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eded 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 allow me to interfere in his affairs and would shoot every man who dared to run counter to his orders。 He pounded on the low table with his fist and then rose up and drew his revolver。 But I was much traveled among the nomads and had studied them thoroughly Princes； Lamas； shepherds and brigands。 I grasped my whip and； striking it on the table with all my strength； I said to the interpreter：
〃Tell him that he has the honor to speak with neither Mongol nor Russian but with a foreigner； a citizen of a great and free state。 Tell him he must first learn to be a man and then he can visit me and we can talk together。〃
I turned and went out。 Ten minutes later Hun Boldon entered my yurta and offered his apologies。 I persuaded him to parley with Chultun Beyli and not to offend the free Mongol people with his activities。 That very night all was arranged。 Hun Boldon dismissed his Mongols and left for Kobdo； while Domojiroff with his band started for Jassaktu Khan to arrange for the mobilization of the Mongols there。 With the consent of Chultun Beyli he wrote to Wang Tsao…tsun a demand to disarm his guard； as all of the Chinese troops in Urga had been so treated； but this letter arrived after Wang had bought camels to replace the stolen horses and was on his way to the border。 Later Lt。…Colonel Michailoff sent a detachment of fifty men under the command of Lieutenant Strigine to overhaul Wang and receive their arms。
CHAPTER XXVII
MYSTERY IN A SMALL TEMPLE
Prince Chultun Beyli and I were ready to leave the Narabanchi Kure。 While the Hutuktu was holding service for the Sait in the Temple of Blessing； I wandered around through the narrow alleyways between the walls of the houses of the various grades of Lama Gelongs； Getuls； Chaidje and Rabdjampa； of schools where the learned doctors of theology or Maramba taught together with the doctors of medicine or Ta Lama； of the residences for students called Bandi； of stores； archives and libraries。 When I returned to the yurta of the Hutuktu； he was inside。 He presented me with a large hatyk and proposed a walk around the monastery。 His face wore a preoccupied expression from which I gathered that he had something he wished to discuss with me。 As we went out of the yurta； the liberated President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and a Russian officer joined us。 The Hutuktu led us to a small building just back of a bright yellow stone wall。
〃In that building once stopped the Dalai Lama and Bogdo Khan and we always paint the buildings yellow where these holy persons have lived。 Enter！〃
The interior of the building was arranged with splendor。 On the ground floor was the dining…room； furnished with richly carved； heavy blackwood Chinese tables and cabinets filled with porcelains and bronze。 Above were two rooms； the first a bed…room hung with heavy yellow silk curtains； a large Chinese lantern richly set with colored stones hung by a thin bronze chain from the carved wooden ceiling beam。 Here stood a large square bed covered with silken pillows； mattresses and blankets。 The frame work of the bed was also of the Chinese blackwood and carried； especially on the posts that held the roof…like canopy； finely executed carvings with the chief motive the conventional dragon devouring the sun。 By the side stood a chest of drawers completely covered with carvings setting forth religious pictures。 Four comfortable easy chairs completed the furniture； save for the low oriental throne which stood on a dais at the end of the room。
〃Do you see this throne？〃 said the Hutuktu to me。 〃One night in winter several horsemen rode into the monastery and demanded that all the Gelongs and Getuls with the Hutuktu and Kanpo at their head should congregate in this room。 Then one of the strangers mounted the throne； where he took off his bashlyk or cap…like head covering。 All of the Lamas fell to their knees as they recognized the man who had been long ago described in the sacred bulls of Dalai Lama； Tashi Lama and Bogdo Khan。 He was the man to whom the whole world belongs and who has penetrated into all the mysteries of Nature。 He pronounced a short Tibetan prayer； blessed all his hearers and afterwards made predictions for the coming half century。 This was thirty years ago and in the interim all his prophecies are being fulfilled。 During his prayers before that small shrine in the next room this door opened of its own accord； the candles and lights before the altar lighted themselves and the sacred braziers without coals gave forth great streams of incense that filled the room。 And then； without warning； the King of the World and his companions disappeared from among us。 Behind him remained no trace save the folds in the silken throne coverings which smoothed themselves out and left the throne as though no one had sat upon it。〃
The Hutuktu entered the shrine； kneeled down； covering his eyes with his hands； and began to pray。 I looked at the calm； indifferent face of the golden Buddha； over which the flickering lamps threw changing shadows； and then turned my eyes to the side of the throne。 It was wonderful and difficult to believe but I really saw there the strong； muscular figure of a man with a swarthy face of stern and fixed expression about the mouth and jaws； thrown into high relief by the brightness of the eyes。 Through his transparent body draped in white raiment I saw the Tibetan inscriptions on the back of the throne。 I closed my eyes and opened them again。 No one was there but the silk throne covering seemed to be moving。
〃Nervousness；〃 I thought。 〃Abnormal and over…emphasized impressionability growing out of the unusual surroundings and strains。〃
The Hutuktu turned to me and said： 〃Give me your hatyk。 I have the feeling that you are troubled about those whom you love； and I want to pray for them。 And you must pray also； importune God and direct the sight of your soul to the King of the World who was here and sanctified this place。〃
The Hutuktu placed the hatyk on the shoulder of the Buddha and； prostrating himself on the carpet before the altar； whispered the words of prayer。 Then he raised his head and beckoned me to him with a slight movement of his hand。
〃Look at the dark space behind the statue of Buddha and he will show your beloved to you。〃
Readily obeying his deep…voiced command； I began to look into the dark niche behind the figure of the Buddha。 Soon out of the darkness began to appear streams of smoke or transparent threads。 They floated in the air； becoming more and more dense and increasing in number； until gradually they formed the bodies of several persons and the outlines of various objects。 I saw a room that was strange to me with my family there； surrounded by some whom I knew and others whom I did not。 I recognized even the dress my wife wore。 Every line of her dear face was clearly visible。 Gradually the vision became too dark； dissipated itself into the streams of smoke and transparent threads and disappeared。 Behind the golden Buddha was nothing but the darkness。 The Hutuktu arose； took my hatyk from the shoulder of the Buddha and handed it to me with these words：
〃Fortune is always with you and with your family。 God's goodness will not forsake you。〃
We left the building of this unknown King of the World； where he had prayed for all mankind and had predicted the fate of peoples and states。 I was greatly astonished to find that my companions had also seen my vision and to hear them describe to me in minute detail the appearance and the clothes of the persons whom I had seen in the dark niche behind the head of Buddha。*
* In order that I might have the evidence of others on this extraordinarily impressive vision； I asked them to make protocols or affidavits concerning what they saw。 This they did and I now have these statements in my possession。
The Mongol officer also told me that Chultun Beyli had the day before asked the Hutuktu to reveal to him his fate in this important juncture of his life and in this crisis of his country but the Hutuktu only waved his hand in an expression of fear and refused。