advanced that far myself. Encamped there are in the
neighborhood of one hundred thousand of the enemy. By a quick and silent
dash and a night attack, we may be able to deal them a crushing blow;
but even so, we must fall back immediately. Even then we shall be
greatly harassed by the foe."

"Well," said the commander, "we shall make the attack, come what may
afterward."

Alexis saluted his commander and returned to where he had left the two
lads, where he repeated his interview. Then he turned to Chester.

"It is too bad," he said, "that you will be unable to take part in the
battle."

"But I shall take part in it," exclaimed the lad. "You don't think I am
going to sit idle while there is fighting going on, do you?"

"I am afraid you cannot help yourself," replied Hal. "You will go with
the advance, of course; but you will be kept well in the rear."

In vain did Chester protest. His commanding officer overruled all of his
complaints, and at last the lad was forced to make his way to the rear
of the Russian army. All that day the army rested, and it was not until
the following afternoon that the signal was given for the advance, for
the Russian commander had so timed his movement that he would come upon
the enemy after nightfall.

It was indeed an imposing sight, these 60,000 men, able to march
scarcely six abreast through the narrow mountain pass, moving hurriedly
through the midst of the wild Carpathians. For miles they stretched out,
but they advanced rapidly, and long before night the advance guard was
within sight of the Austrian position.

This was made known to the Russian commander by his scouts; and still
out of sight, the Cossacks halted.

The pass was considerably wider here, and the men spread out somewhat.
Outposts were thrown out to guard against a counter surprise attack, and
the men allowed to lie down and rest.

The battle formation was preserved, however, and the men fell to sleep
upon their arms, each and every one ready to spring up and dash forward
at a moment's notice.

And still the Austrians were unaware of their approach.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE SURPRISE.

Stealthily the vanguard of the Cossacks crept forward afoot. They had
dismounted that they might approach the enemy with less danger of being
heard. Naked blades were held firmly in their hands; revolvers and hand
grenades were ready. The night attack of the Cossacks was under way.

Not a shot had been fired. Silently th