The Boy Scouts In Russia | Page 2

Petersburg, to expel him from his dominions. He is
honored by my personal attention. I in person am executing the order of
His Majesty. I shall now conduct him to the exact border line and see to
it that he is placed on German soil. His name is Frederick Waring. On
no pretext is he to be allowed to return to Russian soil. Should he
succeed in doing so, he is to be arrested, denied the privilege of
communication with any friend, or with the consul or ambassador of
any foreign nation, and delivered to me in Petersburg. You will receive
this order in due form to-night. Understood?"
"Yes, excellency."
"Photographs will be attached to the official order." He turned again to
the boy, and for just a moment the expressionless mask was swept from
his eyes by a look of fierce hatred. "Now, then, step forward! As soon
as you have passed the line on the platform you will be on German
territory, subject to German law. I give you a word of good advice. Do
not offend against the German authorities. You will find them less
merciful than I."
"I'm not afraid of you," said Fred. He was angry, but his voice was
steady nevertheless. "You've cheated me. You've had my passport and
my money taken from me. What do you think I can do, when you land
me in a strange country in the middle of the night, without a kopeck in
my pocket? But I'll find a way to get back at you. Any man who would
treat me the way you have done is sure to have treated some other
people badly, too. And I'll find them--perhaps they'll be stronger than
I."
"Your papers were confiscated in due process," said the Russian. He
smiled very evilly. "As for your threats--pah! Do you think your word
would carry any weight against that of Mikail Suvaroff, a prince of
Russia, a friend of the Grand Duke Nicholas and General of the army?"
"Oh, you're a great man," said Fred. "I know that. But you're not so
great that you don't have to keep straight. You may think I had no
business to come to Russia. Perhaps you are right, but that's no reason
for you to treat me like this. After all, you're my uncle--"

"Silence!" said Suvaroff harshly, startled at the carrying power of the
boy's voice.
Fred stepped nimbly across the line.
"You can't touch me now, by your own word!" he taunted. "I'm in
Germany, and your authority stops at the border! I say, I could forget
everything except the way you've put me down here in the middle of
the night, without a cent to my name or a friend I can call on! You
needn't have done that. I don't suppose you took my money--you don't
need it--but you let your underlings take it."
"I do not know that you ever had the money you say was taken from
you," said Suvaroff, controlling himself. "It is easy for you to make
such a charge. But the officers who arrested you deny that they found
any money in your possession. There is no reason to take your word
against them."
Fred stared at him curiously for a moment.
"Gee! You do hate us--and me!" he said, slowly. "I think you really
believe all you've said about me! Well, I'm glad if that's so. It gives you
a sort of excuse for behaving the way you have to me. And I'd certainly
hate to think that any relative of mine could act like you unless he
thought he was in the right, anyhow!"
Suvaroff strangled with anger for a moment. His cruel eyes became
narrow.
"I have changed my mind!" he cried, suddenly. "Seize him! Bring him
back!"
Fred stood perfectly still as two or three policemen and a couple of
soldiers in the white uniform coats of Russia came toward him. He
knew that it would be useless either to run or to fight. But, as it turned
out, there was no need for him to do either, for from behind him a sharp
order was snapped out by a young man who had been listening with
interest. Quietly a file of German soldiers with spiked helmets stepped

forward.
"Your pardon, excellency," said the German officer. "It is, of course,
quite impossible for us to permit Russian officials or soldiers to make
an arrest on our side of the line!"
"A matter of courtesy--" began Suvaroff.
"Pardon again," said the German, very softly. "Just at this moment
courtesy must be suspended. With a general mobilization in effect upon
both sides--"
Suvaroff suppressed the angry exclamation that was on his lips. For a
moment, however, he seemed about to repeat his order, though his men
had