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Updated: May 9, 2025
The "mysterious" action of my fingers created on the Soyots a strong impression. The old Soyot with fear and reverence whispered: "Ta Lama, Ta Lama! In the yurta we were given tea while the old Soyot sat thinking deeply about something.
The soldiers laughed at him. "Remember that you are in a foreign country!" answered the Soyot, with a threat in his voice. "God and the Devil!" cried one of the soldiers. But the Soyot very calmly took a seat at the table and accepted the cup of tea the hostess was preparing for him. The conversation ceased.
Some of the horses rolled down the slope into the snow below and the soldiers, chased by our shots, made off as fast as they could down into the valley out of which we had come. Afterward the Tartar told me the Soyot had proposed to guide them around behind the Reds to fall upon their rear with the bombs.
As we were passing along the narrow edge of a precipice, the Soyot stopped and attentively examined the trail. "Today many shod horses have passed here!" he cried through the roar of the storm. "Yonder on the snow the lash of a whip has been dragged. These are not Soyots." The solution of this enigma appeared instantly. A volley rang out.
For a long time I bargained with him and at last for my gold wedding ring, a raincoat and a leather saddle bag I received a fine Soyot horse to replace one of the pack animals we had lost and a young goat. We spent the night here and were feasted with fat mutton.
They examined me with very attentive eyes and did not leave me and my friend alone with the host. We could not, however, make out anything. But then the Soyot Governor came in and, noticing our strained relations, began explaining in the Soyot language to the host all about us.
On our way there I took the opportunity to hand to the old Soyot a cigarette and to another a box of matches. We were all walking along together save one Soyot who limped slowly in the rear and was holding his hand up over his nose. "Is he ill?" I asked. "Yes," sadly answered the old Soyot. "That is my son. He has been losing blood from the nose for two days and is now quite weak."
Immediately I remarked that our affairs were moving fortunately and that we must travel along together. One of the soldiers replied that that would depend upon the "Comrade-officer." During our conversation the Soyot Governor entered. Very attentively he studied again the new arrivals and then asked: "Why did you take from the Soyots the good horses and leave bad ones?"
There we made out about thirty riders already dismounted and firing at us. I had never allowed any fighting to be done until the initiative had been taken by the other side. Our enemy fell upon us unawares and I ordered my company to answer. "Aim at the horses!" cried Colonel Ostrovsky. Then he ordered the Tartar and Soyot to throw our own animals.
Soon we began to meet little groups of Soyot yurtas with their cattle and horses round about. Finally we approached the shifting capital of the Prince. Our guide rode on ahead for the parley with him after assuring us that the Prince would be glad to welcome the Ta Lama, though at the time I remarked great anxiety and fear in his features as he spoke.
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