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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16544-h.zip b/16544-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f5f3e41 --- /dev/null +++ b/16544-h.zip diff --git a/16544-h/16544-h.htm b/16544-h/16544-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..47dc7ee --- /dev/null +++ b/16544-h/16544-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4892 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Boy Scouts In Russia, by Captain John Blaine. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts In Russia, by John Blaine + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Scouts In Russia + +Author: John Blaine + +Illustrator: E. A. Furman + +Release Date: August 18, 2005 [EBook #16544] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS IN RUSSIA *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Audrey Longhurst, Paul Ereaut and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a name="bsir001" id="bsir001"></a> +<img src="images/bsir001.gif" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /><br /><br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a name="bsir004" id="bsir004"></a> +<img src="images/bsir004.jpg" alt="Frontispiece" title="Frontispiece" /> +</div> +<h3>"Go! Hurry! get this coat and helmet off me!"<br /><br /></h3> + +<div class="figright"> + <a name="bsir003" id="bsir003"></a> + <img src="images/bsir003.jpg" alt="end paper" title="A view of the battlefield" /> + </div> + +<div class="figleft"> + <a name="bsir002" id="bsir002"></a> + <img src="images/bsir002.jpg" alt="end paper" title="A view of the battlefield" /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + +<h1>THE BOY SCOUTS IN RUSSIA</h1> + +<h3><i>by</i></h3> + +<h2>CAPTAIN JOHN BLAINE</h2> + +<p class='center'><i>Illustrated by</i></p> + +<h3>E.A. FURMAN</h3> + +<p class='center'>THE <br /> +SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY<br /> +Chicago AKRON, OHIO New York<br /><br /></p> + + + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='right'>I</td> +<td align='left'>The Border</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>11</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>II</td> +<td align='left'>Under Arrest</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>25</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>III</td> +<td align='left'>A Strange Meeting</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>37</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td> +<td align='left'>Cousins</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>49</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>V</td> +<td align='left'>The Germans</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>61</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td> +<td align='left'>The Tunnel</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>73</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td> +<td align='left'>A Daring Ruse</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>85</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td> +<td align='left'>Within the Enemy's Lines</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>99</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td> +<td align='left'>"There's Many a Slip—"</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>111</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>X</td> +<td align='left'>Sentenced</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>125</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td> +<td align='left'>The Cossacks</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>137</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td> +<td align='left'>The Trick</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>151</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XIII</td> +<td align='left'>The Escape</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>165</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td> +<td align='left'>Altered Plans</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>179</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td> +<td align='left'>A Dash Through the Night</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>193</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td> +<td align='left'>Between the Grindstones</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>205</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XVII</td> +<td align='left'>An Old Enemy</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>217</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII</td> +<td align='left'>The Great White Czar</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>229</b></a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>In the Russian Trenches<br /><br /></h2> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p>THE BORDER</p> + + +<p>A train had just come to a stop in the border station of Virballen. Half +of the platform of that station is in Russia; half of it in East +Prussia, the easternmost province of the German empire. All trains that +pass from one country to the other stop there. There are customs men, +soldiers, policemen, Prussian and Russian, who form a gauntlet all +travelers must run. Here passports must be shown, trunks opened. Getting +in or out of Russia is not a simple business, even in the twentieth +century. All sorts of people can't come in while a good many who try to +get out are turned back, and may have to make a long journey to Siberia +if they cannot account for themselves properly.</p> + +<p>This train had stopped in the dead of night. But, dark and late as it +was, there was the usual bustle and stir. Everyone had to wake up and +submit to the questioning of police and customs men. About the only +people who can escape such inquisition at Virballen or any other Russian +border station are royalties and ambassadors. Most of the passengers, +however, didn't have to come out on the platform. In this case, indeed, +only two descended. One of these was treated by the police officials +with marked respect. He was the sort of man to inspire both respect and +fear. Very tall, he was heavily bearded, but not so heavily as to +prevent the flashing of his teeth in a grim and unpleasant smile. Nor +were his eyes hidden as the rays of the station lights fell upon them.</p> + +<p>He was called "Excellency" by the policemen who spoke to him, but he +ignored these men, save for a short, quick nod with which he +acknowledged their respectful greetings. His whole attention was devoted +to the boy by his side, who was looking up at him defiantly. This boy +won a tribute of curious looks from all who saw him, and some glances +of admiration when it became increasingly plain that he did not share +the universal feeling of awe for the man by his side. This was accounted +for, partly at least, it might be supposed, by the fact that he wasn't a +Russian. The Americans in the train, had they been out on the platform, +would have recognized him at once for he was sturdily and obviously +American.</p> + +<p>The train began to move. With a shrill shriek from the engine, and the +banging of doors, it glided out of the station. Soon its tail lights +were swinging out of sight. But the Russian and the American boy +remained, while the train, with its load of free and cheerful +passengers, went on toward Berlin.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't let me take the train. Well, what are you going to do with +me now?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>His tone was as defiant as his look and if he was afraid, he didn't show +it. He wasn't afraid, as a matter of fact. He was angry.</p> + +<p>The Russian considered him for a moment, saying not a word. Then he +called in a low, hushed tone, and three or four policemen came running +up.</p> + +<p>"You see this boy?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, excellency."</p> + +<p>"It has pleased His Majesty the Czar, acting through the administration +of the police of St. Petersburg, to expel him from his dominions. He is +honored by my personal attention. I in person am executing the order of +His Majesty. I shall now conduct him to the exact border line and see to +it that he is placed on German soil. His name is Frederick Waring. On no +pretext is he to be allowed to return to Russian soil. Should he succeed +in doing so, he is to be arrested, denied the privilege of communication +with any friend, or with the consul or ambassador of any foreign nation, +and delivered to me in Petersburg. You will receive this order in due +form to-night. Understood?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, excellency."</p> + +<p>"Photographs will be attached to the official order." He turned again to +the boy, and for just a moment the expressionless mask was swept from +his eyes by a look of fierce hatred. "Now, then, step forward! As soon +as you have passed the line on the platform you will be on German +territory, subject to German law. I give you a word of good advice. Do +not offend against the German authorities. You will find them less +merciful than I."</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid of you," said Fred. He was angry, but his voice was +steady nevertheless. "You've cheated me. You've had my passport and my +money taken from me. What do you think I can do, when you land me in a +strange country in the middle of the night, without a kopeck in my +pocket? But I'll find a way to get back at you. Any man who would treat +me the way you have done is sure to have treated some other people +badly, too. And I'll find them—perhaps they'll be stronger than I."</p> + +<p>"Your papers were confiscated in due process," said the Russian. He +smiled very evilly. "As for your threats—pah! Do you think your word +would carry any weight against that of Mikail Suvaroff, a prince of +Russia, a friend of the Grand Duke Nicholas and General of the army?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're a great man," said Fred. "I know that. But you're not so +great that you don't have to keep straight. You may think I had no +business to come to Russia. Perhaps you are right, but that's no reason +for you to treat me like this. After all, you're my uncle—"</p> + +<p>"Silence!" said Suvaroff harshly, startled at the carrying power of the +boy's voice.</p> + +<p>Fred stepped nimbly across the line.</p> + +<p>"You can't touch me now, by your own word!" he taunted. "I'm in Germany, +and your authority stops at the border! I say, I could forget everything +except the way you've put me down here in the middle of the night, +without a cent to my name or a friend I can call on! You needn't have +done that. I don't suppose you took my money—you don't need it—but you +let your underlings take it."</p> + +<p>"I do not know that you ever had the money you say was taken from you," +said Suvaroff, controlling himself. "It is easy for you to make such a +charge. But the officers who arrested you deny that they found any money +in your possession. There is no reason to take your word against them."</p> +<p><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></p><p><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a></p> +<p>Fred stared at him curiously for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Gee! You do hate us—and me!" he said, slowly. "I think you really +believe all you've said about me! Well, I'm glad if that's so. It gives +you a sort of excuse for behaving the way you have to me. And I'd +certainly hate to think that any relative of mine could act like you +unless he thought he was in the right, anyhow!"</p> + +<p>Suvaroff strangled with anger for a moment. His cruel eyes became +narrow.</p> + +<p>"I have changed my mind!" he cried, suddenly. "Seize him! Bring him +back!"</p> + +<p>Fred stood perfectly still as two or three policemen and a couple of +soldiers in the white uniform coats of Russia came toward him. He knew +that it would be useless either to run or to fight. But, as it turned +out, there was no need for him to do either, for from behind him a sharp +order was snapped out by a young man who had been listening with<a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a> +interest. Quietly a file of German soldiers with spiked helmets stepped +forward.</p> + +<p>"Your pardon, excellency," said the German officer. "It is, of course, +quite impossible for us to permit Russian officials or soldiers to make +an arrest on our side of the line!"</p> + +<p>"A matter of courtesy—" began Suvaroff.</p> + +<p>"Pardon again," said the German, very softly. "Just at this moment +courtesy must be suspended. With a general mobilization in effect upon +both sides—"</p> + +<p>Suvaroff suppressed the angry exclamation that was on his lips. For a +moment, however, he seemed about to repeat his order, though his men had +halted at the sight of German bayonets.</p> + +<p>"I should regret a disturbance," said the German, still speaking in his +quiet voice. "My orders are to permit my men to do nothing that might +bring on a clash, for just now the firing of a single shot would make +war certain. Yet there is nothing in my orders to forbid me to resist an +act of aggression by Russia. We are prepared for war, though we do not +seek it."</p> + +<p>Fred, almost losing interest in his own pressing troubles at this sudden +revelation of a state of affairs of which he had known nothing whatever, +looked fixedly at Suvaroff. He saw the Russian bite his lips, hesitate, +and finally take off his hat and make a <a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a>sweeping bow to the German +officer.</p> + +<p>"I agree, mein herr Lieutenant," he said, mockingly. "The time has come, +I think. It may be that the fortunes of war will bring us together. +Meanwhile I wish you joy of him you have saved!"</p> + +<p>The German did not answer. He watched the departing Russians and then, +smiling faintly, he turned to Fred.</p> + +<p>"I'll have to ask you to give some account of yourself, if you please," +he said, in excellent English. "I'm Lieutenant Ernst, of the Prussian +army. Sentenced to guard duty here—for my sins. Now will you tell me +what all this means?"</p> + +<p>"I had a passport," said Fred directly, and meeting the German's eyes +frankly. "Prince Suvaroff is my uncle, my mother's brother. Her family +refused to recognize my mother after her marriage to my father, and so +Prince Suvaroff does not like me. I had to see him on business and +family matters. I was arrested. My passport and my money were taken away +from me—and you saw what happened. He took me off the train and put me +across the border."</p> + +<p>Ernst nodded.</p> + +<p>"Things are done so in Russia—sometimes," he said. "Not always, but +they are possible, for a great noble. Well, I have seen things nearly as +bad in my own Prussia! I shall have to see what may be done for you. If +you reach Berlin, your ambassador will be able to help you, yes?"</p> + +<p>"I am quite sure of it," said Fred, eagerly. "I don't want to trouble +you, but if you could help me to get there—"</p> + +<p>A soldier interrupted him. He stepped up to Ernst, saluted, and, +permission given, spoke in the officer's ear. Ernst started.</p> + +<p>"One minute," he said. "I am called away—I will return in one minute."</p> + +<p>The minute dragged itself out. In all directions there was a rising +sound, confused, urgent. Fifteen minutes passed. Then a soldier came to +Fred.</p><p><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a></p> +<p><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a></p> +<p>"The lieutenant will see you inside," he said, gravely.</p> + +<p>Fred followed him. Ernst, his face sober, but with shining eyes, spoke +to him at once.</p> + +<p>"War has been declared," he said. "War between Germany and Russia! My +young friend, you are in hard luck! The train from which you were +expelled is the last that will even start for Berlin until the +mobilization is complete."</p> + +<p>Outside there was a sudden rattle of rifle fire. Fred stared at the +German officer.</p> + +<p>"That is the beginning," he said. "We happen to have the stronger force +here. We are taking possession of the Russian side of the border +station! I wish we might catch Suvaroff—he is a good soldier, that one +at least, and worth a division to the Russians. But there'll be no such +luck. He'll have got away, of course—a fast motor, or some such way. +And they've got more troops close up than we have."</p> + +<p>And still Fred stared. He seemed unable to realize that this popping of +rifles, this calm, undemonstrative series of statements by an unexcited +German officer, meant that war had come at last—the European war of +which people even in America had talked for years as sure to come!</p> +<p><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a></p> +<p>"As for you, I meant, of course, to lend you the money and let you go on +to Berlin," said Ernst. "Now I can lend you the money, but there will be +no trains. You can't stay here. The Russians, I think, will advance very +quickly, and it will not be here that we shall try to stop them, but +further back and among the lakes to the south. Even if there is a +concentration, however, foreigners will not be wanted."</p> + +<p>"What shall I do?" asked Fred.</p> + +<p>"You speak German?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then I shall lend you some money—what I can spare. You can start back +toward Koenigsberg and Danzig. Your consul will be able to help you. You +can walk and the people will gladly sell<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a> you food."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and thank you for the chance, I'm a Boy Scout; I won't mind a hike +at all."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<p>UNDER ARREST</p> + + +<p>So it was arranged for Fred Waring, thousands of miles from home, to +start from Virballen. The lieutenant who had saved him from Suvaroff +lent him what money he could spare, though all told it was less than a +hundred marks, which is twenty dollars.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, and good luck go with you," said Ernst. "If we do not meet +again it will be a real good-bye. If you can send the money back, let it +go to my mother in Danzig. If you cannot, do not let it worry you! If<a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a> +any people ask you questions, answer them quickly. If any tell you to +stop, stop! Remember that this is war time and every stranger is +suspected. You will be in no danger if you will remember to answer +questions and obey orders."</p> + +<p>"Thank you again—and good-bye," said Fred. He had known this German +officer for only a few minutes, but he felt that he was parting from a +good friend, and, indeed, he was. Not many men would have been so +considerate and so kindly, especially at such a time, to a strange boy +from a foreign land, and one, moreover, who had certainly not come with +the best of recommendations. "I—I hope you'll come through all right."</p> + +<p>"That's to be seen," said Ernst, with a shrug of the shoulders. "In war +who can tell? We take our chances, we who live by the sword. If a +Russian is to get me, he will do so, and it will not help to be afraid, +or to think of the chances that I may not see the end of what has been +begun to-night! We have been getting ready for years. Now we shall know +before long if we have done enough. The test has come for us of the +fatherland."</p> + +<p>And then Fred said a bold thing.</p> +<p><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a></p> +<p>"I can wish you good luck and a safe return, Lieutenant," he said. "But +I can't wish that your country may be victorious because my mother, +after all, was a Russian."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't ask that of you," said Ernst, with a laugh. "Even though it +is Prince Suvaroff's country, too?"</p> + +<p>"There are Germans you do not like, I suppose—who are even your +enemies," said Fred. "Yet now you will forget all that, will you not?"</p> + +<p>"God helping us, yes!" said Ernst. "You are right. Your heart must be +with your own. But you don't seem like a Russian, or I would not be +helping you."</p> + +<p>Then Fred was off, going on his way into the darkness alone. Ernst had +told him which road to follow, telling him that if he stuck to it he +would not be likely to run into any tr<a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a>oop movements.</p> + +<p>"Don't see too much. That is a good rule for one who is in a country at +war," he had advised. "If you know nothing, you cannot tell the enemy +anything useful, and there will be less reason for our people to make +trouble for you. Your only real danger lies in being taken for a spy. +And if you are careful not to learn things, that will not be a very +great one."</p> + +<p>Fred was not at all afraid, as a matter of fact, as he set out. Before +he had stepped across the mark that stood for the border he had been +hugely depressed. He had been friendless and alone. He had been worse +than friendless, indeed, since the only man for many miles about who +knew him was his bitter enemy. Now he had found that he could still +inspire a man like Ernst with belief in his truthfulness and honesty, +and the knowledge did him a lot of good. And then, of course, he had +another excellent reason for not being afraid. He was entirely ignorant +of the particular dangers that were ahead of him. He had no conception +at all of what lay before him, and it does not require bravery not to +fear a danger the very existence of which one is entirely without +knowledge.</p><p><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a></p> + +<p>The idea of walking all through the summer night, as Ernst had advised +him to do, did not seem bad to him at all. As a scout at home, he had +taken part in many a hike, and if few of them had been at night, he was +still thoroughly accustomed to being out-of-doors, without even the +shelter of a tent or a lean-to. Nor was he afraid of losing his way, for +as long as the stars shone above, as they did brilliantly now, he had a +sure guide.</p> + +<p>Fred wasn't tired, for he had enraged Suvaroff, who had seemingly wanted +him to be frightened, by sleeping during the journey to Virballen +whenever he could. It had been comfortable enough on the train; he had +not been treated as a prisoner, but as a guest. And he had, as a matter +of fact, been aroused only an hour before the train had reached the +frontier.</p> + +<p>So he had been able to start out boldly and confidently. In the country +through which he was now tramping the nights are cool in summer, but the +days are very hot. So Fred had made up his mind, as soon as he +understood that he had a good deal of walking before him, to do as much +of his traveling as was possible by night,<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a> and to sleep during the day. +In East Prussia, as in some parts of Canada, the summer is short and +hot; the winter long and cold.</p> + +<p>There was nothing about the silent countryside, as he tramped along an +excellent road, to make him think of war. The fields about him seemed to +be planted less with grain; they were very largely used for pasture, and +he saw a good many horses. He remembered now that this was the great +horse breeding district of Germany. Here there were great estates with +many acres of rolling land on which great numbers of horses were bred. +It was here, he knew, that the German army, needing great numbers of +horses every year, found its mounts.</p> + +<p>"They'll need more than ever now," he thought to himself. "If there's +really to be war, I suppose they'll take every horse that's able to work +at all, whether it's a good looking beast or not. Poor horses! They +don't have much chance, I guess."</p> + +<p>He thought of the Cossacks he had seen in Russia, wiry, small men, in +the main, mounted on shaggy, strong, little horses, no bigger in reality +than ponies. He had heard of the prowess of the Cossacks, of course. +They had fought well in the past in a good many wars. But somehow it +seemed rather absurd to match them,<a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a> with their undersized horses, +against magnificent specimens of men and horseflesh such as the German +cavalry. He had passed a squadron of Uhlans, near Virballen, outlined +against the sky. They had been grim and business-like in appearance. But +then the Cossacks were that, too, though in an entirely different way.</p> + +<p>"I wish I had someone along!" he thought, at last.</p> + +<p>That was when the dawn was beginning to break. Off to the east the sun +was beginning to rise, and in the grey half light before full day there +was something stark and gaunt about the country. Before him smoke was +rising, probably from a village. But that sign of human habitation, that +certain indication that people were near, somehow only made him feel +lonelier than he had been in the starlit darkness of the night. This +would be good enough fun, if only one of his many friends back home were +along—Jack French, or Steve Vedder. It was with them that he had +shared such adventures in the past. And yet not just such adventures, +either. This was more real than anything his adventures as a Boy Scout +had brought him, though he belonged to a patrol that got in a lot of +outdoor work, and that camped out every summer in a practical way.</p> +<p><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a></p> +<p>Being alone took some of the zest out of what had seemed, once +Lieutenant Ernst's loan had saved him from his most pressing worry, +likely to be a bully adventure. Now it seemed rather flat and stale. But +that was partly because having tramped all night, he was really +beginning to be tired. So he went on to the village, and there he found +a little inn, where he got a good breakfast and a bed, in which, as soon +as he had eaten his meal, he was sound asleep.</p> + +<p>Few men were about the village when he went in. He had noticed, however, +the curious little throng, early as it was, about a bulletin ominously +headed, "Kriegzustand!" That meant mobilization and war. The men had +answered the call already, all except those who were too old to spring +to arms at once. Some of the older ones, he knew, would be called out, +too, for garrison duty, so that younger men might go to the front.</p> + +<p>In his sleep he had many dreams, but the most insistent one was made up +of the tramp of heavy feet and the blowing of bugles and the rattling of +horses' feet. And this wasn't a dream at all, for when he awoke it was +to find a soldier shaking him roughly by the shoulders, and ordering him +to get up. And outside were all the sounds of his dream. The sun was +high for he had been asleep for several ho<a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a>urs. So he got up willingly +enough, and hurried his dressing because he remembered what Ernst had +told him. Then he followed the soldier downstairs, and found himself the +prisoner in an impromptu sort of court-martial.</p> + +<p>Really, it wasn't as bad as that. Considering that he had no passports +and nothing, in fact, to show who he was, and that no responsible person +could vouch for him, he was very lucky. It was because he was a boy, and +obviously an American boy, that he got off so easily. For after he had +answered a few questions, a major explained the situation to him very +punctiliously.</p> + +<p>"You must be detained here for two or three days," said the major. "This +is an important concentration district, and many things will happen that +no foreigner can be allowed to see. We believe absolutely that you are +not unfriendly, and that you have no intention of reporting anything you +might chance to learn to an enemy. But in time of war we may not take +any risks, and you will, therefore, be required to remain in this +village under observation.</p> + +<p>"Within the village limits you will be as free as if you were at home, +in your own country. You will not be allowed to pass them, however, and +if you try to do so a sentry will shoot you. As soon as certain +movements are completed, you will be at liberty to pass on, on your way +to Koenigsberg. I will add to Lieut<a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>enant Ernst's advice. When you reach +Koenigsberg, after you have reported yourself to the police, wait there +until a train can take you to Berlin. It will mean only a few days of +waiting, for at Koenigsberg there are already many refugees, and the +authorities want to get them to Berlin as soon as the movements of troop +trains allow the railway to be reopened for passenger traffic."</p> + +<p>Fred agreed to all this. There was nothing else for him to do, for one +thing, and, for another, he was by no means unwilling to see whatever +there might be to be seen here. He could guess by this time that without +any design he had stumbled on a spot that was reckoned rather important +by the Germans, for the time being at least, and he had heard enough +about the wonderful efficiency of the German army to be anxious to see +that mighty machine in the act of getting ready to move.</p> + +<p>He did see a good deal, as a matter of fact, that day and the next. It +was on the famous Saturday night of the first of August that he had left +Virballen. Sunday brought news of a clash with France, far away on the +western border, and of the German invasion of Belgium. Monday brought +word of a definite declaration of war betw<a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>een Germany and France, and +of the growing danger that England, too, might be involved.</p> + +<p>And all of Sunday and all of Monday supplies of all sorts poured through +the little village in an unceasing stream. Motor cars and trucks were to +be seen in abundance, and Fred caught his first glimpse, which was not +to be his last, of the wonderful German field kitchens, in the mighty +ovens of which huge loaves of bread were being baked even while the +whole clumsy looking apparatus was on the move. But it only looked +clumsy. Like everything else about the German army, this was a practical +and efficient, well tried device.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly, early on Tuesday, he was told that he was free to go, or +would be by nightfall. And that day all signs of the German army, save a +small force of Uhlans, vanished from the village. That evening,<a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a> +refreshed and ready for the road again, Fred set out. And that same +evening, though he did not know it until the next day, England entered +the war against Germany.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<p>A STRANGE MEETING</p> + + +<p>As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the +country. It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier +guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its +twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding. +That was part of war, the part of war that he had been able to foresee. +It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so +much as a sort of thickening of the country. Though he had traveled so<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a> +short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people +about.</p> + +<p>Great houses, rising on high ground, with small, contented looking +villages nestling, as it were, under their protection, were frequent. He +was, as a matter of fact, in a country of great aristocratic +landholders, the great nobles of Prussia, the men who are the real +rulers of the country, under the Prussian King, who is also the German +Kaiser. And in many of these great houses lights were burning, even +after midnight, when all signs of life in the villages had ceased. The +country was stirring, and there was more of it to stir. Now from time to +time he heard the throbbing hum of an automobile motor. Only one or two +of these passed him, going in either direction, on the road along which +he was traveling. But there were parallel roads, and he could hear the +throbbing motors on these, and often see the pointing shafts of light +from their lights, searching out the road before them as they sped +along.</p> + +<p>Fred knew enough of Germany to understand something of what he saw and +heard. It was from these great houses that a great many officers were<a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a> +contributed to the army. These young men had no real career before them +from their birth, almost, except in the army. So it was easy to guess +why the lights were burning in those mansions, and why there was anxiety +among them, and why the throbbing motor cars were humming over the +roads.</p> + +<p>If Germany were beaten back in the beginning, if the task she had +undertaken proved too heavy, this was the province that was sure to feel +the first brunt of invasion. Behind him, to the east, Fred knew were the +great masses of Russia, moving slowly, but with a terrible, always +increasing force. No wonder these people were stirring, were sending out +all their men to drive back the huge power that lay so near them, a +constant menace!</p> + +<p>But now, though he did not know it, Fred was approaching real danger for +the first time. Many of the motors he saw and heard were going west. +Though he could not guess it, they were carrying women and children away +from the old houses that were too much exposed, too directly in the path +of a possible invasion for the helpless ones to be left in them when the +men had gone to fight. All Germany had to be defended. It happened to be +the part of East Prussia to bear invasion, if it came to that.</p><p><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a></p> + +<p>And so the people of the great houses were making their migration. The +men went to their regiments; the women to Berlin, and to the great +fortresses that lay nearer than Berlin—Koenigsberg, Danzig, Thorn. This +was historic country that Fred was traversing, the same country that had +trembled beneath the thundering march of Napoleon's grand army more than +a hundred years before, when the great Emperor had launched the mad +adventure against Russia that had sealed his fate.</p> + +<p>But he didn't think of these things, except of Napoleon, as he trudged +along. Once more he traveled through the night. Once more, as the first +signs of morning came, he began to feel tired, and, despite the food he +had carried with him which he had stopped to eat about midnight, he was +hungry. And, as had been the case on the night of his tramp from +Virballen, the first rays of the rising sun showed him a village. It was +in a hollow, and above it the ground rose <a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>sharply to a large house, +evidently very old, built of a grey stone that had been weathered by the +winds and rains of centuries. It was a very old house, and strangely +out of tune, it seemed to Fred, with the country though not with the +times. It was so old that it showed some traces of fortification, and +Fred knew how long it was since private houses had been built with any +view to defence. It was a survivor of the days when this whole region +had been an outpost of civilization against hordes of barbarian +invaders.</p> + +<p>One curious thing he noticed at once about the great house. No flag was +flying from it, though it boasted a sort of turret from which a flag +might well have been flung out to the wind. All the other big houses he +had seen had had flags out and the absence of a standard here seemed +significant, somehow.</p> + +<p>When he entered the village he found that there was no inn. He saw the +usual notice of mobilization and the proclamation of war, but the people +were not stirring yet. He had to wait for some time before he found a +house where people were up. They looked at him curiously, but grudgingly +consented to give him breakfast. There was an old man, and another who<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a> +was younger, but crippled. And this cripple was the one who seemed most +puzzled by Fred's appearance in the place. He surveyed him closely and +twice Fred caught him whispering, evidently about him.</p> + +<p>Then the cripple slipped away and came back, just as Fred was finishing +his meal, with a pompous looking, superannuated policeman, recalled to +duty since the younger men had all gone to war. This man asked many +questions which Fred answered.</p> + +<p>"You are American?" asked the policeman, finally. "You are sure you are +not English?"</p> + +<p>All at once the truth came over Fred. They thought he was English! Then +England must have entered the war! They would think that he was an +enemy, perhaps a spy! Yet, though he knew now the cause of the +suspicious looks, the mutterings, he couldn't utter a word in his +defence. He hadn't been formally accused of anything.</p><p><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a></p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm an American," he said, quietly. "I'm not English. I've no +English blood in me."</p> + +<p>He had intended to try to get a place to sleep in the village, but now +he decided that it would be better to get away as soon as he could. If +there had been soldiers about, or any really responsible police +officials, he would not have been at all disturbed. But these people +were nervous and ignorant; the best men of the place had gone, the ones +most likely to have a good understanding. So he paid his little +reckoning, and started to walk on.</p> + +<p>They followed him as he started. As soon as he was in the open road +again, a new idea came to him. Why not try the great house on the hill? +There certainly someone would know the difference between an American +and an Englishman. He was very tired. He knew that, even if he went on,<a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a> +he would have to stop at some village sooner or later. And if he was +suspected here, he would be at the next place.</p> + +<p>And so, trying to ignore the little crowd that was following him, he +turned off and began climbing toward the mansion above the village.</p> + +<p>It was like a signal. From behind him there rose a dull murmur. A lad +not much older than himself raced up and stood threateningly in his +path.</p> + +<p>"If you are an American and honest, why are you going there?" asked this +boy, a peasant, and rather stupid in his appearance.</p> + +<p>"None of your business!" said Fred, aroused. He didn't think that the +advice of his friend Lieutenant Ernst to answer questions covered this.</p> + +<p>"You can't go there. There are spies enough there already!" cried t<a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>he +other.</p> + +<p>And then without any warning, he lunged forward and tried to grapple +with Fred.</p> + +<p>That aroused all the primitive fight in Fred. He met the attack joyously +for wrestling was something he understood very well. And in a moment he +had pinned the peasant boy, strong as he was, to the earth.</p> + +<p>But he had got rid of one opponent only to have a dozen others spring +up. There was a throng about him as he shook himself free, a throng +that closed in, shouting, cursing. For a moment things looked serious. +Fred now understood these people thought he was a spy. And he could +guess that it would go hard with him if he didn't get away. He forgot +everything but that, and he fought hard and well to make good his +escape. But they were too many for him. Try as he would, he couldn't get +clear, although he put up a fight that must have been a tremendous<a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a> +surprise to his assailants. In the end, though, they got him down, with +cries of triumph.</p> + +<p>And then there came a sudden diversion from outside the mob. Down the +road from the great house, shrieking a warning, came a flying motor car. +Its siren sounded quick, angry blasts, and the mob, terrified, broke and +scattered to get out of the way of the car. Fred, stupefied, didn't run. +He had to jump quickly to one side to get out of the car's path. Then he +saw that it was slowing down, and that it was driven by a boy of his own +age. This boy leaned toward him.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to turn and go back. Jump aboard as I come by—I won't be +going very fast!" he cried.</p> + +<p>Fred didn't stop to argue or to wonder why this stranger had come to his +aid in such a sensational and timely fashion. Instead, he gathered +himself together and, as the car swung about and passed him, leaped in. +As he grasped the seat, the driver shot the car forward and it went<a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a> +roaring up the hill, pursued by a chorus of angry cries from the crowd, +utterly balked of its prey.</p> + +<p>"That was a close call for you!" said the driver, in German.</p> + +<p>But something in his tone made Fred look at him sharply. And then part +of the mystery was solved. For the driver was not a German at all, but +plainly and unmistakably a Russian.</p> + +<p>"Yes—but how—why—?"</p> + +<p>"Wait! Don't talk now!" said the driver. "Wait till we're inside. We'll +be all right there, and I've got a few questions I'd like to ask, too."</p> + +<p>There was no more danger from the mob of villagers, however. The speed +of the car, even on the steep grade, was too great to give pursuers on +foot a chance, and so its driver was able, in a few moments, to drive it<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a> +through great open gates into a huge courtyard.</p> + +<p>"Now who are you?" he asked. "And why were those people attacking you?"</p> + +<p>"They thought I was English," said Fred. "I suppose England must have +declared war on Germany, too."</p> + +<p>"She has. Aren't you English, then?"</p> + +<p>"No, I'm American. My name's Fred Waring. You're a Russian, aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. My name's Boris Suvaroff. This is a summer place my father owns +here. He's away. I'm glad of that, because the Germans would have taken +him prisoner if he'd been here."</p> + +<p>For just a moment neither seemed to catch the other's name. Then the +Russian boy spoke.</p> + +<p>"Fred Waring—an American?" he said. "I—is it possible? I've got a +cousin called Waring in America! My father's first cousin married an +American of that name years and years ago."</p> +<p><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a></p> +<p>"She was a Suvaroff—my mother," said Fred, but he spoke stiffly. "Her +family here disowned her—"</p> + +<p>"Some of them—only some of them," said Boris. "Are you really my +cousin? My father wrote to your mother long ago—but he got no answer! +He has often told me of her. He was very fond of her! Are you really my +cousin?"</p> + +<p>"I guess I am!" said Fred. "I'm glad to know that some of you will own +me! My uncle Mikail had me arrested when I went to see him in +Petersburg!"</p> + +<p>And then while they learned about one another, the two of them forgot +the war and the danger in which they stood.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p>COUSINS</p> + + +<p>"So you have seen Mikail Suvaroff!" said Boris. He shook his head. "We +have seen little of him in the last few years. He and my father do not +agree. Mikail is on the side of the men about the Czar who want no +changes, who want to see the people crushed and kept down. My father +wants a new Russia, with all the people happier and stronger."</p> + +<p>"Then I should think they wouldn't agree," said Fred, heartily. "Mikail +is like the Russians one reads about, dark and mysterious, and always +sending people to Siberia and that sort of thing."</p> + +<p>"It isn't as bad as that, of course," said Boris, with a laugh. "Russia +isn't like other countries, but we're not such barbarians as some people +try to make out. Still, of course, there are a lot of things that ought +to be changed. Russia has been apart from the rest of the world because +she's so big and independent. That's why t<a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a>here are two parties, the +conservatives and the liberals. My father is all for the Czar, but he +wants the Czar to govern through the men the people elect to the Duma. +After this war—well, we shall see! There will be many changes, I think. +You see, this time it is all Russia that fights. Against Japan we were +not united. It is the Russian people who have made this war."</p> + +<p>"I only knew there was danger of war the night it began," said Fred. "I +suppose it is on account of Servia, though?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. That started it. They are Slavs, like ourselves. It is as it was +when we fought Turkey nearly forty years ago. The Turks were murdering +Slavs in the Balkans, and all our people called on the Czar to fight. +This time we could not let Austria bully a nation that is almost like a +little brother to Russia."</p> + +<p>"I can understand that," said Fred. "I suppose there's enough of the +Slav in me, from my mother, to make me feel like that, too."</p><p><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a></p> + +<p>"Even after the way Mikail treated you? Tell me about that. Why did he +behave so, though I suppose you may not know?"</p> + +<p>"I don't, really. My father is dead, you know. I and my mother are +alone. She has always loved Russia, though she calls herself an +American, and is one, and has always made me understand that I am an +American, before all. But she has taught me to love Russia, too. And she +has always told me that there were estates in Russia that belonged to +her, and would belong to me. She and my father were angry and hurt +because of the way her family treated them, but she said that some time +she wanted me to take possession of the estate, and to live for a little +time each year in Russia. She said that the peasants on the place would +be better off if I did that."</p> +<p><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a></p> +<p>"Yes," Boris nodded. "That is what those who criticise us do not always +remember. Russian nobles do look after their peasants. The peasants in +Russia have not had the advantages of the poor in other countries. They +are like children still. My father is a father to all the people on our +estate. When they are sick, he sees that they are cared for. If there +are bad crops, he gives them food and money. We must all do such +things."</p> + +<p>"That's what she told me. Well, she wrote letters and she could get no +answers. So she decided to come herself. But she was taken ill. Not +seriously, but ill enough so that the doctor did not want her to travel. +And that was why I came. I went to my uncle, because he was in charge of +her affairs. And then, though he was kind enough when I first saw him, +and promised to help me, I was arrested. All my papers were taken away, +and all my money. And he brought me to Virballen, after I had been kept +in a sort of prison for three or four weeks. There I was taken off the +train for Berlin and put across the border, without any money or +passports. The German lieutenant himself w<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a>as going to send me to Berlin, +but then the news came that war had been declared, and he advised me to +walk. I was held up at the first village I came to, and I got as far as +this. You saw what happened here in this little village."</p> + +<p>"That is very, very strange," said Boris, vastly puzzled. "Do you know +what charge was made against you?"</p> + +<p>"No! Some tommyrot about a conspiracy against the Czar. But just what it +was I was never told. I am forbidden to re-enter Russia."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand at all," said Boris. "Mikail can't want to keep your +mother's property for himself. He is a very rich man—by far the richest +of the family, though none of the Suvaroffs are poor. And I know about +your mother's lands, because they are next to our own."</p> + +<p>"The money that comes from them has always been sent to her," said Fred. +"That was what I was thinking of, too. There was no trouble, you see, +until it seemed that we might want to live on the place from time to +time."</p><p><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a></p> + +<p>"Yes. My father has had something to do with the arrangements. Your +mother is well off, even without her own property, isn't she?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. My father was not a millionaire, but he always had plenty," +answered Fred, very frankly.</p> + +<p>"Mikail did hate the idea of her marriage," said Boris, reflectively. "I +could understand this better if I thought that he was trying to keep her +inheritance from her to show his dislike. But it cannot be that. There +is something very mysterious. I wish my father were here! I think +perhaps he would understand."</p> + +<p>"Where is he, Boris?"</p> + +<p>"With the army by this time! He did not believe there would be war, to +the very last. That is the only reason I am still here. But he himself +was called back as soon as things began to look serious. I stayed here +with my tutor but he is gone now. He is a German, and has been called +out. It is fortunate that my father had gone, because the Germans would +have held him, of course, if he had been here. They have come here thr<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>ee +or four times to look for him, but now I think they have decided that we +have told the truth, and that he is not here."</p> + +<p>"How did you happen to come to my aid in such a fashion? I was +beginning to think that I was in serious danger down there."</p> + +<p>"You were, Fred! They thought you were an English spy. And they hate the +English worse than they do us, I think. They have thought that the +English should be on their side. When they found it could not be so, +they thought that at least England would be afraid to fight."</p> + +<p>"I see that. But you—what brought you out?"</p> + +<p>"I know those people. And when I saw that they were attacking someone, +it seemed to me that I couldn't just stand by and look on. It was sure +to be someone on my own side that they were treating so—the cowards! +But a mob is always cowardly. And, of course, I knew that I could manage +easily with the automobile. They were sure to scatter when they saw it +coming, because they are afraid of motors, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Well, you can belittle it as much as you like, but you certainly saved<a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a> +me from an awfully nasty situation. And you didn't know who I was, +either!"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't, of course. But it makes me feel all the better to find +out it was you, Fred. Still you know we're not out of the woods yet."</p> + +<p>"We're all right here, aren't we?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I think the Russians will be in East Prussia, and well +in, before very long. If that happens and the German army is pushed back +of this line, these people will be entirely out of control, except if +Russian troops happen to come to this particular spot—and there's no +especial reason why they should."</p> + +<p>"You mean they might attack the house?"</p> + +<p>"They might do anything, especially if the war seems to be going against +them. They're good enough people, as a rule, but in times like these<a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a> +there's no telling what will happen."</p> + +<p>"I hadn't thought of that. But—yes, you're right, of course. What do +you think we'd better do, Boris?"</p> + +<p>"There's nothing to be done at once. We've got to wait a little while, +and let the situation develop. If we tried to get away now, it would be +very risky indeed, I think. You see, between us and the Russian border +there are a lot of German troops. And, even if you went back now toward +Koenigsberg and Berlin, I'm afraid you'd have a hard time. You see, you +haven't any passport. And you're partly Russian. Then you've been here, +and they'd know that. I'm afraid you'd stand a good chance of being +locked up. Tell me just what happened at Virballen."</p> + +<p>Fred told him all that he could remember, and Boris frowned.</p> + +<p>"Ernst will make a report, you see," he said. "I'm afraid they'll be +looking for you. It makes it look as if you were in a bad hole."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean? There's nothing in what happened there to interest +Germany, is there?"</p><p><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a></p> + +<p>"If things had been normal that night, you'd have found out what there +was, I can tell you! You see the Russian and the German secret police +work together very well. It's all right when they're looking for +nihilists and violent revolutionaries—the sort of people who would +think it a great thing to assassinate either the Kaiser or the Czar. +But the trouble is that if a big man in either Germany or Russia has a +grudge against someone, he can use that whole secret police machinery +against him. That's what Mikail Suvaroff was doing to you."</p> + +<p>"But the Germans?"</p> + +<p>"He would have seen to it, I suppose, that the secret police on our side +told the Germans here some cock and bull story—enough to induce them to +make it unpleasant for you. That was arranged in advance probably. Right +there on the border, with war starting, those fellows lost their +importance. The soldiers, like Ernst, were in full command. But they'll +be as busy and as active as ever a little way behind the fighting line, +looking for spies. They'll remember what the Russians had to say about +you, and they'll decide that you're a suspicious character, and lock you +up in some fortress till the war's over!"</p> + +<p>"Gee! That's a nice prospect! Say, Boris, <a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a>what am I to do? If I go to +Berlin, I'll be arrested! If I go back to Russia, my uncle will +probably have me boiled in oil or something! If I stay here, your +peasant friends down below will lynch me! I'm beginning to think I'm not +popular around here!"</p> + +<p>Boris laughed, but his eyes were grave.</p> + +<p>"It's a ridiculous situation," he said. "I don't really know what to +say. I don't believe you need to fear Mikail very much. He has a good +deal to think of by this time, because, now that the war has come, he +won't have time for intrigue. He's a first-class soldier. He made a +splendid record in the war with Japan—and not many of our generals did, +you know. But I tell you what I think we'd better do. Wait here until we +hear from my father. He will know. And when he learns that you are here, +he will be able to protect you in some fashion."</p> + +<p>"But how are you going to hear from him here?"</p> + +<p>"That's a secret—yet! But there's a way, never fear. A way that the +Germans don't suspect, and won't be able to interfere with. Tell m<a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>e, +Fred. If it is safe for you to go back into Russia, will you stand by +me? Or would you rather take your chance of going home through Germany? +I'm a Boy Scout, and we have known for a long time some of the work we +would have to do if war came."</p> + +<p>"I'm with Russia, even if America stays out," said Fred, with instant +decision. "Blood's thicker than water—you know the old saying. And I am +half a Russian. If there's any way that I can help, you can count me in. +I'm a Boy Scout, too, when it comes to that. I didn't know there were +any in Russia, though."</p> + +<p>"There are. They're all over Europe now, you know. Well, we'll see. +What's this?"</p> + +<p>A servant had entered.</p> + +<p>"There is a man who would see you, Boris Petrovitch," he said, using the +familiar address of Russian servants.</p> +<p><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<p>THE GERMANS</p> + + +<p>Boris jumped up.</p> + +<p>"That is good!" he said. "I have been hoping he would come."</p> + +<p>"You do not know who it is," said the servant. "Boris Petrovitch, do not +see this man. He is a German. He looks to me like one of their spies."</p> + +<p>"I will look at him first," said Boris, with a smile. "But, Vladimir, I +think your eyes are getting feeble. It is time you were sent to the +place in the Crimea to rest, like the old horses that can no longer do +their share of the work."</p><p><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a></p> + +<p>Vladimir bridled indignantly. But then a slow smile came over his face.</p> + +<p>"Is it Ivan?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"It should be," said Boris. "I shall know as soon as I see him."</p> + +<p>The newcomer was waiting in the great hall. Boris, with Fred at his +heels, got a glimpse of him; then without ceremony he ran down the +polished staircase.</p> + +<p>"So you have come at last!" he cried.</p> + +<p>Ivan was a loutish German in appearance, and only his eyes betrayed the +fact that he was not as stupid as he looked. At the sight of Boris he +smiled, and the act changed his whole expression. But Fred thought he +had never dreamed of so splendid a disguis<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a>e. This man, he guessed, must +have come many miles through Germany, in a country where the closest +possible watch was being kept for spies, and for all, indeed, who might +even be suspected of espionage. And it was easy to see how he had been +able to do it. Fred knew that he must be a Russian. Yet in every detail +of his appearance he was German. His clothes, his bearing, his every +little mannerism, were carefully studied. Fred guessed that this was no +servant, but a secret agent of much skill and experience. He was to +learn the truth of his surmise before many days had passed.</p> + +<p>"Ivan Feodorovitch!" said Boris. "So you really got through! Have you +brought the—"</p> + +<p>He stopped at a forbidding look in the man's eye. For a moment he seemed +to be puzzled. Then he understood that it was the presence of Fred, a +stranger, that was bothering Ivan.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" he cried, with a laugh. "Ivan, you m<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a>ay speak before this stranger +as freely as before me. Let him be a stranger to you no longer. He is my +cousin from America—the son of Marie Feodorovna, who went away to be +married before I was born!"</p> + +<p>Fred was not prepared for what followed. There was an outcry, first of +all, from the half dozen servants in the great hall. They crowded +forward curiously to look at him. And as for Ivan, he stared blankly for +a moment, and then plumped down on one knee and, to Fred's unspeakable +embarrassment, seized his hand and kissed it.</p> + +<p>"He and all of them are old, old retainers of our house," Boris +explained swiftly. "To them one of our blood ranks second only to the +Czar himself. My father saw to it always that here we were surrounded +only by such faithful ones. These people and their ancestors before them +have been in the service of us and of our ancestors for many, many +generations—since before the freeing of the serfs, of course."</p> + +<p>It was Boris who brought Ivan back to the errand that had caused his +sudden appearance.</p> + +<p>"Have you brought the parts for the wireless?" he asked. "It was as my<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a> +father foresaw. The first thing the Germans did was to come here and +render the installation useless, as they supposed."</p> + +<p>"It need not remain useless," said Ivan. "Everything needful I have +brought. The station may be working by to-night. Except that there can +not be anything worth sending for a few hours, it might be set up now. +Better not to use it and risk betraying our secret until there is real +need of it."</p> + +<p>Boris turned to Fred to explain.</p> + +<p>"We have spies all through East Prussia, and through Galicia and +Silesia, too, of course," he said. "They can find out a good many things +of interest and importance to our army. But it is one thing to obtain +such knowledge and quite another to find some means of sending it back +to our people. We hope, if we are not sent away from here too soon, that +we can make this house very useful that way. It stands high, you see, +and we have a very powerful wireless. The Germans knew this and they +thought they had made it useless."</p> +<p><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a></p> +<p>"Oh, that's great!" said Fred. "Perhaps I can help, too, because I can +send by wireless. I don't know whether I would be much good with the +Continental code, because I've learned only with Morse. But I might be +of some use."</p> + +<p>"Another operator will be of the greatest use," said Boris. "I know a +little, a very little, about it. And there is a man here. But I am +afraid that they will come very soon and take every man who is of +fighting age away."</p> + +<p>"But your men aren't soldiers!"</p> + +<p>"Most of them have served their term in the army. But, even if they had +not, the Germans would take every able-bodied man. That is all right. +We are probably keeping back all Germans who might go home and go into +the army, and all the other countries will do the same with men of a +nation with which they are at war."</p> + +<p>"Vladimir has all that I brought," said Ivan, breaking in now. "As for +me, I must go again."</p> +<p><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a></p> +<p>"Go? Now? Aren't you going to stay?"</p> + +<p>"No! I have much to do. I may be back. But if I return, I shall come +through the cellar—you understand? There are strange movements of +troops in this region that I cannot understand at all. There are far +fewer soldiers here than I thought there would be. I have not been able +to find traces of more than a single corps of Germans—and we had +expected them to have three or four, at the very least, concentrated in +East Prussia as soon as the war broke out. At Augustowo they were even +expecting an attack."</p> + +<p>"Then if there are so few as that, won't we advance?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, that I don't know! The Austrians, I hear, are very busy. They say +they are moving already in great strength across the border, but that is +far away from here, and it is not our concern. It is for us to keep the +Germans so busy here that they will not be able to crush France before +England can get her army into action. At the beginning it does not +matter so much whether we win victories or not, so long as we can force +the Germans to send many corps here instead of using them to invade +France. But I have talked enough. Now—good-bye, and may God be with you +here!"</p><p><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a></p> + +<p>"Good-bye," said Boris, and Fred repeated Ivan's wish in Russian. Ivan +seemed astonished.</p> + +<p>"So your mother taught you her mother tongue!" he said. "Ah, but that is +splendid!"</p> + +<p>Then he was off.</p> + +<p>"Ivan might have been a great actor, I believe," said Boris. "See, isn't +he the German to the life as he goes, there? No wonder he can deceive +them so!"</p> + +<p>"It's pretty dangerous work for him, though, I should think," said Fred. +"They wouldn't waste much time on him if they caught him, would they?"</p> + +<p>"Only the time they needed for a drumhead court-martial. After that, if +he was lucky, he would be shot instead of being hung. But he is ready, +you see. It is his part. Oh, we Russians are all united now, if we never<a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a> +were before! Germany has threatened us for years. She has set Austria +against us. This time we had to fight, and you will see that all Russia +will be behind the Czar. We learned our lessons against the Japanese. +That was not a popular war. It was not made by the people, but by a few +who forced the Czar's hand. Now we shall make the world see that though +Russia may be beaten, she has the power to rise from defeat."</p> + +<p>"What will happen here if they do take the men away?"</p> + +<p>"They won't take them all. Only the younger ones. There will be enough +left to look after the place and after us. Though if they come, I shall +have to hide you, my cousin! I am just thinking of that. I shouldn't +wonder if those stupid people would have sent word to someone. We had +better be prepared. Come with me—I will show you something."</p> + +<p>Fred followed Boris, and in a few minutes found himself in a great room +that was obviously the dining-room of the house. In this room there were +many pictures, and the walls were pane<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>lled in oak, blackened by smoke +and age. Boris looked about to make sure that they were not observed, +then he touched a spot in one of the panels, and it slid open. Beyond +this, however, was revealed an unbroken wall. Again Boris touched a +certain spot, and now this wall, seemingly solid and unbroken, gave way, +just as the oaken panel had done.</p> + +<p>"Even if they discovered the panel, you see, they would not have the +secret," said Boris. "I will show you the exact spots you must touch. +Then if they come, you can reach this place by yourself. Once in here, +you will be safe. Carry an electric torch always with you. I will give +you one later. You will find two sets of arrows marked every few feet +through the passages to which this leads. The upper ones point to the +outside door that is at the end of a passage far beyond the house. The +lower ones, if you follow their course, will bring you back to these +panels. So you cannot lose your way."</p> + +<p>"By George, that certainly sounds mysterious! Have you always planned +for something like this?"</p> +<p><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a></p> +<p>"Oh, these passages are very old. This house, you see, was built at a +time when intrigue was more common than now. But when my father began to +see, as he did years ago, that Germany was sure to force war upon us, +and that it would probably come in his lifetime, he made many changes. +This is not really a private house at all—it is a little outpost of +Russia, here in the midst of an enemy's country. And it is not the only +one. In Silesia and in Galicia we have places like it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the Germans will find that Russia is not so slow after all!"</p> + +<p>Outside now there rose a peculiar sound, but one that Fred identified +at once.</p> + +<p>"That sounds like your Germans coming now, Boris," he said, quietly. +"I've heard crowds making just that same noise at home—on election +night, for instance, when they were coming to make the winner give them +a speech."</p> + +<p>Boris listened for a moment, then he went to a window.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said. "But it's not the sort of Germans we need to worry +about. It's only the people from the village. Old men, and women, and +children—boys, of course. I'm surprised that they should come for they<a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a> +know they can't get in."</p> + +<p>But even as he spoke, there came a thunderous sound of knocking at the +outer door and the sharp grounding of arms—a noise as ominous as it was +unmistakable.</p> + +<p>"There are soldiers, too. They are here much sooner than I thought they +could come!" exclaimed Boris. "Here, into that passage with you! Listen! +Follow the arrows! They will lead you down. Stop at a double arrow. You +will be able to hear. The wall is very thin there, on purpose. You can +hear what is going on in the great hall and still be perfectly safe. +I'll come for you as soon as I can get rid of them."</p> + +<p>"All right. But will you be safe yourself? Oughtn't you to come with me, +Boris?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they won't do anything to me! I'm only a boy, you see. They'll +never think that I could be dangerous. In with you, now! We can't keep +the soldiers out. I don't want to give them an excuse for burning the +place down, and they'd do it in a minute if there was any resistance."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<p>THE TUNNEL</p> + + +<p>Fred found the secret passage much less confusing than he had thought it +likely to be. As soon as he had stepped in, the panels slid back into +place, and the passage was immediately dark. But Boris had had time to +find an electric torch for him, and had told him where to find +another—or two or three, for that matter—when that was exhausted.</p> + +<p>"We've always kept them there in case of emergencies," he had explained.</p> + +<p>So Fred had felt assured of a supply of light, which was the one +absolutely necessary thing if, as was entirely possible, the German +soldiers stayed in the house for any time. One other thing, of course, +was necessary; food and drink. And that, too, he knew where to find. +Boris had told him of a store of co<a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>mpressed foods, and of fresh water, +piped into this amazing passageway from the outer entrance, far beyond +the limits of the gardens and grounds of the house.</p> + +<p>The first thing Fred did was to switch on the light of his torch and +inspect the warren in which he had found sanctuary. It was not at all +the musty, bad smelling place he had expected it to be. The walls had +been plastered and stained a dull grey, which did not reflect the light +from his torch appreciably. The arrows appeared, as Boris had said they +did, at frequent intervals.</p> + +<p>"Not much of a secret." That was Fred's first thought. "But it needn't +be. The men who worked in here are the ones the family can trust +absolutely, I suppose."</p> + +<p>It gave Fred a certain thrill to feel himself in touch with such things, +to know that he belonged to such a family as the Suvaroffs, capable of +inspiring such devotion in its retainers—which, though Boris regarded +it as a matter of course, seemed a great thing to Fred, with his +American upbringing.</p> +<p><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a></p> +<p>"What a piece of luck!" he reflected. "Imagine my stumbling on such a +splendid fellow as Boris! If it hadn't been for all this trouble, I +might never have known I had a cousin! And he's the sort of cousin I +call worth having! He amounts to something—and I don't believe he's as +old as I am. Well, I've got to show him that an American scout can keep +up his end! I'll try to play the game with him."</p> + +<p>It made up for all the trouble he had had since he had first seen his +uncle. He was more puzzled than ever, after what Boris had told him, to +account for the behavior of Mikail Suvaroff.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet there's some explanation," he said to himself. "I certainly +hope so! Seeing Boris makes me inclined to like these Russian relatives +a whole lot, and I'd like to think that Uncle Mikail could square +himself somehow. He's got a whole lot to make up for, of course."</p> + +<p>Though he did feel that very strongly, he was able now to frame a +thought that had come to him more than once after he had become certain +that it was Prince Suvaroff who had caused his arrest. And that was +that Suvaroff had seemed far too big and important a man to do a small, +petty thing.</p> +<p><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a></p> +<p>"He's got a wrong idea of me, some way," Fred decided. "He has heard +something, or made up his mind to something that isn't so. Well, I hope +I get back to Russia and stay out of jail long enough to find out what +was wrong. Perhaps this war will make a difference, especially if I'm +lucky enough to be able do something for 'Holy Russia'."</p> + +<p>Fred moved along quietly while he was thinking of the extraordinary +sequence of events that had brought him to where he now was, flashing +his light on the arrows, and looking for the double mark that would show +him he had reached the spot of which Boris had told him. But when he got +there he had no need of any sign, for he could hear voices distinctly on +the other side of a very thin wall. Boris was speaking.</p> + +<p>"I'm so sorry, Herr Hauptmann," Boris was saying, in faultless German. +"I did see some of the peasants chivying a fellow down below. And I did +go out, of course, in my car, to see if I could help him. I got him away +from them. But he didn't come all the way back. He wanted to go on, and +it's not just the time I should choose for entertaining guests. So I +didn't urge him to stay."</p> +<p><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a></p> +<p>"I'm sorry to seem to doubt your word. In fact, Prince, I don't," said a +rumbling voice, that of the German captain Boris had been addressing, as +Fred could guess. "But was this person you rescued so—chivalrously—an +Englishman?"</p> + +<p>"I really don't know, Herr Hauptmann. He might have been. Or an +American. One or the other, I should think."</p> + +<p>"Clever Boris!" thought Fred. "He'll tell him some truth and some +fiction! He has got to deceive him, of course—that's war."</p> + +<p>"I have reason, Prince, to think that he was an English spy," the +captain went on. "You will allow my men to make a search? And, by the +way, I shall be sorry to take away your servants, but my orders are to +arrest and send to detention camps every man of military age I find +here."</p> + +<p>"I understand, captain. I am entirely in your hands, of course. I should +like to know if it will be possible for me to return soon to Russia?"</p> + +<p>"You must go to higher officers than mysel<a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a>f, Prince," said the captain. +"If it rested with me—! But, of course, it does not. If you see your +father soon, however, will you give him my compliments? And tell him +from me that I should esteem it an honor if we should meet in the +field?"</p> + +<p>"Gladly, captain. It is a pity that such good friends and neighbors as +we have all been must be enemies, is it not? But it was not our doing."</p> + +<p>Fred frowned a little.</p> + +<p>"That sounds rather bad," he said to himself. "If this captain has lived +near here, he must know a good deal about the place. And, by George, if +they make a search they will find the wireless machinery that Ivan +brought in with him! It may be a mighty bad thing for this house and for +Russia that Boris saw me and brought me in, though it was certainly +lucky for me!"</p> + +<p>But even then Fred did not guess the extent of the trouble he had really +caused. He listened intently, but for a time there was silence beyond +the wall. Then he heard a murmur of voices, and guessed that a report of +the search for him was being made. And then the captain's voice boomed +out.</p> +<p><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a></p> +<p>"Prince," he said, "I must ask you to come with me and to consider +yourself under arrest. It is very painful but those are my orders. +Colonel Goldapp wishes to see you. I think it is only a form."</p> + +<p>"What? You will take me away?" Fred caught the dismay in his cousin's +tone, and winced slightly. But then he understood that it was not fear +for himself that moved Boris, but anxiety lest the important plans of +which he was such an essential part should be spoiled. "But my +father—he thinks that I am safe here until he can make arrangements for +me to return to Russia."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry." The German's tone, gruff though it was, was by no means +unkindly. "Orders, however—I have no choice. Doubtless you will be +allowed to return as soon as the colonel has seen you."</p> + +<p>"Well, there is no use in arguing, of course," said Boris. He rais<a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>ed his +voice, and Fred understood that what followed was meant especially for +his ears. "Where will you take me, Herr Hauptmann?"</p> + +<p>"Colonel Goldapp's quarters are at present in the parsonage near the +village. You will be examined there, Prince. We shall be there to-night, +at least, perhaps longer."</p> + +<p>"I see. I will be ready in a few moments. Will you excuse me if I write +some instructions for Vladimir, who will be in charge after I go? You +may, of course, read what I write."</p> + +<p>"Assuredly."</p> + +<p>Then there was silence. The room outside was so quiet that Fred had a +chance to realize how perfectly the place in which he was hidden served +its purpose. He could hear the heavy breathing of someone near the +wall. Then a chair scraped along the floor<a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a>, and in a moment he heard the +scratching of a pen. And then there came a new sound, a tapping, as with +two fingers. That was Boris, and quite suddenly Fred understood. Boris +was tapping out a message to him in telegraphic code.</p> + +<p>"You must take charge here," Boris tapped with his fingers. "I will tell +Vladimir to get you as soon as it is safe. The parsonage where I will be +taken is very near the outlet of the secret passage. If Ivan returns, +tell him I am there, and that I will sing or whistle the song of the +Volga boatmen from time to time, so that he may know the window of my +room, if there is no guard in the room with me. Do not answer, for they +might hear."</p> + +<p>"Good boy! He certainly has nerve!" said Fred to himself, admiringly. +"He doesn't know what's going to happen to him next, but he is certainly +doing all he can to make things come right."</p> + +<p>Then there was a new confusion of noise outside. Fred heard Boris call +Vladimir and speak to the old servant in Russian. Then the German +officer gave Vladimir his instructions.</p><p><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a></p> + +<p>"This place will be left alone for the present," he said. "Prince +Alexander Suvaroff has been a good friend and neighbor, and, though he +is an enemy, we desire to respect his property as long as possible. But +neither you nor any who are left in the house with you must go out—this +for your own safety—except to get food and then go yourself."</p> + +<p>Fred heard a general movement then, and guessed that they were going +out. Silence followed, and, after listening for a time, he decided upon +an exploration of the secret passage. A vague plan was taking form in +his mind already. It seemed to him that, as he was at liberty, he should +do anything that was in his power to free Boris. Until he knew more of +the lay of the land, he could not even make a real plan, but it was +possible, he thought, that something that was in his mind might easily +prove to be feasible.</p> + +<p>It was easy, with his torch and the guiding arrows, to follow the +devious, winding course of the passage. He surmised that its ascents and +descents, which seemed arbitrary and unreasonable as he pursued them, +were due to other entrances than the one he knew. It would be necessary, +as he could understand, to have more than one means of getting in and<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a> +out of such a passage. And when he found himself at last going in a +straight path which sloped easily downward, he guessed that he was +beyond the house, and that he had come to a part of the passage that led +to the outer world.</p> + +<p>Here there was a trace of dampness, but nothing like what might have +been expected in what was really a tunnel. Fred had to admire the +excellence of the construction work. The descent, as he knew from what +he had seen outside, must really be very sharp. But it was managed here +with turns and zigzags so that the grade was never very sharp.</p> + +<p>Fred became suddenly conscious of a change in the air.</p> + +<p>"I must be near the opening," he thought.</p> + +<p>A couple of minutes proved that he was right. He now remembered that<a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a> +Boris had not had time to tell him how the door or gate was operated. +But he decided not to go back at once, but to try to discover the secret +for himself. It had occurred to him that it was more than probable that +a sentry or two might be left in the house, and he had no mind to stay +in the passageway, helpless and useless, if Vladimir found it impossible +to let him out at once.</p> + +<p>At the end of the passage he found a solid, seamless door. He decided at +once it must work on an axis of some sort and that it must be set in +motion by pressing a spring. And so, steadily and systematically, he +searched the whole door, until he struck the right spot at last. As the +door moved, he marked the spot with a tiny pencil mark. It swung +open—and he looked into the eyes of a startled German soldier, his +mouth wide open!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<p>A DARING RUSE</p> + + +<p>It would be hard to say which was more surprised—Fred or the soldier. +For just a moment they stood, both of them, perfectly still, staring at +one another with fallen jaws. And then Fred acted by pure instinct, and +without the semblance of a plan in his mind. He had played football in +school and on the team of his scout troop in America. And now he dived +for the astonished German's legs and brought him down with a flying +tackle. The heavy gun flew out of the soldier's hands, and, fortunately +for Fred, he fell so that his head struck the ground heavily. He was +stunned and, for the moment at least, safe and out of commission.</p> + +<p>There was time, therefore, for Fred to see how the ground lay. He found +that he was in a slight hollow, sandy in the bottom, where he stood and +the soldier lay. He imagined that at certain times this hollow might be +filled with water, for the sand had that appearance, and, moreover, +there was a gully, evidently washed out by water, leading down into the<a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a> +pit.</p> + +<p>"Wonder how long he's good for?" speculated Fred, looking at the +soldier. "A few minutes, anyhow. He got quite a bump!"</p> + +<p>He satisfied himself in a moment that the soldier was not badly hurt. He +was a ridiculous figure as he lay there sprawled out. His breathing was +heavy; it sounded almost like heavy snoring. He was very young, scarcely +more than a boy himself. His uniform was entirely new, as was his +equipment. He was very slight too, and his face was typical of a certain +sort of German. He looked, Fred thought, like a bird. It was a queer +idea, and he laughed as it came to him, but it did describe this German +absolutely.</p> + +<p>"I'll risk it," Fred decided. He hesitated about the door. Perhaps he +ought to close it. But if he did, he couldn't open it again from this +side for that was a secret he hadn't learned. And, after all, the only +danger was that the soldier might c<a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a>ome to his senses and go in—and if +he did that, Fred could follow him. So taking the rifle, he crawled +along the gully the rain had washed out, moving very cautiously. As he +neared the top, he lifted his head and saw, not more than fifty yards +away, a grey stone house, simple and unassuming. A flag pole had been +put up in front of this house, and a German flag drooped from it. +Soldiers were all about the place, and two automobiles stood before the +door. Motorcycles were lying on the ground. While Fred watched, two men +rode up on the snorting, crackling little machines and hurried into the +house.</p> + +<p>This was undoubtedly the parsonage, now being used as the headquarters +of Colonel Goldapp. Fred's heart sank as he surveyed the place. It +seemed to him that there wasn't much chance that he could rescue Boris. +There were too many Germans about. Even though there was no reason for +the staff to anticipate an attack, he could guess that the place would +be well guarded. And yet he was here because he hoped that he would be +able, after seeing the parsonage, to devise some plan of getting Boris +away.</p><p><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a></p> + +<p>However, that was something to be attempted later, if at all. His chief +concern now was for the soldier he had thrown. And now he made his way +back, and found to his dismay that the man was beginning to recover his +senses. As Fred came back he stretched, yawned, and sat up, with the +most ludicrous mixture of fright and wonder in his eyes. Fred had his +gun, and at the sight of that the soldier spoke indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Give me back my gun!" he said, testily. "It is against the rules for +anyone to touch my gun. If you let the corporal catch you with that, +there'll be trouble. I promise you!"</p> + +<p>Fred had hard work to control his features. He wondered if the man was +really a little simple-minded, or if the effects of his fall still +confused him. He finally decided that both theories were right. For a +moment he hesitated, wondering what to do. He wanted to get back into +the passageway, and he did not want the German to see him doing it. As +he thought, he studied the entrance attentively. And he was startled +suddenly to find that he could not see<a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a> it! Had something happened? Had +the door closed automatically? If that were so, he was in a nice fix, +and he would soon join Boris as a prisoner.</p> + +<p>But then he realized that the seeming disappearance of the opening was +simply the result of clever screening, by means of bushes. It had +deceived him for the moment. He saw that the door was so contrived that +anyone emerging from it would seem to anyone even a few feet away, to be +simply coming out from behind a bush. And then he got his great idea, an +idea that made him turn his head, so that the soldier would not see the +grin he could not suppress.</p> + +<p>"Here, give me that gun!" said the soldier, again. He was more impatient +than before, and his tone was one of anger. He struggled to his feet, +too, and stood, swaying uncertainly, still weak and very dizzy as the +result of his fall.</p> + +<p>"Beware!"</p> + +<p>The word came in a sepulchral, heavy voice from directly behind the +soldier. He swung around, greatly puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Who's there?" he called, sharply.</p><p><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a></p> + +<p>"I am everywhere!" said the same voice.</p> + +<p>But now it came from the very ground at his feet.</p> + +<p>And then the voice spoke, swinging around, as the soldier turned, like a +dancing dervish, trying always to face the voice, only to have it come +from some new quarter.</p> + +<p>"Attend carefully to what I say!" said the mysterious voice. "You have +risked death by coming to this spot! But I am merciful, and I wish to +preserve all soldiers who fight for their fatherland! I am the spirit of +this place! I command you to go! Go up the gully. Stand with your back +turned to this place and count one hundred. Then, and only then, you may +return. Your gun will be here, and you may then go in peace. This ground +is sacred to me. On your life, when you have regained your gun, go! Do +not look back! Do not hesitate! And, above all, tell no one what you +have seen! I have spoken!"</p> + +<p>The soldier was trembling now in every limb. He looked hard at Fred, as<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a> +if he suspected that he might have something to do with this mysterious, +awesome voice. But Fred's lips had never moved. Fred, at home, had often +amused the guests of his family and the gatherings of the scout patrol +to which he belonged with this trick of ventriloquism. But the German +evidently had never heard of such a thing. And suddenly he broke into a +run. He made for the gully and ran along it with stumbling feet.</p> + +<p>"Now stop!" boomed the voice—directly in front of him! "Not a step +further! Begin to count aloud. But do not shout!"</p> + +<p>"Ein, zwei, drei, vier—" began the German, obediently.</p> + +<p>And Fred, half choking with suppressed laughter, slipped behind the +screened entrance of the secret passageway, while the soldier's back +was still turned. He did not quite close the door, but waited to make +sure that the German's curiosity did not get the better of his fright, +which had certainly been real enough. But it was all right. The man +counted right up to a hundred, and once or twice, to Fred's huge +amusement, when he stammered, and lost track of his numbers, he went +back and counted several of them over agai<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>n! But he finished at last, +and Fred heard him come stumbling down the gully. He seemed to hesitate +then.</p> + +<p>"May I really go now?" he asked. "I did not know there was a spirit +here, or I would not have come."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Go, and quickly!" said Fred, throwing his voice out so it came +from far above the soldier.</p> + +<p>He heard the soldier running then, and in a moment closed the door +behind him, and began retracing his steps along the secret tunnel.</p> + +<p>"Gee! That was a close call!" he said to himself. "Serves me good and +right, too, for doing more than I was told! I might have spoiled +everything by not waiting until I knew more about the place. If that +soldier hadn't been ready to see a ghost in anything he didn't have some +reason to expect to meet, I'd be in a lot of trouble now. And yet I'll +bet he's brave enough, too. If he had an enemy he could see and touch,<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a> +he'd fight all right."</p> + +<p>But Fred had more to think about now than what had happened, or what +might have happened, either. He was more interested in what was to come +next. He went along, flashing his torch. There was no sound at the thin +wall, where he stopped, when he reached it, to listen for the sound of +voices in the great hall. That encouraged him. He decided that if any +soldiers had been left on guard in the place, they would have been in +there. And when he came near to the panel by which he had entered, when +he let his torch wink out he saw that there was a light ahead of him.</p> + +<p>For a moment he caught his breath, wondering if some enemy had +discovered the secret, and was waiting to pounce on him. But he went on, +because he decided that if anyone were waiting they must know already +that he was in the tunnel. And in a moment he came face to face with old +Vladimir.</p><p><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a></p> + +<p>"The coast is clear, excellency," said the old Russian. "All the Germans +have gone—a curse upon them! My master has told me to treat you as if +you stood in his place until he returns. I have the things that Ivan +brought. Is it your pleasure that I should deliver them to you?"</p> + +<p>Fred was puzzled for a moment. Then he remembered the wireless.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, by all means!" he said. "And show me the room where the +wireless is. You know all about that, Vladimir?"</p> + +<p>"I know where it is. I do not understand such devil's work, but I am an +old man, and stupid."</p> + +<p>Fred laughed.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it's devil's work, but if we have any luck it will be pretty +useful to us," he said. "Come on, if it's safe for me to come out. +There's a lot for me to do."</p><p><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a></p> + +<p>Vladimir led the way to the top of the house. On the roof, like a +pent-house, there was a little room or cupola, and in this was a +partially dismantled wireless installation. Fred was left there alone +while Vladimir went off to get the things that Ivan had given to him for +safekeeping, and he studied the installation closely. It was different +from any that he had ever seen, but its leading principle, of course, +was familiar to him. At first it surprised him to find that it was +supplied with power by weak batteries, which the Germans had ruined.</p> + +<p>"You couldn't send more than twenty miles with those batteries!" he said +to himself.</p> + +<p>But when Vladimir returned that was explained. For he removed a picture +that hung on the wall and disclosed a number of wires.</p> + +<p>"I do not understand," he said. "But my master and Ivan have told me +that those wires that you see run down to a place far below the cellar, +where there is a great engine that moves when petrol is put into it—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see, a dynamo run by a Diesel engine, probably!" said Fred, +suddenly enlightened. "That's a fine idea! They can develop power +without steam! Costs a lot—but it's worth it, of course! I'll just t<a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>ry +that out!"</p> + +<p>Quickly he connected up the wires, tried out his key, after replacing +the parts that had been taken away, and in a moment got a powerful +spark.</p> + +<p>"That's great!" he said, to himself, ignoring old Vladimir, who watched +him in fascinated wonder. "I can send a long distance with that spark!"</p> + +<p>Then he pounced on something he had overlooked before,—a little book +bound in black leather. As he opened it, he gave an exclamation of joy. +It was a code book, as he saw at once, and on the inside of the cover +was a list of wireless stations, with their calls. There was one at +Virballen, he saw, and a dozen other places just over the border, and +running quite a distance into Russian territory, including one at +Augustowo, were named.</p> +<p><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a></p> +<p>"Ivan told me to guard that book as if it were my life," said Vladimir. +"He said to put it in a safe place, and to destroy it if the Germans +found it, even if they killed me for doing it."</p> + +<p>"He was right," said Fred, soberly. "If the Germans got that book, it +would be as valuable to them as a whole army, Vladimir."</p> + +<p>"It is very strange," said the old man. "I do not understand, but I am +old and stupid, and it is not for me to question my betters."</p> + +<p>Fred sat down and studied the code for a few moments. More than ever he +was glad now that his mother had always insisted that he must be able to +read and speak her Russian tongue. He would have to send in Morse, +instead of in the somewhat simpler Continental code, but that, he +thought, would make little difference. Some operator would be certain to +understand his sending.</p> + +<p>And now he sat down and began calling Suwalki. He would have liked to +call Virballen, which was nearer, but he w<a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>as not sure that the Russians +were still in possession of their station there, since he remembered +that the Germans had had the superior force there on the Saturday night +when the war broke out—a night that seemed to lie a century in the past +now!</p> + +<p>For a long minute he hammered out his call. And then through the air, +over miles of hostile country, came a welcome whisper in his ear—the +whisper of the answering call from Suwalki! He was in touch with Russia!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<p>WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES</p> +<p><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a></p> + +<p>For many reasons Fred did not want to hold a long talk with the Suwalki +operator. German wireless stations were undoubtedly at work in the +surrounding country, and, though there was no great danger that his +messages might be intercepted and read, it was not advisable, of course, +to let the Germans, who were sure to be watchful, know that there was a +private Russian station somewhere within German limits. The instruments +here were tuned to a certain wave length, and he guessed that this was +standard for all Russian military stations, and different from that of +the Germans. But when he held his circuit to listen he got whisperings +that sounded almost like static electricity. It was evident that a good +many stations were sending, and that the air all about was full of the +waves.</p> + +<p>So he contented himself with a brief and direct report of what had +happened, explaining why Boris was not himself present to make this +report. He asked for information as to the movements of the Russian +army, but got no satisfaction.</p> +<p><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a></p> +<p>"We don't know ourselves," said the Suwalki operator. "Things are moving +very fast, but absolutely no news is being given out. I know that our +cavalry—Cossacks, chiefly—have crossed the border at half a dozen +different points. The Germans and the Austrians have invaded Poland, and +our troops have all been withdrawn from that region. The concentration +there is going on at Brest-Litovsky, and behind the line of Warsaw-Novo +Georgevsk. But here there are a good many troops. There may be Cossacks +within a few miles of you. They are raiding. Here it is said that our +first move will be to try to cut the German railways."</p> + +<p>That was all he could find out. He arranged for word of Boris's seizure +to be sent to his father, and then closed his circuit and went below, in +search of old Vladimir.</p> + +<p>By now it was afternoon, and Fred began to think that if Boris had been +coming back that day he would have arrived already. Plainly, it seemed +to him, Colonel Goldapp must have decided to retain him as a p<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a>risoner. +He wanted to get down near the parsonage again, but he was afraid to +venture out by the secret passage. He didn't know how thoroughly he had +frightened the soldier who had so nearly caught him. If the man had +recovered his wits and decided that it was no ghost, but a very +substantial and real person who had bowled him over, there would +doubtless be a guard in the hollow, by the outer entrance of the tunnel. +And, in any case, it was too risky to seek egress by that means again in +broad daylight.</p> + +<p>"Vladimir," he said, when he found the old servant, "I want you to make +me look like a German, if you can. Disguise me, so that I may go down +toward the village safely. Is it possible?"</p> + +<p>Vladimir studied him for a moment.</p> + +<p>"I think so," he said. "There are plenty of clothes here, and there is +a man who has often helped when there were to be private theatricals."</p> + +<p>The transformation was soon completed, and when he looked at himself in +a glass Fred had to laugh. His clothes were those of a Prussian peasant, +and a few very slight changes in his appearance had been made by the man +to whom Vladimir had spoken. They worked wonders, and Fred decided that +he could go anywhere in Prussia now with impunity.</p> +<p><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a></p> +<p>"Is it safe for you to leave the house?" he asked Vladimir.</p> + +<p>"Yes, for they think that I am harmless," said the old man.</p> + +<p>"I wish to know how to open the door of the tunnel from the outside," +said Fred. "But I think it would be unsafe to go there directly. It will +be better for you to start out and get there as if you had gone by +chance. It is near the parsonage where my cousin is, and if anyone +questions you, you could say, I should think, that you wanted to be near +your master."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Vladimir. "That would be safe."</p> + +<p>"Then do you go there and stay, unless they drive you away. I will go +there, too, if I can, and if the coast is clear and no one is watching, +you can show me. Unless, indeed, you can tell me now?"</p> + +<p>"It will be better for me to show you," sa<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a>id Vladimir. "The looks of the +outside change constantly. A storm will destroy a bush, or some other +landmark there, and, though I could touch the proper spot in the +darkness myself, I would find it hard to describe it to you. I will +start at once?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. And I will come to you, if it is safe, as soon as I can. I should +not be more than ten minutes behind you in reaching the hollow."</p> + +<p>Nothing about the whole adventure upon which he had embarked so +strangely, and with so little intention on his own part, impressed Fred +more than the unquestioning obedience old Vladimir yielded to him. More +than ever before, he realized that the Suvaroffs must indeed be as great +a family as his mother had declared. Though she had become a true +American, Mrs. Waring had never ceased to love the land of her birth, +and she had always tried to impress Fred with her own feeling for the +great house to which she had belonged.</p> + +<p>"Such families as the Suvaroffs can do much harm to themselves and to +others," she had said. "But they can also be of great service to those +of their blood, to those who are dependent<a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a> upon them, and to their +country."</p> + +<p>The truth of this was constantly being impressed anew upon Fred at this +time. He was struck especially by the difference between the way that +the people of this house treated Boris and himself, and the attitude +that had been noticeable in those who had served his uncle, Mikail +Suvaroff. Mikail was decidedly a greater figure than Boris's father. Yet +it was not devotion that he seemed to inspire. He won obedience, not +because his people were devoted to him, but because he had filled them +with fear, and because they knew the consequences that would certainly +follow if he were displeased in any way.</p> + +<p>It was still light when Fred left the house. He went out by a side +entrance, reaching the road from the garden. Vladimir had gone down the +hill before him. It was understood that he would manufacture some errand +as an excuse for his appearance in the village. A number of the people +of the village were in the road near the great house; they stared at it +curiously, and with hostile murmurs. They paid no at<a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>tention to Fred, +however, and this convinced him that his disguise was good. He passed +near them, and he breathed more freely when he had gone by.</p> + +<p>At the foot of the hill he turned away from the village. Here he +remembered something that both amused and annoyed him. He had not asked +just where the parsonage was. He knew its location with reference to the +outer portal of the tunnel, to be sure, but he had come to that +underground. However, he remembered where the sun had been when he had +emerged into the open air before, and, after some profitless scouting +about, a passing motorcycle set him on the right track. It set him +thinking, too.</p> + +<p>"There are an awful lot of these fellows with dispatches running about," +he said to himself. "It seems to me that this place is more than a +colonel's headquarters. A colonel has just one regiment under him, and +he certainly wouldn't need so many riders to carry his orders +about—unless he were in command of a detached fort or position, and +Colonel Goldapp isn't. I guess he's there, right enough, but I've an +idea there's someone more important, as well. It might be worth while to +find out just what is going on around here."</p> + +<p>But that could wait. For the moment his task was to meet Vladimir and +then to spy out the parsonage. Meeting Vladimir proved easier than he<a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a> +had hoped. He followed the trail of the man on the motorcycle until he +was within sight of the grey stone parsonage, and then had his bearings +exactly. He approached the hollow cautiously, but no one was around. +The ground was fairly soft; there had been rain within the last three or +four days. And so, as he approached the spot of his encounter with the +superstitious soldier, Fred was able to tell that no visitation had been +made to the hollow. He marked the footsteps of the soldier; the man had +evidently run from the place.</p> + +<p>Looking around cautiously, he saw that everything was clear, and dropped +down on hands and knees as he reached the gully. Vladimir was waiting, +and in less than a minute explained the secret of the door.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Fred. "Now you get back to the house, and either be +near the entrance to the passage yourself, or keep someone stationed +there. I don't know what's going to happen, so I can't tell you, but I +think that maybe I shall get Boris away from the parsonage."</p> + +<p>Vladimir's eyes gleamed.</p><p><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a></p> + +<p>"I am an old man," he said, "and I fear that I am useless. But if I can +help to rescue him—"</p> + +<p>"If you can help, I'll let you know," said Fred. "But I don't know yet +even how I shall set about it. And I think it's more important for +someone we can trust absolutely to be in the house. There may be nothing +for you to do there, and yet, if anything does come up, you will be +needed there very quickly. Shall you go back through the tunnel?"</p> + +<p>"No. They may have watched me as I came out, and it will be better for +them to see me return. No one suspects the tunnel yet, but some of these +Germans are clever."</p> + +<p>"Right! Well, I know how to get into it now from this end, and that may +help a lot. But I hope that when I use it again Boris will be with me."</p> + +<p>He let old Vladimir go out first. Then, after waiting for several +minutes, he went up the gully in his turn, and set out boldly and with +no attempt to hide his movements, f<a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a>or the parsonage.</p> + +<p>There was even more activity there now than there had been when he had +first set eyes upon it. There were more automobiles; four of them +altogether. At the wheel of each sat a soldier driver in grey uniform, +and with a cloth covered helmet. Each car was of the same type, a long +rakish grey body, low to the ground. As he neared the house an officer +wearing a long, grey coat came out, accompanied by two or three younger +men. He turned to speak to them, then got into one of the cars, which +immediately drove off. As it went a peculiar call was sounded, more like +a trumpet than an automobile horn. Fred guessed then what he afterward +learned to be a fact; that the automobiles used by the German staff +officers on active service had horns that indicated the rank of the +officer using them.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Fred that there were more officers than soldiers about. +There seemed to be only enough soldiers to provide a guard. Sentries +were all about, but there were officers almost in swarms. He walked +along, indifferently rather than boldly, and he was sharply challenged<a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a> +when he drew fairly near to the house.</p> + +<p>"You can't go any further, youngster," said the soldier. "The staff has +taken this house."</p> + +<p>Fred stared at him rather stupidly, but turned away. Then he was called +back suddenly, and for a moment his heart was in his mouth at the +thought that his disguise had been penetrated and that he was about to +be made a prisoner. Like Boris, he was concerned only with the effect of +this upon his plans. He did not think of his own safety, although, had +he been caught, he might have expected the fate of a spy, since he was +in disguise within the German lines. It proved, however, that he was not +to be arrested. A young captain was eyeing him sharply.</p><p><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a></p> + +<p>"Come with me, boy," he said. "We are short of servants in the house +here. You will do."</p> + +<p>For a moment he was indignant, but then his heart leaped happily. If he +was taken into the house as a servant, he could find out all and more +than he had hoped, and that without risk.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<p>"THERES MANY A SLIP—"</p> + + +<p>Once inside the house, Fred found a scene of orderly confusion. That is, +it looked like confusion to him, but he could see that, for all the<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a> +bustling and the hurrying that went on, everyone knew just what his part +in the work was. Telephone bells were ringing all the time, and Fred +noticed now that wires entered the house through the dining-room window. +Evidently a field telephone system had been installed and connected this +house with a whole region, of which, in a military way, it seemed to be +the brain. Then Fred heard a voice that he recognized at once, and +started at the sound, until he placed it as that of the captain who had +taken Boris away, and remembered that the captain had not seen him, even +before he was disguised.</p> + +<p>Fred's work, he soon found, was simplicity itself. He was to do the +bidding of any officer. He was sent on errands, from one part of the +house to another; often he carried written messages, handed to him by +staff officers, to the room in which three telegraph operators were hard +at work. Generally speaking, he was there to do odd jobs and make +himself generally useful. Luckily, he was taken for granted. Everyone +seemed assured that he was one of the village boys, pressed into service +because he happened to be the first one to come along.</p> +<p><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a></p> +<p>But for the first hour or so it was impossible for him to make any +attempt to discover if Boris was still in the house. He was too busy, +and he dared not spoil his opportunity to learn something really worth +while by seeming to spy about. He was rewarded before long for his +patience, for just as he was beginning to despair, an officer spied him +in a moment when he was not actively engaged upon some errand.</p> + +<p>"Here, boy," called the officer, "take this tray!"</p> + +<p>Fred took a tray from a soldier who was holding it awkwardly.</p> + +<p>"Take it upstairs to the room on the third floor where a sentry is on +guard. He will let you in. When the prisoner there has finished his +meal, return with the tray to the kitchen. Do not let any knife or fork +or spoon stay in the room when you go. So you will make yourself really +useful and release a man who can do things for which you are too young."</p> + +<p>It seemed to Fred, as he started upstairs with his tray, that this luck<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a> +was almost too good to be true. He scarcely dared to hope for what had +seemed to him the inevitable explanation of his errand. But when the +sentry opened the door of the locked room, and he looked in, he saw +Boris sitting dejectedly on the side of a bed. It was all he could do to +suppress a cry of delight, but he managed it, and he was hugely tickled +as he saw Boris's indifferent glance at him. His disguise must be good, +or Boris would have known him. He put the tray down, and then walked to +the window. He looked down first, and then up. Then with a grin, he +turned to his cousin.</p> + +<p>"Not a word," he said, quickly. "Do you know me?"</p> + +<p>Boris stared; then a smile broke out all over his face. There was no +need for him to put his answer into words. Fred came very close.</p> + +<p>"Speak low, but do not whisper," he said. "Tell me, what have they done +to you?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing. Colonel Goldapp has been too busy to see me."</p> +<p><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a></p> +<p>"I don't wonder! Boris, this is no colonel's headquarters. It is more +like that of an army corps. And there is at least one general here. His +name is von Hindenburg."</p> + +<p>"Von Hindenburg? He is commander-in-chief in East Prussia! If he is +here, there must be a German concentration in this region! They did not +expect that! Oh, I must get out and get the news back—"</p> + +<p>"Yes. The wireless is working. I talked this afternoon to Suwalki."</p> + +<p>And in a few words he told Boris the essential facts of what had +happened since the raid upon the great house on the hill on that +morning.</p> + +<p>"How often do they come in here?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Only when my meals are brought to me. There will be no one else now +to-night, I think, unless Colonel Goldapp sends for me. They are very +polite. I think I shall be alone most of the time. They have no <a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a>idea +that I will try to get away, because they think I know they have so many +sentries and patrols about that it would be useless for me to try to do +it."</p> + +<p>"Listen, then, Boris. I will go now. I think they will let me go now. I +have been working hard for them about the house. But I will come back +later. Stay near your window, so that I can see a handkerchief if you +hold it. Then I will throw up a stone with a string tied about, and you +can draw up a rope and slip down. If this general is so important we +ought to let them know. I will send the word by wireless and then come +back."</p> + +<p>"Good! It is risky for you. They wouldn't spare you if they caught you +trying to help me to get away. But if you can manage it at all, have +clothes like the ones you wear ready for me, in a bundle. Vladimir will +get them for you."</p> +<p><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a></p> +<p>Fred nodded, and was off at once. He was detained a little time when he +went down with the tray, but he pleaded finally with a kindly looking +officer, telling him that he was very tired, and had not expected to +stay away from home so long, and was allowed to go. He went to the +opening of the tunnel, found that the place was unguarded, and decided +from the general appearance of the hollow that it was not visited by +soldiers. Indeed, it was within the outer line of sentries, and, in a +way, safer because of that. Had it been beyond that line, it would have +been much harder to reach.</p> + +<p>The operator at Suwalki, when he called him by wireless, complained +bitterly, saying that he had been trying for hours to get an answer. +Boris's father had been heard from and was extremely anxious to get into +touch with his son. But it seemed the news that Fred sent made up for +this. The man at Suwalki was incredulous.</p> + +<p>"Our information is that General von Hindenburg is many miles from<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a> +where you are," he flashed back. "Are you sure of your facts?"</p> + +<p>"Absolutely sure," Fred answered. "Do you want the exact location of the +house used as headquarters? I can describe it for you if you have the +village shown on your map."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Give it to me," came the answer.</p> + +<p>Before he finished his wireless talk, Fred felt that the Russian +operator did not fully trust him. Nor did he blame him. He knew the +excellence of the German spy system; he had heard a good deal about it +from Boris, and, for that matter, before he had even seen Boris at all. +So he only laughed, though he hoped that this feeling would not prevent +the Russians from using the information he had given. He could not see +just how it was to be useful to them, however. Possibly the fact that +von Hindenburg was here, and not to the south, was the important thing.</p> +<p><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a></p> +<p>By this time it was growing dark, and Fred decided that it would soon be +safe to try to throw the cord up to Boris's window—as safe, at least, +as it would ever be. He got a bundle of clothes from Vladimir, and this +time he determined to travel through the tunnel, since he knew that if +he went by the outside route he would have trouble in getting through +the sentries. Luck was with him again. He was nervous as he opened the +door and came out into the night, but there was no one about. At a +little distance he could hear steady footsteps; evidently a sentry was +walking his beat near by. But Fred's scout training had taught him how +to move quietly and he slipped through the gully and toward the house +without raising an alarm.</p> + +<p>Once he was on the right side of the house, he found shelter in a clump +of bushes, where, unseen himself, he could study the situation. His +first thought was of the house. He soon found the window of Boris's +room. Immediately below it were the windows of corresponding rooms, and +one of these was lighted. This made him pause at once. For the rope to +be drawn up, or for Boris to show himself before that lighted window +for even the moment of a swift descent, might well be fatal. That was +one point, but he speedily devised a way of overcoming that.</p> +<p><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a></p> +<p>There was another danger to be considered, and it took him longer to +calculate this. Naturally there was a patrol about the house. Fred +himself had had to avoid the sentry, making his steady round. Now he lay +in the bushes and timed the man's appearances for nearly half an hour. +There were two men, as a matter of fact, and they met on each circling +of the house. Fortunately, their meeting came at the very end of the +garden. So Fred was able to work out a sort of mental chart of their +movements, and to confirm it by timing them. The two sentries met on his +side of the house at the eastern end. The first walked west, the second +north. The one who walked west had his back to Fred and to the window +where Boris waited for a minute. Then he, too, turned north. Then came a +blessed interval of just a minute, in which neither sentry was in sight. +Altogether, there was a period of almost two minutes in which no eye +would be fixed on Boris's window, unless the sentry chanced to turn and +look back.</p> + +<p>To make sure, Fred studied both men. And not once did either of them +look back or up. Their attention did not seem to centre on the house at +all. It was as if their instructions were more to prevent a surprise<a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a> +attack from outside, or the coming of some spy, than to watch those who +were already in the house.</p> + +<p>Once he had made up his mind, Fred buried himself deeper in the +shrubbery and risked using his pocket flashlight while he wrote a note +to Boris, telling him what he had learned of the movements of the +sentries. He told Boris, also, not to draw up the rope at once, but to +climb from his window to the flat roof, something easy enough to manage, +and then to move along five paces. There the rope, when it was drawn up, +would be invisible against the grey stone of the house wall, whereas, +against a lighted window, it would show up so plainly that the most +stupid sentry would be sure to see it.</p> + +<p>Fred had substituted a tennis ball for the stone he had originally +intended to throw. The ball had many advantages. In case his aim was +bad, the ball would not make a noise if it fell or if it struck against +the wall, while the sound of a stone would have betrayed them had he +failed to put it through the window. Now he tied his note to the ball, +making it firm and secure with the end of a ball of twine. About his +body he had coiled a long, very thin,<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a> very strong rope. After Boris had +the end of the cord he would fasten the rope to his end, and so enable +Boris to draw it up. And to guard against losing the end of the cord, he +tied it to his own left wrist.</p> + +<p>He waited for the sentries to meet; gave the one who stayed on his side +a start, and then, taking careful aim, threw his ball. At home Fred had +played baseball. More than once a game had depended on the accuracy of +his toss of a hot grounder to the first baseman. In basketball games, he +had stood, with the score tied, to shoot for the basket on a foul, when +the outcome was to be settled by the accuracy of his throw. But never +had he been as nervous as he was now. The ball flew straight and true, +however. He saw it enter the window. And the next moment a tug on his +wrist told him that Boris had it.</p> + +<p>He waited breathlessly. Then two short pulls signalled that Boris had +read his note and would follow his instructions. He gave three sharp +tugs, and then settled down to wait, with beating heart, for now the +crucial test was coming. The other sentry was about to appear. If he +noticed the thin string, by any chance, the <a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a>whole scheme would be +spoiled and Fred, in all probability, would be caught and treated as a +spy.</p> + +<p>The man came around the corner of the house, walking slowly, his head +down. As he neared the twine he stopped for just a moment and looked up. +Fred scarcely dared to breathe. He knew what had happened. The twine had +brushed against the sentry's cheek. But then a puff of wind carried it +away, and the man went on, brushing at his cheek, thinking, perhaps, a +moth had touched it.</p> + +<p>One sharp tug of the twine. That was the signal to Boris to go ahead. +His eyes strained on the window, Fred saw his cousin's figure appear on +the sill, saw him climbing swiftly up a water pipe, and then saw him +drop to the flat roof, hidden for the moment by a low parapet. Then +there was another period of agonized waiting, for again a sentry was to +pass. Fred used the brief interval of enforced inaction to loosen the +rope and place it on the ground, tied to the loose end of the twine he +took from his wrist, so that it would have a clear passage t<a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>hrough the +bushes. Then the coast was clear again, and he signalled to Boris to +draw it up. Up, up went the twine; then the rope started. And at last it +dangled against the side of the house. Fred, knowing it was there, could +scarcely see it himself. He decided that the sentries would never notice +it.</p> + +<p>Then came the last pause. And when the sentry had passed the rope, Boris +slipped over the parapet and started his descent. He had to come quickly +for he had less than two minutes to reach the ground and join Fred in +his shelter. Down he came, hand over hand, so fast at the end, when he +just slid, letting the rope slip through his fingers, that he must have +burned the skin from his palms. But he made it, and came running toward +Fred. He was crouched low against the ground. But, just before he +reached the bushes there was a shout from above, a flash, a loud report. +A bullet sang over Fred's head, and the next moment the garden was alive +with rushing, shouting men, ablaze with flashing points of electric +light. They tried to hide in the shrubbery. But in vain. At this last +moment, when Fred's plan had seemed sure of success, disaster had +come—for some German officer, going on the roof, had been just in time<a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a> +to see the rope and spoil everything with his chance shot!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<p>SENTENCED</p> + + +<p>Both Fred and Boris recognized at once the hopelessness of flight. Both +thought instinctively of the hollow and the concealed entrance to the +tunnel, and both knew that to attempt to use that now would not save +them, and would give away a secret that might be supremely important at +some future time, either to them or to someone else among those who +shared the precious secret. The grounds were flashing with light in all +directions; soldiers called to one another; men ran all around, looking<a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a> +for them.</p> + +<p>And yet, hopelessly caught as they were, neither could give up supinely. +Both had the dauntless fighting spirit that must be conquered, that will +never give up, not only while hope remains, but while disaster, be it +ever so certain, has not actually come to pass. They were in a sort of +thicket, almost as thick as a primeval jungle. At the same moment the +thought seemed to come to each of them that the one chance for momentary +safety lay in keeping perfectly still. They were side by side, wedged in +a little opening they had made for themselves, and now they went down +together.</p> + +<p>All about them the din of the pursuit continued. Officers were pouring +out of the house to join the hunt. Shouts and cries resounded. Fred had +to smile to himself. It seemed to him that the boasted system and order +of the German army could not be what he had always heard about it if the +escape of two boys could produce such a disorganization.</p> + +<p>And then there was a sudden diversion. The noise seemed to die away. It +did not cease for there was still a good deal of talking, but there was +no more shouting, until there was a s<a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a>udden whirring sound.</p> + +<p>"An aeroplane!" whispered Boris. "I've seen them for the last few days, +flying in all directions. They use them for scouting."</p> + +<p>"I knew I ought to recognize that sound!" said Fred.</p> + +<p>It seemed fairly safe for them to speak to one another now. For some +reason it was quite evident they had been forgotten.</p> + +<p>There was an interval of almost complete silence; then came a sudden +explosion of orders. Half a dozen motorcycles sprang into crackling +life; there was the unmistakable din of a powerful aeroplane engine, +which, with no muffler, is noisy enough to wake the dead. Then came the +whirring of its propeller. They were sure that if they only dared to +raise their heads, they would see the machine rising near by.</p> + +<p>But there was more to follow that was just as inexplicable. The +motorcycles chugged away; then three automobiles started. Their engines +roared for a moment before they subsided to the ordered, steady hum of a +smooth running motor. On the first car that got away there was a horn +that made Boris start convulsively as he heard its bugle no<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a>te, and grasp +Fred's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"That horn belongs only to a car used by a full general!" he said. "It +must be von Hindenburg going, Fred! That flying machine brought +important news!"</p> + +<p>That had been evident to Fred almost from the first. He wondered +mightily what was going to happen next. It seemed incredible that the +Germans, knowing that he and Boris must soon be found, and that only +patience was necessary if they were to be caught, would so quickly give +up looking for them. And yet—Boris was right, of course. A general +would not depart with such abundant evidence of haste and sudden +decision unless some grave news had come through the air.</p> + +<p>One question was soon settled. Scarcely had General von Hindenburg's car +started, with the musical call of its horn clearing the way for it, when +the search for the two scouts was renewed with as much vigor as had been +shown before the coming of the aeroplane. And this time it was speedily +successful. There was less din and confusion. Fred saw at once that some +officer with a cool and level head had taken charge. The searchers now<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a> +did the simple, obvious thing. They divided the grounds up into +sections, and beat over each section thoroughly, with the result that a +corporal and a private speedily came upon Boris and Fred, and, raising a +sort of view halloo, dragged them out into the open, flashing their +electric torches in their eyes.</p> + +<p>"Here they are!" cried the corporal. "Herr Hauptmann, here they are!"</p> + +<p>A captain came up quickly, and at the sight of Fred exclaimed sharply in +his surprise.</p> + +<p>"You're the boy I chose to help with the work in the house here!" he +said. His face darkened. "He is a spy! Take him into the guard room and +lock him up." He barely glanced at Boris. "Yes, that is the other. See +that he is taken back to his quarters, corporal, and that a sentry +remains constantly on guard."</p> + +<p>"He is not a spy! If he is one, then so am I!" Boris broke out in a +sharp protest. "He must be treated exactly like myself, or I must be<a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a> +used as he is!" throwing caution to the four winds.</p> + +<p>"I am giving the orders here," said the German, coldly. "We have no +desire to treat you harshly, Prince. You and your father have won the +liking and respect of all your neighbors here, and it is a matter of +regret that we must detain you at all. But you must be able to see for +yourself that there is a great difference between an open enemy like +yourself and one who pushes his way among us to get what information he +can—"</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, captain," Fred interrupted, thoroughly awake by this +time to the danger in which he stood. "It was by your orders, and +against my own protest, that I came into the house here at all."</p> + +<p>"You will have an opportunity to explain all such matters at your +trial," said the captain. "I can assure you that all will be done in a<a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a> +regular fashion, and that you will have every opportunity to defend +yourself. Colonel Goldapp will doubtless arrange for a quick hearing +since we shall not be here much longer."</p> + +<p>Fred was quite cool and collected. He was frightened, to be sure, and +he was brave enough to admit that to himself. He had good reason to be +frightened. There is no offence more serious than espionage in time of +war, and by every rule of war he was a spy. He had pretended to be a +German, which he was not, and had been found within the German lines. It +was true, of course, that he had been ordered into headquarters, but +that was a trifling point, and, though he had raised it, Fred knew very +well that no technicality would save him if the truth about him came +out.</p> + +<p>Boris understood all this, undoubtedly, quite as well as Fred or the +German captain, but he was beside himself. He felt that Fred had run<a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a> +into this terrible danger because of him, in order to try to rescue him +from an imprisonment that, though annoying, was by no means a serious +matter.</p> + +<p>"Take me instead of him!" he cried, forgetting that with every word he +was really making Fred's case worse. "I—"</p> + +<p>"I'll be all right," said Fred, with a cheerfulness he certainly did +not feel. "All I want is a fair trial. If I get that, I'll be all +right."</p> + +<p>Unwillingly enough, Boris let himself be led away. Something in Fred's +look, or in his voice, had warned him not to say anything more. So Fred +saw him go, and was taken himself to the guard room, of which he was the +only occupant save for the impassive Pomeranian sentry. Fred guessed, +somehow, that German soldiers in war time did not often do things that +caused them to be put under arrest. In the little he had seen of them he +had come to understand what it was that made a German army so +formidable.</p> +<p><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a></p> +<p>He expected to be brought before the court early in the morning but, in +fact, he was called out in less than an hour, and taken into the +dining-room of the parsonage. Here, at the head of the table, sat an +officer in a colonel's uniform; Colonel Goldapp, unquestionably, +presiding over the court, which included four officers beside himself. +Fred knew enough of the military law to understand what was going on. +He saw a young lieutenant sitting with some papers before him. Another +came and drew him aside.</p> + +<p>"I am to defend you," this officer said, pleasantly. "That is, of +course, I am to see that you get fair treatment. You are accused of +being a spy. The charge, as I understand it, is that you are a Russian, +but have disguised yourself as a German. If this is true, the best +advice I can give you is to plead guilty and throw yourself on the mercy +of the court. Your age will be taken into consideration."</p> +<p><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a></p> +<p>"I am not a Russian," said Fred, quickly. "I am an American. I demand an +opportunity to see the American ambassador, or at least the nearest +American consul."</p> + +<p>"Is that all?"</p> + +<p>"That is all I can say. It is true that I am an American, and I believe +it is my right, as a foreigner, to ask to see the representative of my +country, since America and Germany are not at war, but are friendly one +to the other."</p> + +<p>"That would be true if you were charged with an offence in a civil +court. But in a court-martial there are no such rules. Once more, I +believe your best course is to plead guilty. I do not know the evidence +against you, but I can tell you that the court might be merciful if you +admitted your guilt frankly, while it would probably treat you more +harshly if you forced it to prove your guilt."</p> + +<p>Fred shook his head, however. And so the trial began. It was a real +trial, and fair enough, but a trial b<a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a>y court-martial is not like one in +a civil court, especially in time of war. There were no delays. The +judge-advocate stated the case against Fred very briefly. He called as +witness the officer who had brought Fred into headquarters, who said +that the prisoner had been entirely willing to come. Then the corporal +who had found him testified. And the third witness, when he was called, +was none other than Lieutenant Ernst, who had befriended Fred at +Virballen! At the sight of him Fred's heart sank. He began to +understand what a strong case there really was against him.</p> + +<p>At Ernst's first words there was almost a sensation, for the lieutenant +brought out the fact that Fred was related to the Suvaroff family. The +fact that Fred had gone straight to the house of his kinsman came out as +a result of Ernst's evidence, and Fred knew that it would be useless to +say that this had been the result of pure chance, and that he had not +even known of Boris's existence. It was true, but it was none the less +incredible. It was easy to see when Ernst had finished giving his<a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a> +testimony, which he did reluctantly, and with a good deal of sympathy +for Fred, that the court had made up its mind.</p> + +<p>There were no witnesses for Fred to call. He told his own story, but it +was not believed. The finding of the court was inevitable: "Guilty as +charged!" And Colonel Goldapp, in an expressionless voice, pronounced +sentence.</p> + +<p>"The prisoner is old enough, though he is only a boy, to know the fate +of a spy. He risked this fate. He will be shot at once. Captain von +Glahn will take charge of the execution of the court's sentence."</p> + +<p>Fred passed through the minutes that followed as if he were in a dream. +It seemed to him that it was someone else who was led into the garden, +placed against a wall, and blindfolded. Von Glahn, a young officer, came +and stood beside him.</p><p><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a></p> + +<p>"The firing squad will be here at once," he said. "I am sorry. Is there +any message I can deliver for you?"</p> + +<p>And then outside a bugle rang out, and there was a burst of wild, +frenzied yelling and the next moment a crash of firing.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<p>THE COSSACKS</p> + + +<p>Something fell against Fred, something heavy and warm. It was a full +minute before he realized that it was von Glahn, staggering, coughing. +He supported the German officer for a moment. Then they<a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a> went down +together with von Glahn, still coughing terribly, on top. That saved +Fred's life. For over him now, for the next five minutes, there raged a +furious fight. Horses were all through the grounds; Fred heard them, and +the savage, unearthly cries of their riders. For the first minute there +was a good deal of firing. He guessed that the firing squad that had +been meant for him was putting up a stiff struggle; later he knew it.</p> + +<p>Then abruptly it was all over. There was no sound save the groans of +wounded men. The firing ceased, and with it the fierce shouts of those +who had invaded the garden at that most critical of moments. Fred +realized afterward that he must have fainted, for when next he could see +and hear, there was a faint light in the sky. He was aroused by the +moving of the heavy weight of von Glahn's body, and looked up to see a +bearded man, small and wiry, in a rough sheepskin coat, who grinned down +at him.</p> + +<p>"Not hurt, eh, comrade?" said this man in Russian. He seemed surprised +when Fred answered in his own tongue, and started back. But he had +pushed the body of the German captain away, and Fred rose to his feet a<a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a> +little unsteadily. It was a wild, strange scene upon which his eyes +rested. All about the place where he had lain the ground was covered +with evidences of a furious struggle. Nearly a score of Germans lay +about, dead. Among them were half a dozen Cossacks, and over one of +these stood a riderless horse, muzzling his master's body inquisitively. +Fred was about to question the man who had relieved him of von Glahn's +weight when there was a sudden rush, and Boris, sobbing with delight, +threw his arms about him and kissed him on both cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Here—I say, Boris, don't do that!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I forgot that is not your custom!" said Boris. "But I thought you +were dead! I thought they had killed you! I saw them bring you out from +my window, and if the sentry had not stopped me, I would have thrown +myself out to join you! Come with me—my father is here!"</p> + +<p>Fred was still dazed. His escape had been so miraculous that he wanted +to pinch himself to see if he were still awake. A month before he had +been at home in America, envied by the rest of his patrol because<a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a> he was +actually to go to far-off Russia by himself. And since then he had been +three times a prisoner, had been in danger of exile to Siberia, and just +now had escaped by mere seconds meeting a blast of bullets from a German +firing squad, a victim of a war that had not even been dreamed of when +he had sailed from America!</p> + +<p>But there could be no real doubt of the truth as he followed Boris into +the house. In the dining-room where he had been sentenced to death, he +came upon Lieutenant Ernst, chatting amiably with half a dozen Russian +officers in their white coats. The German grinned at him.</p> + +<p>"You're in luck, youngster," he said. "I'm not so sorry, really! They +didn't get what they came after, you see."</p> + +<p>"No, worse luck!" said a Russian. "How did the old fox know we were +coming?"</p> +<p><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a></p> +<p>Ernst only looked wise, and did not answer. Fred was surprised by the +way in which captive and captors mingled, seemingly on the most friendly +terms. But when he thought it over, it did not seem so strange. Ernst +and these Russians knew what a huge thing this war was. Each had his +part to play, and would play it as well as he could. But individuals, +after all, could not count for much, and the man who was prisoner to-day +might be on top to-morrow. Later bitterness and personal hatred might +come, but as yet, as Fred began to understand, these men hadn't come to +that. They were like players on rival football teams after a hotly +contested game. In the play each man would fight his hardest; after the +whistle blew, friendship ruled. The referee's whistle had blown when +Ernst was caught in a trap.</p> + +<p>Boris pushed on into a smaller room. Here Fred saw a man he would have +known anywhere as Boris's father, and, for that matter, as some close +relative of his mother. Alexander Suvaroff, General of Division in the +Russian army, looked very much like Mikail, but there was a sharp +difference between them. This Suvaroff was as kindly in aspect as the +other was repellent and harsh. His eyes twinkled affectionately when he +saw Fred.</p><p><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a></p> + +<p>"Welcome, cousin," he said. "Even if our chief purpose failed, I am glad +we got here in time to save you. You heard that General von Hindenburg +got away?"</p> + +<p>"I knew that before we were caught," said Fred, "but I didn't know you +had come for him."</p> + +<p>"Of course they did!" said Boris. "Your wireless message told the staff +he was here, and my father led a cavalry raid behind the German lines to +try to catch him. But—he ran away!"</p> + +<p>The general laughed at the contempt in Boris's tone.</p> + +<p>"Of course he ran away!" he said. "I only wonder how he knew we were +coming! That was bad luck—because not once did we strike so much as a +German patrol as we rode."</p> + +<p>"I can tell you," said Fred. "An aeroplane brought word. Its pilot must +have seen you as he flew overhead, and suspected that you were coming<a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a> +here."</p> + +<p>"So!" Suvaroff frowned. "I did not think of that! However, it is better +than what we suspected at first. It looked as if someone at headquarters +must have betrayed the plan. Well, it was too good to come true. If we +had caught him and his staff, we might have hastened the end of the war +by a good many months. Von Hindenburg is the ablest general in Germany, +though he has been in disgrace for years. They sent for him as soon as +war came. He'll do good work."</p> + +<p>Fred was thinking.</p> + +<p>"If that aeroplane saw you coming, general," he said, "isn't there +danger that they may try to surround you here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, more than danger. They are sure to try to do it! But their cavalry +is very slow, and I do not believe they have infantry enough near by to +make any trouble for us." He frowned thoughtfully. "There is something +very peculiar about the whole situation around here! If von Hindenburg<a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a> +is here, it means that their chief concentration on this front must be +here. And yet we get reports of an astonishingly small number of troops! +Not more than two corps."</p> + +<p>Boris looked eagerly at his father, and then at Fred. But before he +could speak General Suvaroff went on, crisply.</p> + +<p>"You can ride?" he asked Fred. "Good! I will see that you and Boris have +horses. Then we shall start. We can be back in our own lines before +daylight."</p> + +<p>Fred hesitated. Then Boris took the words from his mouth.</p> + +<p>"Father, I want to stay!" he said, eagerly. "It will be safe. I can get +back to the house and they can never catch me there, you know! They may +not even search for me, but if they do, I can hide from them in the +tunnel. And you say the German movement about here is puzzling. Would it +not be well to have some way of sending word from here? Ivan is at work.<a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a> +But no matter what he discovers, if we are not at the house, it will do +no good. Let me stay!"</p> + +<p>"I should like to stay, too," said Fred.</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" said General Suvaroff at once to that. "You would be shot +as soon as you were caught—you are under sentence now. They would not +treat you as a prisoner of war, even if they caught you among my +troopers."</p> + +<p>"But if they did not catch me—"</p> + +<p>"No! I cannot let you take so great a risk. You are of my kin, and I owe +a duty to your mother. I shall see that you get back safely to Russia +and are sent home by sea from there."</p> + +<p>"But if I go into Russia, I shall be arrested—those are Prince Mikail's +orders," said Fred, quietly. "I am sure to be caught there, and here +there is a chance that I may not be f<a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a>ound. If you take Lieutenant Ernst +with you as a prisoner, no one among the Germans will know me, except as +I appear now. If I change back to my own clothes, I shall be safe from +anything worse than detention. None of the officers of the court-martial +escaped, did they?"</p> + +<p>"No, that is true," said Suvaroff. He spoke thoughtfully. It was plain +that Fred's argument was making an impression on him. "I have heard +something of your affair with Mikail. I shall look into that. Eh—I +don't know just what to do!"</p> + +<p>"Let us stay!" pleaded Boris. "We will be careful, and we know now just +what dangers we must avoid."</p> + +<p>"I think we shall be back here, in force, before the week is out," said +his father, after a moment's reflection. "Very well, you shall stay! It +is true that you may be of the greatest service. I have not the right to +consider personal matters when the welfare of Russia is at stake."</p> + +<p>It was light by now. In curious contrast to the shambles of the garden<a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a> +and the disorder of the house, its windows shattered by bullets, its +furniture broken and draperies torn in the swift conflict that had +followed the appearance of the Cossacks, roosters were crowing outside +and birds were singing. General Suvaroff gave a sharp order; +subordinates passed it along. A bugle sounded, and, five minutes later, +after the general had said good-bye to the two scouts, the Cossack +raiders rode away. They were strung out in a long column along the road. +As they passed through the village Fred and Boris, watching from an +upper window of the abandoned parsonage, saw the villagers watching. +Boris had a powerful field glass, and through this he and Fred could see +the very faces of the watching Germans. Hatred and fear mingled in the +looks they sent after the invaders of their country.</p> + +<p>"One can't blame them," said Fred, with a shudder. "War's rather +ghastly, isn't it, Boris?"</p> + +<p>He looked down into the garden, and Boris's eyes followed his.</p> +<p><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a></p> +<p>"Yes," said the Russian. "That's the ugly part of it. It's all ugly. But +sometimes war must come, it seems to me. We in Russia have never wanted +to make war. We have fought because we were forced to fight. I think +that is what history will say of us in this war."</p> + +<p>"They are not going toward Russia," said Fred, looking after the +raiders, who were melting into the landscape now. "Their road seems to +be due west."</p> + +<p>"They must ride in a long circle, I suppose," said Boris. "If they went +straight back, they would run right into the Germans. There must be a +lot of the enemy between us and the Russian lines—their main body, you +see. And my father won't want to fight. His object is to get back with +as many men as possible. It would be useless to send a thousand +Cossacks against an army corps."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course! It's wonderful to think of how they got here, Boris,<a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a> +riding right through the enemy's country! It's like the work cavalry did +on both sides in our Civil War. They used to get behind the enemy's +lines and cut telegraph wires and railways all the time."</p> + +<p>In the village, there were now more signs of life. As the Cossacks rode +by, the street had been empty, but now men and women were coming out +furtively. They began to come toward the parsonage.</p> + +<p>"Time for us to go," said Fred, with decision. "We wouldn't have much +chance if they caught us here. And if we're to be of any use, those +people have got to think that we've gone."</p> + +<p>"Right!" said Boris. "Hello—look up there! I was afraid of that!"</p> + +<p>He pointed to a monoplane, flying high and coming from the north, from +the direction of the Baltic.</p> +<p><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a></p> +<p>"Looking for the raiders," said Fred. "Let's hurry. I think we ought to +report what has happened by wireless. Your father's party may need +help."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<p>THE TRICK</p> + + +<p>It was nervous work going through the lower floor of the house, through +the garden, trampled by the rush of the Cossack charge, through bushes +clipped and torn by bullets. All about was a curious silence, broken +only by the sounds that the birds made, and the humming insects, which +were not at all disturbed by war and the ruin it left in its wake. It<a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a> +was a relief to both scouts to pass into the tunnel. There everything +seemed normal, strange though the place was. And in a few moments they +were back in the great hall of the Suvaroff house, and were being +greeted with delight by old Vladimir, though he reproached them, too, +for coming back.</p> + +<p>Their first thought was for the wireless. Fred sent a brief report of +what had happened, describing the escape of General von Hindenburg. And +then, as he was about to end the message, Ivan stood beside him. His +eyes were shining and he seemed greatly excited.</p> + +<p>"Tell them that von Hindenburg has only a masking force here with very +few first line troops," he said. "Most of the Germans are far to the +south. Their plan is to join the Austrians in an advance from Cracow. +Here they hope to hold the lakes with a few troops. They expect our army +to advance. They will give up Johannisberg and Ortelsburg. They will +make no stand at all until we come to Allenstein. The whole movement +here is a trick. They hope to lead us on here and then drive a great +wedge into the heart of Poland, until they can strike at Warsaw."</p><p><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a></p> + +<p>Fred made no comment. He sent the message, then asked his own questions.</p> + +<p>"You know of the raid last night?"</p> + +<p>"I heard something of it—and that the old fox Hindenburg escaped. Tell +me the rest."</p> + +<p>"I'll be off," he said, when they had done. "Half a mile away I have a +cache. There is a motorcycle and the uniform of a German soldier—a man +of the cycle corps. I shall follow General Suvaroff."</p> + +<p>"Can you catch them?" asked Boris, doubtfully. "They ride fast."</p> + +<p>"Not so fast," said Ivan. "There may be fighting to do as well as +running, and for fighting you need horses that are not too tired. It +would be foolish to save an hour or two by hard riding and lose +everything at the end for lack of the power to bre<a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a>ak through. And a +motorcycle can do better than the fastest horse."</p> + +<p>"But how did you get one?" asked Fred. "And the German uniform?"</p> + +<p>Ivan smiled significantly.</p> + +<p>"I met a man of about my size," he said. "I was walking. And I was +tired. I took his cycle and his uniform away from him."</p> + +<p>There was something about his tone and the look in his eyes that made +Fred refrain from asking any more questions. He admired Ivan greatly, +but he was a little afraid of him, too. In him he could see what lay +behind the general belief that Russia was still a barbarous, partially +civilized state, the underlying truth of the old saying: "Scratch a +Russian, and you will find a Tartar beneath." He was glad that Ivan was +on his side, and was bound to him, moreover, by his loyalty to the name +of Suvaroff.</p> + +<p>"Listen, now," said Ivan. "Here it is very dangerous. Stay as long as +you can, but never let yourselves be caught <a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a>in the house by any Germans. +Do not let the villagers see you. Take to the tunnel without hesitation +if there is an attack upon the house, or a search. I think you will be +safe as long as you are watchful, but you cannot be off your guard for +even a moment. The Germans will think that you went back with the +Cossacks but they will try to make sure."</p> + +<p>"We will be careful," said Boris. "You are sure of what you have +learned? There will be no more than two army corps in this region?"</p> + +<p>"That is certain. I have scouted for twenty miles to the west and I have +been along the railway lines. If there were more troops coming, I +should have discovered it. I am sure of that."</p> + +<p>"And now you are going back toward our lines?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I may be of service to your father. And, in any case, I shall be +of more use if I am with the German advanced position than if I stayed +here, far in the rear. Good-bye!"</p> +<p><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a></p> +<p>He departed through the tunnel. And then for Fred and Boris began a task +almost harder than any that could have been set. They had to wait. There +was nothing for them to do except sit in the little turret room. Below, +Vladimir and the others kept a sort of guard, but there seemed little +reason even for that.</p> + +<p>From the turret, whence the wireless waves were sent pulsing out through +the air, a fine view of the surrounding country for a good many miles +was to be had. For the most part this was a level section, slightly +undulating, but with very few high spots. From their vantage point the +roads stretched out like ribbons or like lines on a map. Fred opened the +wireless and amused himself by listening. At first he could hear only a +confused jumble through the receivers that were clamped to his ear. Then +he changed his wave length, experimenting until he got a clear series of +dots and dashes.</p> + +<p>"I think I'll take this down," he said to Boris. "It'll be like Greek to +us, of course, but it's all German wireless talk, and it all means +something. Perhaps if we're lucky, we'll stumble on to the key of the +code they're using, and that might be useful."</p> + +<p>After a time Boris, who could receive well enough but was an inexpert +sender, relieved him, and Fred, taking the field glass, began to search<a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a> +the horizon. Soon something caught his eye and held his attention. At +first he thought he saw troops moving, coming from the east. It seemed +strange that German troops should be in retreat so soon, but in a moment +he understood. He did not see soldiers moving along the road, but a +company of civilians, with carts that were drawn by men and women. At +first the sight puzzled him, but then he understood, and he called to +Boris to look.</p> + +<p>"They're clearing out the villages toward the border," he said.</p> + +<p>Boris only glanced through the glass.</p> + +<p>"Yes. They were doing it the day after the war began, too," he said. +"It's better for them, of course. If civilians are about where there is +fighting, they are in danger from both sides. The Germans wouldn't stop +a minute at shelling one of their own villages if we were holding it. +Fred, I think they must be going to send our little lot away, too. There +are soldiers coming along the road—Uhlans."</p> + +<p>Fred looked down and saw a picket of lancers approaching, headed by an<a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a> +officer. And in a few minutes there were signs of great activity in the +village. Soon the exodus began. And then the Uhlans turned at the road +leading up to the great house, and began to climb.</p> + +<p>"Coming to warn our people, I suppose," said Boris. "We'll make +ourselves scarce, Fred. Vladimir can talk to them when they arrive."</p> + +<p>But Fred did not go without one more sweeping look about him. And it +showed him something that surprised him.</p> + +<p>"I've got a curious feeling," he told Boris, when they had slipped into +the secret passage. "I've got what we call a hunch in America—a feeling +that Ivan has been fooled. You didn't see what I did just now. I'm +perfectly certain I saw troops marching on two roads that aren't very +far apart, to the north."</p> + +<p>"Marching east or west?"</p> + +<p>"East. I think a real trap is being prepared, Boris. And—I'm going to +try to find out the truth!"</p><p><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a></p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"I'd better not tell you, Boris. Go back and listen—see what you can +hear at the thin wall. I'm afraid that if we both go we might be heard, +if they are near there. I want to know where those Uhlans come from."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Boris, wondering a little. He went off, and Fred, as +soon as he had disappeared, began to make his way very quietly, almost +stealthily, indeed, toward the other end of the tunnel—the one that +gave to the open air.</p> + +<p>"He'd never have let me go if I had told him," he said to himself, +feeling the need of justifying what looked like treachery, since his own +conscience was accusing him. "And I didn't lie to him. I didn't say that +I would be there when he came back. I only hope I get out before he<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a> +finds I've gone!"</p> + +<p>When he reached the opening he felt safe, and there he stopped and wrote +a note to Boris, telling him what he meant to do and why he had not +taken him into his confidence before.</p> + +<p>"He's sure to find that," said Fred to himself. "He'll come down here +looking for me, and I suppose he'd go out, too, no matter how dangerous +it might be, if I didn't leave this note."</p> + +<p>As he swung the door that let him out, Fred felt the little thrill that +always came to him when he opened the way thus to the outer air. Ever +since he had come upon the German soldier here the first time, he had +had this feeling. This time, however, the way was clear, and he slipped +out and made his way swiftly toward the parsonage. He took advantage of +every bit of cover for he had no wish to be seen, at least as yet. Soon +he reached the vantage spot he sought. From it he commanded a view of +the village, and of the entrance to the great Suvaroff house on the hill +as well.</p> +<p><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a></p> +<p>The dismal procession from the village had already begun. The place, in +fact, was already almost entirely deserted. Orders from the army +evidently counted for a good deal here. Fred wondered what Americans +would have done in a like case. But the departure of the villagers, who +knew him, and might have recognized him even in his German guise, +relieved him immensely. Before the house on the hill he could see a +mounted Uhlan on guard over the horses. The rest had gone inside. There +were only five of them altogether, which made him feel confident that +none would be left behind. There were too few for that.</p> + +<p>As time passed, he wondered why they stayed inside so long. In a way, it +was to his liking that they should, but it made him nervous. He was +afraid that a real search was being made; afraid that, by some stroke of +misfortune, Boris's hiding-place had been revealed. But at last he saw +the solitary horseman outside the house stiffen to rigid attention. Then +the others came out, and he almost shouted in his relief when he saw +that they brought no one with them. The officer swung to his saddle and +in a minute more the little command was cantering down the hill. Fred +looked at the village searchingly now. There was no one left. A quarter +of a mile away the rear end of the wretched procession of refugees +straggled along the road, going west. Th<a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a>ey were not looking back.</p> + +<p>Now it was time to put his plan to the test. The chances of full +success, as he understood perfectly, were most remote. And the danger +was great. He had not seen these Uhlans; there might well be someone +even in that small party who would recognize him. And he knew what would +happen then, if he were caught. But his plan compelled him to run that +risk, and he emerged from his shelter, and struck out boldly along the<a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a> +road the Uhlans had taken to come to the village. He walked northeast, +and he knew that that in itself would be suspicious, but it was all part +of his plan.</p> + +<p>He had not long to wait for the plan to begin, or at least to work out +according to his calculations. Behind him he heard a shout, but, +affecting not to hear it, he did not turn. And in a few moments he heard +the sound of galloping hoofs behind him. Even then he did not turn until +a Uhlan had ridden past him.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried the soldier. "Where are you going?"</p> + +<p>Fred looked at him blankly.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" said the German again, for Fred, after having looked at him, had +moved on. Still Fred paid no attention, and the man rode up to him and +leaned over, dropping a heavy hand on his shoulder and shaking him in +no gentle way.</p><p><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a></p> + +<p>"Where are you going, I say? Answer!" roared the Uhlan.</p> + +<p>But Fred only smiled and pointed first to his ears and then to his +mouth. By pantomime he pretended to be deaf and dumb. And when the +officer came up, Fred was still smiling—and silent. He knew he had +never seen this officer before.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<p>THE ESCAPE</p> + + +<p>"What's the matter with him, Schmidt!" asked the officer.</p> + +<p>Fred knew enough of German uniforms by this time to place him as a +lieutenant of the lowest grade, and was thankful that he did not have an<a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a> +experienced man to deal with.</p> + +<p>"Deaf and dumb, I think, Herr Lieutenant," said the man. "I rode up +behind him, calling to him and making a good deal of noise, but he did +not even know I was coming until I was on top of him."</p> + +<p>"Well, he can't go this way!" said the lieutenant. "How are we to make +him understand that?"</p> + +<p>"If I dismounted and turned him about, he might perhaps understand," +said the soldier.</p> + +<p>"Try it!"</p> + +<p>Fred had hard work to conceal his amusement but he managed it. The +soldier solemnly turned him about and pushed him in the direction whence +he had come. But Fred immediately turned around, walked a couple of +paces as he had been going, and then stopped, smiling broadly. Then he +turned around, shook his head violently, and turned back.</p> + +<p>"He's trying to tell us he wants to keep on the way he was going," said<a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a> +the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>The two Germans seemed to be puzzled, but then the officer got an idea. +He produced paper and pencil and wrote hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"Who are you? Where are you going?" he wrote. Then he handed the paper +to Fred. Fred hesitated for a moment. He understood German and could +talk it very well. But he was a little nervous about writing it, +especially in the German script. He could write it, but he was not sure +that he could write it so well that it would seem like the work of a +German. However, he took the chance.</p> + +<p>"My name is Gebhardt," he wrote. "I come from Munich, and I am visiting +my uncle and aunt here at Gumbinnen. My uncle sent me to Insterberg and +then I found I could not go back by train. Soldiers have made me turn +around so many times that it has taken me all this time to get here. Why +can I not go to Gumbinnen?"</p> + +<p>The officer took the paper and, when he had read it, told the soldier.<a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a> +They seemed to find Fred's explanation plausible, and his writing had +passed muster.</p> + +<p>"Here is a fine mess!" said the lieutenant. "Poor boy! I feel sorry for +one with such an affliction! And is he not between the devil and the +deep blue sea? In Gumbinnen there will be Russian cavalry by +to-morrow—and at Insterberg, I suppose, the first real battle will be +fought!"</p> + +<p>Fred caught his breath. He was getting what he wanted now, certainly! If +only he did not betray himself! If the officer would only go on and tell +him a little more! And he did go on, almost as if he were speaking to +himself.</p> + +<p>"If his people have any sense, they will have cleared out of Gumbinnen +before this. He knows someone at Insterberg, perhaps, but if it is the +plan to let the Russians come so far without fighting and then strike +while they are there, the population will have been ordered out. And +they have been unloading troop trains at Ins<a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a>terberg, too—so that the +Russians would not find out how many men we had here. Eh—take him up +behind you, Schmidt! We can't abandon him. Perhaps the hospital people +or the cooks can make some use of him."</p> + +<p>Fred heard this with a start of dismay. It was decidedly more than he +had bargained for, because now that he had the information he had come +to get, he wanted to get back to the wireless as quickly as possible. It +did him no good to know the German plan, or to have a hint of what it +was, unless he could pass on his knowledge to those who could make some +use of it. But he could not protest when the officer wrote down an +explanation of what was to be done with him, telling him that the road +to Gumbinnen was not safe, but that he would see to it that Fred should +get to a safe place.</p> + +<p>So when the soldier Schmidt patted his horse's back and indicated that +Fred should climb up, Fred had no choice but to obey. He had plenty to +think of, too, as they rode along. For one thing, while he had taken his<a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a> +chance and won, since this officer had not seen him before, there was +every prospect that he would be recognized if he were now taken to +headquarters. He supposed that that was where they were going, and he +knew that a number of the officers who had left the parsonage with +General von Hindenburg on the night of the Cossack raid would be +present. It would be strange, indeed, if none of them knew him. And it +took no imagination to guess what recognition would mean.</p> + +<p>There was just one thing in his favor now. It was beginning to get dark. +He did not know how far they had to ride, but he hoped it was a long +way. Ordinarily, he would not have wanted the ride to be prolonged +because his position was highly uncomfortable. Fred could ride well +himself, but riding alone on a horse and sitting behind a man who fills +his own saddle with very little to spare are two different things.</p> + +<p>Try as he would, Fred could not think of a means of getting away. To +escape from five mounted men by slipping off the horse and running for +it was manifestly impossible. He gave up that idea before he even +elaborated upon it. But soon the glimmering dawn of an idea did come to +him. The pace slackened, and he noticed that<a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a> he and Schmidt were falling +behind. The lieutenant called out sharply, and Schmidt, growling to +himself beneath his breath, used his spur and brought his horse up into +alignment with the others again. But only for a hundred yards or so. +Then the horse faltered and fell behind again. Now the lieutenant +reproved Schmidt sharply.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, Herr Lieutenant," said Schmidt. "My poor beast is very +tired, and he is carrying an extra burden. He has had more work to do +to-day than any of the others. If you would permit me to drop behind and +come in alone—it is not so far now?"</p> + +<p>"Very well," said the lieutenant. "We'll never get there if we hang +back waiting for you." And he gave the word to ride on.</p> + +<p>Schmidt at once began to take things more easily. Fred heard him +grunting to himself.</p> + +<p>"Those verdamter young officers!" he grumbled. "Just because they have a +pair of shoulder straps, they think they know it all! I would like to +put some of them across my knee!"</p> + +<p>Fred knew enough of German discipline to be vastly amused by this. But<a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a> +he had no time now to think of trifling things. His whole energy was +devoted to finding some way to turn this new circumstance to his own +advantage. It seemed to him that there ought to be some way of managing +it. And in a moment he got the idea. Schmidt was as tired as his horse, +or even more so, and by this time he was swaying in his saddle and half +asleep, as a trained horseman often does. Fred leaned forward and very +quietly cut the saddle girth almost through. He knew that the slightest +strain would finish the work. Schmidt was utterly unconscious of what +was going on. Fred could tell, from the man's breathing, just what his +condition was. He would snore a little and then, with a start, he would +arouse himself, breathing normally for a minute. Then the snoring would +start again. He was trusting himself entirely to his horse.</p> + +<p>Dusk had fallen now, and Fred decided that it was time to see if his +plan was feasible. He took a handkerchief from his pocket, rolled it +into a ball, and flung it straight ahead, so that it fell, unrolling, +right before the horse's eyes. The effect was inevitable. The frightened +horse reared. At the strain the severed girth gave, and the saddle, +rolling, spilled both Schmidt and Fred into the road, while the horse +bolted. Fred lay still, watching Schmidt, who rose, cursing fluently, +and stood for a moment staring stupidly after his horse. Then he <a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a>began +to call, and broke into the awkward, lumbering run of the cavalryman.</p> + +<p>Fred might have slipped away then, but he was sure that Schmidt would +catch the horse, which must, he thought, be trained to stop even after a +momentary panic. And it was not his plan to seize a chance that might +after all not be as good as it looked. He wanted to make as sure as +possible of getting away. And now, as soon as Schmidt had started after +the horse, he crawled over to the saddle, which lay where it had fallen. +He took the heavy revolver from the holster and was duly grateful for +one thing he had noticed—these Uhlans carried no carbines. Their only +weapons, seemingly, were their lances and the revolvers in their +holsters.</p> + +<p>He was not a moment too soon. Schmidt came back almost at once, leading +his horse. He was scolding it for running, and he was also expressing +his opinion of government saddles and leather. He found the broken<a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a> +girth, and sat down at once to mend it. Fred scarcely dared to breathe +for a moment. But Schmidt did not notice the empty holster, and though +he growled and swore when he saw how the girth had snapped, he did not +seem to notice that it had been cut almost through.</p> + +<p>Fred went over and looked at him. Then, idly, indifferently, he went to +the horse, which was standing perfectly still, though its flanks were +still heaving. Fred patted the horse's head. Schmidt glanced around at +him. His back was turned, and he seemed to see nothing worthy of +attention in Fred's attitude.</p> + +<p>And then, with one spring, Fred was on the horse's back, and, bending +low, was urging the tired animal back over the road he had travelled so +slowly. With a cry of mingled rage and surprise Schmidt leaped up and +began shouting. But the horse, ready enough to obey when it was running +riderless away, now obeyed the more c<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a>onvincing orders of its rider. +Fred, moreover, was a welcome contrast to Schmidt's big bulk; there was +a difference of at least seventy pounds.</p> + +<p>Fred turned once to look at Schmidt, and saw him staring with an +expression of stupefaction at the empty holster. Then he devoted himself +entirely to the road ahead. It was as he had thought and hoped; Schmidt +did not have another pistol. And, with Fred urging him on, the horse +galloped on as if it had been really fresh.</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven he's stupid, that Schmidt!" thought Fred.</p> + +<p>Then he had a fit of remorse. He was afraid that it would go hard with +Schmidt, for he knew that in the German army excuses are not readily +accepted. However, it was not a time to think of sentiment. Fred was +taking desperate chances himself, and it had been a case of seizing any +chance of escape that offered itself. Not only his own liberty, but very +probably his own life had depended upon his getting away. He knew +enough, by this time, to understand that the outcome of the first +campaign of the war might depend upon the accuracy of the information +the Russians obtained of the German movements.</p><p><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a></p> + +<p>It was plain to Fred that the Russians, in this quarter at least, had +not been well served by their spies. He was surprised at the absence of +initiative the Russians had shown in some ways. Aeroplane scouting, for +instance, would have made it impossible for the Germans to spring such a +surprise as evidently was in preparation. The Germans were using their +aerial scouts. It was one of them, detecting the approach of General +Suvaroff and his Cossack raiders, who had spoiled the plan for the +capture of von Hindenburg.</p> + +<p>But though he had felt that he was perfectly justified in sacrificing +Schmidt to his own need to escape, Fred could not help feeling sorry for +the poor fellow.</p><p><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a></p><p><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a></p> + +<p>"I hope he'll be able to think up a good story!" he said to himself. +"And, by George, I hope I don't meet any more German soldiers! They +would certainly finish me off if they found me riding on a German horse! +There isn't anything I could do that would make them think that was all +right, no matter how stupid they were!"</p> + +<p>He urged his horse on now as hard as he dared, tired though he knew it +to be. His plan was simple enough. He meant to ride to within a mile of +the village, and then dismount, letting the horse go wherever it liked. +Its usefulness to him would be over as soon as it had put him past the +possibility of pursuit. He thought his troubles were nearly over. But +suddenly, around a turn in the road, came a glare of light, and in his +ears sounded the bugle of a German military automobile.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<p>ALTERED PLANS</p> + +<p><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a></p> +<p>Fred's horse did for him what he could scarcely have done for himself in +time. It reared and threw him, then bolted. Tired already, the sudden +appearance of the monstrous ray of light and the roar of the approaching +motor was too much for that horse. Fred was not hurt by the fall. Having +had no stirrups from which to disengage his feet, he was able to let +himself go. And he had no sooner landed than he was up. For just a +moment, he knew he must be plainly visible in the glare of the +searchlight. But he dashed for the side of the road and made his way +through a hedge and into the field on the other side. There he began to +run as fast and as hard as he could.</p> + +<p>He had two chances, he thought. One, that he had not been seen at all; +the other, that whoever was in the car might think he had passed on the +flying horse. If he had been seen, however, he could not hope to escape +by running. He was too tired, for one thing, after the strenuous +experience of the previous night, and for another, he was almost certain +to be seen, for after he had traversed a space that was covered with +shrubs and young trees, he would be in the open. And a bullet could +travel faster than he could.</p> +<p><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a></p> +<p>And so, after making his dash, he stopped running and threw himself +down, facing the road, to watch and to listen. At first he thought he +was safe, for the car roared by. But in a moment his ear caught a +different note in the sound of the motor, and then the engine stopped. +It started again in a moment, but now the headlight was coming toward +him again! The car had been turned around. It was back, undoubtedly, to +look for him. Still he decided not to run, but to stay where he was, +though every instinct prompted him to take the chance of flight. That, +however, was pure panic, and he fought against the impulse.</p> + +<p>The car came along slowly. He was not more than a hundred feet from the +road, and the headlight showed him the progress of the car. Its +blinding light, however, made it impossible for him to see the car +itself or its occupants. It gave them the advantage. Finally the car +stopped, and he groaned. It had stopped exactly opposite his +hiding-place! He had hoped that they would not be able to tell just +where he had left the road, but in a moment the explanation came to him. +He had trampled down the hedge in getting through, of course, and had +left a trail that a child might have followed.</p> + +<p>Then the headlight was switched off, <a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a>and for a moment he lost the car +altogether. His ears, rather than his eyes, told him that someone was +coming. He heard the breaking down of the hedge, and then footsteps +moving slowly, but coming closer. And in a moment he saw a little +stabbing ray of light that wandered back and forth. Whoever was stalking +him was evidently not afraid of him.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he remembered his pistol, the one he had taken from Schmidt's +holster. He gripped it convulsively. After all, he was not as helpless +as he had believed. He waited. Should he risk all now, with a shot—a +shot that might warn this stalker off and give him another chance to +escape, even though there were others in the car? He drew out the +pistol, and cocked it. Then, at the faint sound, a voice called to him +out of the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Do not fire! It is I—Ivan! Ivan Ivanovitch!"</p> + +<p>For a moment Fred thought he was going to collapse, so great was the +relief and the slackening of tension. He did laugh out, but caught<a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a> +himself at once.</p> + +<p>"Ivan!" he said. "I thought it was a German officer! It is I, Ivan—Fred +Waring!"</p> + +<p>"I knew it," said Ivan, coming up close. "I saw you for just a second as +your horse reared. It was just a flash of your face, but if I have ever +seen a face once, I never forget it. And you have the look of a Suvaroff +about you, even though you are different. I would have known you for one +of the breed had I met you anywhere in the world, had no one told me +who you were. And so I turned to find you and follow you."</p> + +<p>"But what are you doing here? I thought you were to rejoin our own +army?"</p> +<p><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a></p> +<p>"I was pressed into service as a chauffeur. This car was needed near the +front, and there was no one to drive it. I deceived them wholly, with my +uniform, and my motorcycle. And so they forced this car upon me! My plan +was to use it, instead of my cycle, to get past their lines."</p> + +<p>"But you are riding straight to Gumbinnen—and they are near there in +force!"</p> + +<p>"No, they have retreated from there. They know that we are too strong +for them, and they do not care to fight."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and do you know why? Because they have been bringing troops up +secretly to Insterberg, and are planning to fight a great battle there +on their own grounds! You were wrong, Ivan, in the information you +sent."</p> + +<p>Wasting no words, he quickly told of what he had learned that evening. +And Ivan smote his hands together for he was deeply troubled.</p> +<p><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a></p> +<p>"And I thought I knew all their plans!" he said, savagely. "If the staff +had acted upon my information, we should have marched into a trap!"</p> + +<p>"Now I must get to the wireless," said Fred. "That was what I meant to +do when you frightened my horse there in the road."</p> + +<p>"Come, I will drive you back. It will not take long, and your work is +more important than mine now. It is safe, too. You can be hidden in the +car in case we encounter any Germans. But that is not likely. They are +not as thick in this district as they were forty-eight hours ago."</p> + +<p>They made their way together to the car, and Fred laughed.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I was ever so scared as when you turned and came back. It +was worse, in a way, than when they were going to shoot me in the +parsonage garden. I'd been so sure I was safe—and then to hear that +bugle call on your car!"</p> +<p><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a></p> +<p>"It is not right for you to run such risks," said Ivan. "I wish you were +behind our lines! You are not even a Russian, and yet you have been +near to death for us."</p> + +<p>"Don't you worry about me!" said Fred. "I don't suppose that I would +have started this, but when I was pushed into it as I was, I feel like +doing all I can. If the Germans had caught me when Boris hid me in the +tunnel, they would have treated me like an enemy, so I thought I might +as well give them a good excuse, since they were going to do it anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Here we are," said Ivan. "Even if you were frightened, this may turn +out well. You will save some time, and I can take you to the very +opening of the tunnel."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's only fair for this car to do me a good turn after the fright +it gave me," said Fred.</p><p><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a></p> + +<p>Ivan drove swiftly when they started again. On that deserted road, +through a country that had been blasted by the approach of war, though +as yet there had been no actual fighting, there was no reason for +cautious driving. And five minutes brought them to the parsonage, and so +to a point as close to the opening of the tunnel as the car could go. +As the motor stopped Ivan swore in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Look!" he said.</p> + +<p>To the west there were a dozen darting searchlights winking back and +forth across the sombre sky. And below the searchlights were hundreds of +tiny points of fire.</p> + +<p>"They're advancing!" he cried. "And listen!"</p> + +<p>From the east there came a dull sound that rose presently to a steady,<a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a> +loud roar.</p> + +<p>"Everything has changed!" cried Ivan, his face white. "We are pushing +the attack—we must have occupied Gumbinnen! The Germans are being +driven back—and they are bringing up their supports! They must mean to +fight here to protect the railway! This place will be the centre of a +battle before morning! I shall give up my plan. The only thing that +counts now is to get word to the staff of what is going on back here! +Come!"</p> + +<p>"What about the car?"</p> + +<p>"If it is still here after we have sent word, good! If it is not, we +must do without it."</p> + +<p>Ivan began running toward the mouth of the tunnel. But Fred, before he +followed, switched off the lights and ran the car off the side of the +road, so that it was under the wall o<a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a>f the parsonage garden and +sheltered, to a certain extent, by the heavy foliage of a large tree, +whose branches overhung the wall.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to think that that car was where we could get at it," he said +to himself. "I have an idea that this place is going to be mighty +unpleasant before long."</p> + +<p>Then he followed Ivan. The Russian had already entered the tunnel. Fred, +when he followed him, heard him running up the long passage that led up +to the house. Before he could reach the opening, however, he heard other +steps coming toward him, and a moment later Boris was heaping reproaches +on him.</p> + +<p>"I thought they had caught you!" he cried. "I saw them chasing someone, +and it looked like you. In fact, I was sure it was you at first sight."</p> + +<p>"It was," said Fred, grimly. "I'll tell you about that later, Boris! +You'd better get everyone out of this<a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a> place. We can't stay here any +longer. Unless I'm greatly mistaken, this will be used as a target for +artillery by morning. It will if Ivan is right."</p> + +<p>"He rushed by me just now. He would say nothing except that you were +behind."</p> + +<p>"He's at the wireless. Come on! We'll see if he has found out anything +more."</p> + +<p>For ten minutes after they reached the turret, they could get nothing +out of Ivan, who was sending hard, with only an occasional pause to +listen to what the other operator sent to him. Then he sat back with a +sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>"We were in time!" he said. "These troops back here are the ones that +were supposed to be massing behind Liok, to resist the feint we were +making there. They are too clever, those Germans! They have their +airships to tell them the truth, and their railways to move men swiftly +from one side to another. But they have not <a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a>enough men! We shall beat +them yet. Our attack will stop. See—look here!"</p> + +<p>He moved to a table, and with pens and pencils made a rough diagram of +the position.</p> + +<p>"They gave up Gumbinnen without a fight, and formed in a half circle +behind. They had so few men there that it was an invitation to us to try +to outflank them. Our right could sweep out and draw in behind their +left—so. And then their supporting troops could outflank our right, in<a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a> +turn, and it would be caught between two fires! They have fewer troops +than we in East Prussia to-day, but ours are separated, while they +risked all to bring all theirs together at this one point and left the +south unguarded from Mlawa to Liok! Oh, it was daring—Napoleon might +have planned that!"</p> + +<p>"I see," said Fred. "Then when they had won here, they could have used +their railway to move troops southward?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly so! A hundred and fifty thousand men all together can beat a +hundred thousand, if all else is equal. But one army of a hundred +thousand can beat two of seventy-five thousand apiece, meeting them at +different times. So our attack will stop. We shall leave a covering +force here at Gumbinnen—or perhaps all our troops here will stay, but +on the defensive, while others are rushed up from Grodno to outflank +them, not on their right, as they hoped, but on their extreme left!"</p> + +<p>He was silent for a moment.</p><p><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a></p> + +<p>"I need one man here," he said. "One man, to keep the engine running for +the dynamo. Everyone else must leave this house. You, Boris Petrovitch, +most of all—you and your cousin. I am responsible to your father for +your safety for it is through my fault that the plans were badly made."</p> + +<p>"But why must you stay, Ivan?" asked Boris.</p> + +<p>"I must stay until I am ordered away," said Ivan. "But it will not be +safe here after daylight—perhaps there will be trouble even before +that. Yes, I think it will be very soon now."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think I shall stay," said Fred.</p> + +<p>"No," said Ivan. "Listen! If you go now, quickly, you can get away in +the car. Here is the road you must follow." He took a map and pointed. +"See—swing west first, and then south—far south. So you will be safe +from the Germans, for they have abandoned th<a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a>at section except for the +railway from Insterberg to Liok. That is guarded, but thinly. In the car +are two long coats such as the German officers wear, and two helmets. +They are under the rear seat. Put those on, and you will pass most of +their sentries, if you should encounter them."</p> + +<p>"If he says we must go, we must do it," said Boris, quickly. "I should +like to stay, too, Fred, but he is right. We can do no good here, and if +you are caught it will be very bad. It would not matter with me, for +they would only treat me as a prisoner."</p> + +<p>Fred was still unwilling. He had not Boris's Russian readiness to accept +whatever came, but there was something about Ivan that convinced him +that argument would be useless.</p> + +<p>"Go now," said Ivan, "and God go with you! I will see to it that +Vladimir and the others follow."</p> +<p><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a></p> +<p>And so Fred went through the tunnel again, this time with Boris. He +wondered if he would ever see this place again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<p>A DASH THROUGH THE NIGHT</p> + + +<p>Both boys were startled when they reached the open air again to observe +how the din of the battle to the east had increased. They paused for a +moment to stare at one another.</p> + +<p>"That is real war," said Boris. "Not like the skirmish here when the +Cossacks came."</p> + +<p>"The Germans are giving way on purpose, of course, if Ivan is right—and +it seems to me he must be," said Fred. "I am<a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a> afraid to think of what +will happen to him."</p> + +<p>"I do not like to think of it, either," said Boris, "but it is fate. He +has his work to do, and it is all for Russia—for God and the Czar! I +have always been taught that we can die only once, and that it is a holy +thing to die for Russia."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but it is better to live for Russia than to die for her, if it is +possible," said Fred. "Come! We have no time to lose, I suppose."</p> + +<p>They approached the car in a death-like silence. It was still where +Fred had left it. There was a little delay in the start. Both Fred and +Boris had driven cars, but they were not familiar with this one, and it +seemed a good idea to learn the controls before they started. But in a +few moments they were off. The car rode easily, and the motor was very +powerful. It was a silent one, too, considering its great power. Fred +took the wheel first.</p> + +<p>"We can take it in turns," he said. "Get some sleep, if you can, Boris. +I'll rouse you if there is any need of that. And I'll be glad to rest +myself, after a time. Just now I'm too excited to sleep, even if there +were no especial reason for keeping awake."</p> +<p><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a></p> +<p>There was something so wonderful, so weird that it was almost ghostly, +about that ride in its beginning. Behind them was the din of the heavy +fighting between them and Gumbinnen. The sky was streaked with the +flashes of searchlights, and the vibration of the cannon beat against +their ears incessantly. Yet the road before them, as it lay like a +white ribbon in the path of the great headlight, was absolutely empty. +They passed houses, went through villages. And in none of the houses was +there a light or a sign of life. The whole countryside had been +abandoned.</p> + +<p>"It reminds me of things I've read about the plague in olden times," +thought Fred. "People used to run away like that then, and leave a dead +countryside behind them. It would almost look more natural if there were +signs of fighting."</p> + +<p>There were to be plenty all about here soon. But that night there was +nothing, save the inferno of noise and the dazzling points of light in +the sky behind them, to suggest anything save the deepest peace. Grain +stood in some of the fields. In others, where the harvesting had begun, +there were reaping machines. But despite the noise, there was a strange +and unearthly silence. Fred had driven at night through lonely country<a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a> +before, and he could remember the way dogs at almost every house had +burst into furious barking as the car approached. Now there were no +dogs! It was a trifling thing to think of now, but just then it seemed +to Fred that the absence of the dogs meant even more than the dark, +silent houses themselves.</p> + +<p>The houses did look as if their owners might be asleep within, but the +dogs would have barked their alarm. And so that came to be the symbol of +the flight of the people to him.</p> + +<p>They had many miles to go. After a couple of hours Fred changed seats +with Boris, and for a time dozed, though he scarcely slept. However, he +did get a good rest, and when they came near to the stretch of road that +Ivan had told them would mark the crisis of the trip, both boys were in +good condition for the test. They slowed down at the sound of an +engine's whistle, the first nearby noise that had come to their ears +since they had left the parsonage. It startled them tremendously at +first, but then they remembered Ivan's warning.</p> + +<p>"There is one place where, for about four miles, the road runs very<a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a> +close to the railway," he had said. "The Germans will have patrols all +along the railway line, but there is no reason why they should pay any +attention to you. Be watchful—that is the vital thing. And especially +so when you begin to descend a long hill. At the bottom of that hill the +railway crosses your road, and that culvert will be watched with +especial care. After that you will find the way clear, for our nearest +outposts should not be more than a mile or so beyond the railway there. +We would have seized the line before, except that until we had +straightened our front in that quarter it would have been useless to do +it."</p> + +<p>The whistle that they heard warned them that they were getting near to +this dangerous stretch of road, and in a few moments the sight of a +train, sparks flying from the smokestack of the engine, gave them visual +proof as well. Then for a time they ran along parallel with the tracks. +Fires were burning along the railway at intervals of about a hundred and +fifty yards, and at times, in the firelight, they could see a dark +figure moving slowly.</p> + +<p>"Heaven knows what this bugle means!" said Fred, as they drew into line +with the tracks. "But if we sound it they may make up their minds that +we're all right—and I'm not anxious for them to get curious about us."</p> + +<p>So he sounded the bugle from time to time. T<a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a>hey aroused no curiosity. +Plainly these sentries thought there was nothing strange about the +passage of a military automobile, nor, in fact, was there. It was not +likely that they would know enough of the general disposition of the +German army to speculate as to what officers might be doing hereabout.</p> + +<p>"Here we are! We're beginning to dip," said Boris, after a time. "The +culvert Ivan spoke of must be at the bottom of this hill. The road gets +away from the railway again after that, and when we have passed there we +ought to be all right."</p> + +<p>"There's just one thing," said Fred, with a frown. "They must know just +as well as Ivan that the Russian outposts lie not far beyond them. Won't +they think it strange for us to be going full speed toward the Russian +lines this way?"</p> + +<p>"No. I think that's easily accounted for, Fred. There is a crossroad +less than half a mile beyond that culvert. They will suppose that we +mean to take the turn. Ivan would have thought of that, I'm sure, if +there had been any danger that they would not expect us to be traveling +on this road."</p><p><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a></p> + +<p>"I guess you're right, Boris. It sounds reasonable. And anyway, if there +is a chance, we've got to take it. I'm certainly not going to hesitate +just for that after we've come as far as this. We'll soon know because, +as you say, once we're past that culvert, we'll be safe. That's the +crucial spot."</p> + +<p>The grade grew sharper as they descended, and the pace of the car +increased. Now, at the bottom, stretching across the white road, they +could see a heavy shadow and above on what was unquestionably the +railway, half a dozen lights.</p> + +<p>"They've got more than a sentry there. It seems to be a regular post," +said Fred, a little nervous, as they approached. "I'd like to slow down +here—we're taking this hill pretty fast."</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Boris, who was driving. "But it's not just the time to +slow down, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly. We've got to shoot under there so fast that they won't have a +chance to find out too much about us. The headlight will help us, too. +It ought to dazzle them so that they won't be able to see into the car<a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a> +at all. As soon as we're close to them, I'm going to sound the bugle +pretty steadily."</p> + +<p>They rushed on toward the culvert faster and faster. The powerful +headlight illuminated the scene before them, and they could see a dozen +or more dark figures. And as they came closer, they saw that several men +were looking at them, trying to shade their eyes with their hands.</p> + +<p>Fred sounded the bugle steadily now, and saw that this seemed to relieve +the watchers. For the first time he took his eyes from the culvert +itself and looked around. The road here descended much more steeply than +the railway, and that, Fred judged, was the reason for the culvert. For +the first time he realized that the culvert was not quite at the bottom +of the hill; that beyond it the road still bore downward quite sharply +for a space, until it turned. It was plain to him that there were more +dangers ahead than those represented by the soldiers on the culvert.</p> + +<p>The pace of the rushing car was faster now than would have been +altogether comfortable had they been on a road they knew perfectly.<a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a> +Here, with a curve just ahead that was an unknown quantity, there was +real danger in the sheer speed of the machine. Heavy as the car was, it +lurched and swayed from side to side. And simply to shut off the power +would not have been enough. Moreover, that was something both of them +would have feared to do. The slightest mischance, the most trifling +circumstance, might arouse suspicion in the watchers on the culvert. It +was necessary, and Ivan had warned them specially of this, to dash under +that at the highest possible speed for there would be stationed not +private soldiers alone, who would be likely to take it for granted that +an officer's coat and helmet meant that all was well, but an officer as +well.</p> + +<p>And an officer would be curious as to the meaning of this solitary car, +rushing over a road that had been deserted, in all probability, for at +least two days. No, there could be no slowing down, even had the fearful +grade made it possible.</p> + +<p>Then they flashed into the shadow. For just a moment, before they were +actually under the culvert, Fred, looking up, saw the white face<a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a>s of +those above, staring curiously. Then he lowered his head, for he knew +that his face and Boris's gave the lie to their helmets. Streaked with +dust they both were, to be sure. There had been a mist in the low-lying +country through which they had come, and the flying dust of the higher, +drier parts of the road had caked on their faces. But they were not the +faces of officers.</p> + +<p>Fred thought he heard a shout as they passed under the culvert. But +shouts were not enough to check them. What they both feared was a +volley. And that, as they passed out and beyond the menace of the +culvert, did not come.</p> + +<p>"Look back! See if they are looking after us!" cried Boris.</p> + +<p>"No!" Fred shouted in his ear, for now the rush of the wind made it +difficult for them to hear anything. "The light is on us now—they might +see too plainly. And, if we were officers going as fast as this, there +would be no reason for us to look back—Oh! Look out!"</p> +<p><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a></p> +<p>They had come to the turn. So great was their speed that they seemed to +reach it before they were well out from the shadow of the culvert, yet +they had traveled two hundred yards or more. There was nothing really to +frighten Fred as he cried out unless it was the sudden imminence of the +turn, which had seemed much further away when they had first seen it. It +was less what he saw than some indefinable thing he felt.</p> + +<p>Whether Boris's hand was wavering or whether some hitherto unsuspected +weakness had developed in the machine, Fred could not tell. But he +seemed to sense somehow that all was not well. There was some break in +the rhythm of the car's movement that warned him.</p> +<p><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a></p> +<p>Now they took the turn. Took it on two wheels—on one! For a moment it +seemed that they must upset. Then, by a miracle, the car righted itself. +For a moment it seemed about to straighten itself out and resume its +flight. And then, together, Fred and Boris saw what lay before them, and +Boris tried frantically to swing the car out. In the road lay the wreck +of a huge van.</p> + +<p>It was too much for Boris. He did swerve the car, but it struck the +wreck. There was a deafening crash, and then they were hurled out onto +the turf by the roadside, while the motor roared and flames leaped out +over the wreck.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<p>BETWEEN THE GRINDSTONES</p> + + +<p>For a moment Fred was stunned by the force of his fall. But it was only +for a moment, since, by something that was very like a miracle, he was +unhurt. He got up and looked around, a little dazed, for Boris. In a +moment he saw him lying very still, his whit<a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a>e face lighted up by the +flames from the burning car. He ran over and he was vastly relieved to +see that his cousin was conscious.</p> + +<p>"My leg is broken, I think," said Boris, speaking quickly. "Fred, you +must run for it alone. You will be able to get to the Russian lines. But +hurry! They are coming, I'm sure! They must have heard the crash!"</p> + +<p>"Do you think I'm going to leave you here?" asked Fred, indignantly. +"We'll sink or swim together, Boris!"</p> + +<p>"Why should two of us suffer when one can escape?" asked Boris. +"Besides, you've got to go, Fred, for my sake as well as for your own. +They'll treat me well enough. But if they catch us here wearing German +uniform coats—well, you know what that would mean!"</p> + +<p>Fred was startled. He had not thought of that.</p> +<p><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a></p> +<p>"Take my coat and helmet and get away as fast as you can," urged Boris. +"Then I can say that I have been in the car. They'd know that, of +course, but I could make them believe that I was in it against my will, +and that the two men in uniform they saw had escaped. If they catch you, +they'll send you back to headquarters and you'll be recognized there at +once. Then they'd do to me whatever they did to you, just because I was +caught in your company. No, it's the only chance for either of us, Fred, +and you've got to take it quickly."</p> + +<p>The idea of abandoning a friend, and much more one who had come to mean +so much to him as did Boris, seemed terrible to Fred. And yet it was +impossible for him to refute Boris's argument. His cousin was right. +And now he could hear the voices of approaching men. Naturally, if the +Germans on the culvert thought that a car containing two German officers +had been wrecked, they would come to the rescue. There was no time to be +lost.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you're right, Boris," he said, with a groan. "But it's the +hardest thing I've ever had to do! But it is so. It would make it worse<a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a> +for you if I stayed. That's the only reason I'll go, though! You believe +that, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I do!" said Boris. "Haven't you proved what sort you are, +when you risked your life to try to help me to get away at the +parsonage? Go! Hurry! Get this coat and helmet off me!"</p> + +<p>So Fred set to work. He had to move Boris to get the coat off, and the +Russian groaned with the pain of his broken leg. Fred dared not wait, +now that he had made up his mind to fly, even to see the extent of the +injury, much less to apply first aid. Had there been time, he might have +made Boris comfortable, for, like all well trained Boy Scouts, he +understood the elementary principles of bandaging and had made more than +one temporary setting in splints for broken bones. But he knew that the +Germans would be there in a minute or two, and he had no reason to +suppose that they would lack common humanity. They would care for Boris. +Probably they had a surgeon back at the culvert, or fairly near at hand, +at any rate.</p> +<p><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a></p> +<p>"Get off the road," said Boris, gritting his teeth. "My head is +swimming, and I'm afraid I'm going to faint or do some such foolish +thing! But don't stay in the road. They're sure to go along, looking for +you."</p> + +<p>Fred had reasoned that out for himself. And now, when he had rolled up +Boris's coat and helmet into a bundle, he leaped a narrow ditch and +plunged into a thick mass of bushes. He did not know the country here, +and had no notion of what sort of cover he might find. But luck was with +him though for a moment he thought he had stumbled into a disastrous +predicament. The ground gave way beneath him suddenly and he felt +himself falling. He relaxed instinctively, and came down on hands and +knees on a mass of leaves and twigs. He had fallen into a sort of +shallow pit, but deep enough to shelter him. It seemed to him to be like +a deadfall, such as he knew trappers sometimes make. The place was ideal +for such a use, but now no steel-jawed trap yawned for him. And it was +only a moment before he realized that this was just the hiding-place for +him—and one, moreover, for which he <a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a>himself might have searched in +vain.</p> + +<p>"They'll never look for me as near the wreck as this," he said to +himself. "They'll spread out probably, but I think I'll be safe here. As +safe as anywhere, and it will give me a chance to find out what's +happening, too."</p> + +<p>The side of the pit nearest the road was almost open, though it was +screened by bushes and foliage. Fred, however, was able to peer out and +to see the dancing flames, giving a weird and ghostly appearance to the +scene in the road. The Germans were very close now and he had just time +to poke up some branches to hide the opening through which he had +fallen. Then he lay down, his eyes glued to a sort of natural peephole +that gave him a view of the road.</p> + +<p>"It's like a grandstand seat!" he said. "But I hope no one wants to see +my ticket because I'm afraid the usher would make me change my <a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a>seat!"</p> + +<p>But then Fred had to give his whole attention to what was going on in +the road. The Germans came running up, a young officer in the lead. +There were a half dozen of them. At first, as they looked about near the +burning car, they saw no one. But then one of the soldiers saw Boris and +raised a shout. The officer went over, leaned down and then started back +with a cry of surprise.</p> + +<p>"That is no German officer!" he exclaimed. He bent over again and Fred +winced as he saw him shaking Boris by the shoulder. He wondered if Boris +was shamming, or if he had really fainted. Then it was plain that there +was no pretence. The officer, gently enough, raised Boris's head, and +taking a flask from his pocket, forced a little of the spirits it +contained into Boris's mouth. Fred saw his cousin stiffen; he was coming +to his senses. Then the officer let him down, but made a sort of pillow +for him with a cushion that had been thrown out of the automobile when +it was overturned.</p> + +<p>"Feel better? Good!" he said. "Now tell me what happened! Where are the +two officers who were in the car? Were they hurt?"</p> +<p><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a></p> +<p>"I—do not know," said Boris.</p> + +<p>Fred had to strain his ears to catch what Boris said. Boris was weak and +exhausted, and Fred was glad that the German officer seemed kindly and +disposed to be humane.</p> + +<p>"You do not know? How is that? You were in the car with them, weren't +you?"</p> + +<p>"I was in the car, but I do not know what happened after the accident. I +was thrown out—and I did not know anything until you roused me just +now."</p> + +<p>"But what were you doing in the car, then? Who were those officers? +Where were they going?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know. I know only that I was walking along the road, because +all the people had been sent away from their homes, when the car +stopped, and a man told me to get in and sit low, so that I should not +be seen. Then we drove very fast and after a while there was a crash, +and I was thrown out."</p><p><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a></p> + +<p>"Can you walk?"</p> + +<p>The German's tone had changed somewhat. It was anxious now, and puzzled.</p> + +<p>"I—don't know," said Boris. "There is a pain in my leg—here, right +above the ankle. Ouch!"</p> + +<p>Fred saw the German officer slip his hand down over the spot to which +Boris pointed, and his touch dragged the exclamation of pain from Boris.</p> + +<p>"You can't walk, that's certain!" said the German. "You've got pluck, +boy! There's a nasty break there. You need a surgeon! Well, I'll have to +do what I can for you until we can find one. Can you stand a little more +pain? Niehoff, give me your emergency kit. You have the splints? So! I<a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a> +shall see what I can do."</p> + +<p>He was busy for a moment. Then with a sergeant, evidently his second in +command, he withdrew to be out of Boris's hearing. But as it chanced, +his movement brought him to a point where it was easier than ever for +Fred to hear everything he said.</p> + +<p>"There is something deuced queer about this business!" said the officer. +"I think this boy is telling the truth, but we saw two officers in the +front seat of that car. That much was certain. They were not ground into +powder in the accident, you know. If they had been killed, there would +be something left of them. They got out all right—that's evident. And +they made themselves scarce. They must have known we would come, and if +they have gone so quickly, it is because they did not want us to see +them at close quarters."</p> + +<p>"Spies, you think?" asked the sergeant.</p> + +<p>"Evidently! But how they got here I'd hate to guess! They came from a +quarter where we are in complete cont<a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a>rol. Yet they stole one of our +cars, and a couple of uniform coats and helmets, at least!"</p> + +<p>"We can look further for them," said the sergeant.</p> + +<p>"Yes—and one might look a long time in a haystack before one found a +needle! However, let the men spread out along the road and see what they +can find. Give the order!"</p> + +<p>Fred sighed with relief. He had been right in his decision to stay where +he was, as he understood fully when he saw the soldiers go off down the +road, looking for some trace of the passing of the two imaginary +officers. Meanwhile the officer went back to Boris.</p> + +<p>"We'll take this lad back with us," he said to the sergeant. "He needs +attention, and I prefer to give someone in higher authority a chance to +talk to him. This is a very mysterious affair, all around. It is too +much for my brain!"</p> + +<p>"And for mine, too!" grumbled the sergeant. "If I had my way, we wo<a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a>uld +have orders to shoot all suspicious characters first and find out +whether they deserved it or not afterward. I thought we should stop that +automobile when we saw it coming."</p> + +<p>"And I did not," said the officer, sharply.</p> + +<p>The sergeant said nothing more.</p> + +<p>Soon the men returned from their fruitless search. Then a litter was +improvised and Boris was placed upon it and taken away. Fred had been +very fearful for it had seemed more than likely to him that a sentry +would be left to watch the wreck. If that had been done, it would have +complicated his position, because he could scarcely have hoped to get +out of his shelter without making some noise. But this was a precaution +that apparently did not suggest itself to the Germans.</p> + +<p>And so, as soon as they were well out of hearing, Fred scrambled out, +leaving his dangerous coats and helmets behind, and began trudging<a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a> +boldly along the road. He did not know the character of the wooded +section through which the road now ran, and it seemed to him that he +would be safer in the road than if he tried to walk under cover.</p> + +<p>Fred was very tired. And, now that the excitement was fading, he was +beginning to realize that he had not escaped entirely scatheless from +the wreck of the car. Every bone and muscle in his body was sore and +aching, and he wondered how many black and blue spots he would find when +he got a chance to look for them.</p> + +<p>By Ivan's reckoning, he had something like two miles to go to reach the +Russian outposts. He was now in a sort of No Man's Land that lay between +the two armies. And, indeed, before long, he saw fires twinkling +ahead—the fires of the Russians. That was as he came to the crossroad +of which Boris had spoken. It seemed that his troubles must be nearly +over. And just then he heard a clatter of hoofs and saw, riding up the +crossroad toward him, a troop of German Uhlans. He began running. But +they had seen him and gave chase. He dared not stop. On he ran, hoping +that the Russians were nearer than their fir<a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a>es.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<p>AN OLD ENEMY</p> + + +<p>Suddenly over Fred's head there was a peculiar whistling. He had never +heard that sound before, but somehow he knew by instinct what it was. He +was under fire! Behind him were the shots, but the firing was wild and +at random. He plunged into the bushes now, for to do so was to choose +the lesser of two evils. He was fairly safe, so sheltered from the +bullets, since if they could not see him, the Uhlans would not be likely +to fire at him at all. And while it was certain that they could follow +him in and catch him if he stayed in the brush, he would delay them at +least, and the Russians were so near that they might hear the firing and<a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a> +come up.</p> + +<p>That came about even sooner than he had thought possible. He stopped, +panting. The Uhlans were close on his trail by this time, and he heard +them coming up. But then came a sudden shouting of orders, and, a +moment later, a furious fusillade that was answered from the Russian +side. Over the rattle of the firing, too, came a sound he remembered +well, though he had heard it only once before—the yelling of charging +Cossacks. For the second time the wild Russian horsemen had come to his +rescue in the nick of time!</p> + +<p>But this time there was more of a fight, since the two little bodies of +horsemen were far more evenly matched than had been the case when +General Suvaroff had led his daring raid behind the German lines in the +effort to capture von Hindenburg. For five minutes the fighting was fast +and furious. Fred could hear the clash of steel against steel and the +spiteful spitting of revolvers and automatic pistols. Then the wild +Russian shout of victory arose, and he heard sounds of galloping fast +dying away. Even though he could see nothing, he knew which side had<a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a> +won.</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven!" he said to himself. "I wonder if they couldn't chase +them and raid the culvert. There aren't so many troops there! Then we +could surely get Boris away from them."</p> + +<p>But the first thing to do, of course, was to come out of his cover and +make himself known to his rescuers. There was a certain risk in even +that simple procedure, and Fred was not so carried away by the +excitement of the fight as to forget it. There was more than a chance +that if he broke out, the Russians would mistake him for some German who +had tried to escape by taking refuge in the brush, and that they would +shoot without waiting to make sure. But he had to take the chance, and +he minimized the risk as much as he could by tying his white +handkerchief to a stick and carrying it before him as he pushed his way +into the ditch.</p> + +<p>He waved this as he emerged. At first no one<a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a> saw him. Then a Cossack +spied him and sent his horse straight at him. Fred leaped aside as he +saw that the man meant to ride him down, and, shouting, waved his white +flag. He dodged the first assault, but the Cossack spun his pony around +in little more than his own length, and waving his dangerous lance, came +at him again. He shouted again, and waved his white flag harder than +ever. That would not have saved him, however, but just as the Cossack +lunged and Fred threw himself down, sure that he would either be speared +or trampled by the horse, an officer dashed up and struck up the lance +with his sword.</p> + +<p>"Don't you see the white flag?" he roared. "We do not kill men who +surrender!"</p> + +<p>"They say that the Germans are hanging every Cossack they capture," said +the man, sullenly.</p> + +<p>"Never mind what they say!" said the officer. "Hello! That man is not a +soldier at all!"</p><p><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a></p> + +<p>"Neither soldier nor German!" cried Fred in Russian, springing up. +"Those Uhlans were chasing me! I have just escaped from the German +lines. I did not think that I should fare as badly among my friends as +among the enemy!"</p> + +<p>"Nor shall you, friend!" said the Russian officer with a laugh. "So you +are a Russian? Well, you look as if you might be anything!"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I do," said Fred, a bit ruefully. He could imagine, even +though he could not see himself, that the Russian was quite right. He +was caked with dirt. In the fall from the automobile, as he had +discovered while he was walking away from the wreck, he had sustained a +nasty cut over the eye, which, though it was not painful, had bled a +good deal. And this had made his appearance even worse than it had been +before. His clothes were torn, too.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, and where do you come from?" asked the Russian.</p> +<p><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a></p> +<p>In a few words Fred told his story. When he said that he had left Boris +Suvaroff a prisoner at the culvert, with a broken leg, the officer +started.</p> + +<p>"Can't you go after him?" Fred pleaded. "They have very few men there. +You could sweep them away."</p> + +<p>"Not with this force. And I should not dare to go so far without special +orders," said the officer. "We could not charge the culvert, and, +approaching it from this side, we should have to ride uphill. But I am +sure that when those in command know your story, a force will be sent to +rescue Prince Boris. Come with us now. I will get you a horse if you +are able to ride. The Uhlans left some behind!"</p> + +<p>Fred could ride, and said so. And in a few minutes he was riding toward +the fires that twinkled before them, side by side with the Russian +officer, who was anxious to know all that Fred could tell him.</p> + +<p>"That was splendid!" he cried enthusiastically when he heard how Fred +had discovered the real purpose of the Germans by his ruse in pretending +to be deaf and dumb. "And it means, too, that we will get some real work +to do here in this quarter. I thought at first that the army in the<a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a> +north would get all the fighting. We have been sitting here for nearly a +week, doing nothing. This is the first skirmish we have had, for our +orders are not to bring on an action, but only to prevent the enemy from +coming toward us if they show any sign of attacking."</p> + +<p>"If what I have heard is true, there will be an advance from this +quarter soon," said Fred. "If the Germans are to be outflanked, it must +be by the troops here. And that ought to mean as much fighting as anyone +could hope to get."</p> + +<p>"That is what we are looking for," said the officer. "But you—you will +be glad of a rest for a time, I should think!"</p> + +<p>"I want to get my cousin back," said Fred. "It was hard to leave him."</p> + +<p>"It was the only thing to do. You saved his life as well as your own by +going. And one who saves a Suvaroff does a fine thing for Russia in +these days—if this Boris is like the rest of the breed."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we have never known!" said Fred, suddenly remembering. "Did General +Suvaroff get back safely after he failed to catch General von +Hindenburg?"</p><p><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a></p> + +<p>"He did! He had less than a thousand men, and he rode for sixty miles or +more through a whole German army! He was intercepted but when he found a +German brigade lined up in his path, instead of trying to circle around +it, and so giving the Germans time to surround him, he cut right +through it!" answered the officer, smiling.</p> + +<p>"That was splendid!"</p> + +<p>"I don't think the war will show anything better!" said the Russian, +with enthusiasm. "He charged before the Germans knew that he was fairly +upon them, and the whole fight lasted less than ten minutes. Then our +fellows were through and riding for our lines. And the best of it was +that not more than fifty of our saddles were emptied. The Germans are +wonderful fighters, I believe. We shall have a hard time beating them. +But they fight too much by rule. A German cavalry commander would have +been brave enough to try to do that, but he would not have tried because +he would have known that it was an unsound plan."</p> + +<p>"I wish Boris knew that his father was safe," said Fred, a litt<a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a>le sadly. +"He has been worried, although he has said nothing."</p> + +<p>"Eh—he might have known it! Yes, he got back safely enough. As to +whether he is safe now, that is another matter. He is in the thick of +the fighting around Gumbinnen, and he is not one of those generals who +stay in the rear. He is like Skobeleff. Have you heard of him?"</p> + +<p>"He commanded at Plevna, against the Turks?"</p> + +<p>"And in a good many other battles! Skobeleff, though he was in command +of the whole army, would insist always on being in the thick of the +fighting himself. He wore his white coat, and he rode a white horse. So +he was always to be seen by his own men and by the enemy. Perhaps he was +wrong, but soldiers will fight better for a general who shares their +perils. Skobeleff used to do impossible things, because he believed that +nothing was impossible that brave men made up their minds to do."</p> + +<p>Fred thought of Russian generals in the war with Japan who might have +changed the whole course of that conflict had they had such ideas. But +he said nothing of this. Russian soldiers were mindful of that<a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a> +disastrous war, he thought. And Fred had an idea that before this far +greater struggle was over, the world would have been forced to forget +the failures of Manchuria. Men who fought as he had seen Russians do +were not going to be beaten again.</p> + +<p>Fred was mounted now on a big, rawboned horse that had lost its Uhlan +rider. He was so tired that he was swaying in his saddle, and the +Russian noticed this.</p> + +<p>"Keep awake a little longer," he said, cheerily. "We haven't very much +further to go. In half an hour, I think, you can be in a real bed, with +sheets and blankets."</p> + +<p>"I don't need anything like that," said Fred, rousing himself and +smiling. "I think I could sleep on a board that was studded with nails! +And I know that they could fight a battle all around me to-night without +waking me up when I once get to sleep."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to let you stop here—we are withi<a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a>n our lines now—but I know +the staff will want to see you and ask a few questions. And you have +done so much already for Russia that I believe you will want to do that +much more before you rest."</p> + +<p>"Oh, a few minutes more or less won't make any difference!" said Fred. +He yawned hugely. "As long as I'm awake, I can make myself stay awake. +If I once let go, though, I promise you I'll be hard to rouse!"</p> + +<p>There were more Russians about here than Fred had supposed. It was plain +that since Ivan had had any information as to the conditions here, +re-enforcements had been brought up, for it was not through outposts +that they were riding, but through a large body of troops. Tents +stretched in all directions and fires were numerous, dotting the fields +like stars. There were no woods here; it was open country again. To the +left Fred caught a glimpse of the silver sheen of a river reflecting the +starlight.</p> + +<p>"How far are you going to take me?" asked Fred.</p> + +<p>"To headquarters. We have less than half a mile to ride now. The +general will be glad to see you."</p> +<p><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a></p> +<p>The Russian chuckled, and there seemed to be a hidden meaning in his +laugh. At any other time, when he was less weary, Fred would have +noticed that. He would have wondered at it, at least; he might even have +guessed its meaning. But now he only asked, quite idly: "Who is in +command of the troops here?"</p> + +<p>"You will soon know," said the Russian, repeating his chuckle.</p> + +<p>Fred did, indeed, soon get the answer to his question. They rode up to a +small farmhouse, ablaze with light, late as it was. The place was well +guarded. The Russian officer slipped off his horse.</p> + +<p>"Wait one minute," he said. He went, and returned at once. Then he led +the way inside. And Fred, all weariness banished by the sight, stared +into the cold, evil eyes of Mikail Suvaroff, wearing his general's +uniform.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<p>THE GREAT WHITE CZAR</p> + + +<p>There was a moment of absolute, chilling silence; the sort of silence +that, in the old phrase, can be felt. For just an instant it was plain +that Mikail Suvaroff did not recognize the nephew he hated. But then he +knew him, and a flash of cold, malignant hatred lit up his eyes, while +his lips curved in a curious, sneering smile.</p> + +<p>"So—it is you?" he said. "I thought I had not seen the last of you on +the platform at Virballen! Lieutenant, you may leave us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, general," said the lieutenant who had rescued Fred. He was plainly +puzzled and confused. "I did not tell your kinsman that you were in<a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a> +command here. I thought he would be delightfully surprised by being +confronted with you suddenly. But—"</p> + +<p>"Exactly! You were quite right, lieutenant. And now you may leave us!"</p> + +<p>The lieutenant flushed at the rebuke, saluted stiffly, and left the +room.</p> + +<p>Fred was alone with his uncle.</p> + +<p>"You are brave, at least," said Mikail, presently. "That will, perhaps, +be a comfort to you later. Yet you were not well advised to serve the +Germans as a spy. They have not been able to save you from me this time, +you see. It is not a case this time of the station at Virballen, with +the superiority of numbers on their side for the moment."</p> + +<p>"It is your Cossacks who saved me from the Germans," said Fred. "I have +been a spy—but it has been in the interest of Russia. General Alexander +Suvaroff and his son can tell you tha<a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a>t."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said Mikail, his eyes and mouth fixed, so that no one could +have guessed what was in his mind. "It is strange that you feel forced +to call upon those who cannot say anything for or against you—since +they are in the hands of the Germans."</p> + +<p>Inspiration came suddenly to Fred, and he said nothing. He gave his +uncle stare for stare.</p> + +<p>"Well, what have you to say?" said Mikail, at last. "What defence have +you, spy?"</p> + +<p>Still Fred said nothing, and he saw the veins in Mikail's hands swelling +with anger.</p> + +<p>"So?" he said, when he understood that Fred would not speak. "Well, +there will be a way to make you talk, doubtless. I might have you shot +now—or hung. But you are my nephew. You shall have the fairest of +trials, for it must not be said that I did not see that you were well +treated!" He chuckled ominously. Then he raised his voice. In answer to +his call two officers came in.</p> + +<p>"You will be held personally responsible for this prisoner," he said. +"He is to be sent at once to Grodno for trial as a spy. I will dictate<a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a> +the process accusing him. Let him be dispatched in the morning, under +heavy guard."</p> + +<p>The officers saluted. Then soldiers were called and Fred was led away. +From the first he realized the utter hopelessness of any attempt to +escape. He was in the midst of a great army. He could not hope, no +matter what happened, to get more than a few yards in any direction. Yet +even the thought of his peril did not keep him awake. No sooner was he +put in the guard room, where half a dozen soldiers were with him, than +he sank into a heavy sleep. He was too tired, in fact, to realize to the +full how serious the matter was.</p> + +<p>But in the morning, when he was roused to partake of a meal, the full +and dreadful peril of his situation came over him. There was something +appalling about the way in which his guards looked at him. Most of all, +there was a terrible quality in the sympathy of the young lieutenant who +paid him a hurried visit.</p> + +<p>"I did not know, of course," he said, quickly. "I should have had to +take you to him, just as I did, but I should have prepared you for what<a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a> +was coming. I have heard something of the story. You have aroused the +general's hatred—and there are terrible stories of his power. Tell me, +is there anyone who can speak for you? It may be that I can get some +word to them—though it would cost me dear if Prince Mikail discovered +that I had done it."</p> + +<p>"Boris Suvaroff and his father would help me," said Fred. "But Boris is +a prisoner, and so is Prince Alexander, if my uncle tells the truth! And +the American ambassador—though I suppose he could do nothing."</p> + +<p>"I will do what I can. And remember that Dmitri Sazonoff is your friend, +and will believe always that you are a true friend of Russia. Good-bye! +You go to Grodno. There, unless there has been a change, are the +headquarters of the Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholavitch, who is in supreme +command of all our armies. You will be tried there by court-martial. I +wish it meant more—but count upon me for all that I can do."</p> +<p><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a></p> +<p>It was still comparatively early when Fred began his journey to Grodno, +which was, as he knew, one of the concentration points of the Russian +army. The trip was begun in a great motor truck, empty now, which had +been used to bring food and ammunition to the front. It was one of a +long train of similar vehicles, and in it he rode to the border, where +he was transferred to a military train.</p> + +<p>He was able on the trip to see what was going on, since no attempt was +made to keep him from doing so. And everything he saw served only to +impress him more and more with the utter hopelessness of his position. +The roads were choked with dense masses of advancing Russians. Troops, +horse and foot, hospital trains, ammunition and provision trains, +guns—all were moving up; evidently in preparation for the striking of a +heavy blow at the German power in East Prussia on a new line of attack.</p> + +<p>For the first time Fred saw a country that was really in the grip of a +modern army. The swift movements of the German army around the Suvaroff +house had not given this impression. There were not so many Germans, +relatively speaking at least, and their movements were made with less +confusion and greater speed, owing to their possession of railways that +had been built with an especial view to thei<a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a>r being used in time of +war.</p> + +<p>Here the railways had all been destroyed by the Germans who had +retreated before the advancing Russians. In many places, too, fields had +been burned over, that the standing crops might not fall into the hands +of the invaders.</p> + +<p>Fred almost laughed at the irony of the whole sight. It was because of +him that this movement was being made. At great risk to himself he had +obtained the information that had led to the sudden change in the +Russian plans, of which the great movement he saw was a part. He should +be receiving thanks and honors instead of being on his way to +headquarters as a prisoner of war, condemned, as he well knew, in +advance. For Fred had no illusions. He knew the power of Mikail +Suvaroff, who was so plainly an important member of the high Russian +command. Against so great a man his word would be valueless.</p> + +<p>"This Russian army is like a steam roller," Fred thought to himself. "It +may be stopped here or there, but not for long. It will roll over this<a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a> +whole country sooner or later. Well—I'm glad! Even if I've got to +suffer because my uncle hates me, it's not Russia's fault. I want Russia +to win."</p> + +<p>His guards treated Fred well enough. He had an idea that he owed the +consideration he received to Lieutenant Sazonoff. He was quite sure that +General Mikail Suvaroff had nothing to do with it! And his journey, +which might have been one of acute discomfort, was made more than +tolerable.</p> + +<p>It was late when the train in which he rode after the border was reached +arrived in Grodno. Here the army was in complete possession. Men in +uniform were everywhere; the civilian population seemed almost to have +disappeared. The din was constant. For hours, after he had been taken to +a cell in the central police station, he lay awake and listened. Guns +rumbled through the streets, motor cars chugged all through the night. +He was aroused in the morning by sounds of f<a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a>rantic, steady cheering, and +when the guard brought him his breakfast, he asked what that meant. The +man's eyes lighted up.</p> + +<p>"The Little Father has come to be with his soldiers!" he said. "He has +come to give us his blessing and bid us fight for him and Holy Russia! +How can we lose now?"</p> + +<p>"The Czar himself?" said Fred. He smiled. He had hoped, when he left +America, to see the Czar before his return. There was small chance of +that now, even though they were in the same town.</p> + +<p>The Russians delayed as little as had the Germans in bringing him to +trial. And here in Grodno there was even less ceremony than there had +been in the dining-room of the East Prussian parsonage.</p> + +<p>A young officer was assigned to defend him, but he took the task as a +joke.</p> + +<p>"You'll be condemned, of course," he said. "Prince Mikail knows you are<a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a> +a spy. I think you're very lucky that he didn't hang you outside of his +own headquarters! Better plead guilty. It will save time for everyone."</p> + +<p>But Fred refused. Hopeless as the case was, he was still determined to +take every chance there was, and to fight for every minute of delay. +But the proceedings were soon over. The charge against him was read so +quickly that he could scarcely follow it. He was allowed to speak for +himself, but none of the officers of the court paid any attention to +him. The verdict was quickly found. And the president of the court was +just about to pronounce sentence when there was an interruption. Into +the room strode a man at whose entrance every officer started to his +feet, saluting. The newcomer jerked his hand to his forehead, answering +the salute, and then stood staring about.</p> + +<p>Fred, had never seen such a figure. The man was a giant. He wore a khaki +uniform. He was nearly seven feet tall, but he was so magnificently +formed that it was only the way he towered over even the tall Russian +officers about him that his great height was apparent. Fred knew him at +once. It was the Grand Duke Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The court is dissolved!" he said, in a harsh, rasping voice. "I will<a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></a> +take charge myself of the prisoner. Boy, come with me!"</p> + +<p>Utterly amazed, Fred obeyed. The Grand Duke seized his arm in a +vise-like grip and half pushed, half dragged him along with him. Fred +was too amazed even to wonder what had happened or what was to happen +next. He found himself being led into a room that was filled with +officers. They were grouped about one end of the room, where, near a +window, there stood a short man in a brilliant uniform. Fred gasped as +he recognized him. At the same moment the grip on his arm was loosened, +and the Grand Duke Nicholas swept off his cap.</p> + +<p>"Your Majesty," he said, "this is the American boy of whom we have +heard. One who has done such things as he is charged with must hear his +fate from your own lips. He is charged by Mikail Suvaroff with being a +spy and a traitor. On the other hand—"</p> + +<p>The Czar smiled.</p> + +<p>"Thanks to our good Alexander, we know the truth," he said. "By your +kinship to the great family of Suvaroff, Frederick Wari<a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"></a>ng, you are of +our kin. Were you a Russian, there would be another reward that we +might give you. But you own your father's nationality, though you have +proved that there is good Russian blood in your veins. It is our +pleasure to confer on you the order of St. Stanislas, with the crossed +swords, given for bravery only! Now you may go to the cousin who came +here in time to save you."</p> + +<p>Dazed, Fred backed away, knowing only that he had not done the right +thing. A hand fell on his shoulder and he looked up into the eyes of +Boris's father.</p> + +<p>"Boris is waiting for you," he said. "The mystery of Mikail's hatred for +you has been solved. He is quite mad—he has been relieved of his +command. I have long suspected this madness and now the whole world +knows it! Your trials are over, my American cousin!"</p> + +<p>"But how was Boris rescued?"</p> + +<p>"Your friend Lieutenant Sazonoff managed that. He got permission from +his brigadier to attack the railway. I shall see that he is promoted." +<a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"></a> +<a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a> +<a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a> +<a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a> +<a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"></a> +<a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a> +<a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a> +<a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a> +<a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a> +<a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"></a> +<a name="Page_235" id="Page_235"></a> +</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts In Russia, by John Blaine + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS IN RUSSIA *** + +***** This file should be named 16544-h.htm or 16544-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/4/16544/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Audrey Longhurst, Paul Ereaut and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Scouts In Russia + +Author: John Blaine + +Illustrator: E. A. Furman + +Release Date: August 18, 2005 [EBook #16544] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS IN RUSSIA *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Audrey Longhurst, Paul Ereaut and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +THE BOY SCOUTS IN RUSSIA + +_by_ + +CAPTAIN JOHN BLAINE + +_Illustrated by_ + +E.A. FURMAN + +THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY + +Chicago AKRON, OHIO New York + + Copyright, 1916 + by +Saalfield Publishing Company + + +[Illustration: "Go! Hurry! Get this coat and helmet off me!"] + + + + + +CONTENTS + +Chapter Page + + I The Border 11 + + II Under Arrest 25 + + III A Strange Meeting 37 + + IV Cousins 49 + + V The Germans 61 + + VI The Tunnel 73 + + VII A Daring Ruse 85 + + VIII Within the Enemy's Lines 99 + + IX "There's Many a Slip--" 111 + + X Sentenced 125 + + XI The Cossacks 137 + + XII The Trick 151 + + XIII The Escape 165 + + XIV Altered Plans 179 + + XV A Dash Through the Night 193 + + XVI Between the Grindstones 205 + + XVII An Old Enemy 217 + +XVIII The Great White Czar 229 + + + + + + +In Russian Trenches + + +CHAPTER I + +THE BORDER + + +A train had just come to a stop in the border station of Virballen. Half +of the platform of that station is in Russia; half of it in East +Prussia, the easternmost province of the German empire. All trains that +pass from one country to the other stop there. There are customs men, +soldiers, policemen, Prussian and Russian, who form a gauntlet all +travelers must run. Here passports must be shown, trunks opened. Getting +in or out of Russia is not a simple business, even in the twentieth +century. All sorts of people can't come in while a good many who try to +get out are turned back, and may have to make a long journey to Siberia +if they cannot account for themselves properly. + +This train had stopped in the dead of night. But, dark and late as it +was, there was the usual bustle and stir. Everyone had to wake up and +submit to the questioning of police and customs men. About the only +people who can escape such inquisition at Virballen or any other Russian +border station are royalties and ambassadors. Most of the passengers, +however, didn't have to come out on the platform. In this case, indeed, +only two descended. One of these was treated by the police officials +with marked respect. He was the sort of man to inspire both respect and +fear. Very tall, he was heavily bearded, but not so heavily as to +prevent the flashing of his teeth in a grim and unpleasant smile. Nor +were his eyes hidden as the rays of the station lights fell upon them. + +He was called "Excellency" by the policemen who spoke to him, but he +ignored these men, save for a short, quick nod with which he +acknowledged their respectful greetings. His whole attention was devoted +to the boy by his side, who was looking up at him defiantly. This boy +won a tribute of curious looks from all who saw him, and some glances +of admiration when it became increasingly plain that he did not share +the universal feeling of awe for the man by his side. This was accounted +for, partly at least, it might be supposed, by the fact that he wasn't a +Russian. The Americans in the train, had they been out on the platform, +would have recognized him at once for he was sturdily and obviously +American. + +The train began to move. With a shrill shriek from the engine, and the +banging of doors, it glided out of the station. Soon its tail lights +were swinging out of sight. But the Russian and the American boy +remained, while the train, with its load of free and cheerful +passengers, went on toward Berlin. + +"You wouldn't let me take the train. Well, what are you going to do with +me now?" asked the boy. + +His tone was as defiant as his look and if he was afraid, he didn't show +it. He wasn't afraid, as a matter of fact. He was angry. + +The Russian considered him for a moment, saying not a word. Then he +called in a low, hushed tone, and three or four policemen came running +up. + +"You see this boy?" he asked. + +"Yes, excellency." + +"It has pleased His Majesty the Czar, acting through the administration +of the police of St. Petersburg, to expel him from his dominions. He is +honored by my personal attention. I in person am executing the order of +His Majesty. I shall now conduct him to the exact border line and see to +it that he is placed on German soil. His name is Frederick Waring. On no +pretext is he to be allowed to return to Russian soil. Should he succeed +in doing so, he is to be arrested, denied the privilege of communication +with any friend, or with the consul or ambassador of any foreign nation, +and delivered to me in Petersburg. You will receive this order in due +form to-night. Understood?" + +"Yes, excellency." + +"Photographs will be attached to the official order." He turned again to +the boy, and for just a moment the expressionless mask was swept from +his eyes by a look of fierce hatred. "Now, then, step forward! As soon +as you have passed the line on the platform you will be on German +territory, subject to German law. I give you a word of good advice. Do +not offend against the German authorities. You will find them less +merciful than I." + +"I'm not afraid of you," said Fred. He was angry, but his voice was +steady nevertheless. "You've cheated me. You've had my passport and my +money taken from me. What do you think I can do, when you land me in a +strange country in the middle of the night, without a kopeck in my +pocket? But I'll find a way to get back at you. Any man who would treat +me the way you have done is sure to have treated some other people +badly, too. And I'll find them--perhaps they'll be stronger than I." + +"Your papers were confiscated in due process," said the Russian. He +smiled very evilly. "As for your threats--pah! Do you think your word +would carry any weight against that of Mikail Suvaroff, a prince of +Russia, a friend of the Grand Duke Nicholas and General of the army?" + +"Oh, you're a great man," said Fred. "I know that. But you're not so +great that you don't have to keep straight. You may think I had no +business to come to Russia. Perhaps you are right, but that's no reason +for you to treat me like this. After all, you're my uncle--" + +"Silence!" said Suvaroff harshly, startled at the carrying power of the +boy's voice. + +Fred stepped nimbly across the line. + +"You can't touch me now, by your own word!" he taunted. "I'm in Germany, +and your authority stops at the border! I say, I could forget everything +except the way you've put me down here in the middle of the night, +without a cent to my name or a friend I can call on! You needn't have +done that. I don't suppose you took my money--you don't need it--but you +let your underlings take it." + +"I do not know that you ever had the money you say was taken from you," +said Suvaroff, controlling himself. "It is easy for you to make such a +charge. But the officers who arrested you deny that they found any money +in your possession. There is no reason to take your word against them." + +Fred stared at him curiously for a moment. + +"Gee! You do hate us--and me!" he said, slowly. "I think you really +believe all you've said about me! Well, I'm glad if that's so. It gives +you a sort of excuse for behaving the way you have to me. And I'd +certainly hate to think that any relative of mine could act like you +unless he thought he was in the right, anyhow!" + +Suvaroff strangled with anger for a moment. His cruel eyes became +narrow. + +"I have changed my mind!" he cried, suddenly. "Seize him! Bring him +back!" + +Fred stood perfectly still as two or three policemen and a couple of +soldiers in the white uniform coats of Russia came toward him. He knew +that it would be useless either to run or to fight. But, as it turned +out, there was no need for him to do either, for from behind him a sharp +order was snapped out by a young man who had been listening with +interest. Quietly a file of German soldiers with spiked helmets stepped +forward. + +"Your pardon, excellency," said the German officer. "It is, of course, +quite impossible for us to permit Russian officials or soldiers to make +an arrest on our side of the line!" + +"A matter of courtesy--" began Suvaroff. + +"Pardon again," said the German, very softly. "Just at this moment +courtesy must be suspended. With a general mobilization in effect upon +both sides--" + +Suvaroff suppressed the angry exclamation that was on his lips. For a +moment, however, he seemed about to repeat his order, though his men had +halted at the sight of German bayonets. + +"I should regret a disturbance," said the German, still speaking in his +quiet voice. "My orders are to permit my men to do nothing that might +bring on a clash, for just now the firing of a single shot would make +war certain. Yet there is nothing in my orders to forbid me to resist an +act of aggression by Russia. We are prepared for war, though we do not +seek it." + +Fred, almost losing interest in his own pressing troubles at this sudden +revelation of a state of affairs of which he had known nothing whatever, +looked fixedly at Suvaroff. He saw the Russian bite his lips, hesitate, +and finally take off his hat and make a sweeping bow to the German +officer. + +"I agree, mein herr Lieutenant," he said, mockingly. "The time has come, +I think. It may be that the fortunes of war will bring us together. +Meanwhile I wish you joy of him you have saved!" + +The German did not answer. He watched the departing Russians and then, +smiling faintly, he turned to Fred. + +"I'll have to ask you to give some account of yourself, if you please," +he said, in excellent English. "I'm Lieutenant Ernst, of the Prussian +army. Sentenced to guard duty here--for my sins. Now will you tell me +what all this means?" + +"I had a passport," said Fred directly, and meeting the German's eyes +frankly. "Prince Suvaroff is my uncle, my mother's brother. Her family +refused to recognize my mother after her marriage to my father, and so +Prince Suvaroff does not like me. I had to see him on business and +family matters. I was arrested. My passport and my money were taken away +from me--and you saw what happened. He took me off the train and put me +across the border." + +Ernst nodded. + +"Things are done so in Russia--sometimes," he said. "Not always, but +they are possible, for a great noble. Well, I have seen things nearly as +bad in my own Prussia! I shall have to see what may be done for you. If +you reach Berlin, your ambassador will be able to help you, yes?" + +"I am quite sure of it," said Fred, eagerly. "I don't want to trouble +you, but if you could help me to get there--" + +A soldier interrupted him. He stepped up to Ernst, saluted, and, +permission given, spoke in the officer's ear. Ernst started. + +"One minute," he said. "I am called away--I will return in one minute." + +The minute dragged itself out. In all directions there was a rising +sound, confused, urgent. Fifteen minutes passed. Then a soldier came to +Fred. + +"The lieutenant will see you inside," he said, gravely. + +Fred followed him. Ernst, his face sober, but with shining eyes, spoke +to him at once. + +"War has been declared," he said. "War between Germany and Russia! My +young friend, you are in hard luck! The train from which you were +expelled is the last that will even start for Berlin until the +mobilization is complete." + +Outside there was a sudden rattle of rifle fire. Fred stared at the +German officer. + +"That is the beginning," he said. "We happen to have the stronger force +here. We are taking possession of the Russian side of the border +station! I wish we might catch Suvaroff--he is a good soldier, that one +at least, and worth a division to the Russians. But there'll be no such +luck. He'll have got away, of course--a fast motor, or some such way. +And they've got more troops close up than we have." + +And still Fred stared. He seemed unable to realize that this popping of +rifles, this calm, undemonstrative series of statements by an unexcited +German officer, meant that war had come at last--the European war of +which people even in America had talked for years as sure to come! + +"As for you, I meant, of course, to lend you the money and let you go on +to Berlin," said Ernst. "Now I can lend you the money, but there will be +no trains. You can't stay here. The Russians, I think, will advance very +quickly, and it will not be here that we shall try to stop them, but +further back and among the lakes to the south. Even if there is a +concentration, however, foreigners will not be wanted." + +"What shall I do?" asked Fred. + +"You speak German?" + +"Yes." + +"Then I shall lend you some money--what I can spare. You can start back +toward Koenigsberg and Danzig. Your consul will be able to help you. You +can walk and the people will gladly sell you food." + +"Yes, and thank you for the chance, I'm a Boy Scout; I won't mind a hike +at all." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +UNDER ARREST + + +So it was arranged for Fred Waring, thousands of miles from home, to +start from Virballen. The lieutenant who had saved him from Suvaroff +lent him what money he could spare, though all told it was less than a +hundred marks, which is twenty dollars. + +"Good-bye, and good luck go with you," said Ernst. "If we do not meet +again it will be a real good-bye. If you can send the money back, let it +go to my mother in Danzig. If you cannot, do not let it worry you! If +any people ask you questions, answer them quickly. If any tell you to +stop, stop! Remember that this is war time and every stranger is +suspected. You will be in no danger if you will remember to answer +questions and obey orders." + +"Thank you again--and good-bye," said Fred. He had known this German +officer for only a few minutes, but he felt that he was parting from a +good friend, and, indeed, he was. Not many men would have been so +considerate and so kindly, especially at such a time, to a strange boy +from a foreign land, and one, moreover, who had certainly not come with +the best of recommendations. "I--I hope you'll come through all right." + +"That's to be seen," said Ernst, with a shrug of the shoulders. "In war +who can tell? We take our chances, we who live by the sword. If a +Russian is to get me, he will do so, and it will not help to be afraid, +or to think of the chances that I may not see the end of what has been +begun to-night! We have been getting ready for years. Now we shall know +before long if we have done enough. The test has come for us of the +fatherland." + +And then Fred said a bold thing. + +"I can wish you good luck and a safe return, Lieutenant," he said. "But +I can't wish that your country may be victorious because my mother, +after all, was a Russian." + +"I wouldn't ask that of you," said Ernst, with a laugh. "Even though it +is Prince Suvaroff's country, too?" + +"There are Germans you do not like, I suppose--who are even your +enemies," said Fred. "Yet now you will forget all that, will you not?" + +"God helping us, yes!" said Ernst. "You are right. Your heart must be +with your own. But you don't seem like a Russian, or I would not be +helping you." + +Then Fred was off, going on his way into the darkness alone. Ernst had +told him which road to follow, telling him that if he stuck to it he +would not be likely to run into any troop movements. + +"Don't see too much. That is a good rule for one who is in a country at +war," he had advised. "If you know nothing, you cannot tell the enemy +anything useful, and there will be less reason for our people to make +trouble for you. Your only real danger lies in being taken for a spy. +And if you are careful not to learn things, that will not be a very +great one." + +Fred was not at all afraid, as a matter of fact, as he set out. Before +he had stepped across the mark that stood for the border he had been +hugely depressed. He had been friendless and alone. He had been worse +than friendless, indeed, since the only man for many miles about who +knew him was his bitter enemy. Now he had found that he could still +inspire a man like Ernst with belief in his truthfulness and honesty, +and the knowledge did him a lot of good. And then, of course, he had +another excellent reason for not being afraid. He was entirely ignorant +of the particular dangers that were ahead of him. He had no conception +at all of what lay before him, and it does not require bravery not to +fear a danger the very existence of which one is entirely without +knowledge. + +The idea of walking all through the summer night, as Ernst had advised +him to do, did not seem bad to him at all. As a scout at home, he had +taken part in many a hike, and if few of them had been at night, he was +still thoroughly accustomed to being out-of-doors, without even the +shelter of a tent or a lean-to. Nor was he afraid of losing his way, for +as long as the stars shone above, as they did brilliantly now, he had a +sure guide. + +Fred wasn't tired, for he had enraged Suvaroff, who had seemingly wanted +him to be frightened, by sleeping during the journey to Virballen +whenever he could. It had been comfortable enough on the train; he had +not been treated as a prisoner, but as a guest. And he had, as a matter +of fact, been aroused only an hour before the train had reached the +frontier. + +So he had been able to start out boldly and confidently. In the country +through which he was now tramping the nights are cool in summer, but the +days are very hot. So Fred had made up his mind, as soon as he +understood that he had a good deal of walking before him, to do as much +of his traveling as was possible by night, and to sleep during the day. +In East Prussia, as in some parts of Canada, the summer is short and +hot; the winter long and cold. + +There was nothing about the silent countryside, as he tramped along an +excellent road, to make him think of war. The fields about him seemed to +be planted less with grain; they were very largely used for pasture, and +he saw a good many horses. He remembered now that this was the great +horse breeding district of Germany. Here there were great estates with +many acres of rolling land on which great numbers of horses were bred. +It was here, he knew, that the German army, needing great numbers of +horses every year, found its mounts. + +"They'll need more than ever now," he thought to himself. "If there's +really to be war, I suppose they'll take every horse that's able to work +at all, whether it's a good looking beast or not. Poor horses! They +don't have much chance, I guess." + +He thought of the Cossacks he had seen in Russia, wiry, small men, in +the main, mounted on shaggy, strong, little horses, no bigger in reality +than ponies. He had heard of the prowess of the Cossacks, of course. +They had fought well in the past in a good many wars. But somehow it +seemed rather absurd to match them, with their undersized horses, +against magnificent specimens of men and horseflesh such as the German +cavalry. He had passed a squadron of Uhlans, near Virballen, outlined +against the sky. They had been grim and business-like in appearance. But +then the Cossacks were that, too, though in an entirely different way. + +"I wish I had someone along!" he thought, at last. + +That was when the dawn was beginning to break. Off to the east the sun +was beginning to rise, and in the grey half light before full day there +was something stark and gaunt about the country. Before him smoke was +rising, probably from a village. But that sign of human habitation, that +certain indication that people were near, somehow only made him feel +lonelier than he had been in the starlit darkness of the night. This +would be good enough fun, if only one of his many friends back home were +along--Jack French, or Steve Vedder. It was with them that he had +shared such adventures in the past. And yet not just such adventures, +either. This was more real than anything his adventures as a Boy Scout +had brought him, though he belonged to a patrol that got in a lot of +outdoor work, and that camped out every summer in a practical way. + +Being alone took some of the zest out of what had seemed, once +Lieutenant Ernst's loan had saved him from his most pressing worry, +likely to be a bully adventure. Now it seemed rather flat and stale. But +that was partly because having tramped all night, he was really +beginning to be tired. So he went on to the village, and there he found +a little inn, where he got a good breakfast and a bed, in which, as soon +as he had eaten his meal, he was sound asleep. + +Few men were about the village when he went in. He had noticed, however, +the curious little throng, early as it was, about a bulletin ominously +headed, "Kriegzustand!" That meant mobilization and war. The men had +answered the call already, all except those who were too old to spring +to arms at once. Some of the older ones, he knew, would be called out, +too, for garrison duty, so that younger men might go to the front. + +In his sleep he had many dreams, but the most insistent one was made up +of the tramp of heavy feet and the blowing of bugles and the rattling of +horses' feet. And this wasn't a dream at all, for when he awoke it was +to find a soldier shaking him roughly by the shoulders, and ordering him +to get up. And outside were all the sounds of his dream. The sun was +high for he had been asleep for several hours. So he got up willingly +enough, and hurried his dressing because he remembered what Ernst had +told him. Then he followed the soldier downstairs, and found himself the +prisoner in an impromptu sort of court-martial. + +Really, it wasn't as bad as that. Considering that he had no passports +and nothing, in fact, to show who he was, and that no responsible person +could vouch for him, he was very lucky. It was because he was a boy, and +obviously an American boy, that he got off so easily. For after he had +answered a few questions, a major explained the situation to him very +punctiliously. + +"You must be detained here for two or three days," said the major. "This +is an important concentration district, and many things will happen that +no foreigner can be allowed to see. We believe absolutely that you are +not unfriendly, and that you have no intention of reporting anything you +might chance to learn to an enemy. But in time of war we may not take +any risks, and you will, therefore, be required to remain in this +village under observation. + +"Within the village limits you will be as free as if you were at home, +in your own country. You will not be allowed to pass them, however, and +if you try to do so a sentry will shoot you. As soon as certain +movements are completed, you will be at liberty to pass on, on your way +to Koenigsberg. I will add to Lieutenant Ernst's advice. When you reach +Koenigsberg, after you have reported yourself to the police, wait there +until a train can take you to Berlin. It will mean only a few days of +waiting, for at Koenigsberg there are already many refugees, and the +authorities want to get them to Berlin as soon as the movements of troop +trains allow the railway to be reopened for passenger traffic." + +Fred agreed to all this. There was nothing else for him to do, for one +thing, and, for another, he was by no means unwilling to see whatever +there might be to be seen here. He could guess by this time that without +any design he had stumbled on a spot that was reckoned rather important +by the Germans, for the time being at least, and he had heard enough +about the wonderful efficiency of the German army to be anxious to see +that mighty machine in the act of getting ready to move. + +He did see a good deal, as a matter of fact, that day and the next. It +was on the famous Saturday night of the first of August that he had left +Virballen. Sunday brought news of a clash with France, far away on the +western border, and of the German invasion of Belgium. Monday brought +word of a definite declaration of war between Germany and France, and +of the growing danger that England, too, might be involved. + +And all of Sunday and all of Monday supplies of all sorts poured through +the little village in an unceasing stream. Motor cars and trucks were to +be seen in abundance, and Fred caught his first glimpse, which was not +to be his last, of the wonderful German field kitchens, in the mighty +ovens of which huge loaves of bread were being baked even while the +whole clumsy looking apparatus was on the move. But it only looked +clumsy. Like everything else about the German army, this was a practical +and efficient, well tried device. + +Then suddenly, early on Tuesday, he was told that he was free to go, or +would be by nightfall. And that day all signs of the German army, save a +small force of Uhlans, vanished from the village. That evening, +refreshed and ready for the road again, Fred set out. And that same +evening, though he did not know it until the next day, England entered +the war against Germany. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A STRANGE MEETING + + +As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the +country. It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier +guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its +twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding. +That was part of war, the part of war that he had been able to foresee. +It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so +much as a sort of thickening of the country. Though he had traveled so +short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people +about. + +Great houses, rising on high ground, with small, contented looking +villages nestling, as it were, under their protection, were frequent. He +was, as a matter of fact, in a country of great aristocratic +landholders, the great nobles of Prussia, the men who are the real +rulers of the country, under the Prussian King, who is also the German +Kaiser. And in many of these great houses lights were burning, even +after midnight, when all signs of life in the villages had ceased. The +country was stirring, and there was more of it to stir. Now from time to +time he heard the throbbing hum of an automobile motor. Only one or two +of these passed him, going in either direction, on the road along which +he was traveling. But there were parallel roads, and he could hear the +throbbing motors on these, and often see the pointing shafts of light +from their lights, searching out the road before them as they sped +along. + +Fred knew enough of Germany to understand something of what he saw and +heard. It was from these great houses that a great many officers were +contributed to the army. These young men had no real career before them +from their birth, almost, except in the army. So it was easy to guess +why the lights were burning in those mansions, and why there was anxiety +among them, and why the throbbing motor cars were humming over the +roads. + +If Germany were beaten back in the beginning, if the task she had +undertaken proved too heavy, this was the province that was sure to feel +the first brunt of invasion. Behind him, to the east, Fred knew were the +great masses of Russia, moving slowly, but with a terrible, always +increasing force. No wonder these people were stirring, were sending out +all their men to drive back the huge power that lay so near them, a +constant menace! + +But now, though he did not know it, Fred was approaching real danger for +the first time. Many of the motors he saw and heard were going west. +Though he could not guess it, they were carrying women and children away +from the old houses that were too much exposed, too directly in the path +of a possible invasion for the helpless ones to be left in them when the +men had gone to fight. All Germany had to be defended. It happened to be +the part of East Prussia to bear invasion, if it came to that. + +And so the people of the great houses were making their migration. The +men went to their regiments; the women to Berlin, and to the great +fortresses that lay nearer than Berlin--Koenigsberg, Danzig, Thorn. This +was historic country that Fred was traversing, the same country that had +trembled beneath the thundering march of Napoleon's grand army more than +a hundred years before, when the great Emperor had launched the mad +adventure against Russia that had sealed his fate. + +But he didn't think of these things, except of Napoleon, as he trudged +along. Once more he traveled through the night. Once more, as the first +signs of morning came, he began to feel tired, and, despite the food he +had carried with him which he had stopped to eat about midnight, he was +hungry. And, as had been the case on the night of his tramp from +Virballen, the first rays of the rising sun showed him a village. It was +in a hollow, and above it the ground rose sharply to a large house, +evidently very old, built of a grey stone that had been weathered by the +winds and rains of centuries. It was a very old house, and strangely +out of tune, it seemed to Fred, with the country though not with the +times. It was so old that it showed some traces of fortification, and +Fred knew how long it was since private houses had been built with any +view to defence. It was a survivor of the days when this whole region +had been an outpost of civilization against hordes of barbarian +invaders. + +One curious thing he noticed at once about the great house. No flag was +flying from it, though it boasted a sort of turret from which a flag +might well have been flung out to the wind. All the other big houses he +had seen had had flags out and the absence of a standard here seemed +significant, somehow. + +When he entered the village he found that there was no inn. He saw the +usual notice of mobilization and the proclamation of war, but the people +were not stirring yet. He had to wait for some time before he found a +house where people were up. They looked at him curiously, but grudgingly +consented to give him breakfast. There was an old man, and another who +was younger, but crippled. And this cripple was the one who seemed most +puzzled by Fred's appearance in the place. He surveyed him closely and +twice Fred caught him whispering, evidently about him. + +Then the cripple slipped away and came back, just as Fred was finishing +his meal, with a pompous looking, superannuated policeman, recalled to +duty since the younger men had all gone to war. This man asked many +questions which Fred answered. + +"You are American?" asked the policeman, finally. "You are sure you are +not English?" + +All at once the truth came over Fred. They thought he was English! Then +England must have entered the war! They would think that he was an +enemy, perhaps a spy! Yet, though he knew now the cause of the +suspicious looks, the mutterings, he couldn't utter a word in his +defence. He hadn't been formally accused of anything. + +"Yes, I'm an American," he said, quietly. "I'm not English. I've no +English blood in me." + +He had intended to try to get a place to sleep in the village, but now +he decided that it would be better to get away as soon as he could. If +there had been soldiers about, or any really responsible police +officials, he would not have been at all disturbed. But these people +were nervous and ignorant; the best men of the place had gone, the ones +most likely to have a good understanding. So he paid his little +reckoning, and started to walk on. + +They followed him as he started. As soon as he was in the open road +again, a new idea came to him. Why not try the great house on the hill? +There certainly someone would know the difference between an American +and an Englishman. He was very tired. He knew that, even if he went on, +he would have to stop at some village sooner or later. And if he was +suspected here, he would be at the next place. + +And so, trying to ignore the little crowd that was following him, he +turned off and began climbing toward the mansion above the village. + +It was like a signal. From behind him there rose a dull murmur. A lad +not much older than himself raced up and stood threateningly in his +path. + +"If you are an American and honest, why are you going there?" asked this +boy, a peasant, and rather stupid in his appearance. + +"None of your business!" said Fred, aroused. He didn't think that the +advice of his friend Lieutenant Ernst to answer questions covered this. + +"You can't go there. There are spies enough there already!" cried the +other. + +And then without any warning, he lunged forward and tried to grapple +with Fred. + +That aroused all the primitive fight in Fred. He met the attack joyously +for wrestling was something he understood very well. And in a moment he +had pinned the peasant boy, strong as he was, to the earth. + +But he had got rid of one opponent only to have a dozen others spring +up. There was a throng about him as he shook himself free, a throng +that closed in, shouting, cursing. For a moment things looked serious. +Fred now understood these people thought he was a spy. And he could +guess that it would go hard with him if he didn't get away. He forgot +everything but that, and he fought hard and well to make good his +escape. But they were too many for him. Try as he would, he couldn't get +clear, although he put up a fight that must have been a tremendous +surprise to his assailants. In the end, though, they got him down, with +cries of triumph. + +And then there came a sudden diversion from outside the mob. Down the +road from the great house, shrieking a warning, came a flying motor car. +Its siren sounded quick, angry blasts, and the mob, terrified, broke and +scattered to get out of the way of the car. Fred, stupefied, didn't run. +He had to jump quickly to one side to get out of the car's path. Then he +saw that it was slowing down, and that it was driven by a boy of his own +age. This boy leaned toward him. + +"I'm going to turn and go back. Jump aboard as I come by--I won't be +going very fast!" he cried. + +Fred didn't stop to argue or to wonder why this stranger had come to his +aid in such a sensational and timely fashion. Instead, he gathered +himself together and, as the car swung about and passed him, leaped in. +As he grasped the seat, the driver shot the car forward and it went +roaring up the hill, pursued by a chorus of angry cries from the crowd, +utterly balked of its prey. + +"That was a close call for you!" said the driver, in German. + +But something in his tone made Fred look at him sharply. And then part +of the mystery was solved. For the driver was not a German at all, but +plainly and unmistakably a Russian. + +"Yes--but how--why--?" + +"Wait! Don't talk now!" said the driver. "Wait till we're inside. We'll +be all right there, and I've got a few questions I'd like to ask, too." + +There was no more danger from the mob of villagers, however. The speed +of the car, even on the steep grade, was too great to give pursuers on +foot a chance, and so its driver was able, in a few moments, to drive it +through great open gates into a huge courtyard. + +"Now who are you?" he asked. "And why were those people attacking you?" + +"They thought I was English," said Fred. "I suppose England must have +declared war on Germany, too." + +"She has. Aren't you English, then?" + +"No, I'm American. My name's Fred Waring. You're a Russian, aren't you?" + +"Yes. My name's Boris Suvaroff. This is a summer place my father owns +here. He's away. I'm glad of that, because the Germans would have taken +him prisoner if he'd been here." + +For just a moment neither seemed to catch the other's name. Then the +Russian boy spoke. + +"Fred Waring--an American?" he said. "I--is it possible? I've got a +cousin called Waring in America! My father's first cousin married an +American of that name years and years ago." + +"She was a Suvaroff--my mother," said Fred, but he spoke stiffly. "Her +family here disowned her--" + +"Some of them--only some of them," said Boris. "Are you really my +cousin? My father wrote to your mother long ago--but he got no answer! +He has often told me of her. He was very fond of her! Are you really my +cousin?" + +"I guess I am!" said Fred. "I'm glad to know that some of you will own +me! My uncle Mikail had me arrested when I went to see him in +Petersburg!" + +And then while they learned about one another, the two of them forgot +the war and the danger in which they stood. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +COUSINS + + +"So you have seen Mikail Suvaroff!" said Boris. He shook his head. "We +have seen little of him in the last few years. He and my father do not +agree. Mikail is on the side of the men about the Czar who want no +changes, who want to see the people crushed and kept down. My father +wants a new Russia, with all the people happier and stronger." + +"Then I should think they wouldn't agree," said Fred, heartily. "Mikail +is like the Russians one reads about, dark and mysterious, and always +sending people to Siberia and that sort of thing." + +"It isn't as bad as that, of course," said Boris, with a laugh. "Russia +isn't like other countries, but we're not such barbarians as some people +try to make out. Still, of course, there are a lot of things that ought +to be changed. Russia has been apart from the rest of the world because +she's so big and independent. That's why there are two parties, the +conservatives and the liberals. My father is all for the Czar, but he +wants the Czar to govern through the men the people elect to the Duma. +After this war--well, we shall see! There will be many changes, I think. +You see, this time it is all Russia that fights. Against Japan we were +not united. It is the Russian people who have made this war." + +"I only knew there was danger of war the night it began," said Fred. "I +suppose it is on account of Servia, though?" + +"Yes. That started it. They are Slavs, like ourselves. It is as it was +when we fought Turkey nearly forty years ago. The Turks were murdering +Slavs in the Balkans, and all our people called on the Czar to fight. +This time we could not let Austria bully a nation that is almost like a +little brother to Russia." + +"I can understand that," said Fred. "I suppose there's enough of the +Slav in me, from my mother, to make me feel like that, too." + +"Even after the way Mikail treated you? Tell me about that. Why did he +behave so, though I suppose you may not know?" + +"I don't, really. My father is dead, you know. I and my mother are +alone. She has always loved Russia, though she calls herself an +American, and is one, and has always made me understand that I am an +American, before all. But she has taught me to love Russia, too. And she +has always told me that there were estates in Russia that belonged to +her, and would belong to me. She and my father were angry and hurt +because of the way her family treated them, but she said that some time +she wanted me to take possession of the estate, and to live for a little +time each year in Russia. She said that the peasants on the place would +be better off if I did that." + +"Yes," Boris nodded. "That is what those who criticise us do not always +remember. Russian nobles do look after their peasants. The peasants in +Russia have not had the advantages of the poor in other countries. They +are like children still. My father is a father to all the people on our +estate. When they are sick, he sees that they are cared for. If there +are bad crops, he gives them food and money. We must all do such +things." + +"That's what she told me. Well, she wrote letters and she could get no +answers. So she decided to come herself. But she was taken ill. Not +seriously, but ill enough so that the doctor did not want her to travel. +And that was why I came. I went to my uncle, because he was in charge of +her affairs. And then, though he was kind enough when I first saw him, +and promised to help me, I was arrested. All my papers were taken away, +and all my money. And he brought me to Virballen, after I had been kept +in a sort of prison for three or four weeks. There I was taken off the +train for Berlin and put across the border, without any money or +passports. The German lieutenant himself was going to send me to Berlin, +but then the news came that war had been declared, and he advised me to +walk. I was held up at the first village I came to, and I got as far as +this. You saw what happened here in this little village." + +"That is very, very strange," said Boris, vastly puzzled. "Do you know +what charge was made against you?" + +"No! Some tommyrot about a conspiracy against the Czar. But just what it +was I was never told. I am forbidden to re-enter Russia." + +"I don't understand at all," said Boris. "Mikail can't want to keep your +mother's property for himself. He is a very rich man--by far the richest +of the family, though none of the Suvaroffs are poor. And I know about +your mother's lands, because they are next to our own." + +"The money that comes from them has always been sent to her," said Fred. +"That was what I was thinking of, too. There was no trouble, you see, +until it seemed that we might want to live on the place from time to +time." + +"Yes. My father has had something to do with the arrangements. Your +mother is well off, even without her own property, isn't she?" + +"Yes. My father was not a millionaire, but he always had plenty," +answered Fred, very frankly. + +"Mikail did hate the idea of her marriage," said Boris, reflectively. "I +could understand this better if I thought that he was trying to keep her +inheritance from her to show his dislike. But it cannot be that. There +is something very mysterious. I wish my father were here! I think +perhaps he would understand." + +"Where is he, Boris?" + +"With the army by this time! He did not believe there would be war, to +the very last. That is the only reason I am still here. But he himself +was called back as soon as things began to look serious. I stayed here +with my tutor but he is gone now. He is a German, and has been called +out. It is fortunate that my father had gone, because the Germans would +have held him, of course, if he had been here. They have come here three +or four times to look for him, but now I think they have decided that we +have told the truth, and that he is not here." + +"How did you happen to come to my aid in such a fashion? I was +beginning to think that I was in serious danger down there." + +"You were, Fred! They thought you were an English spy. And they hate the +English worse than they do us, I think. They have thought that the +English should be on their side. When they found it could not be so, +they thought that at least England would be afraid to fight." + +"I see that. But you--what brought you out?" + +"I know those people. And when I saw that they were attacking someone, +it seemed to me that I couldn't just stand by and look on. It was sure +to be someone on my own side that they were treating so--the cowards! +But a mob is always cowardly. And, of course, I knew that I could manage +easily with the automobile. They were sure to scatter when they saw it +coming, because they are afraid of motors, anyway." + +"Well, you can belittle it as much as you like, but you certainly saved +me from an awfully nasty situation. And you didn't know who I was, +either!" + +"No, I didn't, of course. But it makes me feel all the better to find +out it was you, Fred. Still you know we're not out of the woods yet." + +"We're all right here, aren't we?" + +"I don't know. I think the Russians will be in East Prussia, and well +in, before very long. If that happens and the German army is pushed back +of this line, these people will be entirely out of control, except if +Russian troops happen to come to this particular spot--and there's no +especial reason why they should." + +"You mean they might attack the house?" + +"They might do anything, especially if the war seems to be going against +them. They're good enough people, as a rule, but in times like these +there's no telling what will happen." + +"I hadn't thought of that. But--yes, you're right, of course. What do +you think we'd better do, Boris?" + +"There's nothing to be done at once. We've got to wait a little while, +and let the situation develop. If we tried to get away now, it would be +very risky indeed, I think. You see, between us and the Russian border +there are a lot of German troops. And, even if you went back now toward +Koenigsberg and Berlin, I'm afraid you'd have a hard time. You see, you +haven't any passport. And you're partly Russian. Then you've been here, +and they'd know that. I'm afraid you'd stand a good chance of being +locked up. Tell me just what happened at Virballen." + +Fred told him all that he could remember, and Boris frowned. + +"Ernst will make a report, you see," he said. "I'm afraid they'll be +looking for you. It makes it look as if you were in a bad hole." + +"How do you mean? There's nothing in what happened there to interest +Germany, is there?" + +"If things had been normal that night, you'd have found out what there +was, I can tell you! You see the Russian and the German secret police +work together very well. It's all right when they're looking for +nihilists and violent revolutionaries--the sort of people who would +think it a great thing to assassinate either the Kaiser or the Czar. +But the trouble is that if a big man in either Germany or Russia has a +grudge against someone, he can use that whole secret police machinery +against him. That's what Mikail Suvaroff was doing to you." + +"But the Germans?" + +"He would have seen to it, I suppose, that the secret police on our side +told the Germans here some cock and bull story--enough to induce them to +make it unpleasant for you. That was arranged in advance probably. Right +there on the border, with war starting, those fellows lost their +importance. The soldiers, like Ernst, were in full command. But they'll +be as busy and as active as ever a little way behind the fighting line, +looking for spies. They'll remember what the Russians had to say about +you, and they'll decide that you're a suspicious character, and lock you +up in some fortress till the war's over!" + +"Gee! That's a nice prospect! Say, Boris, what am I to do? If I go to +Berlin, I'll be arrested! If I go back to Russia, my uncle will +probably have me boiled in oil or something! If I stay here, your +peasant friends down below will lynch me! I'm beginning to think I'm not +popular around here!" + +Boris laughed, but his eyes were grave. + +"It's a ridiculous situation," he said. "I don't really know what to +say. I don't believe you need to fear Mikail very much. He has a good +deal to think of by this time, because, now that the war has come, he +won't have time for intrigue. He's a first-class soldier. He made a +splendid record in the war with Japan--and not many of our generals did, +you know. But I tell you what I think we'd better do. Wait here until we +hear from my father. He will know. And when he learns that you are here, +he will be able to protect you in some fashion." + +"But how are you going to hear from him here?" + +"That's a secret--yet! But there's a way, never fear. A way that the +Germans don't suspect, and won't be able to interfere with. Tell me, +Fred. If it is safe for you to go back into Russia, will you stand by +me? Or would you rather take your chance of going home through Germany? +I'm a Boy Scout, and we have known for a long time some of the work we +would have to do if war came." + +"I'm with Russia, even if America stays out," said Fred, with instant +decision. "Blood's thicker than water--you know the old saying. And I am +half a Russian. If there's any way that I can help, you can count me in. +I'm a Boy Scout, too, when it comes to that. I didn't know there were +any in Russia, though." + +"There are. They're all over Europe now, you know. Well, we'll see. +What's this?" + +A servant had entered. + +"There is a man who would see you, Boris Petrovitch," he said, using the +familiar address of Russian servants. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE GERMANS + + +Boris jumped up. + +"That is good!" he said. "I have been hoping he would come." + +"You do not know who it is," said the servant. "Boris Petrovitch, do not +see this man. He is a German. He looks to me like one of their spies." + +"I will look at him first," said Boris, with a smile. "But, Vladimir, I +think your eyes are getting feeble. It is time you were sent to the +place in the Crimea to rest, like the old horses that can no longer do +their share of the work." + +Vladimir bridled indignantly. But then a slow smile came over his face. + +"Is it Ivan?" he asked. + +"It should be," said Boris. "I shall know as soon as I see him." + +The newcomer was waiting in the great hall. Boris, with Fred at his +heels, got a glimpse of him; then without ceremony he ran down the +polished staircase. + +"So you have come at last!" he cried. + +Ivan was a loutish German in appearance, and only his eyes betrayed the +fact that he was not as stupid as he looked. At the sight of Boris he +smiled, and the act changed his whole expression. But Fred thought he +had never dreamed of so splendid a disguise. This man, he guessed, must +have come many miles through Germany, in a country where the closest +possible watch was being kept for spies, and for all, indeed, who might +even be suspected of espionage. And it was easy to see how he had been +able to do it. Fred knew that he must be a Russian. Yet in every detail +of his appearance he was German. His clothes, his bearing, his every +little mannerism, were carefully studied. Fred guessed that this was no +servant, but a secret agent of much skill and experience. He was to +learn the truth of his surmise before many days had passed. + +"Ivan Feodorovitch!" said Boris. "So you really got through! Have you +brought the--" + +He stopped at a forbidding look in the man's eye. For a moment he seemed +to be puzzled. Then he understood that it was the presence of Fred, a +stranger, that was bothering Ivan. + +"Oh!" he cried, with a laugh. "Ivan, you may speak before this stranger +as freely as before me. Let him be a stranger to you no longer. He is my +cousin from America--the son of Marie Feodorovna, who went away to be +married before I was born!" + +Fred was not prepared for what followed. There was an outcry, first of +all, from the half dozen servants in the great hall. They crowded +forward curiously to look at him. And as for Ivan, he stared blankly for +a moment, and then plumped down on one knee and, to Fred's unspeakable +embarrassment, seized his hand and kissed it. + +"He and all of them are old, old retainers of our house," Boris +explained swiftly. "To them one of our blood ranks second only to the +Czar himself. My father saw to it always that here we were surrounded +only by such faithful ones. These people and their ancestors before them +have been in the service of us and of our ancestors for many, many +generations--since before the freeing of the serfs, of course." + +It was Boris who brought Ivan back to the errand that had caused his +sudden appearance. + +"Have you brought the parts for the wireless?" he asked. "It was as my +father foresaw. The first thing the Germans did was to come here and +render the installation useless, as they supposed." + +"It need not remain useless," said Ivan. "Everything needful I have +brought. The station may be working by to-night. Except that there can +not be anything worth sending for a few hours, it might be set up now. +Better not to use it and risk betraying our secret until there is real +need of it." + +Boris turned to Fred to explain. + +"We have spies all through East Prussia, and through Galicia and +Silesia, too, of course," he said. "They can find out a good many things +of interest and importance to our army. But it is one thing to obtain +such knowledge and quite another to find some means of sending it back +to our people. We hope, if we are not sent away from here too soon, that +we can make this house very useful that way. It stands high, you see, +and we have a very powerful wireless. The Germans knew this and they +thought they had made it useless." + +"Oh, that's great!" said Fred. "Perhaps I can help, too, because I can +send by wireless. I don't know whether I would be much good with the +Continental code, because I've learned only with Morse. But I might be +of some use." + +"Another operator will be of the greatest use," said Boris. "I know a +little, a very little, about it. And there is a man here. But I am +afraid that they will come very soon and take every man who is of +fighting age away." + +"But your men aren't soldiers!" + +"Most of them have served their term in the army. But, even if they had +not, the Germans would take every able-bodied man. That is all right. +We are probably keeping back all Germans who might go home and go into +the army, and all the other countries will do the same with men of a +nation with which they are at war." + +"Vladimir has all that I brought," said Ivan, breaking in now. "As for +me, I must go again." + +"Go? Now? Aren't you going to stay?" + +"No! I have much to do. I may be back. But if I return, I shall come +through the cellar--you understand? There are strange movements of +troops in this region that I cannot understand at all. There are far +fewer soldiers here than I thought there would be. I have not been able +to find traces of more than a single corps of Germans--and we had +expected them to have three or four, at the very least, concentrated in +East Prussia as soon as the war broke out. At Augustowo they were even +expecting an attack." + +"Then if there are so few as that, won't we advance?" + +"Ah, that I don't know! The Austrians, I hear, are very busy. They say +they are moving already in great strength across the border, but that is +far away from here, and it is not our concern. It is for us to keep the +Germans so busy here that they will not be able to crush France before +England can get her army into action. At the beginning it does not +matter so much whether we win victories or not, so long as we can force +the Germans to send many corps here instead of using them to invade +France. But I have talked enough. Now--good-bye, and may God be with you +here!" + +"Good-bye," said Boris, and Fred repeated Ivan's wish in Russian. Ivan +seemed astonished. + +"So your mother taught you her mother tongue!" he said. "Ah, but that is +splendid!" + +Then he was off. + +"Ivan might have been a great actor, I believe," said Boris. "See, isn't +he the German to the life as he goes, there? No wonder he can deceive +them so!" + +"It's pretty dangerous work for him, though, I should think," said Fred. +"They wouldn't waste much time on him if they caught him, would they?" + +"Only the time they needed for a drumhead court-martial. After that, if +he was lucky, he would be shot instead of being hung. But he is ready, +you see. It is his part. Oh, we Russians are all united now, if we never +were before! Germany has threatened us for years. She has set Austria +against us. This time we had to fight, and you will see that all Russia +will be behind the Czar. We learned our lessons against the Japanese. +That was not a popular war. It was not made by the people, but by a few +who forced the Czar's hand. Now we shall make the world see that though +Russia may be beaten, she has the power to rise from defeat." + +"What will happen here if they do take the men away?" + +"They won't take them all. Only the younger ones. There will be enough +left to look after the place and after us. Though if they come, I shall +have to hide you, my cousin! I am just thinking of that. I shouldn't +wonder if those stupid people would have sent word to someone. We had +better be prepared. Come with me--I will show you something." + +Fred followed Boris, and in a few minutes found himself in a great room +that was obviously the dining-room of the house. In this room there were +many pictures, and the walls were panelled in oak, blackened by smoke +and age. Boris looked about to make sure that they were not observed, +then he touched a spot in one of the panels, and it slid open. Beyond +this, however, was revealed an unbroken wall. Again Boris touched a +certain spot, and now this wall, seemingly solid and unbroken, gave way, +just as the oaken panel had done. + +"Even if they discovered the panel, you see, they would not have the +secret," said Boris. "I will show you the exact spots you must touch. +Then if they come, you can reach this place by yourself. Once in here, +you will be safe. Carry an electric torch always with you. I will give +you one later. You will find two sets of arrows marked every few feet +through the passages to which this leads. The upper ones point to the +outside door that is at the end of a passage far beyond the house. The +lower ones, if you follow their course, will bring you back to these +panels. So you cannot lose your way." + +"By George, that certainly sounds mysterious! Have you always planned +for something like this?" + +"Oh, these passages are very old. This house, you see, was built at a +time when intrigue was more common than now. But when my father began to +see, as he did years ago, that Germany was sure to force war upon us, +and that it would probably come in his lifetime, he made many changes. +This is not really a private house at all--it is a little outpost of +Russia, here in the midst of an enemy's country. And it is not the only +one. In Silesia and in Galicia we have places like it." + +"Perhaps the Germans will find that Russia is not so slow after all!" + +Outside now there rose a peculiar sound, but one that Fred identified +at once. + +"That sounds like your Germans coming now, Boris," he said, quietly. +"I've heard crowds making just that same noise at home--on election +night, for instance, when they were coming to make the winner give them +a speech." + +Boris listened for a moment, then he went to a window. + +"Yes," he said. "But it's not the sort of Germans we need to worry +about. It's only the people from the village. Old men, and women, and +children--boys, of course. I'm surprised that they should come for they +know they can't get in." + +But even as he spoke, there came a thunderous sound of knocking at the +outer door and the sharp grounding of arms--a noise as ominous as it was +unmistakable. + +"There are soldiers, too. They are here much sooner than I thought they +could come!" exclaimed Boris. "Here, into that passage with you! Listen! +Follow the arrows! They will lead you down. Stop at a double arrow. You +will be able to hear. The wall is very thin there, on purpose. You can +hear what is going on in the great hall and still be perfectly safe. +I'll come for you as soon as I can get rid of them." + +"All right. But will you be safe yourself? Oughtn't you to come with me, +Boris?" + +"Oh, they won't do anything to me! I'm only a boy, you see. They'll +never think that I could be dangerous. In with you, now! We can't keep +the soldiers out. I don't want to give them an excuse for burning the +place down, and they'd do it in a minute if there was any resistance." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE TUNNEL + + +Fred found the secret passage much less confusing than he had thought it +likely to be. As soon as he had stepped in, the panels slid back into +place, and the passage was immediately dark. But Boris had had time to +find an electric torch for him, and had told him where to find +another--or two or three, for that matter--when that was exhausted. + +"We've always kept them there in case of emergencies," he had explained. + +So Fred had felt assured of a supply of light, which was the one +absolutely necessary thing if, as was entirely possible, the German +soldiers stayed in the house for any time. One other thing, of course, +was necessary; food and drink. And that, too, he knew where to find. +Boris had told him of a store of compressed foods, and of fresh water, +piped into this amazing passageway from the outer entrance, far beyond +the limits of the gardens and grounds of the house. + +The first thing Fred did was to switch on the light of his torch and +inspect the warren in which he had found sanctuary. It was not at all +the musty, bad smelling place he had expected it to be. The walls had +been plastered and stained a dull grey, which did not reflect the light +from his torch appreciably. The arrows appeared, as Boris had said they +did, at frequent intervals. + +"Not much of a secret." That was Fred's first thought. "But it needn't +be. The men who worked in here are the ones the family can trust +absolutely, I suppose." + +It gave Fred a certain thrill to feel himself in touch with such things, +to know that he belonged to such a family as the Suvaroffs, capable of +inspiring such devotion in its retainers--which, though Boris regarded +it as a matter of course, seemed a great thing to Fred, with his +American upbringing. + +"What a piece of luck!" he reflected. "Imagine my stumbling on such a +splendid fellow as Boris! If it hadn't been for all this trouble, I +might never have known I had a cousin! And he's the sort of cousin I +call worth having! He amounts to something--and I don't believe he's as +old as I am. Well, I've got to show him that an American scout can keep +up his end! I'll try to play the game with him." + +It made up for all the trouble he had had since he had first seen his +uncle. He was more puzzled than ever, after what Boris had told him, to +account for the behavior of Mikail Suvaroff. + +"I'll bet there's some explanation," he said to himself. "I certainly +hope so! Seeing Boris makes me inclined to like these Russian relatives +a whole lot, and I'd like to think that Uncle Mikail could square +himself somehow. He's got a whole lot to make up for, of course." + +Though he did feel that very strongly, he was able now to frame a +thought that had come to him more than once after he had become certain +that it was Prince Suvaroff who had caused his arrest. And that was +that Suvaroff had seemed far too big and important a man to do a small, +petty thing. + +"He's got a wrong idea of me, some way," Fred decided. "He has heard +something, or made up his mind to something that isn't so. Well, I hope +I get back to Russia and stay out of jail long enough to find out what +was wrong. Perhaps this war will make a difference, especially if I'm +lucky enough to be able do something for 'Holy Russia'." + +Fred moved along quietly while he was thinking of the extraordinary +sequence of events that had brought him to where he now was, flashing +his light on the arrows, and looking for the double mark that would show +him he had reached the spot of which Boris had told him. But when he got +there he had no need of any sign, for he could hear voices distinctly on +the other side of a very thin wall. Boris was speaking. + +"I'm so sorry, Herr Hauptmann," Boris was saying, in faultless German. +"I did see some of the peasants chivying a fellow down below. And I did +go out, of course, in my car, to see if I could help him. I got him away +from them. But he didn't come all the way back. He wanted to go on, and +it's not just the time I should choose for entertaining guests. So I +didn't urge him to stay." + +"I'm sorry to seem to doubt your word. In fact, Prince, I don't," said a +rumbling voice, that of the German captain Boris had been addressing, as +Fred could guess. "But was this person you rescued so--chivalrously--an +Englishman?" + +"I really don't know, Herr Hauptmann. He might have been. Or an +American. One or the other, I should think." + +"Clever Boris!" thought Fred. "He'll tell him some truth and some +fiction! He has got to deceive him, of course--that's war." + +"I have reason, Prince, to think that he was an English spy," the +captain went on. "You will allow my men to make a search? And, by the +way, I shall be sorry to take away your servants, but my orders are to +arrest and send to detention camps every man of military age I find +here." + +"I understand, captain. I am entirely in your hands, of course. I should +like to know if it will be possible for me to return soon to Russia?" + +"You must go to higher officers than myself, Prince," said the captain. +"If it rested with me--! But, of course, it does not. If you see your +father soon, however, will you give him my compliments? And tell him +from me that I should esteem it an honor if we should meet in the +field?" + +"Gladly, captain. It is a pity that such good friends and neighbors as +we have all been must be enemies, is it not? But it was not our doing." + +Fred frowned a little. + +"That sounds rather bad," he said to himself. "If this captain has lived +near here, he must know a good deal about the place. And, by George, if +they make a search they will find the wireless machinery that Ivan +brought in with him! It may be a mighty bad thing for this house and for +Russia that Boris saw me and brought me in, though it was certainly +lucky for me!" + +But even then Fred did not guess the extent of the trouble he had really +caused. He listened intently, but for a time there was silence beyond +the wall. Then he heard a murmur of voices, and guessed that a report of +the search for him was being made. And then the captain's voice boomed +out. + +"Prince," he said, "I must ask you to come with me and to consider +yourself under arrest. It is very painful but those are my orders. +Colonel Goldapp wishes to see you. I think it is only a form." + +"What? You will take me away?" Fred caught the dismay in his cousin's +tone, and winced slightly. But then he understood that it was not fear +for himself that moved Boris, but anxiety lest the important plans of +which he was such an essential part should be spoiled. "But my +father--he thinks that I am safe here until he can make arrangements for +me to return to Russia." + +"I am sorry." The German's tone, gruff though it was, was by no means +unkindly. "Orders, however--I have no choice. Doubtless you will be +allowed to return as soon as the colonel has seen you." + +"Well, there is no use in arguing, of course," said Boris. He raised his +voice, and Fred understood that what followed was meant especially for +his ears. "Where will you take me, Herr Hauptmann?" + +"Colonel Goldapp's quarters are at present in the parsonage near the +village. You will be examined there, Prince. We shall be there to-night, +at least, perhaps longer." + +"I see. I will be ready in a few moments. Will you excuse me if I write +some instructions for Vladimir, who will be in charge after I go? You +may, of course, read what I write." + +"Assuredly." + +Then there was silence. The room outside was so quiet that Fred had a +chance to realize how perfectly the place in which he was hidden served +its purpose. He could hear the heavy breathing of someone near the +wall. Then a chair scraped along the floor, and in a moment he heard the +scratching of a pen. And then there came a new sound, a tapping, as with +two fingers. That was Boris, and quite suddenly Fred understood. Boris +was tapping out a message to him in telegraphic code. + +"You must take charge here," Boris tapped with his fingers. "I will tell +Vladimir to get you as soon as it is safe. The parsonage where I will be +taken is very near the outlet of the secret passage. If Ivan returns, +tell him I am there, and that I will sing or whistle the song of the +Volga boatmen from time to time, so that he may know the window of my +room, if there is no guard in the room with me. Do not answer, for they +might hear." + +"Good boy! He certainly has nerve!" said Fred to himself, admiringly. +"He doesn't know what's going to happen to him next, but he is certainly +doing all he can to make things come right." + +Then there was a new confusion of noise outside. Fred heard Boris call +Vladimir and speak to the old servant in Russian. Then the German +officer gave Vladimir his instructions. + +"This place will be left alone for the present," he said. "Prince +Alexander Suvaroff has been a good friend and neighbor, and, though he +is an enemy, we desire to respect his property as long as possible. But +neither you nor any who are left in the house with you must go out--this +for your own safety--except to get food and then go yourself." + +Fred heard a general movement then, and guessed that they were going +out. Silence followed, and, after listening for a time, he decided upon +an exploration of the secret passage. A vague plan was taking form in +his mind already. It seemed to him that, as he was at liberty, he should +do anything that was in his power to free Boris. Until he knew more of +the lay of the land, he could not even make a real plan, but it was +possible, he thought, that something that was in his mind might easily +prove to be feasible. + +It was easy, with his torch and the guiding arrows, to follow the +devious, winding course of the passage. He surmised that its ascents and +descents, which seemed arbitrary and unreasonable as he pursued them, +were due to other entrances than the one he knew. It would be necessary, +as he could understand, to have more than one means of getting in and +out of such a passage. And when he found himself at last going in a +straight path which sloped easily downward, he guessed that he was +beyond the house, and that he had come to a part of the passage that led +to the outer world. + +Here there was a trace of dampness, but nothing like what might have +been expected in what was really a tunnel. Fred had to admire the +excellence of the construction work. The descent, as he knew from what +he had seen outside, must really be very sharp. But it was managed here +with turns and zigzags so that the grade was never very sharp. + +Fred became suddenly conscious of a change in the air. + +"I must be near the opening," he thought. + +A couple of minutes proved that he was right. He now remembered that +Boris had not had time to tell him how the door or gate was operated. +But he decided not to go back at once, but to try to discover the secret +for himself. It had occurred to him that it was more than probable that +a sentry or two might be left in the house, and he had no mind to stay +in the passageway, helpless and useless, if Vladimir found it impossible +to let him out at once. + +At the end of the passage he found a solid, seamless door. He decided at +once it must work on an axis of some sort and that it must be set in +motion by pressing a spring. And so, steadily and systematically, he +searched the whole door, until he struck the right spot at last. As the +door moved, he marked the spot with a tiny pencil mark. It swung +open--and he looked into the eyes of a startled German soldier, his +mouth wide open! + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A DARING RUSE + + +It would be hard to say which was more surprised--Fred or the soldier. +For just a moment they stood, both of them, perfectly still, staring at +one another with fallen jaws. And then Fred acted by pure instinct, and +without the semblance of a plan in his mind. He had played football in +school and on the team of his scout troop in America. And now he dived +for the astonished German's legs and brought him down with a flying +tackle. The heavy gun flew out of the soldier's hands, and, fortunately +for Fred, he fell so that his head struck the ground heavily. He was +stunned and, for the moment at least, safe and out of commission. + +There was time, therefore, for Fred to see how the ground lay. He found +that he was in a slight hollow, sandy in the bottom, where he stood and +the soldier lay. He imagined that at certain times this hollow might be +filled with water, for the sand had that appearance, and, moreover, +there was a gully, evidently washed out by water, leading down into the +pit. + +"Wonder how long he's good for?" speculated Fred, looking at the +soldier. "A few minutes, anyhow. He got quite a bump!" + +He satisfied himself in a moment that the soldier was not badly hurt. He +was a ridiculous figure as he lay there sprawled out. His breathing was +heavy; it sounded almost like heavy snoring. He was very young, scarcely +more than a boy himself. His uniform was entirely new, as was his +equipment. He was very slight too, and his face was typical of a certain +sort of German. He looked, Fred thought, like a bird. It was a queer +idea, and he laughed as it came to him, but it did describe this German +absolutely. + +"I'll risk it," Fred decided. He hesitated about the door. Perhaps he +ought to close it. But if he did, he couldn't open it again from this +side for that was a secret he hadn't learned. And, after all, the only +danger was that the soldier might come to his senses and go in--and if +he did that, Fred could follow him. So taking the rifle, he crawled +along the gully the rain had washed out, moving very cautiously. As he +neared the top, he lifted his head and saw, not more than fifty yards +away, a grey stone house, simple and unassuming. A flag pole had been +put up in front of this house, and a German flag drooped from it. +Soldiers were all about the place, and two automobiles stood before the +door. Motorcycles were lying on the ground. While Fred watched, two men +rode up on the snorting, crackling little machines and hurried into the +house. + +This was undoubtedly the parsonage, now being used as the headquarters +of Colonel Goldapp. Fred's heart sank as he surveyed the place. It +seemed to him that there wasn't much chance that he could rescue Boris. +There were too many Germans about. Even though there was no reason for +the staff to anticipate an attack, he could guess that the place would +be well guarded. And yet he was here because he hoped that he would be +able, after seeing the parsonage, to devise some plan of getting Boris +away. + +However, that was something to be attempted later, if at all. His chief +concern now was for the soldier he had thrown. And now he made his way +back, and found to his dismay that the man was beginning to recover his +senses. As Fred came back he stretched, yawned, and sat up, with the +most ludicrous mixture of fright and wonder in his eyes. Fred had his +gun, and at the sight of that the soldier spoke indignantly. + +"Give me back my gun!" he said, testily. "It is against the rules for +anyone to touch my gun. If you let the corporal catch you with that, +there'll be trouble. I promise you!" + +Fred had hard work to control his features. He wondered if the man was +really a little simple-minded, or if the effects of his fall still +confused him. He finally decided that both theories were right. For a +moment he hesitated, wondering what to do. He wanted to get back into +the passageway, and he did not want the German to see him doing it. As +he thought, he studied the entrance attentively. And he was startled +suddenly to find that he could not see it! Had something happened? Had +the door closed automatically? If that were so, he was in a nice fix, +and he would soon join Boris as a prisoner. + +But then he realized that the seeming disappearance of the opening was +simply the result of clever screening, by means of bushes. It had +deceived him for the moment. He saw that the door was so contrived that +anyone emerging from it would seem to anyone even a few feet away, to be +simply coming out from behind a bush. And then he got his great idea, an +idea that made him turn his head, so that the soldier would not see the +grin he could not suppress. + +"Here, give me that gun!" said the soldier, again. He was more impatient +than before, and his tone was one of anger. He struggled to his feet, +too, and stood, swaying uncertainly, still weak and very dizzy as the +result of his fall. + +"Beware!" + +The word came in a sepulchral, heavy voice from directly behind the +soldier. He swung around, greatly puzzled. + +"Who's there?" he called, sharply. + +"I am everywhere!" said the same voice. + +But now it came from the very ground at his feet. + +And then the voice spoke, swinging around, as the soldier turned, like a +dancing dervish, trying always to face the voice, only to have it come +from some new quarter. + +"Attend carefully to what I say!" said the mysterious voice. "You have +risked death by coming to this spot! But I am merciful, and I wish to +preserve all soldiers who fight for their fatherland! I am the spirit of +this place! I command you to go! Go up the gully. Stand with your back +turned to this place and count one hundred. Then, and only then, you may +return. Your gun will be here, and you may then go in peace. This ground +is sacred to me. On your life, when you have regained your gun, go! Do +not look back! Do not hesitate! And, above all, tell no one what you +have seen! I have spoken!" + +The soldier was trembling now in every limb. He looked hard at Fred, as +if he suspected that he might have something to do with this mysterious, +awesome voice. But Fred's lips had never moved. Fred, at home, had often +amused the guests of his family and the gatherings of the scout patrol +to which he belonged with this trick of ventriloquism. But the German +evidently had never heard of such a thing. And suddenly he broke into a +run. He made for the gully and ran along it with stumbling feet. + +"Now stop!" boomed the voice--directly in front of him! "Not a step +further! Begin to count aloud. But do not shout!" + +"Ein, zwei, drei, vier--" began the German, obediently. + +And Fred, half choking with suppressed laughter, slipped behind the +screened entrance of the secret passageway, while the soldier's back +was still turned. He did not quite close the door, but waited to make +sure that the German's curiosity did not get the better of his fright, +which had certainly been real enough. But it was all right. The man +counted right up to a hundred, and once or twice, to Fred's huge +amusement, when he stammered, and lost track of his numbers, he went +back and counted several of them over again! But he finished at last, +and Fred heard him come stumbling down the gully. He seemed to hesitate +then. + +"May I really go now?" he asked. "I did not know there was a spirit +here, or I would not have come." + +"Yes. Go, and quickly!" said Fred, throwing his voice out so it came +from far above the soldier. + +He heard the soldier running then, and in a moment closed the door +behind him, and began retracing his steps along the secret tunnel. + +"Gee! That was a close call!" he said to himself. "Serves me good and +right, too, for doing more than I was told! I might have spoiled +everything by not waiting until I knew more about the place. If that +soldier hadn't been ready to see a ghost in anything he didn't have some +reason to expect to meet, I'd be in a lot of trouble now. And yet I'll +bet he's brave enough, too. If he had an enemy he could see and touch, +he'd fight all right." + +But Fred had more to think about now than what had happened, or what +might have happened, either. He was more interested in what was to come +next. He went along, flashing his torch. There was no sound at the thin +wall, where he stopped, when he reached it, to listen for the sound of +voices in the great hall. That encouraged him. He decided that if any +soldiers had been left on guard in the place, they would have been in +there. And when he came near to the panel by which he had entered, when +he let his torch wink out he saw that there was a light ahead of him. + +For a moment he caught his breath, wondering if some enemy had +discovered the secret, and was waiting to pounce on him. But he went on, +because he decided that if anyone were waiting they must know already +that he was in the tunnel. And in a moment he came face to face with old +Vladimir. + +"The coast is clear, excellency," said the old Russian. "All the Germans +have gone--a curse upon them! My master has told me to treat you as if +you stood in his place until he returns. I have the things that Ivan +brought. Is it your pleasure that I should deliver them to you?" + +Fred was puzzled for a moment. Then he remembered the wireless. + +"Oh, yes, by all means!" he said. "And show me the room where the +wireless is. You know all about that, Vladimir?" + +"I know where it is. I do not understand such devil's work, but I am an +old man, and stupid." + +Fred laughed. + +"Perhaps it's devil's work, but if we have any luck it will be pretty +useful to us," he said. "Come on, if it's safe for me to come out. +There's a lot for me to do." + +Vladimir led the way to the top of the house. On the roof, like a +pent-house, there was a little room or cupola, and in this was a +partially dismantled wireless installation. Fred was left there alone +while Vladimir went off to get the things that Ivan had given to him for +safekeeping, and he studied the installation closely. It was different +from any that he had ever seen, but its leading principle, of course, +was familiar to him. At first it surprised him to find that it was +supplied with power by weak batteries, which the Germans had ruined. + +"You couldn't send more than twenty miles with those batteries!" he said +to himself. + +But when Vladimir returned that was explained. For he removed a picture +that hung on the wall and disclosed a number of wires. + +"I do not understand," he said. "But my master and Ivan have told me +that those wires that you see run down to a place far below the cellar, +where there is a great engine that moves when petrol is put into it--" + +"Oh, I see, a dynamo run by a Diesel engine, probably!" said Fred, +suddenly enlightened. "That's a fine idea! They can develop power +without steam! Costs a lot--but it's worth it, of course! I'll just try +that out!" + +Quickly he connected up the wires, tried out his key, after replacing +the parts that had been taken away, and in a moment got a powerful +spark. + +"That's great!" he said, to himself, ignoring old Vladimir, who watched +him in fascinated wonder. "I can send a long distance with that spark!" + +Then he pounced on something he had overlooked before,--a little book +bound in black leather. As he opened it, he gave an exclamation of joy. +It was a code book, as he saw at once, and on the inside of the cover +was a list of wireless stations, with their calls. There was one at +Virballen, he saw, and a dozen other places just over the border, and +running quite a distance into Russian territory, including one at +Augustowo, were named. + +"Ivan told me to guard that book as if it were my life," said Vladimir. +"He said to put it in a safe place, and to destroy it if the Germans +found it, even if they killed me for doing it." + +"He was right," said Fred, soberly. "If the Germans got that book, it +would be as valuable to them as a whole army, Vladimir." + +"It is very strange," said the old man. "I do not understand, but I am +old and stupid, and it is not for me to question my betters." + +Fred sat down and studied the code for a few moments. More than ever he +was glad now that his mother had always insisted that he must be able to +read and speak her Russian tongue. He would have to send in Morse, +instead of in the somewhat simpler Continental code, but that, he +thought, would make little difference. Some operator would be certain to +understand his sending. + +And now he sat down and began calling Suwalki. He would have liked to +call Virballen, which was nearer, but he was not sure that the Russians +were still in possession of their station there, since he remembered +that the Germans had had the superior force there on the Saturday night +when the war broke out--a night that seemed to lie a century in the past +now! + +For a long minute he hammered out his call. And then through the air, +over miles of hostile country, came a welcome whisper in his ear--the +whisper of the answering call from Suwalki! He was in touch with Russia! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES + + +For many reasons Fred did not want to hold a long talk with the Suwalki +operator. German wireless stations were undoubtedly at work in the +surrounding country, and, though there was no great danger that his +messages might be intercepted and read, it was not advisable, of course, +to let the Germans, who were sure to be watchful, know that there was a +private Russian station somewhere within German limits. The instruments +here were tuned to a certain wave length, and he guessed that this was +standard for all Russian military stations, and different from that of +the Germans. But when he held his circuit to listen he got whisperings +that sounded almost like static electricity. It was evident that a good +many stations were sending, and that the air all about was full of the +waves. + +So he contented himself with a brief and direct report of what had +happened, explaining why Boris was not himself present to make this +report. He asked for information as to the movements of the Russian +army, but got no satisfaction. + +"We don't know ourselves," said the Suwalki operator. "Things are moving +very fast, but absolutely no news is being given out. I know that our +cavalry--Cossacks, chiefly--have crossed the border at half a dozen +different points. The Germans and the Austrians have invaded Poland, and +our troops have all been withdrawn from that region. The concentration +there is going on at Brest-Litovsky, and behind the line of Warsaw-Novo +Georgevsk. But here there are a good many troops. There may be Cossacks +within a few miles of you. They are raiding. Here it is said that our +first move will be to try to cut the German railways." + +That was all he could find out. He arranged for word of Boris's seizure +to be sent to his father, and then closed his circuit and went below, in +search of old Vladimir. + +By now it was afternoon, and Fred began to think that if Boris had been +coming back that day he would have arrived already. Plainly, it seemed +to him, Colonel Goldapp must have decided to retain him as a prisoner. +He wanted to get down near the parsonage again, but he was afraid to +venture out by the secret passage. He didn't know how thoroughly he had +frightened the soldier who had so nearly caught him. If the man had +recovered his wits and decided that it was no ghost, but a very +substantial and real person who had bowled him over, there would +doubtless be a guard in the hollow, by the outer entrance of the tunnel. +And, in any case, it was too risky to seek egress by that means again in +broad daylight. + +"Vladimir," he said, when he found the old servant, "I want you to make +me look like a German, if you can. Disguise me, so that I may go down +toward the village safely. Is it possible?" + +Vladimir studied him for a moment. + +"I think so," he said. "There are plenty of clothes here, and there is +a man who has often helped when there were to be private theatricals." + +The transformation was soon completed, and when he looked at himself in +a glass Fred had to laugh. His clothes were those of a Prussian peasant, +and a few very slight changes in his appearance had been made by the man +to whom Vladimir had spoken. They worked wonders, and Fred decided that +he could go anywhere in Prussia now with impunity. + +"Is it safe for you to leave the house?" he asked Vladimir. + +"Yes, for they think that I am harmless," said the old man. + +"I wish to know how to open the door of the tunnel from the outside," +said Fred. "But I think it would be unsafe to go there directly. It will +be better for you to start out and get there as if you had gone by +chance. It is near the parsonage where my cousin is, and if anyone +questions you, you could say, I should think, that you wanted to be near +your master." + +"Yes," said Vladimir. "That would be safe." + +"Then do you go there and stay, unless they drive you away. I will go +there, too, if I can, and if the coast is clear and no one is watching, +you can show me. Unless, indeed, you can tell me now?" + +"It will be better for me to show you," said Vladimir. "The looks of the +outside change constantly. A storm will destroy a bush, or some other +landmark there, and, though I could touch the proper spot in the +darkness myself, I would find it hard to describe it to you. I will +start at once?" + +"Yes. And I will come to you, if it is safe, as soon as I can. I should +not be more than ten minutes behind you in reaching the hollow." + +Nothing about the whole adventure upon which he had embarked so +strangely, and with so little intention on his own part, impressed Fred +more than the unquestioning obedience old Vladimir yielded to him. More +than ever before, he realized that the Suvaroffs must indeed be as great +a family as his mother had declared. Though she had become a true +American, Mrs. Waring had never ceased to love the land of her birth, +and she had always tried to impress Fred with her own feeling for the +great house to which she had belonged. + +"Such families as the Suvaroffs can do much harm to themselves and to +others," she had said. "But they can also be of great service to those +of their blood, to those who are dependent upon them, and to their +country." + +The truth of this was constantly being impressed anew upon Fred at this +time. He was struck especially by the difference between the way that +the people of this house treated Boris and himself, and the attitude +that had been noticeable in those who had served his uncle, Mikail +Suvaroff. Mikail was decidedly a greater figure than Boris's father. Yet +it was not devotion that he seemed to inspire. He won obedience, not +because his people were devoted to him, but because he had filled them +with fear, and because they knew the consequences that would certainly +follow if he were displeased in any way. + +It was still light when Fred left the house. He went out by a side +entrance, reaching the road from the garden. Vladimir had gone down the +hill before him. It was understood that he would manufacture some errand +as an excuse for his appearance in the village. A number of the people +of the village were in the road near the great house; they stared at it +curiously, and with hostile murmurs. They paid no attention to Fred, +however, and this convinced him that his disguise was good. He passed +near them, and he breathed more freely when he had gone by. + +At the foot of the hill he turned away from the village. Here he +remembered something that both amused and annoyed him. He had not asked +just where the parsonage was. He knew its location with reference to the +outer portal of the tunnel, to be sure, but he had come to that +underground. However, he remembered where the sun had been when he had +emerged into the open air before, and, after some profitless scouting +about, a passing motorcycle set him on the right track. It set him +thinking, too. + +"There are an awful lot of these fellows with dispatches running about," +he said to himself. "It seems to me that this place is more than a +colonel's headquarters. A colonel has just one regiment under him, and +he certainly wouldn't need so many riders to carry his orders +about--unless he were in command of a detached fort or position, and +Colonel Goldapp isn't. I guess he's there, right enough, but I've an +idea there's someone more important, as well. It might be worth while to +find out just what is going on around here." + +But that could wait. For the moment his task was to meet Vladimir and +then to spy out the parsonage. Meeting Vladimir proved easier than he +had hoped. He followed the trail of the man on the motorcycle until he +was within sight of the grey stone parsonage, and then had his bearings +exactly. He approached the hollow cautiously, but no one was around. +The ground was fairly soft; there had been rain within the last three or +four days. And so, as he approached the spot of his encounter with the +superstitious soldier, Fred was able to tell that no visitation had been +made to the hollow. He marked the footsteps of the soldier; the man had +evidently run from the place. + +Looking around cautiously, he saw that everything was clear, and dropped +down on hands and knees as he reached the gully. Vladimir was waiting, +and in less than a minute explained the secret of the door. + +"All right," said Fred. "Now you get back to the house, and either be +near the entrance to the passage yourself, or keep someone stationed +there. I don't know what's going to happen, so I can't tell you, but I +think that maybe I shall get Boris away from the parsonage." + +Vladimir's eyes gleamed. + +"I am an old man," he said, "and I fear that I am useless. But if I can +help to rescue him--" + +"If you can help, I'll let you know," said Fred. "But I don't know yet +even how I shall set about it. And I think it's more important for +someone we can trust absolutely to be in the house. There may be nothing +for you to do there, and yet, if anything does come up, you will be +needed there very quickly. Shall you go back through the tunnel?" + +"No. They may have watched me as I came out, and it will be better for +them to see me return. No one suspects the tunnel yet, but some of these +Germans are clever." + +"Right! Well, I know how to get into it now from this end, and that may +help a lot. But I hope that when I use it again Boris will be with me." + +He let old Vladimir go out first. Then, after waiting for several +minutes, he went up the gully in his turn, and set out boldly and with +no attempt to hide his movements, for the parsonage. + +There was even more activity there now than there had been when he had +first set eyes upon it. There were more automobiles; four of them +altogether. At the wheel of each sat a soldier driver in grey uniform, +and with a cloth covered helmet. Each car was of the same type, a long +rakish grey body, low to the ground. As he neared the house an officer +wearing a long, grey coat came out, accompanied by two or three younger +men. He turned to speak to them, then got into one of the cars, which +immediately drove off. As it went a peculiar call was sounded, more like +a trumpet than an automobile horn. Fred guessed then what he afterward +learned to be a fact; that the automobiles used by the German staff +officers on active service had horns that indicated the rank of the +officer using them. + +It seemed to Fred that there were more officers than soldiers about. +There seemed to be only enough soldiers to provide a guard. Sentries +were all about, but there were officers almost in swarms. He walked +along, indifferently rather than boldly, and he was sharply challenged +when he drew fairly near to the house. + +"You can't go any further, youngster," said the soldier. "The staff has +taken this house." + +Fred stared at him rather stupidly, but turned away. Then he was called +back suddenly, and for a moment his heart was in his mouth at the +thought that his disguise had been penetrated and that he was about to +be made a prisoner. Like Boris, he was concerned only with the effect of +this upon his plans. He did not think of his own safety, although, had +he been caught, he might have expected the fate of a spy, since he was +in disguise within the German lines. It proved, however, that he was not +to be arrested. A young captain was eyeing him sharply. + +"Come with me, boy," he said. "We are short of servants in the house +here. You will do." + +For a moment he was indignant, but then his heart leaped happily. If he +was taken into the house as a servant, he could find out all and more +than he had hoped, and that without risk. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +"THERES MANY A SLIP--" + + +Once inside the house, Fred found a scene of orderly confusion. That is, +it looked like confusion to him, but he could see that, for all the +bustling and the hurrying that went on, everyone knew just what his part +in the work was. Telephone bells were ringing all the time, and Fred +noticed now that wires entered the house through the dining-room window. +Evidently a field telephone system had been installed and connected this +house with a whole region, of which, in a military way, it seemed to be +the brain. Then Fred heard a voice that he recognized at once, and +started at the sound, until he placed it as that of the captain who had +taken Boris away, and remembered that the captain had not seen him, even +before he was disguised. + +Fred's work, he soon found, was simplicity itself. He was to do the +bidding of any officer. He was sent on errands, from one part of the +house to another; often he carried written messages, handed to him by +staff officers, to the room in which three telegraph operators were hard +at work. Generally speaking, he was there to do odd jobs and make +himself generally useful. Luckily, he was taken for granted. Everyone +seemed assured that he was one of the village boys, pressed into service +because he happened to be the first one to come along. + +But for the first hour or so it was impossible for him to make any +attempt to discover if Boris was still in the house. He was too busy, +and he dared not spoil his opportunity to learn something really worth +while by seeming to spy about. He was rewarded before long for his +patience, for just as he was beginning to despair, an officer spied him +in a moment when he was not actively engaged upon some errand. + +"Here, boy," called the officer, "take this tray!" + +Fred took a tray from a soldier who was holding it awkwardly. + +"Take it upstairs to the room on the third floor where a sentry is on +guard. He will let you in. When the prisoner there has finished his +meal, return with the tray to the kitchen. Do not let any knife or fork +or spoon stay in the room when you go. So you will make yourself really +useful and release a man who can do things for which you are too young." + +It seemed to Fred, as he started upstairs with his tray, that this luck +was almost too good to be true. He scarcely dared to hope for what had +seemed to him the inevitable explanation of his errand. But when the +sentry opened the door of the locked room, and he looked in, he saw +Boris sitting dejectedly on the side of a bed. It was all he could do to +suppress a cry of delight, but he managed it, and he was hugely tickled +as he saw Boris's indifferent glance at him. His disguise must be good, +or Boris would have known him. He put the tray down, and then walked to +the window. He looked down first, and then up. Then with a grin, he +turned to his cousin. + +"Not a word," he said, quickly. "Do you know me?" + +Boris stared; then a smile broke out all over his face. There was no +need for him to put his answer into words. Fred came very close. + +"Speak low, but do not whisper," he said. "Tell me, what have they done +to you?" + +"Nothing. Colonel Goldapp has been too busy to see me." + +"I don't wonder! Boris, this is no colonel's headquarters. It is more +like that of an army corps. And there is at least one general here. His +name is von Hindenburg." + +"Von Hindenburg? He is commander-in-chief in East Prussia! If he is +here, there must be a German concentration in this region! They did not +expect that! Oh, I must get out and get the news back--" + +"Yes. The wireless is working. I talked this afternoon to Suwalki." + +And in a few words he told Boris the essential facts of what had +happened since the raid upon the great house on the hill on that +morning. + +"How often do they come in here?" he asked. + +"Only when my meals are brought to me. There will be no one else now +to-night, I think, unless Colonel Goldapp sends for me. They are very +polite. I think I shall be alone most of the time. They have no idea +that I will try to get away, because they think I know they have so many +sentries and patrols about that it would be useless for me to try to do +it." + +"Listen, then, Boris. I will go now. I think they will let me go now. I +have been working hard for them about the house. But I will come back +later. Stay near your window, so that I can see a handkerchief if you +hold it. Then I will throw up a stone with a string tied about, and you +can draw up a rope and slip down. If this general is so important we +ought to let them know. I will send the word by wireless and then come +back." + +"Good! It is risky for you. They wouldn't spare you if they caught you +trying to help me to get away. But if you can manage it at all, have +clothes like the ones you wear ready for me, in a bundle. Vladimir will +get them for you." + +Fred nodded, and was off at once. He was detained a little time when he +went down with the tray, but he pleaded finally with a kindly looking +officer, telling him that he was very tired, and had not expected to +stay away from home so long, and was allowed to go. He went to the +opening of the tunnel, found that the place was unguarded, and decided +from the general appearance of the hollow that it was not visited by +soldiers. Indeed, it was within the outer line of sentries, and, in a +way, safer because of that. Had it been beyond that line, it would have +been much harder to reach. + +The operator at Suwalki, when he called him by wireless, complained +bitterly, saying that he had been trying for hours to get an answer. +Boris's father had been heard from and was extremely anxious to get into +touch with his son. But it seemed the news that Fred sent made up for +this. The man at Suwalki was incredulous. + +"Our information is that General von Hindenburg is many miles from +where you are," he flashed back. "Are you sure of your facts?" + +"Absolutely sure," Fred answered. "Do you want the exact location of the +house used as headquarters? I can describe it for you if you have the +village shown on your map." + +"Yes. Give it to me," came the answer. + +Before he finished his wireless talk, Fred felt that the Russian +operator did not fully trust him. Nor did he blame him. He knew the +excellence of the German spy system; he had heard a good deal about it +from Boris, and, for that matter, before he had even seen Boris at all. +So he only laughed, though he hoped that this feeling would not prevent +the Russians from using the information he had given. He could not see +just how it was to be useful to them, however. Possibly the fact that +von Hindenburg was here, and not to the south, was the important thing. + +By this time it was growing dark, and Fred decided that it would soon be +safe to try to throw the cord up to Boris's window--as safe, at least, +as it would ever be. He got a bundle of clothes from Vladimir, and this +time he determined to travel through the tunnel, since he knew that if +he went by the outside route he would have trouble in getting through +the sentries. Luck was with him again. He was nervous as he opened the +door and came out into the night, but there was no one about. At a +little distance he could hear steady footsteps; evidently a sentry was +walking his beat near by. But Fred's scout training had taught him how +to move quietly and he slipped through the gully and toward the house +without raising an alarm. + +Once he was on the right side of the house, he found shelter in a clump +of bushes, where, unseen himself, he could study the situation. His +first thought was of the house. He soon found the window of Boris's +room. Immediately below it were the windows of corresponding rooms, and +one of these was lighted. This made him pause at once. For the rope to +be drawn up, or for Boris to show himself before that lighted window +for even the moment of a swift descent, might well be fatal. That was +one point, but he speedily devised a way of overcoming that. + +There was another danger to be considered, and it took him longer to +calculate this. Naturally there was a patrol about the house. Fred +himself had had to avoid the sentry, making his steady round. Now he lay +in the bushes and timed the man's appearances for nearly half an hour. +There were two men, as a matter of fact, and they met on each circling +of the house. Fortunately, their meeting came at the very end of the +garden. So Fred was able to work out a sort of mental chart of their +movements, and to confirm it by timing them. The two sentries met on his +side of the house at the eastern end. The first walked west, the second +north. The one who walked west had his back to Fred and to the window +where Boris waited for a minute. Then he, too, turned north. Then came a +blessed interval of just a minute, in which neither sentry was in sight. +Altogether, there was a period of almost two minutes in which no eye +would be fixed on Boris's window, unless the sentry chanced to turn and +look back. + +To make sure, Fred studied both men. And not once did either of them +look back or up. Their attention did not seem to centre on the house at +all. It was as if their instructions were more to prevent a surprise +attack from outside, or the coming of some spy, than to watch those who +were already in the house. + +Once he had made up his mind, Fred buried himself deeper in the +shrubbery and risked using his pocket flashlight while he wrote a note +to Boris, telling him what he had learned of the movements of the +sentries. He told Boris, also, not to draw up the rope at once, but to +climb from his window to the flat roof, something easy enough to manage, +and then to move along five paces. There the rope, when it was drawn up, +would be invisible against the grey stone of the house wall, whereas, +against a lighted window, it would show up so plainly that the most +stupid sentry would be sure to see it. + +Fred had substituted a tennis ball for the stone he had originally +intended to throw. The ball had many advantages. In case his aim was +bad, the ball would not make a noise if it fell or if it struck against +the wall, while the sound of a stone would have betrayed them had he +failed to put it through the window. Now he tied his note to the ball, +making it firm and secure with the end of a ball of twine. About his +body he had coiled a long, very thin, very strong rope. After Boris had +the end of the cord he would fasten the rope to his end, and so enable +Boris to draw it up. And to guard against losing the end of the cord, he +tied it to his own left wrist. + +He waited for the sentries to meet; gave the one who stayed on his side +a start, and then, taking careful aim, threw his ball. At home Fred had +played baseball. More than once a game had depended on the accuracy of +his toss of a hot grounder to the first baseman. In basketball games, he +had stood, with the score tied, to shoot for the basket on a foul, when +the outcome was to be settled by the accuracy of his throw. But never +had he been as nervous as he was now. The ball flew straight and true, +however. He saw it enter the window. And the next moment a tug on his +wrist told him that Boris had it. + +He waited breathlessly. Then two short pulls signalled that Boris had +read his note and would follow his instructions. He gave three sharp +tugs, and then settled down to wait, with beating heart, for now the +crucial test was coming. The other sentry was about to appear. If he +noticed the thin string, by any chance, the whole scheme would be +spoiled and Fred, in all probability, would be caught and treated as a +spy. + +The man came around the corner of the house, walking slowly, his head +down. As he neared the twine he stopped for just a moment and looked up. +Fred scarcely dared to breathe. He knew what had happened. The twine had +brushed against the sentry's cheek. But then a puff of wind carried it +away, and the man went on, brushing at his cheek, thinking, perhaps, a +moth had touched it. + +One sharp tug of the twine. That was the signal to Boris to go ahead. +His eyes strained on the window, Fred saw his cousin's figure appear on +the sill, saw him climbing swiftly up a water pipe, and then saw him +drop to the flat roof, hidden for the moment by a low parapet. Then +there was another period of agonized waiting, for again a sentry was to +pass. Fred used the brief interval of enforced inaction to loosen the +rope and place it on the ground, tied to the loose end of the twine he +took from his wrist, so that it would have a clear passage through the +bushes. Then the coast was clear again, and he signalled to Boris to +draw it up. Up, up went the twine; then the rope started. And at last it +dangled against the side of the house. Fred, knowing it was there, could +scarcely see it himself. He decided that the sentries would never notice +it. + +Then came the last pause. And when the sentry had passed the rope, Boris +slipped over the parapet and started his descent. He had to come quickly +for he had less than two minutes to reach the ground and join Fred in +his shelter. Down he came, hand over hand, so fast at the end, when he +just slid, letting the rope slip through his fingers, that he must have +burned the skin from his palms. But he made it, and came running toward +Fred. He was crouched low against the ground. But, just before he +reached the bushes there was a shout from above, a flash, a loud report. +A bullet sang over Fred's head, and the next moment the garden was alive +with rushing, shouting men, ablaze with flashing points of electric +light. They tried to hide in the shrubbery. But in vain. At this last +moment, when Fred's plan had seemed sure of success, disaster had +come--for some German officer, going on the roof, had been just in time +to see the rope and spoil everything with his chance shot! + + + + +CHAPTER X + +SENTENCED + + +Both Fred and Boris recognized at once the hopelessness of flight. Both +thought instinctively of the hollow and the concealed entrance to the +tunnel, and both knew that to attempt to use that now would not save +them, and would give away a secret that might be supremely important at +some future time, either to them or to someone else among those who +shared the precious secret. The grounds were flashing with light in all +directions; soldiers called to one another; men ran all around, looking +for them. + +And yet, hopelessly caught as they were, neither could give up supinely. +Both had the dauntless fighting spirit that must be conquered, that will +never give up, not only while hope remains, but while disaster, be it +ever so certain, has not actually come to pass. They were in a sort of +thicket, almost as thick as a primeval jungle. At the same moment the +thought seemed to come to each of them that the one chance for momentary +safety lay in keeping perfectly still. They were side by side, wedged in +a little opening they had made for themselves, and now they went down +together. + +All about them the din of the pursuit continued. Officers were pouring +out of the house to join the hunt. Shouts and cries resounded. Fred had +to smile to himself. It seemed to him that the boasted system and order +of the German army could not be what he had always heard about it if the +escape of two boys could produce such a disorganization. + +And then there was a sudden diversion. The noise seemed to die away. It +did not cease for there was still a good deal of talking, but there was +no more shouting, until there was a sudden whirring sound. + +"An aeroplane!" whispered Boris. "I've seen them for the last few days, +flying in all directions. They use them for scouting." + +"I knew I ought to recognize that sound!" said Fred. + +It seemed fairly safe for them to speak to one another now. For some +reason it was quite evident they had been forgotten. + +There was an interval of almost complete silence; then came a sudden +explosion of orders. Half a dozen motorcycles sprang into crackling +life; there was the unmistakable din of a powerful aeroplane engine, +which, with no muffler, is noisy enough to wake the dead. Then came the +whirring of its propeller. They were sure that if they only dared to +raise their heads, they would see the machine rising near by. + +But there was more to follow that was just as inexplicable. The +motorcycles chugged away; then three automobiles started. Their engines +roared for a moment before they subsided to the ordered, steady hum of a +smooth running motor. On the first car that got away there was a horn +that made Boris start convulsively as he heard its bugle note, and grasp +Fred's shoulder. + +"That horn belongs only to a car used by a full general!" he said. "It +must be von Hindenburg going, Fred! That flying machine brought +important news!" + +That had been evident to Fred almost from the first. He wondered +mightily what was going to happen next. It seemed incredible that the +Germans, knowing that he and Boris must soon be found, and that only +patience was necessary if they were to be caught, would so quickly give +up looking for them. And yet--Boris was right, of course. A general +would not depart with such abundant evidence of haste and sudden +decision unless some grave news had come through the air. + +One question was soon settled. Scarcely had General von Hindenburg's car +started, with the musical call of its horn clearing the way for it, when +the search for the two scouts was renewed with as much vigor as had been +shown before the coming of the aeroplane. And this time it was speedily +successful. There was less din and confusion. Fred saw at once that some +officer with a cool and level head had taken charge. The searchers now +did the simple, obvious thing. They divided the grounds up into +sections, and beat over each section thoroughly, with the result that a +corporal and a private speedily came upon Boris and Fred, and, raising a +sort of view halloo, dragged them out into the open, flashing their +electric torches in their eyes. + +"Here they are!" cried the corporal. "Herr Hauptmann, here they are!" + +A captain came up quickly, and at the sight of Fred exclaimed sharply in +his surprise. + +"You're the boy I chose to help with the work in the house here!" he +said. His face darkened. "He is a spy! Take him into the guard room and +lock him up." He barely glanced at Boris. "Yes, that is the other. See +that he is taken back to his quarters, corporal, and that a sentry +remains constantly on guard." + +"He is not a spy! If he is one, then so am I!" Boris broke out in a +sharp protest. "He must be treated exactly like myself, or I must be +used as he is!" throwing caution to the four winds. + +"I am giving the orders here," said the German, coldly. "We have no +desire to treat you harshly, Prince. You and your father have won the +liking and respect of all your neighbors here, and it is a matter of +regret that we must detain you at all. But you must be able to see for +yourself that there is a great difference between an open enemy like +yourself and one who pushes his way among us to get what information he +can--" + +"I beg your pardon, captain," Fred interrupted, thoroughly awake by this +time to the danger in which he stood. "It was by your orders, and +against my own protest, that I came into the house here at all." + +"You will have an opportunity to explain all such matters at your +trial," said the captain. "I can assure you that all will be done in a +regular fashion, and that you will have every opportunity to defend +yourself. Colonel Goldapp will doubtless arrange for a quick hearing +since we shall not be here much longer." + +Fred was quite cool and collected. He was frightened, to be sure, and +he was brave enough to admit that to himself. He had good reason to be +frightened. There is no offence more serious than espionage in time of +war, and by every rule of war he was a spy. He had pretended to be a +German, which he was not, and had been found within the German lines. It +was true, of course, that he had been ordered into headquarters, but +that was a trifling point, and, though he had raised it, Fred knew very +well that no technicality would save him if the truth about him came +out. + +Boris understood all this, undoubtedly, quite as well as Fred or the +German captain, but he was beside himself. He felt that Fred had run +into this terrible danger because of him, in order to try to rescue him +from an imprisonment that, though annoying, was by no means a serious +matter. + +"Take me instead of him!" he cried, forgetting that with every word he +was really making Fred's case worse. "I--" + +"I'll be all right," said Fred, with a cheerfulness he certainly did +not feel. "All I want is a fair trial. If I get that, I'll be all +right." + +Unwillingly enough, Boris let himself be led away. Something in Fred's +look, or in his voice, had warned him not to say anything more. So Fred +saw him go, and was taken himself to the guard room, of which he was the +only occupant save for the impassive Pomeranian sentry. Fred guessed, +somehow, that German soldiers in war time did not often do things that +caused them to be put under arrest. In the little he had seen of them he +had come to understand what it was that made a German army so +formidable. + +He expected to be brought before the court early in the morning but, in +fact, he was called out in less than an hour, and taken into the +dining-room of the parsonage. Here, at the head of the table, sat an +officer in a colonel's uniform; Colonel Goldapp, unquestionably, +presiding over the court, which included four officers beside himself. +Fred knew enough of the military law to understand what was going on. +He saw a young lieutenant sitting with some papers before him. Another +came and drew him aside. + +"I am to defend you," this officer said, pleasantly. "That is, of +course, I am to see that you get fair treatment. You are accused of +being a spy. The charge, as I understand it, is that you are a Russian, +but have disguised yourself as a German. If this is true, the best +advice I can give you is to plead guilty and throw yourself on the mercy +of the court. Your age will be taken into consideration." + +"I am not a Russian," said Fred, quickly. "I am an American. I demand an +opportunity to see the American ambassador, or at least the nearest +American consul." + +"Is that all?" + +"That is all I can say. It is true that I am an American, and I believe +it is my right, as a foreigner, to ask to see the representative of my +country, since America and Germany are not at war, but are friendly one +to the other." + +"That would be true if you were charged with an offence in a civil +court. But in a court-martial there are no such rules. Once more, I +believe your best course is to plead guilty. I do not know the evidence +against you, but I can tell you that the court might be merciful if you +admitted your guilt frankly, while it would probably treat you more +harshly if you forced it to prove your guilt." + +Fred shook his head, however. And so the trial began. It was a real +trial, and fair enough, but a trial by court-martial is not like one in +a civil court, especially in time of war. There were no delays. The +judge-advocate stated the case against Fred very briefly. He called as +witness the officer who had brought Fred into headquarters, who said +that the prisoner had been entirely willing to come. Then the corporal +who had found him testified. And the third witness, when he was called, +was none other than Lieutenant Ernst, who had befriended Fred at +Virballen! At the sight of him Fred's heart sank. He began to +understand what a strong case there really was against him. + +At Ernst's first words there was almost a sensation, for the lieutenant +brought out the fact that Fred was related to the Suvaroff family. The +fact that Fred had gone straight to the house of his kinsman came out as +a result of Ernst's evidence, and Fred knew that it would be useless to +say that this had been the result of pure chance, and that he had not +even known of Boris's existence. It was true, but it was none the less +incredible. It was easy to see when Ernst had finished giving his +testimony, which he did reluctantly, and with a good deal of sympathy +for Fred, that the court had made up its mind. + +There were no witnesses for Fred to call. He told his own story, but it +was not believed. The finding of the court was inevitable: "Guilty as +charged!" And Colonel Goldapp, in an expressionless voice, pronounced +sentence. + +"The prisoner is old enough, though he is only a boy, to know the fate +of a spy. He risked this fate. He will be shot at once. Captain von +Glahn will take charge of the execution of the court's sentence." + +Fred passed through the minutes that followed as if he were in a dream. +It seemed to him that it was someone else who was led into the garden, +placed against a wall, and blindfolded. Von Glahn, a young officer, came +and stood beside him. + +"The firing squad will be here at once," he said. "I am sorry. Is there +any message I can deliver for you?" + +And then outside a bugle rang out, and there was a burst of wild, +frenzied yelling and the next moment a crash of firing. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE COSSACKS + + +Something fell against Fred, something heavy and warm. It was a full +minute before he realized that it was von Glahn, staggering, coughing. +He supported the German officer for a moment. Then they went down +together with von Glahn, still coughing terribly, on top. That saved +Fred's life. For over him now, for the next five minutes, there raged a +furious fight. Horses were all through the grounds; Fred heard them, and +the savage, unearthly cries of their riders. For the first minute there +was a good deal of firing. He guessed that the firing squad that had +been meant for him was putting up a stiff struggle; later he knew it. + +Then abruptly it was all over. There was no sound save the groans of +wounded men. The firing ceased, and with it the fierce shouts of those +who had invaded the garden at that most critical of moments. Fred +realized afterward that he must have fainted, for when next he could see +and hear, there was a faint light in the sky. He was aroused by the +moving of the heavy weight of von Glahn's body, and looked up to see a +bearded man, small and wiry, in a rough sheepskin coat, who grinned down +at him. + +"Not hurt, eh, comrade?" said this man in Russian. He seemed surprised +when Fred answered in his own tongue, and started back. But he had +pushed the body of the German captain away, and Fred rose to his feet a +little unsteadily. It was a wild, strange scene upon which his eyes +rested. All about the place where he had lain the ground was covered +with evidences of a furious struggle. Nearly a score of Germans lay +about, dead. Among them were half a dozen Cossacks, and over one of +these stood a riderless horse, muzzling his master's body inquisitively. +Fred was about to question the man who had relieved him of von Glahn's +weight when there was a sudden rush, and Boris, sobbing with delight, +threw his arms about him and kissed him on both cheeks. + +"Here--I say, Boris, don't do that!" he cried. + +"Oh, I forgot that is not your custom!" said Boris. "But I thought you +were dead! I thought they had killed you! I saw them bring you out from +my window, and if the sentry had not stopped me, I would have thrown +myself out to join you! Come with me--my father is here!" + +Fred was still dazed. His escape had been so miraculous that he wanted +to pinch himself to see if he were still awake. A month before he had +been at home in America, envied by the rest of his patrol because he was +actually to go to far-off Russia by himself. And since then he had been +three times a prisoner, had been in danger of exile to Siberia, and just +now had escaped by mere seconds meeting a blast of bullets from a German +firing squad, a victim of a war that had not even been dreamed of when +he had sailed from America! + +But there could be no real doubt of the truth as he followed Boris into +the house. In the dining-room where he had been sentenced to death, he +came upon Lieutenant Ernst, chatting amiably with half a dozen Russian +officers in their white coats. The German grinned at him. + +"You're in luck, youngster," he said. "I'm not so sorry, really! They +didn't get what they came after, you see." + +"No, worse luck!" said a Russian. "How did the old fox know we were +coming?" + +Ernst only looked wise, and did not answer. Fred was surprised by the +way in which captive and captors mingled, seemingly on the most friendly +terms. But when he thought it over, it did not seem so strange. Ernst +and these Russians knew what a huge thing this war was. Each had his +part to play, and would play it as well as he could. But individuals, +after all, could not count for much, and the man who was prisoner to-day +might be on top to-morrow. Later bitterness and personal hatred might +come, but as yet, as Fred began to understand, these men hadn't come to +that. They were like players on rival football teams after a hotly +contested game. In the play each man would fight his hardest; after the +whistle blew, friendship ruled. The referee's whistle had blown when +Ernst was caught in a trap. + +Boris pushed on into a smaller room. Here Fred saw a man he would have +known anywhere as Boris's father, and, for that matter, as some close +relative of his mother. Alexander Suvaroff, General of Division in the +Russian army, looked very much like Mikail, but there was a sharp +difference between them. This Suvaroff was as kindly in aspect as the +other was repellent and harsh. His eyes twinkled affectionately when he +saw Fred. + +"Welcome, cousin," he said. "Even if our chief purpose failed, I am glad +we got here in time to save you. You heard that General von Hindenburg +got away?" + +"I knew that before we were caught," said Fred, "but I didn't know you +had come for him." + +"Of course they did!" said Boris. "Your wireless message told the staff +he was here, and my father led a cavalry raid behind the German lines to +try to catch him. But--he ran away!" + +The general laughed at the contempt in Boris's tone. + +"Of course he ran away!" he said. "I only wonder how he knew we were +coming! That was bad luck--because not once did we strike so much as a +German patrol as we rode." + +"I can tell you," said Fred. "An aeroplane brought word. Its pilot must +have seen you as he flew overhead, and suspected that you were coming +here." + +"So!" Suvaroff frowned. "I did not think of that! However, it is better +than what we suspected at first. It looked as if someone at headquarters +must have betrayed the plan. Well, it was too good to come true. If we +had caught him and his staff, we might have hastened the end of the war +by a good many months. Von Hindenburg is the ablest general in Germany, +though he has been in disgrace for years. They sent for him as soon as +war came. He'll do good work." + +Fred was thinking. + +"If that aeroplane saw you coming, general," he said, "isn't there +danger that they may try to surround you here?" + +"Yes, more than danger. They are sure to try to do it! But their cavalry +is very slow, and I do not believe they have infantry enough near by to +make any trouble for us." He frowned thoughtfully. "There is something +very peculiar about the whole situation around here! If von Hindenburg +is here, it means that their chief concentration on this front must be +here. And yet we get reports of an astonishingly small number of troops! +Not more than two corps." + +Boris looked eagerly at his father, and then at Fred. But before he +could speak General Suvaroff went on, crisply. + +"You can ride?" he asked Fred. "Good! I will see that you and Boris have +horses. Then we shall start. We can be back in our own lines before +daylight." + +Fred hesitated. Then Boris took the words from his mouth. + +"Father, I want to stay!" he said, eagerly. "It will be safe. I can get +back to the house and they can never catch me there, you know! They may +not even search for me, but if they do, I can hide from them in the +tunnel. And you say the German movement about here is puzzling. Would it +not be well to have some way of sending word from here? Ivan is at work. +But no matter what he discovers, if we are not at the house, it will do +no good. Let me stay!" + +"I should like to stay, too," said Fred. + +"Impossible!" said General Suvaroff at once to that. "You would be shot +as soon as you were caught--you are under sentence now. They would not +treat you as a prisoner of war, even if they caught you among my +troopers." + +"But if they did not catch me--" + +"No! I cannot let you take so great a risk. You are of my kin, and I owe +a duty to your mother. I shall see that you get back safely to Russia +and are sent home by sea from there." + +"But if I go into Russia, I shall be arrested--those are Prince Mikail's +orders," said Fred, quietly. "I am sure to be caught there, and here +there is a chance that I may not be found. If you take Lieutenant Ernst +with you as a prisoner, no one among the Germans will know me, except as +I appear now. If I change back to my own clothes, I shall be safe from +anything worse than detention. None of the officers of the court-martial +escaped, did they?" + +"No, that is true," said Suvaroff. He spoke thoughtfully. It was plain +that Fred's argument was making an impression on him. "I have heard +something of your affair with Mikail. I shall look into that. Eh--I +don't know just what to do!" + +"Let us stay!" pleaded Boris. "We will be careful, and we know now just +what dangers we must avoid." + +"I think we shall be back here, in force, before the week is out," said +his father, after a moment's reflection. "Very well, you shall stay! It +is true that you may be of the greatest service. I have not the right to +consider personal matters when the welfare of Russia is at stake." + +It was light by now. In curious contrast to the shambles of the garden +and the disorder of the house, its windows shattered by bullets, its +furniture broken and draperies torn in the swift conflict that had +followed the appearance of the Cossacks, roosters were crowing outside +and birds were singing. General Suvaroff gave a sharp order; +subordinates passed it along. A bugle sounded, and, five minutes later, +after the general had said good-bye to the two scouts, the Cossack +raiders rode away. They were strung out in a long column along the road. +As they passed through the village Fred and Boris, watching from an +upper window of the abandoned parsonage, saw the villagers watching. +Boris had a powerful field glass, and through this he and Fred could see +the very faces of the watching Germans. Hatred and fear mingled in the +looks they sent after the invaders of their country. + +"One can't blame them," said Fred, with a shudder. "War's rather +ghastly, isn't it, Boris?" + +He looked down into the garden, and Boris's eyes followed his. + +"Yes," said the Russian. "That's the ugly part of it. It's all ugly. But +sometimes war must come, it seems to me. We in Russia have never wanted +to make war. We have fought because we were forced to fight. I think +that is what history will say of us in this war." + +"They are not going toward Russia," said Fred, looking after the +raiders, who were melting into the landscape now. "Their road seems to +be due west." + +"They must ride in a long circle, I suppose," said Boris. "If they went +straight back, they would run right into the Germans. There must be a +lot of the enemy between us and the Russian lines--their main body, you +see. And my father won't want to fight. His object is to get back with +as many men as possible. It would be useless to send a thousand +Cossacks against an army corps." + +"Oh, of course! It's wonderful to think of how they got here, Boris, +riding right through the enemy's country! It's like the work cavalry did +on both sides in our Civil War. They used to get behind the enemy's +lines and cut telegraph wires and railways all the time." + +In the village, there were now more signs of life. As the Cossacks rode +by, the street had been empty, but now men and women were coming out +furtively. They began to come toward the parsonage. + +"Time for us to go," said Fred, with decision. "We wouldn't have much +chance if they caught us here. And if we're to be of any use, those +people have got to think that we've gone." + +"Right!" said Boris. "Hello--look up there! I was afraid of that!" + +He pointed to a monoplane, flying high and coming from the north, from +the direction of the Baltic. + +"Looking for the raiders," said Fred. "Let's hurry. I think we ought to +report what has happened by wireless. Your father's party may need +help." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE TRICK + + +It was nervous work going through the lower floor of the house, through +the garden, trampled by the rush of the Cossack charge, through bushes +clipped and torn by bullets. All about was a curious silence, broken +only by the sounds that the birds made, and the humming insects, which +were not at all disturbed by war and the ruin it left in its wake. It +was a relief to both scouts to pass into the tunnel. There everything +seemed normal, strange though the place was. And in a few moments they +were back in the great hall of the Suvaroff house, and were being +greeted with delight by old Vladimir, though he reproached them, too, +for coming back. + +Their first thought was for the wireless. Fred sent a brief report of +what had happened, describing the escape of General von Hindenburg. And +then, as he was about to end the message, Ivan stood beside him. His +eyes were shining and he seemed greatly excited. + +"Tell them that von Hindenburg has only a masking force here with very +few first line troops," he said. "Most of the Germans are far to the +south. Their plan is to join the Austrians in an advance from Cracow. +Here they hope to hold the lakes with a few troops. They expect our army +to advance. They will give up Johannisberg and Ortelsburg. They will +make no stand at all until we come to Allenstein. The whole movement +here is a trick. They hope to lead us on here and then drive a great +wedge into the heart of Poland, until they can strike at Warsaw." + +Fred made no comment. He sent the message, then asked his own questions. + +"You know of the raid last night?" + +"I heard something of it--and that the old fox Hindenburg escaped. Tell +me the rest." + +"I'll be off," he said, when they had done. "Half a mile away I have a +cache. There is a motorcycle and the uniform of a German soldier--a man +of the cycle corps. I shall follow General Suvaroff." + +"Can you catch them?" asked Boris, doubtfully. "They ride fast." + +"Not so fast," said Ivan. "There may be fighting to do as well as +running, and for fighting you need horses that are not too tired. It +would be foolish to save an hour or two by hard riding and lose +everything at the end for lack of the power to break through. And a +motorcycle can do better than the fastest horse." + +"But how did you get one?" asked Fred. "And the German uniform?" + +Ivan smiled significantly. + +"I met a man of about my size," he said. "I was walking. And I was +tired. I took his cycle and his uniform away from him." + +There was something about his tone and the look in his eyes that made +Fred refrain from asking any more questions. He admired Ivan greatly, +but he was a little afraid of him, too. In him he could see what lay +behind the general belief that Russia was still a barbarous, partially +civilized state, the underlying truth of the old saying: "Scratch a +Russian, and you will find a Tartar beneath." He was glad that Ivan was +on his side, and was bound to him, moreover, by his loyalty to the name +of Suvaroff. + +"Listen, now," said Ivan. "Here it is very dangerous. Stay as long as +you can, but never let yourselves be caught in the house by any Germans. +Do not let the villagers see you. Take to the tunnel without hesitation +if there is an attack upon the house, or a search. I think you will be +safe as long as you are watchful, but you cannot be off your guard for +even a moment. The Germans will think that you went back with the +Cossacks but they will try to make sure." + +"We will be careful," said Boris. "You are sure of what you have +learned? There will be no more than two army corps in this region?" + +"That is certain. I have scouted for twenty miles to the west and I have +been along the railway lines. If there were more troops coming, I +should have discovered it. I am sure of that." + +"And now you are going back toward our lines?" + +"Yes. I may be of service to your father. And, in any case, I shall be +of more use if I am with the German advanced position than if I stayed +here, far in the rear. Good-bye!" + +He departed through the tunnel. And then for Fred and Boris began a task +almost harder than any that could have been set. They had to wait. There +was nothing for them to do except sit in the little turret room. Below, +Vladimir and the others kept a sort of guard, but there seemed little +reason even for that. + +From the turret, whence the wireless waves were sent pulsing out through +the air, a fine view of the surrounding country for a good many miles +was to be had. For the most part this was a level section, slightly +undulating, but with very few high spots. From their vantage point the +roads stretched out like ribbons or like lines on a map. Fred opened the +wireless and amused himself by listening. At first he could hear only a +confused jumble through the receivers that were clamped to his ear. Then +he changed his wave length, experimenting until he got a clear series of +dots and dashes. + +"I think I'll take this down," he said to Boris. "It'll be like Greek to +us, of course, but it's all German wireless talk, and it all means +something. Perhaps if we're lucky, we'll stumble on to the key of the +code they're using, and that might be useful." + +After a time Boris, who could receive well enough but was an inexpert +sender, relieved him, and Fred, taking the field glass, began to search +the horizon. Soon something caught his eye and held his attention. At +first he thought he saw troops moving, coming from the east. It seemed +strange that German troops should be in retreat so soon, but in a moment +he understood. He did not see soldiers moving along the road, but a +company of civilians, with carts that were drawn by men and women. At +first the sight puzzled him, but then he understood, and he called to +Boris to look. + +"They're clearing out the villages toward the border," he said. + +Boris only glanced through the glass. + +"Yes. They were doing it the day after the war began, too," he said. +"It's better for them, of course. If civilians are about where there is +fighting, they are in danger from both sides. The Germans wouldn't stop +a minute at shelling one of their own villages if we were holding it. +Fred, I think they must be going to send our little lot away, too. There +are soldiers coming along the road--Uhlans." + +Fred looked down and saw a picket of lancers approaching, headed by an +officer. And in a few minutes there were signs of great activity in the +village. Soon the exodus began. And then the Uhlans turned at the road +leading up to the great house, and began to climb. + +"Coming to warn our people, I suppose," said Boris. "We'll make +ourselves scarce, Fred. Vladimir can talk to them when they arrive." + +But Fred did not go without one more sweeping look about him. And it +showed him something that surprised him. + +"I've got a curious feeling," he told Boris, when they had slipped into +the secret passage. "I've got what we call a hunch in America--a feeling +that Ivan has been fooled. You didn't see what I did just now. I'm +perfectly certain I saw troops marching on two roads that aren't very +far apart, to the north." + +"Marching east or west?" + +"East. I think a real trap is being prepared, Boris. And--I'm going to +try to find out the truth!" + +"How?" + +"I'd better not tell you, Boris. Go back and listen--see what you can +hear at the thin wall. I'm afraid that if we both go we might be heard, +if they are near there. I want to know where those Uhlans come from." + +"All right," said Boris, wondering a little. He went off, and Fred, as +soon as he had disappeared, began to make his way very quietly, almost +stealthily, indeed, toward the other end of the tunnel--the one that +gave to the open air. + +"He'd never have let me go if I had told him," he said to himself, +feeling the need of justifying what looked like treachery, since his own +conscience was accusing him. "And I didn't lie to him. I didn't say that +I would be there when he came back. I only hope I get out before he +finds I've gone!" + +When he reached the opening he felt safe, and there he stopped and wrote +a note to Boris, telling him what he meant to do and why he had not +taken him into his confidence before. + +"He's sure to find that," said Fred to himself. "He'll come down here +looking for me, and I suppose he'd go out, too, no matter how dangerous +it might be, if I didn't leave this note." + +As he swung the door that let him out, Fred felt the little thrill that +always came to him when he opened the way thus to the outer air. Ever +since he had come upon the German soldier here the first time, he had +had this feeling. This time, however, the way was clear, and he slipped +out and made his way swiftly toward the parsonage. He took advantage of +every bit of cover for he had no wish to be seen, at least as yet. Soon +he reached the vantage spot he sought. From it he commanded a view of +the village, and of the entrance to the great Suvaroff house on the hill +as well. + +The dismal procession from the village had already begun. The place, in +fact, was already almost entirely deserted. Orders from the army +evidently counted for a good deal here. Fred wondered what Americans +would have done in a like case. But the departure of the villagers, who +knew him, and might have recognized him even in his German guise, +relieved him immensely. Before the house on the hill he could see a +mounted Uhlan on guard over the horses. The rest had gone inside. There +were only five of them altogether, which made him feel confident that +none would be left behind. There were too few for that. + +As time passed, he wondered why they stayed inside so long. In a way, it +was to his liking that they should, but it made him nervous. He was +afraid that a real search was being made; afraid that, by some stroke of +misfortune, Boris's hiding-place had been revealed. But at last he saw +the solitary horseman outside the house stiffen to rigid attention. Then +the others came out, and he almost shouted in his relief when he saw +that they brought no one with them. The officer swung to his saddle and +in a minute more the little command was cantering down the hill. Fred +looked at the village searchingly now. There was no one left. A quarter +of a mile away the rear end of the wretched procession of refugees +straggled along the road, going west. They were not looking back. + +Now it was time to put his plan to the test. The chances of full +success, as he understood perfectly, were most remote. And the danger +was great. He had not seen these Uhlans; there might well be someone +even in that small party who would recognize him. And he knew what would +happen then, if he were caught. But his plan compelled him to run that +risk, and he emerged from his shelter, and struck out boldly along the +road the Uhlans had taken to come to the village. He walked northeast, +and he knew that that in itself would be suspicious, but it was all part +of his plan. + +He had not long to wait for the plan to begin, or at least to work out +according to his calculations. Behind him he heard a shout, but, +affecting not to hear it, he did not turn. And in a few moments he heard +the sound of galloping hoofs behind him. Even then he did not turn until +a Uhlan had ridden past him. + +"Stop!" cried the soldier. "Where are you going?" + +Fred looked at him blankly. + +"Stop!" said the German again, for Fred, after having looked at him, had +moved on. Still Fred paid no attention, and the man rode up to him and +leaned over, dropping a heavy hand on his shoulder and shaking him in +no gentle way. + +"Where are you going, I say? Answer!" roared the Uhlan. + +But Fred only smiled and pointed first to his ears and then to his +mouth. By pantomime he pretended to be deaf and dumb. And when the +officer came up, Fred was still smiling--and silent. He knew he had +never seen this officer before. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE ESCAPE + + +"What's the matter with him, Schmidt!" asked the officer. + +Fred knew enough of German uniforms by this time to place him as a +lieutenant of the lowest grade, and was thankful that he did not have an +experienced man to deal with. + +"Deaf and dumb, I think, Herr Lieutenant," said the man. "I rode up +behind him, calling to him and making a good deal of noise, but he did +not even know I was coming until I was on top of him." + +"Well, he can't go this way!" said the lieutenant. "How are we to make +him understand that?" + +"If I dismounted and turned him about, he might perhaps understand," +said the soldier. + +"Try it!" + +Fred had hard work to conceal his amusement but he managed it. The +soldier solemnly turned him about and pushed him in the direction whence +he had come. But Fred immediately turned around, walked a couple of +paces as he had been going, and then stopped, smiling broadly. Then he +turned around, shook his head violently, and turned back. + +"He's trying to tell us he wants to keep on the way he was going," said +the lieutenant. + +The two Germans seemed to be puzzled, but then the officer got an idea. +He produced paper and pencil and wrote hurriedly. + +"Who are you? Where are you going?" he wrote. Then he handed the paper +to Fred. Fred hesitated for a moment. He understood German and could +talk it very well. But he was a little nervous about writing it, +especially in the German script. He could write it, but he was not sure +that he could write it so well that it would seem like the work of a +German. However, he took the chance. + +"My name is Gebhardt," he wrote. "I come from Munich, and I am visiting +my uncle and aunt here at Gumbinnen. My uncle sent me to Insterberg and +then I found I could not go back by train. Soldiers have made me turn +around so many times that it has taken me all this time to get here. Why +can I not go to Gumbinnen?" + +The officer took the paper and, when he had read it, told the soldier. +They seemed to find Fred's explanation plausible, and his writing had +passed muster. + +"Here is a fine mess!" said the lieutenant. "Poor boy! I feel sorry for +one with such an affliction! And is he not between the devil and the +deep blue sea? In Gumbinnen there will be Russian cavalry by +to-morrow--and at Insterberg, I suppose, the first real battle will be +fought!" + +Fred caught his breath. He was getting what he wanted now, certainly! If +only he did not betray himself! If the officer would only go on and tell +him a little more! And he did go on, almost as if he were speaking to +himself. + +"If his people have any sense, they will have cleared out of Gumbinnen +before this. He knows someone at Insterberg, perhaps, but if it is the +plan to let the Russians come so far without fighting and then strike +while they are there, the population will have been ordered out. And +they have been unloading troop trains at Insterberg, too--so that the +Russians would not find out how many men we had here. Eh--take him up +behind you, Schmidt! We can't abandon him. Perhaps the hospital people +or the cooks can make some use of him." + +Fred heard this with a start of dismay. It was decidedly more than he +had bargained for, because now that he had the information he had come +to get, he wanted to get back to the wireless as quickly as possible. It +did him no good to know the German plan, or to have a hint of what it +was, unless he could pass on his knowledge to those who could make some +use of it. But he could not protest when the officer wrote down an +explanation of what was to be done with him, telling him that the road +to Gumbinnen was not safe, but that he would see to it that Fred should +get to a safe place. + +So when the soldier Schmidt patted his horse's back and indicated that +Fred should climb up, Fred had no choice but to obey. He had plenty to +think of, too, as they rode along. For one thing, while he had taken his +chance and won, since this officer had not seen him before, there was +every prospect that he would be recognized if he were now taken to +headquarters. He supposed that that was where they were going, and he +knew that a number of the officers who had left the parsonage with +General von Hindenburg on the night of the Cossack raid would be +present. It would be strange, indeed, if none of them knew him. And it +took no imagination to guess what recognition would mean. + +There was just one thing in his favor now. It was beginning to get dark. +He did not know how far they had to ride, but he hoped it was a long +way. Ordinarily, he would not have wanted the ride to be prolonged +because his position was highly uncomfortable. Fred could ride well +himself, but riding alone on a horse and sitting behind a man who fills +his own saddle with very little to spare are two different things. + +Try as he would, Fred could not think of a means of getting away. To +escape from five mounted men by slipping off the horse and running for +it was manifestly impossible. He gave up that idea before he even +elaborated upon it. But soon the glimmering dawn of an idea did come to +him. The pace slackened, and he noticed that he and Schmidt were falling +behind. The lieutenant called out sharply, and Schmidt, growling to +himself beneath his breath, used his spur and brought his horse up into +alignment with the others again. But only for a hundred yards or so. +Then the horse faltered and fell behind again. Now the lieutenant +reproved Schmidt sharply. + +"I'm sorry, Herr Lieutenant," said Schmidt. "My poor beast is very +tired, and he is carrying an extra burden. He has had more work to do +to-day than any of the others. If you would permit me to drop behind and +come in alone--it is not so far now?" + +"Very well," said the lieutenant. "We'll never get there if we hang +back waiting for you." And he gave the word to ride on. + +Schmidt at once began to take things more easily. Fred heard him +grunting to himself. + +"Those verdamter young officers!" he grumbled. "Just because they have a +pair of shoulder straps, they think they know it all! I would like to +put some of them across my knee!" + +Fred knew enough of German discipline to be vastly amused by this. But +he had no time now to think of trifling things. His whole energy was +devoted to finding some way to turn this new circumstance to his own +advantage. It seemed to him that there ought to be some way of managing +it. And in a moment he got the idea. Schmidt was as tired as his horse, +or even more so, and by this time he was swaying in his saddle and half +asleep, as a trained horseman often does. Fred leaned forward and very +quietly cut the saddle girth almost through. He knew that the slightest +strain would finish the work. Schmidt was utterly unconscious of what +was going on. Fred could tell, from the man's breathing, just what his +condition was. He would snore a little and then, with a start, he would +arouse himself, breathing normally for a minute. Then the snoring would +start again. He was trusting himself entirely to his horse. + +Dusk had fallen now, and Fred decided that it was time to see if his +plan was feasible. He took a handkerchief from his pocket, rolled it +into a ball, and flung it straight ahead, so that it fell, unrolling, +right before the horse's eyes. The effect was inevitable. The frightened +horse reared. At the strain the severed girth gave, and the saddle, +rolling, spilled both Schmidt and Fred into the road, while the horse +bolted. Fred lay still, watching Schmidt, who rose, cursing fluently, +and stood for a moment staring stupidly after his horse. Then he began +to call, and broke into the awkward, lumbering run of the cavalryman. + +Fred might have slipped away then, but he was sure that Schmidt would +catch the horse, which must, he thought, be trained to stop even after a +momentary panic. And it was not his plan to seize a chance that might +after all not be as good as it looked. He wanted to make as sure as +possible of getting away. And now, as soon as Schmidt had started after +the horse, he crawled over to the saddle, which lay where it had fallen. +He took the heavy revolver from the holster and was duly grateful for +one thing he had noticed--these Uhlans carried no carbines. Their only +weapons, seemingly, were their lances and the revolvers in their +holsters. + +He was not a moment too soon. Schmidt came back almost at once, leading +his horse. He was scolding it for running, and he was also expressing +his opinion of government saddles and leather. He found the broken +girth, and sat down at once to mend it. Fred scarcely dared to breathe +for a moment. But Schmidt did not notice the empty holster, and though +he growled and swore when he saw how the girth had snapped, he did not +seem to notice that it had been cut almost through. + +Fred went over and looked at him. Then, idly, indifferently, he went to +the horse, which was standing perfectly still, though its flanks were +still heaving. Fred patted the horse's head. Schmidt glanced around at +him. His back was turned, and he seemed to see nothing worthy of +attention in Fred's attitude. + +And then, with one spring, Fred was on the horse's back, and, bending +low, was urging the tired animal back over the road he had travelled so +slowly. With a cry of mingled rage and surprise Schmidt leaped up and +began shouting. But the horse, ready enough to obey when it was running +riderless away, now obeyed the more convincing orders of its rider. +Fred, moreover, was a welcome contrast to Schmidt's big bulk; there was +a difference of at least seventy pounds. + +Fred turned once to look at Schmidt, and saw him staring with an +expression of stupefaction at the empty holster. Then he devoted himself +entirely to the road ahead. It was as he had thought and hoped; Schmidt +did not have another pistol. And, with Fred urging him on, the horse +galloped on as if it had been really fresh. + +"Thank heaven he's stupid, that Schmidt!" thought Fred. + +Then he had a fit of remorse. He was afraid that it would go hard with +Schmidt, for he knew that in the German army excuses are not readily +accepted. However, it was not a time to think of sentiment. Fred was +taking desperate chances himself, and it had been a case of seizing any +chance of escape that offered itself. Not only his own liberty, but very +probably his own life had depended upon his getting away. He knew +enough, by this time, to understand that the outcome of the first +campaign of the war might depend upon the accuracy of the information +the Russians obtained of the German movements. + +It was plain to Fred that the Russians, in this quarter at least, had +not been well served by their spies. He was surprised at the absence of +initiative the Russians had shown in some ways. Aeroplane scouting, for +instance, would have made it impossible for the Germans to spring such a +surprise as evidently was in preparation. The Germans were using their +aerial scouts. It was one of them, detecting the approach of General +Suvaroff and his Cossack raiders, who had spoiled the plan for the +capture of von Hindenburg. + +But though he had felt that he was perfectly justified in sacrificing +Schmidt to his own need to escape, Fred could not help feeling sorry for +the poor fellow. + +"I hope he'll be able to think up a good story!" he said to himself. +"And, by George, I hope I don't meet any more German soldiers! They +would certainly finish me off if they found me riding on a German horse! +There isn't anything I could do that would make them think that was all +right, no matter how stupid they were!" + +He urged his horse on now as hard as he dared, tired though he knew it +to be. His plan was simple enough. He meant to ride to within a mile of +the village, and then dismount, letting the horse go wherever it liked. +Its usefulness to him would be over as soon as it had put him past the +possibility of pursuit. He thought his troubles were nearly over. But +suddenly, around a turn in the road, came a glare of light, and in his +ears sounded the bugle of a German military automobile. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +ALTERED PLANS + + +Fred's horse did for him what he could scarcely have done for himself in +time. It reared and threw him, then bolted. Tired already, the sudden +appearance of the monstrous ray of light and the roar of the approaching +motor was too much for that horse. Fred was not hurt by the fall. Having +had no stirrups from which to disengage his feet, he was able to let +himself go. And he had no sooner landed than he was up. For just a +moment, he knew he must be plainly visible in the glare of the +searchlight. But he dashed for the side of the road and made his way +through a hedge and into the field on the other side. There he began to +run as fast and as hard as he could. + +He had two chances, he thought. One, that he had not been seen at all; +the other, that whoever was in the car might think he had passed on the +flying horse. If he had been seen, however, he could not hope to escape +by running. He was too tired, for one thing, after the strenuous +experience of the previous night, and for another, he was almost certain +to be seen, for after he had traversed a space that was covered with +shrubs and young trees, he would be in the open. And a bullet could +travel faster than he could. + +And so, after making his dash, he stopped running and threw himself +down, facing the road, to watch and to listen. At first he thought he +was safe, for the car roared by. But in a moment his ear caught a +different note in the sound of the motor, and then the engine stopped. +It started again in a moment, but now the headlight was coming toward +him again! The car had been turned around. It was back, undoubtedly, to +look for him. Still he decided not to run, but to stay where he was, +though every instinct prompted him to take the chance of flight. That, +however, was pure panic, and he fought against the impulse. + +The car came along slowly. He was not more than a hundred feet from the +road, and the headlight showed him the progress of the car. Its +blinding light, however, made it impossible for him to see the car +itself or its occupants. It gave them the advantage. Finally the car +stopped, and he groaned. It had stopped exactly opposite his +hiding-place! He had hoped that they would not be able to tell just +where he had left the road, but in a moment the explanation came to him. +He had trampled down the hedge in getting through, of course, and had +left a trail that a child might have followed. + +Then the headlight was switched off, and for a moment he lost the car +altogether. His ears, rather than his eyes, told him that someone was +coming. He heard the breaking down of the hedge, and then footsteps +moving slowly, but coming closer. And in a moment he saw a little +stabbing ray of light that wandered back and forth. Whoever was stalking +him was evidently not afraid of him. + +Suddenly he remembered his pistol, the one he had taken from Schmidt's +holster. He gripped it convulsively. After all, he was not as helpless +as he had believed. He waited. Should he risk all now, with a shot--a +shot that might warn this stalker off and give him another chance to +escape, even though there were others in the car? He drew out the +pistol, and cocked it. Then, at the faint sound, a voice called to him +out of the darkness. + +"Do not fire! It is I--Ivan! Ivan Ivanovitch!" + +For a moment Fred thought he was going to collapse, so great was the +relief and the slackening of tension. He did laugh out, but caught +himself at once. + +"Ivan!" he said. "I thought it was a German officer! It is I, Ivan--Fred +Waring!" + +"I knew it," said Ivan, coming up close. "I saw you for just a second as +your horse reared. It was just a flash of your face, but if I have ever +seen a face once, I never forget it. And you have the look of a Suvaroff +about you, even though you are different. I would have known you for one +of the breed had I met you anywhere in the world, had no one told me +who you were. And so I turned to find you and follow you." + +"But what are you doing here? I thought you were to rejoin our own +army?" + +"I was pressed into service as a chauffeur. This car was needed near the +front, and there was no one to drive it. I deceived them wholly, with my +uniform, and my motorcycle. And so they forced this car upon me! My plan +was to use it, instead of my cycle, to get past their lines." + +"But you are riding straight to Gumbinnen--and they are near there in +force!" + +"No, they have retreated from there. They know that we are too strong +for them, and they do not care to fight." + +"Yes, and do you know why? Because they have been bringing troops up +secretly to Insterberg, and are planning to fight a great battle there +on their own grounds! You were wrong, Ivan, in the information you +sent." + +Wasting no words, he quickly told of what he had learned that evening. +And Ivan smote his hands together for he was deeply troubled. + +"And I thought I knew all their plans!" he said, savagely. "If the staff +had acted upon my information, we should have marched into a trap!" + +"Now I must get to the wireless," said Fred. "That was what I meant to +do when you frightened my horse there in the road." + +"Come, I will drive you back. It will not take long, and your work is +more important than mine now. It is safe, too. You can be hidden in the +car in case we encounter any Germans. But that is not likely. They are +not as thick in this district as they were forty-eight hours ago." + +They made their way together to the car, and Fred laughed. + +"I don't think I was ever so scared as when you turned and came back. It +was worse, in a way, than when they were going to shoot me in the +parsonage garden. I'd been so sure I was safe--and then to hear that +bugle call on your car!" + +"It is not right for you to run such risks," said Ivan. "I wish you were +behind our lines! You are not even a Russian, and yet you have been +near to death for us." + +"Don't you worry about me!" said Fred. "I don't suppose that I would +have started this, but when I was pushed into it as I was, I feel like +doing all I can. If the Germans had caught me when Boris hid me in the +tunnel, they would have treated me like an enemy, so I thought I might +as well give them a good excuse, since they were going to do it anyhow." + +"Here we are," said Ivan. "Even if you were frightened, this may turn +out well. You will save some time, and I can take you to the very +opening of the tunnel." + +"Well, it's only fair for this car to do me a good turn after the fright +it gave me," said Fred. + +Ivan drove swiftly when they started again. On that deserted road, +through a country that had been blasted by the approach of war, though +as yet there had been no actual fighting, there was no reason for +cautious driving. And five minutes brought them to the parsonage, and so +to a point as close to the opening of the tunnel as the car could go. +As the motor stopped Ivan swore in surprise. + +"Look!" he said. + +To the west there were a dozen darting searchlights winking back and +forth across the sombre sky. And below the searchlights were hundreds of +tiny points of fire. + +"They're advancing!" he cried. "And listen!" + +From the east there came a dull sound that rose presently to a steady, +loud roar. + +"Everything has changed!" cried Ivan, his face white. "We are pushing +the attack--we must have occupied Gumbinnen! The Germans are being +driven back--and they are bringing up their supports! They must mean to +fight here to protect the railway! This place will be the centre of a +battle before morning! I shall give up my plan. The only thing that +counts now is to get word to the staff of what is going on back here! +Come!" + +"What about the car?" + +"If it is still here after we have sent word, good! If it is not, we +must do without it." + +Ivan began running toward the mouth of the tunnel. But Fred, before he +followed, switched off the lights and ran the car off the side of the +road, so that it was under the wall of the parsonage garden and +sheltered, to a certain extent, by the heavy foliage of a large tree, +whose branches overhung the wall. + +"I'd like to think that that car was where we could get at it," he said +to himself. "I have an idea that this place is going to be mighty +unpleasant before long." + +Then he followed Ivan. The Russian had already entered the tunnel. Fred, +when he followed him, heard him running up the long passage that led up +to the house. Before he could reach the opening, however, he heard other +steps coming toward him, and a moment later Boris was heaping reproaches +on him. + +"I thought they had caught you!" he cried. "I saw them chasing someone, +and it looked like you. In fact, I was sure it was you at first sight." + +"It was," said Fred, grimly. "I'll tell you about that later, Boris! +You'd better get everyone out of this place. We can't stay here any +longer. Unless I'm greatly mistaken, this will be used as a target for +artillery by morning. It will if Ivan is right." + +"He rushed by me just now. He would say nothing except that you were +behind." + +"He's at the wireless. Come on! We'll see if he has found out anything +more." + +For ten minutes after they reached the turret, they could get nothing +out of Ivan, who was sending hard, with only an occasional pause to +listen to what the other operator sent to him. Then he sat back with a +sigh of relief. + +"We were in time!" he said. "These troops back here are the ones that +were supposed to be massing behind Liok, to resist the feint we were +making there. They are too clever, those Germans! They have their +airships to tell them the truth, and their railways to move men swiftly +from one side to another. But they have not enough men! We shall beat +them yet. Our attack will stop. See--look here!" + +He moved to a table, and with pens and pencils made a rough diagram of +the position. + +"They gave up Gumbinnen without a fight, and formed in a half circle +behind. They had so few men there that it was an invitation to us to try +to outflank them. Our right could sweep out and draw in behind their +left--so. And then their supporting troops could outflank our right, in +turn, and it would be caught between two fires! They have fewer troops +than we in East Prussia to-day, but ours are separated, while they +risked all to bring all theirs together at this one point and left the +south unguarded from Mlawa to Liok! Oh, it was daring--Napoleon might +have planned that!" + +"I see," said Fred. "Then when they had won here, they could have used +their railway to move troops southward?" + +"Exactly so! A hundred and fifty thousand men all together can beat a +hundred thousand, if all else is equal. But one army of a hundred +thousand can beat two of seventy-five thousand apiece, meeting them at +different times. So our attack will stop. We shall leave a covering +force here at Gumbinnen--or perhaps all our troops here will stay, but +on the defensive, while others are rushed up from Grodno to outflank +them, not on their right, as they hoped, but on their extreme left!" + +He was silent for a moment. + +"I need one man here," he said. "One man, to keep the engine running for +the dynamo. Everyone else must leave this house. You, Boris Petrovitch, +most of all--you and your cousin. I am responsible to your father for +your safety for it is through my fault that the plans were badly made." + +"But why must you stay, Ivan?" asked Boris. + +"I must stay until I am ordered away," said Ivan. "But it will not be +safe here after daylight--perhaps there will be trouble even before +that. Yes, I think it will be very soon now." + +"Well, I think I shall stay," said Fred. + +"No," said Ivan. "Listen! If you go now, quickly, you can get away in +the car. Here is the road you must follow." He took a map and pointed. +"See--swing west first, and then south--far south. So you will be safe +from the Germans, for they have abandoned that section except for the +railway from Insterberg to Liok. That is guarded, but thinly. In the car +are two long coats such as the German officers wear, and two helmets. +They are under the rear seat. Put those on, and you will pass most of +their sentries, if you should encounter them." + +"If he says we must go, we must do it," said Boris, quickly. "I should +like to stay, too, Fred, but he is right. We can do no good here, and if +you are caught it will be very bad. It would not matter with me, for +they would only treat me as a prisoner." + +Fred was still unwilling. He had not Boris's Russian readiness to accept +whatever came, but there was something about Ivan that convinced him +that argument would be useless. + +"Go now," said Ivan, "and God go with you! I will see to it that +Vladimir and the others follow." + +And so Fred went through the tunnel again, this time with Boris. He +wondered if he would ever see this place again. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A DASH THROUGH THE NIGHT + + +Both boys were startled when they reached the open air again to observe +how the din of the battle to the east had increased. They paused for a +moment to stare at one another. + +"That is real war," said Boris. "Not like the skirmish here when the +Cossacks came." + +"The Germans are giving way on purpose, of course, if Ivan is right--and +it seems to me he must be," said Fred. "I am afraid to think of what +will happen to him." + +"I do not like to think of it, either," said Boris, "but it is fate. He +has his work to do, and it is all for Russia--for God and the Czar! I +have always been taught that we can die only once, and that it is a holy +thing to die for Russia." + +"Yes, but it is better to live for Russia than to die for her, if it is +possible," said Fred. "Come! We have no time to lose, I suppose." + +They approached the car in a death-like silence. It was still where +Fred had left it. There was a little delay in the start. Both Fred and +Boris had driven cars, but they were not familiar with this one, and it +seemed a good idea to learn the controls before they started. But in a +few moments they were off. The car rode easily, and the motor was very +powerful. It was a silent one, too, considering its great power. Fred +took the wheel first. + +"We can take it in turns," he said. "Get some sleep, if you can, Boris. +I'll rouse you if there is any need of that. And I'll be glad to rest +myself, after a time. Just now I'm too excited to sleep, even if there +were no especial reason for keeping awake." + +There was something so wonderful, so weird that it was almost ghostly, +about that ride in its beginning. Behind them was the din of the heavy +fighting between them and Gumbinnen. The sky was streaked with the +flashes of searchlights, and the vibration of the cannon beat against +their ears incessantly. Yet the road before them, as it lay like a +white ribbon in the path of the great headlight, was absolutely empty. +They passed houses, went through villages. And in none of the houses was +there a light or a sign of life. The whole countryside had been +abandoned. + +"It reminds me of things I've read about the plague in olden times," +thought Fred. "People used to run away like that then, and leave a dead +countryside behind them. It would almost look more natural if there were +signs of fighting." + +There were to be plenty all about here soon. But that night there was +nothing, save the inferno of noise and the dazzling points of light in +the sky behind them, to suggest anything save the deepest peace. Grain +stood in some of the fields. In others, where the harvesting had begun, +there were reaping machines. But despite the noise, there was a strange +and unearthly silence. Fred had driven at night through lonely country +before, and he could remember the way dogs at almost every house had +burst into furious barking as the car approached. Now there were no +dogs! It was a trifling thing to think of now, but just then it seemed +to Fred that the absence of the dogs meant even more than the dark, +silent houses themselves. + +The houses did look as if their owners might be asleep within, but the +dogs would have barked their alarm. And so that came to be the symbol of +the flight of the people to him. + +They had many miles to go. After a couple of hours Fred changed seats +with Boris, and for a time dozed, though he scarcely slept. However, he +did get a good rest, and when they came near to the stretch of road that +Ivan had told them would mark the crisis of the trip, both boys were in +good condition for the test. They slowed down at the sound of an +engine's whistle, the first nearby noise that had come to their ears +since they had left the parsonage. It startled them tremendously at +first, but then they remembered Ivan's warning. + +"There is one place where, for about four miles, the road runs very +close to the railway," he had said. "The Germans will have patrols all +along the railway line, but there is no reason why they should pay any +attention to you. Be watchful--that is the vital thing. And especially +so when you begin to descend a long hill. At the bottom of that hill the +railway crosses your road, and that culvert will be watched with +especial care. After that you will find the way clear, for our nearest +outposts should not be more than a mile or so beyond the railway there. +We would have seized the line before, except that until we had +straightened our front in that quarter it would have been useless to do +it." + +The whistle that they heard warned them that they were getting near to +this dangerous stretch of road, and in a few moments the sight of a +train, sparks flying from the smokestack of the engine, gave them visual +proof as well. Then for a time they ran along parallel with the tracks. +Fires were burning along the railway at intervals of about a hundred and +fifty yards, and at times, in the firelight, they could see a dark +figure moving slowly. + +"Heaven knows what this bugle means!" said Fred, as they drew into line +with the tracks. "But if we sound it they may make up their minds that +we're all right--and I'm not anxious for them to get curious about us." + +So he sounded the bugle from time to time. They aroused no curiosity. +Plainly these sentries thought there was nothing strange about the +passage of a military automobile, nor, in fact, was there. It was not +likely that they would know enough of the general disposition of the +German army to speculate as to what officers might be doing hereabout. + +"Here we are! We're beginning to dip," said Boris, after a time. "The +culvert Ivan spoke of must be at the bottom of this hill. The road gets +away from the railway again after that, and when we have passed there we +ought to be all right." + +"There's just one thing," said Fred, with a frown. "They must know just +as well as Ivan that the Russian outposts lie not far beyond them. Won't +they think it strange for us to be going full speed toward the Russian +lines this way?" + +"No. I think that's easily accounted for, Fred. There is a crossroad +less than half a mile beyond that culvert. They will suppose that we +mean to take the turn. Ivan would have thought of that, I'm sure, if +there had been any danger that they would not expect us to be traveling +on this road." + +"I guess you're right, Boris. It sounds reasonable. And anyway, if there +is a chance, we've got to take it. I'm certainly not going to hesitate +just for that after we've come as far as this. We'll soon know because, +as you say, once we're past that culvert, we'll be safe. That's the +crucial spot." + +The grade grew sharper as they descended, and the pace of the car +increased. Now, at the bottom, stretching across the white road, they +could see a heavy shadow and above on what was unquestionably the +railway, half a dozen lights. + +"They've got more than a sentry there. It seems to be a regular post," +said Fred, a little nervous, as they approached. "I'd like to slow down +here--we're taking this hill pretty fast." + +"Yes," agreed Boris, who was driving. "But it's not just the time to +slow down, is it?" + +"Hardly. We've got to shoot under there so fast that they won't have a +chance to find out too much about us. The headlight will help us, too. +It ought to dazzle them so that they won't be able to see into the car +at all. As soon as we're close to them, I'm going to sound the bugle +pretty steadily." + +They rushed on toward the culvert faster and faster. The powerful +headlight illuminated the scene before them, and they could see a dozen +or more dark figures. And as they came closer, they saw that several men +were looking at them, trying to shade their eyes with their hands. + +Fred sounded the bugle steadily now, and saw that this seemed to relieve +the watchers. For the first time he took his eyes from the culvert +itself and looked around. The road here descended much more steeply than +the railway, and that, Fred judged, was the reason for the culvert. For +the first time he realized that the culvert was not quite at the bottom +of the hill; that beyond it the road still bore downward quite sharply +for a space, until it turned. It was plain to him that there were more +dangers ahead than those represented by the soldiers on the culvert. + +The pace of the rushing car was faster now than would have been +altogether comfortable had they been on a road they knew perfectly. +Here, with a curve just ahead that was an unknown quantity, there was +real danger in the sheer speed of the machine. Heavy as the car was, it +lurched and swayed from side to side. And simply to shut off the power +would not have been enough. Moreover, that was something both of them +would have feared to do. The slightest mischance, the most trifling +circumstance, might arouse suspicion in the watchers on the culvert. It +was necessary, and Ivan had warned them specially of this, to dash under +that at the highest possible speed for there would be stationed not +private soldiers alone, who would be likely to take it for granted that +an officer's coat and helmet meant that all was well, but an officer as +well. + +And an officer would be curious as to the meaning of this solitary car, +rushing over a road that had been deserted, in all probability, for at +least two days. No, there could be no slowing down, even had the fearful +grade made it possible. + +Then they flashed into the shadow. For just a moment, before they were +actually under the culvert, Fred, looking up, saw the white faces of +those above, staring curiously. Then he lowered his head, for he knew +that his face and Boris's gave the lie to their helmets. Streaked with +dust they both were, to be sure. There had been a mist in the low-lying +country through which they had come, and the flying dust of the higher, +drier parts of the road had caked on their faces. But they were not the +faces of officers. + +Fred thought he heard a shout as they passed under the culvert. But +shouts were not enough to check them. What they both feared was a +volley. And that, as they passed out and beyond the menace of the +culvert, did not come. + +"Look back! See if they are looking after us!" cried Boris. + +"No!" Fred shouted in his ear, for now the rush of the wind made it +difficult for them to hear anything. "The light is on us now--they might +see too plainly. And, if we were officers going as fast as this, there +would be no reason for us to look back--Oh! Look out!" + +They had come to the turn. So great was their speed that they seemed to +reach it before they were well out from the shadow of the culvert, yet +they had traveled two hundred yards or more. There was nothing really to +frighten Fred as he cried out unless it was the sudden imminence of the +turn, which had seemed much further away when they had first seen it. It +was less what he saw than some indefinable thing he felt. + +Whether Boris's hand was wavering or whether some hitherto unsuspected +weakness had developed in the machine, Fred could not tell. But he +seemed to sense somehow that all was not well. There was some break in +the rhythm of the car's movement that warned him. + +Now they took the turn. Took it on two wheels--on one! For a moment it +seemed that they must upset. Then, by a miracle, the car righted itself. +For a moment it seemed about to straighten itself out and resume its +flight. And then, together, Fred and Boris saw what lay before them, and +Boris tried frantically to swing the car out. In the road lay the wreck +of a huge van. + +It was too much for Boris. He did swerve the car, but it struck the +wreck. There was a deafening crash, and then they were hurled out onto +the turf by the roadside, while the motor roared and flames leaped out +over the wreck. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +BETWEEN THE GRINDSTONES + + +For a moment Fred was stunned by the force of his fall. But it was only +for a moment, since, by something that was very like a miracle, he was +unhurt. He got up and looked around, a little dazed, for Boris. In a +moment he saw him lying very still, his white face lighted up by the +flames from the burning car. He ran over and he was vastly relieved to +see that his cousin was conscious. + +"My leg is broken, I think," said Boris, speaking quickly. "Fred, you +must run for it alone. You will be able to get to the Russian lines. But +hurry! They are coming, I'm sure! They must have heard the crash!" + +"Do you think I'm going to leave you here?" asked Fred, indignantly. +"We'll sink or swim together, Boris!" + +"Why should two of us suffer when one can escape?" asked Boris. +"Besides, you've got to go, Fred, for my sake as well as for your own. +They'll treat me well enough. But if they catch us here wearing German +uniform coats--well, you know what that would mean!" + +Fred was startled. He had not thought of that. + +"Take my coat and helmet and get away as fast as you can," urged Boris. +"Then I can say that I have been in the car. They'd know that, of +course, but I could make them believe that I was in it against my will, +and that the two men in uniform they saw had escaped. If they catch you, +they'll send you back to headquarters and you'll be recognized there at +once. Then they'd do to me whatever they did to you, just because I was +caught in your company. No, it's the only chance for either of us, Fred, +and you've got to take it quickly." + +The idea of abandoning a friend, and much more one who had come to mean +so much to him as did Boris, seemed terrible to Fred. And yet it was +impossible for him to refute Boris's argument. His cousin was right. +And now he could hear the voices of approaching men. Naturally, if the +Germans on the culvert thought that a car containing two German officers +had been wrecked, they would come to the rescue. There was no time to be +lost. + +"I suppose you're right, Boris," he said, with a groan. "But it's the +hardest thing I've ever had to do! But it is so. It would make it worse +for you if I stayed. That's the only reason I'll go, though! You believe +that, don't you?" + +"Of course I do!" said Boris. "Haven't you proved what sort you are, +when you risked your life to try to help me to get away at the +parsonage? Go! Hurry! Get this coat and helmet off me!" + +So Fred set to work. He had to move Boris to get the coat off, and the +Russian groaned with the pain of his broken leg. Fred dared not wait, +now that he had made up his mind to fly, even to see the extent of the +injury, much less to apply first aid. Had there been time, he might have +made Boris comfortable, for, like all well trained Boy Scouts, he +understood the elementary principles of bandaging and had made more than +one temporary setting in splints for broken bones. But he knew that the +Germans would be there in a minute or two, and he had no reason to +suppose that they would lack common humanity. They would care for Boris. +Probably they had a surgeon back at the culvert, or fairly near at hand, +at any rate. + +"Get off the road," said Boris, gritting his teeth. "My head is +swimming, and I'm afraid I'm going to faint or do some such foolish +thing! But don't stay in the road. They're sure to go along, looking for +you." + +Fred had reasoned that out for himself. And now, when he had rolled up +Boris's coat and helmet into a bundle, he leaped a narrow ditch and +plunged into a thick mass of bushes. He did not know the country here, +and had no notion of what sort of cover he might find. But luck was with +him though for a moment he thought he had stumbled into a disastrous +predicament. The ground gave way beneath him suddenly and he felt +himself falling. He relaxed instinctively, and came down on hands and +knees on a mass of leaves and twigs. He had fallen into a sort of +shallow pit, but deep enough to shelter him. It seemed to him to be like +a deadfall, such as he knew trappers sometimes make. The place was ideal +for such a use, but now no steel-jawed trap yawned for him. And it was +only a moment before he realized that this was just the hiding-place for +him--and one, moreover, for which he himself might have searched in +vain. + +"They'll never look for me as near the wreck as this," he said to +himself. "They'll spread out probably, but I think I'll be safe here. As +safe as anywhere, and it will give me a chance to find out what's +happening, too." + +The side of the pit nearest the road was almost open, though it was +screened by bushes and foliage. Fred, however, was able to peer out and +to see the dancing flames, giving a weird and ghostly appearance to the +scene in the road. The Germans were very close now and he had just time +to poke up some branches to hide the opening through which he had +fallen. Then he lay down, his eyes glued to a sort of natural peephole +that gave him a view of the road. + +"It's like a grandstand seat!" he said. "But I hope no one wants to see +my ticket because I'm afraid the usher would make me change my seat!" + +But then Fred had to give his whole attention to what was going on in +the road. The Germans came running up, a young officer in the lead. +There were a half dozen of them. At first, as they looked about near the +burning car, they saw no one. But then one of the soldiers saw Boris and +raised a shout. The officer went over, leaned down and then started back +with a cry of surprise. + +"That is no German officer!" he exclaimed. He bent over again and Fred +winced as he saw him shaking Boris by the shoulder. He wondered if Boris +was shamming, or if he had really fainted. Then it was plain that there +was no pretence. The officer, gently enough, raised Boris's head, and +taking a flask from his pocket, forced a little of the spirits it +contained into Boris's mouth. Fred saw his cousin stiffen; he was coming +to his senses. Then the officer let him down, but made a sort of pillow +for him with a cushion that had been thrown out of the automobile when +it was overturned. + +"Feel better? Good!" he said. "Now tell me what happened! Where are the +two officers who were in the car? Were they hurt?" + +"I--do not know," said Boris. + +Fred had to strain his ears to catch what Boris said. Boris was weak and +exhausted, and Fred was glad that the German officer seemed kindly and +disposed to be humane. + +"You do not know? How is that? You were in the car with them, weren't +you?" + +"I was in the car, but I do not know what happened after the accident. I +was thrown out--and I did not know anything until you roused me just +now." + +"But what were you doing in the car, then? Who were those officers? +Where were they going?" + +"I do not know. I know only that I was walking along the road, because +all the people had been sent away from their homes, when the car +stopped, and a man told me to get in and sit low, so that I should not +be seen. Then we drove very fast and after a while there was a crash, +and I was thrown out." + +"Can you walk?" + +The German's tone had changed somewhat. It was anxious now, and puzzled. + +"I--don't know," said Boris. "There is a pain in my leg--here, right +above the ankle. Ouch!" + +Fred saw the German officer slip his hand down over the spot to which +Boris pointed, and his touch dragged the exclamation of pain from Boris. + +"You can't walk, that's certain!" said the German. "You've got pluck, +boy! There's a nasty break there. You need a surgeon! Well, I'll have to +do what I can for you until we can find one. Can you stand a little more +pain? Niehoff, give me your emergency kit. You have the splints? So! I +shall see what I can do." + +He was busy for a moment. Then with a sergeant, evidently his second in +command, he withdrew to be out of Boris's hearing. But as it chanced, +his movement brought him to a point where it was easier than ever for +Fred to hear everything he said. + +"There is something deuced queer about this business!" said the officer. +"I think this boy is telling the truth, but we saw two officers in the +front seat of that car. That much was certain. They were not ground into +powder in the accident, you know. If they had been killed, there would +be something left of them. They got out all right--that's evident. And +they made themselves scarce. They must have known we would come, and if +they have gone so quickly, it is because they did not want us to see +them at close quarters." + +"Spies, you think?" asked the sergeant. + +"Evidently! But how they got here I'd hate to guess! They came from a +quarter where we are in complete control. Yet they stole one of our +cars, and a couple of uniform coats and helmets, at least!" + +"We can look further for them," said the sergeant. + +"Yes--and one might look a long time in a haystack before one found a +needle! However, let the men spread out along the road and see what they +can find. Give the order!" + +Fred sighed with relief. He had been right in his decision to stay where +he was, as he understood fully when he saw the soldiers go off down the +road, looking for some trace of the passing of the two imaginary +officers. Meanwhile the officer went back to Boris. + +"We'll take this lad back with us," he said to the sergeant. "He needs +attention, and I prefer to give someone in higher authority a chance to +talk to him. This is a very mysterious affair, all around. It is too +much for my brain!" + +"And for mine, too!" grumbled the sergeant. "If I had my way, we would +have orders to shoot all suspicious characters first and find out +whether they deserved it or not afterward. I thought we should stop that +automobile when we saw it coming." + +"And I did not," said the officer, sharply. + +The sergeant said nothing more. + +Soon the men returned from their fruitless search. Then a litter was +improvised and Boris was placed upon it and taken away. Fred had been +very fearful for it had seemed more than likely to him that a sentry +would be left to watch the wreck. If that had been done, it would have +complicated his position, because he could scarcely have hoped to get +out of his shelter without making some noise. But this was a precaution +that apparently did not suggest itself to the Germans. + +And so, as soon as they were well out of hearing, Fred scrambled out, +leaving his dangerous coats and helmets behind, and began trudging +boldly along the road. He did not know the character of the wooded +section through which the road now ran, and it seemed to him that he +would be safer in the road than if he tried to walk under cover. + +Fred was very tired. And, now that the excitement was fading, he was +beginning to realize that he had not escaped entirely scatheless from +the wreck of the car. Every bone and muscle in his body was sore and +aching, and he wondered how many black and blue spots he would find when +he got a chance to look for them. + +By Ivan's reckoning, he had something like two miles to go to reach the +Russian outposts. He was now in a sort of No Man's Land that lay between +the two armies. And, indeed, before long, he saw fires twinkling +ahead--the fires of the Russians. That was as he came to the crossroad +of which Boris had spoken. It seemed that his troubles must be nearly +over. And just then he heard a clatter of hoofs and saw, riding up the +crossroad toward him, a troop of German Uhlans. He began running. But +they had seen him and gave chase. He dared not stop. On he ran, hoping +that the Russians were nearer than their fires. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +AN OLD ENEMY + + +Suddenly over Fred's head there was a peculiar whistling. He had never +heard that sound before, but somehow he knew by instinct what it was. He +was under fire! Behind him were the shots, but the firing was wild and +at random. He plunged into the bushes now, for to do so was to choose +the lesser of two evils. He was fairly safe, so sheltered from the +bullets, since if they could not see him, the Uhlans would not be likely +to fire at him at all. And while it was certain that they could follow +him in and catch him if he stayed in the brush, he would delay them at +least, and the Russians were so near that they might hear the firing and +come up. + +That came about even sooner than he had thought possible. He stopped, +panting. The Uhlans were close on his trail by this time, and he heard +them coming up. But then came a sudden shouting of orders, and, a +moment later, a furious fusillade that was answered from the Russian +side. Over the rattle of the firing, too, came a sound he remembered +well, though he had heard it only once before--the yelling of charging +Cossacks. For the second time the wild Russian horsemen had come to his +rescue in the nick of time! + +But this time there was more of a fight, since the two little bodies of +horsemen were far more evenly matched than had been the case when +General Suvaroff had led his daring raid behind the German lines in the +effort to capture von Hindenburg. For five minutes the fighting was fast +and furious. Fred could hear the clash of steel against steel and the +spiteful spitting of revolvers and automatic pistols. Then the wild +Russian shout of victory arose, and he heard sounds of galloping fast +dying away. Even though he could see nothing, he knew which side had +won. + +"Thank Heaven!" he said to himself. "I wonder if they couldn't chase +them and raid the culvert. There aren't so many troops there! Then we +could surely get Boris away from them." + +But the first thing to do, of course, was to come out of his cover and +make himself known to his rescuers. There was a certain risk in even +that simple procedure, and Fred was not so carried away by the +excitement of the fight as to forget it. There was more than a chance +that if he broke out, the Russians would mistake him for some German who +had tried to escape by taking refuge in the brush, and that they would +shoot without waiting to make sure. But he had to take the chance, and +he minimized the risk as much as he could by tying his white +handkerchief to a stick and carrying it before him as he pushed his way +into the ditch. + +He waved this as he emerged. At first no one saw him. Then a Cossack +spied him and sent his horse straight at him. Fred leaped aside as he +saw that the man meant to ride him down, and, shouting, waved his white +flag. He dodged the first assault, but the Cossack spun his pony around +in little more than his own length, and waving his dangerous lance, came +at him again. He shouted again, and waved his white flag harder than +ever. That would not have saved him, however, but just as the Cossack +lunged and Fred threw himself down, sure that he would either be speared +or trampled by the horse, an officer dashed up and struck up the lance +with his sword. + +"Don't you see the white flag?" he roared. "We do not kill men who +surrender!" + +"They say that the Germans are hanging every Cossack they capture," said +the man, sullenly. + +"Never mind what they say!" said the officer. "Hello! That man is not a +soldier at all!" + +"Neither soldier nor German!" cried Fred in Russian, springing up. +"Those Uhlans were chasing me! I have just escaped from the German +lines. I did not think that I should fare as badly among my friends as +among the enemy!" + +"Nor shall you, friend!" said the Russian officer with a laugh. "So you +are a Russian? Well, you look as if you might be anything!" + +"I'm afraid I do," said Fred, a bit ruefully. He could imagine, even +though he could not see himself, that the Russian was quite right. He +was caked with dirt. In the fall from the automobile, as he had +discovered while he was walking away from the wreck, he had sustained a +nasty cut over the eye, which, though it was not painful, had bled a +good deal. And this had made his appearance even worse than it had been +before. His clothes were torn, too. + +"Who are you, and where do you come from?" asked the Russian. + +In a few words Fred told his story. When he said that he had left Boris +Suvaroff a prisoner at the culvert, with a broken leg, the officer +started. + +"Can't you go after him?" Fred pleaded. "They have very few men there. +You could sweep them away." + +"Not with this force. And I should not dare to go so far without special +orders," said the officer. "We could not charge the culvert, and, +approaching it from this side, we should have to ride uphill. But I am +sure that when those in command know your story, a force will be sent to +rescue Prince Boris. Come with us now. I will get you a horse if you +are able to ride. The Uhlans left some behind!" + +Fred could ride, and said so. And in a few minutes he was riding toward +the fires that twinkled before them, side by side with the Russian +officer, who was anxious to know all that Fred could tell him. + +"That was splendid!" he cried enthusiastically when he heard how Fred +had discovered the real purpose of the Germans by his ruse in pretending +to be deaf and dumb. "And it means, too, that we will get some real work +to do here in this quarter. I thought at first that the army in the +north would get all the fighting. We have been sitting here for nearly a +week, doing nothing. This is the first skirmish we have had, for our +orders are not to bring on an action, but only to prevent the enemy from +coming toward us if they show any sign of attacking." + +"If what I have heard is true, there will be an advance from this +quarter soon," said Fred. "If the Germans are to be outflanked, it must +be by the troops here. And that ought to mean as much fighting as anyone +could hope to get." + +"That is what we are looking for," said the officer. "But you--you will +be glad of a rest for a time, I should think!" + +"I want to get my cousin back," said Fred. "It was hard to leave him." + +"It was the only thing to do. You saved his life as well as your own by +going. And one who saves a Suvaroff does a fine thing for Russia in +these days--if this Boris is like the rest of the breed." + +"Oh, we have never known!" said Fred, suddenly remembering. "Did General +Suvaroff get back safely after he failed to catch General von +Hindenburg?" + +"He did! He had less than a thousand men, and he rode for sixty miles or +more through a whole German army! He was intercepted but when he found a +German brigade lined up in his path, instead of trying to circle around +it, and so giving the Germans time to surround him, he cut right +through it!" answered the officer, smiling. + +"That was splendid!" + +"I don't think the war will show anything better!" said the Russian, +with enthusiasm. "He charged before the Germans knew that he was fairly +upon them, and the whole fight lasted less than ten minutes. Then our +fellows were through and riding for our lines. And the best of it was +that not more than fifty of our saddles were emptied. The Germans are +wonderful fighters, I believe. We shall have a hard time beating them. +But they fight too much by rule. A German cavalry commander would have +been brave enough to try to do that, but he would not have tried because +he would have known that it was an unsound plan." + +"I wish Boris knew that his father was safe," said Fred, a little sadly. +"He has been worried, although he has said nothing." + +"Eh--he might have known it! Yes, he got back safely enough. As to +whether he is safe now, that is another matter. He is in the thick of +the fighting around Gumbinnen, and he is not one of those generals who +stay in the rear. He is like Skobeleff. Have you heard of him?" + +"He commanded at Plevna, against the Turks?" + +"And in a good many other battles! Skobeleff, though he was in command +of the whole army, would insist always on being in the thick of the +fighting himself. He wore his white coat, and he rode a white horse. So +he was always to be seen by his own men and by the enemy. Perhaps he was +wrong, but soldiers will fight better for a general who shares their +perils. Skobeleff used to do impossible things, because he believed that +nothing was impossible that brave men made up their minds to do." + +Fred thought of Russian generals in the war with Japan who might have +changed the whole course of that conflict had they had such ideas. But +he said nothing of this. Russian soldiers were mindful of that +disastrous war, he thought. And Fred had an idea that before this far +greater struggle was over, the world would have been forced to forget +the failures of Manchuria. Men who fought as he had seen Russians do +were not going to be beaten again. + +Fred was mounted now on a big, rawboned horse that had lost its Uhlan +rider. He was so tired that he was swaying in his saddle, and the +Russian noticed this. + +"Keep awake a little longer," he said, cheerily. "We haven't very much +further to go. In half an hour, I think, you can be in a real bed, with +sheets and blankets." + +"I don't need anything like that," said Fred, rousing himself and +smiling. "I think I could sleep on a board that was studded with nails! +And I know that they could fight a battle all around me to-night without +waking me up when I once get to sleep." + +"I'd like to let you stop here--we are within our lines now--but I know +the staff will want to see you and ask a few questions. And you have +done so much already for Russia that I believe you will want to do that +much more before you rest." + +"Oh, a few minutes more or less won't make any difference!" said Fred. +He yawned hugely. "As long as I'm awake, I can make myself stay awake. +If I once let go, though, I promise you I'll be hard to rouse!" + +There were more Russians about here than Fred had supposed. It was plain +that since Ivan had had any information as to the conditions here, +re-enforcements had been brought up, for it was not through outposts +that they were riding, but through a large body of troops. Tents +stretched in all directions and fires were numerous, dotting the fields +like stars. There were no woods here; it was open country again. To the +left Fred caught a glimpse of the silver sheen of a river reflecting the +starlight. + +"How far are you going to take me?" asked Fred. + +"To headquarters. We have less than half a mile to ride now. The +general will be glad to see you." + +The Russian chuckled, and there seemed to be a hidden meaning in his +laugh. At any other time, when he was less weary, Fred would have +noticed that. He would have wondered at it, at least; he might even have +guessed its meaning. But now he only asked, quite idly: "Who is in +command of the troops here?" + +"You will soon know," said the Russian, repeating his chuckle. + +Fred did, indeed, soon get the answer to his question. They rode up to a +small farmhouse, ablaze with light, late as it was. The place was well +guarded. The Russian officer slipped off his horse. + +"Wait one minute," he said. He went, and returned at once. Then he led +the way inside. And Fred, all weariness banished by the sight, stared +into the cold, evil eyes of Mikail Suvaroff, wearing his general's +uniform. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE GREAT WHITE CZAR + + +There was a moment of absolute, chilling silence; the sort of silence +that, in the old phrase, can be felt. For just an instant it was plain +that Mikail Suvaroff did not recognize the nephew he hated. But then he +knew him, and a flash of cold, malignant hatred lit up his eyes, while +his lips curved in a curious, sneering smile. + +"So--it is you?" he said. "I thought I had not seen the last of you on +the platform at Virballen! Lieutenant, you may leave us." + +"Yes, general," said the lieutenant who had rescued Fred. He was plainly +puzzled and confused. "I did not tell your kinsman that you were in +command here. I thought he would be delightfully surprised by being +confronted with you suddenly. But--" + +"Exactly! You were quite right, lieutenant. And now you may leave us!" + +The lieutenant flushed at the rebuke, saluted stiffly, and left the +room. + +Fred was alone with his uncle. + +"You are brave, at least," said Mikail, presently. "That will, perhaps, +be a comfort to you later. Yet you were not well advised to serve the +Germans as a spy. They have not been able to save you from me this time, +you see. It is not a case this time of the station at Virballen, with +the superiority of numbers on their side for the moment." + +"It is your Cossacks who saved me from the Germans," said Fred. "I have +been a spy--but it has been in the interest of Russia. General Alexander +Suvaroff and his son can tell you that." + +"Perhaps," said Mikail, his eyes and mouth fixed, so that no one could +have guessed what was in his mind. "It is strange that you feel forced +to call upon those who cannot say anything for or against you--since +they are in the hands of the Germans." + +Inspiration came suddenly to Fred, and he said nothing. He gave his +uncle stare for stare. + +"Well, what have you to say?" said Mikail, at last. "What defence have +you, spy?" + +Still Fred said nothing, and he saw the veins in Mikail's hands swelling +with anger. + +"So?" he said, when he understood that Fred would not speak. "Well, +there will be a way to make you talk, doubtless. I might have you shot +now--or hung. But you are my nephew. You shall have the fairest of +trials, for it must not be said that I did not see that you were well +treated!" He chuckled ominously. Then he raised his voice. In answer to +his call two officers came in. + +"You will be held personally responsible for this prisoner," he said. +"He is to be sent at once to Grodno for trial as a spy. I will dictate +the process accusing him. Let him be dispatched in the morning, under +heavy guard." + +The officers saluted. Then soldiers were called and Fred was led away. +From the first he realized the utter hopelessness of any attempt to +escape. He was in the midst of a great army. He could not hope, no +matter what happened, to get more than a few yards in any direction. Yet +even the thought of his peril did not keep him awake. No sooner was he +put in the guard room, where half a dozen soldiers were with him, than +he sank into a heavy sleep. He was too tired, in fact, to realize to the +full how serious the matter was. + +But in the morning, when he was roused to partake of a meal, the full +and dreadful peril of his situation came over him. There was something +appalling about the way in which his guards looked at him. Most of all, +there was a terrible quality in the sympathy of the young lieutenant who +paid him a hurried visit. + +"I did not know, of course," he said, quickly. "I should have had to +take you to him, just as I did, but I should have prepared you for what +was coming. I have heard something of the story. You have aroused the +general's hatred--and there are terrible stories of his power. Tell me, +is there anyone who can speak for you? It may be that I can get some +word to them--though it would cost me dear if Prince Mikail discovered +that I had done it." + +"Boris Suvaroff and his father would help me," said Fred. "But Boris is +a prisoner, and so is Prince Alexander, if my uncle tells the truth! And +the American ambassador--though I suppose he could do nothing." + +"I will do what I can. And remember that Dmitri Sazonoff is your friend, +and will believe always that you are a true friend of Russia. Good-bye! +You go to Grodno. There, unless there has been a change, are the +headquarters of the Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholavitch, who is in supreme +command of all our armies. You will be tried there by court-martial. I +wish it meant more--but count upon me for all that I can do." + +It was still comparatively early when Fred began his journey to Grodno, +which was, as he knew, one of the concentration points of the Russian +army. The trip was begun in a great motor truck, empty now, which had +been used to bring food and ammunition to the front. It was one of a +long train of similar vehicles, and in it he rode to the border, where +he was transferred to a military train. + +He was able on the trip to see what was going on, since no attempt was +made to keep him from doing so. And everything he saw served only to +impress him more and more with the utter hopelessness of his position. +The roads were choked with dense masses of advancing Russians. Troops, +horse and foot, hospital trains, ammunition and provision trains, +guns--all were moving up; evidently in preparation for the striking of a +heavy blow at the German power in East Prussia on a new line of attack. + +For the first time Fred saw a country that was really in the grip of a +modern army. The swift movements of the German army around the Suvaroff +house had not given this impression. There were not so many Germans, +relatively speaking at least, and their movements were made with less +confusion and greater speed, owing to their possession of railways that +had been built with an especial view to their being used in time of +war. + +Here the railways had all been destroyed by the Germans who had +retreated before the advancing Russians. In many places, too, fields had +been burned over, that the standing crops might not fall into the hands +of the invaders. + +Fred almost laughed at the irony of the whole sight. It was because of +him that this movement was being made. At great risk to himself he had +obtained the information that had led to the sudden change in the +Russian plans, of which the great movement he saw was a part. He should +be receiving thanks and honors instead of being on his way to +headquarters as a prisoner of war, condemned, as he well knew, in +advance. For Fred had no illusions. He knew the power of Mikail +Suvaroff, who was so plainly an important member of the high Russian +command. Against so great a man his word would be valueless. + +"This Russian army is like a steam roller," Fred thought to himself. "It +may be stopped here or there, but not for long. It will roll over this +whole country sooner or later. Well--I'm glad! Even if I've got to +suffer because my uncle hates me, it's not Russia's fault. I want Russia +to win." + +His guards treated Fred well enough. He had an idea that he owed the +consideration he received to Lieutenant Sazonoff. He was quite sure that +General Mikail Suvaroff had nothing to do with it! And his journey, +which might have been one of acute discomfort, was made more than +tolerable. + +It was late when the train in which he rode after the border was reached +arrived in Grodno. Here the army was in complete possession. Men in +uniform were everywhere; the civilian population seemed almost to have +disappeared. The din was constant. For hours, after he had been taken to +a cell in the central police station, he lay awake and listened. Guns +rumbled through the streets, motor cars chugged all through the night. +He was aroused in the morning by sounds of frantic, steady cheering, and +when the guard brought him his breakfast, he asked what that meant. The +man's eyes lighted up. + +"The Little Father has come to be with his soldiers!" he said. "He has +come to give us his blessing and bid us fight for him and Holy Russia! +How can we lose now?" + +"The Czar himself?" said Fred. He smiled. He had hoped, when he left +America, to see the Czar before his return. There was small chance of +that now, even though they were in the same town. + +The Russians delayed as little as had the Germans in bringing him to +trial. And here in Grodno there was even less ceremony than there had +been in the dining-room of the East Prussian parsonage. + +A young officer was assigned to defend him, but he took the task as a +joke. + +"You'll be condemned, of course," he said. "Prince Mikail knows you are +a spy. I think you're very lucky that he didn't hang you outside of his +own headquarters! Better plead guilty. It will save time for everyone." + +But Fred refused. Hopeless as the case was, he was still determined to +take every chance there was, and to fight for every minute of delay. +But the proceedings were soon over. The charge against him was read so +quickly that he could scarcely follow it. He was allowed to speak for +himself, but none of the officers of the court paid any attention to +him. The verdict was quickly found. And the president of the court was +just about to pronounce sentence when there was an interruption. Into +the room strode a man at whose entrance every officer started to his +feet, saluting. The newcomer jerked his hand to his forehead, answering +the salute, and then stood staring about. + +Fred, had never seen such a figure. The man was a giant. He wore a khaki +uniform. He was nearly seven feet tall, but he was so magnificently +formed that it was only the way he towered over even the tall Russian +officers about him that his great height was apparent. Fred knew him at +once. It was the Grand Duke Nicholas. + +"The court is dissolved!" he said, in a harsh, rasping voice. "I will +take charge myself of the prisoner. Boy, come with me!" + +Utterly amazed, Fred obeyed. The Grand Duke seized his arm in a +vise-like grip and half pushed, half dragged him along with him. Fred +was too amazed even to wonder what had happened or what was to happen +next. He found himself being led into a room that was filled with +officers. They were grouped about one end of the room, where, near a +window, there stood a short man in a brilliant uniform. Fred gasped as +he recognized him. At the same moment the grip on his arm was loosened, +and the Grand Duke Nicholas swept off his cap. + +"Your Majesty," he said, "this is the American boy of whom we have +heard. One who has done such things as he is charged with must hear his +fate from your own lips. He is charged by Mikail Suvaroff with being a +spy and a traitor. On the other hand--" + +The Czar smiled. + +"Thanks to our good Alexander, we know the truth," he said. "By your +kinship to the great family of Suvaroff, Frederick Waring, you are of +our kin. Were you a Russian, there would be another reward that we +might give you. But you own your father's nationality, though you have +proved that there is good Russian blood in your veins. It is our +pleasure to confer on you the order of St. Stanislas, with the crossed +swords, given for bravery only! Now you may go to the cousin who came +here in time to save you." + +Dazed, Fred backed away, knowing only that he had not done the right +thing. A hand fell on his shoulder and he looked up into the eyes of +Boris's father. + +"Boris is waiting for you," he said. "The mystery of Mikail's hatred for +you has been solved. He is quite mad--he has been relieved of his +command. I have long suspected this madness and now the whole world +knows it! Your trials are over, my American cousin!" + +"But how was Boris rescued?" + +"Your friend Lieutenant Sazonoff managed that. He got permission from +his brigadier to attack the railway. I shall see that he is promoted." + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts In Russia, by John Blaine + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS IN RUSSIA *** + +***** This file should be named 16544.txt or 16544.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/4/16544/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Audrey Longhurst, Paul Ereaut and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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