"It looks all right," was Lieutenant Grant's comment, "but it is always well to have a big enough force. Success to you!" "You'll make all the necessary explanations to the crowd you bring out, Don," was Billie's parting words. "Adrian and I will explain the nature of the trip to our fellows as we ride along." This they did, and gave the soldier boys a little history of their own troubles in reaching Vera Cruz. "No explanations are necessary," remarked a young chap by the name of Brooks, a corporal. "We saw you out at the water works and we know you are made of the right stuff. You lead! We'll follow, won't we, boys?" "You bet!" replied the others in one voice. CHAPTER XX. ADRIAN FOILS A TRAITOR. It was nine o'clock of the second night that Adrian and Billie, accompanied by Mr. Black's mozo, Jose, and the ten troopers, reached the outskirts of Moreno. They had made good headway the first night, had slept in the hills during the day and had come this far without molestation. "If everything goes to the end as it has this far," remarked Corporal Brooks to Billie as they neared the little town, "it will be nothing but a pleasant outing, sure enough." Arriving at the edge of the town, the boys sent Jose forward to see how the land lay and to bring them word. "Do you think you can trust him?" asked the corporal. "We'll have to," replied Adrian. "I believe he is loyal, and Mr. Black seems to have complete confidence in him." "Let's hope so, anyway," said Billie. "It seems to be the best we can do to get word to Mr. Black of our presence." "Hurry back, Jose," urged Adrian as the mozo departed. "Si, senor," was the brief reply. "You may depend on me." "It ought not to take him more than half an hour," explained Billie. "It isn't more than a mile." But a half hour passed and then another and still no Jose. "Something must have happened to him," said Adrian. "That's the charitable way to look at it," laughed the corporal. "It's more likely, however, that he's making arrangements to have something happen to us." "I hardly think so," was Billie's comment, "but, if he is, we'll fool him." "How?" "We'll move." "But he may come back." "We'll leave one man here on guard. The rest of us will go around to the other side of town." "Good!" from the corporal. "You are a strategist." The plan was at once carried into effect. "Now then," said Billie, "I'm going in to town myself." "Not much," declared Adrian. "I'm going." "I'd offer to go myself," laughed the corporal, "but I don't know the place." "We'll toss for it," said Billie. "All right," and Adrian produced a coin. "Heads I win. Tails you lose." "No funny business," said Billie. "Choose heads if you want." Adrian flipped the coin. It came down heads up. "All right," agreed Billie. "Now for some set of signals." "Our old Broncho Rider whistle if I need help," said Adrian. "If everything is O. K., I'll give the whip-poor-will." Adrian slid from his horse.