EXCHANGED 123

“T hope so,” the doctor said, shrugging his shoulders.
“There is one comfort, they can’t be much worse.” At
this moment a servant entered bearing a bowl of soup and
three basins. ‘They at once seated themselves at the table.

“So you managed to get yourself captured yesterday,”
Dr. Michaeloff said to Charlie. “I have not had the
pleasure of seeing many of you gentlemen here.”

“We don’t come if we can help it,” Charlie laughed.
“But the Cossacks were so pressing that I could not resist.
In fact I did not know anything about it until I was well
on the way.”

“T hope they have made you comfortable,” the other said
sharply.

“T can’t say much for the food,” Charlie said, “and still
less for the cell, which was bitterly cold. Still, as the
doctor gave me two rugs to wrap myself up in, I need not
grumble.”

“That is not right,” the other said angrily. ‘I hear that
the King of Sweden treats our prisoners well. You should
have remonstrated, Kelly.”

The Irishman shrugged his shoulders. ‘I ventured to
hint to the general that I thought an officer had a right to
better treatment even if he were a prisoner, but I was told
sharply to mind my own business, which was with the sick
and wounded. I said as the prisoner was wounded I thought
it was a matter that did come to some extent under my
control.”

“What did the pig say?”

“He grumbled something between his teeth that I did
not catch, and as I thought the prisoner would not be kept
there long, and was not unaccustomed to roughing it, it was
not worth while pressing the matter further.”

“Have you heard that an officer has been here this after-
noon with a flag of truce to treat for your exchange?” Dr.
Michaeloff said, turning suddenly to Charlie.