declared Billie.

"You wouldn't hurt anybody, would you?"

"I'd capture the officer and make him take us to Vera Cruz."

"Of course," from Donald. "Why didn't I think of it before? Let's
do it."

"But we have no weapons."

"Then we must get some."

"How?"

"Keep your eyes open. There must be some way."

The officers kept on their way until they reached the first
Pullman, where they stopped for a minute.

"Are the orders in here?" asked the captain.

"No; the conductor has them. He wouldn't stop the train without I
gave them to him."

"Carramba! Why didn't you tell me so before? Go and take them
from him and bring them here at once."

"Bueno, Capitan! Will you wait here?"

"Yes, I'll go inside. Hurry."

The lieutenant turned and hurried back. The boys only saved
themselves from being detected by throwing themselves flat on the
ground.

For a moment the captain remained looking after his companion and
then turned and entered the car.

"We must have that order," said Donald.

"We must!" echoed Billie.

"Then we'll get it," they exclaimed as one.

So alike were the thoughts that passed through their minds that
they did not even feel obliged to speak the plan aloud.

"Which one of us will stop him?" asked Donald.

"You'd better. I'm heavier and I can handle him easier."

They walked back some ten feet, where Donald stopped, while
Billie went about ten feet farther and drew off into the
darkness.

A couple of minutes later they heard the lieutenant coming. He
passed Billie without seeing him.

Then Donald advanced and met him as by chance.

"Who comes there?" asked the lieutenant in a sharp tone, drawing
his revolver.

"Why, hello, lieutenant," said Donald as he came close to him.
"What's happened?"

The lieutenant eyed him suspiciously.

"Where did you come from?" he asked.

"From the rear sleeper. I woke up and found myself all alone."

"Humph!" grunted the lieutenant. "You must have been overlooked.
Come with me."

He started to replace his revolver in its holster when a slight
noise behind him caused him to turn his head. As he did so,
Billie's fist caught him under the chin and he fell in a heap
without making a sound.

"Good work!" muttered Donald as he picked up the revolver which
the lieutenant had let fall. "Now to business."

CHAPTER IX.

DONALD'S STRATEGY.

Lifting the unconscious man in their arms, they bore him into the
darkness away from the train, whe