overwhelming strength, and may thus draw off without
any very great loss."

Major Sion called the captains of the infantry companies, and the
troop of horse, to a sort of council of war, when the little force
halted for an hour at three o'clock in the afternoon.

"We have another ten miles to march, gentlemen, and I should like
to ask your opinion as to whether it would be best to try to force
our way in as soon as we get there, or to halt at a distance of
three or four miles from the Russians, and make our effort at
daybreak before they are fairly afoot."

The other three officers gave their opinion in order of seniority,
and all advocated the plan of falling upon the Muscovites at
daybreak.

"And what do you think, Captain Carstairs?" Major Sion asked
Charlie.

"I regret to say, major, that my opinion differs from that of the
other gentlemen, and this for several reasons. In the first place, if
we halt so near the Russians, our presence in their neighbourhood
may be betrayed by a peasant, and we may be surprised in the night.
If no such mishap should take place, we should have to be on foot two
hours before sunrise. I in no way doubt your knowledge of the road,
but it is at all times difficult to make out a mere track, like that
we are following, at night, and in the morning we might well find
ourselves involved in the Russian intrenchments, from which we could
not extricate ourselves before a large force had gathered round us,
in which case we must be all either killed or taken prisoners. My
own suggestion would be that we should remain here another two hours,
and then continue our march so as to reach the spot, where we are to
endeavour to break through their line, about sunset. Should we be
observed, as we most likely should be, we might at that hour be taken
for a freshly-arrived body of Russian troops. There would be no risk
of losing our way, and we might hope to be close upon them before we
were discovered to be enemies. If we succeed, as I trust we shall, in
breaking our way through and reaching the town, well and good. If,
on the other hand, we find greater obstacles than we expect, and are
forced to fall back fighting, we shall have the advantage that
darkness will be setting in. The Russians, the greater part of whom
will be ignorant of our strength, will lose time before they move,
fearing they may be assaulted in other quarters, and in the darkness
we might be able to make good our escape, which i