"I agree with you. Having seen you shoot a time or two, I am willing to lay a small wager you will come pretty close to anything you aim at. They are pretty weapons, and that's a fact." "I am in hopes I don't have to use it," said Frank seriously, "but I can tell by the feel of it that it is to be depended on. Yes, it's a pretty handy pocket piece." "Here we are at the station," said Jack at this juncture. "In the future we'll do all our talking in German or French--French while we believe we are among friends, and German at other times. English is dangerous." Frank nodded his understanding. "I'll get the tickets," he said. He took from his pocket a roll of bills and extracted one he felt sure--he couldn't tell positively for he knew almost nothing of Russian money--was sufficient to pay for two tickets, and approaching the window said "Two to Moscow" in French. The agent passed out the tickets and Frank tendered the bill. He accepted what change was passed to him without a word and inquired the way to the train. After some little trouble they found themselves in a second-class compartment and settled back in their seats as comfortably as possible. "And here we shall stay until we get to Moscow," said Jack. "Then, if something hasn't turned up, we'll go straight to the best hotel. We may trust the Czar not to lose sight of us." Frank nodded. "Best plan, I guess," he agreed. A short time later the train started. The two lads, much to their relief, found they were to have no fellow travelers in their compartment. They conversed in low tones until the conductor came for their tickets, but once that worthy had taken his departure, Frank said: "Well, it's a long ride, and not knowing what is in store for us at the other end, I vote we try and catch forty winks." "I'm with you," declared Jack. They settled themselves comfortably and closed their eyes. Five minutes later, as the train sped on in the darkness, they slept peacefully, utterly oblivious of the danger they were in or of what the morrow might bring forth. How long they slept neither lad could tell, but it seemed to each that he had hardly closed his eyes when he was awakened by loud voices without. Both were awake instantly and as instantly each recognized the fact that the train was at a standstill. Light streamed through the window. "Must be Moscow," muttered Jack. "Right you are," Frank agreed. "But why all this fuss on the outside." "I don't know why nor what," said Jack. "If they would only talk a white man's language we might learn what it is all about." "Or German," Frank agreed. At this moment the door to their compartment was thrown rudely open and a uniformed figure--that of a colonel of cavalry--appeared in the doorway. Jack drew himself up. "What's the meaning of this?" he demanded in French. "Why do you force your way into our compartment?" "That," said the officer, also in French, "you will learn in good time. You are under arrest."