The Dark Star

"Then will you take this Russian girl to her home, Sengoun?" he asked.

And added in a low voice: "She is one of your own people, you know."

"All right," said Sengoun blissfully. "I'd take the devil home if you

asked me! Besides, I can talk to her about my regiment on the way.

That will be wonderful, Neeland! That will be quite wonderful! I can

talk to her in Russian about my regiment all the way home!"

He laughed and looked at his friend, at Ilse Dumont, at the drooping

figure he was to take under his escort. He glanced down at his own

ragged attire where he stood hatless, collarless, one sleeve of his

evening coat ripped open to the shoulder.

"Isn't it wonderful!" he cried, bursting out into uncontrollable

laughter. "Neeland, my dear comrade, this has been the most

delightfully wonderful night of my entire life! But the great miracle

is still to come! Hurrah for a thousand lances! Hurrah! Town taken by

Prince Erlik! Hurrah!"

And he seized the young girl whom he was to escort to her

home--wherever that hazy locality might be--and carried her in his

arms to the taxicab, amid encouraging shouts of laughter from the line

of cavalrymen who had been watching the proceedings from the corner of

the rue Vilna.

That shout of Gallic appreciation inflamed Sengoun: he reached for his

hat, to lift and wave it, but found no hat on his head. So he waved

his tattered sleeve instead: "Hurrah for France!" he shouted. "Hurrah for Russia! I'm Sengoun, of

the Terek!--And I am to have a thousand lances with which to explain

to the Germans my opinion of them and of their Emperor!"

The troopers cheered him from their stirrups, in spite of their

officers, who pretended to check their men.

"Vive la France! Vive la Russie!" they roared. "Forward the Terek

Cossacks!"

Sengoun turned to Ilse Dumont: "Madame," he said, "in gratitude and admiration!"--and he gracefully

saluted her hand. Then, to his comrade: "Neeland!"--seizing both the

American's hands. "Such a night and such a comrade I shall never

forget! I adore our night together; I love you as a brother. I shall

see you before I go?"

"Surely, Sengoun, my dear comrade!"

"Alors--au revoir!" He sprang into the taxicab. "To the Russian

Embassy!" he called out; and turned to the half fainting girl on the

seat beside him.

"Where do you live, my dear?" he asked very gently, taking her icy

hand in his.