s!"

The lads waited to hear no more. Chester took him by the feet and Hal by
the head, and with great effort succeeded in placing him within the
aeroplane, stretching him out, as well as they could across two of the
seats. Then Chester sprang in and Hal jumped to the wheel.

Along the beach the craft skimmed lightly, then arose from the ground.
At the same instant a volley rang out from the approaching Swedish
troops and the officer in command called out to surrender. The German
airships, for some unaccountable reason, had not waited to resume the
fight upon ascending into the air, but had made off.

Hal headed the aeroplane due westward, making for the coast of England.
Alexis had lapsed into unconsciousness upon being placed in the machine,
but now he stirred feebly and spoke.

"A real fight, wasn't it?" he gasped. "I told you I could do it if I
were on the ground. How many was it I killed? Twenty--thirty--forty----"

He broke off and burst into a fit of coughing. Chester bent over him
anxiously.

"You'll be all right in a day or two, old man," he said gently.

Alexis smiled feebly.

"Don't try to fool me," he said. "I am a man. I know when death is near
and I am not afraid to face it."

Both lads realized that their giant Cossack friend was near his end, but
there was nothing they could do for him. Chester bound up the wounds as
well as he could, stopping the flow of blood, but that was all.

As the aeroplane flew over the sea toward the coast of England, the
dying man continued to talk. Now he sat up in the craft and gazed down
over the side.

"I had always thought," he said slowly, "that I should end my days in my
own land. As it is I shall not end them in any land at all; but in the
air. It is strange."

Hal slowed the aeroplane down until it was barely moving and turned to
Alexis.

"You are wrong," he said. "You are not going to die. In a few hours we
shall be in England, where you shall have the best of medical
attention."

"It is too late," replied the Cossack calmly. "I shall not live an
hour."

His breath came with difficulty.

"There is one thing I should like to know," he said.

"What is it, Alexis?" asked Hal.

"Will you tell me what you meant by 'drawing the long bow'?"

Hal was silent for some moments, and then replied gravely.

"When a man boasts of things he has never done, in America it is called
'drawing the long bow.' I was mistaken in your case. It would be
impossible fo