e said, "I have liked you, and I believed that you
were a true Texan patriot, but I cannot believe the story that you tell
me. It seems too improbable. If you wished to make these signals to
friends, why did you not tell us that you were going to do so?"

"I did not know of the possibility of such a signal until I saw this
tree and its great height. Then, as all of you were asleep, I concluded
to make my signal, achieve the result and give you a pleasant surprise.
Come now, Senor Edward, hand me my rifle, and let us end this unpleasant
joke."

Ned shook his head. It was hard to resist Urrea's assurance, but manner
was not all. His logical mind rejected the story.

"I'm sorry, Don Francisco," he said, "but I must refer this to my
comrades, Mr. Palmer and Mr. White. Meanwhile, I am compelled to hold
you a prisoner. You will walk before me to the camp, keeping your hands
up."

Urrea shrugged his shoulders and gave Ned a glance, which seemed to be a
mixture of disgust and contempt.

"Very well, if you will have it so," he said. "There is nothing like the
stubbornness of a boy."

"March!" said Ned, who felt his temper rising.

Urrea, hands up, walked toward the camp, and Ned came behind him,
carrying the two rifles, one of them cocked and ready for instant use.
The Mexican never looked back, but walked with unhesitating step
straight to the camp. The Ring Tailed Panther and Obed were still sound
asleep, but, when Ned called sharply to them, they sprang to their feet,
gazing in astonishment at the spectacle of Urrea with his hands up, and
the boy standing behind him with the two rifles.

"Things seem to have happened while I slept," said Obed.

"Looks as if there might have been some rippin' an' tearin'," said the
Ring Tailed Panther. "What have you been up to, Urrea?"

Urrea gave the Ring Tailed Panther a malignant glance.

"I have not been up to anything, to use your own common language," he
replied. "If you want any explanation, you can ask it of your suspicious
young friend there. As for me, I am tired of holding my hands as high as
my head, and I intend to light a cigarette. Three of you, I suppose, are
sufficient to watch me."

There were still a few embers and touching his cigarette to one of them
he sat down, leaned against the trunk of a tree and began to puff, as if
the future of the case had no interest for him.

"Just hand me that pistol at your belt, will you?" said Obed. "There
seems to be some k