tly recover from our surprise, or, rather,
calm our joyful realization of a hope born of the boys' start from the
valley below, they were among us, and Henry had sprung from his horse
and embraced his brother, leaving a generous coating of _yeso_ upon
the army blue. Tears of joy had ploughed two streaks through the
whiting on his face, and lent a comical effect to the boyish
countenance. A general handshake ensued, and Corporal Frank asked,
"Where are your clothes, Henry?"

"Confiscated by the chief Elarnagan."

"Not to wear?"

"Well, no; I think they might prove baggy on his diminutive person."

"Then why did he take them?"

"He has a numerous progeny, and the young Elarnaganitos have an
article apiece. My saddle and bridle went to Mrs. Elarnagan. She rides
astride, you know."

"When did the chief take your clothes?"

"Just as soon as I arrived in the valley my horse and I were stripped
of--But hold on, Frank; what am I thinking of?" and Henry ran to one
of the other boys, a graceful youngster whose perfect limbs and
handsome face the _yeso_ could not mask, and who sat his horse as if
he were a part of the animal. Saying something to him in an undertone,
the boy dismounted and approached me with Henry, who said, in Spanish:
"This is Manuel Augustine Perea y Luna, of Algodones. It is he who
planned the escape when I told him there were soldiers near."

I took the Mexican boy's hand and assured him of the great happiness
his escape afforded me, and the greater happiness it would afford his
mother and relatives.

Frank approached, took Manuel's hand, and then dropped it to give him
a hearty and brotherly embrace.

"Ah, Manuelito mio, I dreamed many dreams of rescuing you as we
marched through this country, but I never believed they would be
realized," he said.

"But the little Enrique acted, and I am here," laughed Manuel.

"And Frank acted, too," said I, "as you shall soon hear; and you will
learn that it took both boys to effect your rescue."

"Pardon me," replied Manuel, "but it is not safe to remain here
longer. Elarnagan, whom you saw leaving the valley with his warriors,
is intending to move down the Lithodendron to attack your train
somewhere on the Colorado Chiquito."

At the close of his remarks Manuel turned away, as if to mount his
horse, and then, as if correcting an oversight, he said, "Wait one
moment, sir." Going up to the third boy, he spoke a few words to him
in an unknown tongue. The b