ed by the Russian gun fire, or whether the Grovno
fort would be able to continue its resistance. A few of the outer
defenses had already fallen. The Russian soldiers in the trenches behind
the first line of barricades had sought safety inside the fortress. But
these signs meant nothing of moment, and no one dared ask questions of
the Russian officers, who alone might know the purpose of their
commander.

Then on the morning of the seventh day, at dawn, Mildred Thornton, who
chanced to be gazing out of a small window which overlooked the
courtyard of the fort, made a discovery.

She had not been asleep all night, as there was so much work to be done,
but on the way to her room had stopped for a single breath of fresh air,
after the fever and confusion of the hospital.

What she saw were enormous cannon being lifted on low motor trucks and
these trucks being driven as swiftly as possible outside the Grovno gate
and along the Russian highway. There were a few soldiers accompanying
them.

Almost with the flash of an intuition the idea came to Mildred: General
Alexis was contemplating a retreat. He must have decided that, alone and
with only a limited number of regiments at his command, he would be
unable to hold out against the enemy for an unlimited time. Therefore it
might be wiser to draw them further into Russia and away from their own
supplies. General Alexis could join Grand Duke Nicholas beyond the Styr
River and there be better prepared to meet the invaders. Mildred knew
that the country on the other side of the river covered miles of swamps.
If the bridges over the river were destroyed, the Germans would find
great difficulty in pursuit.

Therefore the cannon and other heavy guns, with whatever munitions could
be spared, were first to be taken to places of safety. Later on General
Alexis would probably give orders for a more general retreat. But when
Grovno fell the Germans would find none of the spoils of war left behind
for the victors.

All this Mildred thought out slowly and carefully as she stood for a few
moments beside the tiny window. Then she went into her room, changed
her uniform for a fresher one and returned to her work. Not a word of
her idea did she breathe to any one. She had no foundation for her
impression, and at first it was an impression, nothing more. Yet Barbara
or Nona might have been frightened by the suggestion.

However, as the dawn passed and the hours of the day followed, other