210 EXPEDITION TO KALMUK. 



smoking under an apple-tree next morning I 

 heard the discordant voices of the Chinamen on 

 the other side. Presently there was a scramble, 

 and a yellow moonlike face appeared over the 

 top. The moment he caught sight of me he 

 dropped. A consultation followed, and they 

 moved round to the gateway. Not being quite 

 sure as to what this might portend, I armed my- 

 self with a big stick which I kept handy for such 

 a purpose, and took up my position at the door 

 of the house. My visitors stopped at the gate ; 

 so calling to Jaffer, I told him to go and find out 

 what they wanted. As the talking continued for 

 some time, I strolled up to the gate. They were 

 my friends of the previous day, and the one who 

 spoke Turki said they came to ask why I had 

 attacked them. I replied I had done so because 

 one of them had insulted me, and that for the 

 future they had better remember that if they in- 

 sulted an Englishman they would certainly meet 

 the same reward. The spokesman then said, had 

 they been aware I was a great man they would 

 not have done so, but they thought I was a 

 Russian, to which people they have a great dis- 

 like ; so telling them to be more careful another 

 time, we separated amicably. 



