The military governor took his departure, and soon the lads also left the presence of the Prime Minister, who had directed them to a hotel nearby.

In this little hotel, clean and comfortable, the lads sent out and procured some old clothes that would give them the appearance of dire poverty.  Then they examined and cleaned their automatics and laid in an extra supply of cartridges.

“Well, I guess that’s about all we can do till to-night,” said Hal.  “Let’s get a little sleep.”

“My sentiments exactly,” said Chester.

It was perhaps 4 o’clock in the afternoon when they arose.  Outside the sun was shining brightly.

“By Jove!” said Chester.  “This is too nice a day to remain in the hotel.  Let’s take a walk.”

“Agreed,” said Hal.

They left the hotel, and for an hour strolled about the city, looking at the sights of interest.

“By the way,” said Chester, “what’s this Hotel de Ville where we are to report to General Gallieni to-night?”

“Why,” said Hal, “that’s the city hall, or at least what we would call the city hall in America.  I suppose that when Paris was put under martial law the military governor, who, of course, superseded all civic authorities, at once took up his quarters there.”

“I see,” said Chester.

Strolling along Bois de Boulougne, the lads saw, some distance ahead of them, a crowd gathered about what appeared to be a knot of struggling men.  They hurried up and peered over the shoulders of the other onlookers.

In the center of the throng was a young man, defending himself as best he could, against the attacks of half a dozen smaller assailants, young rowdies and ruffians.

Even as the lads looked the assailed snatched a club from the hands of one of his opponents, and laid about him lustily, clearing a small space on all sides of him.

But the weight of numbers was bound to tell, and the assailants closed in again, while the crowd stood and laughed.

Such unequal odds did not appeal to the two lads.

“Come on, Hal,” said Chester.  “We can’t stand idly by and let that crowd of ruffians beat that fellow up.”

“I should say not,” said Hal.  “Come on.”

Elbowing and shoving, the lads forced their way through the crowd and fell upon the assailants from the rear.  The young man to whose assistance they had come welcomed this unexpected aid with a slight smile, and the three stood side by side and fought off the ruffians.

But the ranks of the latter were increased now, and the lads were hard pressed.  They were giving a good account of themselves, but it was evident that, unless help arrived, they would get the worst of it.

Suddenly a tall man in a heavy fur overcoat, who had alighted from an automobile to see what the excitement was about, after a quick glance at the combatants, uttered a cry and dashed forward, elbowing his way through the crowd.