an
and back again, twenty times over, by sea and land, before I'd give
up!" cried Billy, forgetting in his enthusiasm how near he had come
to the verge of despair.

"I'm dying to know whatever happened to you," he added. "But here
come the rest of the bunch; so you'll have to tell all of us your
story."

"It's soon told," said Hugh; and after joyful greetings had been
exchanged, he told them all that had happened to him since his
unlucky morning stroll to the hut on the far-away beach.

In their turn, they related the events of their search for him, and
described the fight around the cabin in which he had so lately been a
prisoner.

"And there's the end of the fight now," said Norton, pointing to
the group of combatants and to a boat manned by five oarsmen who
were putting out to sea. "Look! There they go!---all of them
who managed to escape No! By Jove, the boat's coming back to
shore! I suppose Uncle Sam's men threatened to shoot the rascals
if they didn't come back."

"Serves 'em right!" said Chester.

"Let's go over there and watch proceedings," urged Alec.

"I second the motion!" Hugh declared, eager to see the latest
developments.

So without further discussion, they hurried over to the place, and
were in time to witness the capture of Bego and his gang.

* * * * * * *

By morning, a sullen company of prisoners was put aboard the _Petrel_
and conveyed southward to Key West for trial.

The interval between their capture and the departure of the revenue
cutter was spent in putting out the fire near Durgan's cove, all
that remained of the three adjoining shanties being a heap of
charred logs and wind-swept ashes. Durgan's motor boat was fastened
by means of a long cable to the aft rail of the _Arrow_, which
was commissioned to tow it to a wharf at Charlotte Harbor, where
it would be delivered to a brother of the smuggler. This brother,
a thoroughly honest fisherman, was well known to Captain Vinton.

Bego's ship, the _Esperanza_, remained at anchor off the cove.
Arrangements were made for its safe delivery at Charlotte Harbor,
as soon as a suitable crew could be sent to convey it to that haven.

Hoping that his presence might not be required at the trial, though
fully resigned to the probability of having to attend it, Hugh wrote
out and signed a full statement of his experiences with the outlaws.

This paper was also signed by Norton, Captain Vinton, and Lieutenant
Drisco