Part 14 (1/2)

Sitting about on the floor of the first compartment were more than half a hundred men, talking in low tones. They looked up in surprise at the sight of Hal and Chester, but Alexis they greeted with a nod. The latter stepped forward and greeted them in their native tongue. The lads could not make out all he said, but the looks of suspicion on the faces of some vanished immediately, and they moved a bit to let the newcomers join the circle.

Plainly it was the opinion of most of the men that the guerilla warfare had been carried far enough. Some were in favor of making a last desperate raid upon the enemy before attempting to get back across the Russian border, while others were in favor of attempting to get back immediately.

For an hour the discussion waged and then it was rudely interrupted. The man left to guard the entrance to the cavern rushed in.

”Germans approaching in great force!” he cried.

Immediately all were on their feet, and one man rushed to the narrow entrance. He started through but fell back, a bullet in his head. A second, rifle in hand, also advanced, but Hal, springing quickly to his feet, stopped him.

”Wait!” he cried. ”They can pick us off one at a time as we go out. Some other plan will have to be found.”

Stephan and Alexis took their stand by the lad's side, and faced the men who would have rushed to certain death.

”The lad is right,” said Stephan. ”Out the other end of the cave, men, and scatter!”

Rapidly this order was obeyed, and soon none were left in the first compartment but Hal, Chester, Alexis, Stephan and Marquis.

Now Hal also dashed after the others. But the lad was not bent upon flight, leaving his friends to face the enemy alone. Quickly he hurried through the three compartments of the cavern, casting a keen eye here and there. Clear to the far entrance he went, and then turned back. As he made his way along, he stumbled over something and fell heavily. He was up in a moment, however, and glanced curiously at the object over which he had tripped. Then a smile lighted up his face. He made his way back to his friends.

”How many do you suppose there are out there?” asked Alexis.

”We have no means of telling,” replied Chester. ”However, there are probably no less than two or three hundred.”

”If we stand here and fire as they attempt to enter, we may have some success,” said Stephan.

”Yes,” said Alexis, ”but the detonations may occasion the falling in of the cavern. At the first shot from outside a piece of falling rock grazed my shoulder.”

”We must do something quickly,” said Hal. ”We cannot leave without striking at least one blow at them.”

”a.s.suredly not,” agreed Alexis. ”I have a plan.”

CHAPTER X.

THE MIGHT OF ALEXIS.

”What is it?” demanded all eagerly.

”We will retreat to the second compartment,” said the giant, ”and I will place myself behind the pillar, which I can see from here.” He stooped and picked up a long heavy iron bar from the ground. ”I will have this for my weapon, and invisible in the darkness, if they come in a rush, I can let my bar fall upon their skulls thirty times a minute.”

”Good!” cried Hal, ”and at the same time I have another plan. The rest of us shall retreat to the third compartment, leaving Alexis, for the moment, to deal with the foe alone. But Alexis, when I say retreat, you must leave your post and come to the third compartment. Is it agreed?”

”Agreed!” cried the giant.

”All right, then. To your post!”

Quickly the four retreated to the second compartment, where Alexis took up his post behind the large pillar, concealed from view by the narrowness of the entrance between the compartments themselves. The others retreated to the third compartment.

For a long time, it seemed to Alexis, he waited in silence. Then the head of a man appeared through the entrance to his compartment and came toward him. There were more heads behind him.