et until I know the when and where of it. It will probably
be in some secluded place where they will expect to be safe from attack,
which will suit us all the better, as we will give them a surprise. If
we can't do any better we will follow them."

"Going to swim after them?"

"It isn't as bad as that," laughed Jim. "I think we will be able to pick
up a boat somewhere that will serve us. The first thing to do is to find
out where they are going."

"That does seem to be advisable," returned Berwick, "if we expect to be
there."

"Now, don't be sarcastic, old chap," replied Jim, good-naturedly. "You
know what I mean. Of course, all our plans must be based on that."

"All right, Jim," agreed Berwick, "but how do you propose to get that
information?"

"Ask Senor de Cordova."

"Don't believe he will tell you," said Berwick laconically.

"Why not?"

"Well, if he has had word from Broome, he has probably been warned not
to say anything about it."

"I hadn't thought of that," admitted Jim, "but still I think he will
tell us. It fairly makes me wild when I think of that girl in the hands
of those ruffians."

Jim clenched his hands as he vowed to himself that it would go hard with
them if any harm came to her.

"Same here," responded Berwick heartily.

Jim was pondering deeply, and sat gazing through the windows.

"Do you know where to find the Senor?" Berwick went on a few minutes
later.

"I suppose he is stopping at the Palace. That is where we saw them the
other day."

A few minutes walk brought them to the hotel, where, on inquiry, they
learned that the Senor had been stopping there, but that he had gone
away that morning.

"No, he did not say where he was going," the clerk informed them. "He
went away on horseback and his man on another mount."

"Then he will probably return to-day?" suggested Jim.

"Who knows?" the clerk answered with a shrug of his shoulders. "No, he
did not say where he was going or when he would be back. No, he hasn't
given up his room. If it is anything of importance about which you wish
to see the Senor, you might interview his lawyer, Mr. Reynolds at No. 10
Court street, who, perhaps might know where he has gone."

"Were they his own horses?" went on Jim.

"Couldn't say," replied the clerk. "Perhaps the porter can tell you. He
went for the horses, I believe. Here, Pedro," calling the porter, who
was standing nearby, "you got the horses for the Senor this morning,
didn't you