"What's the matter?" asked the latter sleepily.

"Venice, I guess," was the reply.

Again their bonds were removed, and under cover of the revolvers of their
captors, which the latter kept concealed in their coats but which the
three prisoners knew were ever ready, Hal, Chester and Uncle John stepped
from the car.

The Austrian ambassador and Robard had alighted before them, and Hal
could see them talking and gesticulating excitedly.

"Wonder what's up?" he muttered.

"Which way from here, do you suppose?" asked Chester.

"Trieste, I should say," replied Uncle John. "They will want to get over
the border as soon as possible, and I guess they will head in that
direction."

"My idea, too," agreed Hal.

What was their surprise, then, when, instead of boarding another train,
as Hal had confidently believed would be done, the ambassador led the way
into the station and then to the street beyond. Here Robard disappeared
for a brief moment, and returning, motioned the ambassador and others to
follow him.

Again the prisoners found themselves shoved into a large touring car,
which started immediately in the wake of the one which bore Robard and