n in a different
direction.

"Hello! what's up?" asked Jerry Hopkins, coming to a halt.

"Matter where?" inquired Ned.

"Over that way," and Jerry pointed. "Either somebody is hurt, or
there's a riot."

"Let's go!" cried Ned.

"Wait until after grub," advised Bob, with an anxious look toward the
mess hall.

"It won't take but a minute," suggested Jerry. "Look, everybody's
going. We might as well be in it. If everybody is late to mess
there'll be enough left for us to eat. Come on!"

Accepting this argument, that such a general rush toward the scene of
excitement would result in a general postponement of the meal, Bob,
after a moment of hesitation, joined his two chums. They rushed toward
one of the sleeping barracks, and saw that a large crowd was
congregating around it.

"What's the matter?"

"Anybody hurt?"

"Is the place on fire?"

These were some of the questions that flew from one to the other.

"It's a spy!" some one said. "They've caught a German spy in camp, and
they're going to lynch him!"

"Oh, boy!" yelled Ned. "We must see this!"

"I don't believe it!" announced Jerry. "There've been too many German
spy scares. They all turned out to be fakes. And, anyhow, there won't
be any lynching."

"Maybe not," agreed Bob. "But there sure is some excitement."

And there was. Even Jerry had to admit that.

As the three Motor Boys--to give them the name by which they had been
known for some time--neared the barracks, the rumors and statements as
to the capture of a spy became more frequent and certain. There was
an excited, seething crowd about the place.

A lieutenant, whom Ned, Bob and Jerry knew well, as he came from their
town of Cresville, passed just then. The three chums saluted, and,
when this had been returned, Jerry asked:

"Can you tell us, Sir, what it's all about?"

"Have they really caught a spy?" added Bob eagerly.

"Well, whether he is a spy or not I can't say," was the answer. "But I
have been told that a man, who was acting in a suspicious manner about
the camp, has been arrested. Some of the officers are investigating
now. I hardly think he will prove to be a real spy, though."

"He won't last long, if he is," commented Ned.

"They have him in the barracks there," went on the lieutenant. "They
will bring him out soon, I suppose, and put him in the guardhouse.
Better go back, boys," he added. "There's too much of a crowd here
now. I must help disperse it."

He turned awa