est he betray their plans.
With this idea in mind, he was determined to bring the revenue cutter
to Hugh's rescue; he knew the _Petrel_ could cope with the situation.

By an unlooked-for stroke of fortune, he had not gone very far down
the coast before he sighted the cutter, and soon he brought the
_Arrow_ within hailing distance. He communicated the news to the
officers on board, and a sort of council of war took place
immediately. Together, they were not long in forming a plan of
reprisal.

It was decided that they should proceed forthwith to a small fortress
a few miles southward, where a squad of regulars was stationed. The
place was called Fort Leigh, but it scarcely deserved the name, being
in reality only a temporary camp located on the site of an old
fortification which had been a military headquarters during the
Seminole wars. Its nearness to the vicinity in which, according to
the _Petrel's_ reliable information, the smugglers were operating was
the reason why all decided to go there for assistance.

Lieutenant Driscoll was in command at the fort and he could be counted
on to bring the smugglers to terms.

"Why, it's the most high-handed piece of knavery I've heard of for
many a long day!" he exclaimed when the information formation was
brought to him by Vinton and the others. "Those scoundrels must have
their nerve, all right, to kidnap a young fellow merely because they
didn't want him to tell tales!"

"It's an outrage!" agreed Norton emphatically. "But we've got to get
busy right away, Lieutenant. What are we going to do about it?"

"You're right. We must lose no time," replied Driscoll directly.
"We'll set out this very hour and invade the haunts of gang. They're
not many miles from here, I'm told, hiding in the Everglades. Come
with me; I'll have my men ready in half an hour.

"You boys'll go along, of course," he added. "If we have to pitch
camp for a night or two, while we're hunting them, we'll need you
for signalers or scouts, or for picket duty."

"Picket duty?" echoed Chester.

"Yes, both in camp and along the line of march. I presume you all
are willing to serve?"

"Yes, sir; we certainly are!" came the eager chorus. Then, abashed
at their lack of military formality, the speakers saluted in more
soldierly fashion and stood at attention, awaiting orders.

These were soon given, and after a hurried preparation the whole
party---with the exception of three privates who remai