“All right, Edwards?”

“All right,” was the reply.

“I’ve caught the enemy,” explained Hal.  “You can come from under cover.”

He led the way to the road and a moment later Colonel Edwards joined them.

“What have we here?” he exclaimed, after a glance at the dwarf.

“A guide,” replied Hal; “the same being the man who fired at us, and also Stubbs’ own prisoner.”

“Stubbs’ prisoner?”

“Exactly.  He captured him single-handed.”

Colonel Edwards eyed Stubbs in the greatest surprise, until Hal explained in a low voice, so that neither Stubbs nor the dwarf might hear.

“Well, we may as well be moving then,” said Colonel Edwards.  “Have your guide take the lead, Stubbs.”

Stubbs, undeniably proud at the honor now being bestowed upon him, did as requested, and the dwarf led the way down the road at a rapid gait.

Hour after hour they walked along encountering no one, until shortly before nightfall when they drew up near a small hut.  Here Nikol went forward and secured food, which he brought back in his hands.  This they devoured hungrily, drank from a little brook, and moved forward again.

Now Nikol deserted the beaten path and struck off through the mountains proper, climbing steep hills, leaping ruts and gullies, rocks and brooks, but making such good progress that the others were hard pressed to keep up with him.

Darkness fell suddenly and Stubbs shuddered.

“Nice place for an assassin here, too,” he muttered gloomily.

“Back at it, are you?” said Hal.  “What will your friend Nikol say?”

Stubbs did not reply.

Suddenly the dwarf halted and motioned the others to silence.  All listened intently and directly made out what the sharp ears of Nikol had caught first—­the sound of approaching footsteps.

Nikol motioned the others back into the shadow of a great rock and stepped boldly forward.  Then he hesitated a moment, came back and spoke to Stubbs in a low voice, yet loud enough for the others to hear.

“If I should chance to be outmatched,” he said, “you will come to my assistance?  The others,” he snapped his fingers, “are no good.  You will come?”

Taken wholly off his guard, Stubbs stuttered and stammered.

“You will come?” Nikol repeated again.

“Ye-e-s, I’ll come,” Stubbs articulated at last.

Nikol wasted no further time in words, but moved forward perhaps a hundred yards.  Then he halted and stood still, waiting.

The sound of footsteps drew nearer and still nearer, and then suddenly
Nikol sprang forward, silently and swiftly.

There came a sudden startled cry from ahead and then a great, boisterous laugh.

“Ho!  Ho!” exclaimed a voice in French.  “Look what has attacked Ivan Vergoff.”

For some reason that he could not explain, Hal left his place of concealment and moved toward the combatants.  The others followed him.