The Boy Scouts on Picket Duty

owner, was making her way along the low coast, southward, from Snipe Point

Key West. She bore a startling message, the nature of which her captain had considered of sufficient importance for him to prolong a

f the boys belonged to a troop of scouts who had their summer headquarters at Pioneer Camp, far away among the New England hills. They had, however, formed a resolution to spend the present summer not at Pioneer Camp, where most of their younger comrades would be, but in seeing some new sections of their native land. To this end, three of them--Hugh Hardin, his chum Billy Worth, and Chester Brownell--had gladly accepted an invitati

ledge, which he had already imparted to the boys, was to the effect that throughout the night before, while he and Dave alternately watched, he had seen a gray steamer or pe

nited States. In that case she was either grappling for the cable between Key West and the mainland terminus at Punta Rossa, which lay close inshore at Snipe P

ior efficiency of the wireless system; but he thought she might be one of the elusive filib

almost encountered a notorious filibuster named Juan Bego, one night during the earlier part of this pleasure cruise; that is, he had sighted a vessel which he felt sure was the Esperanza of Captain Bego, in w

seen las' night ain't Yankee built, I'll swear; and if she should take a notion to foller us, we want to be light and shipshape, wi

eply verbally; besides, like most of his kind, he was a poor sailor, and he did not enjoy the speed

he boys tossed overboard their heavy

t, what's the first thing to

to the naval authorities,"

now there w

be some there now,

search for the

' to let no sneakin' furrin tub s

ne of Uncle Sam's revenue cutters will give chase t

to keep to wind'ard, for he seemed to know where the rough water begins to rise and how to make the most o' them keys. Never mind; off Nor'west Cap

uched dejectedly, letting the stiff breeze dry his spray-soaked garments. He groaned, proteste

led. "Get to Key West by afternoon

for six hours last n

w steamer,--no more s

ard you snoring, Dave; you woke

e you up, Billy,--as a general rule," said Hugh, flinging on

He pointed aft, and the four lads sprang to their feet an

or three hours was now visible inside the keys. Could there be any reason for the reappearance of that

ed chagrin. "See? She's coaled up, goin' for all she's worth. Alec, git ou

cope with which he hurriedly returned to the deck. After some focusing he managed to catch a glimpse of the stea

he telescope upon them. "I can see sailors running across her deck, and two of

captain. "American

do you thin

e wants to

asked C

e sighted back yonder, last night. Anyhow, if they're wavin' signal flags,--and they are, sure enough!--they must want to speak the

g experience in sailing these channels, inlets, and lagoons, it would have been dangerous; but he dexterously eluded the various reefs and oyster bars and brought the Arrow safely into smoother water. Meanwhile, the boys noticed that the wind, which ha

ous vessel he had seen cruising about the islands the night before. All at once, unexpectedly, his doubts were

evenue cutter, glided swiftly along the very course the Arrow had taken, heading back toward Snipe Point. Before the sloop and the steamer had come within hail