ngly separated, and started in different directions.

Frank and his party, which consisted of Harry and Ben, threaded their
way through the garden, and across a meadow, until they arrived
opposite Mr. Butler's mill. Here they crossed the road, and, after a
careful reconnoissance, entered the willows, and crawled, almost on
their hands and knees, toward the boat-house. At length they arrived
at the place where they were to meet their companions, but nothing was
to be seen or heard of them.

"I hope they have not been taken prisoners," whispered Frank.

"I don't think they have," said Ben, "because we should have heard
something of it. They are not the ones to give up without a struggle.
But I don't see any thing of the spies."

"Neither do I," said Harry. "They must be around the other side of the
boat-house."

"If they are there," said Frank, "we will soon make them show
themselves."

And, as he spoke, he seized a branch above his head, and shook it
violently.

"Oh, that's no way," whispered Harry, excitedly; "you will frighten
the--"

"--sh! there they are!" said Frank.

And, as he spoke, the smugglers saw a boy come cautiously around the
corner of the boat-house. He gazed impatiently toward the willows, and
uttered a low whistle.

Frank instantly answered it, and the boy came down the bank, and said,
in a low voice,

"Come out here, Jim. I thought you would never relieve us. No signs of
the smugglers yet--"

"You must be mistaken," said Frank, springing lightly from his
concealment; and, before the coast-guard could recover from his
surprise, he found himself a prisoner.

"Don't make any noise," said Frank. "Where's your companion? There
must be two of you."

"Yes, there is another one," answered the prisoner. "Ned Wilbur is
around the other side of the boat-house."

"Well, Ben," said Frank, "if you will watch this fellow, Harry and I
will see what we can do for Ned."

So saying, he went carefully around one side of the boat-house, and
Harry disappeared around the other. Frank reached the end of the house
first, and discovered the coast-guard standing in the door-way, as
motionless as a statue. He was waiting for Harry to make his
appearance at the opposite end, when the sentinel suddenly uttered an
ejaculation of surprise, and bounded up the bank; but, just as he
reached the top, a dark form, which seemed to rise out of the ground,
clasped the fleeting coast-guard in its arms, and a voice, whic