rts, by whose side Gerald Desmond directly afterwards
made his appearance. Jack told him to inform Commander Adair where they
were going, and that he hoped to be back again in the course of a few
hours.

"The Russian commandant, sir, wishes to send a letter to his family to
inform them of his safety, and he will be obliged to you if you will
convey it."

"That is more than I can undertake to do," answered Jack; "but inform
the commandant that if he will let me know where his family reside, I
shall be happy to give them any message he may send."

Gerald disappeared, and quickly afterwards returned with the commandant
and Adair. The commandant, in surprisingly good English, described his
residence to Jack, and requested that he would tell his wife and
daughters that he was well, and, as he was to be liberated on his
parole, that he hoped to remain with them till the end of the war.

"This information will be more satisfactory to them, probably, than had
I gained a great victory," he added; "so that they will be ready to
receive you as friends rather than as enemies."

"I shall be happy to deliver your message, colonel," answered Jack; "and
regret that I am unable to carry a written communication."

A few further compliments having been exchanged, Jack ordered his men to
give way, and the boats proceeded up the river.

"Why, sir, that house must be the very one which Mr Higson and your
brother visited," said Green; "unless the Cossacks have carried them off
to a distance, they may, I hope, be easily recovered."

"That is satisfactory," said Jack; "whether we recover them or not, we
must be away from this early to-day, as there is work to be done in
other places."

The boats pulled on some way, when they caught sight of a vessel
stealing along on the opposite shore towards the mouth of the river.
Jack immediately steered for her, ordering Archie to pull ahead, so as
to cut her off should she attempt to slip by them. On seeing them
approach, however, the Russian skipper immediately hauled down his
colours.

Jack found, on stepping on board, that the Russian skipper was not aware
that the English vessels were still off the mouth of the river, and had
expected to get clear; he said that his was the only vessel that had not
been burnt.

"Sorry to have to condemn yours to the fate you have escaped," said
Jack.

"It is the fortune of war," answered the skipper, shrugging his
shoulders; "I only wish the war had