Temudjin struggled in vain against this confederacy, and one day he was taken prisoner by the Taidshuts.  Terkutai fastened on him a cangue—­ the instrument of torture used by the Chinese, consisting of two boards which are fastened to the shoulders, and when joined together round the neck form an effectual barrier to desertion.  He one day found means to escape while the Taidshuts were busy feasting.  He hid in a pond with his nostrils only out of water, but was detected by a pursuer named Surghan Shireh.  He belonged to the Sulduz clan; had pity on him; took him to his house; hid him under some wool in a cart so that his pursuers failed to find him, and then sent him to his own people.  This and other stories illustrate one phase of Mongol character.  We seldom hear among them of those domestic murders so frequent in Turkish history; pretenders to the throne were reduced to servitude, and generally made to perform menial offices, but seldom murdered.  They illustrate another fact:  favors conferred in distress were seldom forgotten, and the chroniclers frequently explain the rise of some obscure individual by the recollection of a handsome thing done to the ruler in his unfortunate days.

Another phase of Mongol character, namely, the treachery and craft with which they attempt to overreach one another in war, may be illustrated by a short saga told by Ssanang Setzen, and probably relating to this period of Temudjin’s career.  It is curious how circumstantial many of these traditions are.  “At that time,” he says, “Buke Chilger of the Taidshuts dug a pit-fall in his tent and covered it with felts.  He then, with his brothers, arranged a grand feast, to which Temudjin was invited with fulsome phrases.  ’Formerly we knew not thine excellence,’ he said, ’and lived in strife with thee.  We have now learnt that thou art not false, and that thou art a Bogda of the race of the gods.  Our old hatred is stifled and dead; condescend to enter our small house.’

“Temudjin accepted the invitation, but before going he was warned by his mother:  ‘Rate not the crafty foe too lightly,’ she said.  ’We do not dread a venomous viper the less because it is so small and weak.  Be cautious!’

“He replied:  ’You are right, mother, therefore do you, Khassar, have the bow ready:  Belgutei, you also be on your guard:  you, Chadshikin, see to the horse; and you, Utsuken, remain by my side.  My nine Orloks, you go in with me; and you, my three hundred and nine bodyguards, surround the yurt.’

“When he arrived he would have sat down in the middle of the treacherous carpet, but Utsuken pulled him aside and seated him on the edge of the felt.  Meanwhile a woman was meddling with the horse and cut off its left stirrup.  Belgutei, who noticed it, drove her out, and struck her on the leg with his hand, upon which one Buri Buke struck Belgutei’s horse with his sword.  The nine Orloks now came round, helped their master to mount the white mare of Toktanga Taishi of the Kortshins; a fight began, which ended in the defeat and submission of the enemy.”