or a conference with Baron Ungern.

After luncheon Colonel Kazagrandi invited me to his yurta and began
discussing events in western Mongolia, where the situation had become
very tense.

"Do you know Dr. Gay?" Kazagrandi asked me. "You know he helped me
to form my detachment but Urga accuses him of being the agent of the
Soviets."

I made all the defences I could for Gay. He had helped me and had been
exonerated by Kolchak.

"Yes, yes, and I justified Gay in such a manner," said the Colonel, "but
Rezukhin, who has just arrived today, has brought letters of Gay's to
the Bolsheviki which were seized in transit. By order of Baron Ungern,
Gay and his family have today been sent to the headquarters of Rezukhin
and I fear that they will not reach this destination."

"Why?" I asked.

"They will be executed on the road!" answered Colonel Kazagrandi.

"What are we to do?" I responded. "Gay cannot be a Bolshevik, because
he is too well educated and too clever for it."

"I don't know; I don't know!" murmured the Colonel with a despondent
gesture. "Try to speak with Rezukhin."

I decided to proceed at once to Rezukhin but just then Colonel Philipoff
entered and began talking about the errors being made in the training of
the soldiers. When I had donned my coat, another man came in. He was a
small sized officer with an old green Cossack cap with a visor, a torn
grey Mongol overcoat and with his right hand in a black sling tied
around his neck. It was General Rezukhin, to whom I was at once
introduced. During the conversation the General very politely and very
skilfully inquired about the lives of Philipoff and myself during the
last three years, joking and laughing with discretion and modesty. When
he soon took his leave, I availed myself of the chance and went out with
him.

He listened very attentively and politely to me and afterwards, in his
quiet voice, said:

"Dr. Gay is the agent of the Soviets, disguised as a White in order
the better to see, hear and know everything. We are surrounded by our
enemies. The Russian people are demoralized and will undertake any
treachery for money. Such is Gay. Anyway, what is the use of discussing
him further? He and his family are no longer alive. Today my men cut
them to pieces five kilometres from here."

In consternation and fear I looked at the face of this small, dapper man
with such soft voice and courteous manners. In his eyes I read such hate
and tenacity that I unders