g
in the hedge when a figure suddenly appeared in the darkness right
ahead of him.

A rifle was leveled at the young ensign's breast, and in a steady
voice came the hail that set the young ensign's heart to beating
fast:

"_Quien vive_"

It was the Spanish challenge---"Who goes there?"

CHAPTER VII

DAVE DARRIN TO THE RESCUE

Dave's sword hung at his side. His revolver was in its scabbard
over his left hip, but just out of view of the sentry.

As to his being in uniform, he realized that the night was so
dark that there was little danger of his nationality being discovered.

All these thoughts flashed through his mind in a twinkling, as
they should with a good officer.

Darrin's course of action was as swiftly decided.

"Amigo," he replied, tranquilly. "Amigo de los prisoneros!" (Friends
of the prisoners).

By the time the second explanation had left his lips Dave had
bounded forward, struck aside the rifle, and had gripped the sentry
by the throat, bearing him to the ground.

A blow from one of the young ensign's fists, and the fellow lay
still.

Espying trouble from the rear, Coxswain Riley started his men
on a swift run toward the spot. In a few moments the sentry,
doubtless badly scared, had been gagged, and bound hand and foot
with the handy hitches of jack tars.

"Leave him there," Darrin directed in an undertone. "Coxswain,
post eight men around the house, and take command of them. I
will take the other four men with me."

Swiftly Darrin led his little squad around to the rear of the
house, since the front was closed and dark.

A doorway stood open, showing a room lighted by two candles that
stood on a table. Around the table were seven men, eating and
drinking. Plainly they had not heard the brief scuffle at the
front.

With a nod to his four men Darrin led the way inside. Instantly
the seven men were on their feet, staring wildly at the intruders.
One man started for a stack of rifles that stood in a corner,
but Ensign Darrin hurled him back.

"Don't let any man reach for a gun, or draw any sort of weapon,"
Darrin ordered, quickly.

Then to the Mexicans, in Spanish, Dave shouted:

"Stand where you are, and no harm will be done to you. We have
not come here to molest you, but you hold Americans prisoners
here, and we mean to take them away with us."

"No, no," answered one of the Mexicans, smilingly, "you are mistaken.
We have no prisoners here."

Dave's heart s