Leaving a petty officer in charge on the roof, Trent turned to Dave to say: 

“Come along, Darrin.  We’ll see what can be done for our countrywomen.”

Hastily descending, and following the messenger, the two officers were met at the door of a spacious room by Ensign Dalzell.

“Ladies,” said Dan, turning, “here are Lieutenant Trent and Ensign Darrin.  The former commands this detachment.”

On the floor lay more than a dozen wounded Mexicans.

Two of the American women, having had nursing experience, had taken good care of the injured.

“Ladies,” asked Lieutenant Trent, “have you been roughly treated by the Mexicans?”

“Far from it,” said one of the women.  “The Mexican officer in command treated us with great consideration.  We were in the main part of the hotel, the wooden building.  The Mexican officer told us that his men were going to occupy the roof as a military necessity, and that there would be fighting.  He assured us that we would be safer in the annex, and escorted us here.”

“Where is that officer now?” asked Trent, promptly.  “I would like to shake hands with him.”

“I am afraid you would have to travel inside the Mexican lines,” said another woman.  “A little while ago a party of horsemen rode up to the rear of the hotel, and one officer, a lieutenant-colonel, came up into the hotel and sought the officer in command here, ordering him to withdraw with his men, leaving only a few behind to keep up a show of resistance.”

“I will see that you are taken at once inside the American lines,” declared Trout.  “There you will be safe.”

Preparations were quickly made.  The Mexican prisoners who were able to walk were formed under guard.  The American women walked on ahead of the prisoners.  Ensign Darrin, with half of the command, took charge of the rescued women and prisoners, and went to the lower part of the town, to turn over the refugees and prisoners.

Trent posted a squad of his men, under Boatswain’s Mate Pearson, on the roof.  The rest of the seamen were stationed in the street, and Dave was placed in immediate command, with instructions to keep a sharp lookout on all sides.  The boatswain’s mate was to report to him anything observed from the roof.

In half an hour Danny Grin’s detachment returned, coming almost on the double-quick.  Dalzell, wide-eyed with news, drew his brother officers aside.

“Cantor has escaped!” Dan murmured, excitedly.  “It was not widely known on the ‘Long Island’ that he was in arrest.  So it seems that he went down over the side, stepped into a gig, and ordered the coxswain to take him ashore.  As he was in civilian dress he was not likely to be closely observed by sentries on shore, and so far no trace of him has been discovered.”

“I believe he has left the Navy,” Dave nodded.  “Further, as he appeared to have strange interests ashore, I believe that he has deserted to the enemy.”