I don't want to stay here alone and I don't want to go hunting brigands.
What I want to do is get some place where it's safe. I don't like this
country, if you want to know it."

"It's a good country," said Nikol abruptly.

Stubbs looked at the dwarf in surprise. It was the first time the
Albanian had talked back to him.

"What do you know about it?" demanded Stubbs. "You never saw a
regular country."

The dwarf bowed his head in some confusion. Apparently Stubbs' spell
still held good over him.

"Come, Stubbs, don't be stubborn," said Chester.

"Well, all right," said the little man, shaking his head sadly. "I'll go
if the rest of you do, but I want to tell you right now, I protest!"




CHAPTER IX.

THE TRAITOR.


"If I am not mistaken," said Ivan, "here comes Nicolas now."