ing into a scrape."

To reach the spot at which Tom pointed they had again to descend into
another valley, and to climb up some steep height; but this was a feat
they easily performed. Scarcely, however, had they got there than they
caught sight of a body of redcoats farther down the glen, firing rapidly
as they retired before a dense mass of Russians. The English soldiers
they made out in a short time to be Guardsmen, who, though retreating,
were doing so with a definite object, and were certainly not running
away. The midshipmen soon saw, a little in the rear of where they were
standing, a trench towards which apparently the Guards were making their
way. Archie suggested that they also should get behind the trench, and
there do their best to help the Guards in resisting the enemy. Tom
agreed that it was the wisest thing they could do. Scarcely had they
got behind it than the English soldiers, numbering no more than sixty
men, who had hitherto been retreating, came to a halt; and, getting
behind the trench, stood shoulder to shoulder, as if determined to bar
the farther progress of the Russian column. In vain the Russian
officers endeavoured to get their men to advance; whenever they did so,
they were met by a rattling fire, and a bristling line of bayonets.
Thousands might have been in their rear, but they could make no
impression on the gallant little band.

Scarcely had the Guards come to a halt than from the very midst of the
Russian column two persons sprang out, and were received in their midst
with a shout of joy. They proved to be one of their captains and a
sergeant, whom they supposed had been taken prisoners or killed by the
Russians. The officer advised the midshipmen to go, as they could do no
good where they were.

"But before we wish you good-bye, sir, may we ask how you managed to get
out alive from among so many Russians?" inquired Tom.

"In a very unexpected manner," answered the officer. "I had gone on
with the sergeant to some distance ahead of the men, when, on turning an
angle, we found ourselves confronted by a whole mass of Russians
hurrying up at a great rate, apparently intending to effect a surprise.
The first men we saw fired at us, and, after we had retreated up the
hill, several followed, intending to make us prisoners, but we knocked
them over with the butts of our rifles. We then found ourselves hurried
along by the advancing masses of the enemy. As we had on our
greatcoa