Count de Reslau were one and the same person was quite a big
matter."

"If you had asked me," returned Alexis calmly, "I could have told you
that several days ago."

"You could?" cried both lads in a single voice.

"Of course. I knew it right along. You see, my eyes are unusually keen.
I remember once how this keen sight proved of great advantage. We were
on a raid. The officer in command, using his glasses, could not quite
make out objects moving some miles away. He called upon me. My eyes,
being far more powerful than the glass, showed me plainly what was going
on, and we were thus kept from falling into a trap. Then I remember
another case----"

"One is enough," said Hal dryly. "If you knew Brunnoi and Count de
Reslau were the same person, why didn't you say so?"

"Why," said Alexis in no wise disconcerted, "I didn't see that it made
any difference."

"Then your sight is not so good after all," said Chester. "But what are
we going to do now, Hal?"

"Well," said Hal, "I guess we might as well go get Marquis and return to
our regiment. Our work here is done."

The dog was indeed glad to accompany his three friends forth once more,
and so, procuring three fiery chargers, the trio set out to rejoin their
regiment at the front--some miles to the west of the city of Lodz.

Most of the officers of the regiment to which the three were attached
had been killed in the previous battle, and so when they finally reached
it, Alexis found that instead of being a lieutenant he had become a
captain.

"You see," he told the boys confidentially, "a brave man always comes
into his own. You will see how these fellows fight with me at their
head. They will be a whole lot different, I can tell you."

The Russians had intrenched themselves along the entire front, as had
the Germans only a short distance away. During the days in which the
lads had been in the midst of the Carpathians, there had been only
skirmishing between the opposing forces. Long range artillery duels
raged incessantly; but there had been little work for the cavalry and
infantry.

There had of course been several charges and counter charges, but the
advantage rested with neither side. The Russian troops, in spite of the
cold weather, made themselves comfortable in the trenches, wrapped to
the chin in their heavy sheepskin garments. Used to severe winter
weather, the Russian troops did not fare as badly as did the Germans,
who suffered severely.

The lads