s no answer from the outside.

Alexis continued his tour of inspection. He eyed the table
speculatively. It was made of oak and while not of great bulk was very
heavy--as much as two ordinary men could lift. Alexis picked it up and
tested its weight. Then he growled something to himself.

He also tested the chairs and even the bed on which he was to sleep, all
the time growling to himself like a dog. Then, his tour of the room
completed, he sat down in his chair again. Hal and Chester had been
watching him from beneath lowered lids.

Hal raised himself up.

"Find anything?" he asked.

Alexis vouchsafed no reply.

"Great Scott!" cried Chester, sitting up. "Are you going to mope around
all night? Come to bed and get a little rest, that you may be fit to
meet any emergency should it arise."

"A good idea," growled Alexis to himself, and extinguishing the light,
threw himself upon his bed.

CHAPTER XV.

GETTING AWAY.

All were up long before a guard appeared with breakfast. This they ate
leisurely and then sat down to talk their predicament over calmly.

"There must be some way of getting out of here," said Chester.

"Yes," agreed Hal; "and if we are fond of life, I believe we had better
get away soon. But what can we do?"

"You leave this to me," growled Alexis. "I have it all figured out and
when the time comes, we will go."

"What!" exclaimed Chester. "You have found a way out?"

"Yes," replied the giant briefly.

"Then----" began Chester, but he was interrupted by the sound of a key
turning in the lock of the door.

A moment later the smiling face of Brunnoi appeared in the doorway. He
entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"I have come to tell you," he said, "that I am going away for possibly a
week. You shall be kept here until I return. By that time I will have
decided just what to do with you. I am taking most of my men with me,
but I have no fear of your getting out of this room."

"We are grateful for your thoughtfulness in letting us know you are
going away," said Hal sarcastically. "I am sure we shall miss you."

"I am glad of that," replied Brunnoi. "Your meals will be brought to you
at regular intervals. Till I return then."

He waved his hand airily and stepped quickly through the door, closing
and locking it behind him. Immediately he had left the room Alexis
jumped to his feet. Hal and Chester watched him in surprise.

The giant Cossack walked over to the bed i