"I'd hate to tell yuh right to your face, but at that I may force myself to it if you hang around long enough," Johnny retorted, getting into his clothes hurriedly, for the morning was chill and bleak. "Where's that chuck you was talking about? Say, good golly, but you're a sorry looking bird. I'm sure glad I ain't a soldier." "Whadda yuh mean, glad? It takes a man to do man-size work. That's what I mean. Wait till about twelve of us stand before yuh waiting for the word! Lucky for you this sand makes soft digging, or you wouldn't have pep enough left to dig your own grave, see." "You seem to know. Is yours dug already? They musta had you at it last night." The guard grinned and suspended hostilities until after Johnny had eaten, when he led him out and across to where Johnny's inquisitor of the night before awaited his coming. Captain Riley was not so terrifying by daylight. For one thing, he betrayed the fact that he wore large, light-tan freckles, and Johnny never did feel much awe of freckles. Captain Riley also wore a smile, and he was smoking a cigar when Johnny went in. "Good morning, Mr. Jewel. I hope you slept well." "I guess I did---I never stayed awake to see," Johnny told him quite boldly for a youth who had blushed and said "sir" to this man last night. "You landed pretty hard last night, I hear." "Why--yes, I guess I did. It looked to me around here last night as though I had fallen down bad." "And what has made you so cheerful this morning?" Captain Riley actually grinned at Johnny. He could afford to, since Johnny was not in service and therefore need not be reminded constantly of the difference between officer and man. "I dunno--unless maybe it's because the worst is done and can't be helped, so there's no use worrying about it." "Well, I can't agree with you, young man. You may possibly do worse to-day. Last night, for instance, you brought in a man who has been very much wanted by the government. We did not know that he was the man until you landed with him, but certain papers he carried furnished what proof we needed. You spoke of another--a man named Schwab. Now I am not going to ask you to bring him in. He is in Mexico, and the laws of neutrality must be preserved. I shall have nothing whatever to do with the matter. I wish he were on this side, though. There's quite a good-sized reward offered for his arrest--in case he ever does get back on our side of the line." "Mhm-hmh--I--see," said Johnny, in his best, round-eyed judicial manner. "Yes. He's a criminal of several sorts, among them the crime of meddling with the government. He's over there now--where he can do the most harm. "Y-ess--he's over there--_now_," Johnny agreed guardedly. "However, I can't send you over after him, I am sorry to say. It is impossible. If ever he comes back, though--" "He'd be welcome," Johnny finished with a grin.