264 A JACOBITE EXILE

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.”

“Tt seems a bad look-out 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 Rus-
sians, 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.

“TI 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