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THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN
OR
The Struggle to Save a Nation
By CLAIR W. HAYES
AUTHOR OF "The Boy Allies in Great Peril," "The Boy Allies at Liege,""The Boy Allies on the Firing Line," "The Boy Allies with the Cossacks,""The Boy Allies in the Trenches."
1916
CHAPTER I.
IN THE AIR.
"And how do you feel now, Mr. Stubbs?"
Hal Paine took his eyes from the distance ahead long enough to gazetoward that part of the military aeroplane in which three other figureswere seated. It might rather be said, however, that two of the otherswere seated, for the third figure was huddled up in a little ball, nowand then emitting feeble sounds.
In response to Hal's question, this huddled figure straightened itself uplong enough to make reply.
"I feel sick," came the answer in a low voice. "How long before we canget back to earth, so that I may die peacefully?"
"Oh, I guess you won't die, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal, chuckling a bitto himself.
He turned his eyes ahead again and gave his entire attention to guidingthe swiftly flying craft.
The first streak of dawn had appeared in the east but a few momentsbefore and gradually now it was growing light. High in the air, it wasvery chilly and those in the aeroplane had drawn their coats closelyabout them.
"Where do you suppose we are now, Hal?"
This speaker was another of the passengers in the car, Chester Crawford,chum and bosom companion of Hal.
"Somewhere over Central Austria," replied Hal, not taking his eyesfrom ahead.
"I would rather that it were over Serbia, Montenegro or Greece," said thefourth occupant of the airship, Colonel Harry Anderson of His BritishMajesty's service. "I'm beginning to get a little cramped up here. I'dlike to stretch my legs a bit."
"You won't ever stretch them again, you may be sure of that," said ahollow voice, none other than that of Anthony Stubbs, American warcorrespondent, who now aroused himself enough to predict dire results.
"What?" said Colonel Anderson. "And why won't I ever stretch mylegs again?"
"The undertaker'll do it for you," groaned Stubbs. "This contraption isbound to come down pretty quick and when it does it'll be all off."
"Can't see why that should worry you any," remarked the colonelcheerfully. "It won't be your funeral."
"No, but I'll have one at about the same time," Stubbs moaned. "I go downwhen you do."
He raised his voice a trifle. "Let's go down, Hal," he continued. "I'mawfully sick."
"Go down nothing," ejaculated Chester. "Think we want to give theAustrians another chance at us, huh?"
"Better be shot by an Austrian than to die in this infernal machine,"declared Stubbs in a feeble voice.
"This," said Chester calmly, "is an airship and not an infernal machine."
"Well, it's my idea of an infernal machine, all the same," Stubbsgroaned. "We'll all come down in pieces, as sure as you're a foot high."
"Oh, I guess not," said Chester. "We--whoa, there."
He broke off suddenly and seized the side of the machine, as did ColonelAnderson, just as the craft tilted dangerously to one side.
"Help!" came a cry from Stubbs, as he went rolling toward the side ofthe craft.
There appeared to be no danger that the little man would be thrown out,for the sides of the basket-like craft protected him, but he was plainlyfrightened and Chester gave him a hand, now that the machine had righteditself again.
"It's all right, Stubbs," the lad said; "no danger at all. Sit up, now."
The little man shook off the hand.
"I don't want to sit up," he whimpered. "I want to jump overboard and endall this suspense. I might as well die now as ten minutes from now. Ohmy, I wish--"
"Well, Mr. Stubbs," came Hal's voice, "unless I miss my guess, you arelikely to get your wish. Here comes one of the enemy to watch you die."
"What's that?" exclaimed Chester and Colonel Anderson in a single voice.
"Off to the right," replied Hal, quietly.
Glancing in that direction, Chester and Colonel Anderson saw a large aircraft headed in their direction.
"After us, do you think?" asked Chester.
"Can't tell," replied Hal, briefly.
"Hardly probable," said Colonel Anderson. "Chances are the fellowbelieves we are one of his own kind and wants a word with us."
"Maybe you're right," said Hal. "I'll hold to my present course anyhowand take a chance."
The aeroplane continued on as before.
Now Stubbs came to life once more.
"Well, why don't you get a little speed out of this thing?" he demanded."What are you going to do? Stand right here and let that fellow get us?What's the matter with you, anyhow? Trying to get me killed?"
"Why, Mr. Stubbs," exclaimed Chester, in mock seriousness, "I thoughtthat you were simply dying to be killed. Here's an Austrian coming indirect answer to your prayers. What's the difference whether he gets younow or ten minutes from now? It'll be all the same in a hundred years."
"Think you're smart, don't you," snapped Stubbs. "Why should I want to bekilled? I ask you now, why should I want to be killed?"
"Well, really, I don't know," replied Chester, "unless it is because youare so awfully sick."
"Sick!" shouted Stubbs. "Sick! Who said anything about being sick?"
"Why, I understood you to say--"
"Well, you understood wrong. Sick? No, I'm not sick, but we'll all beworse than sick if Hal can't coax a little speed out of this machine.Say!" this to Hal, "what are you waiting for, anyhow?"
"Now you just hold your horses, Stubbs," replied Hal. "I'm running thisparty at this moment and I'm going to run it my own way. ColonelAnderson, if you hear any more out of our war-corresponding friend,kindly sit on him, will you?"
"With pleasure," replied the colonel briefly.
"Oh, you will, will you?" cried Stubbs. "Well, you won't. I--I'll--"
He subsided after muttering to himself for some moments.
The others now gave their undivided attention to the other craft, whichby this time had drawn close to them.
"Man wig-wagging forward, Hal," said Chester.
"I see him," replied Hal, "but I can't make out his signals. Can you,Anderson?"
"No, I can't. He evidently has something to say, though."
"Well," said Hal, "we'll have to hold a sudden council of war. What arewe going to do about it? Shall we stop and talk, trying to fool him, orshall we run for it?"
"Well, if we were going to run, it would have been better before he gotso close," said Chester. "Guess we may as well see what he has to say.These Austrian uniforms won't come in bad. You do the talking, Hal."
Hal nodded.
"All right," he said.
He reduced the speed of the machine and the Austrian came closer.
"Ahoy, there!" he said in German. "Who are you?"
"Lieutenant Drizladaz, attached to the Austrian army at Trieste," Halshouted back.
"What are you doing here?"
"Mission," Hal yelled.
"Where to?"
Hal thought quickly.
"Greece," he said finally.
"What for?"
"That," said Hal, "is none of your business. I have my orders and Ihaven't time to fool around here with you. I'm d
ue back to-morrow night."
There was a moment's silence from the other machine and then avoice called:
"Has your mission anything to do with Greece's intervention in the war?"
"Well, I can't say anything about that," replied the lad, thinking togive the other the impression that it was.
"I see," was the answer shouted back. "Well, I wish you luck. Sorry youcan't tell me all about it."
"You probably will know soon enough," replied Hal.
"Good. Don't want any company, do you?"
"No, I guess not."
"You want to be careful crossing the Balkans. I understand there are someBritish and French aircraft with the Serbians and Montenegrins. Look outfor them."
"I'll be on guard," replied Hal. "Thanks for the information."
"Tell you what," said the Austrian, "I've been doing some scout dutythere myself. I'll just trail along. May be able to help you out a bit"
Hal didn't think much of this plan.
"I can make it all right myself," he declared.
"Suppose you can," was the reply, "but it is just as well to be on thesafe side."
"Well, suit yourself," said Hal, "but don't expect me to wait for you."
"If you can distance me you will have to travel," returned the Austrian."I've the fastest craft in the service."
"I'm glad to hear that," replied Hal, and added to himself: "Idon't think."
"Set your pace," continued the Austrian. "I'll trail along behind."
"No use talking any more, I guess," Hal muttered to his friends. "May aswell go along."
Chester and Colonel Anderson nodded their assent and the machine movedforward again.
Things might have gone well had it not been for Stubbs. Suddenly thelittle man uttered a yell and sat up straight in his seat.
"Ouch!" he shouted. "I've got an awful pain!"