284 AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



shown signs of craftiness, and we were therefore on 

 the look out for some trickery. We let him know 

 that we could in no way answer for their negligence, 



and that the entire responsibility before the Zaissan 



lay with him. Four camels were brought in from 

 the Kirghiz encampment to replace the lost ponies, 

 and at 10 a.m. we were on the move. The demitcha 

 had despatched two of his men in search of the 

 ponies, with strict orders to " find them," and natur- 

 ally the Kalmuks soon reappeared with them. 



