indicated by the blue flare. Bursting into a full run, he sped towards
the spot, at the same time breaking in on several sentries
unobtrusively posted about the grounds where the raiders had departed.


"Scatter lads!" he ordered. "Hurry! Spies at work! Halt any one you
see, no matter who! Bring 'em in!"

Never halting in his race, he made directly for the spot whence the
flare of the rocket had gone up. As he neared the trees, the sounds of
a child's voice came to his ears, just inside the grove. It was
remonstrating to some one.

"D -- don't, papa! I -- I want to get the pieces. My! Wasn't it
pretty --"

Another voice, hoarse, gruff, stopped the childish words, but what it
said was indistinguishable. Byers looked around. Two of his sentries
were near, all of them running.

"Did you hear that child?" queried the captain. "Scatter! Don't let
either child or the grow one escape. Be spry! Watch out!"

As Byers uttered the last exclamation, a running figure emerged from
the shadow of the nearer trees and started full tilt towards the
quarters where the cook's galley was. All three, running hard had
slightly scattered, in order to intercept the fugitive should he try to
dodge amid the various buildings.