Ruggles checked himself suddenly.
"You are not required to confess or incriminate yourself, unless you want to," Captain Foster advised the prisoner. "However, I imagine that the cargo of the boat and your actions to-night will furnish all the evidence against you that are needed. Mr. Ruggles, I shall have to hold you and your Mexican companions until I am advised what to do with you. There is no charge against your daughter. She may go to the hotel in Agua Dulce, if you wish. I will see to it that she is properly escorted."
"If you will be so good, Captain," answered Ruggles huskily. "But where shall I sleep to-night?"
"On a cot in the guard-tent, sir. I am sorry, but that is the best that we can do."
Meta Ruggles began to weep softly over her father's trouble and disgrace. Sergeant Raney, therefore, escorted her from camp as soon as he could persuade her to start for the village. Raney was also directed to send an undertaker for the body of the dead Mexican, and a local physician to look after the wounded one.
"You are going to sit here for a while, Captain?" inquired Ruggles.
"I think I shall."
"Then may I sit with you a few minutes before I am marched off to the guard-tent?"
"Certainly."
Hal had stepped into the tent shared in common by the officers. Ruggles, who had bitten the end from a cigar and had lighted the weed, now leaned over to whisper to Captain Foster: