Thus she felt assured that no harm would come to her, since

Jose had been famous in his time for the number and size of

the ransoms he had collected.

Her father would pay what was demanded, she would be

returned and, aside from a few days of discomfort and hardship,

she would be none the worse off for her experience.

Reasoning thus it was not difficult to maintain her composure

and presence of mind.

As Barbara was borne toward the east, Billy Byrne rode

steadily northward. It was his intention to stop at Jose's hut

and deliver the message which Pesita had given him for the

old Indian. Then he would disappear into the mountains to

the west, join Pesita and urge a new raid upon some favored

friend of General Francisco Villa, for Billy had no love for

Villa.

He should have been glad to pay his respects to El Orobo

Rancho and its foreman; but the fact that Anthony Harding

owned it and that he and Barbara were there was sufficient

effectually to banish all thoughts of revenge along that line.

"Maybe I can get his goat later," he thought, "when he's

away from the ranch. I don't like that stiff, anyhow. He orter

been a harness bull."

It was four o'clock in the morning when Billy dismounted

in front of Jose's hut. He pounded on the door until the

man came and opened it.

"Eh!" exclaimed Jose as he saw who his early morning

visitor was, "you got away from them. Fine!" and the old

man chuckled. "I send word to Pesita two, four hours ago that

Villistas capture Capitan Byrne and take him to Cuivaca."

"Thanks," said Billy. "Pesita wants you to send Esteban to

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