The soup was pronounced excellent, and the unknown meats, prime--better than anything they had tasted since they left England.

There were sweets, too, which they made a clean sweep of.

Then they called their guard, to whom they gave the remains of their dinner, together with a strong pannikin of water and spirits, to his extreme delight.
Then, making themselves snug in the straw, wrapping themselves well in their blankets, fencing in their candle, so that it was sheltered from the draughts, they opened a bottle of brandy, drank a variety of toasts, not forgetting the health of the governor, who they agreed was a brick, they sang a song or two, then blew out the light, and, thoroughly warm and comfortable, were asleep in a minute or two.
A few days later, an officer came in, signed to them to make their blankets into a bundle, and to follow him.
The boys slipped four bottles of spirits which they had still remaining, and also the stock of cigars, into the rolls.

Then, holding the bundles on their shoulders, they followed him.
Dick, although still weak on his legs, was now able to walk.
Presently they came to a large party of men, some of whom had their arms in slings, some were bandaged on the head, some lay in stretchers on the ground.
"It is a convoy of wounded," Jack said.

"I suppose we're going to be taken into the interior." An officer, evidently in charge, saluted the boys as they came up, and said something in Russian.
They returned the salute.