g the city and preparing it for their occupation, but
that other preparations were under way. This could only mean to the
lad that the commander of the invading forces was preparing to press
the advantage he had gained by following the Russian army he had driven
from Peremysl and attempt to administer a crushing blow.

"What is all this bustle about, Otto?" he asked presently.

"Ach, I know not," was the reply. "Und if I should know, it is
verboten that I should say. You will discover in good time."

"That's all right, but I'll bet my last year's hat that you know pretty
well what's going on if you'd only talk a bit."

"That is perhaps so and perhaps not so," replied Otto.

"All right; I vote yes on the amendment," persisted Jimmie, feeling
that by a little maneuvering he could learn something from his guide.
"From what the Captain said while we were in the house and you were on
the street, I understand that your regiment will be one of the first to
be tolled off to pursue the Russians. Maybe he'll send me with them.
I do hope so, for that will give me a chance to get a whack at them in
payment for the hard treatment I received."

"Ach, nein!" protested Otto, evidently endeavoring to set Jimmie right.
"My regiment is to return. We have done our work here."

"I thought so all the time," muttered Jimmie. "You may have been in
America a while, but you haven't got wise to the great game of 'bluff'
the Americans pull off once in a while. You're easy."

"What is dot?" inquired Otto. "I did not hear what you say."

"I say," replied Jimmie in a louder tone, "I'm hungry. I want
something to eat, and I'm curious to know what is in that bundle you
are carrying so carefully. Is it dynamite or something?"

"Nein; it is the Russian Cossack uniform you wore. I shall burn it
when we arrive at the kitchen you see ahead of us."

"Oh, so you don't like Cossack uniforms any better than I do."

"It is orders," was the German's simple statement.

"Well, here we are at the cook's place," announced Jimmie as the two
drew near a movable kitchen equipment in the street.

A few words addressed to the person in charge of the kitchen brought
forth a smiling response. In a moment Jimmie was supplied with a small
dish of nourishing stew of cabbages and beans.

He devoured the contents of the dish with an appetite, and gladly
accepted the cup of black unsweetened coffee that was tendered.

"Thank you! That was just like m