ls arrived, and to-day he came. When I learned
that, I took my chance and left camp. I hunted up a priest. He
promised to come here. It's time he's due. But I'm afraid he'll be
stopped."

"Thorne, why don't you take the girl and get married without waiting,
without running these risks?" said Dick.

"I fear it's too late now. I should have done that last night. You
see, we're over the line--"

"Are we in Mexican territory now?" queried Gale, sharply.

"I guess yes, old boy. That's what complicates it. Rojas and his
rebels have Casita in their hands. But Rojas without his rebels would
be able to stop me, get the girl, and make for his mountain haunts. If
Mercedes is really watched--if her identity is known, which I am sure
is the case--we couldn't get far from this house before I'd be knifed
and she seized."

"Good Heavens! Thorne, can that sort of thing happen less than a
stone's throw from the United States line?" asked Gale, incredulously.

"It can happen, and don't you forget it. You don't seem to realize the
power these guerrilla leaders, these rebel captains, and particularly
these bandits, exercise over the mass of Mexicans. A bandit is a man of
honor in Mexico. He is feared, envied, loved. In the hearts of the
people he stands next to the national idol--the bull-fighter, the
matador. The race has a wild, barbarian, bloody strain. Take
Quinteros, for instance. He was a peon, a slave. He became a famous
bandit. At the outbreak of the revolution he proclaimed himself a
leader, and with a band of followers he devastated whole counties. The
opposition to federal forces was only a blind to rob and riot and carry
off women. The motto of this man and his followers was: 'Let us enjoy
ourselves while we may!'

"There are other bandits besides Quinteros, not so famous or such great
leaders, but just as bloodthirsty. I've seen Rojas. He's a handsome,
bold sneering devil, vainer than any peacock. He decks himself in gold
lace and sliver trappings, in all the finery he can steal. He was one
of the rebels who helped sack Sinaloa and carry off half a million in
money and valuables. Rojas spends gold like he spills blood. But he
is chiefly famous for abducting women. The peon girls consider it an
honor to be ridden off with. Rojas has shown a penchant for girls of
the better class."

Thorne wiped the perspiration from his pale face and bent a dark gaze
out of the window before he resumed his ta