eeling
position and looked beyond the windmill.

What he saw now was a ramshackle farmhouse apparently deserted. Up
the side of the dilapidated building ran a great wide stone chimney
that reared its head through the gabled roof like a leaning Tower of
Pisa. To this chimney led the wires from the windmill.

"A secret wireless station!" exclaimed Jack to himself. "Undoubtedly
in the hands of the Germans and being used by them in the direction
of their U-boat fleets in the North Sea!" The boy's pulses quickened
at the thought.

Like an Indian on the trail he wormed his way forward until he came
at last within ten feet of the windmill. There was a window before
him. Slowly and cautiously he drew himself up to one side of the
casement and then peered in through the latticed shutter.

At a table, on which was spread out the wireless apparatus, was a
uniformed figure. A helmet lay on the floor and the man's head was
bowed in his arms. He was asleep. A lantern hung on the wall toward
the canal side and cast a dim flicker over the cramped interior of
the place. Stretching himself up on tiptoe, Jack surveyed the room,
but noted not another person in sight.

Quick as a flash the lad withdrew from the window. His plan of action
now was clear. He must get control of that wireless key and flash a
message to the United States fleet in the North Sea!

Stealthily he began to circle the stone structure. Momentarily he
expected to hear the challenge of a sentry; but he was not molested.

In a few moments his foot touched a large flat stone step before a
half closed doorway through which the light of the lantern cast its
flickering rays. Jack looked about him for a weapon of some kind
and noted a long piece of two-by-four that apparently had been used
to prop open the door of the wireless station. Stooping over he drew
the club toward him and then turned to face the door and the danger
that lay beyond it.

Fearlessly but with the lithe movement of the crafty panther Jack
stepped across the threshold. As he did so the German wireless
operator stirred in his sleep, lifted his head and gazed full upon
the American youth. With a snarl of rage and a muttered curse the
burly Teuton sprang to his feet and reached for a heavy revolver
that lay on the table.

But Jack was too quick for him. With a long leap forward and a
smashing blow he brought the heavy stick of wood down upon the head
of the surprised operator. Th