prisoners, by their
uniform, and one an officer too. Do we then murder captives taken in
battle? Does our august master, the Czar, will it that we should take
the lives of gallant Englishmen in cold blood? Answer me, dogs! Whose
doing is this?" And, slowly glancing round the circle, he fixed the men
with his eyes, each one trembling in his turn and feeling relieved when
his scrutiny was finished.

Then Vilnoff, who had remained close beside Phil all the time, turned in
his saddle and humbly told the officer what had happened.

"Ah, is it so, man?" the latter replied thoughtfully. "Stackanoff
captures prisoners, and leads them away in nooses, as he would drag an
ox. And one is wounded, too. Get down, man, and shake this commander
of yours."

Vilnoff obeyed, doing as his officer ordered him, and at the same time
administering a sly kick. Stackanoff at length opened his eyes, and,
struggling to his feet, stared at the new-comer. Meanwhile Phil and
Tony had relieved their wounded officer of his noose, and were holding
him erect between them.

"Tell me," began the staff-officer, fixing the Cossack commander with a
piercing look, "tell me, my good friend, why you would kill our
prisoners. Have not the enemy many of our brave comrades in their
hands? Do they drag them with ropes and fling the wounded ones to the
ground? Dog!--worse than dog!--your command is taken from you. This
night our sappers return to the fortress and you with them. Go now
before I do worse for you!"

Like a beaten cur the Cossack commander saluted, humbly bowed, calling
the staff-officer "Prince", and then retired.

Now was Phil's chance of asking for good treatment for the wounded
officer, and, leaving Tony to support the poor fellow, he advanced to
the Russian prince, and, standing politely at attention, begged that a
doctor might be sent for.

"So it seems that besides doing your best to kill one of my officers,
you are acquainted with our language," said the prince with a smile,
"Yes, my man, your officer shall have good treatment, and so shall you.
Here, you! your name? Ah--Vilnoff--then you will take charge of these
men for to-night. Send this wounded gentleman into the fortress with
any of our own that may be leaving. A column has been ordered to start
soon after daybreak."

Turning his horse, he nodded to Phil and cantered away.

"My word, but there will be trouble!" said Vilnoff after a few moments'
silence. "That