Part 9 (2/2)

”So we'll know when it's safe to make a dash to get out,” said Harry. ”The first thing a general does, you know, is to secure his retreat. He doesn't expect to be beaten, but he wants to know that he can live to fight another day if he is.”

”We've got to retreat, haven't we?” said d.i.c.k. ”It wouldn't do us any good to stay here.”

”That's so. But we've got to advance first. Now to get near that house, and see what we can find. Look out for those traps and things our friend warned us of. It looks like just the place for them. And keep to cover!”

They wormed their way forward, often crawling along. Both knew a good deal about traps and how they are set, and their common sense enabled them to see the most likely places for them. They kept to open ground, avoiding shrubbery and what looked like windfalls of branches. Before they came into full view of the house they had about a quarter of a mile to go. And it was an exciting journey.

They dared not speak to one another. For all about, though at first they could see nothing, there was the sense of impending danger. They felt that unseen eyes were watching, not for them, perhaps, but for anyone who might venture to intrude and pa.s.s the first line. Both of the scouts felt that they were tilting against a mighty force; that the organization that would perfect, in time of peace, such a system of espionage in the heart of the country of a possible enemy, was of the most formidable sort.

They stopped, at last, at the edge of the clump of thick, old trees that seemed to surround the place. Here they faced the open lawn, and Harry realized that to try to cross it was too risky. They would gain nothing by being detected. They could find out as much here by keeping their eyes and ears open, he thought, as by going forward, when they were almost sure to be detected.

”We'll stay here,” he whispered to d.i.c.k, cautiously. ”d.i.c.k, look over there--to the left of the house. You see where there's a shadow by that central tower? Well, to the left of that. Do you see some wires dangling there? I'm not sure.”

”I think there are,” whispered d.i.c.k, after a moment in which he peered through the darkness. d.i.c.k had one unusual gift. He had almost a savage's ability to see in the dark, although in daylight his sight was by no means out of the ordinary.

”Look!” he said, again, suddenly. ”Up on top of the tower! There is something going up there--it's outlined against that white cloud!”

Harry followed with his eyes. And d.i.c.k was right. A long, thin pole was rising, even as they looked. Figures showed on the roof of the tower. They were busy about the pole. It seemed to grow longer as they watched. Then, suddenly, the dangling wires they had first noticed were drawn taut, and they saw a cross-piece on the long pole. And then, with a sudden rush of memory, Harry understood.

”Oh! We have struck it!” he said. ”I remember now--a portable, collapsible wireless installation! I've wondered how they could use wireless, knowing that someone would be sure to pick up the signals and that the plant would be run down. But they have those poles made in sections--they could hide the whole thing. It takes very little time to set them up. This is simply a bigger copy of what they use in the field. We've got to get out!”

He looked at his watch.

”Carefully, now,” he said. ”We've just about got time. That sentry must be just about pa.s.sing the place where we got over the wall now. By the time we get there he'll be gone, and we can slip out. We've got everything we came for, now that we've seen that!”

They started on the return journey through the woods. More than ever there seemed to be danger about them. And suddenly it reached out and gripped them--gripped Harry, at least. As he took a step his foot sank through the ground, as it seemed. The next moment he had all he could do to suppress a cry of agony as a trap closed about his ankle, wrenching it, and throwing him down.

”Go on!” he said to d.i.c.k, suppressing his pain by a great effort.

”I won't leave you!” said d.i.c.k. ”I--”

”Obey orders! Don't you see you've got to go? You've got to tell them about the wireless--and about where I am! Or else how am I to get away? Perhaps if you come back quickly with help they won't find me until you come!

Hurry--hurry!”

d.i.c.k understood. And, with a groan, he obeyed orders, and went.

CHAPTER VII

A CLOSE SHAVE

Probably d.i.c.k did not realize that he was really showing a high order of courage in going while Harry remained behind, caught in that cruel trap and practically in the hands of enemies who were most unlikely to treat him well. In fact, as he made his way toward the wall, d.i.c.k was reproaching himself bitterly.

”I ought to stay!” he kept on saying to himself over and over again. ”I ought not to leave him so! He made me go so that I would be safe!”

There had been no time to argue, or Harry might have been able to make him understand that it was at least as dangerous to go as to stay--perhaps even more dangerous. d.i.c.k did not think that there was at least a chance that every trap was wired, so that springing it would sound an alarm in some central spot. If that were so, as Harry had fully understood, escape for d.i.c.k would be most difficult and probably he too would be captured.

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