ned at the
fort---sallied forth against "Bego's gang." It was decided not to go
on board the _Petrel_ for the few miles' trip back along the coast,
but to use the _Arrow_, instead; for the latter would not be so
easily recognized by the smugglers.

"No doubt they'll have pickets posted at different points near
Durgan's settlement, if, as we suspect, they have a rendezvous
there," said Lieutenant Driscoll. "But we'll camp tonight on
Palmetto Key, cross over to the shore the first thing to-morrow
morning-----"

"Before daylight?"

"Of course; and then we'll land on 'em, hot-and-heavy. I count on
their trying to ship a cargo to-morrow night, when there'll be no
moon."

"I understand," said Norton. "Will you permit me to make a suggestion,
Lieutenant Driscoll?"

"By all means, my dear sir. What is it?"

"Well, the fact that you mentioned their pickets gave me an idea that
it would be well if you sent some of us,---say these scouts and myself,
for instance,---over to the mainland to-night to act as pickets for
you fellows encamped on Palmetto Key."

"An excellent idea! But how do you propose to communicate with us,
in case there should be anything doing to-night?"

"By means of bonfires on the shore, or by wig-wagging with torches."

"I thought you would say that!" exclaimed the lieutenant heartily.

"You mean---you don't approve of that part of the plan?"

Lieutenant Driscoll laughed.

"Oh, not at all! That is, I meant only that I was pleased to discover
a civilian who knows anything about signaling."

Amused at the lieutenant's patronizing comment, Norton merely smiled
in his good-natured way, though he would fain have answered more
sharply. Alec and Billy glanced at him and then at each other, and
Alec whispered:

"I guess the lieutenant doesn't know that Boy Scouts are expected to
be pretty efficient signalers, does he, Bill?"

To which Billy responded with a snort:

"What he doesn't know would fill a book!"

Fortunately these remarks were not heard by anyone but Dave, for the
lieutenant and Norton were arranging a system of signals to be used
in case of necessity. Meanwhile, with Vinton at the helm, and the
men of Driscoll's company crowded on the deck of the sloop talking
with the other scouts, the trim little _Arrow_ was making good speed
over the blue water. Billy and Alec walked restlessly up and down
the deck, their minds busy with thoughts of Hugh, for whom they felt
no little anxi