mighty columns spread out. There was no pursuit,
and the commander ordered the retreat conducted more slowly.

Two days later the columns of raiding Cossacks rode in among the Russian
troop besieging the Galician city of Cracow. Here the commander decided
to remain until he should receive instructions from the Grand Duke. He
dispatched Chester, who had now recovered sufficiently from his wounds
as to be feeling perfectly fit, Hal and Alexis to carry word of the
expedition to the Grand Duke. So the three friends again set out upon a
journey.

They traveled without haste and without incident and at length found
themselves once more in Lodz. Here all three reported to the Russian
commander-in-chief. After receiving his congratulations, and while they
yet stood in his presence, there came a terrible roar from outside the
tent.

The Grand Duke listened intently. Thousands upon thousands of voices
rose on the air. They were cheering. Thousands upon thousands of voices
took up the cry:

"God save the Czar!"

The Grand Duke advanced rapidly toward the entrance to his tent. The two
lads and the giant Cossack made as if to depart; but the Grand Duke,
with a movement of his hand, signified for them to stay and so they
remained.

The sound of cheering drew nearer. The Grand Duke left the tent, and
through the door the lads could see him standing with bared head. Came
the sound of galloping hoofs, and a cavalry troop drew up at the Grand
Duke's tent. The latter stepped forward, and giving his hand to a
brilliantly uniformed man, assisted him to dismount. Then, bowing low,
he escorted his visitor into his tent.

As they appeared in the small enclosure Alexis fell upon his knee, and
bowed till his head all but touched the ground.

Nicholas, the Czar of all the Russias, turned toward the three with a
question on his lips. But the Grand Duke spoke first:

"These, sire, are three of your majesty's bravest soldiers, who have
only now returned from a successful raid into the heart of the
Carpathians."

The Czar glanced at the two lads.

"But these," he said, pointing his finger at Hal and Chester, "are not
Russians."

"No, sire," replied the Grand Duke. "They are American lads; but they
have rendered invaluable services to our cause," and while the lads
stood listening, he gave the Czar a brief account of some of their
experiences.

The Czar advanced and placed a hand upon the shoulder of each.

"I am glad," he said in