April 7, 2025 • 13 mins
In this international Boy Scout mystery, Harry and his new British friends decode heliographs, outsmart spies, and uncover secrets that could change the course of a war. Discover hundreds of ad-free audiobooks, soothing sounds for sleep and meditation, and more—unwind and learn at www.adfreebooks.com!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Recording by Kangaroo, A good witness. Dick's surprise and concern
when he found the cash empty and deserted, with papers
and motorcycles alike gone may be imagined. For a moment
he thought he must be mistaken, that after all, he
(00:26):
had come to the wrong place. But a quick search
of the ground with his flashlight showed him that Hugh
had come to the right spot. He could see the
tracks made by the wheels of the machine. He could
see also evidence of the brief struggle between Harry and Graves.
(00:47):
For a moment his mystification continued, but then with a
low laugh, Jack Young immersed from the cover in which
he had been hiding. Hello there, he said, I say,
are you Dick Mercer? Yes, gasped Dick. But however, you
(01:09):
know I never saw you before. Well you see me now,
said Jack. Harry Fleming told me to look for you here.
He said you'd be long some time to night if
you got away, and he was sure you could get
away too, Harry said Dick, dazed, you've seen him? Where
(01:32):
is he? Did he get away? And what happened to
the cycles and the papers? We head here? Why? Hold on?
One question at a time, said Jack. Keep your shirt
on and I'll tell you all I know about it.
Then we can decide what is to be done next.
(01:53):
I think I'll attach myself temporarily to your patrol. Oh
you're a scout too, are you? Asked Dick. That seemed
to explain a good deal. He was used to having
the scouts turned up to help him out of trouble,
and so he listened as patiently as he could. Well.
(02:15):
Jack explained what had happened, and that's all I know,
said Jack finally, when he had carried the tale to
the point when Harry rode off on the repaired motorcycle
and pursued of ironest grains, I should think you might
really know more about it now than I do. Why
(02:38):
how could it you saw it all? Yes, that's true enough,
But you know, Harry and I were too busy to
talk much after we found the motors was out of order.
All I know is that when we got here we
found some one I'd never seen before and never want
to see again, messing about with the cycles. We thought
(03:00):
it must be you. Of course, at least Harry did,
and of course I suppose he ought to know. And
then you found it was earnest Graves, Harry did. He
took one look at them, and then they started right
in fighting. Harry seemed to be sure that that was
the thing to do. If I'd been in his place,
(03:23):
I'd have tried to arbitrate. I think this chap Graves
was a lot bigger than he. He was carrying weight
for his age. You see, I don't know yet who
Graves is or why Harry wanted to start fighting him
right away. I've been waiting patiently for you to come
(03:46):
along so that you can tell me he's a sneat,
declared Dick vehemently. I suppose you knew that Harry's an American,
don't you? Yes, But that's nothing against them, of course
it isn't. But this Graves is the biggest and oldest
(04:06):
chap in our troop. He isn't in our patrol. And
he thought that if any of us were going to
be chosen for special service, he ought to have been
the first chance. So when they picked Harry and me,
he began talking about Harry's being an American. He tried
(04:26):
to act as if he thought it wasn't safe for
anyone who wasn't English to be picked up. It looks
as if he had acted on that idea too, doesn't it. Then?
It seems to me that he has followed you over
here just to get a chance to play some trick
on you. He got those papers, you see, and I
(04:48):
fancy you'll be blamed for losing them. How did he
know we were here? Said Dick suddenly. That's what I'd
like to know. Yes, it would be a good thing
to find that out, said Jack thoughtfully. Well it will
be hard to do, but we might find out how
(05:10):
he got here. I know this village in the country
all around here pretty well, and Gaffer Hodge will know
if any one does. He's the most curious man in
the world. Come on, we'll see what he has to say.
Who is he asked Dick, as they began to walk
(05:31):
briskly toward the village. You went through the village this afternoon,
didn't you. Didn't you see a very old man with
white hair and his stick beside him, sitting in a
doorway next to the little shop by the red dog. Yes,
that's Gaffer Hodge. He's the oldest man in these parts.
(05:54):
He can remember the crimean war, and oh everything. He
must be over a hundred years old, and he watches
every one who comes in. If a stranger is in
the village, he is never happy until he knows all
about them. He was awfully worried to day about you
and Harry, I heard, exclaimed Jack Dick laughed hartily. Well,
(06:22):
I do hope he can tell us something about Graves
the sneak. I certainly hope Harry catches up to them.
Do you think he can? Well, he might if he
was lufky, he said. The cycle he was riding was
faster than the other. But of course it would be
very hard to tell where he went. If Graves knew
(06:46):
that there was a chance that he might be followed,
he ought to be able to give any one who
was even a mile behind the slip. Of course, it's
at night, and that makes it hard for Harry. Yes,
I suppose it does. In the daytime, Harry could find
(07:07):
people to tell him which way Graves was going, couldn't he, Yes,
that's just what I meant. Oh, I say, won't Gaffer
Hodge be in bed in his sleep? I don't think so.
He doesn't seem to like to go to bed. He
sits up very late and talks to the men when
(07:28):
they start to go home from the red Dot. He
likes to talk. You see, we'll soon know. That's one thing.
We'll be there and now in no time. Sure enough.
The old man was still up when they arrived. He
(07:49):
was just saying good night in a high piping voice
to a little group of men who had evidently been
having a night cap in the inn next to his house.
When he saw Jack, he smiled. They were very good friends.
The old man had found the boy one of his
best listeners. The Gaffer liked to live in the past.
(08:12):
He was always delighted when any one would let him
tell his tales of the things he remembered. Good evening,
Gaffer said Jack respectfully. This is my friend Dick Mercer.
He's a boy scout from London. Knew it, knew it,
said Gaffer Hodge with a sunel chuckle. I said they
(08:36):
was from London this afternoon when I see them first.
Glad to meet you, young master. Then Jack described Graves
as well as he could from his brief side of them,
and Dick helped by what he remembered. Did you see
them come into town this afternoon, Gaffer asked Jack. Let
(09:00):
me think, said the old man, yes, I've seen them.
Came sneaking in he did this afternoon, as ever was.
But up to the big house at bray Park he
had came in an automobile, he did. Then he went
back there. But he was in the post office when
(09:23):
you and the other young glass from London came by,
Master dotting his hat as he was well pleased. This
was to Dick, and he and Jack stared at one another.
Certainly their visit to Gaffer Hodge had paid them. Well,
are you sure of that, Gaffer asked Jack quietly. Sure
(09:47):
it was an automobile from bray Park. Sure, as ever was,
said the old man indignantly. Like all old people, he
hated anyone to question him, resenting the eye idea that
anyone could think he was mistaken. Didn't time see the
machine myself, A big gray one with black stripes, as ever,
(10:10):
was like all their automobiles. That's true, that's the way
their cars are painted. And they have five or six
of them, said Jack. Yes, And he come in the
car from London before he went there, And then he
(10:31):
came out there. He saw you and the other young
lad from London go buy Master on your bicycles. He
was watching you from the shop as ever was. Thank you, gaffer,
said Jack gravely. You've told us just what we wanted
to know. I'll bring you some tobacco in the morning
(10:55):
if you like. My father's just got a new lot
down from London. Thanks think ye kindly, said the gaffer,
overjoyed at the prospect. Then they said good night to
the old man, who was plainly delighted at the thought
(11:15):
that he had been some service to them, and at
this proof of his sharpness, of which he was always boasting,
rose and hobbled into his house. He's really a wonderful
old man, said Dick. He certainly is, agreed Jack. His
(11:37):
memory seems to be as good as ever, and he's
awfully active too. He's got rheumatism, but he can see
and hear as well as he ever could. My father
says They walked on, each turning over in his mind
what they had heard about Graves. That's how he knew
(11:59):
we were here, said Dick. Finally, I've been pluzzling about that.
I remember now seeing the car as we went by,
but of course I didn't pay any particular attention to it,
except that they saw a little American flag on it. Yes,
They're supposed to be Americans, you know, said Jack. And
(12:23):
I suppose they carry the flag so that their car
might be taken for the army. The government has requisitioned
almost all the cars in the country. You know, I'm
almost afraid to think about this, said Dick, after a
moment of silence. Graves must know those people in that
(12:44):
house if he's riding about their car and they he paused,
and they looked at one another. I don't know what
to do, said Dick. I wish there was some way
to tell Harry about what we found out. Jack started,
I nearly forgot. He said we'd better cut for my place.
(13:09):
I told Harry we'd be there if he needed to telephone,
you know, come on. End of chapter ten. Recording by
Kangaroo
Recording by Kangaroo, A good witness. Dick's surprise and concern
when he found the cash empty and deserted, with papers
and motorcycles alike gone may be imagined. For a moment
he thought he must be mistaken, that after all, he
(00:26):
had come to the wrong place. But a quick search
of the ground with his flashlight showed him that Hugh
had come to the right spot. He could see the
tracks made by the wheels of the machine. He could
see also evidence of the brief struggle between Harry and Graves.
(00:47):
For a moment his mystification continued, but then with a
low laugh, Jack Young immersed from the cover in which
he had been hiding. Hello there, he said, I say,
are you Dick Mercer? Yes, gasped Dick. But however, you
(01:09):
know I never saw you before. Well you see me now,
said Jack. Harry Fleming told me to look for you here.
He said you'd be long some time to night if
you got away, and he was sure you could get
away too, Harry said Dick, dazed, you've seen him? Where
(01:32):
is he? Did he get away? And what happened to
the cycles and the papers? We head here? Why? Hold on?
One question at a time, said Jack. Keep your shirt
on and I'll tell you all I know about it.
Then we can decide what is to be done next.
(01:53):
I think I'll attach myself temporarily to your patrol. Oh
you're a scout too, are you? Asked Dick. That seemed
to explain a good deal. He was used to having
the scouts turned up to help him out of trouble,
and so he listened as patiently as he could. Well.
(02:15):
Jack explained what had happened, and that's all I know,
said Jack finally, when he had carried the tale to
the point when Harry rode off on the repaired motorcycle
and pursued of ironest grains, I should think you might
really know more about it now than I do. Why
(02:38):
how could it you saw it all? Yes, that's true enough,
But you know, Harry and I were too busy to
talk much after we found the motors was out of order.
All I know is that when we got here we
found some one I'd never seen before and never want
to see again, messing about with the cycles. We thought
(03:00):
it must be you. Of course, at least Harry did,
and of course I suppose he ought to know. And
then you found it was earnest Graves, Harry did. He
took one look at them, and then they started right
in fighting. Harry seemed to be sure that that was
the thing to do. If I'd been in his place,
(03:23):
I'd have tried to arbitrate. I think this chap Graves
was a lot bigger than he. He was carrying weight
for his age. You see, I don't know yet who
Graves is or why Harry wanted to start fighting him
right away. I've been waiting patiently for you to come
(03:46):
along so that you can tell me he's a sneat,
declared Dick vehemently. I suppose you knew that Harry's an American,
don't you? Yes, But that's nothing against them, of course
it isn't. But this Graves is the biggest and oldest
(04:06):
chap in our troop. He isn't in our patrol. And
he thought that if any of us were going to
be chosen for special service, he ought to have been
the first chance. So when they picked Harry and me,
he began talking about Harry's being an American. He tried
(04:26):
to act as if he thought it wasn't safe for
anyone who wasn't English to be picked up. It looks
as if he had acted on that idea too, doesn't it. Then?
It seems to me that he has followed you over
here just to get a chance to play some trick
on you. He got those papers, you see, and I
(04:48):
fancy you'll be blamed for losing them. How did he
know we were here? Said Dick suddenly. That's what I'd
like to know. Yes, it would be a good thing
to find that out, said Jack thoughtfully. Well it will
be hard to do, but we might find out how
(05:10):
he got here. I know this village in the country
all around here pretty well, and Gaffer Hodge will know
if any one does. He's the most curious man in
the world. Come on, we'll see what he has to say.
Who is he asked Dick, as they began to walk
(05:31):
briskly toward the village. You went through the village this afternoon,
didn't you. Didn't you see a very old man with
white hair and his stick beside him, sitting in a
doorway next to the little shop by the red dog. Yes,
that's Gaffer Hodge. He's the oldest man in these parts.
(05:54):
He can remember the crimean war, and oh everything. He
must be over a hundred years old, and he watches
every one who comes in. If a stranger is in
the village, he is never happy until he knows all
about them. He was awfully worried to day about you
and Harry, I heard, exclaimed Jack Dick laughed hartily. Well,
(06:22):
I do hope he can tell us something about Graves
the sneak. I certainly hope Harry catches up to them.
Do you think he can? Well, he might if he
was lufky, he said. The cycle he was riding was
faster than the other. But of course it would be
very hard to tell where he went. If Graves knew
(06:46):
that there was a chance that he might be followed,
he ought to be able to give any one who
was even a mile behind the slip. Of course, it's
at night, and that makes it hard for Harry. Yes,
I suppose it does. In the daytime, Harry could find
(07:07):
people to tell him which way Graves was going, couldn't he, Yes,
that's just what I meant. Oh, I say, won't Gaffer
Hodge be in bed in his sleep? I don't think so.
He doesn't seem to like to go to bed. He
sits up very late and talks to the men when
(07:28):
they start to go home from the red Dot. He
likes to talk. You see, we'll soon know. That's one thing.
We'll be there and now in no time. Sure enough.
The old man was still up when they arrived. He
(07:49):
was just saying good night in a high piping voice
to a little group of men who had evidently been
having a night cap in the inn next to his house.
When he saw Jack, he smiled. They were very good friends.
The old man had found the boy one of his
best listeners. The Gaffer liked to live in the past.
(08:12):
He was always delighted when any one would let him
tell his tales of the things he remembered. Good evening,
Gaffer said Jack respectfully. This is my friend Dick Mercer.
He's a boy scout from London. Knew it, knew it,
said Gaffer Hodge with a sunel chuckle. I said they
(08:36):
was from London this afternoon when I see them first.
Glad to meet you, young master. Then Jack described Graves
as well as he could from his brief side of them,
and Dick helped by what he remembered. Did you see
them come into town this afternoon, Gaffer asked Jack. Let
(09:00):
me think, said the old man, yes, I've seen them.
Came sneaking in he did this afternoon, as ever was.
But up to the big house at bray Park he
had came in an automobile, he did. Then he went
back there. But he was in the post office when
(09:23):
you and the other young glass from London came by,
Master dotting his hat as he was well pleased. This
was to Dick, and he and Jack stared at one another.
Certainly their visit to Gaffer Hodge had paid them. Well,
are you sure of that, Gaffer asked Jack quietly. Sure
(09:47):
it was an automobile from bray Park. Sure, as ever was,
said the old man indignantly. Like all old people, he
hated anyone to question him, resenting the eye idea that
anyone could think he was mistaken. Didn't time see the
machine myself, A big gray one with black stripes, as ever,
(10:10):
was like all their automobiles. That's true, that's the way
their cars are painted. And they have five or six
of them, said Jack. Yes, And he come in the
car from London before he went there, And then he
(10:31):
came out there. He saw you and the other young
lad from London go buy Master on your bicycles. He
was watching you from the shop as ever was. Thank you, gaffer,
said Jack gravely. You've told us just what we wanted
to know. I'll bring you some tobacco in the morning
(10:55):
if you like. My father's just got a new lot
down from London. Thanks think ye kindly, said the gaffer,
overjoyed at the prospect. Then they said good night to
the old man, who was plainly delighted at the thought
(11:15):
that he had been some service to them, and at
this proof of his sharpness, of which he was always boasting,
rose and hobbled into his house. He's really a wonderful
old man, said Dick. He certainly is, agreed Jack. His
(11:37):
memory seems to be as good as ever, and he's
awfully active too. He's got rheumatism, but he can see
and hear as well as he ever could. My father
says They walked on, each turning over in his mind
what they had heard about Graves. That's how he knew
(11:59):
we were here, said Dick. Finally, I've been pluzzling about that.
I remember now seeing the car as we went by,
but of course I didn't pay any particular attention to it,
except that they saw a little American flag on it. Yes,
They're supposed to be Americans, you know, said Jack. And
(12:23):
I suppose they carry the flag so that their car
might be taken for the army. The government has requisitioned
almost all the cars in the country. You know, I'm
almost afraid to think about this, said Dick, after a
moment of silence. Graves must know those people in that
(12:44):
house if he's riding about their car and they he paused,
and they looked at one another. I don't know what
to do, said Dick. I wish there was some way
to tell Harry about what we found out. Jack started,
I nearly forgot. He said we'd better cut for my place.
(13:09):
I told Harry we'd be there if he needed to telephone,
you know, come on. End of chapter ten. Recording by
Kangaroo
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