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The Hutuktu placed the hatyk on the shoulder of the Buddha and； prostrating himself on the carpet before the altar； whispered the words of prayer。 Then he raised his head and beckoned me to him with a slight movement of his hand。
〃Look at the dark space behind the statue of Buddha and he will show your beloved to you。〃
Readily obeying his deep…voiced command； I began to look into the dark niche behind the figure of the Buddha。 Soon out of the darkness began to appear streams of smoke or transparent threads。 They floated in the air； becoming more and more dense and increasing in number； until gradually they formed the bodies of several persons and the outlines of various objects。 I saw a room that was strange to me with my family there； surrounded by some whom I knew and others whom I did not。 I recognized even the dress my wife wore。 Every line of her dear face was clearly visible。 Gradually the vision became too dark； dissipated itself into the streams of smoke and transparent threads and disappeared。 Behind the golden Buddha was nothing but the darkness。 The Hutuktu arose； took my hatyk from the shoulder of the Buddha and handed it to me with these words：
〃Fortune is always with you and with your family。 God's goodness will not forsake you。〃
We left the building of this unknown King of the World； where he had prayed for all mankind and had predicted the fate of peoples and states。 I was greatly astonished to find that my companions had also seen my vision and to hear them describe to me in minute detail the appearance and the clothes of the persons whom I had seen in the dark niche behind the head of Buddha。*
* In order that I might have the evidence of others on this extraordinarily impressive vision； I asked them to make protocols or affidavits concerning what they saw。 This they did and I now have these statements in my possession。
The Mongol officer also told me that Chultun Beyli had the day before asked the Hutuktu to reveal to him his fate in this important juncture of his life and in this crisis of his country but the Hutuktu only waved his hand in an expression of fear and refused。 When I asked the Hutuktu for the reason of his refusal； suggesting to him that it might calm and help Chultun Beyli as the vision of my beloved had strengthened me； the Hutuktu knitted his brow and answered：
〃No！ The vision would not please the Prince。 His fate is black。 Yesterday I thrice sought his fortune on the burned shoulder blades and with the entrails of sheep and each time came to the same dire result； the same dire result！ 。 。 。〃
He did not really finish speaking but covered his face with his hands in fear。 He was convinced that the lot of Chultun Beyli was black as the night。
In an hour we were behind the low hills that hid the Narabanchi Kure from our sight。
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE BREATH OF DEATH
We arrived at Uliassutai on the day of the return of the detachment which had gone out to disarm the convoy of Wang Tsao…tsun。 This detachment had met Colonel Domojiroff； who ordered them not only to disarm but to pillage the convoy and； unfortunately； Lieutenant Strigine executed this illegal and unwarranted command。 It was compromising and ignominious to see Russian officers and soldiers wearing the Chinese overcoats； boots and wrist watches which had been taken from the Chinese officials and the convoy。 Everyone had Chinese silver and gold also from the loot。 The Mongol wife of Wang Tsao…tsun and her brother returned with the detachment and entered a complaint of having been robbed by the Russians。 The Chinese officials and their convoy； deprived of their supplies； reached the Chinese border only after great distress from hunger and cold。 We foreigners were astounded that Lt。…Colonel Michailoff received Strigine with military honors but we caught the explanation of it later when we learned that Michailoff had been given some of the Chinese silver and his wife the handsomely decorated saddle of Fu Hsiang。 Chultun Beyli demanded that all the weapons taken from the Chinese and all the stolen property be turned over to him； as it must later be returned to the Chinese authorities； but Michailoff refused。 Afterwards we foreigners cut off all contact with the Russian detachment。 The relations between the Russians and Mongols became very strained。 Several of the Russian officers protested against the acts of Michailoff and Strigine and controversies became more and more serious。
At this time； one morning in April； an extraordinary group of armed horsemen arrived at Uliassutai。 They stayed at the house of the Bolshevik Bourdukoff； who gave them； so we were told； a great quantity of silver。 This group explained that they were former officers in the Imperial Guard。 They were Colonels Poletika； N。 N。 Philipoff and three of the latter's brothers。 They announced that they wanted to collect all the White officers and soldiers then in Mongolia and China and lead them to Urianhai to fight the Bolsheviki； but that first they wanted to wipe out Ungern and return Mongolia to China。 They called themselves the representatives of the Central Organization of the Whites in Russia。
The society of Russian officers in Uliassutai invited them to a meeting； examined their documents and interrogated them。 Investigation proved that all the statements of these officers about their former connections were entirely wrong； that Poletika occupied an important position in the war commissariat of the Bolsheviki； that one of the Philipoff brothers was the assistant of Kameneff in his first attempt to reach England； that the Central White Organization in Russia did not exist； that the proposed fighting in Urianhai was but a trap for the White officers and that this group was in close relations with the Bolshevik Bourdukoff。
A discussion at once sprang up among the officers as to what they should do with this group； which split the detachment into two distinct parties。 Lt。…Colonel Michailoff with several officers joined themselves to Poletika's group just as Colonel Domojiroff arrived with his detachment。 He began to get in touch with both factions and to feel out the politics of the situation； finally appointing Poletika to the post of Commandant of Uliassutai and sending to Baron Ungern a full report of the events in the town。 In this document he devoted much space to me； accusing me of standing in the way of the execution of his orders。 His officers watched me continuously。 From different quarters I received warnings to take great care。 This band and its leader openly demanded to know what right this foreigner had to interfere in the affairs of Mongolia； one of Domojiroff's officers directly giving me the challenge in a meeting in the attempt to provoke a controversy。 I quietly answered him：
〃And on what basis do the Russian refugees interfere； they who have rights neither at home nor abroad？〃
The officer made no verbal reply but in his eyes burned a definite answer。 My huge friend who sat beside me noticed this； strode over toward him and； towering over him； stretched his arms and hands as though just waking from sleep and remarked： 〃I'm looking for a little boxing exercise。〃
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