or Bridge!" exclaimed Rozales. "What are you doing? What do you
mean?"

"I mean," said Bridge, "that if you are at all solicitous of your health
you'll climb down off that pony, not forgetting to keep your hands above
your head when you reach the ground. Now climb!"

Rozales dismounted.

"Turn your back toward me," commanded the American, and when the other
had obeyed him, Bridge dismounted and removed the man's weapons from his
belt. "Now you may go, Rozales," he said, "and should you ever have an
American in your power again remember that I spared your life when I
might easily have taken it--when it would have been infinitely safer for
me to have done it."

The Mexican made no reply, but the black scowl that clouded his face
boded ill for the next gringo who should be so unfortunate as to fall
into his hands. Slowly he wheeled about and started back up the trail in
the direction of the Pesita camp.

"I'll be halfway to El Orobo," thought Bridge, "before he gets a chance
to tell Pesita what happened to him," and then he remounted and rode on
down into the valley, leading Rozales' horse behind him.

It would never do, he knew, to turn the animal loose too soon, since he
would doubtless make his way back to camp, and in doing so would have
to pass Rozales who would catch him. Time was what Bridge wanted--to be
well on his way to Orobo before Pesita should learn of his escape.

Bridge knew nothing of what had happened to Billy, for Pesita had seen
to it that the information was kept from the American. The latter had,
nevertheless, been worrying not a little at the absence of his friend
for he knew that he had taken his liberty and his life in his hands in
riding down to El Orobo among avowed enemies.

Far to his rear Rozales plodded sullenly up the steep trail through the
mountains, revolving in his mind various exquisite tortures he should be
delighted to inflict upon the next gringo who came into his power.

CHAPTER XVI. EDDIE MAKES GOOD

BILLY BYRNE and Eddie Shorter rode steadily in the direction of the
hills. Upon either side and at intervals of a mile or more stretched the
others of their party, occasionally visible; but for the most part not.
Once in the hills the two could no longer see their friends or be seen
by them.

Both Byrne and Eddie felt that chance had placed them upon the right
trail for a well-marked and long-used path wound upward through a canyon
along which they rode. It was an ex