Captain
Hardy took his company to one end of the ground and began a careful
examination of each tree. The six searchers strung out in a line
across the grove, testing each tree as they advanced. They scanned the
trunks and thumped them with clubs to make sure that they were not
hollow. They peered at them from all sides, looking for holes and
hollow limbs. With sticks they scratched away the leaves from about
the bases of the trees, turning up the soil for several inches and
testing it for hidden wires. All the trees seemed sound. No hollow
limbs were discovered. No suspicious marks were found in the earth
about the tree trunks. The tall trees noted by Captain Hardy seemed
never to have been touched by man. From tree to tree the search
proceeded until every tree in the grove had been tested and the scouts
were on the far edge of the wood. But no hidden wire, no secret
instruments, no skilfully concealed aerials were found.

Blankly the searchers looked at one another. "It must be here," said
Henry. "I am absolutely certain that the motor-car came from this
direction and was about this distance from where I stood. And the
signals were so loud and clear that I'm just sure they were sent from
some spot close by."

"Let us look for wheel tracks," suggested Captain Hardy. "If we can
find where the car stopped, we shall know that the message was sent
from some point near by. Search along the sides of the grove first."

The party divided, and three searchers examined the ground along each
side of the grove. Walking abreast and several feet distant from one
another, they covered a broad strip of ground. Twice each party
retraced its tracks but found nothing.

"Try another strip, farther away from the grove," said Captain Hardy.

Again the searchers lined up and went slowly forward on either side of
the woods. Bending low, stepping slowly, sometimes kneeling to examine
a suspicious mark, they moved carefully on. The thick turf had taken
no telltale imprint.

"I fear it's useless," sighed the leader.

"Let's try again," pleaded Willie. "The car was here. We know that.
And somewhere it was bound to make a mark. It might have gone beyond
the grove."

They made another search, this time extending their examination to the
land beyond the wood. Suddenly Roy gave a cry. "Here it is," he
called.

The others ran to him. And there, sure enough, in a little bare spot
between two hummocks of grass, was