A NEW MISSION.
The two lads were again having an audience of the Grand Duke. The
latter, after ordering them to bear word to the commander of the Cossack
force that had invaded the Carpathians to remain before Cracow until
further notice, had also proposed a new mission to the lads.
"I would like to learn," he said, "whether there is any truth in the
report that, in the event we capture Cracow, the population of Galicia
will come to our support and throw off the Austrian yoke. Of course I
have heard these rumors from apparently reliable sources, but I would
prefer to know the truth from someone I can trust implicitly."
"We shall be glad to undertake that mission, Your Excellency," said Hal.
"I believe that by using a little strategy we can gain entrance to the
city. It would probably be easier for us than for one of your own men,
because we are Americans and may be able to use that to advantage."
"I had thought of that," replied the Grand Duke. "In fact, it is for
that reason that I selected you. I will give you a message to your
commander, relieving you from active duty. My advice is that you do not
take Alexis on this mission. He would probably hinder you."
The boys saluted, and taking the paper the Grand Duke extended to them,
departed. On their way back toward Cracow they informed Alexis of their
mission and of the fact that he was not to accompany them. The Cossack
was disappointed and astonished.
"Not take me!" he exclaimed in surprise. "Why, I am good for fifty men!
You know that!"
"But this is not a case of strength and fighting," Hal explained. "This
is a case where strategy will count more than a hundred men."
"Well," demanded Alexis, "am I not a strategist? Did you not tell me so
with your own lips? As a strategist there is none better than I. Why, I
can tell you how I----"
"But, Alexis," Hal interrupted, "one look at you would tell an Austrian
your nationality. You cannot expect to fool them as we did the peasant
of the hills. I am sorry, but there is no help for it."
Alexis was greatly crestfallen, but he admitted the truth of the boys'
reasoning.
"It is true that anyone would know I am a Cossack," he replied, "but if
it came to a fight----"
"If it comes to a fight," said Chester, "we shall miss you greatly; but
we shall have to try and get along without you this time."
Back with their regiment they gave the message releasing them from
active duty to their commander; then, changing their uniforms for
civilian garb and bidding Alexis good-by, they set out in the direction
of the Galician stronghold, making a wide detour so as to approach from
the north, rather than from the direction of the Russian troops in the
East.
They went horseback, and they rode slowly, for they did not wish to
attract undue attention to themselves by too great speed. The route they
traversed made it a good two-days' journey, and long before coming to
the city proper they encountered bands of Austrian troops. To these,
however, they paid little heed and they were not molested.
"Evidently they don't care who goes in," remarked Chester.
"Looks that way," replied Hal; "but I'll bet they pay strict attention
to anyone who tries to get out. That's where our hardest work probably
will come in."
"I guess you are right," said Chester.
Nevertheless they were halted by an Austrian patrol when close to the
city. To him, however, they explained that they were American tourists,
caught in Galicia at the outbreak of the war, and that they had
penetrated beyond the Austrian lines without being aware of it.
"We want to get back to safety," Hal told him.
The Austrian officer smiled and let them pass without further words.
Inside the Galician city the lads prowled about leisurely. The extreme
eastern end of the city was a mass of ruins. The shells hurled by the
big Russian guns had done great damage; but the flames had been
extinguished before they had reached the heart of the city, and as the
Russians had later fallen back a considerable distance the city now was
perfectly quiet.
Night came on, and the lads sought shelter in the home of a Galician
peasant. The house was small but comfortable, and the old man who lived
in it admitted them without question. They repeated to him the story
told the Austrian officer, adding that the place in which they had been
staying had been destroyed by a Russian shell.
"And your sympathies," inquired the old man, "are with the Austrians?"
"Of course," replied Hal quietly, "Russian barbarism must be wiped out."
"Good!" replied the old man. "I suppose you know there is considerable
sentiment in favor of the Russians, however?"
"I have heard something to that effect; but I could scarcely credit it,"
replied Hal guardedly.
"Well," said the old man, "it is true. A plot was discovered not two
days ago to give the city into the hands of the Russians. The
conspirators were arrested right here in my house. They were friends of
mine. I was known to be loyal, and my false friends took advantage of
that fact to do their plotting here. Now my house is watched closely,
although they have hesitated to arrest me."
The old man made the two comfortable for the night and left them. Before
preparing for bed the lads talked over what the old man had told them.
As they were getting ready to retire, they heard voices from an
adjoining room.
Through a little hole in the wall they could see a stream of light. Hal
put his eye to the hole. In the room beyond he made out the figures of
two Austrian officers. Then the lad motioned to Chester to remain
silent, and laid his ear to the hole.
"You are sure of this other plot?" came a voice.
"Perfectly; but we will nip it in the bud. There is no question but the
people would welcome a Russian investment of the city. Galicia is
practically in sympathy with the Russians. We have been hard put to it
to keep them from rising and turning the city over to the Czar's
troops."
"Well, I am sure we are equal to any occasion," said the first speaker.
Hal turned away from the wall and repeated the conversation to Chester.
"I guess that's all we need to know," he added.
"I should say it is," was the reply. "Now the question is, how are we to
get back to our own lines?"
"I have a plan that may work," said Hal. "It came to me a moment ago."
"And that is?" prompted Chester.
"Well," said Hal quietly, "we will exchange clothes with those two
officers in the next room."
"Good!" cried Chester.
"Let's start then."
"Hadn't we better wait until they are asleep?"
"No; I believe I have a better plan. Come with me."
Quietly the two lads slipped from the room and down the little hall.
Then they turned and made their way back again, coming only as far as
the door to the Austrians' room. Hal opened it and walked in. At sight
of the two Austrian officers he drew back in well-simulated surprise.
"I beg your pardon," he exclaimed. "I am in the wrong room."
"Oh, that's all right," laughed one of the Austrians. "Are you the
Americans who are stopping here?"
"Yes," replied Hal.
"Well," said the Austrian. "It's early yet; come in and have a chat with
us. You can perhaps tell us some things about America that we would like
to know."
Hal accepted the invitation, mentally congratulating himself upon their
good fortune. After a lengthy conversation, Hal rose to go.
"It's getting late," he said. "Come, Chester, we may as well turn in."
Chester also rose. In going to the door it was necessary for Hal to pass
behind one of the Austrians. As he did so, he quickly threw out a hand
and clutched the man by the throat. At the same moment Chester sprang
upon the second unsuspecting officer, and the cry that the latter would
have let out was stifled in his throat by the pressure of the lad's
fingers.
Hal now produced a revolver, and Chester did likewise. They covered the
two officers.
"One outcry and you are dead men," said Hal calmly.
While Chester kept them covered, Hal bound and gagged them. Then the two
lads stripped them of their uniforms, which they donned themselves.
Feeling perfectly secure in these, the lads saw that the prisoners were
well tied and unable to cry out, and then left the room, shutting the
door behind them.
In the hall they encountered their host, but the latter, recognizing the
Austrian uniform, did not even speak to them. The lads left the house
quietly, and turned their faces toward the north, intending to go back
by the way they had come.
Several times they were spoken to by Austrian officers as they walked
along the streets, but to these salutations they made no reply, trusting
that their apparent rudeness would cast no suspicion upon them. And it
did not.
At length they came to the farthest Austrian outpost, and here, for the
first time they were challenged. Hal stepped a little ahead of Chester
and spoke.
"We are inspecting the lines," he said calmly.
"You cannot pass here," came the reply. "My orders are to shoot anyone
who attempts to get by. The general himself couldn't pass. You will have
to go back."
"Oh, all right, if that's the way you feel about it," said Hal, turning
his back upon the sentry.
The sentry, believing that the lads would go away, lowered his rifle,
and in that moment Hal turned quickly again and sprang upon him. A quick
blow knocked the sentry from his feet, and the lads dashed forward. In
the distance Hal made out the form of several horses, and the lads ran
toward them.
"Quick, Chester!" cried Hal.
But the Austrian sentry had not been knocked unconscious. He was only
stunned. He staggered to his feet, brought his rifle to his shoulder and
fired. He was too unsteady to aim carefully, however, and the lads were
unhurt.
But the sound of the shot aroused the Austrian camp. Men came rushing
forward.
The boys leaped to the backs of two horses and spurred on.
"It's a race for life, Hal!" shouted Chester, as the horses dashed
ahead.