CHAPTER IV.
AN OLD FRIEND.
"What's the meaning of this?" demanded an officer, pulling in his horsebeside the two lads, while his troop gave their attention to driving backthe 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 gesturewith his hand.
"Here he comes now," interrupted Chester.
The man who had caused all the trouble now came pompously forward. Atsight of him, the mounted officer sprang from the saddle and came toattention.
"What is the matter, sir?" he asked.
"Arrest these two," said his superior, pointing to Hal and Chester. "Theyare spies, and they knocked me down."
The Italian captain motioned to half a dozen of his men. He also pointedto 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," heordered 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. Accordinglythey made no further protests and marched off, surrounded on all sides.
As they walked along the street there came a new diversion. A man camehurrying 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 aslight 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 wasimpressed 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 jokingwith me," he said.
The Italian officer drew himself up.
"I never joke of serious matters," he said quietly. "But what interesthave you in these prisoners?"
"Well, I have considerable interest," was the reply. "One of them happensto 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 Britisharmy 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 ruffleyour feelings; but one of those boys is my nephew. I tell you they areBritish 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 willbe 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 ofthis all right. Tell mother to have no fear."
"I'll see the ambassador!" shouted Uncle John. "I'll get you out ofthis. I'll show these confounded Italians they are not half as big asUncle Sam."
"Poor old Uncle John," said Chester to Hal. "He does get excited soeasily. 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 ahalt; 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 Ishall hunt you up and pull your nose."
"What!" exclaimed the officer, stepping back. "Pull my nose! SuchAmerican 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 thesteps, and seemed about to say more, when a second officer appeared inthe 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 toa room which they were motioned to enter. Inside stood a tall, stout manattired 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 importantdocument 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 atthe two lads.
"Sit down," commanded the general.
The lads obeyed, and the general took a seat at a huge desk at the farend 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 tothe 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 atthe two lads and spoke to General Ferrari in a whisper. Then both turnedupon the lads.
"Have you the paper?" demanded the general.
"No, sir," replied Hal. "We never had it in the first place. Will youallow me to explain, sir?"
"Proceed," said the general.
"First," said Hal, "I would inform your excellency that we are officersin the British army, having recently come from France."
He then went ahead with the story of how they had seen Colonel Fuescorelieved of his papers before the palace a short time ago. At theconclusion of the story the colonel sniffed audibly.
"A likely tale," he sneered.
"Silence, colonel," said the general sharply. "I shall go at this matterin 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 anddisappeared.
"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 dought
y colonel. "You call me a liar?"
Before General Ferrari or Hal could move to stay him, he stepped close toChester and struck him in the face.
Hal, knowing Chester's quick temper, became alarmed and cried outsharply:
"Don't hit him, Chester."
But he spoke too late. The blow aroused Chester's fighting blood andhe took no thought of consequences. His right fist shot out sharply,and struck squarely upon the nose, the colonel reeled back and fell tothe floor.
He was up in a moment, however, and in spite of his commander's sharporder, closed with Chester. The two rocked back and forth, as Hal andGeneral Ferrari sought to separate them.
And at this moment a newcomer entered the room. He was a young man, thinand tall, and his face showed the marks of hard service. He was attiredin the uniform of a French major. He, too, took a hand in attempting toseparate the combatants.
As the five struggled about, Hal caught a glimpse of the newcomer'sface, and he gave a cry of wonder, uttering a name that caused Chesterto release his hold upon the Italian officer and step back in surpriseand pleasure.
"Major Derevaux!" exclaimed Hal.