CHAPTER XVI.
Before the two adventurers left Vesper, Johnson wired to Jose Benavides the date of his arrival at Tucson; and from El Paso he wired Jackson Carr to leave Mohawk the next day but one, with the last load of water.
Johnson and Boland arrived in Tucson at seven-twenty-six in the morning.
Benavides met them at the station--a slender, wiry, hawk-faced man, with a grizzled beard.
"So this is Francis Charles ?" said Stanley.
"Frank by brevet, now.

Pete has promoted me.

He says that Francis Charles is too heavy for the mild climate, and unwieldy in emergencies." "You ought to see Frankie in his new khaki suit! He's just too sweet for anything," said Pete.

"You know Benavides, Stan ?" "Joe and I are lifelong friends of a week's standing.

_Compadres_--eh, Joe?
He came to console my captivity on your account, at first, and found me so charming that he came back on his own." "_Ah, que hombre!_ Do not beliefing heem, Don Hooaleece.