awake. You will be able to see it from the top of the next
hill.''

The cavalcade stopped at the summit of the ridge and the men
looked down into the silent village. It was like the others they
had passed, with a few houses built round a square of grass that
could hardly be recognized as a plaza, except for the church on
its one side, and the huge wooden cross planted in its centre.
From the top of the hill they could see that the greater number
of the houses were in darkness, but in a large building of two
stories lights were shining from every window.

``That is the comandancia,'' said the driver, shaking his
head. ``They are still awake. It is a telegraph station.''

``Great Scott!'' exclaimed MacWilliams. ``We forgot the
telegraph. They may have sent word to head us off already.''

``Nine o'clock is not so very late,'' said Clay. ``It may mean
nothing.''

``We had better make sure, though,'' MacWilliams answered,
jumping to the ground. ``Lend me your pony, Ted, and take my
place. I'll run in there and dust around and see what's up.
I'll join you on the other side of the town after you get back to
the main road.''

``Wait a minute,'' said Clay. ``What do you mean to do?''

``I can't tell till I get there, but I'll try to find out how