Boris stepped out as lively as a kitten, but Jack, to whom the work ahead seemed to be more serious, walked quietly, with head bent. Apparently taking the lad's attitude for one of fear, the Russian guard sneered audibly. Boris caught the sound and looked up sharply. He opened his mouth to make a remark to the guard, but Jack, perceiving that Boris was about to cause trouble, raised a warning finger. Boris' mouth closed without saying a word, although Jack could see that he choked back the words at the tip of his tongue with an effort. The lad smiled to himself. "He'll be a pretty good partner," he muttered. They followed the guard until they again stood in the presence of General Surgoff. The latter eyed them evilly as they approached, and motioned for Jack to step forward. The lad did so unhesitatingly. Boris would have followed, but the guards shoved him back among the crowd of other prisoners. Jack looked quickly around as he stepped toward the Russian general. Some distance away, perhaps two hundred yards, he made out several sleighs, all ready to be put in use. "If there were only one," he muttered; and he determined in that moment to try and frighten the other horses as he leaped into one sled. He faced the Russian commander. "And how do you feel this morning?" asked the general. "Not very well, thank you, sir," returned Jack quietly. "Feel like another little whipping will do you good, eh? Well, you shall have it." "I just want to remark to you, general," said Jack quietly, "that you will rue the day you first laid the lash on me." "What! You threaten me?" exclaimed General Surgoff. "You shall have an additional ten lashes this morning, whether you stand on your feet or fall fainting to the ground. Strip him, men." The pair of Russians with their lashes stepped forward and would have laid hands on Jack; but Boris now decided that it was time for him to act. He set up a sudden wild yell, that drew all eyes in his direction. It was the moment for which Jack has been waiting. CHAPTER XXI. ACROSS THE SNOW. General Surgoff's head was turned toward where Boris and several Russian guards were struggling when Jack sprang upon his back like a cat. The general sent out a cry for help, but Jack cut it short as his hands closed about his opponent's throat. Still retaining his grasp with his left hand, Jack's right dropped to the officer's belt. A revolver was quickly drawn and the lad stuffed it into his pocket. Then he seized the second revolver, shoved the Russian officer violently from him and dashed toward the sleighs. There was a cry from behind and several rifles were brought to bear, but, even as Jack had expected, General Surgoff cried at the top of his voice: "Take him alive! Death to the man who injures him!"