well tell the captain. You see, sir, Laura Bentley and Belle Meade are
the two girl sweethearts that waited for us until we got settled in the
service. They were on their way West to Fort Clowdry, for both girls
wanted a military wedding, and there was nothing of that sort to be had
in the home town. So Prescott wired them, aboard their train, that he
was ordered to Holmesville, and that I was going along with him, and
that we'd be back at Fort Clowdry at the earliest moment. But the girls
took it into their head to change their route to Holmesville. Maybe you
can get away, Dick; in any case I'll hire an automobile and get up to
Holmesville as quickly as I can."

"I am afraid there may be some difficulty about your getting into
Holmesville, or the young ladies getting out," replied Captain Foster.

"What do you mean, sir?" demanded Prescott, noting how serious was the
look on the captain's face.

"A few weeks ago, gentlemen, a mob burned a Mexican at the stake up at
Holmesville. The Mexican was a worthless fellow, but of course an effort
has been made to fasten the crime on the Texan residents of the town. As
a matter of fact it is generally understood that the man lynched was
burned by his own countryman as a result of some row among themselves.
But the Mexicans on this border are in an ugly frame of mind, just now,
as the most disorderly ones are all behind the revolution that's trying
to get a start across the border. This telegram is from Washington, and
informs me that the Mexicans have just turned loose at Holmesville.
There are hundreds of them; they have been drinking and are armed. They
greatly outnumber the Americans, and they are at present trying to get
the upper hand in Holmesville."

"Riot and killing?" gasped Lieutenant Prescott, while Darrin's dark
face went suddenly white.

"Yes," nodded Captain Foster.

"Then Prescott, we must get under way at once."

"You'll find it quite hopeless," remarked Captain Foster. "No man owning
an automobile will take you into or near Holmesville until the rioting
stops. The War Department advises me to have all in readiness to
despatch troops by the river in case the governor of Texas calls for the
help of United States troops."

"We ought to start an expedition up the river at once," groaned
Lieutenant Dick Prescott, thinking of his and his friend's sweethearts
in awful danger there.

"Unfortunately we can't start troops," replied the captain, "until the
order