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Jupiter explained. “It’s all I could find that seems important. Don Sebastián wrote it when he was being held under arrest in a house in Rocky Beach. His son was an officer in the Mexican Army down in Mexico City.”
    “What does it say, Jupe?” Pete asked.
    “Well, it’s in old-fashioned Spanish and hard for me to read,” Jupiter admitted unhappily. “All it seems to say is that the American soldiers arrested Don Sebastián, and that he was being held prisoner in a house near the ocean. There’s something about visitors, and about everything else being okay, and that he’d see his son in victory over the invaders. That could be a hint about an escape, but I can’t be sure. The letter is dated 13 th September, 1846, and there’s nothing in it about a sword.”
    “Gosh, Jupe, remember he was under arrest,” Pete pointed out. “Maybe he used a code or something.”
    “Yes, that makes sense,” Jupiter agreed. “We’d better have Pico translate the letter word for word, and then — ”
    “Maybe it doesn’t matter, fellows,” Bob said. He held up an army document. “This is a letter the US Army wrote to Don Sebastián’s son, José, when José came home after the war. It says that the US Government regrets the tragic death of Don Sebastián while attempting to escape on 15 th September, 1846. It claims the soldiers had no choice because Don Sebastián was armed and tried to resist. He fell into the ocean when he was shot. The shooting was reported by a Sergeant James Brewster, and corroborated by Corporal William McPhee and Private S. Crane. They were the soldiers on duty in the house where Don Sebastián was held.”
    “We knew all about that,” Pete declared. “Pico told us.”
    Jupiter was puzzled. “That letter doesn’t confirm all of Pico’s story. What about — ”
    “The original report of Sergeant Brewster is attached to the letter,” Bob said gloomily. “It gives the same facts as the letter, except that it also says what Don Sebastián was armed with — a sword!”
    Pete and Jupiter looked at Bob in dismay.
    “The sergeant figured the sword was smuggled to Don Sebastián by some visitor,” Bob went on. “So I guess Don Sebastián did fall into the ocean with a sword.”
    Jupiter stared out a window at the heavy rain, thinking hard. At last he asked, “What did you find, Pete?”
    “Not much for around the same time,” Pete answered, dejected. “Just a letter to a commanding officer on 23rd September asking for details of the Mexican attack on the Los Angeles garrison early that morning, and naming some men absent without leave since 16th September and declaring them deserters. Nothing about Don Sebastián or any sword, so — ”
    Jupiter sat up straight. “What soldiers, Pete?”
    Pete read the document. “Sergeant Brewster, Corporal McPhee, and Private — ”
    “Crane!” Bob cried.
    Across the room, the assistant historian looked up in annoyance. The boys didn’t even notice.
    “Brewster, McPhee, and Crane!” said Jupe with satisfaction. “Missing after 16th September, 1846!”
    “Yeah, but — ” Pete’s eyes widened. “Wow! Those are the same three guys who shot Don Sebastián!”
    “Who claimed they shot Don Sebastián,” Jupiter pointed out.
    “You think they were lying, Jupe?” Bob asked.
    “I think,” Jupiter said grimly, “that it’s a very suspicious coincidence that the men who reported shooting Don Sebastián deserted the very next day and never came back.”
    “Does that mean they stole his sword?” Pete asked.
    “Perhaps. But then who hid that sword cover in the statue, and why? It’s all very strange. We’d better talk to Pico.”
    “It’s late, Jupe,” Pete said. “I’ve got to get home for dinner.”
    “So do I,” Bob added.
    “Then we’ll cycle out to see Pico first thing tomorrow.”
    The Investigators made copies of the four documents on the Historical Society’s duplicating machine. Then they thanked the historian for