“Is it true that there are American sailors below?” called a man’s husky voice.

“A detachment from the United States Navy, sir,” Dave replied, gleefully.  “Are you Mr. Carmody?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Then bring down your party.  We have force enough to resist any attempt to hold you, and if any harm is offered you, we shall avenge it.  Shall I come upstairs for you, Mr. Carmody?”

“If you don’t mind,” answered the voice of the man above.  “There are two guards up here who seem undecided whether to shoot us or to let us pass.”

Instantly Ensign Darrin ran to the stairs, mounting them.  Yet he was careful to take no chance of being surprised in the dark, for he well understood the treachery of the natives with whom he had to deal.

However, Darrin reached the landing unattacked.  Down the hallway he saw an open door, through which a dim light shone.  Before the door were two Mexicans, each armed with a rifle.

“You will permit the American party to pass,” Dave commanded, bluntly, in the best Spanish that he had learned at Annapolis.

One of the sentries again called out loudly, demanding instructions from below.

“You will have to let the prisoners pass,” came from downstairs.

At that both sentries moved away from the door.

“Will you be good enough to come out?” Darrin called, keeping his eye on the two guards, who stood glowering sullenly at him.  He had not drawn his revolver, and did not wish to do so.

The door was cautiously opened and a man’s head appeared.  One look at Dave and the door was flung wide by a tall, serious-eyed man whose hair was gray at the temples.

“Come,” he called to those behind him.  “I see the uniform of our own Navy.  I never paid much attention to it before, but at thus moment it’s the most welcome sight in the world.”

Head erect, shoulders thrown back, an expression of deep gratitude in his eyes, John Carmody stepped out into the hallway.

Behind him was a middle-aged woman, followed by two pretty girls.  Then came another woman, younger than the first, who led two boys, one of four years, the other of six.

“I was sent here,” Dave announced, cap in hand, “to find and rescue John Carmody, his wife and two sons, and a Mrs. Deeming and her two daughters.”

“We are they,” Mr. Carmody declared.

“Do you know of any other prisoners, Americans or otherwise, who are held here by the bandits, sir?” Ensign Darrin inquired.

“I do not know of any other captives here,” replied Mr. Carmody, promptly.  “In fact, I do not believe there are any others.”

“Mr. Carmody, if you will lead your party down the stairs and through the hallway to the room at the end of the passage, I will bring up the rear of this little American procession.”

Mr. Carmody obeyed without hesitation.  One after another the trembling women followed, Mrs. Carmody leading her two young sons.