side and wished to see the
commander, whereupon the C. O. sent word for him to come up to our
quarters. After the usual ceremony of crossing himself before the icon
the starosta announced that he had been overpaid about ninety roubles,
which mistake he found after reaching his home and checking over the
account again. We were too dumfounded to believe our ears. Here was this
poor hard-working moujik who doubtless knew that the error would never
have been discovered by ourselves, and, even if it had, the loss would
have been trifling, yet he tramped back through the snow to get this
matter straightened out before he retired to the top of the stove for
the night. Needless to say, our C. O. turned the money back to him as a
reward for his honesty, in addition to which he was given several hearty
draughts of rum to warm him up for his return journey, along with a
small sack of sugar to appease his wife who, he said, always made things
warmer for him when he returned home with the odor of rum about him.

[Illustration: A soldier and his bride surrounded by the wedding party.]
U. S. OFFICIAL PHOTO
Joe Chinzi and Russian Bride

[Illustration: A man watching a woman weave cloth.]
DOUD
Watching Her Weave Cloth

[Illustration: Soldier watching several women seated around a table.]
U.S. OFFICIAL PHOTO
Doughboy Attends Spinning-Bee

[Illustration: Soldier on a bed on a large fireplace.]
DOUD
Doughboy in the Best Bed--On Stove

[Illustration: Several soldiers seated on a barricade.]
MORRIS
Defiance to Bolo Advance

[Illustration: Building behind a grove of trees.]
DOUD
337th Hospital at Beresnik

[Illustration: Several houses clustered together.]
RED CROSS PHOTO
Onega

[Illustration: Several soldiers writing and reading in a room.]
U S OFFICIAL PHOTO
Y M. C. A., Obozerskaya

IX

"H" COMPANY PUSHES UP THE ONEGA VALLEY

Two Platoons Of "H" Company By Steamer To Onega--Occupation Of
Chekuevo--Bolsheviki Give Battle--Big Order To Little Force--Kaska Too
Strongly Defended--Doughboys' Attack Fails--Cossacks Spread False
Report--Successful Advance Up Valley--Digging In For Winter.

Meanwhile "H" Company was pushing up the Onega Valley. Stories had
leaked out in Archangel of engagements up the Dvina and up the railroad
where American soldiers had tasted first sweets of victory, and "H" men
now piled excitedly into a steamer at Archangel on the 15th of September
and after a 24-hour ride down the Dv