Part 19 (1/2)

Suddenly Hal bethought himself of Marquis.

”We can't take him,” he said. ”He would be in the way. What shall we do with him?”

Alexis bethought himself of a friend in the city who, he was sure, would be glad to look out for the dog while they were away. Accordingly Marquis was taken to this home, where the woman of the house readily agreed to take care of him; but when they came to leave, Marquis wanted to go, too.

”No,” said Hal, and he talked to the dog quietly for several minutes, explaining to him the necessity of his remaining behind.

There could be no doubt that the dog understood, for a sorrowful look came over his face. His tail wagged in understanding of his orders, but there was a hurt look in his eyes. However, he did not protest, and when his three friends finally walked away, he stood looking after them regretfully, although making no attempt to follow.

”The first thing,” said Hal, ”is to procure three good horses.”

”Yes,” agreed Alexis, ”and another to carry food.”

”No,” answered Hal. ”We cannot be bothered with that. We shall have to live off the country.”

Alexis made no objection, though it was plain to both lads that the Cossack would have rather made due preparations to care for the inner man. Three strong, wiry Cossack horses having been placed at their command, the three leaped into the saddles and set off through the streets of Lodz at a slow trot.

Darkness was falling when they came to the outskirts of the city, and turned their heads toward the southwest. As far as Cracow the roads were held by Russian troops in force, and the three travelers experienced no difficulties. They did not go close to the beleaguered city, but bore off a bit to the north, just skirting the great Russian army before the Galician stronghold.

Three days and nights they traveled without incident. Their food they purchased at little towns through which they pa.s.sed, or at farmhouses; and they slept wherever they happened to be when night overtook them.

But now that they were drawing close to the Carpathians, Hal decided that the order of things must be reversed.

”In the future we shall travel at night,” he said. ”We'll do our sleeping in the daytime.”

This plan was approved by both Chester and Alexis, so that the morning of the fourth day found them approaching the long line of mountains.

The Carpathian mountains encircle Hungary on three sides, separating it from Germany on the northwest, from Galicia on the northeast and from Turkey on the southeast. At the southern extremity of the range, a branch proceeds in a southerly direction across the Danube to the center of European Turkey, connecting the Carpathian mountains with the great eastern branch of the Alps.

It can readily be seen, therefore, that the Carpathians are much like the Alps--made up of rugged peaks between which are narrow pa.s.ses. These pa.s.ses furnish the only means of getting across the mountains.

In their search for Brunnoi, the boys and Alexis were now approaching that part of the mountains which separates Hungary from Galicia, and through which there are but three pa.s.ses; so that their traveling had to be done slowly and with great care.

”Now, if you will permit me, I shall take the lead,” said Alexis. ”I have been in these parts before. Besides I have been told of certain landmarks in these foothills which indicate where Brunnoi holds forth--not definitely enough to lead us straight to him; but I have a general idea of the direction.”

No objection being offered, Alexis swung into the lead and the horses plunged up a narrow pa.s.s into the midst of the wild hills, probably the wildest and most desolate spot in all Europe. Great trees and ma.s.sive rocks overhung the little pa.s.s, making progress extremely difficult. At the top of the first steep incline, the riders allowed their horses to stop and rest. Then they fared on again.

It was nearing daylight when they came upon a small hut, shrouded by trees, through which a dim light twinkled.

”We'll wait here until daylight,” said Hal, ”and when the occupants of the hut come out we will accost them.”

They waited. Daylight came, and with its coming, a man came from the hut. Hal approached him, and addressed him in German. The man looked at him shrewdly, and then answered in the same tongue.

”Yes,” he said, ”we can spare you something to eat; also your friends.

May I ask what you are doing in the mountains?”

”We are trying to make our way to Budapest,” replied Hal. ”We were captured by the Russians, and escaped. We are not familiar with the ground, however, and have met with difficulties.”

”Well,” said the man of the hut, ”I can set you right. Come.”