"Well," he said, "ensign, we're still
Pleasant occasion
following your girl,
pation for you, eh."
"Looks as if I'd do it all my life,"
said Neal, "but someday I hope to
catch up to her."
The officers were in charge of
small squad of men who had landed
at Santa Maria in Lower California,
under orders from Washington, and
under advices from the United States
district attorney in California. They
were on the track of a coaling station
—the United States wanted to make
a treaty with a girl. The girl was
here—somewhere.
"Hello," said Neal, "look. There's
a horse—a riderless horse. Go on,
boys—get it, double quick."
Three of the squad caught the
horse and brought it to Neal.
"A woman's saddle," said Neal. His
heart was in his throat. "Look." He
drew from the pommel an object that
had caught there—one of a pair of
woman's gloves.
"Annette's," he cried, "something
has happened."
"Forward, double quick," commanded
the lieutenant. We'll see."
At the hotel they found Mrs. Hernan
and Joe, gazing anxiously off toward
the mission. Neal caught his
mother by the arm.
"Annette," he cried, "we caught her
They told the story of her starting
"Not a moment to lose," exclaimed
Neal, "come on boys—hurry all you
can."
"Where is she?"
out.
Meantime at the mission, Hernan
dez and Inez—with full confidence in
Ponto's ability to delay the advent of
Annette—had once more  presented themselves before Brother Anselmo. 