care of that. But
here we are in the village, and now we'll have to start making
inquiries."

This consumed two or three hours. The postmaster was seen, and then some
of the other Texans. The railroad did not touch Agua Dulce, but there
were two big trucking concerns that handled freight from the nearest
railroad point. There were also several Mexican teamsters in the place;
these latter could hardly be depended upon to give accurate information.
The American teamsters all declared that they had handled no
suspicious-looking freight for Mexicans.

"But you'll find a lot of long, shallow boxes stored in Pedro Guarez's
stable, if what I've heard is right," added one of the truckmen.

"Look like rifle cases, do they?" inquired Captain Foster.

"That's what I judge from what I've heard. Mexican teamsters have been
bringing in the cases for the last three nights."

"Where is the barn of this fellow, Guarez?"

"Come upstairs, Captain, and I can point it out to you from the roof.
But don't let any of the Greasers know that I told you about this, for I
have to be on the road many a dark night, and these Greasers are a bad
lot, especially just now. And listen, Captain! Don't get so far into
Guarez's barn that you couldn't get out handily. If you do you may never
come out. The Greasers are especially ugly these last few days, and I
don't believe it would take much to start 'em off."

CHAPTER XI

LIEUTENANT HAL'S SWORD GUARDS THE DOOR

Having learned the location of the barn, which was about a third of a
mile away, Captain Foster signed to Lieutenant Hal to accompany him.

"I shall leave you outside of the barn when I go in, Mr. Overton. You
may have a crowd around you in no time, for these Mexicans are easily
excited. Be careful to handle them smoothly, and not to start any
unnecessary trouble. At the same time, keep your eyes and ears wide open
for any news that you may hear. Do you understand Spanish?"

"I know a little of the kind that I learned in the Philippines," Hal
answered.

"You may be able to understand the Mexican patter, then. But don't let
them know that you understand it."

A brisk walk brought the two Army officers to one of the most
substantial houses in the Mexican quarter. It was a two-story frame
house, kept in a fairly tidy condition. Behind the house was a wooden
barn, still larger.

Captain Foster did not trouble himself to approach the house, around
which there were no signs of li