Frank, the Young Naturalist

-guards O

he and Brave got into the Speedwell, and sailed slowly down the creek. He found the Champion already moor

case with us. I kno

?" asked Frank, as if

this afternoon, and one of them said that Charley Sheldon would have the whole

going to sleep in their boats to-night, and t

ry, "that strict watch must be kept of the Speed

t," said Frank.

, we agreed to carry the provisions all in one boat

nk, we're gone s

well posted as to the coast-g

been spying about and pla

leased me very much, and that is that the coast-guards

y. "Do you want them to discover all our

we want them to know. I've thought of a way to set them on the wrong

t is

Frank, "All we have got to do is to f

entered the boat-house, bringing their refreshments, and this, of c

t in, and the coast-guards took their departure, after repea

rge clothes-basket that belonged to George and Harry, and seven pails. There was,

oking at them without speaking.

nk. They will make too large a lo

must make the coast-guards think th

nage that?" in

es-basket, one or two pails, and a salt-bag?" asked

arry. "I'll go up to

of the smugglers, and the articles in ques

t-bag, if you please, and fill it with smoo

William, who began to

ieces of cloth, large enough to tie ove

in a few moments, William returned

o do," exclaimed Harry, whose p

ome sham provisi

d Thomas; "but we haven't go

grows dark, we'll pull the Alert alongside the wharf, and tumble these sham provisions into her; then we will

ctly see it,

who are, of course, watching every movement, will go and tell Cha

uppose they should mistrust that something is in the w

much of an examination; and, if they put their hands into the boat, t

r any feeling of doubt in their minds. They were now as ce

all completed, and, placing them where they could be easily taken out

enter the gate, Geor

the

long dock. The North Star, a fine, swift-sailing little schooner, was anchored near the middle of the stream, and a boy sat in the stern sheets, reading a boo

the Sampson is g

her station in Duck

, Harry's expecta

imed. "Charley Sheldon

nly for to-night. When we get up in the morning

watching the Sampson until she disappeared

k, they proceeded to put their plans into exe

nd that boat-house. As soon as we get the sham provisions into the boat, one or two of us had b

, "suppose you and

t don't act as if yo

e way toward

front of the boat-house. Frank and Harry then got down into the boat, and the other boys passed the provisions down to them, and they placed them in

ed along the bank of the creek, close to the wharf, and Frank and William, watching their opportunity, concealed themselves, and the others ran toward the house. They had hardly disappeared, when the smugglers saw several boys steal cautiously around the corner of the boat-house, where they had been concealed, and one of them crept up the bank, to ass

I didn't see Frank Nelson's dog go into the yard," he continued;

side, among the willows, no doubt wondering at the strange things that were going on, a

t used, they climbed down into it, and pushed off toward the Alert. A few strokes brought them alongside of her

d Charles, who still kept w

of baskets and

sket that George and Har

in this bag, I wonder?" said

e lemons I brough

!" continued the boy, trying

ed, could scarcely refrain from laughing outright. Had it been daylight, the ruse of the smugglers would certainly have been detected, but, as it was, the coast-guards never

l here," said one of

then," said Charles,

k to the wharf, and

Alert would hold all of t

ognized as James Porter; "I guess it was a tight squee

he smugglers intend to

the morning before we do, and slip over to the island before we kn

se made them put the p

was going to carry them over to the island, and he calculates to get us to chase him and give the Al

send some one out to act

id that he would b

o hold them as prisoners until the race was over, and that the prisoner should, if required, give his captors all the information possible relative to the movements and pl

had been aware that Frank and William were hidden away in the willows, they could easily ha

ick was discovered, he would plan another in five minutes. I guess we had better remain where we are to-night," he continued, "and, at half-past two o'clock, we will pull out into the river, and b

as cautiously and qui

places of concealment, and stole into the house, and acqu

soon snug between the sheets. But sleep was, for a long time, out of the question; they laughed and talked until their jaws ached, and the hands of the old clock that stood in th

his sleep when any thing exciting was going on, turned over in bed with a jerk, and began to mutter some u

elm; bring her around quick. The Alert can show as

ontinued to shout his directions, until several hear

ated you. We promised to carry the provisio

wide awake in an instant, but he stood in the middle of the room, as if

on, who was the first th

what tim

this candle, and we'

guards may be on the watch, and, if they see a l

, he opened it, and, fe

ten minute

we do?" in

ron are doing," said Thomas; "and, if they are n

sed, and they crept carefully d

Frank. "I will bet there are sp

m prisoners," e

rank; "but, in order to do it, we had better divi

nd cross over by the bridge, and the rest of you can go

Frank. "We will meet at t

eparated, and started

Butler's mill. Here they crossed the road, and, after a careful reconnoissance, entered the willows, and crawled, almost on their hands and knees

t been taken prisone

e heard something of it. They are not the ones to give up w

"They must be around the o

d Frank, "we will soon m

ed a branch above his hea

spered Harry, excitedly;

they are!"

sly around the corner of the boat-house. He gazed impa

and the boy came down the b

you would never relieve us. N

rom his concealment; and, before the coast-guard could

Frank. "Where's your companio

d the prisoner. "Ned Wilbur is aroun

ill watch this fellow, Harry and I

y, as motionless as a statue. He was waiting for Harry to make his appearance at the opposite end, when the sentinel suddenly uttered an ejaculation of surprise, and bounded up the bank; but, just as

my pri

im down the bank. "I told Charley Sheldon that we would be sure to be gobbled u

red Harry; "we know a

be best to reconnoiter before attempting to leave the creek. It was very dark, and not a sound broke the stillness of the night; but the smuggler

he position of the enemy there; and Frank and the other boys stepped into the skiff, and started up toward Ducks' Creek, to ascertain the condition of affairs, t

t ah

red Harry, "we'

he continued, turning to the prisone

houted Ned, in r

boat i

we bring orders for you to pull down and join the fle

e been waiting an hour for that order.

rattling of a chain, as if t

make haste," w

up there, now

" was th

, propelled by four oars, shot pas

done," said Ben, as soon as the

ainst me to fool a fellow in tha

f the mouth of Ducks' Creek; and Frank, who was at the helm, turned the boat's head toward the shore, a

hing was as silent as midnight; and the smugglers were obliged to move very carefully, for the slightest sound-the snapping of a twig or the rustling

ess, "how do matters stand? I wonder if we could not have slippe

by a good deal. We should ce

now? I can't

d you will hear something. The

kes of muffled oars, and, now and then, a gentle splashing in the water

Ben, "that we could run the bloc

ank. "If we should attempt to hoist a sail, it could b

try the

hey outnumber us, six to one, and could easily tire us out, or cut us off from t

boats are coming down this way. They are sending

d the creek. As they approached, the smugglers discovered that two boys, in a light skiff, led the way, and one of them, who proved to be Charles Sheldon, pointed out the position he wished each boat to occupy. The p

laced the little vessels to his satisfact

n the mouth of the creek. We shall have a good stiff breeze before long, and the Alert might sl

ven if she does come out here, and succeeds in getting by you, all we will have to do will be to send a division down to the foot of the island to meet her there, and then her capture is certain.

s attendant pulled

rd enough to know that we have foo

that could scarcely be penetrated, even in the day-time. The coast-guards were an

oosing his ground, and they, at length, succeeded in r

longside Mr. Butler's wharf, where th

George, as they clambe

he mouth of Ducks' Creek, as well as the conversation they had ove

nly hear them taking their positions opposite the mouth of the

g to work it, Fra

e Champion and Alert drop down Ducks' Creek, and let the former run out and start for the island. The coast-guards will not give chase, of course, but will think it is only a ruse of ours to make them believe that the Alert is going to start f

y. "We will fool them so completely that they will

," said George. "Never go to wor

the captive coast-guards by the arm; "we

rs, again repaired to the boat-house. By this time it was five o'clock, and the breeze which the co

possible, in the Speedwell, and the load was as large as she could well

Frank; "so, Bill, you might as well

," answere

, the sails were hoisted, and the Champion was soon hidden from si

ake our boat and hide behind the point, and, in

anship," said Ben. "You can lead

t we will do our

, while Ben placed himself so as to assist in managing the sails. Brave

d this point, and the Speedwell's bow ran high upon the sand, and the boys sprang out, and hurried over to the other side of the point, to watch the proceedings on the

a semicircle directly before the mouth of Glen's Creek, from which it was expected that the Alert would start. Each sloop

I wonder if they thought we would be foolish enough to send

"I suppose they thought-See th

ce was sudden and wholly unexpected and several of the coast-guards sprang to their feet, and a dozen sails were half-way up the mast in a twinkling; b

directed toward Glen's Creek, expecting, ever

ddenly shot from Ducks' Creek, and, hauling around before the wind, ran in between two of the

s could recover from their

chor-q

oment he c

the shore of the island, and be ready to

ards. The anchors were drawn up with a jerk, the sails flew up th

hat the race had fairl

our tim

he shore, and the Speedwell, making good her name, was

that they thought of nothing else; and Frank rounded the

skillful management-standing first on one tack and then on the other-they had su

Harry, who was at the helm, did not deem them worthy a moment's notice. He was confident

w jubilant over their succ

-war now? Throw us a l

chimed in Harry. "You will

they had to deal with those who were as cunning and skillful as themselves. Charles was not to be beaten so easily; and, a

ast boats ahead of us,

to take a survey of th

ught, sure as shooting!" he suddenly exclaimed, changing his tone. "Bring her around before the

s Island, now bore down upon the Alert, and George had just discovered t

ed the positions of the approaching vessels,

said George. "Frank has landed

ill I wish we coul

ked Charles, whose boat was follow

we are

wind," George drew down the s

er, and, to prevent accident, the sails were all hau

arles, "you fellows w

little crest-fallen at their def

he captains of the squadron, pulling his boat alongside of

the covering, and

d Harry, who wished to keep up the "sell

these bags?"

"We thought we might want to

my basket, and get a cup that is in there, and pass it over this way. I'm thirsty. I was so excited," he continued, taking off his

nquired Harry, struggling

t, with a white cov

to trust themselves to speak; but Charles

o brown ba

of the coast-guards; "I brough

" exclaime

eat somewhere

said Charles. "You promised to c

you agreed to do

pt our promis

ne of the boys, who had failed to dis

f the provisions over," said another,

"She passed so close to my boat, that I could have jumped int

just caught sight of the bag which contained, as he supposed, his lemons. "My g

d to the view of the coast-guards, not the lemon

ttom of the boat, convulsed with laughter; and several ready hands tore of

soon as they could speak, they burst out with a vol

sing the wrong

ew it would be so. That Frank Nels

ll!" shouted another; "kee

arry, with a laugh, "the prov

it. I didn't see

intent on catching the Alert. Boys," he continued,

efrained from making any remarks, for they saw that t

he Champion and Speedwell, lying with their bows high upon the sand, and their crews were b

re greeted them with three hearty cheers, which George and Har

smugglers joined their companions; and Charles

ut they have beaten us at our own game. I feel as cheap as any of you do, but it can't be helped now; and there's no use of having unpleasant feelings about it, for that would spoil a good day's sport. If we didn't catch them

s, who had heard what Charles had said, cheered lustily, in turn, for the coast-guards, and instantly every unkind feeling vanished. The coast-guards readily entered into conversation with the smugglers, and the latter explained the trick of which they had made use, as w

the tree of which we have spoken, where there was a smo

arious incidents that had occurred duri

day? You know that we came over here to enj

o appoint a committee to arrange those eatables. We came

While you were hurrying around, and taking your positions,

the coast-guards; "it's too bad. But

others, catching up all the empty pails and baskets they cou

l to work in earnest. So full were they of their sport, that it took them two hours to eat their dinner, as

t without any sleep, and, to use their own expression, they "didn't feel like it;" so this project was abandoned, and the boys