bravery and resourcefulness. Then he
added, somewhat sorrowfully, the lads thought:

"I shall indeed be sorry to lose you."

"To lose us!" exclaimed Chester, in surprise. "Why, Your Excellency, we
have no intention of being killed."

"I didn't mean that," replied the Grand Duke, with a slight smile, "but
I have other work of importance for you. In fact, I may say of greater
importance than any which you have yet accomplished."

"And we shall be glad to undertake it, no matter what it is," said Hal.
"I am sure we can carry it through successfully."

"So am I," replied the Grand Duke dryly. "After some of the things you
have done, I would not say there is anything you cannot do."

"But this new mission?" questioned Hal.

"The new mission," replied the Grand Duke, "will carry you back into
France."

"What!" exclaimed both lads in surprise.

"Exactly," said the Grand Duke. "That is why I said I would be sorry to
lose you, for I know that, once back with the British troops, you will
not return again to Russia."

"Well, Your Excellency," said Chester, "we have seen service with the
Cossacks, and we like it immensely, but----"

"But," interrupted the Grand Duke, "you would much prefer to be fighting
with the English, your own people, or a kindred people, at least. Is
that it?"

Both lads bowed in assent.

"It is, Your Excellency," replied Hal.

"Well," said the Grand Duke, "so be it."

He drew from his pocket a document, which he placed in Hal's hands.

"This," he said, "you will place in the hands of either Sir John French,
the British commander, or General Joffre, the French commander-in-chief.
I could, of course, send the message by wireless to London, but it would
be intercepted by the Germans, and, while it naturally would be sent in
code, I am not at all sure that the Germans could not decipher it."

"When shall we start, Your Excellency?" asked Chester.

"Whenever it is convenient," was the reply. "And the manner of your
going I leave entirely to you. I will not hamper you with instructions."

"Your Excellency," said Hal, struck with a sudden thought.

"Yes?"

"I should like to make a request."

"Consider it granted," said the Grand Duke.

"Well, then," said Hal, "I should like to ask permission to take Alexis
with us."

The Grand Duke was plainly surprised.

"He may be of great aid to us in getting through," Hal explained. "His
strength is prodigious, and more than once, as I have told y