ttered Tom. "But we didn't
want you to get yourself into trouble on our account. Now, you've
gone and written your name in Gato's bad books for certain."

"I have, senor," the _peon_ admitted. "Gato will take delight
in cutting my throat for me one of these days."

"Great Scott!" Reade gasped, shivering. "That's cheerful."

"So that, perhaps, senor," suggested the _peon_, slyly, "you will
be willing to take me with you to your own country. Perhaps there,
also, you will be able to give me work as your servant."

"Rest assured of one thing, Nicolas. If we can get you safely
over on to the American side of the border we'll look after you
properly."

"I am very grateful, senor," protested Nicolas, humbly.

"But we're a long way from the American border as yet," Tom went on.

"You will get there safely, senor," predicted the _peon_. "You
are a great man, and you know how to do things."

"Well, for simple faith you're the limit, Nicolas, my boy. For
one thing, though, it strikes me that our getting over the border,
which is some hundreds of miles away, might be hindered if we
have the tough luck to run into any of Gato's armed pals along
this route."

"You do well to remind me, senor!" cried Nicolas, in a low tone,
but one, nevertheless, which was full of self-reproach. "So much
have I enjoyed my talk with you that I have been forgetting to
look after your safety. Pardon me, senor. I will vanish, but
I shall watch over you with the wide-open eyes of the panther."

In another instant Nicolas had vanished from the trail. Tom,
however, did not worry. He knew that Nicolas was not far away,
and that the little _peon_ was doubtless as valuable a scout as
their expedition could have.

"I wish I had asked him to unload that gun, though," Reade muttered
to himself. "He's likely as not to hurt some one else beside
the enemy with a stray bullet or two."

Three miles further on Tom, Harry and their prisoner halted, for
on the rough road they were now becoming winded.

"I am near, senores," whispered a familiar voice, though Nicolas
did not show himself over the rocks that concealed him.

"Yes," sneered Gato, harshly, "you are indeed near--near death,
you silly little fool. Always before you have been safe because
you were not a fighting man. But now you have taken to deeds
of arms, and you shall take your chances whenever you stir in
these mountains. For that matter you will surely be cut down
before t