had left them at the first alarm.

Maggie sat down, and quite suddenly she burst into tears.

Steinmetz did not leave her. He stood beside her, gently stroking her
shoulder with his stout fingers. He said nothing, but the gray mustache
only half concealed his lips, which were twisted with a little smile
full of tenderness and sympathy.

Maggie was the first to speak.

"I am all right now," she said. "Please do not wait any longer, and do
not think me a very weak-minded person. Poor Etta!"

Steinmetz moved away toward the door.

"Yes," he said; "poor Etta! It is often those who get on in the world
who need the world's pity most."

At the door he stopped.

"To-morrow," he said, "I will take you home to England. Is that
agreeable to you, mademoiselle?"

She smiled at him sadly through her tears.

"Yes, I should like that," she said. "This country is horrible. You are
very kind to me."

Steinmetz went down stairs and found Paul at the door talking to a young
officer, who slowly dismounted and lounged into the hall, conscious of
his brilliant uniform--of his own physical capacity to show off any
uniform to full advantage.

He was a lieutenant in a Cossack regiment, and as he bowed to Steinmetz,
whom Paul introduced, he swung off his high astrakhan cap with a
flourish, showing a fair boyish face.

"Yes," he continued to Paul in English; "the general sent me over with a
sotnia of men, and pretty hungry you will find them. We have covered the
whole distance since daybreak. A report reached the old gentleman that
the whole countryside was about to rise against you."

"Who spread the report?" asked Steinmetz.

"I believe it originated down at the wharfs. It has been traced to an
old man and his daughter,--a sort of pedler, I think, who took a passage
down the river,--but where they heard the rumor I don't know."

Paul and Steinmetz carefully avoided looking at each other. They knew
that Catrina and Stepan Lanovitch had sent back assistance.

"Of course," said Paul, "I am very glad to see you, but I am equally
glad to inform you that you are not wanted. Steinmetz will tell you all
about it, and when you are ready for dinner it will be ready for you. I
will give instructions that the men be cared for."

"Thanks. The funny thing is that I am instructed, with your approval, to
put the place under martial law and take charge."

"That will not be necessary, thanks," answered Paul, going out of the
open door to