beasts, men and gods-第15章

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nd　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：

〃SaynGood　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！〃

〃Ab