"Here's the Colonel," said Asa as a big car was driven up and an
officer stepped down.

"Wait! Wait!" said Asa, swallowing rapidly. "Let him get through
talking first. You see, he has charge of all the country
patrols, and 'course he wants to give them orders. Gee, how the
spies must hate him!"

As though in answer, a long, low racing car rolled smoothly and
silently up, and stopped in the road just opposite where the boys
sat on the stone wall. On the little rise where stood the low,
rambling farmhouse, the Colonel, with only a glance at the
strangers, turned his back as though refusing to be interrupted,
and went on with his orders.

In the car, one of the men half rose, leveled a revolver full at
the Colonel's broad back, and fired. But almost before he could
take his flashing aim, an unearthly screech volleyed from the
Potter twins, and from Beany's good left hand a cobble whizzed
through the air, and struck the assassin's shoulder. It destroyed
his aim. The bullet went wild, and before he could recover, the
Colonel had whirled. With a muttered curse the would-be intruder
fired full at the boys, dropped to the bottom of the machine, and
the car shot forward will in incredible speed.

Leaping from the veranda with the agility of a boy, the Colonel
barked out a volley of sharp orders. Men came swarming from
their quarters. A man hurried to the telephone. Horsemen dashed
madly up the road. A slim, capable-looking racer slid from the
garage, and the Colonel and a couple of aides came down where the