“But even if we do get inside the town, our plight can be no better.  The Russians’ cannon are bombarding it, night and day, and more batteries are in course of erection, and Schlippenbach the governor, who is, I believe, a brother of the general, has but a few pieces to reply to them.

“Were there an army advancing to the relief of the place, it would be different altogether, for our reinforcement might be of vital importance in repelling assaults, until aid arrived.  But there is no hope of aid.  The king’s army is some nine hundred miles away, and his hands are full.  General Schlippenbach has sent as many men as he could spare.  They say there are at least twenty thousand Russians round the town, and where is an army to come from that can compel them to raise the siege?  To my mind, we shall either be destroyed making our way into the town, or, if we do get in, shall be made prisoners of war, if not massacred—­for the Russians have but vague ideas as to giving quarter—­when the town falls, which may be a fortnight hence.”

“It seems a bad lookout, altogether,” the lieutenant remarked.

“Very much so.  The best possible thing that could befall us would be for the Russians to make us out, before we get too far into their lines, in which case we may be able to fall back before they can gather in overwhelming strength, and may thus draw off without any very great loss.”

Major Sion called the captains of the infantry companies, and the troop of horse, to a sort of council of war, when the little force halted for an hour at three o’clock in the afternoon.

“We have another ten miles to march, gentlemen, and I should like to ask your opinion as to whether it would be best to try to force our way in as soon as we get there, or to halt at a distance of three or four miles from the Russians, and make our effort at daybreak before they are fairly afoot.”

The other three officers gave their opinion in order of seniority, and all advocated the plan of falling upon the Muscovites at daybreak.

“And what do you think, Captain Carstairs?” Major Sion asked Charlie.

“I regret to say, major, that my opinion differs from that of the other gentlemen, and this for several reasons.  In the first place, if we halt so near the Russians, our presence in their neighbourhood may be betrayed by a peasant, and we may be surprised in the night.  If no such mishap should take place, we should have to be on foot two hours before sunrise.  I in no way doubt your knowledge of the road, but it is at all times difficult to make out a mere track, like that we are following, at night, and in the morning we might well find ourselves involved in the Russian intrenchments, from which we could not extricate ourselves before a large force had gathered round us, in which case we must be all either killed or taken prisoners.  My own suggestion would be that we should remain here another two hours, and then continue our march so