Hal laughed aloud.
"Terrible fight, eh?" he exclaimed. "Of course you did. What else could you do? You had to fight. Pretty lucky, Stubbs."
"Lucky!" echoed Stubbs. "What do you mean, lucky? If you had been here in time to see me tackle this fellow you would have known what a hard time I had."
"I saw you," replied Hal. "You can put down your gun, now. I'll take care of this fellow."
He leveled his own revolver at the queer-looking creature before him andStubbs placed his newly-acquired revolver in his coat pocket.
Hal motioned to his prisoner to approach. The latter did so with an ugly scowl on his face. He seemed not to have the slightest fear and came up to the lad unflinchingly.
"Speak English?" asked Hal.
There was no reply.
"French?"
The man nodded.
"Who are you?" demanded Hal.
"Nikol."
"Nikol what?"
The man did not reply, and Hal surveyed him critically. He was at least thirty-five years of age, could not have been an inch more than four feet in height, and his long, knotted arms, apparently as strong as a gorilla's, reached almost to the ground, where his huge hand clasped and unclasped nervously. Involuntarily Hal shuddered.
"Must be as strong as an ox," the lad muttered. "Lucky for Stubbs he kicked at the right time and happened to land."
"What's your last name?" the lad demanded again.
"Haven't any," was the reply.
"What are you, an Albanian?"
"Yes."
"What are you doing here?"
The man did not reply.
Stubbs had been an interesting listener to the conversation and became decidedly impatient when the dwarf refused to answer Hal's questions.
"Why don't you speak?" he demanded aggressively, taking a step forward.He felt perfectly safe now that Hal had the man covered.
Instantly there was an unexpected change in the dwarf's manner. He stepped back a pace and bowed his head before the angry Stubbs.
"I did not know that you wished me to answer," he replied civilly. "I will talk to you, for you are the first man who has ever conquered me; and you are a small man, too—a dwarf."
"What's that?" exclaimed Stubbs still more angrily, for "the dwarf" had touched upon a tender spot. "Dwarf, am I? What do you mean by talking to me like that?"
Again he took a step forward and the Albanian drew back.
"You will please excuse me," he said humbly. "I did not mean to offend. For myself I am proud that I am a dwarf and I was glad that it was one of my own kind who conquered me."
Stubbs, greatly flattered, threw out his chest and turned to Hal.
"You see," he exclaimed, "if you have any doubts as to how I overcame this man, he will tell you himself. Won't you, Nik—Nikol?"
Nikol bowed.
"I will, sir," he replied.
"Well, you seem to have done a good job," Hal replied. "I don't believe I could have overcome him. In fact, I am sure of it. Now if you will kindly order your newly made slave to answer my questions, perhaps we may learn something."
Stubbs gave the order in the tone of a man born to command and the dwarf nodded his understanding.
"If my boss knew I could give orders like that, I'd have a better job," was Stubbs' comment as Hal turned to Nikol.
"What are your sympathies in this war?" asked the lad quietly.
"My sympathies," was the reply, "I have kept locked up here," and Nikol tapped his breast with one of his huge fingers. "But, now that my conqueror requests me to talk, I will tell you. My sympathies are with Montenegro; always have been and always will be."
"Good!" exclaimed Hal. "Then perhaps you can tell me something of theAustrian sentiment in these mountains."
"The Austrian sympathy is very strong," was the reply. "Not so much here as further north. Thousands of tribesmen there are only awaiting the arrival of the Austrians to join their ranks. Some have joined already."
"And is there not danger for a man of your sympathies in these parts?"
The Albanian shrugged his shoulders.
"I have said," he replied, "that I keep my sympathies locked up here," and again he tapped his breast.
Hal was silent for a few moments, considering a plan that had come to him. At length he turned to Stubbs.
"Will you ask your newly made friend," he said, "if he will join us? He will be invaluable. He can lead us where we would go without question."
Stubbs grasped the situation instantly.
He put the question to the Albanian. For long minutes the man hesitated, and then he, in turn, asked a question.
"You say that you are working in the interests of Montenegro?" he asked.
"I can give you my word," replied Stubbs soberly.
The dwarf extended a hand to Stubbs and looked him in the eye.
"Such men as you, such fighters as you, do not lie," he said gravely.
Stubbs blushed like a schoolboy as he extended a hand, which was seized in a grip that brought tears to the little man's eyes. But he bore the pain bravely, for he did not wish to lose caste in the eyes of his new admirer.
"Come then," said Hal. "We'll pick up Colonel Edwards again and be moving."
He led the way back to where the first shot had been fired and raised his voice in a shout:
"All right, Edwards?"
"All right," was the reply.
"I've caught the enemy," explained Hal. "You can come from under cover."
He led the way to the road and a moment later Colonel Edwards joined them.
"What have we here?" he exclaimed, after a glance at the dwarf.
"A guide," replied Hal; "the same being the man who fired at us, and alsoStubbs' own prisoner."
"Stubbs' prisoner?"
"Exactly. He captured him single-handed."
Colonel Edwards eyed Stubbs in the greatest surprise, until Hal explained in a low voice, so that neither Stubbs nor the dwarf might hear.
"Well, we may as well be moving then," said Colonel Edwards. "Have your guide take the lead, Stubbs."
Stubbs, undeniably proud at the honor now being bestowed upon him, did as requested, and the dwarf led the way down the road at a rapid gait.
Hour after hour they walked along encountering no one, until shortly before nightfall when they drew up near a small hut. Here Nikol went forward and secured food, which he brought back in his hands. This they devoured hungrily, drank from a little brook, and moved forward again.
Now Nikol deserted the beaten path and struck off through the mountains proper, climbing steep hills, leaping ruts and gullies, rocks and brooks, but making such good progress that the others were hard pressed to keep up with him.
Darkness fell suddenly and Stubbs shuddered.
"Nice place for an assassin here, too," he muttered gloomily.
"Back at it, are you?" said Hal. "What will your friend Nikol say?"
Stubbs did not reply.
Suddenly the dwarf halted and motioned the others to silence. All listened intently and directly made out what the sharp ears of Nikol had caught first—the sound of approaching footsteps.
Nikol motioned the others back into the shadow of a great rock and stepped boldly forward. Then he hesitated a moment, came back and spoke to Stubbs in a low voice, yet loud enough for the others to hear.
"If I should chance to be outmatched," he said, "you will come to my assistance? The others," he snapped his fingers, "are no good. You will come?"
Taken wholly off his guard, Stubbs stuttered and stammered.
"You will come?" Nikol repeated again.
"Ye-e-s, I'll come," Stubbs articulated at last.
Nikol wasted no further time in words, but moved forward perhaps a hundred yards. Then he halted and stood still, waiting.
The sound of footsteps drew nearer and still nearer, and then suddenlyNikol sprang forward, silently and swiftly.
There came a sudden startled cry from ahead and then a great, boisterous laugh.
"Ho! Ho!" exclaimed a voice in French. "Look what has attackedIvan Vergoff."
For some reason that he could not explain, Hal left his place of concealment and moved toward the combatants. The others followed him.
"Ho! Ho!" came the great voice again. "Ivan Vergoff, the greatest of theCossacks, attacked by this puny pygmy."
Hal had now approached close enough to see the gigantic figure of Nikol's antagonist and to witness the struggle.
The giant had stooped over and seized Nikol by one arm. He pulled, but the dwarf, his feet firmly planted on the ground, did not budge. It was a great exhibition of strength, for Hal knew that the stranger must be a powerful man.
This time the giant did not laugh.
"A strong man," he muttered aloud. "A strong man, though he be a pygmy."
He now extended another arm, seized the dwarf around the middle and lifted him high above his head. With his right arm the dwarf struck the face that gazed up at him as he was suspended high in the air.
The big man gave a roar like that of an angry bull, hurled the dwarf from him and then jumped after the flying figure with remarkable agility for a man of his huge size.
But even as he would have seized Nikol again, Hal stepped forward.
"Wait!" cried the lad, who had been doing some quick thinking. "Your name is Ivan Vergoff and you are a Cossack?"
The big man paused suddenly and glanced about him.
"Yes!" he shouted. "What of it?"
"Only," replied Hal quietly, "that I bring you word of your brother, Alexis!"
The big man paused and turned an enquiring eye upon Hal, whom he could dimly perceive in the darkness.
"Alexis!" he echoed. "What of him? How do you know I have a brother Alexis?"
Hal replied rapidly in the Russian dialect which he had picked up during his service with the Cossacks, as told in the story of "The Boy Allies With the Cossacks," while the man listened intently. Then the giant set the dwarf upon his feet remarking:
"Now, you just stay there a little while. I may have more to say to you later, but right now I would know something of my brother Alexis, whom I have not seen in years. And my brother Stephan, also, what do you know of him?" he demanded of Hal.
The lad shook his head.
"Not much," he said. "But come, we'll find some spot where we can make a fire and I'll tell you what I know of Alexis."
"Good," boomed the big man. "Follow me."
Without another word he turned on his heel and strode away whence he had come. The other four followed him, Nikol the while muttering angrily to himself.
Stubbs turned upon him suddenly.
"What's the matter with you?" he demanded. "Don't you know it's cold here? I want to sit by the fire awhile. Keep still."
The dwarf made no reply, but became silent. It was plain enough that he stood very much in awe of Stubbs.
After a five-minute walk through the dark woods, the big Cossack wheeled sharply to the left, and walking swiftly for perhaps fifty yards drew up before what appeared to be a solid rock.
Looking closer in the darkness, however, Hal saw a slight opening at the bottom, the space between the rock and the ground being perhaps three feet. The rock, apparently, rested upon more solid ground farther back.
"Follow me," said the big man again.
He dropped on his hands and knees and wriggled through the opening.
At this point Stubbs manifested a desire to leave the others in the lurch.
"Say!" he exclaimed. "You're not going to get me under there. How do you know what he may have in mind to do to us?"
"Come, Stubbs," said Hal. "Don't be a quitter all the time. Nothing is going to hurt—"
Before he could finish his sentence he felt himself seized in a powerful grip from behind. He twisted about with an effort and looked down upon the scowling face of Nikol.
"Here! What's the matter?" he cried.
The dwarf grinned at him evilly, and still retaining his hold, gazed at Stubbs.
"He insulted you," he said. "What shall I do with him?"
"Great Scott! Let him down!" exclaimed the little man, anxiously. "He didn't do anything to me."
"But he insulted you," protested Nikol. "I heard him say—"
"Oh, that was just in fun," cried Stubbs. "Let him go."
The dwarf's hold relaxed and Hal jumped away.
"Don't try any of that on me again," he said, facing Nikol angrily. He turned to Stubbs. "You just instruct this fellow to keep his hands off me, or I shall have to take my gun to him."
"Oh, he didn't mean any harm," Stubbs protested.
"Maybe he didn't and maybe he did," replied Hal. "At any rate, I don't like that kind of treatment. You tell him what I said."
"He was just sticking up for me," said Stubbs, aggrievedly. "But I'll tell him."
He did so, but the dwarf said nothing.
At this juncture the big Cossack poked his head from beneath the rock.
"Are you coming in here or not?" he demanded in a gruff voice.
"Coming," said Hal, dropping to his knees.
"Look here, Hal," said Stubbs, "I don't like the looks of this place.Maybe we had better stay outside."
"Nonsense," Edwards spoke up at this point. "The man means us no harm."
Hal had disappeared beneath the rock and Edwards dropped to his knees and crawled after him.
"Well," said Stubbs to himself, "I don't like this, but I guess I might as well go along."
Motioning Nikol to follow him, he, too, dropped to all fours and crawled slowly beneath the big rock.
Beyond the rock, a brisk fire made dimly visible what appeared to be a large cavern. The fire seemed to be in the exact center of a large underground room and beyond it Hal thought he could make out the mouths of dark passageways that led off in several directions.
"Come up to the fire and get warm," the big Cossack invited.
The others accepted the invitation, first discarding their heavy outer garments. When all appeared comfortable, the big Cossack spoke.
"Now," he said, addressing Hal, "tell me of Alexis. He is—"
"Dead," Hal interrupted quietly.
Ivan sprang to his feet.
"Dead!" he shouted. "And you dare to tell it to me? You, no doubt, had a hand in his death!"
"On the contrary," returned the lad quietly, "I tried to save him, as did my chum; but it was too late. But he died like a brave man and a true Cossack."
Ivan was silent for several moments, and then said sneeringly:
"And what do you know of the Cossacks?"
"Well, very little, to be sure," Hal confessed, "though, for a short time, I had the honor of serving in a Cossack regiment."
"What, you?" exclaimed Ivan incredulously. "Impossible."
"No; what I say is true," said Hal. "And it was there that I met your brother Alexis, than whom I have never seen a braver man."
"'Tis true," muttered Ivan. "Alexis was ever a brave man, though much given to boasting. Also, barring perhaps myself, he was the most powerful man I have ever seen."
"He was indeed," replied Hal, "and it will give me pleasure at some time to relate to you some of the remarkable feats I have seen him accomplish."
"Alexis has related enough," returned Ivan dryly. "But come, now, tell me what you know of him."
"Well," Hal began, "I met Alexis first—"
He stopped suddenly and listened attentively.
"What was that?" he demanded.
"What?" asked Edwards.
"I thought I heard a voice calling. Sounded like a cry for help."
Ivan broke into a loud laugh.
"Ho! Ho!" he cried. "Guess you heard my prisoners."
"Prisoners?" Hal repeated inquiringly.
"Yes. I came across them this afternoon. They sought to ply me with questions. I treated them respectfully enough, but when they continued to plague me, I just picked them up and brought them here. I have a suspicion they may be Austrian spies and if there is one race of men for whom I have no use, it is the Austrians. But they do not annoy you, do they? If so, I shall go back and have a word with them. After that I assure you they will annoy you no more."
"Oh, no," Hal hastened to say. "They do not annoy me in the slightest.But what do you intend to do with them?"
"Well, I don't know exactly," returned Ivan. "You know I have read somewhat, and I remember the things I have read. For instance now, I would like to be like one of the old kings, or say even a present-day American, of whom I have heard much. They have slaves and things. Why not make my prisoners my slaves?"
"I assure you you are wrong about the Americans," said Hal. "I chance to be one myself, so I know. Of kings, I cannot say."
"Never mind," said Ivan. "We'll attend to them later on. Right now I have a desire to hear your story. Proceed."
Hal did so. He related his and Chester's first meeting with Alexis, the big brave-hearted man who had once played an important part in their lives, as related in "The Boy Allies With the Cossacks." He told of the many exciting adventures the three had gone through together.
And as the lad progressed with his narrative, Ivan became more interested with each word; and by the time Hal had come to an account of his brother's last great fight, Ivan was on his feet, his face glowing.
"By St. George!" he cried. "I knew he could do it. Boaster or not, he was a brave man. But go on. And after he had killed the three Germans there on the sand, then what?"
"Why, then," said Hal, "a German bullet struck him in the right shoulder; a moment later another lodged in his right side. But Alexis did not pause. He rushed right into the thick of them, using his now empty pistols and at last striking out with his bare fists. Men tumbled on all sides.
"From behind and from both sides, the Germans darted at him, firing their revolvers and stabbing him with the swords. By this time, we had finished repairing our machine and we rushed to his aid, and for a moment the Germans gave back. Then they closed in and we were all hard pressed. Alexis was bleeding in a dozen places but he fought on. And then aid came from an unexpected source."
"Where?" demanded Ivan excitedly.
"Troops," replied Hal. "Troops sent to protect the neutrality of the country; and with their approach the Germans who were still upon their feet fled. Chester and I dragged Alexis to our own craft and we also ascended. There we did what we could for him, but he realized that he was past aid, and he died as a brave man should. We buried him in England with honor, and with him the Cross of St. George, personally bestowed upon him by the Czar."
For a long time after the lad had finished, Ivan was silent. Then he said, his fists clenching:
"I would I had been there! There would have been a different story to tell!"
Hal was about to reply, but a voice sounded suddenly. Hal pricked up his ears. Surely he recognized that voice. The cry came again.
"Chester!" shouted Hal, and sprang to his feet.
Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice. It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall. He explored the smooth surface with his hands, but could find no opening in that particular spot. Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
Now heavy footsteps sounded behind him and Ivan's voice roared:
"Where are you going?"
"It is Chester—my friend who was with me when Alexis died," returnedHal. "I heard his voice. He must be near some place and in trouble."
"Ho!" said Ivan. "He will be one of my prisoners, I expect. I remember that one was rather young."
"Well, let him out, will you?" exclaimed Hal.
"Certainly," returned Ivan.
He passed Hal and led the way down the dark passage. Presently Hal heard a huge rock move and then footsteps came toward him.
"Who is it?" he asked.
There came a cry of surprise.
"That you, Hal?" came in Chester's voice. "How on earth did you get here?"
"That's rather a long story," replied Hal, "but it seems that it's a good thing I did get here. I thought a heard a sound awhile back. It must have been you."
"Anderson and I have been yelling for the last week, it seems," said Chester ruefully. "We didn't hope to be fortunate enough to raise you, but we thought some one might hear us."
"Well, come on out here to the fire—and you, too, Colonel," his last toColonel Anderson, who now came forward, closely followed by Ivan.
They needed no urging, for they had been shut up in the cold so long that they were almost frozen. Introductions now followed all around and Ivan seemed genuinely pleased to meet Chester. He was profuse in his apologies for his rough treatment, while Chester was dumbfounded to learn that his captor was the brother of his old friend Alexis. They shook hands heartily.
"If you had not pestered me with so many questions, I would not have bothered you," Ivan explained. "To tell the truth, I took you for a couple of Austrian spies."
"Tell us, Chester," said Hal, "what have you learned?"
"Learned?" echoed Chester. "We haven't learned anything, except that it is awfully cold in these mountains. I'm going to tell you right now, it's no fun being locked up in an icebox."
"It is not," Colonel Anderson agreed dryly, stretching his feet out to the fire.
"I'll tell you how it came about," said Chester, smiling at Ivan. "Colonel Anderson and I had just completed a most terrible climb. Coming once again to a level spot we sat down to rest. We saw a man coming along—a big man, none other than Ivan here. I suggested that we ask him a few questions."
"You asked them, all right," said Ivan.
"Well," Chester continued, "he didn't tell us much. In fact, he was as mum as an oyster. Colonel Anderson took a hand with no better luck. It seems that between us we talked too much. Ivan here didn't like it. He said he guessed he'd have to take us along with him. We said we were satisfied to stay where we were. This didn't suit Ivan. He reached for me and I dodged; but with his other hand he grabbed Anderson and held him helpless.
"I drew my gun but I was afraid to fire for fear of hitting the Colonel. I thought I would rap the big man over the head with the butt of the weapon. I ventured a trifle too close and he nailed me, too. He shook me so hard that I dropped my gun. Anderson hadn't been able to get at his. Then Ivan relieved him of it, and still holding us each by an arm, he brought us here.
"When he shoved us under the rock ahead of him, we decided to jump him if he came in. We jumped him. It didn't do much good, did it, Colonel?"
Chester turned to Colonel Anderson with a smile.
"Not much," was the Colonel's dry response.
Ivan grinned sheepishly.
"I didn't mean to hurt you too much," he said. "You see, sometimes I don't realize my own strength. I guess maybe I squeezed your arms too hard."
"Well, now tell us about yourself, Hal," said Chester, "and who is this little fellow who hangs so close to Stubbs?"
"This little fellow," returned Hal, "has appointed himself Stubbs' best friend. Stubbs overcame him in fair fight this afternoon and he thinks Stubbs is a great man."
"Well, what's the matter?" Stubbs broke in. "Don't you?"
"Of course," Hal hastened to assure him.
Stubbs subsided grumbling.
"The question now is," Colonel Edwards declared, "what are we going to do? There is no use staying here longer than we can possibly help. We had better be moving."
"Hold on," shouted Ivan, jumping suddenly to his feet. "Tell me what it is you are going to do? Perhaps I may lend a hand. I know something of these mountains."
Colonel Edwards glanced at Hal. The boy nodded.
"Might be a good idea," he said.
Then Colonel Edwards explained. Ivan heard him patiently.
"Well," he said at length, "nothing would please me more than to join this expedition." He spoke to Hal. "You have told me of the service rendered the Czar by my brother Alexis. I am ashamed that I have been idling here in these mountains while my country needs me. I shall try and make up for it in the future. Now, I believe I can tell you what you want to know."
"Then," asked Colonel Edwards, "is there a strong Austrian sentiment among the Albanians?"
"Until a month ago there was little Austrian sentiment," returned Ivan, "But recently there has been a change, and the change I lay at the door of a single man."
"An Albanian?"
"It is even worse than that. The man is a Montenegrin. And still worse. He bears the same name as the king of Montenegro, Nicolas. He has, most likely, another name, but I do not know it."
"But why should a Montenegrin seek to raise the enmity of the Albanians against his own people?" Chester demanded.
"There is but one reason—gold," said Ivan simply.
"And his methods?" inquired Colonel Anderson.
"More gold," was the reply.
"I see," said Colonel Anderson. "Furnished by the Austrians, eh?"
"How else? I have had several interviews with this Nicolas. He seems to think I could be of use to him. In fact, he has made me offers. But while I have taken no part in active fighting, although I admit I have neglected my own country, I have not fallen low enough for that sort of work. However, I did not tell Nicolas that. I temporized with him and I suppose he believes he can win me over if he cares to make his offer tempting enough."
"All this," said Hal slowly, "suggests a plan."
"Well?" said Chester, expectantly.
"And by this plan of mine," Hal continued, "we may accomplish even more than we set out to do."
"Explain, Hal," said Colonel Anderson.
"It's very simple. We'll have Ivan take us to Nicolas. He can tell him we are Germans, or what you please. Being, apparently, friends of Ivan's, we shall be received. Then Ivan can appear to fall in with his plans. At the first opportune moment, we shall take charge of Mr. Nicolas and escape."
"H-m-m-m," mused Colonel Edwards. "You say all that easily enough, but you can take my word for it, it will be no small job."
"Of course not," Chester agreed, "but still we should be able to do it. And if we do, we shall have removed the cause of the Albanian enmity toward Montenegro. There will be no such strong Austrian sentiment once the supply of gold is cut off."
Ivan jumped to his feet and clapped the lad on the back.
"Good!" he exclaimed eagerly. "I'm with you; and if it comes to a fight, you will find that you can use me to advantage."
"I am sure of it," smiled Hal.
Ivan, in turning, cast his eye upon the little dwarfed figure of Nikol.He walked quickly toward him and extended a hand.
"We didn't finish our little argument awhile ago," he said simply. "I see no reason why we should finish it. Why should we fight each other when there are others to fight?" He turned to Hal. "I'll guarantee this man will give a good account of himself," he said. "I doubt if there is another man in the mountains, besides myself, who has his strength. He will prove his worth."
He turned to Nikol again and the dwarf grinned at him, showing strong white teeth.
"You are right," he said and gripped Ivan's hand hard.
"Well then," said Colonel Edwards, "the sooner we get started the sooner we may get back again. When shall we start, Ivan?"
"Immediately," was the reply, and the giant moved toward the mouth of the cavern.
"Now, look-a-here, you fellows," said the voice of Anthony Stubbs. "I've been a whole lot of places with you and I hope to go with you a whole lot more, but I claim it is downright foolishness to stick our heads into a brigand's lair. What's the use? The best we can get is the worst of it."
"Stubbs," said Hal quietly, "you don't have to go along if you don't want to. You can stay right here."
"What?" exclaimed the little man. "Stay here by myself? I should say not.I don't want to stay here alone and I don't want to go hunting brigands.What I want to do is get some place where it's safe. I don't like thiscountry, if you want to know it."
"It's a good country," said Nikol abruptly.
Stubbs looked at the dwarf in surprise. It was the first time theAlbanian had talked back to him.
"What do you know about it?" demanded Stubbs. "You never saw a regular country."
The dwarf bowed his head in some confusion. Apparently Stubbs' spell still held good over him.
"Come, Stubbs, don't be stubborn," said Chester.
"Well, all right," said the little man, shaking his head sadly. "I'll go if the rest of you do, but I want to tell you right now, I protest!"
"If I am not mistaken," said Ivan, "here comes Nicolas now."
He pointed to a large, bearded individual, who, surrounded by probably a dozen other figures, was advancing toward them. The man swung along with the free and easy stride of the mountaineer, looking neither to the right nor to the left, his head erect and of haughty mien.
"Pompous sort of a looking customer," said Colonel Anderson to Hal.
"Rather," said the lad dryly. He glanced at the others, Colonel Edwards, Stubbs, Nikol, Ivan and Chester, and muttered hurriedly: "After this we must do all our talking in German."
The others nodded their understanding and all fell silent as theMontenegrin traitor and his henchmen approached.
It was the morning following the night upon which they had left Ivan's retreat. The journey had consumed the whole night, but in spite of their fatigue, each member of the party of seven was on his mettle. Now, as Nicolas drew closer, Ivan took a step in advance of the others to greet him.
The traitor's face lighted with pleasure as he recognized the bigCossack.
"Ah, Ivan," he said, "I am glad to see you."
He noticed the others, and a slight frown flitted across his face. He swept his arm toward them in a comprehensive gesture. "Who are these?"
"One of them you probably know," said Ivan and he indicated Nikol.
Nikol nodded affirmatively.
"The others," Ivan continued, "I came across in the mountains last night.They are Germans and were seeking you."
"Seeking me?" exclaimed Nicolas in astonishment. "And why should they be seeking me?"
"You will probably know," returned Ivan, "when I tell you they come from Germany."
"Ah," said Nicolas. "Of course I know, Ivan. Will you have them come forward?"
"One moment, Nicolas," said Ivan. "First I would have a word with you myself."
"Proceed," said the Montenegrin.
"Well, then," Ivan went on, "you may remember a certain proposal you have made me upon several occasions?"
"I do," exclaimed Nicolas, with unfeigned eagerness. "Can it be that at last you have decided to—"
"Accept?" interrupted Ivan. "Yes; I have decided to accept; and these Germans here have had something to do with my decision. They have told me how Germany and Austria combined will eventually win the great war and of the good things that will be in store for all of us when that day comes. You are right, Nicolas, it is well to be on the winning side."
"And I am glad you see it that way," declared Nicolas, extending a hand, which Ivan grasped, much to his distaste. "I have long wanted a trusted lieutenant, and you shall be he."
"Thanks, Nicolas," returned Ivan. "I had not expected that. Had you told me before it might have influenced me sooner. But now I shall have the others approach. By the way, you speak German?"
"Yes."
"Good; then there is no need of an interpreter."
He raised his hand and at the signal the others came forward. Ivan presented each in turn, applying to each a German name that had been agreed upon during the night's travel. Nicolas expressed his pleasure at seeing them and after a few words of pleasantry, said:
"Now, gentlemen, if you will accompany me to my quarters, I shall try and make you feel at home."
As they walked along Hal and Chester took stock of the Montenegrin. Big he was, fully as tall and as broad as Ivan himself, and his great arms hung below his knees. He was the personification of rugged strength and brutality. From Nicolas the lads turned their eyes to Ivan. There was scarcely a noticeable difference in the stature of the two men and from casual observation it would have been hard to choose between them in the matter of strength. But the one noticeable difference was in the eyes.
Ivan's eyes looked one straight in the face, while Nicolas' shifted uneasily when he was observed closely. It was the difference in the eyes that told the difference between the two men better than anything else.
Presently Nicolas stopped before an extremely large hut, built up close beside a giant rock. He stood aside and motioned the others to enter. They did so and Nicolas, after a word to his men, came in after them and closed the door. Then he motioned them all to seats and sat down himself. He eyed his guests in silence for a few moments, and finally remarked:
"Well?"
Hal took it upon himself to do the talking.
"First," he said, "we would like to know how you are progressing?"
"Beautifully," was Nicolas' reply. "I have distributed the gold given me for that purpose, first, of course, taking out my own share. The Albanians, knowing the poverty of the Montenegrins, have been convinced by the gold that final success in this war must crown the Austrian arms. Austrian sentiment is becoming greater each day. But I need more money."
"That is what we have come to see you about," said Hal. "You see, that while you are well informed as to just what is going on here, we have only your word for it. You may be telling the truth—and you may be lying."
Nicolas jumped to his feet, his fingers twitching.
"You dare—" he began.
"Nonsense," said Hal, remaining perfectly quiet. "This is no time for heroics. I have come here to find out something and I am going to find it out. Now how much of this gold have you given out as ordered, and how much have you kept for yourself?"
"I—I—well, I have—" Nicholas began.
"As I thought," said Hal. "You have been holding out. We can't have anything like that, you know. Where is the gold?"
Nicolas, for a moment, seemed about to make a denial, but Hal eyed him steadily, and he said at last:
"It is under this floor here," and he tapped the floor with his foot.
"All right," said Hal. "In shape to be carried?"
"Why yes, I guess half a dozen men could carry it well enough."
"I am glad to hear that," said Hal, "because I want you to dig it out right now."
Again Nicolas started to protest, but apparently thinking better of it, changed his mind and said:
"It shall be as you say. But you will not hold this against me, my having held some of the gold for my own?"
"Not if you do as I say."
"And I shall have more gold?"
"We shall see; perhaps."
"Then I shall uncover the other," said Nicolas.
He stooped to his knees and lifted a loose board in the floor.
"One moment," said Hal. "Your men outside. We can take no chances with them. If they knew you had all this gold stored here there would be a fight. Step outside and tell them to go away."
This time Nicolas obeyed without even hesitating.
While he was outside, Hal whispered quickly to the others:
"There is no use delaying. We'll give his men time to get out of hearing and then we'll grab him."
"But the gold, what are you going to do with that?" Ivan wanted to know.
Hal smiled a bit.
"I don't know how I happened to think of that," he said, "but now that we practically have it in our hands, I vote that we turn it over to the impoverished little kingdom of Montenegro."
"By Jove! Good!" exclaimed Colonel Edwards. "My boy, you have a wonderful head on your shoulders. I am proud to know you."
"Thanks," said Hal. "Now, as long as I have been doing the talking, I may as well continue. We'll keep quiet until we are sure this traitor's men are out of earshot and then we'll take possession of Mr. Nicolas and his unearned gold."
A few moments later Nicolas re-entered the hut.
"Get rid of them?" asked Hal, briefly.
"Yes."
"Good. Then get busy and bring your gold out."
"Look here," said Nicolas, eyeing Hal somewhat angrily. "I don't like your tone exactly."
"I don't exactly care whether you do or not," returned Hal quietly. "You are pretty small fry in this game, Nicolas, and I'm not afraid of you. Remember, if anything should happen to me, you'll have the German government on your trail, and then what would you do for gold?"
Nicolas opened his mouth to reply; then thought better of it and closed his lips without uttering a sound.
"All right, now that we understand each other," said Hal. "Get to work and produce the gold."
Nicolas waited no further, but did as commanded.
"One," counted Hal, as the man drew from beneath the board a little sack of gold.
One after another Hal counted them as they were laid on the floor at his feet, until in all there were seventeen little sacks, just small enough to permit of being stowed away in outside coat pockets.
"Two for each of us to carry," said Hal, looking around, "and one over.I'll carry the extra one in my hand."
"And don't I get any of this?" demanded Nicolas, looking at the bags of gold longingly.
"You do not," replied Hal, quietly. "This money is to be given where it will do the most good. You have had your chance with it. Now it is my turn."
"Very well," said Nicolas, with a shrug of his shoulders. "But I have made my agreement with the Austrian government; and when the war has been won, I shall get my pay."
"Perhaps," said Hal, with a double meaning, that was, of course, lost upon Nicolas, "you shall receive your just pay before the war ends."
"Do you really think so?" asked Nicolas eagerly. "I hope so."
"But now," said Hal, "it is time to be moving. Pick up the gold, men, and let's get away from here."
The others obeyed. Each stowed two sacks in his pocket and Hal carried the seventeenth package in his hand. Then Hal motioned them out the door. He emerged after them and his hand was on his automatic as he did so.
"Which way?" asked Chester.
"Straight ahead," said Nicolas.
"No," said Hal quietly. "About face. We are going the other way."
"Where to?" demanded Nicolas surlily.
"Right back to Cettinje," replied Hal, "where you shall be turned over to the Montenegrin authorities to meet the fate you deserve!"
Nicolas stopped short in his tracks. His face went red, then white, then flushed a dull red again. For a moment there was a deathly silence and then the Montenegrin sprang toward Hal with a cry of fury. The boy stood his ground.
"I wouldn't if I were you," he said very quietly.
His automatic glistened in his hand at his hip. Nicolas gazed down and then pulled himself up short as his eyes rested on the weapon. He said nothing.
"I'm glad to see you're sensible," Hal continued. "Now you will take the lead, and for your own sake, I advise you to take the shortest cut in the general direction of Cettinje. Ivan, and you, Nikol, will see that he goes in the proper direction."
The dwarf's face was covered by a comical grin and his long arms waved about eagerly as he gave his assent. He turned to Stubbs.
"You will walk with me?" he asked.
For a moment Stubbs hesitated. He gazed first at the little man and then at the great bulk of Nicolas. Then his eyes roved to the huge form of Ivan.
"By Jove! I'd rather be alongside Ivan there," he muttered to himself, "but it wouldn't do to let this little fellow think I'm afraid. You're taking a long chance, Anthony, but I guess you had better do it. All right," he said to Nikol, and ranged himself at the dwarf's side.
"I wouldn't try any tricks if I were you, Nicolas," said Ivan, as he swung into step behind the traitor, Nickol and Stubbs, the prisoner in the center.
Colonel Edwards and Colonel Anderson came next in line and Hal andChester brought up the rear.
"It's a good two days' journey back," said Hal to Chester, "and, the chances are, we will encounter many of Nicolas' friends en route. We'll have to be careful."
"We shall indeed," returned his chum. "One little slip and there is no telling what may happen."
Night brought them to Ivan's cavern again and there they decided to spend the night. It had now been more than twenty-four hours since they had closed their eyes and all were tired out.
They experienced no difficulty getting Nicolas under the rock into the cavern, nor did the Montenegrin seek to attack them as they crawled after him, as Hal had half feared he would. He seemed completely dejected and downcast. He had not spoken a word during the day's march.
"I'll put him in your erstwhile prison," Ivan said to Chester with a grin. "I guess he'll be safe enough there for the night."
He did so.
"Well, I'm going to turn in," said Stubbs. "I'm dead for sleep. I tell you, it's no fun hoofing it over these mountains, particularly when you are guarding a prisoner like I have been all day, never knowing what minute he may make a break for liberty. No, sir, it's no fun."
"Did you watch him pretty closely, Stubbs?" asked Chester.
"I did," replied Stubbs, briefly.
"Why?" continued Chester. "Afraid he might jump you? Hope you didn't think he could catch you if you had a two-foot start."
Stubbs drew himself up majestically.
"What do you mean by that?" he demanded in a ruffled tone.
"Oh, nothing," said Chester, smiling.
"If you mean to insinuate that I was afraid—" began Stubbs in an injured tone.
"What!" interrupted Chester. "You afraid, Mr. Stubbs? You do me an injustice, I assure you. Why, I have seen you fight, Mr. Stubbs. Now, do you, by any chance, remember your battle with three wildcats?"
"I do," said Stubbs, considerably pleased. He turned to Nikol. "Did I ever tell you about that fight?" he asked.
Nikol shook his head and eyed the little war correspondent with interest.
"Well, I did," continued Stubbs. "It was in Belgium. Three of the beasts attacked me in the dark and gave me a terrific struggle. But I killed them all, as these two boys can tell you."
Nikol was all smiles. He was glad that the man who had conquered him was such a royal gladiator.
"And you were not hurt?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing to speak of," said Stubbs, modestly. "A few scratches.Nothing serious."
"They are bad beasts to fool with," said Nikol. "My brother had both eyes scratched out in an encounter with a single wildcat. And you killed three."
"There wasn't much chance of your eyes being scratched out, was there,Mr. Stubbs?" said Chester.
"And why not?" demanded the little man,
"Come now, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, "you don't mean to tell me you have forgotten you were lying flat on your face dodging bullets when the cats jumped you."
"No, I hadn't forgotten," said Stubbs in an injured tone. "But was it my fault that I had stumbled over a stone in the darkness a moment before?"
"Well, no, possibly not," Chester admitted. "But it's funny you didn't think to mention that stone at the time."
"If you are determined to laugh at me," said Stubbs with an air of ruffled dignity, "I have nothing more to say. Any man is likely to fall."
"So he is, Mr. Stubbs," agreed Chester, "and I don't know but I'd fall myself if I saw three wildcats coming for me. Yes, I would, and I'd try to get my head just as deep in the ground as possible, like an ostrich, and then maybe they couldn't see me."
For a moment Mr. Stubbs glared at the lad angrily and seemed about to speak; then turned on his heel angrily and strode to the far side of the cavern, where was the pallet which had been assigned to him.
Chester broke into a little laugh, which died suddenly as he stared down into the angry face of Nikol, which glared up at him.
There was a deep frown on the dwarf's face and he tapped himself upon the breast with one finger as he said:
"Any man who insults my friend, insults me. You have cast reflections upon my friend's courage. He, being your friend, overlooks it; but I, the man whom he worsted in fair fight, cannot. You must apologize."
Here Hal interfered. He had had such an encounter with the dwarf himself and he understood the situation.
"Hey, Stubbs!" he called. "Come back here, quick!"
Stubbs, just about to lie down upon his pallet, hurried back. He took in the situation at a glance and turned upon Nikol angrily.
"Here," he cried. "You keep out of my quarrels. I was big enough to attend to you, I can do the same with the rest of them."
"But he said—" protested the dwarf, pointing a finger at Chester.
"I don't care what he said," Stubbs said. "I can fight my own battles."
Nikol, deeply offended, drew back, and without another word, walked to the pallet that had been assigned to him. Stubbs, feeling somewhat better now that he had been able to berate some one and thus soothe his injured feelings, also stalked away without another word and lay down on his pallet. A moment later he was fast asleep.
"Do you suppose there is need for one of us to stand watch, Ivan?" asked Hal.
"I do not believe so," was the reply. "No one knows where my cavern is and we are not likely to be disturbed."
"I vote we turn in immediately then," said Colonel Edwards.
"Second the motion," said Colonel Anderson. "We've got to be on the move early and we've got to have some sleep first."
"Here goes, then," said Chester, and moved to his own place.
The others also sought their pallets and soon there was silence in the cavern. Completely worn out, the travelers slept like logs.
Several hours later, had they not been so completely exhausted, the sleepers undoubtedly would have heard strange noises from that part of the cavern in which Nicolas had been confined.
Came a faint grinding sound, which gradually became louder and louder, but which, after a time, ceased altogether. Then came a softer sound, that of footsteps coming slowly from the dark passageway; and a moment later Nicolas himself stepped into the glare of the fire.
His clothing was torn about the shoulders and his open hands dripped little drops of blood. He rubbed them together tenderly.
"Had I been a weaker man it would have been impossible," he muttered.
For he had pushed aside the heavy rock that guarded his prison—a rock that Ivan had believed not another man save himself could move. Apparently Nicolas had been underestimated.
Now the Montenegrin moved softly toward the entrance to the cave, fearful at every step that he would awaken the sleepers. It was dark within and this fact probably is all that prevented his escape.
In moving toward the entrance he passed close to the pallet upon which Stubbs slept. One of the little man's hands was stretched out across the floor and Nicolas' heavy boot came down squarely upon it.
A sudden loud cry shattered the deathly stillness of the night, followed by a more piercing cry.
Instantly every one was awake, though only half so, for the awakening had come so suddenly.
At Stubbs' first outcry, Nicolas, with a muttered imprecation, had dashed for the exit. He fell upon his knees and was about to crawl outside when Nikol, more wide awake than the others, flung himself forward and clasped his long arms about the Montenegrin's neck.
Nicolas drew back in the cave and pulled himself to his feet in spite of the dwarf's frantic efforts to hold him down. Then, seeing the size of his opponent, Nicolas laughed aloud and sought to fling the little man from him. But Nikol held him firmly.
But in spite of the dwarf's great strength, Nicolas was too big and powerful for him. The powerfulness the dwarf might have overcome, but the size was too much.
Plucking away the arms that were tightened about his neck, Nicolas held the dwarf away from him with his left hand, then struck him heavily in the face with his right. Taking a step more toward the center of the cavern, he hurled his opponent across the room.
Nikol struck the floor with a thud and lay still.
Now, realizing the need of haste, Nicolas turned quickly and made as though to move toward the exit. But he had delayed too long. The dwarf's efforts to hold him, though futile, had been enough to prevent the Montenegrin's escape.
A second huge form—the form of Ivan—barred the exit.
"Come on, have a try," said Ivan, with a grin.
Nicolas gave a loud cry—the cry of a cornered beast. Then he sprang.
"I'll kill you!" he yelled in a voice of thunder.