As they talked the chief’s car had crossed the ferry, and turning north through Englewood, was heading rapidly in the direction of West Point.

“Where are we going now?” Jane ventured to ask.  “To the place where I was yesterday—­where we had the accident?”

“Not directly,” the chief replied.  “I sent Carter and some men up there ahead of us to do some reconnoitering.  I’ll get in touch with Carter at the restaurant at the State Park.  He was to call me up.  We are nearly there now.”

As the car swung into the park and stopped before the entrance of the two-story restaurant building, Fleck sprang hastily out and started for the telephone but stopped abruptly at the sight of a young man with bandaged head and with one arm in a sling who rose from the concrete steps of the building to greet him.

“Why, Dean,” he exclaimed in amazement, “what are you doing here?  How did you get here?”

“You don’t think I was going to be left out at the finish,” laughed the chauffeur.

“But your injuries, your arm—­”

“Both all right, as right as they’ll be for several weeks.”

“But how did you know we were coming here?  How did you manage to get here?”

“Carter stopped on his way out to make sure about the road.  I wanted to come with him, but there was no room in his car.  He refused to bring me, anyhow.  I managed to worm out of him what your plans were, and the doctor’s jitney did the rest.”

“Well,” growled the chief, with simulated indignation, though secretly delighted with Dean’s show of spirit, “I suppose there’s nothing else to do but to take you along.  Climb in there beside Miss Strong.”

As Dean approached the car Jane rose in amazement.

“Oh, Thomas, Mr. Dean,” she cried, “I’m so glad to see you.  I was afraid yesterday that you had been badly hurt.”

“It was a close shave for both of us,” he admitted, flushing with delight at the warmth of her greeting, “but what are you doing here?  The Chief had no business to bring you on a trip like this.”

All his affection for the girl had revived at this unexpected sight of her, and with a lover’s righteous anxiety he resented Fleck’s having exposed her to the probable perils of this expedition to the enemy’s secret lair.

“They needed me,” she said simply, “to show them the way.”

“That need exists no longer,” he protested, “since I am here.  The Chief must send you back.”

“Don’t be absurd,” she objected warmly.

“But it is no place for a woman,” he insisted doggedly, kicking meaningly at the rifles on the floor of the car.  “There may be a fight.  These men are desperate and dangerous and more than likely will resist any attempt to arrest them.”

“I want to be there to see it if they do,” said Jane calmly.

“Please, won’t you, for my sake,” he begged, “go back home or at least wait here for us?”