receiver
at the other. "It was for 5ZM all right, but it was signed 2XC instead
of 2XB and the detector doesn't point toward Hoboken."

There was a rush for the wireless room. Captain Hardy seized a map,
spread it on the table, and again applied the yardstick, extending it
in the direction indicated by the detector. The stick pointed straight
toward the Narrows, at the entrance to the harbor.

"That message came from Staten Island," said Captain Hardy with
conviction. "They have got two secret stations."

CHAPTER VII

CONFUSION WORSE CONFOUNDED

As the possibility of this new difficulty rose before them, the members
of the wireless patrol were almost staggered. They knew how difficult
it had been to locate the hidden wireless in the mountains at the Elk
City storage reservoir, where there were no other wireless plants to
distract them and no houses to conceal the apparatus. The obstacles
now before them appeared almost insuperable.

The silence was broken by their leader. "I suppose we shall not learn
anything, but at least it will be better to look the ground over. So
in the morning we'll run over to Staten Island."

Morning found Henry on the wireless watch. Lew's trick was to follow.
The two others and Captain Hardy left the house immediately after their
breakfast and set off for Staten Island. In order to see something of
the city as they journeyed, they went on the Ninth Avenue elevated
road, and in half an hour found themselves at South Ferry, whence the
city-owned ferry-boats leave for Staten Island. It was their first
visit to this ferry and they were impressed by the fine waiting-rooms
and the magnificent ferry-boats.

The trip down the harbor thrilled them with pleasure. The narrow
channel between Manhattan Island and Governor's Island seemed to be
filled with snorting tugboats, strings of barges, great floats carrying
many loaded freight-cars, puffing steamships, and even sailing vessels.
Whistles were tooting on every side as pilots signaled to one another.

"I don't see how they ever manage to keep from smashing into one
another," said Willie as he stood with wide eyes, watching the rapidly
moving craft about him.

"They don't always," said Captain Hardy. "But accidents are
surprisingly few."

Hardly had they gotten up speed before they passed close to Governor's
Island, the military reservation which was the army headquarters for
the Department of the East. With great int