The vessels of the squadron, with the exception of the division stationed at the foot of Reynard’s Island, were anchored in a semicircle directly before the mouth of Glen’s Creek, from which it was expected that the Alert would start.  Each sloop was manned by two boys, and the schooners had a crew of four.  Every one stood at his post, and was ready to move at the word.

“They meant to be ready for us, didn’t they?” asked Frank.  “I wonder if they thought we would be foolish enough to send the Alert out of this creek, in the face of all those boats?”

“I don’t know,” answered Ben.  “I suppose they thought—­See there! there goes the Champion.”

Frank looked down the river, and saw that the stanch little sloop had already run the blockade, and was standing boldly toward the island.  Her appearance was sudden and wholly unexpected and several of the coast-guards sprang to their feet, and a dozen sails were half-way up the mast in a twinkling; but, as soon as they discovered that it was not the Alert, they quickly returned to their posts, and, in a moment, all the bustle and confusion was over.

The eye of every boy in the squadron was now directed toward Glen’s Creek, expecting, every moment, to see the schooner round the point.

The Champion had accomplished, perhaps, half the distance across the river, when the Alert suddenly shot from Ducks’ Creek, and, hauling around before the wind, ran in between two of the blockading fleet, so close as to almost graze them, and stood toward the foot of the island.

As soon as the coast-guards could recover from their surprise, Charles shouted,

“Up anchor—­quick!”

The next moment he called out,

“Jim, take your division, and creep down the shore of the island, and be ready to catch her there, if she gets away from us.”

For a few moments there was a “great hurrying” among the coast-guards.  The anchors were drawn up with a jerk, the sails flew up the masts, and the little fleet bore rapidly down upon the smuggler.

As soon as Frank saw that the race had fairly begun, he exclaimed,

“Now’s our time, Ben!”

They ran back to their boat, and hastily shoved from the shore, and the Speedwell, making good her name, was soon plowing the river, in the direction of the island.

So intent were the coast-guards upon catching the Alert, that they thought of nothing else; and Frank rounded the head of the island, and landed, without being discovered.

Meanwhile, George and Harry were leading their pursuers a long chase.  Under their skillful management—­standing first on one tack and then on the other—­they had succeeded in outmaneuvering several of the swiftest-sailing vessels in the squadron.

Two or three small sloops had succeeded in getting between the Alert and the island; but Harry, who was at the helm, did not deem them worthy a moment’s notice.  He was confident that his schooner, by her superior sailing qualities, would soon leave these behind also.