s
continued. For two hours it waged, ending finally by the promise of the
Mongol that, in the morning, the cattle should be at hand; that they would
be better than those Johnny had seen; and that Johnny's "beggarly" price
of one pound of gold for six cattle would be accepted.

Once the bargaining was over, the Mongol was transformed in a second's
time into the most charming of hosts. Johnny and his interpreter must dine
with him. Yes, indeed! They must sleep in his tent that night. They should
talk long and of many things. It was not often that he had the honor of
playing host to such a rich and clever guest. Indeed, it was not. But they
should not converse so long together that Johnny and his most excellent
interpreter should be robbed of their night's repose.

Several hours later, Johnny was buried to the point of smothering beneath
rugs of fur that would bring the price of a king's ransom. His mind was
still in a whirl. Perhaps it was the tea, perhaps the excitement of big
business, and again, it may have been a premonition of things to happen.
Whatever it may have been, he could not sleep.

His racing mind whispered to him of treachery out of the night. It had
been a wonderful evening. They had been treated to a feast such as he had
seldom dreamed of. Surely these Mongols could concoct from beef, rice,
sweet potatoes and spices the most wonderful of viands. And, as for tea,
he had never tasted real tea before. The aroma of it still haunted his
nostrils.

And the Mongol had told him many things. He had traveled far, had this
trader; he had seen much. He spoke of Russia, of China, Japan and India.
He told of matters that made Johnny's blood run cold, of deeds done in
that border-land between great countries, each seething with revolution
and bloodshed. Not that he, the Mongolian, had done these things, but he
had seen them accomplished. And he had traded for the spoils, the spoils
of rich Russians driven from their own land and seeking refuge in another.
He was a trader. It was his business. He must have profit. What should one
do? If he did not take the riches, another would. But as for committing
these deeds himself, Confucius forbid it; he had scowled to show his
disapproval.

At the same time, as Johnny thought it all through, and felt the hard
lumps about him that were sacks of gold, he found it very difficult to
fall asleep.

His interpreter, lying not an arm's length away, breathed with the steady
ease o