s 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.'"

CHAPTER V.

ALEXIS IN BATTLE.

Both lads laughed heartily.

"You'll learn before many days," said Hal, "and I am not as sure as I
was about it."

"Nor I," agreed Chester.

The three made t