The shot was followed by two or three others in quick succession.

This made him more than ever eager to find out what was happening.  He doubled his speed.  Fortunately, by mere chance, he had stumbled upon the very stretch of ground which he and Dave had traversed earlier in the day; the trail was fairly good, and he knew just how to proceed.

All this while he had not seen a single person, and he had not been seen by any of the smugglers.

After a few minutes he heard more shots sounding much nearer, then shouts and hoarse yells, mingled with the sharp staccato of pistols and rifles.  He felt sure that by this time the soldiers under Lieutenant Driscoll had come up and were having a lively fight with the outlaws, the latter trying to defend their property, and the former to confiscate it.

At any moment he expected to find that the men whom he was following were returning to the beach to join their comrades; but evidently they had received strict orders to go straight to the cabins, for they went on, and he followed them.  Now he availed himself of all the knowledge of stalking and trailing which he had gained in scoutcraft games at Pioneer Camp.

Which party, the soldiers or the smugglers, would succeed in their object seemed doubtful.  The darkness was intense, and though Billy pictured the whole scene, as yet he could not see anything except an occasional spurt of flame as a revolver or rifle spat viciously.  Even the forms of the men he was following had disappeared from view.  This did not discourage him, for he was used to following a trail in the dark.

Still he stumbled onward, forgetting that bullets flying about were no respecters of persons.

At last he reached the top of a low mound whence he could see dimly a number of dark figures scurrying hither and thither.  From their actions and from the babel of shouts, commands, oaths and shooting that came from the little clearing around the huts, he judged that they were engaged in a determined struggle.

That the soldiers were having the best of it, he had no doubt.  It appeared to him that they had captured not only part of the intended cargo but also some of Bego’s men; while others, bolder villains, seemed to be trying to rescue their comrades.

In his rejoicing over this turn of affairs, he gave a yell of triumph—–­and just at that moment a bullet whizzed over his shoulder, almost searing his neck!  The yell quavered on his lips, and he dropped down on his knees, which were trembling and knocking together.

“Whew! that came pretty close to yours truly!” said Billy, speaking aloud as if he expected some one to hear him.  “That’s what might be called being ‘under fire,’ and I don’t like the sensation—–­not by a long shot!”

Even in moments of danger or of distress, Billy managed to see the funny side of circumstances.  He grinned now at his little joke, but all the while he was intently scanning the scene before him and wondering if he would be drawn into taking part in it.  Also, he was anxious to know where his friends were at that moment.  Would they join in the fray?