Boy Allies with the Cossacks; Or, A Wild Dash over the Carpathians Read online

  CHAPTER VI.

  MARQUIS.

  The Russian cavalry, outnumbered by the Germans, had continued to giveground and the Germans were still in pursuit. But now, from the distancearose a cloud of dust, and a moment later, in a headlong dash to savetheir companions, came a second body of Cossack cavalry, 5,000 strong,to give battle to the Germans.

  Down they came upon the unprepared Germans, with yells and shouts, theirhorses running free. At the same time that part of the first Cossackbody which still remained reformed and sprang forward.

  The Germans turned and fled.

  Then from the trenches came forth columns of infantry, supported byfield batteries, and in a moment these had opened upon the advancingRussian horsemen; but in spite of this hail of death, the Cossacks didnot falter nor pause. Straight up to the mouth of the field guns theyrode--sabering the gunners right and left--and in a few moments thesehad been silenced.

  Then the Cossacks turned their attention to the infantry, which, firingwith machine-like precision and accuracy, dealt havoc to the ranks ofthe Russian horsemen and mowed them down.

  Several squadrons of Cossacks dismounted and approached the foe on foot,and soon the fighting became hand to hand. The standard-bearer suddenlythrew up his hands and fell over backward, the colors fluttering to theground.

  A German officer, thinking to capture the flag, jumped forward, andleaning down laid his hand upon it; but at that moment a hairy, snarlingbody sprang forward, straight at the German's throat. The latterreleased his hold on the flag and jumped to his feet to ward off theattack of this strange enemy, which he could not at first make out.

  But this new enemy was not to be shaken off. His teeth found their mark,and with a cry, the German tumbled to earth.

  The newcomer was Marquis.

  Separated from Hal and Chester, Marquis, though a battle dog, had becomeuneasy at their absence and set out to find them. He had advanced withthe second troop of Cossacks, and seeing the dead upon the field, hadbeen trying to pick out the bodies of the two lads.

  But when the Russian standard-bearer, almost beside him, had been shotdown and the German had leaped for the colors, Marquis had turned fromthe search of his friends to dispose of his lifelong enemy.

  As Marquis' foe went to the ground, a second German sprang forward and,aiming a kick at the dog, also stooped and started to raise the colors.Marquis, disregarding the kick, seized upon the flag with his teeth atthe same moment.

  Then came a tug of war. Snarling, and with bristling back, Marquispulled at the standard. Crying out hoarse epithets, the German pulledalso; but neither made any headway.

  Realizing that the dog was a match for him, the German uttered a fierceimprecation, dropped his hold on the flag, stepped back and aimed hisrevolver.

  But the dog was ready for him. He had released his hold upon the flagalmost as soon as had the German, and his canine reasoning told him theGerman's object. Before the German could pull the trigger, Marquis wasready for him, and hurled his body straight at the German's throat.

  He had gauged the distance accurately enough, and beneath the shock theofficer was hurled to the ground. He attempted to fight off hisfour-footed assailant, but he was no match for the angry dog.

  This adversary disposed of, Marquis calmly returned to the flag, pickedit up in his mouth, carried it to the commander of the squadron and putit in his hand. The commander took the time to pat Marquis on the head,and utter some words of praise.

  But Marquis had no time to listen to these. He had other work to do, andhad disappeared almost before the Cossack ceased speaking.

  Hither and thither over the field of battle Marquis made his way,sniffing the bodies of the dead, and licking the faces of the wounded.For an hour he wandered about, and at last his search was rewarded.

  From near him came a feeble moan. Marquis pricked up his ears. Surely herecognized that voice. The moan came again. Marquis hesitated no longer.He had recognized the voice of Hal. Quickly he sprang to where the ladlay and poked his cold muzzle into the boy's face.

  Hal turned feebly on his side and put out a hand before he realized whathad touched him. Then he succeeded in raising himself on one arm andthrew the other around Marquis' neck.

  "Marquis!" he almost sobbed. "Where is Chester?"

  Apparently the dog understood his question, for he jumped away and begannosing other bodies nearby. And at last he came upon Chester. The latteralso was returning to consciousness. With some difficulty Hal staggeredto his feet and made his way to his friend's side. He turned to Marquis.

  "Get some water!" he commanded, and paused to see if the dog understood.

  Marquis bounded away, and returned a few moments later with awell-filled canteen, in his mouth. Hastily Hal removed the stopper andpoured some of the water down Chester's throat. Then he took a drinkhimself.

  Thus refreshed, Chester sat up and looked around. Hal did the same. Itwas indeed a terrible sight that met their eyes. As far as they couldsee, bodies of dead and wounded men lay scattered about. Hal shuddered.

  "Terrible!" he exclaimed. Then: "I wonder where Alexis is?" He turned toMarquis. "Find Alexis," he commanded.

  Marquis understood and trotted away. Chester and Hal now arose andwalked slowly after him. At last Marquis, some distance away, set up aloud bark. Hal and Chester approached as rapidly as their exhaustedcondition would permit.

  Marquis was standing directly over the body of the giant Cossack,surrounded by a circle of the enemies whom Alexis had slain in combat.

  The giant stirred slightly as the boys approached. Quickly Hal bent overhim and, raising his head upon his knee, placed the canteen to his lips.

  This brought a sigh from Alexis' lips, and soon he sat up and lookedaround.

  "Well," said he, waving his arm toward the circle of his fallen foes,"you can see what a Cossack does when he fights."

  "I see," said Hal briefly. "But come, if you are able to walk. We hadbetter get away from this spot. The battle is not over."

  Alexis objected.

  "What, a Cossack run!" he demanded.

  "But if we stay here we shall probably be killed," replied Chester."See," pointing, "even now the Cossacks are retreating in the face ofsuperior numbers. We must go."

  "I don't----" began Alexis, but Hal interrupted him.

  "Come on," he said, taking him by the arm. "Let's move away from here."

  Grumbling and protesting, the giant allowed himself to be led toward thehead of the Cossack line, now some distance back. Bullets and shellswere still whistling overhead, for the three were between the opposingforces. None dropped near them, however, and they continued on theirway.

  Suddenly, from the German line, came the clear call of a bugle.

  "Quick!" shouted Hal, hurrying forward. "The Germans are going tocharge. We mustn't be caught in between."

  But it was too late. Even as the lad spoke, the German cavalry cameforward with a rush.

  Hal realized in an instant that they would not have time to rejoin themain body of Cossacks, for should the latter advance to meet the charge,they would not do so rapidly enough to come up to them before theGermans. Should the Cossacks retreat, the three could not possibly hopeto come up with them.

  Fortunately the three were at the extreme east of the battle line; sonow, turning quickly, Hal led the way out of danger. When far enoughaway so that there was little likelihood of being struck by straybullets, they halted to witness the progress of the battle.

  The Cossacks advanced to meet the charge of the German cavalry, andthrew it back upon its infantry support, which once more issued from thetrenches. German field guns were unlimbered and hurled their shellsscreeching at the Russians. The latter were forced to retreat.

  The Germans pushed this advantage closely.

  "If we only had infantry or artillery here," groaned Alexis, "therewould be a different story to tell."

  "I'm sure of that," replied Hal; "but to advance in the face of suchoverwhelming numbers would be fool
ish."

  "True," said Alexis, "but I never like to see a Cossack run from hisfoes, no matter what their number."

  It was plain now that the Russian commander realized the futility offurther fighting with his vastly superior foe. The Cossacks gave waymore rapidly and finally turned and began their retreat upon Lodz.

  "And here we are right in the middle of the Germans," said Chester."What are we going to do?"

  "We'll have to try to get back to our lines," said Hal, "and the soonerwe start the better."

  "Good," said Chester. "Let's start at once."

  Alexis had so far recovered now as to announce that he was feeling"perfectly fit," and making a slight detour, the three friends, closelyfollowed by Marquis, set out.

  They had progressed possibly half a mile, when Marquis suddenly began togrowl.

  "What do you suppose is the matter with him?" demanded Chester.

  "I don't know," replied Hal. "Evidently he scents some kind of danger."He turned to the dog. "What is it, Marquis?" he demanded.

  Marquis' only answer was a series of deep growls.

  "Germans?" asked Hal.

  Marquis uttered a short bark.

  "That's what's the matter," said Hal, quietly.

  At that moment there came riding down a nearby road a troop of Germancavalry.

  "Quick! down on the ground!" cried Hal. "Perhaps they won't see us!"

  He suited the action to the word, and Chester and Alexis followed hisexample.

  But it was too late. The Germans had espied them and now came towardthem at a gallop. Alexis rose to his feet and stretched.

  "Another fight," he said. "Good!"

  "Fight nothing!" exclaimed Hal. "It's impossible. They have us. That'sall there is about it. We shall have to submit."

  The Germans came to a sudden halt a few feet away, and rifles werebrought to bear upon the three friends.

  "You are our prisoners!" called the German commander.