"I'm no quitter," said Hal. "But the best we can do now is let events shape themselves."
And now the Bulgarian advance began.
Apparently the Bulgarian commander had no thought of attempting to overtake the Serbians and annihilate them. Apparently he figured that ground gained was ground gained whether with or without a fight. The army moved forward slowly.
A party of officers, following in the wake of the vanguard, rode suddenly toward the house in which the friends had taken refuge.
"And here comes the trouble, as Stubbs would say," declared Hal. "Let's go below and get ready to receive them."
He suited the action to the word and the others followed him silently. Below, Hal acquainted Helen with what had transpired and announced that the Bulgarians were approaching.
"And what of the bodies without?" asked the girl quietly.
"Whew!" Hal gave a long and expressive whistle. "I hadn't thought of that. Wait a moment, though. We'll have to say they were here when the Serbians advanced and were killed."
"But the Serbians were not so close to the house."
"I know that, but I cannot think of any better excuse."