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, which Frank recognized as William Johnson’s, said, in a low whisper,

“You’re my prisoner!”

“It’s just my luck,” said the crest-fallen sentinel, bitterly, as William led him down the bank.  “I told Charley Sheldon that we would be sure to be gobbled up if we were stationed here.  Now, I suppose, you want me to tell all our plans.”

“No, we don’t,” answered Harry; “we know all your plans already.”

By this time the smugglers had all come in, and, holding fast to their captives, they held a consultation, in which it was decided that it would be best to reconnoiter before attempting to leave the creek.  It was very dark, and not a sound broke the stillness of the night; but the smugglers were too cunning to believe that the coast was clear, for they knew that the enemy would resort to every possible means to effect their capture.

Three of the smugglers were directed to get into Mr. Butler’s yawl, taking one of the prisoners with them, and drop down to the mouth of Glen’s Creek, and note the position of the enemy there; and Frank and the other boys stepped into the skiff, and started up toward Ducks’ Creek, to ascertain the condition of affairs, taking Ned with them.  They pulled rapidly, but noiselessly, along, and had almost reached the creek, when a strong, cheery voice, directly before them, called out,

“Boat ahoy!”

“There,” whispered Harry, “we’re discovered.”

“No, I guess not,” said Frank.  “Ned,” he continued, turning to the prisoner, “you must talk for us.  Answer them.”

“Ay, ay, sir,” shouted Ned, in reply to the hail.

“What boat is that?”

“Dispatch boat,” answered Ned, prompted by Frank; “and we bring orders for you to pull down and join the fleet, which is now blockading the mouth of Glen’s Creek.”