any moment, might find themselves face to face with the enemy!




Chapter XII


THE SILENT WIRE


Probably Jack Young and Dick reached the vicarage just about the
time that saw Harry getting into trouble with the police for
speeding. The vicar was still up, he had a great habit of reading
late. And he seemed considerably surprised to find that Jack was
not upstairs in bed. At first he was inclined even to be angry,
but he changed his mind when he saw Dick, and heard something of
what had happened.

"Get your friend something to eat and I'll have them make a hot
bath ready," said the vicar. "He looks as if he needed both!"

This was strictly true. Dick was as hungry and as grimy as Harry
himself. If anything, he was in even worse shape, for his flight
through the fields and the brook had enabled him to attach a good
deal of the soil of England to himself. So the thick sandwiches
and the bowl of milk that were speedily set before him were
severely punished. And while he ate both he and Jack poured out
their story. Mr. Young frowned as he listened. Although he was a
clergyman and a lover of peace, he was none the less a patriot.