Chapter IV: Lodz

There came a sudden command from Colonel Bluekoff, and the regiment to which Hal and Chester were attached galloped forward. The advance guard could be seen falling back, firing as they retreated upon the main body of cavalry. They had encountered a force of the enemy.

With Colonel Bluekoff leading, his sword whirling about his head, the troop dashed forward at a charge. As they went by, the retreating advance guard reformed and also dashed forward with them. From ahead came several puffs of smoke and the cracking of rifles, and here and there a man fell to the ground. But the rest dashed on.

The Cossacks did not fire a shot and soon the enemy had disappeared in the distance.

"A reconnoitering force that must have gotten around Lodz in some way," Colonel Bluekoff told his officers.

The regiment now fell back upon the main body.

"That's two more," said Alexis complacently to Hal and Chester.

"Two more what?" demanded Hal.

"Two more of the enemy I have killed," said Alexis without a suspicion of a smile. "Didn't you see them go down when I fired?"

"I didn't know we fired a shot," said Chester, with a laugh.

"Sh-h-h," whispered Alexis, "do you want to get me into trouble?"

"Trouble," said Chester. "What do you mean?"

"Don't you know I'd get into trouble if the colonel knew I had fired without orders, even though I killed two of the enemy."

"Great Scott!" muttered Hal to himself. "He is the limit."

Alexis showed his revolver to Hal and Chester.

"Little invention of my own," he said. "Now I'll leave it to you, you didn't hear me when I fired, did you?"

"No," said Chester emphatically, "I did not."

"I knew it," exclaimed Alexis triumphantly. "You see," he explained, patting the revolver, "that's how I was able to kill two of the enemy without you hearing the sound of my revolver. Little invention of my own. No noise, no smoke."

Hal stretched out a hand.

"Let me have a look at that wonderful weapon," he said.

Alexis drew back, and returned the revolver quickly to its place.

"No," he said seriously. "I wouldn't trust it out of my own hand. If it's not handled just right, it might get out of commission, and I don't believe I could make another like it."

Hal whistled softly to himself.

"He's the best I ever heard," he said to himself, "and I've heard a whole lot of 'em at one time or another."

Alexis rode ahead as complacently as before, whistling softly to himself, pausing once just long enough to turn to Hal and ask:

"Have you decided yet to tell me what you mean by drawing the long bow?"

"While you have a gun like that in your possession, I wouldn't tell you for the world," replied Hal.

Now the column, at a command from General Jorvitch, increased its pace. In the distance could be made out the buildings of a large town.

"Lodz," said Alexis briefly, pointing ahead.

Hal and Chester acknowledged they understood. The troop continued onward.

Lodz, an important railroad center, was one of the most important towns in Poland, and the Grand Duke had decided that it must be held at all hazards. There was already a large body of troops stationed there, but the Grand Duke had not considered them sufficient to hold off the ever-increasing horde of the Kaiser. Even now large masses of infantry were being thrown forward to reenforce the troops already there.

Acclaimed on all hands, the Cossacks rode rapidly through the town and went into camp at the side facing the Germans. Outposts were thrown out and the Cossacks sat down to a day of waiting.

Having secured permission, Hal, Chester and Alexis walked back toward the town. For several hours they strolled about, looking in the windows, and purchasing several small articles.

The people of Lodz were serene in their belief that there was no danger of a German invasion, in spite of the nearness of the foe. Shops and stores, theaters and all buildings were gaily decorated, and thousands promenaded the streets. The city was in festival attire.

"Looks like they were preparing for a celebration," Hal remarked to Chester.

"I should say it does," the latter returned. "But it wouldn't take the Germans long to wreck the town, if they once got here. You remember Louvain?"

"Well, they won't get here," Alexis broke in. "One Cossack is always good for ten Germans. Why, I remember----"

"Tell us later," Hal interrupted. "We want to look about a little now."

The three entered a store, where, Alexis' eye having been caught by a red necktie, the Cossack purchased it. The necktie in his pocket, he leaned over the counter and asked the salesman:

"Say, what does drawing the long bow mean?"

Hal and Chester burst into a loud guffaw, and the salesman, drawing back, suddenly turned and disappeared.

A man in civilian garb, who stood nearby, also broke into a loud guffaw. Alexis turned on him angrily.

"What are you laughing at?" he demanded.

"Why, I'm laughing at you," replied the man calmly. "What about it?"

Plainly Alexis was astonished at this reply. He drew back.

"Oh, I guess it's all right," he said pleasantly. "I wasn't sure, that's all."

"And who are these children you have with you?" demanded the man.

Hal answered this question himself.

"None of your business," he said shortly.

"Is that so?" said the man, stepping forward. "What if I should make it some of my business?"

Hal smiled.

"I don't think you will," he said quietly.

The man, large, though somewhat stout, with a red, evil-looking face, stepped quickly forward, and tapped Hal lightly on the cheek with his hand.

"Let that teach you not to talk back to your elders," he said.

"And let that teach you not to interfere in other people's business," said Hal, also taking a step forward, and tapping his opponent lightly on the cheek.

The man grew very angry, and his face turned a dull red. He raised his cane, and struck sharply at Hal. But Hal was not there, and a moment later the man received a sharp jolt on the jaw as Hal's fist went home.

The man let out a string of epithets and rushed at the boy. But the latter was prepared for him, and drove him back with straight rights and lefts; one blow brought a tiny stream of blood from the man's nose.

He drew back.

"You will answer for that," he said quietly, and turning, walked off.

Hal shrugged his shoulders, and at that moment the salesman whom Alexis had frightened a few moments before came back.

"Do you know who that was?" he asked of Hal.

"No," replied the lad, "and what's more, I don't care."

"Well," said the salesman, "the man whom you just struck is Count de Reslau, and he is very influential. You have made a bad enemy."

"I don't care if he is the King of Poland," replied Hal. "No man can hit me and get away without a return blow."

Alexis, meanwhile, had been gazing at Hal in astonishment. Now he approached and laid a hand on the lad's arm.

"A real fighter!" he exclaimed. "A man after my own heart!"

"I didn't see you doing much fighting just a moment ago," said Hal, somewhat nettled.

"Of course not," replied Alexis. "Do you think I wanted to get in trouble? Suppose an officer had come along?"

"Well," said Hal, "suppose he had?"

"If he had, we would have lost our liberty for all time to come."

"And is that why you didn't fight?"

"Yes! Discipline in the Russian army is more strict than in any army in the world; but you are certainly a fighter. The way you stood up to that man reminds me of the time I----"

"Come on," broke in Chester, not wanting to hear any more bluster, "and let's get out of here."

The three left the store, and continued their stroll about the town. As they were passing an unfrequented corner, six men suddenly sprang out upon them, armed with clubs and knives.

Hal and Chester immediately backed up against a wall, and turned to fight off their assailants; but not so Alexis.

With a loud shout he rushed upon the six who had attacked them. Right and left flew his huge fists, striking out blindly. One man toppled to the ground. A stabbing wrist was caught in the Cossack's great hand, and thrown twisting through the air. And at the same time Alexis called to Hal and Chester:

"Now you shall see how Alexis can fight!"

But Hal and Chester had no mind to let Alexis fight the whole crowd of assailants. They sprang to his aid.

Alexis drove his right fist, with tremendous power behind it, right into the face of the second man, and the latter went down to rise no more for some time to come.

Hal, with a sudden spring, clinched with one of the assailants, and the two went tumbling to the ground. Chester and another of the enemy were also rolling on the ground.

Alexis reached one huge hand and grasped another of the foe by the back of the neck, and lifted him, kicking and struggling, from his feet. The last man turned to flee, but he had reckoned without the giant Cossack.

Still holding one man by the scruff of the neck, the Cossack took a step forward and, with his free hand, grasped the last man by the back of the neck also. Then, holding one in either hand, he walked calmly to where Hal and his opponent were engaged.

Hal was uppermost, and Alexis, seizing a chance when the lad's head was out of the way, dashed the man he held in his left hand, headfirst, against the head of the enemy on the ground. There was a crunch, and both men lay still.

Then, with his other victim in his left hand, Alexis walked over to where Chester and his opponent were rolling about, and performed a similar operation. Then he lent each lad a hand in getting to his feet, after which he turned and surveyed the field of battle.

"Six!" he said briefly. "That's enough for one day. Come on! Let's get away from here before some officer comes along and sees us."

Both boys looked at the giant Cossack with amazement written large upon their faces. From the first time that he had boasted to them, they had put him down as anything but a fighter, in spite of his huge size. But the quickness with which he had disposed of six men showed them that they had been wrong.

As they walked along, it was plain to the lads that something was troubling Alexis; and at last Hal was moved to ask:

"What's the matter, Alexis?"

The huge Cossack looked at the lad for a moment, and then said:

"There is no use my telling you, but I will. I want to know what you meant by 'drawing the long bow.'"