"Agreed," said Hal.
They left the hotel, and for an hour strolled about the city, looking at the sights of interest.
"By the way," said Chester, "what's this Hotel de Ville where we are to report to General Gallieni to-night?"
"Why," said Hal, "that's the city hall, or at least what we would call the city hall in America. I suppose that when Paris was put under martial law the military governor, who, of course, superseded all civic authorities, at once took up his quarters there."
"I see," said Chester.
Strolling along Bois de Boulougne, the lads saw, some distance ahead of them, a crowd gathered about what appeared to be a knot of struggling men. They hurried up and peered over the shoulders of the other onlookers.
In the center of the throng was a young man, defending himself as best he could, against the attacks of half a dozen smaller assailants, young rowdies and ruffians.
Even as the lads looked the assailed snatched a club from the hands of one of his opponents, and laid about him lustily, clearing a small space on all sides of him.
But the weight of numbers was bound to tell, and the assailants closed in again, while the crowd stood and laughed.
Such unequal odds did not appeal to the two lads.