ent to the railing about five feet in height that surrounded the
central or flat part of the roof, the rest sloping away. The railing
would hide what was passing there from the Uhlans below, but he wanted
to take a look of precaution.

The men were riding up and down with their usual regularity and
precision, watching every approach to the house, and making the ring of
steel about it complete. This little wheel of the German machine was
Working perfectly, guarding with invincible thoroughness against the
expected, but taking no account of the unexpected. He came back to his
comrades.

"All well below," he said.

Von Boehlen and the operator, the big man and the little man, were lying
side by side. Von Boehlen's face was very pale, but his chest was
beginning to rise and fall with some regularity. He would become
conscious in three or four minutes. The operator was conscious already
and he was staring at the three apparitions.

But Wharton was paying no attention to the captives. His soul fairly
leaped within him as he took his seat at the instrument which was
sputtering and flashing with unanswered questions.

"Is that the Chateau de Friant?" came the words flashing through the
air.

"Yes this is the Chateau de Friant," replied Wharton, learning for the
first time the name of the house, in which they had made themselves at
home.

"Then why don't you answer? You broke off suddenly five minutes ago and
we couldn't get another word from you."

"Something went wrong with the instrument, but it's all right now. Go
ahead."

"Is Captain von Boehlen still there?"

"At my elbow."

"Take from his dictation the answers to the questions I ask you."

"At once, sir. He is ready to dictate."

"Have you seen anything of British troops, Captain von Boehlen?"

"I have sir. I saw them marching northward this afternoon."

"In what direction?"

"Toward Mons."

"What seemed to be their purpose?"

"To effect a junction with the main French army."

Wharton improvised rapidly. His whole soul was still alight. It had
seldom been granted to one man, especially one so young as he to have
two such opportunities, that of the papers, and that of the wireless,
and he felt himself ready and equal to his task.

"Were they in large force?" came the question out of the dark.

"Larger than any of us expected."

"How many do you think?"

"About one hundred and fifty thousand men."

For two or three minutes no other question