“So they have got us all, eh?”

“Yes, they’ve got us,” replied Chester.

“The trouble will be to keep us,” said Hal.  “How do you feel, sir?”

“Not much,” replied Uncle John.  “What did he hit me with, a crowbar?”

“No, just a revolver butt,” replied Chester, grinning.

“How did they happen to capture you boys?”

“We came back here looking for you, as soon as Hal had delivered the paper to General Ferrari,” Chester explained.

“Your mothers are worried almost to death,” said Uncle John.

“I’m afraid they will worry a whole lot more before we get out of here,” said Chester.  “I don’t know what Robard will do with us.”

“Perhaps we may see the Austrian ambassador,” said Hal hopefully.  “Certainly he would stand for no such work as this.”

“I don’t know about that,” said Chester.  “They are likely to all be alike.”

“Well, we shall just have to make the best of it,” said Hal.

“By the way, Uncle John,” said Chester, “you must be considerable of a fighter.  You laid these fellows out in great shape a while ago.”

“I did do a pretty fair job,” admitted his uncle, “but they made me mad.”

“I vote that we try to get a little sleep,” said Hal.  “It won’t be very comfortable here in these chairs, but we shall have to make the best of it.  Perhaps with the coming of daylight something will turn up.”

Chester tugged at his bonds in vain.

“Can’t budge ’em,” he said.

Hal closed his eyes.

“I’m going to try to get forty winks,” he said.  “Good night.”

Chester followed his friend’s example, and Uncle John also composed himself to sleep.  And in spite of their uncomfortable positions, presently all slumbered.

Hal was the first to awaken.  The key turning in the lock of the door aroused him.  Sunlight streamed in through the closed window.  The face of Robard appeared in the door, and he entered the room.

“Good morning,” he said.

At the sound of his voice, Chester and Uncle John opened their eyes.

“Good morning,” replied Hal.  “I trust you have come to liberate us.”

“Of your bonds, yes,” was the reply; “but I regret to say that I cannot set you free.”

“What are you going to do with us?”

“Take you to Austria.”

“To Austria!  Great Scott!  What for?”

“For no particular reason,” said Robard, and his face suddenly took on a savage look, “except that you have thwarted me, and for that you shall pay.  I shall probably lose my rank for my failure to obtain the papers, and if I do I want some one to take my spite out on.  Do I make myself clear?”

“Perfectly,” replied Hal quietly.  “It is very like a coward.”

Robard took a threatening step forward.

“A coward, am I?” he cried in a loud voice.

He made as though to strike the lad, then suddenly changed his mind.