“But he said—­” protested the dwarf, pointing a finger at Chester.

“I don’t care what he said,” Stubbs said.  “I can fight my own battles.”

Nikol, deeply offended, drew back, and without another word, walked to the pallet that had been assigned to him.  Stubbs, feeling somewhat better now that he had been able to berate some one and thus soothe his injured feelings, also stalked away without another word and lay down on his pallet.  A moment later he was fast asleep.

“Do you suppose there is need for one of us to stand watch, Ivan?” asked Hal.

“I do not believe so,” was the reply.  “No one knows where my cavern is and we are not likely to be disturbed.”

“I vote we turn in immediately then,” said Colonel Edwards.

“Second the motion,” said Colonel Anderson.  “We’ve got to be on the move early and we’ve got to have some sleep first.”

“Here goes, then,” said Chester, and moved to his own place.

The others also sought their pallets and soon there was silence in the cavern.  Completely worn out, the travelers slept like logs.

Several hours later, had they not been so completely exhausted, the sleepers undoubtedly would have heard strange noises from that part of the cavern in which Nicolas had been confined.

Came a faint grinding sound, which gradually became louder and louder, but which, after a time, ceased altogether.  Then came a softer sound, that of footsteps coming slowly from the dark passageway; and a moment later Nicolas himself stepped into the glare of the fire.

His clothing was torn about the shoulders and his open hands dripped little drops of blood.  He rubbed them together tenderly.

“Had I been a weaker man it would have been impossible,” he muttered.

For he had pushed aside the heavy rock that guarded his prison—­a rock that Ivan had believed not another man save himself could move.  Apparently Nicolas had been underestimated.

Now the Montenegrin moved softly toward the entrance to the cave, fearful at every step that he would awaken the sleepers.  It was dark within and this fact probably is all that prevented his escape.

In moving toward the entrance he passed close to the pallet upon which Stubbs slept.  One of the little man’s hands was stretched out across the floor and Nicolas’ heavy boot came down squarely upon it.

A sudden loud cry shattered the deathly stillness of the night, followed by a more piercing cry.

Instantly every one was awake, though only half so, for the awakening had come so suddenly.

At Stubbs’ first outcry, Nicolas, with a muttered imprecation, had dashed for the exit.  He fell upon his knees and was about to crawl outside when Nikol, more wide awake than the others, flung himself forward and clasped his long arms about the Montenegrin’s neck.

Nicolas drew back in the cave and pulled himself to his feet in spite of the dwarf’s frantic efforts to hold him down.  Then, seeing the size of his opponent, Nicolas laughed aloud and sought to fling the little man from him.  But Nikol held him firmly.