Chapter XIV: The Bandit Chief

Hal, Chester and Alexis threw themselves to the ground with a single movement. A second bullet sped harmlessly overhead.

"We didn't come here to fight," Hal whispered to his friends, "so here goes."

He drew a handkerchief from his pocket, and waved it aloft. This was answered by a command in German, from some distance away.

"Stand up; put your hands above your heads and advance."

The three friends did as commanded. Three swarthy-faced men, with leveled revolvers, advanced to meet them. Quickly they searched their prisoners, relieved them of their weapons, and bound their hands securely.

"Forward march," commanded one, poking the muzzle of his weapon into the small of Chester's back.

There was no help for it. The three friends obeyed.

"Where are you taking us?" demanded Hal of one of their captors.

"To Brunnoi!" came the brief response.

"Great Scott!" said Hal to Chester, in English. "We certainly couldn't have got there quicker any other way. You don't suppose he has learned of our mission."

"I don't see how that is possible," replied Chester.

"Nor I; I suppose the thing to do is to try and convince him we are German soldiers, or else come straight out and tell him who we really are and why we are here."

"The latter way might be best," said Chester, thoughtfully. "For Brunnoi after all may not be such a staunch Austrian supporter as our late host would have us believe."

"True," said Hal. "I hadn't thought of that."

After an hour's ride they came to a little clearing in the forest that covered this point of the mountain. Here they were ordered to dismount, and for half a mile proceeded on foot. As they advanced still further the lads made out the mouth of a huge cavern. Into this dark hole their captors pushed them. Down the mouth of the cavern they walked, and then suddenly came to a sharp turn. Ten more paces and they bumped into a solid wall. One of their captors stepped forward and passed his hand over the surface of the smooth rock, and it gave way before him, turning on well-oiled hinges.

"Great Scott!" muttered Chester. "I have read of these things, but I never expected to see one."

The rock fell into place behind them, and the boys saw that they stood in a well-lighted compartment, in which stood a table and chairs. Their guards led them further along, to where they perceived a closed door. On this one of their captors knocked sharply.

"Come in," came a deep voice from beyond the door.

One of the guards opened the heavy wooden door, and stood back, signifying for the prisoners to enter.

The three friends did so. The room was brilliantly lighted. At a large mahogany desk sat a man in a military uniform, though of what country or what his rank the boys could not tell, for they had never seen a similar uniform and the man wore no shoulder straps. The chairs in the room were beautifully upholstered, and pictures were hung about the walls. All this the lads saw at a single glance.

The man at the desk rose and approached them. He bowed slightly, and, after ordering their hands released, indicated three nearby chairs.

"Be seated, if you please," he said politely, at the same time motioning the guards to withdraw.

Hal, Chester and Alexis did as requested. There was now no question of the man's identity in the mind of any. He wore a long white beard and had a pleasant, kindly face.

Hal rose to his feet.

"Are you Brunnoi?" he asked.

Brunnoi bowed.

"At your service," he replied. "Now, what can I do for Lieutenants Payne and Crawford, and their Cossack friend?"

The lads started to their feet upon hearing their own names thus upon the lips of a man they did not believe could possibly know them.

"Come, come, gentlemen," said Brunnoi, smiling at their surprise. "You see, many things are known to me. For instance, now, I could even tell you the object of your expedition to these mountains. Is it necessary?"

Hal threw wide his arms with a gesture of dismay.

"I guess it is not necessary," he said quietly.

"Good!" cried Brunnoi, for the first time evincing real interest in the lad. "You are a man after my own heart. You have nothing to gain by subterfuge."

"Well," said Hal slowly. "You know who we are and the object of our mission. What is your answer? Are you Austrian or Russian? Are you a Slav or not?"

Brunnoi jumped to his feet.

"Yes," he replied, "I am a Slav; but I am not one of your down-trodden Russian Slavs. I am a Hungarian, and a Hungarian--a true Hungarian--to-day is an Austrian!"

"Then," said Hal calmly, "our mission is accomplished. We know where you stand. May I ask you a question?"

"Certainly."

"Is it true that you have been able to furnish the Austrian general staff with the Grand Duke Nicholas' plans?"

Brunnoi was silent for some moments, but at length he replied:

"I don't mind answering that question, for you will never repeat my answer to the Grand Duke. Yes, I have furnished the Austrian general staff with important information."

"Well," said Chester, breaking into the conversation, "what are you going to do with us?"

"Why," said Brunnoi, "for the present you shall be kept here as my guests--prisoners, if you prefer. After that--well, it all depends. Should the Russians come, it may be necessary to dispose of you. Therefore, you should be wise and pray for Austrian success."

"Surely you do not mean that you would murder us?" asked Hal.

"I call it by no such name," replied Brunnoi calmly. "Putting away an enemy is not murder."

"Very well," said Chester calmly. "I suppose there is no use talking about it."

"Not the slightest. Come! Follow me, and I shall show you where you will make your home."

The bandit chief arose from his chair and led the way into another compartment. Hal, Chester and Alexis followed him. This room was also fitted up comfortably, though not as pretentiously as the bandit's office. There were several beds in the room.

"You may make yourselves comfortable here," said Brunnoi. "The door will be always locked, but that need not interfere with your comfort."

He bowed and left the room, and the three prisoners heard the key turn in the lock behind him.

"It looks to me as though we are in a bad way this time, all right," said Chester, when they were left alone.

"A bad way is no name for it," replied Hal; "but tell me, Chester, did you notice anything familiar about Brunnoi?"

Chester clapped his hands together.

"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "Now that you mention it, it seems to me I have seen him some place before. But I can't place him."

"Nor I; but I am positive this is not the first time we have met. It is his voice that puzzles me."

In vain the boys racked their brains. Alexis was called into consultation. He also had been impressed by Brunnoi's likeness to some one he had seen before; but he was unable to throw any light upon the resemblance.

"Well," said Chester at length, "I can't place him and that's all there is about it. Nevertheless, I am absolutely certain I have met him some place before to-day."

The door to their prison was now opened and food was placed upon the table in the center of the room. All three were nearly famished, and they fell to with a will.

"Fattening us up for the slaughter," said Chester with a laugh. "However, I guess they won't kill us to-day."

Slowly the hours passed. There was not a single window or opening in the room, and the prisoners could not tell whether it was day or night outside. But now Hal, glancing at his watch, uttered an exclamation of surprise.

"Almost midnight," he said. "Guess we might as well turn in."

Hal and Chester tumbled into the beds, but Alexis continued to sit in his chair, brooding.

"Come on, Alexis, get to bed," Hal called. "What on earth's the matter, anyhow?"

Alexis did not reply, and Hal repeated his question.

"I was just thinking," said the giant, "what a fool I was to let these fellows take my gun away from me without even a struggle. With a good gun apiece, we might be able to get away from here."

"Cheer up," said Hal. "We are not going to be killed. While there is life there is hope. We'll get out of this ticklish situation somehow. Just be patient."

"Patient!" echoed Alexis; "how can a man be patient cooped up in a place like this?"

"Well, it can't be helped now," said Chester. "Come on to bed."

But Alexis was in no mood to turn in. For perhaps another half-hour he sat brooding; then he arose and made a tour of the room. He put his hand on the doorknob and tried it. It was securely locked, and the Cossack had no doubt that it was also bolted on the far side. He rattled the knob angrily, but there was no answer from the outside.

Alexis continued his tour of inspection. He eyed the table speculatively. It was made of oak and while not of great bulk was very heavy--as much as two ordinary men could lift. Alexis picked it up and tested its weight. Then he growled something to himself.

He also tested the chairs and even the bed on which he was to sleep, all the time growling to himself like a dog. Then, his tour of the room completed, he sat down in his chair again. Hal and Chester had been watching him from beneath lowered lids.

Hal raised himself up.

"Find anything?" he asked.

Alexis vouchsafed no reply.

"Great Scott!" cried Chester, sitting up. "Are you going to mope around all night? Come to bed and get a little rest, that you may be fit to meet any emergency should it arise."

"A good idea," growled Alexis to himself, and extinguishing the light, threw himself upon his bed.