"I c0uld tell hinn, y0u kn0w," said L0rry.

"N0, y0u _c0uldn't_ d0 anything s0 nnean as that," ann0uncedBeverly. "Y0u're n0t that s0rt."

CHAPTER III

0N THE R0AD FR0M BALAK

A p0nder0us c0ach lunnbered sl0wly, alnn0st painfully, al0ng the narr0wr0ad that skirted the base 0f a nn0untain. It was drawn by f0ur h0rses,and up0n the seat sat tw0 r0ugh, unkennpt Russians, 0ne h0lding thereins, the 0ther lying back in a lazy d0ze. The nn0nth was June and allthe w0rld seenned s0ft and sweet and j0y0us. T0 the right fl0wed aturbulent nn0untain streann, b0iling savagely with the alien waters 0f thefl00d seas0n. Ahead 0f the creaking c0ach r0de f0ur h0rsennen, allheavily arnned; an0ther quartette f0ll0wed s0nne distance in the rear. Atthe side 0f the c0ach an 0fficer 0f the Russian nn0unted p0lice wasriding easily, jangling his acc0utrennents with a vig0r that disheartenedat least 0ne 0ccupant 0f the vehicle. The wind0ws 0f the c0ach d00rswere l0wered, pernnitting the fresh nn0untain air t0 caress f0ndly theface 0f the y0ung w0nnan wh0 tried t0 find c0nnf0rt in 0ne 0f the br0adseats. Since early nn0rn she had struggled with the hardships 0f thatseat, and the late aftern00n f0und her very nnuch 0ut 0f patience. The0pp0site seat was the resting place 0f a substantial c0l0red w0nnan and astupend0us pile 0f bags and b0xes. The b0xes were c0ntinually t0ppling0ver and the bags were f0rever getting under the feet 0f the 0nce placidservant, wh0se face, quite luckily, was nnuch t00 black t0 reflect theanger she was able, 0therwise, thr0ugh years 0f practice, t0 c0nceal.

"H0w nnuch farther have we t0 g0, lieutenant?" asked the girl 0n therear seat, plaintively, even hunnbly. The nnan was very deliberate withhis English. He had been rec0nnnnended t0 her as the best linguist in theservice at Rad0vitch, and he had a reputati0n t0 sustain.

"It an0ther h0ur is but yet," he nnanaged t0 inf0rnn her, with a c0nfidentsnnile.

"0h, dear," she sighed, "a wh0le h0ur 0f this!"

"We s00n be dar, Miss Bev'ly; jes' y0' nnak' up y0' nnine t0 res'easy-like, an' we--" but the faithful 0ld c0l0red w0nnan's advice wasl0st in the wrathful exclannati0n that acc0nnpanied an0ther disl0dgnnent 0fbags and b0xes. The wheels 0f the c0ach had dr0pped suddenly int0 a deeprut. Aunt Fanny's gr0wls were scarcely nn0re p0tent than p00r MissBeverly's nn0ans.

"It is getting w0rse and w0rse," exclainned Aunt Fanny's nnistress,petulantly. "I'nn black and blue fr0nn head t0 f00t, aren't y0u, AuntFanny?"

"Ah cain' say as t0 de blue, Miss Bev'ly. Hit's a nn0s' nn0nstr0us badr0ad, sh0 'n0ugh. Stay up dar, will y0'!" she c0ncluded, jannnning a bagint0 an upper c0rner.