“Surely,” he said, “you don’t think I would make such a demand without some assurance that I could enforce my orders. Come, sir, your sword, and quickly.”
“And by whose command do you act?” asked General Surgoff, somewhat uneasily.
“At the command of the Czar!”
General Surgoff again staggered.
“But—but——” he began.
“Silence,” interrupted General Burgoff. He drew a piece of paper from his pocket and passed it to the other. “By this,” he said, “I am empowered to relieve you of your command in Siberia and I have full authority to act in your place.”
General Surgoff read the paper and his eyes flashed dangerously. Suddenly he tore the paper into little bits and turned upon the other defiantly.
“There is your authority,” he said, and threw the fragments of paper to the wind. “You are powerless to touch me now.”
Again General Burgoff smiled.
“You are a fool,” he said pleasantly. “Why do you think I came here at the head of five thousand men? Either you will give me your sword this moment as a sign that you recognize my authority, or I shall put you and your entire command under arrest, if I have to shoot half of them down to do so.”