The Project Gutenberg EBook of Beasts, Men and Gods, by Ferdinand Ossendowski

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Title: Beasts, Men and Gods

Author: Ferdinand Ossendowski

Translator: Lewis Stanton Palen

Release Date: May 13, 2006 [EBook #2067]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEASTS, MEN AND GODS ***

Produced by Donald Lainson

BEASTS, MEN AND GODS

by Ferdinand Ossendowski

EXPLANATORY NOTE

When one of the leading publicists in America, Dr. Albert Shaw of
the Review of Reviews, after reading the manuscript of Part I of
this volume, characterized the author as "The Robinson Crusoe of the
Twentieth Century," he touched the feature of the narrative which is at
once most attractive and most dangerous; for the succession of trying
and thrilling experiences recorded seems in places too highly colored
to be real or, sometimes, even possible in this day and generation.
I desire, therefore, to assure the reader at the outset that Dr.
Ossendowski is a man of long and diverse experience as a scientist and
writer with a training for careful observation which should put
the stamp of accuracy and reliability on his chronicle. Only the
extraordinary events of these extraordinary times could have thrown one
with so many talents back into the surroundings of the "Cave Man" and
thus given to us this unusual account of personal adventure, of great
human mysteries and of the political and religious motives which are
energizing the "Heart of Asia."

My share in the work has been to induce Dr. Ossendowski to write his
story at this time and to assist him in rendering his experiences into
English.

LEWIS STANTON PALEN.

CONTENTS

PART I. DRAWING LOTS WITH DEATH

CHAPTER

I. INTO THE FORESTS

II. THE SECRET OF MY FELLOW TRAVELER

III. THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE

IV. A FISHERMAN

V. A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOR

VI. A RIVER IN TRAVAIL

VII. THROUGH SOVIET SIBERIA

VIII. THREE DAYS ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE

IX. TO THE SAYANS AND SAFETY

X. THE BATTLE OF THE SEYBI

XI. THE BARRIER OF RED PARTISANS

XII. IN THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL PEACE

XIII. MYSTERIES, MIR