"I am sent by Stanton," I promptly said. "He gave me the points, and told me to carry a message of warning to 'cap.'"

Closing the door, the guard conducted me into a large room, where was gathered an immense quantity of old junk and rigging of all descriptions.

"Cap!" he called.

"Yes," came from the distant side of the room, where a lot of men were gathered about a lantern.

"Somebody to see you," with which the guard went back to the door, leaving his lantern beside me.

A slight noise caused me to look around, and I was startled at seeing a human hand protruding up through a crevice in a junk pile. The hand held a bit of paper, at which I blankly stared, thinking it held by a dead hand.

But no—the fingers stirred, the note was shaken. It was clear that it was intended for me.

I took it.

Cap had not yet started toward me. I read the few words on the note by the aid of the guard's lantern.

"Fly! Although the guard does not know—Stanton is here! Your first word will betray you.

Shadow."