Page:Under three flags; a story of mystery (IA underthreeflagss00tayliala).pdf/248

 The orderly swings his lantern and an answering blast comes from the train, which draws up upon the crossing.

"I have an order for the arrest of one of your passengers," Alvarez informs the conductor. "Watch the train and see that no one leaves it," he tells the four troopers, and, followed by the orderly, he boards the first coach.

Within this is the object of their search. Don Carlos Navarro is reclining wearily in a seat about midway of the car. He starts when the soldiers enter and the color flows from his cheeks when they stop before him.

Alvarez consults a paper, and, glancing from it to young Navarro, remarks: "The very chap. I have a warrant for your arrest, sir." Then to the orderly: "Remove the prisoner, Parker."

"By thunder, he's fainted," mutters the orderly, as he bears the limp form from the car.

"Search him," commands Alvarez, signaling to the conductor to go ahead.

As the train rumbles away the orderly goes through the coat pockets of the prisoner, but without finding any sign of papers, rebel dispatches or otherwise. Then he tears open the unconscious youth's shirt, and the next instant utters an exclamation of astonishment.

"By heaven! It's a woman!" he mutters, as he deposits his burden tenderly on the ground and straightens up to acquaint his chief of the surprising bit of intelligence.

The moon swings high above the range when Ashley leaves the hotel and proceeds down the railroad track, the route he naturally supposes Alvarez and his party have taken.

As the newspaper man, revolver in hand, moves slowly and cautiously along, his eyes on the alert for a glimpse of Alvarez' party, the danger of his situation suddenly occurs to him. If the Spaniards have already stationed themselves at some point along the rail he is likely to stumble upon them at any minute.

At last he sights the party of troopers. Then he remembers that the road is close by, and stealing through