of an estate of considerable size. The house itself was a good-sized dwelling, built in true Mexican style, with a great wall surrounding it, and the yard, or patio, as it is call

quality," remarked Donald, as the boys approac

me kind, with that hi

the purpose of a fortification. Father told me they got into the habit of building the

hey haven't yet recov

summons and ushered them into the patio, where they sat quietly upon their horses until the owner appeared. He was a little, w

id, by way of greeting. "Wh

ing unable to find it, we thought perhaps some of your servants might have come

d the old man. "I will s

half a dozen peons put in an appearance,

which you came," said Don Pablo, after the servants had gon

will look for him in that direction. We

for thanks, was the Mexican's answer, and, wi

ys were out of earshot. "I actually believe he found the

ough I could understand very little of what was

dark peon. I didn't get the whole of it, but it was something about removing the livestock to ano

to do next; but, as they at last emerged from behind a long row of cactus, which

ant, could be seen a couple of men on horseback, driving before them a dozen or m

too far to see the brand, but he's got a peculiar st

eried Billie. "We're perfec

way with my mule as long as my name is Donald Mackay. Follow me," and, putting spurs

boys that, if they ever expected to get old Bray, they would have to overtake the drove before it reached the foothills. A small stream flowed across the plain and emptied

and thus get between the men and the mountains. They did not know that the only ford was the one toward which the men we

peared upon the scene, and immediately

already begun. The natives were well aware of this, and thought it impossible for anyone to cross it except at the ford in question. Being fully a mile in advance, they had no fear of being overtaken, a

s were also well mounted, and the chase would have been a fruitless one, had conditions been as they suppo

ning, and as the thieves and their booty plunged into the ford, the boys w

saw why it was that the thieves had

ives gave a shout of derision as they, too, slackened

o their horses and dashed toward the stream, even higher up than they had first aimed. Billie had

was about thirty feet from bank to bank. Billie's

the boys had the slightest idea; they did know, however, that it was necessarily the deepest spot on the whole plain. But this did not deter them. The

erd and riveted their attention upon the boys, not for a moment expecting them to try to

k and neck, Wireless and Jupite

e stream was wider than they had thought,

ut of derision, expecting to se

e it?" shou

ent ability of his horse than his eastern-bred cousin. "Give J

ing the action to the word, they gave

water. The shout of derision died on the lips of the now thoroughly frightened natives, as both the thoroughb

and gaining rapidly. Seeing that they could not escape with their booty, the thieves turned suddenly to the left, deserti

ow within their grasp, but their attention was attracted by a shou

oise, they beheld a body of a dozen or more

and, and, without stopping to think why they should obey such an order, but

that there was but one way to escape, the thieves turned in thei

top their furious gallop. Again the thieves fired, a

ung out with lightning speed. True to its aim, it fell over the shoulders of the nearest Mexican. Wireless stopped as though h

ed headlong to the earth, carrying his rider with him. Before he could recover himself, Billi

breath, when a loud cheer announced

sprang from his saddle. "You've made an important capture. We've been tryin

"It's mighty nice to have som

. "I'm Captain June Peak, of the Texas R