“Not a word,” he said, quickly.  “Do you know me?”

Boris stared; then a smile broke out all over his face.  There was no need for him to put his answer into words.  Fred came very close.

“Speak low, but do not whisper,” he said.  “Tell me, what have they done to you?”

“Nothing.  Colonel Goldapp has been too busy to see me.”

“I don’t wonder!  Boris, this is no colonel’s headquarters.  It is more like that of an army corps.  And there is at least one general here.  His name is von Hindenburg.”

“Von Hindenburg?  He is commander-in-chief in East Prussia!  If he is here, there must be a German concentration in this region!  They did not expect that!  Oh, I must get out and get the news back—­”

“Yes.  The wireless is working.  I talked this afternoon to Suwalki.”

And in a few words he told Boris the essential facts of what had happened since the raid upon the great house on the hill on that morning.

“How often do they come in here?” he asked.

“Only when my meals are brought to me.  There will be no one else now to-night, I think, unless Colonel Goldapp sends for me.  They are very polite.  I think I shall be alone most of the time.  They have no idea that I will try to get away, because they think I know they have so many sentries and patrols about that it would be useless for me to try to do it.”

“Listen, then, Boris.  I will go now.  I think they will let me go now.  I have been working hard for them about the house.  But I will come back later.  Stay near your window, so that I can see a handkerchief if you hold it.  Then I will throw up a stone with a string tied about, and you can draw up a rope and slip down.  If this general is so important we ought to let them know.  I will send the word by wireless and then come back.”

“Good!  It is risky for you.  They wouldn’t spare you if they caught you trying to help me to get away.  But if you can manage it at all, have clothes like the ones you wear ready for me, in a bundle.  Vladimir will get them for you.”

Fred nodded, and was off at once.  He was detained a little time when he went down with the tray, but he pleaded finally with a kindly looking officer, telling him that he was very tired, and had not expected to stay away from home so long, and was allowed to go.  He went to the opening of the tunnel, found that the place was unguarded, and decided from the general appearance of the hollow that it was not visited by soldiers.  Indeed, it was within the outer line of sentries, and, in a way, safer because of that.  Had it been beyond that line, it would have been much harder to reach.

The operator at Suwalki, when he called him by wireless, complained bitterly, saying that he had been trying for hours to get an answer.  Boris’s father had been heard from and was extremely anxious to get into touch with his son.  But it seemed the news that Fred sent made up for this.  The man at Suwalki was incredulous.