Chester did not reply, pretending that he did not understand English.
Uncle John grew more angry.
"You young scalawags," he shouted, "what are you trying to do? Have some fun with me? I want to tell you this is no place nor time for fun. I want to get out of here."
Hal and Chester each was afraid to give Uncle John a signal for fear it might be seen and Colonel Anderson made no move to interfere. The Austrian officer turned a suspicious gaze upon the three friends.
"Do you know this man?" he asked.
Hal shook his head.
"He evidently has mistaken us for some one else," he said. "Do you understand what he says? It sounds like it was English he spoke."
"So it is," replied the Austrian. "He called you Hal and Chester and also scalawags, whatever that means."
Chester shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know him," he said.
"Nor I," said Hal.