de word is water."

"'No guards,'" said Bob. And so they went, until the completed message
read as follows:

"Motor truck--silk--Castleton Road--to-night--no guards--hold up--take
everything to usual place--notify when job is done."

"That's the message that caused the theft of my father's merchandise!"
exclaimed Herb, jumping to his feet. "If we had only had the key then,
when there was still time, we could have prevented the hold-up."

"Very likely we could," agreed Bob soberly. "But we may be able to do
the next best thing, Herb--get the stuff back again. If we make a copy
of this key and then leave the book just where we found it, the thieves
will never dream that anybody knows their secret, and they'll keep right
on using the same code."

"I see," said Herb slowly. "And then if we hear any more code messages
we can translate them with this key, and likely get on the trail of the
crooks."

"Exactly!" replied Bob. "Now, I have a notebook here, and if one of you
fellows will dictate that code, I'll copy it down and we'll get out of
here while the getting's good. There's no telling what minute some of
the gang will show up."

"I'll dictate," volunteered Joe. "But while you and I are doing that,
Bob, why can't Jimmy and Herb act as lookouts? Then if any of the gang
comes along they can give us warning and we'll clear out."

"That's good advice," agreed Bob, and Herb and Jimmy went outside and up
the path a short distance, where they crouched, listening, with every
muscle tense to warn their comrades if danger threatened.

Meanwhile, in the cabin, Bob's pencil flew at furious speed as Joe
dictated. The code was very complete, and consisted of over two hundred
words, each word, in some cases, standing for a whole phrase. Bob wrote
as he had never written before, but in spite of his utmost efforts it
took over an hour to copy the entire list. He and Joe expected every
minute to hear Herb or Jimmy give the alarm, but the woods remained calm
and peaceful, and they finished their task without interruption.

"There's the last word, Bob!" exclaimed Joe, with a sigh of relief.
"Let's put that little book back on the shelf where we found it, and
make a quick getaway."

"Yes, we've got to make tracks," agreed Bob. "It will be away after dark
now when we get back to the camp. If we don't hurry they will be
organizing searching parties for us."

With great care he placed the notebook back on the shelf, under the
board