o do the work."

"You mean there are twelve of us," broke in Everett. "I am going to be
the twelfth man. Just because one arm is laid up doesn't mean that the
other one cannot do double duty."

All protests were unavailing, and rather than deny him the pleasure of
being one of the party, Fernald allowed that he could go, first
demanding and getting a promise that if there should be a mix-up he
would lose no time in getting to safety.

"We'll lay back a bit from the spot where they cross, because the arrest
must be made on this side of the border, otherwise we would get in a jam
with our neighbors to the north of us, and the arrest would not be
valid, for they are not smugglers till they have crossed the line. One
of your duties, boys, will be to keep your flashlamps going after the
star shell has dimmed. That will last long enough to show them our
force, and I anticipate no resistance."

Shortly after dark fell, the party was joined by the sheriff and his two
deputies, and the little force, led by the three chums, made their way
over the course taken the morning they set out in search of the point of
crossing made by the smugglers.

Walking in Indian file, with no conversation other than an occasional
direction or order given in a low tone of voice, they reached the border
line. The boys felt a thrill of excitement at the thought of the part
they were playing on this adventurous night. Soon they reached the point
where Garry had watched, and from then on, Dick was the sole guide.
Flashing his lamp only often enough to find the trail marks he had left,
he led the way unerringly to the point where he had seen them cross.

There was no light save the feeble bit given by the stars, for it was in
the dark of the moon.

"Now," whispered Dick to Fernald, "it was at this point that they
crossed the border."

"All right, now men, follow me."

Fernald led the way back about twenty feet, having received the
assurance of Everett, who was thoroughly familiar with that part of the
country, that they were on the American side, and ordered the men to lay
down, keeping their rifles and revolvers constantly at hand.

"No man is to make a move till I explode the star shell, then each one
here pick a man. If orders are implicitly obeyed, there will be no
trouble and no bloodshed."

"Beg pardon, sir," said Garry. "If we are laying down and you explode
the shell, we'll be at a disadvantage, losing precious seconds in
springing