"Ready?"
"Ready!" came the reply.
"Then—" began Hal, and suddenly cried, "Wait!"
For at that moment the crowd in front of him suddenly began to scatter, and from beyond Hal made out a troop of Italian cavalry bearing down on them with drawn sabers. Hal lowered his weapon and called out:
"It's all right, Chester!"
CHAPTER IV.
AN OLD FRIEND.
"What's the meaning of this?" demanded an officer, pulling in his horse beside the two lads, while his troop gave their attention to driving back the crowd, which gave ground slowly.
"We were attacked by the crowd, captain," Hal explained.
"Why?" asked the officer.