O'Malley's getting into real action against the general. "What are you going to do with us?" "You will be flown to one of our prison camps on the mainland. You will be treated strictly according to International Law," the general answered. "How soon?" Stan asked. He was thinking the paratroopers might take over this airfield very soon. He knew they would be hitting the coastal fields in order to give the boys spots to work from that were closer to Italy than the African coast.

"At once, at once," the general said and he seemed suddenly nervous. "We are in no hurry, old man," Allison said and grinned. "Ah, but we are in a very great hurry," put in the junior officer. "General Bolero is leaving at once. You will be flown out in, say, twenty minutes. I am so sorry there will be no time for dry clothes." He bowed and nodded to four soldiers armed with rifles who had appeared through a side door. "You will go with the guards."

CHAPTER V PRISON SHIP The three Yanks were rushed out upon the parade ground at the Italian base. Two squads of shouting Italian soldiers escorted them. They burst upon a scene of confusion and excitement. Stan looked across the grounds toward the runways. Suddenly he burst out laughing and poked Allison in the ribs. "Look! His Nibs is deserting us!" General Bolero was leading his staff toward a parked plane. For a big fat man, he was making fast time. His cape floated out behind him and he had lost his jaunty cap. His officers were loaded down with briefcases, files, and bundles of papers. The general was a full ten paces ahead of them. "I'd call that a rout," Allison shouted. "I think our outfits must be closing in. We'll have to do some stalling," Stan shouted.

O'Malley was already stalling. Four men were pushing him along, and he was beginning to show signs of temper. Stan tried to get close enough to shout a warning to him. He did not want O'Malley to start a riot at that moment. The Italians were evacuating the base in every sort of machine they had. Cars roared across the field, men pedaled by on bicycles, trucks lumbered past, and a whippet tank snorted as it rolled past dragging a field gun. Men on foot rushed in every direction.

Stan stumbled and went down, managing to trip two soldiers. Instantly a dozen Italians were upon him, tugging at him, waving their rifles and shouting. O'Malley took this as a signal to go into action. He swung hard on the chin of an officer standing beside him. The surprised officer went down like a felled beef. With a yell O'Malley waded in, swinging at soldiers as they piled in on him. Many bloody noses 

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