rn."
"Good," was Adrian's comment. "Where is Miss Josie?"
"Waiting in the next room with the family of my host."
Mr. Black stepped to the door and called to those within. In a
few words he explained the situation and in less than three
minutes he and the girl were mounted and ready to ride.
"Where is your horse?" he asked Adrian.
"I left it with the boys at the cocoanut grove."
"But we can't go and leave you here."
"Of course not. I shall run alongside of your horse, holding to
its mane, Indian fashion. Now then, are we ready?"
"All ready!"
The great gate was opened noiselessly and, bidding a subdued
good-bye to the family, the three passed out into the night.
"I should have throttled Jose ere I left," declared Mr. Black as
they passed down the street.
"I wish we were as safe as he is," laughed Adrian.
For three blocks they wended their way as silently as possible
and just as they came out into the open there came another bugle
call.
"That's for us," said Adrian. "There is no mistaking that
command. Now to run for it."
The two riders put spurs to their horses and Adrian bounded along
at their side, running as lightly as an antelope. They were
rapidly nearing the spot where the Americans were in waiting,
when Adrian stepped into a hole and pitched forward onto his
face.
"Don't stop for me!" he called. "I'll be there as quick as you
are!"
He picked himself up and started to run, but his ankle gave him
such a pain that he almost fainted.
"Great Scott!" he exclaimed, "I've sprained my ankle."
He sat down and rubbed the maimed member for a couple of minutes
and then attempted to hobble on. It was more than he could bear
and he sat down again.
"By George," he groaned, "this is tough! I'll have to call for
help."
He gave the well-known whistle, but there was no response.
He gave it again; but still no answer.
"Worse and more of it," he muttered. "Something has happened to
Billie."
What it might be Adrian could not imagine, but he was sure that
his chum was not at the appointed spot, as he was near enough to
have heard the whistle and would surely have answered.
"Well, I can't stay here. The greasers will be coming pretty
soon. I must get along some way."
He got up and walked a few steps and again sat down. There was no
sound of a pursuit and the hoofbeats of Mr. Black's horses had
ceased.
"They have reached the grove," Adrian muttered. "I must get there
some way.
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