The day, however, did not pass unnoticed, for a Russian officer who spoke English called upon them, and said that he came at the request of the governor himself to express to them his regret that their quarters were so uncomfortable and their fare so bad.  “But,” he said, “we cannot help ourselves.  Every barrack in the town is crowded; every hospital, every private house even, filled with wounded.  We have fifty or sixty thousand troops, and near twenty thousand sick and wounded.  Your people are very good not to fire at the town, for if they did, I do not know what the poor fellows would do.  For to-day the governor has sent you down a dinner from his own table, together with a few bottles of wine and spirits—­and what you will not prize less, for I see you smoke, a box of cigars.  It is very cold here.  I will see that you have some more blankets.”

Two soldiers came in with baskets, the one with tin-covered dishes, the other with wines.  These were set out on the ground, and the boys, after sending a message expressing their cordial thanks to the general for his thoughtfulness, sat down, when alone, in the highest spirits to their unexpected feast.

“This is a glorious spread, Jack.  I wonder what all these dishes are?  I don’t recognize any of them.  However, this is soup, there is no doubt about that, so let’s fall to on that to begin with.  But first of all, get out the cork of one of those champagne bottles.  Now fill up your tin, Jack, and let’s drink ’God bless all at home, and a merry Christmas to them.’  We’ll have our other toasts after dinner.  I couldn’t begin till we drank that.  Now set to.”

The dishes were not as cold as might have been expected, for each had been enveloped in flannel before placing it in the basket.  The soup was pronounced excellent, and the unknown meats, prime—­better than anything they had tasted since they left England.  There were sweets, too, which they made a clean sweep of.  Then they called their guard, to whom they gave the remains of their dinner, together with a strong pannikin of water and spirits, to his extreme delight.

Then, making themselves snug in the straw, wrapping themselves well in their blankets, fencing in their candle, so that it was sheltered from the draughts, they opened a bottle of brandy, drank a variety of toasts, not forgetting the health of the governor, who they agreed was a brick, they sang a song or two, then blew out the light, and, thoroughly warm and comfortable, were asleep in a minute or two.

A few days later, an officer came in, signed to them to make their blankets into a bundle, and to follow him.

The boys slipped four bottles of spirits which they had still remaining, and also the stock of cigars, into the rolls.  Then, holding the bundles on their shoulders, they followed him.

Dick, although still weak on his legs, was now able to walk.

Presently they came to a large party of men, some of whom had their arms in slings, some were bandaged on the head, some lay in stretchers on the ground.