CHAPTER XVI.
A FRIEND IN NEED.
Many thoughts ran through Chester's head as he stood there for a brief moment with the hand of the man who had accosted him on his shoulder. He thought of flight and he thought of fight, but most of all he thought of the ill fortune he had encountered in the past few days.
"This is the limit," he told himself ruefully. Aloud he said: "You are mistaken, sir."
"No, I'm not mistaken," returned the officer, "and I suppose most would take you at your word. You speak German without an accent, but your face betrays you. At a guess, I would say you are English."
"You are wrong," declared Chester.
"Nevertheless, I shall have to ask you to accompany me," said the officer.
For a moment Chester hesitated; he was tempted to leap upon his captor and make a fight for it, but he had hesitated too long now. The officer produced a revolver, which he held carelessly in his right hand.
"I have a little persuader here, in case you should think of disobeying my order," he said quietly.
"Oh, all right," said Chester. "I'll go along."