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Uliassutai because Sait Chultun Beyli； now having full authority and power； guaranteed their safety。 The day of departure for the expedition of Wang Tsao…tsun arrived。 The camels with their packs already filled the yamen court…yard and the men only awaited the arrival of their horses from the plains。 Suddenly the news spread everywhere that the herd of horses had been stolen during the night and run off toward the south。 Of two soldiers that had been sent out to follow the tracks of the herd only one came back with the news that the other had been killed。 Astonishment spread over the whole town while among the Chinese it turned to open panic。 It perceptibly increased when some Mongols from a distant ourton to the east came in and announced that in various places along the post road to Urga they had discovered the bodies of sixteen of the soldiers whom Wang Tsao…tsun had sent out with letters for Urga。 The mystery of these events will soon be explained。
The chief of the Russian detachment received a letter from a Cossack Colonel； V。 N。 Domojiroff； containing the order to disarm immediately the Chinese garrison； to arrest all Chinese officials for transport to Baron Ungern at Urga； to take control of Uliassutai； by force if necessary； and to join forces with his detachment。 At the very same time a messenger from the Narabanchi Hutuktu galloped in with a letter to the effect that a Russian detachment under the leadership of Hun Boldon and Colonel Domojiroff from Urga had pillaged some Chinese firms and killed the merchants； had come to the Monastery and demanded horses； food and shelter。 The Hutuktu asked for help because the ferocious conqueror of Kobdo； Hun Boldon； could very easily pillage the unprotected isolated monastery。 We strongly urged Colonel Michailoff not to violate the sealed treaty and discountenance all the foreigners and Russians who had taken part in making it； for this would but be to imitate the Bolshevik principle of making deceit the leading rule in all acts of state。 This touched Michailoff and he answered Domojiroff that Uliassutai was already in his hands without a fight； that over the building of the former Russian Consulate the tri…color flag of Russia was flying； the gamins had been disarmed but that the other orders could not be carried out； because their execution would violate the Chinese… Mongolian treaty just signed in Uliassutai。
Daily several envoys traveled from Narabanchi Hutuktu to Uliassutai。 The news became more and more disquieting。 The Hutuktu reported that Hun Boldon was mobilizing the Mongolian beggars and horse stealers； arming and training them； that the soldiers were taking the sheep of the monastery； that the 〃Noyon〃 Domojiroff was always drunk； and that the protests of the Hutuktu were answered with jeers and scolding。 The messengers gave very indefinite information regarding the strength of the detachment； some placing it at about thirty while others stated that Domojiroff said he had eight hundred in all。 We could not understand it at all and soon the messengers ceased coming。 All the letters of the Sait remained unanswered and the envoys did not return。 There seemed to be no doubt that the men had been killed or captured。
Prince Chultun Beyli determined to go himself。 He took with him the Russian and Chinese Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce and two Mongolian officers。 Three days elapsed without receiving any news from him whatever。 The Mongols began to get worried。 Then the Chinese Commissioner and Hun Jap Lama addressed a request to the foreigner group to send some one to Narabanchi； in order to try to resolve the controversy there and to persuade Domojiroff to recognize the treaty and not permit the 〃great insult of violation〃 of a covenant between the two great peoples。 Our group asked me once more to accomplish this mission pro bono publico。 I had assigned me as interpreter a fine young Russian colonist； the nephew of the murdered Bobroff； a splendid rider as well as a cool； brave man。 Lt。…Colonel Michailoff gave me one of his officers to accompany me。 Supplied with an express tzara for the post horses and guides； we traveled rapidly over the way which was now familiar to me to find my old friend； Jelib Djamsrap Huktuktu of Narabanchi。 Although there was deep snow in some places； we made from one hundred to one hundred and fifteen miles per day。
CHAPTER XXVI
THE BAND OF WHITE HUNGHUTZES
We arrived at Narabanchi late at night on the third day out。 As we were approaching； we noticed several riders who； as soon as they had seen us； galloped quickly back to the monastery。 For some time we looked for the camp of the Russian detachment without finding it。 The Mongols led us into the monastery； where the Hutuktu immediately received me。 In his yurta sat Chultun Beyli。 There he presented me with hatyks and said to me： 〃The very God has sent you here to us in this difficult moment。〃
It seems Domojiroff had arrested both the Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce and had threatened to shoot Prince Chultun。 Both Domojiroff and Hun Boldon had no documents legalizing their activities。 Chultun Beyli was preparing to fight with them。
I asked them to take me to Domojiroff。 Through the dark I saw four big yurtas and two Mongol sentinels with Russian rifles。 We entered the Russian 〃Noyon's〃 tent。 A very strange picture was presented to our eyes。 In the middle of the yurta the brazier was burning。 In the usual place for the altar stood a throne； on which the tall； thin； grey…haired Colonel Domojiroff was seated。 He was only in his undergarments and stockings； was evidently a little drunk and was telling stories。 Around the brazier lay twelve young men in various picturesque poses。 My officer companion reported to Domojiroff about the events in Uliassutai and during the conversation I asked Domojiroff where his detachment was encamped。 He laughed and answered； with a sweep of his hand： 〃This is my detachment。〃 I pointed out to him that the form of his orders to us in Uliassutai had led us to believe that he must have a large company with him。 Then I informed him that Lt。…Colonel Michailoff was preparing to cross swords with the Bolshevik force approaching Uliassutai。
〃What？〃 he exclaimed with fear and confusion； 〃the Reds？〃
We spent the night in his yurta and； when I was ready to lie down； my officer whispered to me：
〃Be sure to keep your revolver handy；〃 to which I laughed and said：
〃But we are in the center of a White detachment and therefore in perfect safety！〃
〃Uh…huh！〃 answered my officer and finished the response with one eye closed。
The next day I invited Domojiroff to walk with me over the plain； when I talked very frankly with him about what had been happening。 He and Hun Boldon had received orders from Baron Ungern simply to get into touch with General Bakitch； but instead they began pillaging Chinese firms along the route and he had made up his mind to become a great conqueror。 On the way he had run across some of the officers who deserted Colonel Kazagrandi and formed his present band。 I succeeded in persuading Domojiroff to arrange matters peacefully with Chultun Beyli and not to violate th