"You don’t want to enter by the gate, Herr Policeman?" "No. It would never do to let it get about that a spy was found here." "Well, it’s not an easy matter, but I’ll go to the sheds and see what can be done." The man went away, Kenneth hastened to the spot where he had left his companion. "Things look possible," he said. "But your uniform is a difficulty. A German officer mustn’t enter the enclosure like a thief, and without the password you can’t go in by the gate." "I must simply bluff it out. I’m a friend of Lieutenant Breul. I’ve played many parts in my time--not without success." "Come along then. There’s no time to lose." They hurried back to the dark corner in which Kenneth had interviewed the mechanic. In a few minutes he returned. "This is a friend of the Herr Lieutenant’s," said Kenneth. "I met him just beyond the gate, and he agrees with me that this disgraceful matter must be kept secret. Have you had any success?" "The fellow is overhauling the Herr Lieutenant’s engine in preparation for a start to-morrow. He is the only man at work." "That’s very suspicious," said Kenneth. "Don’t you think, Herr Captain, that we had better climb the fence and keep a watch on the man? Who knows what mischief he may be doing?" "I’ll go back to the gate and meet you inside," replied his companion. "I think you had better come with me, Herr Captain," said Kenneth, "Your presence would guarantee me if any soldier within chanced to suppose that I was intruding." "Very well," returned the other, with seeming reluctance. "But you also must guarantee me against damage to my clothes." "That is easily done. This man will throw his coat over the wire." "Certainly, Herr Policeman," said the mechanic, whom the presence of an officer had quite reassured. They moved off to a spot beyond the sheds. The mechanic laid his coat upon the wire, and assisted the fugitives to mount. Then he hurried back to the gate, entered the enclosure, and met them near the furthest shed. The whirring of a propeller was audible. "That’s the shed," he said, pointing to the half-open door through which a bright light was streaming. "He’s at work there, running the engine." "Very well," said Kenneth. "You had better get your coat and make yourself scarce. You won’t want to appear in this." "Not I," said the man. "The Herr Lieutenant will reward you," said Kenneth’s companion. He knew German officers too well to tip the man in the English way. The mechanic slipped away into the darkness. The Englishmen went to the shed. They opened the door and entered boldly. A man was bending over the engine, spanner in hand, adjusting a nut on the carburetter. He had not noticed the opening of the door or the entrance of the strangers. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder, and looking up, was amazed to hear an officer say, through the noise of the propeller: "Villain, you are under arrest."