We started for Krasnoyarsk on the 12th, and before long found it necessary to get the machine guns and hospital equipment ready for instant use.  After standing to arms all night we arrived, at midday on the 13th, at Klukvinah, the Russian Headquarters, and discovered that the Government forces had driven the enemy back from the railway, and that the remainder of our journey to Krasnoyarsk would be practically safe.  We arrived about 9.15 P.M. on Wednesday, the 13th.

Colonel Frank, Madame Frank, myself and the Czech interpreter, Vladimir, were passing through the station on our return from the town about 12.30 midnight, when a rather exciting incident occurred.  The station commandant approached Colonel Frank and appealed to him for help to send home a party of Serbian soldiers who had procured drink without payment at the point of their swords and revolvers, and had stripped a young woman passenger and exposed her for their orgies.  Other bestial things were alleged against them, but no one had so far dared to interfere to restore order.  After a moment’s consideration Colonel Frank decided to go into the buffet and ask them to go quietly home, and if they refused, to secure force to arrest and remove them.  I naturally followed.

It was a big stone-floored room with the door at one end and a long bar at the other.  The alleged Serbian soldiers were seated in a cluster on the right in front of the bar at the far end of the room.  Colonel Frank advanced to them and said, “Brothers, you have had enough to drink, you are keeping all the attendants from their proper rest; it is time for you to go home.”  It was like an electric shock.  About a dozen of the ruffians sprang to their feet hurling every possible Slavonic epithet at this brave Russian officer who was merely performing a public duty.  One dark-visaged Serb cavalryman drew his sword and tried a lunge at the colonel across the table, and while the colonel watched this infuriated aborigine a Serbian officer close behind Frank tore the epaulette from the colonel’s uniform and trampled it underfoot, shouting, “Death to this officer of the old regime!”

I picked up the epaulette just as the other Serb, sword in one hand and revolver in the other, edged round the tables to the centre of the room for his attack upon my liaison officer.  I did not think of drawing my own weapon, and so far it was man to man.  Colonel Frank kept his eye fixed upon his antagonist, and now advanced towards him, ordering him to put down his arms and leave the room.  But the Serb was out for blood and made a slash at the polkovnika’s head, the full force of which he evaded by ducking, though the sword severed the chin strap and button of his cap and carved its way through the thick band before it glanced up off the skull, helped by his right hand, which had been raised to turn the blow.  At the same instant Colonel Frank fired point blank at the man’s face; the bullet entered the open mouth and came out