“Get back to your place, sir. This is no time for joking.”
Alexis returned to his place.
“Did he tell you?” asked Hal.
“No,” replied Alexis, “but I’ll find out, if I have to put off killing one of my enemies to ask him about it.”
CHAPTER IV.
LODZ.
There came a sudden command from Colonel Bluekoff, and the regiment to which Hal and Chester were attached galloped forward. The advance guard could be seen falling back, firing as they retreated upon the main body of cavalry. They had encountered a force of the enemy.
With Colonel Bluekoff leading, his sword whirling about his head, the troop dashed forward at a charge. As they went by, the retreating advance guard reformed and also dashed forward with them. From ahead came several puffs of smoke and the cracking of rifles, and here and there a man fell to the ground. But the rest dashed on.
The Cossacks did not fire a shot and soon the enemy had disappeared in the distance.
“A reconnoitering force that must have gotten around Lodz in some way,” Colonel Bluekoff told his officers.