“Ho, ho! Let him explain that to the generals and the colonels,” croaked the old fellow. “And that you may explain the sooner, señor, hurry—let your feet fly!” Bucky walked across to the girl he loved and took her hands in his. “If I don’t come back before three hours read the letter that I wrote you yesterday, dear. I have left matches on that bench so that you may have a light. Be brave, pardner. Don’t lose your nerve, whatever you do. We’ll both get out of this all right yet.” He spoke in a low voice, so that the guards might not hear, and it was in kind that she answered. “I’m afraid, Bucky; afraid away down deep. You don’t half believe yourself what you say. I can’t stand it to be here alone and not know what’s going on. They might be—be doing what that man said, and I not know anything about it till afterward.” She broke down and began to sob. “Oh, I know I’m a dreadful little coward, but I can’t be like you—and you heard what he said.” “Sho! What he says is nothing. I’m an American citizen, and I reckon that will carry us through all right. Uncle Sam has awful long arms, and these greasers know it. I’m expecting to come back here again, little pardner. But if I don’t make it, I want you, just as soon as they turn you loose, to go straight to your father’s ranch.” “Come! This won’t do. Look alive, señor,” the turnkey ordered, and to emphasize his words reached a hand forward to pluck away the sobbing lad. Bucky caught his wrist and tightened on it like a vise. “Hands off, here!” he commanded quietly. The man gave a howl of pain and nursed his hand gingerly after it was released. “Oh, Bucky, make him let me go, too,” the girl wailed, clinging to his coat. Gently he unfastened her fingers. “You know I would if I could, Curly; but it isn’t my say-so.” And with that he was gone. Ashen-faced she watched him go, and as soon as the door had closed groped her way to the bench and sank down on it, her face covered with her hands. He was going to his death. Her lover was going to his death. Why had she let him go? Why had she not done something—thought of some way to save him? The ranger’s guards led him to the military headquarters in the next street from the prison. He observed that nearly a whole company of Rurales formed the escort, and this led him to conclude that the government party was very uneasy as to the situation and had taken precautions against a possible attempt at rescue. But no such attempt was made. The sunny streets were pretty well deserted, except for a few lounging peons hardly interested enough to be curious. The air of peace, of order, sat so incongruously over the plaza that Bucky’s heart fell. Surely this was the last place on earth for a revolution to make any headway of consequence. His friends were hidden away in holes and cellars, while Megales dominated the situation with his troops. To expect a reversal of the situation was surely madness.