The Boy Allies in Great Peril | Page 5

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,"