CHAPTER VIII.
UNCLE JOHN SHOWS HIS METTLE.
When Uncle John fell to the floor, his first feeling was one of anger. Hescarcely felt the sharp pain in his leg, where a bullet had grazed theskin. He saw Chester disappearing ahead of him, and his first thought wasto get up and hurry after him.
He pulled himself to his feet and again moved toward the door. As he didso he felt a pair of arms thrown about him from behind. Uncle John turnedto give battle to this assailant.
Now Uncle John was a big man and in his youth had been noted for hisstrength. Time had sapped his prowess, however, and he knew that he wasno 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 ofthe 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 ofself-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 andseized the other in a fierce embrace. This style of fighting was more tothe Austrian's liking.
A big man himself, he was nothing loath to test Uncle John's wrestlingability. He threw his arms about him, and the two struggled up and downthe long hall, panting and gasping.
But the Austrian was a younger man and he soon realized that Uncle Johnwas beginning to tire. The latter realized it also and knew that if hewould be successful, it must be immediately. He put a foot in back of theAustrian and pushed hard. Robard lost his balance and fell, but he kepthis grip, and Uncle John was pulled to the floor with him.
Uncle John freed an arm and planted his fist squarely in the Austrian'sface. The latter gave a cry of rage and shouted for help. Uncle Johnsmiled grimly.
"You'll need it," he said.
Again he raised a fist and brought it down with all his force. TheAustrian's arms relaxed their grip. He quivered a bit, and then sank backunconscious. Uncle John got to his feet.
"I'm not so bad at that," he told himself modestly. "I wish the boyscould 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 movedback and three men stepped inside. They saw Uncle John and theunconscious form of Robard at first glance, and sprang upon Uncle Johnwith 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 asUncle John was able to keep them at long range he gave a good account ofhimself. But, realizing that they were getting the worst of this kind offighting, one of the men gave a command to close in. In vain Uncle Johnstrove to keep them off. One threw himself to the floor, and avoiding aheavy kick, grasped Uncle John by the leg, pulling him down. The otherspiled on top of him.
Two minutes later Uncle John had ceased to struggle, and lay powerless inthe 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 hisfeet. One drew a revolver and covered him. The other two went to theassistance of Robard, who was just getting to his feet. The latter cameforward with an angry gleam in his eye.
"So I've got you at last," he said. "Well, I'll see that you don't getaway this time."
"You weren't big enough to get me alone," said Uncle John, panting fromhis 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. Itwas 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 unexpectedthat the man with the revolver did not fire, and when at last he hadagain brought his revolver to bear, he feared to press the trigger lesthe 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 feetwhenever occasion presented itself. One, two, three heavy blows helanded upon Robard's face, and the Austrian suddenly collapsed in aheap. Still fighting mad, Uncle John whirled upon the other three, whonow closed with him.
A right-handed jolt caught one of them flush on the jaw and he toppledover backwards without so much as a groan. The other brought a fistheavily to Uncle John's nose, bringing blood, but before he could repeatthe blow, Uncle John had placed him hors de combat with a terrificleft-handed punch to the abdomen.
Then the third man drew back and presented his revolver, but Uncle Johnsprang forward with a cry and before the man's finger could press thetrigger, Uncle John had seized him about the middle. Raising him high inthe air, he swung him to one side, and the man's head struck the wallwith a crunch even as the revolver exploded.
Uncle John dropped the limp body and surveyed the field. His anger haddeparted and he was again a cool and self-possessed American gentleman ofmiddle age.
"There's that temper of mine again," he said reprovingly to himself."Why, I might have killed somebody. After all these years I shouldhave it under control. I guess I'll be moving before some one makes mereal mad."
He stooped and picked up his hat, which had fallen on the floor, took onelast 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 frontof a large stone house, and he walked in the other direction.
"I've had trouble enough for one night," he told himself. "Guess I willgive that fellow a wide berth."
And had he gone toward the seated figure he would have avoided moretrouble for all concerned, and Hal and Chester would probably never haveseen active service with the Italian army. For the figure that causedUncle 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?" musedUncle John, as he walked along toward the hotel. "I'll tell them what Ithink 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 seemfifteen minutes since we went in that house. Guess Hal and Chester havereturned 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 Romefor 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 andMrs. 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," stutteredUncle John.
"Where are they?" demanded the two anxious mothers in a single voice.
"Now hold on here," said Uncle John, regaining his composure with aneffort. "I'll explain. Hal and Chester are all right. They'll be here ina few minutes."
"And what on earth is the matter with you, John?" asked Mrs. Crawfordin surprise.
"What's the matter with me?"
"Yes. Your collar is half off, your clothes are dirty and there is bloodon your shoe. What is the matter?"
"Well, nothing much," replied Uncle John in great confusion, "you see, Ihad--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 w
ith 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 thegeneral, and that's about the size of it."
"I guess you are right," replied Mrs. Paine with relief. "But why didn'tyou 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 youhad seen the licking I handed those four Austrians you would think I wasa boy again."
"I'll think you have reached your second childhood if you ever let mehear of anything like it again," declared his sister.
Uncle John was growing tired of this conversation. He wanted to belet 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 happenedto those boys? They've probably gone back to look for me. Guess I hadbetter 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 hissteps toward the Austrian legation.