I beg of you, I beg of you," he repeated, "to occupy the position and prepare for an attack.

" "I peg of you yourself not to mix in vot is not your business!" suddenly replied the irate colonel.

" If you vere in the cavalry..." "I am not in the cavalry, Colonel, but I am a Russian general and if you are not aware of the fact..." "Quite avare, your excellency," suddenly shouted the colonel, touching his horse and turning purple in the face.

" Vill you be so goot to come to ze front and see dat zis position iss no goot? I don't vish to destroy my men for your pleasure!" "You forget yourself, Colonel.

I am not considering my own pleasure and I won't allow it to be said!" Taking the colonel's outburst as a challenge to his courage, the general expanded his chest and rode, frowning, beside him to the front line, as if their differences would be settled there amongst the bullets.