98 ACROSS MONGOLIAN PLAINS 



sured us that it would require at least ten more days of 

 steady travel before we could possibly arrive at our des- 

 tination; if difficulties arose it might take even longer. 

 Moreover, we had seen only one hare and one marmot, 

 and our traps had yielded virtually nothing. It was 

 perfectly evident that the entire valley had been de- 

 nuded of animal life by the Mongols, and there was little 

 prospect that conditions would change as long as we re- 

 mained on such rich grazing grounds. 



It was hard to turn back and count the time lost, but 

 it was certainly the wisest course for we knew that there 

 was good collecting on the plains south of Urga, al- 

 though the fauna would not be as varied as at the place 

 we had hoped to reach. The summer in Mongolia is so 

 short that every day must be made to count if results 

 which are worth the money invested are to be obtained. 



Yvette and I were both very despondent that eve- 

 ning when we decided it was necessary to turn back. It 

 was one of those nights when I wished with all my heart 

 that we could sit in front of our own camp fire without 

 the thought of having to "make good" to any one but 

 ourselves. However, once the decision was made, we 

 tried to forget the past days and determined to make up 

 for lost time in the future. 



