One soldier looked at the other, and they nodded--it was not far to
the barracks--and then turned into a small beer-garden, where drinks
were ordered. They were served by a comely young woman, who looked
with interest at the captive, for soldiers are not reticent in talking
to the opposite sex. Korniloff did not know how it came about, but
presently his companions, who took a second glass of beer, began to
feel the effects in a way that he would never have expected. Korniloff
left the table with an excuse to his comrades, who paid little
attention.
The girl, who had been watching him, beckoned to him from the side of
the house, grasped his arm, and led him to the yard.
"Flee," she said, "across those fields. I will keep them in talk. I
have put something in their beer. Flee!" she repeated, and thrust a
piece of bread and meat into his hand.
By way of answer Korniloff seized her hand, kissed her, turned on his
heel, and hastened away as quickly as he could. In a very short while
the town of Klausenburg was miles behind him. He walked almost all
through the night, fearful that a hue and cry might be raised.
The next day the general felt a new sympathy, as it were, in the air.
This was Transylvania, where he would run much less risk of being
discovered. He had seen a newspaper at the inn at Klausenburg which
told him great news--that Roumania was on the point of joining the
Allies.
He stopped two peasants and asked them where he was. They pointed out
the directions of Russia and of Moldavai.
"You're a Russian," said one the peasants, speaking in a dialect known
in the Bukovina.
Korniloff nodded, waiting to see what the result might be, but his
confession evidently evoked sympathy.
"See!" said the man, taking him by the arm. "Follow yonder brook,
cross the hill as straight as you can, and to-night you will find a
shepherd's hut on the right of the road at the bottom of the hill. Go
there and ask for Mathias Meltzer; he will help you."
With a cheery "good day" they left him, and Korniloff trudged on. After
a stiff day's march he reached the hut and found the old shepherd, with
a younger man. Korniloff repeated the message he had been told to give.
"And who are you? An escaped Russian?" asked the old man as he sat
beside his wood fire and shaded his hand to look at the stranger. "The
Russian outposts are half a day's march from here," he continued. "I
often hear the guns. To-morrow the Roumanians come in on the side of
the Allies. Soon the Russians and the Roumanians will join hands and
all this land will be laid waste."
"Will you take me to the Russians?" asked Korniloff. "It will be worth
your while."
The old man pondered for a time. "I don't mind helping a Russian," he
said, at last. "They've always been decent to me. Lie you down now and
get some sleep, for we must start before daybreak."
He handed his guest a little bread, coarse cheese, and some onions.
Korniloff made a meal and was soon asleep.
They started on their journey next morning in wet and mist. Mathias
covered the Russian with a discoloured piece of sackcloth to make him
look like a shepherd, in case they met inquisitive strangers. They kept
close to the bed of a river and a small forest, and, creeping forward
stealthily, were by midday in sight of the Russian outposts.
Here Korniloff was safe with his own people, and great was their joy
when they learned who he was. A few days later the general was able to
send a trusty messenger to the shepherd, Mathias Meltzer, carrying a
sum of money and a letter of thanks to tell him whom he had saved.