The Boy Scouts on Picket Duty

craft something like a built-for-speed tug boat, which had surprised Captain Vinton when it

g impatiently, they presently heard the dip of oars, the faint rattle and squeaking of row-lo

n. "One of us had better steal back to the camp,

he motor boat over to our camp and bring the s

hore would be sure to hear a motor boat," declared Nort

n all's said, that's why Billy and Dave took it--to bring th

ight, Mar

y one of his eager young f

pole the motor boat

It's not a large b

ed the guide. "But slo

before we surround them. Go ahead, Dave; and Alec, you go with him to run the boat back.

pole, Alec had taken his place at the stern and was pointing her in the dire

tial launch along the waterway, and almost immediately

he gunwales, carrying the dozen men. In the mea

pickets observed a bright light burst forth from the surrounding gloom

ected a loading of their munitions or other contraband goods upon the Esperanza's boat. They counted on the probability that the revenue men would h

trel--even now hurrying to the scene of action--had received information of thi

with the scout pickets, were already on the scene, those energetic seamen of t

t the Petrel was on his trail, and he was all the

iftwood, bundles of dried saw-grass and withered cypress boughs--industriously piled on by Max, the half-breed, who had been sent there for that very purpose--it blazed merrily, and a

Dave had disappeared into the

n that vicinity, Billy, Alec, and Roy Norton crept forth

ig-zagged through the springy turf of the marsh. This particular waterway reflected the glow of the bo

ome of whom were engaged in throwing water over the blaze, others in patrolling the beach. E

" queried Alec

" answered Nor

t bunch over by the dune. And see that tall, skinny, dark man wit

ike Vinton's descript

ving orders

hat's th

they waited

again heard the sound--a low

ds dangerous,

e knew wh

good guess," Norton a

's

e he was interrupted by a sh

s, who by this time had almost extinguished the bonfire. His

r captured launch or a bo

means--t

er two exclai

demanded Billy. "

me that he wouldn't be at all surprised if the Petrel came cruising back this way by evening; and so,

this while?" asked Alec. "Why

to the cabins, inste

her way, and they're just waiting to make an attack

ht, Billy. Come on,

rd, the three