"Had I been a weaker man it would have been impossible," he muttered.

For he had pushed aside the heavy rock that guarded his prison--a rock
that Ivan had believed not another man save himself could move.
Apparently Nicolas had been underestimated.

Now the Montenegrin moved softly toward the entrance to the cave, fearful
at every step that he would awaken the sleepers. It was dark within and
this fact probably is all that prevented his escape.

In moving toward the entrance he passed close to the pallet upon which
Stubbs slept. One of the little man's hands was stretched out across the
floor and Nicolas' heavy boot came down squarely upon it.

A sudden loud cry shattered the deathly stillness of the night, followed
by a more piercing cry.

Instantly every one was awake, though only half so, for the awakening had
come so suddenly.

At Stubbs' first outcry, Nicolas, with a muttered imprecation, had dashed
for the exit. He fell upon his knees and was about to crawl outside when
Nikol, more wide awake than the others, flung himself forward and clasped
his long arms about the Montenegrin's neck.

Nicolas drew back in the cave and pulled himself to his feet in spite of
the dwarf's frantic efforts to hold him down. Then, seeing the size of
his opponent, Nicolas laughed aloud and sought to fling the little man
from him. But Nikol held him firmly.