beasts, men and gods-第18章

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mel　proceed　as　we　had　been　traveling　and　the　other　three　of　us　spread　out　like　a　fan　headed　toward　the　herd　on　the　right　of　our　true　course。　　The　herd　stopped　and　looked　about　puzzled；　for　their　etiquette　required　that　they　should　cross　the　path　of　all　four　of　these　riders　at　once。　　Confusion　began。　　They　counted　about　three　thousand　heads。　　All　this　army　began　to　run　from　one　side　to　another　but　without　forming　any　distinct　groups。　　Whole　squadrons　of　them　ran　before　us　and　then；　noticing　another　rider；　came　coursing　back　and　made　anew　the　same　manoeuvre。　　One　group　of　about　fifty　head　rushed　in　two　rows　toward　my　point。　　When　they　were　about　a　hundred　and　fifty　paces　away　I　shouted　and　fired。　　They　stopped　at　once　and　began　to　whirl　round　in　one　spot；　running　into　one　another　and　even　jumping　over　one　another。　　Their　panic　cost　them　dear；　for　I　had　time　to　shoot　four　times　to　bring　down　two　beautiful　heads。　　My　friend　was　even　more　fortunate　than　I；　for　he　shot　only　once　into　the　herd　as　it　rushed　past　him　in　parallel　lines　and　dropped　two　with　the　same　bullet。

Meanwhile　the　argali　had　gone　farther　up　the　mountainside　and　taken　stand　there　in　a　row　like　so　many　soldiers；　turning　to　gaze　at　us。　Even　at　this　distance　I　could　clearly　distinguish　their　muscular　bodies　with　their　majestic　heads　and　stalwart　horns。　　Picking　up　our　prey；　we　overtook　the　Mongol　who　had　gone　on　ahead　and　continued　our　way。　　In　many　places　we　came　across　the　carcasses　of　sheep　with　necks　torn　and　the　flesh　of　the　sides　eaten　off。

〃It　is　the　work　of　wolves；〃　said　the　Mongol。　　〃They　are　always　hereabout　in　large　numbers。〃

We　came　across　several　more　herds　of　antelope；　which　ran　along　quietly　enough　until　they　had　made　a　comfortable　distance　ahead　of　us　and　then　with　tremendous　leaps　and　bounds　crossed　our　bows　like　the　proverbial　chicken　on　the　road。　　Then；　after　a　couple　of　hundred　paces　at　this　speed；　they　stopped　and　began　to　graze　quite　calmly。　　Once　I　turned　my　camel　back　and　the　whole　herd　immediately　took　up　the　challenge　again；　coursed　along　parallel　with　me　until　they　had　made　sufficient　distance　for　their　ideas　of　safety　and　then　once　more　rushed　across　the　road　ahead　of　me　as　though　it　were　paved　with　red　hot　stones；　only　to　assume　their　previous　calmness　and　graze　back　on　the　same　side　of　the　trail　from　which　our　column　had　first　started　them。　　On　another　occasion　I　did　this　three　times　with　a　particular　herd　and　laughed　long　and　heartily　at　their　stupid　customs。

We　passed　a　very　unpleasant　night　in　this　valley。　　We　stopped　on　the　shore　of　the　frozen　stream　in　a　spot　where　we　found　shelter　from　the　wind　under　the　lee　of　a　high　shore。　　In　our　stove　we　did　have　a　fire　and　in　our　kettle　boiling　water。　　Also　our　tent　was　warm　and　cozy。　　We　were　quietly　resting　with　pleasant　thoughts　of　supper　to　soothe　us；　when　suddenly　a　howling　and　laughter　as　though　from　some　inferno　burst　upon　us　from　just　outside　the　tent；　while　from　the　other　side　of　the　valley　came　the　long　and　doleful　howls　in　answer。

〃Wolves；〃　calmly　explained　the　Mongol；　who　took　my　revolver　and　went　out　of　the　tent。　　He　did　not　return　for　some　time　but　at　last　we　heard　a　shot　and　shortly　after　he　entered。

〃I　scared　them　a　little；〃　said　he。　　〃They　had　congregated　on　the　shore　of　the　Adair　around　the　body　of　a　camel。〃

〃And　they　have　not　touched　our　camels？〃　we　asked。

〃We　shall　make　a　bonfire　behind　our　tent；　then　they　will　not　bother　us。〃

After　our　supper　we　turned　in　but　I　lay　awake　for　a　long　time　listening　to　the　crackle　of　the　wood　in　the　fire；　the　deep　sighing　breaths　of　the　camels　and　the　distant　howling　of　the　packs　of　wolves；　but　finally；　even　with　all　these　noises；　fell　asleep。　　How　long　I　had　been　asleep　I　did　not　know　when　suddenly　I　was　awakened　by　a　strong　blow　in　the　side。　　I　was　lying　at　the　very　edge　of　the　tent　and　someone　from　outside　had；　without　the　least　ceremony；　pushed　strongly　against　me。　　I　thought　it　was　one　of　the　camels　chewing　the　felt　of　the　tent。　　I　took　my　Mauser　and　struck　the　wall。　　A　sharp　scream　was　followed　by　the　sound　of　quick　running　over　the　pebbles。　　In　the　morning　we　discovered　the　tracks　of　wolves　approaching　our　tent　from　the　side　opposite　to　the　fire　and　followed　them　to　where　they　had　begun　to　dig　under　the　tent　wall；　but　evidently　one　of　the　would…be　robbers　was　forced　to　retreat　with　a　bruise　on　his　head　from　the　handle　of　the　Mauser。

Wolves　and　eagles　are　the　servants　of　Jagasstai；　the　Mongol　very　seriously　instructed　us。　　However；　this　does　not　prevent　the　Mongols　from　hunting　them。　　Once　in　the　camp　of　Prince　Baysei　I　witnessed　such　a　hunt。　　The　Mongol　horsemen　on　the　best　of　his　steeds　overtook　the　wolves　on　the　open　plain　and　killed　them　with　heavy　bamboo　sticks　or　tashur。　　A　Russian　veterinary　surgeon　taught　the　Mongols　to　poison　wolves　with　strychnine　but　the　Mongols　soon　abandoned　this　method　because　of　its　danger　to　the　dogs；　the　faithful　friends　and　allies　of　the　nomad。　　They　do　not；　however；　touch　the　eagles　and　hawks　but　even　feed　them。　　When　the　Mongols　are　slaughtering　animals　they　often　cast　bits　of　meat　up　into　the　air　for　the　hawks　and　eagles　to　catch　in　flight；　just　as　we　throw　a　bit　of　meat　to　a　dog。　　Eagles　and　hawks　fight　and　drive　away　the　magpies　and　crows；　which　are　very　dangerous　for　cattle　and　horses；　because　they　scratch　and　peck　at　the　smallest　wound　or　abrasion　on　the　backs　of　the　animals　until　they　make　them　into　uncurable　areas　which　they　continue　to　harass。


CHAPTER　XXI

THE　NEST　OF　DEATH


Our　camels　were　trudging　to　a　slow　but　steady　measure　on　toward　the　north。　　We　were　making　twenty…five　to　thirty　miles　a　day　as　we　approached　a　small　monastery　that　lay　to　the　left　of　our　route。　　It　was　in　the　form　of　a　square　of　large　buildings　surrounded　by　a　high　fence　of　thick　poles。　　Each　side　had　an　opening　in　the　middle　leading　to　the　four　entrances　of　the　temple　in　the　center　of　the　square。　　The　temple　was　built　with　the　red　lacquered　columns　and　the　Chinese　style　roofs　and　dominated　the　surrounding　low　dwellings　of　the　Lamas。　　On　the　opposite　side　of　the　road　lay　what　appeared　to　be　a　Chinese　fortress　but　which　was　in　reality　a　trading　compound　or　dugun；　which　the　Chinese　always　build　in　the　form　of　a　fortress　with　double　walls　a　few　feet　apart；　within　which　they　place　their　houses　and　shops　and　usually　have　twenty　or　thirty　traders　fully　armed　for　any　emergency。　　In　case　of　need　these　duguns　can　be　used　as　blockhouses　and　are　capable　of　withstanding　long　sieges。　　Between　the　dugun　and　the　monastery　and　nearer　to　the　road　I　made　out　the　camp　of　some　nomads。　　Their　horses　and　cattle　were　nowhere　to　be　seen。　　Evidently　the　Mongols　had　stopped　here　for　some　time　and　had　left　their　cattle　in　the　mountains。　　Over　several　yurtas　waved　multi…colored　triangular　flags；　a　sign　of　the　presence　of　disease。　　Near　some　yurtas　high　poles　were　stuck　into　the　ground　with　Mongol　caps　at　their　tops；　which　indicated　that　the　host　of　the　yurta　had　died。　　The　packs　of　dogs　wandering　over　the　plain　showed　that　the　dead　bodies　lay　somewhere　near；　either　in　the　ravines　or　along　the　banks　of　the　river。

As　we　approached　the　camp；　we　heard　from　a　distance　the　frantic　beating　of　drums；　the　mournful　sounds　of　the　flute　and　shrill；　mad　shouting。　　Our　Mongol　went　forward　to　investigate　for　us　and　reported　that　several　Mongolian　families　had　come　here　to　the　monastery　to　seek　aid　from　the　Hutuktu　Jahansti　who　was　famed　for　his　miracles　of　healing。　　The　people　were　stricken　with　leprosy　and　black　smallpox　and　had　come　from　long　distances　only　to　find　that　the　Hutuktu　was　not　at　the　monastery　but　had　gone　to　the　Living　Buddha　in　Urga。　　Consequently　they　had　been　forced　to　invite　the　witch　doctors。　　The　people　were　dying　one　after　another。　　Just　the　day　before　they　had　cast　on　the　plain　the　twenty…seventh　man。

Meanwhile；　as　we　talked；　the　witch　doctor　came　out　of　one　of　the　yurtas。　　He　was　an　old　man　with　a　cataract　on　one　eye　and　with　a　face　deeply　scarred　by　smallpox。　　He　was　dressed　in　tatters　with　various　colored　bits　of　cloth　hanging　down　from　his　waist。　　He　carried　a　drum　and　a　flute。　　We　could　see　froth　on　his　blue　lips　and　madness　in　his　eyes。　　Suddenly　he　began　to　whirl　round　and　dance　with　a　thousand　prancings　of　his　long　legs　and　writhings　of　his　arms　and　shoulders；　still　beating　the　drum　and　playing　the　flute　or　crying　and　raging　at　intervals；　ever　accelerating　his　movements　until　at　last　with　pallid　face　and　bloodshot　eyes　he　fell　on　the　snow；　where　he　continued　to　writhe　and　give　out　his　incoherent　cries。　　In　this　manner　the　doctor　treated　his　patients；　frightening　with　his　madness　the　bad　devils　that　carry　disease。　Another　witch　doctor　gave　his　patients　dirty；　muddy　water；　which　I　learned　was　the　water　from　the　bath　of　the　very　person　of　the　Living　Buddha　who　had　washed　in　it　his　〃divine〃　body　born　from　the　sacred　flower　of　the　lotus。

〃Om！　Om！〃　both　witches　continuously　screamed。

While　the　doctors　fought　with　the　devils；　the　ill　people　were　left　to　themselves。　　They　lay　in　high　fever　under　the　heaps　of　sheepskins　and　overcoats；　were　delirious；　raved　and　threw　themselves　about。　　By　the　braziers　squatted　adults　and　children　who　were　still　well；　indifferently　chatting；　drinking　tea　and　smoking。　In　all　the　yurtas　I　saw　the　diseased　and　the　dead　and　such　misery　and　physical　horrors　as　cannot　be　described。

And　I　thought：　　〃Oh；　Great　Jenghiz　Khan！　　Why　did　you　with　your　keen　understanding　of　the　whole　situation　of　Asia　and　Europe；　you　who　devoted　all　your　life　to　the　glory　of　the　name　of　the　Mongols；　why　did　you　not　give　to　your　own　people；　who　preserve　their　old　morality；　honesty　and　peaceful　customs；　the　enlightenment　that　would　have　saved　them　from　such　death？　　Your　bones　in　the　mausoleum　at　Karakorum　being　destroyed　by　the　centuries　that　pass　over　them　must　cry　out　against　the　rapid　disappearance　of　your　formerly　great　people；　who　were　feared　by　half　the　civilized　world！〃

Such　thoughts　filled　my　brain　when　I　saw　this　camp　of　the　dead　tomorrow　and　when　I　heard　the　groans；　shoutings　and　raving　of　dying　men；　women　and　children。　　Somewhere　in　the　distance　the　dogs　were　howling　mournfully；　and　monotonously　the　drum　of　the　tired　witch　rolled。

〃Forward！〃　　I　could　not　witness　longer　this　dark　horror；　which　I　had　no　means　or　force　to　eradicate。　　We　quickly　passed　on　from　the　ominous　place。　　Nor　could　we　shake　the　thought　that　some　horrible　invisible　spirit　was　following　us　from　this　scene　of　terror。　　〃The　devils　of　disease？〃　　〃The　pictures　of　horror　and　misery？〃　　〃The　souls　of　men　who　have　been　sacrificed　on　the　altar　of　darkness　of　Mongolia？〃　　An　inexplicable　fear　penetrated　into　our　consciousness　from　whose　grasp　we　could　not　release　ourselves。　　Only　when　we　had　turned　from　the　road；　passed　over　a　timbered　ridge　into　a　bowl　in　the　mountains　from　which　we　could　see　neither　Jahantsi　Kure；　the　dugun　nor　the　squirming　grave　of　dying　Mongols　could　we　breathe　freely　again。

Presently　we　discovered　a　large　lake。　　It　was　Tisingol。　　Near　the　shore　stood　a　large　Russian　house；　the　telegraph　station　between　Kosogol　and　Uliassutai。


CHAPTER　XXII

AMONG　THE　MURDERERS


As　we　approached　the　telegraph　station；　we　were　met　by　a　blonde　young　man　who　was　in　charge　of　the　office；　Kanine　by　name。　　With　some　litt