Gilbert and Ben took turns in riding, the one on foot keeping watch on the Cossack so that he might not attempt to run away.
For once fortune favored them, for scarcely had they covered a mile when they came to a much broader trail. At a distance they heard voices, and soon came in sight of some of their own pack train, while ahead was Major Okopa’s command, hurrying along on the double-quick, to get out of the reach of the Cossacks.
“Is it possible!” exclaimed the major when he caught sight of the two Americans. “Where have you been, and how does it happen that you are together?”
“It’s a long story, major,” answered Gilbert. “See, we have a prisoner. We think he is a spy. We took these from him.” And the young captain showed the map and paper.
The Japanese major was keenly interested, and took possession of the documents. The Cossack was turned over to a detail, and the solders were cautioned to watch him closely, which they did.
Gilbert soon found that his men under Satmo had rejoined the main body without mishap, and that the runaway horses had been brought in after a most exciting chase by the hostlers and coolies. Of Ben’s detachment all but one man was on hand. The missing man came into camp twenty-four hours later.
Major Okopa had now learned all that he had set out to ascertain and, as a consequence, no time was lost in falling back to where the main body of the Japanese army lay.
His trying experience at the cliff, and afterward, had worn Gilbert out, and he was glad enough to rest for several days after the regular camp was reached. During that time the Cossack brought in was examined. Fortunately for him, it could not be proved that he was spy—in which case he would have been shot—so he was placed among the ordinary prisoners, much to his satisfaction. Gilbert was congratulated on securing the man so cleverly and also on having aided Ben to escape.
Owing to the spring thaws the roads were now all but impassable, and before the Japanese army as a whole could move forward towards the Yalu a large portion of the roadbed had to be repaired. For the heavy artillery logs had to be laid, and day after day the engineering corps were kept busy, bringing in logs from the surrounding forests.
The middle of March found our friends located at An-ju, on the highway leading to Chong-ju. More troops were coming to the front rapidly, and it was rumored that the Russians were massing at the last-named point. On the 28th there was a small engagement, which resulted in a score being killed or wounded, on either side. As the Japanese pushed more troops to the front the Russians retired to Wiju and other points close to the southern bank of the Yalu. But even these points could not be held by them, and then they began to mass on the northern bank of the river, where they determined to offer a stubborn resistance to all further Japanese progress.