There was a puzzled expression on Ivan's face as he followed the lad about the cavern, Chester dancing nimbly first to this side and then that. Once the lad let the giant come close, and when he swung, Chester jerked his head aside sharply and the blow passed over his shoulder.
Quickly then Chester stepped forward and with his open left palm smacked Ivan smartly across the left cheek. He performed a similar operation with his right; then stepped back and dropped his hands.
"Well?" he said, eying Ivan inquiringly.
"Well, you did it," said Ivan, greatly crestfallen. "How, I don't know.
Will you teach me?"
"Some time," said Chester. "Now, let's finish that sleep."
CHAPTER XII.
A CHASE.
"We ought to be pretty close to the place we left our horses," said Chester.
"I was just thinking that, myself," agreed Colonel Anderson. "Must be around here some place."
"We shall be there within the hour," said Nikol, to whom the situation had been explained. He had declared he could lead them straight to the place they had left the animals.