The Boy Scouts In Russia | Page 3

halted at the sight of German bayonets.
"I should regret a disturbance," said the German, still speaking in his
quiet voice. "My orders are to permit my men to do nothing that might
bring on a clash, for just now the firing of a single shot would make
war certain. Yet there is nothing in my orders to forbid me to resist an
act of aggression by Russia. We are prepared for war, though we do not
seek it."
Fred, almost losing interest in his own pressing troubles at this sudden
revelation of a state of affairs of which he had known nothing whatever,
looked fixedly at Suvaroff. He saw the Russian bite his lips, hesitate,
and finally take off his hat and make a sweeping bow to the German
officer.
"I agree, mein herr Lieutenant," he said, mockingly. "The time has
come, I think. It may be that the fortunes of war will bring us together.
Meanwhile I wish you joy of him you have saved!"
The German did not answer. He watched the departing Russians and
then, smiling faintly, he turned to Fred.
"I'll have to ask you to give some account of yourself, if you please," he
said, in excellent English. "I'm Lieutenant Ernst, of the Prussian army.

Sentenced to guard duty here--for my sins. Now will you tell me what
all this means?"
"I had a passport," said Fred directly, and meeting the German's eyes
frankly. "Prince Suvaroff is my uncle, my mother's brother. Her family
refused to recognize my mother after her marriage to my father, and so
Prince Suvaroff does not like me. I had to see him on business and
family matters. I was arrested. My passport and my money were taken
away from me--and you saw what happened. He took me off the train
and put me across the border."
Ernst nodded.
"Things are done so in Russia--sometimes," he said. "Not always, but
they are possible, for a great noble. Well, I have seen things nearly as
bad in my own Prussia! I shall have to see what may be done for you. If
you reach Berlin, your ambassador will be able to help you, yes?"
"I am quite sure of it," said Fred, eagerly. "I don't want to trouble you,
but if you could help me to get there--"
A soldier interrupted him. He stepped up to Ernst, saluted, and,
permission given, spoke in the officer's ear. Ernst started.
"One minute," he said. "I am called away--I will return in one minute."
The minute dragged itself out. In all directions there was a rising sound,
confused, urgent. Fifteen minutes passed. Then a soldier came to Fred.
"The lieutenant will see you inside," he said, gravely.
Fred followed him. Ernst, his face sober, but with shining eyes, spoke
to him at once.
"War has been declared," he said. "War between Germany and Russia!
My young friend, you are in hard luck! The train from which you were
expelled is the last that will even start for Berlin until the mobilization
is complete."

Outside there was a sudden rattle of rifle fire. Fred stared at the German
officer.
"That is the beginning," he said. "We happen to have the stronger force
here. We are taking possession of the Russian side of the border station!
I wish we might catch Suvaroff--he is a good soldier, that one at least,
and worth a division to the Russians. But there'll be no such luck. He'll
have got away, of course--a fast motor, or some such way. And they've
got more troops close up than we have."
And still Fred stared. He seemed unable to realize that this popping of
rifles, this calm, undemonstrative series of statements by an unexcited
German officer, meant that war had come at last--the European war of
which people even in America had talked for years as sure to come!
"As for you, I meant, of course, to lend you the money and let you go
on to Berlin," said Ernst. "Now I can lend you the money, but there will
be no trains. You can't stay here. The Russians, I think, will advance
very quickly, and it will not be here that we shall try to stop them, but
further back and among the lakes to the south. Even if there is a
concentration, however, foreigners will not be wanted."
"What shall I do?" asked Fred.
"You speak German?"
"Yes."
"Then I shall lend you some money--what I can spare. You can start
back toward Koenigsberg and Danzig. Your consul will be able to help
you. You can walk and the people will gladly sell you food."
"Yes, and thank you for the chance, I'm a Boy Scout; I won't mind a
hike at all."
CHAPTER II
UNDER ARREST

So it was arranged for