“Good! Good! It shall be done! Come, gentlemen, we shall move at once. I shall indeed be glad to see my dear General Surgoff!”
CHAPTER XXIV.
A SEVERE REPRIMAND.
General Surgoff had word of General Burgoff’s approach long before the long line of troops appeared in sight. The former immediately made preparations to receive him.
It was an hour after the first troops came within view of the prison camp that General Burgoff and General Surgoff saluted each other. Then the latter extended his hand, but General Burgoff appeared not to see it.
Said the Siberian commander:
“If you will come to my quarters, sir, I shall be pleased to make you at home.”
“Thank you, sir,” was the reply, “but first I would deliver to you two prisoners whom I have picked up.”
He summoned his orderly. The latter went away and returned a few moments later with Jack and Boris, surrounded by a file of soldiers. At sight of them, General Surgoff’s eyes lighted up.
“Ah!” he exclaimed. “They escaped from here very recently, General Burgoff. I am indeed glad to have them back again, especially the young one. I shall teach him a lesson that he shall not forget if he lives to be a hundred; and with your permission, sir, I shall do it now.”
“I shall be glad to see the form of punishment you use in Siberia,” was the other’s reply.