mad and taken
this means of staying their execution?

The Grand Duke staggered back a step, and Count de Reslau smiled
incredulously.

"Have I your permission to do so, Your Excellency?" asked Hal.

The Grand Duke waved his hand.

"You shall have three minutes to produce him," he said angrily.

"Good!" said Hal. "It will require even less."

His right hand was in his pocket. Suddenly it flashed forth, and with it
something white. Straight toward Count de Reslau the lad sprang, and
before the latter could leap out of the way Hal grasped him firmly by
the back of the neck with his left hand, and with his right clapped a
long, flowing white beard to his face. Then with a twist, he whirled him
so that he faced the Grand Duke.

"Behold Brunnoi, chief of the bandits!" he cried.

The Grand Duke staggered back again, and put one hand to his eyes.

"Impossible!" he exclaimed.

But he was forced to believe what his eyes saw. Count de Reslau and
Brunnoi, the bandit chief, were one and the same man. There could be no
doubt of that.

In vain did the bandit struggle to free himself from Hal's firm grasp.
The lad clung to him tightly in spite of all his efforts. Then,
realizing that the Grand Duke must be convinced, he dropped the beard to
the ground and stepped back while half a dozen rifles covered the count.

The Grand Duke, with a wave of his arm, instructed the officer in
command of the firing squad to release the two lads. Then he ordered him
to conduct the bandit chief to his quarters, and motioned the lads to
follow. Inside the tent the Grand Duke turned upon his false friend.

"De Reslau," he said, addressing the prisoner, "we have been friends,
and for that reason I am offering you a chance to make a satisfactory
explanation--if you can."

"I have nothing to say," replied the prisoner.

"Will you tell me how you have conducted your operations?"

The bandit did not reply and Hal stepped forward.

"Your Excellency," he said, "I believe I can rehearse it from beginning
to end. The count probably will correct me if I am wrong."

The Grand Duke ordered him to proceed.

"Well," said Hal, "the count knew of our mission. We went horseback, but
the count, being prepared for these rapid journeys, proceeded by
automobile."

The bandit chief glanced at the lad in surprise.

"How did you know that?" he demanded.

"We stumbled upon your automobile garage in the mountains," said Hal
quietly. "Of course, when we