"That's where you are wrong," said Jack. "To General Surgoff, I am too valuable to be killed offhand. He would keep me alive until he is tired of seeing me suffer. After that, perhaps, he would order me shot; but until then no. If I can get anything like a start, perhaps I can reach one of the sleighs that always stand nearby. Then I can make a dash for liberty." "By the Czar!" exclaimed Boris; "and perhaps after all you can reach the sleigh safely. I have a mind to go with you." "You are the more likely to be shot down," said Jack. "The general, I fear, would have no scruples in ordering your death." "Nevertheless," said Boris grimly, "with your permission I shall try it. Besides, if we do get away, two would be more handy than one." "True," said Jack. "Now if we only had weapons." "There may be a rifle or two left in the sleigh," said Boris hopefully. "There may be," said Jack, "but we can't bank on that. There may not be." "Then we shall have to go without weapons," said Boris finally. Jack was deep in thought. "I'm still weak from my beatings," he said at last, "but, if I am fortunate, I shall secure weapons for both of us. Not rifles, perhaps, but revolvers at least." "How?" demanded Boris excitedly. Jack smiled to himself in the darkness. "I don't know exactly," he replied quietly, "though I have half an idea. Now we shall have to map out our plan of action." "I'll let you do that," said Boris. "I am not much of a hand to figure; but when it comes to a fight you can count on me." "You look as though you could give a good account of yourself," said Jack. In the darkness he stretched forth his hand and felt Boris over carefully. The muscles swelled beneath the lad's touch and Jack knew that the Russian was indeed a powerful man. "I'm no weakling," said the Russian modestly, "but for the matter of that neither are you. I have taken note of your build and I have thought to myself that, between us, we would be a hard pair to overcome." Boris now extended a hand and felt the lad's arms and chest carefully. When he withdrew his hand he gave a grunt of satisfaction. "You'll do," he said quietly. "Now as to your plan." "Well," said Jack, "I have a half-formed plan. It will depend upon you to some extent what our chances of success are." "You can count on me to the finish," said the Russian gravely.