A Welcome Return. 



all over the country, and that finally the head man of the 

 Kazaks had found him and indicated the road I had taken. It 

 appeared Rasul and the two levies had gone to another encamp- 

 ment of Kazaks to the west of the one I had encountered, and had 

 arranged for fresh ponies which the Kazaks were willing to supply. 

 Rasul had there awaited my arrival, but not seeing anything of us 

 the next day had sent off one of the levies to ascertain our where- 

 abouts. This man came back and reported he could learn nothing, 



ACROSS THE WIND-SWEPT PLAINS OF MONGOLIA. 



so that Rasul, much perturbed, had then started off himself 

 with the two soldiers and scoured the country, finally meeting the 

 head man who told him the direction of my march. 



Yamatu is a tiny settlement on the main road and consists 

 of a guard-house and a few forlorn Chinese soldiery, a serai, and 

 half-a-dozen mud huts wherein dwell the only inhabitants of the 

 place beyond the military element. By main road one no doubt 



333 



