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282 ADVENTURES IN TIBET.
Turning, we saw two mounted men approaching at
full gallop amid a cloud of dust. At the spot where he
had beckoned to us, Shagdur had observed the quite fresh
footprints of five horses, and a couple of minutes later
he caught sight of the two horsemen. A prey to the
keenest anxiety, I steadily kept the mysterious riders
within the range of my glass. What news would they
bring us ? A few minutes passed, and then I recognised
them : they were Tokta Akhun and—what ? Is it
possible ? —Chernoff
!
Never have I greeted a faithful servant with greater
delight and with a warmer welcome than I now extended
to these men. My good Cossack was also so overjoyed
that he actually trembled, and his cheeks burned with
eagerness, he was so anxious to tell me of all that had
happened to him since we parted.
The first question I put to him was, " How is it possible
that you are here, Chernoff ?
" He then told me that he
and Sirkin had been scarcely two months in Kashgar
when a telegram arrived, commanding both of them in
the name of the Czar to return to my camp wherever I
might be, and to stay with me as long as I might desire
to keep them. I had, indeed, written to His Imperial
Majesty the Czar, begging him to grant me this favour,
and he had gracious^ accorded it.
When Tokta Akhun arrived at Charkhlik, the Cossacks
were already there, and had been for some time. Chernoff
therefore accompanied him to the rendezvous on the
northern shore of the Kara-koshun. Upon being stopped
by the newly-formed lakes, they decided to await us
there, fully believing that I should be able to find them.
I ascertained they had carried out my instructions to the
letter, building a hut and lighting a big fire on a hill
every noon and every evening ; and even when a sand-
storm was raging, making it impossible to see lOO yards
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