After some further discussion, this plan was adopted; and grumbling somewhat, Ivan mounted in the shelter of the trees.  When the Cossack was ready, Hal peered out.  A short distance back he could see the pursuers and his appearance drew a shot.  But the men were too far away to aim with any degree of accuracy and the shot went wild.

“All right, Ivan,” the lad said.  “Go!”

The big Cossack dug his heels into his horse’s ribs and with a shout dashed out into the road.

There was an answering shout from behind and the thundering of horses’ hoofs told those among the trees that the enemy was on the advance.

“We’ll have to stop ’em!” cried Hal.  “Aim carefully now.”

They waited until the riders were close and then stepped into the open.

“Crack!  Crack!  Crack!  Crack!”

The revolvers of the six friends spoke as one.  Two of the approaching horsemen reeled in their saddles, then toppled to the ground.  Two more dropped their weapons and uttered loud cries.  The pursuers beat a hasty retreat.

“Guess that will give Ivan a chance to get away,” said Hal briefly.  “Now, all we have to do is to wait until he has a good start.”

But the mountaineers had no mind to remain idle and let the fugitives make all the plans.  Even now they were in deep consultation.  There were many gestures and noddings of heads.  And at last the mountaineers seemed to have hit upon a plan of action.

The men split up into small groups, and leaving their horses, picketed by the side of the road, plunged in among the trees.  Hal, glancing from his place of concealment at that moment, took account of the activities of the foe.

“Something up,” he whispered to the others.  “They probably will attempt to surprise us.  We’ll have to look sharp now.”

“My advice,” said Colonel Edwards, “is that we split up a bit, to return here at a given signal.  If we all remain here, it will be simple for them to surround us.  Scattered, we may catch them at a disadvantage.”

“A good plan,” Hal agreed.  “We’ll scatter a hundred yards in each direction.  And the signal to return?”

“I’ll whistle,” said Colonel Edwards.

“Good!  Let’s move.”

Five minutes later, in the spot where the five had been, there remained only the five horses.

With revolvers in hands, the five friends were scattered near by, eyes wide open for the first enemy to show himself.

And the first chanced to be a scant twenty yards from Chester.  He came crawling along the ground, glancing furtively about.  He spied Chester at the same moment the lad saw him.  The two revolvers spoke almost as one.

Chester felt a slight pain in his left arm.  His opponent gave a loud cry and toppled over.

“Guess he won’t bother us any more,” muttered the lad grimly.

He kept his eyes peeled for sign of another of the foes.  And in other parts of the woods the others did likewise.