CHAPTER IX.
THE TRAITOR.
"If I am not mistaken," said Ivan, "here comes Nicolas now."
He pointed to a large, bearded individual, who, surrounded by probably adozen other figures, was advancing toward them. The man swung along withthe free and easy stride of the mountaineer, looking neither to the rightnor to the left, his head erect and of haughty mien.
"Pompous sort of a looking customer," said Colonel Anderson to Hal.
"Rather," said the lad dryly. He glanced at the others, Colonel Edwards,Stubbs, Nikol, Ivan and Chester, and muttered hurriedly: "After this wemust do all our talking in German."
The others nodded their understanding and all fell silent as theMontenegrin traitor and his henchmen approached.
It was the morning following the night upon which they had left Ivan'sretreat. The journey had consumed the whole night, but in spite oftheir fatigue, each member of the party of seven was on his mettle.Now, as Nicolas drew closer, Ivan took a step in advance of the othersto greet him.
The traitor's face lighted with pleasure as he recognized the bigCossack.
"Ah, Ivan," he said, "I am glad to see you."
He noticed the others, and a slight frown flitted across his face. Heswept his arm toward them in a comprehensive gesture. "Who are these?"
"One of them you probably know," said Ivan and he indicated Nikol.
Nikol nodded affirmatively.
"The others," Ivan continued, "I came across in the mountains last night.They are Germans and were seeking you."
"Seeking me?" exclaimed Nicolas in astonishment. "And why should they beseeking me?"
"You will probably know," returned Ivan, "when I tell you they comefrom Germany."
"Ah," said Nicolas. "Of course I know, Ivan. Will you have themcome forward?"
"One moment, Nicolas," said Ivan. "First I would have a word withyou myself."
"Proceed," said the Montenegrin.
"Well, then," Ivan went on, "you may remember a certain proposal you havemade me upon several occasions?"
"I do," exclaimed Nicolas, with unfeigned eagerness. "Can it be that atlast you have decided to--"
"Accept?" interrupted Ivan. "Yes; I have decided to accept; and theseGermans here have had something to do with my decision. They have told mehow Germany and Austria combined will eventually win the great war and ofthe good things that will be in store for all of us when that day comes.You are right, Nicolas, it is well to be on the winning side."
"And I am glad you see it that way," declared Nicolas, extending a hand,which Ivan grasped, much to his distaste. "I have long wanted a trustedlieutenant, and you shall be he."
"Thanks, Nicolas," returned Ivan. "I had not expected that. Had you toldme before it might have influenced me sooner. But now I shall have theothers approach. By the way, you speak German?"
"Yes."
"Good; then there is no need of an interpreter."
He raised his hand and at the signal the others came forward. Ivanpresented each in turn, applying to each a German name that had beenagreed upon during the night's travel. Nicolas expressed his pleasure atseeing them and after a few words of pleasantry, said:
"Now, gentlemen, if you will accompany me to my quarters, I shall try andmake you feel at home."
As they walked along Hal and Chester took stock of the Montenegrin. Bighe was, fully as tall and as broad as Ivan himself, and his great armshung below his knees. He was the personification of rugged strength andbrutality. From Nicolas the lads turned their eyes to Ivan. There wasscarcely a noticeable difference in the stature of the two men and fromcasual observation it would have been hard to choose between them in thematter of strength. But the one noticeable difference was in the eyes.
Ivan's eyes looked one straight in the face, while Nicolas' shifteduneasily when he was observed closely. It was the difference in the eyesthat told the difference between the two men better than anything else.
Presently Nicolas stopped before an extremely large hut, built up closebeside a giant rock. He stood aside and motioned the others to enter.They did so and Nicolas, after a word to his men, came in after them andclosed the door. Then he motioned them all to seats and sat down himself.He eyed his guests in silence for a few moments, and finally remarked:
"Well?"
Hal took it upon himself to do the talking.
"First," he said, "we would like to know how you are progressing?"
"Beautifully," was Nicolas' reply. "I have distributed the gold given mefor that purpose, first, of course, taking out my own share. TheAlbanians, knowing the poverty of the Montenegrins, have been convincedby the gold that final success in this war must crown the Austrian arms.Austrian sentiment is becoming greater each day. But I need more money."
"That is what we have come to see you about," said Hal. "You see,that while you are well informed as to just what is going on here, wehave only your word for it. You may be telling the truth--and you maybe lying."
Nicolas jumped to his feet, his fingers twitching.
"You dare--" he began.
"Nonsense," said Hal, remaining perfectly quiet. "This is no time forheroics. I have come here to find out something and I am going to find itout. Now how much of this gold have you given out as ordered, and howmuch have you kept for yourself?"
"I--I--well, I have--" Nicholas began.
"As I thought," said Hal. "You have been holding out. We can't haveanything like that, you know. Where is the gold?"
Nicolas, for a moment, seemed about to make a denial, but Hal eyed himsteadily, and he said at last:
"It is under this floor here," and he tapped the floor with his foot.
"All right," said Hal. "In shape to be carried?"
"Why yes, I guess half a dozen men could carry it well enough."
"I am glad to hear that," said Hal, "because I want you to dig it outright now."
Again Nicolas started to protest, but apparently thinking better of it,changed his mind and said:
"It shall be as you say. But you will not hold this against me, my havingheld some of the gold for my own?"
"Not if you do as I say."
"And I shall have more gold?"
"We shall see; perhaps."
"Then I shall uncover the other," said Nicolas.
He stooped to his knees and lifted a loose board in the floor.
"One moment," said Hal. "Your men outside. We can take no chances withthem. If they knew you had all this gold stored here there would be afight. Step outside and tell them to go away."
This time Nicolas obeyed without even hesitating.
While he was outside, Hal whispered quickly to the others:
"There is no use delaying. We'll give his men time to get out of hearingand then we'll grab him."
"But the gold, what are you going to do with that?" Ivan wanted to know.
Hal smiled a bit.
"I don't know how I happened to think of that," he said, "but now that wepractically have it in our hands, I vote that we turn it over to theimpoverished little kingdom of Montenegro."
"By Jove! Good!" exclaimed Colonel Edwards. "My boy, you have a wonderfulhead on your shoulders. I am proud to know you."
"Thanks," said Hal. "Now, as long as I have been doing the talking, I mayas well continue. We'll keep quiet until we are sure this traitor's menare out of earshot and then we'll take possession of Mr. Nicolas and hisunearned gold."
A few moments later Nicolas re-entered the hut.
"Get rid of them?" asked Hal, briefly.
"Yes."
"Good. Then get busy and bring your gold out."
"Look here," said Nicolas, eyeing Hal somewhat angrily. "I don't likeyour tone exactly."
"I don't exactly care whether you do or not," returned Hal quietly. "Youare pretty small fry in this game, Nicolas, and I'm not afraid of you.Remember, if anything should happen to me, you'll have the Germangovernment on your trail, and then what would you do for gold?"
Nicolas opened hi
s mouth to reply; then thought better of it and closedhis lips without uttering a sound.
"All right, now that we understand each other," said Hal. "Get to workand produce the gold."
Nicolas waited no further, but did as commanded.
"One," counted Hal, as the man drew from beneath the board a littlesack of gold.
One after another Hal counted them as they were laid on the floor at hisfeet, until in all there were seventeen little sacks, just small enoughto permit of being stowed away in outside coat pockets.
"Two for each of us to carry," said Hal, looking around, "and one over.I'll carry the extra one in my hand."
"And don't I get any of this?" demanded Nicolas, looking at the bags ofgold longingly.
"You do not," replied Hal, quietly. "This money is to be given whereit will do the most good. You have had your chance with it. Now itis my turn."
"Very well," said Nicolas, with a shrug of his shoulders. "But I havemade my agreement with the Austrian government; and when the war has beenwon, I shall get my pay."
"Perhaps," said Hal, with a double meaning, that was, of course, lostupon Nicolas, "you shall receive your just pay before the war ends."
"Do you really think so?" asked Nicolas eagerly. "I hope so."
"But now," said Hal, "it is time to be moving. Pick up the gold, men, andlet's get away from here."
The others obeyed. Each stowed two sacks in his pocket and Hal carriedthe seventeenth package in his hand. Then Hal motioned them out the door.He emerged after them and his hand was on his automatic as he did so.
"Which way?" asked Chester.
"Straight ahead," said Nicolas.
"No," said Hal quietly. "About face. We are going the other way."
"Where to?" demanded Nicolas surlily.
"Right back to Cettinje," replied Hal, "where you shall be turned over tothe Montenegrin authorities to meet the fate you deserve!"