"There are the flyers," said Ralph, as he pointed to an open field to the east.
"Let's have a look at them," responded Alfred.
As they were crossing the ground, Alfred stopped. "There is the old peddler again. He is a diligent fellow, sure enough," he said.
Although there were only twenty machines on the ground, they could see from the vans within view that many more were awaiting the unpacking process. Here, as elsewhere, the peddler appeared.
Ralph stopped and gazed at the man for a few moments. "Alfred," he said, "somehow I don't like that fellow's actions. What business has he here if he is really a peddler?"
"That fellow's a spy, or there is something the matter with him," replied Alfred. "Do you know I have had my suspicions ever since the regiment came in."
"Why?" asked Ralph.
"For this simple reason: did you observe that he went through the entire regiment without making a single sale?" asked Alfred.
"Yes, I saw that," answered Ralph.