iled. "I have just come from there. We may go to see him
now."

Johnny twisted one shoulder as if adjusting a heavy burden, then turned to
follow the interpreter.

He did not like the looks of things; he longed to be safely back in
Vladivostok with Mazie. There were times like this when he wished he had
not taken it upon himself to play the fairy godfather to Russia's starving
hosts. But since he had undertaken the task, however difficult it might
prove, he must carry on.

He soon found himself sitting cross-legged on a floor so deeply imbedded
in soft, yielding skins that he sank half out of sight beneath them.
Before him, also reposing in this sea of softness, was a Mongol of unusual
size, whose face was long and solemn. He puffed incessantly at a
long-stemmed Russian pipe.

Forming the third corner of the triangle, was the little interpreter.

The two members of the yellow race conversed in low tones for some time.
At last the interpreter turned to Johnny:

"I have told him that you want to buy cattle, much cattle. He say, how
much you want to pay? How you want to pay? How much you want to buy?"

"You tell him that I saw six of his cattle out here just now. They are
very poor. But we will take them--maybe. Ask him how much?"

"He say, have you got gold?"

"You say," grinned Johnny, "that we have got gold. We don't need a
button-hook to button up our purse, but we've got gold. We pay gold. How
much?"

The interpreter puckered up his brow and conveyed the message. The Mongol
mumbled an answer.

"He say, how much you want pay?"

"Tell him for six cattle I pay one pound gold. All same."

He drew from his pocket a small leather sack, and unlacing the strings
held it open before the Mongol.

The crafty eyes of the trader half closed at sight of the glistening
treasure. His greedy fingers ran through it again and again. Then he
grunted.

"He say," droned the interpreter, "how much cattle you want to buy?"

"Maybe three hundred," stated Johnny casually.

The interpreter started, but delivered the message.

The Mongol, upon receiving this word, sprang from the furs like a jack
from his box and hot words rushed rapidly from his lips.

When he had finished, the interpreter explained that he said Johnny was
jesting with him. It was impossible that anyone would buy three hundred
head of cattle with gold in the starving land of Russia.

The Mongol sank back to his place among the furs, and the bickering wa