achine slowed
down to their pace. Before they could answer, Scott was out of the car and
had them covered.

"Pachuca, it's no use--we've got you," he called. "Hands up!"

The two Mexicans who evidently understood little English, though the magic
words, "hands up," probably penetrated their darkness, glanced at Pachuca
for orders. The latter turned his horse and rode to the edge of the
arroyo. He was his usual jaunty self, a little travel worn, but not
dulled.

"Senor Scott?" he asked, peering through the dusk. "What do you want?"

Scott paused for a moment, daunted by the other's impudence.

"We want you, Pachuca," said Hard, peremptorily. "Come quietly and don't
force us to use our guns--we don't want to."

Pachuca slid gracefully from his horse and took a few steps nearer the
edge. "What's the trouble?" he demanded. "I won't come over till I know
what you want. We've got our guns, too."

"He's a cool one!" murmured Merriam, admiringly. While Pachuca had drawn
the attention of the Americans by his sudden move in their direction, his
two friends had ridden up behind him and stood with their guns ready for
action. It looked like a deadlock. Scott dropped his gun to his side.

"All right, put up your guns," he said, his voice dangerously calm. "We'll
talk it over."

The Mexicans got the idea if not the words and lowered their weapons.

"You know what I want you for," Scott went on, angrily. "Where is she?"

"She?" Pachuca's assumption of ignorance was masterly. It almost convinced
Hard. "Who do you mean?"

"I mean Miss Street. You've kidnapped her or else your friends in
Mendoza's car have and you're on your way to join them. We want to know
where. Come, you can't get away with it."

"I've not seen the girl since that night at Athens--yes, I saw her
to-night for a moment but I did not speak to her. I am here on business of
my own with these gentlemen. If you have an officer of the law with you
I'll show him my papers. If you haven't, I'll go on. If you shoot, we'll
shoot."

"Anyone would think he had papers," murmured Hard to Merriam.

"Well, mebbe he has. They ain't so hard to get. What I want to know is how
are we going to get him into the car?"

Scott tried to swallow his desire to choke the slim youth on the other
side. "Come, Pachuca," he said, "this won't get you anywhere. Either tell
us where the girl is and go your way, or come over here and fight it
out."

"I don't know where she is. As for f