“Of course I do not wish to influence you.  It is for you, Professor, to do what seems best to you.  If you decide to remain I think I shall be able to protect you.”

“What would you suggest, sir?”

“I was about to ask if you look to spend most of your time in the mountains here?”

“That was our intention, later journeying down to the Rio Grande.”

Captain McKay nodded reflectively.

“That will suit my plans very well.  I have come to the conclusion, from certain things that have come under my notice, that the headquarters of this band of Border Bandits is here in the Guadalupes.  Search as we might we have been unable to locate their cache.”

“You mean where they hide?”

“Yes, that and something else.  You see their plan of operation is this.  These men indulge in various forms of rascality.  In the first place they steal stock when possible.  This they drive over the border and exchange for Mexican goods, which they smuggle across the river and store away until such time as they are able to dispose of it.  Of course there are some people higher up who are receiving and disposing of these goods.  We are on their track, but we haven’t sufficient evidence to convict any of them.  The first thing to be done is to capture Jones and his band.  When they are safely behind the bars the traffic will stop short.  Perhaps when we get them all in limbo one or another of the newer ones will confess.  That will make our work easier.  In fact it is what we are depending upon at the present time.”

“I understand.  But will there not be danger in our remaining here?”

“Perhaps.  There’s always more or less danger, and Jones will never let up on you until either he gets you or we get him.”

“I think I understand,” nodded Tad.  “You think we shall be able to assist you?”

“Exactly.”

“Will you please explain?” begged Professor Zepplin.

“You can help us a great deal, by remaining here.  It is safe to suppose that the band will devote no little effort toward getting even with you.  That means that they are quite likely to hover about in your vicinity.  That will narrow down our field of operations considerably.  We shan’t be faraway from you at any stage of the game; in fact, I think it might be well to have two or three of our men in your party all the time.  Do you understand?”

“I begin to,” nodded the professor.

“That will be fine,” answered Tad with glowing face.

“Then we will be Rangers, too,” exclaimed Walter.

“Yes, you will be Rangers, too,” laughed the captain.  “You are pretty good rangers already.  By assisting in rounding up these men you will be serving your country, for, if we can put these Border Bandits out of business, we shall be destroying some of the Kaiser’s worst trouble makers on the border.”

“And get shot full of holes,” added the fat boy.