ant action, and soon. When
the reply came from the son of Don Ramon, he was notified to have the
money ready at a certain abandoned ranchita, though the amount, now
increased, was not as large as was expected. It required two days
longer for the delivery, which was to be made at midnight, and to be
accompanied by not over two messengers.

At this juncture, a squad of ten Texas Rangers disembarked at the
nearest point on the railroad to this river village. The emergency
appeal, which had finally reached the governor's ear, was acted upon
promptly, and though the men seemed very few in number, they were
tried, experienced, fearless Rangers, from the crack company of the
State. There was no waste of time after leaving the train. The little
command set out apparently for the river home of Don Ramon, distant
nearly a hundred miles. After darkness had set in, the captain of the
squad cut his already small command in two, sending a lieutenant
with four men to proceed by way of Agua Dulce ranch, the remainder
continuing on to the river. The captain refused them even pack horse
or blanket, allowing them only their arms. He instructed them to
call themselves cowboys, and in case they met any Mexicans, to make
inquiries for a well-known American ranch which was located in the
chaparral. With a few simple instructions from his superior, the
lieutenant and squad rode away into the darkness of a June night.

It was in reality the dark hour before dawn when they reached Agua
Dulce. As secretly as possible the lieutenant aroused Don Ramon's
wife and sought an interview with her. Speaking Spanish fluently, he
explained his errand and her duty to put him in possession of all the
facts in the case. Bewildered, as any gentlewoman would be under
the circumstances, she reluctantly told the main facts. This officer
treated Senora Mora with every courtesy, and was eventually rewarded
when she requested him and his men to remain her guests until her son
should return, which would be before noon. She explained that he would
bring a large sum of money with him, which was to be the ransom price
of her husband, and which was to be paid over at midnight within
twenty miles of Agua Dulce. This information was food and raiment to
the Ranger.

The senora of Agua Dulce sent a servant to secrete the Ranger's horses
in a near-by pasture, and with saddles hidden inside the house, before
the people of the ranch or the sun arose, five Rangers were sleepin