e over the paper again.

"Now," remarked Roger, "you will notice that the lines of figures are
far enough apart to allow us to write the letters corresponding to each
group of them directly underneath, and that will be a great help to us;
but we will write nothing until we are quite certain that we have hit
upon the correct method of solving this cryptogram.

"You will remember, Harry, that by going over all the figures, we
deduced that the number 34 represented the letter E. You will notice
that this number, 34, is made up of many different groups of two
figures, such as 17 and 17, 14 and 20, 12 and 22, 16 and 18, 15 and 19,
13 and 21, and so forth; but that, I fancy, is only done to make the
solving of the cipher more difficult. Now, assuming the letter A to be
30, B to be 31, C to be 32, D to be 33, E, as we have reckoned, 34, let
us apply this method to the figures and see what we get.

"We have already surmised that the number 1581 stands for no particular
letter, but is really what it seems most likely to be, that is, the year
in which this cryptogram was invented and written. Besides which, 15
and 81 added, according to the system we are now employing, would make
96, a number which has no letter corresponding to it.

"Now take the first group of figures, which is 2227. Divided into two
groups of two figures each, and added to one another, as we intend to
proceed, this makes 49. Now what letter corresponds to the number 49?
We find that the letter I does. Take the next group, which is 1819.
This resolves itself into 37, and H is the letter belonging to that
figure. From 1919 we get 38, and the letter I; and from 2622 comes 48,
and the letter S. Now you see, Harry, that by this method we have
already got the English word `This'; and from that it would seem that we
are at last on the right track for translating the cryptogram. From the
next two groups we get the word `is', and from the following three the
word `the'. I think now, Harry, that we may begin and write down the
translation as we go along; for I feel sure that we are right at last.
It would be more than mere coincidence if the words `This is the' were
not part of a connected and intelligible whole. So just hand me that
knife, Harry, boy, and I will produce the necessary ink."

Harry did as he was requested; and, taking the weapon, Roger made a
small but sufficiently deep incision in his left arm to produce the
necessary amount of blood for