"I guess that won't happen," said Chester, with a smile.
"Not if I can help it," agreed Stubbs. "Now let's climb between the sheets."
"Now here," said Stubbs, "are my papers. You just take them, and for the moment you will be Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent of the New YorkGazette. You are a little young looking, so put on all the airs you can, for they'll think you must be awful good to have such a job."
Chester and the little war correspondent had left Trieste without trouble and had arrived in Trent without adventure of any kind. True to his word, Stubbs had arranged for Chester's departure with him and now the time for parting had come.
Chester took the papers Stubbs held out to him and thrust them into his pocket.
"And when will you be across?" he asked.
"Oh, I'll be there before the day is over," was the reply. "When you once get within the Italian lines, you demand to be taken to the nearest general commanding a division and explain matters to him. Then wait for me, if it is until to-morrow. I'll be there."
"All right," agreed Chester.
"I'll walk as far as the outposts with you," said Stubbs. "No, I won't either," on second thought. "I'll be wanting to get out myself directly and it wouldn't do for us to be seen together."
He held out his hand.
"Good-bye, and good luck," he said. "You just do as I tell you and you'll have no trouble. Remember, you are just as big as any of these fellows, and a whole lot bigger, if it comes to that."
Chester gripped the hand hard.
"Good-bye," he said, "and thanks."
The little man gazed after the boy as the latter strode away with shoulders squared and head held high.
"He'll do," he muttered to himself.
Chester disappeared, and Stubbs turned and strode in the opposite direction.
"Now for my holler—and my new papers," he told himself.
Chester was halted at the extreme Austrian front. He produced Stubbs' papers, which he gave the man without a word. Luckily, as Stubbs had explained, the safe conduct was simply made out to "Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent," without description.
The officer scanned the papers closely, looked Chester over from head to foot and seemed about to speak. Chester gazed at him sternly and the Austrian closed his lips without uttering a word. He shrugged his shoulders, summoned an orderly and commanded:
"Take a flag of truce and conduct this gentleman to the Italian lines."
Two hours later Chester was safe.
To the Italian officer who approached him, he demanded to be taken to the general commanding the division, and this was done without protest. Chester explained the circumstances to the general, and the latter believed him. He turned him over to an orderly, with instructions that he be taken care of; and in a tent of his own, Chester sat down to await the arrival of Stubbs.
Stubbs, after Chester had left him, immediately betook himself to the commander of the Austrian forces at this point. The latter received him, although he didn't know Stubbs from any one else.
"General," said Stubbs, "somebody stole my papers, among them a safe conduct to the Italian lines. I want to get there."
"No papers, no safe conduct," replied the general briefly.
This was what Stubbs had expected.
"Look here now, general," he said familiarly, "that's no way for you to talk. I want to get into Italy, and I had safe conduct from General Oberlatz at Trieste."
The Austrian commander got to his feet.
"I have told you, sir," he said, "that without papers you cannot leave our lines."
"I heard you," replied Stubbs, "but you don't seem to understand the answer to my being here. I've got to get into the Italian lines. You can't blame me. The fellow you want is the one who stole my papers; he's probably a spy."
"And you may be one, too," said the officer.
"Sure, I may be," said Stubbs; "only I'm not. Now, I'll tell you, you just push through a little wire to General Oberlatz and he'll straighten this thing out."
"Can't be done," replied the general.
"But it's got to be done," declared Stubbs. "I can't stay around here when I have orders to go elsewhere. I don't want to have to take this matter up with my friend, the archduke."
The Austrian commander looked up in surprise at this last remark.
"You know the archduke?" he questioned.
"Well, rather," said Stubbs. "He and I are pretty good friends."
"Then," said the general, "it would do no harm for you to appeal to him in person."
"You're right, there, general," declared Stubbs. "My friend, the archduke, would fix this thing up in a minute. The only trouble on that score is the matter of time. Time is precious, you know, general, and time presses."
"Fortunately for you," said the officer, "the archduke happens to be in the next room at this moment. If you will be seated, I shall call him."
Stubbs sat down abruptly. A slight whistle escaped him, though it did not carry to the general's ears.
"Good night!" muttered the little man to himself. "I've sure enough gone and done it this time."
But Stubbs didn't betray himself. To the general he said:
"The archduke here? By Jove! This is what I call luck. Have him come out and talk to me."
With a bow, the Austrian commander turned and passed from the room. The moment he crossed the threshold, Stubbs sprang to his feet and dashed to the door through which he had entered a few moments before.
"This," he said, as he came again into the open, "is no place forAnthony Stubbs."
He disappeared from within view of the general's quarters with amazing rapidity.
"Wasn't much use of me patting the archduke on the back," he told himself. "Never having seen me before, I guess he wouldn't have remembered me. I don't want to be shot."
Half a mile from the scene of his trouble, he entered a little restaurant and sat down to have something to eat and to figure out what he should do.
"This place is going to be too small to hold me," he said to himself over a second cup of coffee. "They'll have all the natives on my trail. I've got to get over the frontier some way. The question before me is how?"
He meditated for some moments, then rose, paid his check and left the restaurant. In front of the door he stopped and looked toward the south, where, in the distance, he knew heavy Austrian patrols faced the Italian pickets only a few miles beyond.
"That's the way I want to go," he told himself. "So I may as well be starting in that direction."
He moved off.
Possibly half a mile from the utmost Austrian line he stopped and sat down. So far he had been unchallenged and now, as he sat there, a plan came to him. He took his revolver from his pocket and examined it.
"I'll try it," he said briefly to himself. "If Chester knew what I was about to do, he would be greatly surprised. But the thing is I am more afraid to stay here than I am to take this chance."
He arose and moved on. As he expected, probably five minutes later, a mounted officer came toward him. There was no one else near. He halted the correspondent.
"Where are you going?" he asked sharply.
"I'll tell you," was the reply. "I am a war correspondent and I am just looking about a bit. Am I going too far? If so, I shall turn back."
"Well, I can permit you to go no farther," said the Austrian, with a smile.
"Oh, all right," said Stubbs.
He drew a cigar from his pocket, bit off the end, struck a match and lighted it. Then, with a start, he produced a second cigar.
"Beg pardon," he said. "Have a smoke?"
The Austrian signified that he would. Stubbs gave him the cigar and struck a second match. The Austrian leaned from his horse and put the cigar to the flame. At that moment Stubbs drew his revolver with his free hand and, dropping the match, seized the Austrian by the leg with the other. The latter came tumbling from his horse, and when he looked up, he gazed squarely into the mouth of Stubbs' revolver.
"Quiet," said the little man briefly. "I want you to change clothes with me."
The Austrian appeared about to protest, but changed his mind and signified his willingness to comply with the command.
"Stand off there and remove your clothes," ordered Stubbs, pointing.
The man obeyed, Stubbs the while keeping him covered with his revolver.The man's clothes removed, Stubbs approached him.
"I'll have to tie you up minus your outer garments," he told him. "I can't take any chances on you while I am donning your robes."
He tied him up in most approved fashion and then gagged him with his handkerchief.
"Just to keep you from giving an alarm," he said.
Rapidly he donned the Austrian's clothes and then walked over to his horse. This he mounted and turned the animal's head southward. He waved a hand at the Austrian.
"Auf Wiedersehen," he said, and rode away.
He kept as far as possible from the Austrian troops that patrolled the outposts and half an hour later was beyond the Austrian lines. Out of sight he halted and discarded the Austrian uniform he had drawn on over his civilian attire and then rode on more confidently.
And the little man welcomed a command that broke upon his ears a short time later:
"Halt!"
He drew rein. A soldier in Italian uniform advanced toward him.
"Thank the Lord," said the little man.
He drew a hand across a moist brow and gave a whistle of pure relief.
"No one will ever know how scared I was," he muttered. "Now to find Chester."
He turned to the soldier who had accosted him.
"Take me immediately to your commanding officer," he ordered.
While Chester and his old friend, Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent, are resting at ease for the moment with the Italian troops at the extreme northern front, it behooves us to go back and see what has happened to Hal and Uncle John.
When the two were led away from the headquarters of the Italian commander, under guard, Uncle John's rage had by no means subsided; but he cooled down somewhat after Hal had, to the best of his ability, attempted to show him the viewpoint of the general.
"It's a contemptible trick," Uncle John protested.
"Well, let it go at that, then," said Hal helplessly.
And Uncle John did.
Now the thoughts of the two turned to Chester, for both were greatly worried about him, and their anxiety increased as the long hours passed.
So darkness came, and they lay down to sleep. They were awake with the morning light and the first thought of each was whether any word had been received from the Italian commander in Rome.
And two hours after daylight they knew. An orderly entered and informed them that the commander desired their presence immediately. They followed him.
"Everything all right, general?" Hal greeted him, with a smile.
The Italian commander frowned.
"The answer to my wire will hardly gain you your freedom," he replied.
"What, sir?" demanded Hal, in great surprise.
"Exactly," replied the commander, this time smiling a little himself.
"What did General Ferrari say?" inquired Hal anxiously.
"Well, he didn't say anything," replied the Italian. "He is no longer inRome, but has gone to the front. My wire did not reach him. Consequently,I shall have to turn you over to the civil authorities here forsafe-keeping. I cannot be bothered with you."
Hal gazed at Uncle John in dismay.
"What did I tell you?" the latter broke out. "And you sided with him, too. Tried to show me where he was right, didn't you? Well, what do you think of him now?"
In spite of the seriousness of their situation, Hal was forced to smile at Uncle John's righteous wrath.
"It will turn out all right," he said quietly.
"I'm glad somebody thinks so," declared Uncle John. "I don't."
Hal addressed the commander:
"General, I can assure you that all we have said has been the truth. You will learn so in time. I, sir, have seen active service. I have fought with the Belgians, the British in France and the Russians in the eastern war zone."
"From your own accounts you must have had quite a time," said the Italian commander dryly. "Now, I may as well tell you that I do not believe a single word of your story and protests will avail you nothing. Were I to follow my own inclinations, I would order you both shot as spies within the hour. However, there is always a chance that my convictions may be wrong, which is the only thing that is saving you now. I shall wait until I have word from General Ferrari. Orderly!"
A subordinate entered.
"Turn these prisoners over to Colonel Brunoli. Colonel Brunoli," he continued, addressing Hal, "is the chief of police. I can guarantee that you will be safe in his keeping."
Hal would have protested, but the orderly signalled him to march out ahead, of him. Hal took Uncle John by the arm, and they left, but not before Uncle John had hurled a final remark over his shoulder to the Italian commander.
"You will hear of me again, sir," he thundered. "I'm an American citizen and we have an ambassador over in this benighted country. He'll warm things up for you when he learns of this outrage."
"March!" commanded the orderly and Uncle John heeded the order.
Before an imposing building a short distance away, the orderly called a halt and then motioned them up the short flight of steps. Through a long hall they were marched and into a room at the far end. Here a man in uniform with much lace and gold facings sat at a large desk. Hal didn't need to be told that he was the chief of police.
"What have we here?" he demanded, swinging about in his chair and eyeing the two severely.
"Prisoners, sir, whom I am instructed to turn over to you," was the orderly's reply. "You are to hold them until you receive further instructions, sir."
"Very good," said the chief. "You may go."
The orderly saluted, turned on his heel and departed.
"You may sit there until I have completed this piece of work," said the chief, motioning the prisoners to chairs behind him.
Hal and Uncle John sat down and the chief turned again to his desk and was soon busy writing.
Hal's eyes roved about the room. An idea struck him like a flash. They sat between the chief of police and the door by which they had entered. What would be more easy than to tip-toe to the door, which stood slightly ajar, and disappear unbeknown to the chief?
With Hal to think was to act. Fearing to lift his voice in a whisper, he at last managed to catch Uncle John's eye. Then he laid a warning finger to his lips and beckoned Uncle John to follow him. Uncle John manifested some surprise, but he signified that he understood.
Carefully Hal got to his feet and Uncle John followed suit. Then Hal, stepping very softly, moved toward the door. Now it was five, now four, now three paces away—and then the boy laid his hand on the knob. Uncle John was right behind him.
The door swung open without so much as a creak, and Hal stepped out. Uncle John followed him. Hal motioned Uncle John to lead the way down the hall, while he remained behind to close the door. The order was obeyed.
Hal took the precaution to close the door tightly and then hurried after Uncle John. "Well—" began Uncle John, just as they stepped from the building, "I guess we—"
Came a sudden roar from behind them—the roar of a human voice.
"The chief!" exclaimed Hal. "Run!"
Uncle John needed no urging and the two went down the steps four and five at a time. Hal led the way and Uncle John followed close at his heels.
Around the corner they darted even as the chief of police appeared in the doorway—too late to see in which direction his erstwhile prisoners had flown. But the two fugitives could hear his voice raised in another roar, as he thundered out a call for his men to give chase.
"Come on, Uncle John!" shouted Hal, and the latter, although he had long since come to believe that his bones had stiffened with age, surprised himself by the manner in which he flew over the ground.
Fortunately, the street at the moment was deserted. Around one, two, then three corners Hal doubled, and then slowed down.
"Guess we are all right for a few minutes," he gasped.
Uncle John stopped and gasped for breath.
"I'm not as young as I used to be, Hal," he said. "Don't forget that. I can't go a hundred yards in eleven seconds any more."
"Well, you didn't miss it much," said Hal, with a chuckle. "But come on, we must get away from here. If we are caught now, the chances are they will stand us up against a wall and have a shot at us."
"In which event," said Uncle John dryly, "I can still do a hundred yards in ten flat."
Side by side the two walked on.
"The question that now arises," said Uncle John, "is how we are going to get away from here?"
"First," said Hal, "we must go back and see if Chester is still where we left him."
"Like looking for a needle in a haystack," said Uncle John. "This is a pretty good-sized town."
"Not at all," replied Hal. "I have a pretty keen sense of direction; besides, I always make it a point to look at the names of the streets. I can find it in half an hour. Come on."
The lad had not boasted and less than an hour later they stood again in the house where so lately they had been prisoners.
"Well, he's gone," said Hal quietly. "We cannot help him here. The best thing for us to do is to return to Rome and lay the case before the ambassador, who can take the matter up with Ambassador Penfield at Vienna, or through Washington."
"The thing to do, then, is to hunt the railroad station," declared UncleJohn. "Do you think you can find it?"
"If I can't, I can ask," replied Hal.
Thirty minutes later saw Hal at the ticket window asking what time the next train left for Rome.
"In an hour," was the reply.
Hal purchased two tickets. Then with Uncle John he strolled about the station.
Suddenly the boy halted in his tracks and grabbed Uncle John by the arm, pulling him into a corner. And it was well that he did so, for a moment later there brushed by the spot where they had stood none other than the chief of police and several other men in uniform.
"He may not be looking for us, but the chances are he is," said Hal.
The chief went straight to the ticket office, where he engaged the agent in conversation.
"No Rome for us now," declared Hal. "Come on."
He led the way out of the station and directly stood in the train shed. The boy heard a cry of "All aboard" and saw that a train was about to pull out.
"Don't know where it is going, but we'll get it!" he cried, and Uncle John followed him in his mad dash. By a hard run they succeeded in climbing into an unoccupied compartment even as the guard would have closed the door.
"Where do you suppose we are bound?" asked Uncle John, as he sat down, panting.
"Don't know," was Hal's reply. "We'll find out directly."
A few minutes later the conductor enlightened them.
"Milan," he said.
"Milan!" echoed Hal. "Good night!"
"Oh, well," said Uncle John, with rare optimism for him, "I guess we can double back from there, can't we?"
"I suppose it can be done," agreed Hal. "But we haven't any business wandering all over this country. We want to get to Rome."
"We'll get there, all right," said Uncle John.
"Yes; but if they happen to nab us we are likely not to get there whole," declared Hal.
When the train arrived in Milan, Hal and Uncle John were among the first to alight.
"Well, here we are; now what?" demanded Uncle John.
"You've got me," declared Hal.
They made their way to the street and there they halted suddenly, for a wonderful sight had met their gaze.
Passing along the street were thousands and thousands of soldiers, mounted and afoot, fully equipped for the field. They passed by in a steady stream. For an hour Hal and Uncle John watched the imposing sight and still the long line wended its way along. Hal's heart beat faster as his eyes rested upon this imposing array of fighting strength.
"By Jove! I'd like to go along," he muttered to himself.
And it was to be so, even sooner that he could possibly have hoped. But the suggestion came from an altogether unexpected source.
"Tell you what, Hal," said Uncle John suddenly. "As long as we are here we might as well see a little something. What do you think?"
"Just what do you mean?" asked Hal.
"Well, let's go along to the front with these fellows; that is, if we can make it. We may see something that we will never have another chance to see."
"Suits me," declared Hal. "Let's see if we can get a couple of horses—it's pretty tough walking and we don't know how far we may have to go."
This was easier than could have been expected; and an hour later found them riding slowly along in the direction taken by the Italian troops.
"Don't suppose the authorities here have been apprised of our escape fromMilan," said Hal. "I guess we are safe enough."
Hour after hour they rode along, passing regiment after regiment of infantry as it moved toward the front. Uncle John was greatly impressed by the military carriage and bearing of the troops, but in spite of their impressiveness Hal could not help thinking that they did not have the businesslike appearance of the British troops.
Now, in the distance, they made out what they could see was a great camp, stretching out as far as the eye could see on both sides.
"This," said Hal, pointing, "will be the end of our tour of inspection.Beyond those lines they will not let us go."
"We'll go as far as we can," declared Uncle John.
Suddenly from directly ahead came the heavy thunder of a single gun, followed almost immediately by another giant voice. Other big guns began to speak, and soon the roaring of thousands filled the air.
"A battle!" exclaimed Hal.
Other voices now, more faint but sharper of note, took up the fighting—rapid firers and the rifles of the infantry coming into play. From their present position Hal and Uncle John could not tell just where the fighting was in progress, the numbers engaged, or whether the Italians had taken the offensive, or the Austrians, or how the battle was progressing. All they could hear was the terrible din and roar. They could see nothing. They were at present far from the battle line.
Still they advanced.
Now they were suddenly in the center of the Italian troops, still stationary, awaiting the word to move forward in support of the second line or the first line as the case might be.
An officer rode up to them.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Nothing particularly," replied Hal. "I am a British officer and, being in this neighborhood, thought I would look around a bit."
"Your papers?" was the next command.
"Unfortunately, I have none with me," returned the lad.
The officer hesitated.
"I'll tell you," he said finally, "there is a British officer commanding a regiment here. Perhaps he will know you. I shall conduct you to him. He has arrived from France only recently."
"I don't know all the British officers in France," said Hal, "but there is always the possibility I may know this one."
"Follow me," commanded the Italian.
The two did so. To the far left wing their guide led the way, and finally stopped before a tent somewhat larger than the rest.
An orderly came forth.
"Tell the colonel I have a man here who claims to be a British officer," said the Italian.
A moment later there stepped from the tent a long, tall Englishman, attired in British uniform, youngish of face, and at sight of him Hal started forward with a glad cry.
"Major Anderson!" he exclaimed.
The officer gazed at him in surprise, then came forward with extended hand.
"Bless my soul," he exclaimed. "What in the name of all that's wonderful are you doing here? I thought you were dead. And where is Chester?"
"I don't know," answered Hal, answering the last question first.
Upon Colonel Anderson's—he was no longer major—request, Hal plunged into an account of what had transpired since they had last seen the gallant Englishman. Now the Italian officer stepped forward.
"Then they are all right?" he questioned, indicating Hal and Uncle John.
"This one is," replied Anderson, laying a hand on Hal's shoulder. "I don't know the other."
He hastened to introduce the two men.
Anderson turned to the Italian.
"It's all right," he said.
The latter saluted and moved away.
"While you are here," said Anderson, "you will make yourselves at home in my quarters. I am now called to the front."
"Can't we go with you?" asked Hal anxiously.
The colonel hesitated.
"Well, I guess it can be done," he said at length. "You have your horses; wait until I get mine."
A command to his orderly and the horse was soon waiting. The three rode forward and as they went the colonel explained something of the situation and his reason for being with the Italian army.
"I was sent here immediately Italy declared war," he said, "at the request of the Italian government. Of course, they didn't ask for me personally, but they did ask for a British officer who had seen active service. General French selected me, with the rank of colonel. That's why I'm here."
"And this fighting now?" questioned Hal. "Who is on the offensive?"
"The Austrians, at the moment," was the reply. "They have massed thousands of men to the north, and at the far side of the Alps. We have let it be known that we were in insufficient strength here and the Austrians evidently hope, by a quick drive, to gain a foothold on Italian soil. Fortunately, however, our lines were strengthened no later than yesterday and reinforcements still are arriving. The Austrians have delayed too long.
"Now our troops are falling back slowly and in good order. The Austrians, feeling sure of a quick victory, will follow them too far. Then for our coup. First the artillery, then the infantry and cavalry, and let me tell you something, this Italian artillery fire is going to be one of the wonders of the war. Its effect will be terrific. Watch and see."
In the distance now the three made out a squad of a dozen men advancing toward them, with what appeared to be two prisoners in their midst.
"We'll have a look and see what's up," declared Colonel Anderson.
They rode forward.
As at last they were able to make out the faces of the two apparent prisoners, Hal uttered a loud shout and spurred his horse forward. Uncle John took a second look and did likewise. Colonel Anderson rode rapidly after them.
At the side of the squad, Hal leaped quickly from his horse, and plunging directly into the squad, threw his arms about one of the prisoners.
"Chester!" he cried.
And Chester it was.
The latter returned his friend's embrace with gusto, and then freeing himself, fell into the bear hug of Uncle John.
The latter was sniffling with joy; but at last released, Chester caught sight of Colonel Anderson.
Again there was an affectionate greeting and then Hal heard a voice in his ear.
"And haven't you anything to say to me, young man?"
Hal whirled about and caught sight of the smiling face of Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent of the New YorkGazette.
"Stubbs!" he cried, and his delight was so evident that the little man flushed with pleasure.
Introductions followed all around now and then Colonel Anderson addressed the officer in charge of the squad.
"Are these men prisoners?" he asked.
"No, sir," was the reply, "but General Ferrari instructed me to have them taken to a place of safety."
"Then you can turn them over to me without question?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good! Then I shall relieve you of further responsibility."
The Italian saluted, ordered his men to "'Bout face" and marched off toward the front.
The shrill, clear voice of a single bugle broke the stillness of the early morning. There was a second of intense silence, and the call came again. A second took it up, and a third, and many more, each less distinct than the first, for they were farther away.
Hal, Chester, Uncle John and Anthony Stubbs, three of them accustomed as they were to the life of the military camps, were upon their feet almost before the sound of the first bugle had died away, and strained their ears to catch a repetition.
They had spent the night in a large tent assigned them by Colonel Anderson, not far from his own quarters, and had retired completely exhausted as the result of the strenuous time they had gone through. But they were all perfectly wide awake now and rushed from their tent with the sound of the second call.
"A call to arms!" exclaimed Hal.
"Probably means an advance," said Chester quietly.
"I guess you are right," returned his chum. "And here we are, nothing but spectators at the best."
"And that's where you are lucky," chimed in Stubbs. "Now take me, I've got to get out among all this fighting and maybe I'll be killed. But I've got to do it. You fellows can stay here where it is perfectly safe."
"Well, I'd much rather be in your place, then," said Chester.
"Same here," declared Hal.
The Italian camp had sprung to life as if by magic. Half-clothed sleepers poured from the tents and formed into ranks in the darkness. Officers ran hither and thither shouting hoarse orders. For a moment confusion reigned, but this gave place almost immediately to perfect order. The discipline of the Italian troops was remarkable. In almost less time than it takes to tell it, the whole Italian army of the North, stretching out as it did for mile after mile and mile after mile, was under arms, eagerly awaiting the word that would send it against the strongly entrenched Austrian columns ahead.
Less than a hundred rods away Hal made out the form of Colonel Anderson, as he now stood at the head of his men; gazing steadily ahead except when he turned to give an order to one of his subordinates. Far back, just distinguishable in the now half light, could be seen the dense masses of cavalry, unmounted as yet, but ready to leap to the saddle and dash forward at command.
A gun boomed, shattering the almost oppressive stillness. Another followed suit. More took up the work and the air was filled with their thundering. It became apparent to Hal and Chester, to whom this was nothing new, that the infantry would make the first advance, under the support of the artillery.
"A good-sized job, if you ask me," declared the latter.
"Rather," replied Hal dryly. "Hey," breaking off suddenly, "where are you going?"
"To the front," replied Stubbs, to whom the lad had addressed his remark, pausing for a moment and glancing back over his shoulder. "Got to get a little news, you know."
"You'd better look out or you are likely to get a little bullet," remarked Uncle John.
"Well, I'll have to take a chance," replied the little man.
With a wave of his hand he disappeared in the darkness.
"Forward!" came a clear voice from their rear.
Came the heavy tramp, tramp of marching feet, as the First Infantry moved forward. Steadily they marched ahead, silently and with an air of determination. They made an imposing appearance in the dim light of early morning.
"A gallant body of men," muttered Hal. "They'll give a good account of themselves."
Came a word of command from Colonel Anderson—the boys recognized his voice—and more troops moved forward. As far as the eye could see dense masses of men were marching rapidly toward the front. It became apparent that this was to be no mere skirmish—no mere feeling-out process. It was to be a battle, and as both lads realized, it might well last for days.
"We may as well go forward a bit," said Hal.
Accordingly the three started out. Half an hour later they were suddenly surrounded by a body of infantry, and, in some unaccountable manner, were separated from Uncle John. In vain they looked, called and whistled for him. He had disappeared.
"Well, I guess he will be able to find the way back," said Chester. "We'd better see if we can find him."
They retraced their steps. For an hour and more they waited, but Uncle John failed to put in an appearance. And all the time, from ahead, came the dull roar of battle.
"Well, what shall we do?" asked Chester at length.
Hal shrugged his shoulders.
"Guess your peaceful Uncle John has gone on to the front," he said. "We may as well do the same. He'll turn up sooner or later."
Chester was struck with a sudden idea.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed.
"What's the matter now?" demanded Hal, eyeing his chum in some surprise.
"I was just thinking," said Chester. "Say, let's see if we can't find a couple of spare uniforms around here."
"H-m-m," muttered Hal, who knew what Chester meant. "Maybe we shouldn't do anything like that."
"Maybe we shouldn't," agreed Chester, "but there is no one here to tell us not to. Come on."
Hal followed him.
They looked into several tents, but their search met with no success, but in the sixth tent they were more fortunate. Chester, rummaging around in a corner, produced a lieutenant's uniform.
"Looks like it might fit," he said. "I'll try it on."
He did.
"Fits well enough," he said.
"All right," said Hal. "But where is mine?"
"Oh, we'll find you one, all right," said Chester.
And, after half an hour's further search, they did—a second lieutenant's uniform. Hal donned it hurriedly.
"Might as well hunt up our horses," he said.
"Ours?" queried Chester.
"Well, mine and Uncle John's, or anybody else's, for that matter. It's a long walk to the front."
They were fortunate enough to find two mounts without much trouble, and, leaping to the saddles, they rode forward.
"Got a gun?" asked Chester.
"No," replied Hal. "Have you?"
"No such luck. Maybe we can find one further on."
This hope was realized.
As they rode forward the sights of battle became evident. Here and there were fallen men, some dead and some dying, struck down by the long-range artillery of the Austrians. Red Cross nurses and physicians were busy attending to the wounded.
Hal leaped to the ground, and from the fingers of a dead officer took a revolver. A second he removed from his holster. Then he unstrapped the officer's sword belt and put it on himself.
"Well, I'm fixed," he said, leaning down and producing the unfortunate officer's supply of ammunition.
"My turn next," said Chester.
Half a mile further along he relieved a second fallen officer of his sword, revolvers and ammunition.
"Now," said he, "we are ready to go into battle?"
"We're ready," agreed Hal, "but we have no business there."
"Well, we won't do any fighting unless we have to," said Chester, "but we'll go as far to the front as we can."
They rode forward more rapidly.
Meanwhile, the Italians pressed forward to the attack. With the first shell hurled within their lines by the enemy's artillery, the Austrians came to life. Weak spots in the long battle line were strengthened, reinforcements were hurried forward all along the entire front. The Austrian artillery opened fire and for an hour the long-range artillery duel continued.
But now the Austrian officers grew greatly excited. From the shelter of the distant Italian trenches rose a long line of men. Coolly they formed under the Austrian fire, and stood awaiting the signal to advance. And a moment later it came.
On came the Italians in spite of the withering fire of the Austrian infantry and the still more deadly execution of the great guns, which mowed them down by the hundreds.
But as fast as these gaps appeared, they were filled by others, and theItalians continued to forge ahead.
An Austrian bugle spoke sharply, and there sallied forth from the Austrian entrenchments masses of infantry at the double, closely followed by cavalry.
Evidently the Austrian commander had determined not to put his entire dependence upon his artillery.
The Italians sprang forward to meet the foe. They rushed as though hurled from a catapult.
The solid lines of infantry met with a shock. Rifles flashed and revolvers spoke sharply. Steel flashed in the air and hand grenades added their deadly execution to the terrible work.
And now the Italian infantry parted suddenly in the center and from behind at a furious pace came squadron upon squadron of cavalry, possibly, all told, five thousand men.
With impetuous bravery they dashed forward, throwing themselves upon the bayonets of the Austrian infantry, which had braced to receive the shock. But the enemy could not withstand this desperate charge. They faltered, hesitated, broke and fled. In vain their officers sought to bring order out of chaos. It was beyond their effort.
Straight in among the broken infantry plunged the Italian cavalry. Sabers whirled in the air and descended with terrible effect. Horses trampled fallen men, and bit at those who stood in their way, stamping and striking at others with their feet.
Realizing that his infantry was completely demoralized, the Austrian commander gave the word to send his own cavalry into the fray.
With a shout the horsemen charged. The Italians drew up their horses sharply and braced themselves to meet this new attack.
Chester and Hal, who came within view of this deadly work at this moment, stood spellbound.
Then Chester spoke.
"Now," he said, "you will see what I call real fighting. Look!"
The two bodies of horsemen met with a crash.
Sitting their horses quietly, their lives endangered every moment by shot and shell that dropped around them and whistled by their heads, Hal and Chester watched keenly the hand-to-hand struggle that ensued.
The two bodies of horsemen met with a crash less than a quarter of a mile from where the two lads had taken their places. With swords and sabers flashing aloft, the Austrians had charged with a wild yell. The Italian cavalry, stationary and braced for the shock, received their foes silently.
Hal and Chester could see that the opposing bodies of horse were about evenly matched; and they realized that skill, horsemanship and fighting prowess would play important parts in the encounter.
The very fierceness of the Austrian charge swept away the front rank of the Italian cavalry; and, over the fallen bodies of men and horses the foe pressed on, taking no count of their own dead and injured that reeled and fell from the saddles. The horses themselves became imbued with the spirit of battle, and bit and struck at each other as their riders fought with sword, saber and pistol.
It was a terrible sight, and the lads shuddered unconsciously. It was more frightful to the spectator than it was to the struggling men themselves, who, in the heat of battle, took no thought of the dead and the dying and pressed forward bent only upon protecting themselves while they sought the lives of their foes.
For an hour the fierce hand-to-hand struggle raged, with advantage apparently first to one side and then to the other. In other sections of the field, at least where Hal and Chester could see, operations had ceased for the moment, each commander evidently loath to hurl forward additional troops until the cavalry action had been decided. However, the troops were engaged in other quarters of the field. Upon the right the Italians had made no impression on the Austrian, but the Italian left wing had had better success. The first line of trenches of the enemy had fallen to the attacking forces after a fierce bayonet charge by the infantry, and the left wing had now taken shelter in the trenches and was preparing to beat off a counter attack which the Austrian commander even now was about to make.
And in the center the cavalry still fought sullenly and fiercely.
Suddenly Hal uttered an exclamation of dismay.
From a quarter of a mile to the left of the struggling cavalry, a second body of Austrian horsemen appeared. These men had been ordered to make a detour and fall upon the Italian horse from the left. They now charged with a shout.
Apparently this had taken the Italian commander by surprise, for no additional Italian troops were for the moment hurled forward to the support of the cavalry. Beset by this new foe, the Italians were forced back slowly, fighting every minute, however, and contesting every foot of ground as they retreated.
Hal and Chester now realized for the first time that they were directly in the line of retreat.
"We'd better move, Hal," said Chester, "or we shall have to fight whether we want to or not."
Hal signified his assent with a nod of his head, and they turned their horses' heads to ride out of harm's way.
But they had delayed too long.
From behind them came a loud, terrible, blood-curdling shout, and gazing quickly about, the lads saw that they were directly in the road of large cavalry reinforcements that were being rushed forward to the support of the hard-pressed men in front.
"Quick, Chester!" cried Hal, and put spurs to his horse.
But it was too late.
The Italian cavalry was upon them, and rather than be thrown down and trampled, the lads were forced to turn their horses in with the troop; and thus they were carried along like a whirlwind in the very front rank of the charge, and Hal, glancing to his left, felt a sudden sense of satisfaction as he saw that the man who led this desperate charge was none other than Colonel Harry Anderson, his old companion in arms, the man by whose side both he and Chester had faced death more than once.
Hal's hand dropped to his belt, and his revolver came forth in his left hand. The reins he allowed to fall loose upon his horse's neck, while with his right hand he drew his sword. Chester, with the light of battle in his eyes, was already prepared.
The horses of the two boys darted forward with the rest of the troop, their ears standing straight up, their manes bristling, their nostrils extended.
Now the troop came close upon the cavalry already engaged; and these men, despite their seeming confusion, parted as though by a prearranged plan, and the reinforcements passed through, and fell upon the enemy with an impact that was not to be denied. Behind, the first troop reformed and now came forward in support.
And once more Hal and Chester found themselves in the midst of battle.
Just before the impact, and as Colonel Anderson brandished his sword aloft and urged his men on with a shouted command, Hal discharged his revolver at a tall Austrian who had taken deliberate aim at Colonel Anderson. The man threw up his hands and with a wild yell toppled beneath the feet of the plunging horses, there to be trampled to death if Hal's bullet had not been enough.
One volley was poured into the Austrians at a command from Colonel Anderson, and then the Italians were upon the foe with drawn sabers. A single volley from the Austrians proved ineffective; Hal and Chester and the commander of the troop were unscathed and the Austrians had no time for another.
Chester parried a blow aimed at him by an Austrian cavalryman, and raising his pistol quickly, toppled him from his horse with a bullet. A second ploughed its way through the chest of another trooper and with his sword the lad caught a blow that at that moment would have descended upon Hal's head.
And so the fighting went, cut, thrust, parry and strike, with an occasional revolver shot in between; and Hal, Chester, and Colonel Anderson, in some miraculous manner, escaping injury.
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.
"Well, what of it?" demanded the colonel.
"Well, I don't know," said Chester slowly.
"I'll speak to the general," said Colonel Anderson. "Perhaps he will see his way clear to making representations for his release."
"Do you think he will?" asked Hal eagerly.
"To tell you the truth, I don't, but I'll speak to him, anyhow."
With this the lads were forced to be content, for they realized that Colonel Anderson would not permit them to go forward by themselves; besides, they recognized the folly of such an act.
The battle was over for the moment. The Italian left wing retained the ground won despite several counter assaults and the right wing had also been pushed forward after vigorous fighting. The Italians held their dearly gained victory in the center.
"Come with me," said Colonel Anderson to Hal and Chester. "We'll have a talk with the general."
The two lads followed him.
"I regret to say that what you ask is impossible."
The speaker was General Ferrari, commander of the Italian army of the North—the army that later was to attempt an invasion of Austrian territory by way of the Alps.
Colonel Anderson had just put before the general the question of trying to gain the freedom of Uncle John. The general turned to Hal and Chester.
"I am not unmindful of the great help you rendered Italy in Rome," he said; "but, at the same time, I cannot grant your present request. I am sorry."
"Why, that's all right, sir," said Chester quietly. "The idea was ColonelAnderson's, and if it cannot be done, that settles it, of course. UncleJohn will have to take his chances, the same as the rest of us."
"I am glad you are so sensible about it," replied the general. "Now," turning to Colonel Anderson, "I have a matter to discuss with you."
Hal and Chester took their departure, telling Colonel Anderson they would await him without. Half an hour later the colonel joined them.
"It's too bad you fellows are not in the fighting business any more," he said.
"Why?" demanded both lads in one voice.
"Because I am now confronted with a piece of work in which I should be glad to have your aid."
"What kind of work?" asked Chester.
"Oh, just a little mission that would take us into the Austrian lines. General Ferrari wants a little information, and he has selected me to go after it. I've got to have a couple of companions."
"By Jove, Chester! Here's a chance for us," declared Hal. "We'll go along, and who knows, perhaps we may have a chance to help Uncle John, too."
"Good!" agreed Chester. "What do you say, colonel?"
"I am afraid the general would not hear of it," replied the colonel, with a slight smile. "For my part, if you are willing I should be glad to have you with me. I know you are to be depended upon and I have great confidence in your resourcefulness."
"Let's go and see the general," said Chester.
Colonel Anderson offered no protest to this and a few moments laterChester put his request to General Ferrari.
"H-m-m," said the general, musing for a while. Then he gave his decision. "All right," he said; "but first, I want to impress one thing upon you. Your work of trying to release your Uncle John, as you call him, must be a secondary matter. The mission you are undertaking will permit of no delay. Do you agree to that?"
"Yes, sir," replied both lads, without an instant's hesitation.
"You say you hold commissions in the Belgian army?" asked the general.
"Yes, and I can vouch for the fact that they were both attached to the staff of General Sir John French," put in Colonel Anderson.
"Very well, then," returned the general. "You may go, and my only instructions are that the work be done with the greatest possible haste."
"It shall be done, sir," declared the colonel. "Come, boys."
The three saluted and made their way from the general's quarters.
In Colonel Anderson's tent they talked over their plans.
"Just what is it we are supposed to find out?" asked Hal.
"First, the enemy's strength at this point," replied the colonel. "The lay of the land, the strength of the enemy's position, how his army is laid out, and, lastly, the feasibility of a quick dash over the Alps."
"Not such a little job, after all," commented Hal dryly.
"And," said Chester, "just how do you figure we are going to get within the Austrian lines?"
"That's the problem," said the colonel. "We'll have to figure that out. One thing, we've got to get there, and at least one of us has got to get back again. Luckily, I speak German fluently. I don't believe Austrian will be necessary."
"Not much difference, is there?" asked Hal.
"Some. But German will do us."
"Well," said Chester, "one thing is certain; we shall have to discard our uniforms."
"In which event," said Hal, "we shall be shot if captured."
"That can't be helped," said the colonel. "We'll have to don civilian garb."
"But how to get across?"
"Say, look here, I've got a plan," said Chester.
"Let's have it," said Hal.
"Listen, then. We'll put on civilian clothes. We'll tell the Italian officer in command of the farthest outpost what we are about to do. We'll get horses and we'll have a squadron of Italian cavalry chase us, shooting—but over our heads. That will attract the enemy, and they'll come forward to help us. Then we'll get there."
"But what reason will we give for wanting to get into the Austrian lines?" asked Hal.
"I'm coming to that. Before we start, we'll draw up a couple of maps of supposed Italian positions—which, of course, will be directly the opposite of how things are here; we'll take down false figures of the Italian strength and other such things. We'll tell the Austrian commander, when we are taken before him, that we are German secret agents, and we'll get away with it. Fortunately, I think we know the phrase that will get us by."
"What do you mean?" asked Hal.
"Why, the one you used on Robard in Rome," said Chester. "'From theWilhelmstrasse.'"
"By Jove! I believe you are right," declared Hal.
"I am certain of it," replied Chester. "So, you see, we will overcome suspicion, and will have freedom of the Austrian camp—practically. Now, what do you think of the plan?"
"Well, it has its advantages," replied Colonel Anderson, "and if we are careful and cautious, it may work. In lieu of a better, I guess we may as well act upon it. Now, who is going to draw these maps? A map I would draw wouldn't look like much."
"I guess that is up to me," said Chester. "I am rather handy with a pencil."
He set to work and an hour later produced the result of his labors.
"Fine," said the colonel, after gazing at the maps. "And you have laid them out, names and all. If the Austrians were to advance with the belief that these were authentic, we'd eat 'em alive."
"I hope they do it," said Chester. "Now it's up to you to get the other figures."
"We've prepared those," said the colonel, and produced the result of an hour's work.
"Now we'll have to hide them, so it will look right," said Chester.
"Right; but first crumple them up and rub a little dirt on 'em," saidHal.
This was done.
Then the three went in search of the necessary clothing. This they obtained without much difficulty.
"Now, about the starting time?" said Chester.
"My idea," said Hal, "is that we go to the front at once, but that we do not start toward the enemy's lines until just after the break of day."
"Why?" asked Colonel Anderson.
"For several reasons, but one will suffice. If we go at night the whole thing is likely to go wrong, and they'll shoot us without taking any chances. They won't see our apparently serious predicament in the darkness."
"You are right, as usual," replied the colonel.
"Now about weapons," said Chester. "We ought to carry a couple of guns apiece."
"And a good supply of ammunition," agreed Hal.
"We've got the guns, but not the ammunition," said Chester.
"I'll rustle that up for you in a few minutes," said the colonel.
He was as good as his word.
An hour later they set out for the front, still in uniform, for they did not wish to don their civilian attire until it became necessary, for fear they would arouse suspicion in the breast of the Italian officer in command and necessitate a loss of time.
The Italian colonel in command of the outpost at the extreme northern front listened to their plan and pronounced it a good one.
"I'll have you chased good and properly," he said, with a grin.
"Guess we had better turn in," said Colonel Anderson. "We'll leave it to you to have us called half an hour before daybreak," he said to the officer.
"I'll have you up if I have to pull you out by the heels myself," was the reply.
The three friends turned in in the officer's own tent and soon were fast asleep, their desperate mission of the morrow weighing not at all upon their minds. They were too seasoned veterans for that.
Half an hour before daybreak they were aroused. All were perfectly wide awake in a moment and donned their civilian clothes. Then they left the tent and joined the Italian officer, where he awaited their coming and explained to the officer of a squadron of cavalry what was expected of him.
The latter nodded his understanding of the order and repeated it to his men.
It was cool in the early morning air, close to the mountains as they were, and the boys shivered a bit. Both were anxious for the time for action.
A faint tinge of gray streaked the eastern sky; and gradually it grew brighter.
"Well, guess we may as well be on our way," said the colonel. "Have you got our horses?"