The Boy Allies in Great Peril | Page 6

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