Quietly the two lads slipped from the room and down the little hall. Then they turned and made their way back again, coming only as far as the door to the Austrians’ room. Hal opened it and walked in. At sight of the two Austrian officers he drew back in well-simulated surprise.
“I beg your pardon,” he exclaimed. “I am in the wrong room.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” laughed one of the Austrians. “Are you the Americans who are stopping here?”
“Yes,” replied Hal.
“Well,” said the Austrian. “It’s early yet; come in and have a chat with us. You can perhaps tell us some things about America that we would like to know.”
Hal accepted the invitation, mentally congratulating himself upon their good fortune. After a lengthy conversation, Hal rose to go.
“It’s getting late,” he said. “Come, Chester, we may as well turn in.”
Chester also rose. In going to the door it was necessary for Hal to pass behind one of the Austrians. As he did so, he quickly threw out a hand and clutched the man by the throat. At the same moment Chester sprang upon the second unsuspecting officer, and the cry that the latter would have let out was stifled in his throat by the pressure of the lad’s fingers.
Hal now produced a revolver, and Chester did likewise. They covered the two officers.
“One outcry and you are dead men,” said Hal calmly.