The Boy Scouts on Picket Duty

come to the conclusion that their bonfire was not necessary, after all--because they fondly imagined the Petrel was far away down the coast--would waste no

lec drew nearer, they heard the swarthy leader directing most of

ne men, who picked their way gingerly over the uneven ground, muttering directions

d pickets that the latter could distinguish the

his heart beat fast with excitement. The words gave him a

and telling Norton and Alec that he would be back very soon, he slipped

ow Durgan and his confederates would manage to run their cargo on board the Esperanza, ha

od of the bonfire, he hurried away toward the spot at

for ten minutes or so, w

by two or three othe

tunately, by mere chance, he had stumbled upon the very stretch of ground which he and Dave

single person, and he had not b

ccato of pistols and rifles. He felt sure that by this time the soldiers under Lieutenant Driscoll had come up and wer

but evidently they had received strict orders to go straight to the cabins, for they went on, and he followed them. Now

ured the whole scene, as yet he could not see anything except an occasional spurt of flame as a revolver or rifle spat viciously. Even the

tting that bullets flying about

hither and thither. From their actions and from the babel of shouts, commands, oaths and shooting that

that they had captured not only part of the intended cargo but also some of Bego's

moment a bullet whizzed over his shoulder, almost searing his neck! The yell quavered on

ud as if he expected some one to hear him. "That's what might be called

s little joke, but all the while he was intently scanning the scene before him and wondering if he would be drawn in

ifted to a new quarter. He sta

and clay and mud, came a body of men armed with rifles. They were making direc

e have they come fr

d. "Oh, I know, I know now! They're the men from the

For Joe Durgan, Branks, Harry Mole, Max, the villainous half-breed, and others at the huts, were being reinforced by Be

g Norton and the Boy Scouts, sprang from their boat which had crept up to the f

eams of moonlight struggling out of the clouds--the revenue men turned to the lef

mob of desperately fighting men. He was cut off from the rest by reason of Dave's having steered the boat along a watercours

im no time to worry about his own predicament. He was still wonde

ation was

, sighting the cutter from the deck of the concealed Arrow, had signaled to her captain, telling him just where

the soldiers and the revenue men; but, owing to the gloom, these shots failed to take much effect, beyond slightly wounding their captors. Fired on in t

ne, and in the glow, Norton caught sight of Billy r

y! Where have you b

e sounded doleful. "Wishing I could butt into i

iends capture the gang. When they get to their boat it will be a case of 'first come, first served' to get away. Most of

eing his brother scouts alr

maining shanty and flung

he called. "Ar

he flames as they devoured the old walls and c

door, while Mark ran around the cabin, looking

he three scouts rushed

e behind it casting a grotesque shadow on the interior wall of the cabi

single room, dispelling the shadows for a brief mome

illy in a hoarse whisper. "Ar

no a

's match

ther match?"

ague dread seemed to seize him, weighi

c. "Here's one

d a hasty search was made.

The cabin