The Austrians fought bravely, giving blow for blow, and in the center succeeded in breaking through.  It was but a mere handful of men who succeeded in this venture, however, and they were immediately cut off from their friends.  A demand to surrender went unheeded; and a moment later they had gone down.

A bugle sounded in the Austrian rear.  The enemy drew off.  It was first blood to the Italians and the troops raised a loud cheer as they dashed forward in pursuit of the foe, who now turned their horses about sharply and fled.

For a hundred yards the Italians pursued, doing great execution with their heavy cavalry swords; and then Colonel Anderson called a halt, for he feared he might be rushing into a trap.

When two hundred yards separated the opposing forces, the Austrian artillery suddenly broke loose again.  A shell struck squarely in the center of the Italian horsemen, doing frightful execution.  Colonel Anderson hurriedly gave the order to fall back.

The colonel turned to Hal and Chester.

“What are you two doing here?” he demanded.  “I thought you told me your fighting days were over?”

“We thought so, too,” replied Hal, with a smile, “but you fellows swooped down on us so suddenly that we didn’t have a chance to get out of the way.”

“And it seemed pretty good,” said Chester, “just like old times.”

“You both gave good accounts of yourselves,” declared the colonel.  “I’ll have a word to say about you in my report.”

“No use of—­” began Chester and broke off with an ejaculation:  “Hello!”

“What’s up?” demanded Anderson.

For answer, Chester pointed to the left and slightly ahead.  There, overlooked in some way, a small body of Italian troops was engaged silently with a larger number of Austrians and the Italians were getting the worst of the encounter.

Colonel Anderson made his decision in a moment, and in spite of the Austrian artillery shells that were flying overhead and dropping on all sides, the cavalry rushed to the aid of their countrymen.

But the Austrians didn’t wait to receive this new attack.  They turned and took to their heels; and as they hastened away, Hal caught the sound of a voice coming from their midst: 

“Hal!  Chester!” it came.  “Help!”

“By George! it’s Uncle John!” exclaimed Chester, and urged his horse forward faster than before.

“Uncle John—­and a prisoner,” ejaculated Hal, and also spurred forward.

But a heavy hand was laid on the bridle of each.

“Here! what’s the matter with you fellows?” demanded Colonel Anderson’s gruff voice.  “Want to get yourselves killed?”

“But we’ve got to get Uncle John out of this mess,” declared Chester.

“You won’t get him out by getting yourselves killed,” was the reply.  “He’s safe enough now.  He’s a prisoner and they won’t hurt him.”

“But they’ll keep him prisoner,” was Chester’s exclamation.