t's enough," exclaimed Billie. "You needn't go on with the
rest. But what's the plan? We're a good ten miles from those
chaps--unless we had an airship."

"And then how far do you think it is?" queried Adrian.

"Well," replied Billie slowly, as he squinted up one eye, "I
should say they are about four miles away as the crow flies. But
we are not crows. By the Real road, it is at least ten miles."

"There must be a short cut somewhere," insisted Donald.

"There is," explained Pedro. "Just around the next turn in the
road there is a goat path that leads down to the river. If you
are not afraid of getting wet----"

"There you go," laughed Billie. "Afraid of getting wet! Just
let's settle it once for all that we are not afraid of anything
that it is right for us to do."

Pedro laughed good-naturedly.

"Well, then, since we are not afraid of getting wet, we can
follow the river for about two miles by fording it several times,
and emerge on the plain a mile this side of the clump of trees
which hides those fellows from the highway."

"And then what?" from Billie.

"That is as far as I've gone."

"Then you'll have to do better. Just as soon as we emerge from
behind those trees, we'll be a fair target. Four against twenty
is 'most too much on an open plain."

For several minutes no one spoke. It was Adrian who broke the
silence.

"I think I see a way, not only to save the train, but possibly to
capture the bandits."

The boys looked up in surprise.

"Do you notice how the railroad curves in toward the hills just
after it crosses the river bridge?" he continued, pointing out
the place he meant.

"Sure, we see it," from Billie.

"Well, when we leave the river, instead of riding toward that
bunch of trees, we'll ride the other way. That will bring us to
the railroad track near the curve. Then we'll ride up the track.
If we do not reach the station before the train leaves, we can
flag it. There is sure to be at least half a dozen guards aboard.
We will make ten. Most of the men aboard will have revolvers. The
result will be that instead of the bandits taking the train by
surprise, we will take them by surprise, and----"

"And the army that takes the other by surprise wins," finished
Billie, taking off his sombrero and bowing to Adrian in mock
gravity. Then to Pedro, "Let the scout lead the way and the army
will fall in behind, with the general at the head."

A laugh followed Billie's words, and putting spu