d Mr. Green Hat, and were swiftly reinforced by the one who had
been floored.

But the stalwart, active brawler proved to be too much for the
combined force of the waiters. As if they had been so many reeds, Mr.
Green Hat brushed them aside with his fists.

"Grab the bloomin' rotter and throw 'im h'out!" bellowed a "Tommy
Atkins," as the British soldier is collectively known.

A new note, in a decidedly American tone of protest, rose above the
uproar.

"How dare you? What do you mean, fellow?" demanded a young man in a
gray traveling suit, glaring up from the floor, to which he, an
unoffending occupant of an aisle seat, had suddenly been hurled.

It was too much for Dan Dalzell, who promptly attempted to seize Mr.
Green Hat as that individual, with the momentum of a steam roller,
rushed up the aisle.

Dalzell reached out a hand to grip Mr. Green Hat by the collar. All
too promptly a heavy fist smote Dan in the chest, knocking him back
into the arms of Dave Darrin. Dave himself could not act quickly
enough to avenge the blow that had been dealt his chum, because Dan's
body blocked the way.

Four or five British soldiers at the rear of the little theatre tried
to intercept Mr. Green Hat as he dashed up the aisle. Three of the
"Messrs. Atkins" went to the floor, under the seats, while the others
were brushed aside, and Mr. Green Hat reached the street.

"Stop that thief!" roared the young man in the gray suit. "He has
robbed me!"

By this time Dalzell was again on his feet and out in the aisle. He
sprinted for the street, followed closely by Dave Darrin. The young
man in the gray suit, his face pallid, plunged after the young naval
officers.

"You're an American, aren't you?" called Dave, over his shoulder.

"Yes," answered he of the gray suit, "and in official life at
Washington, too. That scoundrel has robbed me of something of value to
the United States government."

That was enough for Darrin and Dalzell. Though the charge might prove
to be false, it was enough to cancel Dave's scruples against
fighting.

Out into the street ahead of them ran a waiter, who had taken no part
in the scrimmage, waving his arms and shouting:

"_Esta direccion!_" ("This way!")

"_Sigue andando!_" ("Keep right on!") roared Danny Grin, darting down
the street at a hard pace.

But a moment later both naval officers, followed by the young man in
gray and the waiter, came to a halt, for, directly ahead of them, on
the well