Part 32 (1/2)

”Such is not the plan of the general staff. Their reasons I cannot tell you; but at a guess I should say it is because they hope that, by a juncture with the Anglo-French forces, they may hope to show an effective front until Italy can throw an army to their support, or possibly until the long expected Russian offensive materializes.”

”Then we shall have to bring some pressure to bear upon Greece,” said the younger man. ”We cannot permit that. Bulgaria must get in the game sooner and thus foil such a plan.”

”Well, you probably know best,” said the officer, ”but remember one thing. To all intents and purposes, Bulgaria is still neutral.

Announcement that she has decided to cast her lot with the Central Powers, if premature, undoubtedly would spoil many plans. Particularly, if it came to the ears of the Anglo-French commander at Saloniki.”

”Exactly,” replied the young man. ”Our plans now are to permit the Allies to advance a considerable distance toward Belgrade, and then to have Bulgaria declare war at the psychological moment.”

”A good plan, that,” returned the officer. ”But I must get back now. My absence will be noticed and I do not care to arouse suspicion.”

The men moved off.

Chester and Colonel Anderson gazed at each other.

”Rather neat little play,” said Colonel Anderson.

”Rather,” repeated Chester dryly.

”And to think,” continued Colonel Anderson, ”how leniently Bulgaria has been treated by the Allies. Well, her day of reckoning will come.”

”We'll have to get word of this to the Serbian commander in Belgrade,”

said Chester.

”So we will,” said the colonel. ”And also to the commander of the Anglo-French forces in Saloniki.”

”Let's get back then and see if Hal has the machine fixed so she'll fly.”

They retraced their footsteps; and even as they arrived, Hal arose from his position above the aeroplane.

”She'll go now all right,” he said. ”All aboard!”

Stubbs, Nikol and Ivan hesitated and Stubbs protested. Chester drew Hal aside for a moment and told him what he and the colonel had learned. Hal wasted no further time.

”In here with all of you,” he commanded gruffly. ”We're going right now.”

The others hesitated no longer, and a few moments later the big machine was flying swiftly toward the Serbian capital.

CHAPTER XX.

THE END OF A TRAITOR.

It was two years after the outbreak of the great war that the Austro-German armies were hurled forward in a great and final effort to crush Serbia. Since the early days of the struggle, heavy battles had been fought upon the Austro-Serbian frontier, with success first to one side and then to the other.

Belgrade, the Serbian capital, had been bombarded time after time by the great Austrian guns and once the city had been occupied by the foe.

Later, however, the Serbians had driven out the invader and reoccupied the capital. And now, the Austrian army, reinforced by a hundred thousand Germans, bringing the total number of troops to half a million, was again knocking at the gates of Belgrade; and the Serbians, realizing the utter hopelessness of their cause unless aid arrived from the Anglo-French troops at Saloniki, were preparing to flee.

This was the situation when the aeroplane bearing Hal, Chester and their friends descended just outside the city.