nd the latter was
not slow to take advantage of it.

Slowly he raised his weapon and took careful aim. He had determined not
to miss this time. His finger tightened on the trigger, and----

Aid came from an unexpected source.

Marquis, who, up to this instant, had remained alert over Chester, had
not taken a hand in the battle. His eyes fastened at this moment on the
German officer, his canine intelligence told him as clearly as words
that his giant friend stood at death's door. With one fierce growl, he
sprang from Chester's side, and leaped upon the German officer from
behind, even as the latter pressed the trigger. The officer's aim had
been deflected, and the bullet passed over Alexis' head.

The German turned upon this new assailant with an imprecation. His hand
went to his holster in an attempt to draw his second revolver. But
Marquis was prepared for this move. His teeth met in the officer's hand
and the latter yelled with pain.

Marquis released his hold and sprang straight at his enemy's throat. The
latter was thrown from his feet by the force of this attack, and in
falling his head came in contact with the sharp barrel of his revolver,
knocking him unconscious.

Marquis, now having entered the battle, had no thought of leaving Alexis
to fight it out alone. Once in the fight, he was there to stay. He
sprang forward and leaped upon a German soldier who at that moment would
have plunged his sword into Alexis' defenseless back. The man gave a
choking cry as the teeth of the dog found lodgment in the back of his
neck and he was borne to the ground.

And still the giant Cossack, with herculean strength and unbelievable
prowess, was fighting his assailants. A sword had pierced him through
the left hand, another had scratched his cheek and a third had struck
him in the right shoulder. But still, unmindful of these wounds, he
fought on with the same determination and courage as before.

Marquis, having dragged the man off his back, Alexis plunged into the
midst of his enemies anew. Two more were pierced through and through by
the quick and mighty thrusts of the powerful arm. Another dropped with a
bleeding head, as Alexis caught him squarely with a quick back-handed
blow just in time to avoid the point of the other's weapon.

Now there were but eight Germans left, and these leaped quickly
backward, thinking to put enough distance between them to allow them to
draw the revolvers. But Alexis gave them no time f