"And get laughed at for your pains," supplemented Walt.
In the morning, so early that the dawn was still gray, their jailer aroused them. Wondering what could be going to happen, the boys hurriedly put on the few clothes they had taken off the night before, and, with the professor, obeyed his signal to follow him.
They were quickly conducted before the short, pursy man, who had committed them to their cell. Now, however, he was all smiles and condescension.
The reason for this may have lain in the fact that a smart-looking officer of the Mexican cavalry stood by his side and eyed the boys with interest as they came in. He was in command of the troops that had arrived the night before, and which, though the boys had not guessed it, were the ones summoned from Los Hominos.
It now appeared that the fat dignitary could talk passable English when he chose, and, as the boys entered, he greeted them with an airy:
"Good morning."
"Good morning," sputtered Ralph, indignation taking the place of prudence. "You ought to beg our pardons. What have we done to be locked up like criminals? We demand a hearing. We——"
"There, there," said the stout man soothingly; "all is well. This officer has told me that in all probability you are respectable, and——"
"In all probability?" burst out the professor, "I am Professor Wintergreen, of Stonefell College, and this young man is my charge, Ralph Stetson, and this other gentleman is Walter Phelps, the son of a rancher."
"The names I have on my list as being among those imprisoned by Black Ramon," interrupted the officer. "Pray, señors, how did you escape?"