He hesitated a single instant and then called: 

“Ready?”

“Ready!” came the reply.

“Then—­” began Hal, and suddenly cried, “Wait!”

For at that moment the crowd in front of him suddenly began to scatter, and from beyond Hal made out a troop of Italian cavalry bearing down on them with drawn sabers.  Hal lowered his weapon and called out: 

“It’s all right, Chester!”

CHAPTER IV.

An old friend.

“What’s the meaning of this?” demanded an officer, pulling in his horse beside the two lads, while his troop gave their attention to driving back the 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 gesture with his hand.

“Here he comes now,” interrupted Chester.

The man who had caused all the trouble now came pompously forward.  At sight of him, the mounted officer sprang from the saddle and came to attention.

“What is the matter, sir?” he asked.

“Arrest these two,” said his superior, pointing to Hal and Chester.  “They are spies, and they knocked me down.”

The Italian captain motioned to half a dozen of his men.  He also pointed to 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,” he ordered 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.  Accordingly they made no further protests and marched off, surrounded on all sides.

As they walked along the street there came a new diversion.  A man came hurrying 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 a slight 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 was impressed 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 joking with me,” he said.