" said the guard, "we'll have to go and find you. Wait
until the lieutenant returns, and we'll see what can be done. He may
bring Nestor with him, you know, and he can assist."

Although this seemed good sense, it did not please Jimmie at all, and
he went back to his tent resolved to get away from the guards as soon
as possible and do what he could to find Fremont. At the very door of
the tent, however, he came to a halt, for the signals were going again,
and a great rocket flashed across the sky.

CHAPTER XI.

BLACK BEAR AND DIPLOMAT.

"It looks to me as if there might be civil war down here, with all
these men waiting for guns and ammunition," said Shaw, as Nestor
concluded the story of the letters which had been forwarded to
Washington. "I didn't know what I was getting into when I left New
York. I wish I could send that story to my father. What a scoop he
would have on the other newspapers!"

"That is the very last thing you should think of," declared Nestor.
"The publication of the story now might bring about the very thing we
are trying to prevent. There is no knowing what the Texans would do if
they learned of the plot to invade their state. We are here to defeat
the plot to arm these men who are waiting to cross the river, and not
to furnish newspapers with scoops, as you call them."

"How are you going to do it?" asked the boy.

"The intention originally was to stop the purchase of arms. That
failing, it was determined to prevent the purchases crossing the Rio
Grande. If that cannot, or has not, been done, then some other means
must be resorted to. That is why I am here, and that is why United
States secret service men are waiting for me somewhere about here."

"I see," said Shaw, "and you thought your men might be down here?
Well, if it is the other end of the conspiracy that we find in this
camp, at least the other end of the Cameron robbery conspiracy--anyway
not your associates--what then?"

"I am expecting the diplomat," was the reply. "If I can't get the arms
I hope to get him."

"Would that check the invasion of Texas?" asked the boy.

"It might delay it until we have a strong force on the other side of
the river."

"I believe you mean to kidnap him," cried Shaw. "Is that right?"

"I'm going to do something to disarrange the plans of the conspirators,
if I can. We don't want a war with Mexico just now. Such an event
might bring on complications with other nations, at least