d
they proceeded to follow it.

Mounting their horses, they rapidly retraced their steps for a
couple of hundred yards and then headed for the harbor.

They had not gone more than half a mile when they caught a
glimpse of foot soldiers forming in line on what appeared to be a
parade ground.

"This is no place for us," exclaimed Donald. "Back to the woods."

"I'm afraid it's too late," from Adrian.

"I hate to run for it," was Billie's comment, "but it's the best
we can do. I have no mind to fall into Mexican hands right now."

He put spurs to his horse and dashed through a little clump of
trees which grew by the way, closely followed by the other two.

They seemed to have done just the right thing and were
congratulating themselves upon their lucky escape, when they
heard horses coming from the other way.

Billie drew his horse up with a sudden turn.

"It looks as though we'd have to fight for it, boys! If we do
let's give a good account of ourselves."

They drew their Winchesters for instant use.

The sound of hoofbeats drew nearer and then there burst into
sight from around a turn in the road a sight which caused the
boys nearly to fall from their horses with laughter.

Riding on a mule and followed by several peons on burros was the
florid-faced gentleman whom they had met on the train the day
they left the City of Mexico. He was bare-headed and his coat
tails streamed out in the breeze. He had no saddle and was
clinging onto the mule by grasping him around the neck.

"Help! Help!" he cried as he caught sight of the boys. "I
surrender. I surrender."

Seeing the boys' horses directly in his path, the mule came to a
sudden stop, with both feet stuck out before him. The result was
that the florid-faced gentleman, who wished to head a company of
marines to drive the Mexicans off the earth, shot forward over
the mule's head and landed in a cactus bush.

Now a cactus is not a pleasant thing to sit upon, even when the
greatest care is used; but to be shot into it as from a catapult
is more than any one can bear.

With a yell that might have been heard half a mile, had it not
been for the noise of the guns, the man scrambled to his feet and
darted away down the hill, while the peons stopped at the
unexpected sight of the boys.

"Americanos!" they cried, and, tumbling off their burros, fell on
their knees in abject terror, as though expecting that their end
had come.

CHAPTER XV.

THE INSULT