ice a day to remain in the hotel.
Let's take a walk."

"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law the military governor, who, of course, superseded all civic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.

"Come on, Hal," said Chester. "We can't stand idly by and let that crowd
of ruffians beat that fellow up."

"I should say not," said Hal. "Come on."

Elbowing and shoving, the lads forced their way through the crowd and
fell upon the assailants from the rear. The young man to whose assistance
they had come welcomed this unexpected aid with a slight smile, and the
three stood side by side and fought off the ruffians.

But the ranks of the latter were increased now, and the lads were hard
pressed. They were giving a good account of themselves, but it was
evident that, unless help arrived, they would get the worst of it.

Suddenly a tall man in a heavy fur overcoat, who had alighted from an
automobile to see what the excitement was about, after a quick glance at
the combatants, uttered a cry and dashed forward, elbowing his way
through the crowd.

Hal and Chester each felt himself seized by the shoulder by a strong
hand, and a voice exclaimed:

"So! I have found you young scalawags at last!"

At the sound of this voice Hal and Chester stood stockstill, and from the
crowd came the cry of: "The police!"

Hal glanced quickly into the face