CHAPTER VIII.
A DESPERATE VENTURE.
Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention,Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come thesound he had recognized as Chester's voice. It was very dark there andthe lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to havebrought up against a solid wall. He explored the smooth surface with hishands, but could find no opening in that particular spot. Then he cameupon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, forhe believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
Now heavy footsteps sounded behind him and Ivan's voice roared:
"Where are you going?"
"It is Chester--my friend who was with me when Alexis died," returnedHal. "I heard his voice. He must be near some place and in trouble."
"Ho!" said Ivan. "He will be one of my prisoners, I expect. I rememberthat one was rather young."
"Well, let him out, will you?" exclaimed Hal.
"Certainly," returned Ivan.
He passed Hal and led the way down the dark passage. Presently Hal hearda huge rock move and then footsteps came toward him.
"Who is it?" he asked.
There came a cry of surprise.
"That you, Hal?" came in Chester's voice. "How on earth did youget here?"
"That's rather a long story," replied Hal, "but it seems that it's a goodthing I did get here. I thought a heard a sound awhile back. It must havebeen you."
"Anderson and I have been yelling for the last week, it seems," saidChester ruefully. "We didn't hope to be fortunate enough to raise you,but we thought some one might hear us."
"Well, come on out here to the fire--and you, too, Colonel," his last toColonel Anderson, who now came forward, closely followed by Ivan.
They needed no urging, for they had been shut up in the cold so longthat they were almost frozen. Introductions now followed all around andIvan seemed genuinely pleased to meet Chester. He was profuse in hisapologies for his rough treatment, while Chester was dumbfounded tolearn that his captor was the brother of his old friend Alexis. Theyshook hands heartily.
"If you had not pestered me with so many questions, I would not havebothered you," Ivan explained. "To tell the truth, I took you for acouple of Austrian spies."
"Tell us, Chester," said Hal, "what have you learned?"
"Learned?" echoed Chester. "We haven't learned anything, except that itis awfully cold in these mountains. I'm going to tell you right now, it'sno fun being locked up in an icebox."
"It is not," Colonel Anderson agreed dryly, stretching his feet outto the fire.
"I'll tell you how it came about," said Chester, smiling at Ivan."Colonel Anderson and I had just completed a most terrible climb. Comingonce again to a level spot we sat down to rest. We saw a man comingalong--a big man, none other than Ivan here. I suggested that we ask hima few questions."
"You asked them, all right," said Ivan.
"Well," Chester continued, "he didn't tell us much. In fact, he was asmum as an oyster. Colonel Anderson took a hand with no better luck. Itseems that between us we talked too much. Ivan here didn't like it. Hesaid he guessed he'd have to take us along with him. We said we weresatisfied to stay where we were. This didn't suit Ivan. He reached forme and I dodged; but with his other hand he grabbed Anderson and heldhim helpless.
"I drew my gun but I was afraid to fire for fear of hitting the Colonel.I thought I would rap the big man over the head with the butt of theweapon. I ventured a trifle too close and he nailed me, too. He shook meso hard that I dropped my gun. Anderson hadn't been able to get at his.Then Ivan relieved him of it, and still holding us each by an arm, hebrought us here.
"When he shoved us under the rock ahead of him, we decided to jump him ifhe came in. We jumped him. It didn't do much good, did it, Colonel?"
Chester turned to Colonel Anderson with a smile.
"Not much," was the Colonel's dry response.
Ivan grinned sheepishly.
"I didn't mean to hurt you too much," he said. "You see, sometimes Idon't realize my own strength. I guess maybe I squeezed your armstoo hard."
"Well, now tell us about yourself, Hal," said Chester, "and who is thislittle fellow who hangs so close to Stubbs?"
"This little fellow," returned Hal, "has appointed himself Stubbs' bestfriend. Stubbs overcame him in fair fight this afternoon and he thinksStubbs is a great man."
"Well, what's the matter?" Stubbs broke in. "Don't you?"
"Of course," Hal hastened to assure him.
Stubbs subsided grumbling.
"The question now is," Colonel Edwards declared, "what are we going todo? There is no use staying here longer than we can possibly help. We hadbetter be moving."
"Hold on," shouted Ivan, jumping suddenly to his feet. "Tell me what itis you are going to do? Perhaps I may lend a hand. I know something ofthese mountains."
Colonel Edwards glanced at Hal. The boy nodded.
"Might be a good idea," he said.
Then Colonel Edwards explained. Ivan heard him patiently.
"Well," he said at length, "nothing would please me more than to jointhis expedition." He spoke to Hal. "You have told me of the servicerendered the Czar by my brother Alexis. I am ashamed that I have beenidling here in these mountains while my country needs me. I shall tryand make up for it in the future. Now, I believe I can tell you what youwant to know."
"Then," asked Colonel Edwards, "is there a strong Austrian sentimentamong the Albanians?"
"Until a month ago there was little Austrian sentiment," returned Ivan,"But recently there has been a change, and the change I lay at the doorof a single man."
"An Albanian?"
"It is even worse than that. The man is a Montenegrin. And still worse.He bears the same name as the king of Montenegro, Nicolas. He has, mostlikely, another name, but I do not know it."
"But why should a Montenegrin seek to raise the enmity of the Albaniansagainst his own people?" Chester demanded.
"There is but one reason--gold," said Ivan simply.
"And his methods?" inquired Colonel Anderson.
"More gold," was the reply.
"I see," said Colonel Anderson. "Furnished by the Austrians, eh?"
"How else? I have had several interviews with this Nicolas. He seems tothink I could be of use to him. In fact, he has made me offers. But whileI have taken no part in active fighting, although I admit I haveneglected my own country, I have not fallen low enough for that sort ofwork. However, I did not tell Nicolas that. I temporized with him and Isuppose he believes he can win me over if he cares to make his offertempting enough."
"All this," said Hal slowly, "suggests a plan."
"Well?" said Chester, expectantly.
"And by this plan of mine," Hal continued, "we may accomplish even morethan we set out to do."
"Explain, Hal," said Colonel Anderson.
"It's very simple. We'll have Ivan take us to Nicolas. He can tell him weare Germans, or what you please. Being, apparently, friends of Ivan's, weshall be received. Then Ivan can appear to fall in with his plans. At thefirst opportune moment, we shall take charge of Mr. Nicolas and escape."
"H-m-m-m," mused Colonel Edwards. "You say all that easily enough, butyou can take my word for it, it will be no small job."
"Of course not," Chester agreed, "but still we should be able to do it.And if we do, we shall have removed the cause of the Albanian enmitytoward Montenegro. There will be no such strong Austrian sentiment oncethe supply of gold is cut off."
Ivan jumped to his feet and clapped the lad on the back.
"Good!" he exclaimed eagerly. "I'm with you; and if it comes to a fight,you will find that you can use me to advantage."
"I am sure of it," smiled Hal.
Ivan, in turning, cast his eye upon the little dwarfed figure of Nikol.He walked quickly toward him and extended a hand.
"We didn't finish our little argument awhile ago," he said simply. "I seeno reason
why we should finish it. Why should we fight each other whenthere are others to fight?" He turned to Hal. "I'll guarantee this manwill give a good account of himself," he said. "I doubt if there isanother man in the mountains, besides myself, who has his strength. Hewill prove his worth."
He turned to Nikol again and the dwarf grinned at him, showing strongwhite teeth.
"You are right," he said and gripped Ivan's hand hard.
"Well then," said Colonel Edwards, "the sooner we get started the soonerwe may get back again. When shall we start, Ivan?"
"Immediately," was the reply, and the giant moved toward the mouth ofthe cavern.
"Now, look-a-here, you fellows," said the voice of Anthony Stubbs. "I'vebeen a whole lot of places with you and I hope to go with you a whole lotmore, but I claim it is downright foolishness to stick our heads into abrigand's lair. What's the use? The best we can get is the worst of it."
"Stubbs," said Hal quietly, "you don't have to go along if you don't wantto. You can stay right here."
"What?" exclaimed the little man. "Stay here by myself? I should say not.I don't want to stay here alone and I don't want to go hunting brigands.What I want to do is get some place where it's safe. I don't like thiscountry, if you want to know it."
"It's a good country," said Nikol abruptly.
Stubbs looked at the dwarf in surprise. It was the first time theAlbanian had talked back to him.
"What do you know about it?" demanded Stubbs. "You never saw aregular country."
The dwarf bowed his head in some confusion. Apparently Stubbs' spellstill held good over him.
"Come, Stubbs, don't be stubborn," said Chester.
"Well, all right," said the little man, shaking his head sadly. "I'll goif the rest of you do, but I want to tell you right now, I protest!"