he woman who had been left to guard Chester, at the command of the
other, ran to her aid. Chester, holding to the back of the chair, drew
himself to his feet and staggered after her, still clinging to his
broken sword.

As the woman stooped to pick up the revolver dropped by the other when
Hal's bullet had struck her hand, Chester, in spite of the pain of his
wounds, leaped forward. As she arose to her feet and would have fired
point-blank at Hal, he knocked the weapon from her hand with a sharp
blow of his broken sword.

Then coming quickly to Hal's side he took the lad's revolver from him,
and, stepping back, aimed it at the head of the woman with whom his
friend was struggling.

"Release him instantly," he ordered, "or I shall fire!"

The woman glanced at him over her shoulder, and smiled tauntingly.

"You wouldn't shoot a woman," she sneered.

"I wouldn't like to," replied Chester, "but if you have not released him
and if both of you do not line up against that wall with your hands in
the air by the time I count three, I will shoot, just as surely as I
stand here. One, two----"

The woman glanced at him. Her eyes must have told her that the lad meant
what he said, for, releasing Hal, she stepped quickly back and raised
her hands in the air. The second woman followed her example. Chester
stepped to Hal's side, and extended the revolver to him.

"Take this quick!" he commanded.

Hal did so, and without another word, Chester suddenly crumpled up in a
heap on the floor. He had fainted.

Still covering the women with his revolver, Hal knelt by his friend's
side. Then he turned to the woman.

"Some water!" he commanded.

Under the threatening muzzle of the revolver, the woman brought it, and
at a command from Hal, bathed Chester's face. Then, still at Hal's
command, she lifted the lad and placed him in a chair. Hal took his seat
near the window, for he knew that it was only a question of time until
some of the Russian troops passed in one way or the other. His revolver
still covered the two women, who sat without uttering a word.

Gradually the color returned to Chester's face, and at last he opened
his eyes and looked about. He took in the situation at a glance, and
smiled faintly.

"Well, I see we won," he said.

"We did," replied Hal grimly. "How do you feel?"

"Better. I shall be all right now."

"Do you think you are equal to holding this revolver while I go out and
reconnoiter?"

"Sure!" repl