house from the pines. It was past time to relieve Henry at the
wireless. The two scouts climbed to their own house for orders. As
they came up the stairs they heard the voice of Henry.

"Come quick," he called. "I've got another message."

Everybody rushed to Henry's side. Captain Hardy seized the sheet of
paper from Henry's hand, and counted the long string of letters written
on it. Quickly he rearranged them in four equal lines. Then slowly he
read the cipher. "Another transport fleet assembling. First five
boats went to sea this afternoon."

"Where did this message come from?" he demanded, as he laid down the
paper.

"From some point down the Jersey coast," said Henry, "and probably not
more than twenty miles away."

A long silence followed. "We're simply up against it," said Lew
dejectedly. "We don't get anywhere."

Suddenly Willie jumped to his feet with a cry. "I've got it! I've got
it!" he almost shouted. "Why didn't I see it before?"

"Got what?" asked Roy, astonished.

Willie paid no attention to his question. "What sort of a looking man
was that motorist?" he cried.

"A tall fellow, with black hair and with a big scar on his cheek," said
the astonished Roy.

"I knew it," cried Willie. "I knew it! Now I know how the messages
are carried. It's as plain as can be."

His fellows clustered about him. "What do you mean?" said Captain
Hardy eagerly. "Explain."

"Well," said Willie, "when I followed that grocer's boy the other day,
I saw him give the grocer a dollar which he said he had collected for
sugar. The grocer put it in his pocket. But when I gave him money for
candy he dropped it in his till. Just after I left the store and
turned the corner a man drove up in a motor. I noticed him because he
turned his car completely around and stopped at the curb. He got out
and left his engine running. When I crossed the street to meet you,
after you whistled, I dodged a motor-car. It was the same car, but I
thought nothing of it." He paused, as though collecting his thoughts.

"Go on," said their leader eagerly.

"To-day," resumed Willie, "Roy followed that same grocer's boy from the
house on the cliff to the grocery store and saw him give the grocer a
dollar, which he said he had collected for sugar. The grocer dropped
the coin in his pocket, but he put Roy's nickel in his drawer. A
minute later an automobile driver came in. The grocer said he owed him
a dollar and gave him