apparent.

He hadn't been lying there two minutes until a solitary figure
passed him and stopped in front of the house, evidently listening
to hear what might be going on inside.

A moment later he was joined by another figure. Adrian could just
make them out in the darkness.

"Have they come?" was the whispered question.

"I can't tell," was the whispered reply.

Adrian heard both the question and the answer distinctly.

"It's Jose," he said to himself. "He knew that it was the plan
for Billie and I both to come to the house. The traitor! I have a
notion to shoot him in his tracks."

Only the fear of creating a disturbance kept the lad from
carrying out his notion.

"Why don't you knock and tell the Gringo you are here?" was the
next question.

"They might be in there."

"Well, what of that? You can tell them you were stopped by the
guard and have just been released. That'll seem reasonable."

Jose stepped to the door and knocked.

There was no response and he knocked again.

"Who is there?" asked a voice.

"Jose. I just come from Vera Cruz. Let me in."

There was a movement within and presently the door opened and
Jose entered, closing the door behind him.

Adrian slowly arose to a kneeling posture.

"I wonder what the other will do now?" he wondered.

He did not have long to wait, for the other knocked on the
pavement with his gun and presently several more figures
appeared. Adrian had just time to throw himself to the ground and
escape detection.

The men in front of the house exchanged whispered confidences and
then all but one started to leave.

"If any one attempts to leave the house," was the command, "fire!
If any one attempts to enter, allow them to do so and then give
the customary call."

"Bueno!" was the response, and all but the one withdrew.

A minute later Adrian again arose to a crouching posture and as
the sentry cautiously approached the door, he crept up behind
him. An instant more and he was upon the man and had him by the
throat.

The man was a wiry Mexican and evidently in training, for he
squirmed and kicked vigorously; but Adrian's grip was too firm
upon him and in a couple of minutes he sank down limp upon the
ground.

The noise of the scuffle must have been heard inside, for the
door cautiously opened and a head peered out.

Without a question Adrian sprang within, dragging the lifeless
form of the sentry with him.

"Quick, bar the gate!" he commanded.