al
reported, saluting.

"All my men ready, too, sir," Noll added.

"Quick work," nodded Captain Foster. "The escort wagons will be here
within fifteen minutes. We shall be able to make an earlier start than
ordered."

A few minutes later three escort wagons, each well laden and hauled by a
team of mules, came out on to the road.

"Let your men fall in. Hold separate roll calls. Report as soon as
ready," directed Captain Foster.

The two platoons, drawn up in one rank with a slight interval between,
were soon in readiness.

"March your platoons," called Captain Foster.

"F company, fours left, march," ordered Noll.

"H company, fours left, march," followed Hal.

Off into the night moved a compact column of men in fours, a sergeant at
the head of each platoon, and the two lieutenants on the flanks.
Captain Foster noted the start with approval. The column moved on down
the road, past the escort wagons, which then fell in at the rear.

"Give the men the route step, now," murmured Captain Foster, going past
Hal up to the head of the line.

"Route step, march," ordered Lieutenant Hal. In another moment the men
of the leading platoon had also fallen into the route step.

"We'll march four miles to the first halt," said Captain Foster, falling
in beside Noll.

The road turned to the right, heading west. When the first halt was
called the column stopped on a lonely stretch of the highway, in sight
of the Rio Grande. After ten minutes the column started again. There
were frequent halts, after that, but soon after daylight had come the
column made its last halt just outside the village of Agua Dulce.

Now camp was quickly made. A soldier, no matter how fatigued, is never
too tired to eat. Several score of little fagot fires were soon blazing
briskly, and over these coffee was made and bacon fried. The next meal
would be furnished by the company cook. Within half an hour after
pitching tents breakfast had been eaten, and much progress made with
unpacking the escort wagons.

"Mr. Terry, you will remain in command of the camp. Keep ten men awake
for duty, and relieve the men in two hours. Let the men not on duty
sleep. Mr. Overton, you will accompany me into the village."

A ten minutes' walk brought Captain Foster and Hal into Agua Dulce. It
was an insignificant little village, of perhaps eight hundred
inhabitants. Five hundred of these were Mexicans. There are many such
towns on the Texas border. The Mexicans w