Their own loss had been small, and they had inflicted great slaughter upon the head of the Russian column, and had gained a considerable number of arms.

A party which had attacked the rear of the column at the same moment when the main body fell upon its head, had for a time obtained possession of a wagon with spare ammunition, and had succeeded in carrying off the greater part of it.
The leader of the party, having given orders to his men and seen that the wounded were carried away on stretchers roughly formed of boughs, either to their own villages, or when these were too distant, to a collection of wood-cutters' huts in the heart of the forest, returned and took a seat by the lads near the fire.
"We have not introduced ourselves yet," he said in Russian, laughing.
"My name is Stanislaus Chernatony." Dick named himself and his comrades.
"Tell me now," the Pole said, "how you got here, and what are your plans." Dick in reply gave him a narrative of their adventures, and said that they were making their way to the Austrian frontier.
"It would be absolutely impossible," the Pole said, "for you to succeed in making your way in safety.

Every town is full of Russian troops, who are forever scouring the roads.

It would be out of the question for any one except a native to succeed in getting through, and even a Pole would find difficulty, so strictly is every one questioned.

Of course their object is to prevent our bands from increasing, and to capture any of us who may be returning to our homes.