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The Boy Allies in Great Peril; Or, With the Italian Army in the Alps

by Clair W. Hayes · English · Gutenberg #12682 · 301,493 chars · public domain (US)

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Title: The Boy Allies in Great Peril; Or, With the Italian Army in the Alps

Author: Clair W. Hayes


        
Release date: June 1, 2004 [eBook #12682]
                Most recently updated: October 28, 2024

Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; OR, WITH THE ITALIAN ARMY IN THE ALPS ***

THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL

Or, With the Italian Army in the Alps

By

CLAIR W. HAYES

Author of "The Boy Allies at Liege," "The Boy Allies on the Firing Line."
"The Boy Allies with the Cossacks," "The Boy Allies in the Trenches."

1916







CHAPTER I.

THE BREWING STORM.


"Did you ever see such a mob, Hal?"

The speaker was an American lad of some seventeen years of age. He
stopped in his walk as he spoke and grasped his companion by the arm.
The latter allowed his gaze to rove over the thousands upon thousands
of people who thronged the approach to the king's palace at Rome,
before he replied:

"Some mob, Chester; some mob."

"Looks like a real army could be recruited from this bunch," continued
the first speaker.

"Rather," agreed the other. "And unless I am mightily mistaken that is
what will be done. Most of them are soldiers anyhow, you know."

"True. I had forgotten we were in Italy, where military service is
compulsory. Then you think that Italy has at last decided to enter the
war?"

"I certainly do. The Chamber of Deputies has done its best to keep Italy
from becoming involved, but the voice of the people must be heeded sooner
or later. I believe the time has come."

"I am sure I hope so," said Chester. "Italy's army, entirely ready for
any eventuality, should turn the balance in favor of the Allies."

"And I believe it will," said Hal.

"Do you believe the announcement of a state of war between Italy and
Austria will be formally made to-day?"

"I do--and so, apparently, do the others here," and Hal swept his arm
about him in a comprehensive gesture. "Hear them shout!"

For a mighty cheer had suddenly risen upon the air. Wildly excited
Italians--men and women from all walks of life--seemed to have gone
suddenly mad. A deafening roar filled the air. Caps and hats, canes, and
other articles ascended and descended in a dense cloud.

"Can you doubt, after that, that Italy is for war?" asked Hal, when at
last he could make himself heard.

"I guess not," replied Chester grimly. "But why should the crowd have
gathered in front of the palace rather than before the Chamber of
Deputies?"

"You forget that the premier is closeted with the king," returned Hal.
"In all probability, the first word of a definite step will emanate from
the palace, though unofficially, of course."

"I see," said Chester. "Well--look there, Hal!"

"What's the matter?" demanded the latter, eying his companion in
some surprise.

Chester seized his friend's arm with one hand and with the other pointed
directly ahead. Hal gazed in the direction indicated. He saw at once what
had caused Chester's sudden exclamation.

Not five yards away, right in the center of the dense crowd, but still in
view of the two boys, stood an Italian army officer in full uniform. He
was gazing straight ahead toward the palace steps, paying no heed to
those who pushed and jostled him. He stood erect, with arms folded upon
his breast.

Even as the two boys looked, an arm came from behind him, and reaching
across his shoulder, a hand crept cautiously into the pocket of the
officer's military cloak, which he had thrown open because of its warmth.

Hal uttered a low exclamation and was about to step forward when there
came a sudden shout from the crowd, which surged in about him, cutting
off his view of the Italian officer. For a single instant Hal turned his
eyes toward the palace and there took one look at a second uniformed
figure, who stood upon the top step and waved his arms about violently.

"I guess war has come," the boy muttered to himself, as he took a step
forward and elbowed his way toward the spot where the other Italian
officer stood.

Chester came close behind his friend.

By dint of hard pushing and shoving, which drew ugly remarks from some of
the bystanders upon whose feet they trod, the boys at last came to the
spot they sought. They had made good time and the invisible owner of the
hand that had explored the officer's pocket was just withdrawing it. And
in it Hal saw a white paper flutter.

He uttered a cry and dashed forward in spite of the crowd. At almost the
same moment the officer came to life. Instinct must have warned him that
there was something wrong. He clapped his hand to his pocket, and then
uttered a fierce ejaculation in his native tongue.

He wheeled about with a cry, and his arm shot out. There was a struggle,
and then the officer fell to the ground. A blow from his adversary's fist
had laid him low. Hal, who was a few leaps ahead of Chester, reached out
to seize the man, who, he could see, still held the bit of white paper in
his hand, but the other was too quick for him.

With a sudden backward leap he was among the crowd, which, apparently,
had failed to grasp the significance of the trouble. Hal uttered a quick
cry to Chester and also dashed into the crowd. Chester followed him.

Ahead, but almost hidden by others of the crowd, which pressed forward
the better to see what was going on upon the palace steps, Hal could see
his quarry squirming his way through the dense mass of humanity.

"Stop him!" he cried, raising his voice to a shout.

The crowd paid no heed. The people were too wrapped up in what was going
on before the palace to notice the three who were trying to force their
way through. Again Hal cried out, but the result was the same.

For a brief instant the fugitive glanced over his shoulder, and he waved
a hand at Hal. It was the first time the lad had seen his face, and he
knew that he would recognize it again wherever he saw it.

"I'll get you yet," declared Hal to himself between tightly shut lips.
"I'll get you if it takes a year."

He pressed on, with Chester close at his heels.

Turning and squirming and twisting their way, the lads managed to plod on
through the dense crowd at a snail's pace. Ahead of them, however, Hal
could see that the fugitive was making about the same progress. His hopes
rose, and he called over his shoulder to Chester;

"Keep coming; we'll get him!"

Chester made no reply, for he knew none was expected. He kept close
behind his friend.

Now, suddenly, the fugitive reached the edge of the crowd. For a single
moment he paused, and gazed back at his pursuers. Once more he waved a
hand at Hal, and then, turning, started off at a run.

Hal, seeing that his quarry was about to make good his escape, suddenly
grew angry. Bringing some tactics learned on the football field into
play, he dashed forward, hurling spectators to right and left. In
another moment he, too, had reached the edge of the crowd and, with a
cry, dashed ahead.

He did not pause to see whether Chester was behind him. All he thought of
was to overtake the fugitive.

Chester, in attempting to follow his friend, stumbled over an
outstretched foot and fell heavily to the ground. He was not badly hurt,
but he had struck on his face and for a moment he was dazed. He dragged
himself quickly to his feet and moved forward again. Some distance ahead
he saw that Hal was gaining upon the fugitive.

Down the wide street ran the fugitive, with Hal close behind and gaining
at every stride. As the sound of pursuing footsteps became plainer, the
man looked back over his shoulder. Then he redoubled his efforts; but
still Hal gained.

Suddenly the man dashed around a corner. Three seconds later Hal did the
same. As he did so he caught sight of a big man before him. Hal tried to
check his pace, but it was too late.

Something bright flashed in the sunlight and Hal felt a sickening thud
upon his head. In vain he tried to keep his feet. He sank slowly to the
ground and then fell forward on his face. And even as he lost
consciousness, he thought to himself:

"What a fool I was. I should have suspected a trap. So he hit me with the
butt of a revolver. I'll get even yet."

Above the fallen lad the man stood with a grim smile of satisfaction. He
stirred the prostrate form with his foot and then put his revolver back
in his pocket. He turned to go.

At that moment Chester dashed around the corner. The lad and the fugitive
took in the situation at the same moment. Chester pulled himself up short
and reached for his revolver, which he always carried in his coat pocket.
But the other was too quick for him. He leaped suddenly forward and
Chester's arm was seized in a vise-like grip.

In vain the lad struggled to free himself. He could not move the powerful
fingers that gripped him. He kicked out with his right foot and this
effort was rewarded by a cry of pain from his opponent.

"Kick me on the shins, will you?" cried the latter in German.

His free hand found the revolver in his pocket and it flashed in the
sunlight once more. He attempted to reverse the weapon and seize it by
the barrel, and as he did so he unconsciously loosened his grip upon
Chester's arm.

The latter swung himself about suddenly and with a sweep of his arm sent
the man's revolver clattering to the ground. The other uttered an
exclamation of rage, and stepped back.

Chester again reached for his own revolver, but once more the other was
too quick for him. He came forward with a jump, and his right fist shot
out. Chester ducked this blow, but he was unprepared for the left-handed
blow that followed.

As he came up after ducking the first blow, the second caught him
squarely upon the point of the chin, and he toppled over. It was a
clean knockout.

"I guess that will settle you," said the victor, as he surveyed the
prostrate forms of his two enemies. "I guess that will teach you not to
interfere in other people's business. Hello, one of them is moving."

He gazed curiously at Hal, who at that moment opened his eyes. The man
stood undecided a moment. Then he took a step toward the boy, but
stopped again.

"No," he muttered. "What's the use? Let him be."

He swung upon his heel and made his way down the street. A moment later
he was lost to sight around a corner.




CHAPTER II.

THE TWO FRIENDS.


While Hal and Chester are still upon the ground and consciousness is
gradually returning, it will be well to introduce a few words concerning
them, that those who have not made their acquaintance before may learn
just what sort of boys our heroes are.

Hal Paine and Chester Crawford were typical American boys. With the
former's mother, they had been in Berlin when the great European
conflagration broke out and had been stranded there. Mrs. Paine had been
able to get out of the country, but Hal and Chester were left behind.

In company with Major Raoul Derevaux, a Frenchman, and Captain Harry
Anderson, an Englishman, they finally made their way into Belgium, where
they arrived in time to take part in the heroic defense of Liége in the
early stages of the war. Here they rendered such invaluable service to
the Belgian commander that they were commissioned lieutenants in the
little army of King Albert.

Both in fighting and in scouting they had proven their worth. Following
the first Belgian campaign, the two lads had seen service with the
British troops on the continent, where they were attached to the staff of
General Sir John French, in command of the English forces. Also they had
won the respect and admiration of General Joffre, the French
commander-in-chief.

As related in the third book of this series, "The Boy Allies with the
Cossacks," Hal and Chester had seen active service under the Russian Bear
in the eastern theater of war. They fought in the midst of the Russian
forces and were among the troop of 60,000 that made the first wild dash
over the Carpathians to the plains of Hungary.

Returning to the western war area with despatches from the Grand Duke
Nicholas to the French commander-in-chief, they had again taken up their
duties with the British army. As related in "The Boy Allies in the
Trenches," they had been instrumental in defeating more than one German
coup, and it was through them, also, that a plot to assassinate President
Poincaré had failed.

Both lads were about the same age. Large and strong, they were proficient
in the use of their fists and of the art of swordsmanship, and were
entirely familiar with firearms. Another thing that stood them in good
stead was the fact that both spoke French and German fluently. Also, each
had a smattering of Italian.

Following their coup in saving the French president from the hands of
traitorous Apaches in Paris, Hal and Chester had come to Rome with their
mothers, whom they had found in Paris, and Chester's uncle. They had not
come without protest, for both had been eager to get back to the firing
line, but their mothers' entreaties had finally prevailed. As Chester's
Uncle John had said, "This is none of our war. Your place, boys, is with
your mothers."

Chester and Hal had sought consent to rejoin the army in vain. Neither
Mrs. Paine nor Mrs. Crawford would hear of such a thing. So at last they
agreed to return home. First, however, at Uncle John's suggestion, the
party decided to stop in Rome.

"Italy is still a sane and peaceable country," Uncle John had said.

Naturally the lads had been greatly interested in the war demonstrations
in Rome. Uncle John, who at first had "pooh-poohed" the prospect of
Italy's entering the war, finally had been convinced that such a course
was only a matter of time. Mrs. Paine and Mrs. Crawford, realizing how
greatly interested their sons were becoming, immediately decided to
return to America. They feared that some harm would come to Hal and
Chester--feared that the boys might be drawn into trouble again--for they
both knew their dispositions not to shirk danger.

The war situation at this time was anything but favorable to the
Allies. Along the great western battle line, stretching out from the
North Sea far to the south, the mighty armies were gripped in a
deadlock. Occasional advances would be made by both sides and retreats
would follow.

Having pushed the invader back from the very walls of Paris soon after
the outbreak of hostilities, the French had shoved him across the Aisne
and then across the Marne. But here the allied offensive halted. Grand
assaults and heroic charges proved ineffectual. The Kaiser's troops were
strongly intrenched and could not be dislodged. On their side, the
Allies' positions were equally impregnable and repeated assaults by the
enemy had failed to shake their lines.

In the eastern theater of war the Russians, at this moment, were meeting
with some success. Several large Austrian strongholds had been captured
after the bloodiest fighting of the war, and it was believed that it
would only be a question of a few weeks until the Russian Grand Duke
would develop his long-expected invasion of Hungary.

In the north of the eastern war arena, also, the Russians had met with
some success, Poland had been invaded, and around Warsaw the great German
drive had been checked. The sea was still free of German ships, with the
exception of the submarines which still continued to prey upon all
commerce, neutral as well as Allies'.

The situation in the Balkan states remained unchanged. It was hoped that
the Balkan countries would rally to the support of the Allies, and thus
form an iron ring about the Germanic powers, but this matter was no
nearer a successful issue than it had been months before. However,
diplomats of both sides were still busy in the Balkans, and each hoped to
gain their support.

But for the last few weeks all eyes had been turned toward Italy. A
member of the Austro-German Triple Alliance at the beginning of the war,
Italy had refused to support a war of aggression by the Kaiser and had
severed her connection with the Alliance. She had announced that she
would remain neutral.

At length, however, matters reached such a pass that Italy realized she
must cast her lot with the Allies. She knew that should the Germans
emerge from the war victorious she had all to lose and nothing to gain.
The first act of the successful German army would be to crush her.
Besides, there had always been antagonism between Austria and Italy,
and the drawing of Italy into the Triple Alliance in the first place
was considered an act of trickery. Austria and Italy could have nothing
in common.

The people of Italy demanded that she throw her military as well as her
moral support to the Allies. The matter had been threshed out in the
Chamber of Deputies. Wild anti-German and anti-Austrian demonstrations
were almost daily occurrences in the streets of Rome and other of the
larger Italian cities. The people wanted war. Here was the one country of
all the powers engaged in the mighty conflict that could truthfully say:
"This is a popular war."

At the instigation of the Kaiser, Austria had agreed to make many
concessions to Italy in return for her neutrality. She agreed to almost
anything. But the Italian government was not fooled. Austria would yield
anything at the present time, and then, with the aid of her powerful
ally, Germany, at the close of the war, take it away from Italy again.

So the Italian people and the Italian government decided upon war on the
side of the Allies. Millions of trained fighting men, fresh from the
rigors of the recent Turkish war, were ready to take the field at almost
a moment's notice. The reserves had already been ordered to the colors.
The Italian fleet was ready for action.

There was now no question that Italy would enter the war. The chief topic
of interest was as to where she would strike first. Would she send an
army to join the French and British troops recently landed on the
Gallipoli peninsula and a portion of her fleet to help force the
Dardanelles, or would she strike first at Austria, and if so, would the
first blow be delivered by her fleet in the Adriatic, or to the north,
upon the border, and through the Alps?

The Chamber of Deputies had been in continuous session now for almost two
days. It was known that upon the result of this conference hinged the
issue, peace or war. The chamber was still in session, but the Premier
had left and sought King Victor Emmanuel at the palace for a
consultation.

News of this kind travels quickly. The great mob which had assembled
outside the Chamber of Deputies wended its way to the palace, where it
stood awaiting some word of what action was to be taken. The people knew
that the answer would not be long coming.

Hal Paine and Chester Crawford were standing in the midst of this crowd
when this story opens. They had just left their mothers and Uncle John at
their hotel, announcing that they would get the latest war news. The two
women had offered no objection, but Uncle John had instructed them:

"Don't be gone long, boys. Remember we leave in the morning, and we
expect you to do your share of the packing."

So the two lads had strolled out and joined the crowd.

When they had decided to return to America, each lad had carefully
packed his British uniform, so they were now in civilian clothes. This
was a matter of some regret to them, for they had been proud of their
uniforms, and not without cause, and even as they walked along to-day
Chester had remarked:

"We should have our uniforms on, Hal."

"Why?" demanded the latter.

"Well, just look at all these Italian officers. It makes me feel lonesome
to be without my uniform."

Hal laughed.

"By Jove! it does at that," he agreed. "I can sympathize with the soldier
who has such an absolute disgust for a civilian. You know there is no
love lost between them."

"Right! Well, I wish I had my uniform on."

"It's a good thing you haven't, I guess. That warlike spirit of yours
might get us in trouble. Every time I look at mine, I want to run back to
the front instead of going home."

"It is pretty tough," agreed Chester.

"You bet it is. But what else could we do? We must please our mothers,
you know."

"I suppose you're right. But just the same, several times I have had a
notion to disappear."

"The same thought struck me, too; but we gave our promise, you know."

Chester shrugged his shoulders.

"It can't be helped now," he said.

"Maybe we'll have a little war of our own some day," said Hal. "Then
they'll have to let us fight."

"That would be too good to be true," was Chester's reply.

It was just at the end of this conversation that the lads had joined
the crowd before the palace, and Chester had made the remark that opens
this story.




CHAPTER III.

THE MOB.


Hal sat up and passed his right hand gently over his head.

"Quite a bump," he muttered to himself. "What a fool I was not to have
been prepared for that ruse. Well, I'll know better next time."

The lad pulled himself to his feet and gazed in the direction in which
the other had disappeared. He made as if to move after him, and then
changed his mind.

"Not much chance of finding him now, I guess," he muttered.

He turned on his heel, and then, for the first time, his eyes fell upon
Chester's prostrate form.

"So he got you, too, eh?" he said to himself.

He hurried forward and bent over his chum. At the same moment Chester
opened his eyes and smiled up at him feebly.

"Hello," he said; "where's our friend?"

"Gone," replied Hal briefly, raising Chester's head to his knee. "How do
you feel?"

"A little rocky, and that's a fact," was the reply.

"What did he bump you over with--gun?"

"No; fist."

"I don't see any marks."

"I feel 'em," said Chester, rubbing his chin ruefully. "He landed an
uppercut that was a beauty."

"I am glad you are well enough to appreciate it," said Hal, with a slight
smile. "He was big enough to have put you out for keeps."

"I'm not to be gotten rid of so easily," returned Chester. "Help me up."

Hal lent a supporting hand and Chester struggled to his feet.

"Dizzy?" queried Hal.

"A little," was the reply. "I'll be all right in a minute, though."

He shook his head several times and at last appeared to have gotten rid
of the effects of the blow. He threw off Hal's hand.

"Well, what now?" he asked.

Hal hesitated.

"I hate to see that fellow get away," he said finally. "He probably has
stolen important information."

"I guess there is not much doubt of that," replied Chester, "but Rome is
a pretty sizeable town. A slim chance we have of finding him."

"I'd know him if I see him," said Hal

"So will I. Did you notice the scar across his face?"

"Yes; that's why I say I would know him any place. What do you suppose it
was he stole?"

"A paper of some kind; I saw that. Probably has to do with troop
movements or something of the sort. You remember he stole it from an
army officer."

"Yes; which reminds me that he also disposed of said army officer without
much trouble. The last I saw of him he was floundering about on the
ground in the midst of the crowd."

"Let's go back and have a look for him."

"Good; come on."

The boys turned and retraced their steps. Rounding a corner they came
again within sight of the palace.

"Crowd still there," Hal commented briefly.

It was true. The crowd seemed to have grown rather than to have
diminished.

"Something must have happened while we were gone," said Chester. "Hear
them yell."

"I guess it means war," was Hal's quiet response. "Well, I'm glad."

"And so am I. This German business should be settled without much
trouble now."

"Don't you believe it. The Kaiser is good for a long, hard fight yet."

They pushed their way through the crowd. Suddenly they came to a stop,
their further progress being barred by a solid mass of humanity directly
in front of them, Hal took Chester by the arm.

"Let's see what is going on here," he said.

By dint of hard pushing and shoving they worked their way gradually
through the crowd.

"As I live, it's our friend the army officer," ejaculated Hal.

"So it is," agreed Chester, "and he seems to be rather excited. Look at
him waving his arms about."

Surrounded by a curious crowd, the officer referred to was declaiming
eloquently. It was plain from the attitude of the crowd, however, that he
wasn't making himself plain.

"He's too excited to talk coherently," said Hal. "Maybe we can help him
out a bit. Let's get through the rest of this gang."

He put his elbows in front of him, and closely followed by Chester, threw
his weight upon the mass of humanity in front. The crowd parted, and the
lads pushed their way through, unheeding the protests their rough methods
called forth. They stopped beside the still excited officer.

"Signor--" began Hal, but the officer paid no attention to him, and
continued to wave his arms violently about.

"You can't get his attention that way," said Chester. "Let me try."

He grasped the Italian officer roughly by the arm and whirled him about.

Immediately the latter's arms ceased their violent gesticulations and he
turned an angry face upon Chester.

"How dare you lay your hands upon an officer of the king?" he demanded in
a harsh voice.

His hand dropped to his holster.

"Here! Here!" exclaimed Hal. "Hold your horses now and don't get excited.
We've come to tell you something about that paper you lost."

"Ah!" cried the Italian. "So you have it, eh? Give it to me!"

He held out a hand expectantly.

"No, we haven't it," replied Hal, "but--"

"Give me the paper!" cried the officer, his voice becoming shrill
with anger.

"I tell you we haven't the paper," said Hal.

"That's a lie!" shouted the Italian. "You knocked me down and stole
the paper."

He clutched Hal by the arm.

"Let go of me," said the lad angrily. "We are trying to help you and--"

The Italian officer now suddenly drew his revolver, and pointed it
squarely at Hal.

"Give me the paper or I shall shoot," he said more quietly.

He staggered suddenly backward and the revolver dropped to the ground
with a clatter. The Italian wheeled and confronted the angry face of
Chester, who had struck up the weapon.

"What's the matter with you? Can't you see we are trying to help you?"
demanded Chester.

At this point there came a diversion. Members of the crowd who had
witnessed the dispute between the officer and the two lads suddenly set
up a cry of "spies."

Others behind them took it up.

"Spies! Spies!" a hundred voices rang out.

The crowd surged in about them.

Hal gave one quick look about, and then said quietly to Chester:

"We are in for it now, old man. We'll have to make a break for it."

"All right," said Chester grimly. "Lead the way."

Once more the Italian officer stretched forth a detaining hand, but this
time Hal wasted no time in explanation. He struck out straight from the
shoulder, and the officer toppled to the ground.

"Second fall for him to-day," muttered Hal between his teeth.

He felt Chester's arm press his elbow.

"Come on," he said.

Side by side the lads stepped forward in the very faces of the mob that
barred their path, and for a moment the crowd gave back. Then one man,
bolder than the rest, sprang forward and sought to clutch Chester's arm.
The lad's fist met him half way and he dropped silently to the ground.

An angry roar went up from the crowd.

Chester's hand dropped to his pocket. Hal perceived the motion and
cried out:

"No guns, Chester!"

Chester realized the soundness of the warning and his revolver remained
where it was.

Two of the crowd sprang forward together, but Hal and Chester, with their
greater strength and reach, disposed of them easily. A blow from behind
landed on Chester's neck and he staggered forward. He recovered himself
in a moment, however, and shouted.

"Rush 'em, Hal!"

The latter also realized that to stand still and fight gave the crowd
behind too great an opening and he obeyed Chester's injunction. At the
same moment both sprang forward, and the crowd opened before them.

Straight ahead they went, striking out right and left, but rushing
forward as fast as possible all the time. Men fell on both sides of
them beneath their heavy blows, and so far neither lad had received a
severe jolt.

At that moment, however, Hal felt a keen pain in his left arm. He glanced
down curiously and saw a tiny stream of red spout forth. His lips set in
a thin line.

"Guns, Chester," he said quietly, halting in his tracks. "They are
using knives."

"Good," said Chester, also halting. "Back to back."

The lads whipped out their automatics simultaneously, and, back to back,
confronted the crowd. Hal spoke.

"We are not spies," he shouted, "but we are not going to be killed
without a fight. We are British army officers. Stand back!"

Before the threatening muzzles of the two automatics the crowd hesitated.
Then, from directly ahead of Chester, a shot rang out. The lad heard
something whiz past his head, and from beyond came a cry of pain.

"Shot one of his own number," muttered the lad.

His finger tightened on the trigger as he saw a man about to leap forward
regardless of the automatic.

"I'm going to shoot, Hal," he called.

"I guess it can't be helped," replied the lad quietly. "When I give the
word turn loose on 'em, and then we'll make another break."

He hesitated a single instant and then called:

"Ready?"

"Ready!" came the reply.

"Then--" began Hal, and suddenly cried, "Wait!"

For at that moment the crowd in front of him suddenly began to scatter,
and from beyond Hal made out a troop of Italian cavalry bearing down on
them with drawn sabers. Hal lowered his weapon and called out:

"It's all right, Chester!"




CHAPTER IV.

AN OLD FRIEND.


"What's the meaning of this?" demanded an officer, pulling in his horse
beside the two lads, while his troop gave their attention to driving back
the crowd, which gave ground slowly.

"We were attacked by the crowd, captain," Hal explained.

"Why?" asked the officer.

"We were accused of being spies."

"By whom?"

"By an Italian army officer back there," replied Hal, making a gesture
with his hand.

"Here he comes now," interrupted Chester.

The man who had caused all the trouble now came pompously forward. At
sight of him, the mounted officer sprang from the saddle and came to
attention.

"What is the matter, sir?" he asked.

"Arrest these two," said his superior, pointing to Hal and Chester. "They
are spies, and they knocked me down."

The Italian captain motioned to half a dozen of his men. He also pointed
to the two lads.

"Arrest them," he said quietly.

The men surrounded the lads.

"But--" began Chester.

"No words," said the officer. "Take them before General Ferrari," he
ordered his men.

He motioned to the commander of the troop to accompany them.

"I shall be there to make the charge against them," he said.

The young officer saluted.

"Very well, sir," he replied. He turned to the lads. "March," he ordered.

There was no help for it, as the lads realized in a moment. Accordingly
they made no further protests and marched off, surrounded on all sides.

As they walked along the street there came a new diversion. A man came
hurrying toward them. Hal and Chester recognized him in an instant.

"Uncle John!" cried Chester.

He glanced at Hal and smiled sheepishly.

"We seem always to be in trouble when he appears," said Chester with a
slight smile.

Uncle John addressed the officer in command of the squad.

"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded.

"The meaning of what, sir?" asked the officer respectfully, for he was
impressed by Uncle John's manner.

"What are you doing with these two lads?"

"They are under arrest, sir."

"What!" ejaculated Uncle John. "Under arrest, and what for?"

"They are spies."

"Spies!" The good man staggered back. He forced a smile. "You are joking
with me," he said.

The Italian officer drew himself up.

"I never joke of serious matters," he said quietly. "But what interest
have you in these prisoners?"

"Well, I have considerable interest," was the reply. "One of them happens
to be my nephew. What have they been doing?"

"I couldn't say as to that. All I know is that they are spies."

"You're crazy," shouted Uncle John, now becoming angry. "They are British
army officers, and American citizens."

The young officer drew himself up.

"Crazy, am I?" he demanded. "March!" he ordered his men.

"Here, hold on a minute," gasped Uncle John. "I didn't mean to ruffle
your feelings; but one of those boys is my nephew. I tell you they are
British officers."

"I trust they will be able to prove it," said the Italian.

"What?" demanded Uncle John. "Why?"

"Because," replied the officer with a pleasant smile, "they probably will
be shot if they don't."

"Shot!" gasped Uncle John.

"Exactly. That is the usual treatment accorded spies."

"But I tell you--"

"You can tell the rest to General Ferrari," said the Italian officer.
"Forward, men."

Uncle John was brushed unceremoniously aside in spite of his protests,
and the lads were led away.

"Don't worry, Uncle John," Chester called back to him. "We'll get out of
this all right. Tell mother to have no fear."

"I'll see the ambassador!" shouted Uncle John. "I'll get you out of
this. I'll show these confounded Italians they are not half as big as
Uncle Sam."

"Poor old Uncle John," said Chester to Hal. "He does get excited so
easily. I'll bet the ambassador is due for an unpleasant half hour."

"I'd give a whole lot to be there to hear what transpires," agreed Hal.

In front of a large and imposing building the Italian officer called a
halt; and a few minutes later ordered the prisoners up the steps.

"Where are we going?" demanded Hal.

"You'll find out soon enough," was the reply.

"You're very civil and courteous, to be sure," said Hal.

"I can see no reason for being courteous to a spy," replied the officer.

"Perhaps not," returned the lad; "but when we are out of this I believe I
shall hunt you up and pull your nose."

"What!" exclaimed the officer, stepping back. "Pull my nose! Such
American impudence! I have a notion to pull your nose right here."

"I wouldn't if I were you," said Chester, grinning.

"And what have you to say about it?" exclaimed the now angry officer.

"Oh, nothing," replied Chester. "Just a kindly word of warning;
that's all."

The officer stared at both lads angrily, as they stood at the top of the
steps, and seemed about to say more, when a second officer appeared in
the doorway and motioned for all to enter.

"Move on there," said the first officer angrily.

The lads obeyed without replying.

Inside the building they were led through a long corridor, and thence to
a room which they were motioned to enter. Inside stood a tall, stout man
attired in full military uniform.

"General Ferrari, I guess," Chester whispered to his friend.

Hal nodded in assent. It was indeed General Ferrari, and he came forward.

"What have we here?" he demanded, addressing the officer.

"Spies, sir," was the reply.

"Where did you find them?"

The officer explained.

"So Colonel Fuesco found them, eh? You say they stole an important
document from him?"

"Yes, sir, and the colonel will be here directly, sir."

"Good, you may go. Leave a guard outside the door."

The officer saluted and took his departure, casting a sneering glance at
the two lads.

"Sit down," commanded the general.

The lads obeyed, and the general took a seat at a huge desk at the far
end of the room and immediately plunged into a mass of correspondence.
For half an hour he was busy with his letters and paid no attention to
the boys. The latter also sat silently.

An orderly entered the room and announced:

"Colonel Fuesco, sir."

"Show him in," said the general.

A moment later and the colonel came blustering in. He gazed angrily at
the two lads and spoke to General Ferrari in a whisper. Then both turned
upon the lads.

"Have you the paper?" demanded the general.

"No, sir," replied Hal. "We never had it in the first place. Will you
allow me to explain, sir?"

"Proceed," said the general.

"First," said Hal, "I would inform your excellency that we are officers
in the British army, having recently come from France."

He then went ahead with the story of how they had seen Colonel Fuesco
relieved of his papers before the palace a short time ago. At the
conclusion of the story the colonel sniffed audibly.

"A likely tale," he sneered.

"Silence, colonel," said the general sharply. "I shall go at this matter
in my own way. Can you prove your identity?" he asked of Hal.

"With time, yes," was the reply.

At this moment the orderly again entered the room.

"The officer you were expecting, sir," he said to General Ferrari.

"Have him enter," said the general, and the orderly saluted and
disappeared.

"There can be no doubt that these are spies, sir," said Colonel Fuesco.

Chester became suddenly angry.

"That's a lie," he said flatly.

"What!" exclaimed the doughty colonel. "You call me a liar?"

Before General Ferrari or Hal could move to stay him, he stepped close to
Chester and struck him in the face.

Hal, knowing Chester's quick temper, became alarmed and cried out
sharply:

"Don't hit him, Chester."

But he spoke too late. The blow aroused Chester's fighting blood and
he took no thought of consequences. His right fist shot out sharply,
and struck squarely upon the nose, the colonel reeled back and fell to
the floor.

He was up in a moment, however, and in spite of his commander's sharp
order, closed with Chester. The two rocked back and forth, as Hal and
General Ferrari sought to separate them.

And at this moment a newcomer entered the room. He was a young man, thin
and tall, and his face showed the marks of hard service. He was attired
in the uniform of a French major. He, too, took a hand in attempting to
separate the combatants.

As the five struggled about, Hal caught a glimpse of the newcomer's
face, and he gave a cry of wonder, uttering a name that caused Chester
to release his hold upon the Italian officer and step back in surprise
and pleasure.

"Major Derevaux!" exclaimed Hal.




CHAPTER V.

A NEW RECRUIT.


The French officer also stepped back in surprise, for until that moment
he had not had time to glance at the two lads. He, too, gave vent to an
exclamation of pleasure and held out both hands.

"Hal! Chester!" he cried.

Each lad seized upon a hand and wrung it heartily. General Ferrari and
Colonel Fuesco stood back and eyed them curiously. Finally the general
spoke to the Frenchman.

"You know these boys?" he asked.

"Know them!" repeated Major Derevaux. "Well, I should say I do. They are
Lieutenants Paine and Crawford, of His British majesty's service, sir."

"Then they are not German or Austrian spies?"

"What! These lads German spies! If you but knew of what invaluable
service they have been to the cause of the Allies, you would be proud to
shake hands with them. Why, let me tell you," and forgetting all other
matters for the moment, Major Derevaux plunged into an account of the
boys' triumphs since joining the allied forces.

At the conclusion of this recital, General Ferrari extended a hand to
each of the boys.

"I am indeed glad to know two such gallant lads," he said. "I felt sure
when I first saw you that there must be some mistake in your cases."

"But they stole my paper!" cried Colonel Fuesco.

"That is not true," said Major Derevaux. "I can vouch for their loyalty."

"But who can vouch for you?" demanded the colonel. "How is General
Ferrari to know that you, too, are not a spy, coming to him with false
credentials?"

"I can answer that question," replied the general. "As it happens, I have
known Major Derevaux for years. He has often visited at my home, he and
his parents. You owe these lads an apology, colonel."

"He knocked me down," replied the colonel, pointing to Chester.

"So he did," said the general, "and you deserved it."

Chester now approached the colonel and extended a hand.

"I bear you no ill will," he said.

The officer glanced at him searchingly for a moment, and then took the
hand.

"I have done you and your friend an injustice," he said. "I am sorry."

"Say no more about it," replied Chester.

Colonel Fuesco also shook hands with Hal.

"But what of my paper?" he demanded of the general.

"I can give you a description of the man who took it," said Hal, and did
so. When he mentioned that the man had a scar on his face, the two
Italian officers uttered a cry.

"Hans Robard!" they exclaimed.

"You know him, then?" asked Chester.

"Rather," said the general dryly. "He is an Austrian, and attached to the
Austrian embassy here. Of course there has as yet been no formal
declaration of war between Italy and Austria, but it has been known for
days that war was sure to come. Colonel Fuesco here has been entrusted
with important documents relating to troop movements, and it is this
document that Robard has stolen. It must be recovered."

"We are willing to help all we can," said Chester. "With a little
forethought we should have been able to recover it ourselves. Robard made
monkeys of us."

"He made a monkey of me, too," said the colonel ruefully.

"The thing to be done," said Chester, "is to get track of him."

"That's easy enough," was the reply. "He can be found at the embassy; but
he will deny that he has the paper. Also, we cannot arrest him. Being a
member of a foreign embassy, in times of peace he is immune from arrest."

"And he will take the paper with him when he leaves Italy," said
Major Derevaux.

"It was stolen once," said Hal thoughtfully. "Why cannot it be
stolen again?"

"What do you mean?" asked Colonel Fuesco.

"Just what I say. Robard stole the document from you. Some one must
recover it from Robard without his knowledge."

"An excellent idea!" exclaimed General Ferrari. "But who will do
this work?"

"We shall be glad to undertake it, your excellency," said Hal.

"You! But you are so young for such a piece of work."

"Don't you believe it, general," Major Derevaux interrupted. "If the
papers can be recovered, these lads can get them. You could not put the
mission in better hands."

"But the danger--"

"We have been in danger before, sir," said Chester quietly.

The general considered a moment, and then brought a hand down on his desk
with tremendous force.

"So be it!" he exclaimed. "And if you are successful, Italy will know how
to reward you."

"We seek no reward, sir," said Hal quietly. "Then we are at liberty to go
now, sir?"

"Yes. I shall not hamper you with instructions."

"All we wish to know, sir," said Hal, "is whether Robard still is at the
Austrian embassy."

"He is," was the reply, "and will be until some time to-morrow, when the
ambassador will be given his passports."

"Can I be of any assistance?" asked Colonel Fuesco, stepping forward.

"If you can, we shall call on you," replied Hal.

"Good," said the colonel, and, drawing out a card, he scribbled an
address on it. "You will find me there," he said. "I shall remain at my
quarters in the hopes that I may be given a hand in the game."

The lads shook hands with the general and walked to the door.

"Wait a moment, boys," said Major Derevaux. "I want a few words with the
general, and then I shall be at liberty to go with you."

"If it is all the same to you, Major Derevaux," said the general, "I
would prefer to postpone our conference until this evening. I have
several matters that require my immediate attention."

Major Derevaux accepted this postponement graciously, and announced that
he would accompany the boys at once. As they would have passed out, the
general's orderly once more entered the room.

"The American ambassador is without, sir," he said, "and demands an
immediate interview with you."

General Ferrari turned to Colonel Fuesco.

"You see what trouble you have brought down on my head," he said, with a
smile. "I won't bother to see the ambassador now," he said to his
orderly. "I shall send these lads to greet him."

In response to these words, Hal and Chester, accompanied by Major
Derevaux and Colonel Fuesco, made their way from the room. In the
corridor they encountered the American ambassador and Uncle John.
The latter was walking back and forth nervously and muttering
angrily to himself.

"Here we are, Uncle John," said Chester.

Uncle John jumped as though he had been shot, for he had not perceived
their approach.

"You young rascals," he exclaimed, "so you have been released, eh?"

"Yes," said Chester quickly, "we have been released providing we can
really apprehend the man who is the spy."

"What do you mean?" asked Uncle John anxiously.

Hal followed Chester's lead, for he wished no obstacle to be put in
their path.

"If we can catch the spy, we shall be permitted to go free," he said,

"I see," said Uncle John. "But I can't see that spy-catching is any of
your business."

"Well, we have promised to do the best we can," said Chester.

"In that case, I have nothing to say," said Uncle John. "But remember we
are due to sail for home to-morrow."

"Oh, we can wait over for the next ship," said Chester.

"Perhaps," said Uncle John, with a twinkle in his eye. "We shall see what
your mothers have to say about that."

Hal now bethought himself to introduce Uncle John to his friends. This
accomplished, the American ambassador announced that he would be moving,
and took his departure. The others Uncle John invited to have lunch with
him in a nearby hotel.

Over the table, Hal asked Major Derevaux what he was doing in Rome.

"I don't know as it is my secret now," replied the major. "I am here with
a despatch from General Joffre. I cannot say exactly what the despatch
contains, but at a guess I would say it has to do with the entrance of
Italy into the war, and plans for a possible simultaneous advance between
all the troops opposed to the Austro-German army."

"I see," said Hal. "That would be a great thing. I wish we were going
back to the front with you."

"Well, you're not," said Uncle John briefly.

"We won't argue about it," said Chester, smiling. "But you never can tell
what will happen."

Uncle John changed the subject abruptly. When the conversation reached
this stage he always felt uncomfortable.

"When are you going to start spy-hunting?" he asked.

Chester looked at Hal.

"What do you think?" he inquired.

"Well, I should say not until to-night," replied Hal. "I don't believe we
could do much good in the day time."

"My idea exactly," agreed Chester. "We may have to make a few
preparations."

"I would like to go with you boys," said Major Derevaux, "but I fear it
will be impossible. I must return immediately I have had my interview
with General Ferrari."

Uncle John had been sitting silent during all this conversation, but
now he straightened in his chair and brought his fist down on the table
with a bang.

"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "All this talk makes me feel young again. What's
the matter with my joining this expedition?"

The two lads gazed at him in wonder. Uncle John saw the amazement written
on their features.

"I mean it," he continued. "I want a hand in this game myself. Here,
waiter, check!" he called.

He paid the check and rose from the table.

"You wait here for me," he instructed the boys.

"Where are you going?" asked Chester.

"Going to buy a gun," replied Uncle John; "going to outfit myself to join
the spy-hunters."

He stalked from the room.




CHAPTER VI.

ON THE TRAIL.


The stars were shining when Hal and Chester, accompanied by Uncle John,
made their way from the hotel toward the Austrian legation. Uncle John
was chuckling to himself as he walked between his two younger companions.

"What is so funny, Uncle John?" asked Chester.

"I was just thinking what your mothers would say if they knew where we
were going," was the reply; "particularly if they knew where I was going.
I guess they think I am too old for this foolishness, but I tell you, a
man likes to be young again."

"What did you tell mother? Where did you say we were going?" asked Hal.

"I told her we were going out--I didn't say where," was the answer. "I'm
something of a strategist myself, you know."

"I see you are," replied Chester.

"Now I want you boys to understand that I am under your orders," said
Uncle John. "You are older heads at this game than I am. I am willing to
obey orders."

"Which is the first essential of every good soldier," said Chester
quietly.

"By the way," said Uncle John, patting his pocket, "this is the first
time I have had a gun in my hands for a good many years. However, I used
to be able to hit the side of a barn. I guess I haven't forgotten. Do you
think we shall have to do any shooting?"

"I hope not," said Hal, "but you never can tell."

Uncle John lapsed into silence and the three made their way along slowly.
The hour was early, and, as Hal had said, there was no rush.

"Have you formed any definite plan?" asked Chester of Hal, as they
walked along.

"Well, no," was the reply. "We shall have to let events shape
themselves."

"Which is the best plan, after all," said Chester.

An hour's walk brought them to the embassy building.

"The first thing," said Hal, "is to find out if Robard is in."

"And how are you going to do that?" asked Uncle John.

"Simple," replied Hal. "I'll go up and ask."

He approached the door and rang the bell. A servant opened the door.

"Is Herr Robard in?" asked Hal in perfect German.

The man shook his head.

"I have an important message for him," said Hal. "When shall I
find him in?"

The servant glanced at him sharply, then leaned close.

"Are you the messenger Herr Robard expects?" he asked, in a low voice.

Hal glanced sharply about him, more for effect than anything else, and
replied, speaking softly:

"From the Wilhelmstrasse."

"Good," said the man, nodding his pleasure. "I am instructed to tell you
to come back at a little before ten o'clock."

"Will Herr Robard be here then?"

"Possibly not, but you can wait."

"I shall be here," said Hal, and walked down the steps.

He rejoined Chester and Uncle John, who had waited around the corner.

"I was beginning to fear something had happened to you," said Uncle John.

"What luck?" demanded Chester.

"Better than could be expected," said Hal, and repeated the conversation
with the servant.

"And who do you suppose this messenger is?" asked Chester.

"A German secret agent," replied Hal decidedly.

"That was the first thought that flashed through my head when he asked me
who I was, which is the reason I took a long chance and mentioned the
Wilhelmstrasse."

"You seem to have hit the nail on the head," said Chester.

"Which was luck," said Hal.

"Or quick wit," interposed Uncle John.

"Well," said Chester, "what next? And what are we to do while you are in
the house? Surely you are not expecting that we shall all be admitted?"

"No," replied Hal, "and my plan is this: I shall reach the house somewhat
earlier than the time set, moving up my watch to avoid suspicion should
anything be said. Thus I shall make sure that Robard has not returned. I
shall wait.

"Now, when the servant leaves the room, I shall, in some manner, raise
the window facing the spot where you stood while I went up to the door a
moment ago. Then you and Uncle John can come in. Of course, I may not be
left in that particular room to wait, but I shall manage some way. I'll
cover your entrance with my gun."

"Good," said Chester, "but then what? Will you try to take the papers
forcibly or by stealth?"

"Whichever way seems the most likely to succeed," said Hal briefly.
"Something must be left to chance."

"Well," said Chester, "we may as well return to the hotel for a couple of
hours. It's early yet."

"Not much," said Uncle John. "I don't want to have to answer any
questions. Not me. Let's go some place else."

"We'll walk about, then," Hal decided.

This was done.

At fifteen minutes to ten o'clock Hal once more mounted the steps to the
Austrian embassy. Chester and Uncle John took their places at the spot
agreed upon, and waited.

The same servant opened the door for Hal.

"You are early," he said, somewhat suspiciously it seemed to Hal.

"Why, no," replied the lad, manifesting surprise. "I am on the dot, as I
always am. Ten o'clock."

"But it is not ten yet," said the man.

Hal drew out his watch and looked at it.

"Ten to the minute," he said, and held it up so the man could see.

"Your watch is wrong," was the reply. "However, I suppose it makes no
difference. Come in."

He held the door open while Hal entered, then closed it.

"This way," he said, and led the way down the hall. Fortunately, he
turned into a room facing upon the street where Chester and Uncle John
waited without, though it was the room beyond the one beneath the
window of which they stood. But, Hal noticed, there was a door between
the two rooms.

"Ought to be easy enough," he told himself.

"You can wait here for Herr Robard," said the servant, and moved
to withdraw.

"This is the Herr Robard's private office, I take it," said Hal.

"You are wrong," was the reply. "His office is just across the hall. But
no one is allowed to enter there unless the Herr is with him, and the
door is always locked."

"I see," said Hal, mentally thanking the man for the information, which
had come a great deal easier than he had expected. "The Herr is a careful
man. It is as it should be."

"You can make yourself at home here until he comes," said the servant.
"There are magazines and books. I have other matters to attend to."

"All right," said Hal, for he now wished to get rid of the man without
more loss of time; he had gained all the information he could hope for
without laying himself open to suspicion.

The man withdrew. Hal glanced at his watch.

"Ten-five," he muttered. "That means ten minutes to ten. Robard may come
sooner than expected. I must hurry."

Quietly he arose and silently crossed the room. He tried the knob to the
door of the next room. The door was locked. He glanced down. There was a
key in the lock, and it turned easily. Hal unlocked the door and passed
into the room beyond.

Quickly he crossed to the window, and then paused a moment, listening
attentively. There was no sound. Unfastening the catch, the lad raised
the window gently. It went up without so much as a sound. Hal poked his
head out, and called in a low voice:

"All right."

He stepped back and drew his revolver and took his place in the shadow,
commanding a view of both doors to the room.

He heard faint sounds without, and concluded rightly that Chester was
giving Uncle John a hand up. A moment later Uncle John's head appeared at
the window, and he clambered into the room. He was unable to see Hal in
the darkness and called:

"Where are you, Hal?"

"Sh--h--h!" whispered Hal. "Come over here."

Uncle John obeyed silently.

There came a whistle from without. Hal recognized it as that of Chester.
He hurried to the window and peered out.

"What's the matter?" he called.

"The window is too high, I can't reach the sill," was the reply. "Give
me a hand."

Hal started to lay down his gun and lend a hand, but thought better of
it. He called to Uncle John.

"Help Chester up," he whispered, and again took his position guarding the
doors, with drawn revolver.

Uncle John approached the window and leaned out. He seized Chester's
uplifted hand, and pulled. A moment later Chester came scrambling through
the window.

"A pretty good climb, if you ask me," he said.

At that moment the door from the hall was thrown open, and a man appeared
in the doorway. In his hand he held a revolver, which he pointed straight
at Uncle John and Chester, who stood in plain sight before the window.

"Hands up!" he called.

There was nothing for it but to obey. Uncle John's and Chester's hands
went high in the air.

Hal, well back from the light which streamed through the open door and
the window, slunk further back in the darkness. He was unnoticed, and he
knew that he held the whip hand.

"So," said the man in the doorway, "burglars, eh? Well, I shall attend to
your cases."

With revolver levelled in a steady hand he advanced further into the
room.




CHAPTER VII.

UNCLE JOHN IN TROUBLE.


A few paces in front of Chester and Uncle John the newcomer paused.

"Armed?" he asked.

Chester made no reply. Uncle John remained silent.

"We'll see," said the newcomer briefly.

Still covering them with his weapon, he put his free hand in Chester's
pocket and relieved the lad of his revolver. A similar operation and
Uncle John's gun came forth. Uncle John could keep quiet no longer.

"There goes my gun," he said sorrowfully.

In spite of the seriousness of the situation Chester was forced to laugh.

"Don't worry; you'll get it back," he replied.

"You think so, eh?" sneered the newcomer. "Tell me," addressing Chester,
"what are you doing here?"

"That's for you to find out," replied the lad.

"Well, I'll find out," exclaimed the man. "Do you know who I am?"

"Why, yes; your name is Robard, isn't it?"

The other stepped back in surprise.

"So you know me, eh!" he exclaimed. "Then you are not burglars."

"Hardly," replied Chester.

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I can't see that it will do any harm to tell you," was Chester's answer.
"We are after the paper you stole from Colonel Fuesco to-day."

"Oho! And by any chance are you the same youngster I encountered in
the street?"

"The same," replied Chester briefly.

"And where is the other? Surely," peering closely at Uncle John, "you are
not he. He was younger."

"Right you are," replied Uncle John. "But I guess he'll turn up when he
is most needed."

"You think so? Then he had better turn up quickly." He turned again to
Chester. "So you came after the paper," he said. "I am very sorry to say
that you will not get it."

"Then you have sent it to Vienna," said Chester, somewhat crestfallen.

"Oh, no, I still have it right here," and Robard tapped the breast pocket
of his coat.

"Thanks," said Chester. "I just wanted to know where you kept it."

"I suppose you think you are very smart," said the Austrian, somewhat
angry at having betrayed himself.

"Smart enough, I guess," returned Chester.

"Come, I have had enough of this," exclaimed the Austrian. "Hold your
hands up now, and march out of this room ahead of me."

He waved his revolver from one to the other, and stepped aside that the
two might pass ahead of him. Uncle John and Chester obeyed his injunction
and moved toward the door. The Austrian took a step after them.

It was at this moment that Hal came into action.

With a sudden spring he leaped upon the Austrian from behind. With one
hand he seized the wrist that held the revolver, and turned it upward.
With the other he clutched the man by the throat, shutting off his wind
and preventing him from crying out. Hal called to Chester:

"Grab him!"

Chester and Uncle John wheeled about and lent a hand in subduing the
Austrian. Three against one, it was easy work, and after a short
struggle Robard lay panting on the floor. Hal drew his own revolver and
covered him.

"One move and you are a dead man," he said quietly.

Robard glared up at him angrily. Chester smiled at him pleasantly.

"You see I am smarter than you gave me credit for," he said.

The Austrian made no response.

"He keeps the paper in his pocket, Hal," said Chester.

"So I heard him say," replied Hal.

He bent over the Austrian and thrust a hand into his pocket. He pulled
forth a batch of papers, and walking over to the window, ran through them
hurriedly.

"Find it?" asked Chester, walking over to him.

Hal extended a paper.

"I guess this is it, all right," he said, and thrust the document into
his pocket.

At that moment there came a startled cry from Uncle John, followed by
a heavy thud. Hal and Chester wheeled quickly, just in time to see
Robard disappearing through the door, which closed after him with a
bang. A key turned in the lock. The thud they had heard was Uncle John
toppling to the floor as the result of a blow delivered by the
Austrian, who, catching Uncle John off his guard, had sprung to his
feet and attacked him.

Hal jumped to the door, while Chester bent over Uncle John and assisted
him to his feet.

"The scoundrel!" exclaimed Uncle John. "He took me by surprise. He gave
me no warning."

"Surely you didn't expect him to," said Chester, somewhat angry.

Hal sprang to Chester's side.

"Quick!" he exclaimed. "We must get out of here. Robard will have
assistance in a moment."

"Which way? Out the window?" asked Chester.

"I guess that will be the best way," said Hal. "You first, Uncle John."

The three hurried to the window, and Uncle John put a leg over the sill.
As he did so a sharp shot rang out and Uncle John withdrew his leg
hurriedly. He tumbled over to the floor, and seizing his foot in his
hand, rocked himself back and forward.

"Hit?" asked Chester anxiously.

"I'm afraid so," replied Uncle John, apparently very much frightened.

Chester bent over him.

He looked at the heel of Uncle John's shoe, and then exclaimed.

"Get up. You are all right. The bullet just carried your heel away."

Uncle John rose to his feet.

"Felt like I had been plugged through the leg," he said. "Just the shock,
I guess. Well, what now, boys? We can't get out that way."

"We'll have to go through the door, then," said Chester.

He approached and tried the knob.

"It's locked," said Hal. "I tried it a moment ago. However, that's the
way we shall have to go out. Stand back a little."

He drew his revolver, put the muzzle to the lock and fired. There was a
loud explosion and the room filled with smoke. Hal seized the knob and
threw the door open.

"Where are your guns?" he asked Chester hurriedly.

"Robard took them," replied Chester.

"Then they must be in the room. Find them quickly."

Chester looked hurriedly about. At last his eyes lighted upon them,
on a little table at the far end of the room, where the Austrian had
laid them.

"All right," said Chester, picking them up and passing one to Uncle John.
"The sooner we make a start the better."

"Let's go then," said Hal.

He poked his head cautiously out the door and looked down the hall. There
was no one in sight.

"Coast clear," he called over his shoulder. "Follow me!"

He sprang into the hall and started for the front door on a dead run.
Chester was right behind him, and Uncle John followed close upon
Chester's heels.

Hal was just about to seize the knob in his free hand, when it was turned
from the outside.

"Back, quick," called the lad. "Some one coming."

He wheeled about as he spoke and the other two did likewise. They
had barely regained their retreat when heavy footsteps were heard
in the hall.

"This way," called a voice in German.

The footsteps came toward them, stopped before the door a moment, and
then passed on.

"Now for another trial," whispered Hal.

Again he poked his head out and saw that the coast was apparently clear.

"Come on!" he cried, and made a second dash for the front door. Chester
followed him, as did Uncle John.

This time Hal reached the door without trouble and threw it open. Without
pausing, he dashed through it and down the steps. Chester was right
behind him. But as Uncle John also would have passed out, there came a
shot from behind and he toppled to the floor.

In the excitement neither Chester nor Hal noticed this and they had gone
half a block before they discovered that Uncle John was not with them.

"Great Scott! What can have happened to him?" exclaimed Chester.

"Probably got caught," replied Hal.

"Then we must go back after him. Come on."

"Wait a minute," said Hal. "Don't forget this paper we recovered. It must
be returned to General Ferrari, Uncle John or no Uncle John."

"But we can't let them kill him!" cried Chester.

"They won't kill him," said Hal positively. "They would be afraid to do
that. First I must deliver this paper, and then we shall try to rescue
Uncle John. But the paper is first. You know that."

"You are right, of course," Chester agreed. "Besides Uncle John knew what
he was up against before he came with us. He'll have to wait until we can
help him."

"All right, then. Now my idea is for you to wait here while I return this
paper to General Ferrari. Then I shall come back and we will see what can
be done. If they should take Uncle John from the house you follow them."

"Suits me," said Chester. "Get back as soon as you can."

Hal waved a hand and hurried away in the darkness.

"Guess I'll see if I can learn anything," said Chester to himself, after
Hal had disappeared.

He approached the embassy cautiously. He could see lights within, but the
shades were drawn and he could distinguish nothing. Once he thought he
heard sounds of a struggle in the house, but he could not be sure.

He was on the point of entering, but it occurred to him that if he should
fall into the enemy's hands he could do Uncle John little good.

"I'll wait until Hal comes back, anyhow," he decided at last.

He walked some distance from the embassy, still remaining close enough to
see any one who should leave by the front door, and sat down on the steps
before a large stone house.

"Hope Hal gets a move on," he muttered to himself, as he settled himself
as comfortably as possible.




CHAPTER VIII.

UNCLE JOHN SHOWS HIS METTLE.


When Uncle John fell to the floor, his first feeling was one of anger. He
scarcely felt the sharp pain in his leg, where a bullet had grazed the
skin. He saw Chester disappearing ahead of him, and his first thought was
to get up and hurry after him.

He pulled himself to his feet and again moved toward the door. As he did
so he felt a pair of arms thrown about him from behind. Uncle John turned
to give battle to this assailant.

Now Uncle John was a big man and in his youth had been noted for his
strength. Time had sapped his prowess, however, and he knew that he was
no match for his adversary. Nevertheless, he determined to fight it out.

With an effort he shook off the encircling arms and faced his opponent,
who proved to be none other than Robard himself. Bethinking himself of
the days of his youth, when he had been considered something of a boxer,
Uncle John decided to keep the other at arm's length, if possible.
Therefore he squared off in most approved fashion.

It was plain that the Austrian was not an exponent of the art of
self-defense and Uncle John sent three hard blows to the man's face,
before the latter stepped back and sought to bring his revolver to bear.
But Uncle John had no mind to be shot down and he sprang forward and
seized the other in a fierce embrace. This style of fighting was more to
the Austrian's liking.

A big man himself, he was nothing loath to test Uncle John's wrestling
ability. He threw his arms about him, and the two struggled up and down
the long hall, panting and gasping.

But the Austrian was a younger man and he soon realized that Uncle John
was beginning to tire. The latter realized it also and knew that if he
would be successful, it must be immediately. He put a foot in back of the
Austrian and pushed hard. Robard lost his balance and fell, but he kept
his grip, and Uncle John was pulled to the floor with him.

Uncle John freed an arm and planted his fist squarely in the Austrian's
face. The latter gave a cry of rage and shouted for help. Uncle John
smiled grimly.

"You'll need it," he said.

Again he raised a fist and brought it down with all his force. The
Austrian's arms relaxed their grip. He quivered a bit, and then sank back
unconscious. Uncle John got to his feet.

"I'm not so bad at that," he told himself modestly. "I wish the boys
could have been here to see that. Now to get out of here."

He moved toward the door, but even as he would have opened it, it moved
back and three men stepped inside. They saw Uncle John and the
unconscious form of Robard at first glance, and sprang upon Uncle John
with a shout.

Uncle John drew a long breath and waded into the midst of them.

The newcomers also proved to be novices in the fistic art, and as long as
Uncle John was able to keep them at long range he gave a good account of
himself. But, realizing that they were getting the worst of this kind of
fighting, one of the men gave a command to close in. In vain Uncle John
strove to keep them off. One threw himself to the floor, and avoiding a
heavy kick, grasped Uncle John by the leg, pulling him down. The others
piled on top of him.

Two minutes later Uncle John had ceased to struggle, and lay powerless in
the hands of his captors.

"Well, you've got me," he said. "Now what?"

Still keeping a tight grip upon him, the men assisted Uncle John to his
feet. One drew a revolver and covered him. The other two went to the
assistance of Robard, who was just getting to his feet. The latter came
forward with an angry gleam in his eye.

"So I've got you at last," he said. "Well, I'll see that you don't get
away this time."

"You weren't big enough to get me alone," said Uncle John, panting from
his exertions.

"I wasn't, eh!" shouted Robard, now furiously angry. "I've got you now,
and you shall pay. Take that!"

He dealt Uncle John a heavy blow with the back of his hand.

In his early days Uncle John had been noted for his fiery temper. It
was said of him that when his temper was aroused, he became a maniac.
So it was now.

Taking no thought of the man who held the revolver almost in his face,
Uncle John, his cheek red from the imprint of the Austrian's hand,
uttered a cry of rage, and leaped forward. His move was so unexpected
that the man with the revolver did not fire, and when at last he had
again brought his revolver to bear, he feared to press the trigger lest
he might hit his friend as well as foe.

Uncle John, in a moment, was the center of a struggling, shouting mass.
His fists flew about like flails and he kicked out with his feet
whenever occasion presented itself. One, two, three heavy blows he
landed upon Robard's face, and the Austrian suddenly collapsed in a
heap. Still fighting mad, Uncle John whirled upon the other three, who
now closed with him.

A right-handed jolt caught one of them flush on the jaw and he toppled
over backwards without so much as a groan. The other brought a fist
heavily to Uncle John's nose, bringing blood, but before he could repeat
the blow, Uncle John had placed him hors de combat with a terrific
left-handed punch to the abdomen.

Then the third man drew back and presented his revolver, but Uncle John
sprang forward with a cry and before the man's finger could press the
trigger, Uncle John had seized him about the middle. Raising him high in
the air, he swung him to one side, and the man's head struck the wall
with a crunch even as the revolver exploded.

Uncle John dropped the limp body and surveyed the field. His anger had
departed and he was again a cool and self-possessed American gentleman of
middle age.

"There's that temper of mine again," he said reprovingly to himself.
"Why, I might have killed somebody. After all these years I should
have it under control. I guess I'll be moving before some one makes me
real mad."

He stooped and picked up his hat, which had fallen on the floor, took one
last look at his fallen foes, and opened the door and passed out.

Down the street he saw a solitary figure sitting upon the steps in front
of a large stone house, and he walked in the other direction.

"I've had trouble enough for one night," he told himself. "Guess I will
give that fellow a wide berth."

And had he gone toward the seated figure he would have avoided more
trouble for all concerned, and Hal and Chester would probably never have
seen active service with the Italian army. For the figure that caused
Uncle John to turn his footsteps in the opposite direction was Chester,
awaiting the return of Hal.

"Wonder why those young scalawags didn't come back to help me?" mused
Uncle John, as he walked along toward the hotel. "I'll tell them what I
think of them for running away and leaving me to do all the fighting."

Uncle John glanced at his watch.

"Great Scott!" he exclaimed. "Twelve o'clock! Why, it doesn't seem
fifteen minutes since we went in that house. Guess Hal and Chester have
returned to the hotel by this time. What shall I tell the women folks?
They'll wonder what a man of my age is prowling about the streets of Rome
for at this hour of the night."

He entered his hotel and made his way toward the elevator. It descended,
and as he would have entered, he bumped squarely into Mrs. Paine and
Mrs. Crawford.

"John," cried the latter, "where is Chester?"

"Where is Hal?" demanded Mrs. Paine anxiously.

"Why, they--aren't they--they'll be here in a few minutes," stuttered
Uncle John.

"Where are they?" demanded the two anxious mothers in a single voice.

"Now hold on here," said Uncle John, regaining his composure with an
effort. "I'll explain. Hal and Chester are all right. They'll be here in
a few minutes."

"And what on earth is the matter with you, John?" asked Mrs. Crawford
in surprise.

"What's the matter with me?"

"Yes. Your collar is half off, your clothes are dirty and there is blood
on your shoe. What is the matter?"

"Well, nothing much," replied Uncle John in great confusion, "you see, I
had--I had a--"

"And were Hal and Chester with you?" asked Mrs. Paine.

"Yes, that is no. I mean--" stuttered Uncle John.

"Come now, John, no fibbing," said Mrs. Crawford. "You were in trouble,
and Hal and Chester were with you. Where are they now?"

"Well, to tell the truth, I don't know where they are," said Uncle John.
"I supposed they would be here by this time."

In a few words he explained what had transpired.

"They left the house without being hurt?" asked Mrs. Paine.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Then where can they be now?" demanded Mrs. Crawford.

"I'm sure I don't know, unless they have stopped for a talk with the
general, and that's about the size of it."

"I guess you are right," replied Mrs. Paine with relief. "But why didn't
you tell us all this before you went out to-night?"

"Yes, why didn't you?" demanded Mrs. Crawford.

"Well," said Uncle John slowly, "we didn't want to worry you."

"You are getting too old for such foolishness," declared Mrs. Crawford.

"I thought so myself," replied Uncle John, "but I know better now. If you
had seen the licking I handed those four Austrians you would think I was
a boy again."

"I'll think you have reached your second childhood if you ever let me
hear of anything like it again," declared his sister.

Uncle John was growing tired of this conversation. He wanted to be
let alone.

"I'll go out and see if I can find the boys," he said.

"Please do," said Mrs. Paine.

"And see that you keep out of mischief yourself," adjured Mrs. Crawford.

Uncle John shook his head as he walked away.

"These women are funny things," he said. "I wonder what can have happened
to those boys? They've probably gone back to look for me. Guess I had
better head that way myself. I may come in handy, you never can tell."

He patted the revolver, which still rested securely in his pocket.

"I may have use for this next time," he muttered, as he quickened his
steps toward the Austrian legation.




CHAPTER IX.

CAPTURED.


Chester rose to his feet, as he saw a figure hurrying toward him.

"Must be Hal," he said.

He was right. A moment later Hal came up to him.

"Did you give the general the paper?" asked Chester.

"Yes. Any one come out of the house?"

"I haven't seen any one, and I have been right here all the time you
were gone."

"Hear any sounds from within?"

"Thought I did several times, but I couldn't be sure. Thought I heard a
shot once."

"Well, we had better go and have a look. I don't believe they will harm
Uncle John, but he probably is beginning to be worried by this time."

He led the way and Chester followed him. Hal mounted the steps without
hesitancy and turned the knob of the door. The door opened and the lad
stepped inside, where he halted with a cry of surprise. Chester peered
over his shoulder.

"Looks like a cyclone had struck this place," Hal ejaculated.

It did indeed. Robard was lying upon the floor, with a man on either side
of him, and a fourth lay some distance away, his skull crushed in.

"Uncle John probably was the cyclone," said Chester briefly. "I have
heard that he used to be considerable of a fighter in his younger days."

"And still he could hardly have done all this," said Hal.

"Remember Alexis," said Chester sententiously.

"That's different," replied Hal.

"Well, maybe so, but--"

Chester broke off and grabbed Hal by the arm.

"Sh-h-h," he whispered.

Hal listened attentively for a few seconds. The faint sound of footsteps
could be heard approaching from further back in the house. At the same
moment Robard groaned, moved about and sat up. The hands of the two lads
dropped to their pockets.

But before they could draw their weapons, they were startled by a voice
behind them.

"Hands up!" it said.

There was no mistaking the menace in the quiet tones and Hal and Chester
realized that the owner of the voice meant business.

"Good work, Fritz," came the voice of Robard, and he pulled himself to
his feet with some difficulty and advanced toward the boys. "I'll thank
you for your guns," he said. "No, I'll get them myself," he added as both
boys moved their hands toward the weapons.

He suited the action to the word and relieved the lads of their
automatics.

"Now stand back there against the wall," he commanded.

The boys obeyed.

Robard now gave his attention to the injured men on the floor. Two of
them showed signs of returning consciousness and soon were able to get to
their feet. The other could not be revived, and at a command from Robard,
he was carried to another room.

"Well, I've got you this time," said Robard to Hal and Chester, "and this
time I'll guarantee you don't get away."

"I wouldn't be too sure of that," said Hal with a smile. "We are pretty
hard to hold on to."

"I'll hold on to you, never fear," was the response. "I'd like to get my
hands on the other."

"Then he has gotten away?" queried Chester.

"Oh, yes, he got away all right," said Robard with a frown. "He's as
strong as an ox, and a real fighter."

"Then he was responsible for all this human wreckage we found when we
came in?" demanded Hal.

"He was," was the grim reply, "but the next time I get my hands on him
there will be a different story to tell. Why, he's a madman when he
gets started."

"Then I would advise you to keep away from him," said Hal.

The sound of footsteps outside the door prevented Robard from replying.
Levelling a revolver at the lads, he motioned them to be silent, and took
up a position at the side of the hall, where he would be concealed by the
door when it swung inward.

A hand turned the knob and the door swung back. Uncle John's face
appeared in the doorway. He saw Hal and Chester immediately and advanced
with a smile.

"So here you are," he said. "Your mothers--"

The sentence died on his lips as Robard, who had stepped quietly from
behind the door, brought the butt of his heavy revolver down upon his
head. Uncle John dropped to the floor like a log.

The action had been so sudden that neither Hal nor Chester had time to
give a cry of warning, though both would have done so, in spite of
Robard's command for them to remain quiet. As Uncle John fell, Chester
stepped forward, but he was confronted by the barrel of Robard's gun.

"Stand back," said the Austrian.

Chester obeyed. There was nothing else he could do in the face of certain
death should he refuse.

Now Robard called two of his men, and Uncle John was carried into an
adjoining room. Robard motioned Hal and Chester in also.

Uncle John was laid upon the bed, and at a command from Robard, was
tightly bound. Hal and Chester were also tied to chairs, after which
Robard took his leave, saying:

"I'll see you the first thing in the morning."

"What are you going to do with us?" demanded Chester.

"I haven't decided yet," was the reply. "But wait. If you will return me
the paper you took from me I shall let you all go now."

"It's too late," said Hal quietly. "I gave the paper to General Ferrari."

"I had surmised as much," said Robard. "Well, good-night."

He waved a hand airily and stepped from the room. Then he turned and
poked his head back through the door.

"A word more," he said. "In case you should unloose your bonds, I would
advise you not to try to escape. There will be a man on guard here in the
hall all night, and another outside, so you cannot leave by the window."

"Thanks," said Hal dryly.

Robard withdrew his head and a key grated in the lock.

"Well, now what are we going to do?" asked Hal.

"You've got me," replied Chester. "Say, do you know this reminds me of
old times--of the days in France, Belgium and Russia."

"You bet," agreed Hal, "and those were the good old days."

At this juncture Uncle John moaned feebly and his eyelids fluttered. A
moment later the lids opened and he gazed at Hal and Chester curiously.
Then the light of comprehension dawned upon his face and he spoke:

"So they have got us all, eh?"

"Yes, they've got us," replied Chester.

"The trouble will be to keep us," said Hal. "How do you feel, sir?"

"Not much," replied Uncle John. "What did he hit me with, a crowbar?"

"No, just a revolver butt," replied Chester, grinning.

"How did they happen to capture you boys?"

"We came back here looking for you, as soon as Hal had delivered the
paper to General Ferrari," Chester explained.

"Your mothers are worried almost to death," said Uncle John.

"I'm afraid they will worry a whole lot more before we get out of here,"
said Chester. "I don't know what Robard will do with us."

"Perhaps we may see the Austrian ambassador," said Hal hopefully.
"Certainly he would stand for no such work as this."

"I don't know about that," said Chester. "They are likely to all
be alike."

"Well, we shall just have to make the best of it," said Hal.

"By the way, Uncle John," said Chester, "you must be considerable of a
fighter. You laid these fellows out in great shape a while ago."

"I did do a pretty fair job," admitted his uncle, "but they made me mad."

"I vote that we try to get a little sleep," said Hal. "It won't be very
comfortable here in these chairs, but we shall have to make the best of
it. Perhaps with the coming of daylight something will turn up."

Chester tugged at his bonds in vain.

"Can't budge 'em," he said.

Hal closed his eyes.

"I'm going to try to get forty winks," he said. "Good night."

Chester followed his friend's example, and Uncle John also composed
himself to sleep. And in spite of their uncomfortable positions,
presently all slumbered.

Hal was the first to awaken. The key turning in the lock of the door
aroused him. Sunlight streamed in through the closed window. The face of
Robard appeared in the door, and he entered the room.

"Good morning," he said.

At the sound of his voice, Chester and Uncle John opened their eyes.

"Good morning," replied Hal. "I trust you have come to liberate us."

"Of your bonds, yes," was the reply; "but I regret to say that I cannot
set you free."

"What are you going to do with us?"

"Take you to Austria."

"To Austria! Great Scott! What for?"

"For no particular reason," said Robard, and his face suddenly took on
a savage look, "except that you have thwarted me, and for that you
shall pay. I shall probably lose my rank for my failure to obtain the
papers, and if I do I want some one to take my spite out on. Do I make
myself clear?"

"Perfectly," replied Hal quietly. "It is very like a coward."

Robard took a threatening step forward.

"A coward, am I?" he cried in a loud voice.

He made as though to strike the lad, then suddenly changed his mind.

"I'll wait," he said. "I promise you shall regret those words before I am
through with you."

"And when do we start?" asked Chester.

"To-night; after dark. A special train will be ready for the Austrian
ambassador and his suite. You shall go with us. Of course the ambassador
shall know nothing of your presence, for he would not permit me to work
out a personal grudge in this way. I shall keep you out of his sight."

"The ambassador has been given his passports then?" asked Chester.

"He has, to Italy's sorrow. We shall wipe her off the map."

"Don't forget you have a pretty sizable job on your hands
already," said Hal.

Robard made no reply, but turning on his heel, strode from the room.




CHAPTER X.

VENICE.


As the boys had feared, they were given no opportunity to make a personal
appeal to the Austrian ambassador. All day long they were kept in their
improvised prison. They slept a little and talked a little, but try as
they would they were unable to so much as loosen their bonds. But they
all agreed on one thing, as expressed by Chester:

"We'll make a break for freedom at the first opportunity, no matter what
the odds against us."

One of Robard's hirelings brought them a bite to eat about noon and again
shortly after 6 o'clock. Darkness fell and still Robard himself had
failed to appear.

"Maybe the time for departure has been postponed," said Chester.

"Hardly," replied Uncle John. "If the ambassador has been given his
passports and has made arrangements to leave Italy he'll probably go at
the appointed time."

It was at this juncture that footsteps were heard without. The key turned
in the lock and a moment later Robard stood before them.

"Well," he said cheerfully, "all ready for your little trip?"

"We're not what you would call ready," replied Hal, with an attempt
at levity, "but if you say it's time to move, we may as well agree
with you."

"Your reasoning is to be commended," said Robard. He stepped to the door
and raised his voice in a shout. A moment later a second man stood beside
him. "Untie these fellows while I keep them covered," he ordered, at the
same time producing a brace of automatics.

The man stepped forward and with a few quick movements relieved the
prisoners of their bonds. He stepped back.

"Stand up!" commanded Robard, levelling his revolvers, "and mind,
no tricks."

Hal, Chester and Uncle John obeyed. It was a wonderful relief to be on
their feet again and be able to stretch their cramped muscles.

"By George! this feels better," said Chester.

"Rather," agreed Hal dryly.

Robard moved to one side of the room.

"Out you go," he said, motioning toward the door with his revolver, but
still keeping the three covered.

"Which way?" asked Hal, playing for time.

"Out the door is all you need to know," was the reply. "You'll find
pleasant company there."

One of the revolvers covered Hal threateningly.

Hal walked toward the door, followed by Chester and then Uncle John.
Robard followed close behind, with his man at his heels.

Outside the door Hal led the way down the hall toward the front door,
where he saw perhaps half a dozen other figures standing about. These
proved to be more Austrians. Near the door Hal halted at a word of
command from Robard and the three prisoners soon were surrounded.
Their captors were all dressed in civilian attire, but from their
military bearings, Hal and Chester concluded that they were Austrian
army officers.

Robard turned to one who stood somewhat apart from the others.

"Everything ready?" he asked.

"All ready," was the reply. "The baggage has been sent on ahead of us and
the train to Venice will leave within the hour."

"Good! And the ambassador?"

"Will be here within half an hour," was the answer.

Hal's heart leaped. Here, he thought, would be a chance to demand his
freedom, and that of his companions. He was loath to believe that a man
in the capacity of an ambassador would countenance such proceedings. But
his hopes were doomed to disappointment.

Within the half hour mentioned, the door was flung suddenly open
and a small man hurried in. He gazed quickly about him and then
spoke to Robard.

"Everything ready?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," was Robard's answer.

The ambassador--for such the newcomer was--gazed rapidly about him. His
eyes rested on Hal, Chester and Uncle John.

"Who are these?" he demanded with a wave of his hand in their direction.

"These," said Robard, taking a step forward, and throwing a warning look
at the three prisoners, "are a trio who have too much knowledge of some
of our plans. I thought it best to take them along, sir."

Hal took a quick step forward, but even as he opened his mouth to speak,
he felt something cold pressed against the back of his neck by a hand
from behind. He closed his lips and fell back.

The ambassador was silent a moment before replying. Then he said:

"You are sure you are not taking too much upon yourself? You are certain
you are right in your surmise?"

"It is not a surmise, sir; it is a fact," returned Robard.

For another moment the ambassador hesitated. Then he said with a shrug of
his shoulders:

"Very well then. Come; let us go."

He led the way out the door, the others following. Hal, Chester and Uncle
John were kept closely in the center of the little knot of men as all
made their way down the steps to where three large automobiles stood
waiting at the curb. The ambassador and Robard climbed into the first,
and Hal found himself separated from his friends as he was pushed into
the second machine; Chester and Uncle John were in the third.

Twenty minutes later the three prisoners found themselves in a first
class section on the special express for Venice, vigilantly guarded by
two Austrians, who had been placed in charge of them after they had been
securely tied up at Robard's command. Robard himself had entered another
compartment with the ambassador.

"You'll be safer this way," the Austrian had said with a smile, after
testing their bonds to make sure they were secure.

"Looks like we were pretty safe any way you might put us," replied
Hal grimly.

"You Americans are pretty slippery customers; I won't take any chances
with you," was the rejoinder, and Robard took his leave.

A few moments later a slight motion told the prisoners that the train
had started.

"Well, here we go," said Chester with a laugh. "We've been started for
the enemy's country in this manner before."

"Only on previous occasions our destination was Berlin instead of
Venice," replied Hal.

"Which is not our destination after all," said Uncle John. "Our true
destination is back to the hotel where we left your mothers."

"And I am sure we shall reach it eventually," said Hal hopefully.

"How long does it take to get to Venice?" asked Chester.

"I don't know exactly," replied Uncle John. "But we shall be there by
daylight surely."

"Perhaps we may get a chance to make a break for liberty," said Chester.

"Don't bank on that, Chester," replied Hal. "It looks as though these
fellows do things a little more thoroughly than their German cousins.
Still there is always a chance."

"While there's life there's hope, eh?" said Uncle John. "We'll see."

"In the meantime," said Hal, "we may as well try to get a little sleep."

"A good idea," agreed Chester. "Here goes."

He closed his eyes and was soon in the land of dreams. Hal and Uncle John
followed suit.

How long they slept they did not know, but they were awakened by rough
hands shaking them and the sound of gruff voices. Hal opened his eyes.
Daylight streamed in through the windows of the compartment.

"Get up!" commanded a harsh voice.

Hal rubbed his eyes and called to Chester and Uncle John.

"What's the matter?" asked the latter sleepily.

"Venice, I guess," was the reply.

Again their bonds were removed, and under cover of the revolvers of their
captors, which the latter kept concealed in their coats but which the
three prisoners knew were ever ready, Hal, Chester and Uncle John stepped
from the car.

The Austrian ambassador and Robard had alighted before them, and Hal
could see them talking and gesticulating excitedly.

"Wonder what's up?" he muttered.

"Which way from here, do you suppose?" asked Chester.

"Trieste, I should say," replied Uncle John. "They will want to get over
the border as soon as possible, and I guess they will head in that
direction."

"My idea, too," agreed Hal.

What was their surprise, then, when, instead of boarding another train,
as Hal had confidently believed would be done, the ambassador led the way
into the station and then to the street beyond. Here Robard disappeared
for a brief moment, and returning, motioned the ambassador and others to
follow him.

Again the prisoners found themselves shoved into a large touring car,
which started immediately in the wake of the one which bore Robard and
the ambassador.

"Some funny business here, as sure as you're born," said Chester
excitedly.

"Must be," declared Hal grimly. "Robard and the ambassador have something
up their sleeves. Wonder if the Italian authorities are not on their
guard. There is no telling what these fellows may do."

"I don't imagine the Italian authorities are watching them any too
closely," remarked Uncle John. "You know men in such positions are
supposed to be men of honor."

"Which the ambassador undoubtedly is," said Chester. "If there is
anything wrong, you can take my word that Robard is the gentleman who is
responsible for it."

"You have hit the nail on the head there, old fellow," agreed Hal.

After a ten-minute drive the machine came to an abrupt stop.

"Out you go," said a gruff voice in very poor English.

It was the voice of one of their captors and the prisoners obeyed.

Ahead, the ambassador and Robard were walking down the steps to the
canal, and a few moments later a large closed gondola came toward them.

The ambassador entered, followed by Robard, and the prisoners found
themselves aboard also a moment later. The gondola moved off.

"Well, what next?" demanded Chester.

"It's too deep for me," was the reply. "But we are going to learn
something; that's sure. Perhaps it's a good thing we were captured and
brought along. Who knows? we may be able to avert some mischief."

"Let us sincerely hope so," said Uncle John earnestly. "I know that you
boys are experienced in this line of work, but you can count on me to the
last ditch."

"You didn't need to tell us that, Uncle John," said Chester. "We knew
it."

The gondola stopped.




CHAPTER XI.

A PLOT IS FOILED.


"Out with you," commanded one of their captors, when he saw that the
ambassador and Robard had made their way up the short flight of steps.

No urging was necessary. The prisoners, closely followed by their guards,
made their way in the same direction. A hundred yards ahead, they were
suddenly turned to the left, where they caught sight of a small house.
Into this they were marched and then on into a room at the far end of the
short hall.

"Guess you'll be safe enough in there. No need to tie you up," said the
voice of Robard, who came up at this moment.

The door slammed, a key grated harshly and the prisoners were left alone.

"Now what in the name of all that's wonderful do you suppose this means?"
asked Chester. "Think they are going to leave us here to starve or perish
of thirst?"

"No, I guess not," was the reply. "My opinion is that Robard is up to
something funny, and that he has enticed the ambassador here on some
pretext or another."

"What do you think he is up to?" demanded Chester.

"If I knew I'd have told you a long while ago," said Hal. "Now, if we--"

He paused as Chester held up a warning hand. The latter moved toward the
wall at the far end of the room as Hal eyed him curiously. The lad placed
his ear against the wall, and listened intently for a moment; then he
motioned Hal and Uncle John to approach.

"The ambassador and Robard are in the next room," he whispered. "I can
hear them talking. Listen."

Hal and Uncle John also laid their ears to the wall.

"But," and the ambassador's voice came faintly to them, "such a thing as
you suggest is dishonorable."

"What has that to do with it, sir?" came Robard's reply. "Our enemies
would do the same thing had they the opportunity. All's fair in war, you
know, sir."

"Not that," said the ambassador. "You must remember that until I have
crossed the frontier I am still the ambassador to Italy. I am upon my
honor to leave the country peaceably."

"But no one would know you had a hand in the matter, sir."

"That is not the point," was the reply.

"But I have made all arrangements," protested Robard. "Everything is
ready. The chief of the Italian general staff is in Venice at this
moment, and at noon will inspect the large stores of ammunition at the
northern outskirts of the city. A word from you and ammunition, chief of
staff and all will be destroyed."

"I will give no such word," was the angry response. "Besides," and the
ambassador considered a moment, "why do you wish a word from me in this
matter? It could have been done without my consent."

"Well, sir, I--we--I," stammered Robard, evidently at a loss for a
convincing reply.

There came the sound of a blow, as though a hand had struck a table and
the ambassador's voice rose angrily.

"Robard," he said sternly, "I can see through your plot. You would have
me stand sponsor for this crime, that you might disqualify me upon my
return to Vienna."

"I assure you, sir--" began Robard.

"Enough," replied the ambassador. "I have not forgotten that you were
ever my enemy--at least until this war brought us closer together and put
an end to all our disputes--at least, so I believed. Now I know better."

"Sir--" Robard began again.

"I have told you I would have no hand in it," declared the ambassador.
"What is more, I forbid it! Do you understand, I forbid it!"

Now Robard's voice rose angrily.

"You forbid it!" he exclaimed. "You forbid it! Well, little good will
that do. I will see that the work is carried out if I have to do it
myself. And what is more, I will see that the blame falls on you. You are
right. I have plotted to discredit you, and I shall do it, or my name is
not Robard."

"I shall see that your actions are brought to the attention of the
emperor," declared the ambassador. "And more than that, I shall
immediately notify the Italian authorities of your plans, that they may
be on their guard."

"You will never do that," replied Robard, and his voice was so low that
the listeners could scarcely catch the words.

"Robard," said the ambassador sternly, "you may consider yourself
under arrest."

There was the sound of a scraping chair and heavy footsteps moving in the
room beyond.

"Another move and I shall fire," came Robard's voice.

"Man, you don't know what you are doing," came the surprised voice of the
ambassador.

"Don't?" said Robard, with a sneer in his voice. "I'll show you."

Again there came to the listeners' ears the sounds of heavy footsteps,
followed by the noise of a struggle.

"Great Scott! They are fighting!" exclaimed Hal. "What can we do? He
might kill the Ambassador."

"There is nothing we can do, old man," replied Chester quietly. "We'll
have to let them fight it out."

They listened intently.

The struggle continued, and occasionally the listeners could catch the
sound of fierce ejaculations. Then, suddenly, there came the sound of a
shot. Then silence, followed a moment later by a voice:

"There! I guess now you will know better than to interfere with me."

"Robard," said the voice of the ambassador, very weak now, "you shall pay
for this."

"I don't know whether I have done for you or not," came Robard's voice
after a pause, "and I don't care. In fact, I hope I have. Now, just to
blacken your reputation a bit, if I have killed you, I shall go through
with my plan."

The boys could hear him stalk heavily across the room. A moment later a
door slammed.

Hal rose to his feet and passed a hand across a moist brow.

"And to think that we were unable to lend a hand," he muttered.

"He's a black villain," declared Uncle John.

"And now," said Chester, "he is on his errand of mischief. Can we do
nothing to thwart him?"

"I can't see how," declared Uncle John.

"Nor I," said Hal.

"Wait a moment, though," said Chester.

"Well?" queried Hal anxiously.

"I think it can be done," replied Chester quietly. "At least there is
a chance."

"Let's have it," demanded Hal eagerly.

"Well, here is the idea. We'll stir up a racket in here. Naturally some
of our captors will come to see what it is all about. We won't quiet down
until he opens the door. Now you will notice that the door swings inward.
That will help. Also that from outside it is impossible to see this side
of the room. I'll stand behind the door. You and Uncle John remain on
this side and stay here until the man comes into the room. Then I'll jump
him, or them, as the case may be."

"But they'll get you, Chester," said Uncle John.

"Perhaps," was the reply. "That's the chance I must take. But we can't
let a little thing like that stand in the way. As soon as I tackle them,
or him, you two can rush out and lend a hand. There'll be a hard fight,
of course, and the first fellow that gets a chance to make a break
through the door will do so. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly," said Hal. "And the plan is not so bad. There is a certain
chance of success."

"Well, it doesn't look good to me," replied Uncle John. "One of you boys
is almost sure to get killed."

"You are taking the same chance, sir," replied Chester.

"Oh, I'm not worrying about myself," returned Uncle John. "But you must
remember that I am to some extent responsible for you and I shall have to
answer to your mothers for your safety."

"If you wish," said Chester dryly, "we'll each write you a little note
exonerating you of all blame should either of us be hurt."

Uncle John was forced to smile.

"Oh, never mind," he said. "Well, boys, if you have decided upon your
plan, I guess I shall have to agree to it."

"I believe it will succeed," said Chester. "But at all events, we can't
remain here inactive while that villain Robard is about his work."

"You're right there, Chester," said Hal. "Something must be done, and as
there is no one else aware of this plot, I guess it is up to us."

"As I said before, you can count on me to the limit," said Uncle John.

"I'm counting on you, Uncle John," replied Chester. "I know you will do
your part."

"Thanks," was the quiet response.

"Any more suggestions?" asked Chester.

There were none.

"What time is it?" asked Hal.

Chester glanced quickly at his watch.

"Great Scott!" he ejaculated. "Ten o'clock! I had no idea it was so
late."

"Nor I," declared Uncle John.

"Time to get busy, then," said Hal.

"Right," Chester agreed. "We haven't a whole lot of time."

He gazed quickly about the room and then took his position at one side of
the door, where he would not be seen by one entering the room. Hal and
Uncle John also took their places.

"Everything ship-shape?" asked Chester.

"Guess so," replied Uncle John, somewhat nervously--he was not used to
this kind of work, although each lad knew there was no question of his
nerve and courage.

"All set," replied Hal quietly.

"Good!" said Chester. "Now for the disturbance. You fellows will have to
help me out a little."

He raised his voice in a loud shout.

Hal and Uncle John followed suit.

"A terrible racket," said Chester, drawing a long breath a moment later.
"It should raise the dead."

"It should," agreed Hal.

"But it didn't," said Chester. "Again. All together now, and keep it up."

Again the room rang with a horrible noise. Came footsteps running
without.




CHAPTER XII.

A FIGHT.


"All ready now," called Chester in a hoarse whisper. "Here comes
some one."

The others made no reply, but stood silently waiting.

The footsteps paused just outside the door.

"What's the matter in there?" asked a voice.

Chester made no reply; instead, he raised his voice in another
blood-curdling shout.

The man outside wasted no more time in parley. Evidently he believed
there was something serious the matter within. A key grated in the lock
and the door swung inward.

Chester held himself tense--ready to spring upon the man the moment he
should come within reach. Just inside the door the man paused and again
sought to determine the cause of the commotion.

"What on earth is the matter in here?" he demanded loudly.

Seeking to help matters along, Hal gave vent to a sepulchral groan.

"Somebody must be sick," muttered the man to himself, and advanced into
the room, casting discretion to the winds. One, two, three forward steps
he took, and then whirled suddenly as Chester's hands closed about his
throat from behind.

Now the Austrian was a big man, and in spite of Chester's strength, the
lad realized in a moment that he was no match for his opponent.

"Quick, Hal, while I am able to hold him," he panted.

Hal wasted no time in words, for he realized it was time for action. He
sprang from his place of concealment and darted toward the door, calling
over his shoulder to Uncle John:

"Lend Chester a hand!"

But even as Hal would have darted through the door, the Austrian
succeeded in freeing himself of Chester's hold, and hurling the lad from
him with a swift backward kick, he turned just in time to encounter Hal.

Hal's right fist shot out sharply, and the Austrian staggered back as the
blow caught him upon the point of the chin. But the blow had been
delivered too quickly to have the desired effect, and the Austrian
recovered himself in a moment, and, crouching low, advanced upon Hal. At
the same time he raised his voice in a call for help.

"We'll have to dispose of this fellow pretty quick or it's all off," said
Hal to the others. "Jump him from behind, Chester, while I keep him
occupied here."

Chester needed no urging. He stepped aside quickly, and then jumped
behind the Austrian, before the latter had time to back into a corner,
had such been his intention. Uncle John circled about a bit and moved on
him from the other side.

The Austrian took a quick look at his foes, threatening him from three
sides. He realized he was no match for all, and his thoughts turned to
escape. There was just one way by which he could get away--through the
door by which he had entered the room--and this would give the prisoners
a chance to make a break for liberty.

Hal struck out savagely with his right fist, and the Austrian hesitated
no longer. With a quick backward leap, he passed from the room, making no
effort to close the door behind him.

"After him!" cried Hal, also jumping forward.

The Austrian turned and took to his heels, and Hal, Chester and Uncle
John gave chase. Down the hall ran the man, with Hal but a few paces
behind him.

And then, suddenly, the Austrian turned in his tracks. Hal was quite
unprepared for this maneuver, and before he could check himself, he had
bumped squarely into his opponent, who seized him in close embrace. The
man's hands closed about the boy's throat, and Hal gasped for breath.

Chester and Uncle John, seeing Hal's predicament, charged forward with a
shout; and then the reason that the Austrian had turned to give battle
became apparent.

A second and a third figure stepped around the two who were struggling in
the center of the hall, and faced Uncle John and Chester. One held a
drawn revolver and the other was in the act of drawing a weapon.

It was no time to hesitate, and Chester realized it.

"Come on!" he cried, and leaped forward.

There came a flash and a loud report; but Chester was unwounded. He had
stooped at the moment the man's hand pressed the trigger, and now came up
beneath the other's guard. Before the latter could fire again, Chester
drove him back with a hard right-handed blow to the jaw. The man uttered
a low imprecation and at that instant Chester's left fist reached his
opponent's stomach. The latter doubled up like a knife, and his revolver
fell to the floor with a clatter.

Chester stooped quickly and his hand found the weapon. As he straightened
up again, his eyes unconsciously took in the scene about him. He saw Hal
make a last futile effort to free himself from the grasp of the first
Austrian, and then fall to the floor with the man on top of him; and he
saw Uncle John crumple up as a flash of flame came from the revolver of
the third Austrian.

Chester gave a cry, and turning his newly acquired weapon in the
direction of the man who had just fired at Uncle John, he pulled the
trigger almost without taking aim. There came a cry, and the latter threw
up his arms and fell to the floor. At the same moment the first Austrian
rose from above Hal's prostrate form, and his revolver and Chester's
spoke simultaneously. Chester felt a sharp tinge in his left arm and
realized that he was not seriously hurt. He dropped quickly to the floor,
even as the Austrian's revolver spoke again.

A bullet whizzed over his head. Chester now took deliberate aim and
fired. The Austrian's weapon fell to the floor with a clatter, the man
himself staggered and tried to retain his feet. He reeled forward toward
Chester and then, just as the boy would have pressed the trigger again,
collapsed almost at the lad's feet.

"I guess that settles the whole lot of you," Chester muttered to himself.

He ran quickly to where Hal lay and raised his chum's head to his knee.
Hal made no move. Chester laid his hand over Hal's heart, and drew a
breath of relief as he felt a faint beating. He stroked his friend's
head, and rubbed his hands, and presently was rewarded by a sigh of
returning consciousness.

Then Hal opened his eyes.

"Wow! A terrible dream I just had, Chester," he said.

Chester smiled in spite of himself.

"It came almost being your last dream," he replied quietly.

Without waiting for a reply, he laid Hal gently down again and hurried to
Uncle John. The latter raised himself on one elbow even as Chester bent
down beside him.

"Careless of me to get in the way of a bullet like that," he said with a
faint smile. "I'll know better next time."

"Where are you hit, sir?" asked Chester anxiously.

"Caught me in the left side, some place," replied Uncle John, and with
Chester's aid, got to his feet.

Chester made a quick examination.

"Lucky, sir. Just a flesh wound," he said. "I'll have it fixed up
in a jiffy."

Making a bandage of his handkerchief, he soon had the wound tied up as
well as could be done under the circumstances. Then the lad lent Hal a
hand as the latter staggered to his feet.

"How do you feel?" asked Chester.

"Well, I don't feel very chipper, and that's a fact," replied Hal with a
grimace. "That fellow had powerfully strong fingers."

"I guess we are lucky at that," remarked Chester.

"Lucky?" exclaimed Uncle John. "I'd like to know how you make that out,
and me with a bullet hole in my side."

"Why," Chester explained, "the best we figured on was for one of us to
get away, and now we are all at liberty."

"Perhaps we are," said Uncle John dryly. "I'll feel a whole lot safer
when I once get outside of this house."

"Then we had better be moving," said Hal. "Come on."

He led the way to the end of the hall and into the room beyond.

"I guess we can get out this way," he said.

He examined a window at the far end of the room.

"Quite a drop down there," he said, "but I guess it can be done."

Chester and Uncle John also surveyed the distance to the ground.

"It's got to be done," said Uncle John. "I'll go first, if you
don't mind."

"Go ahead, sir," said Hal.

Uncle John climbed to the sill, and then lowered himself until he hung by
his hands.

"Here I go," he said.

He dropped.

"He's safe enough," said Chester, peering down, as Uncle John got to his
feet and brushed himself off. "You next, Hal."

Hal climbed into the sill, lowered himself and dropped.

"All right," he called up to Chester.

Chester climbed to the sill.

"Here I come," he called; and just as he was about to lower himself a
figure dashed suddenly into the room and seized him by the leg.

Chester gave vent to a cry of vexation.

"Hey," he called to Hal and Uncle John, "one of the big Austrians has
grabbed me by the leg."

"Kick him in the face," cried Hal, dancing excitedly about, and making
vain attempts to jump up so he could reach the sill.

Chester attempted to follow Hal's advice, but it was no use. Slowly he
was dragged back through the window, and landed on the floor with a thud.
When he was able to get to his feet, he faced a revolver held in a steady
hand. He was caught and he knew it.

"He's got me, Hal," he shouted. "Hurry! Never mind me! Give the warning!"

For a single moment Hal hesitated after hearing Chester's voice. Then he
took Uncle John by the arm.

"Chester is right," he muttered hoarsely. "Come on, sir, or we shall be
captured, too."

Uncle John seemed about to protest, but Hal led him down the street at a
rapid gait.

"What is one to many?" he asked.




CHAPTER XIII.

CHESTER MISSES A CHANCE.


Chester surveyed his captor with a slight smile on his face, although the
bitterness of disappointment had touched his heart.

"Well, you've got me," he said quietly. "Now what are you going to
do with me?"

The Austrian returned his look with a sour scowl.

"That is not for me to decide," he said. "Come with me."

He waved his revolver in the general direction of the door, and Chester
walked out of the room. The Austrian followed closely, keeping his
revolver close to the back of the lad's head. Evidently he had decided to
take no further chances with him.

Chester smiled faintly to himself.

"Guess he'll hang on to me pretty tight this time," he muttered.

A moment later he found himself back in the same room the three had been
locked in when first brought to the house. The lad threw himself down
dejectedly when the captor left the room and locked the door behind him.

"Well, I'm in for it now," he told himself. "Hal and Uncle John will warn
the Italian general in time, and when Robard fails in his plot he'll come
back to deal with me. I hope I am able to give a good account of myself.
However, a fellow can never tell what is going to happen, so in order to
be prepared, I'll try and get a little sleep."

He lay down and closed his eyes; and in spite of the seriousness of his
situation, and the hard floor upon which he lay, he was soon asleep.

Meanwhile, Hal and Uncle John made all haste toward the headquarters
of the Italian general staff, which at the moment were in Venice. It
took Hal some moments to convince several subordinate officers that it
was essential he see the commander himself, but after some
explanations the lad, accompanied by Uncle John, was ushered into the
presence of the general.

Hal laid bare the details of the plot in a few words, and the Italian
commander eyed him incredulously.

"How am I to know you are telling the truth?" he demanded.

"For one reason, because I don't lie," replied Hal. "Besides, if you
doubt me, sir, it would be well to be on the safe side, anyhow. It can do
no harm to take the necessary precautions."

"What you say is true," replied the general.

"A wire to General Ferrari might tell you we are to be relied upon,"
continued Hal. "We were so fortunate as to be of some slight service to
him recently."

The Italian commander glanced at his watch.

"It is best to be on the safe side," he said. "I shall take the necessary
precautions, meanwhile wiring to General Ferrari, as you suggest. In the
meantime, I fear I shall have to detain you, at least, until I receive a
reply to my wire."

"But, sir," Hal protested, "I would like to go back and find my friend."

"I cannot permit that," was the reply. "How do I know that you are not
spies yourselves and have concocted this story for some reason of your
own--a reason that precautions I might take against the plot you have
outlined might throw my troops into more serious difficulties? No, I
shall keep you under guard. That is final."

Hal realized the futility of further protest and subsided. Not so
Uncle John.

"This is an outrage, sir," he exploded. "I repeat, this is an outrage.
Here we are, three of us, who have gone out of our way, to do the Italian
army a service, and the best we get is trouble, fights and insults. I--"

The Italian commander raised a hand.

"I trust that you are telling the truth," he said turning to Hal, and
ignoring Uncle John. "But I must make sure. You say you are a soldier.
You can appreciate my position."

Hal nodded affirmatively. But Uncle John refused to be appeased.

"I think you are a lot of savages," he declared. "I wish the Austrians
would blow up your whole army and drop bombs on every spot in the
country. I'd help 'em do it if I had a good chance. I wouldn't turn my
hand over to help you again."

The commander began to grow angry, and Hal realized it.

"That's enough, Uncle John," he remonstrated. "You'll get us in worse
trouble than ever if you are not careful."

"Worse?" exclaimed Uncle John. "What can be worse than being in the same
room with a bunch like this? I--"

Again the Italian commander raised a hand.

"Enough!" he said sharply. "I am convinced you have come here for no
good. I shall send the wire I promised, but I am confident of the reply I
shall receive. Orderly!"

An orderly approached.

"Keep these fellows safe," said the general.

"At least, sir, you will still take the precautions," said Hal.

The general hesitated a moment.

"Yes," he said finally, "you may at least have the satisfaction of
knowing you have caused me to change my plans. All precautions shall
be taken."

Hal and Uncle John were led away.

"I wonder what they have done with Chester?" said Uncle John.

"Whatever they have done will not be a circumstance to what they will do
when Robard's plot fails," replied Hal. "That's why I was anxious not to
antagonize the general. If the wire goes through we will possibly be in
time to save him, if not--"

He broke off with a shrug.

"You mean--" began Uncle John.

"I don't know just what I mean," replied Hal. "I'm afraid. That's all."

Both lapsed into silence.

When Chester opened his eyes in his improvised prison the evil
face of Robard bent over him. Chester sat up, stretched and then
rose to his feet.

"Hello," he said. "Back again, I see."

Robard scowled fiercely, but made no reply.

"Well, did you blow up the whole Italian army?" asked Chester with a
pleasant smile.

Robard stretched out a hand suddenly and seized Chester by the wrist and
with his other hand struck the lad heavily in the face. Chester reeled
back, but, recovering, promptly sent his right first into Robard's face.

The lad thought for a moment of following up his advantage and attempting
to escape, but before he could act, Robard whipped out a revolver and
covered him.

"Stand back!" he ordered.

Chester stood still.

"I've a notion to kill you right here," cried the Austrian furiously.
"What do you mean by hitting me?"

"What do you mean by hitting me?" demanded Chester.

"You young American upstart!" shouted the enraged Austrian. "I'll--"

"I wouldn't if I were you," said Chester calmly, as Robard raised a heavy
fist. "You may be able to fight with a gun or a knife, but don't come at
me with your fists or I'll spank you."

If Chester's object had been to enrage the Austrian he had succeeded.
Robard cast discretion to the winds, and, lowering his revolver, struck
at the lad.

It was the chance for which Chester had been waiting and hoping.

He ducked under the heavy blow, and instead of returning it, he kicked
out with his left foot. His aim was true and Robard's revolver fell to
the floor with a clatter. Chester pounced on it, beating the Austrian by
the fraction of a second. A moment later the Austrian struck him a heavy
blow on the side of the face.

Chester became suddenly very angry--not furiously and excitedly so, but
his temper blazed up and his anger was quiet and deadly. Calmly he
blocked a second blow from his opponent and took the time to put the
revolver hastily in his pocket.

"Now," he said, "I am going to give you a first class licking. I didn't
take boxing lessons for nothing, and if you have anything to say when I
get through I'll be willing to listen."

At that moment the Austrian rushed. Chester side-stepped neatly, and his
left fist crashed to the side of the Austrian's jaw as the latter brushed
past. Before Robard could turn, Chester planted his right fist upon the
back of the other's neck, sending him staggering.

Then he waited for Robard to come at him again.

Turning, Robard advanced more cautiously this time. Chester feinted with
his right, and sent his left to Robard's nose. Blood flowed. Chester
danced about the big Austrian, raining blows upon him almost at will.

"Take that, and that, and that," he said gleefully, skipping first this
way and then that, skillfully evading the heavy blows launched wildly
by Robard.

This continued for perhaps five minutes, and then Chester grew tired.

"Well, we'll end it now," he told the Austrian with a smile. "Watch, here
comes the finish."

He stiffened a bit, took a backward step, then danced suddenly forward.
He feinted with dazzling rapidity once, twice, three times, and then, his
opponent completely bewildered, planted his right fist squarely upon the
point of Robard's chin. Robard staggered back, but a second terrific
blow, delivered to the stomach, brought him forward again, and Chester
straightened him up with another terrific drive to the point of the chin.

The lad stepped back and dropped his hands, watching the big Austrian
with a smile on his face.

Clear across the room the man staggered and then crumpled up in a heap.

"That settles him," said Chester. "Now to get out of here."

He turned toward the door, and stopped, a cry of dismay on his lips.

In the doorway stood three figures. As Chester turned, one of them
advanced toward him.

"You did a pretty job," he said, eyeing the lad appreciatively, "and we
are glad to have seen it. But, we cannot let you escape."

Chester groaned and sat down.

"There're too many of them," he said to himself. "So near and yet so far.
If I hadn't let my temper get the best of me I would have been safely out
of here. I'll never waste another second on an Austrian. This is what I
get for not shooting him like a dog, and using my fists on him, like I
would on a gentleman. Never again."




CHAPTER XIV.

THE AMBASSADOR AGAIN.


While Hal, Chester and Uncle John were having their troubles with members
of the Austrian diplomatic corps on Italian soil, the Italian army itself
already had taken the field against the enemy. War having been declared,
the Italian general staff had wasted no time.

Along the Austrian frontier, at the head of the Adriatic, clear north to
the Swiss border, the troops of King Emmanuel had intrenched themselves
against a possible attack of the foe; big guns even now were roaring and
raining the messengers of death upon the fortified positions of the
Austrians in their front.

Skirmishes between isolated forces of the two armies, some of which
reached the proportions of real battles, had taken place, and upon the
southern border some slight success already had crowned the efforts of
the Italian troops.

The Italian fleet had been set in motion; giant battleships and other
vessels of war had joined other craft of the quadruple entente in an
effective blockade of Austrian ports in the Adriatic; and the Austrians
were keeping well behind the shelter of their own mines.

In one or two cases they had ventured forth to give battle, but each
expedition of this nature had resulted disastrously--at the bottom of the
sea. Apparently, now, they had given up attempts to run the blockade and
were content to lie snug in their well-fortified harbors, even as their
German allies were doing in their ports.

Several Austrian aircraft had left their bases and flown over Genoa,
dropping bombs, killing and wounding a score of non-combatants, but
doing little damage to fortified positions or to munition plants and
provision camps, which were presumed to be their goal. Also several had
been brought to earth by the accurate fire from the anti-air craft guns
of the Italians.

Unlike England, France, Russia and Belgium, Italy entered the war
prepared. She was not taken by surprise, as had been her allies. She went
into the war with her eyes open and a full realization of her
responsibilities. Also mobilization had been completed before she had
finally decided to take the plunge into the maelstrom. Again, she was
better prepared than her allies for the reason that she had recently
emerged from a successful struggle against the Turks in Tripoli and her
army was an army of veterans.

There was no doubt that Italy would be the first to take the offensive.
The question was, where would she strike? It was an established fact that
she would not await the attacks of the Austrians, but where would she
deliver her first blow? Would it be by sea, hurling her fleet upon the
enemy's base across the Adriatic? Would it be across the southern
boundary of Austria, or would it be farther north--through the Alps?

There was little to choose between the latter methods; but the first was
given little thought. It was well known that the Austrians had mined the
Adriatic thoroughly near their ports, and to attempt an expedition there
threatened destruction for the attackers.

An advance through the Alps also presented its difficulties. In spite of
the fact that the weather was still warm, it was anything but warm in the
mountain fastnesses. True, a passage of the Alps had been forced before
now--one by the Carthaginian General Hannibal in the middle ages, and
again by Napoleon. But it was still a desperate undertaking.

The world waited to see.

Chester Crawford, still in the hands of his captors, took no thought of
these things now. His one absorbing thought at the moment was of hitting
upon some plan whereby he could elude his guards and make his escape. At
the same time, he realized that he had a hard problem before him; for now
that he had almost made his get-away twice, he knew he would be guarded
with more vigilance than before. Still, he determined to bide his time
and take advantage of the first opportunity that presented itself.

The two Austrians who had arrived in time to prevent his escape after his
tussle with Robard now stood guard over the lad, waiting for Robard to
return to consciousness. Presently the fallen man stirred, rolled over,
gasped a bit, and sat up. He gazed about and took in his surroundings. An
ugly look passed over his face as his eyes fell upon Chester.

"I'll get even with you for this," he said harshly, as he scrambled
to his feet.

"Oh, I don't know," returned Chester with a smile. "I might only increase
my indebtedness the next time we meet."

The Austrian took a threatening step forward. Chester did not flinch and
the man paused and dropped the arm he had raised.

"I'll wait till we get to Vienna, and then I'll guarantee to make you
whine for mercy," growled Robard.

"We shall see," said Chester.

Robard turned to his men.

"We'll go at once," he said.

"By the way," interrupted Chester, "what has happened to the ambassador?"

Robard gave a start, and looked quickly at his two men, who had turned at
Chester's words.

"You'll find him in the next room, I think," said Chester, pointing.

"Shut up!" commanded Robard, again taking a step forward.

Chester smiled and stepped back a bit.

"Where you shot him," he continued pleasantly.

With a cry Robard leaped upon him. Chester struck out quickly with both
fists, one after the other, and the Austrian staggered back. Chester
turned to the others.

"What I say is true," he said quietly, as he noted the look of
uncertainty on their faces. "You can easily tell by investigating."

"It's a lie!" shouted Robard.

The men hesitated.

"Look and see," said Chester.

"The boy is right," said one of them. "I'll look."

He stepped toward the door.

"Stand where you are!" cried Robard.

He moved upon the other and clenched his fists. The man gazed at him a
moment without a word; then, suddenly, he seized his superior by the arms
and held him as though he had been in a vise.

"You have a look, Fritz," he said to his companion. "I'll hold him
safe enough."

The latter wasted no time. He hurried from the room.

"You'll pay for this!" screamed Robard.

"Perhaps," said his subordinate, "but I believe the boy has told the
truth. I never did trust you, with your shifty eyes."

At that moment the third man came back into the room, dragging a heavy
body after him.

"The ambassador!" cried the other.

"You see, I was right," said Chester.

The ambassador was unconscious still, although it was hours after he had
been wounded.

"He's alive," said one of the Austrians, after an examination.

"Get some water," commanded the other.

At this moment Robard took a step forward, and seemed about to wrench
himself free from his captor's arms.

"If you gentlemen will allow me," said Chester, "I shall make a
suggestion that may save us all time and bother."

"Well?" demanded one of the men.

"If you'll give me the gun you deprived me of," said the boy, "I'll give
my word to hold our friend here safe until the ambassador is brought back
to consciousness. Also, I give my word not to attempt to escape."

The others eyed him closely for a brief moment.

"All right," said the man who had gone after the ambassador. "Here." He
passed over his automatic.

Chester took it and covered Robard.

"You can release him now," he said to the big Austrian's captor. "He'll
make no break while I have him covered. He knows me too well by this
time, don't you, Robard?"

The latter's reply was a low growl.

The other Austrian released his hold, and stood back. For an instant it
seemed that Robard would spring forward and give battle to all three,
but as Chester's revolver covered him steadily, he changed his mind and
stood still.

Immediately the others began the work of reviving the ambassador, and
five minutes later their efforts were rewarded. The ambassador moaned
feebly, and a few seconds later sat up. His eyes fell on Robard, and he
jumped quickly to his feet.

"So!" he exclaimed. "Guard him carefully, boy. He's a dangerous man."

"I'll guard him," replied Chester briefly.

Suddenly the Austrian smote himself on the breast.

"The plot!" he cried. "Robard's plot!"

"Has failed," interrupted Chester. Then noticing the look of surprise on
the ambassador's face, he explained.

"We overheard the conversation in the room where we were locked, sir. My
friends managed to escape and give the warning. The plot has failed.
Robard told me as much."

"I'm glad," said the ambassador simply. "And now, what am I to do
with you?"

"Let me go, sir," was the lad's reply.

The ambassador considered the matter.

"I'll tell you," he said at length, "I would like for you to go to Vienna
with me and substantiate my story to the emperor. You will say that my
story should need no proof, as I am the ambassador, but Robard has
influential friends there. He would easily discredit the stories of these
two men here. With you it would be different. Will you go?"

"I would rather not, sir," replied Chester quietly.

"I must insist," urged the ambassador.

For some reason that Chester was never afterwards able to explain to
himself, he suddenly grew terribly angry.

"No, I won't go!" he shouted, and waved a fist in the very face of the
ambassador.

The latter looked at him in amazement; then took his decision.

"You shall go anyhow," he said softly. "Seize him, men!"




CHAPTER XV.

INTO AUSTRIA.


"Any time," said the ambassador gently, "that you are ready to give me
your parole, I shall have your bonds removed."

"I wouldn't give my parole to you or any other of your kind," declared
Chester grimly.

"I'm sorry you feel that way about it," declared the ambassador, with a
deprecating gesture. "I assure you, I shall see that you are given safe
conduct back to Italy. But in the meantime, I can take no chances upon
your escaping."

"Do as you please," said Chester.

Again a captive, Chester left Venice.

In a first class compartment of the special train that was bearing the
Austrian ambassador and his staff rapidly toward Trieste was also
Chester, nursing a sore head, the result of trying to vanquish the
ambassador and the two other Austrians when the diplomat had ordered him
seized. The lad put up such a battle that one of his opponents had found
it necessary to tap him gently on top of the head with the butt of his
revolver. That had settled the argument, and when Chester returned to
consciousness he was aboard the special train, bound, and seated across
from the ambassador.

"Sorry we had to give you that crack on the head," the ambassador
continued, "but you wouldn't behave without it. Does it pain you much?"

"Not so much as the fact that you are a race lacking in all sense of
gratitude," replied Chester. "I wish now I had let you lie where you
were. The next time I shall keep my mouth shut, you can bet on that."

"Well, anyhow, here you are," said the ambassador, "and I promise that
you shall remain with me until I see the emperor in Vienna, if I have to
drug you. After that, I promise you safe conduct to the Italian border.
Come, why not be sensible?"

But Chester was in no mood to be sensible, and there is little wonder.
Twice he had almost regained his liberty, and a third time, after he had
come to the assistance of the ambassador, he felt certain he would be set
free. He was far from cheerful now.

"We are now in Austria," said the ambassador, an hour later.

"It won't be so long before it will be Italy, I guess," said Chester,
with something like a sneer in his voice.

"Come, come, my friend," said the ambassador. "Don't let your feelings
run away with you. You are simply talking to hear yourself talk."

"Don't you believe it," declared Chester. "I know what I am talking
about. Say! You fellows don't think you can whip the world, do you?"

"Well, we seem to have been whipping a pretty good part of it," replied
the ambassador sententiously.

"That's it! That's it!" cried Chester. "That's your Teutonic air of
conquerors. Don't forget that some of these days, however, you will be
sorry for all this trouble and bloodshed you have caused."

"We have caused?" echoed the ambassador. "You mean that England
has caused."

"No, I don't mean England," replied Chester.

"Why," exclaimed the ambassador, "if it had not been for England, this
war would never have happened."

Chester looked at the ambassador sharply for a moment.

"Good night," he said at last, and fell back in his seat.

It was dusk when the train pulled into Trieste, and the party alighted.

"We shall spend the night here," the ambassador decided. "I have some
work to do."

"One place suits me as well as another, if I have to stay in this kind of
a country," said Chester.

At a hotel where they were driven in a taxi, Chester was locked in a room
on the fifth floor. It was a handsomely appointed room, and Chester would
have been content to spend the night there had he been in other
circumstances. But right now he wasn't content to spend the night in
Austria, no matter how well he was treated.

"I want to get out of this country," he told himself repeatedly. "I guess
it's a good enough country, so far as it goes, but I can plainly see it's
no place for me."

Left alone, Chester made a tour of inspection. The door was heavily
barred. He looked out the window.

"A long way to the ground," he muttered.

There was no other means of egress.

"Looks like I was safe enough," he muttered.

Again he examined the window carefully. A slight whistle escaped him.

"A little risky," he told himself, "but I believe it can be done."

He walked to the door, laid his ear against it and listened intently. No
sound came from without.

"Well," he said, straightening up, "if I am going to do it, the sooner I
get busy the better."

Quickly he stripped the covering from the bed, and with his knife
slit it lengthwise. Each strip he tied to another, until he had a
strong improvised rope. He stretched it out on the floor, and
measured it carefully with his eye. Then he again walked to the
window and peered out.

"Pretty close," he muttered, "but I believe it will reach. The trouble is
some one in one of the rooms below is liable to see me."

Now he pushed the bed close to the window, and securely knotted one end
of his improvised rope to the heavy iron bars. Then he walked across the
room to the door again and listened.

It was now dark outside and Chester realized that he could not have a
better moment for his desperate attempt. Quickly he recrossed the room,
and dropped the other end of the rope out the window. He glanced down.

"O.K.," he said. "Here goes."

He leaped quickly to the sill, and a moment later was lowering himself
hand over hand. And at length he came to the end of the rope.

The ground was still far below him, but Chester had not figured the rope
would reach to the ground. Clinging tightly to the rope, he gazed
quickly about.

He was now even with the window on the third floor, and he succeeded by
clever work in getting a foothold on the sill; and, still clinging to the
rope, he stood erect. Inside, Chester saw the figure of a man.
Inadvertently, the lad's foot crashed against the window pane, shattering
the glass. There was a crash, followed by a guttural exclamation from
inside the room.

"I've got to move now!" exclaimed the lad.

Taking a firm hold on the rope, he swung himself outward, giving his
flight through space an added impetus by pushing with his right foot. He
went sailing through the air, even as a pistol shot rang out behind him.

Chester had calculated truly. Headfirst he crashed among the branches of
a tree, at the far side of the walk. Instantly he released his hold upon
the rope and was safe in the tree.

"I thought I could do it," he muttered. "Now to get down before some of
these fellows get after me."

Rapidly he made his descent, and a few moments later stood upon the
sidewalk, unhurt. For a moment he paused to gain a much-needed breath,
and then, turning, he stalked quickly away. And as he did so there came
cries from within the hotel, and men rushed out and after him.

Chester took to his heels.

"I don't know whether they saw me on the street or not," he told himself,
"but the safest place for me is a long way from that hotel."

He doubled around several corners, and at last, as he turned into a more
traveled street, he slowed down to a walk. He drew a long breath.

"Guess I have shaken them," he said. "Now, if I only knew where I was,
I might manage to get out of here. Guess I had better pick one
direction and keep going that way. I'll trust to luck that it is either
north or west."

He turned down the next street and set out resolutely, having determined
in his mind to stick to the direction he had selected. Fortunately,
although the lad could not be sure of it, he was heading northward,
where, eventually, he would reach the Italian frontier, although it was
much further away than was the western border.

Chester walked along for an hour without even being challenged.

"Funny, too," he muttered. "It's a wonder every street corner doesn't
spout soldiers and police at me. I must be getting to be rather a lucky
young man."

He had now reached a less thickly populated district. There were few
pedestrians upon the streets, houses became farther and farther apart. An
occasional automobile passed him, but no attention was paid to the
hurrying figure.

Chester slowed down a trifle as he made out a form approaching. As
it drew closer Chester noticed it was a uniformed figure. He drew a
deep breath.

"Looks like there was liable to be something doing here," he muttered.

He continued his way. The officer, for such Chester perceived the man to
be, drew closer. As Chester would have passed him, he suddenly stopped in
his tracks, and commanded:

"Halt!"

Chester did so.

"Who are you?" demanded the man, "and where are you going?"

To Chester's great relief, he spoke in German, and the lad replied in the
same language, which he spoke without an accent.

"I am on an errand for the ambassador, sir. A prisoner has
recently escaped, and I am bearing word to the outposts to be on
the watch for him."

"Hm-m-m," muttered the officer. "Why didn't the ambassador make use of
the wireless 'phone?"

"I don't know, sir," replied Chester.

The officer laid a heavy hand on the lad's arm, and peered into his face
in the dim light. Then the hand tightened.

"You are no German!" was his quiet comment. "You are probably a spy. You
are my prisoner!"

Chester's heart sank.




CHAPTER XVI.

A FRIEND IN NEED.


Many thoughts ran through Chester's head as he stood there for a brief
moment with the hand of the man who had accosted him on his shoulder. He
thought of flight and he thought of fight, but most of all he thought of
the ill fortune he had encountered in the past few days.

"This is the limit," he told himself ruefully. Aloud he said: "You are
mistaken, sir."

"No, I'm not mistaken," returned the officer, "and I suppose most would
take you at your word. You speak German without an accent, but your face
betrays you. At a guess, I would say you are English."

"You are wrong," declared Chester.

"Nevertheless, I shall have to ask you to accompany me," said the
officer.

For a moment Chester hesitated; he was tempted to leap upon his captor
and make a fight for it, but he had hesitated too long now. The officer
produced a revolver, which he held carelessly in his right hand.

"I have a little persuader here, in case you should think of disobeying
my order," he said quietly.

"Oh, all right," said Chester. "I'll go along."

"I thought you would," replied his captor, with a smile.

He motioned for Chester to walk on ahead of him, which the boy did, the
while grumbling to himself.

"I should have run when I saw him coming," he muttered.

There was little doubt in Chester's mind now that he was due for his trip
to Vienna with the ambassador. After that, in view of his attempt to
escape, he wasn't sure what might happen, for he believed the ambassador
would recall his offer of a safe conduct after this.

"Yes, it looks like Vienna to me," he told himself.

And so it probably would have been but for one thing--or rather, for one
person; and Chester had no more idea of seeing him than he had of
encountering Hal at the next cross street.

As the two walked along, Chester slightly in front, his captor following
him closely with drawn revolver, a figure left the shadow of a nearby
building, and with a whistle of amazement, crept silently in their wake.

"Well! Well!" muttered this figure to himself. "What do you think of
that? I can't stand for this. I'm liable to get killed or hurt, but I've
just got to take a hand."

As Chester and his captor turned into another street and disappeared
from sight, the man broke into a run, stepping lightly on his toes. When
he rounded the corner he was only a few feet behind the other two.
Silently as a cat, he closed up the distance, drawing a weapon from his
pocket as he ran.

He took the revolver by the barrel, and with a sudden leap, sprang
upon the officer who had captured Chester. A quick blow and the
officer staggered. He seemed about to cry out, but even as he opened
his mouth, the newcomer repeated the blow and the man fell to the
sidewalk without a word.

"It's all right, Chester," said the newcomer.

Chester, who had stood as if petrified during the struggle--he was so
surprised at this sudden and unexpected aid--uttered an exclamation
of surprise.

"Who are you?" he asked, in vain trying to pierce the darkness
with his eyes.

The stranger chuckled.

"You don't know, eh?" he asked.

Again Chester peered at him intently. It was so dark he could not make
out the man's features, but there was something very familiar about the
short, rotund figure that stood before him.

"By Jove!" cried the lad at last. "It is--it can't be--yes, it must be--"

"Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent of the New York _Gazette_, sir, and
very much at your service," came the now well-known voice.

Chester sprang forward and seized the extended hand.

"And what in the name of all that's wonderful are you doing here?" he
asked in amazement.

"Getting some red-hot news for the New York _Gazette_," was Stubbs'
laconic response. "You are liable to find me most any place. As I told
you before, there is no place a newspaper man cannot go. Now, what's all
this mess I find you in?"

Chester explained and Stubbs listened attentively.

"Hm-m-m," he said, when the lad had concluded, "I guess the best thing
for you to do is to hop back into Italy as fast as the law allows."

"My idea," said Chester dryly. "The trouble is it's a pretty long hop,
and in the next place the Austrian law doesn't allow it."

"That's so," agreed Stubbs. "However, you just leave these little things
to Anthony. He'll get you through or the New York _Gazette_ will lose its
best man."

"Well, I hope the _Gazette_ doesn't lose him," said Chester; "but I would
like to get back into civilization."

"Civilization?" echoed the little man. "And what do you call this? Let
one of these uniformed gentleman on this side of the border hear you say
that and you won't ever get any place except under the sod. This, take
the Austrian word for it, is the last word in civilization. Therefore,
what you mean is that you want to get out of civilization."

"Whichever way suits you," agreed Chester.

"All right. Then you come with me. It's time to be moving, anyhow. This
fellow is getting about ready to get up and there is no use of our being
here to greet him when he opens his eyes. Let's go."

He led the way back toward the heart of the city and Chester followed,
though not without a protest.

"What's the use of going back there?" he wanted to know. "That's the
place I have been trying to get away from."

"Now listen here, young man," said Stubbs, "you didn't have much luck
getting away by yourself, did you?"

"No," replied Chester, "but--"

"And you won't have any better now, if you don't do as I say," declared
Stubbs. "But I'll tell you. I am leaving here myself in the morning. I am
going to Italy. I've dug up all the stuff I can get around here and now
I'm going to have a look at the Italian army in action. If you wish, you
can come along."

"Of course I'll come," said Chester. "That is, if they will let me."

"Oh, they'll let you, all right," replied Stubbs. "Say, I guess you
don't know who I am! I'll tell you: I'm the war correspondent of the New
York _Gazette_, and these fellows over here are glad to show me what
favors they can. It doesn't do them any harm, and it might do them some
good. See?"

"I see," agreed Chester briefly.

"All right, then. I'll take you to my lodgings and you can spend the
night there with me. We'll leave early in the morning."

Chester followed the little man, though not without some misgivings.

Apparently Stubbs had not spoken without reason. Along the way they
passed several officers, each of whom, after recognizing the war
correspondent, gave him a formal military salute.

"You see," said Stubbs, "I am some pumpkins around these parts."

"So I see," replied Chester.

"Here is where we put up," said Stubbs presently, turning into a large
and well-lighted hotel. "Put your best foot foremost now, and walk in
like you owned the place. Can you swagger a bit?"

"Well, some," said Chester hesitatingly.

"So can I," said Stubbs, "which is the reason I get along so well.
Follow me."

His usual manner--the one to which Chester had become accustomed when he
had been with the little man in the French theater of war, left him as he
entered the door, and he swaggered in like a true bravo. Chester threw
out his shoulders and did likewise.

Straight up to the desk walked Stubbs, where a clerk came courteously
forward to see what was desired.

"My friend here," said Stubbs, with a wave of his hand, "will share my
room to-night. Have us called at six o'clock and send a man to help me
with my things at that hour. Understand?"

"Yes, Herr Stubbs," replied the clerk, rubbing his hands together, though
why Chester did not know. "It shall be done."

"All right," said Stubbs. "My key!"

The clerk hastened to get it.

"Now that's the way to get by in this benighted land," said Stubbs to
Chester as they made their way to the little man's room. "Make 'em think
you own the place. It never hurts anything."

"So I see," said Chester dryly. "Now, about the morning. How do we get
out of this country?"

"Simple," said Stubbs. "We take an automobile from here to a little
town called Gorz, to the north. And then we circle around the little
neck of Italy to Trent, again in Austria. Of course there are quicker
ways out, but I have made these arrangements already and it would look
suspicious to change now. Until we get to Trent there will be no
trouble. There we shall have to do a little figuring, but the best way
is this: I have a safe conduct, given me by the Austrian commander
here. It will pass me into Italy. What I shall do is give it to you and
you can cross the border."

"But you--" began Chester.

"I'm coming to that. They will stop me, of course. Then I'll raise a
holler. I'll demand that they wire the commander here and give a
description of me, saying I have lost my papers. They will identify me,
all right, because there are no more like me. A second safe conduct will
come along and I'll move into Italy. Simple little thing, isn't it?"

"Quite simple--if it works," said Chester.

"Oh, it'll work all right!"

"I hope so," declared Chester.

"It's got to work," replied Stubbs. "I can't afford to have it fail. My
paper will be expecting something out of Italy from me within a few days
and I've got to be there to give it to them. Otherwise, I'm liable to be
dismissed."

"I guess that won't happen," said Chester, with a smile.

"Not if I can help it," agreed Stubbs. "Now let's climb between
the sheets."




CHAPTER XVII.

BACK INTO ITALY.


"Now here," said Stubbs, "are my papers. You just take them, and for the
moment you will be Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent of the New York
_Gazette_. You are a little young looking, so put on all the airs you
can, for they'll think you must be awful good to have such a job."

Chester and the little war correspondent had left Trieste without trouble
and had arrived in Trent without adventure of any kind. True to his word,
Stubbs had arranged for Chester's departure with him and now the time for
parting had come.

Chester took the papers Stubbs held out to him and thrust them into
his pocket.

"And when will you be across?" he asked.

"Oh, I'll be there before the day is over," was the reply. "When you once
get within the Italian lines, you demand to be taken to the nearest
general commanding a division and explain matters to him. Then wait for
me, if it is until to-morrow. I'll be there."

"All right," agreed Chester.

"I'll walk as far as the outposts with you," said Stubbs. "No, I won't
either," on second thought. "I'll be wanting to get out myself directly
and it wouldn't do for us to be seen together."

He held out his hand.

"Good-bye, and good luck," he said. "You just do as I tell you and you'll
have no trouble. Remember, you are just as big as any of these fellows,
and a whole lot bigger, if it comes to that."

Chester gripped the hand hard.

"Good-bye," he said, "and thanks."

The little man gazed after the boy as the latter strode away with
shoulders squared and head held high.

"He'll do," he muttered to himself.

Chester disappeared, and Stubbs turned and strode in the opposite
direction.

"Now for my holler--and my new papers," he told himself.

Chester was halted at the extreme Austrian front. He produced Stubbs'
papers, which he gave the man without a word. Luckily, as Stubbs had
explained, the safe conduct was simply made out to "Anthony Stubbs, war
correspondent," without description.

The officer scanned the papers closely, looked Chester over from head to
foot and seemed about to speak. Chester gazed at him sternly and the
Austrian closed his lips without uttering a word. He shrugged his
shoulders, summoned an orderly and commanded:

"Take a flag of truce and conduct this gentleman to the Italian lines."

Two hours later Chester was safe.

To the Italian officer who approached him, he demanded to be taken to the
general commanding the division, and this was done without protest.
Chester explained the circumstances to the general, and the latter
believed him. He turned him over to an orderly, with instructions that he
be taken care of; and in a tent of his own, Chester sat down to await the
arrival of Stubbs.

Stubbs, after Chester had left him, immediately betook himself to the
commander of the Austrian forces at this point. The latter received him,
although he didn't know Stubbs from any one else.

"General," said Stubbs, "somebody stole my papers, among them a safe
conduct to the Italian lines. I want to get there."

"No papers, no safe conduct," replied the general briefly.

This was what Stubbs had expected.

"Look here now, general," he said familiarly, "that's no way for you to
talk. I want to get into Italy, and I had safe conduct from General
Oberlatz at Trieste."

The Austrian commander got to his feet.

"I have told you, sir," he said, "that without papers you cannot leave
our lines."

"I heard you," replied Stubbs, "but you don't seem to understand the
answer to my being here. I've got to get into the Italian lines. You
can't blame me. The fellow you want is the one who stole my papers; he's
probably a spy."

"And you may be one, too," said the officer.

"Sure, I may be," said Stubbs; "only I'm not. Now, I'll tell you, you
just push through a little wire to General Oberlatz and he'll straighten
this thing out."

"Can't be done," replied the general.

"But it's got to be done," declared Stubbs. "I can't stay around here
when I have orders to go elsewhere. I don't want to have to take this
matter up with my friend, the archduke."

The Austrian commander looked up in surprise at this last remark.

"You know the archduke?" he questioned.

"Well, rather," said Stubbs. "He and I are pretty good friends."

"Then," said the general, "it would do no harm for you to appeal to him
in person."

"You're right, there, general," declared Stubbs. "My friend, the
archduke, would fix this thing up in a minute. The only trouble on that
score is the matter of time. Time is precious, you know, general, and
time presses."

"Fortunately for you," said the officer, "the archduke happens to be in
the next room at this moment. If you will be seated, I shall call him."

Stubbs sat down abruptly. A slight whistle escaped him, though it did not
carry to the general's ears.

"Good night!" muttered the little man to himself. "I've sure enough gone
and done it this time."

But Stubbs didn't betray himself. To the general he said:

"The archduke here? By Jove! This is what I call luck. Have him come out
and talk to me."

With a bow, the Austrian commander turned and passed from the room. The
moment he crossed the threshold, Stubbs sprang to his feet and dashed to
the door through which he had entered a few moments before.

"This," he said, as he came again into the open, "is no place for
Anthony Stubbs."

He disappeared from within view of the general's quarters with
amazing rapidity.

"Wasn't much use of me patting the archduke on the back," he told
himself. "Never having seen me before, I guess he wouldn't have
remembered me. I don't want to be shot."

Half a mile from the scene of his trouble, he entered a little
restaurant and sat down to have something to eat and to figure out what
he should do.

"This place is going to be too small to hold me," he said to himself over
a second cup of coffee. "They'll have all the natives on my trail. I've
got to get over the frontier some way. The question before me is how?"

He meditated for some moments, then rose, paid his check and left the
restaurant. In front of the door he stopped and looked toward the south,
where, in the distance, he knew heavy Austrian patrols faced the Italian
pickets only a few miles beyond.

"That's the way I want to go," he told himself. "So I may as well be
starting in that direction."

He moved off.

Possibly half a mile from the utmost Austrian line he stopped and sat
down. So far he had been unchallenged and now, as he sat there, a plan
came to him. He took his revolver from his pocket and examined it.

"I'll try it," he said briefly to himself. "If Chester knew what I was
about to do, he would be greatly surprised. But the thing is I am more
afraid to stay here than I am to take this chance."

He arose and moved on. As he expected, probably five minutes later, a
mounted officer came toward him. There was no one else near. He halted
the correspondent.

"Where are you going?" he asked sharply.

"I'll tell you," was the reply. "I am a war correspondent and I am just
looking about a bit. Am I going too far? If so, I shall turn back."

"Well, I can permit you to go no farther," said the Austrian, with a
smile.

"Oh, all right," said Stubbs.

He drew a cigar from his pocket, bit off the end, struck a match and
lighted it. Then, with a start, he produced a second cigar.

"Beg pardon," he said. "Have a smoke?"

The Austrian signified that he would. Stubbs gave him the cigar and
struck a second match. The Austrian leaned from his horse and put the
cigar to the flame. At that moment Stubbs drew his revolver with his free
hand and, dropping the match, seized the Austrian by the leg with the
other. The latter came tumbling from his horse, and when he looked up, he
gazed squarely into the mouth of Stubbs' revolver.

"Quiet," said the little man briefly. "I want you to change
clothes with me."

The Austrian appeared about to protest, but changed his mind and
signified his willingness to comply with the command.

"Stand off there and remove your clothes," ordered Stubbs, pointing.

The man obeyed, Stubbs the while keeping him covered with his revolver.
The man's clothes removed, Stubbs approached him.

"I'll have to tie you up minus your outer garments," he told him. "I
can't take any chances on you while I am donning your robes."

He tied him up in most approved fashion and then gagged him with his
handkerchief.

"Just to keep you from giving an alarm," he said.

Rapidly he donned the Austrian's clothes and then walked over to his
horse. This he mounted and turned the animal's head southward. He waved a
hand at the Austrian.

"_Auf Wiedersehen_," he said, and rode away.

He kept as far as possible from the Austrian troops that patrolled the
outposts and half an hour later was beyond the Austrian lines. Out of
sight he halted and discarded the Austrian uniform he had drawn on over
his civilian attire and then rode on more confidently.

And the little man welcomed a command that broke upon his ears a short
time later:

"Halt!"

He drew rein. A soldier in Italian uniform advanced toward him.

"Thank the Lord," said the little man.

He drew a hand across a moist brow and gave a whistle of pure relief.

"No one will ever know how scared I was," he muttered. "Now to
find Chester."

He turned to the soldier who had accosted him.

"Take me immediately to your commanding officer," he ordered.




CHAPTER XVIII.

HAL AND UNCLE JOHN.


While Chester and his old friend, Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent, are
resting at ease for the moment with the Italian troops at the extreme
northern front, it behooves us to go back and see what has happened to
Hal and Uncle John.

When the two were led away from the headquarters of the Italian
commander, under guard, Uncle John's rage had by no means subsided; but
he cooled down somewhat after Hal had, to the best of his ability,
attempted to show him the viewpoint of the general.

"It's a contemptible trick," Uncle John protested.

"Well, let it go at that, then," said Hal helplessly.

And Uncle John did.

Now the thoughts of the two turned to Chester, for both were greatly
worried about him, and their anxiety increased as the long hours passed.

So darkness came, and they lay down to sleep. They were awake with the
morning light and the first thought of each was whether any word had been
received from the Italian commander in Rome.

And two hours after daylight they knew. An orderly entered and informed
them that the commander desired their presence immediately. They
followed him.

"Everything all right, general?" Hal greeted him, with a smile.

The Italian commander frowned.

"The answer to my wire will hardly gain you your freedom," he replied.

"What, sir?" demanded Hal, in great surprise.

"Exactly," replied the commander, this time smiling a little himself.

"What did General Ferrari say?" inquired Hal anxiously.

"Well, he didn't say anything," replied the Italian. "He is no longer in
Rome, but has gone to the front. My wire did not reach him. Consequently,
I shall have to turn you over to the civil authorities here for
safe-keeping. I cannot be bothered with you."

Hal gazed at Uncle John in dismay.

"What did I tell you?" the latter broke out. "And you sided with him,
too. Tried to show me where he was right, didn't you? Well, what do you
think of him now?"

In spite of the seriousness of their situation, Hal was forced to smile
at Uncle John's righteous wrath.

"It will turn out all right," he said quietly.

"I'm glad somebody thinks so," declared Uncle John. "I don't."

Hal addressed the commander:

"General, I can assure you that all we have said has been the truth. You
will learn so in time. I, sir, have seen active service. I have fought
with the Belgians, the British in France and the Russians in the eastern
war zone."

"From your own accounts you must have had quite a time," said the Italian
commander dryly. "Now, I may as well tell you that I do not believe a
single word of your story and protests will avail you nothing. Were I to
follow my own inclinations, I would order you both shot as spies within
the hour. However, there is always a chance that my convictions may be
wrong, which is the only thing that is saving you now. I shall wait until
I have word from General Ferrari. Orderly!"

A subordinate entered.

"Turn these prisoners over to Colonel Brunoli. Colonel Brunoli," he
continued, addressing Hal, "is the chief of police. I can guarantee that
you will be safe in his keeping."

Hal would have protested, but the orderly signalled him to march out
ahead, of him. Hal took Uncle John by the arm, and they left, but not
before Uncle John had hurled a final remark over his shoulder to the
Italian commander.

"You will hear of me again, sir," he thundered. "I'm an American citizen
and we have an ambassador over in this benighted country. He'll warm
things up for you when he learns of this outrage."

"March!" commanded the orderly and Uncle John heeded the order.

Before an imposing building a short distance away, the orderly called a
halt and then motioned them up the short flight of steps. Through a long
hall they were marched and into a room at the far end. Here a man in
uniform with much lace and gold facings sat at a large desk. Hal didn't
need to be told that he was the chief of police.

"What have we here?" he demanded, swinging about in his chair and eyeing
the two severely.

"Prisoners, sir, whom I am instructed to turn over to you," was the
orderly's reply. "You are to hold them until you receive further
instructions, sir."

"Very good," said the chief. "You may go."

The orderly saluted, turned on his heel and departed.

"You may sit there until I have completed this piece of work," said the
chief, motioning the prisoners to chairs behind him.

Hal and Uncle John sat down and the chief turned again to his desk and
was soon busy writing.

Hal's eyes roved about the room. An idea struck him like a flash. They
sat between the chief of police and the door by which they had entered.
What would be more easy than to tip-toe to the door, which stood slightly
ajar, and disappear unbeknown to the chief?

With Hal to think was to act. Fearing to lift his voice in a whisper, he
at last managed to catch Uncle John's eye. Then he laid a warning finger
to his lips and beckoned Uncle John to follow him. Uncle John manifested
some surprise, but he signified that he understood.

Carefully Hal got to his feet and Uncle John followed suit. Then Hal,
stepping very softly, moved toward the door. Now it was five, now four,
now three paces away--and then the boy laid his hand on the knob. Uncle
John was right behind him.

The door swung open without so much as a creak, and Hal stepped out.
Uncle John followed him. Hal motioned Uncle John to lead the way down the
hall, while he remained behind to close the door. The order was obeyed.

Hal took the precaution to close the door tightly and then hurried after
Uncle John. "Well--" began Uncle John, just as they stepped from the
building, "I guess we--"

Came a sudden roar from behind them--the roar of a human voice.

"The chief!" exclaimed Hal. "Run!"

Uncle John needed no urging and the two went down the steps four and five
at a time. Hal led the way and Uncle John followed close at his heels.

Around the corner they darted even as the chief of police appeared in the
doorway--too late to see in which direction his erstwhile prisoners had
flown. But the two fugitives could hear his voice raised in another roar,
as he thundered out a call for his men to give chase.

"Come on, Uncle John!" shouted Hal, and the latter, although he had long
since come to believe that his bones had stiffened with age, surprised
himself by the manner in which he flew over the ground.

Fortunately, the street at the moment was deserted. Around one, two, then
three corners Hal doubled, and then slowed down.

"Guess we are all right for a few minutes," he gasped.

Uncle John stopped and gasped for breath.

"I'm not as young as I used to be, Hal," he said. "Don't forget that. I
can't go a hundred yards in eleven seconds any more."

"Well, you didn't miss it much," said Hal, with a chuckle. "But come on,
we must get away from here. If we are caught now, the chances are they
will stand us up against a wall and have a shot at us."

"In which event," said Uncle John dryly, "I can still do a hundred yards
in ten flat."

Side by side the two walked on.

"The question that now arises," said Uncle John, "is how we are going to
get away from here?"

"First," said Hal, "we must go back and see if Chester is still where we
left him."

"Like looking for a needle in a haystack," said Uncle John. "This is a
pretty good-sized town."

"Not at all," replied Hal. "I have a pretty keen sense of direction;
besides, I always make it a point to look at the names of the streets. I
can find it in half an hour. Come on."

The lad had not boasted and less than an hour later they stood again in
the house where so lately they had been prisoners.

"Well, he's gone," said Hal quietly. "We cannot help him here. The best
thing for us to do is to return to Rome and lay the case before the
ambassador, who can take the matter up with Ambassador Penfield at
Vienna, or through Washington."

"The thing to do, then, is to hunt the railroad station," declared Uncle
John. "Do you think you can find it?"

"If I can't, I can ask," replied Hal.

Thirty minutes later saw Hal at the ticket window asking what time the
next train left for Rome.

"In an hour," was the reply.

Hal purchased two tickets. Then with Uncle John he strolled about
the station.

Suddenly the boy halted in his tracks and grabbed Uncle John by the arm,
pulling him into a corner. And it was well that he did so, for a moment
later there brushed by the spot where they had stood none other than the
chief of police and several other men in uniform.

"He may not be looking for us, but the chances are he is," said Hal.

The chief went straight to the ticket office, where he engaged the agent
in conversation.

"No Rome for us now," declared Hal. "Come on."

He led the way out of the station and directly stood in the train
shed. The boy heard a cry of "All aboard" and saw that a train was
about to pull out.

"Don't know where it is going, but we'll get it!" he cried, and Uncle
John followed him in his mad dash. By a hard run they succeeded in
climbing into an unoccupied compartment even as the guard would have
closed the door.

"Where do you suppose we are bound?" asked Uncle John, as he sat
down, panting.

"Don't know," was Hal's reply. "We'll find out directly."

A few minutes later the conductor enlightened them.

"Milan," he said.




CHAPTER XIX.

WITH THE ARMY.


"Milan!" echoed Hal. "Good night!"

"Oh, well," said Uncle John, with rare optimism for him, "I guess we can
double back from there, can't we?"

"I suppose it can be done," agreed Hal. "But we haven't any business
wandering all over this country. We want to get to Rome."

"We'll get there, all right," said Uncle John.

"Yes; but if they happen to nab us we are likely not to get there whole,"
declared Hal.

When the train arrived in Milan, Hal and Uncle John were among the first
to alight.

"Well, here we are; now what?" demanded Uncle John.

"You've got me," declared Hal.

They made their way to the street and there they halted suddenly, for a
wonderful sight had met their gaze.

Passing along the street were thousands and thousands of soldiers,
mounted and afoot, fully equipped for the field. They passed by in a
steady stream. For an hour Hal and Uncle John watched the imposing sight
and still the long line wended its way along. Hal's heart beat faster as
his eyes rested upon this imposing array of fighting strength.

"By Jove! I'd like to go along," he muttered to himself.

And it was to be so, even sooner that he could possibly have hoped. But
the suggestion came from an altogether unexpected source.

"Tell you what, Hal," said Uncle John suddenly. "As long as we are here
we might as well see a little something. What do you think?"

"Just what do you mean?" asked Hal.

"Well, let's go along to the front with these fellows; that is, if we
can make it. We may see something that we will never have another
chance to see."

"Suits me," declared Hal. "Let's see if we can get a couple of
horses--it's pretty tough walking and we don't know how far we may
have to go."

This was easier than could have been expected; and an hour later found
them riding slowly along in the direction taken by the Italian troops.

"Don't suppose the authorities here have been apprised of our escape from
Milan," said Hal. "I guess we are safe enough."

Hour after hour they rode along, passing regiment after regiment of
infantry as it moved toward the front. Uncle John was greatly impressed
by the military carriage and bearing of the troops, but in spite of their
impressiveness Hal could not help thinking that they did not have the
businesslike appearance of the British troops.

Now, in the distance, they made out what they could see was a great camp,
stretching out as far as the eye could see on both sides.

"This," said Hal, pointing, "will be the end of our tour of inspection.
Beyond those lines they will not let us go."

"We'll go as far as we can," declared Uncle John.

Suddenly from directly ahead came the heavy thunder of a single gun,
followed almost immediately by another giant voice. Other big guns began
to speak, and soon the roaring of thousands filled the air.

"A battle!" exclaimed Hal.

Other voices now, more faint but sharper of note, took up the
fighting--rapid firers and the rifles of the infantry coming into play.
From their present position Hal and Uncle John could not tell just where
the fighting was in progress, the numbers engaged, or whether the
Italians had taken the offensive, or the Austrians, or how the battle was
progressing. All they could hear was the terrible din and roar. They
could see nothing. They were at present far from the battle line.

Still they advanced.

Now they were suddenly in the center of the Italian troops, still
stationary, awaiting the word to move forward in support of the second
line or the first line as the case might be.

An officer rode up to them.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"Nothing particularly," replied Hal. "I am a British officer and, being
in this neighborhood, thought I would look around a bit."

"Your papers?" was the next command.

"Unfortunately, I have none with me," returned the lad.

The officer hesitated.

"I'll tell you," he said finally, "there is a British officer commanding
a regiment here. Perhaps he will know you. I shall conduct you to him. He
has arrived from France only recently."

"I don't know all the British officers in France," said Hal, "but there
is always the possibility I may know this one."

"Follow me," commanded the Italian.

The two did so. To the far left wing their guide led the way, and finally
stopped before a tent somewhat larger than the rest.

An orderly came forth.

"Tell the colonel I have a man here who claims to be a British officer,"
said the Italian.

A moment later there stepped from the tent a long, tall Englishman,
attired in British uniform, youngish of face, and at sight of him Hal
started forward with a glad cry.

"Major Anderson!" he exclaimed.

The officer gazed at him in surprise, then came forward with
extended hand.

"Bless my soul," he exclaimed. "What in the name of all that's wonderful
are you doing here? I thought you were dead. And where is Chester?"

"I don't know," answered Hal, answering the last question first.

Upon Colonel Anderson's--he was no longer major--request, Hal plunged
into an account of what had transpired since they had last seen the
gallant Englishman. Now the Italian officer stepped forward.

"Then they are all right?" he questioned, indicating Hal and Uncle John.

"This one is," replied Anderson, laying a hand on Hal's shoulder. "I
don't know the other."

He hastened to introduce the two men.

Anderson turned to the Italian.

"It's all right," he said.

The latter saluted and moved away.

"While you are here," said Anderson, "you will make yourselves at home in
my quarters. I am now called to the front."

"Can't we go with you?" asked Hal anxiously.

The colonel hesitated.

"Well, I guess it can be done," he said at length. "You have your horses;
wait until I get mine."

A command to his orderly and the horse was soon waiting. The three rode
forward and as they went the colonel explained something of the situation
and his reason for being with the Italian army.

"I was sent here immediately Italy declared war," he said, "at the
request of the Italian government. Of course, they didn't ask for me
personally, but they did ask for a British officer who had seen active
service. General French selected me, with the rank of colonel. That's why
I'm here."

"And this fighting now?" questioned Hal. "Who is on the offensive?"

"The Austrians, at the moment," was the reply. "They have massed
thousands of men to the north, and at the far side of the Alps. We have
let it be known that we were in insufficient strength here and the
Austrians evidently hope, by a quick drive, to gain a foothold on Italian
soil. Fortunately, however, our lines were strengthened no later than
yesterday and reinforcements still are arriving. The Austrians have
delayed too long.

"Now our troops are falling back slowly and in good order. The Austrians,
feeling sure of a quick victory, will follow them too far. Then for our
coup. First the artillery, then the infantry and cavalry, and let me tell
you something, this Italian artillery fire is going to be one of the
wonders of the war. Its effect will be terrific. Watch and see."

In the distance now the three made out a squad of a dozen men advancing
toward them, with what appeared to be two prisoners in their midst.

"We'll have a look and see what's up," declared Colonel Anderson.

They rode forward.

As at last they were able to make out the faces of the two apparent
prisoners, Hal uttered a loud shout and spurred his horse forward. Uncle
John took a second look and did likewise. Colonel Anderson rode rapidly
after them.

At the side of the squad, Hal leaped quickly from his horse, and plunging
directly into the squad, threw his arms about one of the prisoners.

"Chester!" he cried.

And Chester it was.

The latter returned his friend's embrace with gusto, and then freeing
himself, fell into the bear hug of Uncle John.

The latter was sniffling with joy; but at last released, Chester caught
sight of Colonel Anderson.

Again there was an affectionate greeting and then Hal heard a voice
in his ear.

"And haven't you anything to say to me, young man?"

Hal whirled about and caught sight of the smiling face of Anthony Stubbs,
war correspondent of the New York _Gazette_.

"Stubbs!" he cried, and his delight was so evident that the little man
flushed with pleasure.

Introductions followed all around now and then Colonel Anderson addressed
the officer in charge of the squad.

"Are these men prisoners?" he asked.

"No, sir," was the reply, "but General Ferrari instructed me to have them
taken to a place of safety."

"Then you can turn them over to me without question?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good! Then I shall relieve you of further responsibility."

The Italian saluted, ordered his men to "'Bout face" and marched off
toward the front.




CHAPTER XX.

THE ADVANCE.


The shrill, clear voice of a single bugle broke the stillness of the
early morning. There was a second of intense silence, and the call came
again. A second took it up, and a third, and many more, each less
distinct than the first, for they were farther away.

Hal, Chester, Uncle John and Anthony Stubbs, three of them accustomed as
they were to the life of the military camps, were upon their feet almost
before the sound of the first bugle had died away, and strained their
ears to catch a repetition.

They had spent the night in a large tent assigned them by Colonel
Anderson, not far from his own quarters, and had retired completely
exhausted as the result of the strenuous time they had gone through. But
they were all perfectly wide awake now and rushed from their tent with
the sound of the second call.

"A call to arms!" exclaimed Hal.

"Probably means an advance," said Chester quietly.

"I guess you are right," returned his chum. "And here we are, nothing but
spectators at the best."

"And that's where you are lucky," chimed in Stubbs. "Now take me, I've
got to get out among all this fighting and maybe I'll be killed. But I've
got to do it. You fellows can stay here where it is perfectly safe."

"Well, I'd much rather be in your place, then," said Chester.

"Same here," declared Hal.

The Italian camp had sprung to life as if by magic. Half-clothed sleepers
poured from the tents and formed into ranks in the darkness. Officers ran
hither and thither shouting hoarse orders. For a moment confusion
reigned, but this gave place almost immediately to perfect order. The
discipline of the Italian troops was remarkable. In almost less time than
it takes to tell it, the whole Italian army of the North, stretching out
as it did for mile after mile and mile after mile, was under arms,
eagerly awaiting the word that would send it against the strongly
entrenched Austrian columns ahead.

Less than a hundred rods away Hal made out the form of Colonel Anderson,
as he now stood at the head of his men; gazing steadily ahead except when
he turned to give an order to one of his subordinates. Far back, just
distinguishable in the now half light, could be seen the dense masses of
cavalry, unmounted as yet, but ready to leap to the saddle and dash
forward at command.

A gun boomed, shattering the almost oppressive stillness. Another
followed suit. More took up the work and the air was filled with their
thundering. It became apparent to Hal and Chester, to whom this was
nothing new, that the infantry would make the first advance, under the
support of the artillery.

"A good-sized job, if you ask me," declared the latter.

"Rather," replied Hal dryly. "Hey," breaking off suddenly, "where are
you going?"

"To the front," replied Stubbs, to whom the lad had addressed his remark,
pausing for a moment and glancing back over his shoulder. "Got to get a
little news, you know."

"You'd better look out or you are likely to get a little bullet,"
remarked Uncle John.

"Well, I'll have to take a chance," replied the little man.

With a wave of his hand he disappeared in the darkness.

"Forward!" came a clear voice from their rear.

Came the heavy tramp, tramp of marching feet, as the First Infantry
moved forward. Steadily they marched ahead, silently and with an air of
determination. They made an imposing appearance in the dim light of
early morning.

"A gallant body of men," muttered Hal. "They'll give a good account of
themselves."

Came a word of command from Colonel Anderson--the boys recognized his
voice--and more troops moved forward. As far as the eye could see dense
masses of men were marching rapidly toward the front. It became apparent
that this was to be no mere skirmish--no mere feeling-out process. It was
to be a battle, and as both lads realized, it might well last for days.

"We may as well go forward a bit," said Hal.

Accordingly the three started out. Half an hour later they were suddenly
surrounded by a body of infantry, and, in some unaccountable manner, were
separated from Uncle John. In vain they looked, called and whistled for
him. He had disappeared.

"Well, I guess he will be able to find the way back," said Chester. "We'd
better see if we can find him."

They retraced their steps. For an hour and more they waited, but Uncle
John failed to put in an appearance. And all the time, from ahead, came
the dull roar of battle.

"Well, what shall we do?" asked Chester at length.

Hal shrugged his shoulders.

"Guess your peaceful Uncle John has gone on to the front," he said. "We
may as well do the same. He'll turn up sooner or later."

Chester was struck with a sudden idea.

"By Jove!" he exclaimed.

"What's the matter now?" demanded Hal, eyeing his chum in some surprise.

"I was just thinking," said Chester. "Say, let's see if we can't find a
couple of spare uniforms around here."

"H-m-m," muttered Hal, who knew what Chester meant. "Maybe we shouldn't
do anything like that."

"Maybe we shouldn't," agreed Chester, "but there is no one here to tell
us not to. Come on."

Hal followed him.

They looked into several tents, but their search met with no success, but
in the sixth tent they were more fortunate. Chester, rummaging around in
a corner, produced a lieutenant's uniform.

"Looks like it might fit," he said. "I'll try it on."

He did.

"Fits well enough," he said.

"All right," said Hal. "But where is mine?"

"Oh, we'll find you one, all right," said Chester.

And, after half an hour's further search, they did--a second lieutenant's
uniform. Hal donned it hurriedly.

"Might as well hunt up our horses," he said.

"Ours?" queried Chester.

"Well, mine and Uncle John's, or anybody else's, for that matter. It's a
long walk to the front."

They were fortunate enough to find two mounts without much trouble, and,
leaping to the saddles, they rode forward.

"Got a gun?" asked Chester.

"No," replied Hal. "Have you?"

"No such luck. Maybe we can find one further on."

This hope was realized.

As they rode forward the sights of battle became evident. Here and there
were fallen men, some dead and some dying, struck down by the long-range
artillery of the Austrians. Red Cross nurses and physicians were busy
attending to the wounded.

Hal leaped to the ground, and from the fingers of a dead officer took a
revolver. A second he removed from his holster. Then he unstrapped the
officer's sword belt and put it on himself.

"Well, I'm fixed," he said, leaning down and producing the unfortunate
officer's supply of ammunition.

"My turn next," said Chester.

Half a mile further along he relieved a second fallen officer of his
sword, revolvers and ammunition.

"Now," said he, "we are ready to go into battle?"

"We're ready," agreed Hal, "but we have no business there."

"Well, we won't do any fighting unless we have to," said Chester, "but
we'll go as far to the front as we can."

They rode forward more rapidly.

Meanwhile, the Italians pressed forward to the attack. With the first
shell hurled within their lines by the enemy's artillery, the Austrians
came to life. Weak spots in the long battle line were strengthened,
reinforcements were hurried forward all along the entire front. The
Austrian artillery opened fire and for an hour the long-range artillery
duel continued.

But now the Austrian officers grew greatly excited. From the shelter of
the distant Italian trenches rose a long line of men. Coolly they formed
under the Austrian fire, and stood awaiting the signal to advance. And a
moment later it came.

On came the Italians in spite of the withering fire of the Austrian
infantry and the still more deadly execution of the great guns, which
mowed them down by the hundreds.

But as fast as these gaps appeared, they were filled by others, and the
Italians continued to forge ahead.

An Austrian bugle spoke sharply, and there sallied forth from the
Austrian entrenchments masses of infantry at the double, closely followed
by cavalry.

Evidently the Austrian commander had determined not to put his entire
dependence upon his artillery.

The Italians sprang forward to meet the foe. They rushed as though hurled
from a catapult.

The solid lines of infantry met with a shock. Rifles flashed and
revolvers spoke sharply. Steel flashed in the air and hand grenades added
their deadly execution to the terrible work.

And now the Italian infantry parted suddenly in the center and from
behind at a furious pace came squadron upon squadron of cavalry,
possibly, all told, five thousand men.

With impetuous bravery they dashed forward, throwing themselves upon the
bayonets of the Austrian infantry, which had braced to receive the shock.
But the enemy could not withstand this desperate charge. They faltered,
hesitated, broke and fled. In vain their officers sought to bring order
out of chaos. It was beyond their effort.

Straight in among the broken infantry plunged the Italian cavalry. Sabers
whirled in the air and descended with terrible effect. Horses trampled
fallen men, and bit at those who stood in their way, stamping and
striking at others with their feet.

Realizing that his infantry was completely demoralized, the Austrian
commander gave the word to send his own cavalry into the fray.

With a shout the horsemen charged. The Italians drew up their horses
sharply and braced themselves to meet this new attack.

Chester and Hal, who came within view of this deadly work at this moment,
stood spellbound.

Then Chester spoke.

"Now," he said, "you will see what I call real fighting. Look!"

The two bodies of horsemen met with a crash.




CHAPTER XXI.

THE BOYS GO INTO BATTLE.


Sitting their horses quietly, their lives endangered every moment by shot
and shell that dropped around them and whistled by their heads, Hal and
Chester watched keenly the hand-to-hand struggle that ensued.

The two bodies of horsemen met with a crash less than a quarter of a
mile from where the two lads had taken their places. With swords and
sabers flashing aloft, the Austrians had charged with a wild yell. The
Italian cavalry, stationary and braced for the shock, received their
foes silently.

Hal and Chester could see that the opposing bodies of horse were about
evenly matched; and they realized that skill, horsemanship and fighting
prowess would play important parts in the encounter.

The very fierceness of the Austrian charge swept away the front rank of
the Italian cavalry; and, over the fallen bodies of men and horses the
foe pressed on, taking no count of their own dead and injured that reeled
and fell from the saddles. The horses themselves became imbued with the
spirit of battle, and bit and struck at each other as their riders fought
with sword, saber and pistol.

It was a terrible sight, and the lads shuddered unconsciously. It was
more frightful to the spectator than it was to the struggling men
themselves, who, in the heat of battle, took no thought of the dead and
the dying and pressed forward bent only upon protecting themselves while
they sought the lives of their foes.

For an hour the fierce hand-to-hand struggle raged, with advantage
apparently first to one side and then to the other. In other sections of
the field, at least where Hal and Chester could see, operations had
ceased for the moment, each commander evidently loath to hurl forward
additional troops until the cavalry action had been decided. However, the
troops were engaged in other quarters of the field. Upon the right the
Italians had made no impression on the Austrian, but the Italian left
wing had had better success. The first line of trenches of the enemy had
fallen to the attacking forces after a fierce bayonet charge by the
infantry, and the left wing had now taken shelter in the trenches and was
preparing to beat off a counter attack which the Austrian commander even
now was about to make.

And in the center the cavalry still fought sullenly and fiercely.

Suddenly Hal uttered an exclamation of dismay.

From a quarter of a mile to the left of the struggling cavalry, a second
body of Austrian horsemen appeared. These men had been ordered to make a
detour and fall upon the Italian horse from the left. They now charged
with a shout.

Apparently this had taken the Italian commander by surprise, for no
additional Italian troops were for the moment hurled forward to the
support of the cavalry. Beset by this new foe, the Italians were forced
back slowly, fighting every minute, however, and contesting every foot of
ground as they retreated.

Hal and Chester now realized for the first time that they were directly
in the line of retreat.

"We'd better move, Hal," said Chester, "or we shall have to fight whether
we want to or not."

Hal signified his assent with a nod of his head, and they turned their
horses' heads to ride out of harm's way.

But they had delayed too long.

From behind them came a loud, terrible, blood-curdling shout, and gazing
quickly about, the lads saw that they were directly in the road of large
cavalry reinforcements that were being rushed forward to the support of
the hard-pressed men in front.

"Quick, Chester!" cried Hal, and put spurs to his horse.

But it was too late.

The Italian cavalry was upon them, and rather than be thrown down and
trampled, the lads were forced to turn their horses in with the troop;
and thus they were carried along like a whirlwind in the very front rank
of the charge, and Hal, glancing to his left, felt a sudden sense of
satisfaction as he saw that the man who led this desperate charge was
none other than Colonel Harry Anderson, his old companion in arms, the
man by whose side both he and Chester had faced death more than once.

Hal's hand dropped to his belt, and his revolver came forth in his left
hand. The reins he allowed to fall loose upon his horse's neck, while
with his right hand he drew his sword. Chester, with the light of battle
in his eyes, was already prepared.

The horses of the two boys darted forward with the rest of the troop,
their ears standing straight up, their manes bristling, their
nostrils extended.

Now the troop came close upon the cavalry already engaged; and these men,
despite their seeming confusion, parted as though by a prearranged plan,
and the reinforcements passed through, and fell upon the enemy with an
impact that was not to be denied. Behind, the first troop reformed and
now came forward in support.

And once more Hal and Chester found themselves in the midst of battle.

Just before the impact, and as Colonel Anderson brandished his sword
aloft and urged his men on with a shouted command, Hal discharged his
revolver at a tall Austrian who had taken deliberate aim at Colonel
Anderson. The man threw up his hands and with a wild yell toppled beneath
the feet of the plunging horses, there to be trampled to death if Hal's
bullet had not been enough.

One volley was poured into the Austrians at a command from Colonel
Anderson, and then the Italians were upon the foe with drawn sabers. A
single volley from the Austrians proved ineffective; Hal and Chester and
the commander of the troop were unscathed and the Austrians had no time
for another.

Chester parried a blow aimed at him by an Austrian cavalryman, and
raising his pistol quickly, toppled him from his horse with a bullet. A
second ploughed its way through the chest of another trooper and with his
sword the lad caught a blow that at that moment would have descended upon
Hal's head.

And so the fighting went, cut, thrust, parry and strike, with an
occasional revolver shot in between; and Hal, Chester, and Colonel
Anderson, in some miraculous manner, escaping injury.

The Austrians fought bravely, giving blow for blow, and in the center
succeeded in breaking through. It was but a mere handful of men who
succeeded in this venture, however, and they were immediately cut off
from their friends. A demand to surrender went unheeded; and a moment
later they had gone down.

A bugle sounded in the Austrian rear. The enemy drew off. It was first
blood to the Italians and the troops raised a loud cheer as they dashed
forward in pursuit of the foe, who now turned their horses about
sharply and fled.

For a hundred yards the Italians pursued, doing great execution with
their heavy cavalry swords; and then Colonel Anderson called a halt, for
he feared he might be rushing into a trap.

When two hundred yards separated the opposing forces, the Austrian
artillery suddenly broke loose again. A shell struck squarely in the
center of the Italian horsemen, doing frightful execution. Colonel
Anderson hurriedly gave the order to fall back.

The colonel turned to Hal and Chester.

"What are you two doing here?" he demanded. "I thought you told me your
fighting days were over?"

"We thought so, too," replied Hal, with a smile, "but you fellows
swooped down on us so suddenly that we didn't have a chance to get out
of the way."

"And it seemed pretty good," said Chester, "just like old times."

"You both gave good accounts of yourselves," declared the colonel. "I'll
have a word to say about you in my report."

"No use of--" began Chester and broke off with an ejaculation: "Hello!"

"What's up?" demanded Anderson.

For answer, Chester pointed to the left and slightly ahead. There,
overlooked in some way, a small body of Italian troops was engaged
silently with a larger number of Austrians and the Italians were getting
the worst of the encounter.

Colonel Anderson made his decision in a moment, and in spite of the
Austrian artillery shells that were flying overhead and dropping on all
sides, the cavalry rushed to the aid of their countrymen.

But the Austrians didn't wait to receive this new attack. They turned and
took to their heels; and as they hastened away, Hal caught the sound of a
voice coming from their midst:

"Hal! Chester!" it came. "Help!"

"By George! it's Uncle John!" exclaimed Chester, and urged his horse
forward faster than before.

"Uncle John--and a prisoner," ejaculated Hal, and also spurred forward.

But a heavy hand was laid on the bridle of each.

"Here! what's the matter with you fellows?" demanded Colonel Anderson's
gruff voice. "Want to get yourselves killed?"

"But we've got to get Uncle John out of this mess," declared Chester.

"You won't get him out by getting yourselves killed," was the reply.
"He's safe enough now. He's a prisoner and they won't hurt him."

"But they'll keep him prisoner," was Chester's exclamation.

"Well, what of it?" demanded the colonel.

"Well, I don't know," said Chester slowly.

"I'll speak to the general," said Colonel Anderson. "Perhaps he will see
his way clear to making representations for his release."

"Do you think he will?" asked Hal eagerly.

"To tell you the truth, I don't, but I'll speak to him, anyhow."

With this the lads were forced to be content, for they realized that
Colonel Anderson would not permit them to go forward by themselves;
besides, they recognized the folly of such an act.

The battle was over for the moment. The Italian left wing retained the
ground won despite several counter assaults and the right wing had also
been pushed forward after vigorous fighting. The Italians held their
dearly gained victory in the center.

"Come with me," said Colonel Anderson to Hal and Chester. "We'll have a
talk with the general."

The two lads followed him.




CHAPTER XXII.

OFF ON A MISSION.


"I regret to say that what you ask is impossible."

The speaker was General Ferrari, commander of the Italian army of the
North--the army that later was to attempt an invasion of Austrian
territory by way of the Alps.

Colonel Anderson had just put before the general the question of trying
to gain the freedom of Uncle John. The general turned to Hal and Chester.

"I am not unmindful of the great help you rendered Italy in Rome," he
said; "but, at the same time, I cannot grant your present request. I
am sorry."

"Why, that's all right, sir," said Chester quietly. "The idea was Colonel
Anderson's, and if it cannot be done, that settles it, of course. Uncle
John will have to take his chances, the same as the rest of us."

"I am glad you are so sensible about it," replied the general. "Now,"
turning to Colonel Anderson, "I have a matter to discuss with you."

Hal and Chester took their departure, telling Colonel Anderson they would
await him without. Half an hour later the colonel joined them.

"It's too bad you fellows are not in the fighting business any
more," he said.

"Why?" demanded both lads in one voice.

"Because I am now confronted with a piece of work in which I should be
glad to have your aid."

"What kind of work?" asked Chester.

"Oh, just a little mission that would take us into the Austrian lines.
General Ferrari wants a little information, and he has selected me to go
after it. I've got to have a couple of companions."

"By Jove, Chester! Here's a chance for us," declared Hal. "We'll go
along, and who knows, perhaps we may have a chance to help Uncle
John, too."

"Good!" agreed Chester. "What do you say, colonel?"

"I am afraid the general would not hear of it," replied the colonel, with
a slight smile. "For my part, if you are willing I should be glad to have
you with me. I know you are to be depended upon and I have great
confidence in your resourcefulness."

"Let's go and see the general," said Chester.

Colonel Anderson offered no protest to this and a few moments later
Chester put his request to General Ferrari.

"H-m-m," said the general, musing for a while. Then he gave his decision.
"All right," he said; "but first, I want to impress one thing upon you.
Your work of trying to release your Uncle John, as you call him, must be
a secondary matter. The mission you are undertaking will permit of no
delay. Do you agree to that?"

"Yes, sir," replied both lads, without an instant's hesitation.

"You say you hold commissions in the Belgian army?" asked the general.

"Yes, and I can vouch for the fact that they were both attached to the
staff of General Sir John French," put in Colonel Anderson.

"Very well, then," returned the general. "You may go, and my only
instructions are that 

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