CHAPTER XXVIII.
THROUGH THE NIGHT.
Hal, Chester, Colonel Anderson, Nikol and Ivan slept. The first three,veterans of many campaigns and hardships, had schooled themselves tosleep under almost any conditions. The same might be said of Nikol andIvan because of days spent in the mountain fastness, where danger lurkedat all times.
Stubbs, however, although he bore up bravely under the death sentence,was unable to sleep, try as he would. Nor could Helen gain a much neededrest, though she was not conscious that she was at all afraid. So thesetwo talked during the long hours of the day as the others sleptpeacefully and deeply.
With the coming of darkness a man entered bearing a tray with bread andwater. The others awakened now and all did full justice to the frugalmeal. Their hands were untied while they ate, but the meal over, theywere bound again.
Then all waited for what seemed hours, though in reality it could nothave been more than three. Then Hal addressed Nikol.
"Still think you can break your bonds?"
"I can," replied Nikol quietly.
"And you, Ivan?"
"Yes, although it won't make much difference. Nikol could release therest of us."
"I thought the second tying-up might have made it impossible," said Hal.
"I'm ready any time you give the word," said Nikol.
"Then do it now," said Hal.
The others gazed curiously as Nikol made his little form still smaller.He drew in his chest as much as possible and then expanded suddenly, atthe same time thrusting out with his strong arms. There was a report asof a revolver being discharged, though much fainter, and Nikol was free.
"Ha!" said Ivan. "He did it. Now watch me."
The mighty muscles of the giant strained once and the strong ropesnapped. Ivan did not seem to have exerted himself.
"Now for the rest of us," said Hal.
Quickly Ivan and Nikol released the others.
"Now what?" asked Ivan.
"Now comes my work," said Hal quietly.
He moved silently to the edge of the tent and lay down flat, feeling theedges with his fingers.
"This will come up all right," he muttered to himself. "I can getout here."
He went back to the center of the tent again and enjoined the othersto silence.
"Don't make a sound on your lives," he commanded sternly. "Chester, youremain right where I leave the tent and if I bring a man back with me youdrag him under and see that he doesn't make a sound."
Chester nodded his agreement and took his place at Hal's side.
Now the lad lifted the bottom of the canvas slightly and peered out. Hesmiled a trifle to himself. It was as he hoped. The guard or guards, asthe case might be, was not as vigilant as the security of the prisonersshould have required. Hal wriggled into the open.
The huge camp slept. Here and there a sentinel stalked and it was uponthese guardians of the night that Hal must prey.
He moved toward the front of the prison tent, seeking the guard there.And directly he came upon him, stretched at full length upon the ground,his heavy military coat pulled closely about him, smoking a cigarette.Hal moved toward him cautiously.
"I hate to do this," he muttered, "but--"
With a light leap he was upon the man and his right fist shot out hardand true. It caught the Bulgarian just above the left ear and the mannever made a sound.
Quickly Hal dragged the body to where he knew Chester would be waiting.Chester dragged it under the tent and Hal went under after it.
"This uniform is for me. I'll go after some more," he said.
Quickly he climbed into the Bulgarian uniform and disappeared again. Butthis time, garbed in a Bulgarian uniform, he went more confidently. Hishand rested upon his revolver.
A short distance away he came upon an unsuspecting sentinel. A sharpblow with his revolver butt placed the other _hors de combat_.Supporting the unconscious figure with his arm, Hal moved back to theprison tent. This figure also was pushed beneath the canvas and theuniform donned by Chester.
"Now we can make a little better time," said Hal, "there are two of us."
Uniforms were still needed for Colonel Anderson, Ivan, Nikol, Stubbs andHelen. Hal and Chester disappeared into the night.
Five minutes later Hal returned, this time with a uniform and no man. Hehad found him in a deserted spot, and after knocking him down and tyinghim up, had stripped him.
"Put this on, Anderson, and get out after one," he ordered.
He was gone again a moment later. Soon also Chester returned successfuland he and Anderson departed almost together. There were now neededuniforms for Nikol, Stubbs and Helen, for Chester had brought one forIvan. And these uniforms must necessarily be small uniforms, for theywere for small figures. Therefore, the hunt was longer and it was morethan an hour later until all three had returned to the tent.
"Well, here we are, all of us first class Bulgarians, now," said Hal."Now, we'll leave the tent one at a time, except that I shall take MissEllison with me first. Now do exactly what I tell you, all of you.Leaving the tent, walk two hundred paces to the left, then turn to theright and walk a hundred and fifty more. Next fifty paces to the leftagain. We shall wait for you there. I have covered the distance and it'sthe best place to join forces I can imagine. It is in the shelter of agreat rock that overhangs a large tent--probably the quarters of thecommanding officer. Do you all understand?"
He had each repeat the directions several times, and then, taking Helenby the arm, he helped her under the tent.
Outside, with caps drawn down, for the weather was cold, they hurried on.And at the appointed place Hal stopped. There was nothing to do now butwait for the others.
Stubbs was the next to arrive and he came shaking a trifle. The littleman was trying to bear up, but he was having a hard time. The nextarrival was Nikol and then came Ivan. Chester was next to arrive,following Colonel Anderson by a few seconds.
"Now we're all here," said Hal. "We may as well move. I have no idea justwhere we are, so we'll have to select a direction and stick to it."
"Wait a moment, please," said Helen. "Isn't that the house in which wewere captured?"
She pointed in the darkness. The others peered intently in the directionindicated. A dark shadow loomed up some distance ahead.
"I believe it is," said Hal. "Why?"
"Then, if you want to get into Greece, the quickest way is to godue south."
"But the question is, which is south?" said Hal.
"Oh, I can tell you that. You just follow the road that leads bythe house."
"So be it," said Hal. "March."
With Chester and Helen he led the way.
They were forced to go very slowly for they were still in the Bulgarianlines, and all knew they would be for a considerable distance. How farthe Bulgarians had extended their lines following the retreat of theSerbians they had of course no means of knowing, but Hal felt sure itwould be a good ways.
Tents dotted their line of march for an hour as they walked along keepingparallel with the road, but some distance from the highway.
"This road will eventually lead across the Greek border," the girlwhispered as they walked along.
"Here's hoping we get across the border before the Bulgarians get afterus," said Chester.
"Second that motion," declared Hal.
They walked on in silence.
It had been more than an hour now since they had left their late prisonand Hal was beginning to hope their absence would not be noticed beforemorning. He had just said as much to Chester.
"I am afraid that is too much to hope for," was the latter's reply.
And, as it turned out, it was.
The party had walked possibly five miles, when, from behind, they heardthe sudden booming of a great gun.
"Faster," said Hal, and broke into a trot. The others followed suit.
"Suppose they have discovered our flight, or the gun was some othersignal?" said Chester.
"I don't know," sa
id Hal. "It's as likely to be one as the other. Thefarther away we get the better."
More guns now shattered the stillness of the night, growing closerand closer.
"They are after us, all right," declared Hal.
Without pausing, he glanced quickly around. Then suddenly he swervedsharply to the left.
"Why this change in course?" panted Chester.
"See that woods?" demanded Hal, pointing.
"Yes."
"Well, we may find safety there. It's a long chance."
They dashed into the shelter of the little woods a moment later.
Hal stopped and turned to Helen.
"Climb?" he asked.
"Why, yes, I guess so."
"Up in this tree with you then."
He lent her a hand as she grasped the lowest branch and soon clamberedhigher up toward the top.
"You too, Stubbs," he commanded.
The little man did not hesitate, but also was soon among the branches.
"Colonel Anderson, you and Nikol get up there also. I want someprotection for Miss Ellison in case of trouble."
The others obeyed orders without question.
"All right," from each, and they moved toward him.
"Ivan, you come with me. You too, Chester."
Hal turned for a moment, to deliver a parting injunction to those inthe trees:
"Don't any of you so much as move until I tell you to."
"And where are we bound?" asked Chester, as the three moved off.
"Apparently," said Hal, "we are Bulgarian officers. The bluff may work. Iwant to tell all inquiring parties that we have just explored thesewoods. Catch the idea?"
Chester and Ivan nodded.
Boy Allies in the Balkan Campaign; Or, the Struggle to Save a Nation Page 28