The lad now relieved von Bernstrum of his revolvers. Alexis had donned his adversary’s sword with his uniform. Then once more Hal approached the door and peered out. Then he spoke to Alexis.
“We will go with you as though we were your prisoners,” he explained. “If anyone accosts us, we may have to fight. However, I believe you look enough like von Bernstrum to avoid detection. Pull the hat well over your face, and if anyone asks where you are going, reply that you are taking the prisoners to the commandant. Do you understand?”
Alexis signified that he did, and quietly the three, still followed by Marquis, left the room. Along the same passageways they had traversed Hal guided Alexis by a touch of the hand, for the lad’s sense of direction was much better than that of the giant Cossack.
At last they came into the open and started toward the gate. So far they had not been accosted. At the gate a soldier approached Alexis and saluted.
“Are you going out, sir?” he demanded.
“Yes,” replied the Cossack, mimicking von Bernstrum’s voice as best he could. “These prisoners have given me their parole, and I am taking them out for a breath of air. Get me two more horses.”
The soldier saluted and turned away. Hal addressed Alexis.
“You are doing beautifully,” he exclaimed. “I didn’t know you were such a strategist.”
“Why,” exclaimed Alexis, “next to being a fighter I am a strategist. I remember one time—”
“Save it for some other time,” said Hal.