"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—"