CHAPTER II.
THE TWO FRIENDS.
While Hal and Chester are still upon the ground and consciousness isgradually returning, it will be well to introduce a few words concerningthem, that those who have not made their acquaintance before may learnjust what sort of boys our heroes are.
Hal Paine and Chester Crawford were typical American boys. With theformer's mother, they had been in Berlin when the great Europeanconflagration broke out and had been stranded there. Mrs. Paine had beenable to get out of the country, but Hal and Chester were left behind.
In company with Major Raoul Derevaux, a Frenchman, and Captain HarryAnderson, an Englishman, they finally made their way into Belgium, wherethey arrived in time to take part in the heroic defense of Li?ge in theearly stages of the war. Here they rendered such invaluable service tothe Belgian commander that they were commissioned lieutenants in thelittle army of King Albert.
Both in fighting and in scouting they had proven their worth. Followingthe first Belgian campaign, the two lads had seen service with theBritish troops on the continent, where they were attached to the staff ofGeneral Sir John French, in command of the English forces. Also they hadwon the respect and admiration of General Joffre, the Frenchcommander-in-chief.
As related in the third book of this series, "The Boy Allies with theCossacks," Hal and Chester had seen active service under the Russian Bearin the eastern theater of war. They fought in the midst of the Russianforces and were among the troop of 60,000 that made the first wild dashover the Carpathians to the plains of Hungary.
Returning to the western war area with despatches from the Grand DukeNicholas to the French commander-in-chief, they had again taken up theirduties with the British army. As related in "The Boy Allies in theTrenches," they had been instrumental in defeating more than one Germancoup, and it was through them, also, that a plot to assassinate PresidentPoincar? had failed.
Both lads were about the same age. Large and strong, they were proficientin the use of their fists and of the art of swordsmanship, and wereentirely familiar with firearms. Another thing that stood them in goodstead was the fact that both spoke French and German fluently. Also, eachhad a smattering of Italian.
Following their coup in saving the French president from the hands oftraitorous Apaches in Paris, Hal and Chester had come to Rome with theirmothers, whom they had found in Paris, and Chester's uncle. They had notcome without protest, for both had been eager to get back to the firingline, but their mothers' entreaties had finally prevailed. As Chester'sUncle John had said, "This is none of our war. Your place, boys, is withyour mothers."
Chester and Hal had sought consent to rejoin the army in vain. NeitherMrs. Paine nor Mrs. Crawford would hear of such a thing. So at last theyagreed to return home. First, however, at Uncle John's suggestion, theparty 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 demonstrationsin Rome. Uncle John, who at first had "pooh-poohed" the prospect ofItaly's entering the war, finally had been convinced that such a coursewas only a matter of time. Mrs. Paine and Mrs. Crawford, realizing howgreatly interested their sons were becoming, immediately decided toreturn to America. They feared that some harm would come to Hal andChester--feared that the boys might be drawn into trouble again--for theyboth knew their dispositions not to shirk danger.
The war situation at this time was anything but favorable to theAllies. Along the great western battle line, stretching out from theNorth Sea far to the south, the mighty armies were gripped in adeadlock. Occasional advances would be made by both sides and retreatswould follow.
Having pushed the invader back from the very walls of Paris soon afterthe outbreak of hostilities, the French had shoved him across the Aisneand then across the Marne. But here the allied offensive halted. Grandassaults and heroic charges proved ineffectual. The Kaiser's troops werestrongly intrenched and could not be dislodged. On their side, theAllies' positions were equally impregnable and repeated assaults by theenemy had failed to shake their lines.
In the eastern theater of war the Russians, at this moment, were meetingwith some success. Several large Austrian strongholds had been capturedafter the bloodiest fighting of the war, and it was believed that itwould only be a question of a few weeks until the Russian Grand Dukewould develop his long-expected invasion of Hungary.
In the north of the eastern war arena, also, the Russians had met withsome success, Poland had been invaded, and around Warsaw the great Germandrive had been checked. The sea was still free of German ships, with theexception of the submarines which still continued to prey upon allcommerce, neutral as well as Allies'.
The situation in the Balkan states remained unchanged. It was hoped thatthe Balkan countries would rally to the support of the Allies, and thusform an iron ring about the Germanic powers, but this matter was nonearer a successful issue than it had been months before. However,diplomats of both sides were still busy in the Balkans, and each hoped togain their support.
But for the last few weeks all eyes had been turned toward Italy. Amember 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 hadsevered her connection with the Alliance. She had announced that shewould remain neutral.
At length, however, matters reached such a pass that Italy realized shemust cast her lot with the Allies. She knew that should the Germansemerge 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 placewas considered an act of trickery. Austria and Italy could have nothingin common.
The people of Italy demanded that she throw her military as well as hermoral support to the Allies. The matter had been threshed out in theChamber of Deputies. Wild anti-German and anti-Austrian demonstrationswere almost daily occurrences in the streets of Rome and other of thelarger Italian cities. The people wanted war. Here was the one country ofall 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 manyconcessions to Italy in return for her neutrality. She agreed to almostanything. But the Italian government was not fooled. Austria would yieldanything at the present time, and then, with the aid of her powerfulally, 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 theside of the Allies. Millions of trained fighting men, fresh from therigors of the recent Turkish war, were ready to take the field at almosta 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 topicof interest was as to where she would strike first. Would she send anarmy to join the French and British troops recently landed on theGallipoli peninsula and a portion of her fleet to help force theDardanelles, or would she strike first at Austria, and if so, would thefirst 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 twodays. It was known that upon the result of this conference hinged theissue, peace or war. The chamber was still in session, but the Premierhad left and sought King Victor Emmanuel at the palace for aconsultation.
News of this kind travels quickly. The great mob which had assembledoutside the Chamber of Deputies wended its way to the palace, where itstood awaiting some word of what action was to be taken. The people knewthat the answer would not be long coming.
Hal Paine and Chester Crawford were standing in the midst of this crowdwhen this story opens. They had just left their mothers and Uncle John attheir hotel, announcing that they would get the latest war news. The twowomen had offered n
o objection, but Uncle John had instructed them:
"Don't be gone long, boys. Remember we leave in the morning, and weexpect 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 carefullypacked his British uniform, so they were now in civilian clothes. Thiswas a matter of some regret to them, for they had been proud of theiruniforms, and not without cause, and even as they walked along to-dayChester 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 lonesometo be without my uniform."
Hal laughed.
"By Jove! it does at that," he agreed. "I can sympathize with the soldierwho has such an absolute disgust for a civilian. You know there is nolove 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 yoursmight get us in trouble. Every time I look at mine, I want to run back tothe 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 anotion 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. "Thenthey'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 joinedthe crowd before the palace, and Chester had made the remark that opensthis story.