The Cossacks did not, of course, understand one word of Jack’s speech; but something seemed to annoy them, and two or three of them, taking the whips which every Cossack carries at his saddle-bow, fell to and lashed Jack cruelly about the head and body. ‘You cowardly dogs!’ cried Jack between his clenched teeth, ‘you cowardly dogs! if ever I get a chance I’ll make you pay for this!’ Tired of using their whips, a Cossack fastened one end of his picket-rope round Jack’s neck, while he secured the other end to his saddle, then, having taken the saddle off the dead horse, the others mounted, and at a smart trot started off, Jack having as much as he could do to keep up with his brutal captors. CHAPTER XL. A FRIEND IN NEED. The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation. Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors. Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness. Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged. The man who held the rope round Jack’s neck followed, and dragged his prisoner in after him. The ford was rather deep and the current running strongly. About half-way across Jack lost his footing, and went head-first under the icy water. His hands being bound he would assuredly have been drowned had not his captor spurred his pony and dragged him quickly through the river and up on to the bank. Half-drowned, frozen to the bone, and hardly able to put one foot before the other, Jack was again jerked on to his feet, while the Cossacks laughed heartily, as though at some rich joke. For another half-mile they went forward. Then Jack, thoroughly dead-beat, feeling that death was preferable to the indignities he was suffering, threw himself on the ground, and in spite of blows with whips and lance-butts, of kicks and vituperation, doggedly refused to move. One man brought the point of his lance once or twice close to Jack’s breast, and seemed very much inclined to make an end of him; and indeed he would have done so had not he who had taken Jack’s cross, and who seemed to be in charge, positively forbidden it, ending up by dismounting and with the help of another Cossack putting Jack on his own pony, when at a walking pace they proceeded about another mile.