Again he sniffed the air and smiled jubilantly. "The wind's in the east," he laughed. "It must be somewhere in this direction. Come on, Captain." The captain refused to move, but Billie led the way, followed by the two boys. They had not gone many rods when through an opening in the trees they beheld a good-sized adobe house. Pushing hastily toward it, they soon reached a cleared space, and there, gathered about a bunch of some forty or fifty horses, were a dozen men, while through the open door of the house many more were to be seen seated at a table--eating. "Come on!" exclaimed Billie. "I'm going to have something to eat; I don't care who they are." "We might as well make the best of it," declared Donald. "We are discovered any way and the best thing we can do is to put on a bold front." Without further words the three boys walked boldly toward the house. CHAPTER X. A TIMELY RESCUE. The minute the boys' presence became known, there was a commotion in the house and in the clearing surrounding it. Those in the yard sprang toward their guns and those in the house jumped from the table. "Don't move," called out Billie. "We are friends." But the men were not sure and at once surrounded the boys. They appeared to be soldiers, but their uniforms were of a great variety and many hues. Only the officer in command had anything the appearance of a real soldier. "Who are you?" he demanded as he came forward. "Friends! Americanos!" replied Donald. "Yes; and hungry ones," added Billie with a gesture that brought a smile to the officer's face. "Where did you come from?" was the next inquiry. Donald explained that they had been left by a train that had stopped nearby. He did not think it necessary to enlighten the officer as to the circumstances. "If you don't believe us," broke in Billie, "you can ask the officers we left back there by the track." Donald made a gesture of impatience, which Billie failed to understand, but which the officer was quick to interpret. "Officers? Of which army?" he quickly asked. "Gen. Huerta's." "Carramba!" exclaimed the officer in command. "Go quick, corporal, and bring them to me." Then to Billie: "If you are telling me the truth you have done me a great favor." The boys looked surprised. "How is that?" asked Donald. "Do you not know that we are of the army of Gen. Carranza?" was the interrogative reply. "Why, no!" exclaimed the boys in unison. "It is true," said the officer. "I am Captain Lopez. Now tell me, who are you?" Briefly Donald told of their acquaintance with Gen. Sanchez and of their adventures of the night before, at which the captain laughed heartily. "You are smart boys," he declared. "And hungry ones," again added Billie. "You must be. Here, Juan," calling a soldier to him. "Take these _muchachos_ to the house and feed them. I'll have a look at these rebels." "Rebels," said Adrian to Donald under his breath as they walked toward the house. "Now what do you think of that?"