As soon as he was safe, Captain Arguez went to headquarters to report, taking the private and Ralph with him. Ralph was put in a side room of the quarters, and left under guard for several hours. "We have resolved to keep you here for the present," said the soldier, who came to him at last. "Keep me here!" gasped Ralph. "What for? Surely you don't count me a prisoner of war?" "Captain Arguez is convinced that your brother was a spy, and that you will help him if you can. It will, therefore, be safer for us to keep you here." This was all the satisfaction Ralph could get, and soon after he was marched away to the San Antonio jail, there to remain for some time to come. CHAPTER XXII. THE ATTACK ON SAN ANTONIO. "This looks like a hopeless task, father." "So it does, Dan, but while I am willing to give up looking for that Mexican captain, I am not willing to give up looking for Ralph." "Nor I. But the question is, which way shall we turn next?" Amos Radbury shook his head slowly. The party had been out in the timber two days, and, though they had followed several trails, it had availed them nothing. "Perhaps Ralph went back to the ranch," suggested Poke Stover. "We found no trail leading in that direction," said Lieutenant Radbury. "That is true, but he might have gone back, even so, leftenant." Amos Radbury shook his head slowly. "You only wish to give me a little encouragement, Poke," he said, with a sad smile. "I am afraid he has fallen into the hands of the Indians." "Talk about Indians, here come several Indians now," put in Dan, who was riding beside his father. "They look like Comanches, too." The red men, who were three in number, had appeared at the brow of a small hill. Now, on discovering the whites, they seemed on the point of turning to run away. One, however, gave the Texans a searching look, and then his face lit up with satisfaction. He came running toward Dan, holding up both hands in token of peace. "Big Foot!" exclaimed the youth, as he recognised the Indian. "Good Dan," answered the Indian. "I glad I see you. How! How!" and he looked at Amos Radbury and the others. "I reckon this is the critter ye nursed at the ranch," remarked Stover. "It is," answered Dan. He turned to the Indian. "So you are glad to see me, eh?" "Yes, much glad." The Indian looked at one and another of the party. "Where little brudder Raf?" "Ralph is missing," put in Lieutenant Radbury; and then added, quickly, "Do you know anything of him, Big Foot?" The Indian nodded slowly. "You do!" "Yes, see little Raf wid Mexican soldiers." "With the Mexican soldiers!" cried father and son, simultaneously. "You are certain?" The Indian nodded again. "When was this?" As well as he could, with his limited knowledge of English, Big Foot told of the meeting with Captain Arguez, the Mexican private, and Ralph. "They all go into Bexar," he concluded. "Then Ralph is a prisoner of the enemy," said Amos Radbury.