Before starting, the boys had a long chat with their friend the doctor, who furnished them with military passes which he had procured from an officer.

These testified that Ivan Petrofski and Alexis Meranof, of the 5th Polish Regiment, were proceeding home on sick-furlough.
The signature of the colonel was no doubt fictitious, but this mattered but little.

Jack inquired whether their absence in the morning would not be likely to be remarked; but the doctor said that the head of the party had been informed by Demetri that the two strangers would only accompany them for a few days' march, and had only been hired to satisfy the authorities that the right number of men had been furnished, for the want of hands on the estate was now so great owing to the heavy drain of conscripts to fill up the losses caused by the war, that the count had been glad to retain the services of the two who had been left behind.

There was therefore to be no remark concerning the disappearance of the new hands, but the others were to take charge of their carts, and if possible the authorities were to be kept unacquainted with the fact that their number was incomplete.
The peasants' dresses were now exchanged for the uniforms of Russian soldiers.

Dick's head was wrapped in bandages, and his arm placed in a sling.