could understand what was happening the
stranger had pushed this roll of money into the young officer's hand.

"That's only a starter--something down to prove good faith, you
understand," whispered the stranger.

"You--you _dog_!" cried Lieutenant Hal angrily.

Swat! The compact roll of bank-notes struck the stranger in the face,
then bounded to the floor at Hal's feet. The latter kicked the money
away from him.

"You needn't be so huffy about it," grumbled the other. "As I told you,
that money is only a deposit paid down."

"You'll go down, if you try anything more like that," uttered Lieutenant
Hal wrathfully.

"Ah, now, see here, don't be a fool," urged the stranger huskily. "I
don't want to spend a lot of time behind bars or too much in the courts
either. Now, all you'll have to do will be to help me frame a yarn that
we can both----"

"Stop! I think I've heard about enough from you," warned Lieutenant
Overton angrily.

"But, you idiot, I can offer you more money than you'll make in twenty
years of soldiering!"

"Perhaps you can, but you needn't bother. Do you imagine, fellow, that
an Army officer's honor is of so little importance to him that he'll
sell it to a higher bidder. Now, I've had enough of you. Get out of
here."

As Hal spoke he unfastened his belt and tossed it on to a seat at the
side. It was his intention to call his brother officers into the cabin
during the trip back. But at that moment Noll showed in the doorway.

"Lieutenant Overton, Mr. Halstead is inquiring whether you are ready
with further orders."

That brought Hal to his feet, and also to the realization that both
motor boats would have to be manned. Indeed, he would have to give a few
moments of thought about the return to the American shore.

Hastily joining his brother officers on deck, Hal also called to
Prescott, who placed a chair for the young woman and then joined the
group.

"Prescott," Hal began, "I don't imagine that the capture of this craft
is warrant for our abandoning river guard for the rest of the night. The
'Restless,' I take it, must continue the patrol until other orders are
received."

"Undoubtedly," nodded Prescott.

"Therefore, it's my intention, with a few of our men, to take this prize
into Agua Dulce. The remainder of the officers and men ought to remain
aboard the 'Restless.' Now, as that boat belongs to the Thirty-seventh
for the present I shall have to leave Terry in command in my absence,