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led that Noyon （Prince） of Todji had ordered them to drive the herds along the Buret Hei into Mongolia； apprehending the pillaging of the Red Partisans。 They proceeded but were informed by some Soyot hunters that this part of the Tannu Ola was occupied by the Partisans from the village of Vladimirovka。 Consequently they were forced to return。 We inquired from them the whereabouts of these outposts and how many Partisans were holding the mountain pass over into Mongolia。 We sent out the Tartar and the Kalmuck for a reconnaissance while all of us prepared for the further advance by wrapping the feet of our horses in our shirts and by muzzling their noses with straps and bits of rope so that they could not neigh。 It was dark when our investigators returned and reported to us that about thirty Partisans had a camp some ten kilometers from us； occupying the yurtas of the Soyots。 At the pass were two outposts； one of two soldiers and the other of three。 From the outposts to the camp was a little over a mile。 Our trail lay between the two outposts。 From the top of the mountain one could plainly see the two posts and could shoot them all。 When we had come near to the top of this mountain； I left our party and； taking with me my friend； the Tartar； the Kalmuck and two of the young officers； advanced。 From the mountain I saw about five hundred yards ahead two fires。 At each of the fires sat a soldier with his rifle and the others slept。 I did not want to fight with the Partisans but we had to do away with these outposts and that without firing or we never should get through the pass。 I did not believe the Partisans could afterwards track us because the whole trail was thickly marked with the spoors of horses and cattle。
〃I shall take for my share these two；〃 whispered my friend； pointing to the left outpost。
The rest of us were to take care of the second post。 I crept along through the bushes behind my friend in order to help him in case of need； but I am bound to admit that I was not at all worried about him。 He was about seven feet tall and so strong that； when a horse used to refuse sometimes to take the bit； he would wrap his arm around its neck； kick its forefeet out from under it and throw it so that he could easily bridle it on the ground。 When only a hundred paces remained； I stood behind the bushes and watched。 I could see very distinctly the fire and the dozing sentinel。 He sat with his rifle on his knees。 His companion； asleep beside him； did not move。 Their white felt boots were plainly visible to me。 For a long time I did not remark my friend。 At the fire all was quiet。 Suddenly from the other outpost floated over a few dim shouts and all was still。 Our sentinel slowly raised his head。 But just at this moment the huge body of my friend rose up and blanketed the fire from me and in a twinkling the feet of the sentinel flashed through the air； as my companion had seized him by the throat and swung him clear into the bushes； where both figures disappeared。 In a second he re…appeared； flourished the rifle of the Partisan over his head and I heard the dull blow which was followed by an absolute calm。 He came back toward me and； confusedly smiling； said：
〃It is done。 God and the Devil！ When I was a boy； my mother wanted to make a priest out of me。 When I grew up； I became a trained agronome in order 。 。 。 to strangle the people and smash their skulls。 Revolution is a very stupid thing！〃
And with anger and disgust he spit and began to smoke his pipe。
At the other outpost also all was finished。 During this night we reached the top of the Tannu Ola and descended again into a valley covered with dense bushes and twined with a whole network of small rivers and streams。 It was the headwaters of the Buret Hei。 About one o'clock we stopped and began to feed our horses； as the grass just there was very good。 Here we thought ourselves in safety。 We saw many calming indications。 On the mountains were seen the grazing herds of reindeers and yaks and approaching Soyots confirmed our supposition。 Here behind the Tannu Ola the Soyots had not seen the Red soldiers。 We presented to these Soyots a brick of tea and saw them depart happy and sure that we were 〃Tzagan；〃 a 〃good people。〃
While our horses rested and grazed on the well…preserved grass； we sat by the fire and deliberated upon our further progress。 There developed a sharp controversy between two sections of our company； one led by a Colonel who with four officers were so impressed by the absence of Reds south of the Tannu Ola that they determined to work westward to Kobdo and then on to the camp on the Emil River where the Chinese authorities had interned six thousand of the forces of General Bakitch； which had come over into Mongolian territory。 My friend and I with sixteen of the officers chose to carry through our old plan to strike for the shores of Lake Kosogol and thence out to the Far East。 As neither side could persuade the other to abandon its ideas； our company was divided and the next day at noon we took leave of one another。 It turned out that our own wing of eighteen had many fights and difficulties on the way； which cost us the lives of six of our comrades； but that the remainder of us came through to the goal of our journey so closely knit by the ties of devotion which fighting and struggling for our very lives entailed that we have ever preserved for one another the warmest feelings of friendship。 The other group under Colonel Jukoff perished。 He met a big detachment of Red cavalry and was defeated by them in two fights。 Only two officers escaped。 They related to me this sad news and the details of the fights when we met four months later in Urga。
Our band of eighteen riders with five packhorses moved up the valley of the Buret Hei。 We floundered in the swamps； passed innumerable miry streams； were frozen by the cold winds and were soaked through by the snow and sleet； but we persisted indefatigably toward the south end of Kosogol。 As a guide our Tartar led us confidently over these trails well marked by the feet of many cattle being run out of Urianhai to Mongolia。
CHAPTER XII
IN THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL PEACE
The inhabitants of Urianhai； the Soyots； are proud of being the genuine Buddhists and of retaining the pure doctrine of holy Rama and the deep wisdom of Sakkia…Mouni。 They are the eternal enemies of war and of the shedding of blood。 Away back in the thirteenth century they preferred to move out from their native land and take refuge in the north rather than fight or become a part of the empire of the bloody conqueror Jenghiz Khan； who wanted to add to his forces these wonderful horsemen and skilled archers。 Three times in their history they have thus trekked northward to avoid struggle and now no one can say that on the hands of the Soyots there has ever been seen human blood。 With their love of peace they struggled against the evils of war。 Even the severe Chinese administrators could not apply here in this country of peace the full measure of their implacable laws。 In the same manner the Soyots conducted themselves when the Russian people； mad with blood and crime； brought this infection into their land。 They avoided persistently meetings and encounters with the Red troops and Partisans； trekking off with their families and cattle southward into the distant principalities of Kemchik and Soldjak。 The eastern branch of this stream of emigration passed through the valley of the Buret Hei； where we constantly outstrode groups of them with their cattle and herds。
We traveled quickly along the winding trail of the Buret Hei and in two days began to make the elevations of the mountain pass between the valleys of the Buret Hei and Kharga。 The trail was not only very steep but was also littered with fallen larch trees and frequently intercepted； incredible as it may seem； with swampy places where the horses mired badly。 Then again we picked our dangerous road over cobbles and small stones that rolled away under our horses' feet and bumped off over the precipice nearby。 Our horses fatigued easily in passing this moraine that had been strewn by ancient glaciers along the mountain sides。 Sometimes the trail led right along the edge of the precipices where the horses started great slides of stones and sand。 I remember one whole mountain covered with these moving sands。 We had to leave our saddles and； taking the bridles in our hands； to trot for a mile or more over these sliding beds； sometimes sinking in up to our knees and going down the mountain side with them toward the precipices below。 One imprudent move at times would have sent us over the brink。 This destiny met one of our horses。 Belly down in the moving trap； he could not work free to change his direction and so slipped on down with a mass of it until he rolled over the precipice and was lost to us forever。 We heard only the crackling of breaking trees along his road to death。 Then with great difficulty we worked down to salvage the saddle and bags。 Further along we had to abandon one of our pack horses which had come all the way from the northern border of Urianhai with us。 We first unburdened it but this did not help； no more