was vexed beyond words when it appeared that the Mongols had
made a mess of it and pushed the herd out to the side before having
completed their circle. But happily I was mistaken. Behind a rock right
ahead of the herd a Mongol sprang up and waved his hands. Only the big
leader was not frightened and kept right on past the unarmed Mongol
while all the rest of the herd swung suddenly round and rushed right
down upon me. I opened fire and dropped two of them. The Hutuktu also
brought down one as well as a musk antelope that came unexpectedly from
behind a rock hard by. The largest pair of horns weighed about thirty
pounds, but they were from a young sheep.

The day following our return to Zain Shabi, as I was feeling quite
recovered, I decided to go on to Van Kure. At my leave-taking from
the Hutuktu I received a large hatyk from him together with warmest
expressions of thanks for the present I had given him on the first day
of our acquaintance.

"It is a fine medicine!" he exclaimed. "After our trip I felt quite
exhausted but I took your medicine and am now quite rejuvenated. Many,
many thanks!"

The poor chap had swallowed my osmiridium. To be sure it could not
harm him; but to have helped him was wonderful. Perhaps doctors in the
Occident may wish to try this new, harmless and very cheap remedy--only
eight pounds of it in the whole world--and I merely ask that they leave
me the patent rights for it for Mongolia, Barga, Sinkiang, Koko Nor and
all the other lands of Central Asia.

An old Russian colonist went as guide for me. They gave me a big but
light and comfortable cart hitched and drawn in a marvelous way. A
straight pole four metres long was fastened athwart the front of the
shafts. On either side two riders took this pole across their saddle
pommels and galloped away with me across the plains. Behind us galloped
four other riders with four extra horses.

CHAPTER XXX

ARRESTED!

About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of
riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later
on the shore of a deep, swampy stream. The group consisted of Mongols,
Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles. At the head of the
column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black
felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and,
in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: "Who are you, where are you
from and where are you going?"

I gave al