gave
Hugh a prod in the shoulder with the point of a knife and Durgan
swore volubly.

"None o' that thar, Harry!" he warned. "Don't hurt the kid. If you
do, we'll-----"

"Aw, shut up!" retorted the other, and they hurried on.

By great effort Hugh said nothing, asked no questions, did not even
answer the wolf-call. Instinct told him it would be better to do as
his captors had ordered, and now he pretended to feel resigned to his
fate---knowing that help was forthcoming.

As they went on, sounds of a lively scuffle reached his ears, and he
could also hear the dull booming of surf, by which he knew that he
could be at no great distance from the shore. Behind him, evidently
following, again sounded the wolf-call, giving him courage and renewed
hope.

Durgan turned to him angrily.

"What made you jump when you heard that thar howl?" he demanded.

"Nothing. Where---where are we going?" Hugh ventured to ask, at
length, forgetting that he was not to utter a word of protest. "I'm
dog-tired, and my knee aches---a sprain, I guess."

"You lie!" retorted Mole fiercely, and he struck Hugh across the
mouth.

"You'll soon have time enough to rest yourself, youngster," added
Durgan in a kinder tone. "You're in luck that things ain't no worse
for you."

But Hugh scarcely heard; at any rate, he paid no heed. Boiling
with rage at the insult, he gave one shout: "Billy! This way,
scouts!" and struggling desperately, he managed to slip from his
captors' grasp.

In another minute he had whirled around and was running as fast as
he could put foot to the ground.

To his surprise, Mole and Durgan did not chase him. When he paused
for an instant to rub his bruised knee and to look around, he dimly
saw them in the distance running to a spot where a crowd of men
were pushing and struggling to get into a boat.

Presently he discerned a larger body of men hastening to the place,
and in the dim light of the moon he saw that they were soldiers and
seamen.

While he stood lost in wonderment, Uncertain where to go, he heard
footsteps and familiar voices near. He gave the call of his old
patrol, and Billy answered it immediately.

The next minute, Billy rushed into view, and the two chums were
reunited in a vigorous bear-hug of sheer, silent rejoicing. They
found words at last.

"Billy, old scout, I was beginning to think I might never see you
again!"

"You were? Why, Hugh, I'd have looked for you from here to Yucat