CHAPTER XI.
TWO TO THE RESCUE.
As friend and foe alike bore down on him, Hal saw Chester raise himself.He got to his knees, struggled to his feet, staggered, and then fellback again.
The Germans rushing toward the lad numbered twenty--Hal counted them.They were approaching the prostrate form of the lad as rapidly as theycould, afoot. But Alexis was nearer, and it was evident that he wouldreach the lad first.
The giant Cossack covered the intervening space with long bounds, goingat a speed of which Hal had not deemed him capable.
And now, as he came close to Chester, a second form bounded after him.There was a flash of a hairy body as Marquis leaped forward and set outafter Alexis. He came up with the latter before he reached Chester, andthey came to the lad's body together.
In the meantime, Hal and Stephan kept up a steady fire with theirrifles, pouring a hail of bullets in the direction of the advancingGermans. One man fell, but the others dashed on.
At this point Hal made a startling discovery. The magazine of his weaponwas empty and he had not another cartridge. At the same moment Stephanfired his last remaining shot. Hal sprang forward and seized the weaponAlexis had thrown down when he dashed to Chester's aid. It was empty.The lad uttered a cry of dismay, and turned his eyes. The two still hadtheir revolvers, but the distance was too great for a pistol bullet.
Alexis, having reached Chester's side, knelt and raised the lad's headto his knee. Hurriedly he drew his canteen and poured a little waterdown his throat. Chester looked up into the Cossack's face and smiledfeebly. Alexis tried to place him upon his feet, but the lad was tooweak to stand.
A fierce growl from Marquis, who had been standing guard over the two,with bared fangs and bristling back, called Alexis to more serious work.The Germans, apparently fearing nothing at the hands of one man, awounded boy and a dog, had come within fifty feet without firing a shotat the trio. Now, as they approached closer, the leader of the bandcalled out: "You are my prisoners!"
Without waiting to reply, Alexis leaped toward them. His sword flashedfrom his scabbard and whirled aloft even as he jumped. He was among theenemy before they realized what had happened.
The suddenness of the giant's spring stood him in good stead. Before arifle or a revolver could be brought to bear on the huge form, Alexishad come to such close quarters with his foes as to prevent the use offirearms. The German leader did draw his revolver, but the melee was sofierce and men were tangled up so that he was unable to fire for fear ofhitting one of his own men.
To the right, to the left, and straight ahead darted the fiery sword ofthe giant Cossack. The Germans gave back before the very savageness ofthis attack, but Alexis kept close in among them, for while he wasfighting mad, he was still cool enough to realize that his hope of lifelay in his keeping in the center of the enemy.
Before the thrust of the angry sword three men fell. The blades of theothers who encircled him hissed above his head, flashed by his side, buthis single weapon so far had formed a perfect barrier. Not a thrust or aslash had passed it. Ten swords clashed against the giant's blade atonce. With a quick move, he swept them all aside, and with a quickthrust disposed of another of the enemy.
With a rapid spring forward he avoided the weapons that would have beenburied in his back by his foes in the rear, and sweeping his swordaround his head with such rapidity that he seemed a circle of fire, fora moment he cleared a space around him.
But in that instant the German officer brought his revolver to bear andfired.
Alexis had perceived this move out of the tail of his eye and, leapingstraight forward into the midst of the foe once more, escaped thebullet.
Whirling his sword about his head, the Cossack spun on his heel. Theguard of the German soldiers was not strong enough to ward off thisterrible blow. Two swords went spinning in the air, and Alexis' weapon,sweeping through one of the enemy, also cut down another. But again theCossack had left an opening for the officer's pistol, and the latter wasnot slow to take advantage of it.
Slowly he raised his weapon and took careful aim. He had determined notto miss this time. His finger tightened on the trigger, and----
Aid came from an unexpected source.
Marquis, who, up to this instant, had remained alert over Chester, hadnot taken a hand in the battle. His eyes fastened at this moment on theGerman officer, his canine intelligence told him as clearly as wordsthat his giant friend stood at death's door. With one fierce growl, hesprang from Chester's side, and leaped upon the German officer frombehind, even as the latter pressed the trigger. The officer's aim hadbeen deflected, and the bullet passed over Alexis' head.
The German turned upon this new assailant with an imprecation. His handwent to his holster in an attempt to draw his second revolver. ButMarquis was prepared for this move. His teeth met in the officer's handand the latter yelled with pain.
Marquis released his hold and sprang straight at his enemy's throat. Thelatter was thrown from his feet by the force of this attack, and infalling his head came in contact with the sharp barrel of his revolver,knocking him unconscious.
Marquis, now having entered the battle, had no thought of leaving Alexisto fight it out alone. Once in the fight, he was there to stay. Hesprang forward and leaped upon a German soldier who at that moment wouldhave plunged his sword into Alexis' defenseless back. The man gave achoking cry as the teeth of the dog found lodgment in the back of hisneck and he was borne to the ground.
And still the giant Cossack, with herculean strength and unbelievableprowess, was fighting his assailants. A sword had pierced him throughthe left hand, another had scratched his cheek and a third had struckhim in the right shoulder. But still, unmindful of these wounds, hefought on with the same determination and courage as before.
Marquis, having dragged the man off his back, Alexis plunged into themidst of his enemies anew. Two more were pierced through and through bythe quick and mighty thrusts of the powerful arm. Another dropped with ableeding head, as Alexis caught him squarely with a quick back-handedblow just in time to avoid the point of the other's weapon.
Now there were but eight Germans left, and these leaped quicklybackward, thinking to put enough distance between them to allow them todraw the revolvers. But Alexis gave them no time for this. Springingafter them as they turned to flee, he cut two more down with mightystrokes. Then the others scattered. The Cossack sprang after one anddisposed of him before he could draw his pistol, but the others now hadhad time to get their guns.
A bullet struck Alexis in the right shoulder, but he did not evenstagger. He rushed quickly upon one of his enemies, who stood with arevolver pointed squarely at him, his finger on the trigger. There was asharp report, followed instantly by another and the German fell to theground with a bullet in his head. Alexis sprang out of the cloud ofsmoke unharmed.
This time the Cossack had been saved from death by the hand of Chester.The lad having recovered sufficiently to take in the scene about him,had staggered to his feet, thinking to go to the aid of his companion.But he was so weak he could not stand. Then, seeing the revolver droppedby the German officer, he had crawled toward it. At last he reached it,and he had just time to aim and fire before the man who had drawn a beadon Alexis could pull the trigger.
There remained but four Germans on their feet, and these, havingwitnessed the mighty prowess of the giant Cossack, turned to flee. ButAlexis was after them in a flash. His blood was up, and though bleedingin a dozen different places, he had no mind to quit the battle until thelast of his enemies had been laid low.
But the fleeing Germans, unfortunately for them, had turned their facesin the wrong direction. Hal and Stephan, who had been struck spellboundby the terrible fighting of their friend and brother, saw the four mencoming toward them, weapons in hand, with Alexis in hot pursuit. Quicklythey aimed and fired. At this distance a miss was impossible. TwoGermans staggered in their stride, reeled, and dropped over backward.
The others halted, appalled by
the forgotten presence of this new enemy.The stop was unfortunate for them. Alexis bore down on them like anavenger, and close on his heels came Marquis. The Germans hesitated,then started to run. It was too late.
Alexis' mighty sword cut down one before he had taken a dozen steps. Theother, bewildered, and not knowing which way to turn, threw down hisweapons and raised his hands in token of surrender.
Alexis, however, did not perceive this move. The light of battle stillflashed in his eyes, and he could see nothing but glittering swords andshining revolver muzzles. His upraised sword would have split the headof the German, had not Hal, stepping forward quickly, caught the blowupon his own weapon.
"Alexis!" he cried sharply.
The giant paused and looked around as one in a dream. Then he slowlyraised his sword, gazed at the lad blankly for a few seconds, spun twicearound and fell forward on his face. He had swooned.
Stephan leaped forward, and from his canteen poured water over the faceof his brother. Knowing that the giant was in good hands, Hal dashedforward to where Chester still lay, having fallen back after firing theone shot. The prisoner, now unguarded, took to his heels and was soonout of range.
"Are you badly hurt, Chester?" asked Hal, anxiously, bending over hisfriend.
"I feel pretty weak," was Chester's reply. "But I don't believe I amseriously hurt. A bullet must have grazed my temple, and the force ofthe shock put me out. But say! Isn't Alexis a terrible fighter?"
"I should say he is," answered Hal. "I don't believe anyone ever sawsuch fighting before. Certainly not since the days of Hereward."
Hal assisted Chester to his feet and, supporting him by an encirclingarm, led the way to where even now Alexis, having received first aidtreatment at the hands of his brother, was sitting up and gazing aboutsomewhat vacantly.
Chester spoke to the big Cossack.
"I owe my life to you," he said simply. "I shall never forget it."
"That's all right," replied Alexis. "I remember now. It was quite afight, wasn't it? But I remember once when I was attacked by----"
His voice died away, and he sank to the ground again.
His friends bent over him anxiously, and Hal placed a hand over hisheart. It was beating regularly while his deep and regular breathingproclaimed his condition.
"He is sleeping," said Hal quietly.