“I just want to remark to you, general,” said Jack quietly, “that you will rue the day you first laid the lash on me.”
“What! You threaten me?” exclaimed General Surgoff. “You shall have an additional ten lashes this morning, whether you stand on your feet or fall fainting to the ground. Strip him, men.”
The pair of Russians with their lashes stepped forward and would have laid hands on Jack; but Boris now decided that it was time for him to act.
He set up a sudden wild yell, that drew all eyes in his direction. It was the moment for which Jack has been waiting.
CHAPTER XXI.
ACROSS THE SNOW.
General Surgoff’s head was turned toward where Boris and several Russian guards were struggling when Jack sprang upon his back like a cat. The general sent out a cry for help, but Jack cut it short as his hands closed about his opponent’s throat.
Still retaining his grasp with his left hand, Jack’s right dropped to the officer’s belt. A revolver was quickly drawn and the lad stuffed it into his pocket. Then he seized the second revolver, shoved the Russian officer violently from him and dashed toward the sleighs.
There was a cry from behind and several rifles were brought to bear, but, even as Jack had expected, General Surgoff cried at the top of his voice:
“Take him alive! Death to the man who injures him!”
Jack shouted aloud as he continued to run toward the row of sleighs. Turning his head, he looked over his shoulder and saw that Boris too had eluded the men with whom he had been struggling and was running after him.