orses, and at a second
command, rushed directly upon the houses. With heavy kicks they smashed
in the doors and rushed upon the occupants within. They soon put an end
to these snipers.

But now, around one side of the town appeared a troop of Austrian horse.

Hal raised a cry of warning, and quickly the Cossacks turned and leaped
upon their own horses; but the Austrian cavalry had no mind to give
battle to their foes, and after pouring in a volley, turned and fled
down the narrow mountain pass.

"After them!" cried Alexis.

He put spurs to his horse and dashed ahead, his men following closely.

The Austrians had not gone far when their leader called a halt and
consulted with his subordinate officer. They were, the leader knew, not
far from a point where he could expect reenforcements.

A plan was quickly formed. The Austrians divided into two parts. The
foremost blocked the road--down which the Cossacks were rapidly
approaching--near a turn, so as to remain unseen by the approaching
enemy until almost the moment of contact. The second force stayed some
rods behind the first, forming in two lines, one along each side of the
road. Some were armed with lances and sabers, but many also carried
rifles.

As for the Cossacks, all carried lances and revolvers.

The Russians went forward at a gallop. Alexis was expecting to overtake
the enemy, but he was hardly prepared for the suddenness of the
encounter.

Ere he could give an order, there came one loud, flaming, whistling
discharge from that living barrier drawn up across the road. Alexis'
horse reared, as did others of the troop. Some of the men came to a
quick stop, others were borne forward by the impetus of their former
speed, but reined in for orders. No man fell, though one groaned and two
hurled epithets at the foe.

Alexis, now that he had his horse under control, drew his sword with his
right hand, his pistol with his left, which also held the rein, and
ordered his men to charge, to fire at the moment of contact, then to
cut, slash and club.

The first line of Austrians, as soon as they had fired, retreated
between the two lines of supports, stopping at some further distance to
reform. The second line, being thus cleared of the first, poured a hail
of bullets into the Cossacks as the latter were caught between them.

Many fell, but the others turned on the second barrier with furious
force, some, however, rushing upon the reforming first line.

They w