mblethorne. "Idiotic thing to do--very idiotic. Now tell me: what
were you doing on the top of the tower?"

Ross did not hesitate in his reply. Perhaps it would have been better
had he done so, for he had never betrayed his knowledge of German to
the doctor on any of their previous meetings, and it would have been
judicious to keep up the deception.

"What were we doing? Listening to your precious schemes," he retorted
boldly. "Now we know all about you, and it will be our duty to report
you as spies to the authorities. We are expecting a search-party from
Killigwent Hall at any moment, you see."

"So that's the line of defence you propose to adopt, eh?" sneered
Ramblethorne. "Well, look out!"

With a sudden spring the athletic man flung himself upon Ross, while
von Ruhle with equal promptitude made a rush to secure Vernon.

Strong and active though he was, Ross was no match for his huge and
powerful antagonist. Knowing that flight was impossible, the lad
feinted, and aimed a blow with his left straight for the doctor's chin.
This Ramblethorne parried easily, and grasping the lad's wrist, held it
as in a vice, and in such a manner that rendered fruitless any attempt
on Trefusis' part to make use of his right arm.

Having thus secured his opponent, Ramblethorne watched the result of
the encounter between his fellow-spy and young Haye.

Von Ruhle had opened the attack by brandishing his heavy stick, and
calling upon Vernon to surrender.

Haye returned the compliment by closing, and dealing the German such a
terrific blow upon the chest that von Ruhle recoiled quite a couple of
yards. The lad's onslaught had only missed the German's solar plexus
by a few inches; had it not, the chances were that von Ruhle would have
lost all interest in life for the next quarter of an hour.

But instead of following up his initial success Vernon, seeing Ross
helpless in the doctor's grip, rushed to his chum's aid. For a few
seconds he feinted, striving to find an opening, while Ramblethorne,
dragging his captive with him, pivoted in order to keep his front
towards his new antagonist.

Those few seconds were Vernon's undoing.

Quickly recovering himself, von Ruhle sprang forward with the agility
of a panther. The imitation Malacca cane descended with a dull thud
upon the lad's head, and like a felled ox Vernon fell inertly upon the
sodden grass.

"Hold him--so," exclaimed Ramblethorne, handing Ross over to the
cust