"I was afraid so, too," said Hal.

Alexis said nothing. Instead he approached the door, and pressed against it--testing it. Then he turned, and without exertion, wheeled a second ma.s.sive bed into position before the door. This he braced with the third bed, so that by straining his hardest, he could not budge them.

"What are you going to do now?" demanded Hal.

"You'll see," replied the giant briefly.

He stepped between the door and the first bed, close to it. Here, bracing himself against the bed, he laid his great hands against the door and pushed. There was a slight cracking noise. Under this terrible force, the door was straining. And still the giant kept up the pressure.

The muscles in the back of his neck stood out like bands of iron. The sinews in his bare arms quivered and seemed about to leap from beneath his skin; and still Alexis struggled with the unyielding door. There came again the sound of cracking; and the giant released the pressure.

Even from where they stood, the lads could see the door sway inward into place, thus showing the pressure that had been put against it.

The two lads were lost in admiration of the great strength of Alexis.

"It doesn't seem possible," said Hal, half to himself.

"It isn't possible," declared Chester.

But Alexis did not heed these remarks. Hurling the beds away with fierce kicks, he cleared a s.p.a.ce in front of the door. Then he drew back.

"Look!" exclaimed Chester in an awed voice.

Even as he spoke, Alexis drew himself together for a spring. Ten quick steps he took, and then hurled his giant frame against the heavy door.

There was a thud as he smashed against it, followed by a great crash of splintering wood, and Alexis, door and all went down in a tangled heap.

Quickly the giant extricated himself and darted back into the room, where he picked up his ma.s.sive club. Whirling it wildly about his head he shouted to the lads:

"Come on!"

Without a moment's delay, surprised as they were, the lads lifted their own weapons, and dashed after the Cossack. Straight out the door of the bandit chief's private room the three ran into the corridor beyond.

Sprawling figures sitting idly about gave evidence that the chief had not taken all of his men with him. At the abrupt entrance of Alexis these jumped to their feet, drawing knives and swords.

Alexis was upon them in a trice, Hal and Chester close behind him.

Rapidly the huge club of the giant rose and fell, once, twice, thrice--even to five times, and with each crushing blow a man went down with a crushed skull. The others drew back.

The two lads now ranged themselves on either side of Alexis, and together they charged the foe. There was no escape for the bandits, now backed into a corner; but they fought back with a desperation born of despair. Three minutes later there was not a man standing on his feet.

Alexis rested the end of his club upon the ground, and leaning on it, wiped the perspiration from his brow. Then, after a brief rest, he led the way to the entrance to the cavern, barred by the great rock.

"Here," said Chester, "I am afraid, is where we stop. We do not know how to open it."

Alexis pushed the lads aside and examined the rock. Then, without a word, he dropped his club and put his shoulder to the boulder that barred the exit. The first attempt made no impression. Taking a deep breath, the giant tried again. Putting every ounce of his herculean strength into this final effort, he exerted himself to the utmost.

Slowly the huge rock began to move. Slowly it began to swing outward.

Then, more rapidly, until, as the catch was released, it swung away back on its hinges. Alexis, unable to recover his balance, fell forward on his face. He was up in a moment, however, and the three darted from the cavern.

For half a mile they sprinted, seeking to put as great a distance as possible between themselves and the cavern before pausing for breath.

Then, suddenly, Alexis toppled over on the ground.

Hal dropped to his knees and gently raised the giant's head.

"Quick, Chester! Some water!" he cried.

Chester darted away, and soon returned with water in his cap. This Hal sprinkled over the giant's face. His efforts were rewarded at length.

The color slowly returned, and Alexis heaved a deep sigh. Consciousness was returning.

"Poor fellow," said Hal softly. "He has worn himself out."

"Yes," said Chester, "and had we not brought him along, we would still be prisoners in the cavern, with our death only a question of days or hours."

"True," said Hal. "And such strength," he added, "I never saw before."

"Nor do I ever expect to see again," said Chester.

Now Alexis stirred and groaned. Then he sat up.

"What has happened?" he demanded.

"Through your prowess and bravery," Hal made answer, "we have escaped."

Alexis jumped to his feet and patted himself on the chest.

"It is true," he said, "I am a brave man; and I am a strong man, am I not?"

"There can be no question about either," replied Hal.

"Still," continued the giant, "all things considered, that was not such a remarkable feat. Now I remember once----"

Chester interrupted.

"Come," he said, taking Alexis by the arm, "we must get away from here.

The story can wait."

Alexis subsided without further words, and the three continued on their way.

"The thing to do now," said Hal, "is to get back to Lodz as quickly as we can. With luck, we should make it in four days."

"Yes," agreed Chester, "we have learned what we set out to learn. There is no use delaying."

The attention of all three was at that moment attracted by the sound of galloping horses, nearby. The hoof beats were coming toward them. Alexis sprang to action.

"We must have horses," he said in a hoa.r.s.e whisper. "Otherwise we will be weeks getting back. We will take these."

"How?" demanded both lads in a single voice.

"Follow me," commanded the giant.

Breaking into a quick run he hurried along the road to where it curved sharply. Here they could not be seen by the approaching riders until they actually met.