“Well, I wasn’t talking literally,” said Hal.  “I don’t know how many there are, but they look like a million.”

“And what are we going to do?” moaned Stubbs.

“It looks to me as though we should have to stop right here,” said Hal quietly.

“And be shot to pieces?” This from Stubbs.

“You might go outside and try running a bit,” returned Chester.  “I have no doubt you would be killed a bit quicker.”

“I’ll stay here,” said Stubbs.

At this moment Helen came into the room.  She was heavily attired and carried a small satchel.

“Well, I’m ready,” she said, smiling.  “Did you think it would take me all day to dress?”

“You might just as well go back and get unready,” said Stubbs in a faint voice.

Helen gazed at the serious faces about her queerly.

“Why, what on earth is the matter?” she asked anxiously.

“Matter?” echoed Stubbs.  “Everything is the matter.  The Serbians and Bulgarians are coming to shoot us full of holes.”

Helen turned to Hal for an explanation.

“It’s true, Miss Ellison, though not as Mr. Stubbs expresses it,” said Hal quietly.  “We are between two fires.  The Bulgarians are less than half a mile from us and they have seized my airplane.  The Serbians are advancing.  There will undoubtedly be a battle and we will be somewhere about the middle of it.”

“But can’t we leave now and hurry toward the Serbians?” asked Helen.

“I had thought of that,” said Hal; “but the Bulgarians are too close.  If they saw us fleeing, they would probably shoot us down.”

“Then cannot we seek the protection of the Bulgarians?”

This brought a growl from Ivan.

“Better keep as far from the Bulgarians as possible,” he said in a harsh voice.  “I know something of the Bulgarians.”

Hal nodded.

“Besides, we have other business,” he added.  “We do not want to fall into the hands of the Bulgarians if we can possibly help it.  We have a mission to perform if it is humanly possible.”

“Boom!” it was the sound of a big gun.

“The battle is on,” said Hal.  “Will any of you come to the roof with me?  We should be able to get a good view.”

“Boom!  Boom!  Boom!  Boom!  Boom!”

The battle was on in full blast.

CHAPTER XXVI.

In grave peril.

Helen led the way to the roof, the others following closely.  As Hal had predicted, it was possible from this height to obtain a fair view of the opposing armies.

To the north, as far as the eye could see, the army of King Ferdinand of Bulgaria spread out, a mass of moving energy.  Faint puffs of smoke dotted the Bulgar line as far as the eye could see.

“Cannon!” said Hal briefly.

To the south, the Serbian line moved forward.  It, too, spread out on either side as far as the eye could reach and puffs of smoke rose steadily, shutting out the view of the moving men.