CHAPTER XI.
A PLOT IS FOILED.
"Out with you," commanded one of their captors, when he saw that the ambassador and Robard had made their way up the short flight of steps.
No urging was necessary. The prisoners, closely followed by their guards, made their way in the same direction. A hundred yards ahead, they were suddenly turned to the left, where they caught sight of a small house. Into this they were marched and then on into a room at the far end of the short hall.
"Guess you'll be safe enough in there. No need to tie you up," said the voice of Robard, who came up at this moment.
The door slammed, a key grated harshly and the prisoners were left alone.
"Now what in the name of all that's wonderful do you suppose this means?" asked Chester. "Think they are going to leave us here to starve or perish of thirst?"
"No, I guess not," was the reply. "My opinion is that Robard is up to something funny, and that he has enticed the ambassador here on some pretext or another."
"What do you think he is up to?" demanded Chester.
"If I knew I'd have told you a long while ago," said Hal. "Now, if we—"
He paused as Chester held up a warning hand. The latter moved toward the wall at the far end of the room as Hal eyed him curiously. The lad placed his ear against the wall, and listened intently for a moment; then he motioned Hal and Uncle John to approach.
"The ambassador and Robard are in the next room," he whispered. "I can hear them talking. Listen."
Hal and Uncle John also laid their ears to the wall.
"But," and the ambassador's voice came faintly to them, "such a thing as you suggest is dishonorable."
"What has that to do with it, sir?" came Robard's reply. "Our enemies would do the same thing had they the opportunity. All's fair in war, you know, sir."
"Not that," said the ambassador. "You must remember that until I have crossed the frontier I am still the ambassador to Italy. I am upon my honor to leave the country peaceably."
"But no one would know you had a hand in the matter, sir."
"That is not the point," was the reply.
"But I have made all arrangements," protested Robard. "Everything is ready. The chief of the Italian general staff is in Venice at this moment, and at noon will inspect the large stores of ammunition at the northern outskirts of the city. A word from you and ammunition, chief of staff and all will be destroyed."
"I will give no such word," was the angry response. "Besides," and the ambassador considered a moment, "why do you wish a word from me in this matter? It could have been done without my consent."
"Well, sir, I—we—I," stammered Robard, evidently at a loss for a convincing reply.
There came the sound of a blow, as though a hand had struck a table and the ambassador's voice rose angrily.
"Robard," he said sternly, "I can see through your plot. You would have me stand sponsor for this crime, that you might disqualify me upon my return to Vienna."
"I assure you, sir—" began Robard.
"Enough," replied the ambassador. "I have not forgotten that you were ever my enemy—at least until this war brought us closer together and put an end to all our disputes—at least, so I believed. Now I know better."
"Sir—" Robard began again.
"I have told you I would have no hand in it," declared the ambassador.
"What is more, I forbid it! Do you understand, I forbid it!"
Now Robard's voice rose angrily.
"You forbid it!" he exclaimed. "You forbid it! Well, little good will that do. I will see that the work is carried out if I have to do it myself. And what is more, I will see that the blame falls on you. You are right. I have plotted to discredit you, and I shall do it, or my name is not Robard."
"I shall see that your actions are brought to the attention of the emperor," declared the ambassador. "And more than that, I shall immediately notify the Italian authorities of your plans, that they may be on their guard."
"You will never do that," replied Robard, and his voice was so low that the listeners could scarcely catch the words.
"Robard," said the ambassador sternly, "you may consider yourself under arrest."
There was the sound of a scraping chair and heavy footsteps moving in the room beyond.
"Another move and I shall fire," came Robard's voice.
"Man, you don't know what you are doing," came the surprised voice of the ambassador.
"Don't?" said Robard, with a sneer in his voice. "I'll show you."
Again there came to the listeners' ears the sounds of heavy footsteps, followed by the noise of a struggle.
"Great Scott! They are fighting!" exclaimed Hal. "What can we do? He might kill the Ambassador."
"There is nothing we can do, old man," replied Chester quietly. "We'll have to let them fight it out."
They listened intently.
The struggle continued, and occasionally the listeners could catch the sound of fierce ejaculations. Then, suddenly, there came the sound of a shot. Then silence, followed a moment later by a voice:
"There! I guess now you will know better than to interfere with me."
"Robard," said the voice of the ambassador, very weak now, "you shall pay for this."
"I don't know whether I have done for you or not," came Robard's voice after a pause, "and I don't care. In fact, I hope I have. Now, just to blacken your reputation a bit, if I have killed you, I shall go through with my plan."
The boys could hear him stalk heavily across the room. A moment later a door slammed.
Hal rose to his feet and passed a hand across a moist brow.
"And to think that we were unable to lend a hand," he muttered.
"He's a black villain," declared Uncle John.
"And now," said Chester, "he is on his errand of mischief. Can we do nothing to thwart him?"
"I can't see how," declared Uncle John.
"Nor I," said Hal.
"Wait a moment, though," said Chester.
"Well?" queried Hal anxiously.
"I think it can be done," replied Chester quietly. "At least there is a chance."
"Let's have it," demanded Hal eagerly.
"Well, here is the idea. We'll stir up a racket in here. Naturally some of our captors will come to see what it is all about. We won't quiet down until he opens the door. Now you will notice that the door swings inward. That will help. Also that from outside it is impossible to see this side of the room. I'll stand behind the door. You and Uncle John remain on this side and stay here until the man comes into the room. Then I'll jump him, or them, as the case may be."
"But they'll get you, Chester," said Uncle John.
"Perhaps," was the reply. "That's the chance I must take. But we can't let a little thing like that stand in the way. As soon as I tackle them, or him, you two can rush out and lend a hand. There'll be a hard fight, of course, and the first fellow that gets a chance to make a break through the door will do so. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly," said Hal. "And the plan is not so bad. There is a certain chance of success."
"Well, it doesn't look good to me," replied Uncle John. "One of you boys is almost sure to get killed."
"You are taking the same chance, sir," replied Chester.
"Oh, I'm not worrying about myself," returned Uncle John. "But you must remember that I am to some extent responsible for you and I shall have to answer to your mothers for your safety."
"If you wish," said Chester dryly, "we'll each write you a little note exonerating you of all blame should either of us be hurt."
Uncle John was forced to smile.
"Oh, never mind," he said. "Well, boys, if you have decided upon your plan, I guess I shall have to agree to it."
"I believe it will succeed," said Chester. "But at all events, we can't remain here inactive while that villain Robard is about his work."
"You're right there, Chester," said Hal. "Something must be done, and as there is no one else aware of this plot, I guess it is up to us."
"As I said before, you can count on me to the limit," said Uncle John.
"I'm counting on you, Uncle John," replied Chester. "I know you will do your part."
"Thanks," was the quiet response.
"Any more suggestions?" asked Chester.
There were none.
"What time is it?" asked Hal.
Chester glanced quickly at his watch.
"Great Scott!" he ejaculated. "Ten o'clock! I had no idea it was so late."
"Nor I," declared Uncle John.
"Time to get busy, then," said Hal.
"Right," Chester agreed. "We haven't a whole lot of time."
He gazed quickly about the room and then took his position at one side of the door, where he would not be seen by one entering the room. Hal and Uncle John also took their places.
"Everything ship-shape?" asked Chester.
"Guess so," replied Uncle John, somewhat nervously—he was not used to this kind of work, although each lad knew there was no question of his nerve and courage.
"All set," replied Hal quietly.
"Good!" said Chester. "Now for the disturbance. You fellows will have to help me out a little."
He raised his voice in a loud shout.
Hal and Uncle John followed suit.
"A terrible racket," said Chester, drawing a long breath a moment later.
"It should raise the dead."
"It should," agreed Hal.
"But it didn't," said Chester. "Again. All together now, and keep it up."
Again the room rang with a horrible noise. Came footsteps running without.