ossible for us to join forces, but then we should greatly
lessen our effectiveness."

Alexis, who was in front, stopped suddenly and threw up a warning hand.
Immediately the other three halted in their tracks. Peering in the
direction in which Alexis pointed, they made out the forms of half a
dozen German soldiers standing near a tree. Directly, however, the
latter made off, and the little party approached the tree.

"Another placard, eh?" muttered Stephan, as he drew near.

The other three also approached and read:

"The time for surrender has been extended till to-morrow at noon!"

Angrily, Stephan snatched the placard from the tree. Turning, he saw
several other trees also bearing placards. These he also tore down.

"Surrender, eh!" he cried. "Never!"

Suddenly he clapped his hand to his side and staggered back. At the same
instant, from directly ahead, came the sharp crack of a rifle. But
Stephan did not fall. Recovering himself, he dashed straight in the
direction of the shot at top speed. There came the second crack of a
rifle, but still the Cossack did not pause.

Now Hal, and Chester, dashing after him with Alexis at their side, saw
Stephan pause momentarily, raise his rifle and fire quickly twice. Then
he dropped to the ground. But it was not from injury, as the others
feared, for at that moment there came a volley and bullets whistled
overhead. Quickly Hal, Chester and Alexis also flung themselves to the
earth.

Stephan, lying upon his stomach, was pumping lead steadily straight
before him. Hal, Chester and Alexis drew their revolvers and joined in
the fray. Through the trees they could now make out the number of their
assailants. There were an even dozen of them, all lying in a little
clearing, their rifles trained upon the spot where the four friends lay.

Under the deadly aim of Stephan's rifle, two men dropped to the ground.
The others returned the Cossack's fire, but the latter was well
protected by foliage, and escaped injury. Another German jumped to his
feet, spun round on his heel, and fell to the ground.

Then, at a word from one of the Germans, the remaining nine jumped
suddenly to their feet and dashed toward their enemies on a dead run,
their rifles spitting fire as they came on. Exposed to the fire of the
foe as they were, they realized that their only chance of life lay in
rushing their opponents.

Alexis was the first to see the danger in this attack. He jumped to his
feet, draggi