“Yes.” “So much the worse for you. Come with me.” And somewhat against his will Gilbert was marched off to one of the buildings inside of the fortifications. [Pg 22] [Pg 22] CHAPTER III DETAINED BY THE RUSSIANS DETAINED BY THE RUSSIANS In spite of the fact, well known to all in Port Arthur, that the Russians allowed no foreigners in or near their forts, Gilbert was much astonished to find himself virtually a prisoner of the officer who had detained him. Almost before he knew it, he found himself in a small office attached to the fort proper. Here two burly soldiers were on guard, and each scowled ominously at him. “I reckon I’ve put my foot into it this time,” he told himself. He wished to explain to the officer, but the latter would not listen. A few words were spoken to one of the soldiers, in a Siberian dialect which Gilbert could not understand, and then the officer left as quickly as he had come. “What are you going to do with me?” questioned the young American, after a moment of silence. At this query each of the Russian soldiers merely shrugged his shoulders. [Pg 23] [Pg 23] “You have no right to detain me in this manner,” went on Gilbert. “I am an American citizen and have done no wrong.” For answer one of the soldiers motioned him to a bench and placed his rather dirty hand over Gilbert’s mouth, at the same time raising his gun. It was a hint to sit down and keep quiet, and feeling it would be useless to resist, Gilbert did as suggested. Half an hour dragged by slowly, and the young American was growing impatient, when the officer who had first accosted him came back, accompanied by a dark, surly individual
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