pect you are right," he said, "but I'd like to have you stay
with me a while. It's mighty lonesome here for Josie and me."

"If we are at war with the Mexicans," remarked Billie, "this will
be an unhealthy place for an American, I imagine. I should think
you would want to take your daughter away from here."

"Oh, Josie and I are not afraid, are we, Josie?"

"No indeed, Dad. We are a match for a regiment of Mexicans when
we are on our own ground."

But in spite of the assertion made by Mr. Black he admitted to
the boys after breakfast when Josie was not present that he
wished his daughter was safe in Vera Cruz.

"Why don't you go with us?" asked Adrian. "We should be pleased
to act as an escort."

"Yes," echoed Billie. "We'll see you through."

"I'll tell you what I had thought of doing," said Mr. Black.
"It's only a good day's ride a-horseback to Moreno. We have many
friends there with whom I could leave her. If you boys would act
as an escort that far you would be no farther from Vera Cruz than
you are now and I believe you would have a better chance in
reaching the port over the Tierra Blanca division than on the
main line."

"Whether we would or not," replied Adrian, "we should be glad to
act as your escort."

"There is another thing in favor of that route," continued Mr.
Black. "The farther we keep from the main line of railroad, the
less likely we are to fall in with the Huerta forces. The
southern territory as far as Santa Lucrecia is practically in the
hands of Carranza."

"From what you say," was Donald's comment, "it is greatly to our
advantage to do as you wish. Let's consider the matter settled
and start at once."

"It's too late in the day to start now," was Mr. Black's reply.
"We shall wait until to-morrow morning and be on our way by
daylight. I don't want to be riding through the mountains after
dark. There are wild animals that are worse than the soldiers."

"As the Senora Blanco can testify," laughed Billie. "Every time I
think of what a close shave she had, it gives me a chill."

That afternoon Mr. Black brought out half a dozen horses for the
inspection of his guests.

"A day's ride on a strange horse isn't always an easy task," he
explained, "and I thought you might amuse yourself trying these.
You can each pick out the one that suits him best."

It was a task which suited the boys better than any they had
undertaken in days, and as they had not only Mr. Black, but Josie
and the