CHAPTER VIII.
THE ESCAPE.
Alexis made ready.
Hal realized that he was taking a desperate chance to put through thescheme that had entered his mind. Not only was von Bernstrum a biggerman than Alexis, but the latter had lost much blood only 36 hoursbefore. Doubtless also he knew every trick of a wrestler or fighter.
Alexis took off his shoes and threw them into a corner, and divestedhimself of his coat. Von Bernstrum growled like a dog as he followed theCossack's example.
Alexis held out his hand. Von Bernstrum gripped it hard and gave a gruntof satisfaction.
"A man's hand," he exclaimed.
Alexis placed his right hand across the German's shoulders and caughthim firmly and the boys saw by the expression on his face that he wasnot certain of the outcome. The German had not boasted in vain. He wasindeed a giant.
"If ever men felt the joy of battle, these two do," exclaimed Hal toChester.
The two men were now gripped in a tight embrace. Von Bernstrum feltAlexis over carefully, but gave him no opening.
"A man's chest," he grunted.
Alexis so far had uttered no word. Now he perceived that his opponentwas preparing for the loin throw and prepared himself to meet it. Whenhe had foiled this attack, he held his opponent for a moment at adisadvantage.
Alexis gripped von Bernstrum for a hug. Had the German been a weakerman, his ribs must have cracked; but he had caught deep breath, and theCossack might as well have tried to crush a tree.
"A good try!" muttered the German.
He now tested Alexis sorely. He tried a cross hitch, but failed. Atthis, a smile broke out on Alexis' face.
Both lads, who had been watching the struggle nervously, now grewconfident. It was evident that the Cossack hoped for victory.
At last Alexis saw his chance. In getting the grip he wanted, it wasnecessary for him to face the danger of putting himself in hisopponent's power; but the Cossack ventured to do this, for he realizedthat by no other means could he throw him. Von Bernstrum saw hisopponent's move and took advantage of it, and for a moment Alexis wasafraid it was all over with him.
But he still held his ground. Von Bernstrum's grip grew weaker at last,and the boys could hear him panting like a dog. Hal spoke to Chester.
"I believe he realizes that Alexis will master him," he exclaimed in awhisper.
Chester nodded in assent.
Now Alexis put all the strength of his mighty shoulders, back and loinsinto a mighty heave, and Freiderich von Bernstrum, giant though he was,went flying across the room, his head striking the floor with a terriblethud.
For a moment the lads were afraid Alexis had killed him; but for amoment only. Calmly Alexis put on his shoes and donned his coat. Then heturned to his young friends and waited. His attitude said as plain aswords:
"I have done the fighting. You do the rest."
Quickly Hal stooped over the fallen man and took a bunch of keys fromhis pocket. Then, straightening up, he approached the door, opened itand peered out. There was no one in sight.
Hal turned to Alexis.
"Change clothes with him," he whispered, motioning to the fallen German.
Hastily Alexis obeyed. In spite of the fact that von Bernstrum wasalmost two inches taller than Alexis, the height of the latter was sogreat that Hal believed the difference would not be noticed.
The lad now relieved von Bernstrum of his revolvers. Alexis had donnedhis adversary's sword with his uniform. Then once more Hal approachedthe door and peered out. Then he spoke to Alexis.
"We will go with you as though we were your prisoners," he explained."If anyone accosts us, we may have to fight. However, I believe you lookenough like von Bernstrum to avoid detection. Pull the hat well overyour face, and if anyone asks where you are going, reply that you aretaking the prisoners to the commandant. Do you understand?"
Alexis signified that he did, and quietly the three, still followed byMarquis, left the room. Along the same passageways they had traversedHal guided Alexis by a touch of the hand, for the lad's sense ofdirection was much better than that of the giant Cossack.
At last they came into the open and started toward the gate. So far theyhad not been accosted. At the gate a soldier approached Alexis andsaluted.
"Are you going out, sir?" he demanded.
"Yes," replied the Cossack, mimicking von Bernstrum's voice as best hecould. "These prisoners have given me their parole, and I am taking themout for a breath of air. Get me two more horses."
The soldier saluted and turned away. Hal addressed Alexis.
"You are doing beautifully," he exclaimed. "I didn't know you were sucha strategist."
"Why," exclaimed Alexis, "next to being a fighter I am a strategist. Iremember one time----"
"Save it for some other time," said Hal.
"If you don't believe----" began the big Cossack, somewhat crestfallen.
"Never mind now," broke in Chester. "We have other things to do."
Alexis subsided, grumbling. A few moments later the soldier reappearedleading three horses. Alexis took all three bridles, and bade thesoldier begone, which order the latter obeyed in a hurry.
Quickly the three friends leaped into the saddle, and started off at arapid trot, riding eastward. Out of sight of the town, they bore offslightly to the North, for, as Hal said, they did not wish to run rightinto the German army advancing on Lodz.
They had proceeded perhaps a mile out of sight of the castle, when Halsuddenly checked his mount, and raised a warning hand. All stopped tolisten. From the direction in which they had just come, came thefrenzied tolling of a great bell, followed by a few faint shots.
"They have learned of our escape," said Hal quietly. "That, I imagine,is a warning to the countryside to be on the lookout for us."
All three put spurs to their horses, and set off again at a gallop. Fortwo hours they kept up this swift pace, and then Alexis drew rein.
"Unless I want this horse to drop under me," he said, "we shall have toslow down. There is no horse living that can carry me at that gait verylong."
The boys did not doubt this, and they continued their journey at a moreleisurely pace. Finally, rounding a turn in the road, they came upon alittle stream, perhaps a hundred yards wide. There was no bridge.
"Guess we shall have to make our horses swim it," said Chester.
Accordingly all plunged into the stream, Marquis swimming behind, andsoon reached the opposite shore. Here they drew up in a clump of bushesand sat down to dry off a bit.
"Do you suppose they know which way we came?" asked Hal of Chester.
"I don't know. However, I suppose they will search in all directions,and they are bound to come upon us sooner or later if we linger aroundhere."
"You are right. I guess we had better move."
Soon the little party was in the saddle again, and making off at a rapidtrot. Hal, for some unaccountable reason turning suddenly in his saddle,uttered an ejaculation.
"What's the matter?" demanded Chester.
"Look!" said Hal, pointing back toward the little stream.
Alexis and Chester followed the direction of Hal's finger. Just plunginginto the stream were half a dozen horsemen, and it was plain from thatdistance that they were German soldiers, and that they had made out theforms of the fugitives.
The three friends put spurs to their horses and, with Marquis lopingalong behind, soon lost themselves in a little woods. Here they urgedtheir tired horses on, and at last came to a small open space. This theycrossed before Alexis' horse gave out and went to the ground in a heap.
"I am afraid it's all off," exclaimed Hal. "How far do you suppose weare from the German border, Alexis?"
"Not far," answered the Cossack. "Besides, some of our troops have beenoperating in these parts. They were only small detachments, and most ofthem have been driven off; but even now there may be some of them near."
Alexis urged the two lads to ride on and leave him, but this theyrefused to do. T
herefore they dismounted and, turning their horsesloose, they continued their journey on foot.
As they walked along a man suddenly popped out from among the trees,brought his revolver to bear upon the trio, and in a loud tone cried:
"Halt!"
Alexis gave one quick glance at the man's uniform, uttered a cry ofpleasure and spoke a few quick words in his native tongue. The lads weresurprised to see the man drop his rifle, throw his arms about Alexis andembrace him.
For some moments after quitting this embrace the two talked in Russian,the lads being able to pick up only a few words. Then Alexis turned tothe two lads.
"My brother," he said simply. "He belongs to a detachment of Cossackswho raided in these parts two weeks ago. The detachment was surroundedby Germans, he tells me, and practically annihilated. About 150 menescaped to the woods, where they have been conducting a guerillawarfare, picking off the Germans one at a time, wherever they happen tofind one alone, or in pairs, or small parties. These Cossacks arescattered all through the woods, and to get them together would bealmost impossible."
"Then how are they able to tell friend from foe?"
"You see that large green leaf my brother wears in his hat?"
"Yes."
"That is their emblem."
Alexis' brother approached and spoke in German.
"Come," he said. "I shall show you something."
He led the way into the woods, and approached a large tree, where hepointed to a placard tacked on it. The placard read:
"All Russians at large in these woods are ordered to assemble at thisspot the 10th of this month without arms and surrender, under penalty ofdeath."
"That was posted two weeks ago," said Alexis' brother, "and this is the20th. Read our answer below it."
The answer read:
"Come and take us!"
Boy Allies with the Cossacks; Or, A Wild Dash over the Carpathians Page 8