damage, started when they saw that they had stopped just outside
the mysterious house.

"I'll fix that in a jiffy," said the driver, and began jacking up
the wheel. But, quickly as he stripped off the deflated tire, he
was not so quick that Harry failed to see that the blow-out had
been caused by a straight cut -- not at all the sort of tear
produced by a jagged stone or a piece of broken glass. He said
nothing of his discovery, however, and a moment later he looked up
to face a young man in the uniform of an officer of the British
territorial army. This young man had keen, searching blue eyes,
and very blond hair. His upper lip was closely shaven, but it
bore plain evidence that within a few days it had sported a
moustache.

"Well," said the officer, "what are you doing here?"

The driver straightened up as if in surprise. "Blow-out, sir," he
said, touching his cap. "I'm carrying these young gentlemen from
Waterloo to Ealing, sir. Had to come around on account of the
roads."

"You've have your way lost, my man. Why not admit it?" said the
officer, showing his white teeth in a smile. He turned to Harry
an Dick. "Boy Scouts, I see," he commented. "You carry orders
concerning the movement of troops from Ealing? They are to
entrain -- where?"

"Near Croydon, sir, on the Brighton and South Coast Line," said
Harry, lifting his innocent eyes to his questioner.