beasts, men and gods-第29章

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　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　arrivedBaron　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　groundan　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