The boys waited until a regiment of newly arrived English entered the gateway, before they rose and followed. The peddler was on hand the moment the regiment halted, and obsequiously passed down the line offering his wares. They noticed that although there were no purchasers, nevertheless the peddler went through the same formula of making a notation on the paper, which was used as a wrapper for the money. Parked at one side was an immense train of the well-known English three-inch guns, the counterpart of the French 75's which did such terrific execution several weeks previous to this time, as heretofore related. "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. "Well, after he got through with them, he took out his money just the same and made a note on the paper," answered Alfred. "That does look very strange," replied Ralph. "He will bear watching." "Suppose we follow him and see what he has to sell?" suggested Alfred. As they neared him the peddler had reached a group of assistants and threw off the pack, displaying a collection of wares, such as needles, pins, handkerchiefs, and like articles of utility likely to be used by soldiers and officers. "That looks innocent enough," observed Ralph. A sale was made, the change passed over, and the inevitable paper package drawn out, followed by a pencil, which was used, apparently, to note the amount of the sale. He was followed to the space where the artillery was parked. "That fellow may be all right, but he looks queer to me," said Ralph. "Suppose we count the number of guns here and their calibre." Alfred paused, and looked at Ralph with a cynical grin. "What for? Do you think he will carry any of them away?" he asked. "Never mind; let's count them," answered Ralph. "Then, why not count the airships, those in the vans as well," returned Alfred, now smiling and catching the meaning of this proposed investigation. "Yes; go over at once; I will attend to the guns. Meet me at the stand. I see he is going over in that quarter," replied Ralph.