"What new madness is this?" asked Maritza, crossly. But, like Dick, she knew well enough that she would learn nothing from Stepan until he was ready to tell her. So she obeyed, grumbling.
"Ready? Go and put on your warmest clothes, then!" said Stepan. "Better—I will lend you some of mine. You have none that are warm enough!"
"None that are warm enough? What nonsense! It isn't very cold—and I have a thick overcoat!"
"But you can't wear that! Come, I will show you."
Dick roared with laughter when he and Steve were finally arrayed to Stepan's satisfaction. First each had put on two suits of thick woolen underwear, and two pairs of thick woolen socks apiece. The socks were so thick that they had to have resort to shoes that belonged to Stepan's father, since they could not get on their own. Then heavy winter suits of Steve's, with a sweater apiece under the coats, and on their heads fur caps, with ear muffs.
"Are we going to the North Pole?" asked Dick.
"Never mind! I'll promise you that before long you will wish that you had warmer clothes still!"
"I don't believe it, Steve! I don't see how it's possible! I'm suffocating now—and I've been out, and know how cold it is."
Stepan did not answer. Instead, he led the way downstairs, and going into the garden, peered out until a cart came up, driven by a peasant. This cart apparently contained potatoes—and in reality, too, although in a few moments the two scouts were hidden under the load.
"This is a loyal peasant—and one of our best spies!" said Stepan. "The Austrians trust him because he seems to be so stupid, and so we can pass through the line of sentries to the south. If we tried to walk we would be turned back. He is taking these potatoes to the advanced positions of the Austrians."