d palm
leaves and applied a match to the stuff. It blazed up readily, and he
threw the mass in with the other stuff about the edge of the hole.

"There, if they can't see that they must be blind," he said. "Come,
let us get out," and off they ran for the thicket close at hand. From
here they watched the cart and saw it come to a halt near the hole and
knew that the turnout was safe.

"I shouldn't think the rebels would care to leave those holes about,"
was Major Morris' comment, as they pushed on once more. "They are as
dangerous to their own people as they are to us."

"I suppose they tell their own people about them."

"Those men on the buffalo cart evidently knew nothing."

"The rebels don't care for the _amigos_. Their idea is, if a native is
not with them, he is against them, and must suffer with the
Americans."

To play the part of spies in such a country as this was not easy, for
the Americans were easily distinguished from the natives. Had Ben and
the major spoken Spanish fluently, they might have passed for
Spaniards, as each was tanned from constant exposure to the strong
sun. But this could not be, and so they had to go ahead and trust to
luck to see them through with their dangerous errand.

At length they felt that they must be close to the enemy's picket
line, and paused to consider the situation. Before them was a gentle
slope, terminating at a small but deep stream which flowed into the
Rio Grande River.

"I think some of the rebels are over there," said the major, pointing
to a hill, from the top of which could be seen a faint glow. "There is
certainly a camp-fire back there."

"There is a house just below us," returned Ben. "Or is it a mill?"

"A mill most likely. They wouldn't build an ordinary dwelling right at
the water's edge."

"Perhaps the rebels are using the mill as a sort of headquarters. What
do you say if we investigate?"

The major agreed, and they began to pick their way along the stream.
Soon they reached a rude bridge, and were on the point of crossing,
when a sharp cry rang out from the building they were approaching.

"Hullo, that's a woman's voice!" exclaimed Ben. "Somebody is in
trouble."

"Help! thief! murderer!" came in Spanish. "Oh, help, for the love of
kind Heaven, help!"

"It's a woman, true enough!" ejaculated the major. "I wonder what the
trouble is?"

"I'm going to find out," answered Ben. The cry for aid appealed to his
heart, and he bounded toward the