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 hiht hilad to look out for the dog while they were away Accordingly Marquis was taken to this horeed to take care of hio, too

”No,” said Hal, and he talked to the dog quietly for severalbehind

There could be no doubt that the dog understood, for a sorrowful look ca 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 the no atte,” 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 h it was plain to both lads that the Cossack would have rather , wiry Cossack horses having been placed at their coh 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 arhts they traveled without incident Their food they purchased at little towns through which they passed, or at farht overtook the close to the Carpathians, Hal decided that the order of things ht,” he said ”We'll do our sleeping in the daytime”

This plan was approved by both Chester and Alexis, so that theline of ary on three sides, separating it from Germany on the northwest, from Galicia on the northeast and from Turkey on the southeast At the southern extree, a branch proceeds in a southerly direction across the Danube to the center of European Turkey, connecting the Carpathian reat eastern branch of the Alps

It can readily be seen, therefore, that the Carpathians are ed peaks bethich are narrow passes These passes furnish the onlyacross the mountains

In their search for Brunnoi, the boys and Alexis were now approaching that part of the h which there are but three passes; 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 hieneral idea of the direction”

No objection being offered, Alexis swung into the lead and the horses plunged up a narrow pass into the midst of the wild hills, probably the wildest and most desolate spot in all Europe Great trees and ress 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 cah which a diht,” said Hal, ”and when the occupants of the hut coht ca, a man came from the hut Hal approached him, and addressed him in German The ue

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

May I ask what you are doing in theto make our way to Budapest,” replied Hal ”We were captured by the Russians, and escaped We are not faround, however, and have met with difficulties”

”Well,” said the ht Come”

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?”