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ant Hal turned away from a growth of bushes, he heard a stealthy step at his rear. Like a flash he turned. As he did so, a rope was cast over his head, pinioning his arms to his sides. Before he could move or resist he felt himself jerked to the ground with considerable violence. In another instant Hal would have been on his feet, contriving to get the noose loose or shifted in some way, and he would have been full of fight. But the stealthy one, a man of good size and swarthy of feature, hurled himself upon the body of the trapped young Army officer. A low whistle followed, and Hal heard others moving. Then he felt the prick of steel at his throat as the Mexican whispered: "Quiet! Our cause is worth more than your life!" CHAPTER XIII ENOUGH TO MAKE A MEXICAN LAUGH Though Hal's captor spoke English, he was unquestionably Mexican. His eyes gleamed with an unholy fire. Young Overton had no doubt that he recognized the type--a man who believed that he was serving the holy cause of liberty in his own country, and who would think a _Gringo_ life of little value if it interfered with the cause of the rebels across the river. The sharp point of that knife pressed so insistently against Hal's neck that the Army boy realized he could not move before the weapon would be driven into his throat. "This is where it's wiser to keep still," muttered the young lieutenant to himself. "My sentries will hear, anyway. They'll soon have this maniac subdued." Instead of the sentries four other Mexicans came hurrying up. Nor did they seem afraid to come running down the open road. And one of these brown-skinned men was Pedro Guarez himself. "Aha! You have the dashing young _Gringo_!" laughed Pedro harshly. "Bueno!" (Good.) "Take him from me," begged the one who held the knife. "Bind him. We want no more trouble to-night." Pedro and the three other new-comers threw themselves upon the young Army officer, rolling him over on his face and wrenching his arms behind him for tying. [Illustration: "His Arms Pinioned To His Sides."] Yet as he was flopped over Hal had the use of his mouth for an instant. Regardless of what the consequences might be to him he yelled lustily: "Sentry! Lieutenant Overton--_trouble_!" Instead of being angry Pedro Guarez laughed harshly. "_Gringo_, if you are not more careful we shall have to gag you!" In record time the young lieutenant's arms were bound at elbow and wri
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