just then is Colonel
Feodorovitch. He is very near General Alexis and tells me that General
Alexis has been wounded. The wound is not considered serious and he
refuses to give up his command or to leave the fort until the final
moment for retreat. Neither must his soldiers learn of what has taken
place. His own surgeon is with him now and will remain with him. But
there is a chance that they will also require a nurse. Colonel
Feodorovitch came to find one before we all got away. By accident he
saw me first and requested me to remain behind. I could not refuse."

"Mildred!" Nona and Barbara exclaimed in unison, with no attempt to
conceal their dismay, almost their horror.

"But you can't accept, Mildred," Barbara expostulated. "If you do I
shall not leave you. Why, what would your mother and father and Dick
think of my deserting you at such a time? Besides, don't you remember
that General Alexis himself wanted us safe in Petrograd before the
retreat. He would be bitterly opposed to your being chosen to remain
behind. Didn't you speak of this to Colonel Feodorovitch?"

"I couldn't, Barbara," Mildred insisted. "It would have been such a
long story and Colonel Feodorovitch knows about as much English as I
do Russian. It would only have looked as though I were shirking a most
important duty. General Alexis will not recall ever having thought or
spoken to me, at a time when the Russian army, perhaps the whole Russian
nation, is dependent on his failure or success. If I can do even the
least thing to help him at such a crisis, why, how could I refuse?
Please try and see this as I do, Barbara, you and Nona. There may be
nothing for me to do. General Alexis' wound is not serious or he could
not retain his command. I must leave you now; I am wanted at once. I'll
join you in Petrograd as soon as it is humanly possible."

But Barbara had clutched Mildred's coat.

"You shall not stay alone. I am almost your sister and I won't allow
it."

Quietly Mildred unclasped the younger girl's hand.

"For my own sake I would give a great deal to have you stay, Bab, but we
have no choice. Remember, we are under discipline like soldiers. We must
do as we are commanded."

With this Mildred returned inside the fortress.

At the same instant Nona Davis and Barbara Meade heard their names being
called. At once they moved forward and were assisted inside the wagon,
which soon after passed out of the gate and moved creakingly along the
main