"But," interrupted Hal, "it is not necessary to capture Gorizia to take Trieste?"
"No," said the Austrian with a smile, "but it is necessary to take Gorizia to hold Trieste. The mountains that overhang the city are fortified with our great guns, which could rain shells upon the city without danger of a successful reply. The Italians know this, which is the reason they have not struck at Trieste before. The same goes for Trent, the other point coveted by the enemy."
The party had stopped during this discussion, but now moved on again. In this part of the camp the tents were laid out in little streets and avenues, and down these they walked slowly.
And suddenly the three friends were treated to a disagreeable shock.
Closely followed by a guard, Uncle John suddenly stepped from a tent and stood directly in their path. He seemed stricken dumb with amazement for a moment and then hurried up to them with a glad cry.
"Chester! Hal!" he exclaimed in English.
For a moment the two lads were dumbfounded. Then, realizing their perilous situation, Hal pushed Uncle John away and frowned at him. He whirled upon the Austrian officer.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded sternly. "I did not know you had lunatics here."
Now Uncle John knew something of German himself, and he caught this remark. He glared angrily at Hal and then spoke to Chester.
"What's the meaning of this, Chester?" he asked.