CHAPTER XV.
THE JOB OF BEING AN HIDALGO "This must be a part of the army that Don Luis also owns!" flashed through Reade's mind.
From behind the group stepped forth a boyish-looking young fellow at whose side dangled a sword.

He was a very young lieutenant.
"Are these your men ?" inquired Tom.
"Yes," nodded the lieutenant.
"Why have they stopped me ?" Tom demanded, calmly.
"On suspicion, senor." "Suspicion of what ?" demanded Reade, his eyes opening wider.
"Is it suspicious for a foreigner to be walking about in Mexico ?" "I am not here to answer questions, senor," replied the young officer.

"You will be good enough not to resist." "I haven't any intention of resisting," Tom retorted.

"I know better than to think that I can thrash the whole Mexican Army that is behind you." "You are as sensible as I had hoped you would be, senor," continued the lieutenant, with a slight bow.
"But I wish you would tell us why you are holding us," Tom insisted.
"I am not obliged to tell you, senor, and I am not certain that it would be wise of me to do so," the officer answered.

"However, I will say that I found your party with a Mexican citizen as a prisoner." "And you seem to have made a prisoner of the same fellow yourself," Reade retorted.
"As an officer of the Mexican Army, senor, that is my privilege," came the lieutenant's response.