Part 29 (2/2)

Alexis extended a huge hand and softly stroked the dog's soft body.

”Poor fellow!” he said to himself.

Marquis' keen ears caught these words, and he turned feebly toward the giant Cossack, and strained slightly toward him. At the same time he slowly raised a paw. Chester saw the movement.

”He wants to shake hands with you, Alexis,” he said brokenly.

The giant drew nearer, and gravely took Marquis' right paw in his great hand. Once, twice, three times he shook it gently, then laid it upon the ground and turned away. Marquis moved restlessly, and uttered a short bark. He was trying to see Hal, who was kneeling behind him.

Hal arose and came around. To him also Marquis extended his paw, and Hal grasped it and pressed it. Then, s.h.i.+fting his position slightly, the dog also extended the paw to Chester. He seemed to know well that the end was swiftly approaching, and he wished to shake hands with all his friends before he pa.s.sed away.

Now the three gathered about the head of their dying friend. Alexis clenched his great fists and spoke to Marquis.

”I shall see that you are avenged,” he said fiercely. ”Twenty German lives will not pay for this day's work, but I'll do the best I can. Do you understand, Marquis?”

Marquis' tail beat a weak tattoo upon the ground, and he barked feebly.

He understood.

”I'll do it!” said Alexis. ”You may rest a.s.sured of that.”

Now the end was fast approaching. Marquis' breath came in quick gasps.

Suddenly he staggered to his feet, stood upright a second, turned his face toward the distant enemy, and gave utterance to one sharp bark--a bark of defiance. Then he sank to the ground.

His three friends dropped to their knees and bent over him. He looked up into their faces and it seemed to all that he smiled at them. His tail struck the ground feebly, once, twice. He shook once with a silent convulsion. Then his body straightened out and stiffened. He lay still.

Marquis was dead.

His three friends rose slowly to their feet, and lifted their caps from their heads.

”Good old Marquis!” said Hal. ”But he died as a soldier should!”

”Yes,” said Chester, ”and with almost his last breath he breathed defiance to the Germans, whom he hated.”

”There wasn't a better or braver soldier in the Russian army,” said Alexis. ”We must bury him with honors.”

”We shall!” cried Chester.

”I am somewhat handy with a knife,” said Alexis. ”I shall carve him a little monument.”

”And he shall be laid to rest with full military honors,” said Chester.

And so it was done.

All that day Alexis worked upon the little monument. When it was finally completed, all was in readiness for the burial. The dog had made friends in the regiment. Not a man but had become attached to him; and so it was no small funeral cortege that escorted the body of the dog-hero to his last resting place.

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