"A
fine business for you to be in--joining Mexican outlaws and becoming a
cattle rustler. What have you to say for yourself?"

"I haven't anything to say," grumbled the prisoner. "What's the use? I
was caught with the goods, wasn't I?" he sneered.

"I'm ashamed to think an American would go in with a bunch of Mexican
bandits," said Mr. Obray; and then gave directions that the prisoners
should be well bound so that there would be no possibility of their
escaping.

All listened with interest to the details of the cattle raid so far as
the men who had gone out from the construction camp could relate. They
said that some of the fighting had been exceedingly hot, and they were
satisfied that a number of the Mexicans, and also one of the Americans
with them, had been wounded.

They themselves had not escaped unscathed, one man being hit in the
shoulder and another in the leg. Fortunately, however, neither of
these wounds proved serious. The camp doctor was called in to attend
them, after which he attended the wounded prisoners. In the meantime,
a message was sent to the railroad station and to San Antonio, to
acquaint the authorities with what had occurred.

"I was questioning Pankhurst on the way here," said Frank Andrews to
the head of the camp. "He wouldn't admit it outright, but I am
strongly of the opinion that one of the other Americans who was with
him was Bill Jarvey."

"Jarvey!" muttered Mr. Obray. "Well, it would be just like him to join
a fellow like Pankhurst. They were quite chummy when they both worked
for the company."

"I've got another idea about this affair," went on Andrews. "Do you
remember how they said Jarvey vowed he would get square with the
company for discharging him? I've got an idea that it was his scheme
to attempt to blow up the bridge, and that he was the one who set off
that bomb. Their idea was to get the cattle to some safe place first,
and then ruin the bridge. More than likely Jarvey and Pankhurst made a
deal with the greasers to that effect--the Americans to help with the
cattle and the Mexicans to help destroy our work."

"You may be right, Andrews," answered Ralph Obray. "And if you are,
it's a pity that you didn't catch Jarvey."

Dave and Roger listened to this talk with interest, and also joined in
the general discussion of those in the camp regarding the raid, and
what would be done with the prisoners.

"I suppose they will turn the prisoners over to the United States
au