“Thanks,” said Billy.  “Pesita wants you to send Esteban to him.  I didn’t have no chance to tell you last night while them pikers was stickin’ aroun’, so I stops now on my way back to the hills.”

“I will send Esteban tonight if I can get him; but I do not know.  Esteban is working for the pig, Grayson.”

“Wot’s he doin’ fer Grayson?” asked Billy.  “And what was the Grayson guy doin’ up here with you, Jose?  Ain’t you gettin’ pretty thick with Pesita’s enemies?”

“Jose good friends everybody,” and the old man grinned.  “Grayson have a job he want good men for.  Jose furnish men.  Grayson pay well.  Job got nothin’ do Pesita, Villa, Carranza, revolution—­just private job.  Grayson want senorita.  He pay to get her.  That all.”

“Oh,” said Billy, and yawned.  He was not interested in Mr. Grayson’s amours.  “Why didn’t the poor boob go get her himself?” he inquired disinterestedly.  “He must be a yap to hire a bunch o’ guys to go cop off a siwash girl fer him.”

“It is not a siwash girl, Senor Capitan,” said Jose.  “It is one beautiful senorita—­the daughter of the owner of El Orobo Rancho.”

“What?” cried Billy Byrne.  “What’s that you say?”

“Yes, Senor Capitan, what of it?” inquired Jose.  “Grayson he pay me furnish the men.  Esteban he go with his warriors.  I get Esteban.  They go tonight take away the senorita; but not for Grayson,” and the old fellow laughed.  “I can no help can I?  Grayson pay me money get men.  I get them.  I no help if they keep girl,” and he shrugged.

“They’re comin’ for her tonight?” cried Billy.

“Si, senor,” replied Jose.  “Doubtless they already take her.”

“Hell!” muttered Billy Byrne, as he swung Brazos about so quickly that the little pony pivoted upon his hind legs and dashed away toward the south over the same trail he had just traversed.

CHAPTER XV

AN INDIAN’S TREACHERY

The Brazos pony had traveled far that day but for only a trifle over ten miles had he carried a rider upon his back.  He was, consequently, far from fagged as he leaped forward to the lifted reins and tore along the dusty river trail back in the direction of Orobo.

Never before had Brazos covered ten miles in so short a time, for it was not yet five o’clock when, reeling with fatigue, he stopped, staggered and fell in front of the office building at El Orobo.

Eddie Shorter had sat in the chair as Barbara and Billy had last seen him waiting until Byrne should have an ample start before arousing Grayson and reporting the prisoner’s escape.  Eddie had determined that he would give Billy an hour.  He grinned as he anticipated the rage of Grayson and the Villistas when they learned that their bird had flown, and as he mused and waited he fell asleep.

It was broad daylight when Eddie awoke, and as he looked up at the little clock ticking against the wall, and saw the time he gave an exclamation of surprise and leaped to his feet.  Just as he opened the outer door of the office he saw a horseman leap from a winded pony in front of the building.  He saw the animal collapse and sink to the ground, and then he recognized the pony as Brazos, and another glance at the man brought recognition of him, too.