gliding almost noiselessly
along one of the waterways. The occupants of the boat were Billy
Worth and Dave. Reaching the place, they stopped the engine, ran the
boat's nose into the soft bank, and sprang ashore.

"Where---how----did you get it?" asked Norton in surprise.

"The boat? Oh, we just borrowed it from Joe Durgan and his friends!"
Billy declared. "We saw the boat tied to a little trestle over there
at the deserted settlement, and when we saw Durgan and two other men
go into one of the cabins, we sneaked up quickly and took the boat
from them without asking permission and got away with it!"

"Didn't they see you, or hear the engine?"

"No," answered Billy.

"That's strange! Are you sure?"

"There were no windows in the cabin, that we could see," explained
Billy, "and when they got inside, they made a lot of noise."

"Gee! won't they be wild when they find their boat gone!" said Mark.

"They may think it slipped its moorings and drifted away on the tide.
At least, that's what Dave says."

The Seminole grinned. "Anyhow, they look for boat soon," he said.
"Something doin' tonight, you bet!"

Alec had risen and was standing erect, his face turned toward the ocean.

"What are you staring at?" queried chester. "See any stars?"

"There's just one," replied young Sands, pointing southwest. "Mighty
low down---there! Now it's out."

"No, it isn't. I see it!"

"So do I!" exclaimed Billy and Norton.

"There it is again!"

"What a queer star!"

"Perhaps it's a lighthouse. Captain Vinton said that there is one
somewhere near this locality."

The sky was cloudy; there was no moon. Overhead, a few large stars
glittered brilliantly, but the seeming star at which they were gazing
was unlike any of those celestial lights. It steadily grew larger,
yellower. Finally two lower gleams appeared, and then all three
vanished, as if they had been snuffed out.

"What is it?" asked Norton, turning to Dave.

But the Seminole guide apparently did not hear the question. He was
staring in the direction of the three cabins, whence arose in the
murky darkness a shower of sparks, then one---two----three shooting
green stars.

"Look!" he exclaimed hoarsely.

"By Jove! a Roman candle!" ejaculated Norton. "It's a signal!"

"No star out to sea," Dave said. "No star, but um boat."

"Boat? You mean-----"

"_Esperanza_! She come here to-night."

CHAPTER VIII

THE BLAZING BEACON

Had it bee