Part 10 (2/2)

Hugh tried to ascertain in what direction they were leading him, but he soon gave this up as useless. He was on the verge of despair, when suddenly out of the gloom came a startlingly familiar call---the call of the Wolf patrol.

”_Wow-ow-ooo-oooo-hoo-Hugh!_”

It sounded not far away, on his left, and the lad's heart bounded with joy. He knew that that call could come from none other than Billy Worth, and Billy must therefore be near at hand, ready to lead his comrades to Hugh's rescue.

For one wild moment he was tempted to answer the call---then discretion prevailed, and he kept silence.

Naturally, the two men also were startled at the sound. Mole gave Hugh a prod in the shoulder with the point of a knife and Durgan swore volubly.

”None o' that thar, Harry!” he warned. ”Don't hurt the kid. If you do, we'll-----”

”Aw, shut up!” retorted the other, and they hurried on.

By great effort Hugh said nothing, asked no questions, did not even answer the wolf-call. Instinct told him it would be better to do as his captors had ordered, and now he pretended to feel resigned to his fate---knowing that help was forthcoming.

As they went on, sounds of a lively scuffle reached his ears, and he could also hear the dull booming of surf, by which he knew that he could be at no great distance from the sh.o.r.e. Behind him, evidently following, again sounded the wolf-call, giving him courage and renewed hope.

Durgan turned to him angrily.

”What made you jump when you heard that thar howl?” he demanded.

”Nothing. Where---where are we going?” Hugh ventured to ask, at length, forgetting that he was not to utter a word of protest. ”I'm dog-tired, and my knee aches---a sprain, I guess.”

”You lie!” retorted Mole fiercely, and he struck Hugh across the mouth.

”You'll soon have time enough to rest yourself, youngster,” added Durgan in a kinder tone. ”You're in luck that things ain't no worse for you.”

But Hugh scarcely heard; at any rate, he paid no heed. Boiling with rage at the insult, he gave one shout: ”Billy! This way, scouts!” and struggling desperately, he managed to slip from his captors' grasp.

In another minute he had whirled around and was running as fast as he could put foot to the ground.

To his surprise, Mole and Durgan did not chase him. When he paused for an instant to rub his bruised knee and to look around, he dimly saw them in the distance running to a spot where a crowd of men were pus.h.i.+ng and struggling to get into a boat.

Presently he discerned a larger body of men hastening to the place, and in the dim light of the moon he saw that they were soldiers and seamen.

While he stood lost in wonderment, Uncertain where to go, he heard footsteps and familiar voices near. He gave the call of his old patrol, and Billy answered it immediately.

The next minute, Billy rushed into view, and the two chums were reunited in a vigorous bear-hug of sheer, silent rejoicing. They found words at last.

”Billy, old scout, I was beginning to think I might never see you again!”

”You were? Why, Hugh, I'd have looked for you from here to Yucatan and back again, twenty times over, by sea and land, before I'd give up!” cried Billy, forgetting in his enthusiasm how near he had come to the verge of despair.

”I'm dying to know whatever happened to you,” he added. ”But here come the rest of the bunch; so you'll have to tell all of us your story.”

”It's soon told,” said Hugh; and after joyful greetings had been exchanged, he told them all that had happened to him since his unlucky morning stroll to the hut on the far-away beach.

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