The Boy Allies in the Balkan Campaign | Page 5

Hal and Chester.
"I want you to meet my two young friends," he said.
Colonel Edwards shook hands with each lad in turn and then turned to Stubbs, who, during all this time, had been standing quietly, while he cast a critical eye upon the Montenegrin troopers who stood near.
"A likely looking bunch of men," he muttered to himself. "I'll bet they could give a good account of themselves in a--"
He faced about just in time to acknowledge Colonel Anderson's introduction to Colonel Edwards; then turned again to survey the mountaineers.
"Good fighters, these," he said to himself, "or I miss my guess."
"Now," said Hal to Colonel Edwards, "there is really no use of our standing here. I'd like to look up a place where I can turn in for a few winks. I'm dead tired and I imagine the rest of you are, too."
Chester seconded Hal's motion and Colonel Anderson admitted his own fatigue. Stubbs settled the matter.
"Where there are men there are beds," he said; "or at least cots, or pallets, 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 the Montenegrin officer who had first accosted the friends.
"I am sure that if you vouch for them they are all right," said the Montenegrin.
"Thanks," said Edwards. "Then, with your permission, I shall conduct them to 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 never a care in the world, for it had been long since they had closed their eyes and they were completely worn out.
Darkness shrouded the small tent when Hal opened his eyes. It was several moments before the lad could gain his bearings, but when at last he realized 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 rumbling sound fell upon his ears and Hal, momentarily, was unable to account for it. But the solution soon came to him.
"Troops moving," he told himself.
He was right. Walking some distance from the tent, he made out, probably half a mile away, the dark forms of many men as they marched swiftly on in the darkness, their figures lighted up ever and anon by the gleam of a flashlight. But the camp in which the lad stood was perfectly quiet.
"Now I wonder--" he muttered--gazed silently ahead a moment and then turned back toward the tent, saying to himself: "Guess I'll wake the others up."
Chester and Colonel Anderson were aroused without much trouble. Not so Stubbs.
"What's the matter?" came the little man's query, when Hal prodded him gently 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 Hal had made no light.
"Get up?" he exclaimed. "What! Anthony Stubbs get up in the middle of the night? Not much!"
"But we are going, Stubbs," said Hal. "We don't want to leave you here by yourself."
"Kind of you," said Stubbs sarcastically. "I can remember when you were not so solicitious of my welfare. Don't worry about me. I'll just sleep right along."
He turned over and a loud snore a few moments later told that he was again 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. "The Austrians 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 get up?"
Again Stubbs allowed his eyes to open and he peered into the darkness 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 eyes in 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 will hurt him. We'll be back by daylight and I'll venture to say we will find him 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 so recently perceived the passing troops.
Infantry, cavalry and artillery were still passing in dense masses, moving westward.
"I wonder where they