them."

"I think it would be well to cook as much of it as we can carry with
us. I don't know when we may get any more."

"That is well thought on," agreed the old soldier. "Always provide for
the next meal when you can."

"And, with what's left, as we can't be far from the hut, we'll give
those two poor Russians something to eat."

"You're too tender-hearted, my lad," said Bullet-Stopper, his face
clouded, "ever to be a great soldier, I am afraid."

On an expedition of this kind rank was forgotten, and the humble
subordinate again assumed the role of the advisor. Marteau laughed.

"Rather than let them starve I would knock them in the head," he said.

"That's what I wanted to do," growled the other savagely.

When it came to the issue, however, he really did respect the rank of
his young friend. Accordingly, pieces of the roast pig were taken to
the hut and placed in reach of the prisoners, who were found bound as
before and looking very miserable. Yet there was something suspicious
in their attitude. The old grenadier turned one of them over and
discovered that one had endeavored to free the other by gnawing at the
ropes. Not much progress had been made in the few hours that had
elapsed, but still it was evident that the rope would eventually be
bitten through and the men freed. He pointed this out to his officer.

"Better finish them now," he said.

But Marteau shook his head.

"It will take them all day and night to get free at that rate; by that
time we will be far away, and it will be too late."

"But if they should tell what they have seen?"

"What can they tell? Only that two Frenchmen fell upon them. No, let
them be. Set the food on the floor here. If they get hungry they can
roll over toward it and eat it."

The gags had been taken out of the mouths of the men. If they did give
the alarm there would be none to hear them, save perhaps a French
peasant passing that way, and at his hands they would meet short shrift.

Having stuffed their haversacks full of roast pig, they retraced their
steps and reached the edge of the clearing. It was noon by this time,
so much of the day had been spent in the various undertakings that have
been described, but the Russians were still there. Evidently they
intended to encamp for the day and rest. Probably it was part of the
program. These would move on, presumably on the morrow, and another
division of the army would come up and take their plac