y did come right in the nick of time. I thought I'd have to become dog-

he kitchen, followed by Adrian. "But I'm glad you got out of the trouble without killi

ouble, and that I did not take you home with me yesterday. My uncl

you have taken us home to breakfast? It

d lau

have to break their morning fast. From eleven to half-past twelve they have what they call almuerzo, or breakfast. Along

ace expanded int

ly exclaimed. "Fine! I think

und you again, you must come with me and have coffee. Then my uncle will

explained that they were not at all anxious to find a short road

th us several days, and I can take you up the Concho. I surely want to do something to show yo

?" aske

you ride along," replied Pedro. "Here, Filli

re talking, hastened to obey Pedro's command, and in a very few minutes the four boys were

ie, "and I wish you would tell it

at my English," sa

speak English?

my uncle; but they call me the lazy one, because I have n

foreigners in the United States and so many speak

aughed

n the State of Michoa-can, and our house is built only a little ways from the shore of a small lake, Tiasca by name. On the

steal at every opportunity. Hardly a week passes that some of them do not cross the lake and steal chickens, pigs, goats, and even cattle. We

an by Zapatists

ber, Zapata. You must

elieve I have. So these me

ent Madero they were a part of what

a young officer he has always

break into your hou

s only a little more. My father was away at the time with almost all the rurales in the distr

ome and get it. Mother was not much afraid, as our house is very strongly built of stone; but still she took every precaution to

them from the wind

o that. So she just kept everything shut tight,

, he heard a group of the pirates saying that they were getting afraid to stay longer, and that they were going back across the lake. Sure enough, they did, and my mother was

o toward the great front gate, she saw a sight which frightened her nearly to death. Jose was standing in the half-open gate, talking to men whom my mother knew must be th

pted to get in; but for a long time the bar held. Then J

whose fighting blood was stirred

tes rushed in, Jose called out, as he pointed to my father's strong b

re in the door stood my father, his drawn saber in his hand and death in his eye. He took a step forward and aimed a blow at Jose, but as he struck, my mother, overcome

then what happened?" and they drew their horses down

bers in the patio, came to his aid. The bandits were soon secured, but in the fight and darkness, Jose escaped. We afterwards learned that he had been an accomplice of the bandits for years and had planned this attack for the s

nd President Madero ordered him out of the city. Since that time he has threatened vengeance on the President a

to do with your great

se is the man from whom

all the boys in

vicinity. He has changed his name to Rafael Solis and I h

hat he had lost an

wore his hair unusually long, didn't you? I

ere was something strange about his appearance, b

"and if I ever get my eye on you ag

eans Mr. If you want to, you can call him Don Rafael; but

le's house and he will be

s up a broad flight of stairs to the second floor, on which were located the parlors, library and dining room. It was a beautiful home and our boys felt just a little bit awkward on coming into such a sumptuous house dressed in th

e me such unexpected assistance yester

much," repli

to see you and to have you here as I am. And uncle," he continued without stopping to c

ald, "but we will stay today, anyway. We shall b

oom, where the boys were introduced to P

r met. When she was introduced to Billie and called him Don Guillermo, he turned as red as a turkey gobbler and wished he was somewhere else; but, after a

e big ranches from which they came. Both were able to give him all the information he wanted and he insisted

the name of Tanto. He was Guadalupe's special property, and at first eyed the boys with a good deal of suspicion

to Guadalupe, in an attempt to make him

raised him from a puppy. Are yo

If you could have seen him playing with them, about daylight this morning, you would have thou

t in such a place; but Tanto will never do a thing lik

f we're going to look over the hacienda, l

, while on the other side the mountains rose abruptly to several hundred feet. At the southern extremity the river approached almost to the foot of

which had put out from the mountain-side, and which had started the flight of the water-fowl. It contained three men, and, as it slipped silently out of the shadows of the overhanging tree

his horse, and walked slowly around the trees which obscured his view. At his left was a little point of land, extending out into the water, and he slowly and

of the point, around which the boat was slowly being rowed, was a steep rock, at least three times the length of an ordinary skiff, beyond which it was impossible for Adrian to see. The boat headed dir

No good, I'm sure. The best thing I can do is to hurry after the rest o

felt a hand grasp his right foot, and he was pulled violently downward. For just a minute he clung to the shrubbery a

the result was that he came down on top, instead

than a match for his assailant. Almost as soon as it takes to tell it, Adrian was sitting on top of a white-shirted p

gained his breath sufficiently to speak, "wh

eon turned his head and looked up at

It was a mistake. I thoug

you thi

-meaning the Sanchez

, you come with me and let Don Antonio que