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s head and turned him so that he was swimming right downstream。 With difficulty I reined him around toward the shore but felt now that his force was gone。 His head several times disappeared under the swirling surface。 I had no choice。 I slipped from the saddle and； holding this by my left hand； swam with my right beside my mount； encouraging him with my shouts。 For a time he floated with lips apart and his teeth set firm。 In his widely opened eyes was indescribable fear。 As soon as I was out of the saddle； he had at once risen in the water and swam more calmly and rapidly。 At last under the hoofs of my exhausted animal I heard the stones。 One after another my companions came up on the shore。 The well…trained horses had brought all their burdens over。 Much farther down our colonist landed with the supplies。 Without a moment's loss we packed our things on the horses and continued our journey。 The wind was growing stronger and colder。 At the dawn of day the cold was intense。 Our soaked clothes froze and became hard as leather； our teeth chattered； and in our eyes showed the red fires of fever： but we traveled on to put as much space as we could between ourselves and the Partisans。 Passing about fifteen kilometres through the forest we emerged into an open valley； from which we could see the opposite bank of the Yenisei。 It was about eight o'clock。 Along the road on the other shore wound the black serpent…like line of riders and wagons which we made out to be a column of Red soldiers with their transport。 We dismounted and hid in the bushes in order to avoid attracting their attention。
All the day with the thermometer at zero and below we continued our journey； only at night reaching the mountains covered with larch forests； where we made big fires； dried our clothes and warmed ourselves thoroughly。 The hungry horses did not leave the fires but stood right behind us with drooped heads and slept。 Very early in the morning several Soyots came to our camp。
〃Ulan？ （Red？）〃 asked one of them。
〃No！ No！〃 exclaimed all our company。
〃Tzagan？ （White？）〃 followed the new question。
〃Yes； yes；〃 said the Tartar； 〃all are Whites。〃
〃Mende！ Mende！〃 they grunted and； after starting their cups of tea； began to relate very interesting and important news。 It appeared that the Red Partisans； moving from the mountains Tannu Ola； occupied with their outposts all the border of Mongolia to stop and seize the peasants and Soyots driving out their cattle。 To pass the Tannu Ola now would be impossible。 I saw only one way to turn sharp to the southeast； pass the swampy valley of the Buret Hei and reach the south shore of Lake Kosogol； which is already in the territory of Mongolia proper。 It was very unpleasant news。 To the first Mongol post in Samgaltai was not more than sixty miles from our camp； while to Kosogol by the shortest line not less than two hundred seventy…five。 The horses my friend and I were riding； after having traveled more than six hundred miles over hard roads and without proper food or rest； could scarcely make such an additional distance。 But； reflecting upon the situation and studying my new fellow travelers； I determined not to attempt to pass the Tannu Ola。 They were nervous； morally weary men； badly dressed and armed and most of them were without weapons。 I knew that during a fight there is no danger so great as that of disarmed men。 They are easily caught by panic； lose their heads and infect all the others。 Therefore； I consulted with my friends and decided to go to Kosogol。 Our company agreed to follow us。 After luncheon； consisting of soup with big lumps of meat； dry bread and tea； we moved out。 About two o'clock the mountains began to rise up before us。 They were the northeast outspurs of the Tannu Ola； behind which lay the Valley of Buret Hei。
CHAPTER XI
THE BARRIER OF RED PARTISANS
In a valley between two sharp ridges we discovered a herd of yaks and cattle being rapidly driven off to the north by ten mounted Soyots。 Approaching us warily they finally revealed that Noyon （Prince） of Todji had ordered them to drive the herds along the Buret Hei into Mongolia； apprehending the pillaging of the Red Partisans。 They proceeded but were informed by some Soyot hunters that this part of the Tannu Ola was occupied by the Partisans from the village of Vladimirovka。 Consequently they were forced to return。 We inquired from them the whereabouts of these outposts and how many Partisans were holding the mountain pass over into Mongolia。 We sent out the Tartar and the Kalmuck for a reconnaissance while all of us prepared for the further advance by wrapping the feet of our horses in our shirts and by muzzling their noses with straps and bits of rope so that they could not neigh。 It was dark when our investigators returned and reported to us that about thirty Partisans had a camp some ten kilometers from us； occupying the yurtas of the Soyots。 At the pass were two outposts； one of two soldiers and the other of three。 From the outposts to the camp was a little over a mile。 Our trail lay between the two outposts。 From the top of the mountain one could plainly see the two posts and could shoot them all。 When we had come near to the top of this mountain； I left our party and； taking with me my friend； the Tartar； the Kalmuck and two of the young officers； advanced。 From the mountain I saw about five hundred yards ahead two fires。 At each of the fires sat a soldier with his rifle and the others slept。 I did not want to fight with the Partisans but we had to do away with these outposts and that without firing or we never should get through the pass。 I did not believe the Partisans could afterwards track us because the whole trail was thickly marked with the spoors of horses and cattle。
〃I shall take for my share these two；〃 whispered my friend； pointing to the left outpost。
The rest of us were to take care of the second post。 I crept along through the bushes behind my friend in order to help him in case of need； but I am bound to admit that I was not at all worried about him。 He was about seven feet tall and so strong that； when a horse used to refuse sometimes to take the bit； he would wrap his arm around its neck； kick its forefeet out from under it and throw it so that he could easily bridle it on the ground。 When only a hundred paces remained； I stood behind the bushes and watched。 I could see very distinctly the fire and the dozing sentinel。 He sat with his rifle on his knees。 His companion； asleep beside him； did not move。 Their white felt boots were plainly visible to me。 For a long time I did not remark my friend。 At the fire all was quiet。 Suddenly from the other outpost floated over a few dim shouts and all was still。 Our sentinel slowly raised his head。 But just at this moment the huge body of my friend rose up and blanketed the fire from me and in a twinkling the feet of the sentinel flashed through the air； as my companion had seized him by the throat and swung him clear into the bushes； where both figures disappeared。 In a second he re…appeared； flourished the rifle of the Partisan over his head and I heard the dull blow which was followed by an a