“That’s enough of this!  The next man to make a move I’ll put a bullet through.”

Chester, Nikol and Colonel Anderson ranged themselves by Hal’s side and also produced their automatics.  Seeing nothing else to do, Stubbs also joined them and flourished a revolver.

The crowd gave back.

Ivan turned upon the newcomers in surprise.  Then he cried in a great voice: 

“Well!  Well! and where did you come from?  I had made sure you had deserted me.”

“No, we haven’t deserted you,” said Hal.  “We simply missed you, that’s all.”

“Well, it’s all right, anyhow,” said Ivan.  “Now come to the restaurant with me and I shall buy wine for all of us.”

“Thanks, Ivan, but we don’t drink wine,” said Hal quietly.  “If you will come with us to our quarters we will talk matters over.”

“Not I, not until I have had wine,” declared Ivan.

“But you have had enough wine,” declared Chester.

“And how do you know I have had enough wine?” demanded Ivan, turning upon the lad.

“The way you talk makes it plain enough,” replied Chester quietly.  “Come, Ivan, let’s get away from here.”

“Well,” said Ivan hesitatingly, “maybe you are right.”  Turning he caught sight of Nikol.

“Why, there is my old friend Nikol,” he shouted.  “Nikol, you will join me in a bottle of wine?”

“I shall be pleased,” said Nikol, with a smile.

“Good.  Come with me.”  He turned and made as though to move away, when suddenly his eyes lighted upon Stubbs.

“Ho!  Ho!” he laughed.  “And my friend Stubbs here shall accompany us.”

“Thanks; some other time,” said Stubbs nervously.

For answer Ivan leaned down, picked the little man up in his arms and walked away with him in spite of Stubbs’ cries and struggles.

Nikol went along and for once he did not offer to take Stubbs’ part.

“Great Scott!  Hal, we can’t stand for this,” said Chester.  “What shall we do?”

“Go along, I should say,” said Colonel Anderson.

“But we don’t drink wine,” protested Hal.

“There is no reason you should.  If you can get Ivan seated and talk to him he will be all right in a few minutes.  Besides, he is likely to get into more trouble this way.”

“I guess you’re right,” said Hal.  “Come on, Chester.”

The three followed Nikol, Ivan and the latter’s struggling burden in the person of Stubbs.

They entered the restaurant right behind the others and took seats at the same table.  Ivan greeted them with a smile.

“Glad to see you came along,” he said.  He turned to Stubbs.  “What will you have?”

“Thanks, I don’t drink,” said Stubbs fearfully.

“Now, Mr. Stubbs!” said Ivan with a comical grin.

Hal now decided the affair had gone far enough.

“Listen to me, Ivan,” he said quietly.  “Stubbs doesn’t want any wine and neither do the rest of us.  You have had enough.”