The symbol is, as we see, repeated a great many times.

Every seal has been dotted or crossed on some one of the lines composing it; some seals are coupled with brackets and armatures." [Illustration: Cryptographic symbol] "What of it ?" inquired Harren vacantly.
"Well, sir, in the first place, that symbol is supposed to represent the spiritual and material, as you know.

What else do you know about it ?" [Illustration: Cryptographic symbol] "Nothing.

I bought a book about it, but made nothing of it." "Isn't it supposed," asked Mr.Keen, "to contain within itself the nine numerals, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and even the zero symbol ?" "I believe so." "_Ex_actly.

Here's the seal [Illustration: Cryptographic symbol] Now I'll mark the one, two, and three by crossing the lines, like this: one, [Illustration: Cryptographic symbol] two, [Illustration: Cryptographic symbol] three, [Illustration: Cryptographic symbol] Now, eliminating all lines not crossed there remains the one, [Illustration: Cryptographic symbol] the two, [Illustration: Cryptographic symbol] the three, [Illustration: Cryptographic symbol] And here is the entire series: [Illustration: Cryptographic symbols] and the zero--" [Illustration: Cryptographic symbol] A sudden excitement stirred Harren; he leaned over the paper, gazing earnestly at the cipher; the Tracer rose and glanced around the room as though in search of something.
"Is there a telephone here ?" he asked.
"For Heaven's sake, don't give this up just yet," exclaimed Harren.
"These things mean numbers; don't you see?
Look at that!" pointing to a linked pair of seals, [Illustration: Cryptographic symbol] "That means the number nineteen! You can form it by using only the crossed lines of the seal.
[Illustration: Cryptographic symbol] Don't you see, Mr.Keen ?" "Yes, Captain Harren, the cipher is, as you say, very plain; quite as easy to read as so much handwriting.