THE MYSTERY CLEARED.
Chester stared in astonishment at his friend. Had he gone mad and taken
this means of staying their execution?
The Grand Duke staggered back a step, and Count de Reslau smiled
incredulously.
"Have I your permission to do so, Your Excellency?" asked Hal.
The Grand Duke waved his hand.
"You shall have three minutes to produce him," he said angrily.
"Good!" said Hal. "It will require even less."
His right hand was in his pocket. Suddenly it flashed forth, and with it
something white. Straight toward Count de Reslau the lad sprang, and
before the latter could leap out of the way Hal grasped him firmly by
the back of the neck with his left hand, and with his right clapped a
long, flowing white beard to his face. Then with a twist, he whirled him
so that he faced the Grand Duke.
"Behold Brunnoi, chief of the bandits!" he cried.
The Grand Duke staggered back again, and put one hand to his eyes.
"Impossible!" he exclaimed.
But he was forced to believe what his eyes saw. Count de Reslau and
Brunnoi, the bandit chief, were one and the same man. There could be no
doubt of that.
In vain did the bandit struggle to free himself from Hal's firm grasp.
The lad clung to him tightly in spite of all his efforts. Then,
realizing that the Grand Duke must be convinced, he dropped the beard to
the ground and stepped back while half a dozen rifles covered the count.
The Grand Duke, with a wave of his arm, instructed the officer in
command of the firing squad to release the two lads. Then he ordered him
to conduct the bandit chief to his quarters, and motioned the lads to
follow. Inside the tent the Grand Duke turned upon his false friend.
"De Reslau," he said, addressing the prisoner, "we have been friends,
and for that reason I am offering you a chance to make a satisfactory
explanation--if you can."
"I have nothing to say," replied the prisoner.
"Will you tell me how you have conducted your operations?"
The bandit did not reply and Hal stepped forward.
"Your Excellency," he said, "I believe I can rehearse it from beginning
to end. The count probably will correct me if I am wrong."
The Grand Duke ordered him to proceed.
"Well," said Hal, "the count knew of our mission. We went horseback, but
the count, being prepared for these rapid journeys, proceeded by
automobile."
The bandit chief glanced at the lad in surprise.
"How did you know that?" he demanded.
"We stumbled upon your automobile garage in the mountains," said Hal
quietly. "Of course, when we returned, the count was waiting for us. Why
he left us behind alive when he came back here, I don't know, but I now
remember how greatly surprised the count was to see us back safely.
Immediately he planned to get us out of the way. Hence the attack the
other night, in which we were fortunate enough to capture him."
"But the escape?" demanded the Grand Duke. "How did he escape?"
"Very simple," replied Hal. "The man to whom you gave the pass to see
the prisoner was of course not Count de Reslau, but a man made up to
resemble him. Am I right, count?"
"Yes," replied the bandit. "I have kept him near me for that very
purpose. He had his orders that in the event I was ever arrested, he
would make up to resemble me."
"Exactly," continued Hal. "Once alone with the prisoner the rest was
easy. He removed his disguise, and Brunnoi removed his. Brunnoi came out
as Count de Reslau, and the other man stayed. Naturally, the first thing
the count thought of when he was free was to dispose of Chester and
myself. Hence his call this morning. As he escaped from Alexis I
succeeded in pulling off his beard. That's all there is to it."
"And now," demanded the bandit chief, "what are you going to do with
me?"
"There is but one thing I can do with you," replied the Grand Duke. "The
fate of Count de Reslau shall be the same as that already pronounced for
Brunnoi, the bandit. You shall be shot within the hour. Personal
friendship shall not keep me from doing my duty. Officer, see that my
command is carried out."
The guard closed in about Count de Reslau and he was led away. Then the
Grand Duke Nicholas, commander-in-chief of the Russian armies, sank into
a chair, and buried his face in his arms on the table. Quietly the lads
left the tent.
"By Jove!" exclaimed Chester, as they walked along, "you spotted de
Reslau just in time. Another moment and it would have been too late.
Tell me, how did you happen to hit it?"
"Ever since I pulled Brunnoi's beard off this morning," replied Hal,
"another face has kept flashing into my mind. I could not make it out
clearly until just as we stood before the firing squad. Then I saw it as
plain as day."
"It's lucky for us that you did," said Chester with enthusiasm. "But
here comes Alexis. He'll be glad to know that Brunnoi has been disposed
of."
And he was.
"But you make much over a small matter," he said.
"Small matter!" exclaimed Chester. "I should say that proving Brunnoi
and Count de Reslau were one and the same person was quite a big
matter."
"If you had asked me," returned Alexis calmly, "I could have told you
that several days ago."
"You could?" cried both lads in a single voice.
"Of course. I knew it right along. You see, my eyes are unusually keen.
I remember once how this keen sight proved of great advantage. We were
on a raid. The officer in command, using his glasses, could not quite
make out objects moving some miles away. He called upon me. My eyes,
being far more powerful than the glass, showed me plainly what was going
on, and we were thus kept from falling into a trap. Then I remember
another case----"
"One is enough," said Hal dryly. "If you knew Brunnoi and Count de
Reslau were the same person, why didn't you say so?"
"Why," said Alexis in no wise disconcerted, "I didn't see that it made
any difference."
"Then your sight is not so good after all," said Chester. "But what are
we going to do now, Hal?"
"Well," said Hal, "I guess we might as well go get Marquis and return to
our regiment. Our work here is done."
The dog was indeed glad to accompany his three friends forth once more,
and so, procuring three fiery chargers, the trio set out to rejoin their
regiment at the front--some miles to the west of the city of Lodz.
Most of the officers of the regiment to which the three were attached
had been killed in the previous battle, and so when they finally reached
it, Alexis found that instead of being a lieutenant he had become a
captain.
"You see," he told the boys confidentially, "a brave man always comes
into his own. You will see how these fellows fight with me at their
head. They will be a whole lot different, I can tell you."
The Russians had intrenched themselves along the entire front, as had
the Germans only a short distance away. During the days in which the
lads had been in the midst of the Carpathians, there had been only
skirmishing between the opposing forces. Long range artillery duels
raged incessantly; but there had been little work for the cavalry and
infantry.
There had of course been several charges and counter charges, but the
advantage rested with neither side. The Russian troops, in spite of the
cold weather, made themselves comfortable in the trenches, wrapped to
the chin in their heavy sheepskin garments. Used to severe winter
weather, the Russian troops did not fare as badly as did the Germans,
who suffered severely.
The lads' regiment was stationed near the center of the long line of
battle. Preparations for a movement of some sort were being made on all
sides. Troops were being hurried here and there, and officers dashed
hither and yon. Occasionally the men burst into song; while from the
German trenches came the chanting of the "Watch on the Rhine." The men
of both armies were making the best of the situation, and seemed
reasonably happy.
From his pocket one of the Russian officers now produced a pack of
cards. Alexis, invited to take a hand, consented, but Hal and Chester
refused.
"What's the matter?" demanded the officer. "Are you too good to play
cards?"
"Not a bit," smiled Hal. "We simply don't care to play, that's all. We
do play occasionally, for pastime, but we don't gamble."
"Don't gamble!" exclaimed the officer. "How can you play cards if you
don't gamble. Come on now, we need two more players."
"No," said Hal, decidedly. "We shall have to ask you to excuse us."
Even Alexis glanced at the lads in astonishment. Plainly this was beyond
his comprehension, as gambling among the Cossacks is an ordinary
pastime. But the other officer was not satisfied. He arose and came
directly up to Hal.
"You must play with us," he said.
"I am sorry," replied Hal, "but we do not care to play."
"Afraid, eh?" said the Russian.
"No," replied Hal, "we are not afraid. We simply don't care to play."
"You are cowards," said the Russian, and jostled Hal with his shoulder.
Hal stood his ground and refused to be pushed aside. The Russian reached
out a thumb and finger and pulled Hal's nose. Then he staggered back,
for Hal had sent his fist crashing against his chest.
Quickly the Russian officer drew his sword and sprang upon the lad, who
also drew his weapon and stood on guard. But now Alexis leaped to his
feet, and his own sword struck up the weapons of the others.
"Enough of this," he said sternly. "Put up your swords."
"I have no desire to fight," replied Hal calmly.
"I know you haven't," sneered the Russian. "You are afraid. But I demand
satisfaction for that blow."
"Well," said Alexis, "if you must fight, let it be with fists."
"Any way suits me," said the Russian.
"If he insists on a fight, I am willing to give it to him," said Hal,
and quickly threw off his coat.
The Russian also discarded his heavy coat, and the two squared off. It
was perfectly plain to Hal that the Russian, although considerably
larger than himself, was no boxer, and he had little doubt of the
outcome, for the lad was proficient in the use of his fists.
The Russian came forward with a rush. Hal sidestepped neatly, and the
huge fist passed by harmlessly. Hal sent a quick sharp blow to the
Russian's cheek, staggering him a bit. The latter turned and again
rushed at the lad.
Quite a crowd had now collected around the combatants and watched the
contest eagerly. As the Russian rushed at him this time, Hal struck up
the blow with his left forearm, and stepping in close planted his right
over his opponent's heart. The Russian staggered back, and at the same
time Hal sent a series of left and right jabs to his opponent's face.
But the Russian, recovering, bored in again, striking out wildly at the
lad. The latter gave a clever exhibition of footwork, and not a single
blow landed. At the same time he continued to tap the Russian lightly on
either side of the face.
Suddenly the Russian lowered his hands and stepped back.
"I quit," he said, smiling foolishly. "There is no use trying to hit a
man when he runs away all the time. Now with swords or pistols----"
"There will be no swords or pistols used while I am here to prevent it,"
exclaimed Alexis.
At that very instant the clear call of a bugle sounded in the Russian
trenches. Quickly all personal animosities were forgotten, and the men
sprang to their posts.
It was the signal for an advance.