Duncan was enthused while they ate. He had wondered why Vincent had been so indifferent about making his report. He had imagined that out here they would be far away from means of communication, and that it would be necessary to go into the village to find a telephone. Instead, they were in direct contact with headquarters.
Harry had pulled down the shades at dark. After they had finished eating, he extinguished the oil lamps.
He went out on the porch. Bruce followed. They found a path in the darkness. It led toward Seth Wilkinson's property.
They felt their way for a considerable distance. Then Harry clutched his companion's arm.
"Look," he whispered. "A light through the woods."
The gleam was from the cabin they had visited during the morning. As they arrived closer, they saw that the light came from a crack at the bottom of a rear window where the shade had not been fully drawn.
"No use going any farther," whispered Harry. "We know who is inside; that's enough. We mustn't let Chefano have any suspicion whatever."
They listened a while in the hope that some sound might come from the shack. But all remained silent.
The companions carefully retraced their footsteps and found their own abode.
Seated by the fire, Harry clicked his first message, tapping the key slowly while he referred to a code that lay before him. He waited a few minutes, then repeated the message he had sent.