Adventure Magazine Cover — page 17: what you’re looking at

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Forward They were quick of wit, those two, and they saw how old Ivak had uncovered a fine snare, all the more deadly because it was sprung by a silken cord. “If your Honor pleases,” I responded after thought, ‘what is in your heart to- ward the American? Good or ill?” “The deuce!” Edwards frowned. “Would I have come as his aide if not honestly? Pirate he may have been, but that chapter is written. Take care what you say, Cossack!’ “Lieutenant,” I made answer, “we be three men, and the road before us is fifteen hundred versts. Wolves track us, and they be two-legged wolves. If we do not speak openly together now, how shall we make a plan? Without a plan, how shall we arrive at the end of the road?” He glanced at me, and the flush left his keen young face. “As bad as that? I wondered why an escort was denied us, on one pretext or another.” He stooped to draw a coal from the fire, for his long clay pipe. ‘“Hhm. Would these two-legged wolves shed the blood of our officer?” 66 Aye.” “Ha! The stakes are high, then. But I do not think the Empress would stoop to plotting.” “Nay.” ‘Who then?” That was a knotty question, and I shook my head. Later I had reason to curse my stupidity, that I did not tell them about the prince of the silver coat. Yet it did not come into my mind that Edwards might know him. Besides, I was not sure of John Paul’s loyalty. My orders were only to guide him to Kherson, our headquarters on the Black Sea. Edwards explained to the American what T had said and when he had finished I made bold to offer advice. “By your Honor’s leave, what authoriza- tion has the admiral to take command when he arrives at Kherson?”’ They told me there was a letter signed by Catherine herself, that he should take over the fleet at Kherson. That was good though it might have been better. ‘““Then,”’ I said slowly, “if I were John Paul I should ride to the utmost, not sparing the horses, until he sets foot on his flagship.” It surprized them that a Cossack should 15 know what a flagship was, but we fellows of the borderland have taken oars in hand and gone out in skiffs against the fleet of the Turks and we have smelled powder mixed with salt water. “But this plot with the wretched girl has failed,’ Edwards pointed out. ‘His ene- mies are behind him, and the road is clear ahead.” “His enemies, Lieutenant, are powerful, and Muscovite spies are whelped even in the forests of Muscovy. Avoid the cities, and use spur and whip. If you will trust me I can lead you safe to Kherson.”’ Edwards laughed. “Even odds, for a hundred rubles, I beat you into Kherson.”’ “Done!” I nodded. They gave me leave to depart and I went to the stables where the straw was cleaner than the inn beds. I was not asleep when one of the Tatars touched me, and I began to listen, for he did nothing more than to hiss warningly. The hoof beats of a horse sounded faintly from the highway, and soon disappeared to the south without paus- ing at the inn. The only Russian who would pass a tav- ern after dark would be carrying an urgent dispatch. Moreover, he had not halted for a change of mounts at this post station, and surely there was a reason for that. I swore at my oversight in not placing sentries on the high road, and then I remembered that we had no men to post as sentries, III A raft upon the river is made of many logs fastened together; so long as the logs hold together the raft is safe. If they drift apart there is no longer a raft. a bear with a dirk? If you know | fA | how to go about it, the task is easy. In winter, go to a berlog—a winter sleeping place of a bear, down under the snow, where a round air hole shows, rimmed with yel- low. Thrust a long stick into the hollow under the breathing hole until the bear springs up, whuff—throwing the snow all about him. Then step in and stab with the knife before his eyes grow fully accustomed to the light. If you are a little slow, the bear will go back to sleep again with a full belly. | So it was with us. Before we had grown suspicious our enemies had their way with HAVE you, my brothers, ever slain NOOK ©