CHAPTER III.
THE KING OF THE MONTENEGRINS.
With his hand upon Edwards' arm, Colonel Anderson approached Haland Chester.
"I want you to meet my two young friends," he said.
Colonel Edwards shook hands with each lad in turn and then turned toStubbs, who, during all this time, had been standing quietly, while hecast a critical eye upon the Montenegrin troopers who stood near.
"A likely looking bunch of men," he muttered to himself. "I'll bet theycould give a good account of themselves in a--"
He faced about just in time to acknowledge Colonel Anderson'sintroduction to Colonel Edwards; then turned again to survey themountaineers.
"Good fighters, these," he said to himself, "or I miss my guess."
"Now," said Hal to Colonel Edwards, "there is really no use of ourstanding here. I'd like to look up a place where I can turn in for a fewwinks. I'm dead tired and I imagine the rest of you are, too."
Chester seconded Hal's motion and Colonel Anderson admitted his ownfatigue. Stubbs settled the matter.
"Where there are men there are beds," he said; "or at least cots, orpallets, or something. I'm going to find one."
He moved toward a row of tents in the distance.
"Hold on there," said Chester. "We're all going, Stubbs."
In the meantime Colonel Edwards had been holding a consultation with theMontenegrin officer who had first accosted the friends.
"I am sure that if you vouch for them they are all right," said theMontenegrin.
"Thanks," said Edwards. "Then, with your permission, I shall conduct themto my own quarters."
"And you may also make free with mine," said the other.
Again Colonel Edwards expressed his thanks, in which the others joined,and then he led the way toward the distant tents.
Fifteen minutes later the four friends were sleeping soundly, with nevera care in the world, for it had been long since they had closed theireyes and they were completely worn out.
Darkness shrouded the small tent when Hal opened his eyes. It was severalmoments before the lad could gain his bearings, but when at last herealized just where he was he bethought himself of the others.
"Still sleeping, I guess," he said.
He arose, moved to the door of the tent and passed out. A steady rumblingsound fell upon his ears and Hal, momentarily, was unable to account forit. But the solution soon came to him.
"Troops moving," he told himself.
He was right. Walking some distance from the tent, he made out, probablyhalf a mile away, the dark forms of many men as they marched swiftly onin the darkness, their figures lighted up ever and anon by the gleam of aflashlight. But the camp in which the lad stood was perfectly quiet.
"Now I wonder--" he muttered--gazed silently ahead a moment and thenturned back toward the tent, saying to himself: "Guess I'll wake theothers up."
Chester and Colonel Anderson were aroused without much trouble. Notso Stubbs.
"What's the matter?" came the little man's query, when Hal prodded himgently in the ribs with his foot.
"Time to get up," said Hal, briefly.
For a moment Stubbs opened his eyes and peered into the darkness--for Halhad made no light.
"Get up?" he exclaimed. "What! Anthony Stubbs get up in the middle of thenight? Not much!"
"But we are going, Stubbs," said Hal. "We don't want to leave you here byyourself."
"Kind of you," said Stubbs sarcastically. "I can remember when you werenot so solicitious of my welfare. Don't worry about me. I'll just sleepright along."
He turned over and a loud snore a few moments later told that he wasagain in the land of dreams.
Again Hal prodded him with his foot.
"Stubbs! I say, Stubbs!" he called.
Directly Stubbs opened his eyes.
"And what's the matter this time?" he demanded aggrievedly.
"Hurry!" Hal exclaimed, thinking to get the little man up by a ruse. "TheAustrians are coming."
"Run, then!" replied Stubbs. "I'll hide here. They won't bother me."
"Now listen here, Stubs," said Chester, "just when do you want to getup?"
Again Stubbs allowed his eyes to open and he peered into thedarkness sleepily.
"What day is this?" he inquired mildly.
"Tuesday," replied Chester; "but what--"
"Then call me Saturday," said the little man gently, and closed his eyesin sleep once more.
"Ha! Ha!" laughed Colonel Anderson. "He had you there, Chester."
Chester appeared somewhat flustered.
"Well, he'll have to get up out of there," he said wrathfully.
"Oh, come on and let him be, Chester," said Hal. "I guess nothing willhurt him. We'll be back by daylight and I'll venture to say we will findhim here, still snoring."
"Well, all right," Chester agreed at length; "but to tell you the truth,I don't just like that answer he gave me."
The three left the tent and Hal led the way toward where he had sorecently perceived the passing troops.
Infantry, cavalry and artillery were still passing in dense masses,moving westward.
"I wonder where they are going?" said Chester.
"To the front, I suppose," replied Hal.
"Now do you really suppose they are?" asked Chester sarcastically. "Ithought perhaps they were on dress parade. Say, just where are we anyhow?Do either of you know?"
"By Jove!" exclaimed Colonel Anderson. "I meant to ask Edwards, but Iforgot all about it. He told us, you remember, he would be in the tenton our left. We'll go back and have him out. Perhaps we can learn afew things."
"Suits me," Hal agreed. "We can't see anything here but troops, and wehave seen too many of them to be much interested. Come on."
Fifteen minutes later found them seated in the tent Colonel Edwards hadcommandeered for his temporary headquarters and the colonel himself doingthe talking.
"You are perhaps fifteen miles northwest of Cettinje, the capital ofMontenegro," he explained.
"And where are these troops going?" asked Hal.
"Reinforcements to the Austrian front," said Colonel Edwards. "Also someof them, can they be spared, will be rushed to the aid of the Serbians,who, from all accounts, are being sorely pressed by the new Germanoffensive."
"New German offensive?" exclaimed Hal.
"Why, yes. Haven't you heard of it?"
"No. Will you explain?"
"I'll try," said Colonel Edwards. "I'll revert back to the start. OnFriday, August 13, news reached London, where I was then stationed, thatan Austro-German army of more than 300,000 men was massing at a point onthe Serbian frontier and it was asserted that the Kaiser was about tostrike a blow at Serbia in order to improve Teuton prospects in theBalkans, where Roumania and Greece had been reported as waiting afavorable opportunity to join the Allies.
"The great German victories in Russia, following the fall of Warsaw, had,however, caused the Balkan kingdoms to waver, and Bulgaria was said tohave strong pro-German leanings. On August 16 the Austro-German armycrossed the frontier and began a bombardment of Belgrade, the capital.This led to a crisis in the Greek parliament, where the Venizelos partycaused the downfall of the cabinet, which supported the king's attitudeof strict neutrality--a neutrality he had promised his consort, who isthe sister of the Kaiser, as you know.
"On August 21 Serbia made it known that in accordance with the advice ofthe Allies, she was willing to grant the demands of Bulgaria for thereturn of territory taken in the last Balkan war, and for a time itseemed that Bulgaria would enter the war on the side of the Allies.However, on September 19 it was said that Bulgaria would join the CentralPowers, thus permitting Germany to establish an unbroken line of alliesfrom the Baltic to the Bosporus.
"On October 5, the Allies, upon invitation of the Greek premier, beganthe disembarkation of troops at Saloniki to go to the assistance of theSerbians; and, so far as I know, they are still landing."
The three friends had listened attentive
ly to this account of the Balkansituation. They had heard some inkling of the seriousness of the Serbianplight, but had not realized until now that Germany had at last set outto crush the little Balkan kingdom as she had crushed Belgium in theearly days of the great war.
"And what is the latest on the Bulgarian attitude?" asked ColonelAnderson.
"Well, I haven't heard anything later than I have told you, but mypersonal opinion is that Bulgaria, sooner or later, will join theGermans."
"Fools," said Colonel Anderson, briefly.
"And Greece?" inquired Chester.
"I don't know, but I believe Greece will keep out of the war just as longas she possibly can. Certainly, the Greek people will never consent toaiding the Germans."
"You never can tell," said Colonel Anderson sententiously.
Outside the tent it was now growing light, for time had passed swiftly.Hal noticed the light filtering in.
"Great Scott! I had no idea it was morning," he said. "It must have beenafter midnight when we awoke. Let's get outside."
They left the tent and Hal went into their own quarters a moment, wherehe found Stubbs up and about to emerge. Together the five walked towardthe eastern extremity of the camp.
Came a sudden blaring of trumpets and a body of horse swept toward them.The riders drew rein almost before the friends, dismounted and stood atattention, while a figure who had been in the center also jumped to theground. This figure of huge stature, a man of advanced age, whodismounted nimbly in spite of his years, walked toward the spot wherestood the five friends. Edwards came to attention, as did the others.
"The king!" said Colonel Edwards in a low voice.