CHAPTER VII.
UNCLE JOHN IN TROUBLE.
A few paces in front of Chester and Uncle John the newcomer paused.
"Armed?" he asked.
Chester made no reply. Uncle John remained silent.
"We'll see," said the newcomer briefly.
Still covering them with his weapon, he put his free hand in Chester's pocket and relieved the lad of his revolver. A similar operation and Uncle John's gun came forth. Uncle John could keep quiet no longer.
"There goes my gun," he said sorrowfully.
In spite of the seriousness of the situation Chester was forced to laugh.
"Don't worry; you'll get it back," he replied.
"You think so, eh?" sneered the newcomer. "Tell me," addressing Chester, "what are you doing here?"
"That's for you to find out," replied the lad.
"Well, I'll find out," exclaimed the man. "Do you know who I am?"
"Why, yes; your name is Robard, isn't it?"
The other stepped back in surprise.
"So you know me, eh!" he exclaimed. "Then you are not burglars."
"Hardly," replied Chester.
"Then what are you doing here?"
"I can't see that it will do any harm to tell you," was Chester's answer.
"We are after the paper you stole from Colonel Fuesco to-day."
"Oho! And by any chance are you the same youngster I encountered in the street?"
"The same," replied Chester briefly.
"And where is the other? Surely," peering closely at Uncle John, "you are not he. He was younger."
"Right you are," replied Uncle John. "But I guess he'll turn up when he is most needed."
"You think so? Then he had better turn up quickly." He turned again to Chester. "So you came after the paper," he said. "I am very sorry to say that you will not get it."
"Then you have sent it to Vienna," said Chester, somewhat crestfallen.
"Oh, no, I still have it right here," and Robard tapped the breast pocket of his coat.
"Thanks," said Chester. "I just wanted to know where you kept it."
"I suppose you think you are very smart," said the Austrian, somewhat angry at having betrayed himself.
"Smart enough, I guess," returned Chester.
"Come, I have had enough of this," exclaimed the Austrian. "Hold your hands up now, and march out of this room ahead of me."
He waved his revolver from one to the other, and stepped aside that the two might pass ahead of him. Uncle John and Chester obeyed his injunction and moved toward the door. The Austrian took a step after them.
It was at this moment that Hal came into action.
With a sudden spring he leaped upon the Austrian from behind. With one hand he seized the wrist that held the revolver, and turned it upward. With the other he clutched the man by the throat, shutting off his wind and preventing him from crying out. Hal called to Chester:
"Grab him!"
Chester and Uncle John wheeled about and lent a hand in subduing the Austrian. Three against one, it was easy work, and after a short struggle Robard lay panting on the floor. Hal drew his own revolver and covered him.
"One move and you are a dead man," he said quietly.
Robard glared up at him angrily. Chester smiled at him pleasantly.
"You see I am smarter than you gave me credit for," he said.
The Austrian made no response.
"He keeps the paper in his pocket, Hal," said Chester.
"So I heard him say," replied Hal.
He bent over the Austrian and thrust a hand into his pocket. He pulled forth a batch of papers, and walking over to the window, ran through them hurriedly.
"Find it?" asked Chester, walking over to him.
Hal extended a paper.
"I guess this is it, all right," he said, and thrust the document into his pocket.
At that moment there came a startled cry from Uncle John, followed by a heavy thud. Hal and Chester wheeled quickly, just in time to see Robard disappearing through the door, which closed after him with a bang. A key turned in the lock. The thud they had heard was Uncle John toppling to the floor as the result of a blow delivered by the Austrian, who, catching Uncle John off his guard, had sprung to his feet and attacked him.
Hal jumped to the door, while Chester bent over Uncle John and assisted him to his feet.
"The scoundrel!" exclaimed Uncle John. "He took me by surprise. He gave me no warning."
"Surely you didn't expect him to," said Chester, somewhat angry.
Hal sprang to Chester's side.
"Quick!" he exclaimed. "We must get out of here. Robard will have assistance in a moment."
"Which way? Out the window?" asked Chester.
"I guess that will be the best way," said Hal. "You first, Uncle John."
The three hurried to the window, and Uncle John put a leg over the sill. As he did so a sharp shot rang out and Uncle John withdrew his leg hurriedly. He tumbled over to the floor, and seizing his foot in his hand, rocked himself back and forward.
"Hit?" asked Chester anxiously.
"I'm afraid so," replied Uncle John, apparently very much frightened.
Chester bent over him.
He looked at the heel of Uncle John's shoe, and then exclaimed.
"Get up. You are all right. The bullet just carried your heel away."
Uncle John rose to his feet.
"Felt like I had been plugged through the leg," he said. "Just the shock,
I guess. Well, what now, boys? We can't get out that way."
"We'll have to go through the door, then," said Chester.
He approached and tried the knob.
"It's locked," said Hal. "I tried it a moment ago. However, that's the way we shall have to go out. Stand back a little."
He drew his revolver, put the muzzle to the lock and fired. There was a loud explosion and the room filled with smoke. Hal seized the knob and threw the door open.
"Where are your guns?" he asked Chester hurriedly.
"Robard took them," replied Chester.
"Then they must be in the room. Find them quickly."
Chester looked hurriedly about. At last his eyes lighted upon them, on a little table at the far end of the room, where the Austrian had laid them.
"All right," said Chester, picking them up and passing one to Uncle John.
"The sooner we make a start the better."
"Let's go then," said Hal.
He poked his head cautiously out the door and looked down the hall. There was no one in sight.
"Coast clear," he called over his shoulder. "Follow me!"
He sprang into the hall and started for the front door on a dead run.
Chester was right behind him, and Uncle John followed close upon
Chester's heels.
Hal was just about to seize the knob in his free hand, when it was turned from the outside.
"Back, quick," called the lad. "Some one coming."
He wheeled about as he spoke and the other two did likewise. They had barely regained their retreat when heavy footsteps were heard in the hall.
"This way," called a voice in German.
The footsteps came toward them, stopped before the door a moment, and then passed on.
"Now for another trial," whispered Hal.
Again he poked his head out and saw that the coast was apparently clear.
"Come on!" he cried, and made a second dash for the front door. Chester followed him, as did Uncle John.
This time Hal reached the door without trouble and threw it open. Without pausing, he dashed through it and down the steps. Chester was right behind him. But as Uncle John also would have passed out, there came a shot from behind and he toppled to the floor.
In the excitement neither Chester nor Hal noticed this and they had gone half a block before they discovered that Uncle John was not with them.
"Great Scott! What can have happened to him?" exclaimed Chester.
"Probably got caught," replied Hal.
"Then we must go back after him. Come on."
"Wait a minute," said Hal. "Don't forget this paper we recovered. It must be returned to General Ferrari, Uncle John or no Uncle John."
"But we can't let them kill him!" cried Chester.
"They won't kill him," said Hal positively. "They would be afraid to do that. First I must deliver this paper, and then we shall try to rescue Uncle John. But the paper is first. You know that."
"You are right, of course," Chester agreed. "Besides Uncle John knew what he was up against before he came with us. He'll have to wait until we can help him."
"All right, then. Now my idea is for you to wait here while I return this paper to General Ferrari. Then I shall come back and we will see what can be done. If they should take Uncle John from the house you follow them."
"Suits me," said Chester. "Get back as soon as you can."
Hal waved a hand and hurried away in the darkness.
"Guess I'll see if I can learn anything," said Chester to himself, after
Hal had disappeared.
He approached the embassy cautiously. He could see lights within, but the shades were drawn and he could distinguish nothing. Once he thought he heard sounds of a struggle in the house, but he could not be sure.
He was on the point of entering, but it occurred to him that if he should fall into the enemy's hands he could do Uncle John little good.
"I'll wait until Hal comes back, anyhow," he decided at last.
He walked some distance from the embassy, still remaining close enough to see any one who should leave by the front door, and sat down on the steps before a large stone house.
"Hope Hal gets a move on," he muttered to himself, as he settled himself as comfortably as possible.