Twenty minutes later the three prisoners found themselves in a first class section on the special express for Venice, vigilantly guarded by two Austrians, who had been placed in charge of them after they had been securely tied up at Robard’s command.  Robard himself had entered another compartment with the ambassador.

“You’ll be safer this way,” the Austrian had said with a smile, after testing their bonds to make sure they were secure.

“Looks like we were pretty safe any way you might put us,” replied Hal grimly.

“You Americans are pretty slippery customers; I won’t take any chances with you,” was the rejoinder, and Robard took his leave.

A few moments later a slight motion told the prisoners that the train had started.

“Well, here we go,” said Chester with a laugh.  “We’ve been started for the enemy’s country in this manner before.”

“Only on previous occasions our destination was Berlin instead of Venice,” replied Hal.

“Which is not our destination after all,” said Uncle John.  “Our true destination is back to the hotel where we left your mothers.”

“And I am sure we shall reach it eventually,” said Hal hopefully.

“How long does it take to get to Venice?” asked Chester.

“I don’t know exactly,” replied Uncle John.  “But we shall be there by daylight surely.”

“Perhaps we may get a chance to make a break for liberty,” said Chester.

“Don’t bank on that, Chester,” replied Hal.  “It looks as though these fellows do things a little more thoroughly than their German cousins.  Still there is always a chance.”

“While there’s life there’s hope, eh?” said Uncle John.  “We’ll see.”

“In the meantime,” said Hal, “we may as well try to get a little sleep.”

“A good idea,” agreed Chester.  “Here goes.”

He closed his eyes and was soon in the land of dreams.  Hal and Uncle John followed suit.

How long they slept they did not know, but they were awakened by rough hands shaking them and the sound of gruff voices.  Hal opened his eyes.  Daylight streamed in through the windows of the compartment.

“Get up!” commanded a harsh voice.

Hal rubbed his eyes and called to Chester and Uncle John.

“What’s the matter?” asked the latter sleepily.

“Venice, I guess,” was the reply.

Again their bonds were removed, and under cover of the revolvers of their captors, which the latter kept concealed in their coats but which the three prisoners knew were ever ready, Hal, Chester and Uncle John stepped from the car.

The Austrian ambassador and Robard had alighted before them, and Hal could see them talking and gesticulating excitedly.

“Wonder what’s up?” he muttered.

“Which way from here, do you suppose?” asked Chester.

“Trieste, I should say,” replied Uncle John.  “They will want to get over the border as soon as possible, and I guess they will head in that direction.”