CHAPTER X.

ESTABLISHING THE SIGNAL RELAY.

The seven scouts were soon moving along the beach, headed north. They quickly lost sight of the single light aboard the cruiser and to some of them this seemed like the cutting of all communications with their allies. From that time on they must count every one ashore as an enemy who would betray them if given half a chance.

When two miles or more had probably been passed over, Hugh began to pay strict attention to the landmarks as they opened up. The stars overhead gave abundant light on the beach for them to see fairly well where they were going. On the right the soft murmur of the little wavelets rolling up the pebbly strand, so new a sound to these lads from the interior, was like sweet music in their ears. On the left lay sand dunes that were like great Indian mounds, and which might conceal any number of spies should the defenders of the coast fort have thought it worth while to send them out in order to keep watch for the coming of the enemy; Hugh hoped this would not prove to be the case.

Several times the boys had little scares. An owl that had been prowling in search of food close to the water’s edge suddenly flew off with a rush, and went winnowing its way to the nearby woods. Then a little later on some small animal scurried away, none of them being able to identify it positively in the uncertain light, although Hugh guessed it might have been a fox that had wandered down in hopes of picking up something worth eating.

These were small matters, it is true, but with the nerves of the scouts on edge, as it were, they served to keep them thrilled with anticipations of possible discovery. Hugh redoubled his caution when the second mile had been passed over. He knew that they were now getting near the shore front. If by the use of marine glasses the commander in charge had been able to pick up the distant _Vixen_ before the shades of night had enveloped her advance, he would of course have his men use double vigilance in order that the fortunes of war might not be decided against them by the Naval Reserve capturing his post.

Here was where the knowledge obtained from the chart on board came in handy for Hugh. He was able at any time to know just where they had arrived, and to understand the situation ahead.

The scouts were now advancing very slowly, bringing into use many of the little tricks they had learned when playing the Indian game in the woods. It was easy work making their way along the open beach. Hugh had now taken them away from the water so as to secure more or less protection from the trees further back. Here they felt more at home, and the forward movement was kept up steadily, minute after minute.

Then finally the scout master discovered that just ahead of them there lay a peculiar formation of rocks. It ran all the way down to the water, and further out, until lost to sight under the sea. This line of ragged rocks had all the characteristics of a reef, only that it did not agree with the conformation of the coast as most reefs do.

Here was the place that had been selected for the clever work of the signal corps on the morrow. The scouts were to hide amidst these rocks until dawn allowed the leaders to spy upon the fort with the field glasses they had brought along for the purpose.

An hour or so before daybreak three of their number were to start back along the beach to take up positions which had been pointed out by the scout master while they were making their advance. These were to remain constantly on the watch for any signals which might come in the shape of the semaphore alphabet, wigwag work, or through the use of a piece of broken mirror, with which each fellow had been armed before leaving the ship, and which, in case of the sun shining, was to be used as a means of sending messages along the line.

Should Hugh deem it safe to wave the white flag with its red square in the center, he would expect that method to be put in practice, but as this would mean more or less exposure on the beach, possibly it could not be used.

It was with more or less thankfulness that he led his scouts into the clump of rocks where they meant to make themselves as comfortable as the conditions would allow. Here they could move around even after day came, so long as they kept themselves from being seen by those in the fort. Doubtless, the garrison would have numerous duties to perform, and beyond keeping a fairly smart lookout for signs of an advancing suspicious vessel, it would not go to any further trouble.

It was far from comfortable, though, sitting on those hard rocks, but the boys made themselves believe that they were enjoying themselves hugely. They could only converse in whispers, and Hugh even cautioned them against doing too much of this, so that the time hung heavy on their hands.

As they had all had considerable experience in roughing it at various times, they finally settled down in the softest places they could find near together, and managed to secure some sleep, though it came in what Billy termed “cat naps.”

Hugh himself did not expect to get any rest. The whole success or failure of the enterprise depended pretty much upon him. At least he would be held responsible for any lapse that spelled defeat for the bold mariners from the _Vixen_, when they attempted on another night to get close to the fort in order that they could command its unconditional surrender with the coming of dawn.

So the anxious scout master kept moving about much of the time. He would crawl to a certain spot he had selected near the crest of the ridge of rocks, and from which he was able to see the lights of the fort. Here he expected in the morning to take observations through his powerful glasses, and when the sun was suitable transmit any important intelligence he had gleaned along to the scout next in line. In turn the latter would pass it on until finally it was received aboard the war vessel by Blake Merton, the entire work having been done by scouts.

Midnight came and went with all being well.

By now the other fellows seemed to have sunk into a sound sleep, and this impressed Hugh so much that he tried his best to follow their example. But the excitement under which he labored was so intense that while he secured some comfort from stretching out at full length and closing his eyes, not for a single minute was he able to forget himself.

Long practice in camping out in the woods at night had enabled Hugh to tell successfully what the time might be from observing the stars in their never-ceasing march toward the western horizon. When the young moon went down it had been a few minutes after ten. That was nearly three hours ago, as it must now be close on one o’clock. As daylight could not be looked for until somewhere near half-past four he knew there were still three more hours for him to lie around, first on one side until that felt sore, and then turning on the other for a change.

When another hour had passed Hugh aroused three of the scouts, these being the fellows who were to take up their stations as arranged on the back trail, and relay each message as it came along. Perhaps there was really little necessity for doing this, but Hugh believed in making things doubly sure. If one of the signal senders failed to receive properly the message, the next in line would likely have read it correctly, and could relay it on.

There was another hour or so to wait after Sam, Walter and Billy had been dispatched to their posts. Hugh allowed the rest to sleep on. He stood watch, and cast many anxious glances toward the east where the first faint flush of dawn would finally make itself manifest.

He knew that the _Vixen_ would have slipped her anchor, and gone further down the coast before then, to take up a new anchorage at a place where the conformation of the land promised to hide her presence from the watchers at the fort. The scout who was located at the most southerly station would thus still be in position to communicate with those aboard.

Once Hugh had been greatly tempted to sally forth under cover of darkness, and approach closer to the unseen fort, urged by the impression that he might be lucky enough to pick up valuable information in some fashion.

On second thought, however, he decided that his orders did not contemplate any such rash movement. If in taking such a hazard he were discovered and made a prisoner of war, of course all hope of taking the garrison by surprise must be abandoned, and the game would go against the Naval Reserve men.

Hugh had learned how scout law meant implicit compliance with orders, and that under such conditions nothing should be attempted beyond the bare reading of the duties as set forth by the commanding officer. He must crush down any temptation looking to self-elevation, and the desire to engage in an adventure for the sake of enjoying the thrill it might entail.

How slowly the minutes dragged along! Hugh did not remember of ever before being in a position where he almost counted the passing seconds. But it could not be for long, and before daylight came he expected to have the balance of his little band scattered among the rocks. In this way they would run small chances of discovery, even though officers or men from the fort took a notion to cross over to the land reef for some purpose or other during the day.

He had just aroused Alec, Monkey Stallings and Don Miller by a gentle touch and whispered words when he plainly heard the crunch of heavy footfalls approaching.

Whoever it might be, the fact that he was coming from the direction of the unseen fort, and would likely cross the rocky reef just at the point where they happened to be crouching, made matters look serious.

“We will have to capture him, most likely!” Hugh whispered again, for he knew that if they started to creep away there was already enough light with the coming of dawn for them to be seen.

It was supposed that every member of the Coast Artillery in charge of the fortifications beyond knew the rules by which these mock attacks are governed. If they suddenly confronted this enemy, and made a demand for his surrender he must immediately elevate his hands, and refrain from trying to call out so as to warn his comrades of the impending peril. That was one of the rules to be strictly observed on both sides. It meant that the man had unwittingly placed himself in a position where his capture or death at the hands of the hidden foeman could have been easily accomplished, and therefore he must eliminate himself from subsequent events just as though his life had indeed been sacrificed.

Hugh, however, thought that they would do better to leap suddenly upon the other, and get him down before demanding that he surrender. They were only boys, to be sure, but four to one is pretty heavy odds; and besides they would have all the advantage that comes of a surprise.

Nearer came the crunching footsteps. Plainly the party did not seem anxious to take any one unawares, for he walked as though wearing heavy sea boots. Now he was ascending the reef, and the night air blew a whiff of tobacco smoke from his pipe to the nostrils of the crouching scouts. They saw his head, surmounted by a fisherman’s sou’easter hat rise above the ridge, and then he walked straight into their extended arms.

They sprang on him furiously, and Alec, catching his leg adroitly in that of the unknown, by a movement along the jiu-jitsu order as practiced by the Japanese, managed to throw the man over, with every one of the boys clinging to him.

“Surrender!” hissed Hugh, as he poked the man in the ribs with a shell he had picked up. “Not a sound above a whisper, you hear? You’re a prisoner of war, and held in the hands of the enemy!”

“Gosh all hemlock! whatever does this here mean?” gurgled the fallen man; and when he heard him speak, Hugh knew their prisoner was not an artilleryman, but a lobster catcher.