"Of course she is," spoke the mate gruffly. "I could have told you that she'd show us a clean pair of heels." "What craft is she?" "I don't know," the mate replied. "Then how do you know she can beat us?" "By her build. She's a costly gasoline boat, and such craft usually have high-power engines in 'em." Hal sent another message to the engineer, who, however, sent back word that he was doing the best he could until draft made the fires under the boiler hotter. "Is the engineer dealing frankly with me, mate?" Hal asked. "I think he is. The engineer hasn't any object in seeing you lose this race." "We're losing it all right, anyway," grunted the young officer, noting the rapidly increasing distance between pursuer and pursued. "There ain't really any use in your trying to finish the race, sir?" hinted the mate. "We'll keep it up to the end." "Right to the Mexican shore?" "If we have to," rejoined Hal. "We may at least overhaul that boat before it has all its cargo ashore." "But you can't perform police duty on Mexican territory," urged the mate. "True," replied Hal, biting his lip, for in his haste and eagerness he had overlooked that point of law. "Besides," continued the mate, "you might butt right into a lot of assorted trouble. There may be a big force of Mexican rebels on hand to receive the arms. As they're already outlaws against their own government they would not hesitate about shooting into a small force of United States soldiers." "My men are not cowards," uttered Hal. "They can shoot back, and straight enough, too." "But you might be wiped out just the same, and, with you, the crew, who are not interested in such a fight." "Nothing would stop me," retorted Hal, "if I had the legal right to pursue to the Mexican shore and make such a seizure there. But it's pretty clear to me that I have no such right, and that I'd only get into trouble with my own government, though really doing the government of Mexico a big favor." "Then shall I put about, sir?" asked the mate. "Not until you get the order plainly," Lieutenant Overton returned dryly. "I've heard of such things as gasoline boats breaking down. The boat we're after may have that kind of luck before she gets out of United States jurisdiction." No such fortune for the young soldier happened, however. The gasoline boat, still followed by the rays of light from the tug, entered a cove on the Mexican side. Hal turned the light full on some moving objects on the bank of the cove. A score of figures were dancing there, and shouting derisively at the out-distanced American tug. From where he stood forward Hal could make out other men hurriedly lifting cases to the shore. "You got the best of us, for once, you brown-faced men," Hal laughed. "Head about, mate. We can do no good here. Do you recognize that motor boat yet?" "I do not, of course, and I note that her name has been removed from under the stern."