Part 18 (1/2)
”Well,” said Hal, ”we would like to get back to Lodz. I suppose our regiment is still stationed there.”
”I will see that you get there with all possible dispatch,” the commander promised. ”I will land you where it will be most convenient for you.”
The lads thanked him, and walked across the deck, where they rejoined Alexis and Stephan.
”You would make a pretty good sailor, Alexis,” Chester told him.
The Cossack drew himself up and strutted proudly for several moments.
”Of course I would,” he said. ”It is nothing new to me.”
”Nothing new!” exclaimed Hal in some surprise.
”No,” replied Alexis.
”You mean you have been a sailor?” demanded Chester.
”Certainly. Of course the commander of this vessel did a fair piece of work a few moments ago; but I could tell him a few things. Why, when I commanded a s.h.i.+p in the battle of----”
”Enough! Enough!” cried Hal, throwing up his hands in protest.
”Do you doubt my word?” demanded Alexis fiercely.
”Not at all,” Hal hastened to a.s.sure him. ”But, Alexis; have you learned yet what 'drawing the long bow' means?”
”No,” replied the giant, ”are you going to tell me at last?”
”I had about decided to,” said Hal slowly; ”but after this, never!”
CHAPTER XIII.
INTO THE CARPATHIANS.
”So,” said the Grand Duke Nicholas, ”you find that there are adventures to be found in the eastern as well as the western theater of war, eh?”
”Yes, Your Excellency,” replied Hal.
”And tell me,” continued the Grand Duke, ”what do you think of the Cossacks as fighters?”
”From what we have seen,” replied Chester, ”I should say that there are none better.”
”Good!” was the emphatic rejoinder. ”There are none better!” and he regarded the lads silently for some moments.
Hal, Chester, Alexis, Stephan and Marquis, after the battle on the Vistula, had returned to Lodz without difficulty. The commander of the Russian river steamer had made it as easy for them as possible. In Lodz they learned that their regiment had been ordered to the front, and had been on their way to join it, when the Grand Duke, inspecting his troops, had come upon them. He immediately had the two lads taken to his quarters, for he was greatly interested in them. Alexis, Stephan and Marquis waited without.
At last the Grand Duke spoke. ”I have a mission for you, if you are willing to undertake it,” he said.
”Yes, Your Excellency,” replied Chester.