of the man who held him and his chum
firmly by the arm. The face was set in a stern expression, but there was
a kindly smile behind it and the eyes twinkled.

Chester voiced his astonishment with two words.

"Uncle John!" he cried.

CHAPTER XXI.

OTHER RELATIVES.

"Mr. Crawford!" cried Hal, equally as surprised.

For the man who held the two lads in a vise-like grip was the brother of
Chester's father, whom they had last seen in America.

Uncle John smiled grimly.

"Yes, it's me," he said, paying no heed to his slip in grammar, "and now
that I've found you I am going to take you with me."

Still grasping each by the shoulder, he led them through the crowd and
pushed them into the waiting automobile. He then gave the driver an
address and climbed in himself. The machine started off.

"Now," said Uncle John, settling himself comfortably, "tell me where you
have been. Both your mothers are frantic, and they set me a strenuous job
when they turned me loose on your trail. I have been looking for you for
months. Where have you been, and what are you doing in those French
uniforms?"

"But where is mother?" asked Hal.

"You'll see her soon enough," was the grim response, "and yours, too," he
added, turning to Chester.

"Is mother here in Paris?" asked Chester.

"She is; you'll be with her in fifteen minutes."

"And mine, too?" asked Hal.

"Yes; now tell me about yourselves."

"Well," said Chester, "there is not much to tell. I suppose Mrs. Paine
told you how we became separated in Berlin?"

"Yes."

"Well, we managed to escape from Germany and made our way to Liege just
before the German assault on that fortress."

"And were you there during its defense?" asked Uncle John in surprise.

"Yes, we were there. We were fortunate enough to render the Belgian
commander some slight service, for which we were later made lieutenants
in the Belgian army."

"Lieutenants!" ejaculated Uncle John.

"Yes."

"Then what are you doing in French uniforms?"

"I am coming to that. Later we saw service with the British troops, and
also with the Cossacks in Russia. We were captured several days ago by
the Germans, and we donned these uniforms when we finally got into the
French lines. To-day we came to Paris with a communication from General
Joffre for the Prime Minister."

Uncle John sat straight up in his seat during this recital, so great was
his surprise.

"And you have gone through all this unwounded?"