It was dark in the room as the lads stepped across to the threshold. But hardly had they set foot in the room when a brilliant light shot forth.
For a moment the lads were blinded, but they were conscious of a startled ejaculation from the hotel clerk, who still stood without.
"Ha!" he exclaimed. "I thought so. Now for it, my dear Herr Captain."
When the lights flared up, Hal and Chester both dropped their hands to their revolvers. But before either could produce a weapon, a shrill voice cried in German:
"Hands up, there!"
There was nothing for the lads to do but obey. They still had not had time to accustom their eyes to the sudden light so were unable to distinguish the owner of the voice. But gradually their vision cleared.
Chester glanced sharply at the man who had stopped them. He sat up in bed and in both hands he held a revolver squarely levelled at the two lads.
Chester gave a sudden start. At the same moment the man in the bed gave vent to a queer sound and his revolvers wavered.
Chester leaped forward and possessed himself of the two revolvers with several quick movements. One of these he levelled at the man in the bed.
"Hands up!" he commanded sharply. The man in the bed opened his mouth to speak. "Silence!" cried Chester. "Not a word." He turned to Hal, who for the moment had been staring in open-mouthed wonder. "Explain to the clerk, Hal," said Chester, "that we will take possession of this room, also of its occupant. It might be well to tell him that he should have informed us his room was occupied. We will discuss that later."