The Boy Allies in Great Peril | Page 7

are in for it now, old man. We'll have to make a break for it."
"All right," said Chester grimly. "Lead the way."
Once more the Italian officer stretched forth a detaining hand, but this
time Hal wasted no time in explanation. He struck out straight from the
shoulder, and the officer toppled to the ground.
"Second fall for him to-day," muttered Hal between his teeth.
He felt Chester's arm press his elbow.
"Come on," he said.
Side by side the lads stepped forward in the very faces of the mob that
barred their path, and for a moment the crowd gave back. Then one
man, bolder than the rest, sprang forward and sought to clutch Chester's
arm. The lad's fist met him half way and he dropped silently to the
ground.
An angry roar went up from the crowd.
Chester's hand dropped to his pocket. Hal perceived the motion and
cried out:

"No guns, Chester!"
Chester realized the soundness of the warning and his revolver
remained where it was.
Two of the crowd sprang forward together, but Hal and Chester, with
their greater strength and reach, disposed of them easily. A blow from
behind landed on Chester's neck and he staggered forward. He
recovered himself in a moment, however, and shouted.
"Rush 'em, Hal!"
The latter also realized that to stand still and fight gave the crowd
behind too great an opening and he obeyed Chester's injunction. At the
same moment both sprang forward, and the crowd opened before them.
Straight ahead they went, striking out right and left, but rushing
forward as fast as possible all the time. Men fell on both sides of them
beneath their heavy blows, and so far neither lad had received a severe
jolt.
At that moment, however, Hal felt a keen pain in his left arm. He
glanced down curiously and saw a tiny stream of red spout forth. His
lips set in a thin line.
"Guns, Chester," he said quietly, halting in his tracks. "They are using
knives."
"Good," said Chester, also halting. "Back to back."
The lads whipped out their automatics simultaneously, and, back to
back, confronted the crowd. Hal spoke.
"We are not spies," he shouted, "but we are not going to be killed
without a fight. We are British army officers. Stand back!"
Before the threatening muzzles of the two automatics the crowd
hesitated. Then, from directly ahead of Chester, a shot rang out. The lad
heard something whiz past his head, and from beyond came a cry of

pain.
"Shot one of his own number," muttered the lad.
His finger tightened on the trigger as he saw a man about to leap
forward regardless of the automatic.
"I'm going to shoot, Hal," he called.
"I guess it can't be helped," replied the lad quietly. "When I give the
word turn loose on 'em, and then we'll make another break."
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