Boy Allies in the Balkan Campaign; Or, the Struggle to Save a Nation

by Clair W. Hayes

  CHAPTER XI.

  A FIGHT.

  All the others in the cavern were on their feet now, all save Nikol, whostill lay unconscious where Nicolas had hurled him. Stubbs shrank back inthe dark, but Hal, Chester and the two British officers quickly producedrevolvers with which they covered Nicolas.

  Ivan, out of the tail of his eye, caught sight of these movements. He letout a roar even as Nicolas sprang upon him.

  "Put up those guns!" he shouted. "I'll attend to this fellow with my barehands. Stand back!"

  There was something in the voice of the big Cossack that impelled theothers to obey; and they drew back, circling about to watch the struggle.Even Stubbs picked up courage enough to come forward; and hardly had thefight begun when Nikol, too, pulled himself up and cast his eyes upon thecombatants.

  Nicolas sprang upon Ivan with outstretched arms, his fingers spread wide.His object was to clasp one of his strong hands about Ivan's throat, thusobtaining an advantage at the outset. But Ivan had divined his intentionat the moment he sprang, and ducking with remarkable agility for a man ofhis size, he came up inside the other's arms and grasped his opponentaround the middle with both arms.

  Then he squeezed; and the spectators drew their breaths audibly, for itseemed that no man could stand such a strain. But Nicolas bore up underit, and when Ivan, out of wind, was forced to relinquish his hold,Nicolas whirled upon him quickly and the fingers of his left hand sankinto the Cossack's throat. Chester uttered a faint cry of alarm, for ahold such as this, obtained by such a powerful man as Nicolas, was indeeda thing to be feared. Ivan leaped quickly backward, carrying Nicolas withhim, but the latter retained his hold; and then he brought his right fistup under Ivan's chin. It was a hard blow and Ivan staggered.

  With his left hand, Nicolas jerked the big Cossack forward again, andshot his right fist into Ivan's face as he did so. Then, apparentlythinking his opponent done for, he released his grip on Ivan's throat andstepped back.

  But he had counted without the endurance and courage of the giantCossack. The fingers about his throat gone, Ivan, his head reelingdizzily from the effects of the hold and the two hard blows, staggeredback several paces; then, with a loud cry, sprang forward again.

  Nicolas also cried aloud as he stepped forward to meet the antagonist heconsidered all but beaten. Ivan came forward with arms outstretched, andunheeding the two hard blows that Nicolas struck him, he again graspedthe Montenegrin in a tight embrace. Nicolas wrapped his arms about Ivan;and there they stood for the space of several seconds, each vainly tryingto move the other.

  Suddenly Ivan gave back a step and as Nicolas came forward with him, theCossack thrust a leg behind his opponent and pushed with all his might.Nicolas was caught off his balance and before he could recover himselfIvan twisted sharply with his leg. Nicolas went over backwards, with Ivanon top of him.

  The two men struck the floor with a terrible crash; a cry was wrung fromthe spectators, for it seemed that a fall with such force could meannothing less than broken bones for one of the fighters. But apparently itdid not; for, still locked in each other's embrace, the men werestruggling furiously for advantage upon the floor.

  Ivan was still on top, but the Montenegrin, with both arms around theCossack's neck, was making desperate efforts to roll his opponent over.

  Nicolas lay squarely upon his back and Ivan's arms, wrapped around him atthe moment of encounter, were pinioned beneath the other. The big Cossackwas making strenuous attempts to free his right hand and still hold hisopponent down with his great bulk. And at last he succeeded.

  At the same moment Nicolas also released his hold and flopped over on hisface. Apparently he had given up all hope of overcoming Ivan and was nowacting purely upon the defensive. Ivan acted too late to prevent hisopponent from turning over, but now he seized him by both shoulders, andplanting his feet firmly upon the ground, by a mighty effort, jerkedNicolas to his feet.

  It was a marvelous exhibition of strength and brought a cry from Stubbs,than whom there was no more interested spectator of the struggle. Nicolasnow whirled suddenly and his right fist caught Ivan a terrible andunexpected jolt on the point of the chin. Ivan reeled back several pacesand Nicolas followed him closely, shouting:

  "I've got you!"

  The words seemed to have a strange effect upon Ivan. He seemed to recoverhimself with an effort and his right and left fists shot almostsimultaneously in mighty blows. The first went wild, but the secondcaught Nicolas squarely upon the side of the neck and checked his rush.Before he could give ground, Ivan brought his huge right fist forwardagain to the point of Nicolas' chin. The Montenegrin reeled.

  But Ivan, having the advantage for really the first time, gave hisman no time to recover. He leaped forward and for a third time seizedhis opponent in a close embrace. This time Nicolas had been unable todraw a deep breath before the great arms closed about him and heweakened suddenly.

  In fact, he weakened so suddenly, that Ivan, believing victory his,released his hold; and this overconfidence almost proved the Cossack'sundoing. Nicolas, realizing that he could not again free himself fromIvan's embrace, had decided upon a bold stroke, and by apparently givingup the struggle had placed himself in Ivan's power absolutely.

  Then, when Ivan released his hold, Nicolas dropped suddenly to his kneesand seized Ivan by the legs and pulled sharply. Caught completely off hisguard, Ivan toppled over backwards. Nicolas jumped upon the prostrateform and again his fingers sought Ivan's throat.

  But Ivan was too quick for him and the fingers failed to find their mark.Ivan doubled up his knees suddenly and thus prevented Nicolas fromobtaining his hold; then, straightening out his legs, he hurled Nicolasfrom him. Instantly the Cossack was on his feet and after his opponent.

  Nicolas also sprang to his feet and as the two men came together againthey threw wrestling tactics to the winds and brought their fists intoplay. It was plainly apparent that neither had ever been schooled inthe art of self-defense and there was nothing skillful about the fightthat followed.

  The attempts of each to ward off the blows of the other were ludicrousand of little avail. Almost every blow started went home and it becameapparent to the spectators that in this kind of fighting the man whocould withstand the most punishment and land the hardest blows must bethe victor.

  Several hard jolts had found their way to Ivan's face, but he did notshow any symptoms of being unable to continue the battle. His face was asight, but so was the face of Nicolas, for the matter of that. Both menswung hard and often, and nine out of every ten times each landed.

  Also both were panting heavily now and it was perfectly plain that thefight must come to an end soon. And it did, but more suddenly than couldhave been expected.

  Nicolas, swinging wildly for Ivan's chin, had left an opening as large asa house. The merest novice must have taken advantage of it. To Hal andChester, both skillful boxers, it was the best opening that had beenpresented during the entire fight, and Hal cried out:

  "Quick, Ivan!"

  But his words were not needed. Ivan had seen the opening and hadacted promptly.

  "Smack!" his right fist landed heavily between Nicolas' eyes.

  "Smack!" it was his left landing on the point of Nicolas' jaw.

  "Crash!" It sounded like the breaking of bones. There was a briefsilence, followed by another crash. The first was Ivan's right overNicolas' mouth and the second was the sound caused as Nicolas tumbled tothe ground, unconscious.

  There was a twinkle in Ivan's eye as he surveyed his fallen foe.

  "Some fighter, that fellow," he said. "I didn't believe he had it in him.But I would have had him sooner if he hadn't fooled me."

  "You certainly would," said Hal. "You see, Ivan, that's your trouble. Youknow nothing of boxing. Had you been, a boxer you could have polished himoff easily."

  "There is no science to using your fists," said Ivan decidedly. "The onlything is to hit your opponent before he hits you."

  "True enough," said Chester, "and that's
where skill plays a part. Forinstance now, I suppose I could keep you from ever touching me, big asyou are, and I venture to say I could land upon you almost at will,though possibly not hard enough to put you out. You're too big for that."

  "Ho! Ho!" laughed Ivan gleefully. "Hear the little fellow talk. Why, youcouldn't even lay a finger on me. I would just hold out one of my longarms and you couldn't get near me."

  Chester smiled.

  "It sounds easy enough," he said. "But take my word for it, I know what Iam talking about."

  "Well, show me," said Ivan.

  "I will some time," was the reply. "Right now we'll have to tie Nicolasup and finish our sleep."

  But when Nicolas had been safely secured, Ivan declared that he would notgo to sleep until he had proven to Chester just how easy it would be tohandle him.

  "Well, all right, then," said Chester, "I'll show you. But remember,don't you crack me too hard if you do happen to land."

  Chester placed himself quickly in an attitude of defense, left armextended slightly, right arm well back. Crouching slightly and treadingon his toes, he stepped lightly around Ivan, who, with arms wide, waitedfor him to come in.

  Chester feinted quickly with his left and brought his right forward as hestepped in close. The right fist bumped the giant's chin gently, forChester had not struck hard. A moment later his left landed almost in thesame spot, a trifle harder, and he escaped Ivan's rush and wild swing byside-stepping nimbly.

  There was a puzzled expression on Ivan's face as he followed the ladabout the cavern, Chester dancing nimbly first to this side and thenthat. Once the lad let the giant come close, and when he swung, Chesterjerked his head aside sharply and the blow passed over his shoulder.

  Quickly then Chester stepped forward and with his open left palm smackedIvan smartly across the left cheek. He performed a similar operation withhis right; then stepped back and dropped his hands.

  "Well?" he said, eying Ivan inquiringly.

  "Well, you did it," said Ivan, greatly crestfallen. "How, I don't know.Will you teach me?"

  "Some time," said Chester. "Now, let's finish that sleep."