The Boy Allies in the Balkan Campaign | Page 7

Bulgaria, sooner or later, will join the
Germans."
"Fools," said Colonel Anderson, briefly.
"And Greece?" inquired Chester.
"I don't know, but I believe Greece will keep out of the war just as long
as she possibly can. Certainly, the Greek people will never consent to

aiding the Germans."
"You never can tell," said Colonel Anderson sententiously.
Outside the tent it was now growing light, for time had passed swiftly.
Hal noticed the light filtering in.
"Great Scott! I had no idea it was morning," he said. "It must have been
after midnight when we awoke. Let's get outside."
They left the tent and Hal went into their own quarters a moment,
where he found Stubbs up and about to emerge. Together the five
walked toward the eastern extremity of the camp.
Came a sudden blaring of trumpets and a body of horse swept toward
them. The riders drew rein almost before the friends, dismounted and
stood at attention, while a figure who had been in the center also
jumped to the ground. This figure of huge stature, a man of advanced
age, who dismounted nimbly in spite of his years, walked toward the
spot where stood the five friends. Edwards came to attention, as did the
others.
"The king!" said Colonel Edwards in a low voice.
CHAPTER IV.
INTO THE MOUNTAINS.
Nicholas, king of the Montenegrins, came forward slowly, his head
bowed as though in grief, and it seemed for a moment as though he
would pass Hal, Chester and the others without seeing them. But even
as he drew abreast of the five, he looked up suddenly. His gaze rested
upon Colonel Edwards and the Englishman bowed low. Colonel
Anderson did likewise. Hal, Chester and Stubbs remained erect.
The king smiled slightly at Colonel Edwards, whom he plainly knew,
and glanced inquiringly at the others.

Colonel Edwards approached him.
"Your majesty," he said, "I would crave your permission to present
another of my countrymen and three Americans, who have seen service
with your allies in the western theater of war."
The king nodded his head affirmatively and Colonel Edwards motioned
the others to approach. The king extended a hand to each and spoke a
few pleasant words.
"I hope," he said, "that you will make yourselves perfectly at home in
my camp. I am sorry I have no better to offer you." He turned to
Edwards. "I have faith in you English," he said, "and for that reason I
was about to summon you this morning. I have a mission of importance,
and some danger, I would have you undertake."
"I shall be pleased, sire" replied Colonel Edwards with a bow.
The king smiled.
"I knew you would be," he said. "Now this mission will necessitate
probably more than a single man. You shall pick the others. It seems
simple, but I can assure you it is not. Among the Albanian tribesmen, I
am told, there is a disposition to doubt the justice of our cause and the
cause of our allies. A spirit of unrest is rife there. I would have it
looked into. I have faith in the majority of the Albanians, but a few
agitators could do much harm right now. The reason I say one man
could hardly undertake the task is that he would hardly have time to
cover the necessary ground. Two might do; even more would be
better."
At this point Colonel Anderson stepped forward.
"If you please, your majesty," he said, and hesitated.
"Speak, sir," said the king.
"If you please, your majesty," Colonel Anderson repeated, "it would

give me, and my friends here, the utmost pleasure to be of some slight
service to you. With your permission, we shall offer our services to
Colonel Edwards."
A smile stole over the king's rugged face.
"I have always said," he declared, "that the British and the Americans
come nearer to being like my own people than any others. You have
my permission, sir, for yourself and your friends, and I have no doubt
of the success of the mission." He turned again to Colonel Edwards.
"You will make all possible haste?"
"What we may, with caution," was the reply.
"Good. Then I shall expect you back within the week."
Again all bowed before the king and after a few words of farewell the
Montenegrin monarch resumed his walk.
"Well, I feel better now," declared Hal. "We've got something to do, so
we won't feel as though we had no business here."
"My sentiments, exactly," agreed Chester.
"Well, they are not mine," declared Stubbs. "Say! what's the matter
with you fellows, anyhow? Look at all the trouble we had finding a safe
place to come down, and now you are running around looking for more
trouble. You are not going to get Anthony Stubbs into any