The Montenegrins, flushed with victory, advanced again, and under cover of their artillery, stormed the enemy’s second line trenches.  These, too, were won after a desperate struggle and heavy losses on both sides, and with these the Montenegrins, worn and spent, rested content.

The troops were for pushing on after the Austrians, but King Nicholas called a halt.

“My brave men!” he exclaimed, with tears in his eyes.  “They have done a day’s work to-day that will live in memory for generations to come.  It is a brilliant victory.”

The duel of heavy guns continued, but the infantry fighting was over for the day.  The Montenegrins, in their newly won trenches, fell to preparing them to resist the attack that they knew would come sooner or later, while the Austrians were taking account of their losses and making ready for a new assault.

Stubbs laid a hand on Chester’s arm.

“Didn’t I tell you they looked like real fighters?” he exclaimed.

“Certainly, I have never seen better,” returned the lad.

Stubbs turned to Nikol.

“Well, Nikol,” said he, “what do you think of these fellows as fighters?”

Nikol eyed him in silence for several moments.  But at last he spoke.

“Mr. Stubbs,” he said quietly, “they are better fighters than you or I.”

CHAPTER XVIII.

Ivan again.

“Come,” said Colonel Anderson, “the battle is over.  There will be no more fighting to-day.  Let us move.”

Slowly all made their way back toward their quarters, talking over the battle as they went.

It was late in the afternoon.  The battle had raged all day, and now for the first time the friends felt the need of food.  Instead of taking camp fare, to which they were invited by the Montenegrin officer who accompanied them, they decided to go to a little village not far from the camp, where the officer informed them they could get a substantial meal at a certain, little restaurant.

Thither they made their way and to their satisfaction found the information correct.  Then, their appetites satisfied, they left the restaurant and started back to the camp.

It was now after dark and as they walked slowly, discussing events of the day, they came upon a knot of men engaged in some sort of an argument.

“My curiosity always gets the better of me,” said Chester.  “Let’s have a look,” and he led the way toward the gesticulating group.

It was plain, as they drew nearer, that the argument was heated.  Loud voices broke the stillness of the night, and one of them, a deep bass, had a familiar ring.  One look at the faces in the crowd and they recognized its owner.

It was none other than Ivan, whom they had last seen when he made his dash for liberty in the mountains.

Ivan was in the very center of the crowd, and as Hal, Chester and the others came close, in the glare of a dim light he could be seen gesticulating violently.