Part 16 (1/2)

One had found a big carving knife which he brandished as though it were a sword, and he a captain leading a charge; a second inging a cudgel, as though filled with a hope that it ainst a Gerun of the vintage of '71, which, together with its glistening sabre bayonet, had hung on the wall in ood ht kind of use of it in other days

Altogether they presented quite a curious collection as they gathered there by the door, and waited to see if the enemy would carry out those loud threats to break in Rod was reathered together by one Falstaff in early English days, which consisted of the lame, the halt and the blind All the saht sort of spirit, and acted as though quite willing to yield up their own lives in defense of the village

Things were going from bad to worse outside Smoke could easily be detected now, as if to prove that those awful threats e was already in fla the seconds He found hi zouaves could possibly reach there before the door was broken froes and the wolves without rush in to use their heavy sabres against the defenders How long could they hold the aggressors in check? Those weak old ainst half a dozen big cavalry Rod did do was to possess himself once more of that revolver He believed he could erous weapon than Josh , once he found hi very heavy, was resisting the attack of the soldiers successfully, though Rod did not plume himself on this account He feared there were many other ways by means of which the Uhlans could accomplish their purpose and enter the house did they care to bother about looking

Just then there arose a new cause for alar fro Rod heard what she said and was able to understand, although the other tere left in the dark

”What's happened next, Rod?” demanded Josh, with the air of a veteran; for Josh often affected to liken himself to those old worthies hen sorely beset, never asked about the number of their foes, but where they could be found, so that they h

”She says they've set fire to the house, and that the whole rear of the sa fiercely,” Rod explained

Hanky Panky's face was a study Of course it was not really _fear_ that gripped him so fiercely; but nevertheless the boy had a peaked look about the eyes, and watched Rod eagerly, as though hoping the other would eventually find so them from this new predicarowled Josh; ”house afire, and we can't even rush out to throater on the fla to spit us like ere fowls Whee!

what're we going to do about it, Rod, tell me? I'll sally out and try to create a diversion, if you say the word”

Perhaps Josh honestly hed at him

”Don't be silly, Josh,” hat the other said; ”you'd have about as ht All we can do is to hold tight, and hope the zouaves will get along before it's too late But if they do try to sht; hear that?”

”You just bet we are; every ti it around in a way that made poor Hanky Panky duck every time it barelythose few expressive words than there was an awful crash, and the front door, struck by so raes The Uhlans were apparently deterreater their desire seemed to become

CHAPTER XVIII

THE COMING OF THE ZOUAVES

”Why don't you give the just then, for apparently things had reached a crisis, and he expected seeing one of the raiders co

Rod was only holding back so as to keep his fire to the last extremity

The boy was pale, and his teeth were set, but there was a blaze in his eyes that boded no good for the first Uhlan who ventured to try to enter

Although the Motorcycle Boys in the start decided not to take sides if such a thing could be avoided, they had found it is in the matter The cause of the Allies seemed to be closer to American ideals than the rees Rod and his chuians until finally ready to openly declare that they were for the blood, even though his own life, as well as those of his chuer Only as a very last resort was Rod willing to use that weapon which had coely; and in his mind he had already determined to only wound, if such a choice seemed possible

The Uhlans without were exultant over the success they had already attained To continue their work and presently smash the door co as a battering rah the vent What he saas not of a reassuring nature There were five stoutto the Ger that heavy ladder in a way that shohat delight they experienced in just such work of destruction