"Apparently," said Hal, "we are Bulgarian officers. The bluff may work. I
want to tell all inquiring parties that we have just explored these
woods. Catch the idea?"

Chester and Ivan nodded.




CHAPTER XXIX.

MR. STUBBS PROVES HIMSELF.


"We'll stay in among the trees and won't show ourselves unless we have
to," Hal explained.

From the direction in which the fugitives had so recently come, there now
came the noise of a rapidly approaching body of horsemen. They halted a
short distance from where Hal, Chester and Ivan stood and dismounted.

"They may be hiding in here," said a voice. "We'll have a look."

The men, a dozen of them, came forward.

Making a slight detour, the three friends managed to get behind them.
Then, instead of continuing straight ahead, Hal turned sharply in his
tracks and followed in the wake of the Bulgarian searching party.

The Bulgarians proceeded slowly, exploring every nook and corner of the