And so he did. In less than half an hour ten regulars, some of
them but very little older than Billie and Adrian, were ready for
the ride which Billie had proposed and which in his mind would be
as far as Moreno.

"You are sure ten will be enough?" asked Lieutenant Grant.

"Sure! Twelve Americans are enough to lick fifty Mexicans if it
comes to that; and besides we shall have Mr. Black and Josie.
He's as good as four."

"And don't forget the reinforcements, if they are needed,"
laughed Donald. "We will be right on the spot where we saw the
sun rise the first morning after we left Moreno."

"It looks all right," was Lieutenant Grant's comment, "but it is
always well to have a big enough force. Success to you!"

"You'll make all the necessary explanations to the crowd you
bring out, Don," was Billie's parting words. "Adrian and I will
explain the nature of the trip to our fellows as we ride along."

This they did, and gave the soldier boys a little history of
their own troubles in reaching Vera Cruz.

"No explanations are necessary," remarked a young chap by the
name of Brooks, a corporal. "We saw you out at the water works
and we know you are made of the right stuff. You lead! We'll
follow, won't we, boys?"

"You bet!" replied the others in one voice.

CHAPTER XX.

ADRIAN FOILS A TRAITOR.

It was nine o'clock of the second night that Adrian and Billie,
accompanied by Mr. Black's mozo, Jose, and the ten troopers,
reached the outskirts of Moreno.

They had made good headway the first night, had slept in the
hills during the day and had come this far without molestation.

"If everything goes to the end as it has this far," remarked
Corporal Brooks to Billie as they neared the little town, "it
will be nothing but a pleasant outing, sure enough."

Arriving at the edge of the town, the boys sent Jose forward to
see how the land lay and to bring them word.

"Do you think you can trust him?" asked the corporal.

"We'll have to," replied Adrian. "I believe he is loyal, and Mr.
Black seems to have complete confidence in him."

"Let's hope so, anyway," said Billie. "It seems to be the best we
can do to get word to Mr. Black of our presence."

"Hurry back, Jose," urged Adrian as the mozo departed.

"Si, senor," was the brief reply. "You may depend on me."

"It ought not to take him more than half an hour," explained
Billie. "It isn't more than a mile."

But a half hour passed and then another an