That would not have saved him, however, but just as the Cossack lunged and Fred threw himself down, sure that he would either be speared or trampled by the horse, an officer dashed up and struck up the lance with his sword.
"Don't you see the white flag ?" he roared.

"We do not kill men who surrender!" "They say that the Germans are hanging every Cossack they capture," said the man, sullenly.
"Never mind what they say!" said the officer.

"Hello! That man is not a soldier at all!" "Neither soldier nor German!" cried Fred in Russian, springing up.
"Those Uhlans were chasing me! I have just escaped from the German lines.

I did not think that I should fare as badly among my friends as among the enemy!" "Nor shall you, friend!" said the Russian officer with a laugh.

"So you are a Russian?
Well, you look as if you might be anything!" "I'm afraid I do," said Fred, a bit ruefully.