y a sharp command from the shore. An officer and
three soldiers, one of whom held a lantern, stood on the bank.

Ned had expected that they would be stopped. These were revolutionary
times and people could not go in or out of the city unnoticed.
Particularly was La Viga guarded. He knew that his fate now rested with
Benito Igarritos and his wife Juana, but he trusted them. The officer
was peremptory, but the bergantin was most innocent in appearance.
Merely a humble vegetable boat returning down La Viga after a successful
day in the city. "Your family?" Ned heard the officer say to Benito, as
he flashed the lantern in turn upon every one.

Taciturn, like most men of the oppressed races, Benito nodded, while his
wife sat silent in her great red and yellow reboso. Ned leaned
carelessly upon the oar, but his face was well hid by the sombrero, and
his heart was throbbing. When the light of the lantern passed over him
he felt as if he were seared by a flame, but the officer had no
suspicion, and with a gruff "Pass on" he withdrew from the bank with his
men. Benito nodded to Ned and they pulled again into the center of La
Viga. Neither spoke. Nor did the woman.

Ned bent on the oar with renewed strength. He felt that the greatest of
his dangers was now passed, and the relief of the spirit brought fresh
strength. The night lightened yet more. He saw on the low banks of the
canal green shrubs and many plants with spikes and thorns. It seemed to
him characteristic of Mexico that nearly everything should have its
spikes and thorns. Through the gray night showed the background of the
distant mountains.

They overtook and passed two other bergantins returning from the city
and they met a third on its way thither with vegetables for the morning
market. Benito knew the owners and exchanged a brief word with everyone
as he passed. Ned pulled silently at his oar.

When it was far past midnight Ned felt a cool breeze rising. Benito
began to unfurl the sail.

"You have pulled well, young senor," he said to Ned, "but the oar is
needed no more. Now the wind will work for us. You will sleep and Carlos
will help me."

He awoke the elder of the two boys. Ned was so tired that his arms
ached, and he was glad to rest. He wrapped his heavy serape about
himself, lay down on the bottom of the boat, pillowed his head on his
arm, and went to sleep.

When he awoke, it was day and they were floating on a broad sheet of
shallow water, which h