n't
be kept in the dark much longer. Make your report to her."

The cowboy shifted his dark gaze to Madeline. He was cool and slow.

"We're losing a few cattle on the open range. Night-drives by the
vaqueros. Some of these cattle are driven across the valley, others up
to the foothills. So far as I can find out no cattle are being driven
south. So this raiding is a blind to fool the cowboys. Don Carlos is a
Mexican rebel. He located his rancho here a few years ago and pretended
to raise cattle. All that time he has been smuggling arms and ammunition
across the border. He was for Madero against Diaz. Now he is against
Madero because he and all the rebels think Madero failed to keep his
promises. There will be another revolution. And all the arms go from
the States across the border. Those burros I told about were packed with
contraband goods."

"That's a matter for the United States cavalry. They are patrolling the
border," said Alfred.

"They can't stop the smuggling of arms, not down in that wild corner,"
replied Stewart.

"What is my--my duty? What has it to do with me?" inquired Madeline,
somewhat perturbed.

"Wal, Miss Majesty, I reckon it hasn't nothing to do with you," put in
Stillwell. "Thet's my bizness an' Stewart's. But I jest wanted you to
know. There might be some trouble follerin' my orders."

"Your orders?"

"I want to send Stewart over to fire Don Carlos an' his vaqueros off the
range. They've got to go. Don Carlos is breakin' the law of the United
States, an' doin' it on our property an' with our hosses. Hev I your
permission, Miss Hammond?"

"Why, assuredly you have! Stillwell, you know what to do. Alfred, what
do you think best?"

"It'll make trouble, Majesty, but it's got to be done," replied Alfred.
"Here you have a crowd of Eastern friends due next month. We want the
range to ourselves then. But, Stillwell, if you drive those vaqueros
off, won't they hang around in the foothills? I declare they are a bad
lot."

Stillwell's mind was not at ease. He paced the porch with a frown
clouding his brow.

"Gene, I reckon you got this Greaser deal figgered better'n me," said
Stillwell. "Now what do you say?"

"He'll have to be forced off," replied Stewart, quietly. "The Don's
pretty slick, but his vaqueros are bad actors. It's just this way. Nels
said the other day to me, 'Gene, I haven't packed a gun for years
until lately, and it feels good whenever I meet any of those strange
Greasers.' Y