Part 41 (1/2)

Hal and Chester glanced about There was no one in sight on the sandy beach and the Gerh this be Sweden,” said Hal, ”unless Swedish troops come to our aid, the Germans are likely to violate the neutrality of the country and take us anyhow”

”Not without a fight,” declared Alexis ”Let ain, and I will show you such a fight as you never saw On the ground I can fight”

Now the 'plane was but a few scant yards frorounded with a shock

CHAPTER XXIX

THE DEATH OF A titAN

Quickly the three leaped out In spite of the Ger overhead, Hal examined the 'plane

”Great Scott!” he exclaih careful, inspection

”I can fix this thing in five round a short distance away From each craft leaped three men, who dashed toward the three friends

Alexis turned to Hal and Chester

”Do you,” he said calmly, ”fix up the airshi+p I will meet these fellows!”

Before either lad could reply, he had hurled himself upon the foe

For some reason, probably because they did not wish to attract the attention of the Swedish authorities by the sounds of a struggle, the Ger but one for toward them, they advanced to meet him confidently Plainly they considered it the wild dash of a madman

Hal and Chester turned their attention to the aeroplane, and while Alexis fought against overwhelht into the iant Such a superb attack was never seen before--such a mad wild dash as he took the eneainst the airshi+ps that stood on the sands

As the huge Cossack rushed forward, his sword flashed above his head

His revolver he gripped tightly by the barrel A fighting fire darted froht smile

If ever a man felt the joy of battle it was he He heeded not the nuainst hi, he hurled himself in upon them

They were carried back by the very fierceness of his attack They gave way before hi to retreat around one of the aircraft With one swift sweep of his foot, Alexis tore a ragged hole in the bottom of the first craft; and at the sa blows

They could not stand before hiiant pressed ever forward Now a , thinking to drag hiht boot into the man's face, and at the same moment, by a quick back-handed sweep of his sword, cut down aupon his back

His revolver rose and fell, once, twice, three ti blows more Germans went down But Alexis did not escape unscathed A sword thrust had pierced his chest, not deeply, but the blood strea was pierced in a dozen places

But in spite of this he pressed on He thought only of advance, never of retreat; and as he hurled his gigantic body, ti nuave back in consternation and astonishround, their skulls battered by fierce blows of the revolver, or pierced through and through by the great sword

And now Hal and Chester, the aeroplane once ht, dashed forward to the rescue with loud cries