"What do you mean?" asked the corporal.
"I can't exactly explain," was Adrian's reply, "but my prairie training always warns me to go slow when I sense danger."
"A mighty good idea," muttered one of the troopers, an old campaigner who had seen service with Funston in the Philippines. "These are slippery chaps."
"If I could walk," was Adrian's comment, "I'd soon find out what is wrong; but you can't scout on horseback."
The cavalcade came to a halt and the men examined their weapons to be sure they were in order.
"What do you think we'd better do, Ad?" queried Billie.
"I don't know. How far are we from the rendezvous?"
"Not more than half a mile."
"If it were not for the possibility of making matters worse," suggested Adrian, "I'd fire a few shots; but of course what we want is to get into Vera Cruz without a fight. What do you think, Mr. Black?"
"This is new business to me, boys," was the reply. "I'll have to leave it to you."