se things first of all, and then hunt up Melton. You know whom I
mean--that cattleman from Montana that we were talking to yesterday.
He's a good fellow and a game sport. He told me he was going to Montillo
on business connected with his ranch. That's the first station on the
other side of the bridge. The train will be there in an hour. Tell
Melton the fix we're in. He's chased outlaws himself and he'll
understand. Ask him to go to the American Consul the minute he gets to
Montillo and put it up to him that American citizens need help and need
it quick. It's an important town and we'll probably have a consul there.
If not, ask Melton to put the facts before the Mexican authorities.
They don't love Americans very much, but they're a little afraid that the
Washington people may mix in here, and they may not want to get in bad
with them. Besides they hate the guerillas just about as much as we do.
Anyway we'll have to take the chance."

"How about following the trail?" suggested Tom. "There are plenty of
bloodhounds around. They use them to chase the peons and Yaquis. Shall
I ask Melton to send some along if he can?"

"No," replied Bert. "I thought of that, but their baying might give us
away. If they suspect pursuit, they might kill Dick and scatter before
we could get to them. You and I are woodmen enough to follow a trail
made by twenty horses. If there were only one they might get away with
it, but not when there are so many. Now get a move on, old man. I'll
wait for you here studying the signs, and we'll start as soon as you get
back. If reinforcements catch up to us, all right. If we can get Dick
without them so much the better. If not, they'll help us later on."

Without another word Tom leaped to his feet and was off down the road
like the flight of an arrow.

CHAPTER III

A GALLANT COMRADE

As he flew on, he heard the shrill whistle of the engine and the ringing
of its bell. The train was getting ready to move. Groups of workmen,
tools in hand, were coming from the ravine, and the passengers, glad that
the wearisome wait was over, were getting on the platform, ready to climb
into the cars. He let out a link and reached the train just as the
engineer was getting into his cab. Tom blurted out the facts of Dick's
capture, and the conductor, coming up just then, willingly consented to
hold the train a few minutes longer.

To carry out Bert's instructions was with Tom the work of