"Fine work, Mr. Overton!" commended the captain heartily.
"So I've gained from what Simms has told me on the way down here. But you showed the real commander, Mr. Overton, in your ability to extricate yourself from a bad mess and turn it into victory."
Captain Foster had brought with him a sergeant and ten men. There were now enough soldiers to post so that there need be no fear of any of the prisoners being able to escape.
"Sergeant, have two of the cases brought ashore," directed Captain Foster. "And open them."
Some of the cases were on the deck forward. Others had been dropped into a small hold forward.
The cases opened proved to contain rifles, ten to a case. Some smaller boxes from the hold were found to hold cartridges to fit the rifles.
"A very bad business for you, Boggs," remarked Captain Foster.
"You were going to smuggle these arms and supplies into Mexico, across the river."
"Where's your proof?" demanded the tug's master cunningly.
"Our Mexican prisoners are proof enough," replied the Army captain, with a shrug of his shoulders. "That and some of the other wild doings of to-night. Captain Boggs, you will prepare to accompany us back to camp."
"Because you're a prisoner, charged with conspiring to break the laws of the United States."
"But who'll look after my boat?" demanded Boggs.
"She'll be under guard of a squad of my men, and your mate, deckhands and engine-room force will be enough to give the boat any care she really needs. Mr. Overton, march the Mexicans out of the cabin under guard."
Hal promptly obeyed. Guarez and his companions appeared to be furious, and contended loudly that their rights were being infringed.
"That's all a matter for higher government authorities to settle," responded Captain Foster, with a shrug of his shoulders. "I cautioned you this morning, Guarez, against any enterprise of this sort, and you did not see fit to give my suggestion any consideration. You must now take the consequences. Sergeant Raney, take six men and escort the prisoners to camp. My compliments to Lieutenant Terry, and he is directed to take all precautions that the prisoners do not escape."
After the escort had left with the prisoners Hal saluted his superior officer, asking: