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He shut his eyes； smoking as he spoke； and tumbling out his sentences without finishing them as though some one would prevent him from phrasing them。
〃The family of Ungern von Sternberg is an old family； a mixture of Germans with HungariansHuns from the time of Attila。 My warlike ancestors took part in all the European struggles。 They participated in the Crusades and one Ungern was killed under the walls of Jerusalem； fighting under Richard Coeur de Lion。 Even the tragic Crusade of the Children was marked by the death of Ralph Ungern； eleven years old。 When the boldest warriors of the country were despatched to the eastern border of the German Empire against the Slavs in the twelfth century； my ancestor Arthur was among them； Baron Halsa Ungern Sternberg。 Here these border knights formed the order of Monk Knights or Teutons； which with fire and sword spread Christianity among the pagan Lithuanians； Esthonians； Latvians and Slavs。 Since then the Teuton Order of Knights has always had among its members representatives of our family。 When the Teuton Order perished in the Grunwald under the swords of the Polish and Lithuanian troops； two Barons Ungern von Sternberg were killed there。 Our family was warlike and given to mysticism and asceticism。
〃During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries several Barons von Ungern had their castles in the lands of Latvia and Esthonia。 Many legends and tales lived after them。 Heinrich Ungern von Sternberg； called 'Ax；' was a wandering knight。 The tournaments of France； England； Spain and Italy knew his name and lance； which filled the hearts of his opponents with fear。 He fell at Cadiz 'neath the sword of a knight who cleft both his helmet and his skull。 Baron Ralph Ungern was a brigand knight between Riga and Reval。 Baron Peter Ungern had his castle on the island of Dago in the Baltic Sea； where as a privateer he ruled the merchantmen of his day。
〃In the beginning of the eighteenth century there was also a well… known Baron Wilhelm Ungern； who was referred to as the 'brother of Satan' because he was an alchemist。 My grandfather was a privateer in the Indian Ocean； taking his tribute from the English traders whose warships could not catch him for several years。 At last he was captured and handed to the Russian Consul； who transported him to Russia where he was sentenced to deportation to the Transbaikal。 I am also a naval officer but the Russo…Japanese War forced me to leave my regular profession to join and fight with the Zabaikal Cossacks。 I have spent all my life in war or in the study and learning of Buddhism。 My grandfather brought Buddhism to us from India and my father and I accepted and professed it。 In Transbaikalia I tried to form the order of Military Buddhists for an uncompromising fight against the depravity of revolution。〃
He fell into silence and began drinking cup after cup of tea as strong and black as coffee。
〃Depravity of revolution！ 。 。 。 Has anyone ever thought of it besides the French philosopher； Bergson； and the most learned Tashi Lama in Tibet？〃
The grandson of the privateer； quoting scientific theories； works； the names of scientists and writers； the Holy Bible and Buddhist books； mixing together French； German； Russian and English； continued：
〃In the Buddhistic and ancient Christian books we read stern predictions about the time when the war between the good and evil spirits must begin。 Then there must come the unknown 'Curse' which will conquer the world； blot out culture； kill morality and destroy all the people。 Its weapon is revolution。 During every revolution the previously experienced intellect…creator will be replaced by the new rough force of the destroyer。 He will place and hold in the first rank the lower instincts and desires。 Man will be farther removed from the divine and the spiritual。 The Great War proved that humanity must progress upward toward higher ideals； but then appeared that Curse which was seen and felt by Christ； the Apostle John； Buddha； the first Christian martyrs； Dante； Leonardo da Vinci； Goethe and Dostoyevsky。 It appeared； turned back the wheel of progress and blocked our road to the Divinity。 Revolution is an infectious disease and Europe making the treaty with Moscow deceived itself and the other parts of the world。 The Great Spirit put at the threshold of our lives Karma； who knows neither anger nor pardon。 He will reckon the account； whose total will be famine； destruction； the death of culture； of glory； of honor and of spirit； the death of states and the death of peoples。 I see already this horror； this dark； mad destruction of humanity。〃
The door of the yurta suddenly swung open and an adjutant snapped into a position of attention and salute。
〃Why do you enter a room by force？〃 the General exclaimed in anger。
〃Your Excellency； our outpost on the border has caught a Bolshevik reconnaissance party and brought them here。〃
The Baron arose。 His eyes sparkled and his face contracted with spasms。
〃Bring them in front of my yurta！〃 he ordered。
All was forgottenthe inspired speech； the penetrating voiceall were sunk in the austere order of the severe commander。 The Baron put on his cap； caught up the bamboo tashur which he always carried with him and rushed from the yurta。 I followed him out。 There in front of the yurta stood six Red soldiers surrounded by the Cossacks。
The Baron stopped and glared sharply at them for several minutes。 In his face one could see the strong play of his thoughts。 Afterwards he turned away from them； sat down on the doorstep of the Chinese house and for a long time was buried in thought。 Then he rose； walked over to them and； with an evident show of decisiveness in his movements； touched all the prisoners on the shoulder with his tashur and said： 〃You to the left and you to the right！〃 as he divided the squad into two sections； four on the right and two on the left。
〃Search those two！ They must be commissars！〃 commanded the Baron and； turning to the other four； asked： 〃Are you peasants mobilized by the Bolsheviki？〃
〃Just so； Your Excellency！〃 cried the frightened soldiers。
〃Go to the Commandant and tell him that I have ordered you to be enlisted in my troops！〃
On the two to the left they found passports of Commissars of the Communist Political Department。 The General knitted his brows and slowly pronounced the following：
〃Beat them to death with sticks！〃
He turned and entered the yurta。 After this our conversation did not flow readily and so I left the Baron to himself。
After dinner in the Russian firm where I was staying some of Ungern's officers came in。 We were chatting animatedly when suddenly we heard the horn of an automobile； which instantly threw the officers into silence。
〃The General is passing somewhere near；〃 one of them remarked in a strangely altered voice。
Our interrupted conversation was soon resumed but not for long。 The clerk of the firm came running into the room and exclaimed： 〃The Baron！〃
He entered the door but stopped on the threshold。 The lamps had not yet been lighted and it was getting dark inside； but the Baron instantly recognized us all； approached and kissed the hand of the hostess； greeted everyone very cordially and； accepting the cup of tea offered him； drew up to the table to drink。 Soon he spoke：
〃I want to steal your guest；〃 he said to the hostess and then； turning to me； asked： 〃Do you want to go for a motor ride？ I shall show you the city and the environs。〃
Donning my coat； I followed my established custom and slipped my revolver into it； at which the Baron laughed。
〃Leave that trash behind！ Here you are in safety。 Besides you must remember the prediction of Narabanchi Hutuktu that Fortune will ever be with you。〃
〃All right；〃 I answered； also with a laugh。 〃I remember very well this prediction。 Only I do not know what the Hutuktu thinks 'Fortune' means for me。 Maybe it is death like the rest after my hard； long trip； and I must confess that I prefer to travel farther and am not ready to die。〃
We went out to the gate where the big Fiat stood with its intruding great lights。 The chauffeur officer sat at the wheel like a statue and remained at salute all the time we were entering and seating ourselves。
〃To the wireless station！〃 commanded the Baron。
We veritably leapt forward。 The city swarmed； as earlier； with the Oriental throng； but its appearance now was even more strange and miraculous。 In among the noisy crowd Mongol； Buriat and Tibetan riders threaded swiftly； caravans of camels solemnly raised their heads as we passed； the wooden wheels of the Mongol carts screamed in pain； and all was illumined by splendid great arc lights from the electric station which Baron Ungern had ordered erected immediately after the capture of Urga； together with a telephone system and wireless station。 He also ordered his men to clean and disinfect the city which had probably not felt the broom since the days of Jenghiz Khan。 He arranged an auto…bus traffic between different parts of the city； built bridges over the Tola and Orkhon； published a newspaper； arranged a veterinary laboratory and hospitals； re…opened the schools； protected commerce； mercilessl