"Smack!" Another to the sore nose. And so it continued, Jack counting the blows aloud. "Sixteen," he said quietly, as he drove an extra-vicious left jolt to the man's swollen right eye. "Seventeen!" and he closed the right optic with his right. "Eighteen!" and Surgoff staggered weakly from the effect of a blow to the nose. "Nineteen!" cried Jack, as he brought the man forward with an extra-violent blow to the stomach. Then, the man absolutely at his mercy. Jack dropped his right arm low and swung from the shoulder. Straight and true went the blow and caught Surgoff squarely upon the point of the chin. "Twenty!" said Jack quietly. He turned toward where Frank was standing; and thus did not see Surgoff sink weakly to one knee and then tumble to the ground face downward. "Well, I've evened up my score," said Jack to General Burgoff. "And you have done it handsomely," was the reply. "By the Czar! this fighting with fists must be a great game. I had no idea a man could do a foe such injury." "Well, I suppose I could have done it a bit quicker," said Jack. "But I didn't want to put him out too suddenly. It would have been too merciful, and I cannot see that a man like him is entitled to mercy. Still, I flatter myself I did an artistic job." "You did," agreed the general. Jack now glanced toward his fallen foe, who was returning to consciousness. Slowly Surgoff raised himself upon his elbow; then struggled to his knees and at last to his feet. Not a hand was extended to help him. Seeing Jack standing some distance away, eyeing him, Surgoff raised a fist and shook it at the lad as hard as his feebleness would permit. "You shall pay for this," he exclaimed in a hoarse voice. "You shall answer to me some day. If I ever get you in my power, you will rue this day's work." Jack smiled scornfully. "I shall make it a point never to fall into your power," he said quietly. He turned his back upon the Russian. Now General Burgoff advanced and glared at the vanquished Russian officer. "Go to your quarters at once, sir!" he commanded. "You are under arrest." Without a word, General Surgoff turned on his heel and made his way slowly to his own quarters. "What are you going to do with him, sir?" asked Jack. "Take him before the Czar," was the reply. "But why trouble His Majesty?" said Jack. "Surely he has been punished enough. Why not let him go?" "By the Czar!" exclaimed General Burgoff again. "So you are so forgiving, eh? Now, were I in your place, I could wish nothing better than to see him hanged." "I don't want to see any man hanged, sir," returned Jack decidedly. "Well, that's the difference between an Englishman and a Russian," said the general. "However, you are the fellow who has suffered. I shall do as you suggest." "Then, sir, simply deprive him of his rank and let him go." The general threw wide his arms. "It shall be done," he said. He summoned his orderly. "Have General Surgoff brought back here," he commanded.