ruined, unless the present crops should turn out well.

"Three weeks ago Carmody learned that it was high time for isolated
Americans to reach the protection of some large town. Attended
by two peons (native laborers), and travelling on mule back, the
party started through the mountains for Vera Cruz. Four hours out
from the plantation the party was halted by a score of men led by
a brigand named Cosetta, who is reported to be the right hand man
of the notorious Zapata himself.

"Cosetta, it appears, believed that he could force Carmody to
pay a large indemnity, in money, for the release of himself and
family and their woman friends. First of all, the Americans were
taken to a house near a deserted sugar mill, somewhere on the
coast opposite us. This sugar mill stands on a lagoon, and that
is as much of a description as Carmody could furnish in his hastily
penned letter. But we know that there are, along this part of
the coast, three such deserted sugar mills, each standing on a
lagoon.

"Plainly, the Carmodys must be in the house near one of these three
mills, but which one it is we cannot even guess. Admiral Fletcher
sent me the news two hours ago, by wireless. Ever since then we
have been in earnest communication upon the subject, and now I
have my orders in the matter."

"It would be possible, of course, for us to visit each one of
these lagoons in turn. However, if we visited the wrong mill
first, these bandits undoubtedly have some means of signaling
to comrades. Our landing party might be observed, and the news