CHAPTER IX.
THE TRAITOR.
"If I am not mistaken," said Ivan, "here comes Nicolas now."
He pointed to a large, bearded individual, who, surrounded by probably a dozen other figures, was advancing toward them. The man swung along with the free and easy stride of the mountaineer, looking neither to the right nor to the left, his head erect and of haughty mien.
"Pompous sort of a looking customer," said Colonel Anderson to Hal.
"Rather," said the lad dryly. He glanced at the others, Colonel Edwards, Stubbs, Nikol, Ivan and Chester, and muttered hurriedly: "After this we must do all our talking in German."
The others nodded their understanding and all fell silent as the
Montenegrin traitor and his henchmen approached.
It was the morning following the night upon which they had left Ivan's retreat. The journey had consumed the whole night, but in spite of their fatigue, each member of the party of seven was on his mettle. Now, as Nicolas drew closer, Ivan took a step in advance of the others to greet him.
The traitor's face lighted with pleasure as he recognized the big
Cossack.
"Ah, Ivan," he said, "I am glad to see you."
He noticed the others, and a slight frown flitted across his face. He swept his arm toward them in a comprehensive gesture. "Who are these?"
"One of them you probably know," said Ivan and he indicated Nikol.
Nikol nodded affirmatively.
"The others," Ivan continued, "I came across in the mountains last night.
They are Germans and were seeking you."
"Seeking me?" exclaimed Nicolas in astonishment. "And why should they be seeking me?"
"You will probably know," returned Ivan, "when I tell you they come from Germany."
"Ah," said Nicolas. "Of course I know, Ivan. Will you have them come forward?"
"One moment, Nicolas," said Ivan. "First I would have a word with you myself."
"Proceed," said the Montenegrin.
"Well, then," Ivan went on, "you may remember a certain proposal you have made me upon several occasions?"
"I do," exclaimed Nicolas, with unfeigned eagerness. "Can it be that at last you have decided to—"
"Accept?" interrupted Ivan. "Yes; I have decided to accept; and these Germans here have had something to do with my decision. They have told me how Germany and Austria combined will eventually win the great war and of the good things that will be in store for all of us when that day comes. You are right, Nicolas, it is well to be on the winning side."
"And I am glad you see it that way," declared Nicolas, extending a hand, which Ivan grasped, much to his distaste. "I have long wanted a trusted lieutenant, and you shall be he."
"Thanks, Nicolas," returned Ivan. "I had not expected that. Had you told me before it might have influenced me sooner. But now I shall have the others approach. By the way, you speak German?"
"Yes."
"Good; then there is no need of an interpreter."
He raised his hand and at the signal the others came forward. Ivan presented each in turn, applying to each a German name that had been agreed upon during the night's travel. Nicolas expressed his pleasure at seeing them and after a few words of pleasantry, said:
"Now, gentlemen, if you will accompany me to my quarters, I shall try and make you feel at home."
As they walked along Hal and Chester took stock of the Montenegrin. Big he was, fully as tall and as broad as Ivan himself, and his great arms hung below his knees. He was the personification of rugged strength and brutality. From Nicolas the lads turned their eyes to Ivan. There was scarcely a noticeable difference in the stature of the two men and from casual observation it would have been hard to choose between them in the matter of strength. But the one noticeable difference was in the eyes.
Ivan's eyes looked one straight in the face, while Nicolas' shifted uneasily when he was observed closely. It was the difference in the eyes that told the difference between the two men better than anything else.
Presently Nicolas stopped before an extremely large hut, built up close beside a giant rock. He stood aside and motioned the others to enter. They did so and Nicolas, after a word to his men, came in after them and closed the door. Then he motioned them all to seats and sat down himself. He eyed his guests in silence for a few moments, and finally remarked:
"Well?"
Hal took it upon himself to do the talking.
"First," he said, "we would like to know how you are progressing?"
"Beautifully," was Nicolas' reply. "I have distributed the gold given me for that purpose, first, of course, taking out my own share. The Albanians, knowing the poverty of the Montenegrins, have been convinced by the gold that final success in this war must crown the Austrian arms. Austrian sentiment is becoming greater each day. But I need more money."
"That is what we have come to see you about," said Hal. "You see, that while you are well informed as to just what is going on here, we have only your word for it. You may be telling the truth—and you may be lying."
Nicolas jumped to his feet, his fingers twitching.
"You dare—" he began.
"Nonsense," said Hal, remaining perfectly quiet. "This is no time for heroics. I have come here to find out something and I am going to find it out. Now how much of this gold have you given out as ordered, and how much have you kept for yourself?"
"I—I—well, I have—" Nicholas began.
"As I thought," said Hal. "You have been holding out. We can't have anything like that, you know. Where is the gold?"
Nicolas, for a moment, seemed about to make a denial, but Hal eyed him steadily, and he said at last:
"It is under this floor here," and he tapped the floor with his foot.
"All right," said Hal. "In shape to be carried?"
"Why yes, I guess half a dozen men could carry it well enough."
"I am glad to hear that," said Hal, "because I want you to dig it out right now."
Again Nicolas started to protest, but apparently thinking better of it, changed his mind and said:
"It shall be as you say. But you will not hold this against me, my having held some of the gold for my own?"
"Not if you do as I say."
"And I shall have more gold?"
"We shall see; perhaps."
"Then I shall uncover the other," said Nicolas.
He stooped to his knees and lifted a loose board in the floor.
"One moment," said Hal. "Your men outside. We can take no chances with them. If they knew you had all this gold stored here there would be a fight. Step outside and tell them to go away."
This time Nicolas obeyed without even hesitating.
While he was outside, Hal whispered quickly to the others:
"There is no use delaying. We'll give his men time to get out of hearing and then we'll grab him."
"But the gold, what are you going to do with that?" Ivan wanted to know.
Hal smiled a bit.
"I don't know how I happened to think of that," he said, "but now that we practically have it in our hands, I vote that we turn it over to the impoverished little kingdom of Montenegro."
"By Jove! Good!" exclaimed Colonel Edwards. "My boy, you have a wonderful head on your shoulders. I am proud to know you."
"Thanks," said Hal. "Now, as long as I have been doing the talking, I may as well continue. We'll keep quiet until we are sure this traitor's men are out of earshot and then we'll take possession of Mr. Nicolas and his unearned gold."
A few moments later Nicolas re-entered the hut.
"Get rid of them?" asked Hal, briefly.
"Yes."
"Good. Then get busy and bring your gold out."
"Look here," said Nicolas, eyeing Hal somewhat angrily. "I don't like your tone exactly."
"I don't exactly care whether you do or not," returned Hal quietly. "You are pretty small fry in this game, Nicolas, and I'm not afraid of you. Remember, if anything should happen to me, you'll have the German government on your trail, and then what would you do for gold?"
Nicolas opened his mouth to reply; then thought better of it and closed his lips without uttering a sound.
"All right, now that we understand each other," said Hal. "Get to work and produce the gold."
Nicolas waited no further, but did as commanded.
"One," counted Hal, as the man drew from beneath the board a little sack of gold.
One after another Hal counted them as they were laid on the floor at his feet, until in all there were seventeen little sacks, just small enough to permit of being stowed away in outside coat pockets.
"Two for each of us to carry," said Hal, looking around, "and one over.
I'll carry the extra one in my hand."
"And don't I get any of this?" demanded Nicolas, looking at the bags of gold longingly.
"You do not," replied Hal, quietly. "This money is to be given where it will do the most good. You have had your chance with it. Now it is my turn."
"Very well," said Nicolas, with a shrug of his shoulders. "But I have made my agreement with the Austrian government; and when the war has been won, I shall get my pay."
"Perhaps," said Hal, with a double meaning, that was, of course, lost upon Nicolas, "you shall receive your just pay before the war ends."
"Do you really think so?" asked Nicolas eagerly. "I hope so."
"But now," said Hal, "it is time to be moving. Pick up the gold, men, and let's get away from here."
The others obeyed. Each stowed two sacks in his pocket and Hal carried the seventeenth package in his hand. Then Hal motioned them out the door. He emerged after them and his hand was on his automatic as he did so.
"Which way?" asked Chester.
"Straight ahead," said Nicolas.
"No," said Hal quietly. "About face. We are going the other way."
"Where to?" demanded Nicolas surlily.
"Right back to Cettinje," replied Hal, "where you shall be turned over to the Montenegrin authorities to meet the fate you deserve!"