Mexico? Chihuahua isn't the whole country, Mickey. Suppose President
Diaz takes a hand in the game and sends troops in on you?"

"He won't," answered the other, with a wink. "He's been seen. The
president isn't any too friendly to that old tyrant Megales, who is now
governor here. There's an election next week. The man that gets most
votes will be elected, and I'm thinking, Bucky, that the man with most
rifles will the most votes. Now, says Diaz, in effect, with an official
wave of his hand, 'Settle your own rows, gintlemen. I don't give a damn
whether Megales or Valdez is governor of Chihuahua, subject, of coorse,
to the will of the people.' Then he winks at Valdez wid his off eye as
much as to say: 'Go in an' win, me boy; me prayers are supporting ye.
But be sure ye do nothing too illegal.' So there ye are, Bucky. If ould
Megales was to wake up election morning and find that the polling-places
was in our hands, his soldiers disarmed or bought over, and everything
contributing smoothly to express the will of the people in electing him
to take a swift hike out of Chihuahua, it is likely that he might accept
the inevitable as the will of fate and make a strategic retreat to
climes more healthy."

"And if in the meantime he should discover those rifles, or one of
those slant-eyed senors should turn out a Benedict Arnold, what then, my
friend?"

"Don't talk in that cruel way. You make me neck ache in anticipation,"
returned O'Halloran blithely.

"I think we'll not travel with you in public till after the election,
Mr. O'Halloran," reflected Bucky aloud.

"'Twould be just as well, me son. My friends won't be overpopular with
Megales if the cards fall his way."

"If you win, I suppose we may count Henderson as good as a free man?"

"It would be a pity if me pull wouldn't do a little thing like that,"
scoffed the conspirator genially.

"But, win or lose, I may be able to help you. We need musicians to play
those pianos we're bringing in. Well, the most dependable men we can set
to play some of them are the prisoners in the fortress. There's likely
to be a wholesale jail delivery the night before the election. Now, it's
just probable that the lads we free will fight to keep their freedom.
That's why we use them. They HAVE to be true to us because, if they
don't, WHICHEVER SIDE WINS back they go to jail."

"Of course. I wish I could take a hand myself. But I can't, because I'm
a soldier of a friendly power. We'll ge