"And now we are just where we began," Jack said. "We've solved one phrase of the case, but we haven't found the prince."
"That will come later," Ned declared, confidently. "Well," he went on, "we have finished our work here for the present. We have learned of the disappearance of the grandson and we have confirmed my previous belief, that the boy was sent in here to draw our attention from the abducted child. So we may as well go back to camp and see what the boys have been doing."
The old lady still clung to Ned piteously, begging him to restore her boy, and Ned promised to do all in his power to place the lad in her arms.
"If my son would only come!" the woman kept saying.
"If you'll give me his address," Ned promised, "I'll see him when I get back to Washington, if he is not already here or on his way here."
The address was given and the boys started
on the return trip to camp.
"Now, Jack," Ned said, when they were on their way up the slope, "do you know where the nearest telegraph station is?"
"There's one over on the south fork of the Potomac," Jack replied.
"You are good friends with Uncle Ike?" Ned then asked, with a laugh.
"Sure I am. Uncle Ike is a friend of every person who carries sugar in his pocket."