with him."

Pedro laughed. "That seems to be it."

"I'm sorry he killed the horse," said Donald. "We need him."

"Perhaps he didn't," suggested Adrian. "Suppose we ride over and
see."

Suiting the action to the word, the boys rode out into the open,
much to the newcomer's surprise and consternation.

"Senors," he exclaimed, as he came running toward them, "I am
sorry I had to hurt your horse; but I couldn't lose my brother."

"Your what?" asked Billie.

"My brother. My little brother. Could I, Ambrosio?" and he patted
the ape on the cheek.

"What do you call him?" asked Donald.

"I call him Ambrosio because he is so sweet."

"Bah!" exclaimed Billie. "I called him Ab, but he ought to be
named Diabolo. But how about the horse?"

"I am afraid I have rendered him quite useless for the present,
Senor. I may have broken his leg."

An examination of the fallen animal revealed the fact that while
the leg was not splintered, it was so badly injured that the
animal was quite useless.

"Have you far to go, Senors?" queried the mountebank.

"Only as far as the Rosario viejo for the present," answered
Adrian. "After that----"

"After that," interrupted Billie, "we may not want to go
anywhere."

The mountebank looked at Billie questioningly.

"That's what I mean," reiterated Billie. "We are going there to
capture a band of cutthroats, but we may have a fight."

The man made a grimace, which was intended for a smile.

"I understand. Can I be of any service?"

Donald eyed him suspiciously.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"You may have noticed how I stopped the runaway," he remarked.

"Very neatly."

"Sure," from Billie. "It was a short stop."

"I perceive that you are an American. I am also a fan."

"What!" from the three Americans.

"True. I am even worse. I formerly shot the pill in one of the
bush leagues. I aspired to a place in the box of one of the major
league clubs, but instead I joined the Madero revolution. I had
all the sport I wanted and finding my brother in this forsaken
land, I joined him as a public entertainer. Shall we give you a
sample of our performance?"

"Not now," from Donald. "Let's go and round up this bunch of
revolutionists first."

"But why?" queried the mountebank. "To-morrow they may be the
government."

The boys looked at each other with an expression that said as
plainly as words: "True! We never thought of that."

"Now, I have a better plan," continued the m