CHAPTER VII.
NEW FRIENDS.
The big man paused and turned an enquiring eye upon Hal, whom he coulddimly perceive in the darkness.
"Alexis!" he echoed. "What of him? How do you know I have abrother Alexis?"
Hal replied rapidly in the Russian dialect which he had picked up duringhis service with the Cossacks, as told in the story of "The Boy AlliesWith the Cossacks," while the man listened intently. Then the giant setthe dwarf upon his feet remarking:
"Now, you just stay there a little while. I may have more to say to youlater, but right now I would know something of my brother Alexis, whom Ihave not seen in years. And my brother Stephan, also, what do you know ofhim?" he demanded of Hal.
The lad shook his head.
"Not much," he said. "But come, we'll find some spot where we can make afire and I'll tell you what I know of Alexis."
"Good," boomed the big man. "Follow me."
Without another word he turned on his heel and strode away whence hehad come. The other four followed him, Nikol the while mutteringangrily to himself.
Stubbs turned upon him suddenly.
"What's the matter with you?" he demanded. "Don't you know it's coldhere? I want to sit by the fire awhile. Keep still."
The dwarf made no reply, but became silent. It was plain enough that hestood very much in awe of Stubbs.
After a five-minute walk through the dark woods, the big Cossack wheeledsharply to the left, and walking swiftly for perhaps fifty yards drew upbefore what appeared to be a solid rock.
Looking closer in the darkness, however, Hal saw a slight opening at thebottom, the space between the rock and the ground being perhaps threefeet. The rock, apparently, rested upon more solid ground farther back.
"Follow me," said the big man again.
He dropped on his hands and knees and wriggled through the opening.
At this point Stubbs manifested a desire to leave the others inthe lurch.
"Say!" he exclaimed. "You're not going to get me under there. How do youknow what he may have in mind to do to us?"
"Come, Stubbs," said Hal. "Don't be a quitter all the time. Nothing isgoing to hurt--"
Before he could finish his sentence he felt himself seized in a powerfulgrip from behind. He twisted about with an effort and looked down uponthe scowling face of Nikol.
"Here! What's the matter?" he cried.
The dwarf grinned at him evilly, and still retaining his hold, gazedat Stubbs.
"He insulted you," he said. "What shall I do with him?"
"Great Scott! Let him down!" exclaimed the little man, anxiously. "Hedidn't do anything to me."
"But he insulted you," protested Nikol. "I heard him say--"
"Oh, that was just in fun," cried Stubbs. "Let him go."
The dwarf's hold relaxed and Hal jumped away.
"Don't try any of that on me again," he said, facing Nikol angrily. Heturned to Stubbs. "You just instruct this fellow to keep his hands offme, or I shall have to take my gun to him."
"Oh, he didn't mean any harm," Stubbs protested.
"Maybe he didn't and maybe he did," replied Hal. "At any rate, I don'tlike that kind of treatment. You tell him what I said."
"He was just sticking up for me," said Stubbs, aggrievedly. "But I'lltell him."
He did so, but the dwarf said nothing.
At this juncture the big Cossack poked his head from beneath the rock.
"Are you coming in here or not?" he demanded in a gruff voice.
"Coming," said Hal, dropping to his knees.
"Look here, Hal," said Stubbs, "I don't like the looks of this place.Maybe we had better stay outside."
"Nonsense," Edwards spoke up at this point. "The man means us no harm."
Hal had disappeared beneath the rock and Edwards dropped to his knees andcrawled after him.
"Well," said Stubbs to himself, "I don't like this, but I guess I mightas well go along."
Motioning Nikol to follow him, he, too, dropped to all fours and crawledslowly beneath the big rock.
Beyond the rock, a brisk fire made dimly visible what appeared to be alarge cavern. The fire seemed to be in the exact center of a largeunderground room and beyond it Hal thought he could make out the mouthsof dark passageways that led off in several directions.
"Come up to the fire and get warm," the big Cossack invited.
The others accepted the invitation, first discarding their heavy outergarments. When all appeared comfortable, the big Cossack spoke.
"Now," he said, addressing Hal, "tell me of Alexis. He is--"
"Dead," Hal interrupted quietly.
Ivan sprang to his feet.
"Dead!" he shouted. "And you dare to tell it to me? You, no doubt, had ahand in his death!"
"On the contrary," returned the lad quietly, "I tried to save him, asdid my chum; but it was too late. But he died like a brave man and atrue Cossack."
Ivan was silent for several moments, and then said sneeringly:
"And what do you know of the Cossacks?"
"Well, very little, to be sure," Hal confessed, "though, for a shorttime, I had the honor of serving in a Cossack regiment."
"What, you?" exclaimed Ivan incredulously. "Impossible."
"No; what I say is true," said Hal. "And it was there that I met yourbrother Alexis, than whom I have never seen a braver man."
"'Tis true," muttered Ivan. "Alexis was ever a brave man, though muchgiven to boasting. Also, barring perhaps myself, he was the most powerfulman I have ever seen."
"He was indeed," replied Hal, "and it will give me pleasure at some timeto relate to you some of the remarkable feats I have seen himaccomplish."
"Alexis has related enough," returned Ivan dryly. "But come, now, tell mewhat you know of him."
"Well," Hal began, "I met Alexis first--"
He stopped suddenly and listened attentively.
"What was that?" he demanded.
"What?" asked Edwards.
"I thought I heard a voice calling. Sounded like a cry for help."
Ivan broke into a loud laugh.
"Ho! Ho!" he cried. "Guess you heard my prisoners."
"Prisoners?" Hal repeated inquiringly.
"Yes. I came across them this afternoon. They sought to ply me withquestions. I treated them respectfully enough, but when they continued toplague me, I just picked them up and brought them here. I have asuspicion they may be Austrian spies and if there is one race of men forwhom I have no use, it is the Austrians. But they do not annoy you, dothey? If so, I shall go back and have a word with them. After that Iassure you they will annoy you no more."
"Oh, no," Hal hastened to say. "They do not annoy me in the slightest.But what do you intend to do with them?"
"Well, I don't know exactly," returned Ivan. "You know I have readsomewhat, and I remember the things I have read. For instance now, Iwould like to be like one of the old kings, or say even a present-dayAmerican, of whom I have heard much. They have slaves and things. Why notmake my prisoners my slaves?"
"I assure you you are wrong about the Americans," said Hal. "I chance tobe one myself, so I know. Of kings, I cannot say."
"Never mind," said Ivan. "We'll attend to them later on. Right now I havea desire to hear your story. Proceed."
Hal did so. He related his and Chester's first meeting with Alexis, thebig brave-hearted man who had once played an important part in theirlives, as related in "The Boy Allies With the Cossacks." He told of themany exciting adventures the three had gone through together.
And as the lad progressed with his narrative, Ivan became more interestedwith each word; and by the time Hal had come to an account of hisbrother's last great fight, Ivan was on his feet, his face glowing.
"By St. George!" he cried. "I knew he could do it. Boaster or not, he wasa brave man. But go on. And after he had killed the three Germans thereon the sand, then what?"
"Why, then," said Hal, "a German bullet struck him in the rightshoulder; a moment later
another lodged in his right side. But Alexisdid not pause. He rushed right into the thick of them, using his nowempty pistols and at last striking out with his bare fists. Men tumbledon all sides.
"From behind and from both sides, the Germans darted at him, firing theirrevolvers and stabbing him with the swords. By this time, we had finishedrepairing our machine and we rushed to his aid, and for a moment theGermans gave back. Then they closed in and we were all hard pressed.Alexis was bleeding in a dozen places but he fought on. And then aid camefrom an unexpected source."
"Where?" demanded Ivan excitedly.
"Troops," replied Hal. "Troops sent to protect the neutrality of thecountry; and with their approach the Germans who were still upon theirfeet fled. Chester and I dragged Alexis to our own craft and we alsoascended. There we did what we could for him, but he realized that he waspast aid, and he died as a brave man should. We buried him in Englandwith honor, and with him the Cross of St. George, personally bestowedupon him by the Czar."
For a long time after the lad had finished, Ivan was silent. Then hesaid, his fists clenching:
"I would I had been there! There would have been a different story totell!"
Hal was about to reply, but a voice sounded suddenly. Hal pricked up hisears. Surely he recognized that voice. The cry came again.
"Chester!" shouted Hal, and sprang to his feet.
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