FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48  
49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   >>   >|  
gure of Nikol's antagonist and to witness the struggle. The giant had stooped over and seized Nikol by one arm. He pulled, but the dwarf, his feet firmly planted on the ground, did not budge. It was a great exhibition of strength, for Hal knew that the stranger must be a powerful man. This time the giant did not laugh. "A strong man," he muttered aloud. "A strong man, though he be a pygmy." He now extended another arm, seized the dwarf around the middle and lifted him high above his head. With his right arm the dwarf struck the face that gazed up at him as he was suspended high in the air. The big man gave a roar like that of an angry bull, hurled the dwarf from him and then jumped after the flying figure with remarkable agility for a man of his huge size. But even as he would have seized Nikol again, Hal stepped forward. "Wait!" cried the lad, who had been doing some quick thinking. "Your name is Ivan Vergoff and you are a Cossack?" The big man paused suddenly and glanced about him. "Yes!" he shouted. "What of it?" "Only," replied Hal quietly, "that I bring you word of your brother, Alexis!" CHAPTER VII. NEW FRIENDS. The big man paused and turned an enquiring eye upon Hal, whom he could dimly perceive in the darkness. "Alexis!" he echoed. "What of him? How do you know I have a brother Alexis?" Hal replied rapidly in the Russian dialect which he had picked up during his service with the Cossacks, as told in the story of "The Boy Allies With the Cossacks," while the man listened intently. Then the giant set the dwarf upon his feet remarking: "Now, you just stay there a little while. I may have more to say to you later, but right now I would know something of my brother Alexis, whom I have not seen in years. And my brother Stephan, also, what do you know of him?" he demanded of Hal. The lad shook his head. "Not much," he said. "But come, we'll find some spot where we can make a fire and I'll tell you what I know of Alexis." "Good," boomed the big man. "Follow me." Without another word he turned on his heel and strode away whence he had come. The other four followed him, Nikol the while muttering angrily to himself. Stubbs turned upon him suddenly. "What's the matter with you?" he demanded. "Don't you know it's cold here? I want to sit by the fire awhile. Keep still." The dwarf made no reply, but became silent. It was plain enough that he stood very much in awe
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48  
49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Alexis

 
brother
 

turned

 

seized

 

demanded

 

replied

 
Cossacks
 

suddenly

 

paused

 

strong


intently

 

Allies

 

listened

 
silent
 
remarking
 

Russian

 

dialect

 

rapidly

 

picked

 

awhile


service
 

echoed

 
strode
 

Without

 
boomed
 
Follow
 

muttering

 

angrily

 

Stephan

 
matter

Stubbs
 
middle
 
lifted
 
struck
 

extended

 

muttered

 

hurled

 

suspended

 

pulled

 
firmly

stooped

 

struggle

 

antagonist

 
witness
 

planted

 

ground

 

stranger

 
powerful
 

strength

 

exhibition