"Don't you attempt to do it," warned Captain Foster stiffly. "Mr. Overton, stand here and see that these fellows don't close the door. I'm going to, look around inside." Just as Captain Foster stepped into the barn a rear door of the house opened quickly. A Mexican, rather better dressed than the average, ran hastily across the yard. "Here," he cried, in good English, though he panted as he reached the barn, "you must leave. You have no right here!" "Only Pedro Guarez can tell me that," retorted the captain. "But I am Pedro Guarez." "Then you're the man I want to see," returned Captain Foster, fixing Guarez with his keen eyes. "I am going to look through your barn and I may ask you a lot of questions." "I shall not answer, if you do. Get out! You have no right here!" "Then get a policeman, and get him here to arrest me," smiled the captain. A murmuring of excited voices was heard out in the road, after which, half a dozen Mexicans came hurriedly into the yard. They quickly crowded around the door. "You have a good many friends interested in your affairs, Mr. Guarez," insinuated the captain. "But come on; I am going through the barn." "I cannot say that it will be safe," retorted Guarez, with an expressive shrug of his shoulders. "Safe?" echoed Captain Foster sternly. "That's a question that an American soldier never asks." "Just as you will, then, Senor Capitain," returned Guarez. "I protest, but I cannot fight you--alone." "And you'd better stop all that talk of fighting, too," warned the captain. "Come, if you want to go through with me." Just then about a score more of excited Mexicans poured into the yard. "You see," cautioned Guarez. "You will stir up a lot of trouble, Senor Capitain." "Mr. Overton, don't let any of the rabble come into this barn for the present," directed Hal's company commander. "Come, Guarez, if you wish." The Mexican hesitated, for an instant. But he saw Captain Foster walk toward the haymow. "Come on, my friends!" cried Guarez. "You, too, shall see what this too-officious soldier dares to do here!" He spoke in Spanish, but Captain Foster understood, and so did Hal Overton. Instantly there was an excited rush on the part of the Mexican loungers outside, who tried to crowd past Hal. "Back, all of you!" ordered the young lieutenant. He spoke in English, accompanying his order with a gesture that any man might understand. But the Mexicans pressed against him, scowling and shaking their heads as though to imply that they did not understand. "Get back, every one of you," insisted Lieutenant Hal. "You know well enough what I am telling you." However, the Mexicans at the rear of the compact little crowd pushed against those in front. The Army boy was in danger of being pushed off his feet. In an instant Hal's right hand flew to the hilt of his sword. He spoke no word, now, but his face was white, his lips set and stern. The gleam in his eyes boded no good to the men in front of him.