Dick took his whistle from his pocket and blew three short blasts and a long one. Two leaders and two seconds jumped up from the seated group ahead, and came up at the double. “Allen,” said Dick, “take your patrol down to the mill, set three boys to watch the pond, and you and the others search the mill and outhouses. Don’t leave the pond unguarded for an instant. It is being used by spies.”
“Great Scott!” said Allen.
“If you pass Michael,” said Dick, “tell him I’ve sent you back on duty, for a special guard.”
“Right,” said Allen, and doubled off.
“Marchant, you and your chaps must come with me,” said Dick. “We are on the scent of something hot this time. Lead ahead, Danny.”
The Kangaroos passed at the double, a grin of content on every face. This really was war. The Otters fell in behind Dick and their leader with mystified expressions. Ten minutes later the party had arrived at Danny’s house.
“You must come through my garden,” he said.
The Scouts followed him. Across the cabbage patch they crept, between the gooseberry bushes, and through the little hole in the hedge. White dew lay thick on the grass, and a whole colony of rabbits darted up, surprised, and scuttled away.
“Here,” said Danny, as the party halted by the ruins of the Abbot’s House, “here is entrance to the secret passage. You have to get through the window.”
“Get through!” commanded Dick.