ied Chester. "Give it to me."

Hal put the revolver in his friend's hand.

"Don't hesitate to fire if one of them makes a false move," he said.
"They would kill you in a moment if they had the chance."

"I'll use it if necessary; have no fear about that," replied Chester.

Hal arose and left the room and the house. He gazed up and down the
road. There was no sign of troops, nor, by listening intently, could he
hear hoof beats. He made his way to where he had left his horse, and
tied it alongside the horse that had brought Chester to the house. Then
he returned to Chester and his prisoners.

"There is no telling how long we may have to wait for our men to
return," he said to his friend. "Do you suppose that if I lifted you up
on your horse you could ride?"

"I am sure of it," replied Chester.

"That is the best plan," said Hal. "Come, then, we will try it."

He went to Chester's side, and still holding the revolver in his right
hand, threw his left arm around his friend's neck. Chester put an arm
about Hal's shoulder, and thus supported, made his way from the room
without much pain.

Hal made a stirrup of his hand, and Chester, putting his foot into it,
was soon astride his horse, though he winced somewhat with the pain the
exertion gave him. Then Hal sprang into his own saddle, and the two
turned their horses' heads in the direction of the main body of
Cossacks.

Along the narrow mountain trail they rode slowly for perhaps an hour
without the sight of either friend or foe. Then, rounding a sharp
turning in the pass, at the top of a steep section of the road, Hal
reined in suddenly with a muttered imprecation. Chester followed his
friend's example.

Perhaps half a mile away came a body of horsemen, perhaps twenty of
them. The sun, shining upon their uniforms, showed them to be Austrians.
Quickly Hal leaped from his horse, and putting forth his utmost
strength, rolled several great stones into place across the road,
absolutely barring the pass. Then, after Chester had been helped to the
ground, the two lads dropped behind this barrier.

The pass at this point was hardly wide enough for four men to walk
abreast. On each side walls of rock rose straight up for perhaps twenty
feet. Hal looked at his two revolvers and the one he had taken from the
women in the house.

"Lucky we have plenty of ammunition," he said calmly.

He tested all weapons carefully and loaded them. Then he passed one to
Chester.

"I a