vicinity.

One seemed to be the boss of the lot. He was an unusually big man, with
a way of striking his fist into the palm of his other hand that told of
authority. His face was covered with a heavy black beard that gave him a
sinister appearance. Indeed, as Jack admitted to himself, put this man
in some of the queer garments of the old times, when Kidd flourished
along the Atlantic seacoast, and he would make an ideal buccaneer. His
face was cruel, his manner that of a tyrant, and besides he seemed to be
carrying a whole arsenal of weapons around with him.

Jimmy lay there, with his neck stretched to a fearful extent, for he was
bound to see whatever was going on around him. He was possibly sizing
this giant up, and trying to decide in his own mind, whether the dead
ever do come back to revisit the scenes of their long-past triumphs and
struggles; and if so, could this man with the hair all over his face be
the noted Blackbeard?

Just then Ned gave a low signal. It was only the chirp of a cricket, and
might pass unnoticed by any one not in the secret; but Jack and the
other three scouts understood what it meant.

Ned was warning them to be careful and duck their heads again, because
he fancied the men were about to start their way.

Hardly had the boys flattened themselves out again, than they heard the
crunch of passing footsteps. It was lucky that the three strangers chose
to pass by on the beach, as the walking was better there than close to
the trees. Because of this fact the presence of the concealed
adventurers was not discovered; and to their satisfaction the party
passed by.

Each scout had gripped his gun, as he shut his jaws hard together, under
the belief that discovery was very close. Had it come they would be
compelled to spring out and try to hold up the trio of desperate looking
characters. Such men will, as a rule, manifest a disposition to fight
"at the drop of the hat;" and Ned, therefore, was just as well satisfied
to see their backs. They were not up there to do any fighting if it
could possibly be avoided. The rules of the organization to which they
belonged positively forbade their seeking trouble along such lines;
though allowing scouts the privilege of defending themselves if
attacked, and there seemed to be no honorable way of escaping without a
fight.

"What's the next word, governor?" whispered Jimmy, his voice trembling
with the nervous tension.

The men had by now gone far enough