the
former to confiscate it.

At any moment he expected to find that the men whom he was following
were returning to the beach to join their comrades; but evidently
they had received strict orders to go straight to the cabins, for
they went on, and he followed them. Now he availed himself of all
the knowledge of stalking and trailing which he had gained in
scoutcraft games at Pioneer Camp.

Which party, the soldiers or the smugglers, would succeed in their
object seemed doubtful. The darkness was intense, and though Billy
pictured 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 forms of the men he was following had disappeared from view.
This did not discourage him, for he was used to following a trail in
the dark.

Still he stumbled onward, forgetting that bullets flying about were
no respecters of persons.

At last he reached the top of a low mound whence he could see dimly
a number of dark figures scurrying hither and thither. From their
actions and from the babel of shouts, commands, oaths and shooting
that came from the little clearing around the huts, he judged that
they were engaged in a determined struggle.

That the soldiers were having the best of it, he had no doubt. It
appeared to him that they had captured not only part of the intended
cargo but also some of Bego's men; while others, bolder villains,
seemed to be trying to rescue their comrades.

In his rejoicing over this turn of affairs, he gave a yell of
triumph---and just at that moment a bullet whizzed over his shoulder,
almost searing his neck! The yell quavered on his lips, and he
dropped down on his knees, which were trembling and knocking together.

"Whew! that came pretty close to yours truly!" said Billy, speaking
aloud as if he expected some one to hear him. "That's what might be
called being 'under fire,' and I don't like the sensation---not by a
long shot!"

Even in moments of danger or of distress, Billy managed to see the
funny side of circumstances. He grinned now at his little joke, but
all the while he was intently scanning the scene before him and
wondering if he would be drawn into taking part in it. Also, he was
anxious to know where his friends were at that moment. Would they
join in the fray?

Suddenly his eager gaze was shifted to a new quarter. He stared,
wide-eyed and breathless.

Out of the night, running like mad along