During the meal conversation was confined to the subject of hunting, and it was noticeable how their guest and host agreed that it was a bad season for doves, that the birds never were numerous in the locality, and discouraged any further attempts at enjoying sport of that nature anywhere except along the coast, where snipe of all kinds abounded. Many times the proprietor left them for the purpose of supplying numerous thirsty individuals who seemed to flock to his little bar, and all his customers seemed mightily interested in scrutinizing the party seated at the marble-topped table. Finally, after paying their bill, the boys bid good-bye to their host and, still accompanied by the native who had partaken of their bounty, they began their return trip over the road by which they had entered the town. On reaching the outskirts of the village their self-appointed escort volunteered the information that if his friends were returning to the Captain of the Port’s house at Estero Balsa he would be glad to serve them by showing them a short cut which was very easy to travel, but with many expressions of good-will they declined and, with relief, they saw the native turn back over the trail to town. "Phew! But I’m glad that Spig has gone! I’ve been nearly bursting to talk over what that woman told us," said Henry. "Do you believe they are up to anything?" "Did you see any of those men coming into the cantina while we were eating?" asked Dick, as he loosened the flap covering his automatic in the holster, and turned it back so that he could easily draw the pistol in case of need. "No; my back was towards the door, and I thought it best not to appear too curious." "If you’d seen them you’d not feel very easy over the matter, Hank, for one of them was none other than Mexican Pete; and he recognized us, too. He came sauntering in, and I noticed him start when he saw me sitting there. He didn’t know I was looking at him; and later he kept his back turned all the time, but was giving us the once-over in the looking-glass behind the bar. I saw him at the head of a detachment of mounted men leaving town about fifteen minutes before we left." "Do you reckon they expected us to take the short route and hoped to catch us on some blind trail?" asked Henry. "Possibly. You see the country along the road is fairly open on either side, and a considerable body of men would have some difficulty in surprising us. But they can easily pick us off if they are good shots." "I see you’ve unlimbered, and I reckon I’ll do the same," said Henry, looking at Dick’s pistol; "also I’m going to change my load in this pump-gun from bird to buck shot." "Mine has been loaded with buck since we started this morning," said Dick. "If ever I had taken a crack at a wild pigeon and one of those slugs hit, there wouldn’t have been enough feathers or bird left to satisfy the appetite of an Argentine ant."