30 The other side of the hill
　　The boys came out of the hole too, and they all stared at the sight below them. They were on avery steep hillside, with an almost sheer drop beneath.
　　Directly below was what looked like a farmhouse¹, with out-buildings on the slope of the hill.
　　All around the place was barbed wire, rows upon rows of it. There was plenty just below wherethey stood, too.
　　There was a copse of trees behind the house, and in the middle was a clear space. A curious-looking machine stood in the centre of this clearing. It was large and shining. To anyone down atthe farm or near by it must have been completely hidden in the trees – but viewed from above itwas very plain to see.
　　‘What is it?’ asked Jack², gazing at it in the clear morning sunlight.
　　‘Not even I know that, Jack,’ said Bill. ‘It is one of our own country’s secrets – something beingworked on by our greatest military scientists.’
　　‘And that’s what Scar-Neck the spy was after?’ asked Philip.
　　‘That’s what he was after,’ said Bill. ‘He got wind of it – found out where the tests were beingcarried out in secret – and discovered to his delight that there was an old castle on the other side ofthe hill for sale.’
　　‘Gosh! Did he buy the castle then?’ asked Jack.
　　Bill nodded. ‘Yes. I made it my business to find out who the owner was. Scar-Neck had notbought it in his own name, of course – he was far too clever for that. He bought it in the name ofan Englishman – called Brown. A man supposed to be interested in old buildings. But I soonfound out who was behind Brown.’
　　‘Aren’t you clever, Bill?’ said Jack admiringly.
　　‘No,’ said Bill. ‘That kind of thing is easy in my job. I knew Scar-Neck was probably after thissecret of ours, but I couldn’t for the life of me see how he could find out anything. As you can see,it’s very well hidden up here at the back of the old farm – and well protected by barbed wire,which is quite probably mixed up with other wire that is electrically charged.’
　　‘Well – how did he get the secret then?’ said Philip.
　　‘By wonderful photography, and by making a way right under the wire down to the machineitself, I imagine,’ said Bill. ‘Look – do you see signs of digging there? Well, I imagine Scar-Neckand his friends did a bit of

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