He seized Guadalupe by the arm and started to lead her away, but Santiago interfered.
“Hands off!” he said. “She belongs to me. I’ll take her to Don Rafael, and, if there is any ransom, I shall have it.”
Although Santiago’s words were spoken in a low, soft tone, Fillipe obeyed, and the entire party left the place and proceeded by a circuitous route to the rear of the little chain of foothills which bordered the river. After a walk of some five or ten minutes they approached a clump of bushes in front of which a Mexican was standing guard. He stepped aside, and the men entered the bushes, which Guadalupe soon discovered concealed a door in the hillside. At a knock from Fillipe the door was opened,
disclosing a passageway through which the men and their captive proceeded, closing the door behind them.
They had no sooner disappeared than two figures emerged stealthily from behind a jutting rock and threw themselves upon the guard, whom they quickly overcame and bound.
The two figures were Donald and Adrian.
[CHAPTER XI.—A COUNCIL OF WAR.]
Having secured the guard and bound him firmly to a tree, the boys approached the door through which Guadalupe had just been led captive.
“I never suspected it,” said Adrian.
“Nor I,” said Donald, “I thought sure it would be Billie. Where do you suppose they caught her?”