“Well, Mr Archer, I certainly can suggest nothing better,” the lieutenant said.  “Will you go up, then, and, get the cloaks you speak of?”

Leaving his pony with the lieutenant, Jack made his way up the hill.  Fortunately, in their descent they had followed a small track worn by persons going to and from the chateau from the valley, and he had, therefore, but little difficulty in finding the house.  He paused when he reached the courtyard, for he heard voices in the chateau.  Listening attentively, he discovered that they were Russians, no doubt some of the party who had been driven thence by the Sardinians, and who had, upon the retirement of the latter, ridden straight back from the plain.  Fortunately, the fog was so thick that there was no probability whatever of his movements being discovered, and he therefore proceeded to strip off two of the long coats, reaching almost down to the heels, which form the distinctive Cossack dress, from the dead men.  He took possession also of their caps, their bandoliers for cartridges, worn over one shoulder, and of their carbines and lances, and then retraced his steps down the hill to his companion.  Leading their ponies, they wandered aimlessly through the fog for a considerable time before they came to some trees.

“If you will hold my horse, sir,” Jack said, “I will just look round, and see if this is a small wood.  I shall lose you before I have gone a yard, so when you hear me whistle, please whistle back, but not loud, for there may be enemies close by for aught I know.  I thought I heard voices just now.”

Searching about, Jack found that the clump of trees extended for some little distance.  Returning to the lieutenant, they entered the wood, and moved a little way among the trees, so as to be out of sight if the fog lifted suddenly.  Then they loosened the saddle-girths, gathered some sticks and lit a fire, and using the Cossack coats for rugs, began to discuss the meal they had brought with them.

“If the Russians really advance again, and get between us and Balaklava, I do not see how on earth we are to pass through them,” Mr. Myers said.

“No, sir, I don’t think we could,” Jack answered.  “I should propose that we make a wide sweep round so as to come down upon the shore some distance away.  As you know, boats from the ships often land at some of the deserted places along there in search of loot; so that we ought to be able to be taken off.  If, when we are riding, we come upon any Russian troops suddenly, so that we cannot move away in any other direction without exciting suspicion, you must put a good face on it.  My Russian is good enough to pass muster as a Cossack.  All we have to do is to avoid any of these fellows, for they would detect at once that I did not belong to them.”

“Well, Mr. Archer, you take things very coolly, and I hope you will get us out of the scrape we have got into.  If I had been by myself, I should have ridden up and surrendered to the first Russians I saw.”