“Stubbs,” said Hal quietly, “you don’t have to go along if you don’t want to.  You can stay right here.”

“What?” exclaimed the little man.  “Stay here by myself?  I should say not.  I don’t want to stay here alone and I don’t want to go hunting brigands.  What I want to do is get some place where it’s safe.  I don’t like this country, if you want to know it.”

“It’s a good country,” said Nikol abruptly.

Stubbs looked at the dwarf in surprise.  It was the first time the Albanian had talked back to him.

“What do you know about it?” demanded Stubbs.  “You never saw a regular country.”

The dwarf bowed his head in some confusion.  Apparently Stubbs’ spell still held good over him.

“Come, Stubbs, don’t be stubborn,” said Chester.

“Well, all right,” said the little man, shaking his head sadly.  “I’ll go if the rest of you do, but I want to tell you right now, I protest!”

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.”