Two reports rang out; there was a groan and a strong smell of gunpowder. The lantern had been dashed to the ground and extinguished, and judging by the sounds, the other Russians were beating a hasty retreat. All remained silent for some time, then Jack said, ‘We’ve driven them off for the moment; but I should not be surprised if they waited at the mouth of the cave for us. If they do catch us our fate is sealed. After our usage of them they won’t trouble to take us prisoners.’ The lads sat down and waited for what seemed ages, but which was in reality about an hour. Then they crept noiselessly to the mouth of the cave and looked out. There, sitting round a small fire which they had somehow managed to make, were nine Russian soldiers, one having his hand bound up. Their muskets were all close handy, and they seemed ready to leap to their feet at a moment’s notice. Jack and Will crawled back again into the cave, and spite of themselves presently fell asleep. How long Jack slept he had not at the moment the faintest idea. He awoke Will softly. ‘Hist,’ he cried, ‘be silent; we’ll go and see if the Russians are still watching.’ They got up and blundered slowly along in the pitchy darkness, but they did not come to the mouth of the cave. ‘Funny,’ said Will; ‘seems we’ve come a tremendous distance, and it’s strange how fresh the air is in here.’ ‘I wonder whether there is more than one exit,’ said Jack. On and on they crept till presently a faint, very faint light, or rather less dense blackness, appeared before them. They hastened, and soon found themselves at a mouth of the cave; but it did not seem the one they had entered by. Anyway, no Russians were in sight. Jack and Will crept out and looked about them. There, a good distance away on their right, was the glimmer of a fire, and dim forms could be seen round it. ‘That’s it. This is another exit--hurrah!’ cried Jack. ‘We’ve done them after all.’ Silently the lads stole away, keeping up on the side of the hill. For half-an-hour they kept on; then they began to wonder where they were. The night was so dark and the mist so thick that it was impossible to tell in which direction they ought to go to reach the British camp. ‘Seems we’ve been on a wild-goose chase,’ growled Will. ‘I’m afraid we have,’ said Jack, ‘and the fact that we can’t see the moon prevents my being able to take our bearings.’ They descended the hill, and getting on marshy ground knew they must be near the river. ‘This is lucky,’ said Jack, ‘for we know that if we keep the river on our left we must be going towards our camp. If we keep along the ridge on our right we shall strike the outposts of the Light Division.’ ‘And very likely get shot for our trouble,’ said Will, who was wet and tired.