CHAPTER XXVI.
FOUR AGAINST MANY.
Chester could not resist the temptation to answer this demand.
"Come and get us!" he called back defiantly.
Uncle John created a slight diversion at this moment. He had beenstooping over the form of the unconscious German in the shack, and nowstraightened up with an exclamation of satisfaction.
"Well, I've got these, anyway," he said.
He displayed a brace of revolvers and a cartridge belt which he had takenfrom the fallen man.
"Good," said Colonel Anderson. "Now, Hal, you and I will guard the door,and Chester and Uncle John will take care of the window. The chances arethey will attack from both directions at once. Stand as far back aspossible and out of the line of fire."
At that moment there came a crash against the door, as if severalmen were pounding upon it with their rifle butts. And this, indeed,was the case.
"Quick!" commanded Colonel Anderson. "Shove this table and these chairsagainst the door. Brace it with anything you can find. We should havedone it sooner."
Chester and Uncle John gave up their posts guarding the window for aminute and helped in the work of barricading the entrance. And all thetime the pounding continued.
As Chester stepped back after putting the last chair into place, therecame a report from behind him. There was a flash that lighted up theshack like day, and the lad felt a bullet whiz past his ear.
He whirled quickly, and fired in the direction of the window, where hesaw a head bobbing down. The Austrian had dodged quickly after his shot,but Chester had been quicker still; and the Austrian toppled down outsideat the feet of his companions. The fall was plainly audible.
"I got one of 'em!" shouted Chester gleefully.
"Good for you," replied Hal. "We'll get the rest of them as fast asthey come."
The pounding upon the door continued and the occupants of the shack kepttheir eyes upon it anxiously.
"It gave a little that time," declared Hal, after an extraordinarilyfurious blow. "It won't last much longer. Then we'll have to do some realfighting."
"They will hardly rush us," said the colonel. "We should be able to pickthem off as fast as they come through. They won't try that long."
At this juncture Chester grew tired of waiting. He motioned Uncle John togive him a hand up and from the latter's shoulder raised his headcautiously to the edge of the window. For the moment he was not seen. Abody of Austrians stood beneath the window, engaged in deep conversation.
Quickly Chester levelled his automatic and pressed the trigger. Ten shotsstruck squarely in the little knot of the enemy, and several men fell.
A cry of anger rose on the night air, as Chester leaped down within thelittle cabin.
"Think I got some more of 'em that time," he said with a grin. "They'llfind out we can take the initiative ourselves once in a while."
"Let them alone, unless they bother us," ordered Colonel Anderson. "Thelonger they keep quiet and do nothing, the better for us. Time is the onefactor that will work to our advantage."
"I forgot about that," returned Chester a little sheepishly.
There came a terrible thundering upon the door now; and it was evidentthat many men without had been called to force an entrance.
"It can't hold much longer," declared Hal quietly.
"About two more like that and it will give," agreed Colonel Anderson.
Another rain of blows was followed by a crash, as the bottom of the doorgave way. A moment later it tumbled inward against the table and chairsstacked up to brace it.
And even as it did so, Colonel Anderson and Hal pressed the triggers oftheir revolvers. Once, twice, each spoke, and the voices of theautomatics were rewarded by cries of pain from the outside.
"We must have done some damage," said Hal quietly.
Colonel Anderson did not reply; but stepping forward behind theimprovised barricade, again levelled his revolver and fired twice.
"Think I got a couple that trip," he remarked.
He glanced around the room quickly.
"Back in the corners," he instructed. "They'll probably try to rush usthis time."
He had predicted correctly.
For a moment there was silence without; but suddenly there came a wildyell and a score of Austrians dashed forward to force an entrance tothe shack.
"Make every shot count!" cried Hal.
The occupants of the cabin waited until the foe was in plain sight andthen four revolvers spoke once. As many men dropped in their tracks--forat that distance a miss was practically impossible; but the otherAustrians came on.
Again four revolvers spoke; and this time only three men dropped. A thirdvolley from the occupants of the cabin accounted for two. The Austrianshesitated.
"We're wasting bullets," declared Hal. "One is enough for each man. UncleJohn, you take the man on the far left, Chester, you the one next to him,Colonel Anderson, the third is for you. I'll take the man on this side."
"A good idea," replied the colonel. "One bullet for one Austrian. That'sall each is worth."
As the Austrians, after a moment of hesitation, pressed forward oncemore, the weapons of the four friends spoke twice in rapid successionwith greater effect.
This was enough for the enemy--for the time being, at least. They drewoff and the occupants of the shack had time for a breathing spell and anopportunity to reload their weapons.
"They'll be back in a few minutes," declared Colonel Anderson. "Theirofficers will not let them give up as long as we are here."
"Well, we'll be ready for them," said Chester grimly.
"So we will, Chester," declared Hal. He turned to Uncle John. "Well, whatdo you think of this kind of a life, sir?" he asked.
Uncle John smiled faintly.
"It's not so bad," he replied. "It's a little strange to me, butyou notice I have been able to fire a gun. I guess I'll get used toit in time."
"You are a brave and cool-headed man, sir," declared Colonel Anderson. "Ido not believe I was half so cool my first time under fire."
"If you really knew how scared I was, you wouldn't say that," was UncleJohn's reply.
A hail from outside interrupted further talk.
"What do you suppose they want now?" asked Hal.
"Don't know," replied the colonel briefly. "We'll see." He raised hisvoice in a shout.
"What do you want?" he demanded in German.
"Want to have a talk with you," was the reply.
"Talk away," replied the colonel.
"We would give you a chance of life and to avoid further bloodshed,"replied the Austrian.
"There has been no bloodshed in here," returned Colonel Anderson, "exceptamong your men. We are perfectly whole and ready to fight some more."
"Then you refuse to surrender?"
"We do; most decidedly."
There was no more talk from the Austrians; neither was there anotherimmediate attack. The quiet without became so pronounced that Halbecame uneasy.
"What do you suppose they are doing?" he asked.
"Haven't any idea," replied Colonel Anderson.
"Well, you can take my word for it they are up to some mischief,"declared Chester. "This silence bodes no good for us, I'll bet."
"Well, as long as they let us alone, it's a point in our favor," declaredColonel Anderson. "It is less than an hour until daylight now. Then weshall have help."
"The Austrians will have a whack at us before that," said Hal positively."But I would like to know what's up."
"So would I," declared Chester. "And I am positive that there'ssomething."
"I guess we'll know soon enough," said Uncle John.
And they did learn--not fifteen minutes later.
"What's that funny noise out there?" asked Chester suddenly.
The others strained their ears.
"I don't hear anything," said Hal. "You must--Wait, though. What isthat noise?"
Again all listened intently. There was a faint "crack, cra
ck," as thoughsome one were walking upon fallen twigs.
At that moment Chester detected another cause for alarm.
"I smell smoke," he said suddenly.
"By George! that's what's the matter," shouted Hal. "They are going tosmoke us out and shoot us down, or burn us here like rats in a trap. Whatare we going to do?" he demanded anxiously.
"Don't get excited, in the first place," replied Colonel Anderson coolly,"We are in a ticklish situation, and that's a fact, but there must besome way out of it. Now let's see. We can't get out the front doorwithout being shot down. The same goes for the window as the houseundoubtedly is surrounded. Then what are we to do?"
"There is only one thing I can think of," declared Hal.
"And that?"
"As long as we are playing for time, stay here until we can stand it nolonger because of the heat. Then make a break for it. Perhaps we can takethem by surprise, grab four horses and get a good start."
"There is little chance of that," replied Colonel Anderson. "But it seemsto be the only way. We'll do it."
Their plans thus made, they waited patiently, conversing in low tones,the while keeping their eyes open. The flames were crackling merrily now,and the heat was becoming intense, while occasional clouds of smokerolled into the single room. It was too hot to remain still. ColonelAnderson spoke. "We've stood it long enough," he said. "Guns ready, andlet's go!"
Boy Allies in Great Peril; Or, With the Italian Army in the Alps Page 26