"Eh? What are you talking about? My car is over by Morales's house."
"Señor Austin is in a great hurry," sneered some one in Spanish. "Once more he leaves all of the fighting to his friends."
"That's Adolfo Urbina," panted Paloma. "I know him." Stung by this open charge of cowardice, Austin began a voluble defense, but in the midst of it General Longorio addressed him, sharply:
"You will stay here, señor. Nobody leaves this place."
"I told you I wouldn't be a party to the business," Ed declared, hotly.
"You forced me to come in the first place—"
"Yes! And now I force you to stay."
Longorio's stand appeared to please Lewis, who chimed in with the words: "That's right, Ed. You've got to stick, for once in your life."
"What do you mean, you nearly ran into my car back yonder?" Austin asked, after a moment.
"Ain't that your machine yonder by the thicket?" inquired Lewis. "If it ain't, whose is it?" As no one answered, he started in the direction he had indicated; but at that moment a man came running from the riverbank, crying, softly:
"Look out! They come."