The three made their way back to their posts, where Alexis immediately insisted on donning his new red necktie. Marquis, who had been left behind while the three friends made a tour of the city, greeted them with joyful barks. He had made friends with the big Cossack, and the latter had taken quite a fancy to the dog.
Hardly had the three retired to their positions, when an air of excitement throughout the troops became apparent. There was bustle and some slight confusion and shouted commands. A moment later and a body of 5,000 Cossacks, armed and spurred, stood beside their horses, ready to mount and ride at the command.
“Where do you suppose we are going?” asked Hal of Chester.
“Haven’t any idea,” was the reply, “but it looks as though there was a little fighting to be done.”
“That’s what!” exclaimed Alexis, who stood beside the two lads. “Now you shall see how we handle the Germans.”
“Mount!” came the command.
As one man, the troop sprang to the saddle.
“Forward!” came the next order, and the Cossacks started forward at a gallop.
Good riders themselves, Hal and Chester could not but envy the riding prowess of their companions. Accounted among the best riders in the world, the Cossacks who now dashed forward hurled themselves toward the enemy with reckless abandon. Their lances held high in one hand, each brandished a large revolver in his other. The bridles lay across the horses’ necks, the riders guiding their mounts by the pressure of their knees.
And so they swept forward, dashing swiftly over the few miles of open ground toward the spot where the Germans were known to be entrenched.