Part 29 (2/2)

”Poor fellow!” he said to hiht 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 tiround and turned away Marquisto see Hal, as kneeling behind him

Hal arose and carasped it and pressed it Then, shi+fting his position slightly, the dog also extended the paw to Chester He see, and he wished to shake hands with all his friends before he passed 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 assured of that”

Now the end was fast approaching Marquis' breath caered to his feet, stood upright a second, turned his face toward the distant eneave 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 seeround 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 co had iment Not a man but had becoe that escorted the body of the dog-hero to his last resting place