“Yes, the church has a strong hold on all Russian subjects.”
At this point the Americans were ordered to keep silent, and as there was nothing to do but to obey, not another word was spoken for two hours.
At noon the regiment with its prisoners stopped at a Chinese village for a brief rest. During this time a Russian officer came to Gilbert and Ben and interviewed them.
“You are Americans, I am sure,” said the officer.
“We are,” answered Gilbert promptly. He saw no reason for evading the question.
“What prompted you to join the Japanese army?”
“The love of fighting, as much as anything.”
At this the officer smiled grimly. “Have you been to war before?”
“Yes—in Cuba, in Luzon, and I was in the army that marched against Pekin, in 1900.”
“Ha, you surprise me! Then we have caught a real pair of fighters, eh? What service did you see during the march on Pekin?”