A short distance away he came upon an unsuspecting sentinel.  A sharp blow with his revolver butt placed the other hors de combat.  Supporting the unconscious figure with his arm, Hal moved back to the prison tent.  This figure also was pushed beneath the canvas and the uniform donned by Chester.

“Now we can make a little better time,” said Hal, “there are two of us.”

Uniforms were still needed for Colonel Anderson, Ivan, Nikol, Stubbs and Helen.  Hal and Chester disappeared into the night.

Five minutes later Hal returned, this time with a uniform and no man.  He had found him in a deserted spot, and after knocking him down and tying him up, had stripped him.

“Put this on, Anderson, and get out after one,” he ordered.

He was gone again a moment later.  Soon also Chester returned successful and he and Anderson departed almost together.  There were now needed uniforms for Nikol, Stubbs and Helen, for Chester had brought one for Ivan.  And these uniforms must necessarily be small uniforms, for they were for small figures.  Therefore, the hunt was longer and it was more than an hour later until all three had returned to the tent.

“Well, here we are, all of us first class Bulgarians, now,” said Hal.  “Now, we’ll leave the tent one at a time, except that I shall take Miss Ellison with me first.  Now do exactly what I tell you, all of you.  Leaving the tent, walk two hundred paces to the left, then turn to the right and walk a hundred and fifty more.  Next fifty paces to the left again.  We shall wait for you there.  I have covered the distance and it’s the best place to join forces I can imagine.  It is in the shelter of a great rock that overhangs a large tent—­probably the quarters of the commanding officer.  Do you all understand?”

He had each repeat the directions several times, and then, taking Helen by the arm, he helped her under the tent.

Outside, with caps drawn down, for the weather was cold, they hurried on.  And at the appointed place Hal stopped.  There was nothing to do now but wait for the others.

Stubbs was the next to arrive and he came shaking a trifle.  The little man was trying to bear up, but he was having a hard time.  The next arrival was Nikol and then came Ivan.  Chester was next to arrive, following Colonel Anderson by a few seconds.

“Now we’re all here,” said Hal.  “We may as well move.  I have no idea just where we are, so we’ll have to select a direction and stick to it.”

“Wait a moment, please,” said Helen.  “Isn’t that the house in which we were captured?”

She pointed in the darkness.  The others peered intently in the direction indicated.  A dark shadow loomed up some distance ahead.

“I believe it is,” said Hal.  “Why?”

“Then, if you want to get into Greece, the quickest way is to go due south.”

“But the question is, which is south?” said Hal.