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