The farm-hand was scared, and speedily succeeded in finding a young chicken and boiling it for them. To this were added some rice cakes and some fruit, and also a pot of tea, and it is needless to say that the young Americans ate heartily.
“Let us take turns at resting,” said Gilbert. “I wouldn’t trust these Chinese.” And so it was arranged, Ben sleeping two hours and then Gilbert doing likewise. After that they ate a light dinner and rode off once more. The horses had been fed, and the rest put them in fairly good condition to continue the journey.
CHAPTER XXIX
GILBERT PLAYS THE SPY
The rain had cleared away and before long the sun shone brightly. As it was warm, the two young Americans discarded the cloaks they had taken. Gilbert now held the pistol Ben had taken from the soldier at the prison, while his chum carried the saber found on the stable wall.
“We are not very heavily armed,” was Gilbert’s comment. “But I reckon we could give a guard or two a pretty stiff fight.”
“I move we steer clear of all Russians,—if we can,” returned Ben.
“Oh, I agree on that. I’m talking about if we are discovered.”
“Perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad scheme to hide in the woods somewhere and rest until it gets dark again. We are surely on dangerous territory.”
“That’s a good idea—unless we can make certain there are no Russians around.”
Three miles were covered, and they were on the point of making a sharp turn across a small stream when Gilbert called a sudden halt.