ighters to the appointed spot.
There was a confusion of voices, the sound of rushing feet, the banging
of doors, the noise increasing as the two men stepped into the open
hall. They were amazed to see half-dressed men and women standing or
running about the halls, intense excitement in their faces and in their
actions. White uniformed policemen were flocking into the corridors;
soldiers, coatless and hatless, fresh from their beds, came dashing upon
the scene. There were excited cries, angry shouts and, more mystifying
than all, horrified looks and whispers.

"What has happened?" asked Lorry, stopping near the door.

"It can't be a fire. Look! The door to that room down there seems to be
the center of attraction. Hold on! Don't go over there, Lorry. There
may be something to unnerve you, and that must not happen now. Let us
go down this stairway--it leads to a side entrance, I think." They were
half way down the stairs when the thunder of rushing feet in the hall
above came to their ears, causing them to hesitate between curiosity and
good judgment. "They are coming this way."

"Hear them howl! What the devil can be the cause of all this rumpus?"
cried the other.

At that instant a half dozen police-guards appeared at the head of
the stairs. Upon seeing the Americans they stopped and turned as if to
oppose a foe approaching from the opposite direction. Baron Dangloss
separated himself from the white coats above and called to the men
below. In alarm they started for the street door. He was with them in an
instant, his usually red face changing from white to purple, his anxious
eyes darting first toward the group above and then toward the bewildered
Americans.

"What's the matter?" demanded Lorry.

"There! See!" cried Dangloss, and even as he spoke a conflict began
at the head of the stairs, the police, augmented by a few soldiers,
struggling against a howling, enraged mass of Axphainians. Dangloss
dragged his reluctant charges through a small door, and they found
themselves in the baggage-room of the hotel. Despite their queries
he offered no explanation, but rushed them along, passing out of the
opposite door, down a short stairway and into a side street. A half
dozen police-guards were awaiting them, and before they could catch the
faintest idea of what it all meant, they were running with the officers
through an alley, as if pursued by demons.

"Now, what in thunder does this mean?" panted Lorry, attempting to