beasts, men and gods-第13章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ur　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　KhanKhans　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　th