sir,"
he said to the Grand Duke.

"You will see that they are well treated," replied the Grand Duke. "My
commands are not to be treated lightly. These lads will be attached to
your staff with the rank of lieutenants. They are not to serve in the
ranks."

"Yes, your excellency," said the general, saluting.

"You will find, general," continued the Grand Duke, "that you may depend
upon them to the limit. I fancy I am a good judge of character. They
have already done me an invaluable service. They may do more."

The Grand Duke then proceeded to relate some of the lads' exploits and
informed the general of the message they had brought.

General Jorvitch thawed immediately upon hearing this, and extended a
hand to each lad in turn.

"I shall be glad to have you with me," he told them sincerely. "I
feared, at first, that the Grand Duke was trying an experiment."

In spite of the general's first gruffness the lads had taken a liking to
him. Straight and erect, with a flashing eye, he was the beau ideal of a
soldier. Still, there was a slight twinkle in the corner of those same
eyes, which proclaimed him a man, though stern, of a kindly disposition.

The lads thanked the general, and their interview with the Grand Duke
concluded, followed their new commander back to his quarters.

"I have been ordered to advance," the general informed them as they made
their way along, "and as soon as I have introduced you to your fellow
officers and procured you uniforms and horses, we shall proceed."

An hour later, in true Russian garb and astride two fiery chargers, the
lads made their way forward with the rest of the troop. In all there
were probably 10,000 Cossacks in this advance.

With one of the Cossack officers, a young lieutenant, huge in stature
and pleasant of face, the lads at once struck up a friendship. He stood
at least six feet six and seemed a Goliath in strength. He it was who
picked their horses for them, and obtained their uniforms. Some of the
other officers, while not openly hostile, still were disdainful of the
two boys, and plainly not well pleased with their company.

"Have you any idea where we are bound?" asked Hal in German of their new
friend, who introduced himself with a swagger as "Lieutenant Alexis
Vergoff."

"Lodz; and when we get there we'll make the Germans hard to find," was
the answer, made in a loud, boasting tone.

Hal and Chester glanced at each other and smiled quizzically. The same
t