“I know you are an American army officer,” said Duros to Jack, “but do not be afeered, sir, for we shall keep it—uh—dark, is it? I congratulate you on the brilliant help you get from this other officer,” motioning to Hike. “He is perhaps a lieutenant of the Signal Corps? I am still amaze to find him looking so young—I would think he is a—a—almost not a young man yet, if I have not seen him run the aeroplane.”
“Me? An officer?” blushed Hike. “Why, I’m a kid—a youngster; that’s all just a muchacho!”
The Mexican officer smiled at what he considered a jest and bowed, with his hand on his breast, “As you weesh, sir. You shall keep your disguise! With your permission—of course my commander have put me under your orders—I and my men, we will each take two of these horses of the insurrectos, and ride back to Torreas.”
“Oh, let me take you back in the aeroplane,” insisted Hike.
“The government needs the horses, permit me to say, sir?” He seemed to be begging for permission, still; and suddenly Hike realized with a shock that the Mexican officer meant it—that he, Hike, really had been and was commander of this expedition, and that Lieutenant Duros could do nothing without his permission!
“Very well, Lieutenant,” he said, as gravely as he could. “You take command of the party, now, and take back all the horses you can handle. It’s been a pleasure to meet you, sir, and permit me to congratulate you on the way you handled the machine-gun from the aeroplane. By the way, can you carry that on horseback?”
“Yes, sir, it is very light.”
“Well, adios, señor!”
“Adios!” cried the Lieutenant, and gathered his men for the trek to Torreas.
When their backs were turned, Hike solemnly rolled over on the ground, and he was shouting with laughter when he arose. “Say, Jack, did you get that?” he howled to Adeler. “Me, a Santa Benician, a kid—and he thought I was an American Signal Corps officer. Say, wouldn’t that jar you?”