"Very well," he said at last, "the grown-ups shall tell their stories first. You all deserve to hear just exactly what has happened, for if it hadn't been for you young people we might never have caught these devils... By the way, young man," he said, turning to David, "didn't you say before we started on this trip that we were all to be made honorary members of this secret Society?"

"Yes, sir," said David. "We'll be very proud if you all will. Presently you must all sign the book. We're the Lone Pine Club."

Captain Ward smiled. "Fine," he went on. "Now we know where we are. Speaking for the other grown-ups I think I can say we're all very honoured by the invitation... Well, fellow members, if you have no objection I will start the story and then perhaps friend Ingles here, and Bill, and Mr. Sterling may have something to add to it. Afterwards you can fire questions at us as hard as you like. Is that agreed? Right!"

And here he settled himself back on his bracken couch and began to fill his pipe as he talked.

"It so happens that you original members of the Lone Pine Club discovered - or helped to discover - a very dangerous plot by our German enemies. By now you will all have guessed, I expect, that Mrs. Thurston was a German spy. We have not yet had time to find out all about her, but there is little doubt that she has lived for some years in this country and I expect she was in the pay of the enemy for many years before the war. It is true that when she first came to Appledore we did not make many inquiries about her. Why should we? We are friendly, neighbourly people us in these hills, and strangers are welcome if they do not interfere with us, and behave themselves. Mrs. Thurston was pleasant enough although I hear now that occasionally her man-servant was not so obliging or friendly, and it is rather strange that she should have used someone so noticeable as this man Jacob. Actually I believe we shall prove that he was a very able engineer and scientist, and for this reason alone I suppose they thought the risk worthwhile. I was told by the Chief Constable this morning that our countryside is almost certainly harbouring many such unpleasant and dangerous people, and it is everyone's duty to do what you children have done and report anything unusual or suspicious.