"How's the time running along, I wonder?" was Noll's next thought. Hal drew his watch from a pocket, laid it on the ground, and struck a match, screening the blaze with his hands. "We've nearly an hour yet," Overton answered. "I don't know but we'd better go back before we have to," ventured Noll. "Hullo, there's a boat out there, putting in this way." Though neither of the boys knew it some of the glow of the burning match had been visible in the darkness out on the water, and this boat was coming in answer to a fancied signal. "I'm going to watch that boat a bit," whispered Hal in his chum's ear. "Why?" "Well, I don't believe it has any right to land here at night. Any boatman here on honest business ought to go around to the dock, I think." "Pooh!" breathed Noll. "Don't make any noise, anyway." It was very dark, but the rookies could see a small rowboat head into the beach just a little way below them. There was one man in the boat, and he promptly sounded a low, cautious whistle. It was answered from behind the young recruits, somewhere. Then the sound of steps. Some one was approaching, and the boatman, standing up in his craft, listened, then called in a low voice: "That you, Sim?" "Yep." "Good!" answered the boatman. "I got your word, 'phoned from New York. I've got cit clothes for you in the boat, also a weight to sink your uniform with, when you make the change." Now the newcomer trod down straight past the place of concealment of the boys. Something in his figure was wholly familiar. "Why, that's Corporal Shrimp!" called Hal, springing up and running down toward the shore. Noll followed his chum on the instant, both arriving at once. "Well, what do you rookies want here?" demanded Shrimp, turning upon them with an oath. "I guess we're here on duty," clicked Hal resolutely. "You're supposed to be in arrest, Corporal, and here you are leaving the post on the sly!" "I'm out of arrest, and on duty. Stand aside!" snarled Shrimp, his look becoming very ugly. "Is it a kind of duty that calls for you to sneak away in this fashion, put on citizen's clothes, and sink your uniform in the bay?" demanded Private Overton mockingly. "If you tell me that, Corporal, I don't believe you." Corporal Shrimp uttered another ugly oath. Then, with a flashing movement, he drew a service revolver from under his blouse and thrust the muzzle almost in Private Overton's face. CHAPTER VII WHEN THE GUARD CAME "LOOK out, Sim Shrimp!" called the boatman quickly, warningly. For, while Hal had stood looking gamely at the revolver, Noll Terry had side-stepped, and now leaped at the corporal. Whack! Noll struck up the glinting barrel of the weapon. Private Overton, seeming to move in the same instant, leaped forward in front. Bang! The revolver was discharged, but harmlessly into the air, as both rookies tackled the corporal and bore him to the ground. "Help, here, Bill!" cried Shrimp, as he found himself going over backward.