Outside the door he came upon a strange sight—­a sight that caused him to cry out in merriment and thankfulness.

In his first gaze he saw four figures and the first he recognized as that of Hal, the next that of Nikol.  These two stood quietly gazing at two other figures who were struggling nearby.  Chester glanced at the other figures.  They were Ivan and Anthony Stubbs and they appeared to be locked in a death grapple.

“Help!  Help!” came Stubbs’ voice.

Chester moved forward to interfere, for he reasoned that perhaps Ivan, in his lust for battle, had been unable to distinguish between friend and foe.  But Hal stayed him with uplifted hand and Chester saw that his chum was laughing quietly.  He realized then that Ivan had recognized his opponent.

He lined up with Hal and Nikol and watched the struggle.

Ivan had one huge arm around the little man and seemed to be making strenuous efforts to throw him.  Stubbs struggled valiantly, the while sending out wails for help.  Chester saw that Ivan was simply playing.

“Stick to him, Mr. Stubbs,” cried Chester.  “You’ll have him down in a minute.”

Stubbs twisted and squirmed like an eel.  Once he slipped free of Ivan’s clutch and started to run.  Ivan reached out quickly and grasped him by the left shoulder and drew him back.

Stubbs let out a yell of fear, and as he turned face to face with the Cossack, he struck out and upward with his clenched fist.  The blow landed squarely on Ivan’s nose and brought a stream of blood.

Ivan let out a roar of rage.  Apparently he had not bargained for this.  Then he lifted Stubbs high, in the air and tossed him away in the darkness.  The little man’s yells were loud and long as he flew through the air.  He struck the hard earth with a grunt perhaps twenty feet away.

Slowly he got to his feet and came toward the others, who were now talking to Ivan.  In front of them, he stopped.

“Say!” he exclaimed.  “What are you fellows trying to do, anyhow?  Get me killed off so you won’t have to bother with me?  Didn’t you see that big heathen tossing me around?  What?”

Hal turned and eyed the little man suddenly.

“Why, there he is now,” he said in a voice of surprise.  “We were just talking about you, Mr. Stubbs.  Chester was asking about you.  I told him you were here a moment ago.  Where did you go so suddenly?”

Stubbs glared at them.

“You mean to tell me you didn’t see some big giant grab me a minute ago?” he demanded.  “You didn’t see me fighting for my life?”

“Fighting?” exclaimed Hal.  “You fighting, Mr. Stubbs.  I didn’t think you would attack a man.”

“I didn’t attack a man,” shouted the thoroughly aroused Stubbs.  “I didn’t attack a man.  A man attacked me.  No, it wasn’t a man, either.  It was a giant.”

“Is that so, Mr. Stubbs?” asked Chester in well-feigned surprise.  “And where were the rest of us all that time?”