THE BOY ALLIES
WITH THE COSSACKS

OR

A Wild Dash Over The Carpathian Mountains

By CLAIR W. HAYES

AUTHOR OF

“The Boy Allies at Liège”
“The Boy Allies On the Firing Line”
“The Boy Allies In the Trenches”

Copyright, 1915

BY A. L. BURT COMPANY

THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS

ALEXIS–FROM HIS CANTEEN POURED WATER OVER THE LAD’S FACE.
Page 203. The Boy Allies With the Cossacks.

THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS.

CHAPTER I.
FLYING.

“What’s that below, Hal?”

The speaker was Chester Crawford, an American lad of some 16 years.

Hal Paine allowed his eyes to turn from the steering wheel and glanced over the side of the flying aëroplane.

“I don’t see anything,” he replied, after a careful scrutiny below.

“Neither do I, now,” said Chester, straining his eyes.

At this moment the third occupant of the machine made his presence known.

“Woof! Woof!” he exclaimed.

The third speaker was Marquis, a dog.

“Woof! Woof!” he barked again.

Hal, with a quick move, slackened the speed of the aëroplane, and let it glide gently closer to the earth.

“Must be something wrong,” he confided to Chester, “or Marquis wouldn’t be barking like that.”

Both lads peered into the darkness that engulfed them on all sides. As far as the eye could penetrate there was nothing but blackness, solid, intense.

“Let’s go a little lower, Hal,” whispered Chester.

Under Hal’s firm hand the aëroplane came down gently, until at last it was soaring close to the treetops. And now, suddenly, both lads made out the cause of Marquis’s uneasiness.

Beneath them were thousands upon thousands of armed men. To the north, to the south, and to the east and west the dense mass of humanity stretched out. Hal and Chester, flying close to the earth, at last could make out moving forms below them.

Suddenly it became light. Not broad daylight, but the darkness gave way enough for the lads to distinguish what lay below them. The dawn of another day was breaking.

At the same instant that the lads made out the huge mass of humanity upon the ground their presence in the air was discovered. There came the sound of a single shot and the whiz of a bullet, as it sped close to Hal’s ear.

With a quick movement the lad sent the plane soaring high in the air once more. So sudden was the movement that Chester, caught unprepared, lost his balance, and saved himself from tumbling to the ground only by clutching the side of the machine. Marquis also had a narrow escape from being thrown out. He let out a loud yelp of fear, as he was thrown violently against Chester. The lad threw out a hand and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, just as it seemed he would plunge to certain destruction.

“Say!” he called to Hal, when he finally regained his breath and his head. “What’s the matter with you? You almost dumped us both out.”

“Did I?” replied Hal briefly. “Well, as long as you didn’t fall it’s all right. We had to come up suddenly, or the chances were we would have gone down suddenly. But it’s my fault. I should have given you warning. Are you hurt?”

“No,” replied Chester.

“I’ll be careful next time,” said Hal. “You’ll have to forgive me this once.”

“Say no more about it,” answered Chester. “But what was the cause of this sudden rise?”

“Cause!” repeated Hal in astonishment. “You don’t mean to tell me you don’t know the cause? Didn’t you hear that shot?”

“Yes, I heard it. But how do you know whether it was fired by friend or foe?”

“I can’t see as that would make any difference if it happened to hit us. However, I’m morally certain they were Germans.”

“Well, maybe they were. What are we going to do now?”

“We’ll stay up here until we are absolutely certain we have passed over the German lines. Then we’ll come down.”

The machine was high in the air now, and, peering intently over the side, as he did, Chester was unable to make out anything below in the early morning light.

But in the rear, soaring high in the air, although neither lad realized it, a new danger threatened. When the presence of the boys’ plane had been discovered, a German craft had immediately risen, and was now in pursuit.

Glancing over his shoulder, Chester was the first to discover that they were followed. At the same moment that he perceived the pursuing machine there came a shot from the enemy.

There was no need for Chester to cry out to Hal. The sound of the shot told the latter of their danger, and he immediately threw the speed lever over as far as it would go.

The machine bounded forward.

But the pursuer also came on faster than before; and, while it was apparent that he was not lessening the distance between the two craft, he nevertheless was still in range, and his rifle continued to crack. However, neither the machine nor its three occupants were struck.

Chester took a snap shot at the other craft with his revolver, but the bullet fell short. While the enemy could pepper them at will with his rifle, a bullet from the lad’s revolver could not reach him.

Hal heard the sound of Chester’s revolver, and called out:

“Did you hit him?”

“No!” Chester shouted back, “he’s too far behind. But he’ll get us in a minute if we don’t do something.” To himself he added: “If I only had a rifle!”

“You be ready with your revolver,” Hal called to his friend, “and I’ll soon fix that. It’s our only chance.”

Abruptly he slackened the speed of the machine, and swiftly the enemy came on. So suddenly had Hal acted that the man at the wheel of the pursuing machine could not act promptly enough, and was within range of Chester’s revolver before he could slow down.

As the first machine righted after its abrupt halt, Chester took deliberate aim and fired, even at the moment that a bullet passed close to his head.

There was a yell from the pursuing machine. A man leaped suddenly to his feet, shaking the frail craft violently as he did so, waved his arms once, twice, and toppled into space.

“I got one of ’em,” Chester shouted to Hal, and his lips shut grimly.

“Good for you!” Hal shouted back.

Even Marquis realized that it was time to be pleased, and he sent up a sharp bark of joy. His canine intelligence told him that something that threatened had been overcome.

But the man at the wheel of the German aëroplane, now that he was alone, was not minded to give up the chase. The machine darted at the boys’ craft suddenly, and, but for the fact that Hal at that very moment happened to glance over his shoulder, the sharp-pointed prow of the German craft would have cut them down.

With a sudden twist of the wheel, however, Hal sent the machine out of the path of the German, and, as the enemy sped by, Chester took a snap shot with his revolver.

Evidently he missed, for the German checked his plane and returned to the attack.

“So,” said Hal to himself, “two can play at that game.”

Once more he avoided the German rush; and then, wheeling his own craft at the moment the German sped by, he dashed in pursuit. The enemy, doing the work of two men, did not perceive this change in tactics by his foes, and, even as he slowed down to turn and make another attack, the point of the lad’s machine plowed into him.

There was a ripping, tearing sound; the German plane wavered and started to fall as the craft in which the boys were flying dashed by. But, by a superhuman effort, the German succeeded in righting his craft.

Then, holding the wheel steady with one hand, he calmly produced a revolver and took deliberate aim at Hal.

There was a sharp crack, followed immediately by another, but Hal was unharmed.

Realizing the German’s purpose, Chester’s weapon had spoken a second before that of the enemy. The lad had not had time to take careful aim, but the bullet sped true, striking the German squarely in the forehead, even at the moment his finger pressed the trigger of his own revolver.

Chester saw the man throw up his hands and fall backward. The German plane, now without a hand to keep it steady, rocked crazily for several moments, then turned turtle and went tumbling over and over toward the ground.

“Did you get him, Chester?” asked Hal, who had not turned his head, and therefore had not perceived his own danger.

“Yes, I got him,” replied Chester simply.

“Good!” returned Hal. “And the machine?”

“Gone!”

The lads now paused to take stock of their own damage, if any. There was none. Not a German bullet had so much as struck the machine.

“They are not very good marksmen, are they?” said Hal, with a slight grin.

“Doesn’t look that way,” returned Chester. “However, maybe those fellows are not the best specimens.”

“Maybe not,” replied Hal.

“What next?” asked Chester, after a slight pause.

“Guess we might as well go on,” replied Hal. “There may be some more of those German machines flying after us, so I guess it behooves us to get away from here as soon as possible.”

“I guess you are right,” Chester acquiesced.

Once more the aëroplane straightened itself out on its course and, flying high–absolutely hidden from the ground by a dense mass of black clouds that seemed to spring up as if by magic–sped on.

Hal, with firm hands on the wheel, kept his gaze directly ahead. Chester settled himself comfortably in his seat again, and Marquis, after sniffing about for several moments, finally composed himself to sleep.

In spite of the fact that he was flying far above ground, the dog had not shown a sign of nervousness or fright. Evidently he had no fear. Possibly through his head flashed the thought that if these young boys who were caring for him had saved him once, it was no more than they would do again.

CHAPTER II.
BEYOND THE ENEMY.

Hal Paine and Chester Crawford, two young American lads, had already seen much active service in the great European war of 1914, the greatest war of all history.

With Hal’s mother they had been in the capital of Germany when the conflagration broke out. In making their way from Berlin they had been separated from Mrs. Paine and, thrown upon their resources, it became necessary for them to make their way out of Germany alone, or else to stay in Berlin for an indefinite time. The boys elected to leave.

With Major Raoul Derevaux, a French Officer, then a captain, and Captain Harry Anderson, an Englishman, they had finally succeeded in making their way into the Belgian lines. They had witnessed the heroic defense of the Belgians at Liège, and had themselves taken part in the battle. Having accomplished several missions successfully, they had come to be looked upon with the greatest respect by the Belgian commander.

At Louvain Hal was wounded, and Chester had him conveyed to Brussels. Here the lads again fell in with Captain Anderson, and, through the good offices of the latter, eventually found themselves attached to the British forces on the continent. They had gained favor in the eyes of Sir John French, the British Field Marshal in command of the British troops, and had successfully accomplished several difficult missions.

Taken prisoners by the Germans, they had been saved from death at the hands of a firing squad by the Emperor of Germany himself, and had finally been taken back to Berlin.

In the streets of the German capital, one day, a message had been put into their hands by an English prisoner, who declared that its delivery to the Grand Duke Nicholas, commander of the hosts of the Czar of Russia, was a matter of much moment.

Displaying great resourcefulness and bravery, the lads had succeeded in escaping from Berlin in an aëroplane, as narrated in “The Boy Allies on the Firing Line,” the same in which, at the opening of this story, we find them flying swiftly eastward.

Crack revolver shots, and having skill in the use of the sword and with their fists, the boys had fought themselves out of many ticklish situations. And now, free again, they were making all speed to deliver the message from the combined leaders of two countries to Grand Duke Nicholas, a message that would mean closer coöperation between the Russians in the east and the British and French forces in the west.

The Russian campaign so far could hardly be called a success. True, the first German advance into Poland, with Warsaw as its object, had been checked, and the invader had been driven back; but the mighty legions of the Czar of all the Russias could not be mobilized with the swiftness of the Kaiser’s troops; and, when mobilized, could not be transported to the front with the same dispatch.

Reënforced after their first defeat in Poland, the Germans had begun a new drive into the heart of Poland. Day after day they drew nearer and nearer to the little capital, Warsaw–the Russians retreating before them.

But now, within two days’ march of Warsaw, the Russians held steadily, and, try as he might, the German commander could not break through this line of steel. Grand Duke Nicholas, commander-in-chief of the Russian armies–who at first had been with the southern army opposing the Austrians and advancing upon Cracow, in Galicia–had hurried north, to take personal command in Poland.

His presence had instilled new vigor into the Russian troops, and, after several days of defensive action, the Russian troops had at last resumed the offensive.

It was toward this mighty army that the aëroplane that had borne the boys through the heart of the enemy was now flying swiftly.

“Seems to me,” said Hal, “that by this time we must have passed the German lines. I guess we might as well go down a bit and have a look around.”

Accordingly the machine glided nearer the earth. The day was dark and foggy, and at first the lads could discern nothing below but a great blur.

They drew closer.

At that moment there came a shot from below. Hal instinctively threw over the lever in an effort to take the craft out of harm’s way.

But the machine did not respond to his touch.

“Great Scott!” he cried. “That one bullet must have put us out of commission. We’ll have to go down, or be shot to pieces up here.”

Gently the little craft glided toward the earth; and now the boys could make out the objects below.

On all sides, stretching out as far as the eye could see, was a mighty mass of moving men.

“Germans?” asked Chester anxiously.

“We’ll soon see,” replied Hal briefly.

It was apparent now that those below, realizing that the aircraft was falling, would not fire at it again. With upturned eyes thousands of men watched the flight of the little plane, as it soared down among them.

Hal looked closely at the men, as the machine drew near the ground, and then exclaimed:

“No, they are not Germans; Russians, that’s what they are.”

Chester raised a feeble cheer.

“Hurrah!” he shouted.

Marquis, aroused by the sound of the lad’s voices, arose and stretched. Even he seemed pleased.

And now the aëroplane bumped the ground, and the lads stepped out to see a long line of rifle barrels confronting them.

The lads threw up their hands instantly, but Marquis’s back bristled and he growled threateningly.

“Keep quiet!” Chester commanded, and the dog grew still. An officer approached the lads.

“What do you here?” he demanded, in some language the lads could not understand.

The lads shook their heads, and the officer tried again, this time in German.

“What do you here?” he demanded.

As briefly as possible, Hal, acting as spokesman, explained. The officer’s incredulous gaze grew more so as the lad went on with his story. When the lad had finished, he said simply:

“I don’t believe you!”

Hal was angry in a second. He took a step toward the officer.

“What do you mean by that?” he demanded.

The officer stood his ground.

“Just what I say,” he replied. “I don’t believe you. The tale you tell is impossible.”

Chester stepped into the breach. He took Hal by the arm.

“Of course such a tale is hard to believe,” he said. “But, nevertheless, it is true. We carry an important message for the Grand Duke.”

“Well,” said the officer, “I don’t think you will see him. He is too busy to give up his time to listen to such a tale as yours.”

But at this moment a second officer, apparently the other’s superior, approached. To him, upon request, Hal repeated his story. This officer also looked incredulous, but the result was different.

“You tell a very strange story,” he said, “but it is not for me to pass upon its veracity. You shall be given an audience with the Grand Duke; but, mark me well, if it is found that you have been lying–that you have nothing of importance, it will go hard with you.”

“We have no fear of that, sir,” said Chester briefly.

“All right, then. Follow me.”

The lads did as ordered, Marquis trailing along after them. Through thousands of rapidly-moving men the lads followed the officer, and at last, after more than an hour’s walk, came to a stop, upon command, in front of a large, bewhiskered man, of imposing military stature.

“This,” said the officer who had conducted them, “is Grand Duke Nicholas.”

The officer looked down on them.

“What is it?” he demanded gruffly.

The officer repeated the story the boys had told him. The Grand Duke grew greatly interested as the story progressed, and, when the message was mentioned, he interrupted.

“Enough,” he said. “I have been expecting such a message.” He turned to the two lads. “Do you bear it?” he asked.

Hal bowed in assent.

“Then give it to me!” he cried eagerly.

Chester reached in his pocket, and a moment more the Grand Duke eagerly clutched the paper the lad handed him–a paper they had gone through so much to deliver.

The Grand Duke read the message through twice, sitting on his horse without a move, his face a perfect blank. Then he thrust it into his pocket and turned once more to the two lads.

“You have done well,” he said. “Captain, you will see that they are brought to my quarters to-night at eight o’clock. I desire to question them. In the meantime, see that they are fed and clothed properly, for it is very cold.”

The officer saluted, and the Grand Duke rode away, closely followed by the members of his staff. At a sign from the officer in whose charge they had been left, the lads followed him.

Toward the rear of the army they continued their way, coming at last upon a row of tents. Into one of these the officer led the way, the lads and the dog following him.

Here the officer quickly set out food, and the boys fell to with a will, for it was a long time since a morsel had passed their lips. Then, having satisfied their appetites, they informed the officer that they would like to rest.

The officer nodded, and showed them into another tent, where two bunks had been prepared. With a word of thanks, the boys climbed in, and the officer left them alone.

“Well,” said Chester, “we have accomplished our mission successfully. What are we going to do now?”

“I have been thinking,” Hal replied, “of how life on this side of the war arena would go.”

“You mean stay here and not return to France?” asked Chester.

“Exactly. I have read that the Russian Cossacks are terrible fighters. I would like to see some of them in action.”

“And so would I,” declared Chester.

“All right,” said Hal. “Then, if you are agreeable, when we see the Grand Duke to-night, I shall ask him if he cannot arrange to assign us to duties with the Russian army.”

In another moment the two lads, tired out, were fast asleep, with Marquis on guard.

CHAPTER III.
UNDER THE BEAR.

“So, Your Excellency,” Hal concluded, “you may see that we have had considerable active service.”

The Russian Grand Duke Nicholas did not reply for some moments. It was plain that he was greatly impressed, as he had been greatly interested in the boys’ adventures since they had taken service with the Allies just before the defense of Liège.

“Yes,” he said at length, “you certainly have seen considerable service; and, in bringing me this paper safely”–the Grand Duke tapped his breast pocket–“you have rendered an invaluable service to our cause. I am indeed glad to know you. Now, if there is anything I can do to show my appreciation, you may consider it done.”

Remembering their conversation of a few hours before, Hal started to speak, then hesitated. Realizing that the lad had something he felt a delicacy of saying, the Grand Duke said:

“Come, out with it. What can I do for you?”

“Well, Your Excellency,” said Hal, “my friend and I would like to see service with the Russian army.”

“What!” exclaimed the Grand Duke.

“Yes,” Chester broke into the conversation. “We have talked it over, and we have decided that we would like to see service in the Eastern theater of war.”

“Hm-m-m,” said the Duke, stroking his mustache, “and have you picked out the branch of the service to which you would like to be attached?”

“Yes, sir,” said Hal; “we have.”

“And that is?” questioned the Grand Duke.

“The cavalry, Your Excellency–the Cossacks.”

The Grand Duke jumped to his feet in surprise.

“Well, well!” he exclaimed. “You have certainly picked out the most difficult thing you could have asked me. Still, I have no doubt it can be arranged.”

“If it will inconvenience you, your Excellency—” Chester began.

“Tut! Tut!” the Grand Duke interrupted him, with a wave of his hand. “It shall be done. Consider the matter settled. Do you know anything of the Cossacks?”

“Why, yes, Your Excellency,” replied Hal. “We have read considerable about them.”

“Still,” said the Grand Duke, “I’ll warrant you do not know overly much about them. I’ll tell you a little, if you like.”

“We would be glad to hear Your Excellency,” said Chester.

“The Cossacks,” said the Grand Duke, “from whom the Russian cavalry is mainly drawn, form a community within the Russian Empire enjoying special rights and privileges in return for military service. Each Cossack village holds its land as a commune, and the village assembly fixes local taxation and elects the local judges. It has been estimated that the Cossacks will place 400,000 armed men in the field in this war.

“Both in historical writings and in fiction the Cossacks are often represented as little better than savages. But this is a mistake, for the level of education among the Cossacks is higher than in the rest of Russia.

“Now, the Cossacks have always been fighters–none better in the world. They have won renown wherever they have fought by their daring and bravery. But the Cossacks, to a certain degree, are clannish–they do not take kindly to those not of their kind. Which is the reason, as I said, you had made it hard for me when you asked to be assigned to a Cossack regiment. By the way, can you ride?”

“Yes, Your Excellency,” replied Hal. “We are both used to the saddle, having ridden much in America.”

“Well,” said the Grand Duke, “I will see that it is arranged. Report to me here in the morning.”

The lads saluted and took their departure, returning to the spot where they had sought rest only a few short hours before.

It was about seven o’clock the following morning when they again stood in the presence of the Grand Duke. With him was an officer in a dark uniform, that gave evidence of having seen hard service, but gaily bedecked nevertheless. He was a large man, fully six feet in height, and built proportionately. The Grand Duke motioned the boys to approach.

“This,” he said, indicating the officer who stood beside him, “is your future commander, General Ivan Jorvitch. I have informed him of your request, and my command that it be granted.”

The lads saluted the general, and he acknowledged the salute stiffly.

“I am not at all sure as to how they will be received by the men, sir,” he said to the Grand Duke.

“You will see that they are well treated,” replied the Grand Duke. “My commands are not to be treated lightly. These lads will be attached to your staff with the rank of lieutenants. They are not to serve in the ranks.”

“Yes, your excellency,” said the general, saluting.

“You will find, general,” continued the Grand Duke, “that you may depend upon them to the limit. I fancy I am a good judge of character. They have already done me an invaluable service. They may do more.”

The Grand Duke then proceeded to relate some of the lads’ exploits and informed the general of the message they had brought.

General Jorvitch thawed immediately upon hearing this, and extended a hand to each lad in turn.

“I shall be glad to have you with me,” he told them sincerely. “I feared, at first, that the Grand Duke was trying an experiment.”

In spite of the general’s first gruffness the lads had taken a liking to him. Straight and erect, with a flashing eye, he was the beau ideal of a soldier. Still, there was a slight twinkle in the corner of those same eyes, which proclaimed him a man, though stern, of a kindly disposition.

The lads thanked the general, and their interview with the Grand Duke concluded, followed their new commander back to his quarters.

“I have been ordered to advance,” the general informed them as they made their way along, “and as soon as I have introduced you to your fellow officers and procured you uniforms and horses, we shall proceed.”

An hour later, in true Russian garb and astride two fiery chargers, the lads made their way forward with the rest of the troop. In all there were probably 10,000 Cossacks in this advance.

With one of the Cossack officers, a young lieutenant, huge in stature and pleasant of face, the lads at once struck up a friendship. He stood at least six feet six and seemed a Goliath in strength. He it was who picked their horses for them, and obtained their uniforms. Some of the other officers, while not openly hostile, still were disdainful of the two boys, and plainly not well pleased with their company.

“Have you any idea where we are bound?” asked Hal in German of their new friend, who introduced himself with a swagger as “Lieutenant Alexis Vergoff.”

“Lodz; and when we get there we’ll make the Germans hard to find,” was the answer, made in a loud, boasting tone.

Hal and Chester glanced at each other and smiled quizzically. The same thought was in the mind of each: “He talks too boastfully to be much of a fighter.”

Alexis noticed the interchange of glances, and the quizzical smiles. He realized their meaning in an instant.

“You think I won’t fight, eh?” he said loudly. “Alexis Vergoff not fight? Ho! Ho!”

He threw back his head and laughed loudly. The boys were not impressed.

“Worse and more of it,” thought Hal to himself.

Chester was of the same opinion, but he did not say so aloud.

“Why,” continued Alexis, “I’ve fought more battles than you will ever hear of. I have killed twenty men.”

“Twenty is a good many,” said Hal softly.

“True! True!” shouted Alexis, “but I’ll kill twenty more in the next battle, just to show you. You shall see what sort of a man Alexis Vergoff is!”

“I am afraid we shall see too soon,” muttered Chester to himself.

“Why,” went on Alexis, “it was only a month ago, before being ordered to the front, that I slew five men single-handed!”

“Great Scott!” muttered Hal. “I wish I had not started him. He’ll never let up now.”

“It was at my mother’s home,” continued Alexis. “I reached home unexpectedly. Five men had surrounded her and threatened to kill her unless she gave them money she kept in the house. One had drawn a knife just as I entered the room. No one saw me enter, and I was upon them before they knew it.

“I picked up the man with the knife as though he had been a child, and threw him bodily upon the other four. He had no time to strike at me with his knife or even drop it. The other four went down in a heap. The knife of the first man was buried in one of his companions, and so there were only three who could stagger to their feet. I picked up a lamp that stood on the table. This I hurled at another. It struck him squarely on the head, and rebounded against the head of another. Both men went down with cracked skulls. The fifth man turned to flee, but picking up a knife, I hurled it after him. It stuck in his back, and he ran half a mile before he fell down dead. The next man jumped for me—”

“Hold on!” said Hal, laughing. “You said there were only five, and you have already killed them.”

“True!” muttered Alexis, though in no wise taken aback. “It was in another fight where I killed six men. I always get them mixed up. In that fight—”

“Save that for another time,” said Hal, restraining his laughter with difficulty.

“Don’t you want to hear it?” demanded Alexis in surprise. “I always like to hear a story of a good fight.”

“I believe you would rather tell one,” replied Hal.

Alexis looked very much crestfallen.

“Do you think I made that up?” he asked in consternation. “Why, I can tell you of other fights I have had that—”

“I don’t doubt it at all,” said Hal. “I am willing to admit that you can draw the long bow to the Queen’s taste.”

“Draw the long bow?” repeated Alexis, puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“It wouldn’t do for me to tell you,” replied Hal chuckling to himself. “Ask someone else.”

Alexis turned to Chester.

“Do you know what he means? Will you tell me?” he asked.

“Yes, I know what he means,” replied Chester, laughing, “and I believe he is right. However, it wouldn’t do for me to tell you either. You must ask someone else.”

Alexis turned to the man on his right, and repeated his question. The man acknowledged he knew no more what the expression meant than Alexis himself.

Alexis accosted several other officers, but with no better luck. He turned to Hal aggrieved.

“You should not have said that unless you tell me what you mean,” he said.

“Ask Colonel Bluekoff, perhaps he may tell you,” said Hal.

Alexis approached the Colonel.

“What is it, sir?” asked the latter.

“Colonel,” said Alexis, saluting, “can you tell me what drawing the long bow means?”

The colonel looked at him in amazement. Then he said sternly:

“Get back to your place, sir. This is no time for joking.”

Alexis returned to his place.

“Did he tell you?” asked Hal.

“No,” replied Alexis, “but I’ll find out, if I have to put off killing one of my enemies to ask him about it.”

CHAPTER IV.
LODZ.

There came a sudden command from Colonel Bluekoff, and the regiment to which Hal and Chester were attached galloped forward. The advance guard could be seen falling back, firing as they retreated upon the main body of cavalry. They had encountered a force of the enemy.

With Colonel Bluekoff leading, his sword whirling about his head, the troop dashed forward at a charge. As they went by, the retreating advance guard reformed and also dashed forward with them. From ahead came several puffs of smoke and the cracking of rifles, and here and there a man fell to the ground. But the rest dashed on.

The Cossacks did not fire a shot and soon the enemy had disappeared in the distance.

“A reconnoitering force that must have gotten around Lodz in some way,” Colonel Bluekoff told his officers.

The regiment now fell back upon the main body.

“That’s two more,” said Alexis complacently to Hal and Chester.

“Two more what?” demanded Hal.

“Two more of the enemy I have killed,” said Alexis without a suspicion of a smile. “Didn’t you see them go down when I fired?”

“I didn’t know we fired a shot,” said Chester, with a laugh.

“Sh-h-h,” whispered Alexis, “do you want to get me into trouble?”

“Trouble,” said Chester. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t you know I’d get into trouble if the colonel knew I had fired without orders, even though I killed two of the enemy.”

“Great Scott!” muttered Hal to himself. “He is the limit.”

Alexis showed his revolver to Hal and Chester.

“Little invention of my own,” he said. “Now I’ll leave it to you, you didn’t hear me when I fired, did you?”

“No,” said Chester emphatically, “I did not.”

“I knew it,” exclaimed Alexis triumphantly. “You see,” he explained, patting the revolver, “that’s how I was able to kill two of the enemy without you hearing the sound of my revolver. Little invention of my own. No noise, no smoke.”

Hal stretched out a hand.

“Let me have a look at that wonderful weapon,” he said.

Alexis drew back, and returned the revolver quickly to its place.

“No,” he said seriously. “I wouldn’t trust it out of my own hand. If it’s not handled just right, it might get out of commission, and I don’t believe I could make another like it.”

Hal whistled softly to himself.

“He’s the best I ever heard,” he said to himself, “and I’ve heard a whole lot of ’em at one time or another.”

Alexis rode ahead as complacently as before, whistling softly to himself, pausing once just long enough to turn to Hal and ask:

“Have you decided yet to tell me what you mean by drawing the long bow?”

“While you have a gun like that in your possession, I wouldn’t tell you for the world,” replied Hal.

Now the column, at a command from General Jorvitch, increased its pace. In the distance could be made out the buildings of a large town.

“Lodz,” said Alexis briefly, pointing ahead.

Hal and Chester acknowledged they understood. The troop continued onward.

Lodz, an important railroad center, was one of the most important towns in Poland, and the Grand Duke had decided that it must be held at all hazards. There was already a large body of troops stationed there, but the Grand Duke had not considered them sufficient to hold off the ever-increasing horde of the Kaiser. Even now large masses of infantry were being thrown forward to reënforce the troops already there.

Acclaimed on all hands, the Cossacks rode rapidly through the town and went into camp at the side facing the Germans. Outposts were thrown out and the Cossacks sat down to a day of waiting.

Having secured permission, Hal, Chester and Alexis walked back toward the town. For several hours they strolled about, looking in the windows, and purchasing several small articles.

The people of Lodz were serene in their belief that there was no danger of a German invasion, in spite of the nearness of the foe. Shops and stores, theaters and all buildings were gaily decorated, and thousands promenaded the streets. The city was in festival attire.

“Looks like they were preparing for a celebration,” Hal remarked to Chester.

“I should say it does,” the latter returned. “But it wouldn’t take the Germans long to wreck the town, if they once got here. You remember Louvain?”

“Well, they won’t get here,” Alexis broke in. “One Cossack is always good for ten Germans. Why, I remember—”

“Tell us later,” Hal interrupted. “We want to look about a little now.”

The three entered a store, where, Alexis’ eye having been caught by a red necktie, the Cossack purchased it. The necktie in his pocket, he leaned over the counter and asked the salesman:

“Say, what does drawing the long bow mean?”

Hal and Chester burst into a loud guffaw, and the salesman, drawing back, suddenly turned and disappeared.

A man in civilian garb, who stood nearby, also broke into a loud guffaw. Alexis turned on him angrily.

“What are you laughing at?” he demanded.

“Why, I’m laughing at you,” replied the man calmly. “What about it?”

Plainly Alexis was astonished at this reply. He drew back.

“Oh, I guess it’s all right,” he said pleasantly. “I wasn’t sure, that’s all.”

“And who are these children you have with you?” demanded the man.

Hal answered this question himself.

“None of your business,” he said shortly.

“Is that so?” said the man, stepping forward. “What if I should make it some of my business?”

Hal smiled.

“I don’t think you will,” he said quietly.

The man, large, though somewhat stout, with a red, evil-looking face, stepped quickly forward, and tapped Hal lightly on the cheek with his hand.

“Let that teach you not to talk back to your elders,” he said.

“And let that teach you not to interfere in other people’s business,” said Hal, also taking a step forward, and tapping his opponent lightly on the cheek.