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Updated: June 15, 2025
The bandits fire a volley, and begin brandishing their arms and shouting. Faruskiar, pistol in one hand, kandijar in the other, has rushed onto them, his eyes gleaming, his lips covered with a slight foam. Ghangir is at his side, followed by four Mongols whom he is exciting by word and gesture. Major Noltitz and I throw ourselves into the midst of our assailants.
After throwing a glance at the papers presented to him by Ghangir, the Chinese functionary rose and bowed respectfully to Faruskiar, saying: "May the General Manager of the Grand Transasiatic deign to receive my ten thousand respects!" General Manager, that is what he is, this lord Faruskiar! All is explained.
Up to now Major Noltitz had taken no part in the discussion. Now he interrupted Popof, and in a voice heard by all he asked: "Where is Faruskiar?" They all looked about and tried to discover what had become of the manager of the Transasiatic. "And where is his friend Ghangir?" asked the major. There was no reply. "And where are the four Mongols who were in the rear van?" asked Major Noltitz.
They are armed with guns and revolvers, and commanded by an officer. "Well," said I to the major, "this mandarin must be some very exalted personage if the Son of Heaven sends him a guard of honor " "Or of defence," replies the major. Faruskiar and Ghangir assist at these proceedings, in which there is nothing surprising.
This leading star, I soon learned from Popof, bore the name of Faruskiar. He was accompanied by another Mongol, of inferior rank, of about the same age, whose name was Ghangir. As they looked at the van being attached to the tail of the train in front of the luggage van, they exchanged a few words.
That is why he and Ghangir and the three other Mongols had so carefully watched this precious van, and why they had shown themselves so anxious when it had been left behind by the breakage of the coupling, and why they were so eager for its recovery. Yes, all is explained! That is also why a detachment of Chinese soldiers has taken over the van at Kachgar, in relief of the Persians!
I have but one regret, and that is that Faruskiar and Ghangir should be too busy to join us. Why do they continue to look out over the immense desert? Before their eyes there stretches not the cultivated steppe of the Lob Nor region, but the Gobi, which is barren, desolate and gloomy, according to the reports of Grjimailo, Blanc and Martin.
But we feel safe. Faruskiar in person arranges for the surveillance of the train. Since the death of the officer he has taken command of the Chinese detachment. He and Ghangir are on guard over the imperial treasure, and according to Caterna, who is never in want of a quotation from some comic opera: "This night the maids of honor will be guarded well."
My lord Faruskiar and Ghangir, who had been the object of a personal invitation, had just arrived. The assembly respectfully rises to receive them. They will sign the deed of marriage. It is a great honor, and if it were my marriage I should be proud to see the illustrious name of Faruskiar figure among the signatures to the deed.
And then at his orders the Mongols had set to work, and I noticed that they displayed indefatigable ardor, for which they earned our sincere felicitations. Meanwhile Faruskiar and Ghangir were often talking together in a whisper, and from these interviews arose a proposition which none of us expected.
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