Part 19 (2/2)
Over the meal they talked of the war. Finally Chester said:
”Is there any truth in the report that Brunnoi will go over to the Russians?”
”None!” cried the man, striking the table a hard blow with his fist. ”I know, because I am one of his men.”
”What!” exclaimed Hal, in well simulated surprise, though he had surmised as much.
”Yes,” said the man quietly. ”Brigands, they have called us. But they will find that when the Russians attempt to cross the Carpathians, as they surely will, we bandits will give as good an account of ourselves as will the trained troops. We love our country just as well as do those who live in Budapest. But tell me, you are not Hungarians nor Austrians, nor even Germans?”
”No,” said Hal, thankful that they had been wise enough to discard their uniforms before setting out upon their mission. ”We are Americans.”
”Ah!” said the man. ”I have heard much of them. And you have been fighting with the German army?”
”Yes,” said Chester truthfully.
”But this man,” said their host, turning to Alexis. ”Is he an American also?”
”Yes,” replied Hal, and signified for Alexis not to speak, for fear that his accent might betray him.
Their host was evidently satisfied. The meal finished, the man walked with them to the door, and pointed out the direction they were to take.
Then he pointed also to the southwest.
”In that direction,” he said, ”lies the home of Brunnoi. No, there is no truth that he will espouse the Russian cause. Even now he is able to do much harm to their cause. He is with Austria to the last drop of blood in him.”
The three took their departure, going in the direction the man had pointed out. But once out of sight, Hal changed the course, and they bore off to the southwest for several hours, looking for a place to secrete themselves for the day.
”We shall have to be very careful,” said Chester.
The truth of this statement was proved a moment later. From behind came the sharp crack of a rifle. Chester's hat leaped from his head.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE BANDIT CHIEF.
Hal, Chester and Alexis threw themselves to the ground with a single movement. A second bullet sped harmlessly overhead.
”We didn't come here to fight,” Hal whispered to his friends, ”so here goes.”
He drew a handkerchief from his pocket, and waved it aloft. This was answered by a command in German, from some distance away.
”Stand up; put your hands above your heads and advance.”
The three friends did as commanded. Three swarthy-faced men, with leveled revolvers, advanced to meet them. Quickly they searched their prisoners, relieved them of their weapons, and bound their hands securely.
”Forward march,” commanded one, poking the muzzle of his weapon into the small of Chester's back.
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