s as puzzled as we were. He said his cipher experts were as busy
as they could be with wireless messages of the utmost importance that the
Germans had sent from Brazil to Berlin and that government operators had
intercepted. But just as soon as he can get a man who knows anything
about ciphers and codes, he will put him at this job."

"Then it's all the more important that we should unravel this thing
ourselves. If something is to be done at nine o'clock, we haven't a
moment to lose."

Hastily they ate their luncheon, then filed back to their living-room,
where lay their maps, books, guides, and other equipment.

"We had better clear off these tables and desks," said Captain Hardy, "so
that we shall have plenty of desk room. Suppose you pile these books on
that book-shelf there, Henry. And you, Willie, put those maps on the
mantel over the fireplace."

Henry gathered up a huge armful of books and hastily dumped them on the
book-shelf indicated. They slid down into a heap, but none fell to the
floor. Henry, in his usual careful manner, began to set the books to
rights.

"Never mind that now," exclaimed Captain Hardy. "That can wait until we
have more time."

Willie, meanwhile, was hastily stacking maps on the mantelpiece. He did
not bother to fold them up, but put a weight on them and let the sheets
hang down toward the floor. In no time the desks were cleared, and the
little group soberly seated before them.

"You've taken away the paper with the message on it," said Captain Hardy
to Henry.

Henry started for the book-shelves, but Willie, who sat nearest the
shelves, was there almost before Henry was out of his chair. He scanned
the heap of books, looking for the missing paper.

"There it is, under that Bible," he muttered.

He lifted off the superimposed books, and shoved the Bible to one side.
The books began to slide, but Willie stopped them before they poured down
to the floor. The Bible he caught on the very edge of the shelf, its
covers open. He thrust the book back, seized the paper, and returned to
his seat.

For perhaps an hour the little group worked on. Sometimes each labored
in silence, busy with his own thoughts. Again there was eager
discussion, as one or the other advanced some theory or idea as to the
meaning of the message. Then silence would come again. So the hours
rolled by. In one of these pauses, Willie sat with closed eyes, turning
the mystery over in his mind. But