Book: The Boy Allies in Great Peril

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"A good plan," declared Colonel Anderson. "Do you think you can lead the
way to the shack you speak of?"

"I can come pretty close to it," declared Hal. "My sense of direction is
still with me, I believe. Come on."

Bearing slightly off to the right, he broke into a run and the others
followed close behind him. For perhaps another five hundred yards, he ran
forward at fair speed and then paused.

"It should be about here some place," he said. "Spread out and we'll have
a look for it."

This plan was followed and a hunt for the shack began in the darkness.
After perhaps five minutes, Chester's voice rang out.

"I've found it. This way."

The others made their way in the direction of his voice and a few moments
later all stood before the shack.

"Is it open?" asked Chester.

Hal tried the doorknob. It was locked. Also it was barred on the outside.
He put the muzzle of his revolver to the lock and would have fired had
not Colonel Anderson stayed his hand.

"Hold on there," he commanded. "We don't want to open it that way if we
can help it. Look around. Maybe there is a window."

At the back of the shack they found one, but it was well out of reach.

"Give me a hand up, Hal," said Chester.

Hal obeyed and Chester climbed to his shoulders. His head came level with
the window. Chester pushed against it and it swung inward.

"All right," he called back. "I'm going in."

He pulled himself up and then dropped down inside. Those on the outside
heard a terrible rattle and clatter and stood suddenly silent, for they
did not know what had happened. Then Chester called out:

"It's all right. I jumped in the dishpan; that's all. Come on."

Hal and Colonel Anderson boosted Uncle John to the window sill, and then
Hal gave Colonel Anderson a hand up. The latter, perched in the window,
leaned down and pulled Hal up beside him. They dropped down inside.

At that moment a sudden beam of light flashed into the room.

The moon had come out, lighting up the outside and accentuating the
darkness in the old shack.

"Well, here we are," said Chester. "Now we'll keep quiet, so as not to
tell the enemy where we are."

For perhaps an hour they sat in silence; and then Hal's quick ears
detected the sound of approaching horses.

"Listen!" he whispered.

The others strained their ears to catch some sound; and directly it
came--the sound of many horses approaching.

"Better see to our guns," said Colonel Anderson quietly.

He examined his own brace of revolvers carefully, and Hal and Chester did
the same. Uncle John was unarmed.

"Too bad we didn't stop and get the guns of the officer I knocked down
back there," said Hal. "However, it's too late now. We'll have to get
along with these."

"Perhaps they won't find this place in the darkness," said Uncle John
hopefully.

"Don't fool yourself there," said Chester. "They'll find it all right.
That is their business, right now. Besides, it's not so dark as it was
when we arrived."

"Maybe they won't take the trouble to look in," persisted Uncle John.

"They'll look in, all right," replied Hal dryly.

"Whoa!" came a voice in Austrian from outside.

Other voices became audible.

"Maybe they are in this old shack," said one.

"Hardly possible they found it in the darkness," replied another.

"We'll have a look, anyhow," declared a third.

Footsteps advanced toward the front door and a hand tried the knob.

"Locked," said a voice, "and, as you see, barred from the outside. I
guess they are not in there."

"Any windows?" asked another voice.

The pursuers moved around the house.

"Here's one," exclaimed a voice, stopping before the window by which the
fugitives had entered the shack.

"Climb in and have a look around," came a command.

"And get shot in the darkness?" questioned the other. "What's the matter
with your doing that?"

"Afraid, eh," said the other. "Here, give me a hand up."

A moment later, in the moonlight that streamed through the window, the
four inside saw the face of the first of their pursuers; but in the
darkness within, the occupants of the shack were not visible.

"I can see no one," said the Austrian.

"Get down and have a look," said the other.

The man in the window drew himself up to the sill and then turned and
dropped down inside; and even as he struck the floor Colonel Anderson
dealt him a terrific blow over the head with the butt of a revolver.

The man fell forward on his face without so much as a groan.

Then there was silence for some minutes.

"Well," came a voice from outside, "what's the matter with you in there?
Find anything?"

Hal stepped close to the window, and mimicking the first Austrian's
voice, replied:

"Don't see a thing. Nobody here."

"All right then; come on out."

"I'll have a better look first," replied Hal.

"Now what good is all that going to do?" demanded Chester of Hal. "They
won't go away and leave him here; and they'll discover his absence
before long."

"Just a little play for time," replied Hal. "Every minute helps, you
know. If we can hold out till daylight we will be all right."

"Right you are," whispered Colonel Anderson. "Minutes are precious things
right now."

There was silence for a few minutes; then the voice of the man without
came again:

"Say; what are you doing in there, anyhow? Are you coming out or not?"

"In a minute," mimicked Hal again.

"Find anything yet?"

"No."

"Then come on out of there, and let's go."

"All right, I'll be right out now."

Again there was silence.

A revolver butt tapped the side of the house.

"Come on out of there," said the Austrian outside.

"Coming," replied Hal.

Again silence; but this time broken from an unexpected source.

There came a sudden cry from the man on the floor--the man whom Colonel
Anderson had struck down as he jumped into the room:

"Help!"

Just that one word; that was all. Again a revolver butt crashed upon the
Austrian's head and he subsided without a murmur.

But the one word had given the warning.

The Austrian who had remained on the outside of the shack awaiting the
return of his friend, also raised his voice.

"The fugitives are in here!" he shouted. "This way, men!"

Came the sound of many running footsteps.

"We're in for it now," said Colonel Anderson quietly. "All ready?"

"All ready," replied Hal and Chester quietly.

"Good! Take your places in the corners of the room--as much out of the
line of fire as possible."

This was done.

"Surrender!" came a voice from without.




CHAPTER XXVI.

FOUR AGAINST MANY.


Chester could not resist the temptation to answer this demand.

"Come and get us!" he called back defiantly.

Uncle John created a slight diversion at this moment. He had been
stooping over the form of the unconscious German in the shack, and now
straightened up with an exclamation of satisfaction.

"Well, I've got these, anyway," he said.

He displayed a brace of revolvers and a cartridge belt which he had taken
from the fallen man.

"Good," said Colonel Anderson. "Now, Hal, you and I will guard the door,
and Chester and Uncle John will take care of the window. The chances are
they will attack from both directions at once. Stand as far back as
possible and out of the line of fire."

At that moment there came a crash against the door, as if several
men were pounding upon it with their rifle butts. And this, indeed,
was the case.

"Quick!" commanded Colonel Anderson. "Shove this table and these chairs
against the door. Brace it with anything you can find. We should have
done it sooner."

Chester and Uncle John gave up their posts guarding the window for a
minute and helped in the work of barricading the entrance. And all the
time the pounding continued.

As Chester stepped back after putting the last chair into place, there
came a report from behind him. There was a flash that lighted up the
shack like day, and the lad felt a bullet whiz past his ear.

He whirled quickly, and fired in the direction of the window, where he
saw a head bobbing down. The Austrian had dodged quickly after his shot,
but Chester had been quicker still; and the Austrian toppled down outside
at the feet of his companions. The fall was plainly audible.

"I got one of 'em!" shouted Chester gleefully.

"Good for you," replied Hal. "We'll get the rest of them as fast as
they come."

The pounding upon the door continued and the occupants of the shack kept
their eyes upon it anxiously.

"It gave a little that time," declared Hal, after an extraordinarily
furious blow. "It won't last much longer. Then we'll have to do some real
fighting."

"They will hardly rush us," said the colonel. "We should be able to pick
them off as fast as they come through. They won't try that long."

At this juncture Chester grew tired of waiting. He motioned Uncle John to
give him a hand up and from the latter's shoulder raised his head
cautiously to the edge of the window. For the moment he was not seen. A
body of Austrians stood beneath the window, engaged in deep conversation.

Quickly Chester levelled his automatic and pressed the trigger. Ten shots
struck squarely in the little knot of the enemy, and several men fell.

A cry of anger rose on the night air, as Chester leaped down within the
little cabin.

"Think I got some more of 'em that time," he said with a grin. "They'll
find out we can take the initiative ourselves once in a while."

"Let them alone, unless they bother us," ordered Colonel Anderson. "The
longer they keep quiet and do nothing, the better for us. Time is the one
factor that will work to our advantage."

"I forgot about that," returned Chester a little sheepishly.

There came a terrible thundering upon the door now; and it was evident
that many men without had been called to force an entrance.

"It can't hold much longer," declared Hal quietly.

"About two more like that and it will give," agreed Colonel Anderson.

Another rain of blows was followed by a crash, as the bottom of the door
gave way. A moment later it tumbled inward against the table and chairs
stacked up to brace it.

And even as it did so, Colonel Anderson and Hal pressed the triggers of
their revolvers. Once, twice, each spoke, and the voices of the
automatics were rewarded by cries of pain from the outside.

"We must have done some damage," said Hal quietly.

Colonel Anderson did not reply; but stepping forward behind the
improvised barricade, again levelled his revolver and fired twice.

"Think I got a couple that trip," he remarked.

He glanced around the room quickly.

"Back in the corners," he instructed. "They'll probably try to rush us
this time."

He had predicted correctly.

For a moment there was silence without; but suddenly there came a wild
yell and a score of Austrians dashed forward to force an entrance to
the shack.

"Make every shot count!" cried Hal.

The occupants of the cabin waited until the foe was in plain sight and
then four revolvers spoke once. As many men dropped in their tracks--for
at that distance a miss was practically impossible; but the other
Austrians came on.

Again four revolvers spoke; and this time only three men dropped. A third
volley from the occupants of the cabin accounted for two. The Austrians
hesitated.

"We're wasting bullets," declared Hal. "One is enough for each man. Uncle
John, you take the man on the far left, Chester, you the one next to him,
Colonel Anderson, the third is for you. I'll take the man on this side."

"A good idea," replied the colonel. "One bullet for one Austrian. That's
all each is worth."

As the Austrians, after a moment of hesitation, pressed forward once
more, the weapons of the four friends spoke twice in rapid succession
with greater effect.

This was enough for the enemy--for the time being, at least. They drew
off and the occupants of the shack had time for a breathing spell and an
opportunity to reload their weapons.

"They'll be back in a few minutes," declared Colonel Anderson. "Their
officers will not let them give up as long as we are here."

"Well, we'll be ready for them," said Chester grimly.

"So we will, Chester," declared Hal. He turned to Uncle John. "Well, what
do you think of this kind of a life, sir?" he asked.

Uncle John smiled faintly.

"It's not so bad," he replied. "It's a little strange to me, but
you notice I have been able to fire a gun. I guess I'll get used to
it in time."

"You are a brave and cool-headed man, sir," declared Colonel Anderson. "I
do not believe I was half so cool my first time under fire."

"If you really knew how scared I was, you wouldn't say that," was Uncle
John's reply.

A hail from outside interrupted further talk.

"What do you suppose they want now?" asked Hal.

"Don't know," replied the colonel briefly. "We'll see." He raised his
voice in a shout.

"What do you want?" he demanded in German.

"Want to have a talk with you," was the reply.

"Talk away," replied the colonel.

"We would give you a chance of life and to avoid further bloodshed,"
replied the Austrian.

"There has been no bloodshed in here," returned Colonel Anderson, "except
among your men. We are perfectly whole and ready to fight some more."

"Then you refuse to surrender?"

"We do; most decidedly."

There was no more talk from the Austrians; neither was there another
immediate attack. The quiet without became so pronounced that Hal
became uneasy.

"What do you suppose they are doing?" he asked.

"Haven't any idea," replied Colonel Anderson.

"Well, you can take my word for it they are up to some mischief,"
declared Chester. "This silence bodes no good for us, I'll bet."

"Well, as long as they let us alone, it's a point in our favor," declared
Colonel Anderson. "It is less than an hour until daylight now. Then we
shall have help."

"The Austrians will have a whack at us before that," said Hal positively.
"But I would like to know what's up."

"So would I," declared Chester. "And I am positive that there's
something."

"I guess we'll know soon enough," said Uncle John.

And they did learn--not fifteen minutes later.

"What's that funny noise out there?" asked Chester suddenly.

The others strained their ears.

"I don't hear anything," said Hal. "You must--Wait, though. What is
that noise?"

Again all listened intently. There was a faint "crack, crack," as though
some one were walking upon fallen twigs.

At that moment Chester detected another cause for alarm.

"I smell smoke," he said suddenly.

"By George! that's what's the matter," shouted Hal. "They are going to
smoke us out and shoot us down, or burn us here like rats in a trap. What
are we going to do?" he demanded anxiously.

"Don't get excited, in the first place," replied Colonel Anderson coolly,
"We are in a ticklish situation, and that's a fact, but there must be
some way out of it. Now let's see. We can't get out the front door
without being shot down. The same goes for the window as the house
undoubtedly is surrounded. Then what are we to do?"

"There is only one thing I can think of," declared Hal.

"And that?"

"As long as we are playing for time, stay here until we can stand it no
longer because of the heat. Then make a break for it. Perhaps we can take
them by surprise, grab four horses and get a good start."

"There is little chance of that," replied Colonel Anderson. "But it seems
to be the only way. We'll do it."

Their plans thus made, they waited patiently, conversing in low tones,
the while keeping their eyes open. The flames were crackling merrily now,
and the heat was becoming intense, while occasional clouds of smoke
rolled into the single room. It was too hot to remain still. Colonel
Anderson spoke. "We've stood it long enough," he said. "Guns ready, and
let's go!"




CHAPTER XXVII.

A SACRIFICE.


"Hold on there a minute," said Chester. "We are forgetting one thing."

"What's that?" demanded Colonel Anderson.

"Why," returned Chester, "that at least one of us must get back to
General Ferrari and give him the information we were sent after."

"But how can we?"

"Well, not by jumping out there and fighting and getting killed, all of
us. I've a plan."

"You'll have to hurry," said Hal. "It's getting too hot in here."

"Listen then," said Chester, speaking rapidly. "I'll climb up to this
window and drop out. They won't shoot at me at first, because they
naturally will think I am about to surrender. When I get to the bottom,
I'll wait for either you or Colonel Anderson, as you may decide. When one
of you reach my side, we'll both run. The Austrians will give chase. When
I yell, the two who remain here will make a break out the door, try to
find a couple of horses and head for the Italian lines. Come, now, let's
get busy."

Without awaiting a reply, he crossed to the window.

"A hand up, Uncle John," he said quietly.

The latter hurried to his side, and making a step of his uncle's hand,
Chester pulled himself up. A moment later he disappeared.

"I'll be the other," declared Colonel Anderson and started toward the
window. Hal stretched out a hand and detained him.

"No, I'll go," he said.

"You forget," said Colonel Anderson, "that I am in command of this
expedition, sir. I command you to obey my orders."

Hal stepped back.

"Very well," he said slowly.

Uncle John gave the colonel a hand up, and then hurried to Hal's side,
and the two stood awaiting the word that would send them from their fiery
retreat in a wild dash through the Austrian troops without.

Suddenly the sound came. Hal heard it plainly--Chester's voice, raised in
a shout in English.

"All right! Go!"

With a low cry to Uncle John to follow him, Hal leaped through the
scattered heap of chairs, over the table and dead bodies that almost
blocked his progress, and into the open. Uncle John was right behind him.

The way seemed clear and Hal's heart beat with hope as he made out
directly ahead of him the shadowy form of what he knew to be a body of
horses. He dashed toward them silently.

He seized a bridle of the first horse and tossed it to Uncle John, who
leaped quickly to the saddle, and waited a moment for Hal. The lad was
astride a second horse a moment later and whirling the animals quickly,
they urged them forward in the darkness at top speed.

At that moment a form blocked their way.

With a quick movement Hal whipped out his automatic, and without pausing
to take aim, fired. The bullet went true, and the man toppled to one side
even as Hal's horse would have trampled him under foot.

There came a loud cry from behind and Hal realized that their ruse had
been discovered.

"Hurry," he called to Uncle John.

A volley of bullets was sent after the flying horsemen by the
Austrians, who realized for the first time that two of their quarry
were about to escape.

"Mount and after them," came a hoarse Austrian command.

Half a dozen troopers made a rush for their horses, while as many more
dropped to their knees, levelled their rifles and fired into the darkness
where the fugitives had been a moment before.

But the darkness was a blessing to the two fugitives. The Austrians were
aiming by mere guess and neither rider was touched.

Hal began to breathe easier. He checked the pace a trifle, as he realized
that Uncle John was lagging a little behind, his horse, apparently, not
being as fresh or as swift as the one the lad bestrode.

And now the boy caught the sound of hoofbeats hurrying after them.

"Hurry, Uncle John!" he called anxiously. "They are after us."

Uncle John urged his horse to greater effort and the animal responded
nobly. For a moment he kept pace with Hal's swifter mount.

Hal dropped the reins to his horse's neck, and drew his second revolver.
Then he slackened the pace of his horse even more.

"Go ahead!" he cried as Uncle John flashed by. "I'll hold 'em back a
minute or two."

The pursuers gained upon him. Hal stopped his horse.

A moment later the Austrians became visible in the now semi-darkness--for
dawn was breaking. Hal raised both weapons and fired three times in rapid
succession.

His effort was rewarded by several cries of pain from the pursuers, and
the others checked their horses abruptly. Again Hal fired twice; and
then, turning his horse quickly, rode swiftly after Uncle John.

The Austrians hesitated a moment before again taking up the chase, and
this brief moment was the time the fugitives needed.

As they galloped along, Hal still somewhat in the rear, it grew light and
less than a half a mile ahead the riders made out the first Italian
outpost. They headed toward it with loud cries, the Austrians now again
in pursuit.

Their cries were heard in the Italian lines, and quicker than it takes to
tell it, Hal's heart was made glad by the sight of a mounted squadron of
Italian troops dashing toward them.

He slowed his horse down to a walk, and turning in the saddle, took a
parting shot at the Austrians, who now had turned to flee. One threw up
his arms, and dropped to the ground, and the horse went on riderless.

The Italian horsemen pulled up when they reached Hal's side, and the lad
explained the situation in a few words.

"If you are quick," he told the officer, "you may take them unaware and
rescue my two companions."

The officer wasted no time in words; a quick command to his men, and the
troop went on in pursuit of the foe.

Hal turned to Uncle John.

"There is nothing we can do for them," he said. "We shall go to General
Ferrari and make our report."

He led the way, more slowly now.

The Italian commander received them immediately and Hal gave him the
information they had gained in as few words as possible. After receiving
the thanks of the general, the boy, followed by Uncle John, again made
his way to the front; and at the extreme outpost, saw the Italians who
had pursued the Austrians returning--empty-handed.

The officer greeted him with a gesture of sorrow.

"It was no use," he said. "They had started when we reached there. We
pursued them as far as advisable, and fell back only when a strong force
of the enemy came out to meet us."

Hal thanked him and with Uncle John returned to his quarters, seeking to
think of some way by which he could be of service to his chum and to
Colonel Anderson.

Meanwhile, what of the other two?

When Chester leaped from the burning shack, he awaited the arrival of the
next, who proved to be Colonel Anderson, even as he had planned. As
Chester had figured, the Austrians did not attack him when he reached the
ground, evidently believing he was about to surrender.

A moment later Colonel Anderson stood beside him, and as the latter
raised himself to his feet, Chester shouted the words that had set Hal
and Uncle John on their dash for life:

"All right! Go!"

At these words, he and Colonel Anderson also dashed ahead. Taken by the
surprise, the Austrians hesitated a moment and then dashed after them
with cries. The men who had been guarding the door by which Hal and Uncle
John later escaped, also joined in the chase.

For a couple of seconds the Austrians did not fire at the fugitives,
evidently believing they could catch them. But as the two gradually drew
away from them an officer gave the command:

"Fire!"

A score of rifles cracked, but fortunately for Chester and Colonel
Anderson, none of the soldiers had taken time to aim carefully. But one
bullet whistled close to Chester's head.

"I can't see any use getting killed," he muttered to himself.

Colonel Anderson also came to a stop, and both raised their hands in
token of surrender.

An Austrian officer advanced toward them--and he proved to be the same
man with whom they had talked just before making their dash from the
Austrian lines--the man whom they had knocked unconscious as he gave
the alarm.

"So we have you at last, eh?" he said harshly.

"Yes, we're here," agreed Chester with a smile.

"And this time you will not get away," was the response. "Spies, eh?"

"Well, what of it?" demanded Chester.

"Nothing," replied the officer, "except that you will be shot some
time to-day."

"Oh, well, that's the chance we all take," replied Chester calmly.

At this moment a subordinate approached the officer.

"The other two fugitives, sir, have taken two horses and fled," he said.

"What?" shouted the Austrian.

"Yes, sir."

The officer whirled upon Chester and Colonel Anderson.

"So," he exclaimed. "This is some more of your work. You shall pay for
it."

"Perhaps," said Chester.

The officer made no reply to this. Instead he motioned them to move ahead
of him, which they did. A moment later they found themselves in the
saddle and headed back toward the Austrian lines, closely surrounded by
their guards.

"And now," said Chester, "for another call on our friend, the general."




CHAPTER XXVIII.

MR. STUBBS ONCE MORE.


A hearty hand slapped Hal on the back, and he looked up from a moody
reverie into the face of Anthony Stubbs.

"Well, well, what's the matter now?" demanded the little war
correspondent.

"Matter enough," replied Hal. "The Austrians have nabbed Chester."

"You don't say!" exclaimed Stubbs. "I thought you fellows had finished
your fighting days."

"So we had," returned the lad; "but we took one little fling, and this is
the result."

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