d, my very young friend," warned Guarez, "or I shall deal
with you at my leisure by taking you across into Mexico with me
to-night."

"Try it!" dared Hal contemptuously.

For answer Guarez struck his boot lightly against Overton's lips. It was
not a hard blow, nor did it cause any pain, but the meanness of the
action brought the hot blood to Lieutenant Hal's face.

"I'll wait my own time to make you apologize humbly for that, you
contemptible, cowardly Greaser!" broke impetuously from the Army boy's
insulted lips.

An instant after the words were out Lieutenant Hal regretted the use of
the word Greaser. That word, as a term of contempt for people of
another country should not have been uttered by an officer of the Army.

"Bah!" retorted Guarez. "Some other time for you, my young jaguar."

As he went away Guarez signed to his companions, who followed him. There
were now left as guards over the military prisoners two Mexicans. These
were each armed with a forty-five Colt's revolver, and both appeared to
be wholly alert.

"If any one among you calls for help," remarked one of the guards, "my
orders are to reward you with steel."

Throwing back his coat the fellow displayed the hilt of a poniard.

"What's the use of shouting?" demanded Hal indifferently, "when my other
guards are beyond reach of my voice?"

The Mexican laughed quietly, adding something in Spanish in an undertone
to his companion.

"I hope you don't blame us, sir?" asked Private Simms.

"How can I censure any of you?" asked Hal bitterly, "when I was caught
myself by the same easy trick?"

"Don't tell me, after this," muttered Private Simms, "that a Mexican is
stupid and has no brains."

Conversation, though allowed in low tones by the two Mexican guards,
soon died out among the soldiers, every one of whom felt secretly
disgusted and ashamed of himself.

Twenty minutes, or more, passed before Hal, lying with one ear to the
ground, heard the somewhat distant sound of moving horses. Soon after
the roll of wheels came to him. Then, around a corner of the road, not
far away, wagons turned and made toward the shore of the Rio Grande.

"Moving day with you fellows, is it?" demanded Hal of the guard who
spoke English.

The fellow chuckled quietly.

"You've outwitted us, haven't you?" demanded the young lieutenant dryly.
"You're moving munitions of war toward the river. You expect to ship
them soon--but perhaps you won't succeed."

"You may p