Page 257 - A Jacobite Exile

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