“You are wrong,” he said. “You are not going to die. In a few hours we shall be in England, where you shall have the best of medical attention.”
“It is too late,” replied the Cossack calmly. “I shall not live an hour.”
His breath came with difficulty.
“There is one thing I should like to know,” he said.
“What is it, Alexis?” asked Hal.
“Will you tell me what you meant by ‘drawing the long bow’?”
Hal was silent for some moments, and then replied gravely.
“When a man boasts of things he has never done, in America it is called ‘drawing the long bow.’ I was mistaken in your case. It would be impossible for you to ‘draw the long bow.’ You have done too much.”
“That is true,” agreed Chester.
Suddenly the giant frame fell back. Hal turned as best he could while Chester leaned over him anxiously. Alexis extended a hand to each of them, which they grasped.