CHAPTER XXV.
A NEW MISSION.
The two lads were again having an audience of the Grand Duke. Thelatter, after ordering them to bear word to the commander of the Cossackforce that had invaded the Carpathians to remain before Cracow untilfurther notice, had also proposed a new mission to the lads.
"I would like to learn," he said, "whether there is any truth in thereport that, in the event we capture Cracow, the population of Galiciawill come to our support and throw off the Austrian yoke. Of course Ihave heard these rumors from apparently reliable sources, but I wouldprefer to know the truth from someone I can trust implicitly."
"We shall be glad to undertake that mission, Your Excellency," said Hal."I believe that by using a little strategy we can gain entrance to thecity. It would probably be easier for us than for one of your own men,because we are Americans and may be able to use that to advantage."
"I had thought of that," replied the Grand Duke. "In fact, it is forthat reason that I selected you. I will give you a message to yourcommander, relieving you from active duty. My advice is that you do nottake Alexis on this mission. He would probably hinder you."
The boys saluted, and taking the paper the Grand Duke extended to them,departed. On their way back toward Cracow they informed Alexis of theirmission and of the fact that he was not to accompany them. The Cossackwas disappointed and astonished.
"Not take me!" he exclaimed in surprise. "Why, I am good for fifty men!You know that!"
"But this is not a case of strength and fighting," Hal explained. "Thisis a case where strategy will count more than a hundred men."
"Well," demanded Alexis, "am I not a strategist? Did you not tell me sowith your own lips? As a strategist there is none better than I. Why, Ican tell you how I----"
"But, Alexis," Hal interrupted, "one look at you would tell an Austrianyour nationality. You cannot expect to fool them as we did the peasantof the hills. I am sorry, but there is no help for it."
Alexis was greatly crestfallen, but he admitted the truth of the boys'reasoning.
"It is true that anyone would know I am a Cossack," he replied, "but ifit came to a fight----"
"If it comes to a fight," said Chester, "we shall miss you greatly; butwe shall have to try and get along without you this time."
Back with their regiment they gave the message releasing them fromactive duty to their commander; then, changing their uniforms forcivilian garb and bidding Alexis good-by, they set out in the directionof the Galician stronghold, making a wide detour so as to approach fromthe north, rather than from the direction of the Russian troops in theEast.
They went horseback, and they rode slowly, for they did not wish toattract undue attention to themselves by too great speed. The route theytraversed made it a good two-days' journey, and long before coming tothe city proper they encountered bands of Austrian troops. To these,however, they paid little heed and they were not molested.
"Evidently they don't care who goes in," remarked Chester.
"Looks that way," replied Hal; "but I'll bet they pay strict attentionto anyone who tries to get out. That's where our hardest work probablywill come in."
"I guess you are right," said Chester.
Nevertheless they were halted by an Austrian patrol when close to thecity. To him, however, they explained that they were American tourists,caught in Galicia at the outbreak of the war, and that they hadpenetrated beyond the Austrian lines without being aware of it.
"We want to get back to safety," Hal told him.
The Austrian officer smiled and let them pass without further words.Inside the Galician city the lads prowled about leisurely. The extremeeastern end of the city was a mass of ruins. The shells hurled by thebig Russian guns had done great damage; but the flames had beenextinguished before they had reached the heart of the city, and as theRussians had later fallen back a considerable distance the city now wasperfectly quiet.
Night came on, and the lads sought shelter in the home of a Galicianpeasant. The house was small but comfortable, and the old man who livedin it admitted them without question. They repeated to him the storytold the Austrian officer, adding that the place in which they had beenstaying had been destroyed by a Russian shell.
"And your sympathies," inquired the old man, "are with the Austrians?"
"Of course," replied Hal quietly, "Russian barbarism must be wiped out."
"Good!" replied the old man. "I suppose you know there is considerablesentiment in favor of the Russians, however?"
"I have heard something to that effect; but I could scarcely credit it,"replied Hal guardedly.
"Well," said the old man, "it is true. A plot was discovered not twodays ago to give the city into the hands of the Russians. Theconspirators were arrested right here in my house. They were friends ofmine. I was known to be loyal, and my false friends took advantage ofthat fact to do their plotting here. Now my house is watched closely,although they have hesitated to arrest me."
The old man made the two comfortable for the night and left them. Beforepreparing for bed the lads talked over what the old man had told them.As they were getting ready to retire, they heard voices from anadjoining room.
Through a little hole in the wall they could see a stream of light. Halput his eye to the hole. In the room beyond he made out the figures oftwo Austrian officers. Then the lad motioned to Chester to remainsilent, and laid his ear to the hole.
"You are sure of this other plot?" came a voice.
"Perfectly; but we will nip it in the bud. There is no question but thepeople would welcome a Russian investment of the city. Galicia ispractically in sympathy with the Russians. We have been hard put to itto keep them from rising and turning the city over to the Czar'stroops."
"Well, I am sure we are equal to any occasion," said the first speaker.
Hal turned away from the wall and repeated the conversation to Chester.
"I guess that's all we need to know," he added.
"I should say it is," was the reply. "Now the question is, how are we toget back to our own lines?"
"I have a plan that may work," said Hal. "It came to me a moment ago."
"And that is?" prompted Chester.
"Well," said Hal quietly, "we will exchange clothes with those twoofficers in the next room."
"Good!" cried Chester.
"Let's start then."
"Hadn't we better wait until they are asleep?"
"No; I believe I have a better plan. Come with me."
Quietly the two lads slipped from the room and down the little hall.Then they turned and made their way back again, coming only as far asthe door to the Austrians' room. Hal opened it and walked in. At sightof the two Austrian officers he drew back in well-simulated surprise.
"I beg your pardon," he exclaimed. "I am in the wrong room."
"Oh, that's all right," laughed one of the Austrians. "Are you theAmericans who are stopping here?"
"Yes," replied Hal.
"Well," said the Austrian. "It's early yet; come in and have a chat withus. You can perhaps tell us some things about America that we would liketo know."
Hal accepted the invitation, mentally congratulating himself upon theirgood fortune. After a lengthy conversation, Hal rose to go.
"It's getting late," he said. "Come, Chester, we may as well turn in."
Chester also rose. In going to the door it was necessary for Hal to passbehind one of the Austrians. As he did so, he quickly threw out a handand clutched the man by the throat. At the same moment Chester sprangupon the second unsuspecting officer, and the cry that the latter wouldhave let out was stifled in his throat by the pressure of the lad'sfingers.
Hal now produced a revolver, and Chester did likewise. They covered thetwo officers.
"One outcry and you are dead men," said Hal calmly.
While Chester kept them covered, Hal bound and gagged them. Then the twolads stripped them of their uniforms, which they donned themselves.Feeling perfectly secure in these, the lads saw
that the prisoners werewell tied and unable to cry out, and then left the room, shutting thedoor behind them.
In the hall they encountered their host, but the latter, recognizing theAustrian uniform, did not even speak to them. The lads left the housequietly, and turned their faces toward the north, intending to go backby the way they had come.
Several times they were spoken to by Austrian officers as they walkedalong the streets, but to these salutations they made no reply, trustingthat their apparent rudeness would cast no suspicion upon them. And itdid not.
At length they came to the farthest Austrian outpost, and here, for thefirst time they were challenged. Hal stepped a little ahead of Chesterand spoke.
"We are inspecting the lines," he said calmly.
"You cannot pass here," came the reply. "My orders are to shoot anyonewho attempts to get by. The general himself couldn't pass. You will haveto go back."
"Oh, all right, if that's the way you feel about it," said Hal, turninghis back upon the sentry.
The sentry, believing that the lads would go away, lowered his rifle,and in that moment Hal turned quickly again and sprang upon him. A quickblow knocked the sentry from his feet, and the lads dashed forward. Inthe distance Hal made out the form of several horses, and the lads rantoward them.
"Quick, Chester!" cried Hal.
But the Austrian sentry had not been knocked unconscious. He was onlystunned. He staggered to his feet, brought his rifle to his shoulder andfired. He was too unsteady to aim carefully, however, and the lads wereunhurt.
But the sound of the shot aroused the Austrian camp. Men came rushingforward.
The boys leaped to the backs of two horses and spurred on.
"It's a race for life, Hal!" shouted Chester, as the horses dashedahead.
Boy Allies with the Cossacks; Or, A Wild Dash over the Carpathians Page 25