“What’s that?” said one of them suddenly, listening intently.
The General stopped writing and looked at the speaker.
“What’s what?” questioned a captain, frowning.
“That tapping,” said the first speaker. “Sounds like code.”
“You have been asleep,” said the captain, grinning.
“I hear it,” said the General.
There was a general gathering up of forces, as the whole room tried to place the faint, monotonous tapping.
“The call for help!” said the first speaker triumphantly. “I knew I heard it. The code is my native language almost. It sounds as though some one was calling from below the floor.”
“Send an answer, Lieutenant Reed!” ordered the General.
The young officer obeyed, while his hearers listened breathlessly. Tap-tap went the spurred heel, dash and dot, dash and dot in many combinations.