The Boy Allies in the Balkan Campaign | Page 2

replied Hal, briefly.
"Hardly probable," said Colonel Anderson. "Chances are the fellow believes 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 anyhow and 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 thought that you were simply dying to be killed. Here's an Austrian coming in direct answer to your prayers. What's the difference whether he gets you now 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 be killed? I ask you now, why should I want to be killed?"
"Well, really, I don't know," replied Chester, "unless it is because you are 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 be worse 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 this party at this moment and I'm going to run it my own way. Colonel Anderson, 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, which by 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 are we going to do about it? Shall we stop and talk, trying to fool him, or shall we run for it?"
"Well, if we were going to run, it would have been better before he got so 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," Hal shouted 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 I haven't time to fool around here with you. I'm due back to-morrow night."
There was a moment's silence from the other machine and then a voice 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 to give the other the impression that it was.
"I see," was the answer shouted back. "Well, I wish you luck. Sorry you can'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 some British and French aircraft with the Serbians and Montenegrins. Look out for them."
"I'll be on guard," replied Hal. "Thanks for the information."
"Tell you what," said the Austrian, "I've been doing some scout duty there 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 the safe 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: "I don'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 as well go along."
Chester and Colonel Anderson nodded their assent and the machine moved forward again.
Things might have gone well had it not been for Stubbs. Suddenly the little man uttered a yell and sat up straight in his seat.
"Ouch!" he shouted. "I've got an awful pain!"
CHAPTER II.
MONTENEGRIN MOUNTAINEERS.
Hal drew a sharp breath and tightened his hold upon the steering wheel.
There was no question that Stubbs' voice had carried to the occupants of the second craft, and as