FOUR AGAINST MANY.
Chester could not resist the temptation to answer this demand.
"Come and get us!" he called back defiantly.
Uncle John created a slight diversion at this moment. He had been
stooping over the form of the unconscious German in the shack, and now
straightened up with an exclamation of satisfaction.
"Well, I've got these, anyway," he said.
He displayed a brace of revolvers and a cartridge belt which he had taken
from the fallen man.
"Good," said Colonel Anderson. "Now, Hal, you and I will guard the door,
and Chester and Uncle John will take care of the window. The chances are
they will attack from both directions at once. Stand as far back as
possible and out of the line of fire."
At that moment there came a crash against the door, as if several
men were pounding upon it with their rifle butts. And this, indeed,
was the case.
"Quick!" commanded Colonel Anderson. "Shove this table and these chairs
against the door. Brace it with anything you can find. We should have
done it sooner."
Chester and Uncle John gave up their posts guarding the window for a
minute and helped in the work of barricading the entrance. And all the
time the pounding continued.
As Chester stepped back after putting the last chair into place, there
came a report from behind him. There was a flash that lighted up the
shack like day, and the lad felt a bullet whiz past his ear.
He whirled quickly, and fired in the direction of the window, where he
saw a head bobbing down. The Austrian had dodged quickly after his shot,
but Chester had been quicker still; and the Austrian toppled down outside
at the feet of his companions. The fall was plainly audible.
"I got one of 'em!" shouted Chester gleefully.
"Good for you," replied Hal. "We'll get the rest of them as fast as
they come."
The pounding upon the door continued and the occupants of the shack kept
their eyes upon it anxiously.
"It gave a little that time," declared Hal, after an extraordinarily
furious blow. "It won't last much longer. Then we'll have to do some real
fighting."
"They will hardly rush us," said the colonel. "We should be able to pick
them off as fast as they come through. They won't try that long."
At this juncture Chester grew tired of waiting. He motioned Uncle John to
give him a hand up and from the latter's shoulder raised his head
cautiously to the edge of the window. For the moment he was not seen. A
body of Austrians stood beneath the window, engaged in deep conversation.
Quickly Chester levelled his automatic and pressed the trigger. Ten shots
struck squarely in the little knot of the enemy, and several men fell.
A cry of anger rose on the night air, as Chester leaped down within the
little cabin.
"Think I got some more of 'em that time," he said with a grin. "They'll
find out we can take the initiative ourselves once in a while."
"Let them alone, unless they bother us," ordered Colonel Anderson. "The
longer they keep quiet and do nothing, the better for us. Time is the one
factor that will work to our advantage."
"I forgot about that," returned Chester a little sheepishly.
There came a terrible thundering upon the door now; and it was evident
that many men without had been called to force an entrance.
"It can't hold much longer," declared Hal quietly.
"About two more like that and it will give," agreed Colonel Anderson.
Another rain of blows was followed by a crash, as the bottom of the door
gave way. A moment later it tumbled inward against the table and chairs
stacked up to brace it.
And even as it did so, Colonel Anderson and Hal pressed the triggers of
their revolvers. Once, twice, each spoke, and the voices of the
automatics were rewarded by cries of pain from the outside.
"We must have done some damage," said Hal quietly.
Colonel Anderson did not reply; but stepping forward behind the
improvised barricade, again levelled his revolver and fired twice.
"Think I got a couple that trip," he remarked.
He glanced around the room quickly.
"Back in the corners," he instructed. "They'll probably try to rush us
this time."
He had predicted correctly.
For a moment there was silence without; but suddenly there came a wild
yell and a score of Austrians dashed forward to force an entrance to
the shack.
"Make every shot count!" cried Hal.
The occupants of the cabin waited until the foe was in plain sight and
then four revolvers spoke once. As many men dropped in their tracks--for
at that distance a miss was practically impossible; but the other
Austrians came on.
Again four revolvers spoke; and this time only three men dropped. A third
volley from the occupants of the cabin accounted for two. The Austrians
hesitated.
"We're wasting bullets," declared Hal. "One is enough for each man. Uncle
John, you take the man on the far left, Chester, you the one next to him,
Colonel Anderson, the third is for you. I'll take the man on this side."
"A good idea," replied the colonel. "One bullet for one Austrian. That's
all each is worth."
As the Austrians, after a moment of hesitation, pressed forward once
more, the weapons of the four friends spoke twice in rapid succession
with greater effect.
This was enough for the enemy--for the time being, at least. They drew
off and the occupants of the shack had time for a breathing spell and an
opportunity to reload their weapons.
"They'll be back in a few minutes," declared Colonel Anderson. "Their
officers will not let them give up as long as we are here."
"Well, we'll be ready for them," said Chester grimly.
"So we will, Chester," declared Hal. He turned to Uncle John. "Well, what
do you think of this kind of a life, sir?" he asked.
Uncle John smiled faintly.
"It's not so bad," he replied. "It's a little strange to me, but
you notice I have been able to fire a gun. I guess I'll get used to
it in time."
"You are a brave and cool-headed man, sir," declared Colonel Anderson. "I
do not believe I was half so cool my first time under fire."
"If you really knew how scared I was, you wouldn't say that," was Uncle
John's reply.
A hail from outside interrupted further talk.
"What do you suppose they want now?" asked Hal.
"Don't know," replied the colonel briefly. "We'll see." He raised his
voice in a shout.
"What do you want?" he demanded in German.
"Want to have a talk with you," was the reply.
"Talk away," replied the colonel.
"We would give you a chance of life and to avoid further bloodshed,"
replied the Austrian.
"There has been no bloodshed in here," returned Colonel Anderson, "except
among your men. We are perfectly whole and ready to fight some more."
"Then you refuse to surrender?"
"We do; most decidedly."
There was no more talk from the Austrians; neither was there another
immediate attack. The quiet without became so pronounced that Hal
became uneasy.
"What do you suppose they are doing?" he asked.
"Haven't any idea," replied Colonel Anderson.
"Well, you can take my word for it they are up to some mischief,"
declared Chester. "This silence bodes no good for us, I'll bet."
"Well, as long as they let us alone, it's a point in our favor," declared
Colonel Anderson. "It is less than an hour until daylight now. Then we
shall have help."
"The Austrians will have a whack at us before that," said Hal positively.
"But I would like to know what's up."
"So would I," declared Chester. "And I am positive that there's
something."
"I guess we'll know soon enough," said Uncle John.
And they did learn--not fifteen minutes later.
"What's that funny noise out there?" asked Chester suddenly.
The others strained their ears.
"I don't hear anything," said Hal. "You must--Wait, though. What is
that noise?"
Again all listened intently. There was a faint "crack, crack," as though
some one were walking upon fallen twigs.
At that moment Chester detected another cause for alarm.
"I smell smoke," he said suddenly.
"By George! that's what's the matter," shouted Hal. "They are going to
smoke us out and shoot us down, or burn us here like rats in a trap. What
are we going to do?" he demanded anxiously.
"Don't get excited, in the first place," replied Colonel Anderson coolly,
"We are in a ticklish situation, and that's a fact, but there must be
some way out of it. Now let's see. We can't get out the front door
without being shot down. The same goes for the window as the house
undoubtedly is surrounded. Then what are we to do?"
"There is only one thing I can think of," declared Hal.
"And that?"
"As long as we are playing for time, stay here until we can stand it no
longer because of the heat. Then make a break for it. Perhaps we can take
them by surprise, grab four horses and get a good start."
"There is little chance of that," replied Colonel Anderson. "But it seems
to be the only way. We'll do it."
Their plans thus made, they waited patiently, conversing in low tones,
the while keeping their eyes open. The flames were crackling merrily now,
and the heat was becoming intense, while occasional clouds of smoke
rolled into the single room. It was too hot to remain still. Colonel
Anderson spoke. "We've stood it long enough," he said. "Guns ready, and
let's go!"