human
I believe I've got it! he cried.
gpt
Listen and see if this doesn't sound reasonable!
human
Go ahead!
gpt
Here it is, said Harry.
human
I suppose it does make sense, said Dick.
gpt
But what on earth does it mean, Harry?
human
Oh, can't you see? cried Harry.
gpt
Von Wedel is a commander of some sort--that's plain, isn't it? And he's to carry out a raid, destroying or attacking the places that are mentioned! How can he do that? He can't be a naval commander. He can't be going to lead troops, because we know they can't land. Then how can he get here? And why should he need petrol?
human
He'll come through the air!
gpt
Yes, in one of their big Zeppelins! said Harry.
human
I suppose she has been cruising off the coast. She's served as a wireless relay station, too. The plant here at Bray Park could reach her, and she could relay the messages on across the North Sea, to Helgoland or Wilhelmshaven. She's waited until everything was ready.
gpt
That's what they mean by the red light markers, then?
human
Yes. They could be on the roofs of houses, and masked, so that they wouldn't be seen except from overhead. They'd be in certain fixed positions, and the men on the Zeppelins would be able to calculate their aim, and drop their bombs so many degrees to the left or the right of the red marking lights.
gpt
But we've got aeroplanes flying about, haven't we? said Jack.
human
Wouldn't they see those lights and wonder about them?
gpt
Yes, if they were showing all the time. But you can depend on it that these Germans have provided for all that. They will have arranged for the Zeppelin to be above the positions, as near as they can guess them, at certain times--and the lights will only be shown at those times, and then only for a few seconds. Even if someone else sees them, you see, there won't be time to do anything.
human
You must be right, Harry! said Jack, nervously.
gpt
There's no other way to explain that message. How are we going to stop them?
human
I don't know yet, but we'll have to work out some way of doing it. It would be terrible for us to know what had been planned and still not be able to stop them! I wish I knew where Graves was. I'd like--
gpt
What good would that do?
human
Oh, I don't want him--not just now. But I don't want him to see me just at present. I want to know where he is so that I can avoid him.
gpt
Suppose I scout into Bray? suggested Jack.
human
I can find out something that might be useful, perhaps. If any of them from Bray Park have come into the village to-day I'll hear about it.
gpt
That's a good idea. Suppose you do that, Jack. I don't know just what I'll do yet. But if I go away from here before you come back, Dick will stay. I've got to think--there must be some way to beat them!