l smiled a bit.

"I don't know how I happened to think of that," he said, "but now that we
practically have it in our hands, I vote that we turn it over to the
impoverished little kingdom of Montenegro."

"By Jove! Good!" exclaimed Colonel Edwards. "My boy, you have a wonderful
head on your shoulders. I am proud to know you."

"Thanks," said Hal. "Now, as long as I have been doing the talking, I may
as well continue. We'll keep quiet until we are sure this traitor's men
are out of earshot and then we'll take possession of Mr. Nicolas and his
unearned gold."

A few moments later Nicolas re-entered the hut.

"Get rid of them?" asked Hal, briefly.

"Yes."

"Good. Then get busy and bring your gold out."

"Look here," said Nicolas, eyeing Hal somewhat angrily. "I don't like
your tone exactly."

"I don't exactly care whether you do or not," returned Hal quietly. "You
are pretty small fry in this game, Nicolas, and I'm not afraid of you.
Remember, if anything should happen to me, you'll have the German
government on your trail, and then what would you do for gold?"

Nicolas opened his mouth to reply; then thought better of it and closed
his lips without uttering a sound.

"All right, now that we understand each other," said Hal. "Get to work
and produce the gold."

Nicolas waited no further, but did as commanded.

"One," counted Hal, as the man drew from beneath the board a little
sack of gold.

One after another Hal counted them as they were laid on the floor at his
feet, until in all there were seventeen little sacks, just small enough
to permit of being stowed away in outside coat pockets.

"Two for each of us to carry," said Hal, looking around, "and one over.
I'll carry the extra one in my hand."

"And don't I get any of this?" demanded Nicolas, looking at the bags of
gold longingly.

"You do not," replied Hal, quietly. "This money is to be given where
it will do the most good. You have had your chance with it. Now it
is my turn."

"Very well," said Nicolas, with a shrug of his shoulders. "But I have
made my agreement with the Austrian government; and when the war has been
won, I shall get my pay."

"Perhaps," said Hal, with a double meaning, that was, of course, lost
upon Nicolas, "you shall receive your just pay before the war ends."

"Do you really think so?" asked Nicolas eagerly. "I hope so."

"But now," said Hal, "it is time to be moving. Pick up the gold, men, and
let's get away from her