"Thanks, thank'ee kindly," said the Gaffer, overjoyed at the
prospect.

Then they said good-night to the old man, who, plainly delighted
at the thought that he had been of some service to them, and at
this proof of his sharpness, of which he was always boasting, rose
and hobbled into his house.

"He's really a wonderful old man," said Dick.

"He certainly is," agreed Jack. "His memory seems to be as good
as ever, and he's awfully active, too. He's got rheumatism, but
he can see and hear as well as he ever could, my father says."

They walked on, each turning over in his mind what they had heard
about Graves.

"That's how he knew we were here," said Dick finally. "I've been
puzzling about that. I remember now seeing that car as we went
by. But of course I didn't pay any particular attention to it,
except that I saw a little American flag on it."

"Yes, they're supposed to be Americans, you know," said Jack.
"And I suppose they carry the flag so that the car won't be taken
for the army. The government has requisitioned almost all the
cars in the country, you know."

"I'm almost afraid to think about this," said Dick, after a moment
of silence. "Graves must know those people in that house, if he's
riding about in their car. And they --"