ly
determining to fight the whole Russian army, if need be, and to help his
comrade back to liberty.

"Hush! Can't you keep quiet?" whispered Phil sharply. "Follow me
through the vineyard. The road runs close beside the farther end, and
we must hide there and watch."

Somewhat abashed, Tony followed, and soon both were crouching within, a
few yards of the road. A few minutes later a front guard of Cossacks
passed like so many silent ghosts. Then field-guns and
ammunition-wagons rumbled by, followed by battalions of infantry, and by
regiments of Cossack horse. It was an impressive sight, especially when
the Russian horsemen filed by, for in front of each regiment rode the
commander, superbly mounted, and chanting a song, while behind him came
other horsemen, clashing cymbals, to the accompaniment of which the
whole regiment took up the refrain, and sang with voices far more
melodious than could be expected from rough soldiers.

"There is some big movement on," whispered Phil, "and I fear our
difficulties in getting through will be vastly increased. Still, I am
for trying to-night. To-morrow we might be hunted out of this. What do
you say to our joining the stragglers, who are certain to follow the
main body? The night is too dark for them to recognise us except when
close at hand."

"Seems to me a likely way out of the fix," agreed Tony, after a moment's
consideration. "There won't be many of them, and if one happens to spot
us, why--it'll be his own fault, Phil. Yes, we'll follow, and by
keeping reasonably near we shall see where these fellows bivouac, and
have a better chance of slipping through."

Accordingly they waited till the army had got a quarter of a mile away,
and then fell in behind. Occasionally stragglers passed them, and once
a squadron of horsemen galloped by; but, taking the two solitary figures
for scouts, they swept on without a word. An hour later they were
beyond the Russian camp and ascending the nek. No one seemed to be
about, and they were not challenged. Once over the summit they turned
abruptly to the left, and rode down into the valley, keeping close to
the heights. But here again another difficulty faced them. Watch-fires
twinkled in every direction, some undoubtedly being Russian, and,
fearful of falling into the enemy's hands, or what would perhaps be
equally bad, stumbling against a French or Turkish outpost, and being
shot before an explanation could be given, they