"Some water!" he commanded.

Under the threatening muzzle of the revolver, the woman brought it, and at a command from Hal, bathed Chester's face. Then, still at Hal's command, she lifted the lad and placed him in a chair. Hal took his seat near the window, for he knew that it was only a question of time until some of the Russian troops pa.s.sed in one way or the other. His revolver still covered the two women, who sat without uttering a word.

Gradually the color returned to Chester's face, and at last he opened his eyes and looked about. He took in the situation at a glance, and smiled faintly.

"Well, I see we won," he said.

"We did," replied Hal grimly. "How do you feel?"

"Better. I shall be all right now."

"Do you think you are equal to holding this revolver while I go out and reconnoiter?"

"Sure!" replied Chester. "Give it to me."

Hal put the revolver in his friend's hand.

"Don't hesitate to fire if one of them makes a false move," he said.

"They would kill you in a moment if they had the chance."

"I'll use it if necessary; have no fear about that," replied Chester.

Hal arose and left the room and the house. He gazed up and down the road. There was no sign of troops, nor, by listening intently, could he hear hoof beats. He made his way to where he had left his horse, and tied it alongside the horse that had brought Chester to the house. Then he returned to Chester and his prisoners.

"There is no telling how long we may have to wait for our men to return," he said to his friend. "Do you suppose that if I lifted you up on your horse you could ride?"

"I am sure of it," replied Chester.

"That is the best plan," said Hal. "Come, then, we will try it."

He went to Chester's side, and still holding the revolver in his right hand, threw his left arm around his friend's neck. Chester put an arm about Hal's shoulder, and thus supported, made his way from the room without much pain.

Hal made a stirrup of his hand, and Chester, putting his foot into it, was soon astride his horse, though he winced somewhat with the pain the exertion gave him. Then Hal sprang into his own saddle, and the two turned their horses' heads in the direction of the main body of Cossacks.

Along the narrow mountain trail they rode slowly for perhaps an hour without the sight of either friend or foe. Then, rounding a sharp turning in the pa.s.s, at the top of a steep section of the road, Hal reined in suddenly with a muttered imprecation. Chester followed his friend's example.

Perhaps half a mile away came a body of hors.e.m.e.n, perhaps twenty of them. The sun, shining upon their uniforms, showed them to be Austrians.

Quickly Hal leaped from his horse, and putting forth his utmost strength, rolled several great stones into place across the road, absolutely barring the pa.s.s. Then, after Chester had been helped to the ground, the two lads dropped behind this barrier.

The pa.s.s at this point was hardly wide enough for four men to walk abreast. On each side walls of rock rose straight up for perhaps twenty feet. Hal looked at his two revolvers and the one he had taken from the women in the house.

"Lucky we have plenty of ammunition," he said calmly.

He tested all weapons carefully and loaded them. Then he pa.s.sed one to Chester.

"I am keeping two," he explained, "because, being wounded, you probably won't be able to move about as quickly as I will. I don't know how long we shall be able to hold these fellows off; but if they don't rush us, we may be able to hold out till help arrives."

"If they were Germans I wouldn't feel quite so easy," said Chester; "but I don't believe there is much likelihood of Austrians rushing us."

"Right you are," said Hal cheerfully. "They'll probably dismount, hide behind their horses and try to pick us off."

As yet the Austrians were unaware of the presence of enemies in the pa.s.s above them. They came on slowly, laughing and talking. Then one, chancing to raise his head, saw the barrier in the pa.s.s. He called the attention of the others to it. No sign of an enemy was visible, but the Austrians approached very carefully.

The two lads waited until the Austrians were so close that a miss was impossible, then, taking deliberate aim, each fired once. Two of the enemy fell to the roadside.

There came a cry of dismay from the Austrians, and they reined in their horses and sprang to the ground.

But two of them had not been quick enough, and while they left their horses at practically the same time as did the others, they did not rise again to their feet.

"Four!" said Chester calmly.

"About ten, if Alexis were doing the counting," said Hal grimly. "But I would give a whole lot if he were here right now."

The Austrians forced their horses to lie down, and took up their positions behind them. Then they blazed away wildly at the barrier ahead. They could see nothing at which to shoot, however, and their bullets did no damage.

"I wonder if the Austrians know this old hat trick?" said Chester.

Picking up a little stick, he put his cap upon it and raised it slowly over the barrier. A hail of bullets flew about it. Chester took deliberate aim at one of the Austrians who exposed himself, and Hal at another. Again their revolvers cracked once each, and two Austrians bit the dust.

"We'll be on even terms soon, if we keep this up," said Hal gleefully.

Chester tried the cap trick again; but this time it did not work. The Austrians had learned a lesson.

For perhaps five minutes there was silence; then Hal, glancing quickly over the barrier, saw one of the enemy jump to his feet and dash straight toward the barrier. In his anxiety to pick the man off, Hal fired too quickly, and missed.

The man dashed on and flung himself to the ground right up against the barrier. Here, for the moment, he was safe, for the lads could not get at him without leaning over the barrier and thus exposing themselves to the fire of the others.

A second Austrian leaped to his feet and dashed forward. This time, however, Hal did not hurry, and picked the man off with ease. Hardly had his weapon spoken, when a shot from below went whizzing by his head. Hal tumbled back to safety rapidly.

"Great Scott!" he exclaimed. "We'll have to get that fellow away from there. He almost got me that time."

"Yes; but how?" demanded Chester.

Hal considered the situation for some moments in silence. Then he pa.s.sed one of his two revolvers to Chester.

"You blaze away as rapidly as you can at the Austrians with those two guns," he said. "Never mind whether you see anything to shoot at or not.

Just shoot when I give the word. That'll keep those fellows under cover.

I'll attend to this one."

"What are you going to do?" asked Chester.

"I'm going over after him!" said Hal grimly.

"But he is liable to kill you!" exclaimed Chester in alarm.

"If I don't get him," said Hal quietly, "he is sure to kill us both before long. Here goes!"

At the moment that he sprang to the top of the barrier, Chester opened upon the Austrians with both weapons. The man on the opposite side of the barrier was taken by surprise by Hal's sudden action. Hal toppled over upon him without warning. With a startled cry the Austrian raised his weapon to fire, but Hal was too quick for him.