et on me," was Adrian's reply as he shouldered his
rifle, looked to the fastening of his belt, and descended to the
gate, where Mr. Black let him out.

After Adrian had gone the others inspected the house and its
approaches for the purpose of determining where they might mount
the cannon. They finally decided upon a spot in an angle of the
roof, where a chimney offered some protection and from which it
commanded the main approach to the house.

"I'm not sure we will be able to get the cannon up there,"
laughed Billie as they passed through the library on their way to
the cellar, "but we'll do the best we can."

"Don't worry," was Josie's reply. "You don't know how strong Dad
is."

The boys thought they could guess, but when they saw Mr. Black
pick up the cannon as though it had been a log of cord wood and
carry it upstairs they concluded that Josie was right.

"When I was a young man," was Mr. Black's only comment, "I was
considered the strongest man in our county. I reckon if it came
to a pinch I'd be a pretty hard man to handle even yet."

The boys had no doubt of it.

By the time the cannon was mounted and loaded the sun was nearing
the top of the mountains behind them and a few minutes later it
sank from sight.

"It won't be long now until we shall have to depend upon our ears
instead of our eyes for our protection," said Donald. "Where is
the best place to watch?"

"I'll tell you what I think," said Billie. "Let one watch from
the roof and the other down by the gate. The one on the roof can
hear noises from a distance. The one by the gate can hear any one
who may be sneaking around."

"I'll watch on the roof," said the senora. "I know the chirp of
every bird that belongs here. I shall know in a minute if
anything happens that is unusual."

"And I'll watch by the gate," declared Donald.

"Only till midnight," said Billie, "when I'll relieve you."

"And I'll relieve the senora," said Josie.

"Where do I come in?" queried Mr. Black.

"You are the general, Dad. You can be everywhere."

Sentry duty is always nerve-racking business. If you have ever
been obliged to sit alone in the dark and watch with your ears,
you will understand this and you will understand how Donald felt
sitting alone by the barred gate in the dark, 3,000 miles from
home and in the midst of a war-stricken country.

Even the north star looked unfamiliar, so close was it to the
northern horizon. Once in a while he fancied he co