CHAPTER XXIX.
MR. STUBBS PROVES HIMSELF.
"We'll stay in among the trees and won't show ourselves unless we haveto," Hal explained.
From the direction in which the fugitives had so recently come, there nowcame the noise of a rapidly approaching body of horsemen. They halted ashort distance from where Hal, Chester and Ivan stood and dismounted.
"They may be hiding in here," said a voice. "We'll have a look."
The men, a dozen of them, came forward.
Making a slight detour, the three friends managed to get behind them.Then, instead of continuing straight ahead, Hal turned sharply in histracks and followed in the wake of the Bulgarian searching party.
The Bulgarians proceeded slowly, exploring every nook and corner of thewoods, and firing their rifles into the densest of the trees. Hal,Chester and Ivan came up with them at length and mingled among themwithout being discovered.
"Off to the left farther," instructed the officer in command.
"No use," said Hal, in a gruff voice. "I've just come from there. Thereis no one there. The fugitives must have gone farther."
"Are you sure?" asked the officer, looking at the lad searchingly.
"Positive. I fired my revolver into every tree in which I thought therewas a possible chance for them to hide."
"There is no use wasting more time, then," said the officer. "Thisway, men."
He led the way back toward the road. Hal, Chester and Ivan, still amongthe Bulgarian troopers, were forced to go along with them or run the riskof being detected. They all walked slowly and gradually were left behind.
The Bulgarians mounted and rode off down the road.
"Well, we are safe for a few minutes," said Chester, drawing a breath ofrelief. "What now, Hal?"
"Well," was the reply. "We can't fool about in these woods long. We arebound to be found sooner or later if we do. Also, there is little chancethat we could walk to the Greek frontier without being discovered. Insome way we must find a conveyance."
"Yes, but how?" questioned Chester.
"That's the question. But certainly some of these Bulgarian officers musthave motor cars. Surely they have some means of transportation besideshorses. I have an idea that if we will follow them, in their search, wemay come across an automobile."
"That's not a half bad idea," declared Chester. "We'll do it. Shall westart now?"
"Hold on," said Hal. "Either you or I must remain here. We can't both go.One of us has to direct the actions of the others."
"True," said Chester. "Will you go or stay?"
"Whatever you say," said Hal.
"Then," said Chester, "we shall match to see who goes."
He produced a coin and Hal did likewise.
"If I match you, I go," said Hal. "If not, you go."
"Agreed!"
The two coins went spinning in the air and each lad caught his own as itdescended and covered it with his hand.
"Tails," said Chester.
"Tails," said Hal. "I go."
"All right," said Chester. "Then I'll be moving back toward the others.Good luck, old man, and hurry back."
The two lads clasped hands and Chester turned on his heel andstrode away.
"You shall go with me, Ivan," said Hal.
The big Cossack showed his pleasure.
"I was afraid I was going to be left behind," he said. "I thought youmight need me."
"I hope I won't," said Hal, "but you never can tell, you know. Let'sbe moving."
Again he led the way to the road and the two set out briskly.
After half an hour's walk they came upon a party of searchers. An officerhailed them as they approached.
"Seen anything of the fugitives?" he demanded.
Hal shook his head negatively.
"Did you?" he asked.
"Not a sign. It's a mystery what can have happened to them. Colonel Rothis a short distance ahead. I heard him say he believed they were still inthe main camp."
"That so?" replied Hal. "How is the colonel traveling? Automobile?"
"Of course. He's too dainty for any other kind of travel, you know."
"Well, we'll move on ahead a bit," said Hal.
They continued their journey.
Fifteen minutes later they came upon a large touring car in the road.
"Here is the thing we want," said Hal quietly. "Now if it were justturned around, I would take a chance and grab it. But by the time Iturned in this narrow road, I'd have the whole Bulgarian army on me.We'll have to do a little figuring."
They continued on their way until they came up with Colonel Roth'ssearching party. As they approached, an idea suddenly came to Hal. Hesought out the man he knew must be Colonel Roth by his haughty air andhis stripes.
"Colonel," he said, saluting. "I know it would be a feather in your capif you could land these fugitives, and I have come to show you wherethey are."
"What's that?" exclaimed the dapper little man.
"I said I've come to show you where they are," said Hal quietly. "All Iask for turning them over to you is a thousand German marks."
"H-m-m-m," muttered the colonel, eyeing the lad keenly. "Even if you cando what you say, the price is rather high. I'll give you five hundred."
Hal seemed to consider.
"All right," he said at length. "It's a bargain. Turn your car about andI'll take you to their hiding place at once."
"Very well."
The colonel stepped into his automobile, and, after a series of attempts,finally succeeded in turning it. Then to the others:
"Climb in," he said briefly.
Ivan climbed into the rear seat, while Hal took his place beside theBulgarian.
"Straight ahead until I tell you to stop," the lad instructed.
The Bulgarian officer asked no questions.
A few minutes later the machine drew up in response to Hal's command. Alldismounted.
"They are all back here a little ways," said Hal.
The Bulgarian officer followed Hal toward where the lad knew the otherswere in hiding. Under the tree where he had left Helen, Hal paused. Thenhe raised his voice a trifle and called aloud, at the same time drawinghis revolver and presenting it squarely at the Bulgarian's head:
"Chester! Oh, Chester! You can all come down now."
In response to this hail, Chester, Helen, Mr. Stubbs and Nikol soon stoodbefore them.
When Hal drew his revolver, the Bulgarian officer staggered back.
"A traitor, eh?" he exclaimed.
"Why, no," said Hal, and he removed his heavy cap.
The Bulgarian gave a long whistle and ejaculated: "One of thefugitives himself."
"So you know me?" said Hal. "Well, then you should know me well enough todo as I say."
"What is it you want?" demanded the Bulgarian.
"Nothing very difficult," declared Hal. "First we want to borrow yourautomobile for a few hours."
"So?" exclaimed the Bulgarian. "Well, you can't have it."
"We'll see," said Hal quietly. "Here, Ivan! You guard this fellow, whileI have a look at the car."
He examined the machine carefully.
"All right for a quick dash, I guess," he said finally, rising from hisinspection. "All aboard!"
Every one obeyed, and soon all were seated in the car save Hal andChester, who were to occupy the front seat. Hal also motioned theBulgarian into the front seat.
"He may come in handy after awhile," he declared.
Everything in readiness at last, Hal and Chester climbed in and Hal tookhis place at the wheel.
"I'll do the chauffeuring," he said, with a smile. "I may have to do sometalking later and I want to be running this animal, so I can know what todo without having to talk. Keep your eye on our friend, there, Chester."
"I'll hang on to him, all right," replied Chester grimly. "He'll not getaway from me. Have no fear of that."
"All right," called Hal. "Everybody ready?"
He glanced around quickly.
The others nodded their assent and an instant later the machine dartedsouthward at a rapid gait.
Two miles down the road, Hal was forced to stop by the presence inthe road of a single man armed with a rifle, which he aimed straightat the car.
"What do you want?" demanded Hal, anxiously.
"You'll have to get out," was the man's reply. "I have orders to let noone pass."
Helen looked at Hal hopelessly and the lad was moved to action.
Gently he stirred the Colonel with his toe as he commanded underhis breath:
"Speak for us or I'll put a bullet through you."
The officer did as commanded.
"Why are you barring our way?" he demanded in a harsh voice.
"Orders, sir," was the reply.
"Do you know who I am?"
"No, sir, and it will make no difference."
This conversation was put to an end in a sudden and unexpected manner.
Anthony Stubbs rose in his place.
"Will you permit us to proceed?" he demanded.
The man in the road shook his head.
"All right," said Stubbs.
He climbed to the front seat, and before any one could realize what hewas up to, sprang head-first at the Bulgarian.
CHAPTER XXX.
"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN."
Stubbs' action was so entirely unexpected that for a moment the otheroccupants of the automobile were stunned. Then Hal and Chester leaped totheir feet, as did Nikol, Ivan and Colonel Anderson.
"Little man's gone off his head," muttered Ivan, as he leaped from thecar to go to Stubbs' assistance.
Stubbs, in his headlong leap, struck exactly where he had intended--rightupon the Bulgarian's shoulders, and the force of the impact bore the manto the ground. Again, the action was so unexpected that the man did nothave time to discharge his rifle.
As the soldier went to the ground beneath his weight, Stubbs' handsgripped him by the throat and he squeezed as hard as his weak muscleswould permit.
But the Bulgarian had recovered himself now and hurled Stubbs to oneside. He pulled himself to his feet, and with an angry growl, half raisedhis rifle.
It was at that moment that Ivan, quicker than the others, seized therifle in his two hands. He gave a quick twist and jerked the weapon fromthe hands of his opponent. The latter staggered back and his hand droppedto his belt. But before he could draw a revolver, Ivan had raised hisnewly won rifle and brought it down on the Bulgarian's head. The mandropped inert without a sound.
Then Ivan picked Stubbs up bodily, deposited him in the tonneau of thecar and climbed in himself.
"We'd better get away from here," he said.
Quickly Hal resumed his seat and threw off the clutch. The automobiledashed forward again.
Ivan turned to Stubbs.
"Why all this bloodthirstiness, Mr. Stubbs?" he demanded in surprise.
"I'm getting tired of all this nonsense," replied Stubbs. "I want to getout of this country. I want to get back home where there is nowar--where men are not killing each other off by the thousands. I'm apeaceable man and I'm going back to a peaceable country if I have tofight to get there."
Nikol the dwarf now extended a hand to Stubbs.
"You are a brave man, sir," he exclaimed. "Not many are there who wouldhave attacked a man who held a rifle pointed at his breast. You are abrave man, sir."
Unthinkingly, Stubbs clasped the hand and a moment later gave ahowl of pain.
"Hey! Leggo my hand!" he cried. "Ouch!"
Nikol released Stubbs' hand with a murmured apology, while Stubbs feltthe injured right member tenderly with his left and turned an aggrievedeye on Nikol, but he said nothing.
Suddenly the car slowed down. Those in the rear seat glanced ahead andthe reason for the abrupt slackening of speed became apparent.
Coming toward them at a rapid trot was a squadron of Bulgarian cavalry,blocking the road.
Hal turned to the Bulgarian officer between him and Chester andsaid quietly:
"Now it's up to you. Remember, I've got my gun ready and at the firstfalse move I'll put a bullet through you."
The captain in command of the cavalry squadron gave a sharp command andhis men drew rein while the officer came forward. He glanced at thecolonel in the automobile and saluted.
"Oh, it's you, sir," he said. "Have you seen anything of the fugitives?"
The Bulgarian felt the pressure of Hal's revolver in his back.
"No," he said.
The captain saluted and would have passed on, but Hal instructed hisprisoner to ask:
"How far are we from the Greek frontier?"
"Less than a mile," was the answer. "There is but one more body of ourtroops between here and a strong force of Greeks, which is patrollingthe border."
The two Bulgarians saluted each other and the troop separated to make apath for the automobile.
"Another close shave for all of us," said Chester, when they had passedby. "You, too," he said to the Bulgarian. "You'd have been a goner if youhad sought to give the alarm."
A few minutes later Hal made out another body of troops blocking theroad. He reduced the speed of the car and spoke to the others.
"The last barrier to freedom," he said. "Be ready to duck down in thecar. I am going to take no more chances with our prisoner here. He islikely to take this last chance to betray us. The troops are drawn up onboth sides of the road. I am going to make a dash for it."
There was no reply, but Hal had expected none.
The car approached the troops slowly and seemed about to stop.
The Bulgarians moved to one side, thinking to surround the machine whenit had come to a halt.
Less than fifty feet from the nearest soldiers, and a scant two hundredyards from where Hal could make out a large body of Greek troops, the carsuddenly leaped ahead and Hal threw the gear into high.
All save Hal ducked instinctively.
The Bulgarians, taken completely by surprise, stood stock still for amoment and then the cry of in officer rang out:
"Fire!"
Instantly fifty rifles were leveled at the automobile, now fast eating upthe short distance to the Greek frontier, and a score of bullets struckthe car in the rear.
Bullets flew all about Hal's head and he felt a stinging sensation in hisleft shoulder. There came a second volley and then the car flashed amongthe body of Greek troops.
Quickly Hal brought the car to a stop. Heads bobbed up from the back ofthe car and it was Anthony Stubbs who breathed the relief that all felt.
"Safe at last!" he cried.
Now all alighted from the car, the Bulgarian officer, Hal's prisoner,with them.
Greek troops approached.
Hal spoke hurriedly to the Bulgarian.
"Quick now!" he cried. "If you make a dash you can get back over theborder before these fellows can stop you."
The Bulgarian wasted no time in talk. He took to his heels and maderecord time for his own country, which he reached in safety, in spite ofa volley fired by the Greek troops.
A Greek officer now came hurriedly up to Hal.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded harshly. "Do you not know thatthis is a neutral country?"
"And we thank Heaven for that," said Stubbs fervently. "We have had ahard enough time getting here."
"I shall have to turn you over to my superior," said the officer. "Hewill dispose of your cases. In the meantime, you may consider yourselvesunder arrest."
Neither Hal nor Chester paid much attention to what the Greek officer wassaying. They were too busily engaged watching the antics of theirerstwhile prisoner, who, now safe on his own side of the line, wasshaking his fist in their direction and making other fierce gestures.
Now Hal turned to the Greek officer.
"Will you accompany us back close to the line," he said, "that we mayhear what yonder little fellow is talking about? He seems to be greatlyput out ab
out something."
"First tell me what you are doing here?" was the command.
Hal explained as rapidly as possible and then repeated his request thatthey be allowed to go back toward the border a few moments.
At last the officer gave his permission.
Chester, Hal, Colonel Anderson, Ivan and Nikol, each grinning, moved backtoward the border. Stubbs hung back, and seeing this, Hal called:
"Come along, Mr. Stubbs. Here is one time you may look at an enemy withimpunity."
Stubbs followed.
The Bulgarian officer was still angrily waving hit arms about when theyneared him.
"Look at him rave, will you?" said Hal, with a laugh.
"Ha! Ha!" laughed Ivan.
"He should think himself lucky that we allowed him to go back,"declared Chester.
The friends were less than fifty feet from the Bulgarian now, but theyventured no closer for fear they might inadvertently cross the line.They stood in this order: Hal, Chester, Nikol, Stubbs, Ivan andColonel Anderson.
"Poor little fellow," said Stubbs at this juncture. "Poor little fellow.He looks so awfully mad!"
The Bulgarian officer, who had been growing angrier with each taunt fromacross the Greek line, now became suddenly infuriated. Forgetting allprudence, forgetting all laws of neutrality, forgetting everything exceptthe smiling face of Anthony Stubbs, American war correspondent, hesuddenly drew his revolver and fired pointblank at the little man.
Stubbs' face blanched at the movement and the others were too surprisedto move--all except one; and this one, quick as a flash, leaped forwardwith the agility of a cat and thrust his body protectingly beforeAnthony Stubbs.
When the smoke of the revolver had cleared away Stubbs stood erect,unharmed--but at his feet lay the twitching body of Nikol, the dwarf.
There was a sudden hush, prolonged for several minutes; then Stubbsdropped to his knee with an inarticulate cry and threw his arms aroundthe neck of Nikol.
Quickly the others gathered about and Hal shouted:
"A surgeon, quick!"
But Nikol, raising his head to Stubbs' knee, stopped him with a gesture.
"It's no use," he said quietly. "It got me here," and he raised a handslowly and touched a spot just above the heart. "A surgeon can do nogood. Besides, I would not have a stranger near me when I die. To me youare all strangers and yet for days I have not looked upon you as such. Iam glad to have known you all and I know the day will come when I shallsee you all again. Now, if I could see the young lady for just a momentbefore--before--"
Hal hastened back to the automobile where Helen Ellison still sat,wondering at the cause of the trouble, and repeated the dwarf's request.
"Of course I'll go," said the girl, and there was a catch in her voice,for this was the first time death had come so close to her.
She ran forward and knelt over the little dwarf and took his hand. Hesmiled at her.
"I just wanted to tell you good-bye," he said. "I have never seen a younglady like you before."
For a space of several seconds he looked at her. Then he dropped herhand and said:
"Now if the rest of you will just shake hands with me once--"
Silently the others grasped Nikol's hand, one after another, and at thelast came Stubbs.
To the latter's hand the dwarf clung tenaciously.
"You, sir, are a brave man," said Nikol. "I am glad I was able to saveyou. You may be of some use in the world."
The pressure upon Stubbs' hand tightened and tightened until the littleman winced with the pain of it; but he made no outcry--only smiled as heexclaimed in a broken voice:
"Nonsense! Nonsense!"
"Well, good-bye, all," said Nikol faintly, after a moment's pause."Good--"
The pressure on Stubbs' hand relaxed and the little dwarf of the Albanianhills fell back, dead.
Stubbs rose and brushed the tears from his eyes. Then, after one look atthe still form on the ground, he turned and walked away. The others saidnothing, for they knew his grief was great.
And now, while the others--all good friends and true--are gathered aboutthe body of little Nikol, the dwarf, we shall leave them once more,knowing that, after days and weeks of strenuous adventures and graveperils, they are, for the moment at least, in a land of peace.
THE END.
Boy Allies in the Balkan Campaign; Or, the Struggle to Save a Nation Page 29