n the
officer as to the circumstances.

"If you don't believe us," broke in Billie, "you can ask the
officers we left back there by the track."

Donald made a gesture of impatience, which Billie failed to
understand, but which the officer was quick to interpret.

"Officers? Of which army?" he quickly asked.

"Gen. Huerta's."

"Carramba!" exclaimed the officer in command. "Go quick,
corporal, and bring them to me."

Then to Billie: "If you are telling me the truth you have done me
a great favor."

The boys looked surprised.

"How is that?" asked Donald.

"Do you not know that we are of the army of Gen. Carranza?" was
the interrogative reply.

"Why, no!" exclaimed the boys in unison.

"It is true," said the officer. "I am Captain Lopez. Now tell me,
who are you?"

Briefly Donald told of their acquaintance with Gen. Sanchez and
of their adventures of the night before, at which the captain
laughed heartily.

"You are smart boys," he declared.

"And hungry ones," again added Billie.

"You must be. Here, Juan," calling a soldier to him. "Take these
_muchachos_ to the house and feed them. I'll have a look at these
rebels."

"Rebels," said Adrian to Donald under his breath as they walked
toward the house. "Now what do you think of that?"

"That's his viewpoint," replied Don. "He thinks of the men who
overthrew President Madero as rebels."

By this time they were near enough the house for Billie to smell
the aroma of the coffee and he quickened his pace.

"I'll talk politics after I've sampled the breakfast," he
declared. "If the breakfast is good, I'll join the band."

It was nearly half an hour later that the boys stood before the
captain. With a good breakfast under their belts they felt fit
for anything that might offer.

"I'm afraid you boys are in a bad fix," said Captain Lopez. "I
suppose you want to get to Vera Cruz and on to some ship that
will take you to the United States; but I don't know how you are
going to make it."

"Why, can't we get another train somewhere down the line?" asked
Adrian.

"There may not be any more trains for some time."

"How's that?"

"We are here to stop them."

"Does that mean you are going out to tear up the track?"

"Not right here, but a little nearer Vera Cruz. There is a much
larger body of troops about five miles below."

Billie uttered a prolonged whistle.

"That does look bad, sure enough," he declared. Then, after a
pause: "What's the matte