nd
that they were pulled down when this other wreck was produced and torn
from the rollers."

"I hadn't noticed that," the Captain said.

"This shows that some one in this hut was expecting a visit, and also
that the visit was to be kept a secret from you. The front windows
overlook your quarters, and the window entered is the one most protected
from view from your place. Now, this precaution may have been taken by
the midnight visitor, coming here as a friend, or by an enemy, for the
purpose of concealing from you what went on here."

"And that is why the Lieutenant did not sleep under my roof!" said the
Captain. "He was expecting the fellow. Well, what do you say, did the
fellow betray his confidence and bring enemies to carry him away?"

"His friend might have been followed here," Ned replied. "He might have
been the person sought by the intruders. The next question is: Who was
this visitor?"

CHAPTER IV.

THE SIGNALS IN GRASS.

Captain Godwin turned to the Filipino.

"Can you give us a description of him?" he asked.

Tag shook his head.

"I saw only his figure at the window," he said, "and only for an
instant. He was assisted in, and then after a time, the lights were
lowered, or extinguished entirely."

"So that is why you didn't loiter around!" cried the Captain, "You
thought they had gone to bed! Are you sure you did not stop and listen
to what was said?"

"I went to bed at once," was the sullen reply.

"Did you see them burning matches after the lights were out?" asked Ned.

"I could not see the interior of the hut from my bed," replied the
Filipino, with flashing eyes.

"Well, don't get hot about it," advised the Captain. "Go on, Ned."

"The matches burned," Ned went on, "were not of the kind kept in stock
here, the sort supplied by you to your guests. There is a difference in
the shape and size of the stick. The paper which I found in the alcove
is part of an official letter dealing with the situation we came here to
look into. It is more than half burned, so little can be learned from
it."

"It is a wonder they didn't see that it was entirely destroyed,"
suggested Frank.

"It may be," Ned replied, "that they intended to burn the hut after
their departure, and left the paper blazing."

"That is just about it!" cried the Captain.

"Then we have to take it for granted that the visitor came here with
instructions for Lieutenant Rowe. Secret instructions, probably. He
either bet