as Alma and gave
her address as East 61st Street, New York.... and ALL THREE were quite
convinced that the Central Powers will defeat the Allies.... He is an
international character and will remember this incident as well as the
following: '... This gentleman will join your party for Ekaterinburg
tonight, YOU understand. If there are any mistakes I shall not answer
for results!' There were NO introductions.... The man bowed and
began to back away.... 'YOU may accompany him,' she said, rising and
flitting from the room.... I believe I understand what this _party_
means!... There is to be a SHOOTING party at Ekaterinburg under the
auspices of the Bolshevists in a day or two and I may be ONE of
the '_mistakes_' for which that mystifying lady disclaims
responsibility.... My companion certainly looks like a bandit, and
manifests the strength of a wild bull.... He seems much interested in
that _patch_ on my shirt sleeve...."

VII

THE ROYAL BOLSHEVIK AND THE NURSE

20. "My Charybdis conducted me to the barracks where a lot of
undisciplined philosophers were discussing the parceling out of
land.... The ringleader was a round-headed, long-nosed and bulky
individual with a shaggy beard and dirty uniform.... I knew him in an
instant, but he did not recognize me ... he was one of Von der Goltz'
men who aided in the defense at Gallipoli.... The night before the
Allied fleet withdrew he was lying beside a short, thickset and
dark-haired Associated Press reporter with a German name and
tortoise-shell eyeglass and was telling that same reporter that unless
REINFORCEMENTS arrived AT ONCE the defenses would collapse!... The
next day he was at Headquarters informing the General in command that
BUT FOR HIM the Turkish forces would have surrendered!... He is NOW
wearing a number of decorations for his military skill and bravery....
Such are the fortunes of war!... This is the man who one minute
preaches communism and another minute gravely asserts that it will
be a good thing for the Kaiser to get killed in the war so as to
guarantee the SUCCESSION of the Empire.... Perhaps he is doing this
for my benefit.... Anyway he occupies the center of the stage at
present and GOVERNS this greedy and unruly mob by kicking discipline
into a cocked hat and allowing every unshaved Bolshevik his own
unrestricted way!... Under other circumstances I should dearly like to
meet this boasting _Furioso_ in a ten-foot ring when a little exercise
i