midnight
In spite of his shrewd guess , Norton began to believe that the smugglers , having come to the conclusion that their bonfire was not necessary , after all -- because they fondly imagined the _ Petrel _ was far away down the coast -- would waste no more time trying to attract the cutter to that spot , but would proceed boldly , under cover of darkness , to run their goods from the cabins to the _ Esperanza _ . Such seemed to be Bego 's decision , also ; for as Roy , Billy , and Alec drew nearer , they heard the swarthy leader directing most of his men to `` shoulder arms and march over to Durgan 's headquarters . '' Presently the group near the bonfire was diminished by the departure of eight or nine men , who picked their way gingerly over the uneven ground , muttering directions to one another as they went Billy could hardly restrain his impulse to follow them . At one time they passed so close to the ambushed pickets that the latter could distinguish the words `` after midnight '' and `` set the boy loose . '' `` They 're talking about Hugh , '' said Billy to himself , and his heart beat fast with excitement . The words gave him assurance that his chum was alive , which was some comfort . `` I think I 'll just have to follow them , '' he mused a few moments later ; and telling Norton and Alec that he would be back very soon , he slipped away , trailing Bego 's men , before Norton could prevent him from going .