Dagger

A simple Moscow schoolboy Misha Polevoy comes into possession of an ancient marine dagger without a scabbard. From a familiar sailor, Misha learns that the dagger conceals a cipher that can lead to a cache sought after by White Guard bandits. Turning to his best friends Henka and Slavka for help, Misha decides to unravel the secret of the ancient weapon.
The story "Dagger" — the first part of a trilogy that also includes "Bronze Bird" and "Shot". "Dagger" earned Anatoly Rybakov all-Union fame, the story has been translated into foreign languages, adapted for film twice, and is rightly considered a classic of adventure literature.