages of mysterious runes. When the slate
+      was wet, these designs disappeared; and then, as they were dried, the
+      patterns came out again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Nobody has the right or dares to ask the Living Buddha to tell his
+      fortune. He predicts only when he feels the inspiration or when a special
+      delegate comes to him bearing a request for it from the Dalai Lama or the
+      Tashi Lama. When the Russian Czar, Alexander I, fell under the influence
+      of Baroness Kzudener and of her extreme mysticism, he despatched a special
+      envoy to the Living Buddha to ask about his destiny. The then Bogdo Khan,
+      quite a young man, told his fortune according to the &ldquo;black stone&rdquo; and
+      predicted that the White Czar would finish his life in very painful
+      wanderings unknown to all and everywhere pursued. In Russia today there
+      exists a popular belief that Alexander I spent the last days of his life
+      as a wanderer throughout Russia and Siberia under the pseudonym of Feodor
+      Kusmitch, helping and consoling prisoners, beggars and other suffering
+      people, often pursued and imprisoned by the police and finally dying at
+      Tomsk in Siberia, where even until now they have preserved the house where
+      he spent his last days and have kept his grave sacred, a place of
+      pilgrimages and miracles. The former dynasty of Romanoff was deeply
+      interested in the biography of Feodor Kusmitch and this interest fixed the
+      opinion that Kusmitch was really the Czar Alexander I, who had voluntarily
+      taken upon himself this severe penance.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0043" id="link2HCH0043">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XLIII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE BIRTH OF THE LIVING BUDDHA
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      The Living Buddha does not die. His soul sometimes passes into that of a
+      child born on the day of his death and sometimes transfers itself to
+      another being during the life of the Buddha. This new mortal dwelling of
+      the sacred spirit of the Buddha almost always appears in the yurta of some
+      poor Tibetan or Mongol family. There is a reason of policy for this. If
+      the Buddha appears in the family of a rich prince, it could result in the
+      elevation of a family that would not yield obedience to the clergy (and
+      such has happened in the past), while on the other hand any poor, unknown
+      family that becomes the heritor of the throne of Jenghiz Khan acquires
+      riches and is readily submissive to the Lamas. Only three or four Living
+      Buddhas were of purely Mongolian origin; the remainder were Tibetans.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One of the Councillors of the Living Buddha, Lama-Khan Jassaktu, told me
+      the following:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In the monasteries at Lhasa and Tashi Lumpo they are kept constantly
+      informed through letters from Urga about the health of the Living Buddha.
+      When his human body becomes old and the Spirit of Buddha strives to
+      extricate itself, special solemn services begin in the Tibetan temples
+      together with the telling of fortunes by astrology. These rites indicate
+      the specially pious Lamas who must discover where the Spirit of the Buddha
+      will be re-incarnated. For this purpose they travel throughout the whole
+      land and observe. Often God himself gives them signs and indications.
+      Sometimes the white wolf appears near the yurta of a poor shepherd or a
+      lamb with two heads is born or a meteor falls from the sky. Some Lamas
+      take fish from the sacred lake Tangri Nor and read on the scales thereof
+      the name of the new Bogdo Khan; others pick out stones whose cracks
+      indicate to them where they must search and whom they must find; while
+      others secrete themselves in narrow mountain ravines to listen to the
+      voices of the spirits of the mountains, pronouncing the name of the new
+      choice of the Gods. When he is found, all the possible information about
+      his family is secretly collected and presented to the Most Learned Tashi
+      Lama, having the name of Erdeni, &ldquo;The Great Gem of Learning,&rdquo; who,
+      according to the runes of Rama, verifies the selection. If he is in
+      agreement with it, he sends a secret letter to the Dalai Lama, who holds a
+      special sacrifice in the Temple of the &lsquo;Spirit of the Mountains&rsquo; and
+      confirms the election by putting his great seal on this letter of the
+      Tashi Lama.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If the old Living Buddha be still alive, the name of his successor is
+      kept a deep secret; if the Spirit of Buddha has already gone out from the
+      body of Bogdo Khan, a special legation appears from Tibet with the new
+      Living Buddha. The same process accompanies the election of the Gheghen
+      and Hutuktus in all the Lamaite monasteries in Mongolia; but confirmation
+      of the election resides with the Living Buddha and is only announced to
+      Lhasa after the event.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0044" id="link2HCH0044">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XLIV
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      A PAGE IN THE HISTORY OF THE PRESENT LIVING BUDDHA
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      The present Bogdo Khan of Outer Mongolia is a Tibetan. He sprang from a
+      poor family living in the neighborhood of Sakkia Kure in western Tibet.
+      From earliest youth he had a stormy, quite unaesthetic nature. He was
+      fired with the idea of the independence and glorification of Mongolia and
+      the successors of Jenghiz Khan. This gave him at once a great influence
+      among the Lamas, Princes and Khans of Mongolia and also with the Russian
+      Government which always tried to attract him to their side. He did not
+      fear to arraign himself against the Manchu dynasty in China and always had
+      the help of Russia, Tibet, the Buriats and Kirghiz, furnishing him with
+      money, weapons, warriors and diplomatic aid. The Chinese Emperors avoided
+      open war with the Living God, because it might arouse the protests of the
+      Chinese Buddhists. At one time they sent to the Bogdo Khan a skilful
+      doctor-poisoner. The Living Buddha, however, at once understood the
+      meaning of this medical attention and, knowing the power of Asiatic
+      poisons, decided to make a journey through the Mongol monasteries and
+      through Tibet. As his substitute he left a Hubilgan who made friends with
+      the Chinese doctor and inquired from him the purposes and details of his
+      arrival. Very soon the Chinese died from some unknown cause and the Living
+      Buddha returned to his comfortable capital.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On another occasion danger threatened the Living God. It was when Lhasa
+      decided that the Bogdo Khan was carrying out a policy too independent of
+      Tibet. The Dalai Lama began negotiations with several Khans and Princes
+      with the Sain Noion Khan and Jassaktu Khan leading the movement and
+      persuaded them to accelerate the immigration of the Spirit of Buddha into
+      another human form. They came to Urga where the Bogdo Khan met them with
+      honors and rejoicings. A great feast was made for them and the
+      conspirators already felt themselves the accomplishers of the orders of
+      the Dalai Lama. However, at the end of the feast, they had different
+      feelings and died with them during the night. The Living Buddha ordered
+      their bodies sent with full honors to their families.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Bogdo Khan knows every thought, every movement of the Princes and
+      Khans, the slightest conspiracy against himself, and the offender is
+      usually kindly invited to Urga, from where he does not return alive.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Chinese Government decided to terminate the line of the Living
+      Buddhas. Ceasing to fight with the Pontiff of Urga, the Government
+      contrived the following scheme for accomplishing its ends.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Peking invited the Pandita Gheghen from Dolo Nor and the head of the
+      Chinese Lamaites, the Hutuktu of Utai, both of whom do not recognize the
+      supremacy of the Living Buddha, to come to the capital. They decided,
+      after consulting the old Buddhistic books, that the present Bogdo Khan was
+      to be the last Living Buddha, because that part of the Spirit of Buddha
+      which dwells in the Bogdo Khans can abide only thirty-one times in the
+      human body. Bogdo Khan is the thirty-first Incarnated Buddha from the time
+      of Undur Gheghen and with him, therefore, the dynasty of the Urga Pontiffs
+      must cease. However, on hearing this the Bogdo Khan himself did some
+      research work and found in the old Tibetan manuscripts that one of the
+      Tibetan Pontiffs was married and his son was a natural Incarnated Buddha.
+      So the Bogdo Khan married and now has a son, a very capable and energetic
+      young man, and thus the religious throne of Jenghiz Khan will not be left
+      empty. The dynasty of the Chinese emperors disappeared from the stage of
+      political events but the Living Buddha continues to be a center for the
+      Pan-Asiatic idea.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The new Chinese Government in 1920 held the Living Buddha under arrest in
+      his palace but at the beginning of 1921 Baron Ungern crossed the sacred
+      Bogdo-Ol and approached the palace from the rear. Tibetan riders shot the
+      Chinese sentries with bow and arrow and afterwards the Mongols penetrated
+      into the palace and stole their &ldquo;God,&rdquo; who immediately stirred up all
+      Mongolia and awakened the hopes of the Asiatic peoples and tribes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the great palace of the Bogdo a Lama showed me a special casket covered
+      with a precious carpet, wherein they keep the bulls of the Dalai and Tashi
+      Lamas, the decrees of the Russian and Chinese Emperors and the Treaties
+      between Mongolia, Russia, China and Tibet. In this same casket is the
+      copper plate bearing the mysterious sign of the &ldquo;King of the World&rdquo; and
+      the chronicle of the last vision of the Living Buddha.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0045" id="link2HCH0045">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XLV
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE VISION OF THE LIVING BUDDHA OF MAY 17, 1921
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I prayed and saw that which is hidden from the eyes of the people. A vast
+      plain was spread before me surrounded by distant mountains. An old Lama
+      carried a basket filled with heavy stones. He hardly moved. From the north
+      a rider appeared in white robes and mounted on a white horse. He
+      approached the Lama and said to him:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Give me your basket. I shall help you to carry them to the Kure.&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The Lama handed his heavy burden up to him but the rider could not raise
+      it to his saddle so that the old Lama had to place it back on his shoulder
+      and continue on his way, bent under its heavy weight. Then from the north
+      came another rider in black robes and on a black horse, who also
+      approached the Lama and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Stupid! Why do you carry these stones when they are everywhere about the
+      ground?&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;With these words he pushed the Lama over with the breast of his horse and
+      scattered the stones about the ground. When the stones touched the earth,
+      they became diamonds. All three rushed to raise them but not one of them
+      could break them loose from the ground. Then the old Lama exclaimed:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Oh Gods! All my life I have carried this heavy burden and now, when
+      there was left so little to go, I have lost it. Help me, great, good
+      Gods!&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Suddenly a tottering old man appeared. He collected all the diamonds into
+      the basket without trouble, cleaned the dust from them, raised the burden
+      to his shoulder and started out, speaking with the Lama:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Rest a while, I have just carried my burden to the goal and I am glad to
+      help you with yours.&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;They went on and were soon out of sight, while the riders began to fight.
+      They fought one whole day and then the whole night and, when the sun rose
+      over the plain, neither was there, either alive or dead, and no trace of
+      either remained. This I saw, Bogdo Hutuktu Khan, speaking with the Great
+      and Wise Buddha, surrounded by the good and bad demons! Wise Lamas,
+      Hutuktus, Kampos, Marambas and Holy Gheghens, give the answer to my
+      vision!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This was written in my presence on May 17th, 1921, from the words of the
+      Living Buddha just as he came out of his private shrine to his study. I do
+      not know what the Hutuktu and Gheghens, the fortune tellers, sorcerers and
+      clairvoyants replied to him; but does not the answer seem clear, if one
+      realizes the present situation in Asia?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Awakened Asia is full of enigmas but it is also full of answers to the
+      questions set by the destiny of humankind. This great continent of
+      mysterious Pontiffs, Living Gods, Mahatmas and readers of the terrible
+      book of Karma is awakening and the ocean of hundreds of millions of human
+      lives is lashed with monstrous waves.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_PART5" id="link2H_PART5">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      Part V
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES&mdash;THE KING OF THE WORLD
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0046" id="link2HCH0046">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XLVI
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE SUBTERRANEAN KINGDOM
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Stop!&rdquo; whispered my old Mongol guide, as we were one day crossing the
+      plain near Tzagan Luk. &ldquo;Stop!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He slipped from his camel which lay down without his bidding. The Mongol
+      raised his hands in prayer before his face and began to repeat the sacred
+      phrase: &ldquo;Om! Mani padme Hung!&rdquo; The other Mongols immediately stopped their
+      camels and began to pray.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What has happened?&rdquo; I thought, as I gazed round over the tender green
+      grass, up to the cloudless sky and out toward the dreamy soft rays of the
+      evening sun.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Mongols prayed for some time, whispered among themselves and, after
+      tightening up the packs on the camels, moved on.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Did you see,&rdquo; asked the Mongol, &ldquo;how our camels moved their ears in fear?
+      How the herd of horses on the plain stood fixed in attention and how the
+      herds of sheep and cattle lay crouched close to the ground? Did you notice
+      that the birds did not fly, the marmots did not run and the dogs did not
+      bark? The air trembled softly and bore from afar the music of a song which
+      penetrated to the hearts of men, animals and birds alike. Earth and sky
+      ceased breathing. The wind did not blow and the sun did not move. At such
+      a moment the wolf that is stealing up on the sheep arrests his stealthy
+      crawl; the frightened herd of antelopes suddenly checks its wild course;
+      the knife of the shepherd cutting the sheep&rsquo;s throat falls from his hand;
+      the rapacious ermine ceases to stalk the unsuspecting salga. All living
+      beings in fear are involuntarily thrown into prayer and waiting for their
+      fate. So it was just now. Thus it has always been whenever the King of the
+      World in his subterranean palace prays and searches out the destiny of all
+      peoples on the earth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In this wise the old Mongol, a simple, coarse shepherd and hunter, spoke
+      to me.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mongolia with her nude and terrible mountains, her limitless plains,
+      covered with the widely strewn bones of the forefathers, gave birth to
+      Mystery. Her people, frightened by the stormy passions of Nature or lulled
+      by her deathlike peace, feel her mystery. Her &ldquo;Red&rdquo; and &ldquo;Yellow Lamas&rdquo;
+       preserve and poetize her mystery. The Pontiffs of Lhasa and Urga know and
+      possess her mystery.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On my journey into Central Asia I came to know for the first time about
+      &ldquo;the Mystery of Mysteries,&rdquo; which I can call by no other name. At the
+      outset I did not pay much attention to it and did not attach to it such
+      importance as I afterwards realized belonged to it, when I had analyzed
+      and connoted many sporadic, hazy and often controversial bits of evidence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The old people on the shore of the River Amyl related to me an ancient
+      legend to the effect that a certain Mongolian tribe in their escape from
+      the demands of Jenghiz Khan hid themselves in a subterranean country.
+      Afterwards a Soyot from near the Lake of Nogan Kul showed me the smoking
+      gate that serves as the entrance to the &ldquo;Kingdom of Agharti.&rdquo; Through this
+      gate a hunter formerly entered into the Kingdom and, after his return,
+      began to relate what he had seen there. The Lamas cut out his tongue in
+      order to prevent him from telling about the Mystery of Mysteries. When he
+      arrived at old age, he came back to the entrance of this cave and
+      disappeared into the subterranean kingdom, the memory of which had
+      ornamented and lightened his nomad heart.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I received more realistic information about this from Hutuktu Jelyb
+      Djamsrap in Narabanchi Kure. He told me the story of the semi-realistic
+      arrival of the powerful King of the World from the subterranean kingdom,
+      of his appearance, of his miracles and of his prophecies; and only then
+      did I begin to understand that in that legend, hypnosis or mass vision,
+      whichever it may be, is hidden not only mystery but a realistic and
+      powerful force capable of influencing the course of the political life of
+      Asia. From that moment I began making some investigations.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The favorite Gelong Lama of Prince Chultun Beyli and the Prince himself
+      gave me an account of the subterranean kingdom.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Everything in the world,&rdquo; said the Gelong, &ldquo;is constantly in a state of
+      change and transition&mdash;peoples science, religions, laws and customs.
+      How many great empires and brilliant cultures have perished! And that
+      alone which remains unchanged is Evil, the tool of Bad Spirits. More than
+      sixty thousand years ago a Holyman disappeared with a whole tribe of
+      people under the ground and never appeared again on the surface of the
+      earth. Many people, however, have since visited this kingdom, Sakkia
+      Mouni, Undur Gheghen, Paspa, Khan Baber and others. No one knows where
+      this place is. One says Afghanistan, others India. All the people there
+      are protected against Evil and crimes do not exist within its bournes.
+      Science has there developed calmly and nothing is threatened with
+      destruction. The subterranean people have reached the highest knowledge.
+      Now it is a large kingdom, millions of men with the King of the World as
+      their ruler. He knows all the forces of the world and reads all the souls
+      of humankind and the great book of their destiny. Invisibly he rules eight
+      hundred million men on the surface of the earth and they will accomplish
+      his every order.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Prince Chultun Beyli added: &ldquo;This kingdom is Agharti. It extends
+      throughout all the subterranean passages of the whole world. I heard a
+      learned Lama of China relating to Bogdo Khan that all the subterranean
+      caves of America are inhabited by the ancient people who have disappeared
+      underground. Traces of them are still found on the surface of the land.
+      These subterranean peoples and spaces are governed by rulers owing
+      allegiance to the King of the World. In it there is not much of the
+      wonderful. You know that in the two greatest oceans of the east and the
+      west there were formerly two continents. They disappeared under the water
+      but their people went into the subterranean kingdom. In underground caves
+      there exists a peculiar light which affords growth to the grains and
+      vegetables and long life without disease to the people. There are many
+      different peoples and many different tribes. An old Buddhist Brahman in
+      Nepal was carrying out the will of the Gods in making a visit to the
+      ancient kingdom of Jenghiz,&mdash;Siam,&mdash;where he met a fisherman who
+      ordered him to take a place in his boat and sail with him upon the sea. On
+      the third day they reached an island where he met a people having two
+      tongues which could speak separately in different languages. They showed
+      to him peculiar, unfamiliar animals, tortoises with sixteen feet and one
+      eye, huge snakes with a very tasty flesh and birds with teeth which caught
+      fish for their masters in the sea. These people told him that they had
+      come up out of the subterranean kingdom and described to him certain parts
+      of the underground country.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Lama Turgut traveling with me from Urga to Peking gave me further
+      details.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The capital of Agharti is surrounded with towns of high priests and
+      scientists. It reminds one of Lhasa where the palace of the Dalai Lama,
+      the Potala, is the top of a mountain covered with monasteries and temples.
+      The throne of the King of the World is surrounded by millions of
+      incarnated Gods. They are the Holy Panditas. The palace itself is
+      encircled by the palaces of the Goro, who possess all the visible and
+      invisible forces of the earth, of inferno and of the sky and who can do
+      everything for the life and death of man. If our mad humankind should
+      begin a war against them, they would be able to explode the whole surface
+      of our planet and transform it into deserts. They can dry up the seas,
+      transform lands into oceans and scatter the mountains into the sands of
+      the deserts. By his order trees, grasses and bushes can be made to grow;
+      old and feeble men can become young and stalwart; and the dead can be
+      resurrected. In cars strange and unknown to us they rush through the
+      narrow cleavages inside our planet. Some Indian Brahmans and Tibetan Dalai
+      Lamas during their laborious struggles to the peaks of mountains which no
+      other human feet had trod have found there inscriptions carved on the
+      rocks, footprints in the snow and the tracks of wheels. The blissful
+      Sakkia Mouni found on one mountain top tablets of stone carrying words
+      which he only understood in his old age and afterwards penetrated into the
+      Kingdom of Agharti, from which he brought back crumbs of the sacred
+      learning preserved in his memory. There in palaces of wonderful crystal
+      live the invisible rulers of all pious people, the King of the World or
+      Brahytma, who can speak with God as I speak with you, and his two
+      assistants, Mahytma, knowing the purposes of future events, and Mahynga,
+      ruling the causes of these events.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The Holy Panditas study the world and all its forces. Sometimes the most
+      learned among them collect together and send envoys to that place where
+      the human eyes have never penetrated. This is described by the Tashi Lama
+      living eight hundred and fifty years ago. The highest Panditas place their
+      hands on their eyes and at the base of the brain of younger ones and force
+      them into a deep sleep, wash their bodies with an infusion of grass and
+      make them immune to pain and harder than stones, wrap them in magic
+      cloths, bind them and then pray to the Great God. The petrified youths lie
+      with eyes and ears open and alert, seeing, hearing and remembering
+      everything. Afterwards a Goro approaches and fastens a long, steady gaze
+      upon them. Very slowly the bodies lift themselves from the earth and
+      disappear. The Goro sits and stares with fixed eyes to the place whither
+      he has sent them. Invisible threads join them to his will. Some of them
+      course among the stars, observe their events, their unknown peoples, their
+      life and their laws. They listen to their talk, read their books,
+      understand their fortunes and woes, their holiness and sins, their piety
+      and evil. Some are mingled with flame and see the creature of fire, quick
+      and ferocious, eternally fighting, melting and hammering metals in the
+      depths of planets, boiling the water for geysers and springs, melting the
+      rocks and pushing out molten streams over the surface of the earth through
+      the holes in the mountains. Others rush together with the ever elusive,
+      infinitesimally small, transparent creatures of the air and penetrate into
+      the mysteries of their existence and into the purposes of their life.
+      Others slip into the depths of the seas and observe the kingdom of the
+      wise creatures of the water, who transport and spread genial warmth all
+      over the earth, ruling the winds, waves and storms. . . . In Erdeni Dzu
+      formerly lived Pandita Hutuktu, who had come from Agharti. As he was
+      dying, he told about the time when he lived according to the will of the
+      Goro on a red star in the east, floated in the ice-covered ocean and flew
+      among the stormy fires in the depths of the earth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      These are the tales which I heard in the Mongolian yurtas of Princes and
+      in the Lamaite monasteries. These stories were all related in a solemn
+      tone which forbade challenge and doubt.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mystery. . . .
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0047" id="link2HCH0047">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XLVII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE KING OF THE WORLD BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      During my stay in Urga I tried to find an explanation of this legend about
+      the King of the World. Of course, the Living Buddha could tell me most of
+      all and so I endeavored to get the story from him. In a conversation with
+      him I mentioned the name of the King of the World. The old Pontiff sharply
+      turned his head toward me and fixed upon me his immobile, blind eyes.
+      Unwillingly I became silent. Our silence was a long one and after it the
+      Pontiff continued the conversation in such a way that I understood he did
+      not wish to accept the suggestion of my reference. On the faces of the
+      others present I noticed expressions of astonishment and fear produced by
+      my words, and especially was this true of the custodian of the library of
+      the Bogdo Khan. One can readily understand that all this only made me the
+      more anxious to press the pursuit.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As I was leaving the study of the Bogdo Hutuktu, I met the librarian who
+      had stepped out ahead of me and asked him if he would show me the library
+      of the Living Buddha and used a very simple, sly trick with him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you know, my dear Lama,&rdquo; I said, &ldquo;once I rode in the plain at the hour
+      when the King of the World spoke with God and I felt the impressive
+      majesty of this moment.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      To my astonishment the old Lama very quietly answered me: &ldquo;It is not right
+      that the Buddhist and our Yellow Faith should conceal it. The
+      acknowledgment of the existence of the most holy and most powerful man, of
+      the blissful kingdom, of the great temple of sacred science is such a
+      consolation to our sinful hearts and our corrupt lives that to conceal it
+      from humankind is a sin. . . . Well, listen,&rdquo; he continued, &ldquo;throughout
+      the whole year the King of the World guides the work of the Panditas and
+      Goros of Agharti. Only at times he goes to the temple cave where the
+      embalmed body of his predecessor lies in a black stone coffin. This cave
+      is always dark, but when the King of the World enters it the walls are
+      striped with fire and from the lid of the coffin appear tongues of flame.
+      The eldest Goro stands before him with covered head and face and with
+      hands folded across his chest. This Goro never removes the covering from
+      his face, for his head is a nude skull with living eyes and a tongue that
+      speaks. He is in communion with the souls of all who have gone before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The King of the World prays for a long time and afterwards approaches the
+      coffin and stretches out his hand. The flames thereon burn brighter; the
+      stripes of fire on the walls disappear and revive, interlace and form
+      mysterious signs from the alphabet vatannan. From the coffin transparent
+      bands of scarcely noticeable light begin to flow forth. These are the
+      thoughts of his predecessor. Soon the King of the World stands surrounded
+      by an auriole of this light and fiery letters write and write upon the
+      walls the wishes and orders of God. At this moment the King of the World
+      is in contact with the thoughts of all the men who influence the lot and
+      life of all humankind: with Kings, Czars, Khans, warlike leaders, High
+      Priests, scientists and other strong men. He realizes all their thoughts
+      and plans. If these be pleasing before God, the King of the World will
+      invisibly help them; if they are unpleasant in the sight of God, the King
+      will bring them to destruction. This power is given to Agharti by the
+      mysterious science of &lsquo;Om,&rsquo; with which we begin all our prayers. &lsquo;Om&rsquo; is
+      the name of an ancient Holyman, the first Goro, who lived three hundred
+      thirty thousand years ago. He was the first man to know God and who taught
+      humankind to believe, hope and struggle with Evil. Then God gave him power
+      over all forces ruling the visible world.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;After his conversation with his predecessor the King of the World
+      assembles the &lsquo;Great Council of God,&rsquo; judges the actions and thoughts of
+      great men, helps them or destroys them. Mahytma and Mahynga find the place
+      for these actions and thoughts in the causes ruling the world. Afterwards
+      the King of the World enters the great temple and prays in solitude. Fire
+      appears on the altar, gradually spreading to all the altars near, and
+      through the burning flame gradually appears the face of God. The King of
+      the World reverently announces to God the decisions and awards of the
+      &lsquo;Council of God&rsquo; and receives in turn the Divine orders of the Almighty.
+      As he comes forth from the temple, the King of the World radiates with
+      Divine Light.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0048" id="link2HCH0048">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XLVIII
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      REALITY OR RELIGIOUS FANTASY?
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Has anybody seen the King of the World?&rdquo; I asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, yes!&rdquo; answered the Lama. &ldquo;During the solemn holidays of the ancient
+      Buddhism in Siam and India the King of the World appeared five times. He
+      rode in a splendid car drawn by white elephants and ornamented with gold,
+      precious stones and finest fabrics; he was robed in a white mantle and red
+      tiara with strings of diamonds masking his face. He blessed the people
+      with a golden apple with the figure of a Lamb above it. The blind received
+      their sight, the dumb spoke, the deaf heard, the crippled freely moved and
+      the dead arose, wherever the eyes of the King of the World rested. He also
+      appeared five hundred and forty years ago in Erdeni Dzu, he was in the
+      ancient Sakkai Monastery and in the Narabanchi Kure.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;One of our Living Buddhas and one of the Tashi Lamas received a message
+      from him, written with unknown signs on golden tablets. No one could read
+      these signs. The Tashi Lama entered the temple, placed the golden tablet
+      on his head and began to pray. With this the thoughts of the King of the
+      World penetrated his brain and, without having read the enigmatical signs,
+      he understood and accomplished the message of the King.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How many persons have ever been to Agharti?&rdquo; I questioned him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Very many,&rdquo; answered the Lama, &ldquo;but all these people have kept secret
+      that which they saw there. When the Olets destroyed Lhasa, one of their
+      detachments in the southwestern mountains penetrated to the outskirts of
+      Agharti. Here they learned some of the lesser mysterious sciences and
+      brought them to the surface of our earth. This is why the Olets and
+      Kalmucks are artful sorcerers and prophets. Also from the eastern country
+      some tribes of black people penetrated to Agharti and lived there many
+      centuries. Afterwards they were thrust out from the kingdom and returned
+      to the earth, bringing with them the mystery of predictions according to
+      cards, grasses and the lines of the palm. They are the Gypsies. . . .
+      Somewhere in the north of Asia a tribe exists which is now dying and which
+      came from the cave of Agharti, skilled in calling back the spirits of the
+      dead as they float through the air.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Lama was silent and afterwards, as though answering my thoughts,
+      continued.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In Agharti the learned Panditas write on tablets of stone all the science
+      of our planet and of the other worlds. The Chinese learned Buddhists know
+      this. Their science is the highest and purest. Every century one hundred
+      sages of China collect in a secret place on the shores of the sea, where
+      from its depths come out one hundred eternally-living tortoises. On their
+      shells the Chinese write all the developments of the divine science of the
+      century.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      As I write I am involuntarily reminded of a tale of an old Chinese bonze
+      in the Temple of Heaven at Peking. He told me that tortoises live more
+      than three thousand years without food and air and that this is the reason
+      why all the columns of the blue Temple of Heaven were set on live
+      tortoises to preserve the wood from decay.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Several times the Pontiffs of Lhasa and Urga have sent envoys to the King
+      of the World,&rdquo; said the Lama librarian, &ldquo;but they could not find him. Only
+      a certain Tibetan leader after a battle with the Olets found the cave with
+      the inscription: &lsquo;This is the gate to Agharti.&rsquo; From the cave a fine
+      appearing man came forth, presented him with a gold tablet bearing the
+      mysterious signs and said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;The King of the World will appear before all people when the time shall
+      have arrived for him to lead all the good people of the world against all
+      the bad; but this time has not yet come. The most evil among mankind have
+      not yet been born.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Chiang Chun Baron Ungern sent the young Prince Pounzig to seek out the
+      King of the World but he returned with a letter from the Dalai Lama from
+      Lhasa. When the Baron sent him a second time, he did not come back.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0049" id="link2HCH0049">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XLIX
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      THE PROPHECY OF THE KING OF THE WORLD IN 1890
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      The Hutuktu of Narabanchi related the following to me, when I visited him
+      in his monastery in the beginning of 1921:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;When the King of the World appeared before the Lamas, favored of God, in
+      this monastery thirty years ago he made a prophecy for the coming half
+      century. It was as follows:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;More and more the people will forget their souls and care about their
+      bodies. The greatest sin and corruption will reign on the earth. People
+      will become as ferocious animals, thirsting for the blood and death of
+      their brothers. The &lsquo;Crescent&rsquo; will grow dim and its followers will
+      descend into beggary and ceaseless war. Its conquerors will be stricken by
+      the sun but will not progress upward and twice they will be visited with
+      the heaviest misfortune, which will end in insult before the eye of the
+      other peoples. The crowns of kings, great and small, will fall . . . one,
+      two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. . . . There will be a terrible
+      battle among all the peoples. The seas will become red . . . the earth and
+      the bottom of the seas will be strewn with bones . . . kingdoms will be
+      scattered . . . whole peoples will die . . . hunger, disease, crimes
+      unknown to the law, never before seen in the world. The enemies of God and
+      of the Divine Spirit in man will come. Those who take the hand of another
+      shall also perish. The forgotten and pursued shall rise and hold the
+      attention of the whole world. There will be fogs and storms. Bare
+      mountains shall suddenly be covered with forests. Earthquakes will come. .
+      . . Millions will change the fetters of slavery and humiliation for
+      hunger, disease and death. The ancient roads will be covered with crowds
+      wandering from one place to another. The greatest and most beautiful
+      cities shall perish in fire . . . one, two, three. . . . Father shall rise
+      against son, brother against brother and mother against daughter. . . .
+      Vice, crime and the destruction of body and soul shall follow. . . .
+      Families shall be scattered. . . . Truth and love shall disappear. . . .
+      From ten thousand men one shall remain; he shall be nude and mad and
+      without force and the knowledge to build him a house and find his food. .
+      . . He will howl as the raging wolf, devour dead bodies, bite his own
+      flesh and challenge God to fight. . . . All the earth will be emptied. God
+      will turn away from it and over it there will be only night and death.
+      Then I shall send a people, now unknown, which shall tear out the weeds of
+      madness and vice with a strong hand and will lead those who still remain
+      faithful to the spirit of man in the fight against Evil. They will found a
+      new life on the earth purified by the death of nations. In the fiftieth
+      year only three great kingdoms will appear, which will exist happily
+      seventy-one years. Afterwards there will be eighteen years of war and
+      destruction. Then the peoples of Agharti will come up from their
+      subterranean caverns to the surface of the earth.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      Afterwards, as I traveled farther through Eastern Mongolia and to Peking,
+      I often thought:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And what if . . . ? What if whole peoples of different colors, faiths and
+      tribes should begin their migration toward the West?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And now, as I write these final lines, my eyes involuntarily turn to this
+      limitless Heart of Asia over which the trails of my wanderings twine.
+      Through whirling snow and driving clouds of sand of the Gobi they travel
+      back to the face of the Narabanchi Hutuktu as, with quiet voice and a
+      slender hand pointing to the horizon, he opened to me the doors of his
+      innermost thoughts:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Near Karakorum and on the shores of Ubsa Nor I see the huge,
+      multi-colored camps, the herds of horses and cattle and the blue yurtas of
+      the leaders. Above them I see the old banners of Jenghiz Khan, of the
+      Kings of Tibet, Siam, Afghanistan and of Indian Princes; the sacred signs
+      of all the Lamaite Pontiffs; the coats of arms of the Khans of the Olets;
+      and the simple signs of the north Mongolian tribes. I do not hear the
+      noise of the animated crowd. The singers do not sing the mournful songs of
+      mountain, plain and desert. The young riders are not delighting themselves
+      with the races on their fleet steeds. . . . There are innumerable crowds
+      of old men, women and children and beyond in the north and west, as far as
+      the eye can reach, the sky is red as a flame, there is the roar and
+      crackling of fire and the ferocious sound of battle. Who is leading these
+      warriors who there beneath the reddened sky are shedding their own and
+      others&rsquo; blood? Who is leading these crowds of unarmed old men and women? I
+      see severe order, deep religious understanding of purposes, patience and
+      tenacity . . . a new great migration of peoples, the last march of the
+      Mongols. . . .&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Karma may have opened a new page of history!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And what if the King of the World be with them?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But this greatest Mystery of Mysteries keeps its own deep silence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_GLOS" id="link2H_GLOS">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      GLOSSARY
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Agronome.&mdash;Russian for trained agriculturalist.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Amour sayn.&mdash;Good-bye.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ataman.&mdash;Headman or chief of the Cossacks.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bandi.&mdash;Pupil or student of theological school in the Buddhist faith.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Buriat.&mdash;The most civilized Mongol tribe, living in the valley of the
+      Selenga in Transbaikalia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Chahars.&mdash;A warlike Mongolian tribe living along the Great Wall of
+      China in Inner Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Chaidje.&mdash;A high Lamaite priest, but not an incarnate god.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Cheka.&mdash;The Bolshevik Counter-Revolutionary Committee, the most
+      relentless establishment of the Bolsheviki, organized for the persecution
+      of the enemies of the Communistic government in Russia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Chiang Chun.&mdash;Chinese for &ldquo;General&rdquo;&mdash;Chief of all Chinese troops
+      in Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Dalai Lama.&mdash;The first and highest Pontiff of the Lamaite or &ldquo;Yellow
+      Faith,&rdquo; living at Lhasa in Tibet.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Djungar.&mdash;A West Mongolian tribe.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Dugun.&mdash;Chinese commercial and military post.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Dzuk.&mdash;Lie down!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Fang-tzu.&mdash;Chinese for &ldquo;house.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Fatil.&mdash;A very rare and precious root much prized in Chinese and
+      Tibetan medicines.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Felcher.&mdash;Assistant of a doctor (surgeon).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Gelong.&mdash;Lamaite priest having the right to offer sacrifices to God.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Getul.&mdash;The third rank in the Lamaite monks.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Goro.&mdash;The high priest of the King of the World.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Hatyk.&mdash;An oblong piece of blue (or yellow) silk cloth, presented to
+      honored guests, chiefs, Lamas and gods. Also a kind of coin, worth from 25
+      to 50 cents.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Hong.&mdash;A Chinese mercantile establishment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Hun.&mdash;The lowest rank of princes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Hunghutze.&mdash;Chinese brigand.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Hushun.&mdash;A fenced enclosure, containing the houses, paddocks, stores,
+      stables, etc., of Russian Cossacks in Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Hutuktu.&mdash;The highest rank of Lamaite monks; the form of any
+      incarnated god; holy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Imouran.&mdash;A small rodent like a gopher.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Izubr.&mdash;The American elk.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kabarga.&mdash;The musk antelope.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kalmuck.&mdash;A Mongolian tribe, which migrated from Mongolia under
+      Jenghiz Khan (where they were known as the Olets or Eleuths), and now live
+      in the Urals and on the shores of the Volga in Russia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kanpo.&mdash;The abbot of a Lamaite monastery, a monk; also the first rank
+      of &ldquo;white&rdquo; clergy (not monks).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kanpo-Gelong.&mdash;The highest rank of Gelongs (q.v.); an honorary title.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Karma.&mdash;The Buddhist materialization of the idea of Fate, a parallel
+      with the Greek and Roman Nemesis (Justice).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Khan.&mdash;A king.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Khayrus.&mdash;A kind of trout.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Khirghiz.&mdash;The great Mongol nation living between the river Irtish in
+      western Siberia, Lake Balhash and the Volga in Russia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kuropatka.&mdash;A partridge.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lama.&mdash;The common name for a Lamaite priest.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lan.&mdash;A weight of silver or gold equivalent to about one-eleventh of
+      a Russian pound, or 9/110ths of a pound avoirdupois.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lanhon.&mdash;A round bottle of clay.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Maramba.&mdash;A doctor of theology.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Merin.&mdash;The civil chief of police in every district of the Soyot
+      country in Urianhai.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Om! Mani padme Hung!&rdquo;.&mdash;&ldquo;Om&rdquo; has two meanings. It is the name of the
+      first Goro and also means: &ldquo;Hail!&rdquo; In this connection: &ldquo;Hail! Great Lama
+      in the Lotus Flower!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mende.&mdash;Soyot greeting&mdash;&ldquo;Good Day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Nagan-hushun.&mdash;A Chinese vegetable garden or enclosure in Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Naida.&mdash;A form of fire used by Siberian woodsmen.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Noyon.&mdash;A Prince or Khan. In polite address: &ldquo;Chief,&rdquo; &ldquo;Excellency.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Obo.&mdash;The sacred and propitiatory signs in all the dangerous places
+      in Urianhai and Mongolia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Olets.&mdash;Vid: Kalmuck.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Om.&mdash;The name of the first Goro (q.v.) and also of the mysterious,
+      magic science of the Subterranean State. It means, also: &ldquo;Hail!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Orochons.&mdash;A Mongolian tribe, living near the shores of the Amur
+      River in Siberia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Oulatchen.&mdash;The guard for the post horses; official guide.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ourton.&mdash;A post station, where the travelers change horses and
+      oulatchens.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Pandita.&mdash;The high rank of Buddhist monks.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Panti.&mdash;Deer horns in the velvet, highly prized as a Tibetan and
+      Chinese medicine.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Pogrom.&mdash;A wholesale slaughter of unarmed people; a massacre.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Paspa.&mdash;The founder of the Yellow Sect, predominating now in the
+      Lamaite faith.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Sait.&mdash;A Mongolian governor.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Salga.&mdash;A sand partridge.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Sayn.&mdash;&ldquo;Good day!&rdquo; &ldquo;Good morning!&rdquo; &ldquo;Good evening!&rdquo; All right; good.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Taiga.&mdash;A Siberian word for forest.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Taimen.&mdash;A species of big trout, reaching 120 pounds.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ta Lama.&mdash;Literally: &ldquo;the great priest,&rdquo; but it means now &ldquo;a doctor
+      of medicine.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Tashur.&mdash;A strong bamboo stick.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Turpan.&mdash;The red wild goose or Lama-goose.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tzagan.&mdash;White.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tzara.&mdash;A document, giving the right to receive horses and oulatchens
+      at the post stations.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tsirik.&mdash;Mongolian soldiers mobilized by levy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tzuren.&mdash;A doctor-poisoner.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ulan.&mdash;Red.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Urga.&mdash;The name of the capital of Mongolia; (2) a kind of Mongolian
+      lasso.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vatannen.&mdash;The language of the Subterranean State of the King of the
+      World.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Wapiti.&mdash;The American elk.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Yurta.&mdash;The common Mongolian tent or house, made of felt.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Zahachine.&mdash;A West Mongolian wandering tribe.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Zaberega.&mdash;The ice-mountains formed along the shores of a river in
+      spring.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Zikkurat.&mdash;A high tower of Babylonish style.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+
+
+
+
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+</pre>
+  </body>
+</html>
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Beasts, Men and Gods, by Ferdinand Ossendowski
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Beasts, Men and Gods
+
+Author: Ferdinand Ossendowski
+
+Translator: Lewis Stanton Palen
+
+Release Date: May 13, 2006 [EBook #2067]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEASTS, MEN AND GODS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Donald Lainson
+
+
+
+
+
+BEASTS, MEN AND GODS
+
+by Ferdinand Ossendowski
+
+
+
+
+EXPLANATORY NOTE
+
+
+When one of the leading publicists in America, Dr. Albert Shaw of
+the Review of Reviews, after reading the manuscript of Part I of
+this volume, characterized the author as "The Robinson Crusoe of the
+Twentieth Century," he touched the feature of the narrative which is at
+once most attractive and most dangerous; for the succession of trying
+and thrilling experiences recorded seems in places too highly colored
+to be real or, sometimes, even possible in this day and generation.
+I desire, therefore, to assure the reader at the outset that Dr.
+Ossendowski is a man of long and diverse experience as a scientist and
+writer with a training for careful observation which should put
+the stamp of accuracy and reliability on his chronicle. Only the
+extraordinary events of these extraordinary times could have thrown one
+with so many talents back into the surroundings of the "Cave Man" and
+thus given to us this unusual account of personal adventure, of great
+human mysteries and of the political and religious motives which are
+energizing the "Heart of Asia."
+
+My share in the work has been to induce Dr. Ossendowski to write his
+story at this time and to assist him in rendering his experiences into
+English.
+
+LEWIS STANTON PALEN.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+PART I. DRAWING LOTS WITH DEATH
+
+
+CHAPTER
+
+I.      INTO THE FORESTS
+
+II.     THE SECRET OF MY FELLOW TRAVELER
+
+III.    THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
+
+IV.     A FISHERMAN
+
+V.      A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOR
+
+VI.     A RIVER IN TRAVAIL
+
+VII.    THROUGH SOVIET SIBERIA
+
+VIII.   THREE DAYS ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE
+
+IX.     TO THE SAYANS AND SAFETY
+
+X.      THE BATTLE OF THE SEYBI
+
+XI.     THE BARRIER OF RED PARTISANS
+
+XII.    IN THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL PEACE
+
+XIII.   MYSTERIES, MIRACLES AND A NEW FIGHT
+
+XIV.    THE RIVER OF THE DEVIL
+
+XV.     THE MARCH OF GHOSTS
+
+XVI.    IN MYSTERIOUS TIBET
+
+
+
+PART II. THE LAND OF DEMONS
+
+
+XVII.    MYSTERIOUS MONGOLIA
+
+XVIII.   THE MYSTERIOUS LAMA AVENGER
+
+XIX.     WILD CHAHARS
+
+XX.      THE DEMON OF JAGISSTAI
+
+XXI.     THE NEST OF DEATH
+
+XXII.    AMONG THE MURDERERS
+
+XXIII.   ON A VOLCANO
+
+XXIV.    A BLOODY CHASTISEMENT
+
+XXV.     HARASSING DAYS
+
+XXVI.    THE BAND OF WHITE HUNGHUTZES
+
+XXVII.   MYSTERY IN A SMALL TEMPLE
+
+XXVIII.  THE BREATH OF DEATH
+
+
+
+PART III. THE STRAINING HEART OF ASIA
+
+
+XXIX.    ON THE ROAD OF GREAT CONQUERORS
+
+XXX.     ARRESTED!
+
+XXXI.    TRAVELING BY "URGA"
+
+XXXII.   AN OLD FORTUNE TELLER
+
+XXXIII.  "DEATH FROM THE WHITE MAN WILL STAND BEHIND YOU"
+
+XXXIV.   THE HORROR OF WAR!
+
+XXXV.    IN THE CITY OF LIVING GODS, 30,000 BUDDHAS AND 60,000 MONKS
+
+XXXVI.   A SON OF CRUSADERS AND PRIVATEERS
+
+XXXVII.  THE CAMP OF MARTYRS
+
+XXXVIII. BEFORE THE FACE OF BUDDHA
+
+XXXIX.   "THE MAN WITH A HEAD LIKE A SADDLE"
+
+
+
+PART IV. THE LIVING BUDDHA
+
+
+XL.     IN THE BLISSFUL GARDEN OF A THOUSAND JOYS
+
+XLI.    THE DUST OF CENTURIES
+
+XLII.   THE BOOKS OF MIRACLES
+
+XLIII.  THE BIRTH OF THE LIVING BUDDHA
+
+XLIV.   A PAGE IN THE HISTORY OF THE PRESENT LIVING BUDDHA
+
+XLV.    THE VISION OF THE LIVING BUDDHA OF MAY 17, 1921
+
+
+
+PART V. MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES--THE KING OF THE WORLD
+
+
+XLVI.   THE SUBTERRANEAN KINGDOM
+
+XLVII.  THE KING OF THE WORLD BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD
+
+XLVIII. REALITY OR RELIGIOUS FANTASY?
+
+XLIX.   THE PROPHECY OF THE KING OF THE WORLD IN 1890
+
+
+There are times, men and events about which History alone can record the
+final judgments; contemporaries and individual observers must only write
+what they have seen and heard. The very truth demands it.
+
+TITUS LIVIUS.
+
+
+
+
+BEASTS, MEN AND GODS
+
+
+
+
+Part I
+
+DRAWING LOTS WITH DEATH
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+INTO THE FORESTS
+
+
+In the beginning of the year 1920 I happened to be living in the
+Siberian town of Krasnoyarsk, situated on the shores of the River
+Yenisei, that noble stream which is cradled in the sun-bathed mountains
+of Mongolia to pour its warming life into the Arctic Ocean and to whose
+mouth Nansen has twice come to open the shortest road for commerce from
+Europe to the heart of Asia. There in the depths of the still Siberian
+winter I was suddenly caught up in the whirling storm of mad revolution
+raging all over Russia, sowing in this peaceful and rich land vengeance,
+hate, bloodshed and crimes that go unpunished by the law. No one could
+tell the hour of his fate. The people lived from day to day and left
+their homes not knowing whether they should return to them or whether
+they should be dragged from the streets and thrown into the dungeons of
+that travesty of courts, the Revolutionary Committee, more terrible
+and more bloody than those of the Mediaeval Inquisition. We who were
+strangers in this distraught land were not saved from its persecutions
+and I personally lived through them.
+
+One morning, when I had gone out to see a friend, I suddenly received
+the news that twenty Red soldiers had surrounded my house to arrest me
+and that I must escape. I quickly put on one of my friend's old hunting
+suits, took some money and hurried away on foot along the back ways of
+the town till I struck the open road, where I engaged a peasant, who in
+four hours had driven me twenty miles from the town and set me down
+in the midst of a deeply forested region. On the way I bought a rifle,
+three hundred cartridges, an ax, a knife, a sheepskin overcoat, tea,
+salt, dry bread and a kettle. I penetrated into the heart of the wood to
+an abandoned half-burned hut. From this day I became a genuine trapper
+but I never dreamed that I should follow this role as long as I did.
+The next morning I went hunting and had the good fortune to kill two
+heathcock. I found deer tracks in plenty and felt sure that I should not
+want for food. However, my sojourn in this place was not for long. Five
+days later when I returned from hunting I noticed smoke curling up out
+of the chimney of my hut. I stealthily crept along closer to the cabin
+and discovered two saddled horses with soldiers' rifles slung to the
+saddles. Two disarmed men were not dangerous for me with a weapon, so I
+quickly rushed across the open and entered the hut. From the bench
+two soldiers started up in fright. They were Bolsheviki. On their big
+Astrakhan caps I made out the red stars of Bolshevism and on their
+blouses the dirty red bands. We greeted each other and sat down. The
+soldiers had already prepared tea and so we drank this ever welcome
+hot beverage and chatted, suspiciously eyeing one another the while.
+To disarm this suspicion on their part, I told them that I was a hunter
+from a distant place and was living there because I found it good
+country for sables. They announced to me that they were soldiers of
+a detachment sent from a town into the woods to pursue all suspicious
+people.
+
+"Do you understand, 'Comrade,'" said one of them to me, "we are looking
+for counter-revolutionists to shoot them?"
+
+I knew it without his explanations. All my forces were directed to
+assuring them by my conduct that I was a simple peasant hunter and that
+I had nothing in common with the counter-revolutionists. I was thinking
+also all the time of where I should go after the departure of my
+unwelcome guests. It grew dark. In the darkness their faces were even
+less attractive. They took out bottles of vodka and drank and the
+alcohol began to act very noticeably. They talked loudly and constantly
+interrupted each other, boasting how many bourgeoisie they had killed
+in Krasnoyarsk and how many Cossacks they had slid under the ice in the
+river. Afterwards they began to quarrel but soon they were tired and
+prepared to sleep. All of a sudden and without any warning the door of
+the hut swung wide open and the steam of the heated room rolled out in
+a great cloud, out of which seemed to rise like a genie, as the steam
+settled, the figure of a tall, gaunt peasant impressively crowned with
+the high Astrakhan cap and wrapped in the great sheepskin overcoat that
+added to the massiveness of his figure. He stood with his rifle ready
+to fire. Under his girdle lay the sharp ax without which the Siberian
+peasant cannot exist. Eyes, quick and glimmering like those of a wild
+beast, fixed themselves alternately on each of us. In a moment he took
+off his cap, made the sign of the cross on his breast and asked of us:
+"Who is the master here?"
+
+I answered him.
+
+"May I stop the night?"
+
+"Yes," I replied, "places enough for all. Take a cup of tea. It is still
+hot."
+
+The stranger, running his eyes constantly over all of us and over
+everything about the room, began to take off his skin coat after putting
+his rifle in the corner. He was dressed in an old leather blouse with
+trousers of the same material tucked in high felt boots. His face was
+quite young, fine and tinged with something akin to mockery. His white,
+sharp teeth glimmered as his eyes penetrated everything they rested
+upon. I noticed the locks of grey in his shaggy head. Lines of
+bitterness circled his mouth. They showed his life had been very stormy
+and full of danger. He took a seat beside his rifle and laid his ax on
+the floor below.
+
+"What? Is it your wife?" asked one of the drunken soldiers, pointing to
+the ax.
+
+The tall peasant looked calmly at him from the quiet eyes under their
+heavy brows and as calmly answered:
+
+"One meets a different folk these days and with an ax it is much safer."
+
+He began to drink tea very greedily, while his eyes looked at me many
+times with sharp inquiry in them and ran often round the whole cabin in
+search of the answer to his doubts. Very slowly and with a guarded drawl
+he answered all the questions of the soldiers between gulps of the
+hot tea, then he turned his glass upside down as evidence of having
+finished, placed on the top of it the small lump of sugar left and
+remarked to the soldiers:
+
+"I am going out to look after my horse and will unsaddle your horses for
+you also."
+
+"All right," exclaimed the half-sleeping young soldier, "bring in our
+rifles as well."
+
+The soldiers were lying on the benches and thus left for us only the
+floor. The stranger soon came back, brought the rifles and set them in
+the dark corner. He dropped the saddle pads on the floor, sat down on
+them and began to take off his boots. The soldiers and my guest soon
+were snoring but I did not sleep for thinking of what next to do.
+Finally as dawn was breaking, I dozed off only to awake in the
+broad daylight and find my stranger gone. I went outside the hut and
+discovered him saddling a fine bay stallion.
+
+"Are you going away?" I asked.
+
+"Yes, but I want to go together with these ---- comrades,'" he
+whispered, "and afterwards I shall come back."
+
+I did not ask him anything further and told him only that I would wait
+for him. He took off the bags that had been hanging on his saddle, put
+them away out of sight in the burned corner of the cabin, looked over
+the stirrups and bridle and, as he finished saddling, smiled and said:
+
+"I am ready. I'm going to awake my 'comrades.'" Half an hour after the
+morning drink of tea, my three guests took their leave. I remained out
+of doors and was engaged in splitting wood for my stove. Suddenly,
+from a distance, rifle shots rang through the woods, first one, then
+a second. Afterwards all was still. From the place near the shots a
+frightened covey of blackcock broke and came over me. At the top of a
+high pine a jay cried out. I listened for a long time to see if anyone
+was approaching my hut but everything was still.
+
+On the lower Yenisei it grows dark very early. I built a fire in my
+stove and began to cook my soup, constantly listening for every noise
+that came from beyond the cabin walls. Certainly I understood at all
+times very clearly that death was ever beside me and might claim me
+by means of either man, beast, cold, accident or disease. I knew that
+nobody was near me to assist and that all my help was in the hands of
+God, in the power of my hands and feet, in the accuracy of my aim and in
+my presence of mind. However, I listened in vain. I did not notice the
+return of my stranger. Like yesterday he appeared all at once on the
+threshold. Through the steam I made out his laughing eyes and his fine
+face. He stepped into the hut and dropped with a good deal of noise
+three rifles into the corner.
+
+"Two horses, two rifles, two saddles, two boxes of dry bread, half a
+brick of tea, a small bag of salt, fifty cartridges, two overcoats, two
+pairs of boots," laughingly he counted out. "In truth today I had a very
+successful hunt."
+
+In astonishment I looked at him.
+
+"What are you surprised at?" he laughed. "Komu nujny eti tovarischi?
+Who's got any use for these fellows? Let us have tea and go to sleep.
+Tomorrow I will guide you to another safer place and then go on."
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE SECRET OF MY FELLOW TRAVELER
+
+
+At the dawn of day we started forth, leaving my first place of refuge.
+Into the bags we packed our personal estate and fastened them on one of
+the saddles.
+
+"We must go four or five hundred versts," very calmly announced my
+fellow traveler, who called himself "Ivan," a name that meant nothing to
+my mind or heart in this land where every second man bore the same.
+
+"We shall travel then for a very long time," I remarked regretfully.
+
+"Not more than one week, perhaps even less," he answered.
+
+That night we spent in the woods under the wide spreading branches of
+the fir trees. It was my first night in the forest under the open sky.
+How many like this I was destined to spend in the year and a half of my
+wanderings! During the day there was very sharp cold. Under the hoofs of
+the horses the frozen snow crunched and the balls that formed and broke
+from their hoofs rolled away over the crust with a sound like crackling
+glass. The heathcock flew from the trees very idly, hares loped slowly
+down the beds of summer streams. At night the wind began to sigh and
+whistle as it bent the tops of the trees over our heads; while below it
+was still and calm. We stopped in a deep ravine bordered by heavy trees,
+where we found fallen firs, cut them into logs for the fire and, after
+having boiled our tea, dined.
+
+Ivan dragged in two tree trunks, squared them on one side with his ax,
+laid one on the other with the squared faces together and then drove in
+a big wedge at the butt ends which separated them three or four inches.
+Then we placed live coals in this opening and watched the fire run
+rapidly the whole length of the squared faces vis-a-vis.
+
+"Now there will be a fire in the morning," he announced. "This is the
+'naida' of the gold prospectors. We prospectors wandering in the woods
+summer and winter always sleep beside this 'naida.' Fine! You shall see
+for yourself," he continued.
+
+He cut fir branches and made a sloping roof out of them, resting it on
+two uprights toward the naida. Above our roof of boughs and our naida
+spread the branches of protecting fir. More branches were brought and
+spread on the snow under the roof, on these were placed the saddle
+cloths and together they made a seat for Ivan to rest on and to take off
+his outer garments down to his blouse. Soon I noticed his forehead was
+wet with perspiration and that he was wiping it and his neck on his
+sleeves.
+
+"Now it is good and warm!" he exclaimed.
+
+In a short time I was also forced to take off my overcoat and soon lay
+down to sleep without any covering at all, while through the branches
+of the fir trees and our roof glimmered the cold bright stars and
+just beyond the naida raged a stinging cold, from which we were cosily
+defended. After this night I was no longer frightened by the cold.
+Frozen during the days on horseback, I was thoroughly warmed through
+by the genial naida at night and rested from my heavy overcoat, sitting
+only in my blouse under the roofs of pine and fir and sipping the ever
+welcome tea.
+
+During our daily treks Ivan related to me the stories of his wanderings
+through the mountains and woods of Transbaikalia in the search for gold.
+These stories were very lively, full of attractive adventure, danger and
+struggle. Ivan was a type of these prospectors who have discovered in
+Russia, and perhaps in other countries, the richest gold mines, while
+they themselves remain beggars. He evaded telling me why he left
+Transbaikalia to come to the Yenisei. I understood from his manner that
+he wished to keep his own counsel and so did not press him. However, the
+blanket of secrecy covering this part of his mysterious life was one day
+quite fortuitously lifted a bit. We were already at the objective point
+of our trip. The whole day we had traveled with difficulty through a
+thick growth of willow, approaching the shore of the big right branch of
+the Yenisei, the Mana. Everywhere we saw runways packed hard by the feet
+of the hares living in this bush. These small white denizens of the wood
+ran to and fro in front of us. Another time we saw the red tail of a fox
+hiding behind a rock, watching us and the unsuspecting hares at the same
+time.
+
+Ivan had been silent for a long while. Then he spoke up and told me that
+not far from there was a small branch of the Mana, at the mouth of which
+was a hut.
+
+"What do you say? Shall we push on there or spend the night by the
+naida?"
+
+I suggested going to the hut, because I wanted to wash and because it
+would be agreeable to spend the night under a genuine roof again. Ivan
+knitted his brows but acceded.
+
+It was growing dark when we approached a hut surrounded by the dense
+wood and wild raspberry bushes. It contained one small room with two
+microscopic windows and a gigantic Russian stove. Against the building
+were the remains of a shed and a cellar. We fired the stove and prepared
+our modest dinner. Ivan drank from the bottle inherited from the
+soldiers and in a short time was very eloquent, with brilliant eyes and
+with hands that coursed frequently and rapidly through his long locks.
+He began relating to me the story of one of his adventures, but suddenly
+stopped and, with fear in his eyes, squinted into a dark corner.
+
+"Is it a rat?" he asked.
+
+"I did not see anything," I replied.
+
+He again became silent and reflected with knitted brow. Often we were
+silent through long hours and consequently I was not astonished. Ivan
+leaned over near to me and began to whisper.
+
+"I want to tell you an old story. I had a friend in Transbaikalia. He
+was a banished convict. His name was Gavronsky. Through many woods
+and over many mountains we traveled in search of gold and we had an
+agreement to divide all we got into even shares. But Gavronsky suddenly
+went out to the 'Taiga' on the Yenisei and disappeared. After five years
+we heard that he had found a very rich gold mine and had become a rich
+man; then later that he and his wife with him had been murdered. . . ."
+Ivan was still for a moment and then continued:
+
+"This is their old hut. Here he lived with his wife and somewhere on
+this river he took out his gold. But he told nobody where. All the
+peasants around here know that he had a lot of money in the bank
+and that he had been selling gold to the Government. Here they were
+murdered."
+
+Ivan stepped to the stove, took out a flaming stick and, bending over,
+lighted a spot on the floor.
+
+"Do you see these spots on the floor and on the wall? It is their
+blood, the blood of Gavronsky. They died but they did not disclose the
+whereabouts of the gold. It was taken out of a deep hole which they had
+drifted into the bank of the river and was hidden in the cellar under
+the shed. But Gavronsky gave nothing away. . . . AND LORD HOW I TORTURED
+THEM! I burned them with fire; I bent back their fingers; I gouged out
+their eyes; but Gavronsky died in silence."
+
+He thought for a moment, then quickly said to me:
+
+"I have heard all this from the peasants." He threw the log into the
+stove and flopped down on the bench. "It's time to sleep," he snapped
+out, and was still.
+
+I listened for a long time to his breathing and his whispering to
+himself, as he turned from one side to the other and smoked his pipe.
+
+In the morning we left this scene of so much suffering and crime and on
+the seventh day of our journey we came to the dense cedar wood growing
+on the foothills of a long chain of mountains.
+
+"From here," Ivan explained to me, "it is eighty versts to the next
+peasant settlement. The people come to these woods to gather cedar nuts
+but only in the autumn. Before then you will not meet anyone. Also you
+will find many birds and beasts and a plentiful supply of nuts, so that
+it will be possible for you to live here. Do you see this river? When
+you want to find the peasants, follow along this stream and it will
+guide you to them."
+
+Ivan helped me build my mud hut. But it was not the genuine mud hut. It
+was one formed by the tearing out of the roots of a great cedar, that
+had probably fallen in some wild storm, which made for me the deep hole
+as the room for my house and flanked this on one side with a wall of
+mud held fast among the upturned roots. Overhanging ones formed also
+the framework into which we interlaced the poles and branches to make
+a roof, finished off with stones for stability and snow for warmth.
+The front of the hut was ever open but was constantly protected by the
+guardian naida. In that snow-covered den I spent two months like summer
+without seeing any other human being and without touch with the outer
+world where such important events were transpiring. In that grave under
+the roots of the fallen tree I lived before the face of nature with my
+trials and my anxiety about my family as my constant companions, and in
+the hard struggle for my life. Ivan went off the second day, leaving for
+me a bag of dry bread and a little sugar. I never saw him again.
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
+
+
+Then I was alone. Around me only the wood of eternally green cedars
+covered with snow, the bare bushes, the frozen river and, as far as I
+could see out through the branches and the trunks of the trees, only
+the great ocean of cedars and snow. Siberian taiga! How long shall I be
+forced to live here? Will the Bolsheviki find me here or not? Will my
+friends know where I am? What is happening to my family? These questions
+were constantly as burning fires in my brain. Soon I understood why Ivan
+guided me so long. We passed many secluded places on the journey, far
+away from all people, where Ivan could have safely left me but he always
+said that he would take me to a place where it would be easier to live.
+And it was so. The charm of my lone refuge was in the cedar wood and
+in the mountains covered with these forests which stretched to every
+horizon. The cedar is a splendid, powerful tree with wide-spreading
+branches, an eternally green tent, attracting to its shelter every
+living being. Among the cedars was always effervescent life. There the
+squirrels were continually kicking up a row, jumping from tree to tree;
+the nut-jobbers cried shrilly; a flock of bullfinches with carmine
+breasts swept through the trees like a flame; or a small army of
+goldfinches broke in and filled the amphitheatre of trees with their
+whistling; a hare scooted from one tree trunk to another and behind him
+stole up the hardly visible shadow of a white ermine, crawling on the
+snow, and I watched for a long time the black spot which I knew to be
+the tip of his tail; carefully treading the hard crusted snow approached
+a noble deer; at last there visited me from the top of the mountain the
+king of the Siberian forest, the brown bear. All this distracted me
+and carried away the black thoughts from my brain, encouraging me to
+persevere. It was good for me also, though difficult, to climb to the
+top of my mountain, which reached up out of the forest and from which I
+could look away to the range of red on the horizon. It was the red cliff
+on the farther bank of the Yenisei. There lay the country, the towns,
+the enemies and the friends; and there was even the point which I
+located as the place of my family. It was the reason why Ivan had guided
+me here. And as the days in this solitude slipped by I began to miss
+sorely this companion who, though the murderer of Gavronsky, had taken
+care of me like a father, always saddling my horse for me, cutting the
+wood and doing everything to make me comfortable. He had spent many
+winters alone with nothing except his thoughts, face to face with
+nature--I should say, before the face of God. He had tried the horrors
+of solitude and had acquired facility in bearing them. I thought
+sometimes, if I had to meet my end in this place, that I would spend my
+last strength to drag myself to the top of the mountain to die there,
+looking away over the infinite sea of mountains and forest toward the
+point where my loved ones were.
+
+However, the same life gave me much matter for reflection and yet more
+occupation for the physical side. It was a continuous struggle for
+existence, hard and severe. The hardest work was the preparation of the
+big logs for the naida. The fallen trunks of the trees were covered
+with snow and frozen to the ground. I was forced to dig them out and
+afterwards, with the help of a long stick as a lever, to move them from
+their place. For facilitating this work I chose the mountain for my
+supplies, where, although difficult to climb, it was easy to roll the
+logs down. Soon I made a splendid discovery. I found near my den a great
+quantity of larch, this beautiful yet sad forest giant, fallen during
+a big storm. The trunks were covered with snow but remained attached to
+their stumps, where they had broken off. When I cut into these stumps
+with the ax, the head buried itself and could with difficulty be drawn
+and, investigating the reason, I found them filled with pitch. Chips of
+this wood needed only a spark to set them aflame and ever afterward I
+always had a stock of them to light up quickly for warming my hands on
+returning from the hunt or for boiling my tea.
+
+The greater part of my days was occupied with the hunt. I came to
+understand that I must distribute my work over every day, for it
+distracted me from my sad and depressing thoughts. Generally, after
+my morning tea, I went into the forest to seek heathcock or blackcock.
+After killing one or two I began to prepare my dinner, which never had
+an extensive menu. It was constantly game soup with a handful of dried
+bread and afterwards endless cups of tea, this essential beverage of the
+woods. Once, during my search for birds, I heard a rustle in the dense
+shrubs and, carefully peering about, I discovered the points of a deer's
+horns. I crawled along toward the spot but the watchful animal heard my
+approach. With a great noise he rushed from the bush and I saw him very
+clearly, after he had run about three hundred steps, stop on the slope
+of the mountain. It was a splendid animal with dark grey coat, with
+almost a black spine and as large as a small cow. I laid my rifle across
+a branch and fired. The animal made a great leap, ran several steps and
+fell. With all my strength I ran to him but he got up again and half
+jumped, half dragged himself up the mountain. The second shot stopped
+him. I had won a warm carpet for my den and a large stock of meat. The
+horns I fastened up among the branches of my wall, where they made a
+fine hat rack.
+
+I cannot forget one very interesting but wild picture, which was staged
+for me several kilometres from my den. There was a small swamp covered
+with grass and cranberries scattered through it, where the blackcock
+and sand partridges usually came to feed on the berries. I approached
+noiselessly behind the bushes and saw a whole flock of blackcock
+scratching in the snow and picking out the berries. While I was
+surveying this scene, suddenly one of the blackcock jumped up and the
+rest of the frightened flock immediately flew away. To my astonishment
+the first bird began going straight up in a spiral flight and afterwards
+dropped directly down dead. When I approached there sprang from the
+body of the slain cock a rapacious ermine that hid under the trunk of a
+fallen tree. The bird's neck was badly torn. I then understood that the
+ermine had charged the cock, fastened itself on his neck and had been
+carried by the bird into the air, as he sucked the blood from its
+throat, and had been the cause of the heavy fall back to the earth.
+Thanks to his aeronautic ability I saved one cartridge.
+
+So I lived fighting for the morrow and more and more poisoned by hard
+and bitter thoughts. The days and weeks passed and soon I felt the
+breath of warmer winds. On the open places the snow began to thaw. In
+spots the little rivulets of water appeared. Another day I saw a fly
+or a spider awakened after the hard winter. The spring was coming. I
+realized that in spring it was impossible to go out from the forest.
+Every river overflowed its banks; the swamps became impassable; all the
+runways of the animals turned into beds for streams of running water.
+I understood that until summer I was condemned to a continuation of my
+solitude. Spring very quickly came into her rights and soon my mountain
+was free from snow and was covered only with stones, the trunks of birch
+and aspen trees and the high cones of ant hills; the river in places
+broke its covering of ice and was coursing full with foam and bubbles.
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A FISHERMAN
+
+
+One day during the hunt, I approached the bank of the river and noticed
+many very large fish with red backs, as though filled with blood. They
+were swimming on the surface enjoying the rays of the sun. When the
+river was entirely free from ice, these fish appeared in enormous
+quantities. Soon I realized that they were working up-stream for the
+spawning season in the smaller rivers. I thought to use a plundering
+method of catching, forbidden by the law of all countries; but all the
+lawyers and legislators should be lenient to one who lives in a den
+under the roots of a fallen tree and dares to break their rational laws.
+
+Gathering many thin birch and aspen trees I built in the bed of the
+stream a weir which the fish could not pass and soon I found them
+trying to jump over it. Near the bank I left a hole in my barrier about
+eighteen inches below the surface and fastened on the up-stream side a
+high basket plaited from soft willow twigs, into which the fish came as
+they passed the hole. Then I stood cruelly by and hit them on the head
+with a strong stick. All my catch were over thirty pounds, some more
+than eighty. This variety of fish is called the taimen, is of the trout
+family and is the best in the Yenisei.
+
+After two weeks the fish had passed and my basket gave me no more
+treasure, so I began anew the hunt.
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOR
+
+
+The hunt became more and more profitable and enjoyable, as spring
+animated everything. In the morning at the break of day the forest was
+full of voices, strange and undiscernible to the inhabitant of the town.
+There the heathcock clucked and sang his song of love, as he sat on the
+top branches of the cedar and admired the grey hen scratching in the
+fallen leaves below. It was very easy to approach this full-feathered
+Caruso and with a shot to bring him down from his more poetic to his
+more utilitarian duties. His going out was an euthanasia, for he was in
+love and heard nothing. Out in the clearing the blackcocks with their
+wide-spread spotted tails were fighting, while the hens strutting
+near, craning and chattering, probably some gossip about their fighting
+swains, watched and were delighted with them. From the distance flowed
+in a stern and deep roar, yet full of tenderness and love, the mating
+call of the deer; while from the crags above came down the short and
+broken voice of the mountain buck. Among the bushes frolicked the hares
+and often near them a red fox lay flattened to the ground watching his
+chance. I never heard any wolves and they are usually not found in the
+Siberian regions covered with mountains and forest.
+
+But there was another beast, who was my neighbor, and one of us had
+to go away. One day, coming back from the hunt with a big heathcock, I
+suddenly noticed among the trees a black, moving mass. I stopped and,
+looking very attentively, saw a bear, digging away at an ant-hill.
+Smelling me, he snorted violently, and very quickly shuffled away,
+astonishing me with the speed of his clumsy gait. The following morning,
+while still lying under my overcoat, I was attracted by a noise behind
+my den. I peered out very carefully and discovered the bear. He stood on
+his hind legs and was noisily sniffing, investigating the question as
+to what living creature had adopted the custom of the bears of housing
+during the winter under the trunks of fallen trees. I shouted and struck
+my kettle with the ax. My early visitor made off with all his energy;
+but his visit did not please me. It was very early in the spring that
+this occurred and the bear should not yet have left his hibernating
+place. He was the so-called "ant-eater," an abnormal type of bear
+lacking in all the etiquette of the first families of the bear clan.
+
+I knew that the "ant-eaters" were very irritable and audacious and
+quickly I prepared myself for both the defence and the charge. My
+preparations were short. I rubbed off the ends of five of my cartridges,
+thus making dum-dums out of them, a sufficiently intelligible argument
+for so unwelcome a guest. Putting on my coat I went to the place where
+I had first met the bear and where there were many ant-hills. I made
+a detour of the whole mountain, looked in all the ravines but nowhere
+found my caller. Disappointed and tired, I was approaching my shelter
+quite off my guard when I suddenly discovered the king of the forest
+himself just coming out of my lowly dwelling and sniffing all around the
+entrance to it. I shot. The bullet pierced his side. He roared with pain
+and anger and stood up on his hind legs. As the second bullet broke
+one of these, he squatted down but immediately, dragging the leg and
+endeavoring to stand upright, moved to attack me. Only the third bullet
+in his breast stopped him. He weighed about two hundred to two hundred
+fifty pounds, as near as I could guess, and was very tasty. He appeared
+at his best in cutlets but only a little less wonderful in the Hamburg
+steaks which I rolled and roasted on hot stones, watching them swell out
+into great balls that were as light as the finest souffle omelettes we
+used to have at the "Medved" in Petrograd. On this welcome addition to
+my larder I lived from then until the ground dried out and the stream
+ran down enough so that I could travel down along the river to the
+country whither Ivan had directed me.
+
+Ever traveling with the greatest precautions I made the journey down
+along the river on foot, carrying from my winter quarters all my
+household furniture and goods, wrapped up in the deerskin bag which I
+formed by tying the legs together in an awkward knot; and thus laden
+fording the small streams and wading through the swamps that lay across
+my path. After fifty odd miles of this I came to the country called
+Sifkova, where I found the cabin of a peasant named Tropoff, located
+closest to the forest that came to be my natural environment. With him I
+lived for a time.
+
+* * * * *
+
+Now in these unimaginable surroundings of safety and peace, summing up
+the total of my experience in the Siberian taiga, I make the following
+deductions. In every healthy spiritual individual of our times,
+occasions of necessity resurrect the traits of primitive man, hunter and
+warrior, and help him in the struggle with nature. It is the prerogative
+of the man with the trained mind and spirit over the untrained, who does
+not possess sufficient science and will power to carry him through. But
+the price that the cultured man must pay is that for him there exists
+nothing more awful than absolute solitude and the knowledge of complete
+isolation from human society and the life of moral and aesthetic
+culture. One step, one moment of weakness and dark madness will seize
+a man and carry him to inevitable destruction. I spent awful days of
+struggle with the cold and hunger but I passed more terrible days in
+the struggle of the will to kill weakening destructive thoughts. The
+memories of these days freeze my heart and mind and even now, as I
+revive them so clearly by writing of my experiences, they throw me
+back into a state of fear and apprehension. Moreover, I am compelled
+to observe that the people in highly civilized states give too little
+regard to the training that is useful to man in primitive conditions, in
+conditions incident to the struggle against nature for existence. It is
+the single normal way to develop a new generation of strong, healthy,
+iron men, with at the same time sensitive souls.
+
+Nature destroys the weak but helps the strong, awakening in the soul
+emotions which remain dormant under the urban conditions of modern life.
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+A RIVER IN TRAVAIL
+
+
+My presence in the Sifkova country was not for long but I used it in
+full measure. First, I sent a man in whom I had confidence and whom I
+considered trustworthy to my friends in the town that I had left and
+received from them linen, boots, money and a small case of first aid
+materials and essential medicines, and, what was most important, a
+passport in another name, since I was dead for the Bolsheviki. Secondly,
+in these more or less favorable conditions I reflected upon the plan for
+my future actions. Soon in Sifkova the people heard that the Bolshevik
+commissar would come for the requisition of cattle for the Red Army. It
+was dangerous to remain longer. I waited only until the Yenisei should
+lose its massive lock of ice, which kept it sealed long after the small
+rivulets had opened and the trees had taken on their spring foliage.
+For one thousand roubles I engaged a fisherman who agreed to take me
+fifty-five miles up the river to an abandoned gold mine as soon as the
+river, which had then only opened in places, should be entirely clear
+of ice. At last one morning I heard a deafening roar like a tremendous
+cannonade and ran out to find the river had lifted its great bulk of ice
+and then given way to break it up. I rushed on down to the bank, where I
+witnessed an awe-inspiring but magnificent scene. The river had brought
+down the great volume of ice that had been dislodged in the south and
+was carrying it northward under the thick layer which still covered
+parts of the stream until finally its weight had broken the winter dam
+to the north and released the whole grand mass in one last rush for the
+Arctic. The Yenisei, "Father Yenisei," "Hero Yenisei," is one of the
+longest rivers in Asia, deep and magnificent, especially through the
+middle range of its course, where it is flanked and held in canyon-like
+by great towering ranges. The huge stream had brought down whole miles
+of ice fields, breaking them up on the rapids and on isolated rocks,
+twisting them with angry swirls, throwing up sections of the black
+winter roads, carrying down the tepees built for the use of passing
+caravans which in the Winter always go from Minnusinsk to Krasnoyarsk on
+the frozen river. From time to time the stream stopped in its flow, the
+roar began and the great fields of ice were squeezed and piled upward,
+sometimes as high as thirty feet, damming up the water behind, so that
+it rapidly rose and ran out over the low places, casting on the shore
+great masses of ice. Then the power of the reinforced waters conquered
+the towering dam of ice and carried it downward with a sound like
+breaking glass. At the bends in the river and round the great rocks
+developed terrifying chaos. Huge blocks of ice jammed and jostled until
+some were thrown clear into the air, crashing against others already
+there, or were hurled against the curving cliffs and banks, tearing
+out boulders, earth and trees high up the sides. All along the low
+embankments this giant of nature flung upward with a suddenness that
+leaves man but a pigmy in force a great wall of ice fifteen to twenty
+feet high, which the peasants call "Zaberega" and through which they
+cannot get to the river without cutting out a road. One incredible feat
+I saw the giant perform, when a block many feet thick and many yards
+square was hurled through the air and dropped to crush saplings and
+little trees more than a half hundred feet from the bank.
+
+Watching this glorious withdrawal of the ice, I was filled with terror
+and revolt at seeing the awful spoils which the Yenisei bore away
+in this annual retreat. These were the bodies of the executed
+counter-revolutionaries--officers, soldiers and Cossacks of the former
+army of the Superior Governor of all anti-Bolshevik Russia, Admiral
+Kolchak. They were the results of the bloody work of the "Cheka" at
+Minnusinsk. Hundreds of these bodies with heads and hands cut off, with
+mutilated faces and bodies half burned, with broken skulls, floated and
+mingled with the blocks of ice, looking for their graves; or, turning
+in the furious whirlpools among the jagged blocks, they were ground and
+torn to pieces into shapeless masses, which the river, nauseated with
+its task, vomited out upon the islands and projecting sand bars. I
+passed the whole length of the middle Yenisei and constantly came across
+these putrifying and terrifying reminders of the work of the Bolsheviki.
+In one place at a turn of the river I saw a great heap of horses, which
+had been cast up by the ice and current, in number not less than three
+hundred. A verst below there I was sickened beyond endurance by the
+discovery of a grove of willows along the bank which had raked from the
+polluted stream and held in their finger-like drooping branches human
+bodies in all shapes and attitudes with a semblance of naturalness
+which made an everlasting picture on my distraught mind. Of this pitiful
+gruesome company I counted seventy.
+
+At last the mountain of ice passed by, followed by the muddy freshets
+that carried down the trunks of fallen trees, logs and bodies, bodies,
+bodies. The fisherman and his son put me and my luggage into their
+dugout made from an aspen tree and poled upstream along the bank.
+Poling in a swift current is very hard work. At the sharp curves we were
+compelled to row, struggling against the force of the stream and even in
+places hugging the cliffs and making headway only by clutching the rocks
+with our hands and dragging along slowly. Sometimes it took us a long
+while to do five or six metres through these rapid holes. In two days we
+reached the goal of our journey. I spent several days in this gold mine,
+where the watchman and his family were living. As they were short of
+food, they had nothing to spare for me and consequently my rifle again
+served to nourish me, as well as contributing something to my hosts.
+One day there appeared here a trained agriculturalist. I did not hide
+because during my winter in the woods I had raised a heavy beard, so
+that probably my own mother could not have recognized me. However, our
+guest was very shrewd and at once deciphered me. I did not fear him
+because I saw that he was not a Bolshevik and later had confirmation of
+this. We found common acquaintances and a common viewpoint on current
+events. He lived close to the gold mine in a small village where he
+superintended public works. We determined to escape together from
+Russia. For a long time I had puzzled over this matter and now my plan
+was ready. Knowing the position in Siberia and its geography, I decided
+that the best way to safety was through Urianhai, the northern part of
+Mongolia on the head waters of the Yenisei, then through Mongolia and
+out to the Far East and the Pacific. Before the overthrow of the Kolchak
+Government I had received a commission to investigate Urianhai and
+Western Mongolia and then, with great accuracy, I studied all the
+maps and literature I could get on this question. To accomplish this
+audacious plan I had the great incentive of my own safety.
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THROUGH SOVIET SIBERIA
+
+
+After several days we started through the forest on the left bank of the
+Yenisei toward the south, avoiding the villages as much as possible in
+fear of leaving some trail by which we might be followed. Whenever we
+did have to go into them, we had a good reception at the hands of the
+peasants, who did not penetrate our disguise; and we saw that they hated
+the Bolsheviki, who had destroyed many of their villages. In one place
+we were told that a detachment of Red troops had been sent out from
+Minnusinsk to chase the Whites. We were forced to work far back from
+the shore of the Yenisei and to hide in the woods and mountains. Here we
+remained nearly a fortnight, because all this time the Red soldiers were
+traversing the country and capturing in the woods half-dressed unarmed
+officers who were in hiding from the atrocious vengeance of the
+Bolsheviki. Afterwards by accident we passed a meadow where we found the
+bodies of twenty-eight officers hung to the trees, with their faces and
+bodies mutilated. There we determined never to allow ourselves to come
+alive into the hands of the Boisheviki. To prevent this we had our
+weapons and a supply of cyanide of potassium.
+
+Passing across one branch of the Yenisei, once we saw a narrow, miry
+pass, the entrance to which was strewn with the bodies of men and
+horses. A little farther along we found a broken sleigh with rifled
+boxes and papers scattered about. Near them were also torn garments and
+bodies. Who were these pitiful ones? What tragedy was staged in this
+wild wood? We tried to guess this enigma and we began to investigate the
+documents and papers. These were official papers addressed to the Staff
+of General Pepelaieff. Probably one part of the Staff during the retreat
+of Kolchak's army went through this wood, striving to hide from the
+enemy approaching from all sides; but here they were caught by the Reds
+and killed. Not far from here we found the body of a poor unfortunate
+woman, whose condition proved clearly what had happened before relief
+came through the beneficent bullet. The body lay beside a shelter of
+branches, strewn with bottles and conserve tins, telling the tale of the
+bantering feast that had preceded the destruction of this life.
+
+The further we went to the south, the more pronouncedly hospitable the
+people became toward us and the more hostile to the Bolsheviki. At last
+we emerged from the forests and entered the spacious vastness of the
+Minnusinsk steppes, crossed by the high red mountain range called
+the "Kizill-Kaiya" and dotted here and there with salt lakes. It is a
+country of tombs, thousands of large and small dolmens, the tombs of the
+earliest proprietors of this land: pyramids of stone ten metres high,
+the marks set by Jenghiz Khan along his road of conquest and afterwards
+by the cripple Tamerlane-Temur. Thousands of these dolmens and stone
+pyramids stretch in endless rows to the north. In these plains the
+Tartars now live. They were robbed by the Bolsheviki and therefore hated
+them ardently. We openly told them that we were escaping. They gave us
+food for nothing and supplied us with guides, telling us with whom we
+might stop and where to hide in case of danger.
+
+After several days we looked down from the high bank of the Yenisei upon
+the first steamer, the "Oriol," from Krasnoyarsk to Minnusinsk, laden
+with Red soldiers. Soon we came to the mouth of the river Tuba, which
+we were to follow straight east to the Sayan mountains, where Urianhai
+begins. We thought the stage along the Tuba and its branch, the Amyl,
+the most dangerous part of our course, because the valleys of these two
+rivers had a dense population which had contributed large numbers
+of soldiers to the celebrated Communist Partisans, Schetinkin and
+Krafcheno.
+
+A Tartar ferried us and our horses over to the right bank of the Yenisei
+and afterwards sent us some Cossacks at daybreak who guided us to the
+mouth of the Tuba, where we spent the whole day in rest, gratifying
+ourselves with a feast of wild black currants and cherries.
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THREE DAYS ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE
+
+
+Armed with our false passports, we moved along up the valley of the
+Tuba. Every ten or fifteen versts we came across large villages of from
+one to six hundred houses, where all administration was in the hands of
+Soviets and where spies scrutinized all passers-by. We could not avoid
+these villages for two reasons. First, our attempts to avoid them
+when we were constantly meeting the peasants in the country would have
+aroused suspicion and would have caused any Soviet to arrest us and
+send us to the "Cheka" in Minnusinsk, where we should have sung our
+last song. Secondly, in his documents my fellow traveler was granted
+permission to use the government post relays for forwarding him on his
+journey. Therefore, we were forced to visit the village Soviets and
+change our horses. Our own mounts we had given to the Tartar and Cossack
+who helped us at the mouth of the Tuba, and the Cossack brought us in
+his wagon to the first village, where we received the post horses. All
+except a small minority of the peasants were against the Bolsheviki and
+voluntarily assisted us. I paid them for their help by treating their
+sick and my fellow traveler gave them practical advice in the management
+of their agriculture. Those who helped us chiefly were the old
+dissenters and the Cossacks.
+
+Sometimes we came across villages entirely Communistic but very soon we
+learned to distinguish them. When we entered a village with our horse
+bells tinkling and found the peasants who happened to be sitting in
+front of their houses ready to get up with a frown and a grumble that
+here were more new devils coming, we knew that this was a village
+opposed to the Communists and that here we could stop in safety. But,
+if the peasants approached and greeted us with pleasure, calling us
+"Comrades," we knew at once that we were among the enemy and took great
+precautions. Such villages were inhabited by people who were not the
+Siberian liberty-loving peasants but by emigrants from the Ukraine,
+idle and drunk, living in poor dirty huts, though their village
+were surrounded with the black and fertile soil of the steppes. Very
+dangerous and pleasant moments we spent in the large village of Karatuz.
+It is rather a town. In the year 1912 two colleges were opened here and
+the population reached 15,000 people. It is the capital of the South
+Yenisei Cossacks. But by now it is very difficult to recognize this
+town. The peasant emigrants and Red army murdered all the Cossack
+population and destroyed and burned most of the houses; and it is at
+present the center of Bolshevism and Communism in the eastern part of
+the Minnusinsk district. In the building of the Soviet, where we came to
+exchange our horses, there was being held a meeting of the "Cheka." We
+were immediately surrounded and questioned about our documents. We were
+not any too calm about the impression which might be made by our papers
+and attempted to avoid this examination. My fellow traveler afterwards
+often said to me:
+
+"It is great good fortune that among the Bolsheviki the good-for-nothing
+shoemaker of yesterday is the Governor of today and scientists sweep
+the streets or clean the stables of the Red cavalry. I can talk with
+the Bolsheviki because they do not know the difference between
+'disinfection' and 'diphtheria,' 'anthracite' and 'appendicitis' and can
+talk them round in all things, even up to persuading them not to put a
+bullet into me."
+
+And so we talked the members of the "Cheka" round to everything that we
+wanted. We presented to them a bright scheme for the future development
+of their district, when we would build the roads and bridges which would
+allow them to export the wood from Urianhai, iron and gold from the
+Sayan Mountains, cattle and furs from Mongolia. What a triumph of
+creative work for the Soviet Government! Our ode occupied about an
+hour and afterwards the members of the "Cheka," forgetting about our
+documents, personally changed our horses, placed our luggage on the
+wagon and wished us success. It was the last ordeal within the borders
+of Russia.
+
+When we had crossed the valley of the river Amyl, Happiness smiled on
+us. Near the ferry we met a member of the militia from Karatuz. He had
+on his wagon several rifles and automatic pistols, mostly Mausers,
+for outfitting an expedition through Urianhai in quest of some Cossack
+officers who had been greatly troubling the Bolsheviki. We stood upon
+our guard. We could very easily have met this expedition and we were
+not quite assured that the soldiers would be so appreciative of our
+high-sounding phrases as were the members of the "Cheka." Carefully
+questioning the militiaman, we ferreted out the route their expedition
+was to take. In the next village we stayed in the same house with him. I
+had to open my luggage and suddenly I noticed his admiring glance fixed
+upon my bag.
+
+"What pleases you so much?" I asked.
+
+He whispered: "Trousers . . . Trousers."
+
+I had received from my townsmen quite new trousers of black thick
+cloth for riding. Those trousers attracted the rapt attention of the
+militiaman.
+
+"If you have no other trousers. . . ." I remarked, reflecting upon my
+plan of attack against my new friend.
+
+"No," he explained with sadness, "the Soviet does not furnish trousers.
+They tell me they also go without trousers. And my trousers are
+absolutely worn out. Look at them."
+
+With these words he threw back the corner of his overcoat and I was
+astonished how he could keep himself inside these trousers, for they
+had such large holes that they were more of a net than trousers, a net
+through which a small shark could have slipped.
+
+"Sell me," he whispered, with a question in his voice.
+
+"I cannot, for I need them myself," I answered decisively.
+
+He reflected for a few minutes and afterward, approaching me, said: "Let
+us go out doors and talk. Here it is inconvenient."
+
+We went outside. "Now, what about it?" he began. "You are going into
+Urianhai. There the Soviet bank-notes have no value and you will not
+be able to buy anything, where there are plenty of sables, fox-skins,
+ermine and gold dust to be purchased, which they very willingly exchange
+for rifles and cartridges. You have each of you a rifle and I will
+give you one more rifle with a hundred cartridges if you give me the
+trousers."
+
+"We do not need weapons. We are protected by our documents," I answered,
+as though I did not understand.
+
+"But no," he interrupted, "you can change that rifle there into furs and
+gold. I shall give you that rifle outright."
+
+"Ah, that's it, is it? But it's very little for those trousers. Nowhere
+in Russia can you now find trousers. All Russia goes without trousers
+and for your rifle I should receive a sable and what use to me is one
+skin?"
+
+Word by word I attained to my desire. The militia-man got my trousers
+and I received a rifle with one hundred cartridges and two automatic
+pistols with forty cartridges each. We were armed now so that we could
+defend ourselves. Moreover, I persuaded the happy possessor of my
+trousers to give us a permit to carry the weapons. Then the law and
+force were both on our side.
+
+In a distant village we bought three horses, two for riding and one for
+packing, engaged a guide, purchased dried bread, meat, salt and butter
+and, after resting twenty-four hours, began our trip up the Amyl toward
+the Sayan Mountains on the border of Urianhai. There we hoped not to
+meet Bolsheviki, either sly or silly. In three days from the mouth of
+the Tuba we passed the last Russian village near the Mongolian-Urianhai
+border, three days of constant contact with a lawless population, of
+continuous danger and of the ever present possibility of fortuitous
+death. Only iron will power, presence of mind and dogged tenacity
+brought us through all the dangers and saved us from rolling back down
+our precipice of adventure, at whose foot lay so many others who
+had failed to make this same climb to freedom which we had just
+accomplished. Perhaps they lacked the persistence or the presence of
+mind, perhaps they had not the poetic ability to sing odes about "roads,
+bridges and gold mines" or perhaps they simply had no spare trousers.
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+TO THE SAYANS AND SAFETY
+
+
+Dense virgin wood surrounded us. In the high, already yellow grass the
+trail wound hardly noticeable in among bushes and trees just beginning
+to drop their many colored leaves. It is the old, already forgotten Amyl
+pass road. Twenty-five years ago it carried the provisions, machinery
+and workers for the numerous, now abandoned, gold mines of the
+Amyl valley. The road now wound along the wide and rapid Amyl, then
+penetrated into the deep forest, guiding us round the swampy ground
+filled with those dangerous Siberian quagmires, through the dense
+bushes, across mountains and wide meadows. Our guide probably did not
+surmise our real intention and sometimes, apprehensively looking down at
+the ground, would say:
+
+"Three riders on horses with shoes on have passed here. Perhaps they
+were soldiers."
+
+His anxiety was terminated when he discovered that the tracks led off to
+one side and then returned to the trail.
+
+"They did not proceed farther," he remarked, slyly smiling.
+
+"That's too bad," we answered. "It would have been more lively to travel
+in company."
+
+But the peasant only stroked his beard and laughed. Evidently he was not
+taken in by our statement.
+
+We passed on the way a gold mine that had been formerly planned and
+equipped on splendid lines but was now abandoned and the buildings all
+destroyed. The Bolsheviki had taken away the machinery, supplies and
+also some parts of the buildings. Nearby stood a dark and gloomy church
+with windows broken, the crucifix torn off and the tower burned, a
+pitifully typical emblem of the Russia of today. The starving family of
+the watchman lived at the mine in continuing danger and privation. They
+told us that in this forest region were wandering about a band of Reds
+who were robbing anything that remained on the property of the gold
+mine, were working the pay dirt in the richest part of the mine and,
+with a little gold washed, were going to drink and gamble it away in
+some distant villages where the peasants were making the forbidden vodka
+out of berries and potatoes and selling it for its weight in gold. A
+meeting with this band meant death. After three days we crossed the
+northern ridge of the Sayan chain, passed the border river Algiak and,
+after this day, were abroad in the territory of Urianhai.
+
+This wonderful land, rich in most diverse forms of natural wealth, is
+inhabited by a branch of the Mongols, which is now only sixty thousand
+and which is gradually dying off, speaking a language quite different
+from any of the other dialects of this folk and holding as their life
+ideal the tenet of "Eternal Peace." Urianhai long ago became the scene
+of administrative attempts by Russians, Mongols and Chinese, all of whom
+claimed sovereignty over the region whose unfortunate inhabitants, the
+Soyots, had to pay tribute to all three of these overlords. It was due
+to this that the land was not an entirely safe refuge for us. We had
+heard already from our militiaman about the expedition preparing to go
+into Urianhai and from the peasants we learned that the villages along
+the Little Yenisei and farther south had formed Red detachments, who
+were robbing and killing everyone who fell into their hands. Recently
+they had killed sixty-two officers attempting to pass Urianhai into
+Mongolia; robbed and killed a caravan of Chinese merchants; and killed
+some German war prisoners who escaped from the Soviet paradise. On the
+fourth day we reached a swampy valley where, among open forests, stood a
+single Russian house. Here we took leave of our guide, who hastened away
+to get back before the snows should block his road over the Sayans. The
+master of the establishment agreed to guide us to the Seybi River for
+ten thousand roubles in Soviet notes. Our horses were tired and we were
+forced to give them a rest, so we decided to spend twenty-four hours
+here.
+
+We were drinking tea when the daughter of our host cried:
+
+"The Soyots are coming!" Into the room with their rifles and pointed
+hats came suddenly four of them.
+
+"Mende," they grunted to us and then, without ceremony, began examining
+us critically. Not a button or a seam in our entire outfit escaped their
+penetrating gaze. Afterwards one of them, who appeared to be the local
+"Merin" or governor, began to investigate our political views. Listening
+to our criticisms of the Bolsheviki, he was evidently pleased and began
+talking freely.
+
+"You are good people. You do not like Bolsheviki. We will help you."
+
+I thanked him and presented him with the thick silk cord which I was
+wearing as a girdle. Before night they left us saying that they would
+return in the morning. It grew dark. We went to the meadow to look after
+our exhausted horses grazing there and came back to the house. We were
+gaily chatting with the hospitable host when suddenly we heard horses'
+hoofs in the court and raucous voices, followed by the immediate entry
+of five Red soldiers armed with rifles and swords. Something unpleasant
+and cold rolled up into my throat and my heart hammered. We knew the
+Reds as our enemies. These men had the red stars on their Astrakhan caps
+and red triangles on their sleeves. They were members of the detachment
+that was out to look for Cossack officers. Scowling at us they took
+off their overcoats and sat down. We first opened the conversation,
+explaining the purpose of our journey in exploring for bridges, roads
+and gold mines. From them we then learned that their commander would
+arrive in a little while with seven more men and that they would take
+our host at once as a guide to the Seybi River, where they thought the
+Cossack officers must be hidden. Immediately I remarked that our affairs
+were moving fortunately and that we must travel along together. One of
+the soldiers replied that that would depend upon the "Comrade-officer."
+
+During our conversation the Soyot Governor entered. Very attentively he
+studied again the new arrivals and then asked: "Why did you take from
+the Soyots the good horses and leave bad ones?"
+
+The soldiers laughed at him.
+
+"Remember that you are in a foreign country!" answered the Soyot, with a
+threat in his voice.
+
+"God and the Devil!" cried one of the soldiers.
+
+But the Soyot very calmly took a seat at the table and accepted the cup
+of tea the hostess was preparing for him. The conversation ceased. The
+Soyot finished the tea, smoked his long pipe and, standing up, said:
+
+"If tomorrow morning the horses are not back at the owner's, we shall
+come and take them." And with these words he turned and went out.
+
+I noticed an expression of apprehension on the faces of the soldiers.
+Shortly one was sent out as a messenger while the others sat silent with
+bowed heads. Late in the night the officer arrived with his other seven
+men. As he received the report about the Soyot, he knitted his brows and
+said:
+
+"It's a bad mess. We must travel through the swamp where a Soyot will be
+behind every mound watching us."
+
+He seemed really very anxious and his trouble fortunately prevented him
+from paying much attention to us. I began to calm him and promised on
+the morrow to arrange this matter with the Soyots. The officer was a
+coarse brute and a silly man, desiring strongly to be promoted for the
+capture of the Cossack officers, and feared that the Soyot could prevent
+him from reaching the Seybi.
+
+At daybreak we started together with the Red detachment. When we had
+made about fifteen kilometers, we discovered behind the bushes two
+riders. They were Soyots. On their backs were their flint rifles.
+
+"Wait for me!" I said to the officer. "I shall go for a parley with
+them."
+
+I went forward with all the speed of my horse. One of the horsemen was
+the Soyot Governor, who said to me:
+
+"Remain behind the detachment and help us."
+
+"All right," I answered, "but let us talk a little, in order that they
+may think we are parleying."
+
+After a moment I shook the hand of the Soyot and returned to the
+soldiers.
+
+"All right," I exclaimed, "we can continue our journey. No hindrance
+will come from the Soyots."
+
+We moved forward and, when we were crossing a large meadow, we espied at
+a long distance two Soyots riding at full gallop right up the side of a
+mountain. Step by step I accomplished the necessary manoeuvre to bring
+me and my fellow traveler somewhat behind the detachment. Behind
+our backs remained only one soldier, very brutish in appearance and
+apparently very hostile to us. I had time to whisper to my companion
+only one word: "Mauser," and saw that he very carefully unbuttoned the
+saddle bag and drew out a little the handle of his pistol.
+
+Soon I understood why these soldiers, excellent woodsmen as they were,
+would not attempt to go to the Seybi without a guide. All the country
+between the Algiak and the Seybi is formed by high and narrow mountain
+ridges separated by deep swampy valleys. It is a cursed and dangerous
+place. At first our horses mired to the knees, lunging about and
+catching their feet in the roots of bushes in the quagmires, then
+falling and pinning us under their sides, breaking parts of their
+saddles and bridles. Then we would go in up to the riders' knees. My
+horse went down once with his whole breast and head under the red fluid
+mud and we just saved it and no more. Afterwards the officer's horse
+fell with him so that he bruised his head on a stone. My companion
+injured one knee against a tree. Some of the men also fell and were
+injured. The horses breathed heavily. Somewhere dimly and gloomily
+a crow cawed. Later the road became worse still. The trail followed
+through the same miry swamp but everywhere the road was blocked with
+fallen tree trunks. The horses, jumping over the trunks, would land in
+an unexpectedly deep hole and flounder. We and all the soldiers were
+covered with blood and mud and were in great fear of exhausting our
+mounts. For a long distance we had to get down and lead them. At last we
+entered a broad meadow covered with bushes and bordered with rocks. Not
+only horses but riders also began to sink to their middle in a quagmire
+with apparently no bottom. The whole surface of the meadow was but a
+thin layer of turf, covering a lake with black putrefying water. When
+we finally learned to open our column and proceed at big intervals, we
+found we could keep on this surface that undulated like rubber ice and
+swayed the bushes up and down. In places the earth buckled up and broke.
+
+Suddenly, three shots sounded. They were hardly more than the report of
+a Flobert rifle; but they were genuine shots, because the officer and
+two soldiers fell to the ground. The other soldiers grabbed their rifles
+and, with fear, looked about for the enemy. Four more were soon unseated
+and suddenly I noticed our rearguard brute raise his rifle and aim
+right at me. However, my Mauser outstrode his rifle and I was allowed to
+continue my story.
+
+"Begin!" I cried to my friend and we took part in the shooting. Soon the
+meadow began to swarm with Soyots, stripping the fallen, dividing the
+spoils and recapturing their horses. In some forms of warfare it is
+never safe to leave any of the enemy to renew hostilities later with
+overwhelming forces.
+
+After an hour of very difficult road we began to ascend the mountain and
+soon arrived on a high plateau covered with trees.
+
+"After all, Soyots are not a too peaceful people," I remarked,
+approaching the Governor.
+
+He looked at me very sharply and replied:
+
+"It was not Soyots who did the killing."
+
+He was right. It was the Abakan Tartars in Soyot clothes who killed the
+Bolsheviki. These Tartars were running their herds of cattle and horses
+down out of Russia through Urianhai to Mongolia. They had as their
+guide and negotiator a Kalmuck Lamaite. The following morning we were
+approaching a small settlement of Russian colonists and noticed some
+horsemen looking out from the woods. One of our young and brave Tartars
+galloped off at full speed toward these men in the wood but soon wheeled
+and returned with a reassuring smile.
+
+"All right," he exclaimed, laughing, "keep right on."
+
+We continued our travel on a good broad road along a high wooden fence
+surrounding a meadow filled with a fine herd of wapiti or izubr, which
+the Russian colonists breed for the horns that are so valuable in the
+velvet for sale to Tibetan and Chinese medicine dealers. These horns,
+when boiled and dried, are called panti and are sold to the Chinese at
+very high prices.
+
+We were received with great fear by the settlers.
+
+"Thank God!" exclaimed the hostess, "we thought . . ." and she broke off,
+looking at her husband.
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE BATTLE ON THE SEYBI
+
+
+Constant dangers develop one's watchfulness and keenness of perception.
+We did not take off our clothes nor unsaddle our horses, tired as
+we were. I put my Mauser inside my coat and began to look about and
+scrutinize the people. The first thing I discovered was the butt end of
+a rifle under the pile of pillows always found on the peasants' large
+beds. Later I noticed the employees of our host constantly coming into
+the room for orders from him. They did not look like simple peasants,
+although they had long beards and were dressed very dirtily. They
+examined me with very attentive eyes and did not leave me and my friend
+alone with the host. We could not, however, make out anything. But then
+the Soyot Governor came in and, noticing our strained relations, began
+explaining in the Soyot language to the host all about us.
+
+"I beg your pardon," the colonist said, "but you know yourself that now
+for one honest man we have ten thousand murderers and robbers."
+
+With this we began chatting more freely. It appeared that our host knew
+that a band of Bolsheviki would attack him in the search for the band of
+Cossack officers who were living in his house on and off. He had heard
+also about the "total loss" of one detachment. However, it did not
+entirely calm the old man to have our news, for he had heard of the
+large detachment of Reds that was coming from the border of the Usinsky
+District in pursuit of the Tartars who were escaping with their cattle
+south to Mongolia.
+
+"From one minute to another we are awaiting them with fear," said
+our host to me. "My Soyot has come in and announced that the Reds are
+already crossing the Seybi and the Tartars are prepared for the fight."
+
+We immediately went out to look over our saddles and packs and then took
+the horses and hid them in the bushes not far off. We made ready our
+rifles and pistols and took posts in the enclosure to wait for our
+common enemy. An hour of trying impatience passed, when one of the
+workmen came running in from the wood and whispered:
+
+"They are crossing our swamp. . . . The fight is on."
+
+In fact, like an answer to his words, came through the woods the sound
+of a single rifle-shot, followed closely by the increasing rat-tat-tat
+of the mingled guns. Nearer to the house the sounds gradually came. Soon
+we heard the beating of the horses' hoofs and the brutish cries of the
+soldiers. In a moment three of them burst into the house, from off
+the road where they were being raked now by the Tartars from both
+directions, cursing violently. One of them shot at our host. He stumbled
+along and fell on his knee, as his hand reached out toward the rifle
+under his pillows.
+
+"Who are YOU?" brutally blurted out one of the soldiers, turning to us
+and raising his rifle. We answered with Mausers and successfully, for
+only one soldier in the rear by the door escaped, and that merely to
+fall into the hands of a workman in the courtyard who strangled him.
+The fight had begun. The soldiers called on their comrades for help.
+The Reds were strung along in the ditch at the side of the road, three
+hundred paces from the house, returning the fire of the surrounding
+Tartars. Several soldiers ran to the house to help their comrades but
+this time we heard the regular volley of the workmen of our host. They
+fired as though in a manoeuvre calmly and accurately. Five Red soldiers
+lay on the road, while the rest now kept to their ditch. Before long we
+discovered that they began crouching and crawling out toward the end of
+the ditch nearest the wood where they had left their horses. The sounds
+of shots became more and more distant and soon we saw fifty or sixty
+Tartars pursuing the Reds across the meadow.
+
+Two days we rested here on the Seybi. The workmen of our host, eight in
+number, turned out to be officers hiding from the Bolsheviks. They asked
+permission to go on with us, to which we agreed.
+
+When my friend and I continued our trip we had a guard of eight armed
+officers and three horses with packs. We crossed a beautiful valley
+between the Rivers Seybi and Ut. Everywhere we saw splendid grazing
+lands with numerous herds upon them, but in two or three houses along
+the road we did not find anyone living. All had hidden away in fear
+after hearing the sounds of the fight with the Reds. The following day
+we went up over the high chain of mountains called Daban and, traversing
+a great area of burned timber where our trail lay among the fallen
+trees, we began to descend into a valley hidden from us by the
+intervening foothills. There behind these hills flowed the Little
+Yenisei, the last large river before reaching Mongolia proper. About ten
+kilometers from the river we spied a column of smoke rising up out of
+the wood. Two of the officers slipped away to make an investigation.
+For a long time they did not return and we, fearful lest something had
+happened, moved off carefully in the direction of the smoke, all ready
+for a fight if necessary. We finally came near enough to hear the voices
+of many people and among them the loud laugh of one of our scouts.
+In the middle of a meadow we made out a large tent with two tepees of
+branches and around these a crowd of fifty or sixty men. When we broke
+out of the forest all of them rushed forward with a joyful welcome
+for us. It appeared that it was a large camp of Russian officers and
+soldiers who, after their escape from Siberia, had lived in the houses
+of the Russian colonists and rich peasants in Urianhai.
+
+"What are you doing here?" we asked with surprise.
+
+"Oh, ho, you know nothing at all about what has been going on?" replied
+a fairly old man who called himself Colonel Ostrovsky. "In Urianhai an
+order has been issued from the Military Commissioner to mobilize all
+men over twenty-eight years of age and everywhere toward the town of
+Belotzarsk are moving detachments of these Partisans. They are robbing
+the colonists and peasants and killing everyone that falls into their
+hands. We are hiding here from them."
+
+The whole camp counted only sixteen rifles and three bombs, belonging
+to a Tartar who was traveling with his Kalmuck guide to his herds in
+Western Mongolia. We explained the aim of our journey and our intention
+to pass through Mongolia to the nearest port on the Pacific.
+The officers asked me to bring them out with us. I agreed. Our
+reconnaissance proved to us that there were no Partisans near the house
+of the peasant who was to ferry us over the Little Yenisei. We moved off
+at once in order to pass as quickly as possible this dangerous zone of
+the Yenisei and to sink ourselves into the forest beyond. It snowed but
+immediately thawed. Before evening a cold north wind sprang up, bringing
+with it a small blizzard. Late in the night our party reached the river.
+Our colonist welcomed us and offered at once to ferry us over and swim
+the horses, although there was ice still floating which had come down
+from the head-waters of the stream. During this conversation there was
+present one of the peasant's workmen, red-haired and squint-eyed. He
+kept moving around all the time and suddenly disappeared. Our host
+noticed it and, with fear in his voice, said:
+
+"He has run to the village and will guide the Partisans here. We must
+cross immediately."
+
+Then began the most terrible night of my whole journey. We proposed
+to the colonist that he take only our food and ammunition in the boat,
+while we would swim our horses across, in order to save the time of
+the many trips. The width of the Yenisei in this place is about three
+hundred metres. The stream is very rapid and the shore breaks away
+abruptly to the full depth of the stream. The night was absolutely dark
+with not a star in the sky. The wind in whistling swirls drove the snow
+and sleet sharply against our faces. Before us flowed the stream of
+black, rapid water, carrying down thin, jagged blocks of ice, twisting
+and grinding in the whirls and eddies. For a long time my horse refused
+to take the plunge down the steep bank, snorted and braced himself. With
+all my strength I lashed him with my whip across his neck until, with a
+pitiful groan, he threw himself into the cold stream. We both went all
+the way under and I hardly kept my seat in the saddle. Soon I was some
+metres from the shore with my horse stretching his head and neck far
+forward in his efforts and snorting and blowing incessantly. I felt the
+every motion of his feet churning the water and the quivering of his
+whole body under me in this trial. At last we reached the middle of the
+river, where the current became exceedingly rapid and began to carry us
+down with it. Out of the ominous darkness I heard the shoutings of my
+companions and the dull cries of fear and suffering from the horses. I
+was chest deep in the icy water. Sometimes the floating blocks struck
+me; sometimes the waves broke up over my head and face. I had no time to
+look about or to feel the cold. The animal wish to live took possession
+of me; I became filled with the thought that, if my horse's strength
+failed in his struggle with the stream, I must perish. All my attention
+was turned to his efforts and to his quivering fear. Suddenly he groaned
+loudly and I noticed he was sinking. The water evidently was over his
+nostrils, because the intervals of his frightened snorts through the
+nostrils became longer. A big block of ice struck his head and turned
+him so that he was swimming right downstream. With difficulty I reined
+him around toward the shore but felt now that his force was gone. His
+head several times disappeared under the swirling surface. I had no
+choice. I slipped from the saddle and, holding this by my left hand,
+swam with my right beside my mount, encouraging him with my shouts. For
+a time he floated with lips apart and his teeth set firm. In his widely
+opened eyes was indescribable fear. As soon as I was out of the saddle,
+he had at once risen in the water and swam more calmly and rapidly.
+At last under the hoofs of my exhausted animal I heard the stones.
+One after another my companions came up on the shore. The well-trained
+horses had brought all their burdens over. Much farther down our
+colonist landed with the supplies. Without a moment's loss we packed
+our things on the horses and continued our journey. The wind was growing
+stronger and colder. At the dawn of day the cold was intense. Our soaked
+clothes froze and became hard as leather; our teeth chattered; and in
+our eyes showed the red fires of fever: but we traveled on to put as
+much space as we could between ourselves and the Partisans. Passing
+about fifteen kilometres through the forest we emerged into an open
+valley, from which we could see the opposite bank of the Yenisei. It was
+about eight o'clock. Along the road on the other shore wound the black
+serpent-like line of riders and wagons which we made out to be a column
+of Red soldiers with their transport. We dismounted and hid in the
+bushes in order to avoid attracting their attention.
+
+All the day with the thermometer at zero and below we continued our
+journey, only at night reaching the mountains covered with larch
+forests, where we made big fires, dried our clothes and warmed ourselves
+thoroughly. The hungry horses did not leave the fires but stood right
+behind us with drooped heads and slept. Very early in the morning
+several Soyots came to our camp.
+
+"Ulan? (Red?)" asked one of them.
+
+"No! No!" exclaimed all our company.
+
+"Tzagan? (White?)" followed the new question.
+
+"Yes, yes," said the Tartar, "all are Whites."
+
+"Mende! Mende!" they grunted and, after starting their cups of tea,
+began to relate very interesting and important news. It appeared that
+the Red Partisans, moving from the mountains Tannu Ola, occupied with
+their outposts all the border of Mongolia to stop and seize the peasants
+and Soyots driving out their cattle. To pass the Tannu Ola now would be
+impossible. I saw only one way--to turn sharp to the southeast, pass
+the swampy valley of the Buret Hei and reach the south shore of Lake
+Kosogol, which is already in the territory of Mongolia proper. It was
+very unpleasant news. To the first Mongol post in Samgaltai was not more
+than sixty miles from our camp, while to Kosogol by the shortest line
+not less than two hundred seventy-five. The horses my friend and I were
+riding, after having traveled more than six hundred miles over hard
+roads and without proper food or rest, could scarcely make such an
+additional distance. But, reflecting upon the situation and studying my
+new fellow travelers, I determined not to attempt to pass the Tannu Ola.
+They were nervous, morally weary men, badly dressed and armed and most
+of them were without weapons. I knew that during a fight there is no
+danger so great as that of disarmed men. They are easily caught
+by panic, lose their heads and infect all the others. Therefore, I
+consulted with my friends and decided to go to Kosogol. Our company
+agreed to follow us. After luncheon, consisting of soup with big
+lumps of meat, dry bread and tea, we moved out. About two o'clock the
+mountains began to rise up before us. They were the northeast outspurs
+of the Tannu Ola, behind which lay the Valley of Buret Hei.
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE BARRIER OF RED PARTISANS
+
+
+In a valley between two sharp ridges we discovered a herd of yaks and
+cattle being rapidly driven off to the north by ten mounted Soyots.
+Approaching us warily they finally revealed that Noyon (Prince) of Todji
+had ordered them to drive the herds along the Buret Hei into Mongolia,
+apprehending the pillaging of the Red Partisans. They proceeded but
+were informed by some Soyot hunters that this part of the Tannu Ola was
+occupied by the Partisans from the village of Vladimirovka. Consequently
+they were forced to return. We inquired from them the whereabouts of
+these outposts and how many Partisans were holding the mountain pass
+over into Mongolia. We sent out the Tartar and the Kalmuck for a
+reconnaissance while all of us prepared for the further advance by
+wrapping the feet of our horses in our shirts and by muzzling their
+noses with straps and bits of rope so that they could not neigh. It
+was dark when our investigators returned and reported to us that about
+thirty Partisans had a camp some ten kilometers from us, occupying the
+yurtas of the Soyots. At the pass were two outposts, one of two soldiers
+and the other of three. From the outposts to the camp was a little over
+a mile. Our trail lay between the two outposts. From the top of the
+mountain one could plainly see the two posts and could shoot them all.
+When we had come near to the top of this mountain, I left our party and,
+taking with me my friend, the Tartar, the Kalmuck and two of the young
+officers, advanced. From the mountain I saw about five hundred yards
+ahead two fires. At each of the fires sat a soldier with his rifle and
+the others slept. I did not want to fight with the Partisans but we
+had to do away with these outposts and that without firing or we never
+should get through the pass. I did not believe the Partisans could
+afterwards track us because the whole trail was thickly marked with the
+spoors of horses and cattle.
+
+"I shall take for my share these two," whispered my friend, pointing to
+the left outpost.
+
+The rest of us were to take care of the second post. I crept along
+through the bushes behind my friend in order to help him in case of
+need; but I am bound to admit that I was not at all worried about him.
+He was about seven feet tall and so strong that, when a horse used to
+refuse sometimes to take the bit, he would wrap his arm around its neck,
+kick its forefeet out from under it and throw it so that he could easily
+bridle it on the ground. When only a hundred paces remained, I stood
+behind the bushes and watched. I could see very distinctly the fire and
+the dozing sentinel. He sat with his rifle on his knees. His companion,
+asleep beside him, did not move. Their white felt boots were plainly
+visible to me. For a long time I did not remark my friend. At the fire
+all was quiet. Suddenly from the other outpost floated over a few dim
+shouts and all was still. Our sentinel slowly raised his head. But just
+at this moment the huge body of my friend rose up and blanketed the fire
+from me and in a twinkling the feet of the sentinel flashed through the
+air, as my companion had seized him by the throat and swung him
+clear into the bushes, where both figures disappeared. In a second he
+re-appeared, flourished the rifle of the Partisan over his head and I
+heard the dull blow which was followed by an absolute calm. He came back
+toward me and, confusedly smiling, said:
+
+"It is done. God and the Devil! When I was a boy, my mother wanted to
+make a priest out of me. When I grew up, I became a trained agronome in
+order . . . to strangle the people and smash their skulls. Revolution is
+a very stupid thing!"
+
+And with anger and disgust he spit and began to smoke his pipe.
+
+At the other outpost also all was finished. During this night we reached
+the top of the Tannu Ola and descended again into a valley covered
+with dense bushes and twined with a whole network of small rivers and
+streams. It was the headwaters of the Buret Hei. About one o'clock we
+stopped and began to feed our horses, as the grass just there was
+very good. Here we thought ourselves in safety. We saw many calming
+indications. On the mountains were seen the grazing herds of reindeers
+and yaks and approaching Soyots confirmed our supposition. Here behind
+the Tannu Ola the Soyots had not seen the Red soldiers. We presented to
+these Soyots a brick of tea and saw them depart happy and sure that we
+were "Tzagan," a "good people."
+
+While our horses rested and grazed on the well-preserved grass, we sat
+by the fire and deliberated upon our further progress. There developed
+a sharp controversy between two sections of our company, one led by a
+Colonel who with four officers were so impressed by the absence of Reds
+south of the Tannu Ola that they determined to work westward to Kobdo
+and then on to the camp on the Emil River where the Chinese authorities
+had interned six thousand of the forces of General Bakitch, which had
+come over into Mongolian territory. My friend and I with sixteen of the
+officers chose to carry through our old plan to strike for the shores
+of Lake Kosogol and thence out to the Far East. As neither side could
+persuade the other to abandon its ideas, our company was divided and the
+next day at noon we took leave of one another. It turned out that our
+own wing of eighteen had many fights and difficulties on the way, which
+cost us the lives of six of our comrades, but that the remainder of us
+came through to the goal of our journey so closely knit by the ties of
+devotion which fighting and struggling for our very lives entailed
+that we have ever preserved for one another the warmest feelings of
+friendship. The other group under Colonel Jukoff perished. He met a big
+detachment of Red cavalry and was defeated by them in two fights. Only
+two officers escaped. They related to me this sad news and the details
+of the fights when we met four months later in Urga.
+
+Our band of eighteen riders with five packhorses moved up the valley
+of the Buret Hei. We floundered in the swamps, passed innumerable miry
+streams, were frozen by the cold winds and were soaked through by the
+snow and sleet; but we persisted indefatigably toward the south end of
+Kosogol. As a guide our Tartar led us confidently over these trails well
+marked by the feet of many cattle being run out of Urianhai to Mongolia.
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+IN THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL PEACE
+
+
+The inhabitants of Urianhai, the Soyots, are proud of being the genuine
+Buddhists and of retaining the pure doctrine of holy Rama and the deep
+wisdom of Sakkia-Mouni. They are the eternal enemies of war and of the
+shedding of blood. Away back in the thirteenth century they preferred to
+move out from their native land and take refuge in the north rather than
+fight or become a part of the empire of the bloody conqueror Jenghiz
+Khan, who wanted to add to his forces these wonderful horsemen and
+skilled archers. Three times in their history they have thus trekked
+northward to avoid struggle and now no one can say that on the hands
+of the Soyots there has ever been seen human blood. With their love of
+peace they struggled against the evils of war. Even the severe Chinese
+administrators could not apply here in this country of peace the
+full measure of their implacable laws. In the same manner the Soyots
+conducted themselves when the Russian people, mad with blood and crime,
+brought this infection into their land. They avoided persistently
+meetings and encounters with the Red troops and Partisans, trekking off
+with their families and cattle southward into the distant principalities
+of Kemchik and Soldjak. The eastern branch of this stream of emigration
+passed through the valley of the Buret Hei, where we constantly
+outstrode groups of them with their cattle and herds.
+
+We traveled quickly along the winding trail of the Buret Hei and in
+two days began to make the elevations of the mountain pass between the
+valleys of the Buret Hei and Kharga. The trail was not only very
+steep but was also littered with fallen larch trees and frequently
+intercepted, incredible as it may seem, with swampy places where the
+horses mired badly. Then again we picked our dangerous road over cobbles
+and small stones that rolled away under our horses' feet and bumped off
+over the precipice nearby. Our horses fatigued easily in passing this
+moraine that had been strewn by ancient glaciers along the mountain
+sides. Sometimes the trail led right along the edge of the precipices
+where the horses started great slides of stones and sand. I remember
+one whole mountain covered with these moving sands. We had to leave our
+saddles and, taking the bridles in our hands, to trot for a mile or more
+over these sliding beds, sometimes sinking in up to our knees and
+going down the mountain side with them toward the precipices below. One
+imprudent move at times would have sent us over the brink. This destiny
+met one of our horses. Belly down in the moving trap, he could not work
+free to change his direction and so slipped on down with a mass of it
+until he rolled over the precipice and was lost to us forever. We heard
+only the crackling of breaking trees along his road to death. Then with
+great difficulty we worked down to salvage the saddle and bags. Further
+along we had to abandon one of our pack horses which had come all the
+way from the northern border of Urianhai with us. We first unburdened
+it but this did not help; no more did our shouting and threats. He only
+stood with his head down and looked so exhausted that we realized he
+had reached the further bourne of his land of toil. Some Soyots with us
+examined him, felt of his muscles on the fore and hind legs, took his
+head in their hands and moved it from side to side, examined his head
+carefully after that and then said:
+
+"That horse will not go further. His brain is dried out." So we had to
+leave him.
+
+That evening we came to a beautiful change in scene when we topped a
+rise and found ourselves on a broad plateau covered with larch. On it we
+discovered the yurtas of some Soyot hunters, covered with bark instead
+of the usual felt. Out of these ten men with rifles rushed toward us as
+we approached. They informed us that the Prince of Soldjak did not
+allow anyone to pass this way, as he feared the coming of murderers and
+robbers into his dominions.
+
+"Go back to the place from which you came," they advised us with fear in
+their eyes.
+
+I did not answer but I stopped the beginnings of a quarrel between an
+old Soyot and one of my officers. I pointed to the small stream in the
+valley ahead of us and asked him its name.
+
+"Oyna," replied the Soyot. "It is the border of the principality and the
+passage of it is forbidden."
+
+"All right," I said, "but you will allow us to warm and rest ourselves a
+little."
+
+"Yes, yes!" exclaimed the hospitable Soyots, and led us into their
+tepees.
+
+On our way there I took the opportunity to hand to the old Soyot a
+cigarette and to another a box of matches. We were all walking along
+together save one Soyot who limped slowly in the rear and was holding
+his hand up over his nose.
+
+"Is he ill?" I asked.
+
+"Yes," sadly answered the old Soyot. "That is my son. He has been losing
+blood from the nose for two days and is now quite weak."
+
+I stopped and called the young man to me.
+
+"Unbutton your outer coat," I ordered, "bare your neck and chest and
+turn your face up as far as you can." I pressed the jugular vein on both
+sides of his head for some minutes and said to him:
+
+"The blood will not flow from your nose any more. Go into your tepee and
+lie down for some time."
+
+The "mysterious" action of my fingers created on the Soyots a strong
+impression. The old Soyot with fear and reverence whispered:
+
+"Ta Lama, Ta Lama! (Great Doctor)."
+
+In the yurta we were given tea while the old Soyot sat thinking deeply
+about something. Afterwards he took counsel with his companions and
+finally announced:
+
+"The wife of our Prince is sick in her eyes and I think the Prince will
+be very glad if I lead the 'Ta Lama' to him. He will not punish me,
+for he ordered that no 'bad people' should be allowed to pass; but that
+should not stop the 'good people' from coming to us.
+
+"Do as you think best," I replied rather indifferently. "As a matter of
+fact, I know how to treat eye diseases but I would go back if you say
+so."
+
+"No, no!" the old man exclaimed with fear. "I shall guide you myself."
+
+Sitting by the fire, he lighted his pipe with a flint, wiped
+the mouthpiece on his sleeve and offered it to me in true native
+hospitality. I was "comme il faut" and smoked. Afterwards he offered his
+pipe to each one of our company and received from each a cigarette, a
+little tobacco or some matches. It was the seal on our friendship. Soon
+in our yurta many persons piled up around us, men, women, children and
+dogs. It was impossible to move. From among them emerged a Lama with
+shaved face and close cropped hair, dressed in the flowing red garment
+of his caste. His clothes and his expression were very different from
+the common mass of dirty Soyots with their queues and felt caps finished
+off with squirrel tails on the top. The Lama was very kindly disposed
+towards us but looked ever greedily at our gold rings and watches. I
+decided to exploit this avidity of the Servant of Buddha. Supplying
+him with tea and dried bread, I made known to him that I was in need of
+horses.
+
+"I have a horse. Will you buy it from me?" he asked. "But I do not
+accept Russian bank notes. Let us exchange something."
+
+For a long time I bargained with him and at last for my gold wedding
+ring, a raincoat and a leather saddle bag I received a fine Soyot
+horse--to replace one of the pack animals we had lost--and a young goat.
+We spent the night here and were feasted with fat mutton. In the morning
+we moved off under the guidance of the old Soyot along the trail that
+followed the valley of the Oyna, free from both mountains and swamps.
+But we knew that the mounts of my friend and myself, together with three
+others, were too worn down to make Kosogol and determined to try to buy
+others in Soldjak. Soon we began to meet little groups of Soyot yurtas
+with their cattle and horses round about. Finally we approached the
+shifting capital of the Prince. Our guide rode on ahead for the parley
+with him after assuring us that the Prince would be glad to welcome the
+Ta Lama, though at the time I remarked great anxiety and fear in his
+features as he spoke. Before long we emerged on to a large plain well
+covered with small bushes. Down by the shore of the river we made out
+big yurtas with yellow and blue flags floating over them and easily
+guessed that this was the seat of government. Soon our guide returned
+to us. His face was wreathed with smiles. He flourished his hands and
+cried:
+
+"Noyon (the Prince) asks you to come! He is very glad!"
+
+From a warrior I was forced to change myself into a diplomat. As we
+approached the yurta of the Prince, we were met by two officials,
+wearing the peaked Mongol caps with peacock feathers rampants behind.
+With low obeisances they begged the foreign "Noyon" to enter the yurta.
+My friend the Tartar and I entered. In the rich yurta draped with
+expensive silk we discovered a feeble, wizen-faced little old man with
+shaven face and cropped hair, wearing also a high pointed beaver cap
+with red silk apex topped off with a dark red button with the long
+peacock feathers streaming out behind. On his nose were big Chinese
+spectacles. He was sitting on a low divan, nervously clicking the beads
+of his rosary. This was Ta Lama, Prince of Soldjak and High Priest of
+the Buddhist Temple. He welcomed us very cordially and invited us to
+sit down before the fire burning in the copper brazier. His surprisingly
+beautiful Princess served us with tea and Chinese confections and
+cakes. We smoked our pipes, though the Prince as a Lama did not indulge,
+fulfilling, however, his duty as a host by raising to his lips the pipes
+we offered him and handing us in return the green nephrite bottle of
+snuff. Thus with the etiquette accomplished we awaited the words of the
+Prince. He inquired whether our travels had been felicitous and what
+were our further plans. I talked with him quite frankly and requested
+his hospitality for the rest of our company and for the horses. He
+agreed immediately and ordered four yurtas set up for us.
+
+"I hear that the foreign Noyon," the Prince said, "is a good doctor."
+
+"Yes, I know some diseases and have with me some medicines," I answered,
+"but I am not a doctor. I am a scientist in other branches."
+
+But the Prince did not understand this. In his simple directness a man
+who knows how to treat disease is a doctor.
+
+"My wife has had constant trouble for two months with her eyes," he
+announced. "Help her."
+
+I asked the Princess to show me her eyes and I found the typical
+conjunctivitis from the continual smoke of the yurta and the general
+uncleanliness. The Tartar brought me my medicine case. I washed her eyes
+with boric acid and dropped a little cocaine and a feeble solution of
+sulphurate of zinc into them.
+
+"I beg you to cure me," pleaded the Princess. "Do not go away until
+you have cured me. We shall give you sheep, milk and flour for all
+your company. I weep now very often because I had very nice eyes and my
+husband used to tell me they shone like the stars and now they are red.
+I cannot bear it, I cannot!"
+
+She very capriciously stamped her foot and, coquettishly smiling at me,
+asked:
+
+"Do you want to cure me? Yes?"
+
+The character and manners of lovely woman are the same everywhere: on
+bright Broadway, along the stately Thames, on the vivacious boulevards
+of gay Paris and in the silk-draped yurta of the Soyot Princess behind
+the larch covered Tannu Ola.
+
+"I shall certainly try," assuringly answered the new oculist.
+
+We spent here ten days, surrounded by the kindness and friendship of the
+whole family of the Prince. The eyes of the Princess, which eight years
+ago had seduced the already old Prince Lama, were now recovered. She was
+beside herself with joy and seldom left her looking-glass.
+
+The Prince gave me five fairly good horses, ten sheep and a bag of
+flour, which was immediately transformed into dry bread. My friend
+presented him with a Romanoff five-hundred-rouble note with a picture
+of Peter the Great upon it, while I gave to him a small nugget of gold
+which I had picked up in the bed of a stream. The Prince ordered one of
+the Soyots to guide us to the Kosogol. The whole family of the Prince
+conducted us to the monastery ten kilometres from the "capital." We did
+not visit the monastery but we stopped at the "Dugun," a Chinese trading
+establishment. The Chinese merchants looked at us in a very hostile
+manner though they simultaneously offered us all sorts of goods,
+thinking especially to catch us with their round bottles (lanhon) of
+maygolo or sweet brandy made from aniseed. As we had neither lump silver
+nor Chinese dollars, we could only look with longing at these attractive
+bottles, till the Prince came to the rescue and ordered the Chinese to
+put five of them in our saddle bags.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+MYSTERIES, MIRACLES AND A NEW FIGHT
+
+
+In the evening of the same day we arrived at the Sacred Lake of Teri
+Noor, a sheet of water eight kilometres across, muddy and yellow, with
+low unattractive shores studded with large holes. In the middle of the
+lake lay what was left of a disappearing island. On this were a few
+trees and some old ruins. Our guide explained to us that two centuries
+ago the lake did not exist and that a very strong Chinese fortress
+stood here on the plain. A Chinese chief in command of the fortress gave
+offence to an old Lama who cursed the place and prophesied that it would
+all be destroyed. The very next day the water began rushing up from the
+ground, destroyed the fortress and engulfed all the Chinese soldiers.
+Even to this day when storms rage over the lake the waters cast up on
+the shores the bones of men and horses who perished in it. This Teri
+Noor increases its size every year, approaching nearer and nearer to the
+mountains. Skirting the eastern shore of the lake, we began to climb a
+snow-capped ridge. The road was easy at first but the guide warned us
+that the most difficult bit was there ahead. We reached this point two
+days later and found there a steep mountain side thickly set with forest
+and covered with snow. Beyond it lay the lines of eternal snow--ridges
+studded with dark rocks set in great banks of the white mantle that
+gleamed bright under the clear sunshine. These were the eastern and
+highest branches of the Tannu Ola system. We spent the night beneath
+this wood and began the passage of it in the morning. At noon the guide
+began leading us by zigzags in and out but everywhere our trail was
+blocked by deep ravines, great jams of fallen trees and walls of rock
+caught in their mad tobogganings from the mountain top. We struggled for
+several hours, wore out our horses and, all of a sudden, turned up at
+the place where we had made our last halt. It was very evident our Soyot
+had lost his way; and on his face I noticed marked fear.
+
+"The old devils of the cursed forest will not allow us to pass," he
+whispered with trembling lips. "It is a very ominous sign. We must
+return to Kharga to the Noyon."
+
+But I threatened him and he took the lead again evidently without hope
+or effort to find the way. Fortunately, one of our party, an Urianhai
+hunter, noticed the blazes on the trees, the signs of the road which our
+guide had lost. Following these, we made our way through the wood, came
+into and crossed a belt of burned larch timber and beyond this dipped
+again into a small live forest bordering the bottom of the mountains
+crowned with the eternal snows. It grew dark so that we had to camp for
+the night. The wind rose high and carried in its grasp a great white
+sheet of snow that shut us off from the horizon on every side and buried
+our camp deep in its folds. Our horses stood round like white ghosts,
+refusing to eat or to leave the circle round our fire. The wind combed
+their manes and tails. Through the niches in the mountains it roared and
+whistled. From somewhere in the distance came the low rumble of a pack
+of wolves, punctuated at intervals by the sharp individual barking that
+a favorable gust of wind threw up into high staccato.
+
+As we lay by the fire, the Soyot came over to me and said: "Noyon, come
+with me to the obo. I want to show you something."
+
+We went there and began to ascend the mountain. At the bottom of a very
+steep slope was laid up a large pile of stones and tree trunks, making
+a cone of some three metres in height. These obo are the Lamaite sacred
+signs set up at dangerous places, the altars to the bad demons, rulers
+of these places. Passing Soyots and Mongols pay tribute to the spirits
+by hanging on the branches of the trees in the obo hatyk, long streamers
+of blue silk, shreds torn from the lining of their coats or simply tufts
+of hair cut from their horses' manes; or by placing on the stones lumps
+of meat or cups of tea and salt.
+
+"Look at it," said the Soyot. "The hatyks are torn off. The demons are
+angry, they will not allow us to pass, Noyon. . . ."
+
+He caught my hand and with supplicating voice whispered: "Let us go
+back, Noyon; let us! The demons do not wish us to pass their mountains.
+For twenty years no one has dared to pass these mountains and all bold
+men who have tried have perished here. The demons fell upon them with
+snowstorm and cold. Look! It is beginning already. . . . Go back to our
+Noyon, wait for the warmer days and then. . . ."
+
+I did not listen further to the Soyot but turned back to the fire, which
+I could hardly see through the blinding snow. Fearing our guide might
+run away, I ordered a sentry to be stationed for the night to watch him.
+Later in the night I was awakened by the sentry, who said to me: "Maybe
+I am mistaken, but I think I heard a rifle."
+
+What could I say to it? Maybe some stragglers like ourselves were giving
+a sign of their whereabouts to their lost companions, or perhaps the
+sentry had mistaken for a rifle shot the sound of some falling rock
+or frozen ice and snow. Soon I fell asleep again and suddenly saw in a
+dream a very clear vision. Out on the plain, blanketed deep with snow,
+was moving a line of riders. They were our pack horses, our Kalmuck and
+the funny pied horse with the Roman nose. I saw us descending from this
+snowy plateau into a fold in the mountains. Here some larch trees
+were growing, close to which gurgled a small, open brook. Afterwards I
+noticed a fire burning among the trees and then woke up.
+
+It grew light. I shook up the others and asked them to prepare quickly
+so as not to lose time in getting under way. The storm was raging. The
+snow blinded us and blotted out all traces of the road. The cold also
+became more intense. At last we were in the saddles. The Soyot went
+ahead trying to make out the trail. As we worked higher the guide less
+seldom lost the way. Frequently we fell into deep holes covered with
+snow; we scrambled up over slippery rocks. At last the Soyot swung his
+horse round and, coming up to me, announced very positively: "I do not
+want to die with you and I will not go further."
+
+My first motion was the swing of my whip back over my head. I was so
+close to the "Promised Land" of Mongolia that this Soyot, standing in
+the way of fulfilment of my wishes, seemed to me my worst enemy. But I
+lowered my flourishing hand. Into my head flashed a quite wild thought.
+
+"Listen," I said. "If you move your horses, you will receive a bullet in
+the back and you will perish not at the top of the mountain but at the
+bottom. And now I will tell you what will happen to us. When we shall
+have reached these rocks above, the wind will have ceased and the
+snowstorm will have subsided. The sun will shine as we cross the snowy
+plain above and afterwards we shall descend into a small valley where
+there are larches growing and a stream of open running water. There we
+shall light our fires and spend the night."
+
+The Soyot began to tremble with fright.
+
+"Noyon has already passed these mountains of Darkhat Ola?" he asked in
+amazement.
+
+"No," I answered, "but last night I had a vision and I know that we
+shall fortunately win over this ridge."
+
+"I will guide you!" exclaimed the Soyot, and, whipping his horse, led
+the way up the steep slope to the top of the ridge of eternal snows.
+
+As we were passing along the narrow edge of a precipice, the Soyot
+stopped and attentively examined the trail.
+
+"Today many shod horses have passed here!" he cried through the roar
+of the storm. "Yonder on the snow the lash of a whip has been dragged.
+These are not Soyots."
+
+The solution of this enigma appeared instantly. A volley rang out. One
+of my companions cried out, as he caught hold of his right shoulder; one
+pack horse fell dead with a bullet behind his ear. We quickly tumbled
+out of our saddles, lay down behind the rocks and began to study the
+situation. We were separated from a parallel spur of the mountain by a
+small valley about one thousand paces across. There we made out about
+thirty riders already dismounted and firing at us. I had never allowed
+any fighting to be done until the initiative had been taken by the
+other side. Our enemy fell upon us unawares and I ordered my company to
+answer.
+
+"Aim at the horses!" cried Colonel Ostrovsky. Then he ordered the Tartar
+and Soyot to throw our own animals. We killed six of theirs and probably
+wounded others, as they got out of control. Also our rifles took toll
+of any bold man who showed his head from behind his rock. We heard the
+angry shouting and maledictions of Red soldiers who shot up our position
+more and more animatedly.
+
+Suddenly I saw our Soyot kick up three of the horses and spring into the
+saddle of one with the others in leash behind. Behind him sprang up the
+Tartar and the Kalmuck. I had already drawn my rifle on the Soyot but,
+as soon as I saw the Tartar and Kalmuck on their lovely horses behind
+him, I dropped my gun and knew all was well. The Reds let off a volley
+at the trio but they made good their escape behind the rocks and
+disappeared. The firing continued more and more lively and I did not
+know what to do. From our side we shot rarely, saving our cartridges.
+Watching carefully the enemy, I noticed two black points on the snow
+high above the Reds. They slowly approached our antagonists and finally
+were hidden from view behind some sharp hillocks. When they emerged from
+these, they were right on the edge of some overhanging rocks at the foot
+of which the Reds lay concealed from us. By this time I had no doubt
+that these were the heads of two men. Suddenly these men rose up and
+I watched them flourish and throw something that was followed by two
+deafening roars which re-echoed across the mountain valley. Immediately
+a third explosion was followed by wild shouts and disorderly firing
+among the Reds. Some of the horses rolled down the slope into the snow
+below and the soldiers, chased by our shots, made off as fast as they
+could down into the valley out of which we had come.
+
+Afterward the Tartar told me the Soyot had proposed to guide them around
+behind the Reds to fall upon their rear with the bombs. When I had bound
+up the wounded shoulder of the officer and we had taken the pack off the
+killed animal, we continued our journey. Our position was complicated.
+We had no doubt that the Red detachment came up from Mongolia.
+Therefore, were there Red troops in Mongolia? What was their strength?
+Where might we meet them? Consequently, Mongolia was no more the
+Promised Land? Very sad thoughts took possession of us.
+
+But Nature pleased us. The wind gradually fell. The storm ceased. The
+sun more and more frequently broke through the scudding clouds. We were
+traveling upon a high, snow-covered plateau, where in one place the wind
+blew it clean and in another piled it high with drifts which caught our
+horses and held them so that they could hardly extricate themselves at
+times. We had to dismount and wade through the white piles up to our
+waists and often a man or horse was down and had to be helped to his
+feet. At last the descent began and at sunset we stopped in the small
+larch grove, spent the night at the fire among the trees and drank the
+tea boiled in the water carried from the open mountain brook. In various
+places we came across the tracks of our recent antagonists.
+
+Everything, even Nature herself and the angry demons of Darkhat Ola, had
+helped us: but we were not gay, because again before us lay the dread
+uncertainty that threatened us with new and possibly destructive
+dangers.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE RIVER OF THE DEVIL
+
+
+Ulan Taiga with Darkhat Ola lay behind us. We went forward very rapidly
+because the Mongol plains began here, free from the impediments of
+mountains. Everywhere splendid grazing lands stretched away. In places
+there were groves of larch. We crossed some very rapid streams but they
+were not deep and they had hard beds. After two days of travel over
+the Darkhat plain we began meeting Soyots driving their cattle rapidly
+toward the northwest into Orgarkha Ola. They communicated to us very
+unpleasant news.
+
+The Bolsheviki from the Irkutsk district had crossed the Mongolian
+border, captured the Russian colony at Khathyl on the southern shore
+of Lake Kosogol and turned, off south toward Muren Kure, a Russian
+settlement beside a big Lamaite monastery sixty miles south of Kosogol.
+The Mongols told us there were no Russian troops between Khathyl and
+Muren Kure, so we decided to pass between these two points to reach Van
+Kure farther to the east. We took leave of our Soyot guide and, after
+having sent three scouts in advance, moved forward. From the mountains
+around the Kosogol we admired the splendid view of this broad Alpine
+lake. It was set like a sapphire in the old gold of the surrounding
+hills, chased with lovely bits of rich dark forestry. At night we
+approached Khathyl with great precaution and stopped on the shore of the
+river that flows from Kosogol, the Yaga or Egingol. We found a Mongol
+who agreed to transport us to the other bank of the frozen stream and to
+lead us by a safe road between Khathyl and Muren Kure. Everywhere along
+the shore of the river were found large obo and small shrines to the
+demons of the stream.
+
+"Why are there so many obo?" we asked the Mongol.
+
+"It is the River of the Devil, dangerous and crafty," replied the
+Mongol. "Two days ago a train of carts went through the ice and three of
+them with five soldiers were lost."
+
+We started to cross. The surface of the river resembled a thick piece
+of looking-glass, being clear and without snow. Our horses walked very
+carefully but some fell and floundered before they could regain their
+feet. We were leading them by the bridle. With bowed heads and trembling
+all over they kept their frightened eyes ever on the ice at their feet.
+I looked down and understood their fear. Through the cover of one foot
+of transparent ice one could clearly see the bottom of the river. Under
+the lighting of the moon all the stones, the holes and even some of the
+grasses were distinctly visible, even though the depth was ten metres
+and more. The Yaga rushed under the ice with a furious speed, swirling
+and marking its course with long bands of foam and bubbles. Suddenly I
+jumped and stopped as though fastened to the spot. Along the surface of
+the river ran the boom of a cannon, followed by a second and a third.
+
+"Quicker, quicker!" cried our Mongol, waving us forward with his hand.
+
+Another cannon boom and a crack ran right close to us. The horses
+swung back on their haunches in protest, reared and fell, many of them
+striking their heads severely on the ice. In a second it opened up two
+feet wide, so that I could follow its jagged course along the surface.
+Immediately up out of the opening the water spread over the ice with a
+rush.
+
+"Hurry, hurry!" shouted the guide.
+
+With great difficulty we forced our horses to jump over this cleavage
+and to continue on further. They trembled and disobeyed and only the
+strong lash forced them to forget this panic of fear and go on.
+
+When we were safe on the farther bank and well into the woods, our
+Mongol guide recounted to us how the river at times opens in this
+mysterious way and leaves great areas of clear water. All the men and
+animals on the river at such times must perish. The furious current of
+cold water will always carry them down under the ice. At other times a
+crack has been known to pass right under a horse and, where he fell in
+with his front feet in the attempt to get back to the other side, the
+crack has closed up and ground his legs or feet right off.
+
+The valley of Kosogol is the crater of an extinct volcano. Its outlines
+may be followed from the high west shore of the lake. However, the
+Plutonic force still acts and, asserting the glory of the Devil, forces
+the Mongols to build obo and offer sacrifices at his shrines. We spent
+all the night and all the next day hurrying away eastward to avoid a
+meeting with the Reds and seeking good pasturage for our horses. At
+about nine o'clock in the evening a fire shone out of the distance. My
+friend and I made toward it with the feeling that it was surely a Mongol
+yurta beside which we could camp in safety. We traveled over a mile
+before making out distinctly the lines of a group of yurtas. But nobody
+came out to meet us and, what astonished us more, we were not surrounded
+by the angry black Mongolian dogs with fiery eyes. Still, from the
+distance we had seen the fire and so there must be someone there. We
+dismounted from our horses and approached on foot. From out of the yurta
+rushed two Russian soldiers, one of whom shot at me with his pistol but
+missed me and wounded my horse in the back through the saddle. I brought
+him to earth with my Mauser and the other was killed by the butt end of
+my friend's rifle. We examined the bodies and found in their pockets
+the papers of soldiers of the Second Squadron of the Communist Interior
+Defence. Here we spent the night. The owners of the yurtas had evidently
+run away, for the Red soldiers had collected and packed in sacks the
+property of the Mongols. Probably they were just planning to leave, as
+they were fully dressed. We acquired two horses, which we found in the
+bushes, two rifles and two automatic pistols with cartridges. In the
+saddle bags we also found tea, tobacco, matches and cartridges--all of
+these valuable supplies to help us keep further hold on our lives.
+
+Two days later we were approaching the shore of the River Uri when
+we met two Russian riders, who were the Cossacks of a certain Ataman
+Sutunin, acting against the Bolsheviki in the valley of the River
+Selenga. They were riding to carry a message from Sutunin to
+Kaigorodoff, chief of the Anti-Bolsheviki in the Altai region. They
+informed us that along the whole Russian-Mongolian border the Bolshevik
+troops were scattered; also that Communist agitators had penetrated to
+Kiakhta, Ulankom and Kobdo and had persuaded the Chinese authorities
+to surrender to the Soviet authorities all the refugees from Russia.
+We knew that in the neighborhood of Urga and Van Kure engagements were
+taking place between the Chinese troops and the detachments of the
+Anti-Bolshevik Russian General Baron Ungern Sternberg and Colonel
+Kazagrandi, who were fighting for the independence of Outer Mongolia.
+Baron Ungern had now been twice defeated, so that the Chinese were
+carrying on high-handed in Urga, suspecting all foreigners of having
+relations with the Russian General.
+
+We realized that the whole situation was sharply reversed. The route to
+the Pacific was closed. Reflecting very carefully over the problem,
+I decided that we had but one possible exit left. We must avoid all
+Mongolian cities with Chinese administration, cross Mongolia from north
+to south, traverse the desert in the southern part of the Principality
+of Jassaktu Khan, enter the Gobi in the western part of Inner Mongolia,
+strike as rapidly as possible through sixty miles of Chinese territory
+in the Province of Kansu and penetrate into Tibet. Here I hoped to
+search out one of the English Consuls and with his help to reach some
+English port in India. I understood thoroughly all the difficulties
+incident to such an enterprise but I had no other choice. It only
+remained to make this last foolish attempt or to perish without doubt
+at the hands of the Boisheviki or languish in a Chinese prison. When I
+announced my plan to my companions, without in any way hiding from them
+all its dangers and quixotism, all of them answered very quickly and
+shortly: "Lead us! We will follow."
+
+One circumstance was distinctly in our favor. We did not fear hunger,
+for we had some supplies of tea, tobacco and matches and a surplus of
+horses, saddles, rifles, overcoats and boots, which were an excellent
+currency for exchange. So then we began to initiate the plan of the new
+expedition. We should start to the south, leaving the town of Uliassutai
+on our right and taking the direction of Zaganluk, then pass through the
+waste lands of the district of Balir of Jassaktu Khan, cross the Naron
+Khuhu Gobi and strike for the mountains of Boro. Here we should be able
+to take a long rest to recuperate the strength of our horses and of
+ourselves. The second section of our journey would be the passage
+through the western part of Inner Mongolia, through the Little Gobi,
+through the lands of the Torguts, over the Khara Mountains, across
+Kansu, where our road must be chosen to the west of the Chinese town of
+Suchow. From there we should have to enter the Dominion of Kuku Nor and
+then work on southward to the head waters of the Yangtze River. Beyond
+this I had but a hazy notion, which however I was able to verify from a
+map of Asia in the possession of one of the officers, to the effect that
+the mountain chains to the west of the sources of the Yangtze separated
+that river system from the basin of the Brahmaputra in Tibet Proper,
+where I expected to be able to find English assistance.
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE MARCH OF GHOSTS
+
+
+In no other way can I describe the journey from the River Ero to the
+border of Tibet. About eleven hundred miles through the snowy steppes,
+over mountains and across deserts we traveled in forty-eight days.
+We hid from the people as we journeyed, made short stops in the most
+desolate places, fed for whole weeks on nothing but raw, frozen meat in
+order to avoid attracting attention by the smoke of fires. Whenever we
+needed to purchase a sheep or a steer for our supply department, we sent
+out only two unarmed men who represented to the natives that they were
+the workmen of some Russian colonists. We even feared to shoot, although
+we met a great herd of antelopes numbering as many as five thousand
+head. Behind Balir in the lands of the Lama Jassaktu Khan, who had
+inherited his throne as a result of the poisoning of his brother at Urga
+by order of the Living Buddha, we met wandering Russian Tartars who had
+driven their herds all the way from Altai and Abakan. They welcomed us
+very cordially, gave us oxen and thirty-six bricks of tea. Also they
+saved us from inevitable destruction, for they told us that at this
+season it was utterly impossible for horses to make the trip across the
+Gobi, where there was no grass at all. We must buy camels by exchanging
+for them our horses and some other of our bartering supplies. One of the
+Tartars the next day brought to their camp a rich Mongol with whom he
+drove the bargain for this trade. He gave us nineteen camels and took
+all our horses, one rifle, one pistol and the best Cossack saddle. He
+advised us by all means to visit the sacred Monastery of Narabanchi, the
+last Lamaite monastery on the road from Mongolia to Tibet. He told us
+that the Holy Hutuktu, "the Incarnate Buddha," would be greatly offended
+if we did not visit the monastery and his famous "Shrine of Blessings,"
+where all travelers going to Tibet always offered prayers. Our Kalmuck
+Lamaite supported the Mongol in this. I decided to go there with the
+Kalmuck. The Tartars gave me some big silk hatyk as presents and loaned
+us four splendid horses. Although the monastery was fifty-five miles
+distant, by nine o'clock in the evening I entered the yurta of this holy
+Hutuktu.
+
+He was a middle-aged, clean shaven, spare little man, laboring under the
+name of Jelyb Djamsrap Hutuktu. He received us very cordially and was
+greatly pleased with the presentation of the hatyk and with my
+knowledge of the Mongol etiquette in which my Tartar had been long and
+persistently instructing me. He listened to me most attentively and gave
+valuable advice about the road, presenting me then with a ring which has
+since opened for me the doors of all Lamaite monasteries. The name of
+this Hutuktu is highly esteemed not only in all Mongolia but in Tibet
+and in the Lamaite world of China. We spent the night in his splendid
+yurta and on the following morning visited the shrines where they were
+conducting very solemn services with the music of gongs, tom-toms and
+whistling. The Lamas with their deep voices were intoning the prayers
+while the lesser priests answered with their antiphonies. The sacred
+phrase: "Om! Mani padme Hung!" was endlessly repeated.
+
+The Hutuktu wished us success, presented us with a large yellow hatyk
+and accompanied us to the monastery gate. When we were in our saddles he
+said:
+
+"Remember that you are always welcome guests here. Life is very
+complicated and anything may happen. Perhaps you will be forced in
+future to re-visit distant Mongolia and then do not miss Narabanchi
+Kure."
+
+That night we returned to the Tartars and the next day continued our
+journey. As I was very tired, the slow, easy motion of the camel was
+welcome and restful to me. All the day I dozed off at intervals to
+sleep. It turned out to be very disastrous for me; for, when my camel
+was going up the steep bank of a river, in one of my naps I fell off
+and hit my head on a stone, lost consciousness and woke up to find
+my overcoat covered with blood. My friends surrounded me with their
+frightened faces. They bandaged my head and we started off again. I only
+learned long afterwards from a doctor who examined me that I had cracked
+my skull as the price of my siesta.
+
+We crossed the eastern ranges of the Altai and the Karlik Tag, which are
+the most oriental sentinels the great Tian Shan system throws out into
+the regions of the Gobi; and then traversed from the north to the south
+the entire width of the Khuhu Gobi. Intense cold ruled all this time and
+fortunately the frozen sands gave us better speed. Before passing the
+Khara range, we exchanged our rocking-chair steeds for horses, a deal in
+which the Torguts skinned us badly like the true "old clothes men" they
+are.
+
+Skirting around these mountains we entered Kansu. It was a dangerous
+move, for the Chinese were arresting all refugees and I feared for my
+Russian fellow-travelers. During the days we hid in the ravines, the
+forests and bushes, making forced marches at night. Four days we thus
+used in this passage of Kansu. The few Chinese peasants we did encounter
+were peaceful appearing and most hospitable. A marked sympathetic
+interest surrounded the Kalmuck, who could speak a bit of Chinese,
+and my box of medicines. Everywhere we found many ill people, chiefly
+afflicted with eye troubles, rheumatism and skin diseases.
+
+As we were approaching Nan Shan, the northeast branch of the Altyn Tag
+(which is in turn the east branch of the Pamir and Karakhorum system),
+we overhauled a large caravan of Chinese merchants going to Tibet
+and joined them. For three days we were winding through the endless
+ravine-like valleys of these mountains and ascending the high passes.
+But we noticed that the Chinese knew how to pick the easiest routes
+for caravans over all these difficult places. In a state of
+semi-consciousness I made this whole journey toward the large group of
+swampy lakes, feeding the Koko Nor and a whole network of large rivers.
+From fatigue and constant nervous strain, probably helped by the blow
+on my head, I began suffering from sharp attacks of chills and fever,
+burning up at times and then chattering so with my teeth that I
+frightened my horse who several times threw me from the saddle. I raved,
+cried out at times and even wept. I called my family and instructed them
+how they must come to me. I remember as though through a dream how I was
+taken from the horse by my companions, laid on the ground, supplied with
+Chinese brandy and, when I recovered a little, how they said to me:
+
+"The Chinese merchants are heading for the west and we must travel
+south."
+
+"No! To the north," I replied very sharply.
+
+"But no, to the south," my companions assured me.
+
+"God and the Devil!" I angrily ejaculated, "we have just swum the Little
+Yenisei and Algyak is to the north!"
+
+"We are in Tibet," remonstrated my companions. "We must reach the
+Brahmaputra."
+
+Brahmaputra. . . . Brahmaputra. . . . This word revolved in my fiery
+brain, made a terrible noise and commotion. Suddenly I remembered
+everything and opened my eyes. I hardly moved my lips and soon I
+again lost consciousness. My companions brought me to the monastery of
+Sharkhe, where the Lama doctor quickly brought me round with a solution
+of fatil or Chinese ginseng. In discussing our plans he expressed grave
+doubt as to whether we would get through Tibet but he did not wish to
+explain to me the reason for his doubts.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+IN MYSTERIOUS TIBET
+
+
+A fairly broad road led out from Sharkhe through the mountains and on
+the fifth day of our two weeks' march to the south from the monastery
+we emerged into the great bowl of the mountains in whose center lay the
+large lake of Koko Nor. If Finland deserves the ordinary title of the
+"Land of Ten Thousand Lakes," the dominion of Koko Nor may certainly
+with justice be called the "Country of a Million Lakes." We skirted
+this lake on the west between it and Doulan Kitt, zigzagging between the
+numerous swamps, lakes and small rivers, deep and miry. The water was
+not here covered with ice and only on the tops of the mountains did we
+feel the cold winds sharply. We rarely met the natives of the country
+and only with greatest difficulty did our Kalmuck learn the course of
+the road from the occasional shepherds we passed. From the eastern shore
+of the Lake of Tassoun we worked round to a monastery on the further
+side, where we stopped for a short rest. Besides ourselves there was
+also another group of guests in the holy place. These were Tibetans.
+Their behavior was very impertinent and they refused to speak with us.
+They were all armed, chiefly with the Russian military rifles and were
+draped with crossed bandoliers of cartridges with two or three pistols
+stowed beneath belts with more cartridges sticking out. They examined
+us very sharply and we readily realized that they were estimating our
+martial strength. After they had left on that same day I ordered our
+Kalmuck to inquire from the High Priest of the temple exactly who they
+were. For a long time the monk gave evasive answers but when I showed
+him the ring of Hutuktu Narabanchi and presented him with a large yellow
+hatyk, he became more communicative.
+
+"Those are bad people," he explained. "Have a care of them."
+
+However, he was not willing to give their names, explaining his refusal
+by citing the Law of Buddhist lands against pronouncing the name of
+one's father, teacher or chief. Afterwards I found out that in North
+Tibet there exists the same custom as in North China. Here and there
+bands of hunghutze wander about. They appear at the headquarters of the
+leading trading firms and at the monasteries, claim tribute and after
+their collections become the protectors of the district. Probably this
+Tibetan monastery had in this band just such protectors.
+
+When we continued our trip, we frequently noticed single horsemen far
+away or on the horizon, apparently studying our movements with care. All
+our attempts to approach them and enter into conversation with them were
+entirely unsuccessful. On their speedy little horses they disappeared
+like shadows. As we reached the steep and difficult Pass on the Hamshan
+and were preparing to spend the night there, suddenly far up on a ridge
+above us appeared about forty horsemen with entirely white mounts and
+without formal introduction or warning spattered us with a hail of
+bullets. Two of our officers fell with a cry. One had been instantly
+killed while the other lived some few minutes. I did not allow my men
+to shoot but instead I raised a white flag and started forward with
+the Kalmuck for a parley. At first they fired two shots at us but then
+ceased firing and sent down a group of riders from the ridge toward
+us. We began the parley. The Tibetans explained that Hamshan is a holy
+mountain and that here one must not spend the night, advising us to
+proceed farther where we could consider ourselves in safety. They
+inquired from us whence we came and whither we were going, stated in
+answer to our information about the purpose of our journey that they
+knew the Bolsheviki and considered them the liberators of the people of
+Asia from the yoke of the white race. I certainly did not want to begin
+a political quarrel with them and so turned back to our companions.
+Riding down the slope toward our camp, I waited momentarily for a shot
+in the back but the Tibetan hunghutze did not shoot.
+
+We moved forward, leaving among the stones the bodies of two of our
+companions as sad tribute to the difficulties and dangers of our
+journey. We rode all night, with our exhausted horses constantly
+stopping and some lying down under us, but we forced them ever onward.
+At last, when the sun was at its zenith, we finally halted. Without
+unsaddling our horses, we gave them an opportunity to lie down for a
+little rest. Before us lay a broad, swampy plain, where was evidently
+the sources of the river Ma-chu. Not far beyond lay the Lake of Aroung
+Nor. We made our fire of cattle dung and began boiling water for our
+tea. Again without any warning the bullets came raining in from all
+sides. Immediately we took cover behind convenient rocks and waited
+developments. The firing became faster and closer, the raiders appeared
+on the whole circle round us and the bullets came ever in increasing
+numbers. We had fallen into a trap and had no hope but to perish. We
+realized this clearly. I tried anew to begin the parley; but when I
+stood up with my white flag, the answer was only a thicker rain of
+bullets and unfortunately one of these, ricocheting off a rock, struck
+me in the left leg and lodged there. At the same moment another one of
+our company was killed. We had no other choice and were forced to begin
+fighting. The struggle continued for about two hours. Besides myself
+three others received slight wounds. We resisted as long as we could.
+The hunghutze approached and our situation became desperate.
+
+"There's no choice," said one of my associates, a very expert Colonel.
+"We must mount and ride for it . . . anywhere."
+
+"Anywhere. . . ." It was a terrible word! We consulted for but an
+instant. It was apparent that with this band of cut-throats behind us
+the farther we went into Tibet, the less chance we had of saving our
+lives.
+
+We decided to return to Mongolia. But how? That we did not know. And
+thus we began our retreat. Firing all the time, we trotted our horses
+as fast as we could toward the north. One after another three of my
+companions fell. There lay my Tartar with a bullet through his neck.
+After him two young and fine stalwart officers were carried from their
+saddles with cries of death, while their scared horses broke out across
+the plain in wild fear, perfect pictures of our distraught selves. This
+emboldened the Tibetans, who became more and more audacious. A bullet
+struck the buckle on the ankle strap of my right foot and carried it,
+with a piece of leather and cloth, into my leg just above the ankle.
+My old and much tried friend, the agronome, cried out as he grasped his
+shoulder and then I saw him wiping and bandaging as best as he could his
+bleeding forehead. A second afterward our Kalmuck was hit twice right
+through the palm of the same hand, so that it was entirely shattered.
+Just at this moment fifteen of the hunghutze rushed against us in a
+charge.
+
+"Shoot at them with volley fire!" commanded our Colonel.
+
+Six robber bodies lay on the turf, while two others of the gang were
+unhorsed and ran scampering as fast as they could after their retreating
+fellows. Several minutes later the fire of our antagonists ceased and
+they raised a white flag. Two riders came forward toward us. In the
+parley it developed that their chief had been wounded through the chest
+and they came to ask us to "render first aid." At once I saw a ray
+of hope. I took my box of medicines and my groaning, cursing, wounded
+Kalmuck to interpret for me.
+
+"Give that devil some cyanide of potassium," urged my companions.
+
+But I devised another scheme.
+
+We were led to the wounded chief. There he lay on the saddle cloths
+among the rocks, represented to us to be a Tibetan but I at once
+recognized him from his cast of countenance to be a Sart or Turcoman,
+probably from the southern part of Turkestan. He looked at me with
+a begging and frightened gaze. Examining him, I found the bullet had
+passed through his chest from left to right, that he had lost much blood
+and was very weak. Conscientiously I did all that I could for him. In
+the first place I tried on my own tongue all the medicines to be used on
+him, even the iodoform, in order to demonstrate that there was no
+poison among them. I cauterized the wound with iodine, sprinkled it with
+iodoform and applied the bandages. I ordered that the wounded man be not
+touched nor moved and that he be left right where he lay. Then I taught
+a Tibetan how the dressing must be changed and left with him medicated
+cotton, bandages and a little iodoform. To the patient, in whom the
+fever was already developing, I gave a big dose of aspirin and left
+several tablets of quinine with them. Afterwards, addressing myself to
+the bystanders through my Kalmuck, I said very solemnly:
+
+"The wound is very dangerous but I gave to your Chief very strong
+medicine and hope that he will recover. One condition, however,
+is necessary: the bad demons which have rushed to his side for his
+unwarranted attack upon us innocent travelers will instantly kill him,
+if another shot is let off against us. You must not even keep a single
+cartridge in your rifles."
+
+With these words I ordered the Kalmuck to empty his rifle and I, at
+the same time, took all the cartridges out of my Mauser. The Tibetans
+instantly and very servilely followed my example.
+
+"Remember that I told you: 'Eleven days and eleven nights do not move
+from this place and do not charge your rifles.' Otherwise the demon of
+death will snatch off your Chief and will pursue you!"--and with these
+words I solemnly drew forth and raised above their heads the ring of
+Hutuktu Narabanchi.
+
+I returned to my companions and calmed them. I told them we were safe
+against further attack from the robbers and that we must only guess the
+way to reach Mongolia. Our horses were so exhausted and thin that on
+their bones we could have hung our overcoats. We spent two days here,
+during which time I frequently visited my patient. It also gave us
+opportunity to bandage our own fortunately light wounds and to secure
+a little rest; though unfortunately I had nothing but a jackknife
+with which to dig the bullet out of my left calf and the shoemaker's
+accessories from my right ankle. Inquiring from the brigands about the
+caravan roads, we soon made our way out to one of the main routes and
+had the good fortune to meet there the caravan of the young Mongol
+Prince Pounzig, who was on a holy mission carrying a message from
+the Living Buddha in Urga to the Dalai Lama in Lhasa. He helped us to
+purchase horses, camels and food.
+
+With all our arms and supplies spent in barter during the journey for
+the purchase of transport and food, we returned stripped and broken to
+the Narabanchi Monastery, where we were welcomed by the Hutuktu.
+
+"I knew you would come back," said he. "The divinations revealed it all
+to me."
+
+With six of our little band left behind us in Tibet to pay the eternal
+toll of our dash for the south we returned but twelve to the Monastery
+and waited there two weeks to re-adjust ourselves and learn how events
+would again set us afloat on this turbulent sea to steer for any port
+that Destiny might indicate. The officers enlisted in the detachment
+which was then being formed in Mongolia to fight against the destroyers
+of their native land, the Bolsheviki. My original companion and I
+prepared to continue our journey over Mongolian plains with whatever
+further adventures and dangers might come in the struggle to escape to a
+place of safety.
+
+And now, with the scenes of that trying march so vividly recalled, I
+would dedicate these chapters to my gigantic, old and ruggedly tried
+friend, the agronome, to my Russian fellow-travelers, and especially, to
+the sacred memory of those of our companions whose bodies lie cradled
+in the sleep among the mountains of Tibet--Colonel Ostrovsky, Captains
+Zuboff and Turoff, Lieutenant Pisarjevsky, Cossack Vernigora and
+Tartar Mahomed Spirin. Also here I express my deep thanks for help and
+friendship to the Prince of Soldjak, Hereditary Noyon Ta Lama and to
+the Kampo Gelong of Narabanchi Monastery, the honorable Jelyb Djamsrap
+Hutuktu.
+
+
+
+
+Part II
+
+THE LAND OF DEMONS
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+MYSTERIOUS MONGOLIA
+
+
+In the heart of Asia lies the enormous, mysterious and rich country of
+Mongolia. From somewhere on the snowy slopes of the Tian Shan and from
+the hot sands of Western Zungaria to the timbered ridges of the Sayan
+and to the Great Wall of China it stretches over a huge portion of
+Central Asia. The cradle of peoples, histories and legends; the native
+land of bloody conquerors, who have left here their capitals covered
+by the sand of the Gobi, their mysterious rings and their ancient nomad
+laws; the states of monks and evil devils, the country of wandering
+tribes administered by the descendants of Jenghiz Khan and Kublai
+Khan--Khans and Princes of the Junior lines: that is Mongolia.
+
+Mysterious country of the cults of Rama, Sakkia-Mouni, Djonkapa and
+Paspa, cults guarded by the very person of the living Buddha--Buddha
+incarnated in the third dignitary of the Lamaite religion--Bogdo Gheghen
+in Ta Kure or Urga; the land of mysterious doctors, prophets, sorcerers,
+fortune-tellers and witches; the land of the sign of the swastika; the
+land which has not forgotten the thoughts of the long deceased great
+potentates of Asia and of half of Europe: that is Mongolia.
+
+The land of nude mountains, of plains burned by the sun and killed by
+the cold, of ill cattle and ill people; the nest of pests, anthrax
+and smallpox; the land of boiling hot springs and of mountain passes
+inhabited by demons; of sacred lakes swarming with fish; of wolves, rare
+species of deer and mountain goats, marmots in millions, wild horses,
+wild donkeys and wild camels that have never known the bridle, ferocious
+dogs and rapacious birds of prey which devour the dead bodies cast out
+on the plains by the people: that is Mongolia.
+
+The land whose disappearing primitive people gaze upon the bones of
+their forefathers whitening in the sands and dust of their plains; where
+are dying out the people who formerly conquered China, Siam, Northern
+India and Russia and broke their chests against the iron lances of
+the Polish knights, defending then all the Christian world against the
+invasion of wild and wandering Asia: that is Mongolia.
+
+The land swelling with natural riches, producing nothing, in need of
+everything, destitute and suffering from the world's cataclysm: that is
+Mongolia.
+
+In this land, by order of Fate, after my unsuccessful attempt to reach
+the Indian Ocean through Tibet, I spent half a year in the struggle to
+live and to escape. My old and faithful friend and I were compelled,
+willy-nilly, to participate in the exceedingly important and dangerous
+events transpiring in Mongolia in the year of grace 1921. Thanks to
+this, I came to know the calm, good and honest Mongolian people; I
+read their souls, saw their sufferings and hopes; I witnessed the whole
+horror of their oppression and fear before the face of Mystery, there
+where Mystery pervades all life. I watched the rivers during the severe
+cold break with a rumbling roar their chains of ice; saw lakes cast up
+on their shores the bones of human beings; heard unknown wild voices
+in the mountain ravines; made out the fires over miry swamps of the
+will-o'-the-wisps; witnessed burning lakes; gazed upward to mountains
+whose peaks could not be scaled; came across great balls of writhing
+snakes in the ditches in winter; met with streams which are eternally
+frozen, rocks like petrified caravans of camels, horsemen and carts; and
+over all saw the barren mountains whose folds looked like the mantle of
+Satan, which the glow of the evening sun drenched with blood.
+
+"Look up there!" cried an old shepherd, pointing to the slope of the
+cursed Zagastai. "That is no mountain. It is HE who lies in his red
+mantle and awaits the day when he will rise again to begin the fight
+with the good spirits."
+
+And as he spoke I recalled the mystic picture of the noted painter
+Vroubel. The same nude mountains with the violet and purple robes of
+Satan, whose face is half covered by an approaching grey cloud. Mongolia
+is a terrible land of mystery and demons. Therefore it is no wonder that
+here every violation of the ancient order of life of the wandering nomad
+tribes is transformed into streams of red blood and horror, ministering
+to the demonic pleasure of Satan couched on the bare mountains and robed
+in the grey cloak of dejection and sadness, or in the purple mantle of
+war and vengeance.
+
+After returning from the district of Koko Nor to Mongolia and resting a
+few days at the Narabanchi Monastery, we went to live in Uliassutai, the
+capital of Western Outer Mongolia. It is the last purely Mongolian town
+to the west. In Mongolia there are but three purely Mongolian towns,
+Urga, Uliassutai and Ulankom. The fourth town, Kobdo, has an essentially
+Chinese character, being the center of Chinese administration in this
+district inhabited by the wandering tribes only nominally recognizing
+the influence of either Peking or Urga. In Uliassutai and Ulankom,
+besides the unlawful Chinese commissioners and troops, there were
+stationed Mongolian governors or "Saits," appointed by the decree of the
+Living Buddha.
+
+When we arrived in that town, we were at once in the sea of political
+passions. The Mongols were protesting in great agitation against the
+Chinese policy in their country; the Chinese raged and demanded from the
+Mongolians the payment of taxes for the full period since the autonomy
+of Mongolia had been forcibly extracted from Peking; Russian colonists
+who had years before settled near the town and in the vicinity of the
+great monasteries or among the wandering tribes had separated into
+factions and were fighting against one another; from Urga came the
+news of the struggle for the maintenance of the independence of Outer
+Mongolia, led by the Russian General, Baron Ungern von Sternberg;
+Russian officers and refugees congregated in detachments, against which
+the Chinese authorities protested but which the Mongols welcomed; the
+Bolsheviki, worried by the formation of White detachments in Mongolia,
+sent their troops to the borders of Mongolia; from Irkutsk and Chita
+to Uliassutai and Urga envoys were running from the Bolsheviki to the
+Chinese commissioners with various proposals of all kinds; the Chinese
+authorities in Mongolia were gradually entering into secret relations
+with the Bolsheviki and in Kiakhta and Ulankom delivered to them the
+Russian refugees, thus violating recognized international law; in
+Urga the Bolsheviki set up a Russian communistic municipality; Russian
+Consuls were inactive; Red troops in the region of Kosogol and the
+valley of the Selenga had encounters with Anti-Bolshevik officers; the
+Chinese authorities established garrisons in the Mongolian towns
+and sent punitive expeditions into the country; and, to complete the
+confusion, the Chinese troops carried out house-to-house searches,
+during which they plundered and stole.
+
+Into what an atmosphere we had fallen after our hard and dangerous trip
+along the Yenisei, through Urianhai, Mongolia, the lands of the Turguts,
+Kansu and Koko Nor!
+
+"Do you know," said my old friend to me, "I prefer strangling Partisans
+and fighting with the hunghutze to listening to news and more anxious
+news!"
+
+He was right; for the worst of it was that in this bustle and whirl of
+facts, rumours and gossip the Reds could approach troubled Uliassutai
+and take everyone with their bare hands. We should very willingly have
+left this town of uncertainties but we had no place to go. In the north
+were the hostile Partisans and Red troops; to the south we had already
+lost our companions and not a little of our own blood; to the west raged
+the Chinese administrators and detachments; and to the east a war had
+broken out, the news of which, in spite of the attempts of the Chinese
+authorities at secrecy, had filtered through and had testified to
+the seriousness of the situation in this part of Outer Mongolia.
+Consequently we had no choice but to remain in Uliassutai. Here also
+were living several Polish soldiers who had escaped from the prison
+camps in Russia, two Polish families and two American firms, all in
+the same plight as ourselves. We joined together and made our own
+intelligence department, very carefully watching the evolution of
+events. We succeeded in forming good connections with the Chinese
+commissioner and with the Mongolian Sait, which greatly helped us in our
+orientation.
+
+What was behind all these events in Mongolia? The very clever Mongol
+Sait of Uliassutai gave me the following explanation.
+
+"According to the agreements between Mongolia, China and Russia of
+October 21, 1912, of October 23, 1913, and of June 7, 1915, Outer
+Mongolia was accorded independence and the Moral Head of our 'Yellow
+Faith,' His Holiness the Living Buddha, became the Suzerain of the
+Mongolian people of Khalkha or Outer Mongolia with the title of 'Bogdo
+Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu Khan.' While Russia was still strong and
+carefully watched her policy in Asia, the Government of Peking kept the
+treaty; but, when, at the beginning of the war with Germany, Russia was
+compelled to withdraw her troops from Siberia, Peking began to claim the
+return of its lost rights in Mongolia. It was because of this that the
+first two treaties of 1912 and 1913 were supplemented by the convention
+of 1915. However, in 1916, when all the forces of Russia were
+pre-occupied in the unsuccessful war and afterwards when the first
+Russian revolution broke out in February, 1917, overthrowing the
+Romanoff Dynasty, the Chinese Government openly retook Mongolia. They
+changed all the Mongolian ministers and Saits, replacing them with
+individuals friendly to China; arrested many Mongolian autonomists and
+sent them to prison in Peking; set up their administration in Urga and
+other Mongol towns; actually removed His Holiness Bogdo Khan from the
+affairs of administration; made him only a machine for signing Chinese
+decrees; and at last introduced into Mongolia their troops. From that
+moment there developed an energetic flow of Chinese merchants and
+coolies into Mongolia. The Chinese began to demand the payment of taxes
+and dues from 1912. The Mongolian population were rapidly stripped of
+their wealth and now in the vicinities of our towns and monasteries you
+can see whole settlements of beggar Mongols living in dugouts. All our
+Mongol arsenals and treasuries were requisitioned. All monasteries
+were forced to pay taxes; all Mongols working for the liberty of their
+country were persecuted; through bribery with Chinese silver, orders and
+titles the Chinese secured a following among the poorer Mongol Princes.
+It is easy to understand how the governing class, His Holiness, Khans,
+Princes, and high Lamas, as well as the ruined and oppressed people,
+remembering that the Mongol rulers had once held Peking and China in
+their hands and under their reign had given her the first place in
+Asia, were definitely hostile to the Chinese administrators acting thus.
+Insurrection was, however, impossible. We had no arms. All our leaders
+were under surveillance and every movement by them toward an armed
+resistance would have ended in the same prison at Peking where eighty
+of our Nobles, Princes and Lamas died from hunger and torture after a
+previous struggle for the liberty of Mongolia. Some abnormally strong
+shock was necessary to drive the people into action. This was given by
+the Chinese administrators, General Cheng Yi and General Chu Chi-hsiang.
+They announced that His Holiness Bogdo Khan was under arrest in his
+own palace, and they recalled to his attention the former decree of
+the Peking Government--held by the Mongols to be unwarranted and
+illegal--that His Holiness was the last Living Buddha. This was enough.
+Immediately secret relations were made between the people and their
+Living God, and plans were at once elaborated for the liberation of His
+Holiness and for the struggle for liberty and freedom of our people. We
+were helped by the great Prince of the Buriats, Djam Bolon, who began
+parleys with General Ungern, then engaged in fighting the Bolsheviki
+in Transbaikalia, and invited him to enter Mongolia and help in the war
+against the Chinese. Then our struggle for liberty began."
+
+Thus the Sait of Uliassutai explained the situation to me. Afterwards
+I heard that Baron Ungern, who had agreed to fight for the liberty
+of Mongolia, directed that the mobilization of the Mongolians in the
+northern districts be forwarded at once and promised to enter Mongolia
+with his own small detachment, moving along the River Kerulen.
+Afterwards he took up relations with the other Russian detachment of
+Colonel Kazagrandi and, together with the mobilized Mongolian riders,
+began the attack on Urga. Twice he was defeated but on the third of
+February, 1921, he succeeded in capturing the town and replaced the
+Living Buddha on the throne of the Khans.
+
+At the end of March, however, these events were still unknown in
+Uliassutai. We knew neither of the fall of Urga nor of the destruction
+of the Chinese army of nearly 15,000 in the battles of Maimachen on the
+shore of the Tola and on the roads between Urga and Ude. The Chinese
+carefully concealed the truth by preventing anybody from passing
+westward from Urga. However, rumours existed and troubled all. The
+atmosphere became more and more tense, while the relations between the
+Chinese on the one side and the Mongolians and Russians on the other
+became more and more strained. At this time the Chinese Commissioner
+in Uliassutai was Wang Tsao-tsun and his advisor, Fu Hsiang, both very
+young and inexperienced men. The Chinese authorities had dismissed the
+Uliassutai Sait, the prominent Mongolian patriot, Prince Chultun
+Beyle, and had appointed a Lama Prince friendly to China, the former
+Vice-Minister of War in Urga. Oppression increased. The searching of
+Russian officers' and colonists' houses and quarters commenced, open
+relations with the Bolsheviki followed and arrest and beatings became
+common. The Russian officers formed a secret detachment of sixty men
+so that they could defend themselves. However, in this detachment
+disagreements soon sprang up between Lieutenant-Colonel M. M. Michailoff
+and some of his officers. It was evident that in the decisive moment the
+detachment must separate into factions.
+
+We foreigners in council decided to make a thorough reconnaissance in
+order to know whether there was danger of Red troops arriving. My old
+companion and I agreed to do this scouting. Prince Chultun Beyle gave
+us a very good guide--an old Mongol named Tzeren, who spoke and read
+Russian perfectly. He was a very interesting personage, holding the
+position of interpreter with the Mongolian authorities and sometimes
+with the Chinese Commissioner. Shortly before he had been sent as
+a special envoy to Peking with very important despatches and this
+incomparable horseman had made the journey between Uliassutai and
+Peking, that is 1,800 miles, in nine days, incredible as it may seem. He
+prepared himself for the journey by binding all his abdomen and chest,
+legs, arms and neck with strong cotton bandages to protect himself from
+the wracks and strains of such a period in the saddle. In his cap he
+bore three eagle feathers as a token that he had received orders to fly
+like a bird. Armed with a special document called a tzara, which gave
+him the right to receive at all post stations the best horses, one
+to ride and one fully saddled to lead as a change, together with two
+oulatchen or guards to accompany him and bring back the horses from the
+next station or ourton, he made the distance of from fifteen to thirty
+miles between stations at full gallop, stopping only long enough to have
+the horses and guards changed before he was off again. Ahead of him rode
+one oulatchen with the best horses to enable him to announce and prepare
+in advance the complement of steeds at the next station. Each oulatchen
+had three horses in all, so that he could swing from one that had given
+out and release him to graze until his return to pick him up and lead or
+ride him back home. At every third ourton, without leaving his saddle,
+he received a cup of hot green tea with salt and continued his race
+southward. After seventeen or eighteen hours of such riding he stopped
+at the ourton for the night or what was left of it, devoured a leg of
+boiled mutton and slept. Thus he ate once a day and five times a day had
+tea; and so he traveled for nine days!
+
+With this servant we moved out one cold winter morning in the direction
+of Kobdo, just over three hundred miles, because from there we had
+received the disquieting rumours that the Red troops had entered
+Ulankom and that the Chinese authorities had handed over to them all the
+Europeans in the town. We crossed the River Dzaphin on the ice. It is a
+terrible stream. Its bed is full of quicksands, which in summer suck
+in numbers of camels, horses and men. We entered a long, winding valley
+among the mountains covered with deep snow and here and there with
+groves of the black wood of the larch. About halfway to Kobdo we came
+across the yurta of a shepherd on the shore of the small Lake of Baga
+Nor, where evening and a strong wind whirling gusts of snow in our faces
+easily persuaded us to stop. By the yurta stood a splendid bay horse
+with a saddle richly ornamerited with silver and coral. As we turned
+in from the road, two Mongols left the yurta very hastily; one of them
+jumped into the saddle and quickly disappeared in the plain behind the
+snowy hillocks. We clearly made out the flashing folds of his yellow
+robe under the great outer coat and saw his large knife sheathed in a
+green leather scabbard and handled with horn and ivory. The other man
+was the host of the yurta, the shepherd of a local prince, Novontziran.
+He gave signs of great pleasure at seeing us and receiving us in his
+yurta.
+
+"Who was the rider on the bay horse?" we asked.
+
+He dropped his eyes and was silent.
+
+"Tell us," we insisted. "If you do not wish to speak his name, it means
+that you are dealing with a bad character."
+
+"No! No!" he remonstrated, flourishing his hands. "He is a good, great
+man; but the law does not permit me to speak his name."
+
+We at once understood that the man was either the chief of the shepherd
+or some high Lama. Consequently we did not further insist and began
+making our sleeping arrangements. Our host set three legs of mutton to
+boil for us, skillfully cutting out the bones with his heavy knife. We
+chatted and learned that no one had seen Red troops around this region
+but in Kobdo and in Ulankom the Chinese soldiers were oppressing the
+population, and were beating to death with the bamboo Mongol men who
+were defending their women against the ravages of these Chinese troops.
+Some of the Mongols had retreated to the mountains to join detachments
+under the command of Kaigordoff, an Altai Tartar officer who was
+supplying them with weapons.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE MYSTERIOUS LAMA AVENGER
+
+
+We rested soundly in the yurta after the two days of travel which had
+brought us one hundred seventy miles through the snow and sharp cold.
+Round the evening meal of juicy mutton we were talking freely and
+carelessly when suddenly we heard a low, hoarse voice:
+
+"Sayn--Good evening!"
+
+We turned around from the brazier to the door and saw a medium height,
+very heavy set Mongol in deerskin overcoat and cap with side flaps and
+the long, wide tying strings of the same material. Under his girdle
+lay the same large knife in the green sheath which we had seen on the
+departing horseman.
+
+"Amoursayn," we answered.
+
+He quickly untied his girdle and laid aside his overcoat. He stood
+before us in a wonderful gown of silk, yellow as beaten gold and girt
+with a brilliant blue sash. His cleanly shaven face, short hair, red
+coral rosary on the left hand and his yellow garment proved clearly that
+before us stood some high Lama Priest,--with a big Colt under his blue
+sash!
+
+I turned to my host and Tzeren and read in their faces fear and
+veneration. The stranger came over to the brazier and sat down.
+
+"Let's speak Russian," he said and took a bit of meat.
+
+The conversation began. The stranger began to find fault with the
+Government of the Living Buddha in Urga.
+
+"There they liberate Mongolia, capture Urga, defeat the Chinese army and
+here in the west they give us no news of it. We are without action here
+while the Chinese kill our people and steal from them. I think that
+Bogdo Khan might send us envoys. How is it the Chinese can send their
+envoys from Urga and Kiakhta to Kobdo, asking for assistance, and the
+Mongol Government cannot do it? Why?"
+
+"Will the Chinese send help to Urga?" I asked.
+
+Our guest laughed hoarsely and said: "I caught all the envoys, took away
+their letters and then sent them back . . . into the ground."
+
+He laughed again and glanced around peculiarly with his blazing eyes.
+Only then did I notice that his cheekbones and eyes had lines strange to
+the Mongols of Central Asia. He looked more like a Tartar or a Kirghiz.
+We were silent and smoked our pipes.
+
+"How soon will the detachment of Chahars leave Uliassutai?" he asked.
+
+We answered that we had not heard about them. Our guest explained
+that from Inner Mongolia the Chinese authorities had sent out a strong
+detachment, mobilized from among the most warlike tribe of Chahars,
+which wander about the region just outside the Great Wall. Its chief was
+a notorious hunghutze leader promoted by the Chinese Government to the
+rank of captain on promising that he would bring under subjugation to
+the Chinese authorities all the tribes of the districts of Kobdo and
+Urianhai. When he learned whither we were going and for what purpose,
+he said he could give us the most accurate news and relieve us from the
+necessity of going farther.
+
+"Besides that, it is very dangerous," he said, "because Kobdo will be
+massacred and burned. I know this positively."
+
+When he heard of our unsuccessful attempt to pass through Tibet, he
+became attentive and very sympathetic in his bearing toward us and, with
+evident feeling of regret, expressed himself strongly:
+
+"Only I could have helped you in this enterprise, but not the Narabanchi
+Hutuktu. With my laissez-passer you could have gone anywhere in Tibet. I
+am Tushegoun Lama."
+
+Tushegoun Lama! How many extraordinary tales I had heard about him.
+He is a Russian Kalmuck, who because of his propaganda work for the
+independence of the Kalmuck people made the acquaintance of many Russian
+prisons under the Czar and, for the same cause, added to his list under
+the Bolsheviki. He escaped to Mongolia and at once attained to great
+influence among the Mongols. It was no wonder, for he was a close friend
+and pupil of the Dalai Lama in Potala (Lhasa), was the most learned
+among the Lamites, a famous thaumaturgist and doctor. He occupied an
+almost independent position in his relationship with the Living Buddha
+and achieved to the leadership of all the old wandering tribes of
+Western Mongolia and Zungaria, even extending his political domination
+over the Mongolian tribes of Turkestan. His influence was irresistible,
+based as it was on his great control of mysterious science, as he
+expressed it; but I was also told that it has its foundation largely
+in the panicky fear which he could produce in the Mongols. Everyone who
+disobeyed his orders perished. Such an one never knew the day or the
+hour when, in his yurta or beside his galloping horse on the plains, the
+strange and powerful friend of the Dalai Lama would appear. The stroke
+of a knife, a bullet or strong fingers strangling the neck like a vise
+accomplished the justice of the plans of this miracle worker.
+
+Without the walls of the yurta the wind whistled and roared and drove
+the frozen snow sharply against the stretched felt. Through the roar of
+the wind came the sound of many voices in mingled shouting, wailing
+and laughter. I felt that in such surroundings it were not difficult to
+dumbfound a wandering nomad with miracles, because Nature herself had
+prepared the setting for it. This thought had scarcely time to flash
+through my mind before Tushegoun Lama suddenly raised his head, looked
+sharply at me and said:
+
+"There is very much unknown in Nature and the skill of using the unknown
+produces the miracle; but the power is given to few. I want to prove it
+to you and you may tell me afterwards whether you have seen it before or
+not."
+
+He stood up, pushed back the sleeves of his yellow garment, seized his
+knife and strode across to the shepherd.
+
+"Michik, stand up!" he ordered.
+
+When the shepherd had risen, the Lama quickly unbuttoned his coat
+and bared the man's chest. I could not yet understand what was his
+intention, when suddenly the Tushegoun with all his force struck his
+knife into the chest of the shepherd. The Mongol fell all covered with
+blood, a splash of which I noticed on the yellow silk of the Lama's
+coat.
+
+"What have you done?" I exclaimed.
+
+"Sh! Be still," he whispered turning to me his now quite blanched face.
+
+With a few strokes of the knife he opened the chest of the Mongol and
+I saw the man's lungs softly breathing and the distinct palpitations of
+the heart. The Lama touched these organs with his fingers but no more
+blood appeared to flow and the face of the shepherd was quite calm.
+He was lying with his eyes closed and appeared to be in deep and quiet
+sleep. As the Lama began to open his abdomen, I shut my eyes in fear and
+horror; and, when I opened them a little while later, I was still more
+dumbfounded at seeing the shepherd with his coat still open and his
+breast normal, quietly sleeping on his side and Tushegoun Lama sitting
+peacefully by the brazier, smoking his pipe and looking into the fire in
+deep thought.
+
+"It is wonderful!" I confessed. "I have never seen anything like it!"
+
+"About what are you speaking?" asked the Kalmuck.
+
+"About your demonstration or 'miracle,' as you call it," I answered.
+
+"I never said anything like that," refuted the Kalmuck, with coldness in
+his voice.
+
+"Did you see it?" I asked of my companion.
+
+"What?" he queried in a dozing voice.
+
+I realized that I had become the victim of the hypnotic power of
+Tushegoun Lama; but I preferred this to seeing an innocent Mongolian
+die, for I had not believed that Tushegoun Lama, after slashing open the
+bodies of his victims, could repair them again so readily.
+
+The following day we took leave of our hosts. We decided to return,
+inasmuch as our mission was accomplished; and Tushegoun Lama explained
+to us that he would "move through space." He wandered over all Mongolia,
+lived both in the single, simple yurta of the shepherd and hunter and in
+the splendid tents of the princes and tribal chiefs, surrounded by deep
+veneration and panic-fear, enticing and cementing to him rich and poor
+alike with his miracles and prophecies. When bidding us adieu, the
+Kalmuck sorcerer slyly smiled and said:
+
+"Do not give any information about me to the Chinese authorities."
+
+Afterwards he added: "What happened to you yesterday evening was
+a futile demonstration. You Europeans will not recognize that we
+dark-minded nomads possess the powers of mysterious science. If you
+could only see the miracles and power of the Most Holy Tashi Lama, when
+at his command the lamps and candles before the ancient statue of Buddha
+light themselves and when the ikons of the gods begin to speak and
+prophesy! But there exists a more powerful and more holy man. . ."
+
+"Is it the King of the World in Agharti?" I interrupted.
+
+He stared and glanced at me in amazement.
+
+"Have you heard about him?" he asked, as his brows knit in thought.
+
+After a few seconds he raised his narrow eyes and said: "Only one man
+knows his holy name; only one man now living was ever in Agharti. That
+is I. This is the reason why the Most Holy Dalai Lama has honored me and
+why the Living Buddha in Urga fears me. But in vain, for I shall never
+sit on the Holy Throne of the highest priest in Lhasa nor reach that
+which has come down from Jenghiz Khan to the Head of our yellow Faith. I
+am no monk. I am a warrior and avenger."
+
+He jumped smartly into the saddle, whipped his horse and whirled away,
+flinging out as he left the common Mongolian phrase of adieu: "Sayn!
+Sayn-bayna!"
+
+On the way back Tzeren related to us the hundreds of legends surrounding
+Tushegoun Lama. One tale especially remained in my mind. It was in 1911
+or 1912 when the Mongols by armed force tried to attain their liberty in
+a struggle with the Chinese. The general Chinese headquarters in Western
+Mongolia was Kobdo, where they had about ten thousand soldiers under the
+command of their best officers. The command to capture Kobdo was sent
+to Hun Baldon, a simple shepherd who had distinguished himself in fights
+with the Chinese and received from the Living Buddha the title of Prince
+of Hun. Ferocious, absolutely without fear and possessing gigantic
+strength, Baldon had several times led to the attack his poorly armed
+Mongols but each time had been forced to retreat after losing many of
+his men under the machine-gun fire. Unexpectedly Tushegoun Lama arrived.
+He collected all the soldiers and then said to them:
+
+"You must not fear death and must not retreat. You are fighting and
+dying for Mongolia, for which the gods have appointed a great destiny.
+See what the fate of Mongolia will be!"
+
+He made a great sweeping gesture with his hand and all the soldiers saw
+the country round about set with rich yurtas and pastures covered
+with great herds of horses and cattle. On the plains appeared numerous
+horsemen on richly saddled steeds. The women were gowned in the finest
+of silk with massive silver rings in their ears and precious ornaments
+in their elaborate head dresses. Chinese merchants led an endless
+caravan of merchandise up to distinguished looking Mongol Saits,
+surrounded by the gaily dressed tzirik or soldiers and proudly
+negotiating with the merchants for their wares.
+
+Shortly the vision disappeared and Tushegoun began to speak.
+
+"Do not fear death! It is a release from our labor on earth and the path
+to the state of constant blessings. Look to the East! Do you see your
+brothers and friends who have fallen in battle?"
+
+"We see, we see!" the Mongol warriors exclaimed in astonishment, as they
+all looked upon a great group of dwellings which might have been yurtas
+or the arches of temples flushed with a warm and kindly light. Red and
+yellow silk were interwoven in bright bands that covered the walls and
+floor, everywhere the gilding on pillars and walls gleamed brightly;
+on the great red altar burned the thin sacrificial candles in gold
+candelabra, beside the massive silver vessels filled with milk and nuts;
+on soft pillows about the floor sat the Mongols who had fallen in the
+previous attack on Kobdo. Before them stood low, lacquered tables laden
+with many dishes of steaming, succulent flesh of the lamb and the kid,
+with high jugs of wine and tea, with plates of borsuk, a kind of sweet,
+rich cakes, with aromatic zatouran covered with sheep's fat, with bricks
+of dried cheese, with dates, raisins and nuts. These fallen soldiers
+smoked golden pipes and chatted gaily.
+
+This vision in turn also disappeared and before the gazing Mongols stood
+only the mysterious Kalmuck with his hand upraised.
+
+"To battle and return not without victory! I am with you in the fight."
+
+The attack began. The Mongols fought furiously, perished by the hundreds
+but not before they had rushed into the heart of Kobdo. Then was
+re-enacted the long forgotten picture of Tartar hordes destroying
+European towns. Hun Baldon ordered carried over him a triangle of lances
+with brilliant red streamers, a sign that he gave up the town to the
+soldiers for three days. Murder and pillage began. All the Chinese met
+their death there. The town was burned and the walls of the fortress
+destroyed. Afterwards Hun Baldon came to Uliassutai and also destroyed
+the Chinese fortress there. The ruins of it still stand with the broken
+embattlements and towers, the useless gates and the remnants of the
+burned official quarters and soldiers' barracks.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+WILD CHAHARS
+
+
+After our return to Uliassutai we heard that disquieting news had been
+received by the Mongol Sait from Muren Kure. The letter stated that Red
+Troops were pressing Colonel Kazagrandi very hard in the region of Lake
+Kosogol. The Sait feared the advance of the Red troops southward to
+Uliassutai. Both the American firms liquidated their affairs and all
+our friends were prepared for a quick exit, though they hesitated at
+the thought of leaving the town, as they were afraid of meeting the
+detachment of Chahars sent from the east. We decided to await the
+arrival of this detachment, as their coming could change the whole
+course of events. In a few days they came, two hundred warlike Chahar
+brigands under the command of a former Chinese hunghutze. He was a tall,
+skinny man with hands that reached almost to his knees, a face blackened
+by wind and sun and mutilated with two long scars down over his forehead
+and cheek, the making of one of which had also closed one of his
+hawklike eyes, topped off with a shaggy coonskin cap--such was the
+commander of the detachment of Chahars. A personage very dark and stern,
+with whom a night meeting on a lonely street could not be considered a
+pleasure by any bent of the imagination.
+
+The detachment made camp within the destroyed fortress, near to the
+single Chinese building that had not been razed and which was now
+serving as headquarters for the Chinese Commissioner. On the very day of
+their arrival the Chahars pillaged a Chinese dugun or trading house not
+half a mile from the fortress and also offended the wife of the Chinese
+Commissioner by calling her a "traitor." The Chahars, like the Mongols,
+were quite right in their stand, because the Chinese Commissioner Wang
+Tsao-tsun had on his arrival in Uliassutai followed the Chinese custom
+of demanding a Mongolian wife. The servile new Sait had given orders
+that a beautiful and suitable Mongolian girl be found for him. One was
+so run down and placed in his yamen, together with her big wrestling
+Mongol brother who was to be a guard for the Commissioner but who
+developed into the nurse for the little white Pekingese pug which the
+official presented to his new wife.
+
+Burglaries, squabbles and drunken orgies of the Chahars followed, so
+that Wang Tsoa-tsun exerted all his efforts to hurry the detachment
+westward to Kobdo and farther into Urianhai.
+
+One cold morning the inhabitants of Uliassutai rose to witness a very
+stern picture. Along the main street of the town the detachment was
+passing. They were riding on small, shaggy ponies, three abreast; were
+dressed in warm blue coats with sheepskin overcoats outside and crowned
+with the regulation coonskin caps; armed from head to foot. They rode
+with wild shouts and cheers, very greedily eyeing the Chinese shops and
+the houses of the Russian colonists. At their head rode the one-eyed
+hunghutze chief with three horsemen behind him in white overcoats,
+who carried waving banners and blew what may have been meant for music
+through great conch shells. One of the Chahars could not resist and so
+jumped out of his saddle and made for a Chinese shop along the street.
+Immediately the anxious cries of the Chinese merchants came from the
+shop. The hunghutze swung round, noticed the horse at the door of the
+shop and realized what was happening. Immediately he reined his horse
+and made for the spot. With his raucous voice he called the Chahar out.
+As he came, he struck him full in the face with his whip and with all
+his strength. Blood flowed from the slashed cheek. But the Chahar was in
+the saddle in a second without a murmur and galloped to his place in
+the file. During this exit of the Chahars all the people were hidden
+in their houses, anxiously peeping through cracks and corners of the
+windows. But the Chahars passed peacefully out and only when they met a
+caravan carrying Chinese wine about six miles from town did their
+native tendency display itself again in pillaging and emptying several
+containers. Somewhere in the vicinity of Hargana they were ambushed by
+Tushegoun Lama and so treated that never again will the plains of Chahar
+welcome the return of these warrior sons who were sent out to conquer
+the Soyot descendants of the ancient Tuba.
+
+The day the column left Uliassutai a heavy snow fell, so that the road
+became impassable. The horses first were up to their knees, tired out
+and stopped. Some Mongol horsemen reached Uliassutai the following day
+after great hardship and exertion, having made only twenty-five miles in
+forty-eight hours. Caravans were compelled to stop along the routes. The
+Mongols would not consent even to attempt journeys with oxen and yaks
+which made but ten or twelve miles a day. Only camels could be used but
+there were too few and their drivers did not feel that they could make
+the first railway station of Kuku-Hoto, which was about fourteen hundred
+miles away. We were forced again to wait: for which? Death or salvation?
+Only our own energy and force could save us. Consequently my friend
+and I started out, supplied with a tent, stove and food, for a new
+reconnaissance along the shore of Lake Kosogol, whence the Mongol Sait
+expected the new invasion of Red troops.
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE DEMON OF JAGISSTAI
+
+
+Our small group consisting of four mounted and one pack camel moved
+northward along the valley of the River Boyagol in the direction of the
+Tarbagatai Mountains. The road was rocky and covered deep with snow. Our
+camels walked very carefully, sniffing out the way as our guide shouted
+the "Ok! Ok!" of the camel drivers to urge them on. We left behind us
+the fortress and Chinese dugun, swung round the shoulder of a ridge
+and, after fording several times an open stream, began the ascent of the
+mountain. The scramble was hard and dangerous. Our camels picked their
+way most cautiously, moving their ears constantly, as is their habit in
+such stress. The trail zigzagged into mountain ravines, passed over the
+tops of ridges, slipped back down again into shallower valleys but ever
+made higher and higher altitudes. At one place under the grey clouds
+that tipped the ridges we saw away up on the wide expanse of snow some
+black spots.
+
+"Those are the obo, the sacred signs and altars for the bad demons
+watching this pass," explained the guide. "This pass is called
+Jagisstai. Many very old tales about it have been kept alive, ancient as
+these mountains themselves."
+
+We encouraged him to tell us some of them.
+
+The Mongol, rocking on his camel and looking carefully all around him,
+began his tale.
+
+"It was long ago, very long ago. . . . The grandson of the great Jenghiz
+Khan sat on the throne of China and ruled all Asia. The Chinese killed
+their Khan and wanted to exterminate all his family but a holy old Lama
+slipped the wife and little son out of the palace and carried them off
+on swift camels beyond the Great Wall, where they sank into our native
+plains. The Chinese made a long search for the trails of our refugees
+and at last found where they had gone. They despatched a strong
+detachment on fleet horses to capture them. Sometimes the Chinese nearly
+came up with the fleeing heir of our Khan but the Lama called down from
+Heaven a deep snow, through which the camels could pass while the horses
+were inextricably held. This Lama was from a distant monastery. We shall
+pass this hospice of Jahantsi Kure. In order to reach it one must cross
+over the Jagisstai. And it was just here the old Lama suddenly became
+ill, rocked in his saddle and fell dead. Ta Sin Lo, the widow of the
+Great Khan, burst into tears; but, seeing the Chinese riders galloping
+there below across the valley, pressed on toward the pass. The camels
+were tired, stopping every moment, nor did the woman know how to
+stimulate and drive them on. The Chinese riders came nearer and nearer.
+Already she heard their shouts of joy, as they felt within their grasp
+the prize of the mandarins for the murder of the heir of the Great
+Khan. The heads of the mother and the son would be brought to Peking and
+exposed on the Ch'ien Men for the mockery and insults of the people. The
+frightened mother lifted her little son toward heaven and exclaimed:
+
+"'Earth and Gods of Mongolia, behold the offspring of the man who has
+glorified the name of the Mongols from one end of the world to the
+other! Allow not this very flesh of Jenghiz Khan to perish!'
+
+"At this moment she noticed a white mouse sitting on a rock nearby. It
+jumped to her knees and said:
+
+"'I am sent to help you. Go on calmly and do not fear. The pursuers of
+you and your son, to whom is destined a life of glory, have come to the
+last bourne of their lives.'
+
+"Ta Sin Lo did not see how one small mouse could hold in check three
+hundred men. The mouse jumped back to the ground and again spoke:
+
+"'I am the demon of Tarbagatai, Jagasstai. I am mighty and beloved of
+the Gods but, because you doubted the powers of the miracle-speaking
+mouse, from this day the Jagasstai will be dangerous for the good and
+bad alike.'
+
+"The Khan's widow and son were saved but Jagasstai has ever remained
+merciless. During the journey over this pass one must always be on one's
+guard. The demon of the mountain is ever ready to lead the traveler to
+destruction."
+
+All the tops of the ridges of the Tarbagatai are thickly dotted with the
+obo of rocks and branches. In one place there was even erected a tower
+of stones as an altar to propitiate the Gods for the doubts of Ta Sin
+Lo. Evidently the demon expected us. When we began our ascent of the
+main ridge, he blew into our faces with a sharp, cold wind, whistled and
+roared and afterwards began casting over us whole blocks of snow torn
+off the drifts above. We could not distinguish anything around us,
+scarcely seeing the camel immediately in front. Suddenly I felt a
+shock and looked about me. Nothing unusual was visible. I was seated
+comfortably between two leather saddle bags filled with meat and bread
+but . . . I could not see the head of my camel. He had disappeared. It
+seemed that he had slipped and fallen to the bottom of a shallow ravine,
+while the bags which were slung across his back without straps had
+caught on a rock and stopped with myself there in the snow. This time
+the demon of Jagasstai only played a joke but one that did not satisfy
+him. He began to show more and more anger. With furious gusts of wind he
+almost dragged us and our bags from the camels and nearly knocked over
+our humped steeds, blinded us with frozen snow and prevented us from
+breathing. Through long hours we dragged slowly on in the deep snow,
+often falling over the edge of the rocks. At last we entered a small
+valley where the wind whistled and roared with a thousand voices. It
+had grown dark. The Mongol wandered around searching for the trail and
+finally came back to us, flourishing his arms and saying:
+
+"We have lost the road. We must spend the night here. It is very bad
+because we shall have no wood for our stove and the cold will grow
+worse."
+
+With great difficulties and with frozen hands we managed to set up our
+tent in the wind, placing in it the now useless stove. We covered the
+tent with snow, dug deep, long ditches in the drifts and forced our
+camels to lie down in them by shouting the "Dzuk! Dzuk!" command to
+kneel. Then we brought our packs into the tent.
+
+My companion rebelled against the thought of spending a cold night with
+a stove hard by.
+
+"I am going out to look for firewood," said he very decisively; and at
+that took up the ax and started. He returned after an hour with a big
+section of a telegraph pole.
+
+"You, Jenghiz Khans," said he, rubbing his frozen hands, "take your
+axes and go up there to the left on the mountain and you will find the
+telegraph poles that have been cut down. I made acquaintance with the
+old Jagasstai and he showed me the poles."
+
+Just a little way from us the line of the Russian telegraphs passed,
+that which had connected Irkutsk with Uliassutai before the days of the
+Bolsheviki and which the Chinese had commanded the Mongols to cut
+down and take the wire. These poles are now the salvation of travelers
+crossing the pass. Thus we spent the night in a warm tent, supped
+well from hot meat soup with vermicelli, all in the very center of the
+dominion of the angered Jagasstai. Early the next morning we found
+the road not more than two or three hundred paces from our tent and
+continued our hard trip over the ridge of Tarbagatai. At the head of
+the Adair River valley we noticed a flock of the Mongolian crows with
+carmine beaks circling among the rocks. We approached the place and
+discovered the recently fallen bodies of a horse and rider. What had
+happened to them was difficult to guess. They lay close together; the
+bridle was wound around the right wrist of the man; no trace of knife or
+bullet was found. It was impossible to make out the features of the man.
+His overcoat was Mongolian but his trousers and under jacket were not of
+the Mongolian pattern. We asked ourselves what had happened to him.
+
+Our Mongol bowed his head in anxiety and said in hushed but assured
+tones: "It is the vengeance of Jagasstai. The rider did not make
+sacrifice at the southern obo and the demon has strangled him and his
+horse."
+
+At last Tarbagatai was behind us. Before us lay the valley of the Adair.
+It was a narrow zigzagging plain following along the river bed between
+close mountain ranges and covered with a rich grass. It was cut into two
+parts by the road along which the prostrate telegraph poles now lay, as
+the stumps of varying heights and long stretches of wire completed
+the debris. This destruction of the telegraph line between Irkutsk and
+Uliassutai was necessary and incident to the aggressive Chinese policy
+in Mongolia.
+
+Soon we began to meet large herds of sheep, which were digging through
+the snow to the dry but very nutritious grass. In some places yaks and
+oxen were seen on the high slopes of the mountains. Only once, however,
+did we see a shepherd, for all of them, spying us first, had made off
+to the mountains or hidden in the ravines. We did not even discover any
+yurtas along the way. The Mongols had also concealed all their movable
+homes in the folds of the mountains out of sight and away from the reach
+of the strong winds. Nomads are very skilful in choosing the places
+for their winter dwellings. I had often in winter visited the Mongolian
+yurtas set in such sheltered places that, as I came off the windy
+plains, I felt as though I were in a conservatory. Once we came up to
+a big herd of sheep. But as we approached most of the herd gradually
+withdrew, leaving one part that remained unmoved as the other worked
+off across the plains. From this section soon about thirty of forty head
+emerged and went scrambling and leaping right up the mountain side. I
+took up my glasses and began to observe them. The part of the herd that
+remained behind were common sheep; the large section that had drawn off
+over the plain were Mongolian antelopes (gazella gutturosa); while
+the few that had taken to the mountain were the big horned sheep (ovis
+argali). All this company had been grazing together with the domestic
+sheep on the plains of the Adair, which attracted them with its good
+grass and clear water. In many places the river was not frozen and in
+some places I saw great clouds of steam over the surface of the open
+water. In the meantime some of the antelopes and the mountain sheep
+began looking at us.
+
+"Now they will soon begin to cross our trail," laughed the Mongol; "very
+funny beasts. Sometimes the antelopes course for miles in their endeavor
+to outrun and cross in front of our horses and then, when they have done
+so, go loping quietly off."
+
+I had already seen this strategy of the antelopes and I decided to make
+use of it for the purpose of the hunt. We organized our chase in the
+following manner. We let one Mongol with the pack camel proceed as
+we had been traveling and the other three of us spread out like a fan
+headed toward the herd on the right of our true course. The herd stopped
+and looked about puzzled, for their etiquette required that they should
+cross the path of all four of these riders at once. Confusion began.
+They counted about three thousand heads. All this army began to run
+from one side to another but without forming any distinct groups. Whole
+squadrons of them ran before us and then, noticing another rider, came
+coursing back and made anew the same manoeuvre. One group of about fifty
+head rushed in two rows toward my point. When they were about a hundred
+and fifty paces away I shouted and fired. They stopped at once and began
+to whirl round in one spot, running into one another and even jumping
+over one another. Their panic cost them dear, for I had time to shoot
+four times to bring down two beautiful heads. My friend was even more
+fortunate than I, for he shot only once into the herd as it rushed past
+him in parallel lines and dropped two with the same bullet.
+
+Meanwhile the argali had gone farther up the mountainside and taken
+stand there in a row like so many soldiers, turning to gaze at us. Even
+at this distance I could clearly distinguish their muscular bodies
+with their majestic heads and stalwart horns. Picking up our prey, we
+overtook the Mongol who had gone on ahead and continued our way. In many
+places we came across the carcasses of sheep with necks torn and the
+flesh of the sides eaten off.
+
+"It is the work of wolves," said the Mongol. "They are always hereabout
+in large numbers."
+
+We came across several more herds of antelope, which ran along quietly
+enough until they had made a comfortable distance ahead of us and then
+with tremendous leaps and bounds crossed our bows like the proverbial
+chicken on the road. Then, after a couple of hundred paces at this
+speed, they stopped and began to graze quite calmly. Once I turned my
+camel back and the whole herd immediately took up the challenge again,
+coursed along parallel with me until they had made sufficient distance
+for their ideas of safety and then once more rushed across the road
+ahead of me as though it were paved with red hot stones, only to assume
+their previous calmness and graze back on the same side of the trail
+from which our column had first started them. On another occasion I did
+this three times with a particular herd and laughed long and heartily at
+their stupid customs.
+
+We passed a very unpleasant night in this valley. We stopped on the
+shore of the frozen stream in a spot where we found shelter from the
+wind under the lee of a high shore. In our stove we did have a fire and
+in our kettle boiling water. Also our tent was warm and cozy. We were
+quietly resting with pleasant thoughts of supper to soothe us, when
+suddenly a howling and laughter as though from some inferno burst upon
+us from just outside the tent, while from the other side of the valley
+came the long and doleful howls in answer.
+
+"Wolves," calmly explained the Mongol, who took my revolver and went out
+of the tent. He did not return for some time but at last we heard a shot
+and shortly after he entered.
+
+"I scared them a little," said he. "They had congregated on the shore of
+the Adair around the body of a camel."
+
+"And they have not touched our camels?" we asked.
+
+"We shall make a bonfire behind our tent; then they will not bother us."
+
+After our supper we turned in but I lay awake for a long time listening
+to the crackle of the wood in the fire, the deep sighing breaths of the
+camels and the distant howling of the packs of wolves; but finally, even
+with all these noises, fell asleep. How long I had been asleep I did not
+know when suddenly I was awakened by a strong blow in the side. I was
+lying at the very edge of the tent and someone from outside had, without
+the least ceremony, pushed strongly against me. I thought it was one of
+the camels chewing the felt of the tent. I took my Mauser and struck the
+wall. A sharp scream was followed by the sound of quick running over the
+pebbles. In the morning we discovered the tracks of wolves approaching
+our tent from the side opposite to the fire and followed them to where
+they had begun to dig under the tent wall; but evidently one of the
+would-be robbers was forced to retreat with a bruise on his head from
+the handle of the Mauser.
+
+Wolves and eagles are the servants of Jagasstai, the Mongol very
+seriously instructed us. However, this does not prevent the Mongols from
+hunting them. Once in the camp of Prince Baysei I witnessed such a hunt.
+The Mongol horsemen on the best of his steeds overtook the wolves on the
+open plain and killed them with heavy bamboo sticks or tashur. A Russian
+veterinary surgeon taught the Mongols to poison wolves with strychnine
+but the Mongols soon abandoned this method because of its danger to
+the dogs, the faithful friends and allies of the nomad. They do not,
+however, touch the eagles and hawks but even feed them. When the Mongols
+are slaughtering animals they often cast bits of meat up into the air
+for the hawks and eagles to catch in flight, just as we throw a bit of
+meat to a dog. Eagles and hawks fight and drive away the magpies and
+crows, which are very dangerous for cattle and horses, because they
+scratch and peck at the smallest wound or abrasion on the backs of the
+animals until they make them into uncurable areas which they continue to
+harass.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE NEST OF DEATH
+
+
+Our camels were trudging to a slow but steady measure on toward the
+north. We were making twenty-five to thirty miles a day as we approached
+a small monastery that lay to the left of our route. It was in the
+form of a square of large buildings surrounded by a high fence of
+thick poles. Each side had an opening in the middle leading to the four
+entrances of the temple in the center of the square. The temple was
+built with the red lacquered columns and the Chinese style roofs and
+dominated the surrounding low dwellings of the Lamas. On the opposite
+side of the road lay what appeared to be a Chinese fortress but which
+was in reality a trading compound or dugun, which the Chinese always
+build in the form of a fortress with double walls a few feet apart,
+within which they place their houses and shops and usually have twenty
+or thirty traders fully armed for any emergency. In case of need these
+duguns can be used as blockhouses and are capable of withstanding long
+sieges. Between the dugun and the monastery and nearer to the road I
+made out the camp of some nomads. Their horses and cattle were nowhere
+to be seen. Evidently the Mongols had stopped here for some time and
+had left their cattle in the mountains. Over several yurtas waved
+multi-colored triangular flags, a sign of the presence of disease. Near
+some yurtas high poles were stuck into the ground with Mongol caps at
+their tops, which indicated that the host of the yurta had died. The
+packs of dogs wandering over the plain showed that the dead bodies lay
+somewhere near, either in the ravines or along the banks of the river.
+
+As we approached the camp, we heard from a distance the frantic beating
+of drums, the mournful sounds of the flute and shrill, mad shouting.
+Our Mongol went forward to investigate for us and reported that several
+Mongolian families had come here to the monastery to seek aid from the
+Hutuktu Jahansti who was famed for his miracles of healing. The people
+were stricken with leprosy and black smallpox and had come from long
+distances only to find that the Hutuktu was not at the monastery but had
+gone to the Living Buddha in Urga. Consequently they had been forced to
+invite the witch doctors. The people were dying one after another. Just
+the day before they had cast on the plain the twenty-seventh man.
+
+Meanwhile, as we talked, the witch doctor came out of one of the yurtas.
+He was an old man with a cataract on one eye and with a face deeply
+scarred by smallpox. He was dressed in tatters with various colored bits
+of cloth hanging down from his waist. He carried a drum and a flute. We
+could see froth on his blue lips and madness in his eyes. Suddenly he
+began to whirl round and dance with a thousand prancings of his long
+legs and writhings of his arms and shoulders, still beating the drum and
+playing the flute or crying and raging at intervals, ever accelerating
+his movements until at last with pallid face and bloodshot eyes he fell
+on the snow, where he continued to writhe and give out his incoherent
+cries. In this manner the doctor treated his patients, frightening with
+his madness the bad devils that carry disease. Another witch doctor gave
+his patients dirty, muddy water, which I learned was the water from the
+bath of the very person of the Living Buddha who had washed in it his
+"divine" body born from the sacred flower of the lotus.
+
+"Om! Om!" both witches continuously screamed.
+
+While the doctors fought with the devils, the ill people were left to
+themselves. They lay in high fever under the heaps of sheepskins and
+overcoats, were delirious, raved and threw themselves about. By the
+braziers squatted adults and children who were still well, indifferently
+chatting, drinking tea and smoking. In all the yurtas I saw the
+diseased and the dead and such misery and physical horrors as cannot be
+described.
+
+And I thought: "Oh, Great Jenghiz Khan! Why did you with your keen
+understanding of the whole situation of Asia and Europe, you who devoted
+all your life to the glory of the name of the Mongols, why did you not
+give to your own people, who preserve their old morality, honesty and
+peaceful customs, the enlightenment that would have saved them from such
+death? Your bones in the mausoleum at Karakorum being destroyed by
+the centuries that pass over them must cry out against the rapid
+disappearance of your formerly great people, who were feared by half the
+civilized world!"
+
+Such thoughts filled my brain when I saw this camp of the dead tomorrow
+and when I heard the groans, shoutings and raving of dying men,
+women and children. Somewhere in the distance the dogs were howling
+mournfully, and monotonously the drum of the tired witch rolled.
+
+"Forward!" I could not witness longer this dark horror, which I had
+no means or force to eradicate. We quickly passed on from the ominous
+place. Nor could we shake the thought that some horrible invisible
+spirit was following us from this scene of terror. "The devils of
+disease?" "The pictures of horror and misery?" "The souls of men
+who have been sacrificed on the altar of darkness of Mongolia?" An
+inexplicable fear penetrated into our consciousness from whose grasp
+we could not release ourselves. Only when we had turned from the road,
+passed over a timbered ridge into a bowl in the mountains from which we
+could see neither Jahantsi Kure, the dugun nor the squirming grave of
+dying Mongols could we breathe freely again.
+
+Presently we discovered a large lake. It was Tisingol. Near the shore
+stood a large Russian house, the telegraph station between Kosogol and
+Uliassutai.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+AMONG THE MURDERERS
+
+
+As we approached the telegraph station, we were met by a blonde young
+man who was in charge of the office, Kanine by name. With some little
+confusion he offered us a place in his house for the night. When we
+entered the room, a tall, lanky man rose from the table and indecisively
+walked toward us, looking very attentively at us the while.
+
+"Guests . . ." explained Kanine. "They are going to Khathyl. Private
+persons, strangers, foreigners . . ."
+
+"A-h," drawled the stranger in a quiet, comprehending tone.
+
+While we were untying our girdles and with difficulty getting out of our
+great Mongolian coats, the tall man was animatedly whispering something
+to our host. As we approached the table to sit down and rest, I
+overheard him say: "We are forced to postpone it," and saw Kanine simply
+nod in answer.
+
+Several other people were seated at the table, among them the assistant
+of Kanine, a tall blonde man with a white face, who talked like a
+Gatling gun about everything imaginable. He was half crazy and his
+semi-madness expressed itself when any loud talking, shouting or sudden
+sharp report led him to repeat the words of the one to whom he was
+talking at the time or to relate in a mechanical, hurried manner stories
+of what was happening around him just at this particular juncture. The
+wife of Kanine, a pale, young, exhausted-looking woman with frightened
+eyes and a face distorted by fear, was also there and near her a young
+girl of fifteen with cropped hair and dressed like a man, as well as
+the two small sons of Kanine. We made acquaintance with all of them.
+The tall stranger called himself Gorokoff, a Russian colonist from
+Samgaltai, and presented the short-haired girl as his sister. Kanine's
+wife looked at us with plainly discernible fear and said nothing,
+evidently displeased over our being there. However, we had no choice and
+consequently began drinking tea and eating our bread and cold meat.
+
+Kanine told us that ever since the telegraph line had been destroyed all
+his family and relatives had felt very keenly the poverty and hardship
+that naturally followed. The Bolsheviki did not send him any salary from
+Irkutsk, so that he was compelled to shift for himself as best he
+could. They cut and cured hay for sale to the Russian colonists,
+handled private messages and merchandise from Khathyl to Uliassutai and
+Samgaltai, bought and sold cattle, hunted and in this manner managed to
+exist. Gorokoff announced that his commercial affairs compelled him
+to go to Khathyl and that he and his sister would be glad to join
+our caravan. He had a most unprepossessing, angry-looking face with
+colorless eyes that always avoided those of the person with whom he was
+speaking. During the conversation we asked Kanine if there were Russian
+colonists near by, to which he answered with knitted brow and a look of
+disgust on his face:
+
+"There is one rich old man, Bobroff, who lives a verst away from our
+station; but I would not advise you to visit him. He is a miserly,
+inhospitable old fellow who does not like guests."
+
+During these words of her husband Madame Kanine dropped her eyes and
+contracted her shoulders in something resembling a shudder. Gorokoff and
+his sister smoked along indifferently. I very clearly remarked all this
+as well as the hostile tone of Kanine, the confusion of his wife and
+the artificial indifference of Gorokoff; and I determined to see the
+old colonist given such a bad name by Kanine. In Uliassutai I knew
+two Bobroffs. I said to Kanine that I had been asked to hand a letter
+personally to Bobroff and, after finishing my tea, put on my overcoat
+and went out.
+
+The house of Bobroff stood in a deep sink in the mountains, surrounded
+by a high fence over which the low roofs of the houses could be seen. A
+light shone through the window. I knocked at the gate. A furious barking
+of dogs answered me and through the cracks of the fence I made out four
+huge black Mongol dogs, showing their teeth and growling as they rushed
+toward the gate. Inside the court someone opened the door and called
+out: "Who is there?"
+
+I answered that I was traveling through from Uliassutai. The dogs were
+first caught and chained and I was then admitted by a man who looked me
+over very carefully and inquiringly from head to foot. A revolver handle
+stuck out of his pocket. Satisfied with his observations and learning
+that I knew his relatives, he warmly welcomed me to the house and
+presented me to his wife, a dignified old woman, and to his beautiful
+little adopted daughter, a girl of five years. She had been found on
+the plain beside the dead body of her mother exhausted in her attempt to
+escape from the Bolsheviki in Siberia.
+
+Bobroff told me that the Russian detachment of Kazagrandi had succeeded
+in driving the Red troops away from the Kosogol and that we could
+consequently continue our trip to Khathyl without danger.
+
+"Why did you not stop with me instead of with those brigands?" asked the
+old fellow.
+
+I began to question him and received some very important news. It
+seemed that Kanine was a Bolshevik, the agent of the Irkutsk Soviet, and
+stationed here for purposes of observation. However, now he was rendered
+harmless, because the road between him and Irkutsk was interrupted.
+Still from Biisk in the Altai country had just come a very important
+commissar.
+
+"Gorokoff?" I asked.
+
+"That's what he calls himself," replied the old fellow; "but I am also
+from Biisk and I know everyone there. His real name is Pouzikoff and the
+short-haired girl with him is his mistress. He is the commissar of the
+'Cheka' and she is the agent of this establishment. Last August the two
+of them shot with their revolvers seventy bound officers from Kolchak's
+army. Villainous, cowardly murderers! Now they have come here for a
+reconnaissance. They wanted to stay in my house but I knew them too well
+and refused them place."
+
+"And you do not fear him?" I asked, remembering the different words and
+glances of these people as they sat at the table in the station.
+
+"No," answered the old man. "I know how to defend myself and my family
+and I have a protector too--my son, such a shot, a rider and a fighter
+as does not exist in all Mongolia. I am very sorry that you will not
+make the acquaintance of my boy. He has gone off to the herds and will
+return only tomorrow evening."
+
+We took most cordial leave of each other and I promised to stop with him
+on my return.
+
+"Well, what yarns did Bobroff tell you about us?" was the question with
+which Kanine and Gorokoff met me when I came back to the station.
+
+"Nothing about you," I answered, "because he did not even want to speak
+with me when he found out that I was staying in your house. What is the
+trouble between you?" I asked of them, expressing complete astonishment
+on my face.
+
+"It is an old score," growled Gorokoff.
+
+"A malicious old churl," Kanine added in agreement, the while the
+frightened, suffering-laden eyes of his wife again gave expression
+to terrifying horror, as if she momentarily expected a deadly blow.
+Gorokoff began to pack his luggage in preparation for the journey with
+us the following morning. We prepared our simple beds in an adjoining
+room and went to sleep. I whispered to my friend to keep his revolver
+handy for anything that might happen but he only smiled as he dragged
+his revolver and his ax from his coat to place them under his pillow.
+
+"This people at the outset seemed to me very suspicious," he whispered.
+"They are cooking up something crooked. Tomorrow I shall ride behind
+this Gorokoff and shall prepare for him a very faithful one of my
+bullets, a little dum-dum."
+
+The Mongols spent the night under their tent in the open court beside
+their camels, because they wanted to be near to feed them. About seven
+o'clock we started. My friend took up his post as rear guard to our
+caravan, keeping all the time behind Gorokoff, who with his sister, both
+armed from tip to toe, rode splendid mounts.
+
+"How have you kept your horses in such fine condition coming all the way
+from Samgaltai?" I inquired as I looked over their fine beasts.
+
+When he answered that these belonged to his host, I realized that Kanine
+was not so poor as he made out; for any rich Mongol would have given him
+in exchange for one of these lovely animals enough sheep to have kept
+his household in mutton for a whole year.
+
+Soon we came to a large swamp surrounded by dense brush, where I was
+much astonished by seeing literally hundreds of white kuropatka or
+partridges. Out of the water rose a flock of duck with a mad rush as
+we hove in sight. Winter, cold driving wind, snow and wild ducks! The
+Mongol explained it to me thus:
+
+"This swamp always remains warm and never freezes. The wild ducks live
+here the year round and the kuropatka too, finding fresh food in the
+soft warm earth."
+
+As I was speaking with the Mongol I noticed over the swamp a tongue of
+reddish-yellow flame. It flashed and disappeared at once but later, on
+the farther edge, two further tongues ran upward. I realized that here
+was the real will-o'-the-wisp surrounded by so many thousands of legends
+and explained so simply by chemistry as merely a flash of methane or
+swamp gas generated by the putrefying of vegetable matter in the warm
+damp earth.
+
+"Here dwell the demons of Adair, who are in perpetual war with those of
+Muren," explained the Mongol.
+
+"Indeed," I thought, "if in prosaic Europe in our days the inhabitants
+of our villages believe these flames to be some wild sorcery, then
+surely in the land of mystery they must be at least the evidences of war
+between the demons of two neighboring rivers!"
+
+After passing this swamp we made out far ahead of us a large monastery.
+Though this was some half mile off the road, the Gorokoffs said they
+would ride over to it to make some purchases in the Chinese shops there.
+They quickly rode away, promising to overtake us shortly, but we did not
+see them again for a while. They slipped away without leaving any trail
+but we met them later in very unexpected circumstances of fatal portent
+for them. On our part we were highly satisfied that we were rid of
+them so soon and, after they were gone, I imparted to my friend the
+information gleaned from Bobroff the evening before.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+ON A VOLCANO
+
+
+The following evening we arrived at Khathyl, a small Russian settlement
+of ten scattered houses in the valley of the Egingol or Yaga, which here
+takes its waters from the Kosogol half a mile above the village. The
+Kosogol is a huge Alpine lake, deep and cold, eighty-five miles in
+length and from ten to thirty in width. On the western shore live the
+Darkhat Soyots, who call it Hubsugul, the Mongols, Kosogol. Both the
+Soyots and Mongols consider this a terrible and sacred lake. It is very
+easy to understand this prejudice because the lake lies in a region of
+present volcanic activity, where in the summer on perfectly calm sunny
+days it sometimes lashes itself into great waves that are dangerous not
+only to the native fishing boats but also to the large Russian passenger
+steamers that ply on the lake. In winter also it sometimes entirely
+breaks up its covering of ice and gives off great clouds of steam.
+Evidently the bottom of the lake is sporadically pierced by discharging
+hot springs or, perhaps, by streams of lava. Evidence of some great
+underground convulsion like this is afforded by the mass of killed fish
+which at times dams the outlet river in its shallow places. The lake is
+exceedingly rich in fish, chiefly varieties of trout and salmon, and
+is famous for its wonderful "white fish," which was previously sent all
+over Siberia and even down into Manchuria so far as Moukden. It is fat
+and remarkably tender and produces fine caviar. Another variety in
+the lake is the white khayrus or trout, which in the migration season,
+contrary to the customs of most fish, goes down stream into the Yaga,
+where it sometimes fills the river from bank to bank with swarms of
+backs breaking the surface of the water. However, this fish is not
+caught, because it is infested with worms and is unfit for food. Even
+cats and dogs will not touch it. This is a very interesting phemonenon
+and was being investigated and studied by Professor Dorogostaisky of the
+University at Irkutsk when the coming of the Bolsheviki interrupted his
+work.
+
+In Khathyl we found a panic. The Russian detachment of Colonel
+Kazagrandi, after having twice defeated the Bolsheviki and well on its
+march against Irkutsk, was suddenly rendered impotent and scattered
+through internal strife among the officers. The Bolsheviki took
+advantage of this situation, increased their forces to one thousand men
+and began a forward movement to recover what they had lost, while the
+remnants of Colonel Kazagrandi's detachment were retreating on Khathyl,
+where he determined to make his last stand against the Reds. The
+inhabitants were loading their movable property with their families into
+carts and scurrying away from the town, leaving all their cattle and
+horses to whomsoever should have the power to seize and hold them.
+One party intended to hide in the dense larch forest and the mountain
+ravines not far away, while another party made southward for Muren Kure
+and Uliassutai. The morning following our arrival the Mongol official
+received word that the Red troops had outflanked Colonel Kazagrandi's
+men and were approaching Khathyl. The Mongol loaded his documents and
+his servants on eleven camels and left his yamen. Our Mongol guides,
+without ever saying a word to us, secretly slipped off with him and left
+us without camels. Our situation thus became desperate. We hastened to
+the colonists who had not yet got away to bargain with them for camels,
+but they had previously, in anticipation of trouble, sent their herds
+to distant Mongols and so could do nothing to help us. Then we betook
+ourselves to Dr. V. G. Gay, a veterinarian living in the town, famous
+throughout Mongolia for his battle against rinderpest. He lived here
+with his family and after being forced to give up his government work
+became a cattle dealer. He was a most interesting person, clever and
+energetic, and the one who had been appointed under the Czarist regime
+to purchase all the meat supplies from Mongolia for the Russian Army on
+the German Front. He organized a huge enterprise in Mongolia but when
+the Bolsheviki seized power in 1917 he transferred his allegiance and
+began to work with them. Then in May, 1918, when the Kolchak forces
+drove the Bolsheviki out of Siberia, he was arrested and taken for
+trial. However, he was released because he was looked upon as the single
+individual to organize this big Mongolian enterprise and he handed
+to Admiral Kolchak all the supplies of meat and the silver formerly
+received from the Soviet commissars. At this time Gay had been serving
+as the chief organizer and supplier of the forces of Kazagrandi.
+
+When we went to him, he at once suggested that we take the only thing
+left, some poor, broken-down horses which would be able to carry us the
+sixty miles to Muren Kure, where we could secure camels to return to
+Uliassutai. However, even these were being kept some distance from the
+town so that we should have to spend the night there, the night in which
+the Red troops were expected to arrive. Also we were much astonished to
+see that Gay was remaining there with his family right up to the time of
+the expected arrival of the Reds. The only others in the town were a few
+Cossacks, who had been ordered to stay behind to watch the movements of
+the Red troops. The night came. My friend and I were prepared either
+to fight or, in the last event, to commit suicide. We stayed in a small
+house near the Yaga, where some workmen were living who could not, and
+did not feel it necessary to, leave. They went up on a hill from which
+they could scan the whole country up to the range from behind which the
+Red detachment must appear. From this vantage point in the forest one of
+the workmen came running in and cried out:
+
+"Woe, woe to us! The Reds have arrived. A horseman is galloping fast
+through the forest road. I called to him but he did not answer me. It
+was dark but I knew the horse was a strange one."
+
+"Do not babble so," said another of the workmen. "Some Mongol rode by
+and you jumped to the conclusion that he was a Red."
+
+"No, it was not a Mongol," he replied. "The horse was shod. I heard the
+sound of iron shoes on the road. Woe to us!"
+
+"Well," said my friend, "it seems that this is our finish. It is a silly
+way for it all to end."
+
+He was right. Just then there was a knock at our door but it was that
+of the Mongol bringing us three horses for our escape. Immediately we
+saddled them, packed the third beast with our tent and food and rode off
+at once to take leave of Gay.
+
+In his house we found the whole war council. Two or three colonists and
+several Cossacks had galloped from the mountains and announced that the
+Red detachment was approaching Khathyl but would remain for the night
+in the forest, where they were building campfires. In fact, through
+the house windows we could see the glare of the fires. It seemed very
+strange that the enemy should await the morning there in the forest when
+they were right on the village they wished to capture.
+
+An armed Cossack entered the room and announced that two armed men from
+the detachment were approaching. All the men in the room pricked up
+their ears. Outside were heard the horses' hoofs followed by men's
+voices and a knock at the door.
+
+"Come in," said Gay.
+
+Two young men entered, their moustaches and beards white and their
+cheeks blazing red from the cold. They were dressed in the common
+Siberian overcoat with the big Astrakhan caps, but they had no weapons.
+Questions began. It developed that it was a detachment of White peasants
+from the Irkutsk and Yakutsk districts who had been fighting with the
+Bolsheviki. They had been defeated somewhere in the vicinity of Irkutsk
+and were now trying to make a junction with Kazagrandi. The leader of
+this band was a socialist, Captain Vassilieff, who had suffered much
+under the Czar because of his tenets.
+
+Our troubles had vanished but we decided to start immediately to Muren
+Kure, as we had gathered our information and were in a hurry to make
+our report. We started. On the road we overtook three Cossacks who were
+going out to bring back the colonists who were fleeing to the south. We
+joined them and, dismounting, we all led our horses over the ice. The
+Yaga was mad. The subterranean forces produced underneath the ice great
+heaving waves which with a swirling roar threw up and tore loose great
+sections of ice, breaking them into small blocks and sucking them under
+the unbroken downstream field. Cracks ran like snakes over the surface
+in different directions. One of the Cossacks fell into one of these
+but we had just time to save him. He was forced by his ducking in such
+extreme cold to turn back to Khathyl. Our horses slipped about and fell
+several times. Men and animals felt the presence of death which hovered
+over them and momentarily threatened them with destruction. At last we
+made the farther bank and continued southward down the valley, glad to
+have left the geological and figurative volcanoes behind us. Ten miles
+farther on we came up with the first party of refugees. They had spread
+a big tent and made a fire inside, filling it with warmth and smoke.
+Their camp was made beside the establishment of a large Chinese trading
+house, where the owners refused to let the colonists come into their
+amply spacious buildings, even though there were children, women and
+invalids among the refugees. We spent but half an hour here. The road
+as we continued was easy, save in places where the snow lay deep. We
+crossed the fairly high divide between the Egingol and Muren. Near the
+pass one very unexpected event occurred to us. We crossed the mouth of
+a fairly wide valley whose upper end was covered with a dense wood. Near
+this wood we noticed two horsemen, evidently watching us. Their manner
+of sitting in their saddles and the character of their horses told us
+that they were not Mongols. We began shouting and waving to them; but
+they did not answer. Out of the wood emerged a third and stopped to
+look at us. We decided to interview them and, whipping up our horses,
+galloped toward them. When we were about one thousand yards from them,
+they slipped from their saddles and opened on us with a running fire.
+Fortunately we rode a little apart and thus made a poor target for them.
+We jumped off our horses, dropped prone on the ground and prepared to
+fight. However, we did not fire because we thought it might be a mistake
+on their part, thinking that we were Reds. They shortly made off. Their
+shots from the European rifles had given us further proof that they were
+not Mongols. We waited until they had disappeared into the woods and
+then went forward to investigate their tracks, which we found were those
+of shod horses, clearly corroborating the earlier evidence that they
+were not Mongols. Who could they have been? We never found out; yet what
+a different relationship they might have borne to our lives, had their
+shots been true!
+
+After we had passed over the divide, we met the Russian colonist D. A.
+Teternikoff from Muren Kure, who invited us to stay in his house and
+promised to secure camels for us from the Lamas. The cold was intense
+and heightened by a piercing wind. During the day we froze to the bone
+but at night thawed and warmed up nicely by our tent stove. After two
+days we entered the valley of Muren and from afar made out the square
+of the Kure with its Chinese roofs and large red temples. Nearby was
+a second square, the Chinese and Russian settlement. Two hours more
+brought us to the house of our hospitable companion and his attractive
+young wife who feasted us with a wonderful luncheon of tasty dishes. We
+spent five days at Muren waiting for the camels to be engaged. During
+this time many refugees arrived from Khathyl because Colonel Kazagrandi
+was gradually falling back upon the town. Among others there were two
+Colonels, Plavako and Maklakoff, who had caused the disruption of the
+Kazagrandi force. No sooner had the refugees appeared in Muren Kure
+than the Mongolian officials announced that the Chinese authorities had
+ordered them to drive out all Russian refugees.
+
+"Where can we go now in winter with women and children and no homes of
+our own?" asked the distraught refugees.
+
+"That is of no moment to us," answered the Mongolian officials. "The
+Chinese authorities are angry and have ordered us to drive you away. We
+cannot help you at all."
+
+The refugees had to leave Muren Kure and so erected their tents in the
+open not far away. Plavako and Maklakoff bought horses and started out
+for Van Kure. Long afterwards I learned that both had been killed by the
+Chinese along the road.
+
+We secured three camels and started out with a large group of Chinese
+merchants and Russian refugees to make Uliassutai, preserving
+the warmest recollections of our courteous hosts, T. V. and D. A.
+Teternikoff. For the trip we had to pay for our camels the very high
+price of 33 lan of the silver bullion which had been supplied us by an
+American firm in Uliassutai, the equivalent roughly of 2.7 pounds of the
+white metal.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+A BLOODY CHASTISEMENT
+
+
+Before long we struck the road which we had travelled coming north and
+saw again the kindly rows of chopped down telegraph poles which had once
+so warmly protected us. Over the timbered hillocks north of the valley
+of Tisingol we wended just as it was growing dark. We decided to stay
+in Bobroff's house and our companions thought to seek the hospitality of
+Kanine in the telegraph station. At the station gate we found a soldier
+with a rifle, who questioned us as to who we were and whence we had come
+and, being apparently satisfied, whistled out a young officer from the
+house.
+
+"Lieutenant Ivanoff," he introduced himself. "I am staying here with my
+detachment of White Partisans."
+
+He had come from near Irkutsk with his following of ten men and had
+formed a connection with Lieutenant-Colonel Michailoff at Uliassutai,
+who commanded him to take possession of this blockhouse.
+
+"Enter, please," he said hospitably.
+
+I explained to him that I wanted to stay with Bobroff, whereat he made a
+despairing gesture with his hand and said:
+
+"Don't trouble yourself. The Bobroffs are killed and their house
+burned."
+
+I could not keep back a cry of horror.
+
+The Lieutenant continued: "Kanine and the Pouzikoffs killed them,
+pillaged the place and afterwards burned the house with their dead
+bodies in it. Do you want to see it?"
+
+My friend and I went with the Lieutenant and looked over the ominous
+site. Blackened uprights stood among charred beams and planks while
+crockery and iron pots and pans were scattered all around. A little
+to one side under some felt lay the remains of the four unfortunate
+individuals. The Lieutenant first spoke:
+
+"I reported the case to Uliassutai and received word back that the
+relatives of the deceased would come with two officers, who would
+investigate the affair. That is why I cannot bury the bodies."
+
+"How did it happen?" we asked, oppressed by the sad picture.
+
+"It was like this," he began. "I was approaching Tisingol at night with
+my ten soldiers. Fearing that there might be Reds here, we sneaked up
+to the station and looked into the windows. We saw Pouzikoff, Kanine
+and the short-haired girl, looking over and dividing clothes and
+other things and weighing lumps of silver. I did not at once grasp the
+significance of all this; but, feeling the need for continued caution,
+ordered one of my soldiers to climb the fence and open the gate. We
+rushed into the court. The first to run from the house was Kanine's
+wife, who threw up her hands and shrieked in fear: 'I knew that
+misfortune would come of all this!' and then fainted. One of the men ran
+out of a side door to a shed in the yard and there tried to get over the
+fence. I had not noticed him but one of my soldiers caught him. We were
+met at the door by Kanine, who was white and trembling. I realized
+that something important had taken place, placed them all under arrest,
+ordered the men tied and placed a close guard. All my questions were
+met with silence save by Madame Kanine who cried: 'Pity, pity for the
+children! They are innocent!' as she dropped on her knees and stretched
+out her hands in supplication to us. The short-haired girl laughed out
+of impudent eyes and blew a puff of smoke into my face. I was forced to
+threaten them and said:
+
+"'I know that you have committed some crime, but you do not want to
+confess. If you do not, I shall shoot the men and take the women to
+Uliassutai to try them there.'
+
+"I spoke with definiteness of voice and intention, for they roused my
+deepest anger. Quite to my surprise the short-haired girl first began to
+speak.
+
+"'I want to tell you about everything,' she said.
+
+"I ordered ink, paper and pen brought me. My soldiers were the
+witnesses. Then I prepared the protocol of the confession of Pouzikoff's
+wife. This was her dark and bloody tale.
+
+"'My husband and I are Bolshevik commissars and we have been sent to
+find out how many White officers are hidden in Mongolia. But the old
+fellow Bobroff knew us. We wanted to go away but Kanine kept us, telling
+us that Bobroff was rich and that he had for a long time wanted to kill
+him and pillage his place. We agreed to join him. We decoyed the young
+Bobroff to come and play cards with us. When he was going home my
+husband stole along behind and shot him. Afterwards we all went to
+Bobroff's place. I climbed upon the fence and threw some poisoned meat
+to the dogs, who were dead in a few minutes. Then we all climbed over.
+The first person to emerge from the house was Bobroff's wife. Pouzikoff,
+who was hidden behind the door, killed her with his ax. The old fellow
+we killed with a blow of the ax as he slept. The little girl ran out
+into the room as she heard the noise and Kanine shot her in the head
+with buckshot. Afterwards we looted the house and burned it, even
+destroying the horses and cattle. Later all would have been completely
+burned, so that no traces remained, but you suddenly arrived and these
+stupid fellows at once betrayed us.'
+
+"It was a dastardly affair," continued the Lieutenant, as we returned
+to the station. "The hair raised on my head as I listened to the calm
+description of this young woman, hardly more than a girl. Only then did
+I fully realize what depravity Bolshevism had brought into the world,
+crushing out faith, fear of God and conscience. Only then did I
+understand that all honest people must fight without compromise against
+this most dangerous enemy of mankind, so long as life and strength
+endure."
+
+As we walked I noticed at the side of the road a black spot. It
+attracted and fixed my attention.
+
+"What is that?" I asked, pointing to the spot.
+
+"It is the murderer Pouzikoff whom I shot," answered the Lieutenant. "I
+would have shot both Kanine and the wife of Pouzikoff but I was sorry
+for Kanine's wife and children and I haven't learned the lesson
+of shooting women. Now I shall send them along with you under the
+surveillance of my soldiers to Uliassutai. The same result will come,
+for the Mongols who try them for the murder will surely kill them."
+
+This is what happened at Tisingol, on whose shores the will-o'-the-wisp
+flits over the marshy pools and near which runs the cleavage of over two
+hundred miles that the last earthquake left in the surface of the land.
+Maybe it was out of this cleavage that Pouzikoff, Kanine and the others
+who have sought to infect the whole world with horror and crime made
+their appearance from the land of the inferno. One of Lieutenant
+Ivanoff's soldiers, who was always praying and pale, called them all
+"the servants of Satan."
+
+Our trip from Tisingol to Uliassutai in the company of these criminals
+was very unpleasant. My friend and I entirely lost our usual strength
+of spirit and healthy frame of mind. Kanine persistently brooded and
+thought while the impudent woman laughed, smoked and joked with the
+soldiers and several of our companions. At last we crossed the Jagisstai
+and in a few hours descried at first the fortress and then the low adobe
+houses huddled on the plain, which we knew to be Uliassutai.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+HARASSING DAYS
+
+
+Once more we found ourselves in the whirl of events. During our
+fortnight away a great deal had happened here. The Chinese Commissioner
+Wang Tsao-tsun had sent eleven envoys to Urga but none had returned. The
+situation in Mongolia remained far from clear. The Russian detachment
+had been increased by the arrival of new colonists and secretly
+continued its illegal existence, although the Chinese knew about it
+through their omnipresent system of spies. In the town no Russian or
+foreign citizens left their houses and all remained armed and ready to
+act. At night armed sentinels stood guard in all their court-yards.
+It was the Chinese who induced such precautions. By order of their
+Commissioner all the Chinese merchants with stocks of rifles armed their
+staffs and handed over any surplus guns to the officials, who with
+these formed and equipped a force of two hundred coolies into a special
+garrison of gamins. Then they took possession of the Mongolian arsenal
+and distributed these additional guns among the Chinese vegetable
+farmers in the nagan hushun, where there was always a floating
+population of the lowest grade of transient Chinese laborers. This
+trash of China now felt themselves strong, gathered together in
+excited discussions and evidently were preparing for some outburst of
+aggression. At night the coolies transported many boxes of cartridges
+from the Chinese shops to the nagan hushun and the behaviour of the
+Chinese mob became unbearably audacious. These coolies and gamins
+impertinently stopped and searched people right on the streets and
+sought to provoke fights that would allow them to take anything they
+wanted. Through secret news we received from certain Chinese quarters
+we learned that the Chinese were preparing a pogrom for all the Russians
+and Mongols in Uliassutai. We fully realized that it was only necessary
+to fire one single house at the right part of the town and the entire
+settlement of wooden buildings would go up in flames. The whole
+population prepared to defend themselves, increased the sentinels in the
+compounds, appointed leaders for certain sections of the town, organized
+a special fire brigade and prepared horses, carts and food for a hasty
+flight. The situation became worse when news arrived from Kobdo that
+the Chinese there had made a pogrom, killing some of the inhabitants and
+burning the whole town after a wild looting orgy. Most of the people
+got away to the forests on the mountains but it was at night and
+consequently without warm clothes and without food. During the following
+days these mountains around Kobdo heard many cries of misfortune, woe
+and death. The severe cold and hunger killed off the women and children
+out under the open sky of the Mongolian winter. This news was soon known
+to the Chinese. They laughed in mockery and soon organized a big meeting
+at the nagan hushun to discuss letting the mob and gamins loose on the
+town.
+
+A young Chinese, the son of a cook of one of the colonists, revealed
+this news. We immediately decided to make an investigation. A Russian
+officer and my friend joined me with this young Chinese as a guide for
+a trip to the outskirts of the town. We feigned simply a stroll but were
+stopped by the Chinese sentinel on the side of the city toward the nagan
+hushun with an impertinent command that no one was allowed to leave
+the town. As we spoke with him, I noticed that between the town and the
+nagan hushun Chinese guards were stationed all along the way and that
+streams of Chinese were moving in that direction. We saw at once it was
+impossible to reach the meeting from this approach, so we chose another
+route. We left the city from the eastern side and passed along by the
+camp of the Mongolians who had been reduced to beggary by the Chinese
+impositions. There also they were evidently anxiously awaiting the turn
+of events, for, in spite of the lateness of the hour, none had gone to
+sleep. We slipped out on the ice and worked around by the river to the
+nagan hushun. As we passed free of the city we began to sneak cautiously
+along, taking advantage of every bit of cover. We were armed with
+revolvers and hand grenades and knew that a small detachment had been
+prepared in the town to come to our aid, if we should be in danger.
+First the young Chinese stole forward with my friend following him like
+a shadow, constantly reminding him that he would strangle him like a
+mouse if he made one move to betray us. I fear the young guide did not
+greatly enjoy the trip with my gigantic friend puffing all too loudly
+with the unusual exertions. At last the fences of nagan hushun were in
+sight and nothing between us and them save the open plain, where our
+group would have been easily spotted; so that we decided to crawl up one
+by one, save that the Chinese was retained in the society of my trusted
+friend. Fortunately there were many heaps of frozen manure on the plain,
+which we made use of as cover to lead us right up to our objective
+point, the fence of the enclosures. In the shadow of this we slunk along
+to the courtyard where the voices of the excited crowd beckoned us. As
+we took good vantage points in the darkness for listening and making
+observations, we remarked two extraordinary things in our immediate
+neighborhood.
+
+Another invisible guest was present with us at the Chinese gathering.
+He lay on the ground with his head in a hole dug by the dogs under the
+fence. He was perfectly still and evidently had not heard our advance.
+Nearby in a ditch lay a white horse with his nose muzzled and a little
+further away stood another saddled horse tied to a fence.
+
+In the courtyard there was a great hubbub. About two thousand men
+were shouting, arguing and flourishing their arms about in wild
+gesticulations. Nearly all were armed with rifles, revolvers, swords
+and axes. In among the crowd circulated the gamins, constantly
+talking, handing out papers, explaining and assuring. Finally a big,
+broad-shouldered Chinese mounted the well combing, waved his rifle about
+over his head and opened a tirade in strong, sharp tones.
+
+"He is assuring the people," said our interpreter, "that they must
+do here what the Chinese have done in Kobdo and must secure from the
+Commissioner the assurance of an order to his guard not to prevent the
+carrying out of their plans. Also that the Chinese Commissioner
+must demand from the Russians all their weapons. 'Then we shall take
+vengeance on the Russians for their Blagoveschensk crime when they
+drowned three thousand Chinese in 1900. You remain here while I go to
+the Commissioner and talk with him.'"
+
+He jumped down from the well and quickly made his way to the gate toward
+the town. At once I saw the man who was lying with his head under the
+fence draw back out of his hole, take his white horse from the ditch and
+then run over to untie the other horse and lead them both back to our
+side, which was away from the city. He left the second horse there and
+hid himself around the corner of the hushun. The spokesman went out of
+the gate and, seeing his horse over on the other side of the enclosure,
+slung his rifle across his back and started for his mount. He had gone
+about half way when the stranger behind the corner of the fence suddenly
+galloped out and in a flash literally swung the man clear from the
+ground up across the pommel of his saddle, where we saw him tie the
+mouth of the semi-strangled Chinese with a cloth and dash off with him
+toward the west away from the town.
+
+"Who do you suppose he is?" I asked of my friend, who answered up at
+once: "It must be Tushegoun Lama. . . ."
+
+His whole appearance did strongly remind me of this mysterious Lama
+avenger and his manner of addressing himself to his enemy was a strict
+replica of that of Tushegoun. Late in the night we learned that some
+time after their orator had gone to seek the Commissioner's cooperation
+in their venture, his head had been flung over the fence into the midst
+of the waiting audience and that eight gamins had disappeared on their
+way from the hushun to the town without leaving trace or trail. This
+event terrorized the Chinese mob and calmed their heated spirits.
+
+The next day we received very unexpected aid. A young Mongol galloped in
+from Urga, his overcoat torn, his hair all dishevelled and fallen to
+his shoulders and a revolver prominent beneath his girdle. Proceeding
+directly to the market where the Mongols are always gathered, without
+leaving his saddle he cried out:
+
+"Urga is captured by our Mongols and Chiang Chun Baron Ungern! Bogdo
+Hutuktu is once more our Khan! Mongols, kill the Chinese and pillage
+their shops! Our patience is exhausted!"
+
+Through the crowd rose the roar of excitement. The rider was surrounded
+with a mob of insistent questioners. The old Mongol Sait, Chultun Beyli,
+who had been dismissed by the Chinese, was at once informed of this news
+and asked to have the messenger brought to him. After questioning the
+man he arrested him for inciting the people to riot, but he refused to
+turn him over to the Chinese authorities. I was personally with the
+Sait at the time and heard his decision in the matter. When the Chinese
+Commissioner, Wang Tsao-tsun, threatened the Sait for disobedience to
+his authority, the old man simply fingered his rosary and said:
+
+"I believe the story of this Mongol in its every word and I apprehend
+that you and I shall soon have to reverse our relationship."
+
+I felt that Wang Tsao-tsun also accepted the correctness of the Mongol's
+story, because he did not insist further. From this moment the Chinese
+disappeared from the streets of Uliassutai as though they never had
+been, and synchronously the patrols of the Russian officers and of
+our foreign colony took their places. The panic among the Chinese was
+heightened by the receipt of a letter containing the news that the
+Mongols and Altai Tartars under the leadership of the Tartar officer
+Kaigorodoff pursued the Chinese who were making off with their booty
+from the sack of Kobdo and overtook and annihilated them on the borders
+of Sinkiang. Another part of the letter told how General Bakitch and
+the six thousand men who had been interned with him by the Chinese
+authorities on the River Amyl had received arms and started to join with
+Ataman Annenkoff, who had been interned in Kuldja, with the ultimate
+intention of linking up with Baron Ungern. This rumour proved to be
+wrong because neither Bakitch nor Annenkoff entertained this intention,
+because Annenkoff had been transported by the Chinese into the Depths of
+Turkestan. However, the news produced veritable stupefaction among the
+Chinese.
+
+Just at this time there arrived at the house of the Bolshevist Russian
+colonist Bourdukoff three Bolshevik agents from Irkutsk named Saltikoff,
+Freimann and Novak, who started an agitation among the Chinese
+authorities to get them to disarm the Russian officers and hand them
+over to the Reds. They persuaded the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to
+petition the Irkutsk Soviet to send a detachment of Reds to Uliassutai
+for the protection of the Chinese against the White detachments.
+Freimann brought with him communistic pamphlets in Mongolian and
+instructions to begin the reconstruction of the telegraph line to
+Irkutsk. Bourdukoff also received some messages from the Bolsheviki.
+This quartette developed their policy very successfully and soon
+saw Wang Tsao-tsun fall in with their schemes. Once more the days of
+expecting a pogrom in Uliassutai returned to us. The Russian officers
+anticipated attempts to arrest them. The representative of one of the
+American firms went with me to the Commissioner for a parley. We pointed
+out to him the illegality of his acts, inasmuch as he was not authorized
+by his Government to treat with the Bolsheviki when the Soviet
+Government had not been recognized by Peking. Wang Tsao-tsun and his
+advisor Fu Hsiang were palpably confused at finding we knew of his
+secret meetings with the Bolshevik agents. He assured us that his guard
+was sufficient to prevent any such pogrom. It was quite true that his
+guard was very capable, as it consisted of well trained and disciplined
+soldiers under the command of a serious-minded and well educated
+officer; but, what could eighty soldiers do against a mob of three
+thousand coolies, one thousand armed merchants and two hundred gamins?
+We strongly registered our apprehensions and urged him to avoid any
+bloodshed, pointing out that the foreign and Russian population were
+determined to defend themselves to the last moment. Wang at once ordered
+the establishment of strong guards on the streets and thus made a very
+interesting picture with all the Russian, foreign and Chinese patrols
+moving up and down throughout the whole town. Then we did not know there
+were three hundred more sentinels on duty, the men of Tushegoun Lama
+hidden nearby in the mountains.
+
+Once more the picture changed very sharply and suddenly. The Mongolian
+Sait received news through the Lamas of the nearest monastery that
+Colonel Kazagrandi, after fighting with the Chinese irregulars, had
+captured Van Kure and had formed there Russian-Mongolian brigades of
+cavalry, mobilizing the Mongols by the order of the Living Buddha and
+the Russians by order of Baron Ungern. A few hours later it became known
+that in the large monastery of Dzain the Chinese soldiers had killed the
+Russian Captain Barsky and as a result some of the troops of Kazagrandi
+attacked and swept the Chinese out of the place. At the taking of Van
+Kure the Russians arrested a Korean Communist who was on his way from
+Moscow with gold and propaganda to work in Korea and America. Colonel
+Kazagrandi sent this Korean with his freight of gold to Baron Ungern.
+After receiving this news the chief of the Russian detachment in
+Uliassutai arrested all the Bolsheviki agents and passed judgment upon
+them and upon the murderers of the Bobroffs. Kanine, Madame Pouzikoff
+and Freimann were shot. Regarding Saltikoff and Novak some doubt sprang
+up and, moreover, Saltikoff escaped and hid, while Novak, under advice
+from Lieutenant Colonel Michailoff, left for the west. The chief of the
+Russian detachment gave out orders for the mobilization of the Russian
+colonists and openly took Uliassutai under his protection with the tacit
+agreement of the Mongolian authorities. The Mongol Sait, Chultun Beyli,
+convened a council of the neighboring Mongolian Princes, the soul of
+which was the noted Mongolian patriot, Hun Jap Lama. The Princes quickly
+formulated their demands upon the Chinese for the complete evacuation of
+the territory subject to the Sait Chultun Beyli. Out of it grew parleys,
+threats and friction between the various Chinese and Mongolian elements.
+Wang Tsao-tsun proposed his scheme of settlement, which some of the
+Mongolian Princes accepted; but Jap Lama at the decisive moment threw
+the Chinese document to the ground, drew his knife and swore that
+he would die by his own hand rather than set it as a seal upon this
+treacherous agreement. As a result the Chinese proposals were rejected
+and the antagonists began to prepare themselves for the struggle. All
+the armed Mongols were summoned from Jassaktu Khan, Sain-Noion Khan and
+the dominion of Jahantsi Lama. The Chinese authorities placed their
+four machine guns and prepared to defend the fortress. Continuous
+deliberations were held by both the Chinese and Mongols. Finally, our
+old acquaintance Tzeren came to me as one of the unconcerned foreigners
+and handed to me the joint requests of Wang Tsao-tsun and Chultun Beyli
+to try to pacify the two elements and to work out a fair agreement
+between them. Similar requests were handed to the representative of an
+American firm. The following evening we held the first meeting of
+the arbitrators and the Chinese and Mongolian representatives. It
+was passionate and stormy, so that we foreigners lost all hope of the
+success of our mission. However, at midnight when the speakers were
+tired, we secured agreement on two points: the Mongols announced that
+they did not want to make war and that they desired to settle this
+matter in such a way as to retain the friendship of the great Chinese
+people; while the Chinese Commissioner acknowledged that China had
+violated the treaties by which full independence had been legally
+granted to Mongolia.
+
+These two points formed for us the groundwork of the next meeting and
+gave us the starting points for urging reconciliation. The deliberations
+continued for three days and finally turned so that we foreigners could
+propose our suggestions for an agreement. Its chief provisions were that
+the Chinese authorities should surrender administrative powers, return
+the arms to the Mongolians, disarm the two hundred gamins and leave
+the country; and that the Mongols on their side should give free and
+honorable passage of their country to the Commissioner with his armed
+guard of eighty men. This Chinese-Mongolian Treaty of Uliassutai was
+signed and sealed by the Chinese Commissioners, Wang Tsao-tsun and Fu
+Hsiang, by both Mongolian Saits, by Hun Jap Lama and other Princes,
+as well as by the Russian and Chinese Presidents of the Chambers of
+Commerce and by us foreign arbitrators. The Chinese officials and convoy
+began at once to pack up their belongings and prepare for departure. The
+Chinese merchants remained in Uliassutai because Sait Chultun Beyli,
+now having full authority and power, guaranteed their safety. The day of
+departure for the expedition of Wang Tsao-tsun arrived. The camels with
+their packs already filled the yamen court-yard and the men only awaited
+the arrival of their horses from the plains. Suddenly the news spread
+everywhere that the herd of horses had been stolen during the night
+and run off toward the south. Of two soldiers that had been sent out to
+follow the tracks of the herd only one came back with the news that the
+other had been killed. Astonishment spread over the whole town while
+among the Chinese it turned to open panic. It perceptibly increased when
+some Mongols from a distant ourton to the east came in and announced
+that in various places along the post road to Urga they had discovered
+the bodies of sixteen of the soldiers whom Wang Tsao-tsun had sent
+out with letters for Urga. The mystery of these events will soon be
+explained.
+
+The chief of the Russian detachment received a letter from a Cossack
+Colonel, V. N. Domojiroff, containing the order to disarm immediately
+the Chinese garrison, to arrest all Chinese officials for transport
+to Baron Ungern at Urga, to take control of Uliassutai, by force if
+necessary, and to join forces with his detachment. At the very same time
+a messenger from the Narabanchi Hutuktu galloped in with a letter to the
+effect that a Russian detachment under the leadership of Hun Boldon and
+Colonel Domojiroff from Urga had pillaged some Chinese firms and killed
+the merchants, had come to the Monastery and demanded horses, food and
+shelter. The Hutuktu asked for help because the ferocious conqueror of
+Kobdo, Hun Boldon, could very easily pillage the unprotected isolated
+monastery. We strongly urged Colonel Michailoff not to violate the
+sealed treaty and discountenance all the foreigners and Russians who had
+taken part in making it, for this would but be to imitate the Bolshevik
+principle of making deceit the leading rule in all acts of state.
+This touched Michailoff and he answered Domojiroff that Uliassutai was
+already in his hands without a fight; that over the building of the
+former Russian Consulate the tri-color flag of Russia was flying; the
+gamins had been disarmed but that the other orders could not be carried
+out, because their execution would violate the Chinese-Mongolian treaty
+just signed in Uliassutai.
+
+Daily several envoys traveled from Narabanchi Hutuktu to Uliassutai.
+The news became more and more disquieting. The Hutuktu reported that Hun
+Boldon was mobilizing the Mongolian beggars and horse stealers, arming
+and training them; that the soldiers were taking the sheep of the
+monastery; that the "Noyon" Domojiroff was always drunk; and that the
+protests of the Hutuktu were answered with jeers and scolding. The
+messengers gave very indefinite information regarding the strength of
+the detachment, some placing it at about thirty while others stated that
+Domojiroff said he had eight hundred in all. We could not understand
+it at all and soon the messengers ceased coming. All the letters of the
+Sait remained unanswered and the envoys did not return. There seemed to
+be no doubt that the men had been killed or captured.
+
+Prince Chultun Beyli determined to go himself. He took with him the
+Russian and Chinese Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce and two
+Mongolian officers. Three days elapsed without receiving any news
+from him whatever. The Mongols began to get worried. Then the Chinese
+Commissioner and Hun Jap Lama addressed a request to the foreigner
+group to send some one to Narabanchi, in order to try to resolve the
+controversy there and to persuade Domojiroff to recognize the treaty and
+not permit the "great insult of violation" of a covenant between the two
+great peoples. Our group asked me once more to accomplish this mission
+pro bono publico. I had assigned me as interpreter a fine young Russian
+colonist, the nephew of the murdered Bobroff, a splendid rider as well
+as a cool, brave man. Lt.-Colonel Michailoff gave me one of his officers
+to accompany me. Supplied with an express tzara for the post horses and
+guides, we traveled rapidly over the way which was now familiar to me
+to find my old friend, Jelib Djamsrap Huktuktu of Narabanchi. Although
+there was deep snow in some places, we made from one hundred to one
+hundred and fifteen miles per day.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+THE BAND OF WHITE HUNGHUTZES
+
+
+We arrived at Narabanchi late at night on the third day out. As we were
+approaching, we noticed several riders who, as soon as they had seen us,
+galloped quickly back to the monastery. For some time we looked for the
+camp of the Russian detachment without finding it. The Mongols led us
+into the monastery, where the Hutuktu immediately received me. In his
+yurta sat Chultun Beyli. There he presented me with hatyks and said to
+me: "The very God has sent you here to us in this difficult moment."
+
+It seems Domojiroff had arrested both the Presidents of the Chambers of
+Commerce and had threatened to shoot Prince Chultun. Both Domojiroff and
+Hun Boldon had no documents legalizing their activities. Chultun Beyli
+was preparing to fight with them.
+
+I asked them to take me to Domojiroff. Through the dark I saw four big
+yurtas and two Mongol sentinels with Russian rifles. We entered the
+Russian "Noyon's" tent. A very strange picture was presented to our
+eyes. In the middle of the yurta the brazier was burning. In the usual
+place for the altar stood a throne, on which the tall, thin, grey-haired
+Colonel Domojiroff was seated. He was only in his undergarments and
+stockings, was evidently a little drunk and was telling stories. Around
+the brazier lay twelve young men in various picturesque poses. My
+officer companion reported to Domojiroff about the events in Uliassutai
+and during the conversation I asked Domojiroff where his detachment was
+encamped. He laughed and answered, with a sweep of his hand: "This is my
+detachment." I pointed out to him that the form of his orders to us in
+Uliassutai had led us to believe that he must have a large company with
+him. Then I informed him that Lt.-Colonel Michailoff was preparing to
+cross swords with the Bolshevik force approaching Uliassutai.
+
+"What?" he exclaimed with fear and confusion, "the Reds?"
+
+We spent the night in his yurta and, when I was ready to lie down, my
+officer whispered to me:
+
+"Be sure to keep your revolver handy," to which I laughed and said:
+
+"But we are in the center of a White detachment and therefore in perfect
+safety!"
+
+"Uh-huh!" answered my officer and finished the response with one eye
+closed.
+
+The next day I invited Domojiroff to walk with me over the plain, when
+I talked very frankly with him about what had been happening. He and Hun
+Boldon had received orders from Baron Ungern simply to get into touch
+with General Bakitch, but instead they began pillaging Chinese firms
+along the route and he had made up his mind to become a great conqueror.
+On the way he had run across some of the officers who deserted Colonel
+Kazagrandi and formed his present band. I succeeded in persuading
+Domojiroff to arrange matters peacefully with Chultun Beyli and not to
+violate the treaty. He immediately went ahead to the monastery. As I
+returned, I met a tall Mongol with a ferocious face, dressed in a blue
+silk outercoat--it was Hun Boldon. He introduced himself and spoke
+with me in Russian. I had only time to take off my coat in the tent of
+Domojiroff when a Mongol came running to invite me to the yurta of
+Hun Boldon. The Prince lived just beside me in a splendid blue yurta.
+Knowing the Mongolian custom, I jumped into the saddle and rode the ten
+paces to his door. Hun Boldon received me with coldness and pride.
+
+"Who is he?" he inquired of the interpreter, pointing to me with his
+finger.
+
+I understood his desire to offend me and I answered in the same manner,
+thrusting out my finger toward him and turning to the interpreter with
+the same question in a slightly more unpleasant tone:
+
+"Who is he? High Prince and warrior or shepherd and brute?"
+
+Boldon at once became confused and, with trembling voice and agitation
+in his whole manner, blurted out to me that he would not allow me to
+interfere in his affairs and would shoot every man who dared to run
+counter to his orders. He pounded on the low table with his fist and
+then rose up and drew his revolver. But I was much traveled among the
+nomads and had studied them thoroughly--Princes, Lamas, shepherds and
+brigands. I grasped my whip and, striking it on the table with all my
+strength, I said to the interpreter:
+
+"Tell him that he has the honor to speak with neither Mongol nor Russian
+but with a foreigner, a citizen of a great and free state. Tell him he
+must first learn to be a man and then he can visit me and we can talk
+together."
+
+I turned and went out. Ten minutes later Hun Boldon entered my yurta and
+offered his apologies. I persuaded him to parley with Chultun Beyli
+and not to offend the free Mongol people with his activities. That very
+night all was arranged. Hun Boldon dismissed his Mongols and left for
+Kobdo, while Domojiroff with his band started for Jassaktu Khan to
+arrange for the mobilization of the Mongols there. With the consent of
+Chultun Beyli he wrote to Wang Tsao-tsun a demand to disarm his guard,
+as all of the Chinese troops in Urga had been so treated; but this
+letter arrived after Wang had bought camels to replace the stolen horses
+and was on his way to the border. Later Lt.-Colonel Michailoff sent
+a detachment of fifty men under the command of Lieutenant Strigine to
+overhaul Wang and receive their arms.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+MYSTERY IN A SMALL TEMPLE
+
+
+Prince Chultun Beyli and I were ready to leave the Narabanchi Kure.
+While the Hutuktu was holding service for the Sait in the Temple of
+Blessing, I wandered around through the narrow alleyways between the
+walls of the houses of the various grades of Lama Gelongs, Getuls,
+Chaidje and Rabdjampa; of schools where the learned doctors of theology
+or Maramba taught together with the doctors of medicine or Ta Lama;
+of the residences for students called Bandi; of stores, archives and
+libraries. When I returned to the yurta of the Hutuktu, he was inside.
+He presented me with a large hatyk and proposed a walk around the
+monastery. His face wore a preoccupied expression from which I gathered
+that he had something he wished to discuss with me. As we went out of
+the yurta, the liberated President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce
+and a Russian officer joined us. The Hutuktu led us to a small building
+just back of a bright yellow stone wall.
+
+"In that building once stopped the Dalai Lama and Bogdo Khan and we
+always paint the buildings yellow where these holy persons have lived.
+Enter!"
+
+The interior of the building was arranged with splendor. On the ground
+floor was the dining-room, furnished with richly carved, heavy blackwood
+Chinese tables and cabinets filled with porcelains and bronze. Above
+were two rooms, the first a bed-room hung with heavy yellow silk
+curtains; a large Chinese lantern richly set with colored stones hung
+by a thin bronze chain from the carved wooden ceiling beam. Here stood
+a large square bed covered with silken pillows, mattresses and blankets.
+The frame work of the bed was also of the Chinese blackwood and carried,
+especially on the posts that held the roof-like canopy, finely executed
+carvings with the chief motive the conventional dragon devouring the
+sun. By the side stood a chest of drawers completely covered with
+carvings setting forth religious pictures. Four comfortable easy chairs
+completed the furniture, save for the low oriental throne which stood on
+a dais at the end of the room.
+
+"Do you see this throne?" said the Hutuktu to me. "One night in winter
+several horsemen rode into the monastery and demanded that all the
+Gelongs and Getuls with the Hutuktu and Kanpo at their head should
+congregate in this room. Then one of the strangers mounted the throne,
+where he took off his bashlyk or cap-like head covering. All of the
+Lamas fell to their knees as they recognized the man who had been long
+ago described in the sacred bulls of Dalai Lama, Tashi Lama and Bogdo
+Khan. He was the man to whom the whole world belongs and who has
+penetrated into all the mysteries of Nature. He pronounced a short
+Tibetan prayer, blessed all his hearers and afterwards made predictions
+for the coming half century. This was thirty years ago and in the
+interim all his prophecies are being fulfilled. During his prayers
+before that small shrine in the next room this door opened of its own
+accord, the candles and lights before the altar lighted themselves and
+the sacred braziers without coals gave forth great streams of incense
+that filled the room. And then, without warning, the King of the World
+and his companions disappeared from among us. Behind him remained no
+trace save the folds in the silken throne coverings which smoothed
+themselves out and left the throne as though no one had sat upon it."
+
+The Hutuktu entered the shrine, kneeled down, covering his eyes with his
+hands, and began to pray. I looked at the calm, indifferent face of the
+golden Buddha, over which the flickering lamps threw changing shadows,
+and then turned my eyes to the side of the throne. It was wonderful and
+difficult to believe but I really saw there the strong, muscular figure
+of a man with a swarthy face of stern and fixed expression about the
+mouth and jaws, thrown into high relief by the brightness of the eyes.
+Through his transparent body draped in white raiment I saw the Tibetan
+inscriptions on the back of the throne. I closed my eyes and opened
+them again. No one was there but the silk throne covering seemed to be
+moving.
+
+"Nervousness," I thought. "Abnormal and over-emphasized
+impressionability growing out of the unusual surroundings and strains."
+
+The Hutuktu turned to me and said: "Give me your hatyk. I have the
+feeling that you are troubled about those whom you love, and I want
+to pray for them. And you must pray also, importune God and direct the
+sight of your soul to the King of the World who was here and sanctified
+this place."
+
+The Hutuktu placed the hatyk on the shoulder of the Buddha and,
+prostrating himself on the carpet before the altar, whispered the words
+of prayer. Then he raised his head and beckoned me to him with a slight
+movement of his hand.
+
+"Look at the dark space behind the statue of Buddha and he will show
+your beloved to you."
+
+Readily obeying his deep-voiced command, I began to look into the dark
+niche behind the figure of the Buddha. Soon out of the darkness began to
+appear streams of smoke or transparent threads. They floated in the air,
+becoming more and more dense and increasing in number, until gradually
+they formed the bodies of several persons and the outlines of various
+objects. I saw a room that was strange to me with my family there,
+surrounded by some whom I knew and others whom I did not. I recognized
+even the dress my wife wore. Every line of her dear face was clearly
+visible. Gradually the vision became too dark, dissipated itself into
+the streams of smoke and transparent threads and disappeared. Behind the
+golden Buddha was nothing but the darkness. The Hutuktu arose, took my
+hatyk from the shoulder of the Buddha and handed it to me with these
+words:
+
+"Fortune is always with you and with your family. God's goodness will
+not forsake you."
+
+We left the building of this unknown King of the World, where he had
+prayed for all mankind and had predicted the fate of peoples and states.
+I was greatly astonished to find that my companions had also seen my
+vision and to hear them describe to me in minute detail the appearance
+and the clothes of the persons whom I had seen in the dark niche behind
+the head of Buddha.*
+
+     * In order that I might have the evidence of others on this
+     extraordinarily impressive vision, I asked them to make
+     protocols or affidavits concerning what they saw.  This they
+     did and I now have these statements in my possession.
+
+The Mongol officer also told me that Chultun Beyli had the day before
+asked the Hutuktu to reveal to him his fate in this important juncture
+of his life and in this crisis of his country but the Hutuktu only waved
+his hand in an expression of fear and refused. When I asked the Hutuktu
+for the reason of his refusal, suggesting to him that it might calm and
+help Chultun Beyli as the vision of my beloved had strengthened me, the
+Hutuktu knitted his brow and answered:
+
+"No! The vision would not please the Prince. His fate is black.
+Yesterday I thrice sought his fortune on the burned shoulder blades and
+with the entrails of sheep and each time came to the same dire result,
+the same dire result! . . ."
+
+He did not really finish speaking but covered his face with his hands
+in fear. He was convinced that the lot of Chultun Beyli was black as the
+night.
+
+In an hour we were behind the low hills that hid the Narabanchi Kure
+from our sight.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+THE BREATH OF DEATH
+
+
+We arrived at Uliassutai on the day of the return of the detachment
+which had gone out to disarm the convoy of Wang Tsao-tsun. This
+detachment had met Colonel Domojiroff, who ordered them not only to
+disarm but to pillage the convoy and, unfortunately, Lieutenant Strigine
+executed this illegal and unwarranted command. It was compromising and
+ignominious to see Russian officers and soldiers wearing the Chinese
+overcoats, boots and wrist watches which had been taken from the Chinese
+officials and the convoy. Everyone had Chinese silver and gold also from
+the loot. The Mongol wife of Wang Tsao-tsun and her brother returned
+with the detachment and entered a complaint of having been robbed by
+the Russians. The Chinese officials and their convoy, deprived of their
+supplies, reached the Chinese border only after great distress
+from hunger and cold. We foreigners were astounded that Lt.-Colonel
+Michailoff received Strigine with military honors but we caught the
+explanation of it later when we learned that Michailoff had been given
+some of the Chinese silver and his wife the handsomely decorated saddle
+of Fu Hsiang. Chultun Beyli demanded that all the weapons taken from the
+Chinese and all the stolen property be turned over to him, as it must
+later be returned to the Chinese authorities; but Michailoff refused.
+Afterwards we foreigners cut off all contact with the Russian
+detachment. The relations between the Russians and Mongols became very
+strained. Several of the Russian officers protested against the acts of
+Michailoff and Strigine and controversies became more and more serious.
+
+At this time, one morning in April, an extraordinary group of armed
+horsemen arrived at Uliassutai. They stayed at the house of the
+Bolshevik Bourdukoff, who gave them, so we were told, a great quantity
+of silver. This group explained that they were former officers in the
+Imperial Guard. They were Colonels Poletika, N. N. Philipoff and three
+of the latter's brothers. They announced that they wanted to collect all
+the White officers and soldiers then in Mongolia and China and lead them
+to Urianhai to fight the Bolsheviki; but that first they wanted to wipe
+out Ungern and return Mongolia to China. They called themselves the
+representatives of the Central Organization of the Whites in Russia.
+
+The society of Russian officers in Uliassutai invited them to a meeting,
+examined their documents and interrogated them. Investigation proved
+that all the statements of these officers about their former connections
+were entirely wrong, that Poletika occupied an important position in the
+war commissariat of the Bolsheviki, that one of the Philipoff brothers
+was the assistant of Kameneff in his first attempt to reach England,
+that the Central White Organization in Russia did not exist, that the
+proposed fighting in Urianhai was but a trap for the White officers and
+that this group was in close relations with the Bolshevik Bourdukoff.
+
+A discussion at once sprang up among the officers as to what they
+should do with this group, which split the detachment into two distinct
+parties. Lt.-Colonel Michailoff with several officers joined themselves
+to Poletika's group just as Colonel Domojiroff arrived with his
+detachment. He began to get in touch with both factions and to feel out
+the politics of the situation, finally appointing Poletika to the post
+of Commandant of Uliassutai and sending to Baron Ungern a full report
+of the events in the town. In this document he devoted much space to me,
+accusing me of standing in the way of the execution of his orders. His
+officers watched me continuously. From different quarters I received
+warnings to take great care. This band and its leader openly demanded
+to know what right this foreigner had to interfere in the affairs of
+Mongolia, one of Domojiroff's officers directly giving me the challenge
+in a meeting in the attempt to provoke a controversy. I quietly answered
+him:
+
+"And on what basis do the Russian refugees interfere, they who have
+rights neither at home nor abroad?"
+
+The officer made no verbal reply but in his eyes burned a definite
+answer. My huge friend who sat beside me noticed this, strode over
+toward him and, towering over him, stretched his arms and hands as
+though just waking from sleep and remarked: "I'm looking for a little
+boxing exercise."
+
+On one occasion Domojiroff's men would have succeeded in taking me if I
+had not been saved by the watchfulness of our foreign group. I had gone
+to the fortress to negotiate with the Mongol Sait for the departure of
+the foreigners from Uliassutai. Chultun Beyli detained me for a long
+time, so that I was forced to return about nine in the evening. My horse
+was walking. Half a mile from the town three men sprang up out of the
+ditch and ran at me. I whipped up my horse but noticed several more men
+coming out of the other ditch as though to head me off. They, however,
+made for the other group and captured them and I heard the voice of a
+foreigner calling me back. There I found three of Domojiroff's officers
+surrounded by the Polish soldiers and other foreigners under the
+leadership of my old trusted agronome, who was occupied with tying the
+hands of the officers behind their backs so strongly that the bones
+cracked. Ending his work and still smoking his perpetual pipe, he
+announced in a serious and important manner: "I think it best to throw
+them into the river."
+
+Laughing at his seriousness and the fear of Domojiroff's officers, I
+asked them why they had started to attack me. They dropped their eyes
+and were silent. It was an eloquent silence and we perfectly understood
+what they had proposed to do. They had revolvers hidden in their
+pockets.
+
+"Fine!" I said. "All is perfectly clear. I shall release you but you
+must report to your sender that he will not welcome you back the next
+time. Your weapons I shall hand to the Commandant of Uliassutai."
+
+My friend, using his former terrifying care, began to untie them,
+repeating over and over: "And I would have fed you to the fishes in the
+river!" Then we all returned to the town, leaving them to go their way.
+
+Domojiroff continued to send envoys to Baron Ungern at Urga with
+requests for plenary powers and money and with reports about Michailoff,
+Chultun Beyli, Poletika, Philipoff and myself. With Asiatic cunning
+he was then maintaining good relations with all those for whom he was
+preparing death at the hands of the severe warrior, Baron Ungern,
+who was receiving only one-sided reports about all the happenings in
+Uliassutai. Our whole colony was greatly agitated. The officers split
+into different parties; the soldiers collected in groups and discussed
+the events of the day, criticising their chiefs, and under the influence
+of some of Domojiroff's men began making such statements as:
+
+"We have now seven Colonels, who all want to be in command and are all
+quarreling among themselves. They all ought to be pegged down and given
+good sound thrashings. The one who could take the greatest number of
+blows ought to be chosen as our chief."
+
+It was an ominous joke that proved the demoralization of the Russian
+detachment.
+
+"It seems," my friend frequently observed, "that we shall soon have the
+pleasure of seeing a Council of Soldiers here in Uliassutai. God and
+the Devil! One thing here is very unfortunate--there are no forests
+near into which good Christian men may dive and get away from all these
+cursed Soviets. It's bare, frightfully bare, this wretched Mongolia,
+with no place for us to hide."
+
+Really this possibility of the Soviet was approaching. On one occasion
+the soldiers captured the arsenal containing the weapons surrendered
+by the Chinese and carried them off to their barracks. Drunkenness,
+gambling and fighting increased. We foreigners, carefully watching
+events and in fear of a catastrophe, finally decided to leave
+Uliassutai, that caldron of passions, controversies and denunciations.
+We heard that the group of Poletika was also preparing to get out a few
+days later. We foreigners separated into two parties, one traveling by
+the old caravan route across the Gobi considerably to the south of Urga
+to Kuku-Hoto or Kweihuacheng and Kalgan, and mine, consisting of my
+friend, two Polish soldiers and myself, heading for Urga via Zain Shabi,
+where Colonel Kazagrandi had asked me in a recent letter to meet him.
+Thus we left the Uliassutai where we had lived through so many exciting
+events.
+
+On the sixth day after our departure there arrived in the town the
+Mongol-Buriat detachment under the command of the Buriat Vandaloff and
+the Russian Captain Bezrodnoff. Afterwards I met them in Zain Shabi. It
+was a detachment sent out from Urga by Baron Ungern to restore order
+in Uliassutai and to march on to Kobdo. On the way from Zain Shabi
+Bezrodnoff came across the group of Poletika and Michailoff. He
+instituted a search which disclosed suspicious documents in their
+baggage and in that of Michailoff and his wife the silver and other
+possessions taken from the Chinese. From this group of sixteen he sent
+N. N. Philipoff to Baron Ungern, released three others and shot the
+remaining twelve. Thus ended in Zain Shabi the life of one party of
+Uliassutai refugees and the activities of the group of Poletika. In
+Uliassutai Bezrodnoff shot Chultun Beyli for the violation of the treaty
+with the Chinese, and also some Bolshevist Russian colonists; arrested
+Domojiroff and sent him to Urga; and . . . restored order. The
+predictions about Chultun Beyli were fulfilled.
+
+I knew of Domojiroff's reports regarding myself but I decided,
+nevertheless, to proceed to Urga and not to swing round it, as Poletika
+had started to do when he was accidentally captured by Bezrodnoff. I was
+accustomed now to looking into the eyes of danger and I set out to meet
+the terrible "bloody Baron." No one can decide his own fate. I did not
+think myself in the wrong and the feeling of fear had long since ceased
+to occupy a place in my menage. On the way a Mongol rider who overhauled
+us brought the news of the death of our acquaintances at Zain Shabi. He
+spent the night with me in the yurta at the ourton and related to me the
+following legend of death.
+
+"It was a long time ago when the Mongolians ruled over China. The
+Prince of Uliassutai, Beltis Van, was mad. He executed any one he wished
+without trial and no one dared to pass through his town. All the other
+Princes and rich Mongols surrounded Uliassutai, where Beltis raged,
+cut off communication on every road and allowed none to pass in or out.
+Famine developed in the town. They consumed all the oxen, sheep and
+horses and finally Beltis Van determined to make a dash with his
+soldiers through to the west to the land of one of his tribes, the
+Olets. He and his men all perished in the fight. The Princes, following
+the advice of the Hutuktu Buyantu, buried the dead on the slopes of the
+mountains surrounding Uliassutai. They buried them with incantations and
+exorcisings in order that Death by Violence might be kept from a further
+visitation to their land. The tombs were covered with heavy stones and
+the Hutuktu predicted that the bad demon of Death by Violence would
+only leave the earth when the blood of a man should be spilled upon the
+covering stone. Such a legend lived among us. Now it is fulfilled. The
+Russians shot there three Bolsheviki and the Chinese two Mongols. The
+evil spirit of Beltis Van broke loose from beneath the heavy stone and
+now mows down the people with his scythe. The noble Chultun Beyli has
+perished; the Russian Noyon Michailoff also has fallen; and death has
+flowed out from Uliassutai all over our boundless plains. Who shall be
+able to stem it now? Who shall tie the ferocious hands? An evil time has
+fallen upon the Gods and the Good Spirits. The Evil Demons have made war
+upon the Good Spirits. What can man now do? Only perish, only
+perish. . . ."
+
+
+
+
+Part III
+
+THE STRAINING HEART OF ASIA
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+ON THE ROAD OF GREAT CONQUERORS
+
+
+The great conqueror, Jenghiz Khan, the son of sad, stern, severe
+Mongolia, according to an old Mongolian legend "mounted to the top of
+Karasu Togol and with his eyes of an eagle looked to the west and the
+east. In the west he saw whole seas of human blood over which floated
+a bloody fog that blanketed all the horizon. There he could not discern
+his fate. But the gods ordered him to proceed to the west, leading with
+him all his warriors and Mongolian tribes. To the east he saw wealthy
+towns, shining temples, crowds of happy people, gardens and fields of
+rich earth, all of which pleased the great Mongol. He said to his sons:
+'There in the west I shall be fire and sword, destroyer, avenging
+Fate; in the east I shall come as the merciful, great builder, bringing
+happiness to the people and to the land.'"
+
+Thus runs the legend. I found much of truth in it. I had passed over
+much of his road to the west and always identified it by the old tombs
+and the impertinent monuments of stone to the merciless conqueror. I saw
+also a part of the eastern road of the hero, over which he traveled to
+China. Once when we were making a trip out of Uliassutai we stopped the
+night in Djirgalantu. The old host of the ourton, knowing me from my
+previous trip to Narabanchi, welcomed us very kindly and regaled us with
+stories during our evening meal. Among other things he led us out of the
+yurta and pointed out a mountain peak brightly lighted by the full moon
+and recounted to us the story of one of the sons of Jenghiz, afterwards
+Emperor of China, Indo-China and Mongolia, who had been attracted by the
+beautiful scenery and grazing lands of Djirgalantu and had founded here
+a town. This was soon left without inhabitants, for the Mongol is a
+nomad who cannot live in artificial cities. The plain is his house and
+the world his town. For a time this town witnessed battles between the
+Chinese and the troops of Jenghiz Khan but afterwards it was forgotten.
+At present there remains only a half-ruined tower, from which in the
+early days the heavy rocks were hurled down upon the heads of the
+enemy, and the dilapidated gate of Kublai, the grandson of Jenghiz Khan.
+Against the greenish sky drenched with the rays of the moon stood out
+the jagged line of the mountains and the black silhouette of the tower
+with its loopholes, through which the alternate scudding clouds and
+light flashed.
+
+When our party left Uliassutai, we traveled on leisurely, making
+thirty-five to fifty miles a day until we were within sixty miles of
+Zain Shabi, where I took leave of the others to go south to this place
+in order to keep my engagement with Colonel Kazagrandi. The sun had just
+risen as my single Mongol guide and I without any pack animals began to
+ascend the low, timbered ridges, from the top of which I caught the last
+glimpses of my companions disappearing down the valley. I had no idea
+then of the many and almost fatal dangers which I should have to pass
+through during this trip by myself, which was destined to prove much
+longer than I had anticipated. As we were crossing a small river with
+sandy shores, my Mongol guide told me how the Mongolians came there
+during the summer to wash gold, in spite of the prohibitions of the
+Lamas. The manner of working the placer was very primitive but the
+results testified clearly to the richness of these sands. The Mongol
+lies flat on the ground, brushes the sand aside with a feather and keeps
+blowing into the little excavation so formed. From time to time he wets
+his finger and picks up on it a small bit of grain gold or a diminutive
+nugget and drops these into a little bag hanging under his chin. In such
+manner this primitive dredge wins about a quarter of an ounce or five
+dollars' worth of the yellow metal per day.
+
+I determined to make the whole distance to Zain Shabi in a single day.
+At the ourtons I hurried them through the catching and saddling of the
+horses as fast as I could. At one of these stations about twenty-five
+miles from the monastery the Mongols gave me a wild horse, a big, strong
+white stallion. Just as I was about to mount him and had already touched
+my foot to the stirrup, he jumped and kicked me right on the leg which
+had been wounded in the Ma-chu fight. The leg soon began to swell and
+ache. At sunset I made out the first Russian and Chinese buildings
+and later the monastery at Zain. We dropped into the valley of a small
+stream which flowed along a mountain on whose peak were set white rocks
+forming the words of a Tibetan prayer. At the bottom of this mountain
+was a cemetery for the Lamas, that is, piles of bones and a pack
+of dogs. At last the monastery lay right below us, a common square
+surrounded with wooden fences. In the middle rose a large temple quite
+different from all those of western Mongolia, not in the Chinese but in
+the Tibetan style of architecture, a white building with perpendicular
+walls and regular rows of windows in black frames, with a roof of black
+tiles and with a most unusual damp course laid between the stone walls
+and the roof timbers and made of bundles of twigs from a Tibetan tree
+which never rots. Another small quadrangle lay a little to the east and
+contained Russian buildings connected with the monastery by telephone.
+
+"That is the house of the Living God of Zain," the Mongol explained,
+pointing to this smaller quadrangle. "He likes Russian customs and
+manners."
+
+To the north on a conical-shaped hill rose a tower that recalled the
+Babylonian zikkurat. It was the temple where the ancient books and
+manuscripts were kept and the broken ornaments and objects used in
+the religious ceremonies together with the robes of deceased Hutuktus
+preserved. A sheer cliff rose behind this museum, which it was
+impossible for one to climb. On the face of this were carved images of
+the Lamaite gods, scattered about without any special order. They were
+from one to two and a half metres high. At night the monks lighted
+lamps before them, so that one could see these images of the gods and
+goddesses from far away.
+
+We entered the trading settlement. The streets were deserted and from
+the windows only women and children looked out. I stopped with a Russian
+firm whose other branches I had known throughout the country. Much to my
+astonishment they welcomed me as an acquaintance. It appeared that
+the Hutuktu of Narabanchi had sent word to all the monasteries that,
+whenever I should come, they must all render me aid, inasmuch as I
+had saved the Narabanchi Monastery and, by the clear signs of the
+divinations, I was an incarnate Buddha beloved of the Gods. This letter
+of this kindly disposed Hutuktu helped me very much--perhaps I should
+even say more, that it saved me from death. The hospitality of my hosts
+proved of great and much needed assistance to me because my injured leg
+had swelled and was aching severely. When I took off my boot, I found
+my foot all covered with blood and my old wound re-opened by the blow. A
+felcher was called to assist me with treatment and bandaging, so that I
+was able to walk again three days later.
+
+I did not find Colonel Kazagrandi at Zain Shabi. After destroying the
+Chinese gamins who had killed the local Commandant, he had returned via
+Van Kure. The new Commandment handed me the letter of Kazagrandi, who
+very cordially asked me to visit him after I had rested in Zain. A
+Mongolian document was enclosed in the letter giving me the right to
+receive horses and carts from herd to herd by means of the "urga," which
+I shall later describe and which opened for me an entirely new vista of
+Mongolian life and country that I should otherwise never have seen. The
+making of this journey of over two hundred miles was a very disagreeable
+task for me; but evidently Kazagrandi, whom I had never met, had serious
+reasons for wishing this meeting.
+
+At one o'clock the day after my arrival I was visited by the local
+"Very God," Gheghen Pandita Hutuktu. A more strange and extraordinary
+appearance of a god I could not imagine. He was a short, thin young man
+of twenty or twenty-two years with quick, nervous movements and with an
+expressive face lighted and dominated, like the countenances of all the
+Mongol gods, by large, frightened eyes. He was dressed in a blue silk
+Russian uniform with yellow epaulets with the sacred sign of Pandita
+Hutuktu, in blue silk trousers and high boots, all surmounted by a white
+Astrakhan cap with a yellow pointed top. At his girdle a revolver and
+sword were slung. I did not know quite what to think of this disguised
+god. He took a cup of tea from the host and began to talk with a mixture
+of Mongolian and Russian.
+
+"Not far from my Kure is located the ancient monastery of Erdeni Dzu,
+erected on the site of the ruins of Karakorum, the ancient capital
+of Jenghiz Khan and afterwards frequently visited by Kublai Kahn for
+sanctuary and rest after his labors as Emperor of China, India, Persia,
+Afghanistan, Mongolia and half of Europe. Now only ruins and tombs
+remain to mark this former 'Garden of Beatific Days.' The pious monks of
+Baroun Kure found in the underground chambers of the ruins manuscripts
+that were much older than Erdeni Dzu itself. In these my Maramba
+Meetchik-Atak found the prediction that the Hutuktu of Zain who should
+carry the title of 'Pandita,' should be but twenty-one years of age, be
+born in the heart of the lands of Jenghiz Khan and have on his chest
+the natural sign of the swastika--such Hutuktu would be honored by the
+people in the days of a great war and trouble, would begin the fight
+with the servants of Red evil and would conquer them and bring order
+into the universe, celebrating this happy day in the city with white
+temples and with the songs of ten thousand bells. It is I, Pandita
+Hutuktu! The signs and symbols have met in me. I shall destroy the
+Bolsheviki, the bad 'servants of the Red evil,' and in Moscow I shall
+rest from my glorious and great work. Therefore I have asked Colonel
+Kazagrandi to enlist me in the troops of Baron Ungern and give me the
+chance to fight. The Lamas seek to prevent me from going but who is the
+god here?"
+
+He very sternly stamped his foot, while the Lamas and guard who
+accompanied him reverently bowed their heads.
+
+As he left he presented me with a hatyk and, rummaging through my saddle
+bags, I found a single article that might be considered worthy as a
+gift for a Hutuktu, a small bottle of osmiridium, this rare, natural
+concomitant of platinum.
+
+"This is the most stable and hardest of metals," I said. "Let it be the
+sign of your glory and strength, Hutuktu!"
+
+The Pandita thanked me and invited me to visit him. When I had recovered
+a little, I went to his house, which was arranged in European style:
+electric lights, push bells and telephone. He feasted me with wine and
+sweets and introduced me to two very interesting personages, one an old
+Tibetan surgeon with a face deeply pitted by smallpox, a heavy thick
+nose and crossed eyes. He was a peculiar surgeon, consecrated in Tibet.
+His duties consisted in treating and curing Hutuktus when they were
+ill and . . . in poisoning them when they became too independent or
+extravagant or when their policies were not in accord with the wishes
+of the Council of Lamas of the Living Buddha or the Dalai Lama. By
+now Pandita Hutuktu probably rests in eternal peace on the top of some
+sacred mountain, sent thither by the solicitude of his extraordinary
+court physician. The martial spirit of Pandita Hutuktu was very
+unwelcome to the Council of Lamas, who protested against the
+adventuresomeness of this "Living God."
+
+Pandita liked wine and cards. One day when he was in the company of
+Russians and dressed in a European suit, some Lamas came running to
+announce that divine service had begun and that the "Living God" must
+take his place on the altar to be prayed to but he had gone out from his
+abode and was playing cards! Without any confusion Pandita drew his red
+mantle of the Hutuktu over his European coat and long grey trousers and
+allowed the shocked Lamas to carry their "God" away in his palanquin.
+
+Besides the surgeon-poisoner I met at the Hutuktu's a lad of thirteen
+years, whose youthfulness, red robe and cropped hair led me to suppose
+he was a Bandi or student servant in the home of the Hutuktu; but it
+turned out otherwise. This boy was the first Hubilgan, also an incarnate
+Buddha, an artful teller of fortunes and the successor of Pandita
+Hutuktu. He was drunk all the time and a great card player, always
+making side-splitting jokes that greatly offended the Lamas.
+
+That same evening I made the acquaintance of the second Hubilgan
+who called on me, the real administrator of Zain Shabi, which is
+an independent dominion subject directly to the Living Buddha. This
+Hubilgan was a serious and ascetic man of thirty-two, well educated and
+deeply learned in Mongol lore. He knew Russian and read much in that
+language, being interested chiefly in the life and stories of other
+peoples. He had a high respect for the creative genius of the American
+people and said to me:
+
+"When you go to America, ask the Americans to come to us and lead us out
+from the darkness that surrounds us. The Chinese and Russians will lead
+us to destruction and only the Americans can save us."
+
+It is a deep satisfaction for me to carry out the request of this
+influential Mongol, Hubilgan, and to urge his appeal to the American
+people. Will you not save this honest, uncorrupted but dark, deceived
+and oppressed people? They should not be allowed to perish, for within
+their souls they carry a great store of strong moral forces. Make of
+them a cultured people, believing in the verity of humankind; teach them
+to use the wealth of their land; and the ancient people of Jenghiz Khan
+will ever be your faithful friends.
+
+When I had sufficiently recovered, the Hutuktu invited me to travel with
+him to Erdeni Dzu, to which I willingly agreed. On the following morning
+a light and comfortable carriage was brought for me. Our trip lasted
+five days, during which we visited Erdeni Dzu, Karakorum, Hoto-Zaidam
+and Hara-Balgasun. All these are the ruins of monasteries and cities
+erected by Jenghiz Khan and his successors, Ugadai Khan and Kublai
+in the thirteenth century. Now only the remnants of walls and towers
+remain, some large tombs and whole books of legends and stories.
+
+"Look at these tombs!" said the Hutuktu to me. "Here the son of Khan
+Uyuk was buried. This young prince was bribed by the Chinese to kill his
+father but was frustrated in his attempt by his own sister, who killed
+him in her watchful care of her old father, the Emperor and Khan. There
+is the tomb of Tsinilla, the beloved spouse of Khan Mangu. She left the
+capital of China to go to Khara Bolgasun, where she fell in love with
+the brave shepherd Damcharen, who overtook the wind on his steed and
+who captured wild yaks and horses with his bare hands. The enraged Khan
+ordered his unfaithful wife strangled but afterwards buried her with
+imperial honors and frequently came to her tomb to weep for his lost
+love."
+
+"And what happened to Damcharen?" I inquired.
+
+The Hutuktu himself did not know; but his old servant, the real archive
+of legends, answered:
+
+"With the aid of ferocious Chahar brigands he fought with China for a
+long time. It is, however, unknown how he died."
+
+Among the ruins the monks pray at certain fixed times and they also
+search for sacred books and objects concealed or buried in the debris.
+Recently they found here two Chinese rifles and two gold rings and big
+bundles of old manuscripts tied with leather thongs.
+
+"Why did this region attract the powerful emperors and Khans who ruled
+from the Pacific to the Adriatic?" I asked myself. Certainly not these
+mountains and valleys covered with larch and birch, not these vast
+sands, receding lakes and barren rocks. It seems that I found the
+answer.
+
+The great emperors, remembering the vision of Jenghiz Khan, sought here
+new revelations and predictions of his miraculous, majestic destiny,
+surrounded by the divine honors, obeisance and hate. Where could they
+come into touch with the gods, the good and bad spirits? Only there
+where they abode. All the district of Zain with these ancient ruins is
+just such a place.
+
+"On this mountain only such men can ascend as are born of the direct
+line of Jenghiz Khan," the Pandita explained to me. "Half way up the
+ordinary man suffocates and dies, if he ventures to go further. Recently
+Mongolian hunters chased a pack of wolves up this mountain and, when
+they came to this part of the mountainside, they all perished. There on
+the slopes of the mountain lie the bones of eagles, big horned sheep and
+the kabarga antelope, light and swift as the wind. There dwells the bad
+demon who possesses the book of human destinies."
+
+"This is the answer," I thought.
+
+In the Western Caucasus I once saw a mountain between Soukhoum Kale and
+Tuopsei where wolves, eagles and wild goats also perish, and where men
+would likewise perish if they did not go on horseback through this zone.
+There the earth breathes out carbonic acid gas through holes in the
+mountainside, killing all animal life. The gas clings to the earth in a
+layer about half a metre thick. Men on horseback pass above this and the
+horses always hold their heads way up and snuff and whinny in fear until
+they cross the dangerous zone. Here on the top of this mountain
+where the bad demon peruses the book of human destinies is the same
+phenomenon, and I realized the sacred fear of the Mongols as well as the
+stern attraction of this place for the tall, almost gigantic descendants
+of Jenghiz Khan. Their heads tower above the layers of poisonous gas,
+so that they can reach the top of this mysterious and terrible mountain.
+Also it is possible to explain this phenomenon geologically, because
+here in this region is the southern edge of the coal deposits which are
+the source of carbonic acid and swamp gases.
+
+Not far from the ruins in the lands of Hun Doptchin Djamtso there is
+a small lake which sometimes burns with a red flame, terrifying the
+Mongols and herds of horses. Naturally this lake is rich with legends.
+Here a meteor formerly fell and sank far into the earth. In the hole
+this lake appeared. Now, it seems, the inhabitants of the subterranean
+passages, semi-man and semi-demon, are laboring to extract this "stone
+of the sky" from its deep bed and it is setting the water on fire as it
+rises and falls back in spite of their every effort. I did not see the
+lake myself but a Russian colonist told me that it may be petroleum on
+the lake that is fired either from the campfires of the shepherds or by
+the blazing rays of the sun.
+
+At any rate all this makes it very easy to understand the attractions
+for the great Mongol potentates. The strongest impression was produced
+upon me by Karakorum, the place where the cruel and wise Jenghiz Khan
+lived and laid his gigantic plans for overrunning all the west with
+blood and for covering the east with a glory never before seen. Two
+Karakorums were erected by Jenghiz Khan, one here near Tatsa Gol on the
+Caravan Road and the other in Pamir, where the sad warriors buried the
+greatest of human conquerors in the mausoleum built by five hundred
+captives who were sacrificed to the spirit of the deceased when their
+work was done.
+
+The warlike Pandita Hutuktu prayed on the ruins where the shades of
+these potentates who had ruled half the world wandered, and his soul
+longed for the chimerical exploits and for the glory of Jenghiz and
+Tamerlane.
+
+On the return journey we were invited not far from Zain to visit a very
+rich Mongol by the way. He had already prepared the yurtas suitable for
+Princes, ornamented with rich carpets and silk draperies. The Hutuktu
+accepted. We arranged ourselves on the soft pillows in the yurtas as the
+Hutuktu blessed the Mongol, touching his head with his holy hand, and
+received the hatyks. The host then had a whole sheep brought in to us,
+boiled in a huge vessel. The Hutuktu carved off one hind leg and offered
+it to me, while he reserved the other for himself. After this he gave a
+large piece of meat to the smallest son of the host, which was the sign
+that Pandita Hutuktu invited all to begin the feast. In a trice the
+sheep was entirely carved or torn up and in the hands of the banqueters.
+When the Hutuktu had thrown down by the brazier the white bones without
+a trace of meat left on them, the host on his knees withdrew from the
+fire a piece of sheepskin and ceremoniously offered it on both his hands
+to the Hutuktu. Pandita began to clean off the wool and ashes with his
+knife and, cutting it into thin strips, fell to eating this really tasty
+course. It is the covering from just above the breast bone and is called
+in Mongolian tarach or "arrow." When a sheep is skinned, this small
+section is cut out and placed on the hot coals, where it is broiled very
+slowly. Thus prepared it is considered the most dainty bit of the
+whole animal and is always presented to the guest of honor. It is
+not permissible to divide it, such is the strength of the custom and
+ceremony.
+
+After dinner our host proposed a hunt for bighorns, a large herd of
+which was known to graze in the mountains within less than a mile from
+the yurtas. Horses with rich saddles and bridles were led up. All the
+elaborate harness of the Hutuktu's mount was ornamented with red and
+yellow bits of cloth as a mark of his rank. About fifty Mongol riders
+galloped behind us. When we left our horses, we were placed behind
+the rocks roughly three hundred paces apart and the Mongols began the
+encircling movement around the mountain. After about half an hour I
+noticed way up among the rocks something flash and soon made out a fine
+bighorn jumping with tremendous springs from rock to rock, and behind
+him a herd of some twenty odd head leaping like lightning over the
+ground. I was vexed beyond words when it appeared that the Mongols had
+made a mess of it and pushed the herd out to the side before having
+completed their circle. But happily I was mistaken. Behind a rock right
+ahead of the herd a Mongol sprang up and waved his hands. Only the big
+leader was not frightened and kept right on past the unarmed Mongol
+while all the rest of the herd swung suddenly round and rushed right
+down upon me. I opened fire and dropped two of them. The Hutuktu also
+brought down one as well as a musk antelope that came unexpectedly from
+behind a rock hard by. The largest pair of horns weighed about thirty
+pounds, but they were from a young sheep.
+
+The day following our return to Zain Shabi, as I was feeling quite
+recovered, I decided to go on to Van Kure. At my leave-taking from
+the Hutuktu I received a large hatyk from him together with warmest
+expressions of thanks for the present I had given him on the first day
+of our acquaintance.
+
+"It is a fine medicine!" he exclaimed. "After our trip I felt quite
+exhausted but I took your medicine and am now quite rejuvenated. Many,
+many thanks!"
+
+The poor chap had swallowed my osmiridium. To be sure it could not
+harm him; but to have helped him was wonderful. Perhaps doctors in the
+Occident may wish to try this new, harmless and very cheap remedy--only
+eight pounds of it in the whole world--and I merely ask that they leave
+me the patent rights for it for Mongolia, Barga, Sinkiang, Koko Nor and
+all the other lands of Central Asia.
+
+An old Russian colonist went as guide for me. They gave me a big but
+light and comfortable cart hitched and drawn in a marvelous way. A
+straight pole four metres long was fastened athwart the front of the
+shafts. On either side two riders took this pole across their saddle
+pommels and galloped away with me across the plains. Behind us galloped
+four other riders with four extra horses.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+ARRESTED!
+
+
+About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of
+riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later
+on the shore of a deep, swampy stream. The group consisted of Mongols,
+Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles. At the head of the
+column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black
+felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and,
+in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: "Who are you, where are you
+from and where are you going?"
+
+I gave also a laconic answer. They then said that they were a detachment
+of troops from Baron Ungern under the command of Captain Vandaloff. "I
+am Captain Bezrodnoff, military judge."
+
+Suddenly he laughed loudly. His insolent, stupid face did not please me
+and, bowing to the officers, I ordered my riders to move.
+
+"Oh no!" he remonstrated, as he blocked the road again. "I cannot allow
+you to go farther. I want to have a long and serious conversation with
+you and you will have to come back to Zain for it."
+
+I protested and called attention to the letter of Colonel Kazagrandi,
+only to hear Bezrodnoff answer with coldness:
+
+"This letter is a matter of Colonel Kazagrandi's and to bring you back
+to Zain and talk with you is my affair. Now give me your weapon."
+
+But I could not yield to this demand, even though death were threatened.
+
+"Listen," I said. "Tell me frankly. Is yours really a detachment
+fighting against the Boisheviki or is it a Red contingent?"
+
+"No, I assure you!" replied the Buriat officer Vandaloff, approaching
+me. "We have already been fighting the Bolsheviki for three years."
+
+"Then I cannot hand you my weapon," I calmly replied. "I brought it from
+Soviet Siberia, have had many fights with this faithful weapon and now
+I am to be disarmed by White officers! It is an offence that I cannot
+allow."
+
+With these words I threw my rifle and my Mauser into the stream. The
+officers were confused. Bezrodnoff turned red with anger.
+
+"I freed you and myself from humiliation," I explained.
+
+Bezrodnoff in silence turned his horse, the whole detachment of three
+hundred men passed immediately before me and only the last two riders
+stopped, ordered my Mongols to turn my cart round and then fell in
+behind my little group. So I was arrested! One of the horsemen behind me
+was a Russian and he told me that Bezrodnoff carried with him many death
+decrees. I was sure that mine was among them.
+
+Stupid, very stupid! What was the use of fighting one's way through Red
+detachments, of being frozen and hungry, of almost perishing in Tibet
+only to die from a bullet of one of Bezrodnoff's Mongols? For such a
+pleasure it was not worth while to travel so long and so far! In every
+Siberian "Cheka" I could have had this end so joyfully accorded me.
+
+When we arrived at Zain Shabi, my luggage was examined and Bezrodnoff
+began to question me in minutest detail about the events in Uliassutai.
+We talked about three hours, during which I tried to defend all the
+officers of Uliassutai, maintaining that one must not trust only the
+reports of Domojiroff. When our conversation was finished, the Captain
+stood up and offered his apologies for detaining me in my journey.
+Afterwards he presented me a fine Mauser with silver mountings on the
+handle and said:
+
+"Your pride greatly pleased me. I beg you to receive this weapon as a
+memento of me."
+
+The following morning I set out anew from Zain Shabi, having in my
+pocket the laissez-passer of Bezrodnoff for his outposts.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI
+
+TRAVELING BY "URGA"
+
+
+Once more we traveled along the now known places, the mountain from
+which I espied the detachment of Bezrodnoff, the stream into which I had
+thrown my weapon, and soon all this lay behind us. At the first ourton
+we were disappointed because we did not find horses there. In the yurtas
+were only the host with two of his sons. I showed him my document and he
+exclaimed:
+
+"Noyon has the right of 'urga.' Horses will be brought very soon."
+
+He jumped into his saddle, took two of my Mongols with him, providing
+them and himself with long thin poles, four or five metres in length,
+and fitted at the end with a loop of rope, and galloped away. My cart
+moved behind them. We left the road, crossed the plain for an hour and
+came upon a big herd of horses grazing there. The Mongol began to catch
+a quota of them for us with his pole and noose or urga, when out of the
+mountains nearby came galloping the owners of the herds. When the
+old Mongol showed my papers to them, they submissively acquiesced and
+substituted four of their men for those who had come with me thus far.
+In this manner the Mongols travel, not along the ourton or station road
+but directly from one herd to another, where the fresh horses are caught
+and saddled and the new owners substituted for those of the last herd.
+All the Mongols so effected by the right of urga try to finish their
+task as rapidly as possible and gallop like mad for the nearest herd
+in your general direction of travel to turn over their task to their
+neighbor. Any traveler having this right of urga can catch horses
+himself and, if there are no owners, can force the former ones to carry
+on and leave the animals in the next herd he requisitions. But this
+happens very rarely because the Mongol never likes to seek out his
+animals in another's herd, as it always gives so many chances for
+controversy.
+
+It was from this custom, according to one explanation, that the town
+of Urga took its name among outsiders. By the Mongols themselves it is
+always referred to as Ta Kure, "The Great Monastery." The reason the
+Buriats and Russians, who were the first to trade into this region,
+called it Urga was because it was the principal destination of all the
+trading expeditions which crossed the plains by this old method or right
+of travel. A second explanation is that the town lies in a "loop" whose
+sides are formed by three mountain ridges, along one of which the River
+Tola runs like the pole or stick of the familiar urga of the plains.
+
+Thanks to this unique ticket of urga I crossed quite untraveled
+sections of Mongolia for about two hundred miles. It gave me the welcome
+opportunity to observe the fauna of this part of the country. I saw many
+huge herds of Mongolian antelopes running from five to six thousand,
+many groups of bighorns, wapiti and kabarga antelopes. Sometimes small
+herds of wild horses and wild asses flashed as a vision on the horizon.
+
+In one place I observed a big colony of marmots. All over an area of
+several square miles their mounds were scattered with the holes leading
+down to their runways below, the dwellings of the marmot. In and out
+among these mounds the greyish-yellow or brown animals ran in all sizes
+up to half that of an average dog. They ran heavily and the skin on
+their fat bodies moved as though it were too big for them. The marmots
+are splendid prospectors, always digging deep ditches, throwing out on
+the surface all the stones. In many places I saw mounds the marmots had
+made from copper ore and farther north some from minerals containing
+wolfram and vanadium. Whenever the marmot is at the entrance of his
+hole, he sits up straight on his hind legs and looks like a bit of wood,
+a small stump or a stone. As soon as he spies a rider in the distance,
+he watches him with great curiosity and begins whistling sharply. This
+curiosity of the marmots is taken advantage of by the hunters, who sneak
+up to their holes flourishing streamers of cloth on the tips of long
+poles. The whole attention of the small animals is concentrated on this
+small flag and only the bullet that takes his life explains to him the
+reason for this previously unknown object.
+
+I saw a very exciting picture as I passed through a marmot colony near
+the Orkhon River. There were thousands of holes here so that my Mongols
+had to use all their skill to keep the horses from breaking their legs
+in them. I noticed an eagle circling high overhead. All of a sudden he
+dropped like a stone to the top of a mound, where he sat motionless as
+a rock. The marmot in a few minutes ran out of his hole to a neighbor's
+doorway. The eagle calmly jumped down from the top and with one wing
+closed the entrance to the hole. The rodent heard the noise, turned back
+and rushed to the attack, trying to break through to his hole where he
+had evidently left his family. The struggle began. The eagle fought with
+one free wing, one leg and his beak but did not withdraw the bar to the
+entrance. The marmot jumped at the rapacious bird with great boldness
+but soon fell from a blow on the head. Only then the eagle withdrew his
+wing, approached the marmot, finished him off and with difficulty
+lifted him in his talons to carry him away to the mountains for a tasty
+luncheon.
+
+In the more barren places with only occasional spears of grass in the
+plain another species of rodent lives, called imouran, about the size of
+a squirrel. They have a coat the same color as the prairie and, running
+about it like snakes, they collect the seeds that are blown across by
+the wind and carry them down into their diminutive homes. The imouran
+has a truly faithful friend, the yellow lark of the prairie with a brown
+back and head. When he sees the imouran running across the plain, he
+settles on his back, flaps his wings in balance and rides well this
+swiftly galloping mount, who gaily flourishes his long shaggy tail. The
+lark during his ride skilfully and quickly catches the parasites living
+on the body of his friend, giving evidence of his enjoyment of his work
+with a short agreeable song. The Mongols call the imouran "the steed of
+the gay lark." The lark warns the imouran of the approach of eagles and
+hawks with three sharp whistles the moment he sees the aerial brigand
+and takes refuge himself behind a stone or in a small ditch. After this
+signal no imouran will stick his head out of his hole until the danger
+is past. Thus the gay lark and his steed live in kindly neighborliness.
+
+In other parts of Mongolia where there was very rich grass I saw another
+type of rodent, which I had previously come across in Urianhai. It is
+a gigantic black prairie rat with a short tail and lives in colonies
+of from one to two hundred. He is interesting and unique as the most
+skilful farmer among the animals in his preparation of his winter supply
+of fodder. During the weeks when the grass is most succulent he actually
+mows it down with swift jerky swings of his head, cutting about twenty
+or thirty stalks with his sharp long front teeth. Then he allows his
+grass to cure and later puts up his prepared hay in a most scientific
+manner. First he makes a mound about a foot high. Through this he pushes
+down into the ground four slanting stakes, converging toward the middle
+of the pile, and binds them close over the surface of the hay with the
+longest strands of grass, leaving the ends protruding enough for him
+to add another foot to the height of the pile, when he again binds the
+surface with more long strands--all this to keep his winter supply of
+food from blowing away over the prairie. This stock he always locates
+right at the door of his den to avoid long winter hauls. The horses and
+camels are very fond of this small farmer's hay, because it is always
+made from the most nutritious grass. The haycocks are so strongly made
+that one can hardly kick them to pieces.
+
+Almost everywhere in Mongolia I met either single pairs or whole flocks
+of the greyish-yellow prairie partridges, salga or "partridge swallow,"
+so called because they have long sharp tails resembling those of
+swallows and because their flight also is a close copy of that of the
+swallow. These birds are very tame or fearless, allowing men to come
+within ten or fifteen paces of them; but, when they do break, they go
+high and fly long distances without lighting, whistling all the time
+quite like swallows. Their general markings are light grey and yellow,
+though the males have pretty chocolate spots on the backs and wings,
+while their legs and feet are heavily feathered.
+
+My opportunity to make these observations came from traveling
+through unfrequented regions by the urga, which, however, had its
+counterbalancing disadvantages. The Mongols carried me directly and
+swiftly toward my destination, receiving with great satisfaction the
+presents of Chinese dollars which I gave them. But after having made
+about five thousand miles on my Cossack saddle that now lay behind me
+on the cart all covered with dust like common merchandise, I rebelled
+against being wracked and torn by the rough riding of the cart as it was
+swung heedlessly over stones, hillocks and ditches by the wild horses
+with their equally wild riders, bounding and cracking and holding
+together only through its tenacity of purpose in demonstrating the
+cosiness and attractiveness of a good Mongol equipage! All my bones
+began to ache. Finally I groaned at every lunge and at last I suffered
+a very sharp attack of ischias or sciatica in my wounded leg. At night
+I could neither sleep, lie down nor sit with comfort and spent the whole
+night pacing up and down the plain, listening to the loud snoring of
+the inhabitants of the yurta. At times I had to fight the two huge black
+dogs which attacked me. The following day I could endure the wracking
+only until noon and was then forced to give up and lie down. The pain
+was unbearable. I could not move my leg nor my back and finally fell
+into a high fever. We were forced to stop and rest. I swallowed all
+my stock of aspirin and quinine but without relief. Before me was a
+sleepless night about which I could not think without weakening fear. We
+had stopped in the yurta for guests by the side of a small monastery. My
+Mongols invited the Lama doctor to visit me, who gave me two very bitter
+powders and assured me I should be able to continue in the morning. I
+soon felt a stimulated palpitation of the heart, after which the pain
+became even sharper. Again I spent the night without any sleep but when
+the sun arose the pain ceased instantly and, after an hour, I ordered
+them to saddle me a horse, as I was afraid to continue further in the
+cart.
+
+While the Mongols were catching the horses, there came to my tent
+Colonel N. N. Philipoff, who told me that he denied all the accusations
+that he and his brother and Poletika were Bolsheviki and that Bezrodnoff
+allowed him to go to Van Kure to meet Baron Ungern, who was expected
+there. Only Philipoff did not know that his Mongol guide was armed with
+a bomb and that another Mongol had been sent on ahead with a letter to
+Baron Ungern. He did not know that Poletika and his brothers were shot
+at the same time in Zain Shabi. Philipoff was in a hurry and wanted to
+reach Van Kure that day. I left an hour after him.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII
+
+AN OLD FORTUNE TELLER
+
+
+From this point we began traveling along the ourton road. In this region
+the Mongols had very poor and exhausted horses, because they were forced
+continuously to supply mounts to the numerous envoys of Daichin Van and
+of Colonel Kazagrandi. We were compelled to spend the night at the last
+ourton before Van Kure, where a stout old Mongol and his son kept the
+station. After our supper he took the shoulder-blade of the sheep, which
+had been carefully scraped clean of all the flesh, and, looking at me,
+placed this bone in the coals with some incantations and said:
+
+"I want to tell your fortune. All my predictions come true."
+
+When the bone had been blackened he drew it out, blew off the ashes and
+began to scrutinize the surface very closely and to look through it into
+the fire. He continued his examination for a long time and then, with
+fear in his face, placed the bone back in the coals.
+
+"What did you see?" I asked, laughing.
+
+"Be silent!" he whispered. "I made out horrible signs."
+
+He again took out the bone and began examining it all over, all the time
+whispering prayers and making strange movements. In a very solemn quiet
+voice he began his predictions.
+
+"Death in the form of a tall white man with red hair will stand behind
+you and will watch you long and close. You will feel it and wait but
+Death will withdraw. . . . Another white man will become your friend.
+. . . Before the fourth day you will lose your acquaintances. They will
+die by a long knife. I already see them being eaten by the dogs. Beware
+of the man with a head like a saddle. He will strive for your death."
+
+For a long time after the fortune had been told we sat smoking and
+drinking tea but still the old fellow looked at me only with fear.
+Through my brain flashed the thought that thus must his companions in
+prison look at one who is condemned to death.
+
+The next morning we left the fortune teller before the sun was up, and,
+when we had made about fifteen miles, hove in sight of Van Kure. I found
+Colonel Kazagrandi at his headquarters. He was a man of good family,
+an experienced engineer and a splendid officer, who had distinguished
+himself in the war at the defence of the island of Moon in the Baltic
+and afterwards in the fight with the Bolsheviki on the Volga. Colonel
+Kazagrandi offered me a bath in a real tub, which had its habitat in
+the house of the president of the local Chamber of Commerce. As I was in
+this house, a tall young captain entered. He had long curly red hair and
+an unusually white face, though heavy and stolid, with large, steel-cold
+eyes and with beautiful, tender, almost girlish lips. But in his eyes
+there was such cold cruelty that it was quite unpleasant to look at his
+otherwise fine face. When he left the room, our host told me that he was
+Captain Veseloffsky, the adjutant of General Rezukhin, who was fighting
+against the Bolsheviki in the north of Mongolia. They had just that day
+arrived for a conference with Baron Ungern.
+
+After luncheon Colonel Kazagrandi invited me to his yurta and began
+discussing events in western Mongolia, where the situation had become
+very tense.
+
+"Do you know Dr. Gay?" Kazagrandi asked me. "You know he helped me
+to form my detachment but Urga accuses him of being the agent of the
+Soviets."
+
+I made all the defences I could for Gay. He had helped me and had been
+exonerated by Kolchak.
+
+"Yes, yes, and I justified Gay in such a manner," said the Colonel, "but
+Rezukhin, who has just arrived today, has brought letters of Gay's to
+the Bolsheviki which were seized in transit. By order of Baron Ungern,
+Gay and his family have today been sent to the headquarters of Rezukhin
+and I fear that they will not reach this destination."
+
+"Why?" I asked.
+
+"They will be executed on the road!" answered Colonel Kazagrandi.
+
+"What are we to do?" I responded. "Gay cannot be a Bolshevik, because
+he is too well educated and too clever for it."
+
+"I don't know; I don't know!" murmured the Colonel with a despondent
+gesture. "Try to speak with Rezukhin."
+
+I decided to proceed at once to Rezukhin but just then Colonel Philipoff
+entered and began talking about the errors being made in the training of
+the soldiers. When I had donned my coat, another man came in. He was a
+small sized officer with an old green Cossack cap with a visor, a torn
+grey Mongol overcoat and with his right hand in a black sling tied
+around his neck. It was General Rezukhin, to whom I was at once
+introduced. During the conversation the General very politely and very
+skilfully inquired about the lives of Philipoff and myself during the
+last three years, joking and laughing with discretion and modesty. When
+he soon took his leave, I availed myself of the chance and went out with
+him.
+
+He listened very attentively and politely to me and afterwards, in his
+quiet voice, said:
+
+"Dr. Gay is the agent of the Soviets, disguised as a White in order
+the better to see, hear and know everything. We are surrounded by our
+enemies. The Russian people are demoralized and will undertake any
+treachery for money. Such is Gay. Anyway, what is the use of discussing
+him further? He and his family are no longer alive. Today my men cut
+them to pieces five kilometres from here."
+
+In consternation and fear I looked at the face of this small, dapper man
+with such soft voice and courteous manners. In his eyes I read such hate
+and tenacity that I understood at once the trembling respect of all the
+officers whom I had seen in his presence. Afterwards in Urga I learned
+more of this General Rezukhin distinguished by his absolute bravery and
+boundless cruelty. He was the watchdog of Baron Ungern, ready to throw
+himself into the fire and to spring at the throat of anyone his master
+might indicate.
+
+Only four days then had elapsed before "my acquaintances" died "by a
+long knife," so that one part of the prediction had been thus fulfilled.
+And now I have to await Death's threat to me. The delay was not long.
+Only two days later the Chief of the Asiatic Division of Cavalry
+arrived--Baron Ungern von Sternberg.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII
+
+"DEATH FROM THE WHITE MAN WILL STAND BEHIND YOU"
+
+
+"The terrible general, the Baron," arrived quite unexpectedly, unnoticed
+by the outposts of Colonel Kazagrandi. After a talk with Kazagrandi the
+Baron invited Colonel N. N. Philipoff and me into his presence. Colonel
+Kazagrandi brought the word to me. I wanted to go at once but was
+detained about half an hour by the Colonel, who then sped me with the
+words:
+
+"Now God help you! Go!"
+
+It was a strange parting message, not reassuring and quite enigmatical.
+I took my Mauser and also hid in the cuff of my coat my cyanide of
+potassium. The Baron was quartered in the yurta of the military doctor.
+When I entered the court, Captain Veseloffsky came up to me. He had a
+Cossack sword and a revolver without its holster beneath his girdle. He
+went into the yurta to report my arrival.
+
+"Come in," he said, as he emerged from the tent.
+
+At the entrance my eyes were struck with the sight of a pool of blood
+that had not yet had time to drain down into the ground--an ominous
+greeting that seemed to carry the very voice of one just gone before me.
+I knocked.
+
+"Come in!" was the answer in a high tenor. As I passed the threshold,
+a figure in a red silk Mongolian coat rushed at me with the spring of a
+tiger, grabbed and shook my hand as though in flight across my path and
+then fell prone on the bed at the side of the tent.
+
+"Tell me who you are! Hereabouts are many spies and agitators," he cried
+out in an hysterical voice, as he fixed his eyes upon me. In one
+moment I perceived his appearance and psychology. A small head on wide
+shoulders; blonde hair in disorder; a reddish bristling moustache; a
+skinny, exhausted face, like those on the old Byzantine ikons. Then
+everything else faded from view save a big, protruding forehead
+overhanging steely sharp eyes. These eyes were fixed upon me like those
+of an animal from a cave. My observations lasted for but a flash but I
+understood that before me was a very dangerous man ready for an instant
+spring into irrevocable action. Though the danger was evident, I felt
+the deepest offence.
+
+"Sit down," he snapped out in a hissing voice, as he pointed to a chair
+and impatiently pulled at his moustache. I felt my anger rising through
+my whole body and I said to him without taking the chair:
+
+"You have allowed yourself to offend me, Baron. My name is well enough
+known so that you cannot thus indulge yourself in such epithets. You can
+do with me as you wish, because force is on your side, but you cannot
+compel me to speak with one who gives me offence."
+
+At these words of mine he swung his feet down off the bed and with
+evident astonishment began to survey me, holding his breath and pulling
+still at his moustache. Retaining my exterior calmness, I began to
+glance indifferently around the yurta, and only then I noticed General
+Rezukhin. I bowed to him and received his silent acknowledgment. After
+that I swung my glance back to the Baron, who sat with bowed head and
+closed eyes, from time to time rubbing his brow and mumbling to himself.
+
+Suddenly he stood up and sharply said, looking past and over me:
+
+"Go out! There is no need of more. . . ."
+
+I swung round and saw Captain Veseloffsky with his white, cold face. I
+had not heard him enter. He did a formal "about face" and passed out of
+the door.
+
+"'Death from the white man' has stood behind me," I thought; "but has it
+quite left me?"
+
+The Baron stood thinking for some time and then began to speak in
+jumbled, unfinished phrases.
+
+"I ask your pardon. . . . You must understand there are so many
+traitors! Honest men have disappeared. I cannot trust anybody. All
+names are false and assumed; documents are counterfeited. Eyes and
+words deceive. . . . All is demoralized, insulted by Bolshevism. I
+just ordered Colonel Philipoff cut down, he who called himself the
+representative of the Russian White Organization. In the lining of his
+garments were found two secret Bolshevik codes. . . . When my officer
+flourished his sword over him, he exclaimed: 'Why do you kill me,
+Tavarische?' I cannot trust anybody. . . ."
+
+He was silent and I also held my peace.
+
+"I beg your pardon!" he began anew. "I offended you; but I am not simply
+a man, I am a leader of great forces and have in my head so much care,
+sorrow and woe!"
+
+In his voice I felt there was mingled despair and sincerity. He frankly
+put out his hand to me. Again silence. At last I answered:
+
+"What do you order me to do now, for I have neither counterfeit nor real
+documents? But many of your officers know me and in Urga I can find many
+who will testify that I could be neither agitator nor. . ."
+
+"No need, no need!" interrupted the Baron. "All is clear, all is
+understood! I was in your soul and I know all. It is the truth which
+Hutuktu Narabanchi has written about you. What can I do for you?"
+
+I explained how my friend and I had escaped from Soviet Russia in the
+effort to reach our native land and how a group of Polish soldiers had
+joined us in the hope of getting back to Poland; and I asked that help
+be given us to reach the nearest port.
+
+"With pleasure, with pleasure. . . . I will help you all," he answered
+excitedly. "I shall drive you to Urga in my motor car. Tomorrow we shall
+start and there in Urga we shall talk about further arrangements."
+
+Taking my leave, I went out of the yurta. On arriving at my quarters, I
+found Colonel Kazagrandi in great anxiety walking up and down my room.
+
+"Thanks be to God!" he exclaimed and crossed himself.
+
+His joy was very touching but at the same time I thought that the
+Colonel could have taken much more active measures for the salvation of
+his guest, if he had been so minded. The agitation of this day had
+tired me and made me feel years older. When I looked in the mirror I
+was certain there were more white hairs on my head. At night I could
+not sleep for the flashing thoughts of the young, fine face of Colonel
+Philipoff, the pool of blood, the cold eyes of Captain Veseloffsky, the
+sound of Baron Ungern's voice with its tones of despair and woe, until
+finally I sank into a heavy stupor. I was awakened by Baron Ungern who
+came to ask pardon that he could not take me in his motor car, because
+he was obliged to take Daichin Van with him. But he informed me that he
+had left instructions to give me his own white camel and two Cossacks as
+servants. I had no time to thank him before he rushed out of my room.
+
+Sleep then entirely deserted me, so I dressed and began smoking pipe
+after pipe of tobacco, as I thought: "How much easier to fight the
+Bolsheviki on the swamps of Seybi and to cross the snowy peaks of Ulan
+Taiga, where the bad demons kill all the travelers they can! There
+everything was simple and comprehensible, but here it is all a mad
+nightmare, a dark and foreboding storm!" I felt some tragedy, some
+horror in every movement of Baron Ungern, behind whom paced this silent,
+white-faced Veseloffsky and Death.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV
+
+THE HORROR OF WAR!
+
+
+At dawn of the following morning they led up the splendid white camel
+for me and we moved away. My company consisted of the two Cossacks, two
+Mongol soldiers and one Lama with two pack camels carrying the tent and
+food. I still apprehended that the Baron had it in mind not to dispose
+of me before my friends there in Van Kure but to prepare this journey
+for me under the guise of which it would be so easy to do away with
+me by the road. A bullet in the back and all would be finished.
+Consequently I was momentarily ready to draw my revolver and defend
+myself. I took care all the time to have the Cossacks either ahead of me
+or at the side. About noon we heard the distant honk of a motor car and
+soon saw Baron Ungern whizzing by us at full speed. With him were two
+adjutants and Prince Daichin Van. The Baron greeted me very kindly and
+shouted:
+
+"Shall see you again in Urga!"
+
+"Ah!" I thought, "evidently I shall reach Urga. So I can be at ease
+during my trip, and in Urga I have many friends beside the presence
+there of the bold Polish soldiers whom I had worked with in Uliassutai
+and who had outdistanced me in this journey."
+
+After the meeting with the Baron my Cossacks became very attentive to
+me and sought to distract me with stories. They told me about their
+very severe struggles with the Bolsheviki in Transbaikalia and Mongolia,
+about the battle with the Chinese near Urga, about finding communistic
+passports on several Chinese soldiers from Moscow, about the bravery of
+Baron Ungern and how he would sit at the campfire smoking and drinking
+tea right on the battle line without ever being touched by a bullet.
+At one fight seventy-four bullets entered his overcoat, saddle and
+the boxes by his side and again left him untouched. This is one of
+the reasons for his great influence over the Mongols. They related how
+before the battle he had made a reconnaissance in Urga with only
+one Cossack and on his way back had killed a Chinese officer and two
+soldiers with his bamboo stick or tashur; how he had no outfit save one
+change of linen and one extra pair of boots; how he was always calm and
+jovial in battle and severe and morose in the rare days of peace; and
+how he was everywhere his soldiers were fighting.
+
+I told them, in turn, of my escape from Siberia and with chatting thus
+the day slipped by very quickly. Our camels trotted all the time, so
+that instead of the ordinary eighteen to twenty miles per day we made
+nearly fifty. My mount was the fastest of them all. He was a huge white
+animal with a splendid thick mane and had been presented to Baron Ungern
+by some Prince of Inner Mongolia with two black sables tied on the
+bridle. He was a calm, strong, bold giant of the desert, on whose back
+I felt myself as though perched on the tower of a building. Beyond the
+Orkhon River we came across the first dead body of a Chinese soldier,
+which lay face up and arms outstretched right in the middle of the road.
+When we had crossed the Burgut Mountains, we entered the Tola River
+valley, farther up which Urga is located. The road was strewn with the
+overcoats, shirts, boots, caps and kettles which the Chinese had thrown
+away in their flight; and marked by many of their dead. Further on the
+road crossed a morass, where on either side lay great mounds of the dead
+bodies of men, horses and camels with broken carts and military debris
+of every sort. Here the Tibetans of Baron Ungern had cut up the escaping
+Chinese baggage transport; and it was a strange and gloomy contrast to
+see the piles of dead besides the effervescing awakening life of spring.
+In every pool wild ducks of different kinds floated about; in the high
+grass the cranes performed their weird dance of courtship; on the lakes
+great flocks of swans and geese were swimming; through the swampy places
+like spots of light moved the brilliantly colored pairs of the Mongolian
+sacred bird, the turpan or "Lama goose"; on the higher dry places flocks
+of wild turkey gamboled and fought as they fed; flocks of the salga
+partridge whistled by; while on the mountain side not far away the
+wolves lay basking and turning in the lazy warmth of the sun, whining
+and occasionally barking like playful dogs.
+
+Nature knows only life. Death is for her but an episode whose traces
+she rubs out with sand and snow or ornaments with luxuriant greenery
+and brightly colored bushes and flowers. What matters it to Nature if a
+mother at Chefoo or on the banks of the Yangtse offers her bowl of rice
+with burning incense at some shrine and prays for the return of her son
+that has fallen unknown for all time on the plains along the Tola, where
+his bones will dry beneath the rays of Nature's dissipating fire and be
+scattered by her winds over the sands of the prairie? It is splendid,
+this indifference of Nature to death, and her greediness for life!
+
+On the fourth day we made the shores of the Tola well after nightfall.
+We could not find the regular ford and I forced my camel to enter
+the stream in the attempt to make a crossing without guidance. Very
+fortunately I found a shallow, though somewhat miry, place and we got
+over all right. This is something to be thankful for in fording a river
+with a camel; because, when your mount finds the water too deep, coming
+up around his neck, he does not strike out and swim like a horse will do
+but just rolls over on his side and floats, which is vastly inconvenient
+for his rider. Down by the river we pegged our tent.
+
+Fifteen miles further on we crossed a battlefield, where the third great
+battle for the independence of Mongolia had been fought. Here the troops
+of Baron Ungern clashed with six thousand Chinese moving down from
+Kiakhta to the aid of Urga. The Chinese were completely defeated and
+four thousand prisoners taken. However, these surrendered Chinese tried
+to escape during the night. Baron Ungern sent the Transbaikal Cossacks
+and Tibetans in pursuit of them and it was their work which we saw on
+this field of death. There were still about fifteen hundred unburied and
+as many more interred, according to the statements of our Cossacks,
+who had participated in this battle. The killed showed terrible sword
+wounds; everywhere equipment and other debris were scattered about.
+The Mongols with their herds moved away from the neighborhood and their
+place was taken by the wolves which hid behind every stone and in every
+ditch as we passed. Packs of dogs that had become wild fought with the
+wolves over the prey.
+
+At last we left this place of carnage to the cursed god of war. Soon we
+approached a shallow, rapid stream, where the Mongols slipped from their
+camels, took off their caps and began drinking. It was a sacred stream
+which passed beside the abode of the Living Buddha. From this winding
+valley we suddenly turned into another where a great mountain ridge
+covered with dark, dense forest loomed up before us.
+
+"Holy Bogdo-Ol!" exclaimed the Lama. "The abode of the Gods which guard
+our Living Buddha!"
+
+Bogdo-Ol is the huge knot which ties together here three mountain
+chains: Gegyl from the southwest, Gangyn from the south, and Huntu from
+the north. This mountain covered with virgin forest is the property of
+the Living Buddha. The forests are full of nearly all the varieties
+of animals found in Mongolia, but hunting is not allowed. Any Mongol
+violating this law is condemned to death, while foreigners are deported.
+Crossing the Bogdo-Ol is forbidden under penalty of death. This command
+was transgressed by only one man, Baron Ungern, who crossed the mountain
+with fifty Cossacks, penetrated to the palace of the Living Buddha,
+where the Pontiff of Urga was being held under arrest by the Chinese,
+and stole him.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV
+
+IN THE CITY OF LIVING GODS, OF 30,000 BUDDHAS AND 60,000 MONKS
+
+
+At last before our eyes the abode of the Living Buddha! At the foot of
+Bogdo-Ol behind white walls rose a white Tibetan building covered with
+greenish-blue tiles that glittered under the sunshine. It was richly set
+among groves of trees dotted here and there with the fantastic roofs
+of shrines and small palaces, while further from the mountain it was
+connected by a long wooden bridge across the Tola with the city of
+monks, sacred and revered throughout all the East as Ta Kure or Urga.
+Here besides the Living Buddha live whole throngs of secondary miracle
+workers, prophets, sorcerers and wonderful doctors. All these people
+have divine origin and are honored as living gods. At the left on the
+high plateau stands an old monastery with a huge, dark red tower, which
+is known as the "Temple Lamas City," containing a gigantic bronze gilded
+statue of Buddha sitting on the golden flower of the lotus; tens of
+smaller temples, shrines, obo, open altars, towers for astrology and the
+grey city of the Lamas consisting of single-storied houses and yurtas,
+where about 60,000 monks of all ages and ranks dwell; schools, sacred
+archives and libraries, the houses of Bandi and the inns for the honored
+guests from China, Tibet, and the lands of the Buriat and Kalmuck.
+
+Down below the monastery is the foreign settlement where the Russian,
+foreign and richest Chinese merchants live and where the multi-colored
+and crowded oriental bazaar carries forward its bustling life. A
+kilometre away the greyish enclosure of Maimachen surrounds the
+remaining Chinese trading establishments, while farther on one sees a
+long row of Russian private houses, a hospital, church, prison and, last
+of all, the awkward four-storied red brick building that was formerly
+the Russian Consulate.
+
+We were already within a short distance of the monastery, when I noticed
+several Mongol soldiers in the mouth of a ravine nearby, dragging back
+and concealing in the ravine three dead bodies.
+
+"What are they doing?" I asked.
+
+The Cossacks only smiled without answering. Suddenly they straightened
+up with a sharp salute. Out of the ravine came a small, stocky Mongolian
+pony with a short man in the saddle. As he passed us, I noticed the
+epaulets of a colonel and the green cap with a visor. He examined me
+with cold, colorless eyes from under dense brows. As he went on ahead,
+he took off his cap and wiped the perspiration from his bald head. My
+eyes were struck by the strange undulating line of his skull. It was the
+man "with the head like a saddle," against whom I had been warned by the
+old fortune teller at the last ourton outside Van Kure!
+
+"Who is this officer?" I inquired.
+
+Although he was already quite a distance in front of us, the Cossacks
+whispered: "Colonel Sepailoff, Commandant of Urga City."
+
+Colonel Sepailoff, the darkest person on the canvas of Mongolian events!
+Formerly a mechanician, afterwards a gendarme, he had gained quick
+promotion under the Czar's regime. He was always nervously jerking and
+wriggling his body and talking ceaselessly, making most unattractive
+sounds in his throat and sputtering with saliva all over his lips, his
+whole face often contracted with spasms. He was mad and Baron Ungern
+twice appointed a commission of surgeons to examine him and ordered him
+to rest in the hope he could rid the man of his evil genius. Undoubtedly
+Sepailoff was a sadist. I heard afterwards that he himself executed
+the condemned people, joking and singing as he did his work. Dark,
+terrifying tales were current about him in Urga. He was a bloodhound,
+fastening his victims with the jaws of death. All the glory of the
+cruelty of Baron Ungern belonged to Sepailoff. Afterwards Baron Ungern
+once told me in Urga that this Sepailoff annoyed him and that Sepailoff
+could kill him just as well as others. Baron Ungern feared Sepailoff,
+not as a man, but dominated by his own superstition, because Sepailoff
+had found in Transbaikalia a witch doctor who predicted the death of the
+Baron if he dismissed Sepailoff. Sepailoff knew no pardon for Bolshevik
+nor for any one connected with the Bolsheviki in any way. The reason for
+his vengeful spirit was that the Bolsheviki had tortured him in prison
+and, after his escape, had killed all his family. He was now taking his
+revenge.
+
+I put up with a Russian firm and was at once visited by my associates
+from Uliassutai, who greeted me with great joy because they had been
+much exercised about the events in Van Kure and Zain Shabi. When I had
+bathed and spruced up, I went out with them on the street. We entered
+the bazaar. The whole market was crowded. To the lively colored groups
+of men buying, selling and shouting their wares, the bright streamers of
+Chinese cloth, the strings of pearls, the earrings and bracelets gave an
+air of endless festivity; while on another side buyers were feeling of
+live sheep to see whether they were fat or not, the butcher was cutting
+great pieces of mutton from the hanging carcasses and everywhere these
+sons of the plain were joking and jesting. The Mongolian women in their
+huge coiffures and heavy silver caps like saucers on their heads were
+admiring the variegated silk ribbons and long chains of coral beads; an
+imposing big Mongol attentively examined a small herd of splendid
+horses and bargained with the Mongol zahachine or owner of the horses; a
+skinny, quick, black Tibetan, who had come to Urga to pray to the Living
+Buddha or, maybe, with a secret message from the other "God" in Lhasa,
+squatted and bargained for an image of the Lotus Buddha carved in agate;
+in another corner a big crowd of Mongols and Buriats had collected and
+surrounded a Chinese merchant selling finely painted snuff-bottles of
+glass, crystal, porcelain, amethyst, jade, agate and nephrite, for one
+of which made of a greenish milky nephrite with regular brown veins
+running through it and carved with a dragon winding itself around a bevy
+of young damsels the merchant was demanding of his Mongol inquirers ten
+young oxen; and everywhere Buriats in their long red coats and small
+red caps embroidered with gold helped the Tartars in black overcoats
+and black velvet caps on the back of their heads to weave the pattern of
+this Oriental human tapestry. Lamas formed the common background for it
+all, as they wandered about in their yellow and red robes, with capes
+picturesquely thrown over their shoulders and caps of many forms, some
+like yellow mushrooms, others like the red Phrygian bonnets or old
+Greek helmets in red. They mingled with the crowd, chatting serenely and
+counting their rosaries, telling fortunes for those who would hear but
+chiefly searching out the rich Mongols whom they could cure or exploit
+by fortune telling, predictions or other mysteries of a city of 60,000
+Lamas. Simultaneously religious and political espionage was being
+carried out. Just at this time many Mongols were arriving from Inner
+Mongolia and they were continuously surrounded by an invisible but
+numerous network of watching Lamas. Over the buildings around floated
+the Russian, Chinese and Mongolian national flags with a single one of
+the Stars and Stripes above a small shop in the market; while over the
+nearby tents and yurtas streamed the ribbons, the squares, the circles
+and triangles of the princes and private persons afflicted or dying
+from smallpox and leprosy. All were mingled and mixed in one bright mass
+strongly lighted by the sun. Occasionally one saw the soldiers of Baron
+Ungern rushing about in long blue coats; Mongols and Tibetans in red
+coats with yellow epaulets bearing the swastika of Jenghiz Khan and
+the initials of the Living Buddha; and Chinese soldiers from their
+detachment in the Mongolian army. After the defeat of the Chinese army
+two thousand of these braves petitioned the Living Buddha to enlist them
+in his legions, swearing fealty and faith to him. They were accepted
+and formed into two regiments bearing the old Chinese silver dragons on
+their caps and shoulders.
+
+As we crossed this market, from around a corner came a big motor car
+with the roar of a siren. There was Baron Ungern in the yellow silk
+Mongolian coat with a blue girdle. He was going very fast but recognized
+me at once, stopping and getting out to invite me to go with him to his
+yurta. The Baron lived in a small, simply arranged yurta, set up in the
+courtyard of a Chinese hong. He had his headquarters in two other yurtas
+nearby, while his servants occupied one of the Chinese fang-tzu. When
+I reminded him of his promise to help me to reach the open ports, the
+General looked at me with his bright eyes and spoke in French:
+
+"My work here is coming to an end. In nine days I shall begin the war
+with the Bolsheviki and shall go into the Transbaikal. I beg that you
+will spend this time here. For many years I have lived without civilized
+society. I am alone with my thoughts and I would like to have you know
+them, speaking with me not as the 'bloody mad Baron,' as my enemies call
+me, nor as the 'severe grandfather,' which my officers and soldiers call
+me, but as an ordinary man who has sought much and has suffered even
+more."
+
+The Baron reflected for some minutes and then continued:
+
+"I have thought about the further trip of your group and I shall arrange
+everything for you, but I ask you to remain here these nine days."
+
+What was I to do? I agreed. The Baron shook my hand warmly and ordered
+tea.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI
+
+A SON OF CRUSADERS AND PRIVATEERS
+
+
+"Tell me about yourself and your trip," he urged. In response I related
+all that I thought would interest him and he appeared quite excited over
+my tale.
+
+"Now I shall tell you about myself, who and what I am! My name is
+surrounded with such hate and fear that no one can judge what is the
+truth and what is false, what is history and what myth. Some time you
+will write about it, remembering your trip through Mongolia and your
+sojourn at the yurta of the 'bloody General.'"
+
+He shut his eyes, smoking as he spoke, and tumbling out his sentences
+without finishing them as though some one would prevent him from
+phrasing them.
+
+"The family of Ungern von Sternberg is an old family, a mixture of
+Germans with Hungarians--Huns from the time of Attila. My warlike
+ancestors took part in all the European struggles. They participated
+in the Crusades and one Ungern was killed under the walls of Jerusalem,
+fighting under Richard Coeur de Lion. Even the tragic Crusade of the
+Children was marked by the death of Ralph Ungern, eleven years old.
+When the boldest warriors of the country were despatched to the eastern
+border of the German Empire against the Slavs in the twelfth century, my
+ancestor Arthur was among them, Baron Halsa Ungern Sternberg. Here these
+border knights formed the order of Monk Knights or Teutons, which
+with fire and sword spread Christianity among the pagan Lithuanians,
+Esthonians, Latvians and Slavs. Since then the Teuton Order of Knights
+has always had among its members representatives of our family. When the
+Teuton Order perished in the Grunwald under the swords of the Polish and
+Lithuanian troops, two Barons Ungern von Sternberg were killed there.
+Our family was warlike and given to mysticism and asceticism.
+
+"During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries several Barons von
+Ungern had their castles in the lands of Latvia and Esthonia. Many
+legends and tales lived after them. Heinrich Ungern von Sternberg,
+called 'Ax,' was a wandering knight. The tournaments of France, England,
+Spain and Italy knew his name and lance, which filled the hearts of his
+opponents with fear. He fell at Cadiz 'neath the sword of a knight who
+cleft both his helmet and his skull. Baron Ralph Ungern was a brigand
+knight between Riga and Reval. Baron Peter Ungern had his castle on
+the island of Dago in the Baltic Sea, where as a privateer he ruled the
+merchantmen of his day.
+
+"In the beginning of the eighteenth century there was also a well-known
+Baron Wilhelm Ungern, who was referred to as the 'brother of Satan'
+because he was an alchemist. My grandfather was a privateer in the
+Indian Ocean, taking his tribute from the English traders whose warships
+could not catch him for several years. At last he was captured and
+handed to the Russian Consul, who transported him to Russia where he was
+sentenced to deportation to the Transbaikal. I am also a naval officer
+but the Russo-Japanese War forced me to leave my regular profession to
+join and fight with the Zabaikal Cossacks. I have spent all my life in
+war or in the study and learning of Buddhism. My grandfather brought
+Buddhism to us from India and my father and I accepted and professed it.
+In Transbaikalia I tried to form the order of Military Buddhists for an
+uncompromising fight against the depravity of revolution."
+
+He fell into silence and began drinking cup after cup of tea as strong
+and black as coffee.
+
+"Depravity of revolution! . . . Has anyone ever thought of it besides
+the French philosopher, Bergson, and the most learned Tashi Lama in
+Tibet?"
+
+The grandson of the privateer, quoting scientific theories, works, the
+names of scientists and writers, the Holy Bible and Buddhist books,
+mixing together French, German, Russian and English, continued:
+
+"In the Buddhistic and ancient Christian books we read stern predictions
+about the time when the war between the good and evil spirits must
+begin. Then there must come the unknown 'Curse' which will conquer the
+world, blot out culture, kill morality and destroy all the people. Its
+weapon is revolution. During every revolution the previously experienced
+intellect-creator will be replaced by the new rough force of the
+destroyer. He will place and hold in the first rank the lower instincts
+and desires. Man will be farther removed from the divine and the
+spiritual. The Great War proved that humanity must progress upward
+toward higher ideals; but then appeared that Curse which was seen and
+felt by Christ, the Apostle John, Buddha, the first Christian martyrs,
+Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Goethe and Dostoyevsky. It appeared, turned
+back the wheel of progress and blocked our road to the Divinity.
+Revolution is an infectious disease and Europe making the treaty with
+Moscow deceived itself and the other parts of the world. The Great
+Spirit put at the threshold of our lives Karma, who knows neither anger
+nor pardon. He will reckon the account, whose total will be famine,
+destruction, the death of culture, of glory, of honor and of spirit,
+the death of states and the death of peoples. I see already this horror,
+this dark, mad destruction of humanity."
+
+The door of the yurta suddenly swung open and an adjutant snapped into a
+position of attention and salute.
+
+"Why do you enter a room by force?" the General exclaimed in anger.
+
+"Your Excellency, our outpost on the border has caught a Bolshevik
+reconnaissance party and brought them here."
+
+The Baron arose. His eyes sparkled and his face contracted with spasms.
+
+"Bring them in front of my yurta!" he ordered.
+
+All was forgotten--the inspired speech, the penetrating voice--all were
+sunk in the austere order of the severe commander. The Baron put on his
+cap, caught up the bamboo tashur which he always carried with him and
+rushed from the yurta. I followed him out. There in front of the yurta
+stood six Red soldiers surrounded by the Cossacks.
+
+The Baron stopped and glared sharply at them for several minutes. In his
+face one could see the strong play of his thoughts. Afterwards he turned
+away from them, sat down on the doorstep of the Chinese house and for a
+long time was buried in thought. Then he rose, walked over to them and,
+with an evident show of decisiveness in his movements, touched all the
+prisoners on the shoulder with his tashur and said: "You to the left and
+you to the right!" as he divided the squad into two sections, four on
+the right and two on the left.
+
+"Search those two! They must be commissars!" commanded the Baron and,
+turning to the other four, asked: "Are you peasants mobilized by the
+Bolsheviki?"
+
+"Just so, Your Excellency!" cried the frightened soldiers.
+
+"Go to the Commandant and tell him that I have ordered you to be
+enlisted in my troops!"
+
+On the two to the left they found passports of Commissars of the
+Communist Political Department. The General knitted his brows and slowly
+pronounced the following:
+
+"Beat them to death with sticks!"
+
+He turned and entered the yurta. After this our conversation did not
+flow readily and so I left the Baron to himself.
+
+After dinner in the Russian firm where I was staying some of Ungern's
+officers came in. We were chatting animatedly when suddenly we heard the
+horn of an automobile, which instantly threw the officers into silence.
+
+"The General is passing somewhere near," one of them remarked in a
+strangely altered voice.
+
+Our interrupted conversation was soon resumed but not for long. The
+clerk of the firm came running into the room and exclaimed: "The Baron!"
+
+He entered the door but stopped on the threshold. The lamps had not yet
+been lighted and it was getting dark inside, but the Baron instantly
+recognized us all, approached and kissed the hand of the hostess,
+greeted everyone very cordially and, accepting the cup of tea offered
+him, drew up to the table to drink. Soon he spoke:
+
+"I want to steal your guest," he said to the hostess and then, turning
+to me, asked: "Do you want to go for a motor ride? I shall show you the
+city and the environs."
+
+Donning my coat, I followed my established custom and slipped my
+revolver into it, at which the Baron laughed.
+
+"Leave that trash behind! Here you are in safety. Besides you must
+remember the prediction of Narabanchi Hutuktu that Fortune will ever be
+with you."
+
+"All right," I answered, also with a laugh. "I remember very well this
+prediction. Only I do not know what the Hutuktu thinks 'Fortune' means
+for me. Maybe it is death like the rest after my hard, long trip, and I
+must confess that I prefer to travel farther and am not ready to die."
+
+We went out to the gate where the big Fiat stood with its intruding
+great lights. The chauffeur officer sat at the wheel like a statue and
+remained at salute all the time we were entering and seating ourselves.
+
+"To the wireless station!" commanded the Baron.
+
+We veritably leapt forward. The city swarmed, as earlier, with the
+Oriental throng, but its appearance now was even more strange and
+miraculous. In among the noisy crowd Mongol, Buriat and Tibetan riders
+threaded swiftly; caravans of camels solemnly raised their heads as we
+passed; the wooden wheels of the Mongol carts screamed in pain; and all
+was illumined by splendid great arc lights from the electric station
+which Baron Ungern had ordered erected immediately after the capture
+of Urga, together with a telephone system and wireless station. He also
+ordered his men to clean and disinfect the city which had probably not
+felt the broom since the days of Jenghiz Khan. He arranged an auto-bus
+traffic between different parts of the city; built bridges over the Tola
+and Orkhon; published a newspaper; arranged a veterinary laboratory
+and hospitals; re-opened the schools; protected commerce, mercilessly
+hanging Russian and Mongolian soldiers for pillaging Chinese firms.
+
+In one of these cases his Commandant arrested two Cossacks and a Mongol
+soldier who had stolen brandy from one of the Chinese shops and brought
+them before him. He immediately bundled them all into his car, drove off
+to the shop, delivered the brandy back to the proprietor and as promptly
+ordered the Mongol to hang one of the Russians to the big gate of the
+compound. With this one swung he commanded: "Now hang the other!" and
+this had only just been accomplished when he turned to the Commandant
+and ordered him to hang the Mongol beside the other two. That seemed
+expeditious and just enough until the Chinese proprietor came in dire
+distress to the Baron and plead with him:
+
+"General Baron! General Baron! Please take those men down from my
+gateway, for no one will enter my shop!"
+
+After the commercial quarter was flashed past our eyes, we entered the
+Russian settlement across a small river. Several Russian soldiers and
+four very spruce-looking Mongolian women stood on the bridge as we
+passed. The soldiers snapped to salute like immobile statues and fixed
+their eyes on the severe face of their Commander. The women first began
+to run and shift about and then, infected by the discipline and order
+of events, swung their hands up to salute and stood as immobile as their
+northern swains. The Baron looked at me and laughed:
+
+"You see the discipline! Even the Mongolian women salute me."
+
+Soon we were out on the plain with the car going like an arrow, with the
+wind whistling and tossing the folds of our coats and caps. But Baron
+Ungern, sitting with closed eyes, repeated: "Faster! Faster!" For a long
+time we were both silent.
+
+"And yesterday I beat my adjutant for rushing into my yurta and
+interrupting my story," he said.
+
+"You can finish it now," I answered.
+
+"And are you not bored by it? Well, there isn't much left and this
+happens to be the most interesting. I was telling you that I wanted
+to found an order of military Buddhists in Russia. For what? For
+the protection of the processes of evolution of humanity and for the
+struggle against revolution, because I am certain that evolution leads
+to the Divinity and revolution to bestiality. But I worked in Russia!
+In Russia, where the peasants are rough, untutored, wild and constantly
+angry, hating everybody and everything without understanding why. They
+are suspicious and materialistic, having no sacred ideals. Russian
+intelligents live among imaginary ideals without realities. They have a
+strong capacity for criticising everything but they lack creative power.
+Also they have no will power, only the capacity for talking and talking.
+With the peasants, they cannot like anything or anybody. Their love and
+feelings are imaginary. Their thoughts and sentiments pass without trace
+like futile words. My companions, therefore, soon began to violate the
+regulations of the Order. Then I introduced the condition of celibacy,
+the entire negation of woman, of the comforts of life, of superfluities,
+according to the teachings of the Yellow Faith; and, in order that the
+Russian might be able to live down his physical nature, I introduced the
+limitless use of alcohol, hasheesh and opium. Now for alcohol I hang
+my officers and soldiers; then we drank to the 'white fever,' delirium
+tremens. I could not organize the Order but I gathered round me
+and developed three hundred men wholly bold and entirely ferocious.
+Afterward they were heroes in the war with Germany and later in the
+fight against the Bolsheviki, but now only a few remain."
+
+"The wireless, Excellency!" reported the chauffeur.
+
+"Turn in there!" ordered the General.
+
+On the top of a flat hill stood the big, powerful radio station which
+had been partially destroyed by the retreating Chinese but reconstructed
+by the engineers of Baron Ungern. The General perused the telegrams and
+handed them to me. They were from Moscow, Chita, Vladivostok and Peking.
+On a separate yellow sheet were the code messages, which the Baron
+slipped into his pocket as he said to me:
+
+"They are from my agents, who are stationed in Chita, Irkutsk, Harbin
+and Vladivostok. They are all Jews, very skilled and very bold men,
+friends of mine all. I have also one Jewish officer, Vulfovitch, who
+commands my right flank. He is as ferocious as Satan but clever and
+brave. . . . Now we shall fly into space."
+
+Once more we rushed away, sinking into the darkness of night. It was a
+wild ride. The car bounded over small stones and ditches, even taking
+narrow streamlets, as the skilled chauffeur only seemed to guide it
+round the larger rocks. On the plain, as we sped by, I noticed several
+times small bright flashes of fire which lasted but for a second and
+then were extinguished.
+
+"The eyes of wolves," smiled my companion. "We have fed them to satiety
+from the flesh of ourselves and our enemies!" he quietly interpolated,
+as he turned to continue his confession of faith.
+
+"During the War we saw the gradual corruption of the Russian army and
+foresaw the treachery of Russia to the Allies as well as the approaching
+danger of revolution. To counteract this latter a plan was formed to
+join together all the Mongolian peoples which had not forgotten their
+ancient faiths and customs into one Asiatic State, consisting of
+autonomous tribal units, under the moral and legislative leadership of
+China, the country of loftiest and most ancient culture. Into this State
+must come the Chinese, Mongols, Tibetans, Afghans, the Mongol tribes of
+Turkestan, Tartars, Buriats, Kirghiz and Kalmucks. This State must
+be strong, physically and morally, and must erect a barrier against
+revolution and carefully preserve its own spirit, philosophy and
+individual policy. If humanity, mad and corrupted, continues to threaten
+the Divine Spirit in mankind, to spread blood and to obstruct moral
+development, the Asiatic State must terminate this movement decisively
+and establish a permanent, firm peace. This propaganda even during the
+War made splendid progress among the Turkomans, Kirghiz, Buriats and
+Mongols. . . . 'Stop!' suddenly shouted the Baron."
+
+The car pulled up with a jerk. The General jumped out and called me to
+follow. We started walking over the prairie and the Baron kept bending
+down all the time as though he were looking for something on the ground.
+
+"Ah!" he murmured at last, "He has gone away. . . ."
+
+I looked at him in amazement.
+
+"A rich Mongol formerly had his yurta here. He was the outfitter for the
+Russian merchant, Noskoff. Noskoff was a ferocious man as shown by the
+name the Mongols gave him--'Satan.' He used to have his Mongol debtors
+beaten or imprisoned through the instrumentality of the Chinese
+authorities. He ruined this Mongol, who lost everything and escaped to
+a place thirty miles away; but Noskoff found him there, took all that he
+had left of cattle and horses and left the Mongol and his family to die
+of hunger. When I captured Urga, this Mongol appeared and brought with
+him thirty other Mongol families similarly ruined by Noskoff. They
+demanded his death. . . . So I hung 'Satan' . . ."
+
+Anew the motor car was rushing along, sweeping a great circle on the
+prairie, and anew Baron Ungern with his sharp, nervous voice carried his
+thoughts round the whole circumference of Asian life.
+
+"Russia turned traitor to France, England and America, signed the
+Brest-Litovsk Treaty and ushered in a reign of chaos. We then decided
+to mobilize Asia against Germany. Our envoys penetrated Mongolia, Tibet,
+Turkestan and China. At this time the Bolsheviki began to kill all the
+Russian officers and we were forced to open civil war against them,
+giving up our Pan-Asiatic plans; but we hope later to awake all Asia
+and with their help to bring peace and God back to earth. I want to feel
+that I have helped this idea by the liberation of Mongolia."
+
+He became silent and thought for a moment.
+
+"But some of my associates in the movement do not like me because of
+my atrocities and severity," he remarked in a sad voice. "They cannot
+understand as yet that we are not fighting a political party but a sect
+of murderers of all contemporary spiritual culture. Why do the Italians
+execute the 'Black Hand' gang? Why are the Americans electrocuting
+anarchistic bomb throwers? and I am not allowed to rid the world of
+those who would kill the soul of the people? I, a Teuton, descendant of
+crusaders and privateers, I recognize only death for murderers! . . .
+Return!" he commanded the chauffeur.
+
+An hour and a half later we saw the electric lights of Urga.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII
+
+THE CAMP OF MARTYRS
+
+
+Near the entrance to the town, a motor car stood before a small house.
+
+"What does that mean?" exclaimed the Baron. "Go over there!"
+
+Our car drew up beside the other. The house door opened sharply, several
+officers rushed out and tried to hide.
+
+"Stand!" commanded the General. "Go back inside." They obeyed and he
+entered after them, leaning on his tashur. As the door remained open, I
+could see and hear everything.
+
+"Woe to them!" whispered the chauffeur. "Our officers knew that the
+Baron had gone out of the town with me, which means always a long
+journey, and must have decided to have a good time. He will order them
+beaten to death with sticks."
+
+I could see the end of the table covered with bottles and tinned things.
+At the side two young women were seated, who sprang up at the
+appearance of the General. I could hear the hoarse voice of Baron Ungern
+pronouncing sharp, short, stern phrases.
+
+"Your native land is perishing. . . . The shame of it is upon all you
+Russians . . . and you cannot understand it . . . nor feel it. . . . You
+need wine and women. . . . Scoundrels! Brutes! . . . One hundred fifty
+tashur for every man of you."
+
+The voice fell to a whisper.
+
+"And you, Mesdames, do you not realize the ruin of your people? No? For
+you it is of no moment. And have you no feeling for your husbands at
+the front who may even now be killed? You are not women. . . . I honor
+woman, who feels more deeply and strongly than man; but you are not
+women! . . . Listen to me, Mesdames. Once more and I will hang
+you. . . ."
+
+He came back to the car and himself sounded the horn several times.
+Immediately Mongol horsemen galloped up.
+
+"Take these men to the Commandant. I will send my orders later."
+
+On the way to the Baron's yurta we were silent. He was excited and
+breathed heavily, lighting cigarette after cigarette and throwing them
+aside after but a single puff or two.
+
+"Take supper with me," he proposed.
+
+He also invited his Chief of Staff, a very retiring, oppressed but
+splendidly educated man. The servants spread a Chinese hot course for
+us followed by cold meat and fruit compote from California with
+the inevitable tea. We ate with chopsticks. The Baron was greatly
+distraught.
+
+Very cautiously I began speaking of the offending officers and tried to
+justify their actions by the extremely trying circumstances under which
+they were living.
+
+"They are rotten through and through, demoralized, sunk into the
+depths," murmured the General.
+
+The Chief of Staff helped me out and at last the Baron directed him to
+telephone the Commandant to release these gentlemen.
+
+The following day I spent with my friends, walking a great deal about
+the streets and watching their busy life. The great energy of the Baron
+demanded constant nervous activity from himself and every one round him.
+He was everywhere, seeing everything but never, interfering with the
+work of his subordinate administrators. Every one was at work.
+
+In the evening I was invited by the Chief of Staff to his quarters,
+where I met many intelligent officers. I related again the story of my
+trip and we were all chatting along animatedly when suddenly Colonel
+Sepailoff entered, singing to himself. All the others at once became
+silent and one by one under various pretexts they slipped out. He handed
+our host some papers and, turning to us, said:
+
+"I shall send you for supper a splendid fish pie and some hot tomato
+soup."
+
+As he left, my host clasped his head in desperation and said:
+
+"With such scum of the earth are we now forced after this revolution to
+work!"
+
+A few minutes later a soldier from Sepailoff brought us a tureen full
+of soup and the fish pie. As the soldier bent over the table to set the
+dishes down, the Chief motioned me with his eyes and slipped to me the
+words: "Notice his face."
+
+When the man went out, my host sat attentively listening until the
+sounds of the man's steps ceased.
+
+"He is Sepailoff's executioner who hangs and strangles the unfortunate
+condemned ones."
+
+Then, to my amazement, he began to pour out the soup on the ground
+beside the brazier and, going out of the yurta, threw the pie over the
+fence.
+
+"It is Sepailoff's feast and, though it may be very tasty, it may
+also be poison. In Sepailoff's house it is dangerous to eat or drink
+anything."
+
+Distinctly oppressed by these doings, I returned to my house. My host
+was not yet asleep and met me with a frightened look. My friends were
+also there.
+
+"God be thanked!" they all exclaimed. "Has nothing happened to you?"
+
+"What is the matter?" I asked.
+
+"You see," began the host, "after your departure a soldier came from
+Sepailoff and took your luggage, saying that you had sent him for
+it; but we knew what it meant--that they would first search it and
+afterwards. . . ."
+
+I at once understood the danger. Sepailoff could place anything he
+wanted in my luggage and afterwards accuse me. My old friend, the
+agronome, and I started at once for Sepailoff's, where I left him at the
+door while I went in and was met by the same soldier who had brought the
+supper to us. Sepailoff received me immediately. In answer to my protest
+he said that it was a mistake and, asking me to wait for a moment, went
+out. I waited five, ten, fifteen minutes but nobody came. I knocked on
+the door but no one answered me. Then I decided to go to Baron Ungern
+and started for the exit. The door was locked. Then I tried the other
+door and found that also locked. I had been trapped! I wanted at once to
+whistle to my friend but just then noticed a telephone on the wall
+and called up Baron Ungern. In a few minutes he appeared together with
+Sepailoff.
+
+"What is this?" he asked Sepailoff in a severe, threatening voice; and,
+without waiting for an answer, struck him a blow with his tashur that
+sent him to the floor.
+
+We went out and the General ordered my luggage produced. Then he brought
+me to his own yurta.
+
+"Live here, now," he said. "I am very glad of this accident," he
+remarked with a smile, "for now I can say all that I want to."
+
+This drew from me the question:
+
+"May I describe all that I have heard and seen here?"
+
+He thought a moment before replying: "Give me your notebook."
+
+I handed him the album with my sketches of the trip and he wrote
+therein: "After my death, Baron Ungern."
+
+"But I am older than you and I shall die before you," I remarked.
+
+He shut his eyes, bowed his head and whispered:
+
+"Oh, no! One hundred thirty days yet and it is finished; then . . .
+Nirvana! How wearied I am with sorrow, woe and hate!"
+
+We were silent for a long time. I felt that I had now a mortal enemy
+in Colonel Sepailoff and that I should get out of Urga at the earliest
+possible moment. It was two o'clock at night. Suddenly Baron Ungern
+stood up.
+
+"Let us go to the great, good Buddha," he said with a countenance held
+in deep thought and with eyes aflame, his whole face contracted by a
+mournful, bitter smile. He ordered the car brought.
+
+Thus lived this camp of martyrs, refugees pursued by events to their
+tryst with Death, driven on by the hate and contempt of this offspring
+of Teutons and privateers! And he, martyring them, knew neither day nor
+night of peace. Fired by impelling, poisonous thoughts, he tormented
+himself with the pains of a Titan, knowing that every day in this
+shortening chain of one hundred thirty links brought him nearer to the
+precipice called "Death."
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII
+
+BEFORE THE FACE OF BUDDHA
+
+
+As we came to the monastery we left the automobile and dipped into the
+labyrinth of narrow alleyways until at last we were before the greatest
+temple of Urga with the Tibetan walls and windows and its pretentious
+Chinese roof. A single lantern burned at the entrance. The heavy gate
+with the bronze and iron trimmings was shut. When the General struck the
+big brass gong hanging by the gate, frightened monks began running up
+from all directions and, seeing the "General Baron," fell to the earth
+in fear of raising their heads.
+
+"Get up," said the Baron, "and let us into the Temple!"
+
+The inside was like that of all Lama temples, the same multi-colored
+flags with the prayers, symbolic signs and the images of holy saints;
+the big bands of silk cloth hanging from the ceiling; the images of the
+gods and goddesses. On both sides of the approach to the altar were the
+low red benches for the Lamas and choir. On the altar small lamps threw
+their rays on the gold and silver vessels and candlesticks. Behind it
+hung a heavy yellow silk curtain with Tibetan inscriptions. The Lamas
+drew the curtain aside. Out of the dim light from the flickering lamps
+gradually appeared the great gilded statue of Buddha seated in the
+Golden Lotus. The face of the god was indifferent and calm with only a
+soft gleam of light animating it. On either side he was guarded by many
+thousands of lesser Buddhas brought by the faithful as offerings in
+prayer. The Baron struck the gong to attract Great Buddha's attention to
+his prayer and threw a handful of coins into the large bronze bowl. And
+then this scion of crusaders who had read all the philosophers of the
+West, closed his eyes, placed his hands together before his face and
+prayed. I noticed a black rosary on his left wrist. He prayed about ten
+minutes. Afterwards he led me to the other end of the monastery and,
+during our passage, said to me:
+
+"I do not like this temple. It is new, erected by the Lamas when the
+Living Buddha became blind. I do not find on the face of the golden
+Buddha either tears, hopes, distress or thanks of the people. They have
+not yet had time to leave these traces on the face of the god. We shall
+go now to the old Shrine of Prophecies."
+
+This was a small building, blackened with age and resembling a tower
+with a plain round roof. The doors stood open. At both sides of the door
+were prayer wheels ready to be spun; over it a slab of copper with the
+signs of the zodiac. Inside two monks, who were intoning the sacred
+sutras, did not lift their eyes as we entered. The General approached
+them and said:
+
+"Cast the dice for the number of my days!"
+
+The priests brought two bowls with many dice therein and rolled them
+out on their low table. The Baron looked and reckoned with them the sum
+before he spoke:
+
+"One hundred thirty! Again one hundred thirty!"
+
+Approaching the altar carrying an ancient stone statue of Buddha brought
+all the way from India, he again prayed. As day dawned, we wandered out
+through the monastery, visited all the temples and shrines, the museum
+of the medical school, the astrological tower and then the court where
+the Bandi and young Lamas have their daily morning wrestling exercises.
+In other places the Lamas were practising with the bow and arrow. Some
+of the higher Lamas feasted us with hot mutton, tea and wild onions.
+After we returned to the yurta I tried to sleep but in vain. Too many
+different questions were troubling me. "Where am I? In what epoch am
+I living?" I knew not but I dimly felt the unseen touch of some great
+idea, some enormous plan, some indescribable human woe.
+
+After our noon meal the General said he wanted to introduce me to the
+Living Buddha. It is so difficult to secure audience with the Living
+Buddha that I was very glad to have this opportunity offered me.
+Our auto soon drew up at the gate of the red and white striped wall
+surrounding the palace of the god. Two hundred Lamas in yellow and red
+robes rushed to greet the arriving "Chiang Chun," General, with the
+low-toned, respectful whisper "Khan! God of War!" As a regiment of
+formal ushers they led us to a spacious great hall softened by its
+semi-darkness. Heavy carved doors opened to the interior parts of the
+palace. In the depths of the hall stood a dais with the throne covered
+with yellow silk cushions. The back of the throne was red inside a
+gold framing; at either side stood yellow silk screens set in highly
+ornamented frames of black Chinese wood; while against the walls at
+either side of the throne stood glass cases filled with varied objects
+from China, Japan, India and Russia. I noticed also among them a pair of
+exquisite Marquis and Marquises in the fine porcelain of Sevres. Before
+the throne stood a long, low table at which eight noble Mongols were
+seated, their chairman, a highly esteemed old man with a clever,
+energetic face and with large penetrating eyes. His appearance reminded
+me of the authentic wooden images of the Buddhist holymen with eyes
+of precious stones which I saw at the Tokyo Imperial Museum in the
+department devoted to Buddhism, where the Japanese show the ancient
+statues of Amida, Daunichi-Buddha, the Goddess Kwannon and the jolly old
+Hotei.
+
+This man was the Hutuktu Jahantsi, Chairman of the Mongolian Council of
+Ministers, and honored and revered far beyond the bournes of Mongolia.
+The others were the Ministers--Khans and the Highest Princes of Khalkha.
+Jahantsi Hutuktu invited Baron Ungern to the place at his side, while
+they brought in a European chair for me. Baron Ungern announced to the
+Council of Ministers through an interpreter that he would leave Mongolia
+in a few days and urged them to protect the freedom won for the lands
+inhabited by the successors of Jenghiz Khan, whose soul still lives
+and calls upon the Mongols to become anew a powerful people and reunite
+again into one great Mid-Asiatic State all the Asian kingdoms he had
+ruled.
+
+The General rose and all the others followed him. He took leave of each
+one separately and sternly. Only before Jahantsi Lama he bent low while
+the Hutuktu placed his hands on the Baron's head and blessed him. From
+the Council Chamber we passed at once to the Russian style house which
+is the personal dwelling of the Living Buddha. The house was wholly
+surrounded by a crowd of red and yellow Lamas; servants, councilors of
+Bogdo, officials, fortune tellers, doctors and favorites. From the front
+entrance stretched a long red rope whose outer end was thrown over the
+wall beside the gate. Crowds of pilgrims crawling up on their knees
+touch this end of the rope outside the gate and hand the monk a silken
+hatyk or a bit of silver. This touching of the rope whose inner end is
+in the hand of the Bogdo establishes direct communication with the holy,
+incarnated Living God. A current of blessing is supposed to flow through
+this cable of camel's wool and horse hair. Any Mongol who has touched
+the mystic rope receives and wears about his neck a red band as the sign
+of his accomplished pilgrimage.
+
+I had heard very much about the Bogdo Khan before this opportunity
+to see him. I had heard of his love of alcohol, which had brought on
+blindness, about his leaning toward exterior western culture and about
+his wife drinking deep with him and receiving in his name numerous
+delegations and envoys.
+
+In the room which the Bogdo used as his private study, where two Lama
+secretaries watched day and night over the chest that contained his
+great seals, there was the severest simplicity. On a low, plain, Chinese
+lacquered table lay his writing implements, a case of seals given by
+the Chinese Government and by the Dalai Lama and wrapped in a cloth of
+yellow silk. Nearby was a low easy chair, a bronze brazier with an
+iron stovepipe leading up from it; on the walls were the signs of the
+swastika, Tibetan and Mongolian inscriptions; behind the easy chair a
+small altar with a golden statue of Buddha before which two tallow lamps
+were burning; the floor was covered with a thick yellow carpet.
+
+When we entered, only the two Lama secretaries were there, for the
+Living Buddha was in the small private shrine in an adjoining chamber,
+where no one is allowed to enter save the Bogdo Khan himself and one
+Lama, Kanpo-Gelong, who cares for the temple arrangements and assists
+the Living Buddha during his prayers of solitude. The secretary told
+us that the Bogdo had been greatly excited this morning. At noon he had
+entered his shrine. For a long time the voice of the head of the Yellow
+Faith was heard in earnest prayer and after his another unknown voice
+came clearly forth. In the shrine had taken place a conversation between
+the Buddha on earth and the Buddha of heaven--thus the Lamas phrased it
+to us.
+
+"Let us wait a little," the Baron proposed. "Perhaps he will soon come
+out."
+
+As we waited the General began telling me about Jahantsi Lama, saying
+that, when Jahantsi is calm, he is an ordinary man but, when he is
+disturbed and thinks very deeply, a nimbus appears about his head.
+
+After half an hour the Lama secretaries suddenly showed signs of deep
+fear and began listening closely by the entrance to the shrine. Shortly
+they fell on their faces on the ground. The door slowly opened and there
+entered the Emperor of Mongolia, the Living Buddha, His Holiness Bogdo
+Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu, Khan of Outer Mongolia. He was a stout old man
+with a heavy shaven face resembling those of the Cardinals of Rome. He
+was dressed in the yellow silken Mongolian coat with a black binding.
+The eyes of the blind man stood widely open. Fear and amazement were
+pictured in them. He lowered himself heavily into the easy chair and
+whispered: "Write!"
+
+A secretary immediately took paper and a Chinese pen as the Bogdo began
+to dictate his vision, very complicated and far from clear. He finished
+with the following words:
+
+"This I, Bogdo Hutuktu Khan, saw, speaking with the great wise Buddha,
+surrounded by the good and evil spirits. Wise Lamas, Hutuktus, Kanpos,
+Marambas and Holy Gheghens, give the answer to my vision!"
+
+As he finished, he wiped the perspiration from his head and asked who
+were present.
+
+"Khan Chiang Chin Baron Ungern and a stranger," one of the secretaries
+answered on his knees.
+
+The General presented me to the Bogdo, who bowed his head as a sign of
+greeting. They began speaking together in low tones. Through the open
+door I saw a part of the shrine. I made out a big table with a heap of
+books on it, some open and others lying on the floor below; a brazier
+with the red charcoal in it; a basket containing the shoulder blades and
+entrails of sheep for telling fortunes. Soon the Baron rose and bowed
+before the Bogdo. The Tibetan placed his hands on the Baron's head and
+whispered a prayer. Then he took from his own neck a heavy ikon and hung
+it around that of the Baron.
+
+"You will not die but you will be incarnated in the highest form of
+being. Remember that, Incarnated God of War, Khan of grateful Mongolia!"
+I understood that the Living Buddha blessed the "Bloody General" before
+death.
+
+
+During the next two days I had the opportunity to visit the Living
+Buddha three times together with a friend of the Bogdo, the Buriat
+Prince Djam Bolon. I shall describe these visits in Part IV.
+
+Baron Ungern organized the trip for me and my party to the shore of the
+Pacific. We were to go on camels to northern Manchuria, because there
+it was easy to avoid cavilling with the Chinese authorities so badly
+oriented in the international relationship with Poland. Having sent a
+letter from Uliassutai to the French Legation at Peking and bearing with
+me a letter from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, expressing thanks
+for the saving of Uliassutai from a pogrom, I intended to make for the
+nearest station on the Chinese Eastern Railway and from there proceed to
+Peking. The Danish merchant E. V. Olufsen was to have traveled out with
+me and also a learned Lama Turgut, who was headed for China.
+
+Never shall I forget the night of May 19th to 20th of 1921! After dinner
+Baron Ungern proposed that we go to the yurta of Djam Bolon, whose
+acquaintance I had made on the first day after my arrival in Urga.
+His yurta was placed on a raised wooden platform in a compound located
+behind the Russian settlement. Two Buriat officers met us and took us
+in. Djam Bolon was a man of middle age, tall and thin with an unusually
+long face. Before the Great War he had been a simple shepherd but had
+fought together with Baron Ungern on the German front and afterwards
+against the Bolsheviki. He was a Grand Duke of the Buriats, the
+successor of former Buriat kings who had been dethroned by the Russian
+Government after their attempt to establish the Independence of the
+Buriat people. The servants brought us dishes with nuts, raisins, dates
+and cheese and served us tea.
+
+"This is the last night, Djam Bolon!" said Baron Ungern. "You promised
+me . . ."
+
+"I remember," answered the Buriat, "all is ready."
+
+For a long time I listened to their reminiscences about former battles
+and friends who had been lost. The clock pointed to midnight when Djam
+Bolon got up and went out of the yurta.
+
+"I want to have my fortune told once more," said Baron Ungern, as though
+he were justifying himself. "For the good of our cause it is too early
+for me to die. . . ."
+
+Djam Bolon came back with a little woman of middle years, who squatted
+down eastern style before the brazier, bowed low and began to stare at
+Baron Ungern. Her face was whiter, narrower and thinner than that of a
+Mongol woman. Her eyes were black and sharp. Her dress resembled that of
+a gypsy woman. Afterwards I learned that she was a famous fortune teller
+and prophet among the Buriats, the daughter of a gypsy woman and a
+Buriat. She drew a small bag very slowly from her girdle, took from it
+some small bird bones and a handful of dry grass. She began whispering
+at intervals unintelligible words, as she threw occasional handfuls of
+the grass into the fire, which gradually filled the tent with a soft
+fragrance. I felt a distinct palpitation of my heart and a swimming in
+my head. After the fortune teller had burned all her grass, she placed
+the bird bones on the charcoal and turned them over again and again with
+a small pair of bronze pincers. As the bones blackened, she began to
+examine them and then suddenly her face took on an expression of fear
+and pain. She nervously tore off the kerchief which bound her head and,
+contracted with convulsions, began snapping out short, sharp phrases.
+
+"I see . . . I see the God of War. . . . His life runs out . . .
+horribly. . . . After it a shadow . . . black like the night. . . .
+Shadow. . . . One hundred thirty steps remain. . . . Beyond darkness.
+. . . Nothing . . . I see nothing. . . . The God of War has
+disappeared. . . ."
+
+Baron Ungern dropped his head. The woman fell over on her back with her
+arms stretched out. She had fainted, but it seemed to me that I noticed
+once a bright pupil of one of her eyes showing from under the closed
+lashes. Two Buriats carried out the lifeless form, after which a long
+silence reigned in the yurta of the Buriat Prince. Baron Ungern finally
+got up and began to walk around the brazier, whispering to himself.
+Afterwards he stopped and began speaking rapidly:
+
+"I shall die! I shall die! . . . but no matter, no matter. . . . The
+cause has been launched and will not die. . . . I know the roads this
+cause will travel. The tribes of Jenghiz Khan's successors are awakened.
+Nobody shall extinguish the fire in the heart of the Mongols! In Asia
+there will be a great State from the Pacific and Indian Oceans to the
+shore of the Volga. The wise religion of Buddha shall run to the north
+and the west. It will be the victory of the spirit. A conqueror and
+leader will appear stronger and more stalwart than Jenghiz Khan and
+Ugadai. He will be more clever and more merciful than Sultan Baber
+and he will keep power in his hands until the happy day when, from his
+subterranean capital, shall emerge the King of the World. Why, why shall
+I not be in the first ranks of the warriors of Buddhism? Why has Karma
+decided so? But so it must be! And Russia must first wash herself from
+the insult of revolution, purifying herself with blood and death; and
+all people accepting Communism must perish with their families in order
+that all their offspring may be rooted out!"
+
+The Baron raised his hand above his head and shook it, as though he were
+giving his orders and bequests to some invisible person.
+
+Day was dawning.
+
+"My time has come!" said the General. "In a little while I shall leave
+Urga."
+
+He quickly and firmly shook hands with us and said:
+
+"Good-bye for all time! I shall die a horrible death but the world has
+never seen such a terror and such a sea of blood as it shall now
+see. . . ."
+
+The door of the yurta slammed shut and he was gone. I never saw him
+again.
+
+"I must go also, for I am likewise leaving Urga today."
+
+"I know it," answered the Prince, "the Baron has left you with me for
+some purpose. I will give you a fourth companion, the Mongol Minister of
+War. You will accompany him to your yurta. It is necessary for you. . .
+."
+
+Djam Bolon pronounced this last with an accent on every word. I did
+not question him about it, as I was accustomed to the mystery of this
+country of the mysteries of good and evil spirits.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX
+
+"THE MAN WITH A HEAD LIKE A SADDLE"
+
+
+After drinking tea at Djam Bolon's yurta I rode back to my quarters and
+packed my few belongings. The Lama Turgut was already there.
+
+"The Minister of War will travel with us," he whispered. "It is
+necessary."
+
+"All right," I answered, and rode off to Olufsen to summon him. But
+Olufsen unexpectedly announced that he was forced to spend some few
+days more in Urga--a fatal decision for him, for a month later he was
+reported killed by Sepailoff who remained as Commandant of the city
+after Baron Ungern's departure. The War Minister, a stout, young Mongol,
+joined our caravan. When we had gone about six miles from the city, we
+saw an automobile coming up behind us. The Lama shrunk up inside his
+coat and looked at me with fear. I felt the now familiar atmosphere of
+danger and so opened my holster and threw over the safety catch of
+my revolver. Soon the motor stopped alongside our caravan. In it sat
+Sepailoff with a smiling face and beside him his two executioners,
+Chestiakoff and Jdanoff. Sepailoff greeted us very warmly and asked:
+
+"You are changing your horses in Khazahuduk? Does the road cross that
+pass ahead? I don't know the way and must overtake an envoy who went
+there."
+
+The Minister of War answered that we would be in Khazahuduk that evening
+and gave Sepailoff directions as to the road. The motor rushed away and,
+when it had topped the pass, he ordered one of the Mongols to gallop
+forward to see whether it had not stopped somewhere near the other side.
+The Mongol whipped his steed and sped away. We followed slowly.
+
+"What is the matter?" I asked. "Please explain!"
+
+The Minister told me that Djam Bolon yesterday received information
+that Sepailoff planned to overtake me on the way and kill me. Sepailoff
+suspected that I had stirred up the Baron against him. Djam Bolon
+reported the matter to the Baron, who organized this column for my
+safety. The returning Mongol reported that the motor car had gone on out
+of sight.
+
+"Now," said the Minister, "we shall take quite another route so that the
+Colonel will wait in vain for us at Khazahuduk."
+
+We turned north at Undur Dobo and at night were in the camp of a local
+prince. Here we took leave of our Minister, received splendid fresh
+horses and quickly continued our trip to the east, leaving behind us
+"the man with the head like a saddle" against whom I had been warned by
+the old fortune teller in the vicinity of Van Kure.
+
+After twelve days without further adventures we reached the first
+railway station on the Chinese Eastern Railway, from where I traveled in
+unbelievable luxury to Peking.
+
+* * * * *
+
+Surrounded by the comforts and conveniences of the splendid hotel
+at Peking, while shedding all the attributes of traveler, hunter and
+warrior, I could not, however, throw off the spell of those nine days
+spent in Urga, where I had daily met Baron Ungern, "Incarnated God of
+War." The newspapers carrying accounts of the bloody march of the Baron
+through Transbaikalia brought the pictures ever fresh to my mind. Even
+now, although more than seven months have elapsed, I cannot forget those
+nights of madness, inspiration and hate.
+
+The predictions are fulfilled. Approximately one hundred thirty days
+afterwards Baron Ungern was captured by the Bolsheviki through the
+treachery of his officers and, it is reported, was executed at the end
+of September.
+
+Baron R. F. Ungern von Sternberg. . . . Like a bloody storm of avenging
+Karma he spread over Central Asia. What did he leave behind him? The
+severe order to his soldiers closing with the words of the Revelations
+of St. John:
+
+"Let no one check the revenge against the corrupter and slayer of the
+soul of the Russian people. Revolution must be eradicated from the
+World. Against it the Revelations of St. John have warned us thus: 'And
+the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and
+precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of
+abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication, and upon her
+forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF
+THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman
+drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs
+of Jesus.'"
+
+It is a human document, a document of Russian and, perhaps, of world
+tragedy.
+
+But there remained another and more important trace. In the Mongol
+yurtas and at the fires of Buriat, Mongol, Djungar, Kirkhiz, Kalmuck and
+Tibetan shepherds still speak the legend born of this son of crusaders
+and privateers:
+
+"From the north a white warrior came and called on the Mongols to break
+their chains of slavery, which fell upon our freed soil. This white
+warrior was the Incarnated Jenghiz Khan and he predicted the coming of
+the greatest of all Mongols who will spread the fair faith of Buddha and
+the glory and power of the offspring of Jenghiz, Ugadai and Kublai Khan.
+So it shall be!"
+
+Asia is awakened and her sons utter bold words.
+
+It were well for the peace of the world if they go forth as disciples of
+the wise creators, Ugadai and Sultan Baber, rather than under the spell
+of the "bad demons" of the destructive Tamerlane.
+
+
+
+
+Part IV
+
+THE LIVING BUDDHA
+
+
+CHAPTER XL
+
+IN THE BLISSFUL GARDEN OF A THOUSAND JOYS
+
+
+In Mongolia, the country of miracles and mysteries, lives the custodian
+of all the mysterious and unknown, the Living Buddha, His Holiness
+Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu Khan or Bogdo Gheghen, Pontiff of Ta Kure. He
+is the incarnation of the never-dying Buddha, the representative of the
+unbroken, mysteriously continued line of spiritual emperors ruling
+since 1670, concealing in themselves the ever refining spirit of Buddha
+Amitabha joined with Chan-ra-zi or the "Compassionate Spirit of the
+Mountains." In him is everything, even the Sun Myth and the fascination
+of the mysterious peaks of the Himalayas, tales of the Indian pagoda,
+the stern majesty of the Mongolian Conquerors--Emperors of All Asia--and
+the ancient, hazy legends of the Chinese sages; immersion in the
+thoughts of the Brahmans; the severities of life of the monks of the
+"Virtuous Order"; the vengeance of the eternally wandering warriors, the
+Olets, with their Khans, Batur Hun Taigi and Gushi; the proud bequests
+of Jenghiz and Kublai Khan; the clerical reactionary psychology of the
+Lamas; the mystery of Tibetan kings beginning from Srong-Tsang Gampo;
+and the mercilessness of the Yellow Sect of Paspa. All the hazy history
+of Asia, of Mongolia, Pamir, Himalayas, Mesopotamia, Persia and China,
+surrounds the Living God of Urga. It is little wonder that his name
+is honored along the Volga, in Siberia, Arabia, between the Tigris and
+Euphrates, in Indo-China and on the shores of the Arctic Ocean.
+
+During my stay in Urga I visited the abode of the Living Buddha several
+times, spoke with him and observed his life. His favorite learned
+Marambas gave me long accounts of him. I saw him reading horoscopes, I
+heard his predictions, I looked over his archives of ancient books and
+the manuscripts containing the lives and predictions of all the Bogdo
+Khans. The Lamas were very frank and open with me, because the letter of
+the Hutuktu of Narabanchi won for me their confidence.
+
+The personality of the Living Buddha is double, just as everything in
+Lamaism is double. Clever, penetrating, energetic, he at the same time
+indulges in the drunkenness which has brought on blindness. When he
+became blind, the Lamas were thrown into a state of desperation. Some of
+them maintained that Bogdo Khan must be poisoned and another Incarnate
+Buddha set in his place; while the others pointed out the great merits
+of the Pontiff in the eyes of Mongolians and the followers of the Yellow
+Faith. They finally decided to propitiate the gods by building a great
+temple with a gigantic statue of Buddha. However, this did not help
+the Bogdo's sight but the whole incident gave him the opportunity of
+hurrying on to their higher life those among the Lamas who had shown too
+much radicalism in their proposed method of solving his problem.
+
+He never ceases to ponder upon the cause of the church and of Mongolia
+and at the same time likes to indulge himself with useless trifles. He
+amuses himself with artillery. A retired Russian officer presented him
+with two old guns, for which the donor received the title of Tumbaiir
+Hun, that is, "Prince Dear-to-my-Heart." On holidays these cannon were
+fired to the great amusement of the blind man. Motorcars, gramophones,
+telephones, crystals, porcelains, pictures, perfumes, musical
+instruments, rare animals and birds; elephants, Himalayan bears,
+monkeys, Indian snakes and parrots--all these were in the palace of "the
+god" but all were soon cast aside and forgotten.
+
+To Urga come pilgrims and presents from all the Lamaite and Buddhist
+world. Once the treasurer of the palace, the Honorable Balma Dorji,
+took me into the great hall where the presents were kept. It was a most
+unique museum of precious articles. Here were gathered together rare
+objects unknown to the museums of Europe. The treasurer, as he opened a
+case with a silver lock, said to me:
+
+"These are pure gold nuggets from Bei Kem; here are black sables from
+Kemchick; these the miraculous deer horns; this a box sent by the
+Orochons and filled with precious ginseng roots and fragrant musk; this
+a bit of amber from the coast of the 'frozen sea' and it weighs 124 lans
+(about ten pounds); these are precious stones from India, fragrant zebet
+and carved ivory from China."
+
+He showed the exhibits and talked of them for a long time and evidently
+enjoyed the telling. And really it was wonderful! Before my eyes lay the
+bundles of rare furs; white beaver, black sables, white, blue and black
+fox and black panthers; small beautifully carved tortoise shell boxes
+containing hatyks ten or fifteen yards long, woven from Indian silk as
+fine as the webs of the spider; small bags made of golden thread
+filled with pearls, the presents of Indian Rajahs; precious rings with
+sapphires and rubies from China and India; big pieces of jade, rough
+diamonds; ivory tusks ornamented with gold, pearls and precious stones;
+bright clothes sewn with gold and silver thread; walrus tusks carved in
+bas-relief by the primitive artists on the shores of the Behring Sea;
+and much more that one cannot recall or recount. In a separate room
+stood the cases with the statues of Buddha, made of gold, silver,
+bronze, ivory, coral, mother of pearl and from a rare colored and
+fragrant species of wood.
+
+"You know when conquerors come into a country where the gods are
+honored, they break the images and throw them down. So it was more than
+three hundred years ago when the Kalmucks went into Tibet and the same
+was repeated in Peking when the European troops looted the place in
+1900. But do you know why this is done? Take one of the statues and
+examine it."
+
+I picked up one nearest the edge, a wooden Buddha, and began examining
+it. Inside something was loose and rattled.
+
+"Do you hear it?" the Lama asked. "These are precious stones and bits of
+gold, the entrails of the god. This is the reason why the conquerors at
+once break up the statues of the gods. Many famous precious stones have
+appeared from the interior of the statues of the gods in India, Babylon
+and China."
+
+Some rooms were devoted to the library, where manuscripts and volumes
+of different epochs in different languages and with many diverse themes
+fill the shelves. Some of them are mouldering or pulverizing away and
+the Lamas cover these now with a solution which partially solidifies
+like a jelly to protect what remains from the ravages of the air. There
+also we saw tablets of clay with the cuneiform inscriptions, evidently
+from Babylonia; Chinese, Indian and Tibetan books shelved beside those
+of Mongolia; tomes of the ancient pure Buddhism; books of the "Red Caps"
+or corrupt Buddhism; books of the "Yellow" or Lamaite Buddhism; books
+of traditions, legends and parables. Groups of Lamas were perusing,
+studying and copying these books, preserving and spreading the ancient
+wisdom for their successors.
+
+One department is devoted to the mysterious books on magic, the
+historical lives and works of all the thirty-one Living Buddhas, with
+the bulls of the Dalai Lama, of the Pontiff from Tashi Lumpo, of the
+Hutuktu of Utai in China, of the Pandita Gheghen of Dolo Nor in Inner
+Mongolia and of the Hundred Chinese Wise Men. Only the Bogdo Hutuktu and
+Maramba Ta-Rimpo-Cha can enter this room of mysterious lore. The keys to
+it rest with the seals of the Living Buddha and the ruby ring of Jenghiz
+Khan ornamented with the sign of the swastika in the chest in the
+private study of the Bogdo.
+
+The person of His Holiness is surrounded by five thousand Lamas. They
+are divided into many ranks from simple servants to the "Councillors of
+God," of which latter the Government consists. Among these Councillors
+are all the four Khans of Mongolia and the five highest Princes.
+
+Of all the Lamas there are three classes of peculiar interest, about
+which the Living Buddha himself told me when I visited him with Djam
+Bolon.
+
+"The God" sorrowfully mourned over the demoralized and sumptuous life
+led by the Lamas which decreased rapidly the number of fortune tellers
+and clairvoyants among their ranks, saying of it:
+
+"If the Jahantsi and Narabanchi monasteries had not preserved their
+strict regime and rules, Ta Kure would have been left without prophets
+and fortune tellers. Barun Abaga Nar, Dorchiul-Jurdok and the other holy
+Lamas who had the power of seeing that which is hidden from the sight of
+the common people have gone with the blessing of the gods."
+
+This class of Lamas is a very important one, because every important
+personage visiting the monasteries at Urga is shown to the Lama Tzuren
+or fortune teller without the knowledge of the visitor for the study of
+his destiny and fate, which are then communicated to the Bogdo Hutuktu,
+so that with these facts in his possession the Bogdo knows in what way
+to treat his guest and what policy to follow toward him. The Tzurens are
+mostly old men, skinny, exhausted and severe ascetics. But I have met
+some who were young, almost boys. They were the Hubilgan, "incarnate
+gods," the future Hutuktus and Gheghens of the various Mongolian
+monasteries.
+
+The second class is the doctors or "Ta Lama." They observe the actions
+of plants and certain products from animals upon people, preserve
+Tibetan medicines and cures, and study anatomy very carefully but
+without making use of vivisection and the scalpel. They are skilful
+bone setters, masseurs and great connoisseurs of hypnotism and animal
+magnetism.
+
+The third class is the highest rank of doctors, consisting chiefly of
+Tibetans and Kalmucks--poisoners. They may be said to be "doctors of
+political medicine." They live by themselves, apart from any associates,
+and are the great silent weapon in the hands of the Living Buddha. I
+was informed that a large portion of them are dumb. I saw one such
+doctor,--the very person who poisoned the Chinese physician sent by the
+Chinese Emperor from Peking to "liquidate" the Living Buddha,--a small
+white old fellow with a deeply wrinkled face, a curl of white hairs on
+his chin and with vivacious eyes that were ever shifting inquiringly
+about him. Whenever he comes to a monastery, the local "god" ceases to
+eat and drink in fear of the activities of this Mongolian Locusta. But
+even this cannot save the condemned, for a poisoned cap or shirt or
+boots, or a rosary, a bridle, books or religious articles soaked in a
+poisonous solution will surely accomplish the object of the Bogdo-Khan.
+
+The deepest esteem and religious faithfulness surround the blind
+Pontiff. Before him all fall on their faces. Khans and Hutuktus approach
+him on their knees. Everything about him is dark, full of Oriental
+antiquity. The drunken blind man, listening to the banal arias of the
+gramophone or shaking his servants with an electric current from his
+dynamo, the ferocious old fellow poisoning his political enemies,
+the Lama keeping his people in darkness and deceiving them with his
+prophecies and fortune telling,--he is, however, not an entirely
+ordinary man.
+
+One day we sat in the room of the Bogdo and Prince Djam Bolon translated
+to him my story of the Great War. The old fellow was listening very
+carefully but suddenly opened his eyes widely and began to give
+attention to some sounds coming in from outside the room. His face
+became reverent, supplicant and frightened.
+
+"The Gods call me," he whispered and slowly moved into his private
+shrine, where he prayed loudly about two hours, kneeling immobile as a
+statue. His prayer consists of conversation with the invisible gods, to
+whose questions he himself gave the answers. He came out of the shrine
+pale and exhausted but pleased and happy. It was his personal prayer.
+During the regular temple service he did not participate in the prayers,
+for then he is "God." Sitting on his throne, he is carried and placed
+on the altar and there prayed to by the Lamas and the people. He only
+receives the prayers, hopes, tears, woe and desperation of the people,
+immobilely gazing into space with his sharp and bright but blind
+eyes. At various times in the service the Lamas robe him in different
+vestments, combinations of yellow and red, and change his caps. The
+service always finishes at the solemn moment when the Living Buddha
+with the tiara on his head pronounces the pontifical blessing upon
+the congregation, turning his face to all four cardinal points of the
+compass and finally stretching out his hands toward the northwest, that
+is, to Europe, whither in the belief of the Yellow Faith must travel the
+teachings of the wise Buddha.
+
+After earnest prayers or long temple services the Pontiff seems very
+deeply shaken and often calls his secretaries and dictates his visions
+and prophecies, always very complicated and unaccompanied by his
+deductions.
+
+Sometimes with the words "Their souls are communicating," he puts on his
+white robes and goes to pray in his shrine. Then all the gates of the
+palace are shut and all the Lamas are sunk in solemn, mystic fear; all
+are praying, telling their rosaries and whispering the orison: "Om!
+Mani padme Hung!" or turning the prayer wheels with their prayers or
+exorcisings; the fortune tellers read their horoscopes; the clairvoyants
+write out their visions; while Marambas search the ancient books for
+explanations of the words of the Living Buddha.
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI
+
+THE DUST OF CENTURIES
+
+
+Have you ever seen the dusty cobwebs and the mould in the cellars of
+some ancient castle in Italy, France or England? This is the dust of
+centuries. Perhaps it touched the faces, helmets and swords of a Roman
+Augustus, St. Louis, the Inquisitor, Galileo or King Richard. Your heart
+is involuntarily contracted and you feel a respect for these witnesses
+of elapsed ages. This same impression came to me in Ta Kure, perhaps
+more deep, more realistic. Here life flows on almost as it flowed eight
+centuries ago; here man lives only in the past; and the contemporary
+only complicates and prevents the normal life.
+
+"Today is a great day," the Living Buddha once said to me, "the day of
+the victory of Buddhism over all other religions. It was a long time
+ago--on this day Kublai Khan called to him the Lamas of all religions
+and ordered them to state to him how and what they believed. They
+praised their Gods and their Hutuktus. Discussions and quarrels began.
+Only one Lama remained silent. At last he mockingly smiled and said:
+
+"'Great Emperor! Order each to prove the power of his Gods by the
+performance of a miracle and afterwards judge and choose.'
+
+"Kublai Khan so ordered all the Lamas to show him a miracle but all were
+silent, confused and powerless before him.
+
+"'Now,' said the Emperor, addressing the Lama who had tendered this
+suggestion, 'now you must prove the power of your Gods!'
+
+"The Lama looked long and silently at the Emperor, turned and gazed at
+the whole assembly and then quietly stretched out his hand toward them.
+At this instant the golden goblet of the Emperor raised itself from
+the table and tipped before the lips of the Khan without a visible hand
+supporting it. The Emperor felt the delight of a fragrant wine. All were
+struck with astonishment and the Emperor spoke:
+
+"'I elect to pray to your Gods and to them all people subject to me must
+pray. What is your faith? Who are you and from where do you come?'
+
+"'My faith is the teaching of the wise Buddha. I am Pandita Lama, Turjo
+Gamba, from the distant and glorious monastery of Sakkia in Tibet, where
+dwells incarnate in a human body the Spirit of Buddha, his Wisdom and
+his Power. Remember, Emperor, that the peoples who hold our faith shall
+possess all the Western Universe and during eight hundred and eleven
+years shall spread their faith throughout the whole world.'
+
+"Thus it happened on this same day many centuries ago! Lama Turjo Gamba
+did not return to Tibet but lived here in Ta Kure, where there was then
+only a small temple. From here he traveled to the Emperor at Karakorum
+and afterwards with him to the capital of China to fortify him in
+the Faith, to predict the fate of state affairs and to enlighten him
+according to the will of God."
+
+The Living Buddha was silent for a time, whispered a prayer and then
+continued:
+
+"Urga, the ancient nest of Buddhism. . . . With Jenghiz Khan on his
+European conquest went out the Olets or Kalmucks. They remained there
+almost four hundred years, living on the plains of Russia. Then they
+returned to Mongolia because the Yellow Lamas called them to light
+against the Kings of Tibet, Lamas of the 'red caps,' who were oppressing
+the people. The Kalmucks helped the Yellow Faith but they realized that
+Lhasa was too distant from the whole world and could not spread our
+Faith throughout the earth. Consequently the Kalmuck Gushi Khan brought
+up from Tibet a holy Lama, Undur Gheghen, who had visited the 'King of
+the World.' From that day the Bogdo Gheghen has continuously lived in
+Urga, a protector of the freedom of Mongolia and of the Chinese Emperors
+of Mongolian origin. Undur Gheghen was the first Living Buddha in the
+land of the Mongols. He left to us, his successors, the ring of Jenghiz
+Khan, which was sent by Kublai Khan to Dalai Lama in return for the
+miracle shown by the Lama Turjo Gamba; also the top of the skull of
+a black, mysterious miracle worker from India, using which as a bowl,
+Strongtsan, King of Tibet, drank during the temple ceremonies one
+thousand six hundred years ago; as well as an ancient stone statue of
+Buddha brought from Delhi by the founder of the Yellow Faith, Paspa."
+
+The Bogdo clapped his hands and one of the secretaries took from a red
+kerchief a big silver key with which he unlocked the chest with the
+seals. The Living Buddha slipped his hand into the chest and drew forth
+a small box of carved ivory, from which he took out and showed to me a
+large gold ring set with a magnificent ruby carved with the sign of the
+swastika.
+
+"This ring was always worn on the right hand of the Khans Jenghiz and
+Kublai," said the Bogdo.
+
+When the secretary had closed the chest, the Bogdo ordered him to
+summon his favorite Maramba, whom he directed to read some pages from an
+ancient book lying on the table. The Lama began to read monotonously.
+
+"When Gushi Khan, the Chief of all the Olets or Kalmucks, finished the
+war with the 'Red Caps' in Tibet, he carried out with him the miraculous
+'black stone' sent to the Dalai Lama by the 'King of the World.' Gushi
+Khan wanted to create in Western Mongolia the capital of the Yellow
+Faith; but the Olets at that time were at war with the Manchu Emperors
+for the throne of China and suffered one defeat after another. The last
+Khan of the Olets, Amursana, ran away into Russia but before his escape
+sent to Urga the sacred 'black stone.' While it remained in Urga so that
+the Living Buddha could bless the people with it, disease and misfortune
+never touched the Mongolians and their cattle. About one hundred years
+ago, however, some one stole the sacred stone and since then Buddhists
+have vainly sought it throughout the whole world. With its disappearance
+the Mongol people began gradually to die."
+
+"Enough!" ordered Bogdo Gheghen. "Our neighbors hold us in contempt.
+They forget that we were their sovereigns but we preserve our holy
+traditions and we know that the day of triumph of the Mongolian tribes
+and the Yellow Faith will come. We have the Protectors of the Faith, the
+Buriats. They are the truest guardians of the bequests of Jenghiz Khan."
+
+So spoke the Living Buddha and so have spoken the ancient books!
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII
+
+THE BOOKS OF MIRACLES
+
+
+Prince Djam Bolon asked a Maramba to show us the library of the Living
+Buddha. It is a big room occupied by scores of writers who prepare the
+works dealing with the miracles of all the Living Buddhas, beginning
+with Undur Gheghen and ending with those of the Gheghens and Hutuktus of
+the different Mongol monasteries. These books are afterwards distributed
+through all the Lama Monasteries, temples and schools of Bandi. A
+Maramba read two selections:
+
+". . . The beatific Bogdo Gheghen breathed on a mirror. Immediately
+as through a haze there appeared the picture of a valley in which many
+thousands of thousands of warriors fought one against another. . . ."
+
+"The wise and favored-of-the-gods Living Buddha burned incense in a
+brazier and prayed to the Gods to reveal the lot of the Princes. In the
+blue smoke all saw a dark prison and the pallid, tortured bodies of the
+dead Princes. . . ."
+
+A special book, already done into thousands of copies, dwelt upon the
+miracles of the present Living Buddha. Prince Djam Bolon described to me
+some of the contents of this volume.
+
+"There exists an ancient wooden Buddha with open eyes. He was brought
+here from India and Bogdo Gheghen placed him on the altar and began to
+pray. When he returned from the shrine, he ordered the statue of Buddha
+brought out. All were struck with amazement, for the eyes of the God
+were shut and tears were falling from them; from the wooden body green
+sprouts appeared; and the Bogdo said:
+
+"'Woe and joy are awaiting me. I shall become blind but Mongolia will be
+free.'
+
+"The prophecy is fulfilled. At another time, on a day when the Living
+Buddha was very much excited, he ordered a basin of water brought and
+set before the altar. He called the Lamas and began to pray. Suddenly
+the altar candles and lamps lighted themselves and the water in the
+basin became iridescent."
+
+Afterwards the Prince described to me how the Bogdo Khan tells fortunes
+with fresh blood, upon whose surface appear words and pictures; with the
+entrails of sheep and goats, according to whose distribution the Bogdo
+reads the fate of the Princes and knows their thoughts; with stones and
+bones from which the Living Buddha with great accuracy reads the lot of
+all men; and by the stars, in accordance with whose positions the Bogdo
+prepares amulets against bullets and disease.
+
+"The former Bogdo Khans told fortunes only by the use of the 'black
+stone,'" said the Maramba. "On the surface of the stone appeared Tibetan
+inscriptions which the Bogdo read and thus learned the lot of whole
+nations."
+
+When the Maramba spoke of the black stone with the Tibetan legends
+appearing on it, I at once recalled that it was possible. In
+southeastern Urianhai, in Ulan Taiga, I came across a place where black
+slate was decomposing. All the pieces of this slate were covered with a
+special white lichen, which formed very complicated designs, reminding
+me of a Venetian lace pattern or whole pages of mysterious runes. When
+the slate was wet, these designs disappeared; and then, as they were
+dried, the patterns came out again.
+
+Nobody has the right or dares to ask the Living Buddha to tell his
+fortune. He predicts only when he feels the inspiration or when a
+special delegate comes to him bearing a request for it from the Dalai
+Lama or the Tashi Lama. When the Russian Czar, Alexander I, fell under
+the influence of Baroness Kzudener and of her extreme mysticism,
+he despatched a special envoy to the Living Buddha to ask about his
+destiny. The then Bogdo Khan, quite a young man, told his fortune
+according to the "black stone" and predicted that the White Czar would
+finish his life in very painful wanderings unknown to all and everywhere
+pursued. In Russia today there exists a popular belief that Alexander
+I spent the last days of his life as a wanderer throughout Russia and
+Siberia under the pseudonym of Feodor Kusmitch, helping and consoling
+prisoners, beggars and other suffering people, often pursued and
+imprisoned by the police and finally dying at Tomsk in Siberia, where
+even until now they have preserved the house where he spent his
+last days and have kept his grave sacred, a place of pilgrimages and
+miracles. The former dynasty of Romanoff was deeply interested in the
+biography of Feodor Kusmitch and this interest fixed the opinion that
+Kusmitch was really the Czar Alexander I, who had voluntarily taken upon
+himself this severe penance.
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII
+
+THE BIRTH OF THE LIVING BUDDHA
+
+
+The Living Buddha does not die. His soul sometimes passes into that of
+a child born on the day of his death and sometimes transfers itself to
+another being during the life of the Buddha. This new mortal dwelling
+of the sacred spirit of the Buddha almost always appears in the yurta
+of some poor Tibetan or Mongol family. There is a reason of policy for
+this. If the Buddha appears in the family of a rich prince, it could
+result in the elevation of a family that would not yield obedience to
+the clergy (and such has happened in the past), while on the other
+hand any poor, unknown family that becomes the heritor of the throne
+of Jenghiz Khan acquires riches and is readily submissive to the Lamas.
+Only three or four Living Buddhas were of purely Mongolian origin; the
+remainder were Tibetans.
+
+One of the Councillors of the Living Buddha, Lama-Khan Jassaktu, told me
+the following:
+
+"In the monasteries at Lhasa and Tashi Lumpo they are kept constantly
+informed through letters from Urga about the health of the Living
+Buddha. When his human body becomes old and the Spirit of Buddha strives
+to extricate itself, special solemn services begin in the Tibetan
+temples together with the telling of fortunes by astrology. These rites
+indicate the specially pious Lamas who must discover where the Spirit
+of the Buddha will be re-incarnated. For this purpose they travel
+throughout the whole land and observe. Often God himself gives them
+signs and indications. Sometimes the white wolf appears near the yurta
+of a poor shepherd or a lamb with two heads is born or a meteor falls
+from the sky. Some Lamas take fish from the sacred lake Tangri Nor and
+read on the scales thereof the name of the new Bogdo Khan; others pick
+out stones whose cracks indicate to them where they must search and
+whom they must find; while others secrete themselves in narrow mountain
+ravines to listen to the voices of the spirits of the mountains,
+pronouncing the name of the new choice of the Gods. When he is found,
+all the possible information about his family is secretly collected and
+presented to the Most Learned Tashi Lama, having the name of Erdeni,
+"The Great Gem of Learning," who, according to the runes of Rama,
+verifies the selection. If he is in agreement with it, he sends a secret
+letter to the Dalai Lama, who holds a special sacrifice in the Temple of
+the 'Spirit of the Mountains' and confirms the election by putting his
+great seal on this letter of the Tashi Lama.
+
+"If the old Living Buddha be still alive, the name of his successor is
+kept a deep secret; if the Spirit of Buddha has already gone out from
+the body of Bogdo Khan, a special legation appears from Tibet with the
+new Living Buddha. The same process accompanies the election of the
+Gheghen and Hutuktus in all the Lamaite monasteries in Mongolia; but
+confirmation of the election resides with the Living Buddha and is only
+announced to Lhasa after the event."
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV
+
+A PAGE IN THE HISTORY OF THE PRESENT LIVING BUDDHA
+
+
+The present Bogdo Khan of Outer Mongolia is a Tibetan. He sprang from a
+poor family living in the neighborhood of Sakkia Kure in western Tibet.
+From earliest youth he had a stormy, quite unaesthetic nature. He was
+fired with the idea of the independence and glorification of Mongolia
+and the successors of Jenghiz Khan. This gave him at once a great
+influence among the Lamas, Princes and Khans of Mongolia and also with
+the Russian Government which always tried to attract him to their side.
+He did not fear to arraign himself against the Manchu dynasty in China
+and always had the help of Russia, Tibet, the Buriats and Kirghiz,
+furnishing him with money, weapons, warriors and diplomatic aid. The
+Chinese Emperors avoided open war with the Living God, because it might
+arouse the protests of the Chinese Buddhists. At one time they sent to
+the Bogdo Khan a skilful doctor-poisoner. The Living Buddha, however, at
+once understood the meaning of this medical attention and, knowing the
+power of Asiatic poisons, decided to make a journey through the Mongol
+monasteries and through Tibet. As his substitute he left a Hubilgan who
+made friends with the Chinese doctor and inquired from him the purposes
+and details of his arrival. Very soon the Chinese died from some unknown
+cause and the Living Buddha returned to his comfortable capital.
+
+On another occasion danger threatened the Living God. It was when Lhasa
+decided that the Bogdo Khan was carrying out a policy too independent of
+Tibet. The Dalai Lama began negotiations with several Khans and Princes
+with the Sain Noion Khan and Jassaktu Khan leading the movement and
+persuaded them to accelerate the immigration of the Spirit of Buddha
+into another human form. They came to Urga where the Bogdo Khan met
+them with honors and rejoicings. A great feast was made for them and the
+conspirators already felt themselves the accomplishers of the orders
+of the Dalai Lama. However, at the end of the feast, they had different
+feelings and died with them during the night. The Living Buddha ordered
+their bodies sent with full honors to their families.
+
+The Bogdo Khan knows every thought, every movement of the Princes and
+Khans, the slightest conspiracy against himself, and the offender is
+usually kindly invited to Urga, from where he does not return alive.
+
+The Chinese Government decided to terminate the line of the Living
+Buddhas. Ceasing to fight with the Pontiff of Urga, the Government
+contrived the following scheme for accomplishing its ends.
+
+Peking invited the Pandita Gheghen from Dolo Nor and the head of the
+Chinese Lamaites, the Hutuktu of Utai, both of whom do not recognize the
+supremacy of the Living Buddha, to come to the capital. They decided,
+after consulting the old Buddhistic books, that the present Bogdo Khan
+was to be the last Living Buddha, because that part of the Spirit of
+Buddha which dwells in the Bogdo Khans can abide only thirty-one times
+in the human body. Bogdo Khan is the thirty-first Incarnated Buddha from
+the time of Undur Gheghen and with him, therefore, the dynasty of
+the Urga Pontiffs must cease. However, on hearing this the Bogdo Khan
+himself did some research work and found in the old Tibetan manuscripts
+that one of the Tibetan Pontiffs was married and his son was a natural
+Incarnated Buddha. So the Bogdo Khan married and now has a son, a
+very capable and energetic young man, and thus the religious throne of
+Jenghiz Khan will not be left empty. The dynasty of the Chinese emperors
+disappeared from the stage of political events but the Living Buddha
+continues to be a center for the Pan-Asiatic idea.
+
+The new Chinese Government in 1920 held the Living Buddha under arrest
+in his palace but at the beginning of 1921 Baron Ungern crossed the
+sacred Bogdo-Ol and approached the palace from the rear. Tibetan riders
+shot the Chinese sentries with bow and arrow and afterwards the Mongols
+penetrated into the palace and stole their "God," who immediately
+stirred up all Mongolia and awakened the hopes of the Asiatic peoples
+and tribes.
+
+In the great palace of the Bogdo a Lama showed me a special casket
+covered with a precious carpet, wherein they keep the bulls of the Dalai
+and Tashi Lamas, the decrees of the Russian and Chinese Emperors and the
+Treaties between Mongolia, Russia, China and Tibet. In this same casket
+is the copper plate bearing the mysterious sign of the "King of the
+World" and the chronicle of the last vision of the Living Buddha.
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV
+
+THE VISION OF THE LIVING BUDDHA OF MAY 17, 1921
+
+
+"I prayed and saw that which is hidden from the eyes of the people. A
+vast plain was spread before me surrounded by distant mountains. An old
+Lama carried a basket filled with heavy stones. He hardly moved. From
+the north a rider appeared in white robes and mounted on a white horse.
+He approached the Lama and said to him:
+
+"'Give me your basket. I shall help you to carry them to the Kure.'
+
+"The Lama handed his heavy burden up to him but the rider could not
+raise it to his saddle so that the old Lama had to place it back on his
+shoulder and continue on his way, bent under its heavy weight. Then from
+the north came another rider in black robes and on a black horse, who
+also approached the Lama and said:
+
+"'Stupid! Why do you carry these stones when they are everywhere about
+the ground?'
+
+"With these words he pushed the Lama over with the breast of his horse
+and scattered the stones about the ground. When the stones touched the
+earth, they became diamonds. All three rushed to raise them but not
+one of them could break them loose from the ground. Then the old Lama
+exclaimed:
+
+"'Oh Gods! All my life I have carried this heavy burden and now, when
+there was left so little to go, I have lost it. Help me, great, good
+Gods!'
+
+"Suddenly a tottering old man appeared. He collected all the diamonds
+into the basket without trouble, cleaned the dust from them, raised the
+burden to his shoulder and started out, speaking with the Lama:
+
+"'Rest a while, I have just carried my burden to the goal and I am glad
+to help you with yours.'
+
+"They went on and were soon out of sight, while the riders began to
+fight. They fought one whole day and then the whole night and, when the
+sun rose over the plain, neither was there, either alive or dead, and no
+trace of either remained. This I saw, Bogdo Hutuktu Khan, speaking with
+the Great and Wise Buddha, surrounded by the good and bad demons! Wise
+Lamas, Hutuktus, Kampos, Marambas and Holy Gheghens, give the answer to
+my vision!"
+
+This was written in my presence on May 17th, 1921, from the words of the
+Living Buddha just as he came out of his private shrine to his study.
+I do not know what the Hutuktu and Gheghens, the fortune tellers,
+sorcerers and clairvoyants replied to him; but does not the answer seem
+clear, if one realizes the present situation in Asia?
+
+Awakened Asia is full of enigmas but it is also full of answers to
+the questions set by the destiny of humankind. This great continent of
+mysterious Pontiffs, Living Gods, Mahatmas and readers of the terrible
+book of Karma is awakening and the ocean of hundreds of millions of
+human lives is lashed with monstrous waves.
+
+
+
+
+Part V
+
+MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES--THE KING OF THE WORLD
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI
+
+THE SUBTERRANEAN KINGDOM
+
+
+"Stop!" whispered my old Mongol guide, as we were one day crossing the
+plain near Tzagan Luk. "Stop!"
+
+He slipped from his camel which lay down without his bidding. The Mongol
+raised his hands in prayer before his face and began to repeat the
+sacred phrase: "Om! Mani padme Hung!" The other Mongols immediately
+stopped their camels and began to pray.
+
+"What has happened?" I thought, as I gazed round over the tender green
+grass, up to the cloudless sky and out toward the dreamy soft rays of
+the evening sun.
+
+The Mongols prayed for some time, whispered among themselves and, after
+tightening up the packs on the camels, moved on.
+
+"Did you see," asked the Mongol, "how our camels moved their ears in
+fear? How the herd of horses on the plain stood fixed in attention and
+how the herds of sheep and cattle lay crouched close to the ground? Did
+you notice that the birds did not fly, the marmots did not run and the
+dogs did not bark? The air trembled softly and bore from afar the music
+of a song which penetrated to the hearts of men, animals and birds
+alike. Earth and sky ceased breathing. The wind did not blow and the sun
+did not move. At such a moment the wolf that is stealing up on the sheep
+arrests his stealthy crawl; the frightened herd of antelopes suddenly
+checks its wild course; the knife of the shepherd cutting the sheep's
+throat falls from his hand; the rapacious ermine ceases to stalk the
+unsuspecting salga. All living beings in fear are involuntarily thrown
+into prayer and waiting for their fate. So it was just now. Thus it has
+always been whenever the King of the World in his subterranean palace
+prays and searches out the destiny of all peoples on the earth."
+
+In this wise the old Mongol, a simple, coarse shepherd and hunter, spoke
+to me.
+
+Mongolia with her nude and terrible mountains, her limitless plains,
+covered with the widely strewn bones of the forefathers, gave birth
+to Mystery. Her people, frightened by the stormy passions of Nature or
+lulled by her deathlike peace, feel her mystery. Her "Red" and "Yellow
+Lamas" preserve and poetize her mystery. The Pontiffs of Lhasa and Urga
+know and possess her mystery.
+
+On my journey into Central Asia I came to know for the first time about
+"the Mystery of Mysteries," which I can call by no other name. At the
+outset I did not pay much attention to it and did not attach to it such
+importance as I afterwards realized belonged to it, when I had analyzed
+and connoted many sporadic, hazy and often controversial bits of
+evidence.
+
+The old people on the shore of the River Amyl related to me an ancient
+legend to the effect that a certain Mongolian tribe in their escape from
+the demands of Jenghiz Khan hid themselves in a subterranean country.
+Afterwards a Soyot from near the Lake of Nogan Kul showed me the smoking
+gate that serves as the entrance to the "Kingdom of Agharti." Through
+this gate a hunter formerly entered into the Kingdom and, after his
+return, began to relate what he had seen there. The Lamas cut out
+his tongue in order to prevent him from telling about the Mystery of
+Mysteries. When he arrived at old age, he came back to the entrance of
+this cave and disappeared into the subterranean kingdom, the memory of
+which had ornamented and lightened his nomad heart.
+
+I received more realistic information about this from Hutuktu Jelyb
+Djamsrap in Narabanchi Kure. He told me the story of the semi-realistic
+arrival of the powerful King of the World from the subterranean kingdom,
+of his appearance, of his miracles and of his prophecies; and only then
+did I begin to understand that in that legend, hypnosis or mass vision,
+whichever it may be, is hidden not only mystery but a realistic and
+powerful force capable of influencing the course of the political life
+of Asia. From that moment I began making some investigations.
+
+The favorite Gelong Lama of Prince Chultun Beyli and the Prince himself
+gave me an account of the subterranean kingdom.
+
+"Everything in the world," said the Gelong, "is constantly in a state of
+change and transition--peoples science, religions, laws and customs. How
+many great empires and brilliant cultures have perished! And that alone
+which remains unchanged is Evil, the tool of Bad Spirits. More than
+sixty thousand years ago a Holyman disappeared with a whole tribe of
+people under the ground and never appeared again on the surface of the
+earth. Many people, however, have since visited this kingdom, Sakkia
+Mouni, Undur Gheghen, Paspa, Khan Baber and others. No one knows where
+this place is. One says Afghanistan, others India. All the people there
+are protected against Evil and crimes do not exist within its bournes.
+Science has there developed calmly and nothing is threatened with
+destruction. The subterranean people have reached the highest knowledge.
+Now it is a large kingdom, millions of men with the King of the World
+as their ruler. He knows all the forces of the world and reads all the
+souls of humankind and the great book of their destiny. Invisibly he
+rules eight hundred million men on the surface of the earth and they
+will accomplish his every order."
+
+Prince Chultun Beyli added: "This kingdom is Agharti. It extends
+throughout all the subterranean passages of the whole world. I heard a
+learned Lama of China relating to Bogdo Khan that all the subterranean
+caves of America are inhabited by the ancient people who have
+disappeared underground. Traces of them are still found on the surface
+of the land. These subterranean peoples and spaces are governed by
+rulers owing allegiance to the King of the World. In it there is not
+much of the wonderful. You know that in the two greatest oceans of the
+east and the west there were formerly two continents. They disappeared
+under the water but their people went into the subterranean kingdom. In
+underground caves there exists a peculiar light which affords growth to
+the grains and vegetables and long life without disease to the people.
+There are many different peoples and many different tribes. An old
+Buddhist Brahman in Nepal was carrying out the will of the Gods in
+making a visit to the ancient kingdom of Jenghiz,--Siam,--where he met a
+fisherman who ordered him to take a place in his boat and sail with him
+upon the sea. On the third day they reached an island where he met a
+people having two tongues which could speak separately in different
+languages. They showed to him peculiar, unfamiliar animals, tortoises
+with sixteen feet and one eye, huge snakes with a very tasty flesh and
+birds with teeth which caught fish for their masters in the sea. These
+people told him that they had come up out of the subterranean kingdom
+and described to him certain parts of the underground country."
+
+The Lama Turgut traveling with me from Urga to Peking gave me further
+details.
+
+"The capital of Agharti is surrounded with towns of high priests and
+scientists. It reminds one of Lhasa where the palace of the Dalai
+Lama, the Potala, is the top of a mountain covered with monasteries and
+temples. The throne of the King of the World is surrounded by millions
+of incarnated Gods. They are the Holy Panditas. The palace itself is
+encircled by the palaces of the Goro, who possess all the visible and
+invisible forces of the earth, of inferno and of the sky and who can do
+everything for the life and death of man. If our mad humankind should
+begin a war against them, they would be able to explode the whole
+surface of our planet and transform it into deserts. They can dry up
+the seas, transform lands into oceans and scatter the mountains into the
+sands of the deserts. By his order trees, grasses and bushes can be made
+to grow; old and feeble men can become young and stalwart; and the dead
+can be resurrected. In cars strange and unknown to us they rush through
+the narrow cleavages inside our planet. Some Indian Brahmans and Tibetan
+Dalai Lamas during their laborious struggles to the peaks of mountains
+which no other human feet had trod have found there inscriptions carved
+on the rocks, footprints in the snow and the tracks of wheels. The
+blissful Sakkia Mouni found on one mountain top tablets of stone
+carrying words which he only understood in his old age and afterwards
+penetrated into the Kingdom of Agharti, from which he brought back
+crumbs of the sacred learning preserved in his memory. There in palaces
+of wonderful crystal live the invisible rulers of all pious people, the
+King of the World or Brahytma, who can speak with God as I speak with
+you, and his two assistants, Mahytma, knowing the purposes of future
+events, and Mahynga, ruling the causes of these events."
+
+"The Holy Panditas study the world and all its forces. Sometimes the
+most learned among them collect together and send envoys to that place
+where the human eyes have never penetrated. This is described by
+the Tashi Lama living eight hundred and fifty years ago. The highest
+Panditas place their hands on their eyes and at the base of the brain of
+younger ones and force them into a deep sleep, wash their bodies with an
+infusion of grass and make them immune to pain and harder than stones,
+wrap them in magic cloths, bind them and then pray to the Great God. The
+petrified youths lie with eyes and ears open and alert, seeing, hearing
+and remembering everything. Afterwards a Goro approaches and fastens a
+long, steady gaze upon them. Very slowly the bodies lift themselves from
+the earth and disappear. The Goro sits and stares with fixed eyes to the
+place whither he has sent them. Invisible threads join them to his will.
+Some of them course among the stars, observe their events, their unknown
+peoples, their life and their laws. They listen to their talk, read
+their books, understand their fortunes and woes, their holiness and
+sins, their piety and evil. Some are mingled with flame and see the
+creature of fire, quick and ferocious, eternally fighting, melting and
+hammering metals in the depths of planets, boiling the water for geysers
+and springs, melting the rocks and pushing out molten streams over the
+surface of the earth through the holes in the mountains. Others rush
+together with the ever elusive, infinitesimally small, transparent
+creatures of the air and penetrate into the mysteries of their existence
+and into the purposes of their life. Others slip into the depths of the
+seas and observe the kingdom of the wise creatures of the water, who
+transport and spread genial warmth all over the earth, ruling the winds,
+waves and storms. . . . In Erdeni Dzu formerly lived Pandita Hutuktu,
+who had come from Agharti. As he was dying, he told about the time when
+he lived according to the will of the Goro on a red star in the east,
+floated in the ice-covered ocean and flew among the stormy fires in the
+depths of the earth."
+
+These are the tales which I heard in the Mongolian yurtas of Princes and
+in the Lamaite monasteries. These stories were all related in a solemn
+tone which forbade challenge and doubt.
+
+Mystery. . . .
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII
+
+THE KING OF THE WORLD BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD
+
+
+During my stay in Urga I tried to find an explanation of this legend
+about the King of the World. Of course, the Living Buddha could tell
+me most of all and so I endeavored to get the story from him. In a
+conversation with him I mentioned the name of the King of the World.
+The old Pontiff sharply turned his head toward me and fixed upon me his
+immobile, blind eyes. Unwillingly I became silent. Our silence was a
+long one and after it the Pontiff continued the conversation in such
+a way that I understood he did not wish to accept the suggestion of my
+reference. On the faces of the others present I noticed expressions of
+astonishment and fear produced by my words, and especially was this
+true of the custodian of the library of the Bogdo Khan. One can readily
+understand that all this only made me the more anxious to press the
+pursuit.
+
+As I was leaving the study of the Bogdo Hutuktu, I met the librarian
+who had stepped out ahead of me and asked him if he would show me the
+library of the Living Buddha and used a very simple, sly trick with him.
+
+"Do you know, my dear Lama," I said, "once I rode in the plain at the
+hour when the King of the World spoke with God and I felt the impressive
+majesty of this moment."
+
+To my astonishment the old Lama very quietly answered me: "It is not
+right that the Buddhist and our Yellow Faith should conceal it. The
+acknowledgment of the existence of the most holy and most powerful man,
+of the blissful kingdom, of the great temple of sacred science is such
+a consolation to our sinful hearts and our corrupt lives that to
+conceal it from humankind is a sin. . . . Well, listen," he continued,
+"throughout the whole year the King of the World guides the work of the
+Panditas and Goros of Agharti. Only at times he goes to the temple cave
+where the embalmed body of his predecessor lies in a black stone coffin.
+This cave is always dark, but when the King of the World enters it
+the walls are striped with fire and from the lid of the coffin appear
+tongues of flame. The eldest Goro stands before him with covered head
+and face and with hands folded across his chest. This Goro never removes
+the covering from his face, for his head is a nude skull with living
+eyes and a tongue that speaks. He is in communion with the souls of all
+who have gone before.
+
+"The King of the World prays for a long time and afterwards approaches
+the coffin and stretches out his hand. The flames thereon burn brighter;
+the stripes of fire on the walls disappear and revive, interlace and
+form mysterious signs from the alphabet vatannan. From the coffin
+transparent bands of scarcely noticeable light begin to flow forth.
+These are the thoughts of his predecessor. Soon the King of the World
+stands surrounded by an auriole of this light and fiery letters write
+and write upon the walls the wishes and orders of God. At this moment
+the King of the World is in contact with the thoughts of all the men who
+influence the lot and life of all humankind: with Kings, Czars, Khans,
+warlike leaders, High Priests, scientists and other strong men. He
+realizes all their thoughts and plans. If these be pleasing before God,
+the King of the World will invisibly help them; if they are unpleasant
+in the sight of God, the King will bring them to destruction. This power
+is given to Agharti by the mysterious science of 'Om,' with which we
+begin all our prayers. 'Om' is the name of an ancient Holyman, the first
+Goro, who lived three hundred thirty thousand years ago. He was the
+first man to know God and who taught humankind to believe, hope and
+struggle with Evil. Then God gave him power over all forces ruling the
+visible world.
+
+"After his conversation with his predecessor the King of the World
+assembles the 'Great Council of God,' judges the actions and thoughts
+of great men, helps them or destroys them. Mahytma and Mahynga find the
+place for these actions and thoughts in the causes ruling the world.
+Afterwards the King of the World enters the great temple and prays in
+solitude. Fire appears on the altar, gradually spreading to all the
+altars near, and through the burning flame gradually appears the face of
+God. The King of the World reverently announces to God the decisions and
+awards of the 'Council of God' and receives in turn the Divine orders of
+the Almighty. As he comes forth from the temple, the King of the World
+radiates with Divine Light."
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII
+
+REALITY OR RELIGIOUS FANTASY?
+
+
+"Has anybody seen the King of the World?" I asked.
+
+"Oh, yes!" answered the Lama. "During the solemn holidays of the ancient
+Buddhism in Siam and India the King of the World appeared five times.
+He rode in a splendid car drawn by white elephants and ornamented with
+gold, precious stones and finest fabrics; he was robed in a white mantle
+and red tiara with strings of diamonds masking his face. He blessed the
+people with a golden apple with the figure of a Lamb above it. The
+blind received their sight, the dumb spoke, the deaf heard, the crippled
+freely moved and the dead arose, wherever the eyes of the King of the
+World rested. He also appeared five hundred and forty years ago in
+Erdeni Dzu, he was in the ancient Sakkai Monastery and in the Narabanchi
+Kure.
+
+"One of our Living Buddhas and one of the Tashi Lamas received a message
+from him, written with unknown signs on golden tablets. No one could
+read these signs. The Tashi Lama entered the temple, placed the golden
+tablet on his head and began to pray. With this the thoughts of the
+King of the World penetrated his brain and, without having read the
+enigmatical signs, he understood and accomplished the message of the
+King."
+
+"How many persons have ever been to Agharti?" I questioned him.
+
+"Very many," answered the Lama, "but all these people have kept secret
+that which they saw there. When the Olets destroyed Lhasa, one of their
+detachments in the southwestern mountains penetrated to the outskirts
+of Agharti. Here they learned some of the lesser mysterious sciences
+and brought them to the surface of our earth. This is why the Olets
+and Kalmucks are artful sorcerers and prophets. Also from the eastern
+country some tribes of black people penetrated to Agharti and lived
+there many centuries. Afterwards they were thrust out from the kingdom
+and returned to the earth, bringing with them the mystery of predictions
+according to cards, grasses and the lines of the palm. They are the
+Gypsies. . . . Somewhere in the north of Asia a tribe exists which is
+now dying and which came from the cave of Agharti, skilled in calling
+back the spirits of the dead as they float through the air."
+
+The Lama was silent and afterwards, as though answering my thoughts,
+continued.
+
+"In Agharti the learned Panditas write on tablets of stone all the
+science of our planet and of the other worlds. The Chinese learned
+Buddhists know this. Their science is the highest and purest. Every
+century one hundred sages of China collect in a secret place on
+the shores of the sea, where from its depths come out one hundred
+eternally-living tortoises. On their shells the Chinese write all the
+developments of the divine science of the century."
+
+As I write I am involuntarily reminded of a tale of an old Chinese bonze
+in the Temple of Heaven at Peking. He told me that tortoises live more
+than three thousand years without food and air and that this is the
+reason why all the columns of the blue Temple of Heaven were set on live
+tortoises to preserve the wood from decay.
+
+"Several times the Pontiffs of Lhasa and Urga have sent envoys to the
+King of the World," said the Lama librarian, "but they could not find
+him. Only a certain Tibetan leader after a battle with the Olets found
+the cave with the inscription: 'This is the gate to Agharti.' From the
+cave a fine appearing man came forth, presented him with a gold tablet
+bearing the mysterious signs and said:
+
+"'The King of the World will appear before all people when the time
+shall have arrived for him to lead all the good people of the world
+against all the bad; but this time has not yet come. The most evil among
+mankind have not yet been born.
+
+"Chiang Chun Baron Ungern sent the young Prince Pounzig to seek out the
+King of the World but he returned with a letter from the Dalai Lama from
+Lhasa. When the Baron sent him a second time, he did not come back."
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX
+
+THE PROPHECY OF THE KING OF THE WORLD IN 1890
+
+
+The Hutuktu of Narabanchi related the following to me, when I visited
+him in his monastery in the beginning of 1921:
+
+"When the King of the World appeared before the Lamas, favored of God,
+in this monastery thirty years ago he made a prophecy for the coming
+half century. It was as follows:
+
+"'More and more the people will forget their souls and care about their
+bodies. The greatest sin and corruption will reign on the earth. People
+will become as ferocious animals, thirsting for the blood and death
+of their brothers. The 'Crescent' will grow dim and its followers will
+descend into beggary and ceaseless war. Its conquerors will be stricken
+by the sun but will not progress upward and twice they will be visited
+with the heaviest misfortune, which will end in insult before the eye of
+the other peoples. The crowns of kings, great and small, will fall . . .
+one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. . . . There will be
+a terrible battle among all the peoples. The seas will become red . . .
+the earth and the bottom of the seas will be strewn with bones . . .
+kingdoms will be scattered . . . whole peoples will die . . . hunger,
+disease, crimes unknown to the law, never before seen in the world. The
+enemies of God and of the Divine Spirit in man will come. Those who take
+the hand of another shall also perish. The forgotten and pursued shall
+rise and hold the attention of the whole world. There will be fogs
+and storms. Bare mountains shall suddenly be covered with forests.
+Earthquakes will come. . . . Millions will change the fetters of slavery
+and humiliation for hunger, disease and death. The ancient roads will
+be covered with crowds wandering from one place to another. The greatest
+and most beautiful cities shall perish in fire . . . one, two, three.
+. . . Father shall rise against son, brother against brother and mother
+against daughter. . . . Vice, crime and the destruction of body and soul
+shall follow. . . . Families shall be scattered. . . . Truth and love
+shall disappear. . . . From ten thousand men one shall remain; he shall
+be nude and mad and without force and the knowledge to build him a house
+and find his food. . . . He will howl as the raging wolf, devour dead
+bodies, bite his own flesh and challenge God to fight. . . . All the
+earth will be emptied. God will turn away from it and over it there will
+be only night and death. Then I shall send a people, now unknown, which
+shall tear out the weeds of madness and vice with a strong hand and will
+lead those who still remain faithful to the spirit of man in the fight
+against Evil. They will found a new life on the earth purified by the
+death of nations. In the fiftieth year only three great kingdoms will
+appear, which will exist happily seventy-one years. Afterwards there
+will be eighteen years of war and destruction. Then the peoples of
+Agharti will come up from their subterranean caverns to the surface of
+the earth.'"
+
+* * * * *
+
+Afterwards, as I traveled farther through Eastern Mongolia and to
+Peking, I often thought:
+
+"And what if . . . ? What if whole peoples of different colors, faiths
+and tribes should begin their migration toward the West?"
+
+And now, as I write these final lines, my eyes involuntarily turn to
+this limitless Heart of Asia over which the trails of my wanderings
+twine. Through whirling snow and driving clouds of sand of the Gobi they
+travel back to the face of the Narabanchi Hutuktu as, with quiet voice
+and a slender hand pointing to the horizon, he opened to me the doors of
+his innermost thoughts:
+
+"Near Karakorum and on the shores of Ubsa Nor I see the huge,
+multi-colored camps, the herds of horses and cattle and the blue yurtas
+of the leaders. Above them I see the old banners of Jenghiz Khan, of
+the Kings of Tibet, Siam, Afghanistan and of Indian Princes; the sacred
+signs of all the Lamaite Pontiffs; the coats of arms of the Khans of the
+Olets; and the simple signs of the north Mongolian tribes. I do not hear
+the noise of the animated crowd. The singers do not sing the mournful
+songs of mountain, plain and desert. The young riders are not delighting
+themselves with the races on their fleet steeds. . . . There are
+innumerable crowds of old men, women and children and beyond in the
+north and west, as far as the eye can reach, the sky is red as a flame,
+there is the roar and crackling of fire and the ferocious sound of
+battle. Who is leading these warriors who there beneath the reddened sky
+are shedding their own and others' blood? Who is leading these crowds
+of unarmed old men and women? I see severe order, deep religious
+understanding of purposes, patience and tenacity . . . a new great
+migration of peoples, the last march of the Mongols. . . ."
+
+Karma may have opened a new page of history!
+
+And what if the King of the World be with them?
+
+But this greatest Mystery of Mysteries keeps its own deep silence.
+
+
+GLOSSARY
+
+
+Agronome.--Russian for trained agriculturalist.
+
+Amour sayn.--Good-bye.
+
+Ataman.--Headman or chief of the Cossacks.
+
+Bandi.--Pupil or student of theological school in the Buddhist faith.
+
+Buriat.--The most civilized Mongol tribe, living in the valley of the
+Selenga in Transbaikalia.
+
+Chahars.--A warlike Mongolian tribe living along the Great Wall of China
+in Inner Mongolia.
+
+Chaidje.--A high Lamaite priest, but not an incarnate god.
+
+Cheka.--The Bolshevik Counter-Revolutionary Committee, the most
+relentless establishment of the Bolsheviki, organized for the
+persecution of the enemies of the Communistic government in Russia.
+
+Chiang Chun.--Chinese for "General"--Chief of all Chinese troops in
+Mongolia.
+
+Dalai Lama.--The first and highest Pontiff of the Lamaite or "Yellow
+Faith," living at Lhasa in Tibet.
+
+Djungar.--A West Mongolian tribe.
+
+Dugun.--Chinese commercial and military post.
+
+Dzuk.--Lie down!
+
+Fang-tzu.--Chinese for "house."
+
+Fatil.--A very rare and precious root much prized in Chinese and Tibetan
+medicines.
+
+Felcher.--Assistant of a doctor (surgeon).
+
+Gelong.--Lamaite priest having the right to offer sacrifices to God.
+
+Getul.--The third rank in the Lamaite monks.
+
+Goro.--The high priest of the King of the World.
+
+Hatyk.--An oblong piece of blue (or yellow) silk cloth, presented to
+honored guests, chiefs, Lamas and gods. Also a kind of coin, worth from
+25 to 50 cents.
+
+Hong.--A Chinese mercantile establishment.
+
+Hun.--The lowest rank of princes.
+
+Hunghutze.--Chinese brigand.
+
+Hushun.--A fenced enclosure, containing the houses, paddocks, stores,
+stables, etc., of Russian Cossacks in Mongolia.
+
+Hutuktu.--The highest rank of Lamaite monks; the form of any incarnated
+god; holy.
+
+Imouran.--A small rodent like a gopher.
+
+Izubr.--The American elk.
+
+Kabarga.--The musk antelope.
+
+Kalmuck.--A Mongolian tribe, which migrated from Mongolia under Jenghiz
+Khan (where they were known as the Olets or Eleuths), and now live in
+the Urals and on the shores of the Volga in Russia.
+
+Kanpo.--The abbot of a Lamaite monastery, a monk; also the first rank of
+"white" clergy (not monks).
+
+Kanpo-Gelong.--The highest rank of Gelongs (q.v.); an honorary title.
+
+Karma.--The Buddhist materialization of the idea of Fate, a parallel
+with the Greek and Roman Nemesis (Justice).
+
+Khan.--A king.
+
+Khayrus.--A kind of trout.
+
+Khirghiz.--The great Mongol nation living between the river Irtish in
+western Siberia, Lake Balhash and the Volga in Russia.
+
+Kuropatka.--A partridge.
+
+Lama.--The common name for a Lamaite priest.
+
+Lan.--A weight of silver or gold equivalent to about one-eleventh of a
+Russian pound, or 9/110ths of a pound avoirdupois.
+
+Lanhon.--A round bottle of clay.
+
+Maramba.--A doctor of theology.
+
+Merin.--The civil chief of police in every district of the Soyot country
+in Urianhai.
+
+"Om! Mani padme Hung!".--"Om" has two meanings. It is the name of the
+first Goro and also means: "Hail!" In this connection: "Hail! Great Lama
+in the Lotus Flower!"
+
+Mende.--Soyot greeting--"Good Day."
+
+Nagan-hushun.--A Chinese vegetable garden or enclosure in Mongolia.
+
+Naida.--A form of fire used by Siberian woodsmen.
+
+Noyon.--A Prince or Khan. In polite address: "Chief," "Excellency."
+
+Obo.--The sacred and propitiatory signs in all the dangerous places in
+Urianhai and Mongolia.
+
+Olets.--Vid: Kalmuck.
+
+Om.--The name of the first Goro (q.v.) and also of the mysterious, magic
+science of the Subterranean State. It means, also: "Hail!"
+
+Orochons.--A Mongolian tribe, living near the shores of the Amur River
+in Siberia.
+
+Oulatchen.--The guard for the post horses; official guide.
+
+Ourton.--A post station, where the travelers change horses and
+oulatchens.
+
+Pandita.--The high rank of Buddhist monks.
+
+Panti.--Deer horns in the velvet, highly prized as a Tibetan and Chinese
+medicine.
+
+Pogrom.--A wholesale slaughter of unarmed people; a massacre.
+
+Paspa.--The founder of the Yellow Sect, predominating now in the Lamaite
+faith.
+
+Sait.--A Mongolian governor.
+
+Salga.--A sand partridge.
+
+Sayn.--"Good day!" "Good morning!" "Good evening!" All right; good.
+
+Taiga.--A Siberian word for forest.
+
+Taimen.--A species of big trout, reaching 120 pounds.
+
+Ta Lama.--Literally: "the great priest," but it means now "a doctor of
+medicine."
+
+Tashur.--A strong bamboo stick.
+
+Turpan.--The red wild goose or Lama-goose.
+
+Tzagan.--White.
+
+Tzara.--A document, giving the right to receive horses and oulatchens at
+the post stations.
+
+Tsirik.--Mongolian soldiers mobilized by levy.
+
+Tzuren.--A doctor-poisoner.
+
+Ulan.--Red.
+
+Urga.--The name of the capital of Mongolia; (2) a kind of Mongolian
+lasso.
+
+Vatannen.--The language of the Subterranean State of the King of the
+World.
+
+Wapiti.--The American elk.
+
+Yurta.--The common Mongolian tent or house, made of felt.
+
+Zahachine.--A West Mongolian wandering tribe.
+
+Zaberega.--The ice-mountains formed along the shores of a river in
+spring.
+
+Zikkurat.--A high tower of Babylonish style.
+
+
+
+
+
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+This etext was prepared by Donald Lainson, charlie@idirect.com.
+
+
+
+
+
+BEASTS, MEN AND GODS
+
+by Ferdinand Ossendowski
+
+
+
+
+EXPLANATORY NOTE
+
+
+When one of the leading publicists in America, Dr. Albert Shaw of
+the Review of Reviews, after reading the manuscript of Part I of
+this volume, characterized the author as "The Robinson Crusoe of
+the Twentieth Century," he touched the feature of the narrative
+which is at once most attractive and most dangerous; for the
+succession of trying and thrilling experiences recorded seems in
+places too highly colored to be real or, sometimes, even possible
+in this day and generation.  I desire, therefore, to assure the
+reader at the outset that Dr. Ossendowski is a man of long and
+diverse experience as a scientist and writer with a training for
+careful observation which should put the stamp of accuracy and
+reliability on his chronicle.  Only the extraordinary events of
+these extraordinary times could have thrown one with so many
+talents back into the surroundings of the "Cave Man" and thus given
+to us this unusual account of personal adventure, of great human
+mysteries and of the political and religious motives which are
+energizing the "Heart of Asia."
+
+My share in the work has been to induce Dr. Ossendowski to write
+his story at this time and to assist him in rendering his
+experiences into English.
+
+LEWIS STANTON PALEN.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+PART I.  DRAWING LOTS WITH DEATH
+
+
+CHAPTER
+
+I.  INTO THE FORESTS
+
+II.  THE SECRET OF MY FELLOW TRAVELER
+
+III.  THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
+
+IV.  A FISHERMAN
+
+V.  A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOR
+
+VI.  A RIVER IN TRAVAIL
+
+VII.  THROUGH SOVIET SIBERIA
+
+VIII.  THREE DAYS ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE
+
+IX.  TO THE SAYANS AND SAFETY
+
+X.  THE BATTLE OF THE SEYBI
+
+XI.  THE BARRIER OF RED PARTISANS
+
+XII.  IN THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL PEACE
+
+XIII.  MYSTERIES, MIRACLES AND A NEW FIGHT
+
+XIV.  THE RIVER OF THE DEVIL
+
+XV.  THE MARCH OF GHOSTS
+
+XVI.  IN MYSTERIOUS TIBET
+
+
+
+PART II.  THE LAND OF DEMONS
+
+
+XVII.  MYSTERIOUS MONGOLIA
+
+XVIII.  THE MYSTERIOUS LAMA AVENGER
+
+XIX.  WILD CHAHARS
+
+XX.  THE DEMON OF JAGISSTAI
+
+XXI.  THE NEST OF DEATH
+
+XXII.  AMONG THE MURDERERS
+
+XXIII.  ON A VOLCANO
+
+XXIV.  A BLOODY CHASTISEMENT
+
+XXV.  HARASSING DAYS
+
+XXVI.  THE BAND OF WHITE HUNGHUTZES
+
+XXVII.  MYSTERY IN A SMALL TEMPLE
+
+XXVIII.  THE BREATH OF DEATH
+
+
+
+PART III.  THE STRAINING HEART OF ASIA
+
+
+XXIX.  ON THE ROAD OF GREAT CONQUERORS
+
+XXX.  ARRESTED!
+
+XXXI.  TRAVELING BY "URGA"
+
+XXXII.  AN OLD FORTUNE TELLER
+
+XXXIII.  "DEATH FROM THE WHITE MAN WILL STAND BEHIND YOU"
+
+XXXIV.  THE HORROR OF WAR!
+
+XXXV.  IN THE CITY OF LIVING GODS, 30,000 BUDDHAS AND 60,000 MONKS
+
+XXXVI.  A SON OF CRUSADERS AND PRIVATEERS
+
+XXXVII.  THE CAMP OF MARTYRS
+
+XXXVIII.  BEFORE THE FACE OF BUDDHA
+
+XXXIX.  "THE MAN WITH A HEAD LIKE A SADDLE"
+
+
+
+PART IV.  THE LIVING BUDDHA
+
+
+XL.  IN THE BLISSFUL GARDEN OF A THOUSAND JOYS
+
+XLI.  THE DUST OF CENTURIES
+
+XLII.  THE BOOKS OF MIRACLES
+
+XLIII.  THE BIRTH OF THE LIVING BUDDHA
+
+XLIV.  A PAGE IN THE HISTORY OF THE PRESENT LIVING BUDDHA
+
+XLV.  THE VISION OF THE LIVING BUDDHA OF MAY 17, 1921
+
+
+
+PART V.  MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES--THE KING OF THE WORLD
+
+
+XLVI.  THE SUBTERRANEAN KINGDOM
+
+XLVII.  THE KING OF THE WORLD BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD
+
+XLVIII.  REALITY OR RELIGIOUS FANTASY?
+
+XLIX.  THE PROPHECY OF THE KING OF THE WORLD IN 1890
+
+
+
+
+There are times, men and events about which History alone can
+record the final judgments; contemporaries and individual observers
+must only write what they have seen and heard.  The very truth
+demands it.
+
+TITUS LIVIUS.
+
+
+
+
+BEASTS, MEN AND GODS
+
+
+
+Part I
+
+DRAWING LOTS WITH DEATH
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+INTO THE FORESTS
+
+
+In the beginning of the year 1920 I happened to be living in the
+Siberian town of Krasnoyarsk, situated on the shores of the River
+Yenisei, that noble stream which is cradled in the sun-bathed
+mountains of Mongolia to pour its warming life into the Arctic
+Ocean and to whose mouth Nansen has twice come to open the shortest
+road for commerce from Europe to the heart of Asia.  There in the
+depths of the still Siberian winter I was suddenly caught up in the
+whirling storm of mad revolution raging all over Russia, sowing in
+this peaceful and rich land vengeance, hate, bloodshed and crimes
+that go unpunished by the law.  No one could tell the hour of his
+fate.  The people lived from day to day and left their homes not
+knowing whether they should return to them or whether they should
+be dragged from the streets and thrown into the dungeons of that
+travesty of courts, the Revolutionary Committee, more terrible and
+more bloody than those of the Mediaeval Inquisition.  We who were
+strangers in this distraught land were not saved from its
+persecutions and I personally lived through them.
+
+One morning, when I had gone out to see a friend, I suddenly
+received the news that twenty Red soldiers had surrounded my house
+to arrest me and that I must escape.  I quickly put on one of my
+friend's old hunting suits, took some money and hurried away on
+foot along the back ways of the town till I struck the open road,
+where I engaged a peasant, who in four hours had driven me twenty
+miles from the town and set me down in the midst of a deeply
+forested region.  On the way I bought a rifle, three hundred
+cartridges, an ax, a knife, a sheepskin overcoat, tea, salt, dry
+bread and a kettle.  I penetrated into the heart of the wood to an
+abandoned half-burned hut.  From this day I became a genuine
+trapper but I never dreamed that I should follow this role as long
+as I did.  The next morning I went hunting and had the good fortune
+to kill two heathcock.  I found deer tracks in plenty and felt sure
+that I should not want for food.  However, my sojourn in this place
+was not for long.  Five days later when I returned from hunting I
+noticed smoke curling up out of the chimney of my hut.  I
+stealthily crept along closer to the cabin and discovered two
+saddled horses with soldiers' rifles slung to the saddles.  Two
+disarmed men were not dangerous for me with a weapon, so I quickly
+rushed across the open and entered the hut.  From the bench two
+soldiers started up in fright.  They were Bolsheviki.  On their big
+Astrakhan caps I made out the red stars of Bolshevism and on their
+blouses the dirty red bands.  We greeted each other and sat down.
+The soldiers had already prepared tea and so we drank this ever
+welcome hot beverage and chatted, suspiciously eyeing one another
+the while.  To disarm this suspicion on their part, I told them
+that I was a hunter from a distant place and was living there
+because I found it good country for sables.  They announced to me
+that they were soldiers of a detachment sent from a town into the
+woods to pursue all suspicious people.
+
+"Do you understand, 'Comrade,'" said one of them to me, "we are
+looking for counter-revolutionists to shoot them?"
+
+I knew it without his explanations.  All my forces were directed to
+assuring them by my conduct that I was a simple peasant hunter and
+that I had nothing in common with the counter-revolutionists.  I
+was thinking also all the time of where I should go after the
+departure of my unwelcome guests.  It grew dark.  In the darkness
+their faces were even less attractive.  They took out bottles of
+vodka and drank and the alcohol began to act very noticeably.  They
+talked loudly and constantly interrupted each other, boasting how
+many bourgeoisie they had killed in Krasnoyarsk and how many
+Cossacks they had slid under the ice in the river.  Afterwards they
+began to quarrel but soon they were tired and prepared to sleep.
+All of a sudden and without any warning the door of the hut swung
+wide open and the steam of the heated room rolled out in a great
+cloud, out of which seemed to rise like a genie, as the steam
+settled, the figure of a tall, gaunt peasant impressively crowned
+with the high Astrakhan cap and wrapped in the great sheepskin
+overcoat that added to the massiveness of his figure.  He stood
+with his rifle ready to fire.  Under his girdle lay the sharp ax
+without which the Siberian peasant cannot exist.  Eyes, quick and
+glimmering like those of a wild beast, fixed themselves alternately
+on each of us.  In a moment he took off his cap, made the sign of
+the cross on his breast and asked of us: "Who is the master here?"
+
+I answered him.
+
+"May I stop the night?"
+
+"Yes," I replied, "places enough for all.  Take a cup of tea.  It
+is still hot."
+
+The stranger, running his eyes constantly over all of us and over
+everything about the room, began to take off his skin coat after
+putting his rifle in the corner.  He was dressed in an old leather
+blouse with trousers of the same material tucked in high felt
+boots.  His face was quite young, fine and tinged with something
+akin to mockery.  His white, sharp teeth glimmered as his eyes
+penetrated everything they rested upon.  I noticed the locks of
+grey in his shaggy head.  Lines of bitterness circled his mouth.
+They showed his life had been very stormy and full of danger.  He
+took a seat beside his rifle and laid his ax on the floor below.
+
+"What?  Is it your wife?" asked one of the drunken soldiers,
+pointing to the ax.
+
+The tall peasant looked calmly at him from the quiet eyes under
+their heavy brows and as calmly answered:
+
+"One meets a different folk these days and with an ax it is much
+safer."
+
+He began to drink tea very greedily, while his eyes looked at me
+many times with sharp inquiry in them and ran often round the whole
+cabin in search of the answer to his doubts.  Very slowly and with
+a guarded drawl he answered all the questions of the soldiers
+between gulps of the hot tea, then he turned his glass upside down
+as evidence of having finished, placed on the top of it the small
+lump of sugar left and remarked to the soldiers:
+
+"I am going out to look after my horse and will unsaddle your
+horses for you also."
+
+"All right," exclaimed the half-sleeping young soldier, "bring in
+our rifles as well."
+
+The soldiers were lying on the benches and thus left for us only
+the floor.  The stranger soon came back, brought the rifles and set
+them in the dark corner.  He dropped the saddle pads on the floor,
+sat down on them and began to take off his boots.  The soldiers and
+my guest soon were snoring but I did not sleep for thinking of what
+next to do.  Finally as dawn was breaking, I dozed off only to
+awake in the broad daylight and find my stranger gone.  I went
+outside the hut and discovered him saddling a fine bay stallion.
+
+"Are you going away?" I asked.
+
+"Yes, but I want to go together with these ---- comrades,'" he
+whispered, "and afterwards I shall come back."
+
+I did not ask him anything further and told him only that I would
+wait for him.  He took off the bags that had been hanging on his
+saddle, put them away out of sight in the burned corner of the
+cabin, looked over the stirrups and bridle and, as he finished
+saddling, smiled and said:
+
+"I am ready.  I'm going to awake my 'comrades.'"  Half an hour
+after the morning drink of tea, my three guests took their leave.
+I remained out of doors and was engaged in splitting wood for my
+stove.  Suddenly, from a distance, rifle shots rang through the
+woods, first one, then a second.  Afterwards all was still.  From
+the place near the shots a frightened covey of blackcock broke and
+came over me.  At the top of a high pine a jay cried out.  I
+listened for a long time to see if anyone was approaching my hut
+but everything was still.
+
+On the lower Yenisei it grows dark very early.  I built a fire in
+my stove and began to cook my soup, constantly listening for every
+noise that came from beyond the cabin walls.  Certainly I
+understood at all times very clearly that death was ever beside me
+and might claim me by means of either man, beast, cold, accident or
+disease.  I knew that nobody was near me to assist and that all my
+help was in the hands of God, in the power of my hands and feet, in
+the accuracy of my aim and in my presence of mind.  However, I
+listened in vain.  I did not notice the return of my stranger.
+Like yesterday he appeared all at once on the threshold.  Through
+the steam I made out his laughing eyes and his fine face.  He
+stepped into the hut and dropped with a good deal of noise three
+rifles into the corner.
+
+"Two horses, two rifles, two saddles, two boxes of dry bread, half
+a brick of tea, a small bag of salt, fifty cartridges, two
+overcoats, two pairs of boots," laughingly he counted out.  "In
+truth today I had a very successful hunt."
+
+In astonishment I looked at him.
+
+"What are you surprised at?" he laughed.  "Komu nujny eti
+tovarischi?  Who's got any use for these fellows?  Let us have tea
+and go to sleep.  Tomorrow I will guide you to another safer place
+and then go on."
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE SECRET OF MY FELLOW TRAVELER
+
+
+At the dawn of day we started forth, leaving my first place of
+refuge.  Into the bags we packed our personal estate and fastened
+them on one of the saddles.
+
+"We must go four or five hundred versts," very calmly announced my
+fellow traveler, who called himself "Ivan," a name that meant
+nothing to my mind or heart in this land where every second man
+bore the same.
+
+"We shall travel then for a very long time," I remarked
+regretfully.
+
+"Not more than one week, perhaps even less," he answered.
+
+That night we spent in the woods under the wide spreading branches
+of the fir trees.  It was my first night in the forest under the
+open sky.  How many like this I was destined to spend in the year
+and a half of my wanderings!  During the day there was very sharp
+cold.  Under the hoofs of the horses the frozen snow crunched and
+the balls that formed and broke from their hoofs rolled away over
+the crust with a sound like crackling glass.  The heathcock flew
+from the trees very idly, hares loped slowly down the beds of
+summer streams.  At night the wind began to sigh and whistle as it
+bent the tops of the trees over our heads; while below it was still
+and calm.  We stopped in a deep ravine bordered by heavy trees,
+where we found fallen firs, cut them into logs for the fire and,
+after having boiled our tea, dined.
+
+Ivan dragged in two tree trunks, squared them on one side with his
+ax, laid one on the other with the squared faces together and then
+drove in a big wedge at the butt ends which separated them three or
+four inches.  Then we placed live coals in this opening and watched
+the fire run rapidly the whole length of the squared faces vis-a-
+vis.
+
+"Now there will be a fire in the morning," he announced.  "This is
+the 'naida' of the gold prospectors.  We prospectors wandering in
+the woods summer and winter always sleep beside this 'naida.'
+Fine!  You shall see for yourself," he continued.
+
+He cut fir branches and made a sloping roof out of them, resting it
+on two uprights toward the naida.  Above our roof of boughs and our
+naida spread the branches of protecting fir.  More branches were
+brought and spread on the snow under the roof, on these were placed
+the saddle cloths and together they made a seat for Ivan to rest on
+and to take off his outer garments down to his blouse.  Soon I
+noticed his forehead was wet with perspiration and that he was
+wiping it and his neck on his sleeves.
+
+"Now it is good and warm!" he exclaimed.
+
+In a short time I was also forced to take off my overcoat and soon
+lay down to sleep without any covering at all, while through the
+branches of the fir trees and our roof glimmered the cold bright
+stars and just beyond the naida raged a stinging cold, from which
+we were cosily defended.  After this night I was no longer
+frightened by the cold.  Frozen during the days on horseback, I was
+thoroughly warmed through by the genial naida at night and rested
+from my heavy overcoat, sitting only in my blouse under the roofs
+of pine and fir and sipping the ever welcome tea.
+
+During our daily treks Ivan related to me the stories of his
+wanderings through the mountains and woods of Transbaikalia in the
+search for gold.  These stories were very lively, full of
+attractive adventure, danger and struggle.  Ivan was a type of
+these prospectors who have discovered in Russia, and perhaps in
+other countries, the richest gold mines, while they themselves
+remain beggars.  He evaded telling me why he left Transbaikalia to
+come to the Yenisei.  I understood from his manner that he wished
+to keep his own counsel and so did not press him.  However, the
+blanket of secrecy covering this part of his mysterious life was
+one day quite fortuitously lifted a bit.  We were already at the
+objective point of our trip.  The whole day we had traveled with
+difficulty through a thick growth of willow, approaching the shore
+of the big right branch of the Yenisei, the Mana.  Everywhere we
+saw runways packed hard by the feet of the hares living in this
+bush.  These small white denizens of the wood ran to and fro in
+front of us.  Another time we saw the red tail of a fox hiding
+behind a rock, watching us and the unsuspecting hares at the same
+time.
+
+Ivan had been silent for a long while.  Then he spoke up and told
+me that not far from there was a small branch of the Mana, at the
+mouth of which was a hut.
+
+"What do you say?  Shall we push on there or spend the night by the
+naida?"
+
+I suggested going to the hut, because I wanted to wash and because
+it would be agreeable to spend the night under a genuine roof
+again.  Ivan knitted his brows but acceded.
+
+It was growing dark when we approached a hut surrounded by the
+dense wood and wild raspberry bushes.  It contained one small room
+with two microscopic windows and a gigantic Russian stove.  Against
+the building were the remains of a shed and a cellar.  We fired the
+stove and prepared our modest dinner.  Ivan drank from the bottle
+inherited from the soldiers and in a short time was very eloquent,
+with brilliant eyes and with hands that coursed frequently and
+rapidly through his long locks.  He began relating to me the story
+of one of his adventures, but suddenly stopped and, with fear in
+his eyes, squinted into a dark corner.
+
+"Is it a rat?" he asked.
+
+"I did not see anything," I replied.
+
+He again became silent and reflected with knitted brow.  Often we
+were silent through long hours and consequently I was not
+astonished.  Ivan leaned over near to me and began to whisper.
+
+"I want to tell you an old story.  I had a friend in Transbaikalia.
+He was a banished convict.  His name was Gavronsky.  Through many
+woods and over many mountains we traveled in search of gold and we
+had an agreement to divide all we got into even shares.  But
+Gavronsky suddenly went out to the 'Taiga' on the Yenisei and
+disappeared.  After five years we heard that he had found a very
+rich gold mine and had become a rich man; then later that he and
+his wife with him had been murdered. . . ."  Ivan was still for a
+moment and then continued:
+
+"This is their old hut.  Here he lived with his wife and somewhere
+on this river he took out his gold.  But he told nobody where.  All
+the peasants around here know that he had a lot of money in the
+bank and that he had been selling gold to the Government.  Here
+they were murdered."
+
+Ivan stepped to the stove, took out a flaming stick and, bending
+over, lighted a spot on the floor.
+
+"Do you see these spots on the floor and on the wall?  It is their
+blood, the blood of Gavronsky.  They died but they did not disclose
+the whereabouts of the gold.  It was taken out of a deep hole which
+they had drifted into the bank of the river and was hidden in the
+cellar under the shed.  But Gavronsky gave nothing away. . . .  AND
+LORD HOW I TORTURED THEM!  I burned them with fire; I bent back
+their fingers; I gouged out their eyes; but Gavronsky died in
+silence."
+
+He thought for a moment, then quickly said to me:
+
+"I have heard all this from the peasants."  He threw the log into
+the stove and flopped down on the bench.  "It's time to sleep," he
+snapped out, and was still.
+
+I listened for a long time to his breathing and his whispering to
+himself, as he turned from one side to the other and smoked his
+pipe.
+
+In the morning we left this scene of so much suffering and crime
+and on the seventh day of our journey we came to the dense cedar
+wood growing on the foothills of a long chain of mountains.
+
+"From here," Ivan explained to me, "it is eighty versts to the next
+peasant settlement.  The people come to these woods to gather cedar
+nuts but only in the autumn.  Before then you will not meet anyone.
+Also you will find many birds and beasts and a plentiful supply of
+nuts, so that it will be possible for you to live here.  Do you see
+this river?  When you want to find the peasants, follow along this
+stream and it will guide you to them."
+
+Ivan helped me build my mud hut.  But it was not the genuine mud
+hut.  It was one formed by the tearing out of the roots of a great
+cedar, that had probably fallen in some wild storm, which made for
+me the deep hole as the room for my house and flanked this on one
+side with a wall of mud held fast among the upturned roots.
+Overhanging ones formed also the framework into which we interlaced
+the poles and branches to make a roof, finished off with stones for
+stability and snow for warmth.  The front of the hut was ever open
+but was constantly protected by the guardian naida.  In that snow-
+covered den I spent two months like summer without seeing any other
+human being and without touch with the outer world where such
+important events were transpiring.  In that grave under the roots
+of the fallen tree I lived before the face of nature with my trials
+and my anxiety about my family as my constant companions, and in
+the hard struggle for my life.  Ivan went off the second day,
+leaving for me a bag of dry bread and a little sugar.  I never saw
+him again.
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
+
+
+Then I was alone.  Around me only the wood of eternally green
+cedars covered with snow, the bare bushes, the frozen river and, as
+far as I could see out through the branches and the trunks of the
+trees, only the great ocean of cedars and snow.  Siberian taiga!
+How long shall I be forced to live here?  Will the Bolsheviki find
+me here or not?  Will my friends know where I am?  What is
+happening to my family?  These questions were constantly as burning
+fires in my brain.  Soon I understood why Ivan guided me so long.
+We passed many secluded places on the journey, far away from all
+people, where Ivan could have safely left me but he always said
+that he would take me to a place where it would be easier to live.
+And it was so.  The charm of my lone refuge was in the cedar wood
+and in the mountains covered with these forests which stretched to
+every horizon.  The cedar is a splendid, powerful tree with wide-
+spreading branches, an eternally green tent, attracting to its
+shelter every living being.  Among the cedars was always
+effervescent life.  There the squirrels were continually kicking up
+a row, jumping from tree to tree; the nut-jobbers cried shrilly; a
+flock of bullfinches with carmine breasts swept through the trees
+like a flame; or a small army of goldfinches broke in and filled
+the amphitheatre of trees with their whistling; a hare scooted from
+one tree trunk to another and behind him stole up the hardly
+visible shadow of a white ermine, crawling on the snow, and I
+watched for a long time the black spot which I knew to be the tip
+of his tail; carefully treading the hard crusted snow approached a
+noble deer; at last there visited me from the top of the mountain
+the king of the Siberian forest, the brown bear.  All this
+distracted me and carried away the black thoughts from my brain,
+encouraging me to persevere.  It was good for me also, though
+difficult, to climb to the top of my mountain, which reached up out
+of the forest and from which I could look away to the range of red
+on the horizon.  It was the red cliff on the farther bank of the
+Yenisei.  There lay the country, the towns, the enemies and the
+friends; and there was even the point which I located as the place
+of my family.  It was the reason why Ivan had guided me here.  And
+as the days in this solitude slipped by I began to miss sorely this
+companion who, though the murderer of Gavronsky, had taken care of
+me like a father, always saddling my horse for me, cutting the wood
+and doing everything to make me comfortable.  He had spent many
+winters alone with nothing except his thoughts, face to face with
+nature--I should say, before the face of God.  He had tried the
+horrors of solitude and had acquired facility in bearing them.  I
+thought sometimes, if I had to meet my end in this place, that I
+would spend my last strength to drag myself to the top of the
+mountain to die there, looking away over the infinite sea of
+mountains and forest toward the point where my loved ones were.
+
+However, the same life gave me much matter for reflection and yet
+more occupation for the physical side.  It was a continuous
+struggle for existence, hard and severe.  The hardest work was the
+preparation of the big logs for the naida.  The fallen trunks of
+the trees were covered with snow and frozen to the ground.  I was
+forced to dig them out and afterwards, with the help of a long
+stick as a lever, to move them from their place.  For facilitating
+this work I chose the mountain for my supplies, where, although
+difficult to climb, it was easy to roll the logs down.  Soon I made
+a splendid discovery.  I found near my den a great quantity of
+larch, this beautiful yet sad forest giant, fallen during a big
+storm.  The trunks were covered with snow but remained attached to
+their stumps, where they had broken off.  When I cut into these
+stumps with the ax, the head buried itself and could with
+difficulty be drawn and, investigating the reason, I found them
+filled with pitch.  Chips of this wood needed only a spark to set
+them aflame and ever afterward I always had a stock of them to
+light up quickly for warming my hands on returning from the hunt or
+for boiling my tea.
+
+The greater part of my days was occupied with the hunt.  I came to
+understand that I must distribute my work over every day, for it
+distracted me from my sad and depressing thoughts.  Generally,
+after my morning tea, I went into the forest to seek heathcock or
+blackcock.  After killing one or two I began to prepare my dinner,
+which never had an extensive menu.  It was constantly game soup
+with a handful of dried bread and afterwards endless cups of tea,
+this essential beverage of the woods.  Once, during my search for
+birds, I heard a rustle in the dense shrubs and, carefully peering
+about, I discovered the points of a deer's horns.  I crawled along
+toward the spot but the watchful animal heard my approach.  With a
+great noise he rushed from the bush and I saw him very clearly,
+after he had run about three hundred steps, stop on the slope of
+the mountain.  It was a splendid animal with dark grey coat, with
+almost a black spine and as large as a small cow.  I laid my rifle
+across a branch and fired.  The animal made a great leap, ran
+several steps and fell.  With all my strength I ran to him but he
+got up again and half jumped, half dragged himself up the mountain.
+The second shot stopped him.  I had won a warm carpet for my den
+and a large stock of meat.  The horns I fastened up among the
+branches of my wall, where they made a fine hat rack.
+
+I cannot forget one very interesting but wild picture, which was
+staged for me several kilometres from my den.  There was a small
+swamp covered with grass and cranberries scattered through it,
+where the blackcock and sand partridges usually came to feed on the
+berries.  I approached noiselessly behind the bushes and saw a
+whole flock of blackcock scratching in the snow and picking out the
+berries.  While I was surveying this scene, suddenly one of the
+blackcock jumped up and the rest of the frightened flock
+immediately flew away.  To my astonishment the first bird began
+going straight up in a spiral flight and afterwards dropped
+directly down dead.  When I approached there sprang from the body
+of the slain cock a rapacious ermine that hid under the trunk of a
+fallen tree.  The bird's neck was badly torn.  I then understood
+that the ermine had charged the cock, fastened itself on his neck
+and had been carried by the bird into the air, as he sucked the
+blood from its throat, and had been the cause of the heavy fall
+back to the earth.  Thanks to his aeronautic ability I saved one
+cartridge.
+
+So I lived fighting for the morrow and more and more poisoned by
+hard and bitter thoughts.  The days and weeks passed and soon I
+felt the breath of warmer winds.  On the open places the snow began
+to thaw.  In spots the little rivulets of water appeared.  Another
+day I saw a fly or a spider awakened after the hard winter.  The
+spring was coming.  I realized that in spring it was impossible to
+go out from the forest.  Every river overflowed its banks; the
+swamps became impassable; all the runways of the animals turned
+into beds for streams of running water.  I understood that until
+summer I was condemned to a continuation of my solitude.  Spring
+very quickly came into her rights and soon my mountain was free
+from snow and was covered only with stones, the trunks of birch and
+aspen trees and the high cones of ant hills; the river in places
+broke its covering of ice and was coursing full with foam and
+bubbles.
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A FISHERMAN
+
+
+One day during the hunt, I approached the bank of the river and
+noticed many very large fish with red backs, as though filled with
+blood.  They were swimming on the surface enjoying the rays of the
+sun.  When the river was entirely free from ice, these fish
+appeared in enormous quantities.  Soon I realized that they were
+working up-stream for the spawning season in the smaller rivers.  I
+thought to use a plundering method of catching, forbidden by the
+law of all countries; but all the lawyers and legislators should be
+lenient to one who lives in a den under the roots of a fallen tree
+and dares to break their rational laws.
+
+Gathering many thin birch and aspen trees I built in the bed of the
+stream a weir which the fish could not pass and soon I found them
+trying to jump over it.  Near the bank I left a hole in my barrier
+about eighteen inches below the surface and fastened on the up-
+stream side a high basket plaited from soft willow twigs, into
+which the fish came as they passed the hole.  Then I stood cruelly
+by and hit them on the head with a strong stick.  All my catch were
+over thirty pounds, some more than eighty.  This variety of fish is
+called the taimen, is of the trout family and is the best in the
+Yenisei.
+
+After two weeks the fish had passed and my basket gave me no more
+treasure, so I began anew the hunt.
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOR
+
+
+The hunt became more and more profitable and enjoyable, as spring
+animated everything.  In the morning at the break of day the forest
+was full of voices, strange and undiscernible to the inhabitant of
+the town.  There the heathcock clucked and sang his song of love,
+as he sat on the top branches of the cedar and admired the grey hen
+scratching in the fallen leaves below.  It was very easy to
+approach this full-feathered Caruso and with a shot to bring him
+down from his more poetic to his more utilitarian duties.  His
+going out was an euthanasia, for he was in love and heard nothing.
+Out in the clearing the blackcocks with their wide-spread spotted
+tails were fighting, while the hens strutting near, craning and
+chattering, probably some gossip about their fighting swains,
+watched and were delighted with them.  From the distance flowed in
+a stern and deep roar, yet full of tenderness and love, the mating
+call of the deer; while from the crags above came down the short
+and broken voice of the mountain buck.  Among the bushes frolicked
+the hares and often near them a red fox lay flattened to the ground
+watching his chance.  I never heard any wolves and they are usually
+not found in the Siberian regions covered with mountains and
+forest.
+
+But there was another beast, who was my neighbor, and one of us had to go
+away.  One day, coming back from the hunt with a big heathcock, I
+suddenly noticed among the trees a black, moving mass.  I stopped
+and, looking very attentively, saw a bear, digging away at an ant-
+hill.  Smelling me, he snorted violently, and very quickly shuffled
+away, astonishing me with the speed of his clumsy gait.  The
+following morning, while still lying under my overcoat, I was
+attracted by a noise behind my den.  I peered out very carefully
+and discovered the bear.  He stood on his hind legs and was noisily
+sniffing, investigating the question as to what living creature had
+adopted the custom of the bears of housing during the winter under
+the trunks of fallen trees.  I shouted and struck my kettle with
+the ax.  My early visitor made off with all his energy; but his
+visit did not please me.  It was very early in the spring that this
+occurred and the bear should not yet have left his hibernating
+place.  He was the so-called "ant-eater," an abnormal type of bear
+lacking in all the etiquette of the first families of the bear
+clan.
+
+I knew that the "ant-eaters" were very irritable and audacious and
+quickly I prepared myself for both the defence and the charge.  My
+preparations were short.  I rubbed off the ends of five of my
+cartridges, thus making dum-dums out of them, a sufficiently
+intelligible argument for so unwelcome a guest.  Putting on my coat
+I went to the place where I had first met the bear and where there
+were many ant-hills.  I made a detour of the whole mountain, looked
+in all the ravines but nowhere found my caller.  Disappointed and
+tired, I was approaching my shelter quite off my guard when I
+suddenly discovered the king of the forest himself just coming out
+of my lowly dwelling and sniffing all around the entrance to it.  I
+shot.  The bullet pierced his side.  He roared with pain and anger
+and stood up on his hind legs.  As the second bullet broke one of
+these, he squatted down but immediately, dragging the leg and
+endeavoring to stand upright, moved to attack me.  Only the third
+bullet in his breast stopped him.  He weighed about two hundred to
+two hundred fifty pounds, as near as I could guess, and was very
+tasty.  He appeared at his best in cutlets but only a little less
+wonderful in the Hamburg steaks which I rolled and roasted on hot
+stones, watching them swell out into great balls that were as light
+as the finest souffle omelettes we used to have at the "Medved" in
+Petrograd.  On this welcome addition to my larder I lived from then
+until the ground dried out and the stream ran down enough so that I
+could travel down along the river to the country whither Ivan had
+directed me.
+
+Ever traveling with the greatest precautions I made the journey
+down along the river on foot, carrying from my winter quarters all
+my household furniture and goods, wrapped up in the deerskin bag
+which I formed by tying the legs together in an awkward knot; and
+thus laden fording the small streams and wading through the swamps
+that lay across my path.  After fifty odd miles of this I came to
+the country called Sifkova, where I found the cabin of a peasant
+named Tropoff, located closest to the forest that came to be my
+natural environment.  With him I lived for a time.
+
+         *          *          *          *          *
+
+Now in these unimaginable surroundings of safety and peace, summing
+up the total of my experience in the Siberian taiga, I make the
+following deductions.  In every healthy spiritual individual of our
+times, occasions of necessity resurrect the traits of primitive
+man, hunter and warrior, and help him in the struggle with nature.
+It is the prerogative of the man with the trained mind and spirit
+over the untrained, who does not possess sufficient science and
+will power to carry him through.  But the price that the cultured
+man must pay is that for him there exists nothing more awful than
+absolute solitude and the knowledge of complete isolation from
+human society and the life of moral and aesthetic culture.  One
+step, one moment of weakness and dark madness will seize a man and
+carry him to inevitable destruction.  I spent awful days of
+struggle with the cold and hunger but I passed more terrible days
+in the struggle of the will to kill weakening destructive thoughts.
+The memories of these days freeze my heart and mind and even now,
+as I revive them so clearly by writing of my experiences, they
+throw me back into a state of fear and apprehension.  Moreover, I
+am compelled to observe that the people in highly civilized states
+give too little regard to the training that is useful to man in
+primitive conditions, in conditions incident to the struggle
+against nature for existence.  It is the single normal way to
+develop a new generation of strong, healthy, iron men, with at the
+same time sensitive souls.
+
+Nature destroys the weak but helps the strong, awakening in the
+soul emotions which remain dormant under the urban conditions of
+modern life.
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+A RIVER IN TRAVAIL
+
+
+My presence in the Sifkova country was not for long but I used it
+in full measure.  First, I sent a man in whom I had confidence and
+whom I considered trustworthy to my friends in the town that I had
+left and received from them linen, boots, money and a small case of
+first aid materials and essential medicines, and, what was most
+important, a passport in another name, since I was dead for the
+Bolsheviki.  Secondly, in these more or less favorable conditions I
+reflected upon the plan for my future actions.  Soon in Sifkova the
+people heard that the Bolshevik commissar would come for the
+requisition of cattle for the Red Army.  It was dangerous to remain
+longer.  I waited only until the Yenisei should lose its massive
+lock of ice, which kept it sealed long after the small rivulets had
+opened and the trees had taken on their spring foliage.  For one
+thousand roubles I engaged a fisherman who agreed to take me fifty-
+five miles up the river to an abandoned gold mine as soon as the
+river, which had then only opened in places, should be entirely
+clear of ice.  At last one morning I heard a deafening roar like a
+tremendous cannonade and ran out to find the river had lifted its
+great bulk of ice and then given way to break it up.  I rushed on
+down to the bank, where I witnessed an awe-inspiring but
+magnificent scene.  The river had brought down the great volume of
+ice that had been dislodged in the south and was carrying it
+northward under the thick layer which still covered parts of the
+stream until finally its weight had broken the winter dam to the
+north and released the whole grand mass in one last rush for the
+Arctic.  The Yenisei, "Father Yenisei," "Hero Yenisei," is one of
+the longest rivers in Asia, deep and magnificent, especially
+through the middle range of its course, where it is flanked and
+held in canyon-like by great towering ranges.  The huge stream had
+brought down whole miles of ice fields, breaking them up on the
+rapids and on isolated rocks, twisting them with angry swirls,
+throwing up sections of the black winter roads, carrying down the
+tepees built for the use of passing caravans which in the Winter
+always go from Minnusinsk to Krasnoyarsk on the frozen river.  From
+time to time the stream stopped in its flow, the roar began and the
+great fields of ice were squeezed and piled upward, sometimes as
+high as thirty feet, damming up the water behind, so that it
+rapidly rose and ran out over the low places, casting on the shore
+great masses of ice.  Then the power of the reinforced waters
+conquered the towering dam of ice and carried it downward with a
+sound like breaking glass.  At the bends in the river and round the
+great rocks developed terrifying chaos.  Huge blocks of ice jammed
+and jostled until some were thrown clear into the air, crashing
+against others already there, or were hurled against the curving
+cliffs and banks, tearing out boulders, earth and trees high up the
+sides.  All along the low embankments this giant of nature flung
+upward with a suddenness that leaves man but a pigmy in force a
+great wall of ice fifteen to twenty feet high, which the peasants
+call "Zaberega" and through which they cannot get to the river
+without cutting out a road.  One incredible feat I saw the giant
+perform, when a block many feet thick and many yards square was
+hurled through the air and dropped to crush saplings and little
+trees more than a half hundred feet from the bank.
+
+Watching this glorious withdrawal of the ice, I was filled with
+terror and revolt at seeing the awful spoils which the Yenisei bore
+away in this annual retreat.  These were the bodies of the executed
+counter-revolutionaries--officers, soldiers and Cossacks of the
+former army of the Superior Governor of all anti-Bolshevik Russia,
+Admiral Kolchak.  They were the results of the bloody work of the
+"Cheka" at Minnusinsk.  Hundreds of these bodies with heads and
+hands cut off, with mutilated faces and bodies half burned, with
+broken skulls, floated and mingled with the blocks of ice, looking
+for their graves; or, turning in the furious whirlpools among the
+jagged blocks, they were ground and torn to pieces into shapeless
+masses, which the river, nauseated with its task, vomited out upon
+the islands and projecting sand bars.  I passed the whole length of
+the middle Yenisei and constantly came across these putrifying and
+terrifying reminders of the work of the Bolsheviki.  In one place
+at a turn of the river I saw a great heap of horses, which had been
+cast up by the ice and current, in number not less than three
+hundred.  A verst below there I was sickened beyond endurance by
+the discovery of a grove of willows along the bank which had raked
+from the polluted stream and held in their finger-like drooping
+branches human bodies in all shapes and attitudes with a semblance
+of naturalness which made an everlasting picture on my distraught
+mind.  Of this pitiful gruesome company I counted seventy.
+
+At last the mountain of ice passed by, followed by the muddy
+freshets that carried down the trunks of fallen trees, logs and
+bodies, bodies, bodies.  The fisherman and his son put me and my
+luggage into their dugout made from an aspen tree and poled
+upstream along the bank.  Poling in a swift current is very hard
+work.  At the sharp curves we were compelled to row, struggling
+against the force of the stream and even in places hugging the
+cliffs and making headway only by clutching the rocks with our
+hands and dragging along slowly.  Sometimes it took us a long while
+to do five or six metres through these rapid holes.  In two days we
+reached the goal of our journey.  I spent several days in this gold
+mine, where the watchman and his family were living.  As they were
+short of food, they had nothing to spare for me and consequently my
+rifle again served to nourish me, as well as contributing something
+to my hosts.  One day there appeared here a trained
+agriculturalist.  I did not hide because during my winter in the
+woods I had raised a heavy beard, so that probably my own mother
+could not have recognized me.  However, our guest was very shrewd
+and at once deciphered me.  I did not fear him because I saw that
+he was not a Bolshevik and later had confirmation of this.  We
+found common acquaintances and a common viewpoint on current
+events.  He lived close to the gold mine in a small village where
+he superintended public works.  We determined to escape together
+from Russia.  For a long time I had puzzled over this matter and
+now my plan was ready.  Knowing the position in Siberia and its
+geography, I decided that the best way to safety was through
+Urianhai, the northern part of Mongolia on the head waters of the
+Yenisei, then through Mongolia and out to the Far East and the
+Pacific.  Before the overthrow of the Kolchak Government I had
+received a commission to investigate Urianhai and Western Mongolia
+and then, with great accuracy, I studied all the maps and
+literature I could get on this question.  To accomplish this
+audacious plan I had the great incentive of my own safety.
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THROUGH SOVIET SIBERIA
+
+
+After several days we started through the forest on the left bank
+of the Yenisei toward the south, avoiding the villages as much as
+possible in fear of leaving some trail by which we might be
+followed.  Whenever we did have to go into them, we had a good
+reception at the hands of the peasants, who did not penetrate our
+disguise; and we saw that they hated the Bolsheviki, who had
+destroyed many of their villages.  In one place we were told that a
+detachment of Red troops had been sent out from Minnusinsk to chase
+the Whites.  We were forced to work far back from the shore of the
+Yenisei and to hide in the woods and mountains.  Here we remained
+nearly a fortnight, because all this time the Red soldiers were
+traversing the country and capturing in the woods half-dressed
+unarmed officers who were in hiding from the atrocious vengeance of
+the Bolsheviki.  Afterwards by accident we passed a meadow where we
+found the bodies of twenty-eight officers hung to the trees, with
+their faces and bodies mutilated.  There we determined never to
+allow ourselves to come alive into the hands of the Boisheviki.  To
+prevent this we had our weapons and a supply of cyanide of
+potassium.
+
+Passing across one branch of the Yenisei, once we saw a narrow,
+miry pass, the entrance to which was strewn with the bodies of men
+and horses.  A little farther along we found a broken sleigh with
+rifled boxes and papers scattered about.  Near them were also torn
+garments and bodies.  Who were these pitiful ones?  What tragedy
+was staged in this wild wood?  We tried to guess this enigma and we
+began to investigate the documents and papers.  These were official
+papers addressed to the Staff of General Pepelaieff.  Probably one
+part of the Staff during the retreat of Kolchak's army went through
+this wood, striving to hide from the enemy approaching from all
+sides; but here they were caught by the Reds and killed.  Not far
+from here we found the body of a poor unfortunate woman, whose
+condition proved clearly what had happened before relief came
+through the beneficent bullet.  The body lay beside a shelter of
+branches, strewn with bottles and conserve tins, telling the tale
+of the bantering feast that had preceded the destruction of this
+life.
+
+The further we went to the south, the more pronouncedly hospitable
+the people became toward us and the more hostile to the Bolsheviki.
+At last we emerged from the forests and entered the spacious
+vastness of the Minnusinsk steppes, crossed by the high red
+mountain range called the "Kizill-Kaiya" and dotted here and there
+with salt lakes.  It is a country of tombs, thousands of large and
+small dolmens, the tombs of the earliest proprietors of this land:
+pyramids of stone ten metres high, the marks set by Jenghiz Khan
+along his road of conquest and afterwards by the cripple Tamerlane-
+Temur.  Thousands of these dolmens and stone pyramids stretch in
+endless rows to the north.  In these plains the Tartars now live.
+They were robbed by the Bolsheviki and therefore hated them
+ardently.  We openly told them that we were escaping.  They gave us
+food for nothing and supplied us with guides, telling us with whom
+we might stop and where to hide in case of danger.
+
+After several days we looked down from the high bank of the Yenisei
+upon the first steamer, the "Oriol," from Krasnoyarsk to
+Minnusinsk, laden with Red soldiers.  Soon we came to the mouth of
+the river Tuba, which we were to follow straight east to the Sayan
+mountains, where Urianhai begins.  We thought the stage along the
+Tuba and its branch, the Amyl, the most dangerous part of our
+course, because the valleys of these two rivers had a dense
+population which had contributed large numbers of soldiers to the
+celebrated Communist Partisans, Schetinkin and Krafcheno.
+
+A Tartar ferried us and our horses over to the right bank of the
+Yenisei and afterwards sent us some Cossacks at daybreak who guided
+us to the mouth of the Tuba, where we spent the whole day in rest,
+gratifying ourselves with a feast of wild black currants and
+cherries.
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THREE DAYS ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE
+
+
+Armed with our false passports, we moved along up the valley of the
+Tuba.  Every ten or fifteen versts we came across large villages of
+from one to six hundred houses, where all administration was in the
+hands of Soviets and where spies scrutinized all passers-by.  We
+could not avoid these villages for two reasons.  First, our
+attempts to avoid them when we were constantly meeting the peasants
+in the country would have aroused suspicion and would have caused
+any Soviet to arrest us and send us to the "Cheka" in Minnusinsk,
+where we should have sung our last song.  Secondly, in his
+documents my fellow traveler was granted permission to use the
+government post relays for forwarding him on his journey.
+Therefore, we were forced to visit the village Soviets and change
+our horses.  Our own mounts we had given to the Tartar and Cossack
+who helped us at the mouth of the Tuba, and the Cossack brought us
+in his wagon to the first village, where we received the post
+horses.  All except a small minority of the peasants were against
+the Bolsheviki and voluntarily assisted us.  I paid them for their
+help by treating their sick and my fellow traveler gave them
+practical advice in the management of their agriculture.  Those who
+helped us chiefly were the old dissenters and the Cossacks.
+
+Sometimes we came across villages entirely Communistic but very
+soon we learned to distinguish them.  When we entered a village
+with our horse bells tinkling and found the peasants who happened
+to be sitting in front of their houses ready to get up with a frown
+and a grumble that here were more new devils coming, we knew that
+this was a village opposed to the Communists and that here we could
+stop in safety.  But, if the peasants approached and greeted us
+with pleasure, calling us "Comrades," we knew at once that we were
+among the enemy and took great precautions.  Such villages were
+inhabited by people who were not the Siberian liberty-loving
+peasants but by emigrants from the Ukraine, idle and drunk, living
+in poor dirty huts, though their village were surrounded with the
+black and fertile soil of the steppes.  Very dangerous and pleasant
+moments we spent in the large village of Karatuz.  It is rather a
+town.  In the year 1912 two colleges were opened here and the
+population reached 15,000 people.  It is the capital of the South
+Yenisei Cossacks.  But by now it is very difficult to recognize
+this town.  The peasant emigrants and Red army murdered all the
+Cossack population and destroyed and burned most of the houses; and
+it is at present the center of Bolshevism and Communism in the
+eastern part of the Minnusinsk district.  In the building of the
+Soviet, where we came to exchange our horses, there was being held
+a meeting of the "Cheka."  We were immediately surrounded and
+questioned about our documents.  We were not any too calm about the
+impression which might be made by our papers and attempted to avoid
+this examination.  My fellow traveler afterwards often said to me:
+
+"It is great good fortune that among the Bolsheviki the good-for-
+nothing shoemaker of yesterday is the Governor of today and
+scientists sweep the streets or clean the stables of the Red
+cavalry.  I can talk with the Bolsheviki because they do not know
+the difference between 'disinfection' and 'diphtheria,'
+'anthracite' and 'appendicitis' and can talk them round in all
+things, even up to persuading them not to put a bullet into me."
+
+And so we talked the members of the "Cheka" round to everything
+that we wanted.  We presented to them a bright scheme for the
+future development of their district, when we would build the roads
+and bridges which would allow them to export the wood from
+Urianhai, iron and gold from the Sayan Mountains, cattle and furs
+from Mongolia.  What a triumph of creative work for the Soviet
+Government!  Our ode occupied about an hour and afterwards the
+members of the "Cheka," forgetting about our documents, personally
+changed our horses, placed our luggage on the wagon and wished us
+success.  It was the last ordeal within the borders of Russia.
+
+When we had crossed the valley of the river Amyl, Happiness smiled
+on us.  Near the ferry we met a member of the militia from Karatuz.
+He had on his wagon several rifles and automatic pistols, mostly
+Mausers, for outfitting an expedition through Urianhai in quest of
+some Cossack officers who had been greatly troubling the
+Bolsheviki.  We stood upon our guard.  We could very easily have
+met this expedition and we were not quite assured that the soldiers
+would be so appreciative of our high-sounding phrases as were the
+members of the "Cheka."  Carefully questioning the militiaman, we
+ferreted out the route their expedition was to take.  In the next
+village we stayed in the same house with him.  I had to open my
+luggage and suddenly I noticed his admiring glance fixed upon my
+bag.
+
+"What pleases you so much?" I asked.
+
+He whispered:  "Trousers . . . Trousers."
+
+I had received from my townsmen quite new trousers of black thick
+cloth for riding.  Those trousers attracted the rapt attention of
+the militiaman.
+
+"If you have no other trousers. . . ." I remarked, reflecting upon
+my plan of attack against my new friend.
+
+"No," he explained with sadness, "the Soviet does not furnish
+trousers.  They tell me they also go without trousers.  And my
+trousers are absolutely worn out.  Look at them."
+
+With these words he threw back the corner of his overcoat and I was
+astonished how he could keep himself inside these trousers, for
+they had such large holes that they were more of a net than
+trousers, a net through which a small shark could have slipped.
+
+"Sell me," he whispered, with a question in his voice.
+
+"I cannot, for I need them myself," I answered decisively.
+
+He reflected for a few minutes and afterward, approaching me, said:
+"Let us go out doors and talk.  Here it is inconvenient."
+
+We went outside.  "Now, what about it?" he began.  "You are going
+into Urianhai.  There the Soviet bank-notes have no value and you
+will not be able to buy anything, where there are plenty of sables,
+fox-skins, ermine and gold dust to be purchased, which they very
+willingly exchange for rifles and cartridges.  You have each of you
+a rifle and I will give you one more rifle with a hundred
+cartridges if you give me the trousers."
+
+"We do not need weapons.  We are protected by our documents," I
+answered, as though I did not understand.
+
+"But no," he interrupted, "you can change that rifle there into
+furs and gold.  I shall give you that rifle outright."
+
+"Ah, that's it, is it?  But it's very little for those trousers.
+Nowhere in Russia can you now find trousers.  All Russia goes
+without trousers and for your rifle I should receive a sable and
+what use to me is one skin?"
+
+Word by word I attained to my desire.  The militia-man got my
+trousers and I received a rifle with one hundred cartridges and two
+automatic pistols with forty cartridges each.  We were armed now so
+that we could defend ourselves.  Moreover, I persuaded the happy
+possessor of my trousers to give us a permit to carry the weapons.
+Then the law and force were both on our side.
+
+In a distant village we bought three horses, two for riding and one
+for packing, engaged a guide, purchased dried bread, meat, salt and
+butter and, after resting twenty-four hours, began our trip up the
+Amyl toward the Sayan Mountains on the border of Urianhai.  There
+we hoped not to meet Bolsheviki, either sly or silly.  In three
+days from the mouth of the Tuba we passed the last Russian village
+near the Mongolian-Urianhai border, three days of constant contact
+with a lawless population, of continuous danger and of the ever
+present possibility of fortuitous death.  Only iron will power,
+presence of mind and dogged tenacity brought us through all the
+dangers and saved us from rolling back down our precipice of
+adventure, at whose foot lay so many others who had failed to make
+this same climb to freedom which we had just accomplished.  Perhaps
+they lacked the persistence or the presence of mind, perhaps they
+had not the poetic ability to sing odes about "roads, bridges and
+gold mines" or perhaps they simply had no spare trousers.
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+TO THE SAYANS AND SAFETY
+
+
+Dense virgin wood surrounded us.  In the high, already yellow grass
+the trail wound hardly noticeable in among bushes and trees just
+beginning to drop their many colored leaves.  It is the old,
+already forgotten Amyl pass road.  Twenty-five years ago it carried
+the provisions, machinery and workers for the numerous, now
+abandoned, gold mines of the Amyl valley.  The road now wound along
+the wide and rapid Amyl, then penetrated into the deep forest,
+guiding us round the swampy ground filled with those dangerous
+Siberian quagmires, through the dense bushes, across mountains and
+wide meadows.  Our guide probably did not surmise our real
+intention and sometimes, apprehensively looking down at the ground,
+would say:
+
+"Three riders on horses with shoes on have passed here.  Perhaps
+they were soldiers."
+
+His anxiety was terminated when he discovered that the tracks led
+off to one side and then returned to the trail.
+
+"They did not proceed farther," he remarked, slyly smiling.
+
+"That's too bad," we answered.  "It would have been more lively to
+travel in company."
+
+But the peasant only stroked his beard and laughed.  Evidently he
+was not taken in by our statement.
+
+We passed on the way a gold mine that had been formerly planned and
+equipped on splendid lines but was now abandoned and the buildings
+all destroyed.  The Bolsheviki had taken away the machinery,
+supplies and also some parts of the buildings.  Nearby stood a dark
+and gloomy church with windows broken, the crucifix torn off and
+the tower burned, a pitifully typical emblem of the Russia of
+today.  The starving family of the watchman lived at the mine in
+continuing danger and privation.  They told us that in this forest
+region were wandering about a band of Reds who were robbing
+anything that remained on the property of the gold mine, were
+working the pay dirt in the richest part of the mine and, with a
+little gold washed, were going to drink and gamble it away in some
+distant villages where the peasants were making the forbidden vodka
+out of berries and potatoes and selling it for its weight in gold.
+A meeting with this band meant death.  After three days we crossed
+the northern ridge of the Sayan chain, passed the border river
+Algiak and, after this day, were abroad in the territory of
+Urianhai.
+
+This wonderful land, rich in most diverse forms of natural wealth,
+is inhabited by a branch of the Mongols, which is now only sixty
+thousand and which is gradually dying off, speaking a language
+quite different from any of the other dialects of this folk and
+holding as their life ideal the tenet of "Eternal Peace."  Urianhai
+long ago became the scene of administrative attempts by Russians,
+Mongols and Chinese, all of whom claimed sovereignty over the
+region whose unfortunate inhabitants, the Soyots, had to pay
+tribute to all three of these overlords.  It was due to this that
+the land was not an entirely safe refuge for us.  We had heard
+already from our militiaman about the expedition preparing to go
+into Urianhai and from the peasants we learned that the villages
+along the Little Yenisei and farther south had formed Red
+detachments, who were robbing and killing everyone who fell into
+their hands.  Recently they had killed sixty-two officers
+attempting to pass Urianhai into Mongolia; robbed and killed a
+caravan of Chinese merchants; and killed some German war prisoners
+who escaped from the Soviet paradise.  On the fourth day we reached
+a swampy valley where, among open forests, stood a single Russian
+house.  Here we took leave of our guide, who hastened away to get
+back before the snows should block his road over the Sayans.  The
+master of the establishment agreed to guide us to the Seybi River
+for ten thousand roubles in Soviet notes.  Our horses were tired
+and we were forced to give them a rest, so we decided to spend
+twenty-four hours here.
+
+We were drinking tea when the daughter of our host cried:
+
+"The Soyots are coming!"  Into the room with their rifles and
+pointed hats came suddenly four of them.
+
+"Mende," they grunted to us and then, without ceremony, began
+examining us critically.  Not a button or a seam in our entire
+outfit escaped their penetrating gaze.  Afterwards one of them, who
+appeared to be the local "Merin" or governor, began to investigate
+our political views.  Listening to our criticisms of the
+Bolsheviki, he was evidently pleased and began talking freely.
+
+"You are good people.  You do not like Bolsheviki.  We will help
+you."
+
+I thanked him and presented him with the thick silk cord which I
+was wearing as a girdle.  Before night they left us saying that
+they would return in the morning.  It grew dark.  We went to the
+meadow to look after our exhausted horses grazing there and came
+back to the house.  We were gaily chatting with the hospitable host
+when suddenly we heard horses' hoofs in the court and raucous
+voices, followed by the immediate entry of five Red soldiers armed
+with rifles and swords.  Something unpleasant and cold rolled up
+into my throat and my heart hammered.  We knew the Reds as our
+enemies.  These men had the red stars on their Astrakhan caps and
+red triangles on their sleeves.  They were members of the
+detachment that was out to look for Cossack officers.  Scowling at
+us they took off their overcoats and sat down.  We first opened the
+conversation, explaining the purpose of our journey in exploring
+for bridges, roads and gold mines.  From them we then learned that
+their commander would arrive in a little while with seven more men
+and that they would take our host at once as a guide to the Seybi
+River, where they thought the Cossack officers must be hidden.
+Immediately I remarked that our affairs were moving fortunately and
+that we must travel along together.  One of the soldiers replied
+that that would depend upon the "Comrade-officer."
+
+During our conversation the Soyot Governor entered.  Very
+attentively he studied again the new arrivals and then asked:  "Why
+did you take from the Soyots the good horses and leave bad ones?"
+
+The soldiers laughed at him.
+
+"Remember that you are in a foreign country!" answered the Soyot,
+with a threat in his voice.
+
+"God and the Devil!" cried one of the soldiers.
+
+But the Soyot very calmly took a seat at the table and accepted the
+cup of tea the hostess was preparing for him.  The conversation
+ceased.  The Soyot finished the tea, smoked his long pipe and,
+standing up, said:
+
+"If tomorrow morning the horses are not back at the owner's, we
+shall come and take them."  And with these words he turned and went
+out.
+
+I noticed an expression of apprehension on the faces of the
+soldiers.  Shortly one was sent out as a messenger while the others
+sat silent with bowed heads.  Late in the night the officer arrived
+with his other seven men.  As he received the report about the
+Soyot, he knitted his brows and said:
+
+"It's a bad mess.  We must travel through the swamp where a Soyot
+will be behind every mound watching us."
+
+He seemed really very anxious and his trouble fortunately prevented
+him from paying much attention to us.  I began to calm him and
+promised on the morrow to arrange this matter with the Soyots.  The
+officer was a coarse brute and a silly man, desiring strongly to be
+promoted for the capture of the Cossack officers, and feared that
+the Soyot could prevent him from reaching the Seybi.
+
+At daybreak we started together with the Red detachment.  When we
+had made about fifteen kilometers, we discovered behind the bushes
+two riders.  They were Soyots.  On their backs were their flint
+rifles.
+
+"Wait for me!" I said to the officer.  "I shall go for a parley
+with them."
+
+I went forward with all the speed of my horse.  One of the horsemen
+was the Soyot Governor, who said to me:
+
+"Remain behind the detachment and help us."
+
+"All right," I answered, "but let us talk a little, in order that
+they may think we are parleying."
+
+After a moment I shook the hand of the Soyot and returned to the
+soldiers.
+
+"All right," I exclaimed, "we can continue our journey.  No
+hindrance will come from the Soyots."
+
+We moved forward and, when we were crossing a large meadow, we
+espied at a long distance two Soyots riding at full gallop right up
+the side of a mountain.  Step by step I accomplished the necessary
+manoeuvre to bring me and my fellow traveler somewhat behind the
+detachment.  Behind our backs remained only one soldier, very
+brutish in appearance and apparently very hostile to us.  I had
+time to whisper to my companion only one word: "Mauser," and saw
+that he very carefully unbuttoned the saddle bag and drew out a
+little the handle of his pistol.
+
+Soon I understood why these soldiers, excellent woodsmen as they
+were, would not attempt to go to the Seybi without a guide.  All
+the country between the Algiak and the Seybi is formed by high and
+narrow mountain ridges separated by deep swampy valleys.  It is a
+cursed and dangerous place.  At first our horses mired to the
+knees, lunging about and catching their feet in the roots of bushes
+in the quagmires, then falling and pinning us under their sides,
+breaking parts of their saddles and bridles.  Then we would go in
+up to the riders' knees.  My horse went down once with his whole
+breast and head under the red fluid mud and we just saved it and no
+more.  Afterwards the officer's horse fell with him so that he
+bruised his head on a stone.  My companion injured one knee against
+a tree.  Some of the men also fell and were injured.  The horses
+breathed heavily.  Somewhere dimly and gloomily a crow cawed.
+Later the road became worse still.  The trail followed through the
+same miry swamp but everywhere the road was blocked with fallen
+tree trunks.  The horses, jumping over the trunks, would land in an
+unexpectedly deep hole and flounder.  We and all the soldiers were
+covered with blood and mud and were in great fear of exhausting our
+mounts.  For a long distance we had to get down and lead them.  At
+last we entered a broad meadow covered with bushes and bordered
+with rocks.  Not only horses but riders also began to sink to their
+middle in a quagmire with apparently no bottom.  The whole surface
+of the meadow was but a thin layer of turf, covering a lake with
+black putrefying water.  When we finally learned to open our column
+and proceed at big intervals, we found we could keep on this
+surface that undulated like rubber ice and swayed the bushes up and
+down.  In places the earth buckled up and broke.
+
+Suddenly, three shots sounded.  They were hardly more than the
+report of a Flobert rifle; but they were genuine shots, because the
+officer and two soldiers fell to the ground.  The other soldiers
+grabbed their rifles and, with fear, looked about for the enemy.
+Four more were soon unseated and suddenly I noticed our rearguard
+brute raise his rifle and aim right at me.  However, my Mauser
+outstrode his rifle and I was allowed to continue my story.
+
+"Begin!" I cried to my friend and we took part in the shooting.
+Soon the meadow began to swarm with Soyots, stripping the fallen,
+dividing the spoils and recapturing their horses.  In some forms of
+warfare it is never safe to leave any of the enemy to renew
+hostilities later with overwhelming forces.
+
+After an hour of very difficult road we began to ascend the
+mountain and soon arrived on a high plateau covered with trees.
+
+"After all, Soyots are not a too peaceful people," I remarked,
+approaching the Governor.
+
+He looked at me very sharply and replied:
+
+"It was not Soyots who did the killing."
+
+He was right.  It was the Abakan Tartars in Soyot clothes who
+killed the Bolsheviki.  These Tartars were running their herds of
+cattle and horses down out of Russia through Urianhai to Mongolia.
+They had as their guide and negotiator a Kalmuck Lamaite.  The
+following morning we were approaching a small settlement of Russian
+colonists and noticed some horsemen looking out from the woods.
+One of our young and brave Tartars galloped off at full speed
+toward these men in the wood but soon wheeled and returned with a
+reassuring smile.
+
+"All right," he exclaimed, laughing, "keep right on."
+
+We continued our travel on a good broad road along a high wooden
+fence surrounding a meadow filled with a fine herd of wapiti or
+izubr, which the Russian colonists breed for the horns that are so
+valuable in the velvet for sale to Tibetan and Chinese medicine
+dealers.  These horns, when boiled and dried, are called panti and
+are sold to the Chinese at very high prices.
+
+We were received with great fear by the settlers.
+
+"Thank God!" exclaimed the hostess, "we thought. . ." and she broke
+off, looking at her husband.
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE BATTLE ON THE SEYBI
+
+
+Constant dangers develop one's watchfulness and keenness of
+perception.  We did not take off our clothes nor unsaddle our
+horses, tired as we were.  I put my Mauser inside my coat and began
+to look about and scrutinize the people.  The first thing I
+discovered was the butt end of a rifle under the pile of pillows
+always found on the peasants' large beds.  Later I noticed the
+employees of our host constantly coming into the room for orders
+from him.  They did not look like simple peasants, although they
+had long beards and were dressed very dirtily.  They examined me
+with very attentive eyes and did not leave me and my friend alone
+with the host.  We could not, however, make out anything.  But then
+the Soyot Governor came in and, noticing our strained relations,
+began explaining in the Soyot language to the host all about us.
+
+"I beg your pardon," the colonist said, "but you know yourself that
+now for one honest man we have ten thousand murderers and robbers."
+
+With this we began chatting more freely.  It appeared that our host
+knew that a band of Bolsheviki would attack him in the search for
+the band of Cossack officers who were living in his house on and
+off.  He had heard also about the "total loss" of one detachment.
+However, it did not entirely calm the old man to have our news, for
+he had heard of the large detachment of Reds that was coming from
+the border of the Usinsky District in pursuit of the Tartars who
+were escaping with their cattle south to Mongolia.
+
+"From one minute to another we are awaiting them with fear," said
+our host to me.  "My Soyot has come in and announced that the Reds
+are already crossing the Seybi and the Tartars are prepared for the
+fight."
+
+We immediately went out to look over our saddles and packs and then
+took the horses and hid them in the bushes not far off.  We made
+ready our rifles and pistols and took posts in the enclosure to
+wait for our common enemy.  An hour of trying impatience passed,
+when one of the workmen came running in from the wood and
+whispered:
+
+"They are crossing our swamp. . . .  The fight is on."
+
+In fact, like an answer to his words, came through the woods the
+sound of a single rifle-shot, followed closely by the increasing
+rat-tat-tat of the mingled guns.  Nearer to the house the sounds
+gradually came.  Soon we heard the beating of the horses' hoofs and
+the brutish cries of the soldiers.  In a moment three of them burst
+into the house, from off the road where they were being raked now
+by the Tartars from both directions, cursing violently.  One of
+them shot at our host.  He stumbled along and fell on his knee, as
+his hand reached out toward the rifle under his pillows.
+
+"Who are YOU?" brutally blurted out one of the soldiers, turning to
+us and raising his rifle.  We answered with Mausers and
+successfully, for only one soldier in the rear by the door escaped,
+and that merely to fall into the hands of a workman in the
+courtyard who strangled him.  The fight had begun.  The soldiers
+called on their comrades for help.  The Reds were strung along in
+the ditch at the side of the road, three hundred paces from the
+house, returning the fire of the surrounding Tartars.  Several
+soldiers ran to the house to help their comrades but this time we
+heard the regular volley of the workmen of our host.  They fired as
+though in a manoeuvre calmly and accurately.  Five Red soldiers lay
+on the road, while the rest now kept to their ditch.  Before long
+we discovered that they began crouching and crawling out toward the
+end of the ditch nearest the wood where they had left their horses.
+The sounds of shots became more and more distant and soon we saw
+fifty or sixty Tartars pursuing the Reds across the meadow.
+
+Two days we rested here on the Seybi.  The workmen of our host,
+eight in number, turned out to be officers hiding from the
+Bolsheviks.  They asked permission to go on with us, to which we
+agreed.
+
+When my friend and I continued our trip we had a guard of eight
+armed officers and three horses with packs.  We crossed a beautiful
+valley between the Rivers Seybi and Ut.  Everywhere we saw splendid
+grazing lands with numerous herds upon them, but in two or three
+houses along the road we did not find anyone living.  All had
+hidden away in fear after hearing the sounds of the fight with the
+Reds.  The following day we went up over the high chain of
+mountains called Daban and, traversing a great area of burned
+timber where our trail lay among the fallen trees, we began to
+descend into a valley hidden from us by the intervening foothills.
+There behind these hills flowed the Little Yenisei, the last large
+river before reaching Mongolia proper.  About ten kilometers from
+the river we spied a column of smoke rising up out of the wood.
+Two of the officers slipped away to make an investigation.  For a
+long time they did not return and we, fearful lest something had
+happened, moved off carefully in the direction of the smoke, all
+ready for a fight if necessary.  We finally came near enough to
+hear the voices of many people and among them the loud laugh of one
+of our scouts.  In the middle of a meadow we made out a large tent
+with two tepees of branches and around these a crowd of fifty or
+sixty men.  When we broke out of the forest all of them rushed
+forward with a joyful welcome for us.  It appeared that it was a
+large camp of Russian officers and soldiers who, after their escape
+from Siberia, had lived in the houses of the Russian colonists and
+rich peasants in Urianhai.
+
+"What are you doing here?" we asked with surprise.
+
+"Oh, ho, you know nothing at all about what has been going on?"
+replied a fairly old man who called himself Colonel Ostrovsky.  "In
+Urianhai an order has been issued from the Military Commissioner to
+mobilize all men over twenty-eight years of age and everywhere
+toward the town of Belotzarsk are moving detachments of these
+Partisans.  They are robbing the colonists and peasants and killing
+everyone that falls into their hands.  We are hiding here from
+them."
+
+The whole camp counted only sixteen rifles and three bombs,
+belonging to a Tartar who was traveling with his Kalmuck guide to
+his herds in Western Mongolia.  We explained the aim of our journey
+and our intention to pass through Mongolia to the nearest port on
+the Pacific.  The officers asked me to bring them out with us.  I
+agreed.  Our reconnaissance proved to us that there were no
+Partisans near the house of the peasant who was to ferry us over
+the Little Yenisei.  We moved off at once in order to pass as
+quickly as possible this dangerous zone of the Yenisei and to sink
+ourselves into the forest beyond.  It snowed but immediately
+thawed.  Before evening a cold north wind sprang up, bringing with
+it a small blizzard.  Late in the night our party reached the
+river.  Our colonist welcomed us and offered at once to ferry us
+over and swim the horses, although there was ice still floating
+which had come down from the head-waters of the stream.  During
+this conversation there was present one of the peasant's workmen,
+red-haired and squint-eyed.  He kept moving around all the time and
+suddenly disappeared.  Our host noticed it and, with fear in his
+voice, said:
+
+"He has run to the village and will guide the Partisans here.  We
+must cross immediately."
+
+Then began the most terrible night of my whole journey.  We
+proposed to the colonist that he take only our food and ammunition
+in the boat, while we would swim our horses across, in order to
+save the time of the many trips.  The width of the Yenisei in this
+place is about three hundred metres.  The stream is very rapid and
+the shore breaks away abruptly to the full depth of the stream.
+The night was absolutely dark with not a star in the sky.  The wind
+in whistling swirls drove the snow and sleet sharply against our
+faces.  Before us flowed the stream of black, rapid water, carrying
+down thin, jagged blocks of ice, twisting and grinding in the
+whirls and eddies.  For a long time my horse refused to take the
+plunge down the steep bank, snorted and braced himself.  With all
+my strength I lashed him with my whip across his neck until, with a
+pitiful groan, he threw himself into the cold stream.  We both went
+all the way under and I hardly kept my seat in the saddle.  Soon I
+was some metres from the shore with my horse stretching his head
+and neck far forward in his efforts and snorting and blowing
+incessantly.  I felt the every motion of his feet churning the
+water and the quivering of his whole body under me in this trial.
+At last we reached the middle of the river, where the current
+became exceedingly rapid and began to carry us down with it.  Out
+of the ominous darkness I heard the shoutings of my companions and
+the dull cries of fear and suffering from the horses.  I was chest
+deep in the icy water.  Sometimes the floating blocks struck me;
+sometimes the waves broke up over my head and face.  I had no time
+to look about or to feel the cold.  The animal wish to live took
+possession of me; I became filled with the thought that, if my
+horse's strength failed in his struggle with the stream, I must
+perish.  All my attention was turned to his efforts and to his
+quivering fear.  Suddenly he groaned loudly and I noticed he was
+sinking.  The water evidently was over his nostrils, because the
+intervals of his frightened snorts through the nostrils became
+longer.  A big block of ice struck his head and turned him so that
+he was swimming right downstream.  With difficulty I reined him
+around toward the shore but felt now that his force was gone.  His
+head several times disappeared under the swirling surface.  I had
+no choice.  I slipped from the saddle and, holding this by my left
+hand, swam with my right beside my mount, encouraging him with my
+shouts.  For a time he floated with lips apart and his teeth set
+firm.  In his widely opened eyes was indescribable fear.  As soon
+as I was out of the saddle, he had at once risen in the water and
+swam more calmly and rapidly.  At last under the hoofs of my
+exhausted animal I heard the stones.  One after another my
+companions came up on the shore.  The well-trained horses had
+brought all their burdens over.  Much farther down our colonist
+landed with the supplies.  Without a moment's loss we packed our
+things on the horses and continued our journey.  The wind was
+growing stronger and colder.  At the dawn of day the cold was
+intense.  Our soaked clothes froze and became hard as leather; our
+teeth chattered; and in our eyes showed the red fires of fever: but
+we traveled on to put as much space as we could between ourselves
+and the Partisans.  Passing about fifteen kilometres through the
+forest we emerged into an open valley, from which we could see the
+opposite bank of the Yenisei.  It was about eight o'clock.  Along
+the road on the other shore wound the black serpent-like line of
+riders and wagons which we made out to be a column of Red soldiers
+with their transport.  We dismounted and hid in the bushes in order
+to avoid attracting their attention.
+
+All the day with the thermometer at zero and below we continued our
+journey, only at night reaching the mountains covered with larch
+forests, where we made big fires, dried our clothes and warmed
+ourselves thoroughly.  The hungry horses did not leave the fires
+but stood right behind us with drooped heads and slept.  Very early
+in the morning several Soyots came to our camp.
+
+"Ulan?  (Red?)" asked one of them.
+
+"No! No!" exclaimed all our company.
+
+"Tzagan?  (White?)" followed the new question.
+
+"Yes, yes," said the Tartar, "all are Whites."
+
+"Mende!  Mende!" they grunted and, after starting their cups of
+tea, began to relate very interesting and important news.  It
+appeared that the Red Partisans, moving from the mountains Tannu
+Ola, occupied with their outposts all the border of Mongolia to
+stop and seize the peasants and Soyots driving out their cattle.
+To pass the Tannu Ola now would be impossible.  I saw only one way--
+to turn sharp to the southeast, pass the swampy valley of the
+Buret Hei and reach the south shore of Lake Kosogol, which is
+already in the territory of Mongolia proper.  It was very
+unpleasant news.  To the first Mongol post in Samgaltai was not
+more than sixty miles from our camp, while to Kosogol by the
+shortest line not less than two hundred seventy-five.  The horses
+my friend and I were riding, after having traveled more than six
+hundred miles over hard roads and without proper food or rest,
+could scarcely make such an additional distance.  But, reflecting
+upon the situation and studying my new fellow travelers, I
+determined not to attempt to pass the Tannu Ola.  They were
+nervous, morally weary men, badly dressed and armed and most of
+them were without weapons.  I knew that during a fight there is no
+danger so great as that of disarmed men.  They are easily caught by
+panic, lose their heads and infect all the others.  Therefore, I
+consulted with my friends and decided to go to Kosogol.  Our
+company agreed to follow us.  After luncheon, consisting of soup
+with big lumps of meat, dry bread and tea, we moved out.  About two
+o'clock the mountains began to rise up before us.  They were the
+northeast outspurs of the Tannu Ola, behind which lay the Valley of
+Buret Hei.
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE BARRIER OF RED PARTISANS
+
+
+In a valley between two sharp ridges we discovered a herd of yaks
+and cattle being rapidly driven off to the north by ten mounted
+Soyots.  Approaching us warily they finally revealed that Noyon
+(Prince) of Todji had ordered them to drive the herds along the
+Buret Hei into Mongolia, apprehending the pillaging of the Red
+Partisans.  They proceeded but were informed by some Soyot hunters
+that this part of the Tannu Ola was occupied by the Partisans from
+the village of Vladimirovka.  Consequently they were forced to
+return.  We inquired from them the whereabouts of these outposts
+and how many Partisans were holding the mountain pass over into
+Mongolia.  We sent out the Tartar and the Kalmuck for a
+reconnaissance while all of us prepared for the further advance by
+wrapping the feet of our horses in our shirts and by muzzling their
+noses with straps and bits of rope so that they could not neigh.
+It was dark when our investigators returned and reported to us that
+about thirty Partisans had a camp some ten kilometers from us,
+occupying the yurtas of the Soyots.  At the pass were two outposts,
+one of two soldiers and the other of three.  From the outposts to
+the camp was a little over a mile.  Our trail lay between the two
+outposts.  From the top of the mountain one could plainly see the
+two posts and could shoot them all.  When we had come near to the
+top of this mountain, I left our party and, taking with me my
+friend, the Tartar, the Kalmuck and two of the young officers,
+advanced.  From the mountain I saw about five hundred yards ahead
+two fires.  At each of the fires sat a soldier with his rifle and
+the others slept.  I did not want to fight with the Partisans but
+we had to do away with these outposts and that without firing or we
+never should get through the pass.  I did not believe the Partisans
+could afterwards track us because the whole trail was thickly
+marked with the spoors of horses and cattle.
+
+"I shall take for my share these two," whispered my friend,
+pointing to the left outpost.
+
+The rest of us were to take care of the second post.  I crept along
+through the bushes behind my friend in order to help him in case of
+need; but I am bound to admit that I was not at all worried about
+him.  He was about seven feet tall and so strong that, when a horse
+used to refuse sometimes to take the bit, he would wrap his arm
+around its neck, kick its forefeet out from under it and throw it
+so that he could easily bridle it on the ground.  When only a
+hundred paces remained, I stood behind the bushes and watched.  I
+could see very distinctly the fire and the dozing sentinel.  He sat
+with his rifle on his knees.  His companion, asleep beside him, did
+not move.  Their white felt boots were plainly visible to me.  For
+a long time I did not remark my friend.  At the fire all was quiet.
+Suddenly from the other outpost floated over a few dim shouts and
+all was still.  Our sentinel slowly raised his head.  But just at
+this moment the huge body of my friend rose up and blanketed the
+fire from me and in a twinkling the feet of the sentinel flashed
+through the air, as my companion had seized him by the throat and
+swung him clear into the bushes, where both figures disappeared.
+In a second he re-appeared, flourished the rifle of the Partisan
+over his head and I heard the dull blow which was followed by an
+absolute calm.  He came back toward me and, confusedly smiling,
+said:
+
+"It is done.  God and the Devil!  When I was a boy, my mother
+wanted to make a priest out of me.  When I grew up, I became a
+trained agronome in order . . . to strangle the people and smash
+their skulls.  Revolution is a very stupid thing!"
+
+And with anger and disgust he spit and began to smoke his pipe.
+
+At the other outpost also all was finished.  During this night we
+reached the top of the Tannu Ola and descended again into a valley
+covered with dense bushes and twined with a whole network of small
+rivers and streams.  It was the headwaters of the Buret Hei.  About
+one o'clock we stopped and began to feed our horses, as the grass
+just there was very good.  Here we thought ourselves in safety.  We
+saw many calming indications.  On the mountains were seen the
+grazing herds of reindeers and yaks and approaching Soyots
+confirmed our supposition.  Here behind the Tannu Ola the Soyots
+had not seen the Red soldiers.  We presented to these Soyots a
+brick of tea and saw them depart happy and sure that we were
+"Tzagan," a "good people."
+
+While our horses rested and grazed on the well-preserved grass, we
+sat by the fire and deliberated upon our further progress.  There
+developed a sharp controversy between two sections of our company,
+one led by a Colonel who with four officers were so impressed by
+the absence of Reds south of the Tannu Ola that they determined to
+work westward to Kobdo and then on to the camp on the Emil River
+where the Chinese authorities had interned six thousand of the
+forces of General Bakitch, which had come over into Mongolian
+territory.  My friend and I with sixteen of the officers chose to
+carry through our old plan to strike for the shores of Lake Kosogol
+and thence out to the Far East.  As neither side could persuade the
+other to abandon its ideas, our company was divided and the next
+day at noon we took leave of one another.  It turned out that our
+own wing of eighteen had many fights and difficulties on the way,
+which cost us the lives of six of our comrades, but that the
+remainder of us came through to the goal of our journey so closely
+knit by the ties of devotion which fighting and struggling for our
+very lives entailed that we have ever preserved for one another the
+warmest feelings of friendship.  The other group under Colonel
+Jukoff perished.  He met a big detachment of Red cavalry and was
+defeated by them in two fights.  Only two officers escaped.  They
+related to me this sad news and the details of the fights when we
+met four months later in Urga.
+
+Our band of eighteen riders with five packhorses moved up the
+valley of the Buret Hei.  We floundered in the swamps, passed
+innumerable miry streams, were frozen by the cold winds and were
+soaked through by the snow and sleet; but we persisted
+indefatigably toward the south end of Kosogol.  As a guide our
+Tartar led us confidently over these trails well marked by the feet
+of many cattle being run out of Urianhai to Mongolia.
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+IN THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL PEACE
+
+
+The inhabitants of Urianhai, the Soyots, are proud of being the
+genuine Buddhists and of retaining the pure doctrine of holy Rama
+and the deep wisdom of Sakkia-Mouni.  They are the eternal enemies
+of war and of the shedding of blood.  Away back in the thirteenth
+century they preferred to move out from their native land and take
+refuge in the north rather than fight or become a part of the
+empire of the bloody conqueror Jenghiz Khan, who wanted to add to
+his forces these wonderful horsemen and skilled archers.  Three
+times in their history they have thus trekked northward to avoid
+struggle and now no one can say that on the hands of the Soyots
+there has ever been seen human blood.  With their love of peace
+they struggled against the evils of war.  Even the severe Chinese
+administrators could not apply here in this country of peace the
+full measure of their implacable laws.  In the same manner the
+Soyots conducted themselves when the Russian people, mad with blood
+and crime, brought this infection into their land.  They avoided
+persistently meetings and encounters with the Red troops and
+Partisans, trekking off with their families and cattle southward
+into the distant principalities of Kemchik and Soldjak.  The
+eastern branch of this stream of emigration passed through the
+valley of the Buret Hei, where we constantly outstrode groups of
+them with their cattle and herds.
+
+We traveled quickly along the winding trail of the Buret Hei and in
+two days began to make the elevations of the mountain pass between
+the valleys of the Buret Hei and Kharga.  The trail was not only
+very steep but was also littered with fallen larch trees and
+frequently intercepted, incredible as it may seem, with swampy
+places where the horses mired badly.  Then again we picked our
+dangerous road over cobbles and small stones that rolled away under
+our horses' feet and bumped off over the precipice nearby.  Our
+horses fatigued easily in passing this moraine that had been strewn
+by ancient glaciers along the mountain sides.  Sometimes the trail
+led right along the edge of the precipices where the horses started
+great slides of stones and sand.  I remember one whole mountain
+covered with these moving sands.  We had to leave our saddles and,
+taking the bridles in our hands, to trot for a mile or more over
+these sliding beds, sometimes sinking in up to our knees and going
+down the mountain side with them toward the precipices below.  One
+imprudent move at times would have sent us over the brink.  This
+destiny met one of our horses.  Belly down in the moving trap, he
+could not work free to change his direction and so slipped on down
+with a mass of it until he rolled over the precipice and was lost
+to us forever.  We heard only the crackling of breaking trees along
+his road to death.  Then with great difficulty we worked down to
+salvage the saddle and bags.  Further along we had to abandon one
+of our pack horses which had come all the way from the northern
+border of Urianhai with us.  We first unburdened it but this did
+not help; no more did our shouting and threats.  He only stood with
+his head down and looked so exhausted that we realized he had
+reached the further bourne of his land of toil.  Some Soyots with
+us examined him, felt of his muscles on the fore and hind legs,
+took his head in their hands and moved it from side to side,
+examined his head carefully after that and then said:
+
+"That horse will not go further.  His brain is dried out."  So we
+had to leave him.
+
+That evening we came to a beautiful change in scene when we topped
+a rise and found ourselves on a broad plateau covered with larch.
+On it we discovered the yurtas of some Soyot hunters, covered with
+bark instead of the usual felt.  Out of these ten men with rifles
+rushed toward us as we approached.  They informed us that the
+Prince of Soldjak did not allow anyone to pass this way, as he
+feared the coming of murderers and robbers into his dominions.
+
+"Go back to the place from which you came," they advised us with
+fear in their eyes.
+
+I did not answer but I stopped the beginnings of a quarrel between
+an old Soyot and one of my officers.  I pointed to the small stream
+in the valley ahead of us and asked him its name.
+
+"Oyna," replied the Soyot.  "It is the border of the principality
+and the passage of it is forbidden."
+
+"All right," I said, "but you will allow us to warm and rest
+ourselves a little."
+
+"Yes, yes!" exclaimed the hospitable Soyots, and led us into their
+tepees.
+
+On our way there I took the opportunity to hand to the old Soyot a
+cigarette and to another a box of matches.  We were all walking
+along together save one Soyot who limped slowly in the rear and was
+holding his hand up over his nose.
+
+"Is he ill?" I asked.
+
+"Yes," sadly answered the old Soyot.  "That is my son.  He has been
+losing blood from the nose for two days and is now quite weak."
+
+I stopped and called the young man to me.
+
+"Unbutton your outer coat," I ordered, "bare your neck and chest
+and turn your face up as far as you can."  I pressed the jugular
+vein on both sides of his head for some minutes and said to him:
+
+"The blood will not flow from your nose any more.  Go into your
+tepee and lie down for some time."
+
+The "mysterious" action of my fingers created on the Soyots a
+strong impression.  The old Soyot with fear and reverence
+whispered:
+
+"Ta Lama, Ta Lama!  (Great Doctor)."
+
+In the yurta we were given tea while the old Soyot sat thinking
+deeply about something.  Afterwards he took counsel with his
+companions and finally announced:
+
+"The wife of our Prince is sick in her eyes and I think the Prince
+will be very glad if I lead the 'Ta Lama' to him.  He will not
+punish me, for he ordered that no 'bad people' should be allowed to
+pass; but that should not stop the 'good people' from coming to us.
+
+"Do as you think best," I replied rather indifferently.  "As a
+matter of fact, I know how to treat eye diseases but I would go
+back if you say so."
+
+"No, no!" the old man exclaimed with fear.  "I shall guide you
+myself."
+
+Sitting by the fire, he lighted his pipe with a flint, wiped the
+mouthpiece on his sleeve and offered it to me in true native
+hospitality.  I was "comme il faut" and smoked.  Afterwards he
+offered his pipe to each one of our company and received from each
+a cigarette, a little tobacco or some matches.  It was the seal on
+our friendship.  Soon in our yurta many persons piled up around us,
+men, women, children and dogs.  It was impossible to move.  From
+among them emerged a Lama with shaved face and close cropped hair,
+dressed in the flowing red garment of his caste.  His clothes and
+his expression were very different from the common mass of dirty
+Soyots with their queues and felt caps finished off with squirrel
+tails on the top.  The Lama was very kindly disposed towards us but
+looked ever greedily at our gold rings and watches.  I decided to
+exploit this avidity of the Servant of Buddha.  Supplying him with
+tea and dried bread, I made known to him that I was in need of
+horses.
+
+"I have a horse.  Will you buy it from me?" he asked.  "But I do
+not accept Russian bank notes.  Let us exchange something."
+
+For a long time I bargained with him and at last for my gold
+wedding ring, a raincoat and a leather saddle bag I received a fine
+Soyot horse--to replace one of the pack animals we had lost--and a
+young goat.  We spent the night here and were feasted with fat
+mutton.  In the morning we moved off under the guidance of the old
+Soyot along the trail that followed the valley of the Oyna, free
+from both mountains and swamps.  But we knew that the mounts of my
+friend and myself, together with three others, were too worn down
+to make Kosogol and determined to try to buy others in Soldjak.
+Soon we began to meet little groups of Soyot yurtas with their
+cattle and horses round about.  Finally we approached the shifting
+capital of the Prince.  Our guide rode on ahead for the parley with
+him after assuring us that the Prince would be glad to welcome the
+Ta Lama, though at the time I remarked great anxiety and fear in
+his features as he spoke.  Before long we emerged on to a large
+plain well covered with small bushes.  Down by the shore of the
+river we made out big yurtas with yellow and blue flags floating
+over them and easily guessed that this was the seat of government.
+Soon our guide returned to us.  His face was wreathed with smiles.
+He flourished his hands and cried:
+
+"Noyon (the Prince) asks you to come!  He is very glad!"
+
+From a warrior I was forced to change myself into a diplomat.  As
+we approached the yurta of the Prince, we were met by two
+officials, wearing the peaked Mongol caps with peacock feathers
+rampants behind.  With low obeisances they begged the foreign
+"Noyon" to enter the yurta.  My friend the Tartar and I entered.
+In the rich yurta draped with expensive silk we discovered a
+feeble, wizen-faced little old man with shaven face and cropped
+hair, wearing also a high pointed beaver cap with red silk apex
+topped off with a dark red button with the long peacock feathers
+streaming out behind.  On his nose were big Chinese spectacles.  He
+was sitting on a low divan, nervously clicking the beads of his
+rosary.  This was Ta Lama, Prince of Soldjak and High Priest of the
+Buddhist Temple.  He welcomed us very cordially and invited us to
+sit down before the fire burning in the copper brazier.  His
+surprisingly beautiful Princess served us with tea and Chinese
+confections and cakes.  We smoked our pipes, though the Prince as a
+Lama did not indulge, fulfilling, however, his duty as a host by
+raising to his lips the pipes we offered him and handing us in
+return the green nephrite bottle of snuff.  Thus with the etiquette
+accomplished we awaited the words of the Prince.  He inquired
+whether our travels had been felicitous and what were our further
+plans.  I talked with him quite frankly and requested his
+hospitality for the rest of our company and for the horses.  He
+agreed immediately and ordered four yurtas set up for us.
+
+"I hear that the foreign Noyon," the Prince said, "is a good
+doctor."
+
+"Yes, I know some diseases and have with me some medicines," I
+answered, "but I am not a doctor.  I am a scientist in other
+branches."
+
+But the Prince did not understand this.  In his simple directness a
+man who knows how to treat disease is a doctor.
+
+"My wife has had constant trouble for two months with her eyes," he
+announced.  "Help her."
+
+I asked the Princess to show me her eyes and I found the typical
+conjunctivitis from the continual smoke of the yurta and the
+general uncleanliness.  The Tartar brought me my medicine case.  I
+washed her eyes with boric acid and dropped a little cocaine and a
+feeble solution of sulphurate of zinc into them.
+
+"I beg you to cure me," pleaded the Princess.  "Do not go away
+until you have cured me.  We shall give you sheep, milk and flour
+for all your company.  I weep now very often because I had very
+nice eyes and my husband used to tell me they shone like the stars
+and now they are red.  I cannot bear it, I cannot!"
+
+She very capriciously stamped her foot and, coquettishly smiling at
+me, asked:
+
+"Do you want to cure me?  Yes?"
+
+The character and manners of lovely woman are the same everywhere:
+on bright Broadway, along the stately Thames, on the vivacious
+boulevards of gay Paris and in the silk-draped yurta of the Soyot
+Princess behind the larch covered Tannu Ola.
+
+"I shall certainly try," assuringly answered the new oculist.
+
+We spent here ten days, surrounded by the kindness and friendship
+of the whole family of the Prince.  The eyes of the Princess, which
+eight years ago had seduced the already old Prince Lama, were now
+recovered.  She was beside herself with joy and seldom left her
+looking-glass.
+
+The Prince gave me five fairly good horses, ten sheep and a bag of
+flour, which was immediately transformed into dry bread.  My friend
+presented him with a Romanoff five-hundred-rouble note with a
+picture of Peter the Great upon it, while I gave to him a small
+nugget of gold which I had picked up in the bed of a stream.  The
+Prince ordered one of the Soyots to guide us to the Kosogol.  The
+whole family of the Prince conducted us to the monastery ten
+kilometres from the "capital."  We did not visit the monastery but
+we stopped at the "Dugun," a Chinese trading establishment.  The
+Chinese merchants looked at us in a very hostile manner though they
+simultaneously offered us all sorts of goods, thinking especially
+to catch us with their round bottles (lanhon) of maygolo or sweet
+brandy made from aniseed.  As we had neither lump silver nor
+Chinese dollars, we could only look with longing at these
+attractive bottles, till the Prince came to the rescue and ordered
+the Chinese to put five of them in our saddle bags.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+MYSTERIES, MIRACLES AND A NEW FIGHT
+
+
+In the evening of the same day we arrived at the Sacred Lake of
+Teri Noor, a sheet of water eight kilometres across, muddy and
+yellow, with low unattractive shores studded with large holes.  In
+the middle of the lake lay what was left of a disappearing island.
+On this were a few trees and some old ruins.  Our guide explained
+to us that two centuries ago the lake did not exist and that a very
+strong Chinese fortress stood here on the plain.  A Chinese chief
+in command of the fortress gave offence to an old Lama who cursed
+the place and prophesied that it would all be destroyed.  The very
+next day the water began rushing up from the ground, destroyed the
+fortress and engulfed all the Chinese soldiers.  Even to this day
+when storms rage over the lake the waters cast up on the shores the
+bones of men and horses who perished in it.  This Teri Noor
+increases its size every year, approaching nearer and nearer to the
+mountains.  Skirting the eastern shore of the lake, we began to
+climb a snow-capped ridge.  The road was easy at first but the
+guide warned us that the most difficult bit was there ahead.  We
+reached this point two days later and found there a steep mountain
+side thickly set with forest and covered with snow.  Beyond it lay
+the lines of eternal snow--ridges studded with dark rocks set in
+great banks of the white mantle that gleamed bright under the clear
+sunshine.  These were the eastern and highest branches of the Tannu
+Ola system.  We spent the night beneath this wood and began the
+passage of it in the morning.  At noon the guide began leading us
+by zigzags in and out but everywhere our trail was blocked by deep
+ravines, great jams of fallen trees and walls of rock caught in
+their mad tobogganings from the mountain top.  We struggled for
+several hours, wore out our horses and, all of a sudden, turned up
+at the place where we had made our last halt.  It was very evident
+our Soyot had lost his way; and on his face I noticed marked fear.
+
+"The old devils of the cursed forest will not allow us to pass," he
+whispered with trembling lips.  "It is a very ominous sign.  We
+must return to Kharga to the Noyon."
+
+But I threatened him and he took the lead again evidently without
+hope or effort to find the way.  Fortunately, one of our party, an
+Urianhai hunter, noticed the blazes on the trees, the signs of the
+road which our guide had lost.  Following these, we made our way
+through the wood, came into and crossed a belt of burned larch
+timber and beyond this dipped again into a small live forest
+bordering the bottom of the mountains crowned with the eternal
+snows.  It grew dark so that we had to camp for the night.  The
+wind rose high and carried in its grasp a great white sheet of snow
+that shut us off from the horizon on every side and buried our camp
+deep in its folds.  Our horses stood round like white ghosts,
+refusing to eat or to leave the circle round our fire.  The wind
+combed their manes and tails.  Through the niches in the mountains
+it roared and whistled.  From somewhere in the distance came the
+low rumble of a pack of wolves, punctuated at intervals by the
+sharp individual barking that a favorable gust of wind threw up
+into high staccato.
+
+As we lay by the fire, the Soyot came over to me and said:  "Noyon,
+come with me to the obo.  I want to show you something."
+
+We went there and began to ascend the mountain.  At the bottom of a
+very steep slope was laid up a large pile of stones and tree
+trunks, making a cone of some three metres in height.  These obo
+are the Lamaite sacred signs set up at dangerous places, the altars
+to the bad demons, rulers of these places.  Passing Soyots and
+Mongols pay tribute to the spirits by hanging on the branches of
+the trees in the obo hatyk, long streamers of blue silk, shreds
+torn from the lining of their coats or simply tufts of hair cut
+from their horses' manes; or by placing on the stones lumps of meat
+or cups of tea and salt.
+
+"Look at it," said the Soyot.  "The hatyks are torn off.  The
+demons are angry, they will not allow us to pass, Noyon. . . ."
+
+He caught my hand and with supplicating voice whispered:  "Let us
+go back, Noyon; let us!  The demons do not wish us to pass their
+mountains.  For twenty years no one has dared to pass these
+mountains and all bold men who have tried have perished here.  The
+demons fell upon them with snowstorm and cold.  Look!  It is
+beginning already. . . .  Go back to our Noyon, wait for the warmer
+days and then. . . ."
+
+I did not listen further to the Soyot but turned back to the fire,
+which I could hardly see through the blinding snow.  Fearing our
+guide might run away, I ordered a sentry to be stationed for the
+night to watch him.  Later in the night I was awakened by the
+sentry, who said to me:  "Maybe I am mistaken, but I think I heard
+a rifle."
+
+What could I say to it?  Maybe some stragglers like ourselves were
+giving a sign of their whereabouts to their lost companions, or
+perhaps the sentry had mistaken for a rifle shot the sound of some
+falling rock or frozen ice and snow.  Soon I fell asleep again and
+suddenly saw in a dream a very clear vision.  Out on the plain,
+blanketed deep with snow, was moving a line of riders.  They were
+our pack horses, our Kalmuck and the funny pied horse with the
+Roman nose.  I saw us descending from this snowy plateau into a
+fold in the mountains.  Here some larch trees were growing, close
+to which gurgled a small, open brook.  Afterwards I noticed a fire
+burning among the trees and then woke up.
+
+It grew light.  I shook up the others and asked them to prepare
+quickly so as not to lose time in getting under way.  The storm was
+raging.  The snow blinded us and blotted out all traces of the
+road.  The cold also became more intense.  At last we were in the
+saddles.  The Soyot went ahead trying to make out the trail.  As we
+worked higher the guide less seldom lost the way.  Frequently we
+fell into deep holes covered with snow; we scrambled up over
+slippery rocks.  At last the Soyot swung his horse round and,
+coming up to me, announced very positively:  "I do not want to die
+with you and I will not go further."
+
+My first motion was the swing of my whip back over my head.  I was
+so close to the "Promised Land" of Mongolia that this Soyot,
+standing in the way of fulfilment of my wishes, seemed to me my
+worst enemy.  But I lowered my flourishing hand.  Into my head
+flashed a quite wild thought.
+
+"Listen," I said.  "If you move your horses, you will receive a
+bullet in the back and you will perish not at the top of the
+mountain but at the bottom.  And now I will tell you what will
+happen to us.  When we shall have reached these rocks above, the
+wind will have ceased and the snowstorm will have subsided.  The
+sun will shine as we cross the snowy plain above and afterwards we
+shall descend into a small valley where there are larches growing
+and a stream of open running water.  There we shall light our fires
+and spend the night."
+
+The Soyot began to tremble with fright.
+
+"Noyon has already passed these mountains of Darkhat Ola?" he asked
+in amazement.
+
+"No," I answered, "but last night I had a vision and I know that we
+shall fortunately win over this ridge."
+
+"I will guide you!" exclaimed the Soyot, and, whipping his horse,
+led the way up the steep slope to the top of the ridge of eternal
+snows.
+
+As we were passing along the narrow edge of a precipice, the Soyot
+stopped and attentively examined the trail.
+
+"Today many shod horses have passed here!" he cried through the
+roar of the storm.  "Yonder on the snow the lash of a whip has been
+dragged.  These are not Soyots."
+
+The solution of this enigma appeared instantly.  A volley rang out.
+One of my companions cried out, as he caught hold of his right
+shoulder; one pack horse fell dead with a bullet behind his ear.
+We quickly tumbled out of our saddles, lay down behind the rocks
+and began to study the situation.  We were separated from a
+parallel spur of the mountain by a small valley about one thousand
+paces across.  There we made out about thirty riders already
+dismounted and firing at us.  I had never allowed any fighting to
+be done until the initiative had been taken by the other side.  Our
+enemy fell upon us unawares and I ordered my company to answer.
+
+"Aim at the horses!" cried Colonel Ostrovsky.  Then he ordered the
+Tartar and Soyot to throw our own animals.  We killed six of theirs
+and probably wounded others, as they got out of control.  Also our
+rifles took toll of any bold man who showed his head from behind
+his rock.  We heard the angry shouting and maledictions of Red
+soldiers who shot up our position more and more animatedly.
+
+Suddenly I saw our Soyot kick up three of the horses and spring
+into the saddle of one with the others in leash behind.  Behind him
+sprang up the Tartar and the Kalmuck.  I had already drawn my rifle
+on the Soyot but, as soon as I saw the Tartar and Kalmuck on their
+lovely horses behind him, I dropped my gun and knew all was well.
+The Reds let off a volley at the trio but they made good their
+escape behind the rocks and disappeared.  The firing continued more
+and more lively and I did not know what to do.  From our side we
+shot rarely, saving our cartridges.  Watching carefully the enemy,
+I noticed two black points on the snow high above the Reds.  They
+slowly approached our antagonists and finally were hidden from view
+behind some sharp hillocks.  When they emerged from these, they
+were right on the edge of some overhanging rocks at the foot of
+which the Reds lay concealed from us.  By this time I had no doubt
+that these were the heads of two men.  Suddenly these men rose up
+and I watched them flourish and throw something that was followed
+by two deafening roars which re-echoed across the mountain valley.
+Immediately a third explosion was followed by wild shouts and
+disorderly firing among the Reds.  Some of the horses rolled down
+the slope into the snow below and the soldiers, chased by our
+shots, made off as fast as they could down into the valley out of
+which we had come.
+
+Afterward the Tartar told me the Soyot had proposed to guide them
+around behind the Reds to fall upon their rear with the bombs.
+When I had bound up the wounded shoulder of the officer and we had
+taken the pack off the killed animal, we continued our journey.
+Our position was complicated.  We had no doubt that the Red
+detachment came up from Mongolia.  Therefore, were there Red troops
+in Mongolia?  What was their strength?  Where might we meet them?
+Consequently, Mongolia was no more the Promised Land?  Very sad
+thoughts took possession of us.
+
+But Nature pleased us.  The wind gradually fell.  The storm ceased.
+The sun more and more frequently broke through the scudding clouds.
+We were traveling upon a high, snow-covered plateau, where in one
+place the wind blew it clean and in another piled it high with
+drifts which caught our horses and held them so that they could
+hardly extricate themselves at times.  We had to dismount and wade
+through the white piles up to our waists and often a man or horse
+was down and had to be helped to his feet.  At last the descent
+began and at sunset we stopped in the small larch grove, spent the
+night at the fire among the trees and drank the tea boiled in the
+water carried from the open mountain brook.  In various places we
+came across the tracks of our recent antagonists.
+
+Everything, even Nature herself and the angry demons of Darkhat
+Ola, had helped us: but we were not gay, because again before us
+lay the dread uncertainty that threatened us with new and possibly
+destructive dangers.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE RIVER OF THE DEVIL
+
+
+Ulan Taiga with Darkhat Ola lay behind us.  We went forward very
+rapidly because the Mongol plains began here, free from the
+impediments of mountains.  Everywhere splendid grazing lands
+stretched away.  In places there were groves of larch.  We crossed
+some very rapid streams but they were not deep and they had hard
+beds.  After two days of travel over the Darkhat plain we began
+meeting Soyots driving their cattle rapidly toward the northwest
+into Orgarkha Ola.  They communicated to us very unpleasant news.
+
+The Bolsheviki from the Irkutsk district had crossed the Mongolian
+border, captured the Russian colony at Khathyl on the southern
+shore of Lake Kosogol and turned, off south toward Muren Kure, a
+Russian settlement beside a big Lamaite monastery sixty miles south
+of Kosogol.  The Mongols told us there were no Russian troops
+between Khathyl and Muren Kure, so we decided to pass between these
+two points to reach Van Kure farther to the east.  We took leave of
+our Soyot guide and, after having sent three scouts in advance,
+moved forward.  From the mountains around the Kosogol we admired
+the splendid view of this broad Alpine lake.  It was set like a
+sapphire in the old gold of the surrounding hills, chased with
+lovely bits of rich dark forestry.  At night we approached Khathyl
+with great precaution and stopped on the shore of the river that
+flows from Kosogol, the Yaga or Egingol.  We found a Mongol who
+agreed to transport us to the other bank of the frozen stream and
+to lead us by a safe road between Khathyl and Muren Kure.
+Everywhere along the shore of the river were found large obo and
+small shrines to the demons of the stream.
+
+"Why are there so many obo?" we asked the Mongol.
+
+"It is the River of the Devil, dangerous and crafty," replied the
+Mongol.  "Two days ago a train of carts went through the ice and
+three of them with five soldiers were lost."
+
+We started to cross.  The surface of the river resembled a thick
+piece of looking-glass, being clear and without snow.  Our horses
+walked very carefully but some fell and floundered before they
+could regain their feet.  We were leading them by the bridle.  With
+bowed heads and trembling all over they kept their frightened eyes
+ever on the ice at their feet.  I looked down and understood their
+fear.  Through the cover of one foot of transparent ice one could
+clearly see the bottom of the river.  Under the lighting of the
+moon all the stones, the holes and even some of the grasses were
+distinctly visible, even though the depth was ten metres and more.
+The Yaga rushed under the ice with a furious speed, swirling and
+marking its course with long bands of foam and bubbles.  Suddenly I
+jumped and stopped as though fastened to the spot.  Along the
+surface of the river ran the boom of a cannon, followed by a second
+and a third.
+
+"Quicker, quicker!" cried our Mongol, waving us forward with his
+hand.
+
+Another cannon boom and a crack ran right close to us.  The horses
+swung back on their haunches in protest, reared and fell, many of
+them striking their heads severely on the ice.  In a second it
+opened up two feet wide, so that I could follow its jagged course
+along the surface.  Immediately up out of the opening the water
+spread over the ice with a rush.
+
+"Hurry, hurry!" shouted the guide.
+
+With great difficulty we forced our horses to jump over this
+cleavage and to continue on further.  They trembled and disobeyed
+and only the strong lash forced them to forget this panic of fear
+and go on.
+
+When we were safe on the farther bank and well into the woods, our
+Mongol guide recounted to us how the river at times opens in this
+mysterious way and leaves great areas of clear water.  All the men
+and animals on the river at such times must perish.  The furious
+current of cold water will always carry them down under the ice.
+At other times a crack has been known to pass right under a horse
+and, where he fell in with his front feet in the attempt to get
+back to the other side, the crack has closed up and ground his legs
+or feet right off.
+
+The valley of Kosogol is the crater of an extinct volcano.  Its
+outlines may be followed from the high west shore of the lake.
+However, the Plutonic force still acts and, asserting the glory of
+the Devil, forces the Mongols to build obo and offer sacrifices at
+his shrines.  We spent all the night and all the next day hurrying
+away eastward to avoid a meeting with the Reds and seeking good
+pasturage for our horses.  At about nine o'clock in the evening a
+fire shone out of the distance.  My friend and I made toward it
+with the feeling that it was surely a Mongol yurta beside which we
+could camp in safety.  We traveled over a mile before making out
+distinctly the lines of a group of yurtas.  But nobody came out to
+meet us and, what astonished us more, we were not surrounded by the
+angry black Mongolian dogs with fiery eyes.  Still, from the
+distance we had seen the fire and so there must be someone there.
+We dismounted from our horses and approached on foot.  From out of
+the yurta rushed two Russian soldiers, one of whom shot at me with
+his pistol but missed me and wounded my horse in the back through
+the saddle.  I brought him to earth with my Mauser and the other
+was killed by the butt end of my friend's rifle.  We examined the
+bodies and found in their pockets the papers of soldiers of the
+Second Squadron of the Communist Interior Defence.  Here we spent
+the night.  The owners of the yurtas had evidently run away, for
+the Red soldiers had collected and packed in sacks the property of
+the Mongols.  Probably they were just planning to leave, as they
+were fully dressed.  We acquired two horses, which we found in the
+bushes, two rifles and two automatic pistols with cartridges.  In
+the saddle bags we also found tea, tobacco, matches and cartridges--
+all of these valuable supplies to help us keep further hold on our
+lives.
+
+Two days later we were approaching the shore of the River Uri when
+we met two Russian riders, who were the Cossacks of a certain
+Ataman Sutunin, acting against the Bolsheviki in the valley of the
+River Selenga.  They were riding to carry a message from Sutunin to
+Kaigorodoff, chief of the Anti-Bolsheviki in the Altai region.
+They informed us that along the whole Russian-Mongolian border the
+Bolshevik troops were scattered; also that Communist agitators had
+penetrated to Kiakhta, Ulankom and Kobdo and had persuaded the
+Chinese authorities to surrender to the Soviet authorities all the
+refugees from Russia.  We knew that in the neighborhood of Urga and
+Van Kure engagements were taking place between the Chinese troops
+and the detachments of the Anti-Bolshevik Russian General Baron
+Ungern Sternberg and Colonel Kazagrandi, who were fighting for the
+independence of Outer Mongolia.  Baron Ungern had now been twice
+defeated, so that the Chinese were carrying on high-handed in Urga,
+suspecting all foreigners of having relations with the Russian
+General.
+
+We realized that the whole situation was sharply reversed.  The
+route to the Pacific was closed.  Reflecting very carefully over
+the problem, I decided that we had but one possible exit left.  We
+must avoid all Mongolian cities with Chinese administration, cross
+Mongolia from north to south, traverse the desert in the southern
+part of the Principality of Jassaktu Khan, enter the Gobi in the
+western part of Inner Mongolia, strike as rapidly as possible
+through sixty miles of Chinese territory in the Province of Kansu
+and penetrate into Tibet.  Here I hoped to search out one of the
+English Consuls and with his help to reach some English port in
+India.  I understood thoroughly all the difficulties incident to
+such an enterprise but I had no other choice.  It only remained to
+make this last foolish attempt or to perish without doubt at the
+hands of the Boisheviki or languish in a Chinese prison.  When I
+announced my plan to my companions, without in any way hiding from
+them all its dangers and quixotism, all of them answered very
+quickly and shortly:  "Lead us!  We will follow."
+
+One circumstance was distinctly in our favor.  We did not fear
+hunger, for we had some supplies of tea, tobacco and matches and a
+surplus of horses, saddles, rifles, overcoats and boots, which were
+an excellent currency for exchange.  So then we began to initiate
+the plan of the new expedition.  We should start to the south,
+leaving the town of Uliassutai on our right and taking the
+direction of Zaganluk, then pass through the waste lands of the
+district of Balir of Jassaktu Khan, cross the Naron Khuhu Gobi and
+strike for the mountains of Boro.  Here we should be able to take a
+long rest to recuperate the strength of our horses and of
+ourselves.  The second section of our journey would be the passage
+through the western part of Inner Mongolia, through the Little
+Gobi, through the lands of the Torguts, over the Khara Mountains,
+across Kansu, where our road must be chosen to the west of the
+Chinese town of Suchow.  From there we should have to enter the
+Dominion of Kuku Nor and then work on southward to the head waters
+of the Yangtze River.  Beyond this I had but a hazy notion, which
+however I was able to verify from a map of Asia in the possession
+of one of the officers, to the effect that the mountain chains to
+the west of the sources of the Yangtze separated that river system
+from the basin of the Brahmaputra in Tibet Proper, where I expected
+to be able to find English assistance.
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE MARCH OF GHOSTS
+
+
+In no other way can I describe the journey from the River Ero to
+the border of Tibet.  About eleven hundred miles through the snowy
+steppes, over mountains and across deserts we traveled in forty-
+eight days.  We hid from the people as we journeyed, made short
+stops in the most desolate places, fed for whole weeks on nothing
+but raw, frozen meat in order to avoid attracting attention by the
+smoke of fires.  Whenever we needed to purchase a sheep or a steer
+for our supply department, we sent out only two unarmed men who
+represented to the natives that they were the workmen of some
+Russian colonists.  We even feared to shoot, although we met a
+great herd of antelopes numbering as many as five thousand head.
+Behind Balir in the lands of the Lama Jassaktu Khan, who had
+inherited his throne as a result of the poisoning of his brother at
+Urga by order of the Living Buddha, we met wandering Russian
+Tartars who had driven their herds all the way from Altai and
+Abakan.  They welcomed us very cordially, gave us oxen and thirty-
+six bricks of tea.  Also they saved us from inevitable destruction,
+for they told us that at this season it was utterly impossible for
+horses to make the trip across the Gobi, where there was no grass
+at all.  We must buy camels by exchanging for them our horses and
+some other of our bartering supplies.  One of the Tartars the next
+day brought to their camp a rich Mongol with whom he drove the
+bargain for this trade.  He gave us nineteen camels and took all
+our horses, one rifle, one pistol and the best Cossack saddle.  He
+advised us by all means to visit the sacred Monastery of
+Narabanchi, the last Lamaite monastery on the road from Mongolia to
+Tibet.  He told us that the Holy Hutuktu, "the Incarnate Buddha,"
+would be greatly offended if we did not visit the monastery and his
+famous "Shrine of Blessings," where all travelers going to Tibet
+always offered prayers.  Our Kalmuck Lamaite supported the Mongol
+in this.  I decided to go there with the Kalmuck.  The Tartars gave
+me some big silk hatyk as presents and loaned us four splendid
+horses.  Although the monastery was fifty-five miles distant, by
+nine o'clock in the evening I entered the yurta of this holy
+Hutuktu.
+
+He was a middle-aged, clean shaven, spare little man, laboring
+under the name of Jelyb Djamsrap Hutuktu.  He received us very
+cordially and was greatly pleased with the presentation of the
+hatyk and with my knowledge of the Mongol etiquette in which my
+Tartar had been long and persistently instructing me.  He listened
+to me most attentively and gave valuable advice about the road,
+presenting me then with a ring which has since opened for me the
+doors of all Lamaite monasteries.  The name of this Hutuktu is
+highly esteemed not only in all Mongolia but in Tibet and in the
+Lamaite world of China.  We spent the night in his splendid yurta
+and on the following morning visited the shrines where they were
+conducting very solemn services with the music of gongs, tom-toms
+and whistling.  The Lamas with their deep voices were intoning the
+prayers while the lesser priests answered with their antiphonies.
+The sacred phrase:  "Om!  Mani padme Hung!" was endlessly repeated.
+
+The Hutuktu wished us success, presented us with a large yellow
+hatyk and accompanied us to the monastery gate.  When we were in
+our saddles he said:
+
+"Remember that you are always welcome guests here.  Life is very
+complicated and anything may happen.  Perhaps you will be forced in
+future to re-visit distant Mongolia and then do not miss Narabanchi
+Kure."
+
+That night we returned to the Tartars and the next day continued
+our journey.  As I was very tired, the slow, easy motion of the
+camel was welcome and restful to me.  All the day I dozed off at
+intervals to sleep.  It turned out to be very disastrous for me;
+for, when my camel was going up the steep bank of a river, in one
+of my naps I fell off and hit my head on a stone, lost
+consciousness and woke up to find my overcoat covered with blood.
+My friends surrounded me with their frightened faces.  They
+bandaged my head and we started off again.  I only learned long
+afterwards from a doctor who examined me that I had cracked my
+skull as the price of my siesta.
+
+We crossed the eastern ranges of the Altai and the Karlik Tag,
+which are the most oriental sentinels the great Tian Shan system
+throws out into the regions of the Gobi; and then traversed from
+the north to the south the entire width of the Khuhu Gobi.  Intense
+cold ruled all this time and fortunately the frozen sands gave us
+better speed.  Before passing the Khara range, we exchanged our
+rocking-chair steeds for horses, a deal in which the Torguts
+skinned us badly like the true "old clothes men" they are.
+
+Skirting around these mountains we entered Kansu.  It was a
+dangerous move, for the Chinese were arresting all refugees and I
+feared for my Russian fellow-travelers.  During the days we hid in
+the ravines, the forests and bushes, making forced marches at
+night.  Four days we thus used in this passage of Kansu.  The few
+Chinese peasants we did encounter were peaceful appearing and most
+hospitable.  A marked sympathetic interest surrounded the Kalmuck,
+who could speak a bit of Chinese, and my box of medicines.
+Everywhere we found many ill people, chiefly afflicted with eye
+troubles, rheumatism and skin diseases.
+
+As we were approaching Nan Shan, the northeast branch of the Altyn
+Tag (which is in turn the east branch of the Pamir and Karakhorum
+system), we overhauled a large caravan of Chinese merchants going
+to Tibet and joined them.  For three days we were winding through
+the endless ravine-like valleys of these mountains and ascending
+the high passes.  But we noticed that the Chinese knew how to pick
+the easiest routes for caravans over all these difficult places.
+In a state of semi-consciousness I made this whole journey toward
+the large group of swampy lakes, feeding the Koko Nor and a whole
+network of large rivers.  From fatigue and constant nervous strain,
+probably helped by the blow on my head, I began suffering from
+sharp attacks of chills and fever, burning up at times and then
+chattering so with my teeth that I frightened my horse who several
+times threw me from the saddle.  I raved, cried out at times and
+even wept.  I called my family and instructed them how they must
+come to me.  I remember as though through a dream how I was taken
+from the horse by my companions, laid on the ground, supplied with
+Chinese brandy and, when I recovered a little, how they said to me:
+
+"The Chinese merchants are heading for the west and we must travel
+south."
+
+"No!  To the north," I replied very sharply.
+
+"But no, to the south," my companions assured me.
+
+"God and the Devil!" I angrily ejaculated, "we have just swum the
+Little Yenisei and Algyak is to the north!"
+
+"We are in Tibet," remonstrated my companions.  "We must reach the
+Brahmaputra."
+
+Brahmaputra. . . .  Brahmaputra. . . .  This word revolved in my
+fiery brain, made a terrible noise and commotion.  Suddenly I
+remembered everything and opened my eyes.  I hardly moved my lips
+and soon I again lost consciousness.  My companions brought me to
+the monastery of Sharkhe, where the Lama doctor quickly brought me
+round with a solution of fatil or Chinese ginseng.  In discussing
+our plans he expressed grave doubt as to whether we would get
+through Tibet but he did not wish to explain to me the reason for
+his doubts.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+IN MYSTERIOUS TIBET
+
+
+A fairly broad road led out from Sharkhe through the mountains and
+on the fifth day of our two weeks' march to the south from the
+monastery we emerged into the great bowl of the mountains in whose
+center lay the large lake of Koko Nor.  If Finland deserves the
+ordinary title of the "Land of Ten Thousand Lakes," the dominion of
+Koko Nor may certainly with justice be called the "Country of a
+Million Lakes."  We skirted this lake on the west between it and
+Doulan Kitt, zigzagging between the numerous swamps, lakes and
+small rivers, deep and miry.  The water was not here covered with
+ice and only on the tops of the mountains did we feel the cold
+winds sharply.  We rarely met the natives of the country and only
+with greatest difficulty did our Kalmuck learn the course of the
+road from the occasional shepherds we passed.  From the eastern
+shore of the Lake of Tassoun we worked round to a monastery on the
+further side, where we stopped for a short rest.  Besides ourselves
+there was also another group of guests in the holy place.  These
+were Tibetans.  Their behavior was very impertinent and they
+refused to speak with us.  They were all armed, chiefly with the
+Russian military rifles and were draped with crossed bandoliers of
+cartridges with two or three pistols stowed beneath belts with more
+cartridges sticking out.  They examined us very sharply and we
+readily realized that they were estimating our martial strength.
+After they had left on that same day I ordered our Kalmuck to
+inquire from the High Priest of the temple exactly who they were.
+For a long time the monk gave evasive answers but when I showed him
+the ring of Hutuktu Narabanchi and presented him with a large
+yellow hatyk, he became more communicative.
+
+"Those are bad people," he explained.  "Have a care of them."
+
+However, he was not willing to give their names, explaining his
+refusal by citing the Law of Buddhist lands against pronouncing the
+name of one's father, teacher or chief.  Afterwards I found out
+that in North Tibet there exists the same custom as in North China.
+Here and there bands of hunghutze wander about.  They appear at the
+headquarters of the leading trading firms and at the monasteries,
+claim tribute and after their collections become the protectors of
+the district.  Probably this Tibetan monastery had in this band
+just such protectors.
+
+When we continued our trip, we frequently noticed single horsemen
+far away or on the horizon, apparently studying our movements with
+care.  All our attempts to approach them and enter into
+conversation with them were entirely unsuccessful.  On their speedy
+little horses they disappeared like shadows.  As we reached the
+steep and difficult Pass on the Hamshan and were preparing to spend
+the night there, suddenly far up on a ridge above us appeared about
+forty horsemen with entirely white mounts and without formal
+introduction or warning spattered us with a hail of bullets.  Two
+of our officers fell with a cry.  One had been instantly killed
+while the other lived some few minutes.  I did not allow my men to
+shoot but instead I raised a white flag and started forward with
+the Kalmuck for a parley.  At first they fired two shots at us but
+then ceased firing and sent down a group of riders from the ridge
+toward us.  We began the parley.  The Tibetans explained that
+Hamshan is a holy mountain and that here one must not spend the
+night, advising us to proceed farther where we could consider
+ourselves in safety.  They inquired from us whence we came and
+whither we were going, stated in answer to our information about
+the purpose of our journey that they knew the Bolsheviki and
+considered them the liberators of the people of Asia from the yoke
+of the white race.  I certainly did not want to begin a political
+quarrel with them and so turned back to our companions.  Riding
+down the slope toward our camp, I waited momentarily for a shot in
+the back but the Tibetan hunghutze did not shoot.
+
+We moved forward, leaving among the stones the bodies of two of our
+companions as sad tribute to the difficulties and dangers of our
+journey.  We rode all night, with our exhausted horses constantly
+stopping and some lying down under us, but we forced them ever
+onward.  At last, when the sun was at its zenith, we finally
+halted.  Without unsaddling our horses, we gave them an opportunity
+to lie down for a little rest.  Before us lay a broad, swampy
+plain, where was evidently the sources of the river Ma-chu.  Not
+far beyond lay the Lake of Aroung Nor.  We made our fire of cattle
+dung and began boiling water for our tea.  Again without any
+warning the bullets came raining in from all sides.  Immediately we
+took cover behind convenient rocks and waited developments.  The
+firing became faster and closer, the raiders appeared on the whole
+circle round us and the bullets came ever in increasing numbers.
+We had fallen into a trap and had no hope but to perish.  We
+realized this clearly.  I tried anew to begin the parley; but when
+I stood up with my white flag, the answer was only a thicker rain
+of bullets and unfortunately one of these, ricocheting off a rock,
+struck me in the left leg and lodged there.  At the same moment
+another one of our company was killed.  We had no other choice and
+were forced to begin fighting.  The struggle continued for about
+two hours.  Besides myself three others received slight wounds.  We
+resisted as long as we could.  The hunghutze approached and our
+situation became desperate.
+
+"There's no choice," said one of my associates, a very expert
+Colonel.  "We must mount and ride for it . . . anywhere."
+
+"Anywhere. . . ."  It was a terrible word!  We consulted for but an
+instant.  It was apparent that with this band of cut-throats behind
+us the farther we went into Tibet, the less chance we had of saving
+our lives.
+
+We decided to return to Mongolia.  But how?  That we did not know.
+And thus we began our retreat.  Firing all the time, we trotted our
+horses as fast as we could toward the north.  One after another
+three of my companions fell.  There lay my Tartar with a bullet
+through his neck.  After him two young and fine stalwart officers
+were carried from their saddles with cries of death, while their
+scared horses broke out across the plain in wild fear, perfect
+pictures of our distraught selves.  This emboldened the Tibetans,
+who became more and more audacious.  A bullet struck the buckle on
+the ankle strap of my right foot and carried it, with a piece of
+leather and cloth, into my leg just above the ankle.  My old and
+much tried friend, the agronome, cried out as he grasped his
+shoulder and then I saw him wiping and bandaging as best as he
+could his bleeding forehead.  A second afterward our Kalmuck was
+hit twice right through the palm of the same hand, so that it was
+entirely shattered.  Just at this moment fifteen of the hunghutze
+rushed against us in a charge.
+
+"Shoot at them with volley fire!" commanded our Colonel.
+
+Six robber bodies lay on the turf, while two others of the gang
+were unhorsed and ran scampering as fast as they could after their
+retreating fellows.  Several minutes later the fire of our
+antagonists ceased and they raised a white flag.  Two riders came
+forward toward us.  In the parley it developed that their chief had
+been wounded through the chest and they came to ask us to "render
+first aid."  At once I saw a ray of hope.  I took my box of
+medicines and my groaning, cursing, wounded Kalmuck to interpret
+for me.
+
+"Give that devil some cyanide of potassium," urged my companions.
+
+But I devised another scheme.
+
+We were led to the wounded chief.  There he lay on the saddle
+cloths among the rocks, represented to us to be a Tibetan but I at
+once recognized him from his cast of countenance to be a Sart or
+Turcoman, probably from the southern part of Turkestan.  He looked
+at me with a begging and frightened gaze.  Examining him, I found
+the bullet had passed through his chest from left to right, that he
+had lost much blood and was very weak.  Conscientiously I did all
+that I could for him.  In the first place I tried on my own tongue
+all the medicines to be used on him, even the iodoform, in order to
+demonstrate that there was no poison among them.  I cauterized the
+wound with iodine, sprinkled it with iodoform and applied the
+bandages.  I ordered that the wounded man be not touched nor moved
+and that he be left right where he lay.  Then I taught a Tibetan
+how the dressing must be changed and left with him medicated
+cotton, bandages and a little iodoform.  To the patient, in whom
+the fever was already developing, I gave a big dose of aspirin and
+left several tablets of quinine with them.  Afterwards, addressing
+myself to the bystanders through my Kalmuck, I said very solemnly:
+
+"The wound is very dangerous but I gave to your Chief very strong
+medicine and hope that he will recover.  One condition, however, is
+necessary: the bad demons which have rushed to his side for his
+unwarranted attack upon us innocent travelers will instantly kill
+him, if another shot is let off against us.  You must not even keep
+a single cartridge in your rifles."
+
+With these words I ordered the Kalmuck to empty his rifle and I, at
+the same time, took all the cartridges out of my Mauser.  The
+Tibetans instantly and very servilely followed my example.
+
+"Remember that I told you:  'Eleven days and eleven nights do not
+move from this place and do not charge your rifles.'  Otherwise the
+demon of death will snatch off your Chief and will pursue you!"--
+and with these words I solemnly drew forth and raised above their
+heads the ring of Hutuktu Narabanchi.
+
+I returned to my companions and calmed them.  I told them we were
+safe against further attack from the robbers and that we must only
+guess the way to reach Mongolia.  Our horses were so exhausted and
+thin that on their bones we could have hung our overcoats.  We
+spent two days here, during which time I frequently visited my
+patient.  It also gave us opportunity to bandage our own
+fortunately light wounds and to secure a little rest; though
+unfortunately I had nothing but a jackknife with which to dig the
+bullet out of my left calf and the shoemaker's accessories from my
+right ankle.  Inquiring from the brigands about the caravan roads,
+we soon made our way out to one of the main routes and had the good
+fortune to meet there the caravan of the young Mongol Prince
+Pounzig, who was on a holy mission carrying a message from the
+Living Buddha in Urga to the Dalai Lama in Lhasa.  He helped us to
+purchase horses, camels and food.
+
+With all our arms and supplies spent in barter during the journey
+for the purchase of transport and food, we returned stripped and
+broken to the Narabanchi Monastery, where we were welcomed by the
+Hutuktu.
+
+"I knew you would come back," said he.  "The divinations revealed
+it all to me."
+
+With six of our little band left behind us in Tibet to pay the
+eternal toll of our dash for the south we returned but twelve to
+the Monastery and waited there two weeks to re-adjust ourselves and
+learn how events would again set us afloat on this turbulent sea to
+steer for any port that Destiny might indicate.  The officers
+enlisted in the detachment which was then being formed in Mongolia
+to fight against the destroyers of their native land, the
+Bolsheviki.  My original companion and I prepared to continue our
+journey over Mongolian plains with whatever further adventures and
+dangers might come in the struggle to escape to a place of safety.
+
+And now, with the scenes of that trying march so vividly recalled,
+I would dedicate these chapters to my gigantic, old and ruggedly
+tried friend, the agronome, to my Russian fellow-travelers, and
+especially, to the sacred memory of those of our companions whose
+bodies lie cradled in the sleep among the mountains of Tibet--
+Colonel Ostrovsky, Captains Zuboff and Turoff, Lieutenant
+Pisarjevsky, Cossack Vernigora and Tartar Mahomed Spirin.  Also
+here I express my deep thanks for help and friendship to the Prince
+of Soldjak, Hereditary Noyon Ta Lama and to the Kampo Gelong of
+Narabanchi Monastery, the honorable Jelyb Djamsrap Hutuktu.
+
+
+
+Part II
+
+THE LAND OF DEMONS
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+MYSTERIOUS MONGOLIA
+
+
+In the heart of Asia lies the enormous, mysterious and rich country
+of Mongolia.  From somewhere on the snowy slopes of the Tian Shan
+and from the hot sands of Western Zungaria to the timbered ridges
+of the Sayan and to the Great Wall of China it stretches over a
+huge portion of Central Asia.  The cradle of peoples, histories and
+legends; the native land of bloody conquerors, who have left here
+their capitals covered by the sand of the Gobi, their mysterious
+rings and their ancient nomad laws; the states of monks and evil
+devils, the country of wandering tribes administered by the
+descendants of Jenghiz Khan and Kublai Khan--Khans and Princes of
+the Junior lines: that is Mongolia.
+
+Mysterious country of the cults of Rama, Sakkia-Mouni, Djonkapa and
+Paspa, cults guarded by the very person of the living Buddha--
+Buddha incarnated in the third dignitary of the Lamaite religion--
+Bogdo Gheghen in Ta Kure or Urga; the land of mysterious doctors,
+prophets, sorcerers, fortune-tellers and witches; the land of the
+sign of the swastika; the land which has not forgotten the thoughts
+of the long deceased great potentates of Asia and of half of
+Europe: that is Mongolia.
+
+The land of nude mountains, of plains burned by the sun and killed
+by the cold, of ill cattle and ill people; the nest of pests,
+anthrax and smallpox; the land of boiling hot springs and of
+mountain passes inhabited by demons; of sacred lakes swarming with
+fish; of wolves, rare species of deer and mountain goats, marmots
+in millions, wild horses, wild donkeys and wild camels that have
+never known the bridle, ferocious dogs and rapacious birds of prey
+which devour the dead bodies cast out on the plains by the people:
+that is Mongolia.
+
+The land whose disappearing primitive people gaze upon the bones of
+their forefathers whitening in the sands and dust of their plains;
+where are dying out the people who formerly conquered China, Siam,
+Northern India and Russia and broke their chests against the iron
+lances of the Polish knights, defending then all the Christian
+world against the invasion of wild and wandering Asia: that is
+Mongolia.
+
+The land swelling with natural riches, producing nothing, in need
+of everything, destitute and suffering from the world's cataclysm:
+that is Mongolia.
+
+In this land, by order of Fate, after my unsuccessful attempt to
+reach the Indian Ocean through Tibet, I spent half a year in the
+struggle to live and to escape.  My old and faithful friend and I
+were compelled, willy-nilly, to participate in the exceedingly
+important and dangerous events transpiring in Mongolia in the year
+of grace 1921.  Thanks to this, I came to know the calm, good and
+honest Mongolian people; I read their souls, saw their sufferings
+and hopes; I witnessed the whole horror of their oppression and
+fear before the face of Mystery, there where Mystery pervades all
+life.  I watched the rivers during the severe cold break with a
+rumbling roar their chains of ice; saw lakes cast up on their
+shores the bones of human beings; heard unknown wild voices in the
+mountain ravines; made out the fires over miry swamps of the will-
+o'-the-wisps; witnessed burning lakes; gazed upward to mountains
+whose peaks could not be scaled; came across great balls of
+writhing snakes in the ditches in winter; met with streams which
+are eternally frozen, rocks like petrified caravans of camels,
+horsemen and carts; and over all saw the barren mountains whose
+folds looked like the mantle of Satan, which the glow of the
+evening sun drenched with blood.
+
+"Look up there!" cried an old shepherd, pointing to the slope of
+the cursed Zagastai.  "That is no mountain.  It is HE who lies in
+his red mantle and awaits the day when he will rise again to begin
+the fight with the good spirits."
+
+And as he spoke I recalled the mystic picture of the noted painter
+Vroubel.  The same nude mountains with the violet and purple robes
+of Satan, whose face is half covered by an approaching grey cloud.
+Mongolia is a terrible land of mystery and demons.  Therefore it is
+no wonder that here every violation of the ancient order of life of
+the wandering nomad tribes is transformed into streams of red blood
+and horror, ministering to the demonic pleasure of Satan couched on
+the bare mountains and robed in the grey cloak of dejection and
+sadness, or in the purple mantle of war and vengeance.
+
+After returning from the district of Koko Nor to Mongolia and
+resting a few days at the Narabanchi Monastery, we went to live in
+Uliassutai, the capital of Western Outer Mongolia.  It is the last
+purely Mongolian town to the west.  In Mongolia there are but three
+purely Mongolian towns, Urga, Uliassutai and Ulankom.  The fourth
+town, Kobdo, has an essentially Chinese character, being the center
+of Chinese administration in this district inhabited by the
+wandering tribes only nominally recognizing the influence of either
+Peking or Urga.  In Uliassutai and Ulankom, besides the unlawful
+Chinese commissioners and troops, there were stationed Mongolian
+governors or "Saits," appointed by the decree of the Living Buddha.
+
+When we arrived in that town, we were at once in the sea of
+political passions.  The Mongols were protesting in great agitation
+against the Chinese policy in their country; the Chinese raged and
+demanded from the Mongolians the payment of taxes for the full
+period since the autonomy of Mongolia had been forcibly extracted
+from Peking; Russian colonists who had years before settled near
+the town and in the vicinity of the great monasteries or among the
+wandering tribes had separated into factions and were fighting
+against one another; from Urga came the news of the struggle for
+the maintenance of the independence of Outer Mongolia, led by the
+Russian General, Baron Ungern von Sternberg; Russian officers and
+refugees congregated in detachments, against which the Chinese
+authorities protested but which the Mongols welcomed; the
+Bolsheviki, worried by the formation of White detachments in
+Mongolia, sent their troops to the borders of Mongolia; from
+Irkutsk and Chita to Uliassutai and Urga envoys were running from
+the Bolsheviki to the Chinese commissioners with various proposals
+of all kinds; the Chinese authorities in Mongolia were gradually
+entering into secret relations with the Bolsheviki and in Kiakhta
+and Ulankom delivered to them the Russian refugees, thus violating
+recognized international law; in Urga the Bolsheviki set up a
+Russian communistic municipality; Russian Consuls were inactive;
+Red troops in the region of Kosogol and the valley of the Selenga
+had encounters with Anti-Bolshevik officers; the Chinese
+authorities established garrisons in the Mongolian towns and sent
+punitive expeditions into the country; and, to complete the
+confusion, the Chinese troops carried out house-to-house searches,
+during which they plundered and stole.
+
+Into what an atmosphere we had fallen after our hard and dangerous
+trip along the Yenisei, through Urianhai, Mongolia, the lands of
+the Turguts, Kansu and Koko Nor!
+
+"Do you know," said my old friend to me, "I prefer strangling
+Partisans and fighting with the hunghutze to listening to news and
+more anxious news!"
+
+He was right; for the worst of it was that in this bustle and whirl
+of facts, rumours and gossip the Reds could approach troubled
+Uliassutai and take everyone with their bare hands.  We should very
+willingly have left this town of uncertainties but we had no place
+to go.  In the north were the hostile Partisans and Red troops; to
+the south we had already lost our companions and not a little of
+our own blood; to the west raged the Chinese administrators and
+detachments; and to the east a war had broken out, the news of
+which, in spite of the attempts of the Chinese authorities at
+secrecy, had filtered through and had testified to the seriousness
+of the situation in this part of Outer Mongolia.  Consequently we
+had no choice but to remain in Uliassutai.  Here also were living
+several Polish soldiers who had escaped from the prison camps in
+Russia, two Polish families and two American firms, all in the same
+plight as ourselves.  We joined together and made our own
+intelligence department, very carefully watching the evolution of
+events.  We succeeded in forming good connections with the Chinese
+commissioner and with the Mongolian Sait, which greatly helped us
+in our orientation.
+
+What was behind all these events in Mongolia?  The very clever
+Mongol Sait of Uliassutai gave me the following explanation.
+
+"According to the agreements between Mongolia, China and Russia of
+October 21, 1912, of October 23, 1913, and of June 7, 1915, Outer
+Mongolia was accorded independence and the Moral Head of our
+'Yellow Faith,' His Holiness the Living Buddha, became the Suzerain
+of the Mongolian people of Khalkha or Outer Mongolia with the title
+of 'Bogdo Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu Khan.'  While Russia was still
+strong and carefully watched her policy in Asia, the Government of
+Peking kept the treaty; but, when, at the beginning of the war with
+Germany, Russia was compelled to withdraw her troops from Siberia,
+Peking began to claim the return of its lost rights in Mongolia.
+It was because of this that the first two treaties of 1912 and 1913
+were supplemented by the convention of 1915.  However, in 1916,
+when all the forces of Russia were pre-occupied in the unsuccessful
+war and afterwards when the first Russian revolution broke out in
+February, 1917, overthrowing the Romanoff Dynasty, the Chinese
+Government openly retook Mongolia.  They changed all the Mongolian
+ministers and Saits, replacing them with individuals friendly to
+China; arrested many Mongolian autonomists and sent them to prison
+in Peking; set up their administration in Urga and other Mongol
+towns; actually removed His Holiness Bogdo Khan from the affairs of
+administration; made him only a machine for signing Chinese
+decrees; and at last introduced into Mongolia their troops.  From
+that moment there developed an energetic flow of Chinese merchants
+and coolies into Mongolia.  The Chinese began to demand the payment
+of taxes and dues from 1912.  The Mongolian population were rapidly
+stripped of their wealth and now in the vicinities of our towns and
+monasteries you can see whole settlements of beggar Mongols living
+in dugouts.  All our Mongol arsenals and treasuries were
+requisitioned.  All monasteries were forced to pay taxes; all
+Mongols working for the liberty of their country were persecuted;
+through bribery with Chinese silver, orders and titles the Chinese
+secured a following among the poorer Mongol Princes.  It is easy to
+understand how the governing class, His Holiness, Khans, Princes,
+and high Lamas, as well as the ruined and oppressed people,
+remembering that the Mongol rulers had once held Peking and China
+in their hands and under their reign had given her the first place
+in Asia, were definitely hostile to the Chinese administrators
+acting thus.  Insurrection was, however, impossible.  We had no
+arms.  All our leaders were under surveillance and every movement
+by them toward an armed resistance would have ended in the same
+prison at Peking where eighty of our Nobles, Princes and Lamas died
+from hunger and torture after a previous struggle for the liberty
+of Mongolia.  Some abnormally strong shock was necessary to drive
+the people into action.  This was given by the Chinese
+administrators, General Cheng Yi and General Chu Chi-hsiang.  They
+announced that His Holiness Bogdo Khan was under arrest in his own
+palace, and they recalled to his attention the former decree of the
+Peking Government--held by the Mongols to be unwarranted and
+illegal--that His Holiness was the last Living Buddha.  This was
+enough.  Immediately secret relations were made between the people
+and their Living God, and plans were at once elaborated for the
+liberation of His Holiness and for the struggle for liberty and
+freedom of our people.  We were helped by the great Prince of the
+Buriats, Djam Bolon, who began parleys with General Ungern, then
+engaged in fighting the Bolsheviki in Transbaikalia, and invited
+him to enter Mongolia and help in the war against the Chinese.
+Then our struggle for liberty began."
+
+Thus the Sait of Uliassutai explained the situation to me.
+Afterwards I heard that Baron Ungern, who had agreed to fight for
+the liberty of Mongolia, directed that the mobilization of the
+Mongolians in the northern districts be forwarded at once and
+promised to enter Mongolia with his own small detachment, moving
+along the River Kerulen.  Afterwards he took up relations with the
+other Russian detachment of Colonel Kazagrandi and, together with
+the mobilized Mongolian riders, began the attack on Urga.  Twice he
+was defeated but on the third of February, 1921, he succeeded in
+capturing the town and replaced the Living Buddha on the throne of
+the Khans.
+
+At the end of March, however, these events were still unknown in
+Uliassutai.  We knew neither of the fall of Urga nor of the
+destruction of the Chinese army of nearly 15,000 in the battles of
+Maimachen on the shore of the Tola and on the roads between Urga
+and Ude.  The Chinese carefully concealed the truth by preventing
+anybody from passing westward from Urga.  However, rumours existed
+and troubled all.  The atmosphere became more and more tense, while
+the relations between the Chinese on the one side and the
+Mongolians and Russians on the other became more and more strained.
+At this time the Chinese Commissioner in Uliassutai was Wang Tsao-
+tsun and his advisor, Fu Hsiang, both very young and inexperienced
+men.  The Chinese authorities had dismissed the Uliassutai Sait,
+the prominent Mongolian patriot, Prince Chultun Beyle, and had
+appointed a Lama Prince friendly to China, the former Vice-Minister
+of War in Urga.  Oppression increased.  The searching of Russian
+officers' and colonists' houses and quarters commenced, open
+relations with the Bolsheviki followed and arrest and beatings
+became common.  The Russian officers formed a secret detachment of
+sixty men so that they could defend themselves.  However, in this
+detachment disagreements soon sprang up between Lieutenant-Colonel
+M. M. Michailoff and some of his officers.  It was evident that in
+the decisive moment the detachment must separate into factions.
+
+We foreigners in council decided to make a thorough reconnaissance
+in order to know whether there was danger of Red troops arriving.
+My old companion and I agreed to do this scouting.  Prince Chultun
+Beyle gave us a very good guide--an old Mongol named Tzeren, who
+spoke and read Russian perfectly.  He was a very interesting
+personage, holding the position of interpreter with the Mongolian
+authorities and sometimes with the Chinese Commissioner.  Shortly
+before he had been sent as a special envoy to Peking with very
+important despatches and this incomparable horseman had made the
+journey between Uliassutai and Peking, that is 1,800 miles, in nine
+days, incredible as it may seem.  He prepared himself for the
+journey by binding all his abdomen and chest, legs, arms and neck
+with strong cotton bandages to protect himself from the wracks and
+strains of such a period in the saddle.  In his cap he bore three
+eagle feathers as a token that he had received orders to fly like a
+bird.  Armed with a special document called a tzara, which gave him
+the right to receive at all post stations the best horses, one to
+ride and one fully saddled to lead as a change, together with two
+oulatchen or guards to accompany him and bring back the horses from
+the next station or ourton, he made the distance of from fifteen to
+thirty miles between stations at full gallop, stopping only long
+enough to have the horses and guards changed before he was off
+again.  Ahead of him rode one oulatchen with the best horses to
+enable him to announce and prepare in advance the complement of
+steeds at the next station.  Each oulatchen had three horses in
+all, so that he could swing from one that had given out and release
+him to graze until his return to pick him up and lead or ride him
+back home.  At every third ourton, without leaving his saddle, he
+received a cup of hot green tea with salt and continued his race
+southward.  After seventeen or eighteen hours of such riding he
+stopped at the ourton for the night or what was left of it,
+devoured a leg of boiled mutton and slept.  Thus he ate once a day
+and five times a day had tea; and so he traveled for nine days!
+
+With this servant we moved out one cold winter morning in the
+direction of Kobdo, just over three hundred miles, because from
+there we had received the disquieting rumours that the Red troops
+had entered Ulankom and that the Chinese authorities had handed
+over to them all the Europeans in the town.  We crossed the River
+Dzaphin on the ice.  It is a terrible stream.  Its bed is full of
+quicksands, which in summer suck in numbers of camels, horses and
+men.  We entered a long, winding valley among the mountains covered
+with deep snow and here and there with groves of the black wood of
+the larch.  About halfway to Kobdo we came across the yurta of a
+shepherd on the shore of the small Lake of Baga Nor, where evening
+and a strong wind whirling gusts of snow in our faces easily
+persuaded us to stop.  By the yurta stood a splendid bay horse with
+a saddle richly ornamerited with silver and coral.  As we turned in
+from the road, two Mongols left the yurta very hastily; one of them
+jumped into the saddle and quickly disappeared in the plain behind
+the snowy hillocks.  We clearly made out the flashing folds of his
+yellow robe under the great outer coat and saw his large knife
+sheathed in a green leather scabbard and handled with horn and
+ivory.  The other man was the host of the yurta, the shepherd of a
+local prince, Novontziran.  He gave signs of great pleasure at
+seeing us and receiving us in his yurta.
+
+"Who was the rider on the bay horse?" we asked.
+
+He dropped his eyes and was silent.
+
+"Tell us," we insisted.  "If you do not wish to speak his name, it
+means that you are dealing with a bad character."
+
+"No! No!" he remonstrated, flourishing his hands.  "He is a good,
+great man; but the law does not permit me to speak his name."
+
+We at once understood that the man was either the chief of the
+shepherd or some high Lama.  Consequently we did not further insist
+and began making our sleeping arrangements.  Our host set three
+legs of mutton to boil for us, skillfully cutting out the bones
+with his heavy knife.  We chatted and learned that no one had seen
+Red troops around this region but in Kobdo and in Ulankom the
+Chinese soldiers were oppressing the population, and were beating
+to death with the bamboo Mongol men who were defending their women
+against the ravages of these Chinese troops.  Some of the Mongols
+had retreated to the mountains to join detachments under the
+command of Kaigordoff, an Altai Tartar officer who was supplying
+them with weapons.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE MYSTERIOUS LAMA AVENGER
+
+
+We rested soundly in the yurta after the two days of travel which
+had brought us one hundred seventy miles through the snow and sharp
+cold.  Round the evening meal of juicy mutton we were talking
+freely and carelessly when suddenly we heard a low, hoarse voice:
+
+"Sayn--Good evening!"
+
+We turned around from the brazier to the door and saw a medium
+height, very heavy set Mongol in deerskin overcoat and cap with
+side flaps and the long, wide tying strings of the same material.
+Under his girdle lay the same large knife in the green sheath which
+we had seen on the departing horseman.
+
+"Amoursayn," we answered.
+
+He quickly untied his girdle and laid aside his overcoat.  He stood
+before us in a wonderful gown of silk, yellow as beaten gold and
+girt with a brilliant blue sash.  His cleanly shaven face, short
+hair, red coral rosary on the left hand and his yellow garment
+proved clearly that before us stood some high Lama Priest,--with a
+big Colt under his blue sash!
+
+I turned to my host and Tzeren and read in their faces fear and
+veneration.  The stranger came over to the brazier and sat down.
+
+"Let's speak Russian," he said and took a bit of meat.
+
+The conversation began.  The stranger began to find fault with the
+Government of the Living Buddha in Urga.
+
+"There they liberate Mongolia, capture Urga, defeat the Chinese
+army and here in the west they give us no news of it.  We are
+without action here while the Chinese kill our people and steal
+from them.  I think that Bogdo Khan might send us envoys.  How is
+it the Chinese can send their envoys from Urga and Kiakhta to
+Kobdo, asking for assistance, and the Mongol Government cannot do
+it?  Why?"
+
+"Will the Chinese send help to Urga?" I asked.
+
+Our guest laughed hoarsely and said:  "I caught all the envoys,
+took away their letters and then sent them back . . . into the
+ground."
+
+He laughed again and glanced around peculiarly with his blazing
+eyes.  Only then did I notice that his cheekbones and eyes had
+lines strange to the Mongols of Central Asia.  He looked more like
+a Tartar or a Kirghiz.  We were silent and smoked our pipes.
+
+"How soon will the detachment of Chahars leave Uliassutai?" he
+asked.
+
+We answered that we had not heard about them.  Our guest explained
+that from Inner Mongolia the Chinese authorities had sent out a
+strong detachment, mobilized from among the most warlike tribe of
+Chahars, which wander about the region just outside the Great Wall.
+Its chief was a notorious hunghutze leader promoted by the Chinese
+Government to the rank of captain on promising that he would bring
+under subjugation to the Chinese authorities all the tribes of the
+districts of Kobdo and Urianhai.  When he learned whither we were
+going and for what purpose, he said he could give us the most
+accurate news and relieve us from the necessity of going farther.
+
+"Besides that, it is very dangerous," he said, "because Kobdo will
+be massacred and burned.  I know this positively."
+
+When he heard of our unsuccessful attempt to pass through Tibet, he
+became attentive and very sympathetic in his bearing toward us and,
+with evident feeling of regret, expressed himself strongly:
+
+"Only I could have helped you in this enterprise, but not the
+Narabanchi Hutuktu.  With my laissez-passer you could have gone
+anywhere in Tibet.  I am Tushegoun Lama."
+
+Tushegoun Lama!  How many extraordinary tales I had heard about
+him.  He is a Russian Kalmuck, who because of his propaganda work
+for the independence of the Kalmuck people made the acquaintance of
+many Russian prisons under the Czar and, for the same cause, added
+to his list under the Bolsheviki.  He escaped to Mongolia and at
+once attained to great influence among the Mongols.  It was no
+wonder, for he was a close friend and pupil of the Dalai Lama in
+Potala (Lhasa), was the most learned among the Lamites, a famous
+thaumaturgist and doctor.  He occupied an almost independent
+position in his relationship with the Living Buddha and achieved to
+the leadership of all the old wandering tribes of Western Mongolia
+and Zungaria, even extending his political domination over the
+Mongolian tribes of Turkestan.  His influence was irresistible,
+based as it was on his great control of mysterious science, as he
+expressed it; but I was also told that it has its foundation
+largely in the panicky fear which he could produce in the Mongols.
+Everyone who disobeyed his orders perished.  Such an one never knew
+the day or the hour when, in his yurta or beside his galloping
+horse on the plains, the strange and powerful friend of the Dalai
+Lama would appear.  The stroke of a knife, a bullet or strong
+fingers strangling the neck like a vise accomplished the justice of
+the plans of this miracle worker.
+
+Without the walls of the yurta the wind whistled and roared and
+drove the frozen snow sharply against the stretched felt.  Through
+the roar of the wind came the sound of many voices in mingled
+shouting, wailing and laughter.  I felt that in such surroundings
+it were not difficult to dumbfound a wandering nomad with miracles,
+because Nature herself had prepared the setting for it.  This
+thought had scarcely time to flash through my mind before Tushegoun
+Lama suddenly raised his head, looked sharply at me and said:
+
+"There is very much unknown in Nature and the skill of using the
+unknown produces the miracle; but the power is given to few.  I
+want to prove it to you and you may tell me afterwards whether you
+have seen it before or not."
+
+He stood up, pushed back the sleeves of his yellow garment, seized
+his knife and strode across to the shepherd.
+
+"Michik, stand up!" he ordered.
+
+When the shepherd had risen, the Lama quickly unbuttoned his coat
+and bared the man's chest.  I could not yet understand what was his
+intention, when suddenly the Tushegoun with all his force struck
+his knife into the chest of the shepherd.  The Mongol fell all
+covered with blood, a splash of which I noticed on the yellow silk
+of the Lama's coat.
+
+"What have you done?" I exclaimed.
+
+"Sh!  Be still," he whispered turning to me his now quite blanched
+face.
+
+With a few strokes of the knife he opened the chest of the Mongol
+and I saw the man's lungs softly breathing and the distinct
+palpitations of the heart.  The Lama touched these organs with his
+fingers but no more blood appeared to flow and the face of the
+shepherd was quite calm.  He was lying with his eyes closed and
+appeared to be in deep and quiet sleep.  As the Lama began to open
+his abdomen, I shut my eyes in fear and horror; and, when I opened
+them a little while later, I was still more dumbfounded at seeing
+the shepherd with his coat still open and his breast normal,
+quietly sleeping on his side and Tushegoun Lama sitting peacefully
+by the brazier, smoking his pipe and looking into the fire in deep
+thought.
+
+"It is wonderful!" I confessed.  "I have never seen anything like
+it!"
+
+"About what are you speaking?" asked the Kalmuck.
+
+"About your demonstration or 'miracle,' as you call it," I
+answered.
+
+"I never said anything like that," refuted the Kalmuck, with
+coldness in his voice.
+
+"Did you see it?" I asked of my companion.
+
+"What?" he queried in a dozing voice.
+
+I realized that I had become the victim of the hypnotic power of
+Tushegoun Lama; but I preferred this to seeing an innocent
+Mongolian die, for I had not believed that Tushegoun Lama, after
+slashing open the bodies of his victims, could repair them again so
+readily.
+
+The following day we took leave of our hosts.  We decided to
+return, inasmuch as our mission was accomplished; and Tushegoun
+Lama explained to us that he would "move through space."  He
+wandered over all Mongolia, lived both in the single, simple yurta
+of the shepherd and hunter and in the splendid tents of the princes
+and tribal chiefs, surrounded by deep veneration and panic-fear,
+enticing and cementing to him rich and poor alike with his miracles
+and prophecies.  When bidding us adieu, the Kalmuck sorcerer slyly
+smiled and said:
+
+"Do not give any information about me to the Chinese authorities."
+
+Afterwards he added:  "What happened to you yesterday evening was a
+futile demonstration.  You Europeans will not recognize that we
+dark-minded nomads possess the powers of mysterious science.  If
+you could only see the miracles and power of the Most Holy Tashi
+Lama, when at his command the lamps and candles before the ancient
+statue of Buddha light themselves and when the ikons of the gods
+begin to speak and prophesy!  But there exists a more powerful and
+more holy man. . ."
+
+"Is it the King of the World in Agharti?" I interrupted.
+
+He stared and glanced at me in amazement.
+
+"Have you heard about him?" he asked, as his brows knit in thought.
+
+After a few seconds he raised his narrow eyes and said:  "Only one
+man knows his holy name; only one man now living was ever in
+Agharti.  That is I.  This is the reason why the Most Holy Dalai
+Lama has honored me and why the Living Buddha in Urga fears me.
+But in vain, for I shall never sit on the Holy Throne of the
+highest priest in Lhasa nor reach that which has come down from
+Jenghiz Khan to the Head of our yellow Faith.  I am no monk.  I am
+a warrior and avenger."
+
+He jumped smartly into the saddle, whipped his horse and whirled
+away, flinging out as he left the common Mongolian phrase of adieu:
+"Sayn!  Sayn-bayna!"
+
+On the way back Tzeren related to us the hundreds of legends
+surrounding Tushegoun Lama.  One tale especially remained in my
+mind.  It was in 1911 or 1912 when the Mongols by armed force tried
+to attain their liberty in a struggle with the Chinese.  The
+general Chinese headquarters in Western Mongolia was Kobdo, where
+they had about ten thousand soldiers under the command of their
+best officers.  The command to capture Kobdo was sent to Hun
+Baldon, a simple shepherd who had distinguished himself in fights
+with the Chinese and received from the Living Buddha the title of
+Prince of Hun.  Ferocious, absolutely without fear and possessing
+gigantic strength, Baldon had several times led to the attack his
+poorly armed Mongols but each time had been forced to retreat after
+losing many of his men under the machine-gun fire.  Unexpectedly
+Tushegoun Lama arrived.  He collected all the soldiers and then
+said to them:
+
+"You must not fear death and must not retreat.  You are fighting
+and dying for Mongolia, for which the gods have appointed a great
+destiny.  See what the fate of Mongolia will be!"
+
+He made a great sweeping gesture with his hand and all the soldiers
+saw the country round about set with rich yurtas and pastures
+covered with great herds of horses and cattle.  On the plains
+appeared numerous horsemen on richly saddled steeds.  The women
+were gowned in the finest of silk with massive silver rings in
+their ears and precious ornaments in their elaborate head dresses.
+Chinese merchants led an endless caravan of merchandise up to
+distinguished looking Mongol Saits, surrounded by the gaily dressed
+tzirik or soldiers and proudly negotiating with the merchants for
+their wares.
+
+Shortly the vision disappeared and Tushegoun began to speak.
+
+"Do not fear death!  It is a release from our labor on earth and
+the path to the state of constant blessings.  Look to the East!  Do
+you see your brothers and friends who have fallen in battle?"
+
+"We see, we see!" the Mongol warriors exclaimed in astonishment, as
+they all looked upon a great group of dwellings which might have
+been yurtas or the arches of temples flushed with a warm and kindly
+light.  Red and yellow silk were interwoven in bright bands that
+covered the walls and floor, everywhere the gilding on pillars and
+walls gleamed brightly; on the great red altar burned the thin
+sacrificial candles in gold candelabra, beside the massive silver
+vessels filled with milk and nuts; on soft pillows about the floor
+sat the Mongols who had fallen in the previous attack on Kobdo.
+Before them stood low, lacquered tables laden with many dishes of
+steaming, succulent flesh of the lamb and the kid, with high jugs
+of wine and tea, with plates of borsuk, a kind of sweet, rich
+cakes, with aromatic zatouran covered with sheep's fat, with bricks
+of dried cheese, with dates, raisins and nuts.  These fallen
+soldiers smoked golden pipes and chatted gaily.
+
+This vision in turn also disappeared and before the gazing Mongols
+stood only the mysterious Kalmuck with his hand upraised.
+
+"To battle and return not without victory!  I am with you in the
+fight."
+
+The attack began.  The Mongols fought furiously, perished by the
+hundreds but not before they had rushed into the heart of Kobdo.
+Then was re-enacted the long forgotten picture of Tartar hordes
+destroying European towns.  Hun Baldon ordered carried over him a
+triangle of lances with brilliant red streamers, a sign that he
+gave up the town to the soldiers for three days.  Murder and
+pillage began.  All the Chinese met their death there.  The town
+was burned and the walls of the fortress destroyed.  Afterwards Hun
+Baldon came to Uliassutai and also destroyed the Chinese fortress
+there.  The ruins of it still stand with the broken embattlements
+and towers, the useless gates and the remnants of the burned
+official quarters and soldiers' barracks.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+WILD CHAHARS
+
+
+After our return to Uliassutai we heard that disquieting news had
+been received by the Mongol Sait from Muren Kure.  The letter
+stated that Red Troops were pressing Colonel Kazagrandi very hard
+in the region of Lake Kosogol.  The Sait feared the advance of the
+Red troops southward to Uliassutai.  Both the American firms
+liquidated their affairs and all our friends were prepared for a
+quick exit, though they hesitated at the thought of leaving the
+town, as they were afraid of meeting the detachment of Chahars sent
+from the east.  We decided to await the arrival of this detachment,
+as their coming could change the whole course of events.  In a few
+days they came, two hundred warlike Chahar brigands under the
+command of a former Chinese hunghutze.  He was a tall, skinny man
+with hands that reached almost to his knees, a face blackened by
+wind and sun and mutilated with two long scars down over his
+forehead and cheek, the making of one of which had also closed one
+of his hawklike eyes, topped off with a shaggy coonskin cap--such
+was the commander of the detachment of Chahars.  A personage very
+dark and stern, with whom a night meeting on a lonely street could
+not be considered a pleasure by any bent of the imagination.
+
+The detachment made camp within the destroyed fortress, near to the
+single Chinese building that had not been razed and which was now
+serving as headquarters for the Chinese Commissioner.  On the very
+day of their arrival the Chahars pillaged a Chinese dugun or
+trading house not half a mile from the fortress and also offended
+the wife of the Chinese Commissioner by calling her a "traitor."
+The Chahars, like the Mongols, were quite right in their stand,
+because the Chinese Commissioner Wang Tsao-tsun had on his arrival
+in Uliassutai followed the Chinese custom of demanding a Mongolian
+wife.  The servile new Sait had given orders that a beautiful and
+suitable Mongolian girl be found for him.  One was so run down and
+placed in his yamen, together with her big wrestling Mongol brother
+who was to be a guard for the Commissioner but who developed into
+the nurse for the little white Pekingese pug which the official
+presented to his new wife.
+
+Burglaries, squabbles and drunken orgies of the Chahars followed,
+so that Wang Tsoa-tsun exerted all his efforts to hurry the
+detachment westward to Kobdo and farther into Urianhai.
+
+One cold morning the inhabitants of Uliassutai rose to witness a
+very stern picture.  Along the main street of the town the
+detachment was passing.  They were riding on small, shaggy ponies,
+three abreast; were dressed in warm blue coats with sheepskin
+overcoats outside and crowned with the regulation coonskin caps;
+armed from head to foot.  They rode with wild shouts and cheers,
+very greedily eyeing the Chinese shops and the houses of the
+Russian colonists.  At their head rode the one-eyed hunghutze chief
+with three horsemen behind him in white overcoats, who carried
+waving banners and blew what may have been meant for music through
+great conch shells.  One of the Chahars could not resist and so
+jumped out of his saddle and made for a Chinese shop along the
+street.  Immediately the anxious cries of the Chinese merchants
+came from the shop.  The hunghutze swung round, noticed the horse
+at the door of the shop and realized what was happening.
+Immediately he reined his horse and made for the spot.  With his
+raucous voice he called the Chahar out.  As he came, he struck him
+full in the face with his whip and with all his strength.  Blood
+flowed from the slashed cheek.  But the Chahar was in the saddle in
+a second without a murmur and galloped to his place in the file.
+During this exit of the Chahars all the people were hidden in their
+houses, anxiously peeping through cracks and corners of the
+windows.  But the Chahars passed peacefully out and only when they
+met a caravan carrying Chinese wine about six miles from town did
+their native tendency display itself again in pillaging and
+emptying several containers.  Somewhere in the vicinity of Hargana
+they were ambushed by Tushegoun Lama and so treated that never
+again will the plains of Chahar welcome the return of these warrior
+sons who were sent out to conquer the Soyot descendants of the
+ancient Tuba.
+
+The day the column left Uliassutai a heavy snow fell, so that the
+road became impassable.  The horses first were up to their knees,
+tired out and stopped.  Some Mongol horsemen reached Uliassutai the
+following day after great hardship and exertion, having made only
+twenty-five miles in forty-eight hours.  Caravans were compelled to
+stop along the routes.  The Mongols would not consent even to
+attempt journeys with oxen and yaks which made but ten or twelve
+miles a day.  Only camels could be used but there were too few and
+their drivers did not feel that they could make the first railway
+station of Kuku-Hoto, which was about fourteen hundred miles away.
+We were forced again to wait: for which?  Death or salvation?  Only
+our own energy and force could save us.  Consequently my friend and
+I started out, supplied with a tent, stove and food, for a new
+reconnaissance along the shore of Lake Kosogol, whence the Mongol
+Sait expected the new invasion of Red troops.
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE DEMON OF JAGISSTAI
+
+
+Our small group consisting of four mounted and one pack camel moved
+northward along the valley of the River Boyagol in the direction of
+the Tarbagatai Mountains.  The road was rocky and covered deep with
+snow.  Our camels walked very carefully, sniffing out the way as
+our guide shouted the "Ok! Ok!" of the camel drivers to urge them
+on.  We left behind us the fortress and Chinese dugun, swung round
+the shoulder of a ridge and, after fording several times an open
+stream, began the ascent of the mountain.  The scramble was hard
+and dangerous.  Our camels picked their way most cautiously, moving
+their ears constantly, as is their habit in such stress.  The trail
+zigzagged into mountain ravines, passed over the tops of ridges,
+slipped back down again into shallower valleys but ever made higher
+and higher altitudes.  At one place under the grey clouds that
+tipped the ridges we saw away up on the wide expanse of snow some
+black spots.
+
+"Those are the obo, the sacred signs and altars for the bad demons
+watching this pass," explained the guide.  "This pass is called
+Jagisstai.  Many very old tales about it have been kept alive,
+ancient as these mountains themselves."
+
+We encouraged him to tell us some of them.
+
+The Mongol, rocking on his camel and looking carefully all around
+him, began his tale.
+
+"It was long ago, very long ago. . . .  The grandson of the great
+Jenghiz Khan sat on the throne of China and ruled all Asia.  The
+Chinese killed their Khan and wanted to exterminate all his family
+but a holy old Lama slipped the wife and little son out of the
+palace and carried them off on swift camels beyond the Great Wall,
+where they sank into our native plains.  The Chinese made a long
+search for the trails of our refugees and at last found where they
+had gone.  They despatched a strong detachment on fleet horses to
+capture them.  Sometimes the Chinese nearly came up with the
+fleeing heir of our Khan but the Lama called down from Heaven a
+deep snow, through which the camels could pass while the horses
+were inextricably held.  This Lama was from a distant monastery.
+We shall pass this hospice of Jahantsi Kure.  In order to reach it
+one must cross over the Jagisstai.  And it was just here the old
+Lama suddenly became ill, rocked in his saddle and fell dead.  Ta
+Sin Lo, the widow of the Great Khan, burst into tears; but, seeing
+the Chinese riders galloping there below across the valley, pressed
+on toward the pass.  The camels were tired, stopping every moment,
+nor did the woman know how to stimulate and drive them on.  The
+Chinese riders came nearer and nearer.  Already she heard their
+shouts of joy, as they felt within their grasp the prize of the
+mandarins for the murder of the heir of the Great Khan.  The heads
+of the mother and the son would be brought to Peking and exposed on
+the Ch'ien Men for the mockery and insults of the people.  The
+frightened mother lifted her little son toward heaven and
+exclaimed:
+
+"'Earth and Gods of Mongolia, behold the offspring of the man who
+has glorified the name of the Mongols from one end of the world to
+the other!  Allow not this very flesh of Jenghiz Khan to perish!'
+
+"At this moment she noticed a white mouse sitting on a rock nearby.
+It jumped to her knees and said:
+
+"'I am sent to help you.  Go on calmly and do not fear.  The
+pursuers of you and your son, to whom is destined a life of glory,
+have come to the last bourne of their lives.'
+
+"Ta Sin Lo did not see how one small mouse could hold in check
+three hundred men.  The mouse jumped back to the ground and again
+spoke:
+
+"'I am the demon of Tarbagatai, Jagasstai.  I am mighty and beloved
+of the Gods but, because you doubted the powers of the miracle-
+speaking mouse, from this day the Jagasstai will be dangerous for
+the good and bad alike.'
+
+"The Khan's widow and son were saved but Jagasstai has ever
+remained merciless.  During the journey over this pass one must
+always be on one's guard.  The demon of the mountain is ever ready
+to lead the traveler to destruction."
+
+All the tops of the ridges of the Tarbagatai are thickly dotted
+with the obo of rocks and branches.  In one place there was even
+erected a tower of stones as an altar to propitiate the Gods for
+the doubts of Ta Sin Lo.  Evidently the demon expected us.  When we
+began our ascent of the main ridge, he blew into our faces with a
+sharp, cold wind, whistled and roared and afterwards began casting
+over us whole blocks of snow torn off the drifts above.  We could
+not distinguish anything around us, scarcely seeing the camel
+immediately in front.  Suddenly I felt a shock and looked about me.
+Nothing unusual was visible.  I was seated comfortably between two
+leather saddle bags filled with meat and bread but . . . I could
+not see the head of my camel.  He had disappeared.  It seemed that
+he had slipped and fallen to the bottom of a shallow ravine, while
+the bags which were slung across his back without straps had caught
+on a rock and stopped with myself there in the snow.  This time the
+demon of Jagasstai only played a joke but one that did not satisfy
+him.  He began to show more and more anger.  With furious gusts of
+wind he almost dragged us and our bags from the camels and nearly
+knocked over our humped steeds, blinded us with frozen snow and
+prevented us from breathing.  Through long hours we dragged slowly
+on in the deep snow, often falling over the edge of the rocks.  At
+last we entered a small valley where the wind whistled and roared
+with a thousand voices.  It had grown dark.  The Mongol wandered
+around searching for the trail and finally came back to us,
+flourishing his arms and saying:
+
+"We have lost the road.  We must spend the night here.  It is very
+bad because we shall have no wood for our stove and the cold will
+grow worse.
+
+With great difficulties and with frozen hands we managed to set up
+our tent in the wind, placing in it the now useless stove.  We
+covered the tent with snow, dug deep, long ditches in the drifts
+and forced our camels to lie down in them by shouting the "Dzuk!
+Dzuk!" command to kneel.  Then we brought our packs into the tent.
+
+My companion rebelled against the thought of spending a cold night
+with a stove hard by.
+
+"I am going out to look for firewood," said he very decisively; and
+at that took up the ax and started.  He returned after an hour with
+a big section of a telegraph pole.
+
+"You, Jenghiz Khans," said he, rubbing his frozen hands, "take your
+axes and go up there to the left on the mountain and you will find
+the telegraph poles that have been cut down.  I made acquaintance
+with the old Jagasstai and he showed me the poles."
+
+Just a little way from us the line of the Russian telegraphs
+passed, that which had connected Irkutsk with Uliassutai before the
+days of the Bolsheviki and which the Chinese had commanded the
+Mongols to cut down and take the wire.  These poles are now the
+salvation of travelers crossing the pass.  Thus we spent the night
+in a warm tent, supped well from hot meat soup with vermicelli, all
+in the very center of the dominion of the angered Jagasstai.  Early
+the next morning we found the road not more than two or three
+hundred paces from our tent and continued our hard trip over the
+ridge of Tarbagatai.  At the head of the Adair River valley we
+noticed a flock of the Mongolian crows with carmine beaks circling
+among the rocks.  We approached the place and discovered the
+recently fallen bodies of a horse and rider.  What had happened to
+them was difficult to guess.  They lay close together; the bridle
+was wound around the right wrist of the man; no trace of knife or
+bullet was found.  It was impossible to make out the features of
+the man.  His overcoat was Mongolian but his trousers and under
+jacket were not of the Mongolian pattern.  We asked ourselves what
+had happened to him.
+
+Our Mongol bowed his head in anxiety and said in hushed but assured
+tones:  "It is the vengeance of Jagasstai.  The rider did not make
+sacrifice at the southern obo and the demon has strangled him and
+his horse."
+
+At last Tarbagatai was behind us.  Before us lay the valley of the
+Adair.  It was a narrow zigzagging plain following along the river
+bed between close mountain ranges and covered with a rich grass.
+It was cut into two parts by the road along which the prostrate
+telegraph poles now lay, as the stumps of varying heights and long
+stretches of wire completed the debris.  This destruction of the
+telegraph line between Irkutsk and Uliassutai was necessary and
+incident to the aggressive Chinese policy in Mongolia.
+
+Soon we began to meet large herds of sheep, which were digging
+through the snow to the dry but very nutritious grass.  In some
+places yaks and oxen were seen on the high slopes of the mountains.
+Only once, however, did we see a shepherd, for all of them, spying
+us first, had made off to the mountains or hidden in the ravines.
+We did not even discover any yurtas along the way.  The Mongols had
+also concealed all their movable homes in the folds of the
+mountains out of sight and away from the reach of the strong winds.
+Nomads are very skilful in choosing the places for their winter
+dwellings.  I had often in winter visited the Mongolian yurtas set
+in such sheltered places that, as I came off the windy plains, I
+felt as though I were in a conservatory.  Once we came up to a big
+herd of sheep.  But as we approached most of the herd gradually
+withdrew, leaving one part that remained unmoved as the other
+worked off across the plains.  From this section soon about thirty
+of forty head emerged and went scrambling and leaping right up the
+mountain side.  I took up my glasses and began to observe them.
+The part of the herd that remained behind were common sheep; the
+large section that had drawn off over the plain were Mongolian
+antelopes (gazella gutturosa); while the few that had taken to the
+mountain were the big horned sheep (ovis argali).  All this company
+had been grazing together with the domestic sheep on the plains of
+the Adair, which attracted them with its good grass and clear
+water.  In many places the river was not frozen and in some places
+I saw great clouds of steam over the surface of the open water.  In
+the meantime some of the antelopes and the mountain sheep began
+looking at us.
+
+"Now they will soon begin to cross our trail," laughed the Mongol;
+"very funny beasts.  Sometimes the antelopes course for miles in
+their endeavor to outrun and cross in front of our horses and then,
+when they have done so, go loping quietly off."
+
+I had already seen this strategy of the antelopes and I decided to
+make use of it for the purpose of the hunt.  We organized our chase
+in the following manner.  We let one Mongol with the pack camel
+proceed as we had been traveling and the other three of us spread
+out like a fan headed toward the herd on the right of our true
+course.  The herd stopped and looked about puzzled, for their
+etiquette required that they should cross the path of all four of
+these riders at once.  Confusion began.  They counted about three
+thousand heads.  All this army began to run from one side to
+another but without forming any distinct groups.  Whole squadrons
+of them ran before us and then, noticing another rider, came
+coursing back and made anew the same manoeuvre.  One group of about
+fifty head rushed in two rows toward my point.  When they were
+about a hundred and fifty paces away I shouted and fired.  They
+stopped at once and began to whirl round in one spot, running into
+one another and even jumping over one another.  Their panic cost
+them dear, for I had time to shoot four times to bring down two
+beautiful heads.  My friend was even more fortunate than I, for he
+shot only once into the herd as it rushed past him in parallel
+lines and dropped two with the same bullet.
+
+Meanwhile the argali had gone farther up the mountainside and taken
+stand there in a row like so many soldiers, turning to gaze at us.
+Even at this distance I could clearly distinguish their muscular
+bodies with their majestic heads and stalwart horns.  Picking up
+our prey, we overtook the Mongol who had gone on ahead and
+continued our way.  In many places we came across the carcasses of
+sheep with necks torn and the flesh of the sides eaten off.
+
+"It is the work of wolves," said the Mongol.  "They are always
+hereabout in large numbers."
+
+We came across several more herds of antelope, which ran along
+quietly enough until they had made a comfortable distance ahead of
+us and then with tremendous leaps and bounds crossed our bows like
+the proverbial chicken on the road.  Then, after a couple of
+hundred paces at this speed, they stopped and began to graze quite
+calmly.  Once I turned my camel back and the whole herd immediately
+took up the challenge again, coursed along parallel with me until
+they had made sufficient distance for their ideas of safety and
+then once more rushed across the road ahead of me as though it were
+paved with red hot stones, only to assume their previous calmness
+and graze back on the same side of the trail from which our column
+had first started them.  On another occasion I did this three times
+with a particular herd and laughed long and heartily at their
+stupid customs.
+
+We passed a very unpleasant night in this valley.  We stopped on
+the shore of the frozen stream in a spot where we found shelter
+from the wind under the lee of a high shore.  In our stove we did
+have a fire and in our kettle boiling water.  Also our tent was
+warm and cozy.  We were quietly resting with pleasant thoughts of
+supper to soothe us, when suddenly a howling and laughter as though
+from some inferno burst upon us from just outside the tent, while
+from the other side of the valley came the long and doleful howls
+in answer.
+
+"Wolves," calmly explained the Mongol, who took my revolver and
+went out of the tent.  He did not return for some time but at last
+we heard a shot and shortly after he entered.
+
+"I scared them a little," said he.  "They had congregated on the
+shore of the Adair around the body of a camel."
+
+"And they have not touched our camels?" we asked.
+
+"We shall make a bonfire behind our tent; then they will not bother
+us."
+
+After our supper we turned in but I lay awake for a long time
+listening to the crackle of the wood in the fire, the deep sighing
+breaths of the camels and the distant howling of the packs of
+wolves; but finally, even with all these noises, fell asleep.  How
+long I had been asleep I did not know when suddenly I was awakened
+by a strong blow in the side.  I was lying at the very edge of the
+tent and someone from outside had, without the least ceremony,
+pushed strongly against me.  I thought it was one of the camels
+chewing the felt of the tent.  I took my Mauser and struck the
+wall.  A sharp scream was followed by the sound of quick running
+over the pebbles.  In the morning we discovered the tracks of
+wolves approaching our tent from the side opposite to the fire and
+followed them to where they had begun to dig under the tent wall;
+but evidently one of the would-be robbers was forced to retreat
+with a bruise on his head from the handle of the Mauser.
+
+Wolves and eagles are the servants of Jagasstai, the Mongol very
+seriously instructed us.  However, this does not prevent the
+Mongols from hunting them.  Once in the camp of Prince Baysei I
+witnessed such a hunt.  The Mongol horsemen on the best of his
+steeds overtook the wolves on the open plain and killed them with
+heavy bamboo sticks or tashur.  A Russian veterinary surgeon taught
+the Mongols to poison wolves with strychnine but the Mongols soon
+abandoned this method because of its danger to the dogs, the
+faithful friends and allies of the nomad.  They do not, however,
+touch the eagles and hawks but even feed them.  When the Mongols
+are slaughtering animals they often cast bits of meat up into the
+air for the hawks and eagles to catch in flight, just as we throw a
+bit of meat to a dog.  Eagles and hawks fight and drive away the
+magpies and crows, which are very dangerous for cattle and horses,
+because they scratch and peck at the smallest wound or abrasion on
+the backs of the animals until they make them into uncurable areas
+which they continue to harass.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE NEST OF DEATH
+
+
+Our camels were trudging to a slow but steady measure on toward the
+north.  We were making twenty-five to thirty miles a day as we
+approached a small monastery that lay to the left of our route.  It
+was in the form of a square of large buildings surrounded by a high
+fence of thick poles.  Each side had an opening in the middle
+leading to the four entrances of the temple in the center of the
+square.  The temple was built with the red lacquered columns and
+the Chinese style roofs and dominated the surrounding low dwellings
+of the Lamas.  On the opposite side of the road lay what appeared
+to be a Chinese fortress but which was in reality a trading
+compound or dugun, which the Chinese always build in the form of a
+fortress with double walls a few feet apart, within which they
+place their houses and shops and usually have twenty or thirty
+traders fully armed for any emergency.  In case of need these
+duguns can be used as blockhouses and are capable of withstanding
+long sieges.  Between the dugun and the monastery and nearer to the
+road I made out the camp of some nomads.  Their horses and cattle
+were nowhere to be seen.  Evidently the Mongols had stopped here
+for some time and had left their cattle in the mountains.  Over
+several yurtas waved multi-colored triangular flags, a sign of the
+presence of disease.  Near some yurtas high poles were stuck into
+the ground with Mongol caps at their tops, which indicated that the
+host of the yurta had died.  The packs of dogs wandering over the
+plain showed that the dead bodies lay somewhere near, either in the
+ravines or along the banks of the river.
+
+As we approached the camp, we heard from a distance the frantic
+beating of drums, the mournful sounds of the flute and shrill, mad
+shouting.  Our Mongol went forward to investigate for us and
+reported that several Mongolian families had come here to the
+monastery to seek aid from the Hutuktu Jahansti who was famed for
+his miracles of healing.  The people were stricken with leprosy and
+black smallpox and had come from long distances only to find that
+the Hutuktu was not at the monastery but had gone to the Living
+Buddha in Urga.  Consequently they had been forced to invite the
+witch doctors.  The people were dying one after another.  Just the
+day before they had cast on the plain the twenty-seventh man.
+
+Meanwhile, as we talked, the witch doctor came out of one of the
+yurtas.  He was an old man with a cataract on one eye and with a
+face deeply scarred by smallpox.  He was dressed in tatters with
+various colored bits of cloth hanging down from his waist.  He
+carried a drum and a flute.  We could see froth on his blue lips
+and madness in his eyes.  Suddenly he began to whirl round and
+dance with a thousand prancings of his long legs and writhings of
+his arms and shoulders, still beating the drum and playing the
+flute or crying and raging at intervals, ever accelerating his
+movements until at last with pallid face and bloodshot eyes he fell
+on the snow, where he continued to writhe and give out his
+incoherent cries.  In this manner the doctor treated his patients,
+frightening with his madness the bad devils that carry disease.
+Another witch doctor gave his patients dirty, muddy water, which I
+learned was the water from the bath of the very person of the
+Living Buddha who had washed in it his "divine" body born from the
+sacred flower of the lotus.
+
+"Om! Om!" both witches continuously screamed.
+
+While the doctors fought with the devils, the ill people were left
+to themselves.  They lay in high fever under the heaps of
+sheepskins and overcoats, were delirious, raved and threw
+themselves about.  By the braziers squatted adults and children who
+were still well, indifferently chatting, drinking tea and smoking.
+In all the yurtas I saw the diseased and the dead and such misery
+and physical horrors as cannot be described.
+
+And I thought:  "Oh, Great Jenghiz Khan!  Why did you with your
+keen understanding of the whole situation of Asia and Europe, you
+who devoted all your life to the glory of the name of the Mongols,
+why did you not give to your own people, who preserve their old
+morality, honesty and peaceful customs, the enlightenment that
+would have saved them from such death?  Your bones in the mausoleum
+at Karakorum being destroyed by the centuries that pass over them
+must cry out against the rapid disappearance of your formerly great
+people, who were feared by half the civilized world!"
+
+Such thoughts filled my brain when I saw this camp of the dead
+tomorrow and when I heard the groans, shoutings and raving of dying
+men, women and children.  Somewhere in the distance the dogs were
+howling mournfully, and monotonously the drum of the tired witch
+rolled.
+
+"Forward!"  I could not witness longer this dark horror, which I
+had no means or force to eradicate.  We quickly passed on from the
+ominous place.  Nor could we shake the thought that some horrible
+invisible spirit was following us from this scene of terror.  "The
+devils of disease?"  "The pictures of horror and misery?"  "The
+souls of men who have been sacrificed on the altar of darkness of
+Mongolia?"  An inexplicable fear penetrated into our consciousness
+from whose grasp we could not release ourselves.  Only when we had
+turned from the road, passed over a timbered ridge into a bowl in
+the mountains from which we could see neither Jahantsi Kure, the
+dugun nor the squirming grave of dying Mongols could we breathe
+freely again.
+
+Presently we discovered a large lake.  It was Tisingol.  Near the
+shore stood a large Russian house, the telegraph station between
+Kosogol and Uliassutai.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+AMONG THE MURDERERS
+
+
+As we approached the telegraph station, we were met by a blonde
+young man who was in charge of the office, Kanine by name.  With
+some little confusion he offered us a place in his house for the
+night.  When we entered the room, a tall, lanky man rose from the
+table and indecisively walked toward us, looking very attentively
+at us the while.
+
+"Guests . . ." explained Kanine.  "They are going to Khathyl.
+Private persons, strangers, foreigners . . ."
+
+"A-h," drawled the stranger in a quiet, comprehending tone.
+
+While we were untying our girdles and with difficulty getting out
+of our great Mongolian coats, the tall man was animatedly
+whispering something to our host.  As we approached the table to
+sit down and rest, I overheard him say:  "We are forced to postpone
+it," and saw Kanine simply nod in answer.
+
+Several other people were seated at the table, among them the
+assistant of Kanine, a tall blonde man with a white face, who
+talked like a Gatling gun about everything imaginable.  He was half
+crazy and his semi-madness expressed itself when any loud talking,
+shouting or sudden sharp report led him to repeat the words of the
+one to whom he was talking at the time or to relate in a
+mechanical, hurried manner stories of what was happening around him
+just at this particular juncture.  The wife of Kanine, a pale,
+young, exhausted-looking woman with frightened eyes and a face
+distorted by fear, was also there and near her a young girl of
+fifteen with cropped hair and dressed like a man, as well as the
+two small sons of Kanine.  We made acquaintance with all of them.
+The tall stranger called himself Gorokoff, a Russian colonist from
+Samgaltai, and presented the short-haired girl as his sister.
+Kanine's wife looked at us with plainly discernible fear and said
+nothing, evidently displeased over our being there.  However, we
+had no choice and consequently began drinking tea and eating our
+bread and cold meat.
+
+Kanine told us that ever since the telegraph line had been
+destroyed all his family and relatives had felt very keenly the
+poverty and hardship that naturally followed.  The Bolsheviki did
+not send him any salary from Irkutsk, so that he was compelled to
+shift for himself as best he could.  They cut and cured hay for
+sale to the Russian colonists, handled private messages and
+merchandise from Khathyl to Uliassutai and Samgaltai, bought and
+sold cattle, hunted and in this manner managed to exist.  Gorokoff
+announced that his commercial affairs compelled him to go to
+Khathyl and that he and his sister would be glad to join our
+caravan.  He had a most unprepossessing, angry-looking face with
+colorless eyes that always avoided those of the person with whom he
+was speaking.  During the conversation we asked Kanine if there
+were Russian colonists near by, to which he answered with knitted
+brow and a look of disgust on his face:
+
+"There is one rich old man, Bobroff, who lives a verst away from
+our station; but I would not advise you to visit him.  He is a
+miserly, inhospitable old fellow who does not like guests."
+
+During these words of her husband Madame Kanine dropped her eyes
+and contracted her shoulders in something resembling a shudder.
+Gorokoff and his sister smoked along indifferently.  I very clearly
+remarked all this as well as the hostile tone of Kanine, the
+confusion of his wife and the artificial indifference of Gorokoff;
+and I determined to see the old colonist given such a bad name by
+Kanine.  In Uliassutai I knew two Bobroffs.  I said to Kanine that
+I had been asked to hand a letter personally to Bobroff and, after
+finishing my tea, put on my overcoat and went out.
+
+The house of Bobroff stood in a deep sink in the mountains,
+surrounded by a high fence over which the low roofs of the houses
+could be seen.  A light shone through the window.  I knocked at the
+gate.  A furious barking of dogs answered me and through the cracks
+of the fence I made out four huge black Mongol dogs, showing their
+teeth and growling as they rushed toward the gate.  Inside the
+court someone opened the door and called out:  "Who is there?"
+
+I answered that I was traveling through from Uliassutai.  The dogs
+were first caught and chained and I was then admitted by a man who
+looked me over very carefully and inquiringly from head to foot.  A
+revolver handle stuck out of his pocket.  Satisfied with his
+observations and learning that I knew his relatives, he warmly
+welcomed me to the house and presented me to his wife, a dignified
+old woman, and to his beautiful little adopted daughter, a girl of
+five years.  She had been found on the plain beside the dead body
+of her mother exhausted in her attempt to escape from the
+Bolsheviki in Siberia.
+
+Bobroff told me that the Russian detachment of Kazagrandi had
+succeeded in driving the Red troops away from the Kosogol and that
+we could consequently continue our trip to Khathyl without danger.
+
+"Why did you not stop with me instead of with those brigands?"
+asked the old fellow.
+
+I began to question him and received some very important news.  It
+seemed that Kanine was a Bolshevik, the agent of the Irkutsk
+Soviet, and stationed here for purposes of observation.  However,
+now he was rendered harmless, because the road between him and
+Irkutsk was interrupted.  Still from Biisk in the Altai country had
+just come a very important commissar.
+
+"Gorokoff?" I asked.
+
+"That's what he calls himself," replied the old fellow; "but I am
+also from Biisk and I know everyone there.  His real name is
+Pouzikoff and the short-haired girl with him is his mistress.  He
+is the commissar of the 'Cheka' and she is the agent of this
+establishment.  Last August the two of them shot with their
+revolvers seventy bound officers from Kolchak's army.  Villainous,
+cowardly murderers!  Now they have come here for a reconnaissance.
+They wanted to stay in my house but I knew them too well and
+refused them place."
+
+"And you do not fear him?" I asked, remembering the different words
+and glances of these people as they sat at the table in the
+station.
+
+"No," answered the old man.  "I know how to defend myself and my
+family and I have a protector too--my son, such a shot, a rider and
+a fighter as does not exist in all Mongolia.  I am very sorry that
+you will not make the acquaintance of my boy.  He has gone off to
+the herds and will return only tomorrow evening."
+
+We took most cordial leave of each other and I promised to stop
+with him on my return.
+
+"Well, what yarns did Bobroff tell you about us?" was the question
+with which Kanine and Gorokoff met me when I came back to the
+station.
+
+"Nothing about you," I answered, "because he did not even want to
+speak with me when he found out that I was staying in your house.
+What is the trouble between you?" I asked of them, expressing
+complete astonishment on my face.
+
+"It is an old score," growled Gorokoff.
+
+"A malicious old churl," Kanine added in agreement, the while the
+frightened, suffering-laden eyes of his wife again gave expression
+to terrifying horror, as if she momentarily expected a deadly blow.
+Gorokoff began to pack his luggage in preparation for the journey
+with us the following morning.  We prepared our simple beds in an
+adjoining room and went to sleep.  I whispered to my friend to keep
+his revolver handy for anything that might happen but he only
+smiled as he dragged his revolver and his ax from his coat to place
+them under his pillow.
+
+"This people at the outset seemed to me very suspicious," he
+whispered.  "They are cooking up something crooked.  Tomorrow I
+shall ride behind this Gorokoff and shall prepare for him a very
+faithful one of my bullets, a little dum-dum."
+
+The Mongols spent the night under their tent in the open court
+beside their camels, because they wanted to be near to feed them.
+About seven o'clock we started.  My friend took up his post as rear
+guard to our caravan, keeping all the time behind Gorokoff, who
+with his sister, both armed from tip to toe, rode splendid mounts.
+
+"How have you kept your horses in such fine condition coming all
+the way from Samgaltai?" I inquired as I looked over their fine
+beasts.
+
+When he answered that these belonged to his host, I realized that
+Kanine was not so poor as he made out; for any rich Mongol would
+have given him in exchange for one of these lovely animals enough
+sheep to have kept his household in mutton for a whole year.
+
+Soon we came to a large swamp surrounded by dense brush, where I
+was much astonished by seeing literally hundreds of white kuropatka
+or partridges.  Out of the water rose a flock of duck with a mad
+rush as we hove in sight.  Winter, cold driving wind, snow and wild
+ducks!  The Mongol explained it to me thus:
+
+"This swamp always remains warm and never freezes.  The wild ducks
+live here the year round and the kuropatka too, finding fresh food
+in the soft warm earth."
+
+As I was speaking with the Mongol I noticed over the swamp a tongue
+of reddish-yellow flame.  It flashed and disappeared at once but
+later, on the farther edge, two further tongues ran upward.  I
+realized that here was the real will-o'-the-wisp surrounded by so
+many thousands of legends and explained so simply by chemistry as
+merely a flash of methane or swamp gas generated by the putrefying
+of vegetable matter in the warm damp earth.
+
+"Here dwell the demons of Adair, who are in perpetual war with
+those of Muren," explained the Mongol.
+
+"Indeed," I thought, "if in prosaic Europe in our days the
+inhabitants of our villages believe these flames to be some wild
+sorcery, then surely in the land of mystery they must be at least
+the evidences of war between the demons of two neighboring rivers!"
+
+After passing this swamp we made out far ahead of us a large
+monastery.  Though this was some half mile off the road, the
+Gorokoffs said they would ride over to it to make some purchases in
+the Chinese shops there.  They quickly rode away, promising to
+overtake us shortly, but we did not see them again for a while.
+They slipped away without leaving any trail but we met them later
+in very unexpected circumstances of fatal portent for them.  On our
+part we were highly satisfied that we were rid of them so soon and,
+after they were gone, I imparted to my friend the information
+gleaned from Bobroff the evening before.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+ON A VOLCANO
+
+
+The following evening we arrived at Khathyl, a small Russian
+settlement of ten scattered houses in the valley of the Egingol or
+Yaga, which here takes its waters from the Kosogol half a mile
+above the village.  The Kosogol is a huge Alpine lake, deep and
+cold, eighty-five miles in length and from ten to thirty in width.
+On the western shore live the Darkhat Soyots, who call it Hubsugul,
+the Mongols, Kosogol.  Both the Soyots and Mongols consider this a
+terrible and sacred lake.  It is very easy to understand this
+prejudice because the lake lies in a region of present volcanic
+activity, where in the summer on perfectly calm sunny days it
+sometimes lashes itself into great waves that are dangerous not
+only to the native fishing boats but also to the large Russian
+passenger steamers that ply on the lake.  In winter also it
+sometimes entirely breaks up its covering of ice and gives off
+great clouds of steam.  Evidently the bottom of the lake is
+sporadically pierced by discharging hot springs or, perhaps, by
+streams of lava.  Evidence of some great underground convulsion
+like this is afforded by the mass of killed fish which at times
+dams the outlet river in its shallow places.  The lake is
+exceedingly rich in fish, chiefly varieties of trout and salmon,
+and is famous for its wonderful "white fish," which was previously
+sent all over Siberia and even down into Manchuria so far as
+Moukden.  It is fat and remarkably tender and produces fine caviar.
+Another variety in the lake is the white khayrus or trout, which in
+the migration season, contrary to the customs of most fish, goes
+down stream into the Yaga, where it sometimes fills the river from
+bank to bank with swarms of backs breaking the surface of the
+water.  However, this fish is not caught, because it is infested
+with worms and is unfit for food.  Even cats and dogs will not
+touch it.  This is a very interesting phemonenon and was being
+investigated and studied by Professor Dorogostaisky of the
+University at Irkutsk when the coming of the Bolsheviki interrupted
+his work.
+
+In Khathyl we found a panic.  The Russian detachment of Colonel
+Kazagrandi, after having twice defeated the Bolsheviki and well on
+its march against Irkutsk, was suddenly rendered impotent and
+scattered through internal strife among the officers.  The
+Bolsheviki took advantage of this situation, increased their forces
+to one thousand men and began a forward movement to recover what
+they had lost, while the remnants of Colonel Kazagrandi's
+detachment were retreating on Khathyl, where he determined to make
+his last stand against the Reds.  The inhabitants were loading
+their movable property with their families into carts and scurrying
+away from the town, leaving all their cattle and horses to
+whomsoever should have the power to seize and hold them.  One party
+intended to hide in the dense larch forest and the mountain ravines
+not far away, while another party made southward for Muren Kure and
+Uliassutai.  The morning following our arrival the Mongol official
+received word that the Red troops had outflanked Colonel
+Kazagrandi's men and were approaching Khathyl.  The Mongol loaded
+his documents and his servants on eleven camels and left his yamen.
+Our Mongol guides, without ever saying a word to us, secretly
+slipped off with him and left us without camels.  Our situation
+thus became desperate.  We hastened to the colonists who had not
+yet got away to bargain with them for camels, but they had
+previously, in anticipation of trouble, sent their herds to distant
+Mongols and so could do nothing to help us.  Then we betook
+ourselves to Dr. V. G. Gay, a veterinarian living in the town,
+famous throughout Mongolia for his battle against rinderpest.  He
+lived here with his family and after being forced to give up his
+government work became a cattle dealer.  He was a most interesting
+person, clever and energetic, and the one who had been appointed
+under the Czarist regime to purchase all the meat supplies from
+Mongolia for the Russian Army on the German Front.  He organized a
+huge enterprise in Mongolia but when the Bolsheviki seized power in
+1917 he transferred his allegiance and began to work with them.
+Then in May, 1918, when the Kolchak forces drove the Bolsheviki out
+of Siberia, he was arrested and taken for trial.  However, he was
+released because he was looked upon as the single individual to
+organize this big Mongolian enterprise and he handed to Admiral
+Kolchak all the supplies of meat and the silver formerly received
+from the Soviet commissars.  At this time Gay had been serving as
+the chief organizer and supplier of the forces of Kazagrandi.
+
+When we went to him, he at once suggested that we take the only
+thing left, some poor, broken-down horses which would be able to
+carry us the sixty miles to Muren Kure, where we could secure
+camels to return to Uliassutai.  However, even these were being
+kept some distance from the town so that we should have to spend
+the night there, the night in which the Red troops were expected to
+arrive.  Also we were much astonished to see that Gay was remaining
+there with his family right up to the time of the expected arrival
+of the Reds.  The only others in the town were a few Cossacks, who
+had been ordered to stay behind to watch the movements of the Red
+troops.  The night came.  My friend and I were prepared either to
+fight or, in the last event, to commit suicide.  We stayed in a
+small house near the Yaga, where some workmen were living who could
+not, and did not feel it necessary to, leave.  They went up on a
+hill from which they could scan the whole country up to the range
+from behind which the Red detachment must appear.  From this
+vantage point in the forest one of the workmen came running in and
+cried out:
+
+"Woe, woe to us!  The Reds have arrived.  A horseman is galloping
+fast through the forest road.  I called to him but he did not
+answer me.  It was dark but I knew the horse was a strange one."
+
+"Do not babble so," said another of the workmen.  "Some Mongol rode
+by and you jumped to the conclusion that he was a Red."
+
+"No, it was not a Mongol," he replied.  "The horse was shod.  I
+heard the sound of iron shoes on the road.  Woe to us!"
+
+"Well," said my friend, "it seems that this is our finish.  It is a
+silly way for it all to end."
+
+He was right.  Just then there was a knock at our door but it was
+that of the Mongol bringing us three horses for our escape.
+Immediately we saddled them, packed the third beast with our tent
+and food and rode off at once to take leave of Gay.
+
+In his house we found the whole war council.  Two or three
+colonists and several Cossacks had galloped from the mountains and
+announced that the Red detachment was approaching Khathyl but would
+remain for the night in the forest, where they were building
+campfires.  In fact, through the house windows we could see the
+glare of the fires.  It seemed very strange that the enemy should
+await the morning there in the forest when they were right on the
+village they wished to capture.
+
+An armed Cossack entered the room and announced that two armed men
+from the detachment were approaching.  All the men in the room
+pricked up their ears.  Outside were heard the horses' hoofs
+followed by men's voices and a knock at the door.
+
+"Come in," said Gay.
+
+Two young men entered, their moustaches and beards white and their
+cheeks blazing red from the cold.  They were dressed in the common
+Siberian overcoat with the big Astrakhan caps, but they had no
+weapons.  Questions began.  It developed that it was a detachment
+of White peasants from the Irkutsk and Yakutsk districts who had
+been fighting with the Bolsheviki.  They had been defeated
+somewhere in the vicinity of Irkutsk and were now trying to make a
+junction with Kazagrandi.  The leader of this band was a socialist,
+Captain Vassilieff, who had suffered much under the Czar because of
+his tenets.
+
+Our troubles had vanished but we decided to start immediately to
+Muren Kure, as we had gathered our information and were in a hurry
+to make our report.  We started.  On the road we overtook three
+Cossacks who were going out to bring back the colonists who were
+fleeing to the south.  We joined them and, dismounting, we all led
+our horses over the ice.  The Yaga was mad.  The subterranean
+forces produced underneath the ice great heaving waves which with a
+swirling roar threw up and tore loose great sections of ice,
+breaking them into small blocks and sucking them under the unbroken
+downstream field.  Cracks ran like snakes over the surface in
+different directions.  One of the Cossacks fell into one of these
+but we had just time to save him.  He was forced by his ducking in
+such extreme cold to turn back to Khathyl.  Our horses slipped
+about and fell several times.  Men and animals felt the presence of
+death which hovered over them and momentarily threatened them with
+destruction.  At last we made the farther bank and continued
+southward down the valley, glad to have left the geological and
+figurative volcanoes behind us.  Ten miles farther on we came up
+with the first party of refugees.  They had spread a big tent and
+made a fire inside, filling it with warmth and smoke.  Their camp
+was made beside the establishment of a large Chinese trading house,
+where the owners refused to let the colonists come into their amply
+spacious buildings, even though there were children, women and
+invalids among the refugees.  We spent but half an hour here.  The
+road as we continued was easy, save in places where the snow lay
+deep.  We crossed the fairly high divide between the Egingol and
+Muren.  Near the pass one very unexpected event occurred to us.  We
+crossed the mouth of a fairly wide valley whose upper end was
+covered with a dense wood.  Near this wood we noticed two horsemen,
+evidently watching us.  Their manner of sitting in their saddles
+and the character of their horses told us that they were not
+Mongols.  We began shouting and waving to them; but they did not
+answer.  Out of the wood emerged a third and stopped to look at us.
+We decided to interview them and, whipping up our horses, galloped
+toward them.  When we were about one thousand yards from them, they
+slipped from their saddles and opened on us with a running fire.
+Fortunately we rode a little apart and thus made a poor target for
+them.  We jumped off our horses, dropped prone on the ground and
+prepared to fight.  However, we did not fire because we thought it
+might be a mistake on their part, thinking that we were Reds.  They
+shortly made off.  Their shots from the European rifles had given
+us further proof that they were not Mongols.  We waited until they
+had disappeared into the woods and then went forward to investigate
+their tracks, which we found were those of shod horses, clearly
+corroborating the earlier evidence that they were not Mongols.  Who
+could they have been?  We never found out; yet what a different
+relationship they might have borne to our lives, had their shots
+been true!
+
+After we had passed over the divide, we met the Russian colonist D.
+A. Teternikoff from Muren Kure, who invited us to stay in his house
+and promised to secure camels for us from the Lamas.  The cold was
+intense and heightened by a piercing wind.  During the day we froze
+to the bone but at night thawed and warmed up nicely by our tent
+stove.  After two days we entered the valley of Muren and from afar
+made out the square of the Kure with its Chinese roofs and large
+red temples.  Nearby was a second square, the Chinese and Russian
+settlement.  Two hours more brought us to the house of our
+hospitable companion and his attractive young wife who feasted us
+with a wonderful luncheon of tasty dishes.  We spent five days at
+Muren waiting for the camels to be engaged.  During this time many
+refugees arrived from Khathyl because Colonel Kazagrandi was
+gradually falling back upon the town.  Among others there were two
+Colonels, Plavako and Maklakoff, who had caused the disruption of
+the Kazagrandi force.  No sooner had the refugees appeared in Muren
+Kure than the Mongolian officials announced that the Chinese
+authorities had ordered them to drive out all Russian refugees.
+
+"Where can we go now in winter with women and children and no homes
+of our own?" asked the distraught refugees.
+
+"That is of no moment to us," answered the Mongolian officials.
+"The Chinese authorities are angry and have ordered us to drive you
+away.  We cannot help you at all."
+
+The refugees had to leave Muren Kure and so erected their tents in
+the open not far away.  Plavako and Maklakoff bought horses and
+started out for Van Kure.  Long afterwards I learned that both had
+been killed by the Chinese along the road.
+
+We secured three camels and started out with a large group of
+Chinese merchants and Russian refugees to make Uliassutai,
+preserving the warmest recollections of our courteous hosts, T. V.
+and D. A. Teternikoff.  For the trip we had to pay for our camels
+the very high price of 33 lan of the silver bullion which had been
+supplied us by an American firm in Uliassutai, the equivalent
+roughly of 2.7 pounds of the white metal.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+A BLOODY CHASTISEMENT
+
+
+Before long we struck the road which we had travelled coming north
+and saw again the kindly rows of chopped down telegraph poles which
+had once so warmly protected us.  Over the timbered hillocks north
+of the valley of Tisingol we wended just as it was growing dark.
+We decided to stay in Bobroff's house and our companions thought to
+seek the hospitality of Kanine in the telegraph station.  At the
+station gate we found a soldier with a rifle, who questioned us as
+to who we were and whence we had come and, being apparently
+satisfied, whistled out a young officer from the house.
+
+"Lieutenant Ivanoff," he introduced himself.  "I am staying here
+with my detachment of White Partisans."
+
+He had come from near Irkutsk with his following of ten men and had
+formed a connection with Lieutenant-Colonel Michailoff at
+Uliassutai, who commanded him to take possession of this
+blockhouse.
+
+"Enter, please," he said hospitably.
+
+I explained to him that I wanted to stay with Bobroff, whereat he
+made a despairing gesture with his hand and said:
+
+"Don't trouble yourself.  The Bobroffs are killed and their house
+burned."
+
+I could not keep back a cry of horror.
+
+The Lieutenant continued:  "Kanine and the Pouzikoffs killed them,
+pillaged the place and afterwards burned the house with their dead
+bodies in it.  Do you want to see it?"
+
+My friend and I went with the Lieutenant and looked over the
+ominous site.  Blackened uprights stood among charred beams and
+planks while crockery and iron pots and pans were scattered all
+around.  A little to one side under some felt lay the remains of
+the four unfortunate individuals.  The Lieutenant first spoke:
+
+"I reported the case to Uliassutai and received word back that the
+relatives of the deceased would come with two officers, who would
+investigate the affair.  That is why I cannot bury the bodies."
+
+"How did it happen?" we asked, oppressed by the sad picture.
+
+"It was like this," he began.  "I was approaching Tisingol at night
+with my ten soldiers.  Fearing that there might be Reds here, we
+sneaked up to the station and looked into the windows.  We saw
+Pouzikoff, Kanine and the short-haired girl, looking over and
+dividing clothes and other things and weighing lumps of silver.  I
+did not at once grasp the significance of all this; but, feeling
+the need for continued caution, ordered one of my soldiers to climb
+the fence and open the gate.  We rushed into the court.  The first
+to run from the house was Kanine's wife, who threw up her hands and
+shrieked in fear:  "I knew that misfortune would come of all this!"
+and then fainted.  One of the men ran out of a side door to a shed
+in the yard and there tried to get over the fence.  I had not
+noticed him but one of my soldiers caught him.  We were met at the
+door by Kanine, who was white and trembling.  I realized that
+something important had taken place, placed them all under arrest,
+ordered the men tied and placed a close guard.  All my questions
+were met with silence save by Madame Kanine who cried:  'Pity, pity
+for the children!  They are innocent!' as she dropped on her knees
+and stretched out her hands in supplication to us.  The short-
+haired girl laughed out of impudent eyes and blew a puff of smoke
+into my face.  I was forced to threaten them and said:
+
+"'I know that you have committed some crime, but you do not want to
+confess.  If you do not, I shall shoot the men and take the women
+to Uliassutai to try them there.'
+
+"I spoke with definiteness of voice and intention, for they roused
+my deepest anger.  Quite to my surprise the short-haired girl first
+began to speak.
+
+"'I want to tell you about everything,' she said.
+
+"I ordered ink, paper and pen brought me.  My soldiers were the
+witnesses.  Then I prepared the protocol of the confession of
+Pouzikoff's wife.  This was her dark and bloody tale.
+
+"'My husband and I are Bolshevik commissars and we have been sent
+to find out how many White officers are hidden in Mongolia.  But
+the old fellow Bobroff knew us.  We wanted to go away but Kanine
+kept us, telling us that Bobroff was rich and that he had for a
+long time wanted to kill him and pillage his place.  We agreed to
+join him.  We decoyed the young Bobroff to come and play cards with
+us.  When he was going home my husband stole along behind and shot
+him.  Afterwards we all went to Bobroff's place.  I climbed upon
+the fence and threw some poisoned meat to the dogs, who were dead
+in a few minutes.  Then we all climbed over.  The first person to
+emerge from the house was Bobroff's wife.  Pouzikoff, who was
+hidden behind the door, killed her with his ax.  The old fellow we
+killed with a blow of the ax as he slept.  The little girl ran out
+into the room as she heard the noise and Kanine shot her in the
+head with buckshot.  Afterwards we looted the house and burned it,
+even destroying the horses and cattle.  Later all would have been
+completely burned, so that no traces remained, but you suddenly
+arrived and these stupid fellows at once betrayed us.'
+
+"It was a dastardly affair," continued the Lieutenant, as we
+returned to the station.  "The hair raised on my head as I listened
+to the calm description of this young woman, hardly more than a
+girl.  Only then did I fully realize what depravity Bolshevism had
+brought into the world, crushing out faith, fear of God and
+conscience.  Only then did I understand that all honest people must
+fight without compromise against this most dangerous enemy of
+mankind, so long as life and strength endure."
+
+As we walked I noticed at the side of the road a black spot.  It
+attracted and fixed my attention.
+
+"What is that?" I asked, pointing to the spot.
+
+"It is the murderer Pouzikoff whom I shot," answered the
+Lieutenant.  "I would have shot both Kanine and the wife of
+Pouzikoff but I was sorry for Kanine's wife and children and I
+haven't learned the lesson of shooting women.  Now I shall send
+them along with you under the surveillance of my soldiers to
+Uliassutai.  The same result will come, for the Mongols who try
+them for the murder will surely kill them."
+
+This is what happened at Tisingol, on whose shores the will-o'-the-
+wisp flits over the marshy pools and near which runs the cleavage
+of over two hundred miles that the last earthquake left in the
+surface of the land.  Maybe it was out of this cleavage that
+Pouzikoff, Kanine and the others who have sought to infect the
+whole world with horror and crime made their appearance from the
+land of the inferno.  One of Lieutenant Ivanoff's soldiers, who was
+always praying and pale, called them all "the servants of Satan."
+
+Our trip from Tisingol to Uliassutai in the company of these
+criminals was very unpleasant.  My friend and I entirely lost our
+usual strength of spirit and healthy frame of mind.  Kanine
+persistently brooded and thought while the impudent woman laughed,
+smoked and joked with the soldiers and several of our companions.
+At last we crossed the Jagisstai and in a few hours descried at
+first the fortress and then the low adobe houses huddled on the
+plain, which we knew to be Uliassutai.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+HARASSING DAYS
+
+
+Once more we found ourselves in the whirl of events.  During our
+fortnight away a great deal had happened here.  The Chinese
+Commissioner Wang Tsao-tsun had sent eleven envoys to Urga but none
+had returned.  The situation in Mongolia remained far from clear.
+The Russian detachment had been increased by the arrival of new
+colonists and secretly continued its illegal existence, although
+the Chinese knew about it through their omnipresent system of
+spies.  In the town no Russian or foreign citizens left their
+houses and all remained armed and ready to act.  At night armed
+sentinels stood guard in all their court-yards.  It was the Chinese
+who induced such precautions.  By order of their Commissioner all
+the Chinese merchants with stocks of rifles armed their staffs and
+handed over any surplus guns to the officials, who with these
+formed and equipped a force of two hundred coolies into a special
+garrison of gamins.  Then they took possession of the Mongolian
+arsenal and distributed these additional guns among the Chinese
+vegetable farmers in the nagan hushun, where there was always a
+floating population of the lowest grade of transient Chinese
+laborers.  This trash of China now felt themselves strong, gathered
+together in excited discussions and evidently were preparing for
+some outburst of aggression.  At night the coolies transported many
+boxes of cartridges from the Chinese shops to the nagan hushun and
+the behaviour of the Chinese mob became unbearably audacious.
+These coolies and gamins impertinently stopped and searched people
+right on the streets and sought to provoke fights that would allow
+them to take anything they wanted.  Through secret news we received
+from certain Chinese quarters we learned that the Chinese were
+preparing a pogrom for all the Russians and Mongols in Uliassutai.
+We fully realized that it was only necessary to fire one single
+house at the right part of the town and the entire settlement of
+wooden buildings would go up in flames.  The whole population
+prepared to defend themselves, increased the sentinels in the
+compounds, appointed leaders for certain sections of the town,
+organized a special fire brigade and prepared horses, carts and
+food for a hasty flight.  The situation became worse when news
+arrived from Kobdo that the Chinese there had made a pogrom,
+killing some of the inhabitants and burning the whole town after a
+wild looting orgy.  Most of the people got away to the forests on
+the mountains but it was at night and consequently without warm
+clothes and without food.  During the following days these
+mountains around Kobdo heard many cries of misfortune, woe and
+death.  The severe cold and hunger killed off the women and
+children out under the open sky of the Mongolian winter.  This news
+was soon known to the Chinese.  They laughed in mockery and soon
+organized a big meeting at the nagan hushun to discuss letting the
+mob and gamins loose on the town.
+
+A young Chinese, the son of a cook of one of the colonists,
+revealed this news.  We immediately decided to make an
+investigation.  A Russian officer and my friend joined me with this
+young Chinese as a guide for a trip to the outskirts of the town.
+We feigned simply a stroll but were stopped by the Chinese sentinel
+on the side of the city toward the nagan hushun with an impertinent
+command that no one was allowed to leave the town.  As we spoke
+with him, I noticed that between the town and the nagan hushun
+Chinese guards were stationed all along the way and that streams of
+Chinese were moving in that direction.  We saw at once it was
+impossible to reach the meeting from this approach, so we chose
+another route.  We left the city from the eastern side and passed
+along by the camp of the Mongolians who had been reduced to beggary
+by the Chinese impositions.  There also they were evidently
+anxiously awaiting the turn of events, for, in spite of the
+lateness of the hour, none had gone to sleep.  We slipped out on
+the ice and worked around by the river to the nagan hushun.  As we
+passed free of the city we began to sneak cautiously along, taking
+advantage of every bit of cover.  We were armed with revolvers and
+hand grenades and knew that a small detachment had been prepared in
+the town to come to our aid, if we should be in danger.  First the
+young Chinese stole forward with my friend following him like a
+shadow, constantly reminding him that he would strangle him like a
+mouse if he made one move to betray us.  I fear the young guide did
+not greatly enjoy the trip with my gigantic friend puffing all too
+loudly with the unusual exertions.  At last the fences of nagan
+hushun were in sight and nothing between us and them save the open
+plain, where our group would have been easily spotted; so that we
+decided to crawl up one by one, save that the Chinese was retained
+in the society of my trusted friend.  Fortunately there were many
+heaps of frozen manure on the plain, which we made use of as cover
+to lead us right up to our objective point, the fence of the
+enclosures.  In the shadow of this we slunk along to the courtyard
+where the voices of the excited crowd beckoned us.  As we took good
+vantage points in the darkness for listening and making
+observations, we remarked two extraordinary things in our immediate
+neighborhood.
+
+Another invisible guest was present with us at the Chinese
+gathering.  He lay on the ground with his head in a hole dug by the
+dogs under the fence.  He was perfectly still and evidently had not
+heard our advance.  Nearby in a ditch lay a white horse with his
+nose muzzled and a little further away stood another saddled horse
+tied to a fence.
+
+In the courtyard there was a great hubbub.  About two thousand men
+were shouting, arguing and flourishing their arms about in wild
+gesticulations.  Nearly all were armed with rifles, revolvers,
+swords and axes.  In among the crowd circulated the gamins,
+constantly talking, handing out papers, explaining and assuring.
+Finally a big, broad-shouldered Chinese mounted the well combing,
+waved his rifle about over his head and opened a tirade in strong,
+sharp tones.
+
+"He is assuring the people," said our interpreter, "that they must
+do here what the Chinese have done in Kobdo and must secure from
+the Commissioner the assurance of an order to his guard not to
+prevent the carrying out of their plans.  Also that the Chinese
+Commissioner must demand from the Russians all their weapons.
+'Then we shall take vengeance on the Russians for their
+Blagoveschensk crime when they drowned three thousand Chinese in
+1900.  You remain here while I go to the Commissioner and talk with
+him.'"
+
+He jumped down from the well and quickly made his way to the gate
+toward the town.  At once I saw the man who was lying with his head
+under the fence draw back out of his hole, take his white horse
+from the ditch and then run over to untie the other horse and lead
+them both back to our side, which was away from the city.  He left
+the second horse there and hid himself around the corner of the
+hushun.  The spokesman went out of the gate and, seeing his horse
+over on the other side of the enclosure, slung his rifle across his
+back and started for his mount.  He had gone about half way when
+the stranger behind the corner of the fence suddenly galloped out
+and in a flash literally swung the man clear from the ground up
+across the pommel of his saddle, where we saw him tie the mouth of
+the semi-strangled Chinese with a cloth and dash off with him
+toward the west away from the town.
+
+"Who do you suppose he is?" I asked of my friend, who answered up
+at once:  "It must be Tushegoun Lama. . . ."
+
+His whole appearance did strongly remind me of this mysterious Lama
+avenger and his manner of addressing himself to his enemy was a
+strict replica of that of Tushegoun.  Late in the night we learned
+that some time after their orator had gone to seek the
+Commissioner's cooperation in their venture, his head had been
+flung over the fence into the midst of the waiting audience and
+that eight gamins had disappeared on their way from the hushun to
+the town without leaving trace or trail.  This event terrorized the
+Chinese mob and calmed their heated spirits.
+
+The next day we received very unexpected aid.  A young Mongol
+galloped in from Urga, his overcoat torn, his hair all dishevelled
+and fallen to his shoulders and a revolver prominent beneath his
+girdle.  Proceeding directly to the market where the Mongols are
+always gathered, without leaving his saddle he cried out:
+
+"Urga is captured by our Mongols and Chiang Chun Baron Ungern!
+Bogdo Hutuktu is once more our Khan!  Mongols, kill the Chinese and
+pillage their shops!  Our patience is exhausted!"
+
+Through the crowd rose the roar of excitement.  The rider was
+surrounded with a mob of insistent questioners.  The old Mongol
+Sait, Chultun Beyli, who had been dismissed by the Chinese, was at
+once informed of this news and asked to have the messenger brought
+to him.  After questioning the man he arrested him for inciting the
+people to riot, but he refused to turn him over to the Chinese
+authorities.  I was personally with the Sait at the time and heard
+his decision in the matter.  When the Chinese Commissioner, Wang
+Tsao-tsun, threatened the Sait for disobedience to his authority,
+the old man simply fingered his rosary and said:
+
+"I believe the story of this Mongol in its every word and I
+apprehend that you and I shall soon have to reverse our
+relationship."
+
+I felt that Wang Tsao-tsun also accepted the correctness of the
+Mongol's story, because he did not insist further.  From this
+moment the Chinese disappeared from the streets of Uliassutai as
+though they never had been, and synchronously the patrols of the
+Russian officers and of our foreign colony took their places.  The
+panic among the Chinese was heightened by the receipt of a letter
+containing the news that the Mongols and Altai Tartars under the
+leadership of the Tartar officer Kaigorodoff pursued the Chinese
+who were making off with their booty from the sack of Kobdo and
+overtook and annihilated them on the borders of Sinkiang.  Another
+part of the letter told how General Bakitch and the six thousand
+men who had been interned with him by the Chinese authorities on
+the River Amyl had received arms and started to join with Ataman
+Annenkoff, who had been interned in Kuldja, with the ultimate
+intention of linking up with Baron Ungern.  This rumour proved to
+be wrong because neither Bakitch nor Annenkoff entertained this
+intention, because Annenkoff had been transported by the Chinese
+into the Depths of Turkestan.  However, the news produced veritable
+stupefaction among the Chinese.
+
+Just at this time there arrived at the house of the Bolshevist
+Russian colonist Bourdukoff three Bolshevik agents from Irkutsk
+named Saltikoff, Freimann and Novak, who started an agitation among
+the Chinese authorities to get them to disarm the Russian officers
+and hand them over to the Reds.  They persuaded the Chinese Chamber
+of Commerce to petition the Irkutsk Soviet to send a detachment of
+Reds to Uliassutai for the protection of the Chinese against the
+White detachments.  Freimann brought with him communistic pamphlets
+in Mongolian and instructions to begin the reconstruction of the
+telegraph line to Irkutsk.  Bourdukoff also received some messages
+from the Bolsheviki.  This quartette developed their policy very
+successfully and soon saw Wang Tsao-tsun fall in with their
+schemes.  Once more the days of expecting a pogrom in Uliassutai
+returned to us.  The Russian officers anticipated attempts to
+arrest them.  The representative of one of the American firms went
+with me to the Commissioner for a parley.  We pointed out to him
+the illegality of his acts, inasmuch as he was not authorized by
+his Government to treat with the Bolsheviki when the Soviet
+Government had not been recognized by Peking.  Wang Tsao-tsun and
+his advisor Fu Hsiang were palpably confused at finding we knew of
+his secret meetings with the Bolshevik agents.  He assured us that
+his guard was sufficient to prevent any such pogrom.  It was quite
+true that his guard was very capable, as it consisted of well
+trained and disciplined soldiers under the command of a serious-
+minded and well educated officer; but, what could eighty soldiers
+do against a mob of three thousand coolies, one thousand armed
+merchants and two hundred gamins?  We strongly registered our
+apprehensions and urged him to avoid any bloodshed, pointing out
+that the foreign and Russian population were determined to defend
+themselves to the last moment.  Wang at once ordered the
+establishment of strong guards on the streets and thus made a very
+interesting picture with all the Russian, foreign and Chinese
+patrols moving up and down throughout the whole town.  Then we did
+not know there were three hundred more sentinels on duty, the men
+of Tushegoun Lama hidden nearby in the mountains.
+
+Once more the picture changed very sharply and suddenly.  The
+Mongolian Sait received news through the Lamas of the nearest
+monastery that Colonel Kazagrandi, after fighting with the Chinese
+irregulars, had captured Van Kure and had formed there Russian-
+Mongolian brigades of cavalry, mobilizing the Mongols by the order
+of the Living Buddha and the Russians by order of Baron Ungern.  A
+few hours later it became known that in the large monastery of
+Dzain the Chinese soldiers had killed the Russian Captain Barsky
+and as a result some of the troops of Kazagrandi attacked and swept
+the Chinese out of the place.  At the taking of Van Kure the
+Russians arrested a Korean Communist who was on his way from Moscow
+with gold and propaganda to work in Korea and America.  Colonel
+Kazagrandi sent this Korean with his freight of gold to Baron
+Ungern.  After receiving this news the chief of the Russian
+detachment in Uliassutai arrested all the Bolsheviki agents and
+passed judgment upon them and upon the murderers of the Bobroffs.
+Kanine, Madame Pouzikoff and Freimann were shot.  Regarding
+Saltikoff and Novak some doubt sprang up and, moreover, Saltikoff
+escaped and hid, while Novak, under advice from Lieutenant Colonel
+Michailoff, left for the west.  The chief of the Russian detachment
+gave out orders for the mobilization of the Russian colonists and
+openly took Uliassutai under his protection with the tacit
+agreement of the Mongolian authorities.  The Mongol Sait, Chultun
+Beyli, convened a council of the neighboring Mongolian Princes, the
+soul of which was the noted Mongolian patriot, Hun Jap Lama.  The
+Princes quickly formulated their demands upon the Chinese for the
+complete evacuation of the territory subject to the Sait Chultun
+Beyli.  Out of it grew parleys, threats and friction between the
+various Chinese and Mongolian elements.  Wang Tsao-tsun proposed
+his scheme of settlement, which some of the Mongolian Princes
+accepted; but Jap Lama at the decisive moment threw the Chinese
+document to the ground, drew his knife and swore that he would die
+by his own hand rather than set it as a seal upon this treacherous
+agreement.  As a result the Chinese proposals were rejected and the
+antagonists began to prepare themselves for the struggle.  All the
+armed Mongols were summoned from Jassaktu Khan, Sain-Noion Khan and
+the dominion of Jahantsi Lama.  The Chinese authorities placed
+their four machine guns and prepared to defend the fortress.
+Continuous deliberations were held by both the Chinese and Mongols.
+Finally, our old acquaintance Tzeren came to me as one of the
+unconcerned foreigners and handed to me the joint requests of Wang
+Tsao-tsun and Chultun Beyli to try to pacify the two elements and
+to work out a fair agreement between them.  Similar requests were
+handed to the representative of an American firm.  The following
+evening we held the first meeting of the arbitrators and the
+Chinese and Mongolian representatives.  It was passionate and
+stormy, so that we foreigners lost all hope of the success of our
+mission.  However, at midnight when the speakers were tired, we
+secured agreement on two points: the Mongols announced that they
+did not want to make war and that they desired to settle this
+matter in such a way as to retain the friendship of the great
+Chinese people; while the Chinese Commissioner acknowledged that
+China had violated the treaties by which full independence had been
+legally granted to Mongolia.
+
+These two points formed for us the groundwork of the next meeting
+and gave us the starting points for urging reconciliation.  The
+deliberations continued for three days and finally turned so that
+we foreigners could propose our suggestions for an agreement.  Its
+chief provisions were that the Chinese authorities should surrender
+administrative powers, return the arms to the Mongolians, disarm
+the two hundred gamins and leave the country; and that the Mongols
+on their side should give free and honorable passage of their
+country to the Commissioner with his armed guard of eighty men.
+This Chinese-Mongolian Treaty of Uliassutai was signed and sealed
+by the Chinese Commissioners, Wang Tsao-tsun and Fu Hsiang, by both
+Mongolian Saits, by Hun Jap Lama and other Princes, as well as by
+the Russian and Chinese Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce and
+by us foreign arbitrators.  The Chinese officials and convoy began
+at once to pack up their belongings and prepare for departure.  The
+Chinese merchants remained in Uliassutai because Sait Chultun
+Beyli, now having full authority and power, guaranteed their
+safety.  The day of departure for the expedition of Wang Tsao-tsun
+arrived.  The camels with their packs already filled the yamen
+court-yard and the men only awaited the arrival of their horses
+from the plains.  Suddenly the news spread everywhere that the herd
+of horses had been stolen during the night and run off toward the
+south.  Of two soldiers that had been sent out to follow the tracks
+of the herd only one came back with the news that the other had
+been killed.  Astonishment spread over the whole town while among
+the Chinese it turned to open panic.  It perceptibly increased when
+some Mongols from a distant ourton to the east came in and
+announced that in various places along the post road to Urga they
+had discovered the bodies of sixteen of the soldiers whom Wang
+Tsao-tsun had sent out with letters for Urga.  The mystery of these
+events will soon be explained.
+
+The chief of the Russian detachment received a letter from a
+Cossack Colonel, V. N. Domojiroff, containing the order to disarm
+immediately the Chinese garrison, to arrest all Chinese officials
+for transport to Baron Ungern at Urga, to take control of
+Uliassutai, by force if necessary, and to join forces with his
+detachment.  At the very same time a messenger from the Narabanchi
+Hutuktu galloped in with a letter to the effect that a Russian
+detachment under the leadership of Hun Boldon and Colonel
+Domojiroff from Urga had pillaged some Chinese firms and killed the
+merchants, had come to the Monastery and demanded horses, food and
+shelter.  The Hutuktu asked for help because the ferocious
+conqueror of Kobdo, Hun Boldon, could very easily pillage the
+unprotected isolated monastery.  We strongly urged Colonel
+Michailoff not to violate the sealed treaty and discountenance all
+the foreigners and Russians who had taken part in making it, for
+this would but be to imitate the Bolshevik principle of making
+deceit the leading rule in all acts of state.  This touched
+Michailoff and he answered Domojiroff that Uliassutai was already
+in his hands without a fight; that over the building of the former
+Russian Consulate the tri-color flag of Russia was flying; the
+gamins had been disarmed but that the other orders could not be
+carried out, because their execution would violate the Chinese-
+Mongolian treaty just signed in Uliassutai.
+
+Daily several envoys traveled from Narabanchi Hutuktu to
+Uliassutai.  The news became more and more disquieting.  The
+Hutuktu reported that Hun Boldon was mobilizing the Mongolian
+beggars and horse stealers, arming and training them; that the
+soldiers were taking the sheep of the monastery; that the "Noyon"
+Domojiroff was always drunk; and that the protests of the Hutuktu
+were answered with jeers and scolding.  The messengers gave very
+indefinite information regarding the strength of the detachment,
+some placing it at about thirty while others stated that Domojiroff
+said he had eight hundred in all.  We could not understand it at
+all and soon the messengers ceased coming.  All the letters of the
+Sait remained unanswered and the envoys did not return.  There
+seemed to be no doubt that the men had been killed or captured.
+
+Prince Chultun Beyli determined to go himself.  He took with him
+the Russian and Chinese Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce and
+two Mongolian officers.  Three days elapsed without receiving any
+news from him whatever.  The Mongols began to get worried.  Then
+the Chinese Commissioner and Hun Jap Lama addressed a request to
+the foreigner group to send some one to Narabanchi, in order to try
+to resolve the controversy there and to persuade Domojiroff to
+recognize the treaty and not permit the "great insult of violation"
+of a covenant between the two great peoples.  Our group asked me
+once more to accomplish this mission pro bono publico.  I had
+assigned me as interpreter a fine young Russian colonist, the
+nephew of the murdered Bobroff, a splendid rider as well as a cool,
+brave man.  Lt.-Colonel Michailoff gave me one of his officers to
+accompany me.  Supplied with an express tzara for the post horses
+and guides, we traveled rapidly over the way which was now familiar
+to me to find my old friend, Jelib Djamsrap Huktuktu of Narabanchi.
+Although there was deep snow in some places, we made from one
+hundred to one hundred and fifteen miles per day.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+THE BAND OF WHITE HUNGHUTZES
+
+
+We arrived at Narabanchi late at night on the third day out.  As we
+were approaching, we noticed several riders who, as soon as they
+had seen us, galloped quickly back to the monastery.  For some time
+we looked for the camp of the Russian detachment without finding
+it.  The Mongols led us into the monastery, where the Hutuktu
+immediately received me.  In his yurta sat Chultun Beyli.  There he
+presented me with hatyks and said to me:  "The very God has sent
+you here to us in this difficult moment."
+
+It seems Domojiroff had arrested both the Presidents of the
+Chambers of Commerce and had threatened to shoot Prince Chultun.
+Both Domojiroff and Hun Boldon had no documents legalizing their
+activities.  Chultun Beyli was preparing to fight with them.
+
+I asked them to take me to Domojiroff.  Through the dark I saw four
+big yurtas and two Mongol sentinels with Russian rifles.  We
+entered the Russian "Noyon's" tent.  A very strange picture was
+presented to our eyes.  In the middle of the yurta the brazier was
+burning.  In the usual place for the altar stood a throne, on which
+the tall, thin, grey-haired Colonel Domojiroff was seated.  He was
+only in his undergarments and stockings, was evidently a little
+drunk and was telling stories.  Around the brazier lay twelve young
+men in various picturesque poses.  My officer companion reported to
+Domojiroff about the events in Uliassutai and during the
+conversation I asked Domojiroff where his detachment was encamped.
+He laughed and answered, with a sweep of his hand:  "This is my
+detachment."  I pointed out to him that the form of his orders to
+us in Uliassutai had led us to believe that he must have a large
+company with him.  Then I informed him that Lt.-Colonel Michailoff
+was preparing to cross swords with the Bolshevik force approaching
+Uliassutai.
+
+"What?" he exclaimed with fear and confusion, "the Reds?"
+
+We spent the night in his yurta and, when I was ready to lie down,
+my officer whispered to me:
+
+"Be sure to keep your revolver handy," to which I laughed and said:
+
+"But we are in the center of a White detachment and therefore in
+perfect safety!"
+
+"Uh-huh!" answered my officer and finished the response with one
+eye closed.
+
+The next day I invited Domojiroff to walk with me over the plain,
+when I talked very frankly with him about what had been happening.
+He and Hun Boldon had received orders from Baron Ungern simply to
+get into touch with General Bakitch, but instead they began
+pillaging Chinese firms along the route and he had made up his mind
+to become a great conqueror.  On the way he had run across some of
+the officers who deserted Colonel Kazagrandi and formed his present
+band.  I succeeded in persuading Domojiroff to arrange matters
+peacefully with Chultun Beyli and not to violate the treaty.  He
+immediately went ahead to the monastery.  As I returned, I met a
+tall Mongol with a ferocious face, dressed in a blue silk
+outercoat--it was Hun Boldon.  He introduced himself and spoke with
+me in Russian.  I had only time to take off my coat in the tent of
+Domojiroff when a Mongol came running to invite me to the yurta of
+Hun Boldon.  The Prince lived just beside me in a splendid blue
+yurta.  Knowing the Mongolian custom, I jumped into the saddle and
+rode the ten paces to his door.  Hun Boldon received me with
+coldness and pride.
+
+"Who is he?" he inquired of the interpreter, pointing to me with
+his finger.
+
+I understood his desire to offend me and I answered in the same
+manner, thrusting out my finger toward him and turning to the
+interpreter with the same question in a slightly more unpleasant
+tone:
+
+"Who is he?  High Prince and warrior or shepherd and brute?"
+
+Boldon at once became confused and, with trembling voice and
+agitation in his whole manner, blurted out to me that he would not
+allow me to interfere in his affairs and would shoot every man who
+dared to run counter to his orders.  He pounded on the low table
+with his fist and then rose up and drew his revolver.  But I was
+much traveled among the nomads and had studied them thoroughly--
+Princes, Lamas, shepherds and brigands.  I grasped my whip and,
+striking it on the table with all my strength, I said to the
+interpreter:
+
+"Tell him that he has the honor to speak with neither Mongol nor
+Russian but with a foreigner, a citizen of a great and free state.
+Tell him he must first learn to be a man and then he can visit me
+and we can talk together."
+
+I turned and went out.  Ten minutes later Hun Boldon entered my
+yurta and offered his apologies.  I persuaded him to parley with
+Chultun Beyli and not to offend the free Mongol people with his
+activities.  That very night all was arranged.  Hun Boldon
+dismissed his Mongols and left for Kobdo, while Domojiroff with his
+band started for Jassaktu Khan to arrange for the mobilization of
+the Mongols there.  With the consent of Chultun Beyli he wrote to
+Wang Tsao-tsun a demand to disarm his guard, as all of the Chinese
+troops in Urga had been so treated; but this letter arrived after
+Wang had bought camels to replace the stolen horses and was on his
+way to the border.  Later Lt.-Colonel Michailoff sent a detachment
+of fifty men under the command of Lieutenant Strigine to overhaul
+Wang and receive their arms.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+MYSTERY IN A SMALL TEMPLE
+
+
+Prince Chultun Beyli and I were ready to leave the Narabanchi Kure.
+While the Hutuktu was holding service for the Sait in the Temple of
+Blessing, I wandered around through the narrow alleyways between
+the walls of the houses of the various grades of Lama Gelongs,
+Getuls, Chaidje and Rabdjampa; of schools where the learned doctors
+of theology or Maramba taught together with the doctors of medicine
+or Ta Lama; of the residences for students called Bandi; of stores,
+archives and libraries.  When I returned to the yurta of the
+Hutuktu, he was inside.  He presented me with a large hatyk and
+proposed a walk around the monastery.  His face wore a preoccupied
+expression from which I gathered that he had something he wished to
+discuss with me.  As we went out of the yurta, the liberated
+President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and a Russian officer
+joined us.  The Hutuktu led us to a small building just back of a
+bright yellow stone wall.
+
+"In that building once stopped the Dalai Lama and Bogdo Khan and we
+always paint the buildings yellow where these holy persons have
+lived.  Enter!"
+
+The interior of the building was arranged with splendor.  On the
+ground floor was the dining-room, furnished with richly carved,
+heavy blackwood Chinese tables and cabinets filled with porcelains
+and bronze.  Above were two rooms, the first a bed-room hung with
+heavy yellow silk curtains; a large Chinese lantern richly set with
+colored stones hung by a thin bronze chain from the carved wooden
+ceiling beam.  Here stood a large square bed covered with silken
+pillows, mattresses and blankets.  The frame work of the bed was
+also of the Chinese blackwood and carried, especially on the posts
+that held the roof-like canopy, finely executed carvings with the
+chief motive the conventional dragon devouring the sun.  By the
+side stood a chest of drawers completely covered with carvings
+setting forth religious pictures.  Four comfortable easy chairs
+completed the furniture, save for the low oriental throne which
+stood on a dais at the end of the room.
+
+"Do you see this throne?" said the Hutuktu to me.  "One night in
+winter several horsemen rode into the monastery and demanded that
+all the Gelongs and Getuls with the Hutuktu and Kanpo at their head
+should congregate in this room.  Then one of the strangers mounted
+the throne, where he took off his bashlyk or cap-like head
+covering.  All of the Lamas fell to their knees as they recognized
+the man who had been long ago described in the sacred bulls of
+Dalai Lama, Tashi Lama and Bogdo Khan.  He was the man to whom the
+whole world belongs and who has penetrated into all the mysteries
+of Nature.  He pronounced a short Tibetan prayer, blessed all his
+hearers and afterwards made predictions for the coming half
+century.  This was thirty years ago and in the interim all his
+prophecies are being fulfilled.  During his prayers before that
+small shrine in the next room this door opened of its own accord,
+the candles and lights before the altar lighted themselves and the
+sacred braziers without coals gave forth great streams of incense
+that filled the room.  And then, without warning, the King of the
+World and his companions disappeared from among us.  Behind him
+remained no trace save the folds in the silken throne coverings
+which smoothed themselves out and left the throne as though no one
+had sat upon it."
+
+The Hutuktu entered the shrine, kneeled down, covering his eyes
+with his hands, and began to pray.  I looked at the calm,
+indifferent face of the golden Buddha, over which the flickering
+lamps threw changing shadows, and then turned my eyes to the side
+of the throne.  It was wonderful and difficult to believe but I
+really saw there the strong, muscular figure of a man with a
+swarthy face of stern and fixed expression about the mouth and
+jaws, thrown into high relief by the brightness of the eyes.
+Through his transparent body draped in white raiment I saw the
+Tibetan inscriptions on the back of the throne.  I closed my eyes
+and opened them again.  No one was there but the silk throne
+covering seemed to be moving.
+
+"Nervousness," I thought.  "Abnormal and over-emphasized
+impressionability growing out of the unusual surroundings and
+strains."
+
+The Hutuktu turned to me and said:  "Give me your hatyk.  I have
+the feeling that you are troubled about those whom you love, and I
+want to pray for them.  And you must pray also, importune God and
+direct the sight of your soul to the King of the World who was here
+and sanctified this place."
+
+The Hutuktu placed the hatyk on the shoulder of the Buddha and,
+prostrating himself on the carpet before the altar, whispered the
+words of prayer.  Then he raised his head and beckoned me to him
+with a slight movement of his hand.
+
+"Look at the dark space behind the statue of Buddha and he will
+show your beloved to you."
+
+Readily obeying his deep-voiced command, I began to look into the
+dark niche behind the figure of the Buddha.  Soon out of the
+darkness began to appear streams of smoke or transparent threads.
+They floated in the air, becoming more and more dense and
+increasing in number, until gradually they formed the bodies of
+several persons and the outlines of various objects.  I saw a room
+that was strange to me with my family there, surrounded by some
+whom I knew and others whom I did not.  I recognized even the dress
+my wife wore.  Every line of her dear face was clearly visible.
+Gradually the vision became too dark, dissipated itself into the
+streams of smoke and transparent threads and disappeared.  Behind
+the golden Buddha was nothing but the darkness.  The Hutuktu arose,
+took my hatyk from the shoulder of the Buddha and handed it to me
+with these words:
+
+"Fortune is always with you and with your family.  God's goodness
+will not forsake you."
+
+We left the building of this unknown King of the World, where he
+had prayed for all mankind and had predicted the fate of peoples
+and states.  I was greatly astonished to find that my companions
+had also seen my vision and to hear them describe to me in minute
+detail the appearance and the clothes of the persons whom I had
+seen in the dark niche behind the head of Buddha.*
+
+
+* In order that I might have the evidence of others on this
+extraordinarily impressive vision, I asked them to make protocols
+or affidavits concerning what they saw.  This they did and I now
+have these statements in my possession.
+
+
+The Mongol officer also told me that Chultun Beyli had the day
+before asked the Hutuktu to reveal to him his fate in this
+important juncture of his life and in this crisis of his country
+but the Hutuktu only waved his hand in an expression of fear and
+refused.  When I asked the Hutuktu for the reason of his refusal,
+suggesting to him that it might calm and help Chultun Beyli as the
+vision of my beloved had strengthened me, the Hutuktu knitted his
+brow and answered:
+
+"No!  The vision would not please the Prince.  His fate is black.
+Yesterday I thrice sought his fortune on the burned shoulder blades
+and with the entrails of sheep and each time came to the same dire
+result, the same dire result! . . ."
+
+He did not really finish speaking but covered his face with his
+hands in fear.  He was convinced that the lot of Chultun Beyli was
+black as the night.
+
+In an hour we were behind the low hills that hid the Narabanchi
+Kure from our sight.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+THE BREATH OF DEATH
+
+
+We arrived at Uliassutai on the day of the return of the detachment
+which had gone out to disarm the convoy of Wang Tsao-tsun.  This
+detachment had met Colonel Domojiroff, who ordered them not only to
+disarm but to pillage the convoy and, unfortunately, Lieutenant
+Strigine executed this illegal and unwarranted command.  It was
+compromising and ignominious to see Russian officers and soldiers
+wearing the Chinese overcoats, boots and wrist watches which had
+been taken from the Chinese officials and the convoy.  Everyone had
+Chinese silver and gold also from the loot.  The Mongol wife of
+Wang Tsao-tsun and her brother returned with the detachment and
+entered a complaint of having been robbed by the Russians.  The
+Chinese officials and their convoy, deprived of their supplies,
+reached the Chinese border only after great distress from hunger
+and cold.  We foreigners were astounded that Lt.-Colonel Michailoff
+received Strigine with military honors but we caught the
+explanation of it later when we learned that Michailoff had been
+given some of the Chinese silver and his wife the handsomely
+decorated saddle of Fu Hsiang.  Chultun Beyli demanded that all the
+weapons taken from the Chinese and all the stolen property be
+turned over to him, as it must later be returned to the Chinese
+authorities; but Michailoff refused.  Afterwards we foreigners cut
+off all contact with the Russian detachment.  The relations between
+the Russians and Mongols became very strained.  Several of the
+Russian officers protested against the acts of Michailoff and
+Strigine and controversies became more and more serious.
+
+At this time, one morning in April, an extraordinary group of armed
+horsemen arrived at Uliassutai.  They stayed at the house of the
+Bolshevik Bourdukoff, who gave them, so we were told, a great
+quantity of silver.  This group explained that they were former
+officers in the Imperial Guard.  They were Colonels Poletika, N. N.
+Philipoff and three of the latter's brothers.  They announced that
+they wanted to collect all the White officers and soldiers then in
+Mongolia and China and lead them to Urianhai to fight the
+Bolsheviki; but that first they wanted to wipe out Ungern and
+return Mongolia to China.  They called themselves the
+representatives of the Central Organization of the Whites in
+Russia.
+
+The society of Russian officers in Uliassutai invited them to a
+meeting, examined their documents and interrogated them.
+Investigation proved that all the statements of these officers
+about their former connections were entirely wrong, that Poletika
+occupied an important position in the war commissariat of the
+Bolsheviki, that one of the Philipoff brothers was the assistant of
+Kameneff in his first attempt to reach England, that the Central
+White Organization in Russia did not exist, that the proposed
+fighting in Urianhai was but a trap for the White officers and that
+this group was in close relations with the Bolshevik Bourdukoff.
+
+A discussion at once sprang up among the officers as to what they
+should do with this group, which split the detachment into two
+distinct parties.  Lt.-Colonel Michailoff with several officers
+joined themselves to Poletika's group just as Colonel Domojiroff
+arrived with his detachment.  He began to get in touch with both
+factions and to feel out the politics of the situation, finally
+appointing Poletika to the post of Commandant of Uliassutai and
+sending to Baron Ungern a full report of the events in the town.
+In this document he devoted much space to me, accusing me of
+standing in the way of the execution of his orders.  His officers
+watched me continuously.  From different quarters I received
+warnings to take great care.  This band and its leader openly
+demanded to know what right this foreigner had to interfere in the
+affairs of Mongolia, one of Domojiroff's officers directly giving
+me the challenge in a meeting in the attempt to provoke a
+controversy.  I quietly answered him:
+
+"And on what basis do the Russian refugees interfere, they who have
+rights neither at home nor abroad?"
+
+The officer made no verbal reply but in his eyes burned a definite
+answer.  My huge friend who sat beside me noticed this, strode over
+toward him and, towering over him, stretched his arms and hands as
+though just waking from sleep and remarked:  "I'm looking for a
+little boxing exercise."
+
+On one occasion Domojiroff's men would have succeeded in taking me
+if I had not been saved by the watchfulness of our foreign group.
+I had gone to the fortress to negotiate with the Mongol Sait for
+the departure of the foreigners from Uliassutai.  Chultun Beyli
+detained me for a long time, so that I was forced to return about
+nine in the evening.  My horse was walking.  Half a mile from the
+town three men sprang up out of the ditch and ran at me.  I whipped
+up my horse but noticed several more men coming out of the other
+ditch as though to head me off.  They, however, made for the other
+group and captured them and I heard the voice of a foreigner
+calling me back.  There I found three of Domojiroff's officers
+surrounded by the Polish soldiers and other foreigners under the
+leadership of my old trusted agronome, who was occupied with tying
+the hands of the officers behind their backs so strongly that the
+bones cracked.  Ending his work and still smoking his perpetual
+pipe, he announced in a serious and important manner:  "I think it
+best to throw them into the river."
+
+Laughing at his seriousness and the fear of Domojiroff's officers,
+I asked them why they had started to attack me.  They dropped their
+eyes and were silent.  It was an eloquent silence and we perfectly
+understood what they had proposed to do.  They had revolvers hidden
+in their pockets.
+
+"Fine!" I said.  "All is perfectly clear.  I shall release you but
+you must report to your sender that he will not welcome you back
+the next time.  Your weapons I shall hand to the Commandant of
+Uliassutai."
+
+My friend, using his former terrifying care, began to untie them,
+repeating over and over:  "And I would have fed you to the fishes
+in the river!"  Then we all returned to the town, leaving them to
+go their way.
+
+Domojiroff continued to send envoys to Baron Ungern at Urga with
+requests for plenary powers and money and with reports about
+Michailoff, Chultun Beyli, Poletika, Philipoff and myself.  With
+Asiatic cunning he was then maintaining good relations with all
+those for whom he was preparing death at the hands of the severe
+warrior, Baron Ungern, who was receiving only one-sided reports
+about all the happenings in Uliassutai.  Our whole colony was
+greatly agitated.  The officers split into different parties; the
+soldiers collected in groups and discussed the events of the day,
+criticising their chiefs, and under the influence of some of
+Domojiroff's men began making such statements as:
+
+"We have now seven Colonels, who all want to be in command and are
+all quarreling among themselves.  They all ought to be pegged down
+and given good sound thrashings.  The one who could take the
+greatest number of blows ought to be chosen as our chief."
+
+It was an ominous joke that proved the demoralization of the
+Russian detachment.
+
+"It seems," my friend frequently observed, "that we shall soon have
+the pleasure of seeing a Council of Soldiers here in Uliassutai.
+God and the Devil!  One thing here is very unfortunate--there are
+no forests near into which good Christian men may dive and get away
+from all these cursed Soviets.  It's bare, frightfully bare, this
+wretched Mongolia, with no place for us to hide."
+
+Really this possibility of the Soviet was approaching.  On one
+occasion the soldiers captured the arsenal containing the weapons
+surrendered by the Chinese and carried them off to their barracks.
+Drunkenness, gambling and fighting increased.  We foreigners,
+carefully watching events and in fear of a catastrophe, finally
+decided to leave Uliassutai, that caldron of passions,
+controversies and denunciations.  We heard that the group of
+Poletika was also preparing to get out a few days later.  We
+foreigners separated into two parties, one traveling by the old
+caravan route across the Gobi considerably to the south of Urga to
+Kuku-Hoto or Kweihuacheng and Kalgan, and mine, consisting of my
+friend, two Polish soldiers and myself, heading for Urga via Zain
+Shabi, where Colonel Kazagrandi had asked me in a recent letter to
+meet him.  Thus we left the Uliassutai where we had lived through
+so many exciting events.
+
+On the sixth day after our departure there arrived in the town the
+Mongol-Buriat detachment under the command of the Buriat Vandaloff
+and the Russian Captain Bezrodnoff.  Afterwards I met them in Zain
+Shabi.  It was a detachment sent out from Urga by Baron Ungern to
+restore order in Uliassutai and to march on to Kobdo.  On the way
+from Zain Shabi Bezrodnoff came across the group of Poletika and
+Michailoff.  He instituted a search which disclosed suspicious
+documents in their baggage and in that of Michailoff and his wife
+the silver and other possessions taken from the Chinese.  From this
+group of sixteen he sent N. N. Philipoff to Baron Ungern, released
+three others and shot the remaining twelve.  Thus ended in Zain
+Shabi the life of one party of Uliassutai refugees and the
+activities of the group of Poletika.  In Uliassutai Bezrodnoff shot
+Chultun Beyli for the violation of the treaty with the Chinese, and
+also some Bolshevist Russian colonists; arrested Domojiroff and
+sent him to Urga; and . . . restored order.  The predictions about
+Chultun Beyli were fulfilled.
+
+I knew of Domojiroff's reports regarding myself but I decided,
+nevertheless, to proceed to Urga and not to swing round it, as
+Poletika had started to do when he was accidentally captured by
+Bezrodnoff.  I was accustomed now to looking into the eyes of
+danger and I set out to meet the terrible "bloody Baron."  No one
+can decide his own fate.  I did not think myself in the wrong and
+the feeling of fear had long since ceased to occupy a place in my
+menage.  On the way a Mongol rider who overhauled us brought the
+news of the death of our acquaintances at Zain Shabi.  He spent the
+night with me in the yurta at the ourton and related to me the
+following legend of death.
+
+"It was a long time ago when the Mongolians ruled over China.  The
+Prince of Uliassutai, Beltis Van, was mad.  He executed any one he
+wished without trial and no one dared to pass through his town.
+All the other Princes and rich Mongols surrounded Uliassutai, where
+Beltis raged, cut off communication on every road and allowed none
+to pass in or out.  Famine developed in the town.  They consumed
+all the oxen, sheep and horses and finally Beltis Van determined to
+make a dash with his soldiers through to the west to the land of
+one of his tribes, the Olets.  He and his men all perished in the
+fight.  The Princes, following the advice of the Hutuktu Buyantu,
+buried the dead on the slopes of the mountains surrounding
+Uliassutai.  They buried them with incantations and exorcisings in
+order that Death by Violence might be kept from a further
+visitation to their land.  The tombs were covered with heavy stones
+and the Hutuktu predicted that the bad demon of Death by Violence
+would only leave the earth when the blood of a man should he
+spilled upon the covering stone.  Such a legend lived among us.
+Now it is fulfilled.  The Russians shot there three Bolsheviki and
+the Chinese two Mongols.  The evil spirit of Beltis Van broke loose
+from beneath the heavy stone and now mows down the people with his
+scythe.  The noble Chultun Beyli has perished; the Russian Noyon
+Michailoff also has fallen; and death has flowed out from
+Uliassutai all over our boundless plains.  Who shall be able to
+stem it now?  Who shall tie the ferocious hands?  An evil time has
+fallen upon the Gods and the Good Spirits.  The Evil Demons have
+made war upon the Good Spirits.  What can man now do?  Only perish,
+only perish. . . ."
+
+
+
+Part III
+
+THE STRAINING HEART OF ASIA
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+ON THE ROAD OF GREAT CONQUERORS
+
+
+The great conqueror, Jenghiz Khan, the son of sad, stern, severe
+Mongolia, according to an old Mongolian legend "mounted to the top
+of Karasu Togol and with his eyes of an eagle looked to the west
+and the east.  In the west he saw whole seas of human blood over
+which floated a bloody fog that blanketed all the horizon.  There
+he could not discern his fate.  But the gods ordered him to proceed
+to the west, leading with him all his warriors and Mongolian
+tribes.  To the east he saw wealthy towns, shining temples, crowds
+of happy people, gardens and fields of rich earth, all of which
+pleased the great Mongol.  He said to his sons:  'There in the west
+I shall be fire and sword, destroyer, avenging Fate; in the east I
+shall come as the merciful, great builder, bringing happiness to
+the people and to the land.'"
+
+Thus runs the legend.  I found much of truth in it.  I had passed
+over much of his road to the west and always identified it by the
+old tombs and the impertinent monuments of stone to the merciless
+conqueror.  I saw also a part of the eastern road of the hero, over
+which he traveled to China.  Once when we were making a trip out of
+Uliassutai we stopped the night in Djirgalantu.  The old host of
+the ourton, knowing me from my previous trip to Narabanchi,
+welcomed us very kindly and regaled us with stories during our
+evening meal.  Among other things he led us out of the yurta and
+pointed out a mountain peak brightly lighted by the full moon and
+recounted to us the story of one of the sons of Jenghiz, afterwards
+Emperor of China, Indo-China and Mongolia, who had been attracted
+by the beautiful scenery and grazing lands of Djirgalantu and had
+founded here a town.  This was soon left without inhabitants, for
+the Mongol is a nomad who cannot live in artificial cities.  The
+plain is his house and the world his town.  For a time this town
+witnessed battles between the Chinese and the troops of Jenghiz
+Khan but afterwards it was forgotten.  At present there remains
+only a half-ruined tower, from which in the early days the heavy
+rocks were hurled down upon the heads of the enemy, and the
+dilapidated gate of Kublai, the grandson of Jenghiz Khan.  Against
+the greenish sky drenched with the rays of the moon stood out the
+jagged line of the mountains and the black silhouette of the tower
+with its loopholes, through which the alternate scudding clouds and
+light flashed.
+
+When our party left Uliassutai, we traveled on leisurely, making
+thirty-five to fifty miles a day until we were within sixty miles
+of Zain Shabi, where I took leave of the others to go south to this
+place in order to keep my engagement with Colonel Kazagrandi.  The
+sun had just risen as my single Mongol guide and I without any pack
+animals began to ascend the low, timbered ridges, from the top of
+which I caught the last glimpses of my companions disappearing down
+the valley.  I had no idea then of the many and almost fatal
+dangers which I should have to pass through during this trip by
+myself, which was destined to prove much longer than I had
+anticipated.  As we were crossing a small river with sandy shores,
+my Mongol guide told me how the Mongolians came there during the
+summer to wash gold, in spite of the prohibitions of the Lamas.
+The manner of working the placer was very primitive but the results
+testified clearly to the richness of these sands.  The Mongol lies
+flat on the ground, brushes the sand aside with a feather and keeps
+blowing into the little excavation so formed.  From time to time he
+wets his finger and picks up on it a small bit of grain gold or a
+diminutive nugget and drops these into a little bag hanging under
+his chin.  In such manner this primitive dredge wins about a
+quarter of an ounce or five dollars' worth of the yellow metal per
+day.
+
+I determined to make the whole distance to Zain Shabi in a single
+day.  At the ourtons I hurried them through the catching and
+saddling of the horses as fast as I could.  At one of these
+stations about twenty-five miles from the monastery the Mongols
+gave me a wild horse, a big, strong white stallion.  Just as I was
+about to mount him and had already touched my foot to the stirrup,
+he jumped and kicked me right on the leg which had been wounded in
+the Ma-chu fight.  The leg soon began to swell and ache.  At sunset
+I made out the first Russian and Chinese buildings and later the
+monastery at Zain.  We dropped into the valley of a small stream
+which flowed along a mountain on whose peak were set white rocks
+forming the words of a Tibetan prayer.  At the bottom of this
+mountain was a cemetery for the Lamas, that is, piles of bones and
+a pack of dogs.  At last the monastery lay right below us, a common
+square surrounded with wooden fences.  In the middle rose a large
+temple quite different from all those of western Mongolia, not in
+the Chinese but in the Tibetan style of architecture, a white
+building with perpendicular walls and regular rows of windows in
+black frames, with a roof of black tiles and with a most unusual
+damp course laid between the stone walls and the roof timbers and
+made of bundles of twigs from a Tibetan tree which never rots.
+Another small quadrangle lay a little to the east and contained
+Russian buildings connected with the monastery by telephone.
+
+"That is the house of the Living God of Zain," the Mongol
+explained, pointing to this smaller quadrangle.  "He likes Russian
+customs and manners."
+
+To the north on a conical-shaped hill rose a tower that recalled
+the Babylonian zikkurat.  It was the temple where the ancient books
+and manuscripts were kept and the broken ornaments and objects used
+in the religious ceremonies together with the robes of deceased
+Hutuktus preserved.  A sheer cliff rose behind this museum, which
+it was impossible for one to climb.  On the face of this were
+carved images of the Lamaite gods, scattered about without any
+special order.  They were from one to two and a half metres high.
+At night the monks lighted lamps before them, so that one could see
+these images of the gods and goddesses from far away.
+
+We entered the trading settlement.  The streets were deserted and
+from the windows only women and children looked out.  I stopped
+with a Russian firm whose other branches I had known throughout the
+country.  Much to my astonishment they welcomed me as an
+acquaintance.  It appeared that the Hutuktu of Narabanchi had sent
+word to all the monasteries that, whenever I should come, they must
+all render me aid, inasmuch as I had saved the Narabanchi Monastery
+and, by the clear signs of the divinations, I was an incarnate
+Buddha beloved of the Gods.  This letter of this kindly disposed
+Hutuktu helped me very much--perhaps I should even say more, that
+it saved me from death.  The hospitality of my hosts proved of
+great and much needed assistance to me because my injured leg had
+swelled and was aching severely.  When I took off my boot, I found
+my foot all covered with blood and my old wound re-opened by the
+blow.  A felcher was called to assist me with treatment and
+bandaging, so that I was able to walk again three days later.
+
+I did not find Colonel Kazagrandi at Zain Shabi.  After destroying
+the Chinese gamins who had killed the local Commandant, he had
+returned via Van Kure.  The new Commandment handed me the letter of
+Kazagrandi, who very cordially asked me to visit him after I had
+rested in Zain.  A Mongolian document was enclosed in the letter
+giving me the right to receive horses and carts from herd to herd
+by means of the "urga," which I shall later describe and which
+opened for me an entirely new vista of Mongolian life and country
+that I should otherwise never have seen.  The making of this
+journey of over two hundred miles was a very disagreeable task for
+me; but evidently Kazagrandi, whom I had never met, had serious
+reasons for wishing this meeting.
+
+At one o'clock the day after my arrival I was visited by the local
+"Very God," Gheghen Pandita Hutuktu.  A more strange and
+extraordinary appearance of a god I could not imagine.  He was a
+short, thin young man of twenty or twenty-two years with quick,
+nervous movements and with an expressive face lighted and
+dominated, like the countenances of all the Mongol gods, by large,
+frightened eyes.  He was dressed in a blue silk Russian uniform
+with yellow epaulets with the sacred sign of Pandita Hutuktu, in
+blue silk trousers and high boots, all surmounted by a white
+Astrakhan cap with a yellow pointed top.  At his girdle a revolver
+and sword were slung.  I did not know quite what to think of this
+disguised god.  He took a cup of tea from the host and began to
+talk with a mixture of Mongolian and Russian.
+
+"Not far from my Kure is located the ancient monastery of Erdeni
+Dzu, erected on the site of the ruins of Karakorum, the ancient
+capital of Jenghiz Khan and afterwards frequently visited by Kublai
+Kahn for sanctuary and rest after his labors as Emperor of China,
+India, Persia, Afghanistan, Mongolia and half of Europe.  Now only
+ruins and tombs remain to mark this former 'Garden of Beatific
+Days.'  The pious monks of Baroun Kure found in the underground
+chambers of the ruins manuscripts that were much older than Erdeni
+Dzu itself.  In these my Maramba Meetchik-Atak found the prediction
+that the Hutuktu of Zain who should carry the title of 'Pandita,'
+should be but twenty-one years of age, be born in the heart of the
+lands of Jenghiz Khan and have on his chest the natural sign of the
+swastika--such Hutuktu would be honored by the people in the days
+of a great war and trouble, would begin the fight with the servants
+of Red evil and would conquer them and bring order into the
+universe, celebrating this happy day in the city with white temples
+and with the songs of ten thousand bells.  It is I, Pandita
+Hutuktu!  The signs and symbols have met in me.  I shall destroy
+the Bolsheviki, the bad 'servants of the Red evil,' and in Moscow I
+shall rest from my glorious and great work.  Therefore I have asked
+Colonel Kazagrandi to enlist me in the troops of Baron Ungern and
+give me the chance to fight.  The Lamas seek to prevent me from
+going but who is the god here?"
+
+He very sternly stamped his foot, while the Lamas and guard who
+accompanied him reverently bowed their heads.
+
+As he left he presented me with a hatyk and, rummaging through my
+saddle bags, I found a single article that might be considered
+worthy as a gift for a Hutuktu, a small bottle of osmiridium, this
+rare, natural concomitant of platinum.
+
+"This is the most stable and hardest of metals," I said.  "Let it
+be the sign of your glory and strength, Hutuktu!"
+
+The Pandita thanked me and invited me to visit him.  When I had
+recovered a little, I went to his house, which was arranged in
+European style: electric lights, push bells and telephone.  He
+feasted me with wine and sweets and introduced me to two very
+interesting personages, one an old Tibetan surgeon with a face
+deeply pitted by smallpox, a heavy thick nose and crossed eyes.  He
+was a peculiar surgeon, consecrated in Tibet.  His duties consisted
+in treating and curing Hutuktus when they were ill and . . . in
+poisoning them when they became too independent or extravagant or
+when their policies were not in accord with the wishes of the
+Council of Lamas of the Living Buddha or the Dalai Lama.  By now
+Pandita Hutuktu probably rests in eternal peace on the top of some
+sacred mountain, sent thither by the solicitude of his
+extraordinary court physician.  The martial spirit of Pandita
+Hutuktu was very unwelcome to the Council of Lamas, who protested
+against the adventuresomeness of this "Living God."
+
+Pandita liked wine and cards.  One day when he was in the company
+of Russians and dressed in a European suit, some Lamas came running
+to announce that divine service had begun and that the "Living God"
+must take his place on the altar to be prayed to but he had gone
+out from his abode and was playing cards!  Without any confusion
+Pandita drew his red mantle of the Hutuktu over his European coat
+and long grey trousers and allowed the shocked Lamas to carry their
+"God" away in his palanquin.
+
+Besides the surgeon-poisoner I met at the Hutuktu's a lad of
+thirteen years, whose youthfulness, red robe and cropped hair led
+me to suppose he was a Bandi or student servant in the home of the
+Hutuktu; but it turned out otherwise.  This boy was the first
+Hubilgan, also an incarnate Buddha, an artful teller of fortunes
+and the successor of Pandita Hutuktu.  He was drunk all the time
+and a great card player, always making side-splitting jokes that
+greatly offended the Lamas.
+
+That same evening I made the acquaintance of the second Hubilgan
+who called on me, the real administrator of Zain Shabi, which is an
+independent dominion subject directly to the Living Buddha.  This
+Hubilgan was a serious and ascetic man of thirty-two, well educated
+and deeply learned in Mongol lore.  He knew Russian and read much
+in that language, being interested chiefly in the life and stories
+of other peoples.  He had a high respect for the creative genius of
+the American people and said to me:
+
+"When you go to America, ask the Americans to come to us and lead
+us out from the darkness that surrounds us.  The Chinese and
+Russians will lead us to destruction and only the Americans can
+save us."
+
+It is a deep satisfaction for me to carry out the request of this
+influential Mongol, Hubilgan, and to urge his appeal to the
+American people.  Will you not save this honest, uncorrupted but
+dark, deceived and oppressed people?  They should not be allowed to
+perish, for within their souls they carry a great store of strong
+moral forces.  Make of them a cultured people, believing in the
+verity of humankind; teach them to use the wealth of their land;
+and the ancient people of Jenghiz Khan will ever be your faithful
+friends.
+
+When I had sufficiently recovered, the Hutuktu invited me to travel
+with him to Erdeni Dzu, to which I willingly agreed.  On the
+following morning a light and comfortable carriage was brought for
+me.  Our trip lasted five days, during which we visited Erdeni Dzu,
+Karakorum, Hoto-Zaidam and Hara-Balgasun.  All these are the ruins
+of monasteries and cities erected by Jenghiz Khan and his
+successors, Ugadai Khan and Kublai in the thirteenth century.  Now
+only the remnants of walls and towers remain, some large tombs and
+whole books of legends and stories.
+
+"Look at these tombs!" said the Hutuktu to me.  "Here the son of
+Khan Uyuk was buried.  This young prince was bribed by the Chinese
+to kill his father but was frustrated in his attempt by his own
+sister, who killed him in her watchful care of her old father, the
+Emperor and Khan.  There is the tomb of Tsinilla, the beloved
+spouse of Khan Mangu.  She left the capital of China to go to Khara
+Bolgasun, where she fell in love with the brave shepherd Damcharen,
+who overtook the wind on his steed and who captured wild yaks and
+horses with his bare hands.  The enraged Khan ordered his
+unfaithful wife strangled but afterwards buried her with imperial
+honors and frequently came to her tomb to weep for his lost love."
+
+"And what happened to Damcharen?" I inquired.
+
+The Hutuktu himself did not know; but his old servant, the real
+archive of legends, answered:
+
+"With the aid of ferocious Chahar brigands he fought with China for
+a long time.  It is, however, unknown how he died."
+
+Among the ruins the monks pray at certain fixed times and they also
+search for sacred books and objects concealed or buried in the
+debris.  Recently they found here two Chinese rifles and two gold
+rings and big bundles of old manuscripts tied with leather thongs.
+
+"Why did this region attract the powerful emperors and Khans who
+ruled from the Pacific to the Adriatic?" I asked myself.  Certainly
+not these mountains and valleys covered with larch and birch, not
+these vast sands, receding lakes and barren rocks.  It seems that I
+found the answer.
+
+The great emperors, remembering the vision of Jenghiz Khan, sought
+here new revelations and predictions of his miraculous, majestic
+destiny, surrounded by the divine honors, obeisance and hate.
+Where could they come into touch with the gods, the good and bad
+spirits?  Only there where they abode.  All the district of Zain
+with these ancient ruins is just such a place.
+
+"On this mountain only such men can ascend as are born of the
+direct line of Jenghiz Khan," the Pandita explained to me.  "Half
+way up the ordinary man suffocates and dies, if he ventures to go
+further.  Recently Mongolian hunters chased a pack of wolves up
+this mountain and, when they came to this part of the mountainside,
+they all perished.  There on the slopes of the mountain lie the
+bones of eagles, big horned sheep and the kabarga antelope, light
+and swift as the wind.  There dwells the bad demon who possesses
+the book of human destinies."
+
+"This is the answer," I thought.
+
+In the Western Caucasus I once saw a mountain between Soukhoum Kale
+and Tuopsei where wolves, eagles and wild goats also perish, and
+where men would likewise perish if they did not go on horseback
+through this zone.  There the earth breathes out carbonic acid gas
+through holes in the mountainside, killing all animal life.  The
+gas clings to the earth in a layer about half a metre thick.  Men
+on horseback pass above this and the horses always hold their heads
+way up and snuff and whinny in fear until they cross the dangerous
+zone.  Here on the top of this mountain where the bad demon peruses
+the book of human destinies is the same phenomenon, and I realized
+the sacred fear of the Mongols as well as the stern attraction of
+this place for the tall, almost gigantic descendants of Jenghiz
+Khan.  Their heads tower above the layers of poisonous gas, so that
+they can reach the top of this mysterious and terrible mountain.
+Also it is possible to explain this phenomenon geologically,
+because here in this region is the southern edge of the coal
+deposits which are the source of carbonic acid and swamp gases.
+
+Not far from the ruins in the lands of Hun Doptchin Djamtso there
+is a small lake which sometimes burns with a red flame, terrifying
+the Mongols and herds of horses.  Naturally this lake is rich with
+legends.  Here a meteor formerly fell and sank far into the earth.
+In the hole this lake appeared.  Now, it seems, the inhabitants of
+the subterranean passages, semi-man and semi-demon, are laboring to
+extract this "stone of the sky" from its deep bed and it is setting
+the water on fire as it rises and falls back in spite of their
+every effort.  I did not see the lake myself but a Russian colonist
+told me that it may be petroleum on the lake that is fired either
+from the campfires of the shepherds or by the blazing rays of the
+sun.
+
+At any rate all this makes it very easy to understand the
+attractions for the great Mongol potentates.  The strongest
+impression was produced upon me by Karakorum, the place where the
+cruel and wise Jenghiz Khan lived and laid his gigantic plans for
+overrunning all the west with blood and for covering the east with
+a glory never before seen.  Two Karakorums were erected by Jenghiz
+Khan, one here near Tatsa Gol on the Caravan Road and the other in
+Pamir, where the sad warriors buried the greatest of human
+conquerors in the mausoleum built by five hundred captives who were
+sacrificed to the spirit of the deceased when their work was done.
+
+The warlike Pandita Hutuktu prayed on the ruins where the shades of
+these potentates who had ruled half the world wandered, and his
+soul longed for the chimerical exploits and for the glory of
+Jenghiz and Tamerlane.
+
+On the return journey we were invited not far from Zain to visit a
+very rich Mongol by the way.  He had already prepared the yurtas
+suitable for Princes, ornamented with rich carpets and silk
+draperies.  The Hutuktu accepted.  We arranged ourselves on the
+soft pillows in the yurtas as the Hutuktu blessed the Mongol,
+touching his head with his holy hand, and received the hatyks.  The
+host then had a whole sheep brought in to us, boiled in a huge
+vessel.  The Hutuktu carved off one hind leg and offered it to me,
+while he reserved the other for himself.  After this he gave a
+large piece of meat to the smallest son of the host, which was the
+sign that Pandita Hutuktu invited all to begin the feast.  In a
+trice the sheep was entirely carved or torn up and in the hands of
+the banqueters.  When the Hutuktu had thrown down by the brazier
+the white bones without a trace of meat left on them, the host on
+his knees withdrew from the fire a piece of sheepskin and
+ceremoniously offered it on both his hands to the Hutuktu.  Pandita
+began to clean off the wool and ashes with his knife and, cutting
+it into thin strips, fell to eating this really tasty course.  It
+is the covering from just above the breast bone and is called in
+Mongolian tarach or "arrow."  When a sheep is skinned, this small
+section is cut out and placed on the hot coals, where it is broiled
+very slowly.  Thus prepared it is considered the most dainty bit of
+the whole animal and is always presented to the guest of honor.  It
+is not permissible to divide it, such is the strength of the custom
+and ceremony.
+
+After dinner our host proposed a hunt for bighorns, a large herd of
+which was known to graze in the mountains within less than a mile
+from the yurtas.  Horses with rich saddles and bridles were led up.
+All the elaborate harness of the Hutuktu's mount was ornamented
+with red and yellow bits of cloth as a mark of his rank.  About
+fifty Mongol riders galloped behind us.  When we left our horses,
+we were placed behind the rocks roughly three hundred paces apart
+and the Mongols began the encircling movement around the mountain.
+After about half an hour I noticed way up among the rocks something
+flash and soon made out a fine bighorn jumping with tremendous
+springs from rock to rock, and behind him a herd of some twenty odd
+head leaping like lightning over the ground.  I was vexed beyond
+words when it appeared that the Mongols had made a mess of it and
+pushed the herd out to the side before having completed their
+circle.  But happily I was mistaken.  Behind a rock right ahead of
+the herd a Mongol sprang up and waved his hands.  Only the big
+leader was not frightened and kept right on past the unarmed Mongol
+while all the rest of the herd swung suddenly round and rushed
+right down upon me.  I opened fire and dropped two of them.  The
+Hutuktu also brought down one as well as a musk antelope that came
+unexpectedly from behind a rock hard by.  The largest pair of horns
+weighed about thirty pounds, but they were from a young sheep.
+
+The day following our return to Zain Shabi, as I was feeling quite
+recovered, I decided to go on to Van Kure.  At my leave-taking from
+the Hutuktu I received a large hatyk from him together with warmest
+expressions of thanks for the present I had given him on the first
+day of our acquaintance.
+
+"It is a fine medicine!" he exclaimed.  "After our trip I felt
+quite exhausted but I took your medicine and am now quite
+rejuvenated.  Many, many thanks!"
+
+The poor chap had swallowed my osmiridium.  To be sure it could not
+harm him; but to have helped him was wonderful.  Perhaps doctors in
+the Occident may wish to try this new, harmless and very cheap
+remedy--only eight pounds of it in the whole world--and I merely
+ask that they leave me the patent rights for it for Mongolia,
+Barga, Sinkiang, Koko Nor and all the other lands of Central Asia.
+
+An old Russian colonist went as guide for me.  They gave me a big
+but light and comfortable cart hitched and drawn in a marvelous
+way.  A straight pole four metres long was fastened athwart the
+front of the shafts.  On either side two riders took this pole
+across their saddle pommels and galloped away with me across the
+plains.  Behind us galloped four other riders with four extra
+horses.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+ARRESTED!
+
+
+About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line
+of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour
+later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.  The group consisted
+of Mongols, Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles.  At the
+head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black
+Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his
+shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded
+of me:  "Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?"
+
+I gave also a laconic answer.  They then said that they were a
+detachment of troops from Baron Ungern under the command of Captain
+Vandaloff.  "I am Captain Bezrodnoff, military judge."
+
+Suddenly he laughed loudly.  His insolent, stupid face did not
+please me and, bowing to the officers, I ordered my riders to move.
+
+"Oh no!" he remonstrated, as he blocked the road again.  "I cannot
+allow you to go farther.  I want to have a long and serious
+conversation with you and you will have to come back to Zain for
+it."
+
+I protested and called attention to the letter of Colonel
+Kazagrandi, only to hear Bezrodnoff answer with coldness:
+
+"This letter is a matter of Colonel Kazagrandi's and to bring you
+back to Zain and talk with you is my affair.  Now give me your
+weapon."
+
+But I could not yield to this demand, even though death were
+threatened.
+
+"Listen," I said.  "Tell me frankly.  Is yours really a detachment
+fighting against the Boisheviki or is it a Red contingent?"
+
+"No, I assure you!" replied the Buriat officer Vandaloff,
+approaching me.  "We have already been fighting the Bolsheviki for
+three years."
+
+"Then I cannot hand you my weapon," I calmly replied.  "I brought
+it from Soviet Siberia, have had many fights with this faithful
+weapon and now I am to be disarmed by White officers!  It is an
+offence that I cannot allow."
+
+With these words I threw my rifle and my Mauser into the stream.
+The officers were confused.  Bezrodnoff turned red with anger.
+
+"I freed you and myself from humiliation," I explained.
+
+Bezrodnoff in silence turned his horse, the whole detachment of
+three hundred men passed immediately before me and only the last
+two riders stopped, ordered my Mongols to turn my cart round and
+then fell in behind my little group.  So I was arrested!  One of
+the horsemen behind me was a Russian and he told me that Bezrodnoff
+carried with him many death decrees.  I was sure that mine was
+among them.
+
+Stupid, very stupid!  What was the use of fighting one's way
+through Red detachments, of being frozen and hungry, of almost
+perishing in Tibet only to die from a bullet of one of Bezrodnoff's
+Mongols?  For such a pleasure it was not worth while to travel so
+long and so far!  In every Siberian "Cheka" I could have had this
+end so joyfully accorded me.
+
+When we arrived at Zain Shabi, my luggage was examined and
+Bezrodnoff began to question me in minutest detail about the events
+in Uliassutai.  We talked about three hours, during which I tried
+to defend all the officers of Uliassutai, maintaining that one must
+not trust only the reports of Domojiroff.  When our conversation
+was finished, the Captain stood up and offered his apologies for
+detaining me in my journey.  Afterwards he presented me a fine
+Mauser with silver mountings on the handle and said:
+
+"Your pride greatly pleased me.  I beg you to receive this weapon
+as a memento of me."
+
+The following morning I set out anew from Zain Shabi, having in my
+pocket the laissez-passer of Bezrodnoff for his outposts.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI
+
+TRAVELING BY "URGA"
+
+
+Once more we traveled along the now known places, the mountain from
+which I espied the detachment of Bezrodnoff, the stream into which
+I had thrown my weapon, and soon all this lay behind us.  At the
+first ourton we were disappointed because we did not find horses
+there.  In the yurtas were only the host with two of his sons.  I
+showed him my document and he exclaimed:
+
+"Noyon has the right of 'urga.'  Horses will be brought very soon."
+
+He jumped into his saddle, took two of my Mongols with him,
+providing them and himself with long thin poles, four or five
+metres in length, and fitted at the end with a loop of rope, and
+galloped away.  My cart moved behind them.  We left the road,
+crossed the plain for an hour and came upon a big herd of horses
+grazing there.  The Mongol began to catch a quota of them for us
+with his pole and noose or urga, when out of the mountains nearby
+came galloping the owners of the herds.  When the old Mongol showed
+my papers to them, they submissively acquiesced and substituted
+four of their men for those who had come with me thus far.  In this
+manner the Mongols travel, not along the ourton or station road but
+directly from one herd to another, where the fresh horses are
+caught and saddled and the new owners substituted for those of the
+last herd.  All the Mongols so effected by the right of urga try to
+finish their task as rapidly as possible and gallop like mad for
+the nearest herd in your general direction of travel to turn over
+their task to their neighbor.  Any traveler having this right of
+urga can catch horses himself and, if there are no owners, can
+force the former ones to carry on and leave the animals in the next
+herd he requisitions.  But this happens very rarely because the
+Mongol never likes to seek out his animals in another's herd, as it
+always gives so many chances for controversy.
+
+It was from this custom, according to one explanation, that the
+town of Urga took its name among outsiders.  By the Mongols
+themselves it is always referred to as Ta Kure, "The Great
+Monastery."  The reason the Buriats and Russians, who were the
+first to trade into this region, called it Urga was because it was
+the principal destination of all the trading expeditions which
+crossed the plains by this old method or right of travel.  A second
+explanation is that the town lies in a "loop" whose sides are
+formed by three mountain ridges, along one of which the River Tola
+runs like the pole or stick of the familiar urga of the plains.
+
+Thanks to this unique ticket of urga I crossed quite untraveled
+sections of Mongolia for about two hundred miles.  It gave me the
+welcome opportunity to observe the fauna of this part of the
+country.  I saw many huge herds of Mongolian antelopes running from
+five to six thousand, many groups of bighorns, wapiti and kabarga
+antelopes.  Sometimes small herds of wild horses and wild asses
+flashed as a vision on the horizon.
+
+In one place I observed a big colony of marmots.  All over an area
+of several square miles their mounds were scattered with the holes
+leading down to their runways below, the dwellings of the marmot.
+In and out among these mounds the greyish-yellow or brown animals
+ran in all sizes up to half that of an average dog.  They ran
+heavily and the skin on their fat bodies moved as though it were
+too big for them.  The marmots are splendid prospectors, always
+digging deep ditches, throwing out on the surface all the stones.
+In many places I saw mounds the marmots had made from copper ore
+and farther north some from minerals containing wolfram and
+vanadium.  Whenever the marmot is at the entrance of his hole, he
+sits up straight on his hind legs and looks like a bit of wood, a
+small stump or a stone.  As soon as he spies a rider in the
+distance, he watches him with great curiosity and begins whistling
+sharply.  This curiosity of the marmots is taken advantage of by
+the hunters, who sneak up to their holes flourishing streamers of
+cloth on the tips of long poles.  The whole attention of the small
+animals is concentrated on this small flag and only the bullet that
+takes his life explains to him the reason for this previously
+unknown object.
+
+I saw a very exciting picture as I passed through a marmot colony
+near the Orkhon River.  There were thousands of holes here so that
+my Mongols had to use all their skill to keep the horses from
+breaking their legs in them.  I noticed an eagle circling high
+overhead.  All of a sudden he dropped like a stone to the top of a
+mound, where he sat motionless as a rock.  The marmot in a few
+minutes ran out of his hole to a neighbor's doorway.  The eagle
+calmly jumped down from the top and with one wing closed the
+entrance to the hole.  The rodent heard the noise, turned back and
+rushed to the attack, trying to break through to his hole where he
+had evidently left his family.  The struggle began.  The eagle
+fought with one free wing, one leg and his beak but did not
+withdraw the bar to the entrance.  The marmot jumped at the
+rapacious bird with great boldness but soon fell from a blow on the
+head.  Only then the eagle withdrew his wing, approached the
+marmot, finished him off and with difficulty lifted him in his
+talons to carry him away to the mountains for a tasty luncheon.
+
+In the more barren places with only occasional spears of grass in
+the plain another species of rodent lives, called imouran, about
+the size of a squirrel.  They have a coat the same color as the
+prairie and, running about it like snakes, they collect the seeds
+that are blown across by the wind and carry them down into their
+diminutive homes.  The imouran has a truly faithful friend, the
+yellow lark of the prairie with a brown back and head.  When he
+sees the imouran running across the plain, he settles on his back,
+flaps his wings in balance and rides well this swiftly galloping
+mount, who gaily flourishes his long shaggy tail.  The lark during
+his ride skilfully and quickly catches the parasites living on the
+body of his friend, giving evidence of his enjoyment of his work
+with a short agreeable song.  The Mongols call the imouran "the
+steed of the gay lark."  The lark warns the imouran of the approach
+of eagles and hawks with three sharp whistles the moment he sees
+the aerial brigand and takes refuge himself behind a stone or in a
+small ditch.  After this signal no imouran will stick his head out
+of his hole until the danger is past.  Thus the gay lark and his
+steed live in kindly neighborliness.
+
+In other parts of Mongolia where there was very rich grass I saw
+another type of rodent, which I had previously come across in
+Urianhai.  It is a gigantic black prairie rat with a short tail and
+lives in colonies of from one to two hundred.  He is interesting
+and unique as the most skilful farmer among the animals in his
+preparation of his winter supply of fodder.  During the weeks when
+the grass is most succulent he actually mows it down with swift
+jerky swings of his head, cutting about twenty or thirty stalks
+with his sharp long front teeth.  Then he allows his grass to cure
+and later puts up his prepared hay in a most scientific manner.
+First he makes a mound about a foot high.  Through this he pushes
+down into the ground four slanting stakes, converging toward the
+middle of the pile, and binds them close over the surface of the
+hay with the longest strands of grass, leaving the ends protruding
+enough for him to add another foot to the height of the pile, when
+he again binds the surface with more long strands--all this to keep
+his winter supply of food from blowing away over the prairie.  This
+stock he always locates right at the door of his den to avoid long
+winter hauls.  The horses and camels are very fond of this small
+farmer's hay, because it is always made from the most nutritious
+grass.  The haycocks are so strongly made that one can hardly kick
+them to pieces.
+
+Almost everywhere in Mongolia I met either single pairs or whole
+flocks of the greyish-yellow prairie partridges, salga or
+"partridge swallow," so called because they have long sharp tails
+resembling those of swallows and because their flight also is a
+close copy of that of the swallow.  These birds are very tame or
+fearless, allowing men to come within ten or fifteen paces of them;
+but, when they do break, they go high and fly long distances
+without lighting, whistling all the time quite like swallows.
+Their general markings are light grey and yellow, though the males
+have pretty chocolate spots on the backs and wings, while their
+legs and feet are heavily feathered.
+
+My opportunity to make these observations came from traveling
+through unfrequented regions by the urga, which, however, had its
+counterbalancing disadvantages.  The Mongols carried me directly
+and swiftly toward my destination, receiving with great
+satisfaction the presents of Chinese dollars which I gave them.
+But after having made about five thousand miles on my Cossack
+saddle that now lay behind me on the cart all covered with dust
+like common merchandise, I rebelled against being wracked and torn
+by the rough riding of the cart as it was swung heedlessly over
+stones, hillocks and ditches by the wild horses with their equally
+wild riders, bounding and cracking and holding together only
+through its tenacity of purpose in demonstrating the cosiness and
+attractiveness of a good Mongol equipage!  All my bones began to
+ache.  Finally I groaned at every lunge and at last I suffered a
+very sharp attack of ischias or sciatica in my wounded leg.  At
+night I could neither sleep, lie down nor sit with comfort and
+spent the whole night pacing up and down the plain, listening to
+the loud snoring of the inhabitants of the yurta.  At times I had
+to fight the two huge black dogs which attacked me.  The following
+day I could endure the wracking only until noon and was then forced
+to give up and lie down.  The pain was unbearable.  I could not
+move my leg nor my back and finally fell into a high fever.  We
+were forced to stop and rest.  I swallowed all my stock of aspirin
+and quinine but without relief.  Before me was a sleepless night
+about which I could not think without weakening fear.  We had
+stopped in the yurta for guests by the side of a small monastery.
+My Mongols invited the Lama doctor to visit me, who gave me two
+very bitter powders and assured me I should be able to continue in
+the morning.  I soon felt a stimulated palpitation of the heart,
+after which the pain became even sharper.  Again I spent the night
+without any sleep but when the sun arose the pain ceased instantly
+and, after an hour, I ordered them to saddle me a horse, as I was
+afraid to continue further in the cart.
+
+While the Mongols were catching the horses, there came to my tent
+Colonel N. N. Philipoff, who told me that he denied all the
+accusations that he and his brother and Poletika were Bolsheviki
+and that Bezrodnoff allowed him to go to Van Kure to meet Baron
+Ungern, who was expected there.  Only Philipoff did not know that
+his Mongol guide was armed with a bomb and that another Mongol had
+been sent on ahead with a letter to Baron Ungern.  He did not know
+that Poletika and his brothers were shot at the same time in Zain
+Shabi.  Philipoff was in a hurry and wanted to reach Van Kure that
+day.  I left an hour after him.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII
+
+AN OLD FORTUNE TELLER
+
+
+From this point we began traveling along the ourton road.  In this
+region the Mongols had very poor and exhausted horses, because they
+were forced continuously to supply mounts to the numerous envoys of
+Daichin Van and of Colonel Kazagrandi.  We were compelled to spend
+the night at the last ourton before Van Kure, where a stout old
+Mongol and his son kept the station.  After our supper he took the
+shoulder-blade of the sheep, which had been carefully scraped clean
+of all the flesh, and, looking at me, placed this bone in the coals
+with some incantations and said:
+
+"I want to tell your fortune.  All my predictions come true."
+
+When the bone had been blackened he drew it out, blew off the ashes
+and began to scrutinize the surface very closely and to look
+through it into the fire.  He continued his examination for a long
+time and then, with fear in his face, placed the bone back in the
+coals.
+
+"What did you see?" I asked, laughing.
+
+"Be silent!" he whispered.  "I made out horrible signs."
+
+He again took out the bone and began examining it all over, all the
+time whispering prayers and making strange movements.  In a very
+solemn quiet voice he began his predictions.
+
+"Death in the form of a tall white man with red hair will stand
+behind you and will watch you long and close.  You will feel it and
+wait but Death will withdraw. . . .  Another white man will become
+your friend. . . .  Before the fourth day you will lose your
+acquaintances.  They will die by a long knife.  I already see them
+being eaten by the dogs.  Beware of the man with a head like a
+saddle.  He will strive for your death."
+
+For a long time after the fortune had been told we sat smoking and
+drinking tea but still the old fellow looked at me only with fear.
+Through my brain flashed the thought that thus must his companions
+in prison look at one who is condemned to death.
+
+The next morning we left the fortune teller before the sun was up,
+and, when we had made about fifteen miles, hove in sight of Van
+Kure.  I found Colonel Kazagrandi at his headquarters.  He was a
+man of good family, an experienced engineer and a splendid officer,
+who had distinguished himself in the war at the defence of the
+island of Moon in the Baltic and afterwards in the fight with the
+Bolsheviki on the Volga.  Colonel Kazagrandi offered me a bath in a
+real tub, which had its habitat in the house of the president of
+the local Chamber of Commerce.  As I was in this house, a tall
+young captain entered.  He had long curly red hair and an unusually
+white face, though heavy and stolid, with large, steel-cold eyes
+and with beautiful, tender, almost girlish lips.  But in his eyes
+there was such cold cruelty that it was quite unpleasant to look at
+his otherwise fine face.  When he left the room, our host told me
+that he was Captain Veseloffsky, the adjutant of General Rezukhin,
+who was fighting against the Bolsheviki in the north of Mongolia.
+They had just that day arrived for a conference with Baron Ungern.
+
+After luncheon Colonel Kazagrandi invited me to his yurta and began
+discussing events in western Mongolia, where the situation had
+become very tense.
+
+"Do you know Dr. Gay?" Kazagrandi asked me.  "You know he helped me
+to form my detachment but Urga accuses him of being the agent of
+the Soviets."
+
+I made all the defences I could for Gay.  He had helped me and had
+been exonerated by Kolchak.
+
+"Yes, yes, and I justified Gay in such a manner," said the Colonel,
+"but Rezukhin, who has just arrived today, has brought letters of
+Gay's to the Bolsheviki which were seized in transit.  By order of
+Baron Ungern, Gay and his family have today been sent to the
+headquarters of Rezukhin and I fear that they will not reach this
+destination."
+
+"Why?" I asked.
+
+"They will be executed on the road!" answered Colonel Kazagrandi.
+
+"What are we to do?" I responded.  "Gay cannot be a Bolshevik,
+"because he is too well educated and too clever for it."
+
+"I don't know; I don't know!" murmured the Colonel with a
+despondent gesture.  "Try to speak with Rezukhin."
+
+I decided to proceed at once to Rezukhin but just then Colonel
+Philipoff entered and began talking about the errors being made in
+the training of the soldiers.  When I had donned my coat, another
+man came in.  He was a small sized officer with an old green
+Cossack cap with a visor, a torn grey Mongol overcoat and with his
+right hand in a black sling tied around his neck.  It was General
+Rezukhin, to whom I was at once introduced.  During the
+conversation the General very politely and very skilfully inquired
+about the lives of Philipoff and myself during the last three
+years, joking and laughing with discretion and modesty.  When he
+soon took his leave, I availed myself of the chance and went out
+with him.
+
+He listened very attentively and politely to me and afterwards, in
+his quiet voice, said:
+
+"Dr. Gay is the agent of the Soviets, disguised as a White in order
+the better to see, hear and know everything.  We are surrounded by
+our enemies.  The Russian people are demoralized and will undertake
+any treachery for money.  Such is Gay.  Anyway, what is the use of
+discussing him further?  He and his family are no longer alive.
+Today my men cut them to pieces five kilometres from here."
+
+In consternation and fear I looked at the face of this small,
+dapper man with such soft voice and courteous manners.  In his eyes
+I read such hate and tenacity that I understood at once the
+trembling respect of all the officers whom I had seen in his
+presence.  Afterwards in Urga I learned more of this General
+Rezukhin distinguished by his absolute bravery and boundless
+cruelty.  He was the watchdog of Baron Ungern, ready to throw
+himself into the fire and to spring at the throat of anyone his
+master might indicate.
+
+Only four days then had elapsed before "my acquaintances" died "by
+a long knife," so that one part of the prediction had been thus
+fulfilled.  And now I have to await Death's threat to me.  The
+delay was not long.  Only two days later the Chief of the Asiatic
+Division of Cavalry arrived--Baron Ungern von Sternberg.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII
+
+"DEATH FROM THE WHITE MAN WILL STAND BEHIND YOU"
+
+
+"The terrible general, the Baron," arrived quite unexpectedly,
+unnoticed by the outposts of Colonel Kazagrandi.  After a talk with
+Kazagrandi the Baron invited Colonel N. N. Philipoff and me into
+his presence.  Colonel Kazagrandi brought the word to me.  I wanted
+to go at once but was detained about half an hour by the Colonel,
+who then sped me with the words:
+
+"Now God help you!  Go!"
+
+It was a strange parting message, not reassuring and quite
+enigmatical.  I took my Mauser and also hid in the cuff of my coat
+my cyanide of potassium.  The Baron was quartered in the yurta of
+the military doctor.  When I entered the court, Captain Veseloffsky
+came up to me.  He had a Cossack sword and a revolver without its
+holster beneath his girdle.  He went into the yurta to report my
+arrival.
+
+"Come in," he said, as he emerged from the tent.
+
+At the entrance my eyes were struck with the sight of a pool of
+blood that had not yet had time to drain down into the ground--an
+ominous greeting that seemed to carry the very voice of one just
+gone before me.  I knocked.
+
+"Come in!" was the answer in a high tenor.  As I passed the
+threshold, a figure in a red silk Mongolian coat rushed at me with
+the spring of a tiger, grabbed and shook my hand as though in
+flight across my path and then fell prone on the bed at the side of
+the tent.
+
+"Tell me who you are!  Hereabouts are many spies and agitators," he
+cried out in an hysterical voice, as he fixed his eyes upon me.  In
+one moment I perceived his appearance and psychology.  A small head
+on wide shoulders; blonde hair in disorder; a reddish bristling
+moustache; a skinny, exhausted face, like those on the old
+Byzantine ikons.  Then everything else faded from view save a big,
+protruding forehead overhanging steely sharp eyes.  These eyes were
+fixed upon me like those of an animal from a cave.  My observations
+lasted for but a flash but I understood that before me was a very
+dangerous man ready for an instant spring into irrevocable action.
+Though the danger was evident, I felt the deepest offence.
+
+"Sit down," he snapped out in a hissing voice, as he pointed to a
+chair and impatiently pulled at his moustache.  I felt my anger
+rising through my whole body and I said to him without taking the
+chair:
+
+"You have allowed yourself to offend me, Baron.  My name is well
+enough known so that you cannot thus indulge yourself in such
+epithets.  You can do with me as you wish, because force is on your
+side, but you cannot compel me to speak with one who gives me
+offence."
+
+At these words of mine he swung his feet down off the bed and with
+evident astonishment began to survey me, holding his breath and
+pulling still at his moustache.  Retaining my exterior calmness, I
+began to glance indifferently around the yurta, and only then I
+noticed General Rezukhin.  I bowed to him and received his silent
+acknowledgment.  After that I swung my glance back to the Baron,
+who sat with bowed head and closed eyes, from time to time rubbing
+his brow and mumbling to himself.
+
+Suddenly he stood up and sharply said, looking past and over me:
+
+"Go out!  There is no need of more. . . ."
+
+I swung round and saw Captain Veseloffsky with his white, cold
+face.  I had not heard him enter.  He did a formal "about face" and
+passed out of the door.
+
+"'Death from the white man' has stood behind me," I thought; "but
+has it quite left me?"
+
+The Baron stood thinking for some time and then began to speak in
+jumbled, unfinished phrases.
+
+"I ask your pardon. . . .  You must understand there are so many
+traitors!  Honest men have disappeared.  I cannot trust anybody.
+All names are false and assumed; documents are counterfeited.  Eyes
+and words deceive. . . .  All is demoralized, insulted by
+Bolshevism.  I just ordered Colonel Philipoff cut down, he who
+called himself the representative of the Russian White
+Organization.  In the lining of his garments were found two secret
+Bolshevik codes. . . .  When my officer flourished his sword over
+him, he exclaimed:  'Why do you kill me, Tavarische?'  I cannot
+trust anybody. . . ."
+
+He was silent and I also held my peace.
+
+"I beg your pardon!" he began anew.  "I offended you; but I am not
+simply a man, I am a leader of great forces and have in my head so
+much care, sorrow and woe!"
+
+In his voice I felt there was mingled despair and sincerity.  He
+frankly put out his hand to me.  Again silence.  At last I
+answered:
+
+"What do you order me to do now, for I have neither counterfeit nor
+real documents?  But many of your officers know me and in Urga I
+can find many who will testify that I could be neither agitator
+nor. . ."
+
+"No need, no need!" interrupted the Baron.  "All is clear, all is
+understood!  I was in your soul and I know all.  It is the truth
+which Hutuktu Narabanchi has written about you.  What can I do for
+you?"
+
+I explained how my friend and I had escaped from Soviet Russia in
+the effort to reach our native land and how a group of Polish
+soldiers had joined us in the hope of getting back to Poland; and I
+asked that help be given us to reach the nearest port.
+
+"With pleasure, with pleasure. . . .  I will help you all," he
+answered excitedly.  "I shall drive you to Urga in my motor car.
+Tomorrow we shall start and there in Urga we shall talk about
+further arrangements."
+
+Taking my leave, I went out of the yurta.  On arriving at my
+quarters, I found Colonel Kazagrandi in great anxiety walking up
+and down my room.
+
+"Thanks be to God!" he exclaimed and crossed himself.
+
+His joy was very touching but at the same time I thought that the
+Colonel could have taken much more active measures for the
+salvation of his guest, if he had been so minded.  The agitation of
+this day had tired me and made me feel years older.  When I looked
+in the mirror I was certain there were more white hairs on my head.
+At night I could not sleep for the flashing thoughts of the young,
+fine face of Colonel Philipoff, the pool of blood, the cold eyes of
+Captain Veseloffsky, the sound of Baron Ungern's voice with its
+tones of despair and woe, until finally I sank into a heavy stupor.
+I was awakened by Baron Ungern who came to ask pardon that he could
+not take me in his motor car, because he was obliged to take
+Daichin Van with him.  But he informed me that he had left
+instructions to give me his own white camel and two Cossacks as
+servants.  I had no time to thank him before he rushed out of my
+room.
+
+Sleep then entirely deserted me, so I dressed and began smoking
+pipe after pipe of tobacco, as I thought:  "How much easier to
+fight the Bolsheviki on the swamps of Seybi and to cross the snowy
+peaks of Ulan Taiga, where the bad demons kill all the travelers
+they can!  There everything was simple and comprehensible, but here
+it is all a mad nightmare, a dark and foreboding storm!"  I felt
+some tragedy, some horror in every movement of Baron Ungern, behind
+whom paced this silent, white-faced Veseloffsky and Death.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV
+
+THE HORROR OF WAR!
+
+
+At dawn of the following morning they led up the splendid white
+camel for me and we moved away.  My company consisted of the two
+Cossacks, two Mongol soldiers and one Lama with two pack camels
+carrying the tent and food.  I still apprehended that the Baron had
+it in mind not to dispose of me before my friends there in Van Kure
+but to prepare this journey for me under the guise of which it
+would be so easy to do away with me by the road.  A bullet in the
+back and all would be finished.  Consequently I was momentarily
+ready to draw my revolver and defend myself.  I took care all the
+time to have the Cossacks either ahead of me or at the side.  About
+noon we heard the distant honk of a motor car and soon saw Baron
+Ungern whizzing by us at full speed.  With him were two adjutants
+and Prince Daichin Van.  The Baron greeted me very kindly and
+shouted:
+
+"Shall see you again in Urga!"
+
+"Ah!" I thought, "evidently I shall reach Urga.  So I can be at
+ease during my trip, and in Urga I have many friends beside the
+presence there of the bold Polish soldiers whom I had worked with
+in Uliassutai and who had outdistanced me in this journey."
+
+After the meeting with the Baron my Cossacks became very attentive
+to me and sought to distract me with stories.  They told me about
+their very severe struggles with the Bolsheviki in Transbaikalia
+and Mongolia, about the battle with the Chinese near Urga, about
+finding communistic passports on several Chinese soldiers from
+Moscow, about the bravery of Baron Ungern and how he would sit at
+the campfire smoking and drinking tea right on the battle line
+without ever being touched by a bullet.  At one fight seventy-four
+bullets entered his overcoat, saddle and the boxes by his side and
+again left him untouched.  This is one of the reasons for his great
+influence over the Mongols.  They related how before the battle he
+had made a reconnaissance in Urga with only one Cossack and on his
+way back had killed a Chinese officer and two soldiers with his
+bamboo stick or tashur; how he had no outfit save one change of
+linen and one extra pair of boots; how he was always calm and
+jovial in battle and severe and morose in the rare days of peace;
+and how he was everywhere his soldiers were fighting.
+
+I told them, in turn, of my escape from Siberia and with chatting
+thus the day slipped by very quickly.  Our camels trotted all the
+time, so that instead of the ordinary eighteen to twenty miles per
+day we made nearly fifty.  My mount was the fastest of them all.
+He was a huge white animal with a splendid thick mane and had been
+presented to Baron Ungern by some Prince of Inner Mongolia with two
+black sables tied on the bridle.  He was a calm, strong, bold giant
+of the desert, on whose back I felt myself as though perched on the
+tower of a building.  Beyond the Orkhon River we came across the
+first dead body of a Chinese soldier, which lay face up and arms
+outstretched right in the middle of the road.  When we had crossed
+the Burgut Mountains, we entered the Tola River valley, farther up
+which Urga is located.  The road was strewn with the overcoats,
+shirts, boots, caps and kettles which the Chinese had thrown away
+in their flight; and marked by many of their dead.  Further on the
+road crossed a morass, where on either side lay great mounds of the
+dead bodies of men, horses and camels with broken carts and
+military debris of every sort.  Here the Tibetans of Baron Ungern
+had cut up the escaping Chinese baggage transport; and it was a
+strange and gloomy contrast to see the piles of dead besides the
+effervescing awakening life of spring.  In every pool wild ducks of
+different kinds floated about; in the high grass the cranes
+performed their weird dance of courtship; on the lakes great flocks
+of swans and geese were swimming; through the swampy places like
+spots of light moved the brilliantly colored pairs of the Mongolian
+sacred bird, the turpan or "Lama goose"; on the higher dry places
+flocks of wild turkey gamboled and fought as they fed; flocks of
+the salga partridge whistled by; while on the mountain side not far
+away the wolves lay basking and turning in the lazy warmth of the
+sun, whining and occasionally barking like playful dogs.
+
+Nature knows only life.  Death is for her but an episode whose
+traces she rubs out with sand and snow or ornaments with luxuriant
+greenery and brightly colored bushes and flowers.  What matters it
+to Nature if a mother at Chefoo or on the banks of the Yangtse
+offers her bowl of rice with burning incense at some shrine and
+prays for the return of her son that has fallen unknown for all
+time on the plains along the Tola, where his bones will dry beneath
+the rays of Nature's dissipating fire and be scattered by her winds
+over the sands of the prairie?  It is splendid, this indifference
+of Nature to death, and her greediness for life!
+
+On the fourth day we made the shores of the Tola well after
+nightfall.  We could not find the regular ford and I forced my
+camel to enter the stream in the attempt to make a crossing without
+guidance.  Very fortunately I found a shallow, though somewhat
+miry, place and we got over all right.  This is something to be
+thankful for in fording a river with a camel; because, when your
+mount finds the water too deep, coming up around his neck, he does
+not strike out and swim like a horse will do but just rolls over on
+his side and floats, which is vastly inconvenient for his rider.
+Down by the river we pegged our tent.
+
+Fifteen miles further on we crossed a battlefield, where the third
+great battle for the independence of Mongolia had been fought.
+Here the troops of Baron Ungern clashed with six thousand Chinese
+moving down from Kiakhta to the aid of Urga.  The Chinese were
+completely defeated and four thousand prisoners taken.  However,
+these surrendered Chinese tried to escape during the night.  Baron
+Ungern sent the Transbaikal Cossacks and Tibetans in pursuit of
+them and it was their work which we saw on this field of death.
+There were still about fifteen hundred unburied and as many more
+interred, according to the statements of our Cossacks, who had
+participated in this battle.  The killed showed terrible sword
+wounds; everywhere equipment and other debris were scattered about.
+The Mongols with their herds moved away from the neighborhood and
+their place was taken by the wolves which hid behind every stone
+and in every ditch as we passed.  Packs of dogs that had become
+wild fought with the wolves over the prey.
+
+At last we left this place of carnage to the cursed god of war.
+Soon we approached a shallow, rapid stream, where the Mongols
+slipped from their camels, took off their caps and began drinking.
+It was a sacred stream which passed beside the abode of the Living
+Buddha.  From this winding valley we suddenly turned into another
+where a great mountain ridge covered with dark, dense forest loomed
+up before us.
+
+"Holy Bogdo-Ol!" exclaimed the Lama.  "The abode of the Gods which
+guard our Living Buddha!"
+
+Bogdo-Ol is the huge knot which ties together here three mountain
+chains: Gegyl from the southwest, Gangyn from the south, and Huntu
+from the north.  This mountain covered with virgin forest is the
+property of the Living Buddha.  The forests are full of nearly all
+the varieties of animals found in Mongolia, but hunting is not
+allowed.  Any Mongol violating this law is condemned to death,
+while foreigners are deported.  Crossing the Bogdo-Ol is forbidden
+under penalty of death.  This command was transgressed by only one
+man, Baron Ungern, who crossed the mountain with fifty Cossacks,
+penetrated to the palace of the Living Buddha, where the Pontiff of
+Urga was being held under arrest by the Chinese, and stole him.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV
+
+IN THE CITY OF LIVING GODS, OF 30,000 BUDDHAS AND 60,000 MONKS
+
+
+At last before our eyes the abode of the Living Buddha!  At the
+foot of Bogdo-Ol behind white walls rose a white Tibetan building
+covered with greenish-blue tiles that glittered under the sunshine.
+It was richly set among groves of trees dotted here and there with
+the fantastic roofs of shrines and small palaces, while further
+from the mountain it was connected by a long wooden bridge across
+the Tola with the city of monks, sacred and revered throughout all
+the East as Ta Kure or Urga.  Here besides the Living Buddha live
+whole throngs of secondary miracle workers, prophets, sorcerers and
+wonderful doctors.  All these people have divine origin and are
+honored as living gods.  At the left on the high plateau stands an
+old monastery with a huge, dark red tower, which is known as the
+"Temple Lamas City," containing a gigantic bronze gilded statue of
+Buddha sitting on the golden flower of the lotus; tens of smaller
+temples, shrines, obo, open altars, towers for astrology and the
+grey city of the Lamas consisting of single-storied houses and
+yurtas, where about 60,000 monks of all ages and ranks dwell;
+schools, sacred archives and libraries, the houses of Bandi and the
+inns for the honored guests from China, Tibet, and the lands of the
+Buriat and Kalmuck.
+
+Down below the monastery is the foreign settlement where the
+Russian, foreign and richest Chinese merchants live and where the
+multi-colored and crowded oriental bazaar carries forward its
+bustling life.  A kilometre away the greyish enclosure of Maimachen
+surrounds the remaining Chinese trading establishments, while
+farther on one sees a long row of Russian private houses, a
+hospital, church, prison and, last of all, the awkward four-storied
+red brick building that was formerly the Russian Consulate.
+
+We were already within a short distance of the monastery, when I
+noticed several Mongol soldiers in the mouth of a ravine nearby,
+dragging back and concealing in the ravine three dead bodies.
+
+"What are they doing?" I asked.
+
+The Cossacks only smiled without answering.  Suddenly they
+straightened up with a sharp salute.  Out of the ravine came a
+small, stocky Mongolian pony with a short man in the saddle.  As he
+passed us, I noticed the epaulets of a colonel and the green cap
+with a visor.  He examined me with cold, colorless eyes from under
+dense brows.  As he went on ahead, he took off his cap and wiped
+the perspiration from his bald head.  My eyes were struck by the
+strange undulating line of his skull.  It was the man "with the
+head like a saddle," against whom I had been warned by the old
+fortune teller at the last ourton outside Van Kure!
+
+"Who is this officer?" I inquired.
+
+Although he was already quite a distance in front of us, the
+Cossacks whispered:  "Colonel Sepailoff, Commandant of Urga City."
+
+Colonel Sepailoff, the darkest person on the canvas of Mongolian
+events!  Formerly a mechanician, afterwards a gendarme, he had
+gained quick promotion under the Czar's regime.  He was always
+nervously jerking and wriggling his body and talking ceaselessly,
+making most unattractive sounds in his throat and sputtering with
+saliva all over his lips, his whole face often contracted with
+spasms.  He was mad and Baron Ungern twice appointed a commission
+of surgeons to examine him and ordered him to rest in the hope he
+could rid the man of his evil genius.  Undoubtedly Sepailoff was a
+sadist.  I heard afterwards that he himself executed the condemned
+people, joking and singing as he did his work.  Dark, terrifying
+tales were current about him in Urga.  He was a bloodhound,
+fastening his victims with the jaws of death.  All the glory of the
+cruelty of Baron Ungern belonged to Sepailoff.  Afterwards Baron
+Ungern once told me in Urga that this Sepailoff annoyed him and
+that Sepailoff could kill him just as well as others.  Baron Ungern
+feared Sepailoff, not as a man, but dominated by his own
+superstition, because Sepailoff had found in Transbaikalia a witch
+doctor who predicted the death of the Baron if he dismissed
+Sepailoff.  Sepailoff knew no pardon for Bolshevik nor for any one
+connected with the Bolsheviki in any way.  The reason for his
+vengeful spirit was that the Bolsheviki had tortured him in prison
+and, after his escape, had killed all his family.  He was now
+taking his revenge.
+
+I put up with a Russian firm and was at once visited by my
+associates from Uliassutai, who greeted me with great joy because
+they had been much exercised about the events in Van Kure and Zain
+Shabi.  When I had bathed and spruced up, I went out with them on
+the street.  We entered the bazaar.  The whole market was crowded.
+To the lively colored groups of men buying, selling and shouting
+their wares, the bright streamers of Chinese cloth, the strings of
+pearls, the earrings and bracelets gave an air of endless
+festivity; while on another side buyers were feeling of live sheep
+to see whether they were fat or not, the butcher was cutting great
+pieces of mutton from the hanging carcasses and everywhere these
+sons of the plain were joking and jesting.  The Mongolian women in
+their huge coiffures and heavy silver caps like saucers on their
+heads were admiring the variegated silk ribbons and long chains of
+coral beads; an imposing big Mongol attentively examined a small
+herd of splendid horses and bargained with the Mongol zahachine or
+owner of the horses; a skinny, quick, black Tibetan, who had come
+to Urga to pray to the Living Buddha or, maybe, with a secret
+message from the other "God" in Lhasa, squatted and bargained for
+an image of the Lotus Buddha carved in agate; in another corner a
+big crowd of Mongols and Buriats had collected and surrounded a
+Chinese merchant selling finely painted snuff-bottles of glass,
+crystal, porcelain, amethyst, jade, agate and nephrite, for one of
+which made of a greenish milky nephrite with regular brown veins
+running through it and carved with a dragon winding itself around a
+bevy of young damsels the merchant was demanding of his Mongol
+inquirers ten young oxen; and everywhere Buriats in their long red
+coats and small red caps embroidered with gold helped the Tartars
+in black overcoats and black velvet caps on the back of their heads
+to weave the pattern of this Oriental human tapestry.  Lamas formed
+the common background for it all, as they wandered about in their
+yellow and red robes, with capes picturesquely thrown over their
+shoulders and caps of many forms, some like yellow mushrooms,
+others like the red Phrygian bonnets or old Greek helmets in red.
+They mingled with the crowd, chatting serenely and counting their
+rosaries, telling fortunes for those who would hear but chiefly
+searching out the rich Mongols whom they could cure or exploit by
+fortune telling, predictions or other mysteries of a city of 60,000
+Lamas.  Simultaneously religious and political espionage was being
+carried out.  Just at this time many Mongols were arriving from
+Inner Mongolia and they were continuously surrounded by an
+invisible but numerous network of watching Lamas.  Over the
+buildings around floated the Russian, Chinese and Mongolian
+national flags with a single one of the Stars and Stripes above a
+small shop in the market; while over the nearby tents and yurtas
+streamed the ribbons, the squares, the circles and triangles of the
+princes and private persons afflicted or dying from smallpox and
+leprosy.  All were mingled and mixed in one bright mass strongly
+lighted by the sun.  Occasionally one saw the soldiers of Baron
+Ungern rushing about in long blue coats; Mongols and Tibetans in
+red coats with yellow epaulets bearing the swastika of Jenghiz Khan
+and the initials of the Living Buddha; and Chinese soldiers from
+their detachment in the Mongolian army.  After the defeat of the
+Chinese army two thousand of these braves petitioned the Living
+Buddha to enlist them in his legions, swearing fealty and faith to
+him.  They were accepted and formed into two regiments bearing the
+old Chinese silver dragons on their caps and shoulders.
+
+As we crossed this market, from around a corner came a big motor
+car with the roar of a siren.  There was Baron Ungern in the yellow
+silk Mongolian coat with a blue girdle.  He was going very fast but
+recognized me at once, stopping and getting out to invite me to go
+with him to his yurta.  The Baron lived in a small, simply arranged
+yurta, set up in the courtyard of a Chinese hong.  He had his
+headquarters in two other yurtas nearby, while his servants
+occupied one of the Chinese fang-tzu.  When I reminded him of his
+promise to help me to reach the open ports, the General looked at
+me with his bright eyes and spoke in French:
+
+"My work here is coming to an end.  In nine days I shall begin the
+war with the Bolsheviki and shall go into the Transbaikal.  I beg
+that you will spend this time here.  For many years I have lived
+without civilized society.  I am alone with my thoughts and I would
+like to have you know them, speaking with me not as the 'bloody mad
+Baron,' as my enemies call me, nor as the 'severe grandfather,'
+which my officers and soldiers call me, but as an ordinary man who
+has sought much and has suffered even more."
+
+The Baron reflected for some minutes and then continued:
+
+"I have thought about the further trip of your group and I shall
+arrange everything for you, but I ask you to remain here these nine
+days."
+
+What was I to do?  I agreed.  The Baron shook my hand warmly and
+ordered tea.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI
+
+A SON OF CRUSADERS AND PRIVATEERS
+
+
+"Tell me about yourself and your trip," he urged.  In response I
+related all that I thought would interest him and he appeared quite
+excited over my tale.
+
+"Now I shall tell you about myself, who and what I am!  My name is
+surrounded with such hate and fear that no one can judge what is
+the truth and what is false, what is history and what myth.  Some
+time you will write about it, remembering your trip through
+Mongolia and your sojourn at the yurta of the 'bloody General.'"
+
+He shut his eyes, smoking as he spoke, and tumbling out his
+sentences without finishing them as though some one would prevent
+him from phrasing them.
+
+"The family of Ungern von Sternberg is an old family, a mixture of
+Germans with Hungarians--Huns from the time of Attila.  My warlike
+ancestors took part in all the European struggles.  They
+participated in the Crusades and one Ungern was killed under the
+walls of Jerusalem, fighting under Richard Coeur de Lion.  Even the
+tragic Crusade of the Children was marked by the death of Ralph
+Ungern, eleven years old.  When the boldest warriors of the country
+were despatched to the eastern border of the German Empire against
+the Slavs in the twelfth century, my ancestor Arthur was among
+them, Baron Halsa Ungern Sternberg.  Here these border knights
+formed the order of Monk Knights or Teutons, which with fire and
+sword spread Christianity among the pagan Lithuanians, Esthonians,
+Latvians and Slavs.  Since then the Teuton Order of Knights has
+always had among its members representatives of our family.  When
+the Teuton Order perished in the Grunwald under the swords of the
+Polish and Lithuanian troops, two Barons Ungern von Sternberg were
+killed there.  Our family was warlike and given to mysticism and
+asceticism.
+
+"During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries several Barons von
+Ungern had their castles in the lands of Latvia and Esthonia.  Many
+legends and tales lived after them.  Heinrich Ungern von Sternberg,
+called 'Ax,' was a wandering knight.  The tournaments of France,
+England, Spain and Italy knew his name and lance, which filled the
+hearts of his opponents with fear.  He fell at Cadiz 'neath the
+sword of a knight who cleft both his helmet and his skull.  Baron
+Ralph Ungern was a brigand knight between Riga and Reval.  Baron
+Peter Ungern had his castle on the island of Dago in the Baltic
+Sea, where as a privateer he ruled the merchantmen of his day.
+
+"In the beginning of the eighteenth century there was also a well-
+known Baron Wilhelm Ungern, who was referred to as the 'brother of
+Satan' because he was an alchemist.  My grandfather was a privateer
+in the Indian Ocean, taking his tribute from the English traders
+whose warships could not catch him for several years.  At last he
+was captured and handed to the Russian Consul, who transported him
+to Russia where he was sentenced to deportation to the Transbaikal.
+I am also a naval officer but the Russo-Japanese War forced me to
+leave my regular profession to join and fight with the Zabaikal
+Cossacks.  I have spent all my life in war or in the study and
+learning of Buddhism.  My grandfather brought Buddhism to us from
+India and my father and I accepted and professed it.  In
+Transbaikalia I tried to form the order of Military Buddhists for
+an uncompromising fight against the depravity of revolution."
+
+He fell into silence and began drinking cup after cup of tea as
+strong and black as coffee.
+
+"Depravity of revolution! . . .  Has anyone ever thought of it
+besides the French philosopher, Bergson, and the most learned Tashi
+Lama in Tibet?"
+
+The grandson of the privateer, quoting scientific theories, works,
+the names of scientists and writers, the Holy Bible and Buddhist
+books, mixing together French, German, Russian and English,
+continued:
+
+"In the Buddhistic and ancient Christian books we read stern
+predictions about the time when the war between the good and evil
+spirits must begin.  Then there must come the unknown 'Curse' which
+will conquer the world, blot out culture, kill morality and destroy
+all the people.  Its weapon is revolution.  During every revolution
+the previously experienced intellect-creator will be replaced by
+the new rough force of the destroyer.  He will place and hold in
+the first rank the lower instincts and desires.  Man will be
+farther removed from the divine and the spiritual.  The Great War
+proved that humanity must progress upward toward higher ideals; but
+then appeared that Curse which was seen and felt by Christ, the
+Apostle John, Buddha, the first Christian martyrs, Dante, Leonardo
+da Vinci, Goethe and Dostoyevsky.  It appeared, turned back the
+wheel of progress and blocked our road to the Divinity.  Revolution
+is an infectious disease and Europe making the treaty with Moscow
+deceived itself and the other parts of the world.  The Great Spirit
+put at the threshold of our lives Karma, who knows neither anger
+nor pardon.  He will reckon the account, whose total will be
+famine, destruction, the death of culture, of glory, of honor and
+of spirit, the death of states and the death of peoples.  I see
+already this horror, this dark, mad destruction of humanity."
+
+The door of the yurta suddenly swung open and an adjutant snapped
+into a position of attention and salute.
+
+"Why do you enter a room by force?" the General exclaimed in anger.
+
+"Your Excellency, our outpost on the border has caught a Bolshevik
+reconnaissance party and brought them here."
+
+The Baron arose.  His eyes sparkled and his face contracted with
+spasms.
+
+"Bring them in front of my yurta!" he ordered.
+
+All was forgotten--the inspired speech, the penetrating voice--all
+were sunk in the austere order of the severe commander.  The Baron
+put on his cap, caught up the bamboo tashur which he always carried
+with him and rushed from the yurta.  I followed him out.  There in
+front of the yurta stood six Red soldiers surrounded by the
+Cossacks.
+
+The Baron stopped and glared sharply at them for several minutes.
+In his face one could see the strong play of his thoughts.
+Afterwards he turned away from them, sat down on the doorstep of
+the Chinese house and for a long time was buried in thought.  Then
+he rose, walked over to them and, with an evident show of
+decisiveness in his movements, touched all the prisoners on the
+shoulder with his tashur and said:  "You to the left and you to the
+right!" as he divided the squad into two sections, four on the
+right and two on the left.
+
+"Search those two!  They must be commissars!" commanded the Baron
+and, turning to the other four, asked:  "Are you peasants mobilized
+by the Bolsheviki?"
+
+"Just so, Your Excellency!" cried the frightened soldiers.
+
+"Go to the Commandant and tell him that I have ordered you to be
+enlisted in my troops!"
+
+On the two to the left they found passports of Commissars of the
+Communist Political Department.  The General knitted his brows and
+slowly pronounced the following:
+
+"Beat them to death with sticks!"
+
+He turned and entered the yurta.  After this our conversation did
+not flow readily and so I left the Baron to himself.
+
+After dinner in the Russian firm where I was staying some of
+Ungern's officers came in.  We were chatting animatedly when
+suddenly we heard the horn of an automobile, which instantly threw
+the officers into silence.
+
+"The General is passing somewhere near," one of them remarked in a
+strangely altered voice.
+
+Our interrupted conversation was soon resumed but not for long.
+The clerk of the firm came running into the room and exclaimed:
+"The Baron!"
+
+He entered the door but stopped on the threshold.  The lamps had
+not yet been lighted and it was getting dark inside, but the Baron
+instantly recognized us all, approached and kissed the hand of the
+hostess, greeted everyone very cordially and, accepting the cup of
+tea offered him, drew up to the table to drink.  Soon he spoke:
+
+"I want to steal your guest," he said to the hostess and then,
+turning to me, asked:  "Do you want to go for a motor ride?  I
+shall show you the city and the environs."
+
+Donning my coat, I followed my established custom and slipped my
+revolver into it, at which the Baron laughed.
+
+"Leave that trash behind!  Here you are in safety.  Besides you
+must remember the prediction of Narabanchi Hutuktu that Fortune
+will ever be with you."
+
+"All right," I answered, also with a laugh.  "I remember very well
+this prediction.  Only I do not know what the Hutuktu thinks
+'Fortune' means for me.  Maybe it is death like the rest after my
+hard, long trip, and I must confess that I prefer to travel farther
+and am not ready to die."
+
+We went out to the gate where the big Fiat stood with its intruding
+great lights.  The chauffeur officer sat at the wheel like a statue
+and remained at salute all the time we were entering and seating
+ourselves.
+
+"To the wireless station!" commanded the Baron.
+
+We veritably leapt forward.  The city swarmed, as earlier, with the
+Oriental throng, but its appearance now was even more strange and
+miraculous.  In among the noisy crowd Mongol, Buriat and Tibetan
+riders threaded swiftly; caravans of camels solemnly raised their
+heads as we passed; the wooden wheels of the Mongol carts screamed
+in pain; and all was illumined by splendid great arc lights from
+the electric station which Baron Ungern had ordered erected
+immediately after the capture of Urga, together with a telephone
+system and wireless station.  He also ordered his men to clean and
+disinfect the city which had probably not felt the broom since the
+days of Jenghiz Khan.  He arranged an auto-bus traffic between
+different parts of the city; built bridges over the Tola and
+Orkhon; published a newspaper; arranged a veterinary laboratory and
+hospitals; re-opened the schools; protected commerce, mercilessly
+hanging Russian and Mongolian soldiers for pillaging Chinese firms.
+
+In one of these cases his Commandant arrested two Cossacks and a
+Mongol soldier who had stolen brandy from one of the Chinese shops
+and brought them before him.  He immediately bundled them all into
+his car, drove off to the shop, delivered the brandy back to the
+proprietor and as promptly ordered the Mongol to hang one of the
+Russians to the big gate of the compound.  With this one swung he
+commanded:  "Now hang the other!" and this had only just been
+accomplished when he turned to the Commandant and ordered him to
+hang the Mongol beside the other two.  That seemed expeditious and
+just enough until the Chinese proprietor came in dire distress to
+the Baron and plead with him:
+
+"General Baron!  General Baron!  Please take those men down from my
+gateway, for no one will enter my shop!"
+
+After the commercial quarter was flashed past our eyes, we entered
+the Russian settlement across a small river.  Several Russian
+soldiers and four very spruce-looking Mongolian women stood on the
+bridge as we passed.  The soldiers snapped to salute like immobile
+statues and fixed their eyes on the severe face of their Commander.
+The women first began to run and shift about and then, infected by
+the discipline and order of events, swung their hands up to salute
+and stood as immobile as their northern swains.  The Baron looked
+at me and laughed:
+
+"You see the discipline!  Even the Mongolian women salute me."
+
+Soon we were out on the plain with the car going like an arrow,
+with the wind whistling and tossing the folds of our coats and
+caps.  But Baron Ungern, sitting with closed eyes, repeated:
+"Faster! Faster!"  For a long time we were both silent.
+
+"And yesterday I beat my adjutant for rushing into my yurta and
+interrupting my story," he said.
+
+"You can finish it now," I answered.
+
+"And are you not bored by it?  Well, there isn't much left and this
+happens to be the most interesting.  I was telling you that I
+wanted to found an order of military Buddhists in Russia.  For
+what?  For the protection of the processes of evolution of humanity
+and for the struggle against revolution, because I am certain that
+evolution leads to the Divinity and revolution to bestiality.  But
+I worked in Russia!  In Russia, where the peasants are rough,
+untutored, wild and constantly angry, hating everybody and
+everything without understanding why.  They are suspicious and
+materialistic, having no sacred ideals.  Russian intelligents live
+among imaginary ideals without realities.  They have a strong
+capacity for criticising everything but they lack creative power.
+Also they have no will power, only the capacity for talking and
+talking.  With the peasants, they cannot like anything or anybody.
+Their love and feelings are imaginary.  Their thoughts and
+sentiments pass without trace like futile words.  My companions,
+therefore, soon began to violate the regulations of the Order.
+Then I introduced the condition of celibacy, the entire negation of
+woman, of the comforts of life, of superfluities, according to the
+teachings of the Yellow Faith; and, in order that the Russian might
+be able to live down his physical nature, I introduced the
+limitless use of alcohol, hasheesh and opium.  Now for alcohol I
+hang my officers and soldiers; then we drank to the 'white fever,'
+delirium tremens.  I could not organize the Order but I gathered
+round me and developed three hundred men wholly bold and entirely
+ferocious.  Afterward they were heroes in the war with Germany and
+later in the fight against the Bolsheviki, but now only a few
+remain."
+
+"The wireless, Excellency!" reported the chauffeur.
+
+"Turn in there!" ordered the General.
+
+On the top of a flat hill stood the big, powerful radio station
+which had been partially destroyed by the retreating Chinese but
+reconstructed by the engineers of Baron Ungern.  The General
+perused the telegrams and handed them to me.  They were from
+Moscow, Chita, Vladivostok and Peking.  On a separate yellow sheet
+were the code messages, which the Baron slipped into his pocket as
+he said to me:
+
+"They are from my agents, who are stationed in Chita, Irkutsk,
+Harbin and Vladivostok.  They are all Jews, very skilled and very
+bold men, friends of mine all.  I have also one Jewish officer,
+Vulfovitch, who commands my right flank.  He is as ferocious as
+Satan but clever and brave. . . .  Now we shall fly into space."
+
+Once more we rushed away, sinking into the darkness of night.  It
+was a wild ride.  The car bounded over small stones and ditches,
+even taking narrow streamlets, as the skilled chauffeur only seemed
+to guide it round the larger rocks.  On the plain, as we sped by, I
+noticed several times small bright flashes of fire which lasted but
+for a second and then were extinguished.
+
+"The eyes of wolves," smiled my companion.  "We have fed them to
+satiety from the flesh of ourselves and our enemies!" he quietly
+interpolated, as he turned to continue his confession of faith.
+
+"During the War we saw the gradual corruption of the Russian army
+and foresaw the treachery of Russia to the Allies as well as the
+approaching danger of revolution.  To counteract this latter a plan
+was formed to join together all the Mongolian peoples which had not
+forgotten their ancient faiths and customs into one Asiatic State,
+consisting of autonomous tribal units, under the moral and
+legislative leadership of China, the country of loftiest and most
+ancient culture.  Into this State must come the Chinese, Mongols,
+Tibetans, Afghans, the Mongol tribes of Turkestan, Tartars,
+Buriats, Kirghiz and Kalmucks.  This State must be strong,
+physically and morally, and must erect a barrier against revolution
+and carefully preserve its own spirit, philosophy and individual
+policy.  If humanity, mad and corrupted, continues to threaten the
+Divine Spirit in mankind, to spread blood and to obstruct moral
+development, the Asiatic State must terminate this movement
+decisively and establish a permanent, firm peace.  This propaganda
+even during the War made splendid progress among the Turkomans,
+Kirghiz, Buriats and Mongols. . . .  "Stop!" suddenly shouted the
+Baron.
+
+The car pulled up with a jerk.  The General jumped out and called
+me to follow.  We started walking over the prairie and the Baron
+kept bending down all the time as though he were looking for
+something on the ground.
+
+"Ah!" he murmured at last, "He has gone away. . . ."
+
+I looked at him in amazement.
+
+"A rich Mongol formerly had his yurta here.  He was the outfitter
+for the Russian merchant, Noskoff.  Noskoff was a ferocious man as
+shown by the name the Mongols gave him--'Satan.'  He used to have
+his Mongol debtors beaten or imprisoned through the instrumentality
+of the Chinese authorities.  He ruined this Mongol, who lost
+everything and escaped to a place thirty miles away; but Noskoff
+found him there, took all that he had left of cattle and horses and
+left the Mongol and his family to die of hunger.  When I captured
+Urga, this Mongol appeared and brought with him thirty other Mongol
+families similarly ruined by Noskoff.  They demanded his death. . . .
+So I hung 'Satan' . . ."
+
+Anew the motor car was rushing along, sweeping a great circle on
+the prairie, and anew Baron Ungern with his sharp, nervous voice
+carried his thoughts round the whole circumference of Asian life.
+
+"Russia turned traitor to France, England and America, signed the
+Brest-Litovsk Treaty and ushered in a reign of chaos.  We then
+decided to mobilize Asia against Germany.  Our envoys penetrated
+Mongolia, Tibet, Turkestan and China.  At this time the Bolsheviki
+began to kill all the Russian officers and we were forced to open
+civil war against them, giving up our Pan-Asiatic plans; but we
+hope later to awake all Asia and with their help to bring peace and
+God back to earth.  I want to feel that I have helped this idea by
+the liberation of Mongolia."
+
+He became silent and thought for a moment.
+
+"But some of my associates in the movement do not like me because
+of my atrocities and severity," he remarked in a sad voice.  "They
+cannot understand as yet that we are not fighting a political party
+but a sect of murderers of all contemporary spiritual culture.  Why
+do the Italians execute the 'Black Hand' gang?  Why are the
+Americans electrocuting anarchistic bomb throwers? and I am not
+allowed to rid the world of those who would kill the soul of the
+people?  I, a Teuton, descendant of crusaders and privateers, I
+recognize only death for murderers! . . .  Return!" he commanded
+the chauffeur.
+
+An hour and a half later we saw the electric lights of Urga.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII
+
+THE CAMP OF MARTYRS
+
+
+Near the entrance to the town, a motor car stood before a small
+house.
+
+"What does that mean?" exclaimed the Baron.  "Go over there!"
+
+Our car drew up beside the other.  The house door opened sharply,
+several officers rushed out and tried to hide.
+
+"Stand!" commanded the General.  "Go back inside."  They obeyed and
+he entered after them, leaning on his tashur.  As the door remained
+open, I could see and hear everything.
+
+"Woe to them!" whispered the chauffeur.  "Our officers knew that
+the Baron had gone out of the town with me, which means always a
+long journey, and must have decided to have a good time.  He will
+order them beaten to death with sticks."
+
+I could see the end of the table covered with bottles and tinned
+things.  At the side two young women were seated, who sprang up at
+the appearance of the General.  I could hear the hoarse voice of
+Baron Ungern pronouncing sharp, short, stern phrases.
+
+"Your native land is perishing. . . .  The shame of it is upon all
+you Russians . . . and you cannot understand it . . . nor feel
+it. . . .  You need wine and women. . . .  Scoundrels!  Brutes! . . .
+One hundred fifty tashur for every man of you."
+
+The voice fell to a whisper.
+
+"And you, Mesdames, do you not realize the ruin of your people?
+No?  For you it is of no moment.  And have you no feeling for your
+husbands at the front who may even now be killed?  You are not
+women. . . .  I honor woman, who feels more deeply and strongly
+than man; but you are not women! . . .  Listen to me, Mesdames.
+Once more and I will hang you. . . ."
+
+He came back to the car and himself sounded the horn several times.
+Immediately Mongol horsemen galloped up.
+
+"Take these men to the Commandant.  I will send my orders later."
+
+On the way to the Baron's yurta we were silent.  He was excited and
+breathed heavily, lighting cigarette after cigarette and throwing
+them aside after but a single puff or two.
+
+"Take supper with me," he proposed.
+
+He also invited his Chief of Staff, a very retiring, oppressed but
+splendidly educated man.  The servants spread a Chinese hot course
+for us followed by cold meat and fruit compote from California with
+the inevitable tea.  We ate with chopsticks.  The Baron was greatly
+distraught.
+
+Very cautiously I began speaking of the offending officers and
+tried to justify their actions by the extremely trying
+circumstances under which they were living.
+
+"They are rotten through and through, demoralized, sunk into the
+depths," murmured the General.
+
+The Chief of Staff helped me out and at last the Baron directed him
+to telephone the Commandant to release these gentlemen.
+
+The following day I spent with my friends, walking a great deal
+about the streets and watching their busy life.  The great energy
+of the Baron demanded constant nervous activity from himself and
+every one round him.  He was everywhere, seeing everything but
+never, interfering with the work of his subordinate administrators.
+Every one was at work.
+
+In the evening I was invited by the Chief of Staff to his quarters,
+where I met many intelligent officers.  I related again the story
+of my trip and we were all chatting along animatedly when suddenly
+Colonel Sepailoff entered, singing to himself.  All the others at
+once became silent and one by one under various pretexts they
+slipped out.  He handed our host some papers and, turning to us,
+said:
+
+"I shall send you for supper a splendid fish pie and some hot
+tomato soup."
+
+As he left, my host clasped his head in desperation and said:
+
+"With such scum of the earth are we now forced after this
+revolution to work!"
+
+A few minutes later a soldier from Sepailoff brought us a tureen
+full of soup and the fish pie.  As the soldier bent over the table
+to set the dishes down, the Chief motioned me with his eyes and
+slipped to me the words:  "Notice his face."
+
+When the man went out, my host sat attentively listening until the
+sounds of the man's steps ceased.
+
+"He is Sepailoff's executioner who hangs and strangles the
+unfortunate condemned ones."
+
+Then, to my amazement, he began to pour out the soup on the ground
+beside the brazier and, going out of the yurta, threw the pie over
+the fence.
+
+"It is Sepailoff's feast and, though it may be very tasty, it may
+also be poison.  In Sepailoff's house it is dangerous to eat or
+drink anything."
+
+Distinctly oppressed by these doings, I returned to my house.  My
+host was not yet asleep and met me with a frightened look.  My
+friends were also there.
+
+"God be thanked!" they all exclaimed.  "Has nothing happened to
+you?"
+
+"What is the matter?" I asked.
+
+"You see," began the host, "after your departure a soldier came
+from Sepailoff and took your luggage, saying that you had sent him
+for it; but we knew what it meant--that they would first search it
+and afterwards. . . ."
+
+I at once understood the danger.  Sepailoff could place anything he
+wanted in my luggage and afterwards accuse me.  My old friend, the
+agronome, and I started at once for Sepailoff's, where I left him
+at the door while I went in and was met by the same soldier who had
+brought the supper to us.  Sepailoff received me immediately.  In
+answer to my protest he said that it was a mistake and, asking me
+to wait for a moment, went out.  I waited five, ten, fifteen
+minutes but nobody came.  I knocked on the door but no one answered
+me.  Then I decided to go to Baron Ungern and started for the exit.
+The door was locked.  Then I tried the other door and found that
+also locked.  I had been trapped!  I wanted at once to whistle to
+my friend but just then noticed a telephone on the wall and called
+up Baron Ungern.  In a few minutes he appeared together with
+Sepailoff.
+
+"What is this?" he asked Sepailoff in a severe, threatening voice;
+and, without waiting for an answer, struck him a blow with his
+tashur that sent him to the floor.
+
+We went out and the General ordered my luggage produced.  Then he
+brought me to his own yurta.
+
+"Live here, now," he said.  "I am very glad of this accident," he
+remarked with a smile, "for now I can say all that I want to."
+
+This drew from me the question:
+
+"May I describe all that I have heard and seen here?"
+
+He thought a moment before replying:  "Give me your notebook."
+
+I handed him the album with my sketches of the trip and he wrote
+therein:  "After my death, Baron Ungern."
+
+"But I am older than you and I shall die before you," I remarked.
+
+He shut his eyes, bowed his head and whispered:
+
+"Oh, no!  One hundred thirty days yet and it is finished; then . . .
+Nirvana!  How wearied I am with sorrow, woe and hate!"
+
+We were silent for a long time.  I felt that I had now a mortal
+enemy in Colonel Sepailoff and that I should get out of Urga at the
+earliest possible moment.  It was two o'clock at night.  Suddenly
+Baron Ungern stood up.
+
+"Let us go to the great, good Buddha," he said with a countenance
+held in deep thought and with eyes aflame, his whole face
+contracted by a mournful, bitter smile.  He ordered the car
+brought.
+
+Thus lived this camp of martyrs, refugees pursued by events to
+their tryst with Death, driven on by the hate and contempt of this
+offspring of Teutons and privateers!  And he, martyring them, knew
+neither day nor night of peace.  Fired by impelling, poisonous
+thoughts, he tormented himself with the pains of a Titan, knowing
+that every day in this shortening chain of one hundred thirty links
+brought him nearer to the precipice called "Death."
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII
+
+BEFORE THE FACE OF BUDDHA
+
+
+As we came to the monastery we left the automobile and dipped into
+the labyrinth of narrow alleyways until at last we were before the
+greatest temple of Urga with the Tibetan walls and windows and its
+pretentious Chinese roof.  A single lantern burned at the entrance.
+The heavy gate with the bronze and iron trimmings was shut.  When
+the General struck the big brass gong hanging by the gate,
+frightened monks began running up from all directions and, seeing
+the "General Baron," fell to the earth in fear of raising their
+heads.
+
+"Get up," said the Baron, "and let us into the Temple!"
+
+The inside was like that of all Lama temples, the same multi-
+colored flags with the prayers, symbolic signs and the images of
+holy saints; the big bands of silk cloth hanging from the ceiling;
+the images of the gods and goddesses.  On both sides of the
+approach to the altar were the low red benches for the Lamas and
+choir.  On the altar small lamps threw their rays on the gold and
+silver vessels and candlesticks.  Behind it hung a heavy yellow
+silk curtain with Tibetan inscriptions.  The Lamas drew the curtain
+aside.  Out of the dim light from the flickering lamps gradually
+appeared the great gilded statue of Buddha seated in the Golden
+Lotus.  The face of the god was indifferent and calm with only a
+soft gleam of light animating it.  On either side he was guarded by
+many thousands of lesser Buddhas brought by the faithful as
+offerings in prayer.  The Baron struck the gong to attract Great
+Buddha's attention to his prayer and threw a handful of coins into
+the large bronze bowl.  And then this scion of crusaders who had
+read all the philosophers of the West, closed his eyes, placed his
+hands together before his face and prayed.  I noticed a black
+rosary on his left wrist.  He prayed about ten minutes.  Afterwards
+he led me to the other end of the monastery and, during our
+passage, said to me:
+
+"I do not like this temple.  It is new, erected by the Lamas when
+the Living Buddha became blind.  I do not find on the face of the
+golden Buddha either tears, hopes, distress or thanks of the
+people.  They have not yet had time to leave these traces on the
+face of the god.  We shall go now to the old Shrine of Prophecies."
+
+This was a small building, blackened with age and resembling a
+tower with a plain round roof.  The doors stood open.  At both
+sides of the door were prayer wheels ready to be spun; over it a
+slab of copper with the signs of the zodiac.  Inside two monks, who
+were intoning the sacred sutras, did not lift their eyes as we
+entered.  The General approached them and said:
+
+"Cast the dice for the number of my days!"
+
+The priests brought two bowls with many dice therein and rolled
+them out on their low table.  The Baron looked and reckoned with
+them the sum before he spoke:
+
+"One hundred thirty!  Again one hundred thirty!"
+
+Approaching the altar carrying an ancient stone statue of Buddha
+brought all the way from India, he again prayed.  As day dawned, we
+wandered out through the monastery, visited all the temples and
+shrines, the museum of the medical school, the astrological tower
+and then the court where the Bandi and young Lamas have their daily
+morning wrestling exercises.  In other places the Lamas were
+practising with the bow and arrow.  Some of the higher Lamas
+feasted us with hot mutton, tea and wild onions.  After we returned
+to the yurta I tried to sleep but in vain.  Too many different
+questions were troubling me.  "Where am I?  In what epoch am I
+living?"  I knew not but I dimly felt the unseen touch of some
+great idea, some enormous plan, some indescribable human woe.
+
+After our noon meal the General said he wanted to introduce me to
+the Living Buddha.  It is so difficult to secure audience with the
+Living Buddha that I was very glad to have this opportunity offered
+me.  Our auto soon drew up at the gate of the red and white striped
+wall surrounding the palace of the god.  Two hundred Lamas in
+yellow and red robes rushed to greet the arriving "Chiang Chun,"
+General, with the low-toned, respectful whisper "Khan!  God of
+War!"  As a regiment of formal ushers they led us to a spacious
+great hall softened by its semi-darkness.  Heavy carved doors
+opened to the interior parts of the palace.  In the depths of the
+hall stood a dais with the throne covered with yellow silk
+cushions.  The back of the throne was red inside a gold framing; at
+either side stood yellow silk screens set in highly ornamented
+frames of black Chinese wood; while against the walls at either
+side of the throne stood glass cases filled with varied objects
+from China, Japan, India and Russia.  I noticed also among them a
+pair of exquisite Marquis and Marquises in the fine porcelain of
+Sevres.  Before the throne stood a long, low table at which eight
+noble Mongols were seated, their chairman, a highly esteemed old
+man with a clever, energetic face and with large penetrating eyes.
+His appearance reminded me of the authentic wooden images of the
+Buddhist holymen with eyes of precious stones which I saw at the
+Tokyo Imperial Museum in the department devoted to Buddhism, where
+the Japanese show the ancient statues of Amida, Daunichi-Buddha,
+the Goddess Kwannon and the jolly old Hotei.
+
+This man was the Hutuktu Jahantsi, Chairman of the Mongolian
+Council of Ministers, and honored and revered far beyond the
+bournes of Mongolia.  The others were the Ministers--Khans and the
+Highest Princes of Khalkha.  Jahantsi Hutuktu invited Baron Ungern
+to the place at his side, while they brought in a European chair
+for me.  Baron Ungern announced to the Council of Ministers through
+an interpreter that he would leave Mongolia in a few days and urged
+them to protect the freedom won for the lands inhabited by the
+successors of Jenghiz Khan, whose soul still lives and calls upon
+the Mongols to become anew a powerful people and reunite again into
+one great Mid-Asiatic State all the Asian kingdoms he had ruled.
+
+The General rose and all the others followed him.  He took leave of
+each one separately and sternly.  Only before Jahantsi Lama he bent
+low while the Hutuktu placed his hands on the Baron's head and
+blessed him.  From the Council Chamber we passed at once to the
+Russian style house which is the personal dwelling of the Living
+Buddha.  The house was wholly surrounded by a crowd of red and
+yellow Lamas; servants, councilors of Bogdo, officials, fortune
+tellers, doctors and favorites.  From the front entrance stretched
+a long red rope whose outer end was thrown over the wall beside the
+gate.  Crowds of pilgrims crawling up on their knees touch this end
+of the rope outside the gate and hand the monk a silken hatyk or a
+bit of silver.  This touching of the rope whose inner end is in the
+hand of the Bogdo establishes direct communication with the holy,
+incarnated Living God.  A current of blessing is supposed to flow
+through this cable of camel's wool and horse hair.  Any Mongol who
+has touched the mystic rope receives and wears about his neck a red
+band as the sign of his accomplished pilgrimage.
+
+I had heard very much about the Bogdo Khan before this opportunity
+to see him.  I had heard of his love of alcohol, which had brought
+on blindness, about his leaning toward exterior western culture and
+about his wife drinking deep with him and receiving in his name
+numerous delegations and envoys.
+
+In the room which the Bogdo used as his private study, where two
+Lama secretaries watched day and night over the chest that
+contained his great seals, there was the severest simplicity.  On a
+low, plain, Chinese lacquered table lay his writing implements, a
+case of seals given by the Chinese Government and by the Dalai Lama
+and wrapped in a cloth of yellow silk.  Nearby was a low easy
+chair, a bronze brazier with an iron stovepipe leading up from it;
+on the walls were the signs of the swastika, Tibetan and Mongolian
+inscriptions; behind the easy chair a small altar with a golden
+statue of Buddha before which two tallow lamps were burning; the
+floor was covered with a thick yellow carpet.
+
+When we entered, only the two Lama secretaries were there, for the
+Living Buddha was in the small private shrine in an adjoining
+chamber, where no one is allowed to enter save the Bogdo Khan
+himself and one Lama, Kanpo-Gelong, who cares for the temple
+arrangements and assists the Living Buddha during his prayers of
+solitude.  The secretary told us that the Bogdo had been greatly
+excited this morning.  At noon he had entered his shrine.  For a
+long time the voice of the head of the Yellow Faith was heard in
+earnest prayer and after his another unknown voice came clearly
+forth.  In the shrine had taken place a conversation between the
+Buddha on earth and the Buddha of heaven--thus the Lamas phrased it
+to us.
+
+"Let us wait a little," the Baron proposed.  "Perhaps he will soon
+come out."
+
+As we waited the General began telling me about Jahantsi Lama,
+saying that, when Jahantsi is calm, he is an ordinary man but, when
+he is disturbed and thinks very deeply, a nimbus appears about his
+head.
+
+After half an hour the Lama secretaries suddenly showed signs of
+deep fear and began listening closely by the entrance to the
+shrine.  Shortly they fell on their faces on the ground.  The door
+slowly opened and there entered the Emperor of Mongolia, the Living
+Buddha, His Holiness Bogdo Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu, Khan of Outer
+Mongolia.  He was a stout old man with a heavy shaven face
+resembling those of the Cardinals of Rome.  He was dressed in the
+yellow silken Mongolian coat with a black binding.  The eyes of the
+blind man stood widely open.  Fear and amazement were pictured in
+them.  He lowered himself heavily into the easy chair and
+whispered:  "Write!"
+
+A secretary immediately took paper and a Chinese pen as the Bogdo
+began to dictate his vision, very complicated and far from clear.
+He finished with the following words:
+
+"This I, Bogdo Hutuktu Khan, saw, speaking with the great wise
+Buddha, surrounded by the good and evil spirits.  Wise Lamas,
+Hutuktus, Kanpos, Marambas and Holy Gheghens, give the answer to my
+vision!"
+
+As he finished, he wiped the perspiration from his head and asked
+who were present.
+
+"Khan Chiang Chin Baron Ungern and a stranger," one of the
+secretaries answered on his knees.
+
+The General presented me to the Bogdo, who bowed his head as a sign
+of greeting.  They began speaking together in low tones.  Through
+the open door I saw a part of the shrine.  I made out a big table
+with a heap of books on it, some open and others lying on the floor
+below; a brazier with the red charcoal in it; a basket containing
+the shoulder blades and entrails of sheep for telling fortunes.
+Soon the Baron rose and bowed before the Bogdo.  The Tibetan placed
+his hands on the Baron's head and whispered a prayer.  Then he took
+from his own neck a heavy ikon and hung it around that of the
+Baron.
+
+"You will not die but you will be incarnated in the highest form of
+being.  Remember that, Incarnated God of War, Khan of grateful
+Mongolia!"  I understood that the Living Buddha blessed the "Bloody
+General" before death.
+
+
+During the next two days I had the opportunity to visit the Living
+Buddha three times together with a friend of the Bogdo, the Buriat
+Prince Djam Bolon.  I shall describe these visits in Part IV.
+
+Baron Ungern organized the trip for me and my party to the shore of
+the Pacific.  We were to go on camels to northern Manchuria,
+because there it was easy to avoid cavilling with the Chinese
+authorities so badly oriented in the international relationship
+with Poland.  Having sent a letter from Uliassutai to the French
+Legation at Peking and bearing with me a letter from the Chinese
+Chamber of Commerce, expressing thanks for the saving of Uliassutai
+from a pogrom, I intended to make for the nearest station on the
+Chinese Eastern Railway and from there proceed to Peking.  The
+Danish merchant E. V. Olufsen was to have traveled out with me and
+also a learned Lama Turgut, who was headed for China.
+
+Never shall I forget the night of May 19th to 20th of 1921!  After
+dinner Baron Ungern proposed that we go to the yurta of Djam Bolon,
+whose acquaintance I had made on the first day after my arrival in
+Urga.  His yurta was placed on a raised wooden platform in a
+compound located behind the Russian settlement.  Two Buriat
+officers met us and took us in.  Djam Bolon was a man of middle
+age, tall and thin with an unusually long face.  Before the Great
+War he had been a simple shepherd but had fought together with
+Baron Ungern on the German front and afterwards against the
+Bolsheviki.  He was a Grand Duke of the Buriats, the successor of
+former Buriat kings who had been dethroned by the Russian
+Government after their attempt to establish the Independence of the
+Buriat people.  The servants brought us dishes with nuts, raisins,
+dates and cheese and served us tea.
+
+"This is the last night, Djam Bolon!" said Baron Ungern.  "You
+promised me . . ."
+
+"I remember," answered the Buriat, "all is ready."
+
+For a long time I listened to their reminiscences about former
+battles and friends who had been lost.  The clock pointed to
+midnight when Djam Bolon got up and went out of the yurta.
+
+"I want to have my fortune told once more," said Baron Ungern, as
+though he were justifying himself.  "For the good of our cause it
+is too early for me to die. . . ."
+
+Djam Bolon came back with a little woman of middle years, who
+squatted down eastern style before the brazier, bowed low and began
+to stare at Baron Ungern.  Her face was whiter, narrower and
+thinner than that of a Mongol woman.  Her eyes were black and
+sharp.  Her dress resembled that of a gypsy woman.  Afterwards I
+learned that she was a famous fortune teller and prophet among the
+Buriats, the daughter of a gypsy woman and a Buriat.  She drew a
+small bag very slowly from her girdle, took from it some small bird
+bones and a handful of dry grass.  She began whispering at
+intervals unintelligible words, as she threw occasional handfuls of
+the grass into the fire, which gradually filled the tent with a
+soft fragrance.  I felt a distinct palpitation of my heart and a
+swimming in my head.  After the fortune teller had burned all her
+grass, she placed the bird bones on the charcoal and turned them
+over again and again with a small pair of bronze pincers.  As the
+bones blackened, she began to examine them and then suddenly her
+face took on an expression of fear and pain.  She nervously tore
+off the kerchief which bound her head and, contracted with
+convulsions, began snapping out short, sharp phrases.
+
+"I see . . . I see the God of War. . . .  His life runs out . . .
+horribly. . . .  After it a shadow . . . black like the night. . . .
+Shadow. . . .  One hundred thirty steps remain. . . .  Beyond
+darkness. . . .  Nothing . . . I see nothing. . . .  The God of War
+has disappeared. . . ."
+
+Baron Ungern dropped his head.  The woman fell over on her back
+with her arms stretched out.  She had fainted, but it seemed to me
+that I noticed once a bright pupil of one of her eyes showing from
+under the closed lashes.  Two Buriats carried out the lifeless
+form, after which a long silence reigned in the yurta of the Buriat
+Prince.  Baron Ungern finally got up and began to walk around the
+brazier, whispering to himself.  Afterwards he stopped and began
+speaking rapidly:
+
+"I shall die!  I shall die! . . . but no matter, no matter. . . .
+The cause has been launched and will not die. . . .  I know the
+roads this cause will travel.  The tribes of Jenghiz Khan's
+successors are awakened.  Nobody shall extinguish the fire in the
+heart of the Mongols!  In Asia there will be a great State from the
+Pacific and Indian Oceans to the shore of the Volga.  The wise
+religion of Buddha shall run to the north and the west.  It will be
+the victory of the spirit.  A conqueror and leader will appear
+stronger and more stalwart than Jenghiz Khan and Ugadai.  He will
+be more clever and more merciful than Sultan Baber and he will keep
+power in his hands until the happy day when, from his subterranean
+capital, shall emerge the King of the World.  Why, why shall I not
+be in the first ranks of the warriors of Buddhism?  Why has Karma
+decided so?  But so it must be!  And Russia must first wash herself
+from the insult of revolution, purifying herself with blood and
+death; and all people accepting Communism must perish with their
+families in order that all their offspring may be rooted out!"
+
+The Baron raised his hand above his head and shook it, as though he
+were giving his orders and bequests to some invisible person.
+
+Day was dawning.
+
+"My time has come!" said the General.  "In a little while I shall
+leave Urga."
+
+He quickly and firmly shook hands with us and said:
+
+"Good-bye for all time!  I shall die a horrible death but the world
+has never seen such a terror and such a sea of blood as it shall
+now see. . . ."
+
+The door of the yurta slammed shut and he was gone.  I never saw
+him again.
+
+"I must go also, for I am likewise leaving Urga today."
+
+"I know it," answered the Prince, "the Baron has left you with me
+for some purpose.  I will give you a fourth companion, the Mongol
+Minister of War.  You will accompany him to your yurta.  It is
+necessary for you. . . ."
+
+Djam Bolon pronounced this last with an accent on every word.  I
+did not question him about it, as I was accustomed to the mystery
+of this country of the mysteries of good and evil spirits.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX
+
+"THE MAN WITH A HEAD LIKE A SADDLE"
+
+
+After drinking tea at Djam Bolon's yurta I rode back to my quarters
+and packed my few belongings.  The Lama Turgut was already there.
+
+"The Minister of War will travel with us," he whispered.  "It is
+necessary."
+
+"All right," I answered, and rode off to Olufsen to summon him.
+But Olufsen unexpectedly announced that he was forced to spend some
+few days more in Urga--a fatal decision for him, for a month later
+he was reported killed by Sepailoff who remained as Commandant of
+the city after Baron Ungern's departure.  The War Minister, a
+stout, young Mongol, joined our caravan.  When we had gone about
+six miles from the city, we saw an automobile coming up behind us.
+The Lama shrunk up inside his coat and looked at me with fear.  I
+felt the now familiar atmosphere of danger and so opened my holster
+and threw over the safety catch of my revolver.  Soon the motor
+stopped alongside our caravan.  In it sat Sepailoff with a smiling
+face and beside him his two executioners, Chestiakoff and Jdanoff.
+Sepailoff greeted us very warmly and asked:
+
+"You are changing your horses in Khazahuduk?  Does the road cross
+that pass ahead?  I don't know the way and must overtake an envoy
+who went there."
+
+The Minister of War answered that we would be in Khazahuduk that
+evening and gave Sepailoff directions as to the road.  The motor
+rushed away and, when it had topped the pass, he ordered one of the
+Mongols to gallop forward to see whether it had not stopped
+somewhere near the other side.  The Mongol whipped his steed and
+sped away.  We followed slowly.
+
+"What is the matter?" I asked.  "Please explain!"
+
+The Minister told me that Djam Bolon yesterday received information
+that Sepailoff planned to overtake me on the way and kill me.
+Sepailoff suspected that I had stirred up the Baron against him.
+Djam Bolon reported the matter to the Baron, who organized this
+column for my safety.  The returning Mongol reported that the motor
+car had gone on out of sight.
+
+"Now," said the Minister, "we shall take quite another route so
+that the Colonel will wait in vain for us at Khazahuduk."
+
+We turned north at Undur Dobo and at night were in the camp of a
+local prince.  Here we took leave of our Minister, received
+splendid fresh horses and quickly continued our trip to the east,
+leaving behind us "the man with the head like a saddle" against
+whom I had been warned by the old fortune teller in the vicinity of
+Van Kure.
+
+After twelve days without further adventures we reached the first
+railway station on the Chinese Eastern Railway, from where I
+traveled in unbelievable luxury to Peking.
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *
+
+Surrounded by the comforts and conveniences of the splendid hotel
+at Peking, while shedding all the attributes of traveler, hunter
+and warrior, I could not, however, throw off the spell of those
+nine days spent in Urga, where I had daily met Baron Ungern,
+"Incarnated God of War."  The newspapers carrying accounts of the
+bloody march of the Baron through Transbaikalia brought the
+pictures ever fresh to my mind.  Even now, although more than seven
+months have elapsed, I cannot forget those nights of madness,
+inspiration and hate.
+
+The predictions are fulfilled.  Approximately one hundred thirty
+days afterwards Baron Ungern was captured by the Bolsheviki through
+the treachery of his officers and, it is reported, was executed at
+the end of September.
+
+Baron R. F. Ungern von Sternberg. . . .  Like a bloody storm of
+avenging Karma he spread over Central Asia.  What did he leave
+behind him?  The severe order to his soldiers closing with the
+words of the Revelations of St. John:
+
+"Let no one check the revenge against the corrupter and slayer of
+the soul of the Russian people.  Revolution must be eradicated from
+the World.  Against it the Revelations of St. John have warned us
+thus:  'And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked
+with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a
+golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her
+fornication, and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON
+THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE
+EARTH.  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints,
+and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.'"
+
+It is a human document, a document of Russian and, perhaps, of
+world tragedy.
+
+But there remained another and more important trace.  In the Mongol
+yurtas and at the fires of Buriat, Mongol, Djungar, Kirkhiz,
+Kalmuck and Tibetan shepherds still speak the legend born of this
+son of crusaders and privateers:
+
+"From the north a white warrior came and called on the Mongols to
+break their chains of slavery, which fell upon our freed soil.
+This white warrior was the Incarnated Jenghiz Khan and he predicted
+the coming of the greatest of all Mongols who will spread the fair
+faith of Buddha and the glory and power of the offspring of
+Jenghiz, Ugadai and Kublai Khan.  So it shall be!"
+
+Asia is awakened and her sons utter bold words.
+
+It were well for the peace of the world if they go forth as
+disciples of the wise creators, Ugadai and Sultan Baber, rather
+than under the spell of the "bad demons" of the destructive
+Tamerlane.
+
+
+
+Part IV
+
+THE LIVING BUDDHA
+
+
+CHAPTER XL
+
+IN THE BLISSFUL GARDEN OF A THOUSAND JOYS
+
+
+In Mongolia, the country of miracles and mysteries, lives the
+custodian of all the mysterious and unknown, the Living Buddha, His
+Holiness Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu Khan or Bogdo Gheghen, Pontiff of
+Ta Kure.  He is the incarnation of the never-dying Buddha, the
+representative of the unbroken, mysteriously continued line of
+spiritual emperors ruling since 1670, concealing in themselves the
+ever refining spirit of Buddha Amitabha joined with Chan-ra-zi or
+the "Compassionate Spirit of the Mountains."  In him is everything,
+even the Sun Myth and the fascination of the mysterious peaks of
+the Himalayas, tales of the Indian pagoda, the stern majesty of the
+Mongolian Conquerors--Emperors of All Asia--and the ancient, hazy
+legends of the Chinese sages; immersion in the thoughts of the
+Brahmans; the severities of life of the monks of the "Virtuous
+Order"; the vengeance of the eternally wandering warriors, the
+Olets, with their Khans, Batur Hun Taigi and Gushi; the proud
+bequests of Jenghiz and Kublai Khan; the clerical reactionary
+psychology of the Lamas; the mystery of Tibetan kings beginning
+from Srong-Tsang Gampo; and the mercilessness of the Yellow Sect of
+Paspa.  All the hazy history of Asia, of Mongolia, Pamir,
+Himalayas, Mesopotamia, Persia and China, surrounds the Living God
+of Urga.  It is little wonder that his name is honored along the
+Volga, in Siberia, Arabia, between the Tigris and Euphrates, in
+Indo-China and on the shores of the Arctic Ocean.
+
+During my stay in Urga I visited the abode of the Living Buddha
+several times, spoke with him and observed his life.  His favorite
+learned Marambas gave me long accounts of him.  I saw him reading
+horoscopes, I heard his predictions, I looked over his archives of
+ancient books and the manuscripts containing the lives and
+predictions of all the Bogdo Khans.  The Lamas were very frank and
+open with me, because the letter of the Hutuktu of Narabanchi won
+for me their confidence.
+
+The personality of the Living Buddha is double, just as everything
+in Lamaism is double.  Clever, penetrating, energetic, he at the
+same time indulges in the drunkenness which has brought on
+blindness.  When he became blind, the Lamas were thrown into a
+state of desperation.  Some of them maintained that Bogdo Khan must
+be poisoned and another Incarnate Buddha set in his place; while
+the others pointed out the great merits of the Pontiff in the eyes
+of Mongolians and the followers of the Yellow Faith.  They finally
+decided to propitiate the gods by building a great temple with a
+gigantic statue of Buddha.  However, this did not help the Bogdo's
+sight but the whole incident gave him the opportunity of hurrying
+on to their higher life those among the Lamas who had shown too
+much radicalism in their proposed method of solving his problem.
+
+He never ceases to ponder upon the cause of the church and of
+Mongolia and at the same time likes to indulge himself with useless
+trifles.  He amuses himself with artillery.  A retired Russian
+officer presented him with two old guns, for which the donor
+received the title of Tumbaiir Hun, that is, "Prince Dear-to-my-
+Heart."  On holidays these cannon were fired to the great amusement
+of the blind man.  Motorcars, gramophones, telephones, crystals,
+porcelains, pictures, perfumes, musical instruments, rare animals
+and birds; elephants, Himalayan bears, monkeys, Indian snakes and
+parrots--all these were in the palace of "the god" but all were
+soon cast aside and forgotten.
+
+To Urga come pilgrims and presents from all the Lamaite and
+Buddhist world.  Once the treasurer of the palace, the Honorable
+Balma Dorji, took me into the great hall where the presents were
+kept.  It was a most unique museum of precious articles.  Here were
+gathered together rare objects unknown to the museums of Europe.
+The treasurer, as he opened a case with a silver lock, said to me:
+
+"These are pure gold nuggets from Bei Kem; here are black sables
+from Kemchick; these the miraculous deer horns; this a box sent by
+the Orochons and filled with precious ginseng roots and fragrant
+musk; this a bit of amber from the coast of the 'frozen sea' and it
+weighs 124 lans (about ten pounds); these are precious stones from
+India, fragrant zebet and carved ivory from China."
+
+He showed the exhibits and talked of them for a long time and
+evidently enjoyed the telling.  And really it was wonderful!
+Before my eyes lay the bundles of rare furs; white beaver, black
+sables, white, blue and black fox and black panthers; small
+beautifully carved tortoise shell boxes containing hatyks ten or
+fifteen yards long, woven from Indian silk as fine as the webs of
+the spider; small bags made of golden thread filled with pearls,
+the presents of Indian Rajahs; precious rings with sapphires and
+rubies from China and India; big pieces of jade, rough diamonds;
+ivory tusks ornamented with gold, pearls and precious stones;
+bright clothes sewn with gold and silver thread; walrus tusks
+carved in bas-relief by the primitive artists on the shores of the
+Behring Sea; and much more that one cannot recall or recount.  In a
+separate room stood the cases with the statues of Buddha, made of
+gold, silver, bronze, ivory, coral, mother of pearl and from a rare
+colored and fragrant species of wood.
+
+"You know when conquerors come into a country where the gods are
+honored, they break the images and throw them down.  So it was more
+than three hundred years ago when the Kalmucks went into Tibet and
+the same was repeated in Peking when the European troops looted the
+place in 1900.  But do you know why this is done?  Take one of the
+statues and examine it."
+
+I picked up one nearest the edge, a wooden Buddha, and began
+examining it.  Inside something was loose and rattled.
+
+"Do you hear it?" the Lama asked.  "These are precious stones and
+bits of gold, the entrails of the god.  This is the reason why the
+conquerors at once break up the statues of the gods.  Many famous
+precious stones have appeared from the interior of the statues of
+the gods in India, Babylon and China."
+
+Some rooms were devoted to the library, where manuscripts and
+volumes of different epochs in different languages and with many
+diverse themes fill the shelves.  Some of them are mouldering or
+pulverizing away and the Lamas cover these now with a solution
+which partially solidifies like a jelly to protect what remains
+from the ravages of the air.  There also we saw tablets of clay
+with the cuneiform inscriptions, evidently from Babylonia; Chinese,
+Indian and Tibetan books shelved beside those of Mongolia; tomes of
+the ancient pure Buddhism; books of the "Red Caps" or corrupt
+Buddhism; books of the "Yellow" or Lamaite Buddhism; books of
+traditions, legends and parables.  Groups of Lamas were perusing,
+studying and copying these books, preserving and spreading the
+ancient wisdom for their successors.
+
+One department is devoted to the mysterious books on magic, the
+historical lives and works of all the thirty-one Living Buddhas,
+with the bulls of the Dalai Lama, of the Pontiff from Tashi Lumpo,
+of the Hutuktu of Utai in China, of the Pandita Gheghen of Dolo Nor
+in Inner Mongolia and of the Hundred Chinese Wise Men.  Only the
+Bogdo Hutuktu and Maramba Ta-Rimpo-Cha can enter this room of
+mysterious lore.  The keys to it rest with the seals of the Living
+Buddha and the ruby ring of Jenghiz Khan ornamented with the sign
+of the swastika in the chest in the private study of the Bogdo.
+
+The person of His Holiness is surrounded by five thousand Lamas.
+They are divided into many ranks from simple servants to the
+"Councillors of God," of which latter the Government consists.
+Among these Councillors are all the four Khans of Mongolia and the
+five highest Princes.
+
+Of all the Lamas there are three classes of peculiar interest,
+about which the Living Buddha himself told me when I visited him
+with Djam Bolon.
+
+"The God" sorrowfully mourned over the demoralized and sumptuous
+life led by the Lamas which decreased rapidly the number of fortune
+tellers and clairvoyants among their ranks, saying of it:
+
+"If the Jahantsi and Narabanchi monasteries had not preserved their
+strict regime and rules, Ta Kure would have been left without
+prophets and fortune tellers.  Barun Abaga Nar, Dorchiul-Jurdok and
+the other holy Lamas who had the power of seeing that which is
+hidden from the sight of the common people have gone with the
+blessing of the gods."
+
+This class of Lamas is a very important one, because every
+important personage visiting the monasteries at Urga is shown to
+the Lama Tzuren or fortune teller without the knowledge of the
+visitor for the study of his destiny and fate, which are then
+communicated to the Bogdo Hutuktu, so that with these facts in his
+possession the Bogdo knows in what way to treat his guest and what
+policy to follow toward him.  The Tzurens are mostly old men,
+skinny, exhausted and severe ascetics.  But I have met some who
+were young, almost boys.  They were the Hubilgan, "incarnate gods,"
+the future Hutuktus and Gheghens of the various Mongolian
+monasteries.
+
+The second class is the doctors or "Ta Lama."  They observe the
+actions of plants and certain products from animals upon people,
+preserve Tibetan medicines and cures, and study anatomy very
+carefully but without making use of vivisection and the scalpel.
+They are skilful bone setters, masseurs and great connoisseurs of
+hypnotism and animal magnetism.
+
+The third class is the highest rank of doctors, consisting chiefly
+of Tibetans and Kalmucks--poisoners.  They may be said to be
+"doctors of political medicine."  They live by themselves, apart
+from any associates, and are the great silent weapon in the hands
+of the Living Buddha.  I was informed that a large portion of them
+are dumb.  I saw one such doctor,--the very person who poisoned the
+Chinese physician sent by the Chinese Emperor from Peking to
+"liquidate" the Living Buddha,--a small white old fellow with a
+deeply wrinkled face, a curl of white hairs on his chin and with
+vivacious eyes that were ever shifting inquiringly about him.
+Whenever he comes to a monastery, the local "god" ceases to eat and
+drink in fear of the activities of this Mongolian Locusta.  But
+even this cannot save the condemned, for a poisoned cap or shirt or
+boots, or a rosary, a bridle, books or religious articles soaked in
+a poisonous solution will surely accomplish the object of the
+Bogdo-Khan.
+
+The deepest esteem and religious faithfulness surround the blind
+Pontiff.  Before him all fall on their faces.  Khans and Hutuktus
+approach him on their knees.  Everything about him is dark, full of
+Oriental antiquity.  The drunken blind man, listening to the banal
+arias of the gramophone or shaking his servants with an electric
+current from his dynamo, the ferocious old fellow poisoning his
+political enemies, the Lama keeping his people in darkness and
+deceiving them with his prophecies and fortune telling,--he is,
+however, not an entirely ordinary man.
+
+One day we sat in the room of the Bogdo and Prince Djam Bolon
+translated to him my story of the Great War.  The old fellow was
+listening very carefully but suddenly opened his eyes widely and
+began to give attention to some sounds coming in from outside the
+room.  His face became reverent, supplicant and frightened.
+
+"The Gods call me," he whispered and slowly moved into his private
+shrine, where he prayed loudly about two hours, kneeling immobile
+as a statue.  His prayer consists of conversation with the
+invisible gods, to whose questions he himself gave the answers.  He
+came out of the shrine pale and exhausted but pleased and happy.
+It was his personal prayer.  During the regular temple service he
+did not participate in the prayers, for then he is "God."  Sitting
+on his throne, he is carried and placed on the altar and there
+prayed to by the Lamas and the people.  He only receives the
+prayers, hopes, tears, woe and desperation of the people,
+immobilely gazing into space with his sharp and bright but blind
+eyes.  At various times in the service the Lamas robe him in
+different vestments, combinations of yellow and red, and change his
+caps.  The service always finishes at the solemn moment when the
+Living Buddha with the tiara on his head pronounces the pontifical
+blessing upon the congregation, turning his face to all four
+cardinal points of the compass and finally stretching out his hands
+toward the northwest, that is, to Europe, whither in the belief of
+the Yellow Faith must travel the teachings of the wise Buddha.
+
+After earnest prayers or long temple services the Pontiff seems
+very deeply shaken and often calls his secretaries and dictates his
+visions and prophecies, always very complicated and unaccompanied
+by his deductions.
+
+Sometimes with the words "Their souls are communicating," he puts
+on his white robes and goes to pray in his shrine.  Then all the
+gates of the palace are shut and all the Lamas are sunk in solemn,
+mystic fear; all are praying, telling their rosaries and whispering
+the orison:  "Om! Mani padme Hung!" or turning the prayer wheels
+with their prayers or exorcisings; the fortune tellers read their
+horoscopes; the clairvoyants write out their visions; while
+Marambas search the ancient books for explanations of the words of
+the Living Buddha.
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI
+
+THE DUST OF CENTURIES
+
+
+Have you ever seen the dusty cobwebs and the mould in the cellars
+of some ancient castle in Italy, France or England?  This is the
+dust of centuries.  Perhaps it touched the faces, helmets and
+swords of a Roman Augustus, St. Louis, the Inquisitor, Galileo or
+King Richard.  Your heart is involuntarily contracted and you feel
+a respect for these witnesses of elapsed ages.  This same
+impression came to me in Ta Kure, perhaps more deep, more
+realistic.  Here life flows on almost as it flowed eight centuries
+ago; here man lives only in the past; and the contemporary only
+complicates and prevents the normal life.
+
+"Today is a great day," the Living Buddha once said to me, "the day
+of the victory of Buddhism over all other religions.  It was a long
+time ago--on this day Kublai Khan called to him the Lamas of all
+religions and ordered them to state to him how and what they
+believed.  They praised their Gods and their Hutuktus.  Discussions
+and quarrels began.  Only one Lama remained silent.  At last he
+mockingly smiled and said:
+
+"'Great Emperor!  Order each to prove the power of his Gods by the
+performance of a miracle and afterwards judge and choose.'
+
+"Kublai Khan so ordered all the Lamas to show him a miracle but all
+were silent, confused and powerless before him.
+
+"'Now,' said the Emperor, addressing the Lama who had tendered this
+suggestion, 'now you must prove the power of your Gods!'
+
+"The Lama looked long and silently at the Emperor, turned and gazed
+at the whole assembly and then quietly stretched out his hand
+toward them.  At this instant the golden goblet of the Emperor
+raised itself from the table and tipped before the lips of the Khan
+without a visible hand supporting it.  The Emperor felt the delight
+of a fragrant wine.  All were struck with astonishment and the
+Emperor spoke:
+
+"'I elect to pray to your Gods and to them all people subject to me
+must pray.  What is your faith?  Who are you and from where do you
+come?'
+
+"'My faith is the teaching of the wise Buddha.  I am Pandita Lama,
+Turjo Gamba, from the distant and glorious monastery of Sakkia in
+Tibet, where dwells incarnate in a human body the Spirit of Buddha,
+his Wisdom and his Power.  Remember, Emperor, that the peoples who
+hold our faith shall possess all the Western Universe and during
+eight hundred and eleven years shall spread their faith throughout
+the whole world.'
+
+"Thus it happened on this same day many centuries ago!  Lama Turjo
+Gamba did not return to Tibet but lived here in Ta Kure, where
+there was then only a small temple.  From here he traveled to the
+Emperor at Karakorum and afterwards with him to the capital of
+China to fortify him in the Faith, to predict the fate of state
+affairs and to enlighten him according to the will of God."
+
+The Living Buddha was silent for a time, whispered a prayer and
+then continued:
+
+"Urga, the ancient nest of Buddhism. . . .  With Jenghiz Khan on
+his European conquest went out the Olets or Kalmucks.  They
+remained there almost four hundred years, living on the plains of
+Russia.  Then they returned to Mongolia because the Yellow Lamas
+called them to light against the Kings of Tibet, Lamas of the 'red
+caps,' who were oppressing the people.  The Kalmucks helped the
+Yellow Faith but they realized that Lhasa was too distant from the
+whole world and could not spread our Faith throughout the earth.
+Consequently the Kalmuck Gushi Khan brought up from Tibet a holy
+Lama, Undur Gheghen, who had visited the 'King of the World.'  From
+that day the Bogdo Gheghen has continuously lived in Urga, a
+protector of the freedom of Mongolia and of the Chinese Emperors of
+Mongolian origin.  Undur Gheghen was the first Living Buddha in the
+land of the Mongols.  He left to us, his successors, the ring of
+Jenghiz Khan, which was sent by Kublai Khan to Dalai Lama in return
+for the miracle shown by the Lama Turjo Gamba; also the top of the
+skull of a black, mysterious miracle worker from India, using which
+as a bowl, Strongtsan, King of Tibet, drank during the temple
+ceremonies one thousand six hundred years ago; as well as an
+ancient stone statue of Buddha brought from Delhi by the founder of
+the Yellow Faith, Paspa."
+
+The Bogdo clapped his hands and one of the secretaries took from a
+red kerchief a big silver key with which he unlocked the chest with
+the seals.  The Living Buddha slipped his hand into the chest and
+drew forth a small box of carved ivory, from which he took out and
+showed to me a large gold ring set with a magnificent ruby carved
+with the sign of the swastika.
+
+"This ring was always worn on the right hand of the Khans Jenghiz
+and Kublai," said the Bogdo.
+
+When the secretary had closed the chest, the Bogdo ordered him to
+summon his favorite Maramba, whom he directed to read some pages
+from an ancient book lying on the table.  The Lama began to read
+monotonously.
+
+"When Gushi Khan, the Chief of all the Olets or Kalmucks, finished
+the war with the 'Red Caps' in Tibet, he carried out with him the
+miraculous 'black stone' sent to the Dalai Lama by the 'King of the
+World.'  Gushi Khan wanted to create in Western Mongolia the
+capital of the Yellow Faith; but the Olets at that time were at war
+with the Manchu Emperors for the throne of China and suffered one
+defeat after another.  The last Khan of the Olets, Amursana, ran
+away into Russia but before his escape sent to Urga the sacred
+'black stone.'  While it remained in Urga so that the Living Buddha
+could bless the people with it, disease and misfortune never
+touched the Mongolians and their cattle.  About one hundred years
+ago, however, some one stole the sacred stone and since then
+Buddhists have vainly sought it throughout the whole world.  With
+its disappearance the Mongol people began gradually to die."
+
+"Enough!" ordered Bogdo Gheghen.  "Our neighbors hold us in
+contempt.  They forget that we were their sovereigns but we
+preserve our holy traditions and we know that the day of triumph of
+the Mongolian tribes and the Yellow Faith will come.  We have the
+Protectors of the Faith, the Buriats.  They are the truest
+guardians of the bequests of Jenghiz Khan."
+
+So spoke the Living Buddha and so have spoken the ancient books!
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII
+
+THE BOOKS OF MIRACLES
+
+
+Prince Djam Bolon asked a Maramba to show us the library of the
+Living Buddha.  It is a big room occupied by scores of writers who
+prepare the works dealing with the miracles of all the Living
+Buddhas, beginning with Undur Gheghen and ending with those of the
+Gheghens and Hutuktus of the different Mongol monasteries.  These
+books are afterwards distributed through all the Lama Monasteries,
+temples and schools of Bandi.  A Maramba read two selections:
+
+". . . The beatific Bogdo Gheghen breathed on a mirror.
+Immediately as through a haze there appeared the picture of a
+valley in which many thousands of thousands of warriors fought one
+against another. . . ."
+
+"The wise and favored-of-the-gods Living Buddha burned incense in a
+brazier and prayed to the Gods to reveal the lot of the Princes.
+In the blue smoke all saw a dark prison and the pallid, tortured
+bodies of the dead Princes. . . ."
+
+A special book, already done into thousands of copies, dwelt upon
+the miracles of the present Living Buddha.  Prince Djam Bolon
+described to me some of the contents of this volume.
+
+"There exists an ancient wooden Buddha with open eyes.  He was
+brought here from India and Bogdo Gheghen placed him on the altar
+and began to pray.  When he returned from the shrine, he ordered
+the statue of Buddha brought out.  All were struck with amazement,
+for the eyes of the God were shut and tears were falling from them;
+from the wooden body green sprouts appeared; and the Bogdo said:
+
+"'Woe and joy are awaiting me.  I shall become blind but Mongolia
+will be free.'
+
+"The prophecy is fulfilled.  At another time, on a day when the
+Living Buddha was very much excited, he ordered a basin of water
+brought and set before the altar.  He called the Lamas and began to
+pray.  Suddenly the altar candles and lamps lighted themselves and
+the water in the basin became iridescent."
+
+Afterwards the Prince described to me how the Bogdo Khan tells
+fortunes with fresh blood, upon whose surface appear words and
+pictures; with the entrails of sheep and goats, according to whose
+distribution the Bogdo reads the fate of the Princes and knows
+their thoughts; with stones and bones from which the Living Buddha
+with great accuracy reads the lot of all men; and by the stars, in
+accordance with whose positions the Bogdo prepares amulets against
+bullets and disease.
+
+"The former Bogdo Khans told fortunes only by the use of the 'black
+stone,'" said the Maramba.  "On the surface of the stone appeared
+Tibetan inscriptions which the Bogdo read and thus learned the lot
+of whole nations."
+
+When the Maramba spoke of the black stone with the Tibetan legends
+appearing on it, I at once recalled that it was possible.  In
+southeastern Urianhai, in Ulan Taiga, I came across a place where
+black slate was decomposing.  All the pieces of this slate were
+covered with a special white lichen, which formed very complicated
+designs, reminding me of a Venetian lace pattern or whole pages of
+mysterious runes.  When the slate was wet, these designs
+disappeared; and then, as they were dried, the patterns came out
+again.
+
+Nobody has the right or dares to ask the Living Buddha to tell his
+fortune.  He predicts only when he feels the inspiration or when a
+special delegate comes to him bearing a request for it from the
+Dalai Lama or the Tashi Lama.  When the Russian Czar, Alexander I,
+fell under the influence of Baroness Kzudener and of her extreme
+mysticism, he despatched a special envoy to the Living Buddha to
+ask about his destiny.  The then Bogdo Khan, quite a young man,
+told his fortune according to the "black stone" and predicted that
+the White Czar would finish his life in very painful wanderings
+unknown to all and everywhere pursued.  In Russia today there
+exists a popular belief that Alexander I spent the last days of his
+life as a wanderer throughout Russia and Siberia under the
+pseudonym of Feodor Kusmitch, helping and consoling prisoners,
+beggars and other suffering people, often pursued and imprisoned by
+the police and finally dying at Tomsk in Siberia, where even until
+now they have preserved the house where he spent his last days and
+have kept his grave sacred, a place of pilgrimages and miracles.
+The former dynasty of Romanoff was deeply interested in the
+biography of Feodor Kusmitch and this interest fixed the opinion
+that Kusmitch was really the Czar Alexander I, who had voluntarily
+taken upon himself this severe penance.
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII
+
+THE BIRTH OF THE LIVING BUDDHA
+
+
+The Living Buddha does not die.  His soul sometimes passes into
+that of a child born on the day of his death and sometimes
+transfers itself to another being during the life of the Buddha.
+This new mortal dwelling of the sacred spirit of the Buddha almost
+always appears in the yurta of some poor Tibetan or Mongol family.
+There is a reason of policy for this.  If the Buddha appears in the
+family of a rich prince, it could result in the elevation of a
+family that would not yield obedience to the clergy (and such has
+happened in the past), while on the other hand any poor, unknown
+family that becomes the heritor of the throne of Jenghiz Khan
+acquires riches and is readily submissive to the Lamas.  Only three
+or four Living Buddhas were of purely Mongolian origin; the
+remainder were Tibetans.
+
+One of the Councillors of the Living Buddha, Lama-Khan Jassaktu,
+told me the following:
+
+"In the monasteries at Lhasa and Tashi Lumpo they are kept
+constantly informed through letters from Urga about the health of
+the Living Buddha.  When his human body becomes old and the Spirit
+of Buddha strives to extricate itself, special solemn services
+begin in the Tibetan temples together with the telling of fortunes
+by astrology.  These rites indicate the specially pious Lamas who
+must discover where the Spirit of the Buddha will be re-incarnated.
+For this purpose they travel throughout the whole land and observe.
+Often God himself gives them signs and indications.  Sometimes the
+white wolf appears near the yurta of a poor shepherd or a lamb with
+two heads is born or a meteor falls from the sky.  Some Lamas take
+fish from the sacred lake Tangri Nor and read on the scales thereof
+the name of the new Bogdo Khan; others pick out stones whose cracks
+indicate to them where they must search and whom they must find;
+while others secrete themselves in narrow mountain ravines to
+listen to the voices of the spirits of the mountains, pronouncing
+the name of the new choice of the Gods.  When he is found, all the
+possible information about his family is secretly collected and
+presented to the Most Learned Tashi Lama, having the name of
+Erdeni, "The Great Gem of Learning," who, according to the runes of
+Rama, verifies the selection.  If he is in agreement with it, he
+sends a secret letter to the Dalai Lama, who holds a special
+sacrifice in the Temple of the "Spirit of the Mountains" and
+confirms the election by putting his great seal on this letter of
+the Tashi Lama.
+
+If the old Living Buddha be still alive, the name of his successor
+is kept a deep secret; if the Spirit of Buddha has already gone out
+from the body of Bogdo Khan, a special legation appears from Tibet
+with the new Living Buddha.  The same process accompanies the
+election of the Gheghen and Hutuktus in all the Lamaite monasteries
+in Mongolia; but confirmation of the election resides with the
+Living Buddha and is only announced to Lhasa after the event.
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV
+
+A PAGE IN THE HISTORY OF THE PRESENT LIVING BUDDHA
+
+
+The present Bogdo Khan of Outer Mongolia is a Tibetan.  He sprang
+from a poor family living in the neighborhood of Sakkia Kure in
+western Tibet.  From earliest youth he had a stormy, quite
+unaesthetic nature.  He was fired with the idea of the independence
+and glorification of Mongolia and the successors of Jenghiz Khan.
+This gave him at once a great influence among the Lamas, Princes
+and Khans of Mongolia and also with the Russian Government which
+always tried to attract him to their side.  He did not fear to
+arraign himself against the Manchu dynasty in China and always had
+the help of Russia, Tibet, the Buriats and Kirghiz, furnishing him
+with money, weapons, warriors and diplomatic aid.  The Chinese
+Emperors avoided open war with the Living God, because it might
+arouse the protests of the Chinese Buddhists.  At one time they
+sent to the Bogdo Khan a skilful doctor-poisoner.  The Living
+Buddha, however, at once understood the meaning of this medical
+attention and, knowing the power of Asiatic poisons, decided to
+make a journey through the Mongol monasteries and through Tibet.
+As his substitute he left a Hubilgan who made friends with the
+Chinese doctor and inquired from him the purposes and details of
+his arrival.  Very soon the Chinese died from some unknown cause
+and the Living Buddha returned to his comfortable capital.
+
+On another occasion danger threatened the Living God.  It was when
+Lhasa decided that the Bogdo Khan was carrying out a policy too
+independent of Tibet.  The Dalai Lama began negotiations with
+several Khans and Princes with the Sain Noion Khan and Jassaktu
+Khan leading the movement and persuaded them to accelerate the
+immigration of the Spirit of Buddha into another human form.  They
+came to Urga where the Bogdo Khan met them with honors and
+rejoicings.  A great feast was made for them and the conspirators
+already felt themselves the accomplishers of the orders of the
+Dalai Lama.  However, at the end of the feast, they had different
+feelings and died with them during the night.  The Living Buddha
+ordered their bodies sent with full honors to their families.
+
+The Bogdo Khan knows every thought, every movement of the Princes
+and Khans, the slightest conspiracy against himself, and the
+offender is usually kindly invited to Urga, from where he does not
+return alive.
+
+The Chinese Government decided to terminate the line of the Living
+Buddhas.  Ceasing to fight with the Pontiff of Urga, the Government
+contrived the following scheme for accomplishing its ends.
+
+Peking invited the Pandita Gheghen from Dolo Nor and the head of
+the Chinese Lamaites, the Hutuktu of Utai, both of whom do not
+recognize the supremacy of the Living Buddha, to come to the
+capital.  They decided, after consulting the old Buddhistic books,
+that the present Bogdo Khan was to be the last Living Buddha,
+because that part of the Spirit of Buddha which dwells in the Bogdo
+Khans can abide only thirty-one times in the human body.  Bogdo
+Khan is the thirty-first Incarnated Buddha from the time of Undur
+Gheghen and with him, therefore, the dynasty of the Urga Pontiffs
+must cease.  However, on hearing this the Bogdo Khan himself did
+some research work and found in the old Tibetan manuscripts that
+one of the Tibetan Pontiffs was married and his son was a natural
+Incarnated Buddha.  So the Bogdo Khan married and now has a son, a
+very capable and energetic young man, and thus the religious throne
+of Jenghiz Khan will not be left empty.  The dynasty of the Chinese
+emperors disappeared from the stage of political events but the
+Living Buddha continues to be a center for the Pan-Asiatic idea.
+
+The new Chinese Government in 1920 held the Living Buddha under
+arrest in his palace but at the beginning of 1921 Baron Ungern
+crossed the sacred Bogdo-Ol and approached the palace from the
+rear.  Tibetan riders shot the Chinese sentries with bow and arrow
+and afterwards the Mongols penetrated into the palace and stole
+their "God," who immediately stirred up all Mongolia and awakened
+the hopes of the Asiatic peoples and tribes.
+
+In the great palace of the Bogdo a Lama showed me a special casket
+covered with a precious carpet, wherein they keep the bulls of the
+Dalai and Tashi Lamas, the decrees of the Russian and Chinese
+Emperors and the Treaties between Mongolia, Russia, China and
+Tibet.  In this same casket is the copper plate bearing the
+mysterious sign of the "King of the World" and the chronicle of the
+last vision of the Living Buddha.
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV
+
+THE VISION OF THE LIVING BUDDHA OF MAY 17, 1921
+
+
+"I prayed and saw that which is hidden from the eyes of the people.
+A vast plain was spread before me surrounded by distant mountains.
+An old Lama carried a basket filled with heavy stones.  He hardly
+moved.  From the north a rider appeared in white robes and mounted
+on a white horse.  He approached the Lama and said to him:
+
+"'Give me your basket.  I shall help you to carry them to the
+Kure.'
+
+"The Lama handed his heavy burden up to him but the rider could not
+raise it to his saddle so that the old Lama had to place it back on
+his shoulder and continue on his way, bent under its heavy weight.
+Then from the north came another rider in black robes and on a
+black horse, who also approached the Lama and said:
+
+"'Stupid!  Why do you carry these stones when they are everywhere
+about the ground?'
+
+"With these words he pushed the Lama over with the breast of his
+horse and scattered the stones about the ground.  When the stones
+touched the earth, they became diamonds.  All three rushed to raise
+them but not one of them could break them loose from the ground.
+Then the old Lama exclaimed:
+
+"'Oh Gods!  All my life I have carried this heavy burden and now,
+when there was left so little to go, I have lost it.  Help me,
+great, good Gods!'
+
+"Suddenly a tottering old man appeared.  He collected all the
+diamonds into the basket without trouble, cleaned the dust from
+them, raised the burden to his shoulder and started out, speaking
+with the Lama:
+
+"'Rest a while, I have just carried my burden to the goal and I am
+glad to help you with yours.'
+
+"They went on and were soon out of sight, while the riders began to
+fight.  They fought one whole day and then the whole night and,
+when the sun rose over the plain, neither was there, either alive
+or dead, and no trace of either remained.  This I saw, Bogdo
+Hutuktu Khan, speaking with the Great and Wise Buddha, surrounded
+by the good and bad demons!  Wise Lamas, Hutuktus, Kampos, Marambas
+and Holy Gheghens, give the answer to my vision!"
+
+This was written in my presence on May 17th, 1921, from the words
+of the Living Buddha just as he came out of his private shrine to
+his study.  I do not know what the Hutuktu and Gheghens, the
+fortune tellers, sorcerers and clairvoyants replied to him; but
+does not the answer seem clear, if one realizes the present
+situation in Asia?
+
+Awakened Asia is full of enigmas but it is also full of answers to
+the questions set by the destiny of humankind.  This great
+continent of mysterious Pontiffs, Living Gods, Mahatmas and readers
+of the terrible book of Karma is awakening and the ocean of
+hundreds of millions of human lives is lashed with monstrous waves.
+
+
+
+Part V
+
+MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES--THE KING OF THE WORLD
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI
+
+THE SUBTERRANEAN KINGDOM
+
+
+"Stop!" whispered my old Mongol guide, as we were one day crossing
+the plain near Tzagan Luk.  "Stop!"
+
+He slipped from his camel which lay down without his bidding.  The
+Mongol raised his hands in prayer before his face and began to
+repeat the sacred phrase:  "Om! Mani padme Hung!"  The other
+Mongols immediately stopped their camels and began to pray.
+
+"What has happened?" I thought, as I gazed round over the tender
+green grass, up to the cloudless sky and out toward the dreamy soft
+rays of the evening sun.
+
+The Mongols prayed for some time, whispered among themselves and,
+after tightening up the packs on the camels, moved on.
+
+"Did you see," asked the Mongol, "how our camels moved their ears
+in fear?  How the herd of horses on the plain stood fixed in
+attention and how the herds of sheep and cattle lay crouched close
+to the ground?  Did you notice that the birds did not fly, the
+marmots did not run and the dogs did not bark?  The air trembled
+softly and bore from afar the music of a song which penetrated to
+the hearts of men, animals and birds alike.  Earth and sky ceased
+breathing.  The wind did not blow and the sun did not move.  At
+such a moment the wolf that is stealing up on the sheep arrests his
+stealthy crawl; the frightened herd of antelopes suddenly checks
+its wild course; the knife of the shepherd cutting the sheep's
+throat falls from his hand; the rapacious ermine ceases to stalk
+the unsuspecting salga.  All living beings in fear are
+involuntarily thrown into prayer and waiting for their fate.  So it
+was just now.  Thus it has always been whenever the King of the
+World in his subterranean palace prays and searches out the destiny
+of all peoples on the earth."
+
+In this wise the old Mongol, a simple, coarse shepherd and hunter,
+spoke to me.
+
+Mongolia with her nude and terrible mountains, her limitless
+plains, covered with the widely strewn bones of the forefathers,
+gave birth to Mystery.  Her people, frightened by the stormy
+passions of Nature or lulled by her deathlike peace, feel her
+mystery.  Her "Red" and "Yellow Lamas" preserve and poetize her
+mystery.  The Pontiffs of Lhasa and Urga know and possess her
+mystery.
+
+On my journey into Central Asia I came to know for the first time
+about "the Mystery of Mysteries," which I can call by no other
+name.  At the outset I did not pay much attention to it and did not
+attach to it such importance as I afterwards realized belonged to
+it, when I had analyzed and connoted many sporadic, hazy and often
+controversial bits of evidence.
+
+The old people on the shore of the River Amyl related to me an
+ancient legend to the effect that a certain Mongolian tribe in
+their escape from the demands of Jenghiz Khan hid themselves in a
+subterranean country.  Afterwards a Soyot from near the Lake of
+Nogan Kul showed me the smoking gate that serves as the entrance to
+the "Kingdom of Agharti."  Through this gate a hunter formerly
+entered into the Kingdom and, after his return, began to relate
+what he had seen there.  The Lamas cut out his tongue in order to
+prevent him from telling about the Mystery of Mysteries.  When he
+arrived at old age, he came back to the entrance of this cave and
+disappeared into the subterranean kingdom, the memory of which had
+ornamented and lightened his nomad heart.
+
+I received more realistic information about this from Hutuktu Jelyb
+Djamsrap in Narabanchi Kure.  He told me the story of the semi-
+realistic arrival of the powerful King of the World from the
+subterranean kingdom, of his appearance, of his miracles and of his
+prophecies; and only then did I begin to understand that in that
+legend, hypnosis or mass vision, whichever it may be, is hidden not
+only mystery but a realistic and powerful force capable of
+influencing the course of the political life of Asia.  From that
+moment I began making some investigations.
+
+The favorite Gelong Lama of Prince Chultun Beyli and the Prince
+himself gave me an account of the subterranean kingdom.
+
+"Everything in the world," said the Gelong, "is constantly in a
+state of change and transition--peoples science, religions, laws
+and customs.  How many great empires and brilliant cultures have
+perished!  And that alone which remains unchanged is Evil, the tool
+of Bad Spirits.  More than sixty thousand years ago a Holyman
+disappeared with a whole tribe of people under the ground and never
+appeared again on the surface of the earth.  Many people, however,
+have since visited this kingdom, Sakkia Mouni, Undur Gheghen,
+Paspa, Khan Baber and others.  No one knows where this place is.
+One says Afghanistan, others India.  All the people there are
+protected against Evil and crimes do not exist within its bournes.
+Science has there developed calmly and nothing is threatened with
+destruction.  The subterranean people have reached the highest
+knowledge.  Now it is a large kingdom, millions of men with the
+King of the World as their ruler.  He knows all the forces of the
+world and reads all the souls of humankind and the great book of
+their destiny.  Invisibly he rules eight hundred million men on the
+surface of the earth and they will accomplish his every order."
+
+Prince Chultun Beyli added:  "This kingdom is Agharti.  It extends
+throughout all the subterranean passages of the whole world.  I
+heard a learned Lama of China relating to Bogdo Khan that all the
+subterranean caves of America are inhabited by the ancient people
+who have disappeared underground.  Traces of them are still found
+on the surface of the land.  These subterranean peoples and spaces
+are governed by rulers owing allegiance to the King of the World.
+In it there is not much of the wonderful.  You know that in the two
+greatest oceans of the east and the west there were formerly two
+continents.  They disappeared under the water but their people went
+into the subterranean kingdom.  In underground caves there exists a
+peculiar light which affords growth to the grains and vegetables
+and long life without disease to the people.  There are many
+different peoples and many different tribes.  An old Buddhist
+Brahman in Nepal was carrying out the will of the Gods in making a
+visit to the ancient kingdom of Jenghiz,--Siam,--where he met a
+fisherman who ordered him to take a place in his boat and sail with
+him upon the sea.  On the third day they reached an island where he
+met a people having two tongues which could speak separately in
+different languages.  They showed to him peculiar, unfamiliar
+animals, tortoises with sixteen feet and one eye, huge snakes with
+a very tasty flesh and birds with teeth which caught fish for their
+masters in the sea.  These people told him that they had come up
+out of the subterranean kingdom and described to him certain parts
+of the underground country."
+
+The Lama Turgut traveling with me from Urga to Peking gave me
+further details.
+
+"The capital of Agharti is surrounded with towns of high priests
+and scientists.  It reminds one of Lhasa where the palace of the
+Dalai Lama, the Potala, is the top of a mountain covered with
+monasteries and temples.  The throne of the King of the World is
+surrounded by millions of incarnated Gods.  They are the Holy
+Panditas.  The palace itself is encircled by the palaces of the
+Goro, who possess all the visible and invisible forces of the
+earth, of inferno and of the sky and who can do everything for the
+life and death of man.  If our mad humankind should begin a war
+against them, they would be able to explode the whole surface of
+our planet and transform it into deserts.  They can dry up the
+seas, transform lands into oceans and scatter the mountains into
+the sands of the deserts.  By his order trees, grasses and bushes
+can be made to grow; old and feeble men can become young and
+stalwart; and the dead can be resurrected.  In cars strange and
+unknown to us they rush through the narrow cleavages inside our
+planet.  Some Indian Brahmans and Tibetan Dalai Lamas during their
+laborious struggles to the peaks of mountains which no other human
+feet had trod have found there inscriptions carved on the rocks,
+footprints in the snow and the tracks of wheels.  The blissful
+Sakkia Mouni found on one mountain top tablets of stone carrying
+words which he only understood in his old age and afterwards
+penetrated into the Kingdom of Agharti, from which he brought back
+crumbs of the sacred learning preserved in his memory.  There in
+palaces of wonderful crystal live the invisible rulers of all pious
+people, the King of the World or Brahytma, who can speak with God
+as I speak with you, and his two assistants, Mahytma, knowing the
+purposes of future events, and Mahynga, ruling the causes of these
+events."
+
+"The Holy Panditas study the world and all its forces.  Sometimes
+the most learned among them collect together and send envoys to
+that place where the human eyes have never penetrated.  This is
+described by the Tashi Lama living eight hundred and fifty years
+ago.  The highest Panditas place their hands on their eyes and at
+the base of the brain of younger ones and force them into a deep
+sleep, wash their bodies with an infusion of grass and make them
+immune to pain and harder than stones, wrap them in magic cloths,
+bind them and then pray to the Great God.  The petrified youths lie
+with eyes and ears open and alert, seeing, hearing and remembering
+everything.  Afterwards a Goro approaches and fastens a long,
+steady gaze upon them.  Very slowly the bodies lift themselves from
+the earth and disappear.  The Goro sits and stares with fixed eyes
+to the place whither he has sent them.  Invisible threads join them
+to his will.  Some of them course among the stars, observe their
+events, their unknown peoples, their life and their laws.  They
+listen to their talk, read their books, understand their fortunes
+and woes, their holiness and sins, their piety and evil.  Some are
+mingled with flame and see the creature of fire, quick and
+ferocious, eternally fighting, melting and hammering metals in the
+depths of planets, boiling the water for geysers and springs,
+melting the rocks and pushing out molten streams over the surface
+of the earth through the holes in the mountains.  Others rush
+together with the ever elusive, infinitesimally small, transparent
+creatures of the air and penetrate into the mysteries of their
+existence and into the purposes of their life.  Others slip into
+the depths of the seas and observe the kingdom of the wise
+creatures of the water, who transport and spread genial warmth all
+over the earth, ruling the winds, waves and storms. . . .  In
+Erdeni Dzu formerly lived Pandita Hutuktu, who had come from
+Agharti.  As he was dying, he told about the time when he lived
+according to the will of the Goro on a red star in the east,
+floated in the ice-covered ocean and flew among the stormy fires in
+the depths of the earth."
+
+These are the tales which I heard in the Mongolian yurtas of
+Princes and in the Lamaite monasteries.  These stories were all
+related in a solemn tone which forbade challenge and doubt.
+
+Mystery. . . .
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII
+
+THE KING OF THE WORLD BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD
+
+
+During my stay in Urga I tried to find an explanation of this
+legend about the King of the World.  Of course, the Living Buddha
+could tell me most of all and so I endeavored to get the story from
+him.  In a conversation with him I mentioned the name of the King
+of the World.  The old Pontiff sharply turned his head toward me
+and fixed upon me his immobile, blind eyes.  Unwillingly I became
+silent.  Our silence was a long one and after it the Pontiff
+continued the conversation in such a way that I understood he did
+not wish to accept the suggestion of my reference.  On the faces of
+the others present I noticed expressions of astonishment and fear
+produced by my words, and especially was this true of the custodian
+of the library of the Bogdo Khan.  One can readily understand that
+all this only made me the more anxious to press the pursuit.
+
+As I was leaving the study of the Bogdo Hutuktu, I met the
+librarian who had stepped out ahead of me and asked him if he would
+show me the library of the Living Buddha and used a very simple,
+sly trick with him.
+
+"Do you know, my dear Lama," I said, "once I rode in the plain at
+the hour when the King of the World spoke with God and I felt the
+impressive majesty of this moment."
+
+To my astonishment the old Lama very quietly answered me:  "It is
+not right that the Buddhist and our Yellow Faith should conceal it.
+The acknowledgment of the existence of the most holy and most
+powerful man, of the blissful kingdom, of the great temple of
+sacred science is such a consolation to our sinful hearts and our
+corrupt lives that to conceal it from humankind is a sin. . . .
+Well, listen," he continued, "throughout the whole year the King of
+the World guides the work of the Panditas and Goros of Agharti.
+Only at times he goes to the temple cave where the embalmed body of
+his predecessor lies in a black stone coffin.  This cave is always
+dark, but when the King of the World enters it the walls are
+striped with fire and from the lid of the coffin appear tongues of
+flame.  The eldest Goro stands before him with covered head and
+face and with hands folded across his chest.  This Goro never
+removes the covering from his face, for his head is a nude skull
+with living eyes and a tongue that speaks.  He is in communion with
+the souls of all who have gone before.
+
+"The King of the World prays for a long time and afterwards
+approaches the coffin and stretches out his hand.  The flames
+thereon burn brighter; the stripes of fire on the walls disappear
+and revive, interlace and form mysterious signs from the alphabet
+vatannan.  From the coffin transparent bands of scarcely noticeable
+light begin to flow forth.  These are the thoughts of his
+predecessor.  Soon the King of the World stands surrounded by an
+auriole of this light and fiery letters write and write upon the
+walls the wishes and orders of God.  At this moment the King of the
+World is in contact with the thoughts of all the men who influence
+the lot and life of all humankind: with Kings, Czars, Khans,
+warlike leaders, High Priests, scientists and other strong men.  He
+realizes all their thoughts and plans.  If these be pleasing before
+God, the King of the World will invisibly help them; if they are
+unpleasant in the sight of God, the King will bring them to
+destruction.  This power is given to Agharti by the mysterious
+science of 'Om,' with which we begin all our prayers.  'Om' is the
+name of an ancient Holyman, the first Goro, who lived three hundred
+thirty thousand years ago.  He was the first man to know God and
+who taught humankind to believe, hope and struggle with Evil.  Then
+God gave him power over all forces ruling the visible world.
+
+"After his conversation with his predecessor the King of the World
+assembles the 'Great Council of God,' judges the actions and
+thoughts of great men, helps them or destroys them.  Mahytma and
+Mahynga find the place for these actions and thoughts in the causes
+ruling the world.  Afterwards the King of the World enters the
+great temple and prays in solitude.  Fire appears on the altar,
+gradually spreading to all the altars near, and through the burning
+flame gradually appears the face of God.  The King of the World
+reverently announces to God the decisions and awards of the
+'Council of God' and receives in turn the Divine orders of the
+Almighty.  As he comes forth from the temple, the King of the World
+radiates with Divine Light."
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII
+
+REALITY OR RELIGIOUS FANTASY?
+
+
+"Has anybody seen the King of the World?" I asked.
+
+"Oh, yes!" answered the Lama.  "During the solemn holidays of the
+ancient Buddhism in Siam and India the King of the World appeared
+five times.  He rode in a splendid car drawn by white elephants and
+ornamented with gold, precious stones and finest fabrics; he was
+robed in a white mantle and red tiara with strings of diamonds
+masking his face.  He blessed the people with a golden apple with
+the figure of a Lamb above it.  The blind received their sight, the
+dumb spoke, the deaf heard, the crippled freely moved and the dead
+arose, wherever the eyes of the King of the World rested.  He also
+appeared five hundred and forty years ago in Erdeni Dzu, he was in
+the ancient Sakkai Monastery and in the Narabanchi Kure.
+
+"One of our Living Buddhas and one of the Tashi Lamas received a
+message from him, written with unknown signs on golden tablets.  No
+one could read these signs.  The Tashi Lama entered the temple,
+placed the golden tablet on his head and began to pray.  With this
+the thoughts of the King of the World penetrated his brain and,
+without having read the enigmatical signs, he understood and
+accomplished the message of the King."
+
+"How many persons have ever been to Agharti?" I questioned him.
+
+"Very many," answered the Lama, "but all these people have kept
+secret that which they saw there.  When the Olets destroyed Lhasa,
+one of their detachments in the southwestern mountains penetrated
+to the outskirts of Agharti.  Here they learned some of the lesser
+mysterious sciences and brought them to the surface of our earth.
+This is why the Olets and Kalmucks are artful sorcerers and
+prophets.  Also from the eastern country some tribes of black
+people penetrated to Agharti and lived there many centuries.
+Afterwards they were thrust out from the kingdom and returned to
+the earth, bringing with them the mystery of predictions according
+to cards, grasses and the lines of the palm.  They are the
+Gypsies. . . .  Somewhere in the north of Asia a tribe exists
+which is now dying and which came from the cave of Agharti,
+skilled in calling back the spirits of the dead as they float
+through the air."
+
+The Lama was silent and afterwards, as though answering my
+thoughts, continued.
+
+"In Agharti the learned Panditas write on tablets of stone all the
+science of our planet and of the other worlds.  The Chinese learned
+Buddhists know this.  Their science is the highest and purest.
+Every century one hundred sages of China collect in a secret place
+on the shores of the sea, where from its depths come out one
+hundred eternally-living tortoises.  On their shells the Chinese
+write all the developments of the divine science of the century."
+
+As I write I am involuntarily reminded of a tale of an old Chinese
+bonze in the Temple of Heaven at Peking.  He told me that tortoises
+live more than three thousand years without food and air and that
+this is the reason why all the columns of the blue Temple of Heaven
+were set on live tortoises to preserve the wood from decay.
+
+"Several times the Pontiffs of Lhasa and Urga have sent envoys to
+the King of the World," said the Lama librarian, "but they could
+not find him.  Only a certain Tibetan leader after a battle with
+the Olets found the cave with the inscription:  'This is the gate
+to Agharti.'  From the cave a fine appearing man came forth,
+presented him with a gold tablet bearing the mysterious signs and
+said:
+
+"'The King of the World will appear before all people when the time
+shall have arrived for him to lead all the good people of the world
+against all the bad; but this time has not yet come.  The most evil
+among mankind have not yet been born.
+
+"Chiang Chun Baron Ungern sent the young Prince Pounzig to seek out
+the King of the World but he returned with a letter from the Dalai
+Lama from Lhasa.  When the Baron sent him a second time, he did not
+come back."
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX
+
+THE PROPHECY OF THE KING OF THE WORLD IN 1890
+
+
+The Hutuktu of Narabanchi related the following to me, when I
+visited him in his monastery in the beginning of 1921:
+
+"When the King of the World appeared before the Lamas, favored of
+God, in this monastery thirty years ago he made a prophecy for the
+coming half century.  It was as follows:
+
+"'More and more the people will forget their souls and care about
+their bodies.  The greatest sin and corruption will reign on the
+earth.  People will become as ferocious animals, thirsting for the
+blood and death of their brothers.  The 'Crescent' will grow dim
+and its followers will descend into beggary and ceaseless war.  Its
+conquerors will be stricken by the sun but will not progress upward
+and twice they will be visited with the heaviest misfortune, which
+will end in insult before the eye of the other peoples.  The crowns
+of kings, great and small, will fall . . . one, two, three, four,
+five, six, seven, eight. . . .  There will be a terrible battle
+among all the peoples.  The seas will become red . . . the earth
+and the bottom of the seas will be strewn with bones . . . kingdoms
+will be scattered . . . whole peoples will die . . . hunger,
+disease, crimes unknown to the law, never before seen in the world.
+The enemies of God and of the Divine Spirit in man will come.
+Those who take the hand of another shall also perish.  The
+forgotten and pursued shall rise and hold the attention of the
+whole world.  There will be fogs and storms.  Bare mountains shall
+suddenly be covered with forests.  Earthquakes will come. . . .
+Millions will change the fetters of slavery and humiliation for
+hunger, disease and death.  The ancient roads will be covered with
+crowds wandering from one place to another.  The greatest and most
+beautiful cities shall perish in fire . . . one, two, three. . . .
+Father shall rise against son, brother against brother and mother
+against daughter. . . .  Vice, crime and the destruction of body
+and soul shall follow. . . .  Families shall be scattered. . . .
+Truth and love shall disappear. . . .  From ten thousand men one
+shall remain; he shall be nude and mad and without force and the
+knowledge to build him a house and find his food. . . .  He will
+howl as the raging wolf, devour dead bodies, bite his own flesh and
+challenge God to fight. . . .  All the earth will be emptied.  God
+will turn away from it and over it there will be only night and
+death.  Then I shall send a people, now unknown, which shall tear
+out the weeds of madness and vice with a strong hand and will lead
+those who still remain faithful to the spirit of man in the fight
+against Evil.  They will found a new life on the earth purified by
+the death of nations.  In the fiftieth year only three great
+kingdoms will appear, which will exist happily seventy-one years.
+Afterwards there will be eighteen years of war and destruction.
+Then the peoples of Agharti will come up from their subterranean
+caverns to the surface of the earth.'"
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *
+
+Afterwards, as I traveled farther through Eastern Mongolia and to
+Peking, I often thought:
+
+"And what if . . . ?  What if whole peoples of different colors,
+faiths and tribes should begin their migration toward the West?"
+
+And now, as I write these final lines, my eyes involuntarily turn
+to this limitless Heart of Asia over which the trails of my
+wanderings twine.  Through whirling snow and driving clouds of sand
+of the Gobi they travel back to the face of the Narabanchi Hutuktu
+as, with quiet voice and a slender hand pointing to the horizon, he
+opened to me the doors of his innermost thoughts:
+
+"Near Karakorum and on the shores of Ubsa Nor I see the huge,
+multi-colored camps, the herds of horses and cattle and the blue
+yurtas of the leaders.  Above them I see the old banners of Jenghiz
+Khan, of the Kings of Tibet, Siam, Afghanistan and of Indian
+Princes; the sacred signs of all the Lamaite Pontiffs; the coats of
+arms of the Khans of the Olets; and the simple signs of the north
+Mongolian tribes.  I do not hear the noise of the animated crowd.
+The singers do not sing the mournful songs of mountain, plain and
+desert.  The young riders are not delighting themselves with the
+races on their fleet steeds. . . .  There are innumerable crowds of
+old men, women and children and beyond in the north and west, as
+far as the eye can reach, the sky is red as a flame, there is the
+roar and crackling of fire and the ferocious sound of battle.  Who
+is leading these warriors who there beneath the reddened sky are
+shedding their own and others' blood?  Who is leading these crowds
+of unarmed old men and women?  I see severe order, deep religious
+understanding of purposes, patience and tenacity . . . a new great
+migration of peoples, the last march of the Mongols. . . ."
+
+Karma may have opened a new page of history!
+
+And what if the King of the World be with them?
+
+But this greatest Mystery of Mysteries keeps its own deep silence.
+
+
+GLOSSARY
+
+
+Agronome.--Russian for trained agriculturalist.
+
+Amour sayn.--Good-bye.
+
+Ataman.--Headman or chief of the Cossacks.
+
+Bandi.--Pupil or student of theological school in the Buddhist
+faith.
+
+Buriat.--The most civilized Mongol tribe, living in the valley of
+the Selenga in Transbaikalia.
+
+Chahars.--A warlike Mongolian tribe living along the Great Wall of
+China in Inner Mongolia.
+
+Chaidje.--A high Lamaite priest, but not an incarnate god.
+
+Cheka.--The Bolshevik Counter-Revolutionary Committee, the most
+relentless establishment of the Bolsheviki, organized for the
+persecution of the enemies of the Communistic government in Russia.
+
+Chiang Chun.--Chinese for "General"--Chief of all Chinese troops in
+Mongolia.
+
+Dalai Lama.--The first and highest Pontiff of the Lamaite or
+"Yellow Faith," living at Lhasa in Tibet.
+
+Djungar.--A West Mongolian tribe.
+
+Dugun.--Chinese commercial and military post.
+
+Dzuk.--Lie down!
+
+Fang-tzu.--Chinese for "house."
+
+Fatil.--A very rare and precious root much prized in Chinese and
+Tibetan medicines.
+
+Felcher.--Assistant of a doctor (surgeon).
+
+Gelong.--Lamaite priest having the right to offer sacrifices to
+God.
+
+Getul.--The third rank in the Lamaite monks.
+
+Goro.--The high priest of the King of the World.
+
+Hatyk.--An oblong piece of blue (or yellow) silk cloth, presented
+to honored guests, chiefs, Lamas and gods.  Also a kind of coin,
+worth from 25 to 50 cents.
+
+Hong.--A Chinese mercantile establishment.
+
+Hun.--The lowest rank of princes.
+
+Hunghutze.--Chinese brigand.
+
+Hushun.--A fenced enclosure, containing the houses, paddocks,
+stores, stables, etc., of Russian Cossacks in Mongolia.
+
+Hutuktu.--The highest rank of Lamaite monks; the form of any
+incarnated god; holy.
+
+Imouran.--A small rodent like a gopher.
+
+Izubr.--The American elk.
+
+Kabarga.--The musk antelope.
+
+Kalmuck.--A Mongolian tribe, which migrated from Mongolia under
+Jenghiz Khan (where they were known as the Olets or Eleuths), and
+now live in the Urals and on the shores of the Volga in Russia.
+
+Kanpo.--The abbot of a Lamaite monastery, a monk; also the first
+rank of "white" clergy (not monks).
+
+Kanpo-Gelong.--The highest rank of Gelongs (q.v.); an honorary
+title.
+
+Karma.--The Buddhist materialization of the idea of Fate, a
+parallel with the Greek and Roman Nemesis (Justice).
+
+Khan.--A king.
+
+Khayrus.--A kind of trout.
+
+Khirghiz.--The great Mongol nation living between the river Irtish
+in western Siberia, Lake Balhash and the Volga in Russia.
+
+Kuropatka.--A partridge.
+
+Lama.--The common name for a Lamaite priest.
+
+Lan.--A weight of silver or gold equivalent to about one-eleventh
+of a Russian pound, or 9/110ths of a pound avoirdupois.
+
+Lanhon.--A round bottle of clay.
+
+Maramba.--A doctor of theology.
+
+Merin.--The civil chief of police in every district of the Soyot
+country in Urianhai.
+
+"Om! Mani padme Hung!".--"Om" has two meanings.  It is the name of
+the first Goro and also means:  "Hail!"  In this connection:
+"Hail!  Great Lama in the Lotus Flower!"
+
+Mende.--Soyot greeting--"Good Day."
+
+Nagan-hushun.--A Chinese vegetable garden or enclosure in Mongolia.
+
+Naida.--A form of fire used by Siberian woodsmen.
+
+Noyon.--A Prince or Khan.  In polite address:  "Chief,"
+"Excellency."
+
+Obo.--The sacred and propitiatory signs in all the dangerous places
+in Urianhai and Mongolia.
+
+Olets.--Vid:  Kalmuck.
+
+Om.--The name of the first Goro (q.v.) and also of the mysterious,
+magic science of the Subterranean State.  It means, also:  "Hail!"
+
+Orochons.--A Mongolian tribe, living near the shores of the Amur
+River in Siberia.
+
+Oulatchen.--The guard for the post horses; official guide.
+
+Ourton.--A post station, where the travelers change horses and
+oulatchens.
+
+Pandita.--The high rank of Buddhist monks.
+
+Panti.--Deer horns in the velvet, highly prized as a Tibetan and
+Chinese medicine.
+
+Pogrom.--A wholesale slaughter of unarmed people; a massacre.
+
+Paspa.--The founder of the Yellow Sect, predominating now in the
+Lamaite faith.
+
+Sait.--A Mongolian governor.
+
+Salga.--A sand partridge.
+
+Sayn.--"Good day!"  "Good morning!"  "Good evening!"  All right;
+good.
+
+Taiga.--A Siberian word for forest.
+
+Taimen.--A species of big trout, reaching 120 pounds.
+
+Ta Lama.--Literally:  "the great priest," but it means now "a
+doctor of medicine."
+
+Tashur.--A strong bamboo stick.
+
+Turpan.--The red wild goose or Lama-goose.
+
+Tzagan.--White.
+
+Tzara.--A document, giving the right to receive horses and
+oulatchens at the post stations.
+
+Tsirik.--Mongolian soldiers mobilized by levy.
+
+Tzuren.--A doctor-poisoner.
+
+Ulan.--Red.
+
+Urga.--The name of the capital of Mongolia; (2) a kind of Mongolian
+lasso.
+
+Vatannen.--The language of the Subterranean State of the King of
+the World.
+
+Wapiti.--The American elk.
+
+Yurta.--The common Mongolian tent or house, made of felt.
+
+Zahachine.--A West Mongolian wandering tribe.
+
+Zaberega.--The ice-mountains formed along the shores of a river in
+spring.
+
+Zikkurat.--A high tower of Babylonish style.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg Etext Beasts, Men and Gods, by F. Ossendowski
+
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