It was true that large quantities had been captured in the Russian camp, but, beyond a magazine of corn, abandoned by the fugitives at Tama and brought in, there was no prospect of replenishing the store when exhausted, for the whole country, for a great distance round, had been completely devastated by the Russians.

These had not retreated far, having been rallied by the czar at Plescow, and quartered in the towns of the frontier of Livonia, whence they made incursions into such districts as had not been previously wasted.
"This is dull work," Archie Cunningham said, one day.

"The sooner we are busy again, the better.

There is nothing to do, and very little to eat.

The cold is bitter, and fuel scarce.