though yourself and Holmes are clearly the ranking officers here."

"There isn't anything else that can be done," agreed Lieutenant
Prescott. "And believe me, my dear fellow, Holmes and I are not
disturbed over seeing the command in the hands of officers whom we just
happen to rank."

Hal, therefore, ordered his own sergeant and six men to remain on the
prize, while the rest of the military party stepped over on to the
"Restless." The two craft thereupon parted.

"Sergeant," ordered Overton, "you will see that this helmsman steers a
straight course for Agua Dulce. Don't stand any nonsense from him. See
that the start is made at once."

Just then Lieutenant Hal recalled the fact that he had left belt and
revolver on a seat in the cabin. He went there, promptly, picked up the
belt and buckled it on.

"Are you ready to talk business with me, now?" demanded the purple-faced
one, in a low voice.

"I don't believe I care to have anything more to do with you," Hal
retorted stiffly.

"Oh, go ahead and ruin me, then," snarled the stranger.

Hal, ascending to the deck, spoke to a soldier standing there.

"Rainsford, see that the man in the cabin does not come up on deck," Hal
directed. "Keep your eye on him as the most important prisoner on this
prize craft."

The purple-faced man stared after Hal Overton's retreating form.

"So you wouldn't come to terms, eh?" demanded the fellow, under his
breath. "You'd rather ruin me. Two or three years in prison will ruin
me, just at present, for my affairs will go to smash if I have to drop
behind bars for a while. And if the government of Mexico finds that I
have been helping the _insurrectos_ it will mean total loss to me,
perhaps, where my properties are situated in other parts of Mexico. And
you, young whippersnapper in shoulder straps, you talked to me of your
honor. Well, I'll pitchfork that honor of yours!"

The purple-faced man laughed harshly. He was in a deadly frame of mind.

Presently two soldiers came down, halting in the cabin doorway.

"We are ready, sir," spoke one of them.

"Ready for what?" jeered the stranger. "Have you come to shoot me?"

"We're nearing the dock at Agua Dulce, sir, and the lieutenant sent us
to get you and make sure that you don't try to escape."

"I'll be bound that you won't give me any chance to get away," jeered
the fellow.

"No, sir," answered the soldier gravely.

The Mexican helmsman proved that he was no mean boat-handler.