Boldon at once became confused and, with trembling voice and agitation in his whole manner, blurted out to me that he would not allow me to interfere in his affairs and would shoot every man who dared to run counter to his orders.  He pounded on the low table with his fist and then rose up and drew his revolver.  But I was much traveled among the nomads and had studied them thoroughly—­Princes, Lamas, shepherds and brigands.  I grasped my whip and, striking it on the table with all my strength, I said to the interpreter: 

“Tell him that he has the honor to speak with neither Mongol nor Russian but with a foreigner, a citizen of a great and free state.  Tell him he must first learn to be a man and then he can visit me and we can talk together.”

I turned and went out.  Ten minutes later Hun Boldon entered my yurta and offered his apologies.  I persuaded him to parley with Chultun Beyli and not to offend the free Mongol people with his activities.  That very night all was arranged.  Hun Boldon dismissed his Mongols and left for Kobdo, while Domojiroff with his band started for Jassaktu Khan to arrange for the mobilization of the Mongols there.  With the consent of Chultun Beyli he wrote to Wang Tsao-tsun a demand to disarm his guard, as all of the Chinese troops in Urga had been so treated; but this letter arrived after Wang had bought camels to replace the stolen horses and was on his way to the border.  Later Lt.-Colonel Michailoff sent a detachment of fifty men under the command of Lieutenant Strigine to overhaul Wang and receive their arms.

CHAPTER XXVII

MYSTERY IN A SMALL TEMPLE

Prince Chultun Beyli and I were ready to leave the Narabanchi Kure.  While the Hutuktu was holding service for the Sait in the Temple of Blessing, I wandered around through the narrow alleyways between the walls of the houses of the various grades of Lama Gelongs, Getuls, Chaidje and Rabdjampa; of schools where the learned doctors of theology or Maramba taught together with the doctors of medicine or Ta Lama; of the residences for students called Bandi; of stores, archives and libraries.  When I returned to the yurta of the Hutuktu, he was inside.  He presented me with a large hatyk and proposed a walk around the monastery.  His face wore a preoccupied expression from which I gathered that he had something he wished to discuss with me.  As we went out of the yurta, the liberated President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and a Russian officer joined us.  The Hutuktu led us to a small building just back of a bright yellow stone wall.

“In that building once stopped the Dalai Lama and Bogdo Khan and we always paint the buildings yellow where these holy persons have lived.  Enter!”