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fights with the Chinese and received from the Living Buddha the title of Prince of Hun。 Ferocious； absolutely without fear and possessing gigantic strength； Baldon had several times led to the attack his poorly armed Mongols but each time had been forced to retreat after losing many of his men under the machine…gun fire。 Unexpectedly Tushegoun Lama arrived。 He collected all the soldiers and then said to them：
〃You must not fear death and must not retreat。 You are fighting and dying for Mongolia； for which the gods have appointed a great destiny。 See what the fate of Mongolia will be！〃
He made a great sweeping gesture with his hand and all the soldiers saw the country round about set with rich yurtas and pastures covered with great herds of horses and cattle。 On the plains appeared numerous horsemen on richly saddled steeds。 The women were gowned in the finest of silk with massive silver rings in their ears and precious ornaments in their elaborate head dresses。 Chinese merchants led an endless caravan of merchandise up to distinguished looking Mongol Saits； surrounded by the gaily dressed tzirik or soldiers and proudly negotiating with the merchants for their wares。
Shortly the vision disappeared and Tushegoun began to speak。
〃Do not fear death！ It is a release from our labor on earth and the path to the state of constant blessings。 Look to the East！ Do you see your brothers and friends who have fallen in battle？〃
〃We see； we see！〃 the Mongol warriors exclaimed in astonishment； as they all looked upon a great group of dwellings which might have been yurtas or the arches of temples flushed with a warm and kindly light。 Red and yellow silk were interwoven in bright bands that covered the walls and floor； everywhere the gilding on pillars and walls gleamed brightly； on the great red altar burned the thin sacrificial candles in gold candelabra； beside the massive silver vessels filled with milk and nuts； on soft pillows about the floor sat the Mongols who had fallen in the previous attack on Kobdo。 Before them stood low； lacquered tables laden with many dishes of steaming； succulent flesh of the lamb and the kid； with high jugs of wine and tea； with plates of borsuk； a kind of sweet； rich cakes； with aromatic zatouran covered with sheep's fat； with bricks of dried cheese； with dates； raisins and nuts。 These fallen soldiers smoked golden pipes and chatted gaily。
This vision in turn also disappeared and before the gazing Mongols stood only the mysterious Kalmuck with his hand upraised。
〃To battle and return not without victory！ I am with you in the fight。〃
The attack began。 The Mongols fought furiously； perished by the hundreds but not before they had rushed into the heart of Kobdo。 Then was re…enacted the long forgotten picture of Tartar hordes destroying European towns。 Hun Baldon ordered carried over him a triangle of lances with brilliant red streamers； a sign that he gave up the town to the soldiers for three days。 Murder and pillage began。 All the Chinese met their death there。 The town was burned and the walls of the fortress destroyed。 Afterwards Hun Baldon came to Uliassutai and also destroyed the Chinese fortress there。 The ruins of it still stand with the broken embattlements and towers； the useless gates and the remnants of the burned official quarters and soldiers' barracks。
CHAPTER XIX
WILD CHAHARS
After our return to Uliassutai we heard that disquieting news had been received by the Mongol Sait from Muren Kure。 The letter stated that Red Troops were pressing Colonel Kazagrandi very hard in the region of Lake Kosogol。 The Sait feared the advance of the Red troops southward to Uliassutai。 Both the American firms liquidated their affairs and all our friends were prepared for a quick exit； though they hesitated at the thought of leaving the town； as they were afraid of meeting the detachment of Chahars sent from the east。 We decided to await the arrival of this detachment； as their coming could change the whole course of events。 In a few days they came； two hundred warlike Chahar brigands under the command of a former Chinese hunghutze。 He was a tall； skinny man with hands that reached almost to his knees； a face blackened by wind and sun and mutilated with two long scars down over his forehead and cheek； the making of one of which had also closed one of his hawklike eyes； topped off with a shaggy coonskin capsuch was the commander of the detachment of Chahars。 A personage very dark and stern； with whom a night meeting on a lonely street could not be considered a pleasure by any bent of the imagination。
The detachment made camp within the destroyed fortress； near to the single Chinese building that had not been razed and which was now serving as headquarters for the Chinese Commissioner。 On the very day of their arrival the Chahars pillaged a Chinese dugun or trading house not half a mile from the fortress and also offended the wife of the Chinese Commissioner by calling her a 〃traitor。〃 The Chahars； like the Mongols； were quite right in their stand； because the Chinese Commissioner Wang Tsao…tsun had on his arrival in Uliassutai followed the Chinese custom of demanding a Mongolian wife。 The servile new Sait had given orders that a beautiful and suitable Mongolian girl be found for him。 One was so run down and placed in his yamen； together with her big wrestling Mongol brother who was to be a guard for the Commissioner but who developed into the nurse for the little white Pekingese pug which the official presented to his new wife。
Burglaries； squabbles and drunken orgies of the Chahars followed； so that Wang Tsoa…tsun exerted all his efforts to hurry the detachment westward to Kobdo and farther into Urianhai。
One cold morning the inhabitants of Uliassutai rose to witness a very stern picture。 Along the main street of the town the detachment was passing。 They were riding on small； shaggy ponies； three abreast； were dressed in warm blue coats with sheepskin overcoats outside and crowned with the regulation coonskin caps； armed from head to foot。 They rode with wild shouts and cheers； very greedily eyeing the Chinese shops and the houses of the Russian colonists。 At their head rode the one…eyed hunghutze chief with three horsemen behind him in white overcoats； who carried waving banners and blew what may have been meant for music through great conch shells。 One of the Chahars could not resist and so jumped out of his saddle and made for a Chinese shop along the street。 Immediately the anxious cries of the Chinese merchants came from the shop。 The hunghutze swung round； noticed the horse at the door of the shop and realized what was happening。 Immediately he reined his horse and made for the spot。 With his raucous voice he called the Chahar out。 As he came； he struck him full in the face with his whip and with all his strength。 Blood flowed from the slashed cheek。 But the Chahar was in the saddle in a second without a murmur and galloped to his place in the file。 During this exit of the Chahars all the people were hidden in their houses； anxiously peeping through cracks and corners of the windows。 But the Chahars passed peacefully out and onl