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Updated: May 19, 2025
Ivan, and you, Nikol, will see that he goes in the proper direction." The dwarf's face was covered by a comical grin and his long arms waved about eagerly as he gave his assent. He turned to Stubbs. "You will walk with me?" he asked. For a moment Stubbs hesitated. He gazed first at the little man and then at the great bulk of Nicolas. Then his eyes roved to the huge form of Ivan. "By Jove!
Hal, Chester, Colonel Anderson, Nikol and Ivan slept. The first three, veterans of many campaigns and hardships, had schooled themselves to sleep under almost any conditions. The same might be said of Nikol and Ivan because of days spent in the mountain fastness, where danger lurked at all times.
Stubbs' face blanched at the movement and the others were too surprised to move all except one; and this one, quick as a flash, leaped forward with the agility of a cat and thrust his body protectingly before Anthony Stubbs. When the smoke of the revolver had cleared away Stubbs stood erect, unharmed but at his feet lay the twitching body of Nikol, the dwarf.
Here Nikol went forward and secured food, which he brought back in his hands. This they devoured hungrily, drank from a little brook, and moved forward again. Now Nikol deserted the beaten path and struck off through the mountains proper, climbing steep hills, leaping ruts and gullies, rocks and brooks, but making such good progress that the others were hard pressed to keep up with him.
Whether the bullet came close to the giant, Hal could not tell, but he drew his own revolver, and springing forward, cried: "That's enough of this! The next man to make a move I'll put a bullet through." Chester, Nikol and Colonel Anderson ranged themselves by Hal's side and also produced their automatics. Seeing nothing else to do, Stubbs also joined them and flourished a revolver.
Nikol motioned the others back into the shadow of a great rock and stepped boldly forward. Then he hesitated a moment, came back and spoke to Stubbs in a low voice, yet loud enough for the others to hear. "If I should chance to be outmatched," he said, "you will come to my assistance? The others," he snapped his fingers, "are no good. You will come?"
Then Hal and Chester leaped to their feet, as did Nikol, Ivan and Colonel Anderson. "Little man's gone off his head," muttered Ivan, as he leaped from the car to go to Stubbs' assistance. Stubbs, in his headlong leap, struck exactly where he had intended right upon the Bulgarian's shoulders, and the force of the impact bore the man to the ground.
Hal rose, as did the others, as the Bulgarian swept into the room. "Who are you?" demanded the officer in a harsh voice. "Hal Paine, an American," replied the lad, and indicated the others after this fashion: "Chester Crawford, also an American; Harry Anderson, an American; Nikol, an Albanian, the servant there of Anthony Stubbs, American war correspondent; Ivan Vergoff, also an Albanian."
"Up in this tree with you then." He lent her a hand as she grasped the lowest branch and soon clambered higher up toward the top. "You too, Stubbs," he commanded. The little man did not hesitate, but also was soon among the branches. "Colonel Anderson, you and Nikol get up there also. I want some protection for Miss Ellison in case of trouble." The others obeyed orders without question.
Chester allowed the reins to fall loose on his horse's neck and in each hand glistened a revolver. Colonel Anderson and Nikol were also prepared. Some distance beyond where Hal, Colonel Edwards and Ivan had dismounted, the pursuers had drawn rein; and now Chester, Colonel Anderson and Nikol charged right at them.
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