and Hal found himself separated from his friends as he was pushed into
the second machine; Chester and Uncle John were in the third.

Twenty minutes later the three prisoners found themselves in a first
class section on the special express for Venice, vigilantly guarded by
two Austrians, who had been placed in charge of them after they had been
securely tied up at Robard's command. Robard himself had entered another
compartment with the ambassador.

"You'll be safer this way," the Austrian had said with a smile, after
testing their bonds to make sure they were secure.

"Looks like we were pretty safe any way you might put us," replied
Hal grimly.

"You Americans are pretty slippery customers; I won't take any chances
with you," was the rejoinder, and Robard took his leave.

A few moments later a slight motion told the prisoners that the train
had started.

"Well, here we go," said Chester with a laugh. "We've been started for
the enemy's country in this manner before."

"Only on previous occasions our destination was Berlin instead of
Venice," replied Hal.

"Which is not our destination after all," said Uncle John. "Our true
destination is back to the hotel where we left your mothers."