m
felt wet and sticky when we were wrestling and I believe he's the man
Tom wounded with that first shot in the darkness."

Bending over his late opponent, Bob noted a dark brown stain on the
left shoulder of his coat.

"Only a flesh wound, I reckon," said the other. "But it sure hurts.
Are you going to leave me like this?"

Bob flushed.

"Of course not," he said. "What do you think I am? Here, let me help
you up and we'll have a look at it."

Bob assisted the other to a chair. His hands were then untied, the
coat sleeve cut away and an examination made of his injury. It proved
not serious. The man told Bob where to find a bottle of iodine. He
winced under the sting of its application, but made no outcry. Then a
rough bandage was made of clean handkerchiefs, and the boys stood back
to examine their handiwork, for all had taken part in the operation.

"You're some fighter, kid," the other said approvingly to Bob. "But I
reckon I'da got you at that if it hadn't been for that arm."

"Maybe so," Bob modestly agreed. "You put up a stiff fight."

"You're an American, aren't you?" asked Frank. "What's your name? And
how do you happen to be with these fellows?"

"Why not?" said the other, answering the last question first. "I'm a
rolling stone and joined up with this outfit because it looked like
something doing. And that's what I want. As for my name, it's Roy
Stone. And you guessed right. I am an American. Born an' raised in
Wooster, out in Ohio."

He paused and looked curiously from one to the other of the boys. Tom
Bodine was examining the two other prisoners for possible injuries
needing attention. Stone nodded toward him.

"I can place a fellow like that, all right," he said. "Know this kind
down here on the border. But who are you? You're only kids. What's
your game? Are you with Obregon?"

"No, indeed," said Bob. Turning to Jack, he whispered:

"Is it safe to tell him who we are? He's an American. And, somehow, I
have an idea he might help us."

"Well, it won't hurt, I guess," said Jack, doubtfully. "He might
escape and betray us to rebel headquarters, but I suspect we can guard
against that. Besides, he's bound to find out our identities, because
those other two chaps will recognize you."

"Hardly in this rig," said Bob, referring to his clothing. "We talked
all that over, you remember."

"That's right. I had forgotten."

Bob and Jack had drawn aside during the whispered colloquy. Now Bob
turned