Oshima spoke a few words to his orderly, who passed an abrupt order to two privates stationed near headquarters. They at once stepped after the Chinaman, and clapping their hands on his shoulders, turned him round in his tracks and marched him back to the tent.
Oshima viewed the coolie in silence for a moment; then said in Chinese, "What is your name, my man?"
The man held up his water-pails, as if that were a sufficient answer. He had not yet looked his interrogator in the face, but persistently gazed down at the ground.
Oshima scrutinised the fellow intently. Suddenly and without warning the officer sprang to his feet, knocked off the helmet and tweaked the supposed coolie's pigtail. Behold, it came off in his hand! The man stood erect. He dropped his burden. His countenance was pale but firm. He looked his captor in the eye.
"You are a Russian soldier?" asked Oshima.
"I am an officer in the Third Siberian Reserves," answered the prisoner calmly, in his own language. "My name is Sergius Jalofsky. Volunteers were called for to obtain information as to your forces and defences. I was one of six to volunteer. The other five have, I trust, escaped. I was to return to Liaoyang to-night."
"Search him," said the Japanese captain sternly.
From an inner pocket was produced a paper containing measurements, figures, and plans relating to the encampment. The evidence was convincing, even if the spy, seeing that escape or concealment was impossible, had not made his full confession.
"Hold the prisoner under guard," ordered Oshima. "We will hold a court-martial and settle this matter at once."
The capture of the Russian was reported at once to the colonel of the regiment, and a council of officers was convened. Five minutes' deliberation was sufficient.
"You will die at sunset," said Oshima to the spy. "You are a brave man. You shall be shot."
At a gesture of the captain the guard led away the prisoner, whose countenance had not changed nor features relaxed in the slightest degree when the sentence was pronounced.
The sun was already nearing the mountain-tops in the west, and the cool damp shadows of evening rapidly advanced.
A corporal's guard led the captive to a retired spot at a short distance from the camp. The men formed in line, with loaded muskets ready.