a
gallop, stooping in the saddle to secure the swinging stirrups. Martin
had to use his spurs to bring his horse alongside. Shoulder to shoulder
they splashed on in the darkness.

"I went right in," gasped Kosmaroff. "The arms are gone. The place is
full of men. There is a sotnia drawn up in the yard itself. It is an
ambuscade. We have failed--failed--this time!"

"We must stop the carts, and then ride on and disperse the men," said
Martin. "We may do it. We may succeed. It is a good night for such
work."

Kosmaroff gave a short, despairing laugh.

"Ah!" he said. "You are full of hope--you."

"Yes--I am full of hope--still," answered Martin. He had more to lose
than his companion. But he had also less to gain.

They rode hard until they met the carts, and turned them back. So far as
these were concerned, there was little danger in going away empty from
the city.

Then the two horsemen rode on in silence. They were far out in the
marsh-lands before Kosmaroff spoke.

"I am sure," he then said, "that I was seen as I climbed back over the
wall. I heard a stir among the rifles. But they could not recognize
me. It is just possible that I may not be suspected. For you it is
different. If they knew where the arms were stored, they must also know
who procured them. You will never be able to show yourself in Warsaw
again."

"I may be able to make myself more dangerous elsewhere," said Martin,
with a laugh.

"I do not know," went on Kosmaroff, "if they will have arrested your
father and sister; but I am quite sure that they will be in the palace
now awaiting your return there. We must get away to-night."

"Oh," answered Martin gayly, "it does not matter much about that. What I
am thinking of are these four thousand men waiting out here in the rain.
How are we to get them to their homes in Warsaw?"

And Kosmaroff had no answer to this question.

Beneath the trees on the low, wet land inside the fortifications they
found their men drawn up in a double line. There were evidences of
military organization and training in their bearing and formation. If
the arms had been forthcoming, these would have been dangerous soldiers;
for they were desperate men, and had each in his heart a grievance to
be wiped out. They were only the nucleus of a great rising, organized
carefully and systematically--the brand to be thrown amid the straw.
They were to surprise and hold the two strongholds in Warsaw, while
the whole country was