CHAPTER III.
UNDER THE BEAR.
"So, Your Excellency," Hal concluded, "you may see that we have hadconsiderable active service."
The Russian Grand Duke Nicholas did not reply for some moments. It wasplain that he was greatly impressed, as he had been greatly interestedin the boys' adventures since they had taken service with the Alliesjust before the defense of Liege.
"Yes," he said at length, "you certainly have seen considerable service;and, in bringing me this paper safely"--the Grand Duke tapped his breastpocket--"you have rendered an invaluable service to our cause. I amindeed glad to know you. Now, if there is anything I can do to show myappreciation, you may consider it done."
Remembering their conversation of a few hours before, Hal started tospeak, then hesitated. Realizing that the lad had something he felt adelicacy of saying, the Grand Duke said:
"Come, out with it. What can I do for you?"
"Well, Your Excellency," said Hal, "my friend and I would like to seeservice with the Russian army."
"What!" exclaimed the Grand Duke.
"Yes," Chester broke into the conversation. "We have talked it over, andwe have decided that we would like to see service in the Eastern theaterof war."
"Hm-m-m," said the Duke, stroking his mustache, "and have you picked outthe branch of the service to which you would like to be attached?"
"Yes, sir," said Hal; "we have."
"And that is?" questioned the Grand Duke.
"The cavalry, Your Excellency--the Cossacks."
The Grand Duke jumped to his feet in surprise.
"Well, well!" he exclaimed. "You have certainly picked out the mostdifficult thing you could have asked me. Still, I have no doubt it canbe arranged."
"If it will inconvenience you, your Excellency----" Chester began.
"Tut! Tut!" the Grand Duke interrupted him, with a wave of his hand. "Itshall be done. Consider the matter settled. Do you know anything of theCossacks?"
"Why, yes, Your Excellency," replied Hal. "We have read considerableabout them."
"Still," said the Grand Duke, "I'll warrant you do not know overly muchabout them. I'll tell you a little, if you like."
"We would be glad to hear Your Excellency," said Chester.
"The Cossacks," said the Grand Duke, "from whom the Russian cavalry ismainly drawn, form a community within the Russian Empire enjoyingspecial rights and privileges in return for military service. EachCossack village holds its land as a commune, and the village assemblyfixes local taxation and elects the local judges. It has been estimatedthat the Cossacks will place 400,000 armed men in the field in this war.
"Both in historical writings and in fiction the Cossacks are oftenrepresented as little better than savages. But this is a mistake, forthe level of education among the Cossacks is higher than in the rest ofRussia.
"Now, the Cossacks have always been fighters--none better in the world.They have won renown wherever they have fought by their daring andbravery. But the Cossacks, to a certain degree, are clannish--they donot take kindly to those not of their kind. Which is the reason, as Isaid, you had made it hard for me when you asked to be assigned to aCossack regiment. By the way, can you ride?"
"Yes, Your Excellency," replied Hal. "We are both used to the saddle,having ridden much in America."
"Well," said the Grand Duke, "I will see that it is arranged. Report tome here in the morning."
The lads saluted and took their departure, returning to the spot wherethey had sought rest only a few short hours before.
It was about seven o'clock the following morning when they again stoodin the presence of the Grand Duke. With him was an officer in a darkuniform, that gave evidence of having seen hard service, but gailybedecked nevertheless. He was a large man, fully six feet in height, andbuilt proportionately. The Grand Duke motioned the boys to approach.
"This," he said, indicating the officer who stood beside him, "is yourfuture commander, General Ivan Jorvitch. I have informed him of yourrequest, and my command that it be granted."
The lads saluted the general, and he acknowledged the salute stiffly.
"I am not at all sure as to how they will be received by the men, sir,"he said to the Grand Duke.
"You will see that they are well treated," replied the Grand Duke. "Mycommands are not to be treated lightly. These lads will be attached toyour staff with the rank of lieutenants. They are not to serve in theranks."
"Yes, your excellency," said the general, saluting.
"You will find, general," continued the Grand Duke, "that you may dependupon them to the limit. I fancy I am a good judge of character. Theyhave already done me an invaluable service. They may do more."
The Grand Duke then proceeded to relate some of the lads' exploits andinformed the general of the message they had brought.
General Jorvitch thawed immediately upon hearing this, and extended ahand to each lad in turn.
"I shall be glad to have you with me," he told them sincerely. "Ifeared, at first, that the Grand Duke was trying an experiment."
In spite of the general's first gruffness the lads had taken a liking tohim. Straight and erect, with a flashing eye, he was the beau ideal of asoldier. Still, there was a slight twinkle in the corner of those sameeyes, which proclaimed him a man, though stern, of a kindly disposition.
The lads thanked the general, and their interview with the Grand Dukeconcluded, followed their new commander back to his quarters.
"I have been ordered to advance," the general informed them as they madetheir way along, "and as soon as I have introduced you to your fellowofficers and procured you uniforms and horses, we shall proceed."
An hour later, in true Russian garb and astride two fiery chargers, thelads made their way forward with the rest of the troop. In all therewere probably 10,000 Cossacks in this advance.
With one of the Cossack officers, a young lieutenant, huge in statureand pleasant of face, the lads at once struck up a friendship. He stoodat least six feet six and seemed a Goliath in strength. He it was whopicked their horses for them, and obtained their uniforms. Some of theother officers, while not openly hostile, still were disdainful of thetwo boys, and plainly not well pleased with their company.
"Have you any idea where we are bound?" asked Hal in German of their newfriend, who introduced himself with a swagger as "Lieutenant AlexisVergoff."
"Lodz; and when we get there we'll make the Germans hard to find," wasthe answer, made in a loud, boasting tone.
Hal and Chester glanced at each other and smiled quizzically. The samethought was in the mind of each: "He talks too boastfully to be much ofa fighter."
Alexis noticed the interchange of glances, and the quizzical smiles. Herealized their meaning in an instant.
"You think I won't fight, eh?" he said loudly. "Alexis Vergoff notfight? Ho! Ho!"
He threw back his head and laughed loudly. The boys were not impressed.
"Worse and more of it," thought Hal to himself.
Chester was of the same opinion, but he did not say so aloud.
"Why," continued Alexis, "I've fought more battles than you will everhear of. I have killed twenty men."
"Twenty is a good many," said Hal softly.
"True! True!" shouted Alexis, "but I'll kill twenty more in the nextbattle, just to show you. You shall see what sort of a man AlexisVergoff is!"
"I am afraid we shall see too soon," muttered Chester to himself.
"Why," went on Alexis, "it was only a month ago, before being ordered tothe front, that I slew five men single-handed!"
"Great Scott!" muttered Hal. "I wish I had not started him. He'll neverlet up now."
"It was at my mother's home," continued Alexis. "I reached homeunexpectedly. Five men had surrounded her and threatened to kill herunless she gave them money she kept in the house. One had drawn a knifejust as I entered the room. No one saw me enter, and I was upon thembefore they knew it.
"I picked up the man with the knife as though
he had been a child, andthrew him bodily upon the other four. He had no time to strike at mewith his knife or even drop it. The other four went down in a heap. Theknife of the first man was buried in one of his companions, and so therewere only three who could stagger to their feet. I picked up a lamp thatstood on the table. This I hurled at another. It struck him squarely onthe head, and rebounded against the head of another. Both men went downwith cracked skulls. The fifth man turned to flee, but picking up aknife, I hurled it after him. It stuck in his back, and he ran half amile before he fell down dead. The next man jumped for me----"
"Hold on!" said Hal, laughing. "You said there were only five, and youhave already killed them."
"True!" muttered Alexis, though in no wise taken aback. "It was inanother fight where I killed six men. I always get them mixed up. Inthat fight----"
"Save that for another time," said Hal, restraining his laughter withdifficulty.
"Don't you want to hear it?" demanded Alexis in surprise. "I always liketo hear a story of a good fight."
"I believe you would rather tell one," replied Hal.
Alexis looked very much crestfallen.
"Do you think I made that up?" he asked in consternation. "Why, I cantell you of other fights I have had that----"
"I don't doubt it at all," said Hal. "I am willing to admit that you candraw the long bow to the Queen's taste."
"Draw the long bow?" repeated Alexis, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"It wouldn't do for me to tell you," replied Hal chuckling to himself."Ask someone else."
Alexis turned to Chester.
"Do you know what he means? Will you tell me?" he asked.
"Yes, I know what he means," replied Chester, laughing, "and I believehe is right. However, it wouldn't do for me to tell you either. You mustask someone else."
Alexis turned to the man on his right, and repeated his question. Theman acknowledged he knew no more what the expression meant than Alexishimself.
Alexis accosted several other officers, but with no better luck. Heturned to Hal aggrieved.
"You should not have said that unless you tell me what you mean," hesaid.
"Ask Colonel Bluekoff, perhaps he may tell you," said Hal.
Alexis approached the Colonel.
"What is it, sir?" asked the latter.
"Colonel," said Alexis, saluting, "can you tell me what drawing the longbow means?"
The colonel looked at him in amazement. Then he said sternly:
"Get back to your place, sir. This is no time for joking."
Alexis returned to his place.
"Did he tell you?" asked Hal.
"No," replied Alexis, "but I'll find out, if I have to put off killingone of my enemies to ask him about it."
Boy Allies with the Cossacks; Or, A Wild Dash over the Carpathians Page 3