"I have some interesting news for you," said the captain, as he appeared at the door. "What is it?" asked the lieutenant. "The branch railroad was actually pulverized last night," he replied. Ralph dropped back and slowly shook his head. "I guess," he said, "the arrow means something else." It was a great blow to all of them. "Have you the sketch of the chart with you?" The captain took it out of his pocket with a listless air. "I am very much disappointed," he said. "If it is in that hollow I do not see how they could possibly be in condition to use the guns during the night. We could not see a trace of tracks to convey the ammunition to the guns at that place if any were there, and our shots fell all over the hollow back for a mile beyond the range indicated on the stone." Alfred was intently examining the chart. "The commandant was puzzled at the figures 300, 200 and 60, which are in the circles below the arrows. Isn't it likely that they are there for some purpose?" asked Alfred. "Unquestionably," replied the lieutenant. "Those figures may be the key to the whole reading." "I'll tell you what I think," said Ralph, rising and walking about excitedly. "I have an idea about that 300. Do you know, Captain, how far it is from the depression where the arrow points to, to the top of the hill?" "Not definitely; it might be about 450 or 500 feet; possibly more. But why do you ask?" remarked the captain. "Well, here is the arrow, with the 5 at the head of it, on the right side of the line that runs east and west; and below the cross line and also on the right side is the number 300. Now, my idea is, that if the battery is not found at the place where the arrow points, it must be 300 meters to the right side of the direction given by the arrow," answered Ralph. The captain arose with just as much enthusiasm in his action. "I believe you have struck it, we must consult the commandant; come on," and he led the way with quickened steps. "Reading the chart?" said the commandant, with a twinkle in his eye, as the company entered, and the captain pointed to the chart, while the amused smile on the faces of the others plainly indicated that something unusual had taken place. "It seems to me Ralph has struck it," said the captain. The commandant reached for the chart. "Do you mean the strange figures in the circle?" he asked. "Yes; I felt sure those figures were the keys; Ralph seems to have given a turn to a key that has possibilities in it; we all know the battery is not in that depression. Might it not be 300 meters to the right of the direction which the arrow indicates?" asked the captain. The commandant gazed at the chart, and with it in his hand paced the floor, stopping occasionally to fix some feature in his mind. "If you will pardon me," said Ralph, "it does not seem to me that the 300 has anything to do with the circle, but that its position on the right of the east and west line means something."