Part 42 (2/2)

”To think,” he said, ”that we are responsible for your fate; but for us you would have remained with the army and have lived to the end of the war. We are to blame.”

”Sh-h-h,” whispered the dying giant. The hand which held Chester's freed itself and groped in his pocket. ”But for you lads,” he continued, ”I should never have won this.”

He pulled from his pocket the Cross of St. George, pinned to his breast by the Russian emperor, and gazed at it lovingly.

”It is well worth the sacrifice,” he said.

Still holding the medal his hand again sought Chester's and pressed it.

His other hand still gripped Hal's.

”Good-by, boys,” he said firmly. ”Let the Grand Duke know.”

The pressure upon their hands relaxed. The giant frame of Alexis Vergoff, brave man and fighter extraordinary, stiffened and lay still.

He was dead.

And as the aeroplane swept over the sea to the distant coast of England Hal and Chester mourned the loss of a true and stanch friend.

Arrived in England the lads saw the body of Alexis laid to rest with fitting honors, and continued their mission to the continent, where Hal put the doc.u.ment entrusted to his care by the Russian Grand Duke Nicholas into the hands of Field Marshal Sir John French, commander-in-chief of the British forces on the continent.

And so we shall take leave of them for a short time. Their subsequent adventures will be found in a succeeding volume, ent.i.tled: ”The Boy Allies in the Trenches; or Midst Shot and Sh.e.l.l Along the Aisne.”

THE END.

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