“It’s been gettin’ hotter round this Greaser corral for some weeks,” replied the other cowboy.  “If that two-bit of a garrison surrenders, there’s no tellin’ what’ll happen.  Orozco is headin’ west from Agua Prieta with his guerrillas.  Campo is burnin’ bridges an’ tearin’ up the railroad south of Nogales.  Then there’s all these bandits callin’ themselves revolutionists just for an excuse to steal, burn, kill, an’ ride off with women.  It’s plain facts, Laddy, an’ bein’ across the U.S. line a few inches or so don’t make no hell of a difference.  My advice is, don’t let Miss Castaneda ever set foot in Casita again.”

“Looks like you’ve shore spoke sense,” said Ladd.  “I reckon, Gale, you an’ the girl ought to come with us.  Casita shore would be a little warm for us to-morrow.  We didn’t kill anybody, but I shot a Greaser’s arm off, an’ Lash strained friendly relations by destroyin’ property.  We know people who’ll take care of the senorita till your friend can come for her.”

Dick warmly spoke his gratefulness, and, inexpressibly relieved and happy for Mercedes, he went toward the clump of cactus where he had left her.  She stood erect, waiting, and, dark as it was, he could tell she had lost the terror that had so shaken her.

“Senor Gale, you are my good angel,” she said, tremulously.

“I’ve been lucky to fall in with these men, and I’m glad with all my heart,” he replied.  “Come.”

He led her into the road up to the cowboys, who now stood bareheaded in the starlight.  They seemed shy, and Lash was silent while Ladd made embarrassed, unintelligible reply to Mercedes’s’s thanks.

There were five horses—­two saddled, two packed, and the remaining one carried only a blanket.  Ladd shortened the stirrups on his mount, and helped Mercedes up into the saddle.  From the way she settled herself and took the few restive prances of the mettlesome horse Gale judged that she could ride.  Lash urged Gale to take his horse.  But this Gale refused to do.

“I’ll walk,” he said.  “I’m used to walking.  I know cowboys are not.”

They tried again to persuade him, without avail.  Then Ladd started off, riding bareback.  Mercedes fell in behind, with Gale walking beside her.  The two pack animals came next, and Lash brought up the rear.

Once started with protection assured for the girl and a real objective point in view, Gale relaxed from the tense strain he had been laboring under.  How glad he would have been to acquaint Thorne with their good fortune!  Later, of course, there would be some way to get word to the cavalryman.  But till then what torments his friend would suffer!