There was a very passable wagon road as far as the provincial capital, Timour Khan Shoura, and by getting an early start from Petrovsk the boys hoped to cover that first stage of their journey in one day. Accordingly, they made all final arrangements the night before so there might be no delay in the morning. Their traveling-rugs and the new horsehair cloaks they would tie behind the saddles, but the pillows which they had brought with them down the Volga they could not carry any farther. Those desirable accessories to a comfortable journey they accordingly presented to the chief of police, who had taken so active an interest in their welfare. The contents of their handbag they transferred to the saddle-pockets, and the bag itself they gave to the landlord of the inn, who also had been very attentive to their needs and comfort, as far as his limited resources would allow. The saddlebags were destined to hold also a limited supply of food, consisting mainly of cheese and the hard bread of the country. The boys were on the road in the morning quite as early as they had desired, and the new horses proved admirable under the saddle, though almost too ambitious, requiring constant watchfulness. The immediately surrounding country was barren and uninteresting, but in front the ground rose gradually until, in the dim distance, it culminated in the colossal wall of the Caucasus Range, which they must cross. The principal objects of interest were the people, chiefly Tatars, whom they met, or who passed them, dashing furiously ahead on their wiry horses of the Steppes. The day wore on to late afternoon and the boys judged they were approaching Timour Khan Shoura, when there appeared a considerable cavalcade approaching them. There were a number of loose horses being driven by half a dozen soldiers under an officer, who gave a command on reaching the boys, and the soldiers drew up across the road, blocking the way. CHAPTER IV AN INVOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE RUSSIAN ARMY “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them. “They can’t be bandits; they must be soldiers, for they’re in uniform.” “I guess Russian soldiers would be as bad as bandits.” The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand. Then he made a motion which seemed to indicate that he wanted them to dismount. “He is telling us to get off,” said Sidney. “I’m not going to get off,” declared Raymond. “Show him your passport.” Sidney took out the passport and presented it to the officer, who received and read it. He then returned it with a polite bow and with a statement of which the boys understood only the words meaning “government” and “army.” Still he motioned for the boys to get off their horses.