"Avast with that nonsense, as they don't say at sea," laughed Ned. "There's our house yonder," and he pointed to a handsome stone residence.
"Hullo, what's that I see on the roof?" asked Jack.
"That's my wireless outfit. Mother made an awful kick about having it there, but at last she gave in."
"So you're still a wireless boy?" said Billy.
"Yes, and I've got a dandy outfit too. Come on over. I want to introduce you to the folks."
"Thanks, we will some other time, but not to-night. We don't feel fit for company. You see quite a disaster has happened to a friend of ours," and under a pledge of secrecy from Ned, who he knew he could rely on, Jack told the lad part of the story of the theft of the code.
"By jove, that is a loss," said Ned sympathetically. "I've heard dad talking about the new code. It was a very important matter."
"We were going for a walk to discuss the whole question," said Billy.
"Can I join you?" asked Ned.
"Glad to have you," was the rejoinder. Talking and laughing merrily over old times on the Tropic Queen, the boys walked on, not noticing much where they were going till they found themselves on an ill-lighted street of rather shabby-looking dwellings.