The explanation sounded plausible; yet there was a flaw. Could this man be a member of the firm of La Fitte and Company? Did the minister suspect that Juarez had been hand and glove with this firm? Phil thought he saw the trick; if the arms were on La Mesa then there would be the assault. General Ruiz, or more likely Juarez, had sent this information in order that the greater part of the government force would be removed to Tortuga Hill and away from the real objective. “Then I shall send the despatch immediately,” the minister added, addressing Captain Taylor. “Will you notify Admiral Spotts as to what I have done?” Phil was strongly tempted to stop the despatch by telling of the arms, when he remembered he could not do this without bringing to a crisis his enmity with Lazar; but of the latter’s evil deeds he had no proofs. Shortly the captain, Sydney and Phil left the legation and walked toward the landing-pier to take their boat back to the ship. After their arrival on board, the boys got the chart of La Boca from the navigator and studied the surroundings. “Here is La Mesa,” Phil exclaimed, pointing with his finger, “and here is Tortuga Hill. Nowhere near each other. Do you see the ruse, Syd? La Mesa will be the main point of attack, for if they can take that hill they will have the machine guns. Then with these guns mounted they can command the city from behind and where the cruiser’s guns can do but little damage; while Tortuga Hill is near enough to the sea for the ‘Aquadores’ to shell the rebels out if they were fortunate enough to capture it.” “What can we do?” pondered Sydney, agreeing with his chum on every point. “It’s surely puzzling,” rejoined he; “we might have stopped the message, but we should have found ourselves very much involved by so doing and I fear if we made our charges against Lazar without being able to furnish sufficient evidence, we would be in a difficult position with both admiral and captain, and besides would break our promise to Craig.” A few hours later they and their faithful boatswain’s mate, having received the necessary permission, were once more ashore. This time they were in uniform, with heavy Colt revolvers in their holsters. They trudged up the hill back of the town, known to the natives as La Mesa. O’Neil had been informed about the stolen arms, and his keen judgment had suggested an immediate and personal investigation of the locality. The hill was steep but not high and but sparsely inhabited. At the top they knew was the residence of Juarez.