The Boy Allies in the Balkan Campaign | Page 4

with the Allied army on its advance. They had seen
service on all fronts and now considered themselves veteran
campaigners.
Colonel Anderson they had met in Berlin just after the Kaiser had
declared war upon France. The colonel, lieutenant then, and Major
Derevaux, a Frenchman, had taken the boys with them on their flight
and the four had later encountered each other in many strange and
unexpected places.
Stubbs they also had met while on one of their many missions and had
earned the little man's undying gratitude; but he had repaid whatever
they had done for him, with interest, more than once.

The boys, in their latest exploit, had been with the Italian army in the
Alps. Two of the four friends having fallen into the hands of the enemy,
the others had entered the enemy's lines in an effort to effect their
escape.
It was a daring adventure, but after a fight and chase, the four had
managed to seize the airship in which we now find them and had at last
fought their way clear. They had then held a council of war and decided
that it was best to head for the Balkans, rather than to run the gauntlet
of the Austrian flying craft which kept constant vigil in the direction of
the Italian lines.
Hal and Chester, typical American lads, were large and strong for their
ages, which were within a year of each other, seventeen and eighteen
now. In the rough lumber camps of the north, the two had had
considerable experience in the use of firearms and the art of
self-defense--fists. Also, during the school term each had practiced the
use of the sword until, though by no means experts, they could give a
fair account of themselves with this weapon--as each had done more
than once.
Fortunately, both lads had made a study of languages and spoke French
and German fluently. They never had trouble on that score.
The great war up to this point had not gone as successfully as the
Entente Allies had hoped in the early days. The German lines on all
fronts were seemingly stronger than ever before. Even the entrance of
Italy into the war on the side of the Allies had failed to turn the balance,
as it had been confidently expected it would. East and west, the
German lines held, while in the Balkans the enemy was even now
advancing against the heroic little Serbian army, which, before many
days, was to be forced to relinquish its country to the iron heel of the
invader. Montenegro, the smallest factor in the war, still was fighting
hard--the rugged and gigantic mountaineers giving a good account of
themselves upon all sides.
This was the situation, then, as the airship containing Colonel Anderson,
British officer, Anthony Stubbs, American war correspondent, and Hal

Paine and Chester Crawford sped southward over Austria.
Several hours after the sinking of the Austrian aeroplane Chester spoke.
"Where do you suppose we are now, Hal?" he asked.
"I believe we must have crossed the frontier," replied Hal. "However,
we'll wait another half hour before descending to have a look."
The half hour up, Hal sent the airship lower and lower. Soon, a faint
gray speck below became visible, assuming larger and larger
proportions, until all aboard made out the ground beneath.
And then, half a mile ahead, a body of troops were seen. Hal checked
the speed of the craft immediately.
"Don't know who they are," he explained. "We'll be careful. They may
be all right and then again they may not be."
He sent the machine higher again and a few minutes later the craft hung
directly above the troops below.
"I can't make out those uniforms," declared Chester.
"Nor I," said Hal. "However, they are not Austrian, I can see that. We'll
take a chance and go down."
Again the machine moved closer toward the earth, and a few minutes
later came to rest upon the ground a short distance from the main body
of troops. A squad of men, let by an officer, came hurriedly forward,
covering the four friends with their rifles.
"By Jove!" exclaimed Colonel Anderson. "You must have
miscalculated a bit, Hal. I recognize them now."
"Well, who are they?" demanded the lad.
"Montenegrins."

"Good," cried Chester. "Then we are among friends."
The four friends raised their hands in token of surrender as the officer
and his men came toward them. A few paces away, the officer halted
and addressed them.
Hal shook his head.
"Can't understand that lingo," he exclaimed.
He addressed the officer in English and the officer also indicated that
he could not understand.
"Don't want to tackle him in German if I can help it," said Hal. "It
might not suit him."
"Well, what's the matter with