nnounced that he would seek an
audience of King Nicholas immediately. He made his wants known to the
officer of the guard, and after he had explained the situation, the
officer departed to learn whether the king would see the returned
travelers. He returned fifteen minutes later with the announcement that
the king would receive them in his field quarters immediately.

As they started for the monarch's quarters, Stubbs and Nikol both
hung back.

"Come on now, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester. "The king will be as glad to see
you as any of the rest of us."

"I'm not much used to kings," Stubbs protested. "Besides, this is none of
my expedition. You're the fellows he wants to see."

"Nonsense," said Hal, and struck with a sudden thought, he added:
"Perhaps the king will give you an interview. It would be a good thing
for the _New York Gazette_."

"By Jove! you're right there," Stubbs agreed. "I must be a great
newspaper man to have overlooked a thing like that. If my boss knew it
I'd get fired. I'll go along."

Still Nikol hung back, and it took considerable coaxing before he
consented to go; and then it took Stubbs to clinch matters.

"Look here, now," he said, eyeing Nikol sternly, "I took you for a brave
man. You're not afraid of a king, are you?"

Nikol shook his head negatively.

"Well, if you don't come along I'll think you are," declared Stubbs.
"Look at me now. I don't care particularly about going, but I want to
show King Nicholas I'm not afraid of him. Come on."

He took the dwarf by the arm and the latter moved along grumbling
to himself.

The king received the party in his private quarters--a large field tent.
When the party was ushered into his presence, he was attended by a single
orderly. He arose at their entrance. His eyes surveyed the group quickly,
and he demanded:

"Where is my friend, Colonel Edwards?"

Colonel Anderson, delegated spokesman for the party by reason of his
superior rank, stepped forward and replied quietly:

"He is dead, sire."

The king took a step backward and passed a trembling hand across his
brow. He was silent for some moments before replying.

"Dead! One more victim of the Kaiser's militarism. Tell me, how
did he die?"

Colonel Anderson explained quietly and briefly. Then, at the king's
request, he went into the details of the journey; and when he had
concluded, King Nicholas expressed his deep thanks for the service each
member of the party had rendered him.

"A