Just as Captain Foster stepped into the barn a rear door of the house opened quickly. A Mexican, rather better dressed than the average, ran hastily across the yard.
"Here," he cried, in good English, though he panted as he reached the barn, "you must leave. You have no right here!"
"Only Pedro Guarez can tell me that," retorted the captain.
"But I am Pedro Guarez."
"Then you're the man I want to see," returned Captain Foster, fixing Guarez with his keen eyes. "I am going to look through your barn and I may ask you a lot of questions."
"I shall not answer, if you do. Get out! You have no right here!"
"Then get a policeman, and get him here to arrest me," smiled the captain.
A murmuring of excited voices was heard out in the road, after which, half a dozen Mexicans came hurriedly into the yard. They quickly crowded around the door.
"You have a good many friends interested in your affairs, Mr. Guarez," insinuated the captain. "But come on; I am going through the barn."
"I cannot say that it will be safe," retorted Guarez, with an expressive shrug of his shoulders.