“Thank you,” Dick said in his best Russian, and speaking in a feigned voice.  “Will you tell my father that we will return in a few minutes?  Drive on,” he said to the coachman.

The officer sat for a minute looking after them, for something in the accent with which Dick spoke seemed strange to him, but being fortunately unacquainted with the ladies of the general’s family, he suspected nothing wrong.  It was evident to the boys, however, that the coachman was struck with the sound of the voice, as he rapidly spoke to the man sitting next him, and the latter once or twice endeavored privately to glance back.

They had now reached the promenade, which, owing to the governor’s order that all inhabitants should keep their houses, was entirely deserted, except by a few Russian officers walking or riding.  These all saluted as the general’s carriage passed them.  On reaching the end of the drive the coachman was about to turn, when the lads jumped to their feet, and commanded him to stop.  The coachman looked round astonished, but at the sight of two pistols pointed at their heads, he and his fellow-servant, with a cry of alarm and astonishment, leaped from the box.  Jack in an instant scrambled over and seized the reins.  The soldiers had halted upon seeing the carriage stop, and remained stupefied with astonishment as they saw the two servants leap off, and one of the ladies climb into their seat.  Nor did they move until the servants, running up hastily, explained what had happened.  Then, putting the spurs into their horses, they galloped forward.  Dick, who was looking back, saw at the same moment several horsemen at full gallop appear at the other end of the promenade.

“The general has found out the trick, Jack,” he said.  “Keep them going steadily and steer straight.  I can answer for those fellows behind.  They can’t be sure yet what’s up.”

As the soldiers approached, Dick leaned his pistol on the back of the carriage and took a steady aim, and when they were within twenty yards, fired, aiming at the head of one of the horses.  In an instant there was a crash, and the horse and rider were on the ground.  The other soldier at once reined up his horse, bewildered at what had happened, and not knowing even now that the carriage was not occupied by the general’s daughters.

“That’s right, Jack,” Dick said.  “We have got nearly half a mile start of the others, and the forest is, Miss Sinclair said, scarce three miles away.  Let them go it, but be sure you steer straight.”

The horses were now tearing along at a furious gallop.  Presently another long, straight bit of road enabled them to see their pursuers again.  The horsemen had been increased in number by the officers who had been riding in the promenade, and were now some twenty in number.  Of these, at least half whose helmets glistening in the sun showed Dick that they were soldiers, had already fallen in the rear, the others had gained upon them considerably.  They were now, however, fully half way to the forest.