Page:Lost with Lieutenant Pike (1919).djvu/326

 will follow me." He turned to Stub. "Come, boy; we'll look up our party and order them to be ready. Their arms are to be restored to them, at least. We're not to be driven like cattle. His Excellency has promised that, and we'll march as soldiers."

"You take the boy to Chihuahua?" queried Lieutenant Bartholomew.

"What?" Stub's tall father demanded, with a start.

Lieutenant Pike smiled.

"No, sir. He remains here, where he belongs. I am only too happy to have reunited him and his father. His service with me ends—and it has been a greater service than you may imagine."

They hastened for the barracks. Midway, the lieutenant halted in covert of an old wall.

"You have my journal?" he asked, guardedly.

"Yes, sir."

"Good! You may give it to me, now. Quick! There!" He swiftly tucked it away. "It is the only paper unknown to the governor, and I mean to keep it. Last night, when I considered that he was done with me, I heard that the men were drinking wine with the town people. So in case they should drink too much I sought them out and took the other papers from them. They're faithful, but the wine might have made them careless. I stowed