Then followed heavy footsteps approaching.

"You say they are in here? I'll have a look at them myself," said a
voice.

A moment later the scowling face of a Bulgarian colonel appeared in the
doorway. Helen stood just behind him and behind her were several other
Bulgarian officers.

Hal rose, as did the others, as the Bulgarian swept into the room.

"Who are you?" demanded the officer in a harsh voice.

"Hal Paine, an American," replied the lad, and indicated the others after
this fashion: "Chester Crawford, also an American; Harry Anderson, an
American; Nikol, an Albanian, the servant there of Anthony Stubbs,
American war correspondent; Ivan Vergoff, also an Albanian."

"Hm-m-m," muttered the Bulgarian. "You have quite a fluent tongue, young
man. And what are you doing here?"

"Three of us," said Hal, indicating Chester, Colonel Anderson and
himself, "were looking about Montenegro when the war broke out. We have
been there since, lending what aid we could to the wounded. There we
encountered Ivan Vergoff, who, for some reason, became attached to us.
There also we encountered Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent, and his
man, Nikol."

"Very plausible, very plausible," said the Bulgarian. "But how do I know
you speak the truth?"