" came a voice from without.

There was a loud rap on the door.

"Who's there?" called Hal, thinking to keep up the deception.

"Open the door in the name of the law!" came back the response.

From an adjoining room Mrs. Paine, Mrs. Crawford and Uncle John were
startled by the pounding on the door, and looked into the hall just as
the above conversation through the door took place. Uncle John
immediately stepped forward.

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.

The French officer turned upon him.

"None of your business," he replied. He turned and rapped on the door
again. "Open the door," he commanded, "or I shall break it in."

"Hold on there!" said Uncle John. "I have the key to the door. Tell me
what you want with those young men and I'll unlock the door."

"I am ordered to take them before General Gallieni at once," said the
officer more civilly.

"The military governor!" exclaimed Uncle John.

"Exactly, _monsieur_," said the officer, "and now, as you have the key,
will you please to unlock the door immediately?"

"But what does the general want with them?" asked Uncle John anxiously.

"I cannot say," was the reply. "Will you unlock the door or shall I be
compelled to use force?"

Without further words Uncle John unlocked the door, and the officer,
followed by two of his men, strode in. They approached the two lads.

"You are under arrest," said the officer briefly.

Mrs. Paine and Mrs. Crawford attempted to reach their sons, but the
soldiers barred their progress.

"Don't worry, mother," said Hal, as they were led by, and he smiled.

Uncle John caught the smile and a great light dawned upon him.

"Well, by George!" he said to himself, "I didn't think they had it in
'em."

He allayed the fears of the anxious mothers by telling them what he had
discovered.

CHAPTER XXII.

INTO THE UNDERWORLD.

Hal did not see the look of understanding upon Uncle John's face, as they
were led along, but Chester did. He smiled to himself.

"Uncle John has caught on," he said to his friend.

"Caught on?" echoed Hal.

"Yes. He knows that we have hoodwinked him."

"So much the better, then," said Hal. "It will save our mothers some
worry." He turned to the officer who conducted them as soon as they were
out on the street. "It's all right now," he said. "We can go the rest of
the way alone."

"Perhaps you can," was the reply, "but you won't. You'll come right
along with us."

"But," prote