“And when shall we start?” asked Hal.

“Just as soon as we can.”

“Walk, ride, or what?”

“Horses, until we reach the top of the mountains.  Then we’ll walk.  Also, we will discard our uniforms—­anyhow, I don’t imagine you like the cut of those Austrian garments.”

“I don’t, and that’s the truth,” Hal agreed.

“Good.  We’ll change immediately.  You go to my quarters and wait.  I’ll rustle up some civilian clothes and have them sent you.  Also I’ll arrange for our mounts and other details.  I’ll meet you here two hours from now.”

With this Colonel Edwards betook himself away and the others returned to his quarters.

Half an hour later the clothes arrived and the four friends hastened to climb into them, Stubbs the while muttering to himself.

“Great Scott, Stubbs!” said Hal at last.  “Quit your grumbling.  Any one would think you were going to a funeral.”

“And so I am—­maybe,” returned the little man.  “And what worries me is that it is likely to be my own.”

“You are a cheerful sort of a companion, I must say,” declared Chester.  “What’s the use of yelling before you are hurt?”

“Because I probably won’t be able to afterwards,” was the reply.

Colonel Edwards was waiting when the four made their way to the appointed spot.  The horses were picketed nearby.

“All ready?” asked the colonel.  “Guns?  Ammunition?”

All nodded.

“Then there is no use waiting longer.  We may as well be moving.”

He led the way to the horses and leaped lightly to the saddle.  The others followed suit.  Edwards waited until all were mounted and then headed his horse toward the north.

“Let us ride,” he said.

All through the morning hours and well into the afternoon they rode along without adventure.  They were challenged several times by Montenegrin outposts, but were allowed to proceed after an explanation by Colonel Edwards.

It was four o’clock by Hal’s watch when Colonel Edwards at last drew rein in the far outskirts of a tiny mountain village.

“We’ll leave our horses here,” said the colonel, dismounting.

He led the way to a small barn near a smaller hut.  Approaching the hut he gave a loud whistle.  A man emerged and Colonel Edwards engaged him in conversation.  At length the man nodded.  Colonel Edwards turned to the others.

“We’ll turn our horses over to him,” he said.  “I told him we would be back within seven days and wanted him to keep the animals here for us.  He has agreed.”

“But will he?” asked Hal.

Colonel Edwards shrugged his shoulders.

“You know as much about it as I do,” he replied.  “However, we have no choice.”

“Well, they might come in handy if we get back,” declared Stubbs.  “When we return this far we are liable to be in considerable of a hurry, and if the horses were not here it would be a terrible disappointment for us, at least.  If we come back, we’ll probably come on the run.”