beasts, men and gods-第23章
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t 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 outercoatit 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
