ys.

"Come an' git it," he called sonorously.

"What does he mean Jack?" asked Bob.

"I hope he means dinner," said Frank, sniffing hungrily.

"He does," laughed Jack. "That's the way camp cooks announce food is
ready in the cow camps, as I understand it. And Gabby Pete is an old
cowman."

"Well, lead me to it," said Frank, and all followed Jack into the
house.

CHAPTER XI

JACK CANNOT SLEEP

"Well, now, boys, let's see where we stand," said Mr. Temple, after
all had partaken heartily, amid excited but disjointed conversation,
of a surprisingly good dinner of pork and beans, boiled potatoes,
fresh tomatoes and lettuce, bread pudding and coffee. He pushed back
his chair as he spoke, and lighted a cigar.

"First of all," he said, "we have got to consider the kidnapping of
Mr. Hampton and decide what shall be done in the matter, what moves we
must make. Then there is this series of mysterious happenings, all of
which have a bearing on the case, if we can find the solution.

"Here, for instance, is this man Remedios. Evidently he was in league
with the Mexican bandits who attacked us, and it was his part of the
conspiracy to stage a breakdown so that we could be easily attacked.
Now who were the bandits, and what did they want? Were they ordinary
robbers after money, or was their object something deeper? Was it
part of this plot against our oil interests?"

He paused to puff his cigar into renewed life. All three chums had
been listening with eager attention. Now Jack Hampton spoke. Mr.
Temple earlier had elaborated for Jack's benefit his theory that a
faction of Mexican rebels was responsible for the outrages of which
they had been the victims, hoping thereby to embroil Mexico and the
United States and thus cause trouble for President Obregon.

"Mr. Temple," said Jack, leaning forward, "I do not believe those
bandits were after money. Didn't it strike you all as strange that
they were in an auto? Well, it did me. The bandits of the border
usually are mounted on horseback. These men, on the contrary, had a
high-powered car. No, that attack was due to a carefully laid plan.
And do you know what I think their purpose was? It was to capture
you."

Bob and Frank, elbows planted on the table, leaned forward surprised.
Mr. Temple, however, showed no surprise, but merely looked thoughtful.

"You see," continued Jack, "you are an American of wealth and
position. They already have captured father. Now, if