Boy Allies with the Cossacks; Or, A Wild Dash over the Carpathians

by Clair W. Hayes

  CHAPTER XXVII.

  SAFE.

  In spite of his tumble, Hal was uninjured and sprang quickly to hisfeet. Chester turned to the prostrate horse, and attempted to get it toits feet. The horse moaned with pain, and Chester gave up the attempt,for he realized in an instant that the animal had broken its leg in thefall.

  With revolvers in hands, both lads turned to face their foes.

  "We won't give up without a fight!" declared Hal grimly.

  "No, we won't give up without a fight!" Chester agreed.

  Standing behind the horse that was still on its feet the two ladspointed their weapons at the foe, who bore down upon them at top speed.There were at least a score of them, and the boys realized that theencounter could have but one end. Still they were determined to fight itout.

  But now, from the rear, came a fierce yell. Turning their eyesmomentarily in that direction, the lads beheld a welcome sight. Mountedon their superb chargers and galloping forward as swiftly as the wind,came a full squadron of Russian Cossacks; and as they came on, withloose-hanging reins, waving their weapons in the air, the fierce Cossackyell split the air time after time.

  The Austrians hesitated; then, not mindful to retreat and allow theirvictims, whom they had followed so far, to escape scot-free theyadvanced on the lads again. Chester calmly picked off the first man onthe right, and Hal disposed of the first man on the left. Realizing thatassistance was on the way, the boys fought coolly and withdetermination, keeping the rearing and plunging horse always betweenthem and their foes.

  But this protection was soon removed. An Austrian bullet struck thehorse in the head and he fell to the ground. Quickly the lads droppedbehind the prostrate body and continued to pop away at their enemies.Two more went down, and still the lads were uninjured. The Cossacks werestill some distance away, although approaching with the swiftness of thewind. The Austrians, seeking to end the encounter, spread out, fan-wise,and drew in upon the lads from three sides. The lads shifted theirpositions so as still to face all their foes. Then the Austrians cameforward on a charge.

  But they had delayed too long, for now the onrushing Cossacks had comewithin range, and a powerful voice rang out:

  "Faster!"

  In response to this command, the gallant chargers of the Cossacks leapedforward. A volley rang out, and bullets whistling over the heads of Haland Chester found lodgment in Austrian breasts and heads. The enemyturned and fled.

  With a quick word of command to his men the Cossack captain, now closeto the kneeling lads, pulled in his horse with a sudden movement andsprang to the ground. The rest of the troop continued its mad dash afterthe Austrians, who were fleeing as fast as their tired horses couldcarry them.

  There was but one possible result of such a chase. Noble animals, thoughthe Austrian horses were, they were no match, at their best, for theCossack chargers. And there was no mercy in the hearts of the Cossacksfor their enemies. The Austrians did not cry for quarter, and no quarterwas given. Ten minutes later the Cossacks, their ranks thinned by four,returned to where their leader had dismounted beside the lads.

  As the Cossack commander flung himself to the ground by their side, bothlads gave a cry of glad surprise.

  "Alexis!" they exclaimed in a single voice.

  "The same!" replied their Cossack friend. "Don't tell me any more aboutyour strategy. Where would you have been, if I hadn't arrived just now,eh?"

  "Well," said Chester slowly, "we wouldn't be here."

  "You would have been dead, that's where you would have been," saidAlexis calmly. "As it was, I almost arrived too late. Perhaps next timeyou will not leave me behind."

  "We won't try to thank you," said Hal. "But how did you happen to arriveso opportunely?"

  "Why," replied Alexis, "looking across the plain I saw two horsemenpursued by many others. I knew you would return from that direction, andI surmised who it was. But here is one case where my keen eyesightalmost worked to your disadvantage. I made out your Austrian uniforms,even as I would have ordered my men forward, and hesitated. It wasn'tany of my business if two Austrians were killed. Then I remembered yourtalk of strategy, and guessed that maybe the uniforms were part of it.But, you may take my word for it, you almost used too much strategy."

  Alexis now ordered one of his men to secure two of the riderless horses,and, mounting, the lads rode back toward the Russian lines with theCossack troop. Here they wasted no time, but started at once on theirreturn journey to Lodz, Alexis, having obtained permission from hissuperior officer, going with them.

  Grand Duke Nicholas was well pleased with the lads' report andcomplimented them highly upon their bravery and resourcefulness. Then headded, somewhat sorrowfully, the lads thought:

  "I shall indeed be sorry to lose you."

  "To lose us!" exclaimed Chester, in surprise. "Why, Your Excellency, wehave no intention of being killed."

  "I didn't mean that," replied the Grand Duke, with a slight smile, "butI have other work of importance for you. In fact, I may say of greaterimportance than any which you have yet accomplished."

  "And we shall be glad to undertake it, no matter what it is," said Hal."I am sure we can carry it through successfully."

  "So am I," replied the Grand Duke dryly. "After some of the things youhave done, I would not say there is anything you cannot do."

  "But this new mission?" questioned Hal.

  "The new mission," replied the Grand Duke, "will carry you back intoFrance."

  "What!" exclaimed both lads in surprise.

  "Exactly," said the Grand Duke. "That is why I said I would be sorry tolose you, for I know that, once back with the British troops, you willnot return again to Russia."

  "Well, Your Excellency," said Chester, "we have seen service with theCossacks, and we like it immensely, but----"

  "But," interrupted the Grand Duke, "you would much prefer to be fightingwith the English, your own people, or a kindred people, at least. Isthat it?"

  Both lads bowed in assent.

  "It is, Your Excellency," replied Hal.

  "Well," said the Grand Duke, "so be it."

  He drew from his pocket a document, which he placed in Hal's hands.

  "This," he said, "you will place in the hands of either Sir John French,the British commander, or General Joffre, the French commander-in-chief.I could, of course, send the message by wireless to London, but it wouldbe intercepted by the Germans, and, while it naturally would be sent incode, I am not at all sure that the Germans could not decipher it."

  "When shall we start, Your Excellency?" asked Chester.

  "Whenever it is convenient," was the reply. "And the manner of yourgoing I leave entirely to you. I will not hamper you with instructions."

  "Your Excellency," said Hal, struck with a sudden thought.

  "Yes?"

  "I should like to make a request."

  "Consider it granted," said the Grand Duke.

  "Well, then," said Hal, "I should like to ask permission to take Alexiswith us."

  The Grand Duke was plainly surprised.

  "He may be of great aid to us in getting through," Hal explained. "Hisstrength is prodigious, and more than once, as I have told you, hasstood us in good stead."

  "Well," said the Grand Duke thoughtfully, "I will not order him toaccompany you, for he would be out of his element on the other side;but, if he is willing to go, he has my permission."

  After some further talk the boys took a friendly farewell of thecommander-in-chief of the Russian armies and left the tent. They huntedup Alexis immediately.

  "Well, Alexis," said Hal, "to-morrow we start back for France!"

  The giant Cossack was on his feet in a moment.

  "You mean you are going away for good?" he asked.

  "Yes," replied Chester.

  Alexis, although not an emotional man, was stirred deeply. The boysrealized it in an instant; but he was not the man to give way to hisfeelings, and he said simply:

  "I am sorry. I wish that you would rema
in here."

  Then Hal broached his plan.

  "Alexis," he said, "how would you like to come with us?"

  The giant looked at him in surprise.

  "Go with you?" he exclaimed. "To France?"

  "Yes."

  "But what would I do in France?" he questioned.

  "Fight!" replied Chester briefly.

  "True!" muttered Alexis.

  "The Grand Duke has given his permission, if you desire to go," saidHal, "and we would indeed be glad to have you. We have grown very fondof you."

  "And I of you," replied Alexis.

  "In France," said Chester, "there are no such men as you. You would be averitable Hercules, a man among men. Brave men there are there inplenty, but none such as you."

  His vanity thus appealed to, Alexis saw the matter in a different light.He slapped one great fist down upon the table in a mighty blow.

  "I'll go!" he shouted.