Produced by Greg Weeks, Audrey Longhurst, Paul Ereaut andthe Online Distributed Proofreading Team athttps://www.pgdp.net
THE BOY SCOUTS IN RUSSIA
_by_
CAPTAIN JOHN BLAINE
_Illustrated by_
E.A. FURMAN
THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY
Chicago AKRON, OHIO New York
Copyright, 1916 bySaalfield Publishing Company
"Go! Hurry! Get this coat and helmet off me!"]
CONTENTS
Chapter Page
I The Border 11
II Under Arrest 25
III A Strange Meeting 37
IV Cousins 49
V The Germans 61
VI The Tunnel 73
VII A Daring Ruse 85
VIII Within the Enemy's Lines 99
IX "There's Many a Slip--" 111
X Sentenced 125
XI The Cossacks 137
XII The Trick 151
XIII The Escape 165
XIV Altered Plans 179
XV A Dash Through the Night 193
XVI Between the Grindstones 205
XVII An Old Enemy 217
XVIII The Great White Czar 229
In Russian Trenches
CHAPTER I
THE BORDER
A train had just come to a stop in the border station of Virballen. Halfof the platform of that station is in Russia; half of it in EastPrussia, the easternmost province of the German empire. All trains thatpass from one country to the other stop there. There are customs men,soldiers, policemen, Prussian and Russian, who form a gauntlet alltravelers must run. Here passports must be shown, trunks opened. Gettingin or out of Russia is not a simple business, even in the twentiethcentury. All sorts of people can't come in while a good many who try toget out are turned back, and may have to make a long journey to Siberiaif they cannot account for themselves properly.
This train had stopped in the dead of night. But, dark and late as itwas, there was the usual bustle and stir. Everyone had to wake up andsubmit to the questioning of police and customs men. About the onlypeople who can escape such inquisition at Virballen or any other Russianborder station are royalties and ambassadors. Most of the passengers,however, didn't have to come out on the platform. In this case, indeed,only two descended. One of these was treated by the police officialswith marked respect. He was the sort of man to inspire both respect andfear. Very tall, he was heavily bearded, but not so heavily as toprevent the flashing of his teeth in a grim and unpleasant smile. Norwere his eyes hidden as the rays of the station lights fell upon them.
He was called "Excellency" by the policemen who spoke to him, but heignored these men, save for a short, quick nod with which heacknowledged their respectful greetings. His whole attention was devotedto the boy by his side, who was looking up at him defiantly. This boywon a tribute of curious looks from all who saw him, and some glancesof admiration when it became increasingly plain that he did not sharethe universal feeling of awe for the man by his side. This was accountedfor, partly at least, it might be supposed, by the fact that he wasn't aRussian. The Americans in the train, had they been out on the platform,would have recognized him at once for he was sturdily and obviouslyAmerican.
The train began to move. With a shrill shriek from the engine, and thebanging of doors, it glided out of the station. Soon its tail lightswere swinging out of sight. But the Russian and the American boyremained, while the train, with its load of free and cheerfulpassengers, went on toward Berlin.
"You wouldn't let me take the train. Well, what are you going to do withme now?" asked the boy.
His tone was as defiant as his look and if he was afraid, he didn't showit. He wasn't afraid, as a matter of fact. He was angry.
The Russian considered him for a moment, saying not a word. Then hecalled in a low, hushed tone, and three or four policemen came runningup.
"You see this boy?" he asked.
"Yes, excellency."
"It has pleased His Majesty the Czar, acting through the administrationof the police of St. Petersburg, to expel him from his dominions. He ishonored by my personal attention. I in person am executing the order ofHis Majesty. I shall now conduct him to the exact border line and see toit that he is placed on German soil. His name is Frederick Waring. On nopretext is he to be allowed to return to Russian soil. Should he succeedin doing so, he is to be arrested, denied the privilege of communicationwith any friend, or with the consul or ambassador of any foreign nation,and delivered to me in Petersburg. You will receive this order in dueform to-night. Understood?"
"Yes, excellency."
"Photographs will be attached to the official order." He turned again tothe boy, and for just a moment the expressionless mask was swept fromhis eyes by a look of fierce hatred. "Now, then, step forward! As soonas you have passed the line on the platform you will be on Germanterritory, subject to German law. I give you a word of good advice. Donot offend against the German authorities. You will find them lessmerciful than I."
"I'm not afraid of you," said Fred. He was angry, but his voice wassteady nevertheless. "You've cheated me. You've had my passport and mymoney taken from me. What do you think I can do, when you land me in astrange country in the middle of the night, without a kopeck in mypocket? But I'll find a way to get back at you. Any man who would treatme the way you have done is sure to have treated some other peoplebadly, too. And I'll find them--perhaps they'll be stronger than I."
"Your papers were confiscated in due process," said the Russian. Hesmiled very evilly. "As for your threats--pah! Do you think your wordwould carry any weight against that of Mikail Suvaroff, a prince ofRussia, a friend of the Grand Duke Nicholas and General of the army?"
"Oh, you're a great man," said Fred. "I know that. But you're not sogreat that you don't have to keep straight. You may think I had nobusiness to come to Russia. Perhaps you are right, but that's no reasonfor you to treat me like this. After all, you're my uncle--"
"Silence!" said Suvaroff harshly, startled at the carrying power of theboy's voice.
Fred stepped nimbly across the line.
"You can't touch me now, by your own word!" he taunted. "I'm in Germany,and your authority stops at the border! I say, I could forget everythingexcept the way you've put me down here in the middle of the night,without a cent to my name or a friend I can call on! You needn't havedone that. I don't suppose you took my money--you don't need it--but youlet your underlings take it."
"I do not know that you ever had the money you say was taken from you,"said Suvaroff, controlling himself. "It is easy for you to make such acharge. But the officers who arrested you deny that they found any moneyin your possession. There is no reason to take your word against them."
Fred stared at him curiously for a moment.
"Gee! You do hate us--and me!" he said, slowly. "I think you reallybelieve all you've said about me! Well, I'm glad if that's so. It givesyou a sort of excuse for behaving the way you have to me. And I'dcertainly hate to think that any relative of mine could act like youunless he thought he was in the right, anyhow!"
Suvaroff strangled with anger for a moment. His cruel eyes becamenarrow.
"I have changed my mind!" he cried, suddenly. "Seize him! Bring himback!"
Fred stood perfectly still as two or three policemen and a couple ofsoldiers in the white uniform coats of Russia came toward him. He knewthat it would be useless either
to run or to fight. But, as it turnedout, there was no need for him to do either, for from behind him a sharporder was snapped out by a young man who had been listening withinterest. Quietly a file of German soldiers with spiked helmets steppedforward.
"Your pardon, excellency," said the German officer. "It is, of course,quite impossible for us to permit Russian officials or soldiers to makean arrest on our side of the line!"
"A matter of courtesy--" began Suvaroff.
"Pardon again," said the German, very softly. "Just at this momentcourtesy must be suspended. With a general mobilization in effect uponboth sides--"
Suvaroff suppressed the angry exclamation that was on his lips. For amoment, however, he seemed about to repeat his order, though his men hadhalted at the sight of German bayonets.
"I should regret a disturbance," said the German, still speaking in hisquiet voice. "My orders are to permit my men to do nothing that mightbring on a clash, for just now the firing of a single shot would makewar certain. Yet there is nothing in my orders to forbid me to resist anact of aggression by Russia. We are prepared for war, though we do notseek it."
Fred, almost losing interest in his own pressing troubles at this suddenrevelation of a state of affairs of which he had known nothing whatever,looked fixedly at Suvaroff. He saw the Russian bite his lips, hesitate,and finally take off his hat and make a sweeping bow to the Germanofficer.
"I agree, mein herr Lieutenant," he said, mockingly. "The time has come,I think. It may be that the fortunes of war will bring us together.Meanwhile I wish you joy of him you have saved!"
The German did not answer. He watched the departing Russians and then,smiling faintly, he turned to Fred.
"I'll have to ask you to give some account of yourself, if you please,"he said, in excellent English. "I'm Lieutenant Ernst, of the Prussianarmy. Sentenced to guard duty here--for my sins. Now will you tell mewhat all this means?"
"I had a passport," said Fred directly, and meeting the German's eyesfrankly. "Prince Suvaroff is my uncle, my mother's brother. Her familyrefused to recognize my mother after her marriage to my father, and soPrince Suvaroff does not like me. I had to see him on business andfamily matters. I was arrested. My passport and my money were taken awayfrom me--and you saw what happened. He took me off the train and put meacross the border."
Ernst nodded.
"Things are done so in Russia--sometimes," he said. "Not always, butthey are possible, for a great noble. Well, I have seen things nearly asbad in my own Prussia! I shall have to see what may be done for you. Ifyou reach Berlin, your ambassador will be able to help you, yes?"
"I am quite sure of it," said Fred, eagerly. "I don't want to troubleyou, but if you could help me to get there--"
A soldier interrupted him. He stepped up to Ernst, saluted, and,permission given, spoke in the officer's ear. Ernst started.
"One minute," he said. "I am called away--I will return in one minute."
The minute dragged itself out. In all directions there was a risingsound, confused, urgent. Fifteen minutes passed. Then a soldier came toFred.
"The lieutenant will see you inside," he said, gravely.
Fred followed him. Ernst, his face sober, but with shining eyes, spoketo him at once.
"War has been declared," he said. "War between Germany and Russia! Myyoung friend, you are in hard luck! The train from which you wereexpelled is the last that will even start for Berlin until themobilization is complete."
Outside there was a sudden rattle of rifle fire. Fred stared at theGerman officer.
"That is the beginning," he said. "We happen to have the stronger forcehere. We are taking possession of the Russian side of the borderstation! I wish we might catch Suvaroff--he is a good soldier, that oneat least, and worth a division to the Russians. But there'll be no suchluck. He'll have got away, of course--a fast motor, or some such way.And they've got more troops close up than we have."
And still Fred stared. He seemed unable to realize that this popping ofrifles, this calm, undemonstrative series of statements by an unexcitedGerman officer, meant that war had come at last--the European war ofwhich people even in America had talked for years as sure to come!
"As for you, I meant, of course, to lend you the money and let you go onto Berlin," said Ernst. "Now I can lend you the money, but there will beno trains. You can't stay here. The Russians, I think, will advance veryquickly, and it will not be here that we shall try to stop them, butfurther back and among the lakes to the south. Even if there is aconcentration, however, foreigners will not be wanted."
"What shall I do?" asked Fred.
"You speak German?"
"Yes."
"Then I shall lend you some money--what I can spare. You can start backtoward Koenigsberg and Danzig. Your consul will be able to help you. Youcan walk and the people will gladly sell you food."
"Yes, and thank you for the chance, I'm a Boy Scout; I won't mind a hikeat all."