appeared,
while there had been no attempt to obstruct the passage of the secret
service men as they moved about?

"It seems, then, that there is another lost boy," said Lieutenant
Gordon. "That makes four. It is most remarkable."

"Yes," said Nestor, "Fremont, Jimmie, Shaw, and this drummer you told
me about. I think we have our work cut out for us now."

"It is the second time Peter Fenton has been lost to-night," Gordon
said, with a smile. "He was lost and we found him--lost and hungry,
but full of courage."

"Peter Fenton!" exclaimed Nestor. "I know him well as a member of the
Panther Patrol. A bright boy, and full of information concerning
Mexico. I have often heard him speak of this country. Well, let us
hope that the four boys are all together, wherever they are. It seems
strange that the outlaws should go about picking up boys."

"It will soon be daylight now," Lieutenant Gordon said, "and then we'll
see what we can do. It may be that the lads will return and bring
Fremont with them, though that is almost too much to hope for. Anyway,
it seems to me that we have accomplished the principal object of our
journey here," he added, with a glance at Don Miguel.

The diplomat turned about and faced the lieutenant with a sneer on his
face.

"You are not the only one who is making progress here to-night," he
said. "If you wish the return of your friends, release me and I will
restore them to you."

"I think we'll take chances on finding the boys," Gordon said. "You
are wanted very particularly at Washington."

"Then permit me to send word to my friends," urged Don Miguel. "I can
cause the patriots who doubtless have the boys to return them to you.
Odd that they should have carried them off," he added, with a scowl.

The man's inference was that the boys were being held as hostages, but
this Nestor did not believe. Fremont had been taken away before the
arrest of Don Miguel.

"That would be a very good move--for your interest," Nestor said, in
reply to the suggestion. "As the lieutenant says, we prefer to take our
chances on finding the boys. Your friends might want to interfere with
your trip to Washington if they knew our intentions concerning you."

"You will soon see your mistake," was the significant reply.

During this talk the night watchman and the Mexican had remained
silent, but it was plain that they had not lost a word that had been
said. Especially when the talk of restoring Fremon