prefect, turning to the Battleship Boys with a profound bow. "You are at liberty to go where and when you please."

"Come, lads; I take it you have no desire to remain here longer?"

"I should say not," spoke up the red-headed Sam.

Dan saluted the prefect, but Sam hardly more than glared at the police head as the boys left the office in company with the ambassador.

"Well, lads, what do you propose to do now?" questioned Mr. Hamlin, when they had reached the street.

"I think we shall finish our sight-seeing, sir," replied Dan.

"Very good, but you need clothes, both of you. Have you a change of clothing with you?"

"We have only these uniforms, sir."

"Come with me, and I will see that you are fitted out."

"Thank you very much, sir. We have money; but, if you will be good enough to show us where we can purchase clothes, we shall be under a further great obligation to you," answered Dan.

Mr. Hamlin accompanied them to a store, where the boys were soon supplied with shore clothes, hats and all. They presented a far different appearance now. It was the first time they had worn citizens' clothes since they had entered the Navy, but they did not enjoy the change as much as they had expected. They would have preferred to be in their uniforms.

"Now, my lads, keep out of trouble. I do not believe you need advice from me. You seem well able to take care of yourselves. Yet, should you have further difficulty, or if you wish to see me, come or send word to me at once. Here is my card."

"We thank you very much, sir. Will—will you tell Captain Farnham that we are all right?"

"Certainly. I shall wire him at once. By the way, where are you boys living?"

"We have a room at 33 Place de la Concorde, sir. We have not slept there," added Dan, with slightly heightened color; "but we hope to do so to-night."

Bidding Mr. Hamlin good-bye, the Battleship Boys started away for their lodgings. At about that time another gentleman called at the office of the prefect. The card that he send in read, "Guillermo Martinez, Ambassador."

He was the Spanish ambassador to France.

Señor Martinez's greeting was most cordial, but the ambassador lost no time in stating the object of his visit.

"You have two young men here, I believe, Monsieur—young men who are said to have robbed or attempted to rob two women in the Bois de Boulogne last evening?"

"Two young men were arrested," he replied.

"They were sailors?"

"I believe they are."

"English sailors?"

"No; American."

"Ah! It is well. I have come here, with the permission of the premier, to request that those young men be liberated at once."

"I have but now received a message from the Ministry of Justice, requesting that I receive you. I am honored, señor. May I inquire your interest in this matter?" questioned the prefect, shrewdly suspecting the truth.

"Because I have reason to believe that a serious error has been committed."

"Indeed, señor! On whose part, may I ask?"

"I should say that it was on the part of your department, Monsieur Prefect—that a great injustice has been done to two very brave young men, who risked their lives to serve two women in dire distress."

The prefect smiled.

"If these men whom you have in custody are American or English sailors, I beg that you may quickly convince yourself of their innocence and liberate them. I ask this in my official capacity."

"The foreign governments appear to be taking a deep interest in the case of these young men, señor."

"Why say you that, Monsieur le Prefect?"

"Because you are the second official who has been here this morning demanding that they be set free," answered the police officer, smilingly. "It is most surprising."

"Indeed."

"They may not be, and probably are not, guilty of the robbery charge, but at least the men assaulted my officers."

"I am sure that feature of the case could be easily explained."

"You would have difficulty in convincing the officers who were assaulted of that," laughed the chief.

"Will you release the men?"

"It will give me great pleasure to serve you, señor, in any manner in my power. Do you know the women who had such a narrow escape last evening, may I ask, señor?"

"Certainly."

"Would it be proper for me to ask their names!"

"They are my wife and daughter," announced the ambassador. "Both ladies were positive of the facts as I have stated them——"

"That the men were sailors?"

"Yes. And when they read this morning that two sailors had been arrested, accused of the attempted robbery, the ladies were greatly disturbed. They insisted that justice be done, that I spare no efforts to obtain the release of the brave young sailors."

"Disturb yourself no more, Señor Ambassador."

"You mean?"

"That the men have been discharged. They are free."

CHAPTER IV

ICE CREAM COMES HIGH

"Ice cream! Ice cream! Ice cream! Can't you understand that much English?" demanded Sam Hickey.

The Battleship Boys had entered the first restaurant they found. This proved to be none other than the Café de la Paix, one of the fashionable resorts of Paris. The waiter who attended their table was unable to speak a word of English, nor could either lad make his wants known, but the waiter quickly brought an employé to whom the boys stated their wishes.

"Four dishes of ice cream, and in a hurry," commanded Sam Hickey. "What are those things in the basket there?"

"I do not know," answered Dan. "They are some kind of cake. I see them on each of the tables."

"I'm going to help myself. They don't look very nourishing for a good, healthy appetite like mine, but they are better than nothing at all."

Sam helped himself liberally. The cakes tasted so good that he ate ten of them; then, motioning a waiter, he ordered another basketful. By this time the ice cream was served. Ice cream was a luxury that the Battleship Boys did not get on shipboard, so they ordered another plate each.

"There, I guess that will keep me going until supper time," decided Sam. "I wonder how much we owe him?"

"I should say about a dollar," answered Dan, motioning for the garçon and asking for their check.

Dan's eyes grew large as he examined the bill that had been laid beside him.

"I'm hungry yet. I could eat another round of the same thing," announced Sam. "How much does he say it amounts to?"

"I'm trying to figure it out. Six ice creams, thirty francs. Twenty-five biscuit at a franc apiece, twenty-five francs. Fifty-five francs altogether."

"Fifty-five francs!" exclaimed Sam. "Wha—wha—how much is that—how many cents is that in plain United States? I never could figure this heathen money."

"Five francs make a dollar," figured Dan, talking to himself. "Five goes into fifty-five eleven times. That's eleven dollars' worth of ice cream and cakes we have eaten."

"Eleven dollars?" gasped the red-haired boy.

"Yes, that's it," answered Dan ruefully, gazing at his companion in a dazed sort of way.

"But we didn't order any cakes, Dan."

"It's those round cakes that were in the basket. They were put here so we would eat them. That's a trick we didn't know anything about."

"Eleven dollars," groaned Sam. "It's highway robbery. I wish we had held up the women and——"

"Sam!"

Dan's tone was sharp.

"Don't let me hear you speak like that again."

"No; I'm to be the easy mark. I'm to be frisked eleven dollars' worth, and——"

"Don't grumble; let's pay and get out, or they——"

"Yes, they'll be charging us rent for the chairs we are sitting in, first thing we know. Can't we steal some spoons to get even?"

Dan was handing the waiter the money, which he did without comment, Sam, meanwhile, slowly counting out his share of the