beasts, men and gods-第43节

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o；　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　Urgaa　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。

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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　marc