Boy Allies in the Balkan Campaign; Or, the Struggle to Save a Nation
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CHAPTER XXVI.
IN GRAVE PERIL.
Helen led the way to the roof, the others following closely. As Hal hadpredicted, it was possible from this height to obtain a fair view of theopposing armies.
To the north, as far as the eye could see, the army of King Ferdinand ofBulgaria spread out, a mass of moving energy. Faint puffs of smoke dottedthe Bulgar line as far as the eye could see.
"Cannon!" said Hal briefly.
To the south, the Serbian line moved forward. It, too, spread out oneither side as far as the eye could reach and puffs of smoke rosesteadily, shutting out the view of the moving men.
"More cannon," said Chester.
"We seem to be safe enough for the moment," said Hal. "The shells arepassing over us. But if one side or the other should advance as far asthis house, we would be in imminent danger of being struck by shells fromthe other side."
"Well, one side is bound to advance sooner or later," declared Chester;"but I guess there is nothing for us to do but wait and watch theprogress of the battle."
"You fellows can watch all you want to," said Stubbs. "I'm going downstairs where I won't be able to see a shell coming."
"It won't make much difference whether you are up here or down there if ashell hits this house, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester.
"Maybe not; but I won't see it and that will help some."
Stubbs betook himself below.
"Don't know what is coming over Stubbs," said Chester. "He didn't use tobe as bad as that."
"He was when we first met him," Hal replied. "But he seemed to be gettingover it. He's worse than ever now."
From their position, those upon the roof of the house could witnessthe effect of some of the great shells that were hurled into theopposing lines. One, from the Serbians, struck squarely upon theBulgarian first line troops, doing terrible execution. Men were moweddown in great numbers.
A few moments later the Bulgarians also found the range and the havoc wasfrightful on each side.
"They can't stand that very long," said Hal. "One side or the other willhave to make a move."
The lad was right; and as it transpired the first move was to be made bythe Serbians.
So suddenly that it appeared the work of magic, a great body of horsemen,stretching out for perhaps half a mile, issued from the Serbian line in acharge. On they came, their sabers flashing in the early morning sun,straight for the distant Bulgarian line.
Chester gave an exclamation of dismay.
"They'll pass within a short distance of us," he ejaculated. "Then theBulgarians will turn their big guns on us." He turned to Helen. "Youwould better go downstairs, Miss Ellison," he said quietly.
"But I want to see the battle," the girl protested.
"Chester is right," Hal agreed. "This is no place for you. Bullets arelikely to be flying about here before long now."
"But the rest of you are not coming down?"
"That's different," said Chester.
"I don't see how. A bullet is no more liable to hit me than it isto hit you."
"Well, of course if you insist, I won't push you down," said Hal,somewhat nettled.
Helen Ellison tossed her head.
"Of course if you are going to be mean about it, I'll go down and sitwith Mr. Stubbs," she said.
Without another word she disappeared below.
Hal looked at Chester and smiled.
"Women and girls," he said, "are very peculiar. As soon as you agree withthem they change their minds."
"Well, she's down, anyhow," said Chester. "That's some relief."
"And here come the Serbians," said Hal.
A handsome body of men, these Serbian cavalrymen, as they chargedstraight across the open field into the very jaws of death. Men fell onall sides, but those who were left did not pause. The command had goneforth that the Bulgarian guns must be silenced and the Serbians wentabout the work as coolly as though they had been on dress parade.
But it appeared a few moments later that the battle was not to be betweenhorsemen and artillery, but rather between cavalry and cavalry.
From the Bulgarian lines now issued a large body of horsemen; and theycame toward the Serbians at a swift gallop, their officers riding infront with swords flashing and urging their men on with words ofencouragement.
The Serbian cavalry, at a command, halted and braced to receivethe shock.
"Great Scott! What did they stop for!" exclaimed Hal. "They are givingthe other fellows, all the advantage when they come together."
"Looks like bad generalship to me," Chester agreed.
Now, at a command from their officer, the Serbians resumed their charge;but the damage had been done and when the long lines of opposing horsemencame together the very impetus of the Bulgarian charge carried themthrough. The Serbians reeled, staggered and their line broke.
The Bulgarian horse plowed in among them, cutting, slashing and stabbing.Individually, the Serbians fought as bravely as their foe, but in spiteof the desperate work the Bulgarian cavalry retained its cohesion andpushed steadily on.
The fighting was terrible to behold. Revolvers were brought into play andtheir sharp crack, crack could be heard above the sound of the tramplinghorses and yelling men. It became apparent to the onlookers that theSerbians were getting the worst of the encounter.
Casting his eye toward the main Serbian line, Hal gave a short cheer. Along, dense line of infantry was moving out to the support of thecavalry. Slowly they came at first, then faster and still faster as themen broke into a run. An imposing sight, indeed, and one to stir theblood. The Serbian cavalry, at a command, fell back upon the infantry,which separated into two sections to permit of the cavalry passingthrough the center. Then the infantry closed in again.
But the Bulgarian cavalry, with victory apparently within its grasp, hadno intention of giving up now. With utter recklessness they charged theSerbian infantry, dying bravely before the rifles and upon the bayonetsof their enemy when they chanced to escape the rifle fire.
The Serbian line held like a stone wall.
Then the Bulgarian cavalry drew off. A cheer, which arose from theSerbian line, was quickly checked as the giant batteries of theBulgarians opened upon the unprotected Serbian line. The Serbianswavered, broke and fled.
Then once more the Bulgarian cavalry wheeled and charged. Right into thedense masses of Serbians rode the troopers, cutting and slashing toright and left. The execution among the panic-stricken Serbians wasterrible to behold.
"They can't stand it long," Hal shouted, barely making himself heardabove the roar of battle.
"The day is lost already," Chester shouted back.
There seemed no doubt of that now.
What was left of the Serbian infantry staggered back to the main armyshattered and beaten. The big guns took up the battle again, but not withthe same vigor and confidence as before. The Serbian fire seemed even totell the spectators on the housetop that the Serbians had lost hope.
Half an hour later a general retreat began.
"Bad generalship, that's all," declared Hal.
"Without doubt," agreed Colonel Anderson. "A charge is a charge andonce begun must be finished. That was where the Bulgarians gained thewhip hand."
"The next step, I suppose, is an advance by the Bulgarians," saidChester.
"Very likely," Hal agreed, "and that means that we shall be caught in theBulgarian lines."
"It means worse than that," said Colonel Anderson. "We are all incivilian attire and if our identities are discovered, it means that we'llbe stood up and shot."
"By Jove!" said Hal. "I hadn't thought of that."
"Oh, we've been in predicaments just as serious," said Chester, "and wehave always come through somehow. I guess we shall do so again."
"We'll get into one just once too often, I'm afraid," said Hal, "and thisis likely to be it."
"You're getting as bad as Stubbs, Hal," said Chester. "Just keep a stiffupper lip and we'll come through this thing some way."
"I'm no quitter," said Hal. "But the best we can do now is let eventsshape themselves."
And now the Bulgarian advance began.
Apparently the Bulgarian commander had no thought of attempting toovertake the Serbians and annihilate them. Apparently he figured thatground gained was ground gained whether with or without a fight. The armymoved forward slowly.
A party of officers, following in the wake of the vanguard, rode suddenlytoward the house in which the friends had taken refuge.
"And here comes the trouble, as Stubbs would say," declared Hal. "Let'sgo below and get ready to receive them."
He suited the action to the word and the others followed him silently.Below, Hal acquainted Helen with what had transpired and announced thatthe Bulgarians were approaching.
"And what of the bodies without?" asked the girl quietly.
"Whew!" Hal gave a long and expressive whistle. "I hadn't thought ofthat. Wait a moment, though. We'll have to say they were here when theSerbians advanced and were killed."
"But the Serbians were not so close to the house."
"I know that, but I cannot think of any better excuse."
"Besides," said Stubbs, "if the Bulgarians were killed here by theSerbians, the chances are the Bulgarian commander will want to know howit happens we weren't killed also."
"Stubbs," said Hal, "I told you you were always a kill-joy. You can pickmore flaws in things than any one I can think of. We'll tell theBulgarians that story and take a chance on its passing muster."
"Then we may as well say our prayers now," said Stubbs mournfully.
"But what will we tell them we are?" asked Chester.
"Americans," replied Hal. "Caught here by the retreat. We were justmaking our way out of the country. I'll do the talking."
"All right," said Chester, and added: "Sh-h-h, here they come now!"