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and carry them down into their diminutive homes。 The imouran has a truly faithful friend； the yellow lark of the prairie with a brown back and head。 When he sees the imouran running across the plain； he settles on his back； flaps his wings in balance and rides well this swiftly galloping mount； who gaily flourishes his long shaggy tail。 The lark during his ride skilfully and quickly catches the parasites living on the body of his friend； giving evidence of his enjoyment of his work with a short agreeable song。 The Mongols call the imouran 〃the steed of the gay lark。〃 The lark warns the imouran of the approach of eagles and hawks with three sharp whistles the moment he sees the aerial brigand and takes refuge himself behind a stone or in a small ditch。 After this signal no imouran will stick his head out of his hole until the danger is past。 Thus the gay lark and his steed live in kindly neighborliness。
In other parts of Mongolia where there was very rich grass I saw another type of rodent； which I had previously come across in Urianhai。 It is a gigantic black prairie rat with a short tail and lives in colonies of from one to two hundred。 He is interesting and unique as the most skilful farmer among the animals in his preparation of his winter supply of fodder。 During the weeks when the grass is most succulent he actually mows it down with swift jerky swings of his head； cutting about twenty or thirty stalks with his sharp long front teeth。 Then he allows his grass to cure and later puts up his prepared hay in a most scientific manner。 First he makes a mound about a foot high。 Through this he pushes down into the ground four slanting stakes； converging toward the middle of the pile； and binds them close over the surface of the hay with the longest strands of grass； leaving the ends protruding enough for him to add another foot to the height of the pile； when he again binds the surface with more long strandsall this to keep his winter supply of food from blowing away over the prairie。 This stock he 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 l