The sentry was of the opinion that it was an unseemly hour to arouse a man who had marched all day, but it was not for him to argue. He walked deliberately, very deliberately indeed, that the citizens might be impressed, over to Landor's tent and awoke him. "There's two citizens here, sir, asking to see you, sir." His tone plainly disclaimed any part in the affair. Landor came out, putting on his blouse, and went over to the horsemen. One of them dismounted and raised his hat. "My name, sir, is Foster." Landor expressed pleasure, without loss of words. "I represent, sir, the citizens of San Tomaso." "Yes?" said Landor. He knew the citizens of the district, and attached no particular sacredness to the person of their envoy. "They have expressed the desire that I should convey to you, Colonel--" "I am Captain--Captain Landor." "Captain Landor," he corrected urbanely, "pleased to meet you, sir. They have expressed the desire that I should convey to you, sir, their wish to accompany you in the search for hostile Apaches." That was evidently how it was to go into the papers. The officer knew it well enough, but he explained with due solemnity that he was acting under instructions, and was not to follow Indians into the hills. "I am only to camp here to protect the citizens of the valley against possible raids." The civilian protested. "But there is a big company of us, sir, thirty or thirty-five, who can put you on the trail of a large band." Landor explained again, with greater detail, vainly trying to impress the nature of a military order on the civilian brain. "It would not do for me to disobey my instructions. And besides there are several officers who are to follow trails, out with larger commands. I have no pack-train, and I can't." It did not seem to strike the representative of the citizens of San Tomaso that that was much of an argument. He continued to urge. "Of course," said the officer, "I understand that the hostiles are not in the immediate vicinity?" "Well, not in the immediate vicinity," he admitted. "No; but they passed along the foot-hills, and stole some stock, an' killed three men no later than this evening." "Say we were to get off at sun-up, then," objected Landor, "they would even in that way have twelve hours' start of us." "Yes, sir. But they ain't likely to travel fast. They'll think themselves safe enough up there in the mountains. We could easy overtake them, being as we wouldn't be hampered with drove stock. They stole about fifty head, an' we could most likely get it back if we started at once. It is the wish of the citizens of San Tomaso, ain't it?" He turned to the man who had remained mounted, and who had not opened his mouth. The man nodded. "I couldn't follow more than two days," Landor expostulated hopelessly. "As I tell you, I've no pack-train. The men would have to carry their rations in their saddle pockets."