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diff --git a/14278-h/14278-h.htm b/14278-h/14278-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ade48c --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/14278-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6999 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Radio Boys On the Mexican Border, by Gerald Breckenridge +</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P {margin-top: 1.0em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: 1.0em; + line-height: 135%; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + hr { width: 35%; + margin-top: 2.2em; + margin-bottom: 2.2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + .fullrule {width: 96%; + margin-top: 0.4em; + margin-bottom: 0.4em; + border-top-width: 1px; + border-top-style: solid; + } + body{margin-left: 8%; + margin-right: 8%; + } + + .indt {margin-left: 5%; + text-indent: -4%; + } + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .floatl, .figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; /* don't allow overlaps */ + text-align: center; /* img, caption centered in box */ + margin-right: 4px; /* keep body text away from border */ + padding: 3px; /* keep caption text from touching border */ + } + .floatr, .figright { + float: right; + clear: right; /* don't allow overlaps */ + text-align: center; /* img, caption centered in box */ + margin-left: 4px; /* keep body text away from border */ + padding: 3px; /* keep caption text away border */ + } + + .toc { margin-left: 5%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + center { padding: 0.8em;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14278 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="380" height="600" title="Book Cover" +alt="Book Cover" /> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/titlepg.gif" width="339" height="575" title="Title Page" +alt="Title Page" /> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h4>THE RADIO BOYS<br /> +ON THE<br /> +MEXICAN BORDER</h4> + +<h5>BY GERALD BRECKENRIDGE</h5> + +<h5>AUTHOR OF</h5> + +<h5>"<i>The Radio Boys on Secret Service Duty" "The Radio<br /> +Boys with the Revenue Guards" "The Radio Boys'<br /> +Search for the Inca's Treasure," "The Radio<br /> +Boys Rescue the Lost Alaska Expedition</i>."</h5> + +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> + +<h5>Publishers New York</h5> + + +<hr /> + +<h4>THE</h4> +<h3>RADIO BOYS SERIES</h3> + +<h5>A Series of Stories for Boys of All Ages</h5> + +<h4>By GERALD BRECKENRIDGE</h4> + +<h5>The Radio Boys on the Mexican Border</h5> + +<h5>The Radio Boys on Secret Service Duty</h5> + +<h5>The Radio Boys with the Revenue Guards</h5> + +<h5>The Radio Boys' Search for the Inca's Treasure</h5> + +<h5>The Radio Boys Rescue the Lost Alaska Expedition</h5> + +<hr /> + +<h6>By A.L. BURT COMPANY 1922</h6> + +<h6>THE RADIO BOYS ON THE MEXICAN BORDER</h6> + +<hr /> + +<h6>Made in "U. S. A."</h6> + +<hr /> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Table of Contents</h2> + +<p class="toc"><a href="#FOREWORD"><b>FOREWORD</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#DIRECTIONS"><b>DIRECTIONS FOR INSTALLING AN AMATEUR RADIO RECEIVING TELEPHONE</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I - A CRY IN THE AIR</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II - THE ENEMY NEAR</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III - A DARING LEAP</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV - SHOTS AT THE STATION</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V - PLANS FOR THE FLIGHT</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI - A THIEF IN THE NIGHT</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII - KIDNAPPED</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII - HELD FOR RANSOM</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX - ON THE DESERT TRAIL</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X - A BRUSH WITH THE ENEMY</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI - JACK CANNOT SLEEP</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII - JACK DISCOVERS A TRAITOR</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER XIII - THE NET IS DRAWN TIGHTER</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER XIV - THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER XV - TO THE RESCUE</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER XVI - A SOUND IN THE SKY</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>CHAPTER XVII - INSIDE THE CAVE</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>CHAPTER XVIII - THE FIGHT IN THE CAVE</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><b>CHAPTER XIX - RESTING UP</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><b>CHAPTER XX - CONFERRING BY RADIO</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><b>CHAPTER XXI - GAINING AN ALLY</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><b>CHAPTER XXII - FLYING TO THE RESCUE</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII"><b>CHAPTER XXIII - THE TABLES TURNED</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV"><b>CHAPTER XXIV - FRANK SAVES THE DAY</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV"><b>CHAPTER XXV - DANGER AT HAND</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI"><b>CHAPTER XXVI - THE NIGHT ATTACK</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII"><b>CHAPTER XXVII - SENORITA RAFAELA</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII"><b>CHAPTER XXVIII - THE FAIR TRAITRESS</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX"><b>CHAPTER XXIX - THREE CHEERS FOR THE RADIO BOYS</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX"><b>CHAPTER XXX - GOOD NEWS FOR ANXIOUS EARS</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI"><b>CHAPTER XXXI - CALM AFTER THE STORM</b></a></p> +<p class="toc"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII"><b>CHAPTER XXXII - MORE ADVENTURE AHEAD</b></a></p> + +<p> </p> + +<hr /> + +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="FOREWORD" id="FOREWORD" />FOREWORD</h2> + +<p>The development of radio telephony is still in its infancy at this +time of writing in 1922. And yet it has made strides that were +undreamed of in 1918. Experiments made in that year in Germany, and by +the Italian Government in the Adriatic, enabled the human voice to be +projected by radio some hundreds of miles. Today the broadcasting +stations, from which nightly concerts are sent far and wide across the +land, have tremendous range.</p> + +<p>Estimates compiled by the various American companies making and +selling radiophone equipment showed that in March of 1922 there were +more than 700,000 receiving sets installed throughout the country and +that installations were increasing so rapidly it was impossible to +compute the percentage with any degree of accuracy, as the gains even +from week to week were great.</p> + +<p>When you boys read this the problems of control of the air will have +been simplified to some extent. Yet at the beginning of 1922 they were +simply chaotic. Then the United States Government of necessity took a +hand. The result will be, eventually, that certain wave lengths will +be set aside for the exclusive use of amateurs, others for commercial +purposes, still others for governmental use, and so on.</p> + +<p>In this connection, you will note that in the story Jack Hampton's +father builds sending stations on Long Island and in New Mexico. This +is unusual and requires explanation.</p> + +<p>The tremendous growth of amateur receiving stations is due in part to +the fact that such stations require no governmental license. A sending +station, on the other hand, does require a license, and such license +is not granted except upon good reasons being shown. It would be +natural for the government, however, to give Mr. Hampton license to +use a special wave length—such as 1,800 metres—for transoceanic +radio experiments. Extension of the license to the New Mexico plant +would follow.</p> + +<p>THE AUTHOR.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<hr /> + +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="DIRECTIONS" id="DIRECTIONS" /> +DIRECTIONS FOR INSTALLING AN AMATEUR RADIO RECEIVING TELEPHONE</h2> + + +<p>In order that the boy interested in radio telephony may construct his +own receiving set, the Author herein will describe the construction of +a small, cheap set which almost any lad handy at mechanics can build. +Such a set should be sufficiently powerful to permit of successfully +picking up the concerts and other programme entertainments being +broadcasted frequently by stations throughout the country.</p> + +<p>Two drawings are given herewith which will enable boys to visualize +the appearance of the set, and will be of aid in following +instructions.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/006.gif" width="270" height="450" title="Figure 1" alt="Figure 1" /> +<!-- Actual image size 489 px wide, 725 px high --> +</div> + +<p>Referring to Figure 1 let us examine first the construction of the +receiving inductance marked L. The latter is shown in detail in Figure +2, and consists of a heavy piece of cardboard. The back of an ordinary +writing pad will do.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/009.gif" width="325" height="450" title="Figure 2" alt="Figure 2" /> +<!-- Actual image size 542 px wide, 750 px high --> +</div> + +<p>First, draw the circle out with a compass to the diameter shown and +then divide off the outside into an unequal number of divisions as +shown. Draw a light pencil line through each of these marks to the +centre of the circle. Now with your scissors cut out the disc, after +which you cut the slots as shown.</p> + +<p>The slots should be about one-quarter of an inch in width and of the +depth shown in the drawing. Two such discs should be made and, when +all cut out, should be given several coats of shellac to add stiffness +and to improve the insulating qualities.</p> + +<p>Now at your hardware dealer's buy one-quarter pound of No. 24 double, +cotton-covered wire and proceed to wind the coils in the manner shown. +Keep the windings even and avoid all joints throughout the length of +winding.</p> + +<p>When you have finished, mount the coils as shown in the drawing. Make +sure that the windings on both coils run in the same direction. If you +fail to do this, the set will not work.</p> + +<p>For the detector, it is better to purchase a good make of galena +detector at any radio supply store. If you are handy with tools, +however, you can buy the galena and make your own detector. It will +work with more or less satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Your next need will be the condenser. The condenser consists of a +series of aluminum plates, some of which are movable and the rest +stationary.</p> + +<p>Buy a small variable condenser. Its function is to tune the secondary +circuit, which is accomplished simply by turning the knob. Such a +condenser could not be made without the use of a good set of tools, +and the author strongly advises it be bought instead of made at home +in order to avoid trouble. The aluminum plates are spaced very closely +and great care should be taken to avoid bending them, as they must not +touch each other.</p> + +<p>The aerial for this set should be about 60 to 100 feet in length and +as high and clear of surrounding objects as possible. A simple +porcelain cleat at either end, as shown in the drawing, will serve to +insulate it sufficiently.</p> + +<p>Your ground connection can be made best by wiring to the cold water +pipe, although wiring to a steam or gas pipe will do almost as well.</p> + +<p>You are now prepared to mount the various instruments in their proper +locations. For your table instruments, get a good pine board about +seven-eighths of an inch thick. Buy four binding posts and use one for +the aerial wire, one for the ground wire, and two for the phones or +head set.</p> + +<p>To operate the set, first bring the hinged coil of wire close up to +the fixed coil and adjust the detector until you can hear in your +receivers the loudest click caused by the turning on and off of the +key to a nearby electric light. If no light is available, a buzzer and +dry battery should be used. When the detector is properly adjusted you +will be able to hear the buzz quite distinctly in the head phones if +the buzzer is not too far away.</p> + +<p>The actual adjustment of the detector is rather a delicate job, and +once it is in the proper position it is a good plan to avoid jarring +it, as it is liable to get out of adjustment very easily.</p> + +<p>Once the sensitive spot on your detector is found, slowly turn the +knob on your condenser and at some spot on it you should be able to +pick up signals of some sort, either of radiophone or spark. If the +set does not work, then go over all your wiring and be sure that the +windings of the two coils are both running the same way.</p> + +<p>The above set will work well for short distances, say up to twelve or +fifteen miles. Beyond that, however, it will not receive music unless +you have unusual facilities for putting up an aerial to a considerable +height and well clear of surrounding objects.</p> + +<p>Such a set should be constructed at a minimum of cost and may later, +after you have become familiar with the operation of radio appliances, +easily be converted into a set of much greater range by the use of a +vacuum tube as detector and may even, by slight changes, be given the +much desired regenerative effects.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<hr /> + +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I" />CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>A CRY IN THE AIR +<br /> </h3> + + +<p>"Well, Bob, here we are again. And no word from Jack yet."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Frank. But the weather has been bad for sending so +great a distance for days. When these spring storms come to an end the +static will lift and well stand a better chance to hear from him."</p> + +<p>"Righto, Bob. Then, too, the Hamptons may not have finished their +station on time."</p> + +<p>The other shook his head. "No, Jack wrote us they would have +everything installed by the 15th and that we should be on the lookout +for his voice. And when he says he'll do a thing, he generally does +it. It must be the weather. Let's step out again and have a look."</p> + +<p>Taking off their headpieces, the two boys opened the door of the +private radiophone station where the above conversation took place and +stepped out to a little platform. It was a mild day late in June, and +the sandy Long Island plain, broken only by a few trees, with the +ocean in the distance, lay smiling before them. A succession of +electrical storms which for days had swept the countryside in rapid +succession apparently had come to an end. The clouds were lifting, and +there was more than a promise of early sunlight to brighten the +Saturday holiday.</p> + +<p>The boys looked hopefully at each other.</p> + +<p>"Looks better than it has for days, Frank."</p> + +<p>"That's right."</p> + +<p>A few moments more they chatted hopefully about the prospects, then +re-entered the station.</p> + +<p>Frank Merrick and Bob Temple were chums, a little under 18 years of +age each. It was their bitterest regret that they had been too young +to take any part in the World War some years before. Frank was dark, +curly-haired, of medium height and slim, but strong and wiry. Bob was +fair and sleepy-eyed, a fraction under six feet tall and weighed 180 +pounds. A third chum and the leader of the trio was Jack Hampton, 19 +years of age. He had gone to New Mexico several months before with his +father, a mining engineer.</p> + +<p>All three boys were sons of wealthy parents, with country estates near +the far end of Long Island. Frank's parents, in fact, were dead, and +he lived with the Temples. Mr. Temple was his guardian and +administrator of the large fortune left by his father, who had been +Mr. Temple's partner in an exporting firm with headquarters in New +York City. Jack Hampton also was motherless.</p> + +<p>The boys were keenly interested in scientific inventions, and were +given every facility by Mr. Temple and Mr. Hampton for indulging their +hobbies. Such indulgence required considerable sums of money, but the +men believed the boys were worth it. In fact, both gentlemen were +scientifically inclined themselves, and were able to give the boys +much valuable advice.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Hampton decided to go to Texas and New Mexico as the +representative of a group of "independent" oil operators engaged in a +bitter war with the Oil Trust known as the "Octopus," Jack begged so +hard to be permitted to go along that his father let him quit +Harrington Hall Military Academy two months before the end of the +term.</p> + +<p>It was agreed that when school ended, June 28, Frank and Bob should +join Jack in the Southwest for their summer vacation. The two boys +owned an airplane in which they hoped to make the trip when the time +came. Mr. Temple, however, was dubious about letting them attempt to +make so long a flight alone.</p> + +<p>"But, Dad," Bob would argue, whenever the matter was discussed, "we'll +be all right. We've made lots of flights without any accidents. We're +as capable as anybody. You know yourself what the instructors up at +Mineola told you. You say we are too young to fly away alone. But look +at the young fellows that got to be 'aces' in the War! Not much older +than we are now."</p> + +<p>It must be confessed that Mrs. Temple thought little of the matter one +way or the other. She had so many social duties to take up her time +that there was little left for the boys. Accordingly, the boys had +only Mr. Temple to persuade and they felt pretty certain of doing that +in time. So the last two months of school were spent in poring over +maps and routes, and in studying up on landing fields and flying +conditions generally throughout the territory they would have to +cover.</p> + +<p>Much of this study for the proposed flight was carried on at the +radiophone station on the Hampton estate. Mr. Hampton was an +enthusiast about the development of radio telephony and it was through +him the boys first had become interested in the subject. A year +earlier he had built a powerful station for the purpose of making +experiments in talking across the ocean. On that account the United +States Government had granted him a special permit to use an 1,800 +metre wave length.</p> + +<p>Before leaving for the Southwest, Jack told the boys his father +intended to build in Texas or New Mexico another radiophone station of +similar wave length. This would enable Mr. Hampton to communicate +with his New York confreres through his Long Island station. The big +thing to the boys, however, was that they would be able to talk to +each other across 2,000 miles of territory. Delays in construction in +the Southwest had occurred, however, and communication between the two +stations had not yet been established when our story opens.</p> + +<p>As the boys re-entered the station after their inspection of the +weather, Bob threw himself sprawlingly into a deep wicker chair and, +picking up a book, began idly to turn the pages. Frank went to the +table where the control apparatus was located and put on a headpiece. +For a few moments there was silence, which Frank presently shattered +with a loud cry of: "Bob. Bob. Come here."</p> + +<p>Bob dropped his book and, leaping to his feet, strode to his chum's +side.</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Put on a headpiece, Bob," said Frank in a voice of great excitement. +"I believe Jack is trying to get us."</p> + +<p>Excited as his chum, Bob clamped a receiver on his head, while Frank +manipulated the "amplifier" and "detector" knobs on the control +apparatus.</p> + +<p>A variety of sounds greeted the boys at first, whistles, calls, and +chattering coming to their ears. Then as their tuner searched out the +higher regions of the air, they shut out the sounds of the low-range +air traffic. There was a thin, shrieking sound. Then, that also +disappeared. And then quite suddenly the listening, expectant boys +heard Jack's voice speaking to them just as plainly as if he stood in +the room.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/frontis.gif" width="363" height="575" title="Frontispage illustration" +alt="Illustration: And then quite suddenly the listening expectant boys heard Jack's voice speaking to them just as plainly as if he stood in the room." /> +<h4>And then quite suddenly the listening expectant boys heard Jack's voice +speaking to them just as plainly as if he stood in the room.</h4> +</div> + +<p>"Frank. Bob. Bob. Frank," Jack was saying. "Can you hear me? Can you +hear me?"</p> + +<p>"Hurray, Jack, sure we can hear you," cried Frank, bending forward to +speak into the transmitter on the stand before him.</p> + +<p>Then as Jack's voice continued calling without paying him any +attention, he straightened up and laughed.</p> + +<p>"Gee. I forgot," he laughed. Laying down his headpiece, he ran across +the room; opened a door into the power house adjoining where the +mechanic was dozing over his pipe and called to him to throw on the +generator.</p> + +<p>Galloping back, as the man obeyed, Frank again snatched up his +headpiece. Bob already was bending over a transmitter, calling to Jack +in faraway New Mexico. Both boys listened with straining ears for the +response. Presently Jack answered: "I can hear you, but only very +faintly. Put that band piece on the talking machine. You know the one +I like so much. I can't think of its name. I'll tune to it."</p> + +<p>Frank hastily shuffled through a pile of talking machine records. +Finding the one he sought, he put it on the machine which stood +directly in front of a big condensing horn strapped to the back of a +chair to give it the proper height. A moment or two later, Jack's +voice in the receivers declared:</p> + +<p>"All right. Shut her off now. I'm fixed fine."</p> + +<p>"Say, Jack, think of talking 2,000 miles like this," said Bob.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we've been working some days out here," answered Jack. "But we +couldn't get you."</p> + +<p>"No," cut in Frank. "The static interfered, I guess. But it lifted +today."</p> + +<p>"How are things going, Jack?" Bob inquired next.</p> + +<p>Jack's voice became excited. "Going?" he answered. "Fellows, I never +knew what excitement was until this last week."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" demanded both boys together.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I couldn't tell you now," laughed Jack. "It would take all day +and then some to tell you all that's happening around here. But, let +me tell you, between Dad's business opponents and a gang of Mexican +bandits that appeared on the scene lately, things are getting pretty +lively. Say, when are you coming? Now's the time if ever——"</p> + +<p>Suddenly, Jack's voice ceased abruptly, to be succeeded a moment later +by his agonized cry for "Help." Then there was a crash that rang in +the eardrums of the alarmed boys listening in. Then, silence.</p> + +<p>"Jack. Jack," they called. "What's the matter?"</p> + +<p>There was no answer.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II" />CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE ENEMY NEAR +<br /> </h3> + + +<p>Frank Merrick and Bob Hampton looked at each other in alarm. Their +faces were pale.</p> + +<p>That cry for "Help" which abruptly had cut off Jack's voice as he +spoke to them from his radiophone station 2,000 miles away in New +Mexico still rang in their ears. Their heads still hummed from the +vibrating crash which had succeeded. What did it all mean?</p> + +<p>Frank snatched the receiver from his head, while Bob removed his more +slowly. Frank voiced the question in each mind as he said in a tone of +apprehension:</p> + +<p>"What do you think happened to Jack?"</p> + +<p>"You know as much as I do," answered his chum.</p> + +<p>"Well, do you know what I think?" asked Frank with energy. "I think +those Mexican bandits he spoke about sneaked up on him."</p> + +<p>"Well, if they did, they caught a Tartar," said Bob, with conviction, +remembering Jack's athletic prowess. All three boys were athletic, +good swimmers, boxers and wrestlers, as well as skillful fencers. +Jack, however, was unquestionably the superior of the others, except +that Bob was the best wrestler.</p> + +<p>Frank shook his head dubiously. "I don't know," he said. "If there was +a bunch of them and if they sneaked up from behind while he was +talking."</p> + +<p>"Just the same," said Bob, "old Jack would put up some battle. I'll +bet you the furniture got mussed up all right, all right. That's the +reason for that crash. Probably the microphone was torn from the +cords. They may even have wrecked the station. Boy, oh boy, don't I +wish I'd been there." And Bob doubled up his fists and pranced around, +making deadly swings at imaginary foes.</p> + +<p>"Calm down, Bob," said Frank, dropping into a chair and running a hand +through his hair as he was in the habit of doing when perplexed. "We +don't know that it happened the way we figure. We don't know what +happened. Maybe Jack was badly hurt, maybe he was killed. Or he may be +a prisoner of the bandits.</p> + +<p>"Oh," he cried, leaping to his feet and beginning to walk up and down +the room distractedly, "isn't there something we can do? This is +maddening."</p> + +<p>"Calm down yourself, Frank," said Bob, always the cooler of the two in +a crisis. "If we can't do any better, at least we can wire to Jack's +father and find out in a few hours what happened."</p> + +<p>At this moment the door was pushed open. A tall man of distinguished +appearance, still in the prime of life, and bearing a close +resemblance to Bob, entered the room. He glanced inquiringly at the +boys.</p> + +<p>"Something gone wrong?" he asked. "What's the trouble?"</p> + +<p>"Hello, Dad."</p> + +<p>"Hello, Uncle George."</p> + +<p>It was Mr. Temple, Bob's father and Frank's guardian, and there was +relief in the boys' voices as they greeted him. He always was so +capable in an emergency.</p> + +<p>"Motored home at noon today," he said. "Guess I've got spring fever. +Anyhow, I couldn't stand it in the city. Della told me you were over +here and that you thought, perhaps, you would hear from the Hamptons +today." Della was Bob's younger sister, and the Temples' only other +child.</p> + +<p>"We heard all right, Dad," said Bob gravely. Thereupon he proceeded to +relate what had occurred.</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple listened in silence. His face showed he was disturbed. At +the conclusion of Bob's recital, he walked over to a headpiece and put +it on.</p> + +<p>"No use, Uncle George," said Frank, but Mr. Temple turned to him with +a twinkle in his eye.</p> + +<p>"That so?" he said.</p> + +<p>With a cry, Frank leaped from his chair, seized a headpiece and put it +on.</p> + +<p>"Hurray, it's Jack," he shouted. Then he bent over to the telephone +and called:</p> + +<p>"Jack. Jack. Are you hurt? What happened?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm bunged up a little," came back Jack's voice, in a cheerful +tone. "But there are no bones broken."</p> + +<p>"Was it the bandits?" demanded Bob, who had clamped on a third +headpiece, as he elbowed Frank aside to speak into the transmitter.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Three of them," responded Jack. "A scouting party. They sneaked +in behind me. Thought I was alone, I guess, but when I hollered for +help Dad came in from the power house on the run and the pair of us +put them down for the count. We've got them tied up here now. The +microphone cord was snapped but I was able to make repairs. So I +started calling for you right away."</p> + +<p>"Jack, this is Mr. Temple," cut in the older man at this point. "If +your father is there, please put him on the phone. I'd like to speak +to him."</p> + +<p>"All right, Mr. Temple," answered Jack. "He's right here. Wait just a +minute."</p> + +<p>Frank and Bob politely removed their headpieces and walked to a +bookcase, talking in low tones, as they leaned their elbows on the top +of it. This room, by the way, deserves a brief description.</p> + +<p>It was circular and without windows. The walls were hung with a +material resembling burlap in appearance, but of special construction +and sound-proof. The ceiling was nine feet high. From a point six feet +up the walls material like that in the walls stretched to a point in +the middle of the ceiling. The room had somewhat the appearance of the +interior of a small circus tent. This construction was for the purpose +of increasing the acoustic properties.</p> + +<p>While Mr. Temple conversed with Mr. Hampton, in whose oil operations +he naturally was interested, as he had invested a considerable sum in +them, the boys talked in whispers. They were frankly envious of Jack's +adventures and wishing that they, too, were on the ground. Suddenly, +something said by his father caught Bob's attention, and he stopped +talking to Frank and turned to listen.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll tell you, Hampton," Bob heard his father say, "I've got a +sharp attack of spring fever. I think I need a vacation. And if these +two youngsters of mine will let me go along, I'll come out with them."</p> + +<p>Bob couldn't control his eagerness. Going up to his father's side, he +pulled insistently at his sleeve.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute, Hampton," said Mr. Temple. "Bob has something on his +mind." He removed the receiver and regarded his son with a twinkle. +"Out with it," he said. "I suppose that quite shamelessly you've been +listening to my conversation."</p> + +<p>"No, Dad, Honest Injun," protested Bob. "Only I couldn't help +overhearing that part about you going with us. Say, Dad, we'll go by +airplane, won't we?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple groaned in mock dismay. "Run along," he said. "You'll drive +me crazy with that airplane business." Then, once more adjusting his +headpiece, he resumed his interrupted conversation with Mr. Hampton.</p> + +<p>Bob returned to Frank, wearing a wide grin. "I couldn't resist putting +over that piece of propaganda," he said.</p> + +<p>"Do you think he'll let us fly?" whispered Frank.</p> + +<p>"Say," answered Bob scornfully, "now that Dad has decided to go along, +it's a cinch. He's as crazy about flying as Mr. Hampton is about the +radiophone."</p> + +<p>"Ssst. Ssst," came a warning whisper, interrupting them. They swung +about to face the door into the power house. It was part-way open and +the round good-natured face of Tom Barnum, filled now with anxiety, +was framed in the opening. Tom was the mechanic-watchman. He beckoned, +and the boys tiptoed across the room and into the power house, closing +the door behind them. Old Davey, caretaker at the Hampton home, stood +there, wringing his hands.</p> + +<p>"What is it? What's the matter?" Frank Merrick asked sharply.</p> + +<p>"Old Davey says there's a thief up at the house," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"A thief?" said Bob. "How do you know?"</p> + +<p>"Seed him myself with my own two eyes," quavered Old Davey, a little +old man who was a pensioner of Mr. Hampton's. "He's a big dark +ugly-lookin' feller. I seed him a-sneakin' into the house through the +cellar door I left open to git out some garden tools."</p> + +<p>"Then what did you do?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"I run," said Old Davey, simply. "Leastways I tried to, but my legs +ain't what they used to be."</p> + +<p>"Come on, Bob," said Frank, impulsively. "Let's go see."</p> + +<p>"Not till we tell Dad, first," said Bob, as always the cooler.</p> + +<p>Re-entering the sending room, Bob once more gained the attention of +his father, who still was in conversation with Mr. Hampton. He told +him what Old Davey had reported. Mr. Temple readjusted the headpiece +and swung about to the transmitter.</p> + +<p>"Anything in your house a fellow could carry off in a pocket, +Hampton?" he said. "Because the boys tell me there is a thief in it +right now, and we're going up to try to catch him."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so," said Mr. Hampton, and then added in a tone of +alarm: "Great guns, Temple, yes. There is. There's a duplicate list +among my papers that the Octopus would give anything to obtain +possession of. It's a list of the lessees out here in the oil fields +who have joined the independents."</p> + +<p>"All right, Hampton," said Mr. Temple, "we're off."</p> + +<p>Removing the headpiece, he hurried Bob back into the power house. +There he ordered Tom to switch off the motor, lock up and follow them. +Then accompanied by the boys and with Old Davey trotting alongside to +keep up, he started in swift strides for the Hampton house, which +could be seen above the intervening tree tops, about a quarter of a +mile away.</p> + +<p>"I thought you came out from town for a little peace and quiet, Dad," +said Bob. "You're certainly getting it, aren't you? Hey. There he +goes." And with a shout, Bob started running swiftly toward the figure +of a man who had just emerged from the open cellar door at the rear of +the Hampton house.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III" />CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>A DARING LEAP +<br /> </h3> + + +<p>At Bob's shout the intruder who had just emerged from the Hampton +cellar looked back over his shoulder. Seeing he was discovered he +broke into a desperate run. He was heading toward the front of the +house where ran the long and winding drive which led to the main +highroad.</p> + +<p>The man shouted hoarsely, and from the front of the house came the +sound of a powerful motor engine being set in motion.</p> + +<p>"He's got a car waiting for him," cried Bob, who was in the lead. +"Drat the luck, he'll escape us yet."</p> + +<p>"Hey, Bob, we can cut 'em off at the Gut," called Frank, and he struck +away at a tangent from their course as the man disappeared around the +house and the motor car could be heard roaring off down the drive.</p> + +<p>"Righto," cried Bob, and he followed his chum.</p> + +<p>Old Davey had dropped far behind and Mr. Temple and Tom Barnum were +laboring along some yards in the rear of the two boys and steadily +losing ground.</p> + +<p>"Careful, boys," called Mr. Temple gaspingly, as he grasped the +meaning of the boys' maneuver. "Don't be rash. May be several of +them."</p> + +<p>"All right, Dad," sang out Bob over his shoulder. "We'll be careful. +Follow along."</p> + +<p>The boys were heading for a place in the woods where the drive ran +between six-foot banks before turning a sharp corner. Cars perforce +had to be slowed up going through this place which the boys called the +Gut. Furthermore, the drive approached this place by a winding, +circuitous route, while the boys were not far distant from it by the +shortcut through the woods which they were following. Chances were +even that they would be in time to intercept the fugitives. Yet what +could they do even if they arrived in time? They gave no thought to +that as they crashed through the underbrush.</p> + +<p>Bob slightly in the lead reached the top of the bank overhanging the +road ahead of his comrade and experienced a thrill of triumph as he +heard the roar of the approaching car and realized he had arrived +first. The car slowed down as it entered the Gut. Evidently the driver +remembered the perilous place from when he had driven through on +approaching the house.</p> + +<p>The car passed below going at a snail's pace while Frank was still a +short distance in the rear and Mr. Temple and Tom Barnum were not yet +in sight. It was an open touring car with the top folded back. There +were three men in it, one on the seat beside the driver and the third +in the rear. He was the man who had entered the Hampton house. The +driver appeared to be a New York taxi chauffeur, and probably had been +employed for the trip. The others were swarthy men, foreign in +appearance.</p> + +<p>The man beside the driver, looking up, saw Bob, and shouted. At that +moment the car passed directly beneath him, and Bob leaped. He landed +on the running board beside the rear seat. Steadying himself as the +car lurched from the impact of his weight, Bob reached in and grasped +the man on the rear seat by the coat collar and half pulled him from +the car, so that his body lay across the door.</p> + +<p>Then the unexpected occurred. The driver opened his throttle and the +car leaped ahead, and at the same time the man beside him stood up and +struck at Bob.</p> + +<p>Bob leaned back to avoid the blow, and the next moment found himself +flat on his back in the road, with the car disappearing around the +curve.</p> + +<p>Frank, who by now had reached the top of the bank, dropped to the road +beside him and bent over him with real anxiety in his voice as he +said:</p> + +<p>"Bob, Bob, are you hurt?"</p> + +<p>Ruefully rubbing the back of his head, Bob sat up.</p> + +<p>"No," said he, "But they got away, Frank."</p> + +<p>Again there was a crashing in the underbrush on the top of the bank, +and Mr. Temple and Tom Barnum came into view, red and perspiring.</p> + +<p>"Escaped you, hey?" said Mr. Temple, leaping to the road, as Bob +scrambled to his feet. "But, say, I see you captured something all +right." And he pointed to a coat clutched fast in Bob's hand.</p> + +<p>Then for the first time Bob noticed that in falling from the car he +had dragged his victim's coat with him. He held it up and looked at it +curiously.</p> + +<p>"He must have been wriggling out of his coat when he found you +wouldn't let go," surmised Frank. "I could see him threshing around +just as I came up to the top of the bank. Then you fell and held on +tight and the coat was pulled from him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess that's the way it happened," assented Bob. "Well, I'd +rather have had the fellow. This isn't any good to me." And he tossed +the coat away contemptuously.</p> + +<p>"Not so fast, Bob," said Frank, stooping to pick up the garment. +"Let's see what's in the pockets. There may be a clue as to the man's +identity."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Frank," said Mr. Temple. "Search it well. And, Bob, did +you notice the license number of the car? We can telephone and have it +intercepted."</p> + +<p>"No," confessed Bob. "I was too busy to get that."</p> + +<p>Frank interrupted the conversation with a shout of delight. "Look at +this," he cried, holding up a long strip of paper. "Return trip ticket +to Ransome, New Mexico. And a wallet with a big bunch of bills in it. +And here, what's this?" he added, holding up a thick, legal-looking +envelope. "Why, Mr. Hampton's name is written on it."</p> + +<p>"Let me have that, Frank," said Mr. Temple, extending his hand. Frank +passed him the envelope. Mr. Temple noted the seal had been broken, +and opening it he pulled out a thick document down which he ran his +glance hurriedly. Then his face became grave.</p> + +<p>"Boys," he said, "Mr. Hampton has many things of value in his home, +but this was the most valuable of all." Briefly he explained the paper +contained a list of names of "independents" in the oil field, together +with other information, which would give the Octopus a very great +advantage in the business war between the Oil Trust and the +"independents" if the document fell into its hands.</p> + +<p>"This is pretty serious business, boys," Mr. Temple continued. "Bob, +you were very rash, but you did a good stroke of business that time. +Come," he added, "we'll go back to the house, and call up the police. +Maybe that car can be stopped and its occupants arrested."</p> + +<p>As they turned through the woods, another thought occurred to Mr. +Temple, and he asked Frank what was the name of the man to whom the +railroad ticket had been issued.</p> + +<p>"Jose Morales," read Frank. "This is the portion for the return trip +from New York. Evidently the man came from—why, Mr. Temple, he came +here from Ransome, New Mexico. That's the nearest station on the +railroad to the Hampton's camp."</p> + +<p>"You're right, my boy," said Mr. Temple gravely. "There is some +mystery here."</p> + +<p>Frank thwacked Bob gleefully on the back. "Say, Bob," he declared, +"old Jack isn't having all the fun after all, is he?"</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV" />CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>SHOTS AT THE STATION +<br /> </h3> + + +<p>"Boys," said Mr. Temple, when the Temple home, a short distance from +the Hampton place, was reached, "come into the library with me. I want +to have a serious talk with you."</p> + +<p>Obediently, Bob and Frank filed into the room and sat down in deep +leather armchairs, while Mr. Temple sat back in a swinging chair by +his broad, flat-topped desk. Selecting a cigar from the humidor at his +elbow, he lighted it and puffed thoughtfully several moments before +addressing the chums.</p> + +<p>"First of all," he said at the conclusion of this period of silence, +"I've decided that we will not notify the police of this affair."</p> + +<p>"Why not, Dad?" demanded Bob in surprise.</p> + +<p>"We want to keep this matter to ourselves until we can see more +clearly what it means," explained Mr. Temple. "We recovered what was +stolen, anyhow. But more than that, I begin to suspect there is +something more behind all this than mere business rivalry between the +independent oil operators and the Trust."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Uncle George?" asked Frank, puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Well, boys, I'll tell you," said Mr. Temple, speaking deliberately +and thoughtfully. "In the first place I know the men at the head of +the so-called Octopus. They are keen business men and quick to seize +every legitimate advantage. But they are above such unscrupulous +tactics as this.</p> + +<p>"I know the signs point to them as the instigator of our troubles at +Mr. Hampton's camp and then here today. But those signs point to +something else, too. If you will recall, Jack said the fellows who +raided the Hamptons today, or rather tried to do so but failed, were +Mexicans. And this man who entered the Hampton house today was a +Mexican, too. What was his name, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Morales. Jose Morales," said Frank, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Jose Morales," said Mr. Temple. "Well, I believe that certain +Mexicans are responsible for our troubles, and not our business +rivals, at all."</p> + +<p>"What in the world?" said Bob, puzzled.</p> + +<p>"But why, Uncle George?" demanded Frank.</p> + +<p>"In order to make trouble between the United States and Mexico," said +Mr. Temple, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Bob, "I begin to see what you're driving at. You mean, +then, that by attacking the independents in the Southwest these +Mexicans would get us so stirred up that Uncle Sam would take a hand +to protect our properties, and might even send troops to the border?"</p> + +<p>"That's exactly what I mean, Bob," said Mr. Temple approvingly.</p> + +<p>"But in that case, Uncle George," demanded Frank, "why wouldn't the +Mexicans be making trouble for the Octopus, too?"</p> + +<p>"Because, Frank," explained the older man, "the properties throughout +the region where we are located are mainly held by independent +operators. The Octopus is trying to gobble us up, but it hasn't +succeeded, and won't if we can prevent. But, just the same, it isn't +there for the Mexicans to attack. If they want to harass anybody in +the hope of getting the United States Government to intervene, they +must attack us and our friends and allies."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see that now," said Frank, nodding. "But what makes you think +the Mexicans want to get into a war with Uncle Sam?"</p> + +<p>"They don't particularly yearn to come to blows with us, Frank," said +Mr. Temple. "And not all Mexicans are involved, if my suspicions are +correct, but only a faction. You see, boys, General Obregon has been +President of Mexico now for several years, but the country is far from +pacified and far from submitting to his rule. The rebel forces in the +northern part of Mexico are gaining in strength right along. One of +these days they will be in open revolution.</p> + +<p>"Now these Mexicans who want to depose Obregon would like to get him +into trouble with the United States in the hope that what they desire +would then come to pass."</p> + +<p>"I begin to understand you," said Bob, with more animation than usual. +"You mean the rebels would like to stir up trouble on the border and +get Obregon into hot water with Uncle Sam in just the same way that +Pancho Villa some years ago made trouble between our government and +Carranza by his raid on Columbus, New Mexico?"</p> + +<p>"That's it, Bob," said his father.</p> + +<p>"Gee, Dad," cried Bob. "This time, if there's a war, I'm going to +enlist, believe me."</p> + +<p>"Same here, Uncle George," declared Frank. "Bob and I could go as +aviators."</p> + +<p>"Hurray for the young aviators of the Rio Grande," cried Bob, swinging +his arm like a cheer leader of the school team.</p> + +<p>"You boys don't know what you're talking about," said Mr. Temple, but +with an indulgent smile. "I should imagine you would have read enough +of the horrors of war during the past few years to make you never want +to see a battlefield or shoot a gun at a man."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Uncle George," said the sensitive Frank, shuddering as +he recalled some of the things he had read of Europe's devastation.</p> + +<p>"No, boys," said Mr. Temple, "if I am right about this, we'll have +something more important to do than to fight battles or track bandits +across the Mexican desert by airplane."</p> + +<p>"What?" chorused the chums.</p> + +<p>"Instead of making war," said Mr. Temple slowly, "we'll have to +prevent it."</p> + +<p>"Righto, Uncle George," cried Frank, springing up. "When do we pack?"</p> + +<p>"Young man, you're in a hurry, aren't you?" smiled Mr. Temple. "Well, +boys, I believe that by day after tomorrow I can have my affairs in +order so that I can leave them for awhile. Then we'll start. That is, +of course, if you'll carry me as a passenger."</p> + +<p>"Will we carry him?" said Bob, striding to his side. "Good old Dad." +And he thumped his father on the shoulder, a resounding blow that made +the older man grimace humorously and draw away from him.</p> + +<p>They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Frank opened the door to +find a maid standing in the passage. She was trembling with +excitement.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mister Frank," she gasped. "I heard several shots. Seemed like +they came from the radiophone station of Mr. Hampton's. I'm so worried +about Tom."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Tom's your sweetheart, isn't he?" said Frank. The maid +blushed. Frank re-entered the room, and explained the maid's message +practically all in one breath.</p> + +<p>"We were talking so much that we didn't hear the reports, I suppose," +said Mr. Temple, jumping up and snatching at his hat. The boys already +were at the door but he called them back. "This time," he said grimly, +"I'm not going to have you taking any chances on being killed. You +will wait for me, and please remember it." Opening a drawer, he drew +out a heavy automatic, broke it open to assure himself it was loaded, +and then dropped it in his coat pocket. "All right now," he said. +"Let's go."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V" />CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>PLANS FOR THE FLIGHT +<br /> </h3> + + +<p>The boys needed no second bidding. Out of the door, down the +passageway, and out of the house, they dashed. Then they headed across +an intervening stretch of lawn for the radiophone station, concealed +from sight by a clump of trees. Mindful of Mr. Temple's admonition not +to rush into danger without him, they checked their pace. But the +older man was making good time himself.</p> + +<p>Through the woods they dashed, emerging within sight of the door of +the power house. There stood Tom Barnum unharmed, revolver in hand. At +the noise of their approach, he swung about abruptly, bringing up his +revolver in doing so. Mr. Temple and the boys shouted, and he dropped +the threatening weapon again to his side.</p> + +<p>"Thought they were comin' back," he said.</p> + +<p>"What happened, Tom?" queried Mr. Temple, as they surrounded the +watchman-mechanic in charge of the Hampton radiophone station with +whom they had pursued a thief fleeing from the Hampton home only a +short time before.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, when we come back from chasin' them fellers in the motor +car," Tom explained, "I stopped at your back door a minute to chin +Mary an' tell her the news. She wanted to know what all the excitement +was about.</p> + +<p>"Then I come on down here, an' thinks I to myself: 'I'll just get out +the old army revolver that I carried in France an' I'll be better +fixed for trouble the next time.' So I took 'er out of my locker in +the shop here an' swabbed her up an' just got everything slicked when +I hear a fellow creeping up to the door an' then voices whisperin' +together.</p> + +<p>"Then the door starts to open slow an' easy like. I seen somebody what +hadn't no business here was nosin' around an' I says to myself: 'Tom, +it's a good thing you got the ol' army gun fixed up in time.'</p> + +<p>"Then one of 'em stumbles an' falls agin the door an' open she comes +with him a-sprawlin' on the floor. The other fellow is right behin' +him but he sees me an' lets out a yell an' turns an' runs. Man, he was +a regular jackrabbit, too. I'll say that for 'im.</p> + +<p>"Well, I been crouchin' by the dynamo an' let out a screech like wild +Injun an' fired off a shot through the doorway. Maybe two shots. Say, +you'd oughta seen that bird fly then. As for the other fellow, the one +that stumbled an' fell, he picks himself up an' tuk out like a +whitehead.</p> + +<p>"I fired agin, high, just to scare 'em. I scared 'em all right, I +guess. Anyhow, they disappeared over south there toward that old wood +road that nobody uses no more. An' then I hear a motor car roar an' +off she goes."</p> + +<p>"Why," cried Frank, "they must have been the same two men we chased."</p> + +<p>"Were," said Tom. "Dark-lookin' fellers an' one didn't have no coat. +That was the guy Bob peeled his coat off of. I'd know 'em agin easy."</p> + +<p>For several minutes there was an animated discussion of the exciting +events of the afternoon. What puzzled Bob and Frank was the reason for +the return of the thieves to the scene from which they had been +driven. Nobody could offer a good solution of the mystery until +finally Bob said:</p> + +<p>"Say, I'll bet they were going to hide here in the station and lay for +me in the hope of getting back that coat and the papers the thief +stole from Mr. Hampton's house."</p> + +<p>"Yes," put in Frank, "and the wallet with the railroad ticket to +Ransome, New Mexico, and all that money, too."</p> + +<p>"I believe you are right, boys," said Mr. Temple. "These certainly are +no ordinary thieves, but desperate men."</p> + +<p>Tom had re-entered the power house and was pottering around the +machinery.</p> + +<p>"Dad," said Bob, who had been knitting his brow in thought, +"according to what you believe, this is all part of a plot of certain +Mexicans to embroil their country and ours by making trouble for the +independent operators in the Southwest represented by Mr. Hampton. In +that case, why should they try so hard to steal that list of the names +of the independents. That looks to me like a move on the part of your +business rival, the Octopus."</p> + +<p>"I know it does, Bob," said his father. "The thing isn't clear to me +by a good deal. But I believe I am right. However, let's go into the +station now and call up the Hamptons out in New Mexico. Both Mr. +Hampton and Jack will be interested to hear about what has happened +here this afternoon."</p> + +<p>The boys agreed enthusiastically, and with a word to Tom Barnum to +switch on the motor in order that they might have power to telephone, +all three entered the station. But, despite repeated calls, they +received no response.</p> + +<p>"I suppose there's nobody at their station, that's all," said Bob.</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," said his father. "But this business has me worried. +Let's hope nothing has gone wrong out there."</p> + +<p>Reluctantly, all three abandoned their efforts, removed their +headpieces, and with a "good-bye" to Tom, who lived in a room at the +rear of the station, started for the house. If New Mexico were to +call, a light bulb would flash the signal in Tom's quarters, and he +would telephone the house.</p> + +<p>It was twilight when they reached home, and all three went to their +rooms to dress for dinner.</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow," said Mr. Temple in parting, "we'll all drive over to +church, and then in the afternoon you boys can go to work preparing +the airplane, and I'll lend a hand." Mr. Temple was chairman of the +Board of Trustees of an old ivy-covered church in a sleepy village +some miles away, and never let Sunday pass without attending divine +worship.</p> + +<p>At dinner the talk was all of the prospective airplane flight to New +Mexico. The events of the day were told in detail to Mrs. Temple and +Della, Bob's sister. Della, who was an athletic girl of 16, declared +she wanted to go with them, but Bob answered rudely, as boys too often +speak to their sisters:</p> + +<p>"Huh," he said, "you'd just get in the way."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Temple made no objections to the proposed trip, but began +immediately to lay plans for filling the house with guests during +their absence. And in discussion of the details, Della was appeased.</p> + +<p>"Say, Bob, why are you so rude to Della?" Frank queried later, in the +library, as they awaited Mr. Temple's coming to discuss preparations +for the flight.</p> + +<p>"Huh, she's not your sister, Frank," said Bob. "Anyhow, I believe +you're sweet on her."</p> + +<p>"No, I'm not," said Frank hotly, "but she's a good kid and you ought +to treat her better."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are, too," said Bob. "I know you. But there's no use getting +hot about it. Here comes Dad now," he added, as a familiar footstep +sounded in the hall. "Let's get at those maps and guides and we'll +dope this out together."</p> + +<p>For several hours the discussion continued. For months the boys had +been making their plans, going over routes, selecting landing fields, +etc. Now that Mr. Temple had decided to accompany them, they laid +their plans before him. He nodded, well satisfied in the main, but +making a few pointed suggestions of value.</p> + +<p>"And with the radiophone that we carry on the airplane," said Frank, +"we can be in touch with Tom at this end and Jack out in New Mexico +all the way. That all-metal body of the plane makes a fine ground, +better than hanging wires possibly could. And with that new detector +Bob and I have worked out, I'll bet we can hear all the way."</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Bob, getting up and stretching, "Well, come on, Frank. +Let's turn in. It's near midnight. I for one need a good night's +sleep. And I hope there'll be no trouble to disturb us tonight."</p> + +<p>Alas, poor Bob could not foresee what calamity the night held in +store.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI" />CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>A THIEF IN THE NIGHT +<br /> </h3> + + +<p>"Wake up, Bob, you old sleepyhead."</p> + +<p>Bob stirred under vigorous shaking, opened his eyes sleepily, and saw +Frank bending over him. His chum had thrown a bathrobe over his +pajamas. The door between their connecting rooms stood open. The early +morning sunlight of a bright June day streamed in the open windows.</p> + +<p>"Whazzamatter?" grunted Bob, and closing his eyes he turned over and +prepared to snatch an extra forty winks. But Frank shook him again.</p> + +<p>"Come on," said he. "Stir your stumps. We can slip out before anybody +else awakes, grab something to eat in the pantry, and go down to the +shed and tinker on the plane. Come on, Bob, we can get in a couple of +hours work before going to church."</p> + +<p>Bob was wide awake by now, and pleased at the prospect held out by his +chum. Tumbling out of bed, he headed for the shower in the bathroom +which the boys used in common, but Frank restrained him.</p> + +<p>"Make too much noise," said Frank. "Anyhow, we can take a plunge down +at the beach before going to the shed. Come on, get into some old +duds and let's hurry."</p> + +<p>The boys were dressed in short order. In the pantry, to which they +tiptoed, they found cold tongue and ham, bread and butter, with which +they hurriedly made several sandwiches apiece. It was not much of a +breakfast, but their appetites were those of youth and they enjoyed +it. Letting themselves out of the back door of the sleeping house, +they started on a trot for the little private beach, a good half mile +away. The last few yards were made with the boys shedding garments as +they ran. Then with a shout they plunged naked into the rollers coming +in from the open Atlantic.</p> + +<p>It was great sport. For twenty minutes they crashed through breakers, +wrestled, ducked each other, shrieked aloud secure in the knowledge +there was nobody within hearing distance, and in general had a +glorious time of it. At the end of that period they rubbed down +briskly with rough towels until their bodies were in a healthy glow, +then dressed and set out for the airplane shed.</p> + +<p>This was located some distance back from the beach where a long, level +stretch of sandy soil, unbroken by tree or bush, made an ideal landing +field. The "shed," as the boys termed it, was, in reality, a +substantial structure of corrugated iron, well-anchored to resist the +severe Atlantic coastal storms. It stood to one side of the route +followed by the boys in going from the house to the beach, with the +rear to them, and was midway between the two points and concealed from +the house by a clump of trees.</p> + +<p>When the matter of buying a plane was up for discussion more than a +year before, after the boys and Jack Hampton, their absent chum, as +well as Mr. Temple—himself an enthusiast about flying—all had become +licensed pilots by taking a course at the Mineola flying fields, the +question had been whether to buy a hydroplane.</p> + +<p>That question finally had been solved by the purchase of a light, +all-metal plane capable of carrying two passengers besides the pilot +and able to alight on water and land. It was not a stock model but was +built after a special design. All three boys had flown it, as well as +Mr. Temple, and none had ever had an accident. Equipped with a +radiophone head set, to which had been added recently a detector +designed by Bob and Frank to increase the receiving radius, this plane +was the boys' especial pride.</p> + +<p>What was their dismay, therefore, when they rounded the shed from the +rear and found the great doors which they had left padlocked several +days before standing open and the interior empty. For several moments +they stood as if rooted to the ground, staring in stupefaction. Then +Bob groaned, and Frank echoed him.</p> + +<p>"Gone."</p> + +<p>"Gone."</p> + +<p>Frank was the first to recover from his dismay and ran forward to look +at the broken padlock, dangling from one leaf of the great folding +doors. "Cut through with a file," he called excitedly to his chum. +"And this set of big bar locks above and below the padlock were cut +the same way."</p> + +<p>"I always said we should have had one of those rolling iron screens, +fitting solidly into the ends of the side walls and rolling up into +the roof," groaned Bob, passing on into the interior. "But what's the +use locking the barn after the horse is stolen." Disconsolately he +moved around the interior of the shed, as if expecting to find +concealed somewhere the airplane which he could not yet bring himself +to believe had been stolen.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he let out a whoop. "Frank, look at this."</p> + +<p>"Great Scott, an Iron Cross," cried Frank, seizing the object held +out. A German Iron Cross it was. "And here you can see how this ribbon +frayed through and parted from the clasp," added Frank.</p> + +<p>"Turn it over," said Bob. "If it's a real one given by the Kaiser it +will have the recipient's name on it."</p> + +<p>Sure enough, there it was:</p> + +<p>"Ober-Lieutenant Frederik von Arnheim."</p> + +<p>And beneath was inscribed:</p> + +<p>"Pour le merite."</p> + +<p>"Great Scott, Bob," said Frank. "What do you make of this?"</p> + +<p>"Some Hun officer stole our airplane," said Bob. "That's what I make +of it."</p> + +<p>"But the war is over," protested Frank.</p> + +<p>"Maybe it is," said Bob darkly. "But if that bird doesn't fly back +with our airplane I'll make war on Germany myself."</p> + +<p>Despite his gloom, Frank grinned. He slapped big Bob on the back. +"Come on, old boy," he said. "No use hanging around here. We may as +well go back to the house and report the latest mystery."</p> + +<p>"I wonder," said Bob, as they set out, "whether there is any +connection between the two—between this theft of our airplane and +that stuff yesterday."</p> + +<p>It was Mr. Temple who was able to provide an answer to that question. +The boys found him up and dressed when they reached home, and himself +considerably excited over a telephone call from New York City. He, +too, was dismayed when told of the theft of the airplane. But when the +boys showed him the German Iron Cross he hit the desk before him a +resounding blow with his fist. Their conversation took place in the +library.</p> + +<p>"That fits right into the puzzle," said he. "Boys, while you were out +of the house I had a long distance telephone call from New York City. +The man who called said he was a chauffeur who had driven two men down +here yesterday, that he thought they were on legitimate business, but +that when Bob tried to stop them he saw they were bad ones, as he put +it. Later, when they made him drive them over to the radiophone +station and he heard Tom rout them with his pistol shots, he said he +drove off as they ran for his car and left them. He inquired in the +village and learned my name, and so called me up to clear himself in +case I intended starting a pursuit.</p> + +<p>"And he said," added Mr. Temple, leaning forward and speaking +impressively, "that he was pretty certain one man was a Greaser and +the other a Hun. Those were his own words. Of course, he meant one was +a Mexican and the other a German."</p> + +<p>"So when this chauffeur abandoned them they stole our airplane to get +away," cried Frank excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Exactly."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said Bob, "I copped every cent they had in pulling that +Mexican's coat off his back, and they were without carfare back to the +city."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I suppose the German had money," said his father. "The German +probably was an aviator. And they stole the airplane in order to +escape from here quickly before we could get in pursuit of them. I +imagine they'll land in some deserted spot—plenty of them in the +sandy reaches along the New Jersey coast, for instance—make their way +to a railroad, after abandoning the plane, and go——"</p> + +<p>"To the Southwest," said Frank, emphatically, interrupting Mr. Temple.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"Weren't there a bunch of German spies in Mexico, stirring things up +there against us, during the war? Well, I'll bet there are some of the +same breed there now making all this trouble for Mr. Hampton," said +Frank.</p> + +<p>"A good idea," said Mr. Temple, approvingly. "Well, boys, there will +be no church for us today. This matter has got to be attended to."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII" />CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>KIDNAPPED +<br /> </h3> + +<p>"Not a trace, Bob. I don't know what to make of this."</p> + +<p>"Nor I, Frank. A fellow wouldn't believe that right here near New +York, in the most densely populated part of the East, two men could +steal an airplane and escape without a trace."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know, Bob. You remember last winter when that aviator +from the upper end of Long Island was last seen flying across the +Sound toward the Connecticut shore and was never seen or heard of +again."</p> + +<p>"But, Frank, here forty-eight hours have passed. Here we are, Tuesday +morning. Dad has wired every city, town and hamlet in the East. Not a +sign of the machine, nor of the men."</p> + +<p>It was, in truth, Tuesday morning. The morning when, everything going +as planned, they should have been setting out on their flight to the +Hampton camp in New Mexico. Instead, the boys were moodily pecking at +breakfast, the airplane had disappeared, and the trip seemed more and +more remote.</p> + +<p>To add to their worries, they had been unable to reopen communication +with their chum, Jack Hampton, by radiophone, since that first and +only time the previous Saturday afternoon. All their efforts to call +him met with no response. The day before, moreover, a telegram had +been sent Mr. Hampton by Bob Temple's father, informing him in code of +recent mysterious occurrences, including the theft of the airplane, +telling him the boys had tried to call Jack by radiophone, but without +response from his powerful New Mexico station, and asking whether all +was well with him. No answer had yet been received.</p> + +<p>"Mister Robert," said Mary, the maid, entering the breakfast room, as +the two boys sat in moody silence, "your father wants you and Mister +Frank in the library."</p> + +<p>The boys hurried to the library at once, where they found Mr. Temple, +very grave of face, bent above a lengthy telegram which he had just +finished decoding.</p> + +<p>"It's from Jack," he said, "And the poor fellow is in a lot of +trouble. Listen."</p> + +<p>He read:</p> + +<p>"Dear Friends, Father has been kidnapped. Two men in airplane carried +him away into Old Mexico. Since getting your telegram few minutes ago +realize it may have been your airplane. Wasn't there and didn't see +it but description of machine given by cowboy on the range who saw it +all tallies with description of your machine."</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple paused for breath, and Frank, who had been computing +mentally, interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Our plane could do it all right," he said. "That is, if—When did +this happen?"</p> + +<p>"Monday noon or a little later," said Mr. Temple.</p> + +<p>"Well, they stole it sometime Saturday night," said Frank. "Yes, they +wouldn't have had to make more than eighty miles an hour steady flying +to do it. But where did they get the petrol?"</p> + +<p>"Why," Bob reminded him, "we had her stocked with oil and gas. And the +spare tanks filled, too. That wasn't impossible."</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple resumed:</p> + +<p>"Haven't answered your radiophone calls because didn't get them. Have +been so busy running around in circles, haven't had time to watch the +telephone. But if you call me when you get this shall be on the watch. +Father was kidnapped Monday noon. No word from him. Need your help."</p> + +<p>"He certainly does," said Mr. Temple, emphatically, as he concluded +reading. "And he'll get it, too. Come on, boys, let's call him up."</p> + +<p>Evidently Jack was on the watch for their signal, for he answered at +once, and as soon as each had tuned to their private 1,800-metre wave +length, the Temples and Frank were given the full details as to the +kidnapping of Mr. Hampton.</p> + +<p>He had been riding horseback across the range, miles from any oil +derricks or pumping stations, on his way to visit one of the +"independent" oil operators.</p> + +<p>A lonesome cowboy hunting a stray was the only other human being in +sight, and he was a half mile away. Suddenly out of the sky swooped an +all-metal airplane, glistening in the sun. It made a beautiful landing +on the sandy soil, bumped along over a few clumps of mesquite, and +came to rest close beside Mr. Hampton. The latter jumped from his +horse, and started running toward it. Evidently, Jack thought, his +father believed the Temples and Frank had unexpectedly arrived.</p> + +<p>Then the watching cowboy saw two men leap from the airplane and start +for Mr. Hampton, who turned as if to run. Thereupon, one of the two +pointed a revolver at him and he turned, perforce, and surrendered. He +was put into the airplane, the two men again climbed aboard, and the +machine soared up into the sky before the astonished cowboy could more +than set his horse in motion.</p> + +<p>All this Jack explained and then asked:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Temple, what would you advise me to do?"</p> + +<p>"Does anybody else know of this?"</p> + +<p>"Only the cowboy who saw it and I," said Jack. "This cowboy knew +father by sight, and came direct to me with the information. I've +made him promise not to tell anybody until he hears from me."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Jack," said Mr. Temple, very earnestly. "This +information must not get out. I believe, Jack, your father will be +safe from harm and that the men who seized him are intent on +embroiling Mexico and the United States. Now we don't want any more +wars, Jack, and we must try to get your father back without the aid of +troops."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Jack. "Father and I have suspected what the game was, +and that was why I told the cowboy to say nothing."</p> + +<p>"Good," said Mr. Temple, approvingly. "Now, Jack, that the mystery of +the airplane's disappearance has been cleared up, we are ready to +leave at once. We can get out of New York City on the 6 o'clock train +tonight. Look for us Friday. I'll say good-bye until then, and let the +boys speak to you, for I know they are dying to do so."</p> + +<p>While the boys and Jack conversed, Mr. Temple sought out his wife. +After explaining the necessity for his abrupt departure with the boys +for New Mexico, he said:</p> + +<p>"I should worry if I thought you would be subjected to annoyances +while we were away. But I believe there will be no more trouble here. +And with the servants in the house and the guests you have invited, +you may feel perfectly safe."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Dad, I think you're awfully mean not to take me along," pouted +Della, who was present.</p> + +<p>"Why, Lassie," said her father, "with a bunch of harum scarum boys to +look after, my hands will be full enough."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you think they're just boys," flashed his young daughter. "But +you wait and see. They'll be taking care of you. Just you wait and +see. Frank is awfully clever."</p> + +<p>"Frank?" said Mr. Temple teasingly, with a meaning look.</p> + +<p>Della flushed, and made an excuse to leave the room a moment later.</p> + +<p>"I wish, George, that you wouldn't tease her about Frank," said Mrs. +Temple. "She's such a child."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Temple, thoughtfully. "I suppose so. But," he added, +"I'm glad she likes Frank."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII" />CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>HELD FOR RANSOM +<br /> </h3> + +<p>"Great Scott, Jack, how different you look. What a peach of a get-up."</p> + +<p>The Temples, father and son, and Frank Merrick stood on the gravel-bed +outside the little wooden box doing duty as station at Ransome, New +Mexico. The transcontinental flier which had dropped them, was +dwindling in the distance. Jack Hampton, whom the chums and Mr. Temple +had crossed the country from New York to join, was in the center of +the group. Greetings had been exchanged, they had all slapped each +other on the back indiscriminately and enthusiastically, and now Bob +Temple stood off at arm's length to admire his chum.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Some get-up," he added.</p> + +<p>"Righto," agreed Frank, also gazing at the handsome Jack admiringly. +"Where do you get 'em? Lead me to the store right away."</p> + +<p>Jack, who was 19 and the oldest of the three chums, was almost as tall +as the six-foot Bob, but of more slender build than that gridiron +warrior. He had the build of a thoroughbred, long legs, flat hips, +trim waist, deep chest and broad shoulders and a flat back. Both at +dashes and distance running Jack easily was supreme at Harrington Hall +Military Academy, which all three boys attended. Like Bob he was fair +and had curling chestnut hair. His eyes were blue and lively, his +features not too regular. Altogether, he was a striking figure.</p> + +<p>Today he was dressed in khaki shirt and breeches. Instead of puttees +he wore high, laced leather boots that reached to his knees. On his +head, pushed back so that his wavy hair showed in front, was a +wide-brimmed sombrero. By his side, suspended from a cartridge belt, +swung an automatic revolver in its holster. This was the outfit so +admired by his chums from the East, trim in their light-weight summer +suits of the latest cut and wearing low tan shoes more adapted for +city streets than for the sands stretching inimitably on every hand.</p> + +<p>"We've worried considerably while aboard the train, Jack," said Mr. +Temple, "for fear something dire might happen to you these last two or +three days. I'm glad to see you are all right. Any word from your +father?"</p> + +<p>Jack shook his head in negation. "Not a word," said he, "since those +two rascals picked him up in your airplane and headed for Old Mexico."</p> + +<p>"Well, don't worry, Jack," said Mr. Temple. "I don't believe his life +is in danger."</p> + +<p>"I'm trying not to worry, sir," said Jack. "But now that you and the +fellows are here, we shall have to get busy at once. It has been +pretty hard to wait for you. I wanted to ride into Old Mexico myself +at once."</p> + +<p>Bags in hand the group was moving to the rear of the station, and now +came in sight of a ramshackle automobile with a Mexican at the wheel, +easily distinguished by his swarthy coloring and his ragged mustaches, +as well as by his peculiar dress—a steep crowned hat like a sugar +loaf, with a very wide brim, a tight bolero jacket that did not reach +to the waist and disclosed a dark blue silken shirt beneath and +tight-fitting trousers that flared at the bottom.</p> + +<p>"That is Remedios and his flivver," explained Jack. "He does odd jobs +all through this region. I hired him to take us out to camp. But +before we climb aboard, take a look at this view."</p> + +<p>Obediently, they paused and gazed at the surrounding country. In the +foreground was a wide dirt street at the rear of the station. For the +equivalent of the length of a city block it was lined on both sides +with wooden structures one-story in height, but with the false fronts +of the frontier country pretending to second stories—a front wall +sticking above the roof and with the semblance of windows painted on +it. A dry goods store, a Chinese laundry, an alleged hotel, several +restaurants, several ex-saloons still carrying on some kind of +business—these comprised the lot. At one end the street ran abruptly +into the desert. At the other was a cluster of old freight cars made +into dwellings, with Mexican men, women and children loitering in +front in the sun. This was Ransome.</p> + +<p>"Not much of a town," said Jack, "just a trading post for a wide +stretch of this country around here. But look at the setting, will +you?" And he swept a hand in a wide gesture indicating the horizon.</p> + +<p>On every hand stretched the desert, broken by clumps of mesquite and +cactus with the only trees in the landscape the thick belt of +cottonwoods lining the banks of a stream that rose in the mountains to +the north and ran by the town. North, east, south and west lofty +mountains gleamed on the far horizon, while closer at hand rose the +foothills. These latter were of fantastic shapes, like castles, tables +or crouching animals, and of the most vivid coloring. Over all was the +warm and brilliant sunshine of late afternoon. As for the air, it was +clean and despite the warmth of the day already beginning to turn cool +as the sun hovered on the rim of the farthest mountains to the west.</p> + +<p>"Some country," said Bob emphatically.</p> + +<p>"Wait until you have known it day in and day out for months," said +Jack. "You will never want to go back to Long Island."</p> + +<p>"Is that the way you feel about it, Jack?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, I suppose I'll want to go home sometime," said Jack. "But +just the same, I'm in love with this country. As for the old-timers +off there in the hills, you couldn't drive them away."</p> + +<p>"Say, Jack," said Frank, as they all continued standing and gazing at +the surrounding scene, "I thought we'd see some oil derricks around +here. But there isn't one in sight."</p> + +<p>"No, Frank," interposed Mr. Temple, in explanation, "you see the +Independents are mainly located over in the Panhandle, or upper +western portion of Texas and in Oklahoma. That is east from here. But +Mr. Hampton had his geologists in through this region, and they +reported the prospects for finding oil favorable. Then the +Independents came in quietly and took up leases, and Mr. Hampton +followed to prepare for development of the field."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the way of it," agreed Jack.</p> + +<p>"Say, Jack," said Frank, "I'm hungry as a hunter. If we are going to +get dinner at your camp, let's move along. How far is it, by the way?"</p> + +<p>"Ten miles," said Jack, leading the way toward the automobile with its +dozing Mexican at the wheel. "Come on."</p> + +<p>The others followed and were about to climb into the automobile when +the rapid hoofbeats of a galloping horse ringing on the sun-baked clay +of the street drew their attention, and they paused.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's Gabby Pete," said Jack in surprise, moving forward a step +as the rider reined up his horse so sharply that it reared and slid on +braced hind legs. The animal came to rest so close to him that Jack +was forced to give back a step, and it stood there snorting and +blowing.</p> + +<p>An oldish man of tremendous girth, but who sat his horse easily +despite his size, grinned down at Jack. He was white-haired and under +the brim of his sombrero little eyes twinkled genially and shrewdly in +a round, fat face.</p> + +<p>"What brings you here, Pete?" asked Jack, sharply. "I thought you were +at camp, getting dinner for my guests." He indicated the boys and Mr. +Temple, who stood close at hand, looking on. "Who will prepare dinner +for them now?"</p> + +<p>Gabby Pete, the talkative camp cook, scratched his head under his +sombrero, and looked solemn. "Waal, they'll have ter wait a bit," he +said. "But I kin rustle grub in a hurry onct I git back ter camp. An', +anyhow, Mr. Jack, a feller came to camp a while ago in one o' them +there aeryoplanes. Jest flew up almost to the door an' steps out an' +gin me this yere letter." Here Gabby Pete produced a missive from the +front of his shirt, and passed it to Jack. "He sez as how it war most +partickler that you git it right away. So I rid in with it," said +Gabby Pete, adding aggrievedly: "an' now you hop on me fur it."</p> + +<p>Jack seized the missive in a sudden fever of anxiety. An airplane? He +opened the letter, took in its contents at a glance, and turned +excitedly to his chums.</p> + +<p>"Father's held for ransom," he cried. "Here. Read this."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX" />CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>ON THE DESERT TRAIL +<br /> </h3> + +<p>Eagerly Mr. Temple, Bob and Frank gathered around Jack, crowding to +read over his shoulders the missive left at camp by a messenger in an +airplane and brought to Ransome by Gabby Pete, the camp cook, +following Jack, who had gone to the little New Mexican town to meet +the party from the East.</p> + +<p>The writing was cramped and foreign, as if the pen were wielded by a +hand more accustomed to form German script than English letters. The +missive was brief:</p> + +<p>"Sir, this is to inform you that Mr. John Hampton is held in a secure +place. One hundred thousand dollars must be paid for his release. A +man riding alone must bring the money in United States bills of one +thousand dollars each to the Calomares ranch two weeks from today. He +must wear a white handkerchief in his hat."</p> + +<p>While the others read, Jack turned to Gabby Pete and said +authoritatively:</p> + +<p>"Pete, you heard me say something just now about my father being held +for ransom. I believe you are my friend." Gabby Pete nodded +violently. "Well, forget what you heard. If anybody asks you, remember +that father has gone East on business."</p> + +<p>"Sure, boy," said Pete. "I'm a tombstone. Well, me an' Angel Face +here," and he slapped his horse affectionately, whereat Angel Face +reared and pranced, giving the lie to her name, "we may as well git +started fur camp so's to feed you when you arriv."</p> + +<p>Jack laid a restraining hand on Pete's knee. "Wait just a minute, +Pete. Do you know where the Calomares ranch is located?"</p> + +<p>Pete nodded. "Aw, sure," he said, "that must be Don Fernandez y +Calomares, down in Ol' Mexico. That's a good hundred mile acrost the +border. It's in a valley in them mountains," he added, pointing to the +darkening southern horizon.</p> + +<p>"And who is this Don?"</p> + +<p>"Waal," drawled Gabby Pete, plaintively, "I stick to hum so much o' +the time I never git to talk to nobody nor hear the noos. But seems to +me I did hear onct about him. Yes, sir, somebody sez as how Don +Fernandez lives in a palace in that wilderness jest like a king of +old, with armed ree-strainers or whatever you calls 'em——"</p> + +<p>"Retainers, Pete," said Jack, suppressing a smile.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the word. An' this feller what tol' me sez as how he's +very proud and haughty-like an' has a beyootiful daughter, +an'——an'——"</p> + +<p>Pete dropped his voice, and paused, eyeing Remedios, the Mexican in +the nearby flivver.</p> + +<p>"Think he kin hear me," he whispered.</p> + +<p>"Guess not," said Jack. "Why?" He, too, looked toward Remedios. The +latter had his back to them and was blowing indolent wreaths of smoke +from a brown paper cigarette.</p> + +<p>"I don't trust that feller, that's all," whispered Gabby Pete +hoarsely. "He's down acrost the border too much o' the time. Anyhow, +as I was sayin', this yere Don Fernandez is agin the Obregon gov'ment +an' backin' a new revolution. That's what the feller tol' me, anyhow. +Waal, Mr. Jack, Angel Face an' me will go an' git dinner." And with a +slap on his horse's flank that caused her to spin about and dash away, +Gabby Pete was off.</p> + +<p>Jack turned to his companions.</p> + +<p>"First thing is to get to camp, I guess," he said. "Then after dinner +we can talk over what has to be done. What do you say?"</p> + +<p>"I say let's eat," said Frank, plaintively.</p> + +<p>"He's got the biggest appetite for his size I ever saw," said Bob, +affectionately, slapping his smaller chum on the back.</p> + +<p>"I second Jack's motion," said Mr. Temple, seizing his bags and +leading the way to the car. The others also picked up their bags and +followed. "We know now that your father is safe, Jack," said Mr. +Temple. "So the news in that note wasn't so bad, after all."</p> + +<p>"That's right," agreed Jack. "Well, climb in fellows, and let's get +started."</p> + +<p>It was a tight squeeze. Jack sat in front with Remedios and one of the +bags. Mr. Temple and Bob, both big individuals, filled the rear with +the balance of the bags. Frank, who had gone to the front of the car +to crank it, found no room within for him when he returned. He leaped +to the running board.</p> + +<p>"I'm light," he said. "I'll sit on the door. Let's go."</p> + +<p>Remedios opened the throttle and with a rattle and roar, the +ramshackle old car darted ahead on the road taken by Gabby Pete, and +soon had left the town behind and was out on the desert.</p> + +<p>Only the upper edge of the sun stood now above the western mountains, +and the purple shadows were long across the plain. In the east the sky +was darkest blue and the stars already twinkled brightly. A rosy light +lingered at the zenith, while above the western mountains the sky was +ruddy bright with the afterglow as the sun slipped farther and farther +down and finally vanished altogether. Then night began to descend with +a swiftness unknown in the East. The rattle of the car made +conversation difficult and the newcomers lapsed into silence, +becoming absorbed in watching the majesty of the scene.</p> + +<p>Presently the engine began to miss fire, then emitted a final groan as +Remedios closed the throttle, cutting off the flow of gas, and +stopped. Remedios threw the clutch into neutral, applied the brake, +and climbed out. Raising the cover of the hood, he peered within. Then +he shook his head dolorously.</p> + +<p>"It is of no use, Senor," he said to Frank, who had jumped from the +running board and stood beside him. "She is finish. The spark plug, +she is on the—what you call it?—the bum." And with an air of +finality, he closed the cover. At the same moment he turned to peer +anxiously down the road ahead, whence came now on the still twilight +the thudding hoofbeats of a galloping horse, rapidly growing louder.</p> + +<p>His mechanical instincts awake, however, Frank paid no attention to +the approaching horseman. He had again lifted the cover, as Remedios +turned away, and, lighted match in one hand, was twisting at a spark +plug with the other.</p> + +<p>"Shucks," he cried, withdrawing his head, "that Number One plug wasn't +screwed in tightly enough, that's all. I'll bet she'll go now, just +the way I tightened her by hand. And if I only had a pair of +pliers——"</p> + +<p>At that moment, the galloping horseman dashed up alongside, pulling +his horse back on his haunches. It was Gabby Pete, his hat gone, his +face red with excitement. Far over he leaned to call to the astonished +occupants of the car.</p> + +<p>"Bandits," he cried hoarsely. "Greasers. Comin' in an auto. I come +back to warn you." And facing about he pointed to where a cloud of +dust behind him on the desert road indicated a rapidly oncoming car.</p> + +<p>"Grab that crank," cried Frank to Remedios, and he sprang for the +driving wheel. "I'll make this old bus go."</p> + +<p>"Not so fast, Senor," said Remedios suavely, and seizing Frank's arm +he whirled the young fellow about.</p> + +<p>Frank looked into the muzzle of a revolver which Remedios held leveled +at him.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X" />CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>A BRUSH WITH THE ENEMY +<br /> </h3> + +<p>"Crack."</p> + +<p>The explosion of a revolver shot.</p> + +<p>"Wow."</p> + +<p>A yell of pain.</p> + +<p>Remedios seized his shooting wrist in his left hand and danced up and +down in the road, while his weapon fell to the ground.</p> + +<p>Frank, who a moment before had been gazing into the leveled weapon of +the traitorous Mexican chauffeur, whirled about to face his friends in +the car.</p> + +<p>Smoking revolver in hand, Jack Hampton stood upright in the front +seat. It was he who had fired the shot.</p> + +<p>"I didn't touch him," cried Jack, "merely shot his revolver from his +hand. Jump in Frank, for here come the bandits."</p> + +<p>With a rattle and roar the car of the bandits approached, not the +length of two city blocks away on the desert trail.</p> + +<p>Frank took in the situation at a glance.</p> + +<p>"Crank for your life," he ordered Remedios. "Jack, keep him covered."</p> + +<p>As the Mexican sprang to the crank, and started turning, Frank leaped +to the driver's seat of the flivver and manipulated throttle and +spark. With a clatter the engine turned over and began to race.</p> + +<p>Closer came the bandits, their car slowing down as it approached.</p> + +<p>Jack leaned far over the windshield, his weapon leveled at Remedios.</p> + +<p>"Up on the hood," he shrieked. "Up with you, or I'll shoot you full of +holes."</p> + +<p>Remedios threw himself sprawlingly over the hood.</p> + +<p>The bandits' car had slowed almost to a stop, four or five lengths +away. Frank released the hand brake, pressed the clutch into low with +his foot, and shot ahead.</p> + +<p>Shifting the clutch into high, Frank opened the throttle wide and the +old rattletrap seemed fairly to leap ahead, its wheels spurning the +ground. The lights of the other car which had theretofore seemed +dimmed were switched to full brightness. Before the blinding glare in +his eyes, Frank involuntarily ducked his head.</p> + +<p>As his eyes left the road, the car swerved. A shot rang out from the +car of the bandits, ripping high and doing no damage.</p> + +<p>"Look out, Frank. Swing her over," cried Jack in alarm.</p> + +<p>Shouts of panic rose from the car of the bandits, too.</p> + +<p>Too late.</p> + +<p>There was a crash, the flivver lurched, then sped on. As rapidly as +possible Frank brought it to a stop and then stood up to look back and +view the damage.</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple and Bob, in the rear seat, already were on their feet. Jack +stood beside Frank, peering into the shadows behind. The moon was in +its first quarter, low down and shed only a faint radiance. But even +by the wan light, it could be seen that something dire had happened to +the car of the bandits. It stood sideways across the road, leaning +drunkenly to one side. And to the ears of the boys came groans from a +number of dark figures in the road.</p> + +<p>Gabby Pete, temporarily forgotten by the boys in the excitement, +galloped up, cheerful voiced.</p> + +<p>"As neat a trick as ever I see," he cried approvingly to Frank. "You +tuk off their hind wheel jest like a knife cuttin' butter. They're +tumblin' around in the road, a half dozen of 'em. Hey, look out." And +Gabby Pete bent low on his horse as a bullet whistled overhead. +Another and another followed, and there were shouts of vengeance, and +imprecations.</p> + +<p>"They're a-comin' to," cried Gabby Pete, slapping Angel Face on the +flank, so that the horse leaped forward with a snort. "I'm on my way." +And he disappeared into the darkness.</p> + +<p>"We're on our way, too," cried Frank, opening the throttle and +pressing down the clutch, as more bullets whistled overhead. "Give 'em +a shot, Jack, and everybody stoop down."</p> + +<p>Jack fired off his revolver, shooting high purposely. He wanted merely +to frighten their pursuers into desisting. Then the car gathered +momentum, and was soon out of range. Presently Frank, who had been +driving the flivver as fast as it would go, with the result that they +were all tossed about while the car lurched precariously over the +rutted road, slowed down to a more moderate pace.</p> + +<p>"Anybody hurt?" he called. "They never touched me."</p> + +<p>"Not a scratch," answered Mr. Temple.</p> + +<p>"Same here," cried Bob and Jack together.</p> + +<p>"Say, though," cried Frank, suddenly realizing Remedios no longer +sprawled on the hood, "we've lost our passenger."</p> + +<p>"Good riddance," said Bob.</p> + +<p>"Must've thrown him off when we struck the other car," decided Jack.</p> + +<p>"Or else he jumped off when his chance came," surmised Mr. Temple.</p> + +<p>To a query from Frank as to the route to be followed and the distance +to camp, Jack made answer that the road lay straight ahead with no +laterals cutting into it, and that camp was only a couple of miles +beyond.</p> + +<p>"Say, Jack," declared Bob with a laugh, "that was some reception +committee you got out to meet us."</p> + +<p>"Yes," kidded Frank, "what were you aiming to do, anyway? Put on a +Wild West thriller for a bunch of tenderfeet fresh from New York?"</p> + +<p>Jack laughed. "Tenderfeet, your grandmother," he said. "It looked to +me as if the effete Easterners put on the thriller for the bandits."</p> + +<p>Relieved at the safe outcome of their adventure, everybody joined in +the laugh, and for several minutes the high good humor manifested +itself in jokes bandied back and forth. Then a 'dobe ranch house +loomed ahead, low-lying, of four or five rooms, a wide, dirt-floored +porch along its length, upon which the rooms gave through separate +doors. At the rear were a clump of shadowy outbuildings and a corral. +To one side and some distance away stood a low frame building and a +high, latticed tower with antennae, which the chums recognized with a +shout of delight.</p> + +<p>"There's the radiophone station, hey, Jack?"</p> + +<p>Frank drew the car to the porch, and Gabby Pete, at the sound of its +approach, opened the door of the kitchen and emerged, big spoon in +hand, the lamplight streaming from the room behind him, and savory +odors floating out to the hungry boys.</p> + +<p>"Come an' git it," he called sonorously.</p> + +<p>"What does he mean Jack?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"I hope he means dinner," said Frank, sniffing hungrily.</p> + +<p>"He does," laughed Jack. "That's the way camp cooks announce food is +ready in the cow camps, as I understand it. And Gabby Pete is an old +cowman."</p> + +<p>"Well, lead me to it," said Frank, and all followed Jack into the +house.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI" />CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>JACK CANNOT SLEEP +<br /> </h3> + +<p>"Well, now, boys, let's see where we stand," said Mr. Temple, after +all had partaken heartily, amid excited but disjointed conversation, +of a surprisingly good dinner of pork and beans, boiled potatoes, +fresh tomatoes and lettuce, bread pudding and coffee. He pushed back +his chair as he spoke, and lighted a cigar.</p> + +<p>"First of all," he said, "we have got to consider the kidnapping of +Mr. Hampton and decide what shall be done in the matter, what moves we +must make. Then there is this series of mysterious happenings, all of +which have a bearing on the case, if we can find the solution.</p> + +<p>"Here, for instance, is this man Remedios. Evidently he was in league +with the Mexican bandits who attacked us, and it was his part of the +conspiracy to stage a breakdown so that we could be easily attacked. +Now who were the bandits, and what did they want? Were they ordinary +robbers after money, or was their object something deeper? Was it +part of this plot against our oil interests?"</p> + +<p>He paused to puff his cigar into renewed life. All three chums had +been listening with eager attention. Now Jack Hampton spoke. Mr. +Temple earlier had elaborated for Jack's benefit his theory that a +faction of Mexican rebels was responsible for the outrages of which +they had been the victims, hoping thereby to embroil Mexico and the +United States and thus cause trouble for President Obregon.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Temple," said Jack, leaning forward, "I do not believe those +bandits were after money. Didn't it strike you all as strange that +they were in an auto? Well, it did me. The bandits of the border +usually are mounted on horseback. These men, on the contrary, had a +high-powered car. No, that attack was due to a carefully laid plan. +And do you know what I think their purpose was? It was to capture +you."</p> + +<p>Bob and Frank, elbows planted on the table, leaned forward surprised. +Mr. Temple, however, showed no surprise, but merely looked thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"You see," continued Jack, "you are an American of wealth and +position. They already have captured father. Now, if they were to +capture you, there certainly would be some commotion at Washington, +the national capital, that would make trouble for President Obregon of +Mexico. Maybe another punitive expedition would be sent into Mexico, +like General Pershing led in the time of Carranza, after Villa's raid +on Columbus, New Mexico. At least, that's what they expect, I guess."</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple nodded, but remained silent.</p> + +<p>"But, Jack," demanded Frank, "if you are right in your surmise, then +it means that these fellows knew in advance of our coming."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack, "that's the puzzling thing about it."</p> + +<p>"Anybody here know we were coming?" asked Bob, speaking for the first +time.</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Jack, "Gabby Pete knew. And Rollins, father's assistant. +But you met the one, and you know he can be trusted. As for Rollins, I +don't know much about him. He's a queer, silent man. Not here tonight, +because he left early this morning to see a man on business over here +some twenty miles or so. He said he might not return tonight. But I +know father trusted him."</p> + +<p>"Then, Jack, there is one other thing to be considered," said Bob. +"And that is, has anybody among our enemies—for I suppose we can call +them that—listened-in when we spoke by radio?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Jack, "with all these amateur receiving sets in use +nowadays it is pretty hard to get absolute secrecy. But, in the first +place, since that Washington conference, the government has limited +the use of certain wave lengths. Now we are licensed to use an 1,800 +metre wave length, and I imagine there are very few—at least in this +region—who could 'tap' our conversation. In addition, of course, we +used our code in discussing when you would arrive."</p> + +<p>"No, you're wrong," said Bob. "You used the code when you telegraphed +that your father was kidnapped. But, as I recall it, when we spoke by +radio after getting your wire, we all were so excited we never thought +of the code."</p> + +<p>Frank nodded agreement. "That's right," he said. "But, anyhow, we +never thought of making it a secret. Perhaps your cook—this Gabby +Pete—said something innocently in town. Or the word got around +somehow."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose that's the way it happened," said Jack, dismissing the +subject. "But the question now is, what are we going to do? Shall we, +telephone the county sheriff about this attack on us tonight and about +Remedios? And—what shall we do about father?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple who had been puffing thoughtfully throughout this +discussion, his head bowed, now looked up, and shook his head in +negation.</p> + +<p>"Let's not notify the sheriff," he said. "The minute we bring the +authorities into this, we run the danger of letting our whole story +become known. Then the end which these mysterious enemies of ours +seek will be attained. That is, the government will be drawn into the +situation.</p> + +<p>"As to your father, Jack," and Mr. Temple paused, "well, we shall have +to think the matter over pretty carefully before we undertake to do +anything. In the first place, as I have said before, I believe he was +captured in order to make trouble between Mexico and the United +States. Now, here comes a note from his captors demanding that we pay +a ransom of one hundred thousand dollars. How does that fit into my +theory?</p> + +<p>"Well, if we appeal to Washington and ask our government to demand Mr. +Hampton's release, there certainly will be trouble. And that, I +believe, is what the enemy counts on us to do. If they really were +after a ransom, and had no other object in view, it is likely they +would not have asked for so big a sum, and also would not have given +us two whole weeks in which to carry out their demands. No, I am +convinced they expect us to go to Washington and make trouble. +Therefore, that is the one thing we must try to avoid doing."</p> + +<p>"But, look here, Mr. Temple," said Jack, impulsively and with just the +slightest quiver in his voice, "he's my father."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know, Jack," Mr. Temple said in a sympathetic tone, "and I +know what you're thinking of. You're thinking your father is a +prisoner and ill-treated. And you're saying to yourself that while we +hold back here from appealing to the government, something dreadful +may happen to him. Isn't that so?"</p> + +<p>Jack gulped unashamedly, and turned his head away. "Something like +that," he said, in a muffled voice.</p> + +<p>The older man dropped a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry too much, +my boy," he said. "We may appeal to Washington, and let the +consequences go hang, if that is the only way to bring back your +father. But we don't want to act too hastily. Let's turn in now and +get a good night's sleep. Then in the morning we'll decide on +something definite."</p> + +<p>It had been a long discussion, and Bob and Frank were content to do as +Mr. Temple proposed. Jack, perforce, agreed, although the strain of +the last few days, which he had carried alone, was beginning to tell +on him and he yearned for instant action. He showed the others to +their rooms, Bob and Mr. Temple sharing Mr. Hampton's room, and Frank +bunking in with Jack himself.</p> + +<p>After Frank had undressed and tumbled into bed, so dog-tired, as he +said, that he could barely keep his eyes open to see the way to his +pillow, Jack went out to stand in the starlight on the porch. After +leaning against a pillar some minutes, during which his active brain +kept milling endlessly over the details of the past few days, he had +an impulse to go over to the radiophone station and talk to the guard, +an ex-cowboy, on duty there since the attack by three Mexicans at the +time this story opened.</p> + +<p>Hands in his pockets, head bowed in thought, he moved across the hard +packed sand, his feet making practically no sound.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII" />CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>JACK DISCOVERS A TRAITOR +<br /> </h3> + + +<p>Two figures stood at the door of the radio station power house. The +station was a duplicate of Mr. Hampton's other station on his Long +Island estate, earlier described. So engrossed were the two men in +whispered conversation that they were unaware of Jack's noiseless +approach.</p> + +<p>The soft sibilant sound of whispering which came to his ears just as +he was about to approach the door roused Jack from his reflections. +His suspicions were on the alert because of the happenings of recent +days, and he halted. Certain, after standing a moment with every nerve +tensed, that he had not been seen, Jack backed cautiously until again +around the corner of the building.</p> + +<p>Who were the two men? What were they whispering about? Pressing +against the side of the building, Jack thought quickly. One of the two +must be the night watchman. Perhaps the other was the man who kept +guard at the station by day. If he were, thought Jack, then, perhaps, +some new danger menaced and the night man had called the day man to +help him. This theory also would account for the fact that they were +whispering, instead of conversing in normal tones.</p> + +<p>So probable did this supposition seem to Jack that he decided to join +the men and ask what the danger was. Caution, however, prompted him to +reconnoitre by peeping around the corner before stepping into the +open. The next moment he was thankful he had done so. For, as he +looked, one of the two struck a match and held it in cupped hands to a +cigarette, and Jack saw the man was Remedios.</p> + +<p>Drawing his head back quickly, Jack leaned against the building, +trying to compose his thoughts. What was Remedios doing here? Not many +hours before he had foiled the plan of the traitorous Mexican +chauffeur to deliver him and his friends to the enemy. Was Tom, the +ex-cowboy, on guard at the radio plant, a traitor? Jack could not +believe it.</p> + +<p>Footsteps were approaching from around the corner. Jack looked around +wildly. There was no shelter near enough to which to flee. He whipped +out his automatic, flung himself down alongside the wall, and waited.</p> + +<p>Two men appeared, but instead of rounding the corner they moved +straight ahead. They were in earnest, but low-voiced conversation. +They did not see him.</p> + +<p>Jack stifled an exclamation. The man with Remedios was Rollins, his +father's trusted assistant. So stunned was Jack at the revelation that +he did not strain to overhear what they were saying. In a moment they +were beyond earshot.</p> + +<p>Trembling with rage at this evidence of treachery on the part of +Rollins, Jack rose to his feet. He intended to stalk the two +conspirators. Then a new idea occurred to him. What were they doing at +the radio plant? Perhaps, for reasons of their own, they had damaged +it or put it out of commission. He decided to investigate.</p> + +<p>Rollins and Remedios were now out of sight toward the front of the +ranch house. Perhaps Rollins would have the audacity to take the other +into his room, which opened like the other rooms directly upon the +porch or gallery. If so, Jack could surprise them later. First, he +would investigate at the radio plant.</p> + +<p>Walking swiftly, he approached the door of the power house. An +electric light shone within. The guard, Tom, jumped up from a chair +where he had been sitting, reading, at the sound of Jack's hurried +footsteps. His hand reached for the ready revolver at his side, but +was withdrawn at sight of his visitor.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's you, Jack," he said, addressing him familiarly, for a warm +friendship had sprung up between the two. "I thought it might be a +Greaser."</p> + +<p>"Tom," said Jack, without any preliminaries, and showing his +excitement in his voice and manner, "what was Mr. Rollins doing here? +Who was that with him?"</p> + +<p>Well enough Jack knew who the stranger was. But good friend though Tom +was, Jack wanted to test him. The circumstances certainly were +suspicious.</p> + +<p>"Didn't see the other feller," Tom answered. "He stayed outside. Mr. +Rollins said he was an oil driller. Mr. Rollins went into the station +there." Tom motioned to the radio operating room beyond a closed door. +"Asked me to throw on the juice so he could use the telephone."</p> + +<p>"Whom did he talk to?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I don't know," said Tom. "How would I?"</p> + +<p>"How long was he in there?"</p> + +<p>"Why, fifteen, twenty minutes. Maybe half an hour. Why, Jack? Anything +wrong?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Tom, there is," said Jack. "Can I trust you?"</p> + +<p>Tom looked hurt.</p> + +<p>"That's fer you to say."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Tom," said Jack. "But after what I've just seen I don't +know whom to trust. Yes, I believe you're true blue, Tom. I'll tell +you. But wait a minute."</p> + +<p>He walked to the door and looked out. The coast was clear.</p> + +<p>"Tom," said he, returning, "I'm going to take you into my confidence. +Listen."</p> + +<p>In as few words as possible he related their adventures that day and +the part played by Remedios. Then he added that in Mr. Rollins's +companion he had recognized the Mexican chauffeur.</p> + +<p>"What do you make of it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Treachery," said Tom, emphatically. "But who'da thought it of Mr. +Rollins?"</p> + +<p>They looked at each other puzzled.</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew whom he spoke to by radio and what he said," declared +Jack.</p> + +<p>"Wish I'da listened," mourned Tom.</p> + +<p>Both stood silent. Suddenly the still night was shattered by a series +of racketing explosions. Jack sprang for the door.</p> + +<p>"Remedios's flivver," he cried to his companion. "There isn't another +car in the world can cough like that."</p> + +<p>By the time he had emerged from the radio station the car could be +heard shooting away down the desert trail toward Ransome.</p> + +<p>"Too late," said Jack, disgustedly. "He's gone. I should have +surprised them together."</p> + +<p>He thought a moment, then turned to the other.</p> + +<p>"Listen, Tom," said he. "Not a word about all this. I think I'll not +let Rollins know that I suspect him, but will talk this over first +with my friends. And if he comes here to radio again listen to him, +and report to me what he says."</p> + +<p>"All right," said the big ex-cowboy. Then as a new idea occurred to +him, he asked: "But how about tellin' my side pard, Dave? He's on duty +days. He oughta know, too."</p> + +<p>"I don't know Dave as well as I do you," said Jack. "Certainly he +ought to be informed, so that he can be on the watch, too. Can he be +trusted?"</p> + +<p>"You can count on Dave," said Tom. "We been pardners for years. That +bow-legged son o' Satan an' me been through lots o' ruckuses in our +time. If there's any shootin' to be done, count us in. You know how I +kin shoot."</p> + +<p>"I ought to know," said Jack. "You taught me."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I'll let Dave in on the secret."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Jack, moving away toward the house. "Good night."</p> + +<p>He started for the ranch house, but again came back.</p> + +<p>"Rollins mustn't know I was down here," he said.</p> + +<p>"He won't know from me," Tom assured him.</p> + +<p>When Jack reached the house, he found Mr. Temple, Bob and Jack on the +front porch in their night-clothes. Rollins was there and had +introduced himself. All four were discussing the disappearance of the +flivver.</p> + +<p>"You know how I sleep," said Bob. "But it made so much noise it waked +even me."</p> + +<p>"Where have you been, Jack?" asked Frank. "Why, you haven't undressed. +I thought you turned in when I did. But I was so sleepy I never +noticed when I tumbled out of bed that you weren't there."</p> + +<p>Jack felt Mr. Rollins's eyes on him. It made him uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I couldn't sleep," he said. "So I came out for a turn in the +night air before going to bed."</p> + +<p>"Where were you walking?" asked Mr. Rollins quickly.</p> + +<p>Jack found lying distasteful, but decided it would not do in this case +to tell the whole truth. Fortunately, on leaving the radio station, he +had swung about in a circle, so as to approach the house from an +almost opposite direction.</p> + +<p>"Over there," said Jack, indicating the direction from which he had +come. "There's a little rise some distance beyond there, but in this +feeble moon-light you can't see much, so I came back. Then I heard the +flivver."</p> + +<p>"Do you think that fellow Remedios came here himself and drove it +off?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"He certainly had his nerve, if it was he," said Bob.</p> + +<p>Jack noticed that while Rollins was watching him keenly Mr. Temple, +who had not taken part in the conversation, was studying Rollins.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it must have been Remedios," Jack said boldly. "Did anybody get +close enough to see him? Who came out first? Did you notice, Mr. +Rollins? You must have just arrived. I see you are still dressed."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I had put my horse up in the corral," said Rollins, calmly, "and +was walking over here to the house, when I heard the car. I came +around to see who was calling at this late hour, but all I could see +was the disappearing car. Of course, I knew nothing of your day's +adventures until your friends came out, when we introduced ourselves +and explanations followed."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII" />CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>THE NET IS DRAWN TIGHTER +<br /> </h3> + + +<p>That obvious lie on Rollins's part gave Jack the final assurance that +the man was in the plot against them. Burning with indignation, he +wanted to expose Rollins but with an effort of self-control he choked +back the hot words and also managed to keep his anger from showing in +his face.</p> + +<p>But it was an effort. Fortunately the others came to his rescue. Frank +began to shiver in his pajamas and called attention to the fact that +the night air was chill.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack, glad of the change in subject, "no matter how warm +the days out here, the nights are always cool. Let's go inside."</p> + +<p>All trooped into the living room, which was dining room, too. In the +big fireplace they found a wood fire laid by the thoughtful Gabby +Pete, ready to be touched off in the morning. The talkative camp cook +slept in the bunkhouse some distance away, in the opposite direction +from the radio plant. While the others dragged blankets from their +beds and returned to the living room, wrapped up in them like +Indians, Jack touched a match to the wood and the fire soon was +blazing merrily.</p> + +<p>Rollins would have excused himself on the plea of fatigue after a long +day's ride, but Mr. Temple halted him.</p> + +<p>"So long as we are here altogether," he said, "it won't hurt matters, +and may help them, to have a little talk."</p> + +<p>From his chair in front of the fire, Mr. Temple looked up inquiringly +at Rollins, who stood to one side of the fireplace, his face in the +shadows. The latter did not speak. Jack thought quickly. Was it wise +for Mr. Temple, unaware of Rollins's duplicity, to discuss matters +with him? He decided not. He was bending down to throw more wood on +the fire and without rising he interposed an objection.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Rollins must be pretty tired," he said, glad his face was averted +because he feared the scorn in his eyes would betray him. "And we've +all had a hard day. Suppose we let the discussion go until tomorrow."</p> + +<p>Rollins spoke precipitately, and Jack believed there was a little note +of relief in his voice.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he, "that would be better. I am pretty tired, as Jack +says. Well, I'll turn in. Good night. I'll see you at breakfast and +after that we can have our talk."</p> + +<p>Shaking hands with Mr. Temple and throwing curt nods to Bob and +Frank, Rollins left the room. A moment later Jack arose and followed +swiftly but silently to the door on the gallery. Peering around the +doorpost cautiously, he assured himself Rollins had entered his own +room, then returned.</p> + +<p>The others looked at him in surprise, unable to understand the meaning +of his actions. Jack soon enlightened them.</p> + +<p>Crouched before the fire and with his eyes on the door for signs of +interruption, while the others pulled their chairs close about him, +Jack in a low voice outlined his experiences of the night.</p> + +<p>When he spoke of Rollins's using the radio, Frank uttered an +exclamation.</p> + +<p>"That's how the enemy learned just what time we would arrive," he +declared.</p> + +<p>Jack shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No," said he. "All Rollins had to do to spread that information was +to tell Remedios. The latter could notify the men who laid for us."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, whom was he telephoning to?"</p> + +<p>Jack again arose and moved to the door and peered out. No signs of +life. He returned and resuming his position said in a low voice:</p> + +<p>"That's what I've been asking myself. I've thought it over and I +believe I've found the answer. Either he was radioing to the Calomares +ranch in Old Mexico where father probably is held a prisoner, or else +he was sending a message to the fellows who stole our airplane."</p> + +<p>Bob, the belligerent growled in his throat.</p> + +<p>"The big stiff," he muttered. "I'll go get him now and we'll choke it +out of him."</p> + +<p>He half rose from his chair, but his father pushed him back.</p> + +<p>"Don't blame you, Bob," said Jack, grinning. "It's what I wanted to do +myself. But I believe there is more to be gained by watching +Rollins—at least until we have more to go on."</p> + +<p>"Probably," said Frank, "if we put it up to him now, he'd be able to +lie out of it."</p> + +<p>"But he couldn't lie out of being seen with Remedios," said Bob. "Or +of using the radio."</p> + +<p>"Frank is right, though," declared Jack. "Rollins would frame some +alibi, and all we'd succeed in doing would be to put him on his +guard."</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple had been thinking deeply. Now he interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Jack is probably correct in his surmise as to who Rollins was calling +by radio," he said. "Probably this Calomares ranch is headquarters for +the Mexican rebels who are making trouble for us. If it was the ranch +that Rollins called, he may have been making his report on today's +proceedings. But if he was calling the airplane, that is a more +serious matter. It may mean trouble for us tonight, perhaps another +attack."</p> + +<p>"Great guns," grumbled Bob, "don't these birds ever sleep? Well, +believe me, if the Heinie that stole my airplane comes around where I +can get my hands on him, I'll fix him."</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't hurt him, Bob, would you?" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Huh." That was all Bob replied. It was enough.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't do a thing to him, either," said Frank. "Except I'd turn +his Kaiser mustaches down so hard they'd never point up again."</p> + +<p>Bob and Frank, joint owners of the airplane, grinned at each other.</p> + +<p>"Well, fellows," said Jack, "We have got to sleep. So I propose that +we stand guard turn about tonight. It's pretty late now, midnight or +thereabouts, so that if we stand two hour watches, the three of us, +we'll pull through nicely without spoiling Mr. Temple's slumber."</p> + +<p>The older man protested he was as able to stand a watch as any of +them, but the boys wouldn't have it so. Finally it was agreed that +Jack should take the first watch of two hours, Bob would succeed him +and Frank would have the last watch. The man keeping watch would sit +inside his bedroom door opening on to the gallery, with Jack's +revolver. As the bedrooms adjoined, while that of Rollins was the +last in the house, it would be easy enough to guard both.</p> + +<p>The night passed, however, without incident.</p> + +<p>It had been agreed beforehand that after the expiration of Frank's +watch at 6 o'clock there would be no necessity for keeping further +watch. Gabby Pete would be up and busy at his early morning tasks, and +the oil drillers housed in the bunkhouse also would be stirring about. +Therefore, after barring the door, a precaution Bob also had taken in +the room shared with his father, he turned in without awaking Jack.</p> + +<p>Worn out by their trip of the day before with its attack and the +excitement of the night, all slept soundly, and Gabby Pete did not get +them up. It was almost 10 o'clock when Jack awoke. He called the +others, and soon all were dressed and ready for what the day would +bring forth.</p> + +<p>Jack was the first dressed. He found Gabby Pete in the kitchen, +peeling potatoes, and asked if they could have breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Gabby Pete. "Have it fur you right away. Nice fresh +aigs an' ham an' coffee. How's that?"</p> + +<p>"Fine. Have you seen Mr. Rollins this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Yeah. Give him breakfast early. He lef word he hadda go over to +Number Two well where they're still drillin' an' hain't struck oil +yet, but said as how he'd be back later today. He tuk them two +drillers from the bunkhouse with him."</p> + +<p>"Did you know Remedios sneaked up last night and took his flivver +again, right from under our noses?" Jack inquired.</p> + +<p>"No, that so?" Gabby Pete dropped his paring knife and potatoes in +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Well, he did," said Jack, starting to leave.</p> + +<p>Gabby Pete jumped up, almost upsetting his pan in his haste, and +called to Jack to wait. Wiping his wet hands on a big blue apron that +looked incongruous on the old cowman, he pulled open a drawer in a +kitchen table and took out a flat blue envelope which he handed to +Jack.</p> + +<p>"Almost forgot this," he said. "Your tellin' me about that there +scoundrel of a Greaser put everything else out o' my mind. Must be +gittin old an' forgetful. One o' these days I'll forgit my head."</p> + +<p>He would have rambled on garrulously, but Jack interrupted. He turned +the envelope over curiously. It bore no address or writing of any +kind, and was sealed.</p> + +<p>"What's this for, Pete?" Jack inquired.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's somethin' Mr. Rollins musta dropped out o' his pocket at +breakfast. Found it on the floor beside his chair after he was gone. +Will you give it to him?"</p> + +<p>"All right."</p> + +<p>Jack returned to join his companions.</p> + +<p>"Have we any right to open this?" he said, after explaining how he had +obtained the envelope. "I for one believe that we should. It may +contain valuable information to us."</p> + +<p>"You're right, Jack," said Mr. Temple. "I'm a partner in this oil +enterprise, and if one of our trusted employees is a scoundrel we are +entitled to know it. Give me the envelope. I'll take the +responsibility."</p> + +<p>While the others looked on, Mr. Temple ran a knife along the edge and +slit the envelope open. Inside was a mass of documents and a letter. +Mr. Temple unfolded them, gave one look, then with an exclamation +jumped to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Great Scott, boys," he cried. "This is important. Luck is certainly +with us."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV" />CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY +<br /> </h3> + +<p>"What is it?" cried Jack, pressing forward.</p> + +<p>"Yes, tell us," demanded Bob and Frank as in one breath.</p> + +<p>The three boys crowded around Mr. Temple, who in one hand held the +mass of documents and in the other the letter. He was reading the +latter.</p> + +<p>"Boys," said he, "this proves Rollins's complicity in a plot against +us. But it makes matters more puzzling and complicated, too."</p> + +<p>"How is that, sir?" Jack inquired.</p> + +<p>"Well, first of all," said Mr. Temple, holding up the thick sheaf of +papers, "this is Mr. Hampton's own original list of the leases secured +by the group of independent oil operators to which I belong and which +he represents here in the field."</p> + +<p>"Is it a copy of the list I recovered from the thief who stole it from +Mr. Hampton's house on Long Island?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"No," smiled Mr. Temple. "It is the original. That was the copy. And +this letter with it is one written by Rollins to a man in New York +City who is one of the minor officials of the Oil Trust. It is too +long to read to you. But from it I gather that Rollins is a spy in the +employ of this official."</p> + +<p>"Say, Dad," declared Bob, "this is too much for me. If the Octopus is +responsible for our troubles, then where do the Mexicans come in? And +vice versa?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I had in mind, Bob, when I said this discovery +complicated matters," said Mr. Temple.</p> + +<p>"Sh," warned Jack, from the window toward which he was glancing at +that moment. He sprang forward to see better. "Here comes Mr. Rollins +now. And in a tearing hurry, too."</p> + +<p>Rollins jumped from his horse and ran along the porch to his room. +They heard the door slam, and then sounds of a furious searching being +carried on. The boys and Mr. Temple, gathered around the door and +window, looked at each other significantly.</p> + +<p>"Found he dropped his papers and came back for them," whispered Frank.</p> + +<p>A moment later Rollins called for Gabby Pete from the door of his +room. The cook hurried to him from the kitchen.</p> + +<p>"Pete, did I drop an envelope—a long blue envelope—at breakfast?" +asked Rollins, making no attempt to conceal his anxiety.</p> + +<p>Before Gabby Pete could reply, Jack stepped impulsively from the +doorway.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you did," said he. "Pete gave it to me to keep for you."</p> + +<p>"Where is it?" Rollins brusquely demanded.</p> + +<p>"Step into my room," said Jack.</p> + +<p>Rollins complied. When he saw Mr. Temple, Bob and Frank, he recoiled +as if to flee. But Jack barred the doorway. Rollins was speechless. +Mr. Temple advanced, holding out the document and the letter.</p> + +<p>"Your duplicity is discovered, Rollins," he said. "I make no apology +for having opened your sealed envelope, because last night Jack +Hampton discovered you at the radio station with Remedios, and we knew +you were faithless to your trust. Come, make a clean breast of it."</p> + +<p>Rollins's face went white.</p> + +<p>"You, you read the letter?" he gasped.</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple merely nodded.</p> + +<p>Rollins seemed to shrink and grow older before their eyes. Suddenly he +sank into a chair. His shoulders sagged. Pressing his hands to his +eyes, he bent forward and began to cry. Not the noisy crying of a +child but great, dry, wrenching sobs.</p> + +<p>"Come on, fellows," said Jack in a low voice. "Let's leave him to Mr. +Temple."</p> + +<p>The older man nodded approval and the three boys filed out, closing +the door behind them. Simultaneously each drew a long breath of +relief. Bob was the first to speak.</p> + +<p>"Dad'll get it out of him," he said</p> + +<p>"I'm hungry," said Frank plaintively.</p> + +<p>At that moment, Gabby Pete poked his head from the doorway of the +kitchen. Seeing the boys, he called:</p> + +<p>"Come an' git it."</p> + +<p>The three started on the run for the dining room, their youthful +spirits rebounding from the depressing scene in the room they had just +quit in answer to the tang of a perfect day and the cook's breakfast +call. Bob suddenly halted with an exclamation.</p> + +<p>"How about Dad?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's too busy to miss his breakfast," said Frank. "Anyhow, we can +get the cook to put up something for him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'll speak to Pete about it," said Jack. "Come on."</p> + +<p>They ate hungrily with little conversation. Pete hovered near and his +presence restrained them from talking about the topic that was +uppermost in their minds.</p> + +<p>"How about taking a look at the radio plant?" asked Jack when they had +ended breakfast.</p> + +<p>The others agreed eagerly. They were in the act of leaving the table +when Mr. Temple appeared. They crowded about him with questions.</p> + +<p>"Easy, easy there," he protested. "I'm hungry as a hunter. Suppose +you boys wait outside for me while I get a bite, and then I'll join +you."</p> + +<p>When Mr. Temple emerged, he lighted a cigar and leaned against a +pillar. The boys stood about him. For several moments he was silent, +staring out over the expanse of desert to the hills beyond, all +shimmering beneath the heat of the summer sun.</p> + +<p>"It's a long story," he began, "but I'll simplify it for you. Rollins +held the key to the mystery. He has a family back East, an invalid +wife, a son in college, a daughter just preparing to enter college. +All that takes money, for doctor bills and school bills and clothes +for the girl. Rollins was a poor man on a salary.</p> + +<p>"He needed money and couldn't see his way to getting it. Then a minor +official of the Octopus put temptation in his way by making him a +proposition. Mind you, he wasn't one of the big men of the Oil Trust. +I feel certain they know nothing about all this.</p> + +<p>"This man proposed that Rollins obtain certain inside information +about the independent oil operators and sell it to him. Rollins wanted +to, but couldn't get the information. It was too closely guarded by +Mr. Hampton.</p> + +<p>"It was then that another temptation came Rollins's way." Mr. Temple +paused. "A weak man seems to carry certain earmarks that draw +scoundrels to him, boys," he said. "It was so with Rollins. At this +moment a representative of Calomares, the Mexican landowner who is +backing the northern rebels, sought him out with a proposition that he +betray his employers. The rebels, as I suspected, wanted to make +trouble for President Obregon, of Mexico, by embroiling him with the +United States. And the way they wanted to set about it was by raiding +the independent oil operators. They needed a spy at our headquarters, +and they proposed that Rollins should become their man.</p> + +<p>"Then Rollins had an inspiration. He told the Mexicans that if they +would help him, he would aid them. It was agreed. The agent who had +acted for Calomares in the negotiations was this German, Von Arnheim, +an aviator and a German secret agent in Mexico during the war. He took +the man Morales with him to Mr. Hampton's Long Island home to steal +the duplicate list of independent leases and other data which Rollins +had learned was kept there."</p> + +<p>"That's where I came in," grinned Bob.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said his father, "and it was because you foiled them that +Rollins came into possession of Mr. Hampton's own original copy of the +list and other data. For he stole it from Mr. Hampton's effects after +Von Arnheim and Morales had carried him away captive in our airplane."</p> + +<p>"How about this attack on us yesterday?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"As you suspected, it was for the purpose of capturing me, too," said +Mr. Temple. "And Rollins had let the bandits know when I would arrive. +Remedios was his go-between."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Jack, "there's only one thing more."</p> + +<p>"What is that?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"Why, I'd like to know whom Rollins radioed to last night."</p> + +<p>"I found that out, too," said Mr. Temple. "He was talking to the +Calomares ranch in Old Mexico, which has a very powerful station, +according to Rollins. He says the German, Von Arnheim, told him that +there are similar powerful radio stations scattered throughout Mexico +and South America, all built by German money for the use of its spy +system. And he said this German told him the most powerful station of +all was on an island in the Caribbean, and that it was so powerful it +could communicate with Nauen, Germany."</p> + +<p>It was apparent that Mr. Temple had concluded his explanation, and Bob +and Frank began to ply him with questions. Jack, however, stood +silent, his face averted. Mr. Temple presently broke from the others +and laying a hand on Jack's shoulder whirled him about.</p> + +<p>"Father?" asked he, in a kindly tone.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, Jack, I've got the beginnings of a plan in mind. But first I +must get more information from Rollins. Then I'll talk to you again."</p> + +<p>Jack looked him squarely in the face.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Temple," said he firmly, "I'm desperate. Father is everything in +the world to me. I'll wait to talk with you. But I tell you frankly +the only plan that appeals to me is to ride into Old Mexico and rescue +him."</p> + +<p>The eyes of Bob and Frank, who had turned to listen, lighted up, and +they nodded vigorous approval. Mr. Temple stood off and looked at the +trio of husky fellows as if seeing them for the first time.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said he, "that is what you will soon be doing."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV" />CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>TO THE RESCUE +<br /> </h3> + + +<p>"I may be wrong," said Mr. Temple, thoughtfully, "in giving my +sanction to this plan to rescue Mr. Hampton. But I do not believe so. +And, all things considered, it seems the best if not the only way out.</p> + +<p>"I have been accustomed to regard you as mere boys, but the conduct of +every one of you in our adventures lately shows me you are able to +think and act for yourselves. Yet I don't know. Jack, you and Frank +are motherless. But—if anything happened to Bob—his mother never +would forgive me."</p> + +<p>"Say, Dad, forget it," grumbled the big fellow to hide his emotion. "I +can take care of myself."</p> + +<p>His father's eyes lighted approvingly as they surveyed his truly +heroic frame.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess you can," he said. "And you carry a cool head, too. At +any rate, I've given my approval."</p> + +<p>He smiled whimsically, then looked from one to another of the three +eager young fellows.</p> + +<p>"My daughter Delia was right," he said. "When I left home she said I +was wrong to think of you any more as youngsters, and that the first +thing I knew you would be making use of your wit and ingenuity to take +care of me. And now her words in a measure are coming true."</p> + +<p>All four were grouped around the dining room table. For several hours +plans for the rescue of Mr. Hampton had been discussed and rejected. +Out of it had grown a plan which called for a daring invasion of the +enemy's territory by the boys.</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple had impressed upon them the necessity for preventing the +United States government from being involved in the situation. He had +explained a number of angles not made clear before. Among other +considerations, he said, was the fact that practically all the Central +and South American republics were jealous of their big Yankee +neighbor.</p> + +<p>"If our government were to make a hostile move toward Mexico," he +declared, "the other Latin republics would misconstrue our motives. +They would consider that because of our size we were acting the part +of the bully in order to reap financial benefit. They call us the +'Dollar Republic,' you know. Our interests in Central and South +America would suffer a severe setback."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, it was distinctly up to the boys and Mr. Temple to effect +Mr. Hampton's rescue themselves. And out of the discussion had grown +the plan to have Jack, Bob and Frank make their way to the Calomares +ranch and offer their services to the rebel forces in the guise of +young Americans who were seeking adventure.</p> + +<p>Once within the rebel stronghold they would bide their time and await +an opportunity to free Mr. Hampton and escape with him.</p> + +<p>"I, for one, won't be content until I get back our airplane," said +Frank, when the details were being discussed. "Probably we shall be +able to recapture it, and then we can all four make our escape in it. +The 'plane carries three easily and can be made to carry four at a +pinch."</p> + +<p>"Hurray for you," cried Jack, delightedly. "That's a real idea."</p> + +<p>"I'll say so," declared Bob. "We can do it, too. I know we can."</p> + +<p>Carried away by the boys' enthusiasm, Mr. Temple nodded approval.</p> + +<p>Jack said he was certain enlistment in the rebel forces would offer no +difficulties. From Tom Bodine, the guard at the radio plant, with whom +he had had many conversations during the past two months about +conditions on the border, he had learned that adventurous young +Americans fought frequently on one side or another in the Mexican +revolutions.</p> + +<p>"I can speak Spanish pretty well, too," Jack pointed out. "And Bob +and Frank have a smattering of the language, which they picked up from +me."</p> + +<p>It was true. Two years before Jack had spent his summer vacation in +Peru where his father was engaged at the time in inspecting mining +properties. Jack had learned considerable Spanish during his stay and +on his return home had continued his studies of the language. +Moreover, he had aroused the interest of his chums to such an extent +that they also had begun to study Spanish. Often, when by themselves, +the three boys spoke to each other in the language. Spanish, by the +way, is the easiest of all foreign tongues to learn, as, unlike French +and Italian, all letters are sounded, and the grammar is very simple.</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple was not to accompany the boys because, in the first place, +his age and distinguished appearance would arouse suspicion. Young +fellows riding in to enlist in the rebel forces was something that +could be understood. But in his case it would be a different matter.</p> + +<p>He would stay at the ranch with Rollins, whom he decided to give +another chance. Rollins knew the business details of the oil +operations and unless he were retained the work could not go on. For +that reason, and also because he believed Rollins was truly repentant +for his treachery and would be faithful in the future, Mr. Temple +retained him.</p> + +<p>Rollins had supplied valuable information for the expedition. He gave +the exact location of the Calomares ranch, in a valley amid low +mountains more than one hundred miles to the south.</p> + +<p>There were two possibilities that the boys might be recognized for +what they were: if Remedios should arrive at rebel headquarters, or if +Von Arnheim or Morales recognized Bob as the youth who had foiled them +on Long Island. Neither was very likely. Remedios, they learned from +Rollins, had no intention of leaving the district because even if the +boys tried to cause his arrest he had a mysterious political pull with +the American officials, practically all of whom were of Mexican +descent. As for Morales and Von Arnheim they had had only a fleeting +glimpse of Bob and he could disguise his appearance sufficiently to +make that of no account.</p> + +<p>"Well, boys," said Mr. Temple finally, "if we all were back in New +York under normal conditions I should consider this just about the +craziest notion ever, and never would consent to your carrying it out. +But out here, amid these changed surroundings, it seems the natural +thing to do. For the life of me I can't bring myself to feel any +alarm."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Dad," said Bob. "Don't you worry. We'll be all right."</p> + +<p>It was now late afternoon. Tom Bodine was to escort the boys to the +border as soon as darkness fell, making a big swing around Ransome, +so as to avoid notice, and set them on their way. They would travel by +horseback, all three having ridden since childhood. There were a +number of good mounts in the corral from which to select.</p> + +<p>The boys planned to ride the major portion of the night until they +should reach a cave in the first of the Mexican foothills, where they +would spend the next day in hiding. Tom Bodine knew the cave of old +and was able to give the boys the location of certain landmarks which +would make it easy for them to find it. The following night they would +continue their journey, and this should bring them to the Calomares +ranch on the morning of the second day.</p> + +<p>"Time to get ready," said Mr. Temple, looking at his watch. "And, +remember, the very first thing you must try to do is to get into their +radio station and call me. Day or night, the men here will be watching +for your signal and will call me. I'll be mighty anxious about you. So +remember."</p> + +<p>"We shall call you, sir," said Jack, as the boys moved away. "And +don't worry. I'm sure we'll come out all right."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI" />CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<p>A SOUND IN THE SKY</p> + + +<p>"Good-bye, Tom."</p> + +<p>"S'long, Jack."</p> + +<p>"Keep a watch for our signal. We'll call you."</p> + +<p>"I will that. An' if it's in trouble you are, Dave an' me'll be ridin' +just as fast as we can to help you. Wish you'd let me go 'long. I'm +half minded to follow you."</p> + +<p>"No, no. We'll stand our best chance alone. They won't suspect we're +other than a bunch of wild young fellows out for adventure."</p> + +<p>Tom grumbled, but the force of the reasoning was apparent to him. They +leaned from their horses for a last firm handclasp, then Jack rode on +to join Bob and Frank who sat on their horses some distance ahead.</p> + +<p>"You're the boy to give it to 'em, Jack," called the big ex-cowboy in +a last farewell. "Give 'em thunder."</p> + +<p>Jack waved a parting salute as he joined his comrades. Frank and Bob +did likewise. Then with night settling down over the vast desert waste +they rode on into old Mexico.</p> + +<p>Beside the white stone marking the international boundary, Tom Bodine +sat his horse like a statue. Moodily he watched until they were out of +sight. It was a hard life Tom had led in his day and when he took the +job at the radio plant it was with a sigh of relief at the ease ahead +of him. But now despite his fifty years, the last thirty of which had +been filled with hard knocks, he felt the old call to adventure urging +him on.</p> + +<p>With drooping head, he turned his horse toward home. But hardly had +the animal started forward, than he dragged it about again.</p> + +<p>"Let's go," he shouted to the empty silence, and whirling his sombrero +aloft, brought it down on his horse's flank. Then he rode on after the +three figures that had been swallowed up in the darkness.</p> + +<p>Far ahead of him, for Tom had taken considerable time to reach his +decision, rode the three companions. The young moon shed only a wan +and wraithlike radiance over the plain. They were alone, and the +parting with their last friend, combined with the solitude of the open +spaces, had its effect upon them. They rode awhile in subdued silence. +But not for long. Frank's lively spirits were the first to rebound.</p> + +<p>"Race you to that rock," he cried, pointing to a solitary outcropping +of rock, about twice a man's height, about a quarter of a mile ahead.</p> + +<p>"You're on," cried Jack, spurring his horse.</p> + +<p>"Attaboy," yelled Bob, doing likewise.</p> + +<p>With a shout that shattered the silence as if a band of wild Indians +were hitting the trail, the three boys dashed away.</p> + +<p>Presently they pulled up by the rock, practically neck and neck. Their +eyes were alight now with the zest of adventure.</p> + +<p>"Gee, it's great to be alive," cried Frank.</p> + +<p>"You said it," declared Bob.</p> + +<p>Jack nodded laughingly, but the next moment his face became grave.</p> + +<p>"Just the same," he said, "we mustn't do that again."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" demanded Bob.</p> + +<p>"Well, for one thing, we must save our horses as much as possible. We +already have come twenty miles, and we have thirty miles more to go +before reaching Tom's cave."</p> + +<p>"For one thing?" questioned Bob. "What's your other reason?"</p> + +<p>"Just that we don't want to draw attention to ourselves."</p> + +<p>"You're right, Jack," said Frank. "I'll not start anything again."</p> + +<p>They jogged on.</p> + +<p>A martial trio they made. Jack was clothed in the khaki shirt, riding +breeches, high laced leather boots and sombrero in which he had met +the boys on their arrival at Ransome. Bob and Frank were similarly +outfitted. Tom Bodine was about of Bob's proportions, and his partner +Dave Morningstar had the build of the slighter Frank. These two old +cow punchers had given the boys the run of their wardrobes. Each lad +carried an automatic at his hip swinging from a well-filled cartridge +belt. In addition, Jack bore his repeating rifle in a leather scabbard +on his saddle.</p> + +<p>Frank cast an appraising eye over himself and his comrades, and +grinned with approval. Despite Jack's rebuke, he could not long keep +silence.</p> + +<p>"Well, here we go, fellows," he said cheerfully, "just like the Three +Musketeers. Jack with your air of melancholy you can be Athos. Bob is +big enough to be Porthos, although I have got his appetite. I'm +Aramis."</p> + +<p>"Aramis was always dreaming about the ladies," said Bob slily. "Heard +from Della lately?"</p> + +<p>Frank was silent a moment under the sly dig, his thoughts flying back +to the faraway Long Island home. But his irrepressible spirits would +not permit him to remain silent for long, and soon he burst forth +again.</p> + +<p>"All we need to make it complete," he said, "is D'Artagnan. I wonder +if we'll find him."</p> + +<p>Jack made no answer. His thoughts were busy turning over plans for the +rescue of his father. Bob, too, was unusually silent, thinking of the +parting from his own father and the latter's anxiety which almost had +prevented his making this venture. Frank pursed his lips to whistle, +thought better of it, and jogged along as silent as his companions.</p> + +<p>So they rode hour after hour, only the creak of leather, the +occasional stumble of a horse or the distant call of a coyote breaking +the stillness. At length a low range of foothills, upflung before +them, began to take shape out of the darkness with their near +approach. Presently Jack called a halt.</p> + +<p>"Somewhere in there," said he, "lies Tom's cave."</p> + +<p>It was in the early hours before dawn, when the darkness if anything +becomes more intense. A chill nipping wind long since had caused the +boys to unroll the rubber ponchos strapped to the back of their +saddles, and drape them over their shoulders. As they stood now in the +eerie darkness, striving vainly to locate the landmarks of tree and +rock which Tom had given them, the howl of a hunting coyote floated +down the wind. The sensitive Frank shivered.</p> + +<p>"That sends the gooseflesh up my spine," he said.</p> + +<p>"Are you scared?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"I'm scared stiff," averred Frank. "My hair is standing up so straight +I wonder how my sombrero stays on."</p> + +<p>"Me, too," said Bob.</p> + +<p>"Liar," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"You're another," said Bob. "You're not scared. I know you too well."</p> + +<p>They grinned affectionately at each other. Jack who meantime had been +investigating, turned with a worried expression.</p> + +<p>"I've followed Tom's directions faithfully," he said. "He said to lay +our course south by south-west and showed me what he meant on my +compass. I haven't deviated a hair's breadth. Somewhere about here +should be the first landmark—three rocks shaped like a camel lying +down. But I can't see them."</p> + +<p>"Nothing to worry about in that," said Frank. "Probably we haven't +gone far enough. Let's push on."</p> + +<p>"That must be it," said Jack with relief. "Well, come on."</p> + +<p>Before they could get into motion, however, Bob uttered a warning +whisper.</p> + +<p>"Listen," he said. "I heard a horse stumble behind us on the trail."</p> + +<p>They listened breathlessly a moment, but no further sound was heard.</p> + +<p>"Keep your guns handy," whispered Jack. Whenever the three were +together he took command. "Don't fire without cause, however," he +whispered. "If there is someone behind us, it may be another +traveller."</p> + +<p>Again came the sound of a horse stumbling. All heard it distinctly. +Jack peered into the darkness and called firmly:</p> + +<p>"Who are you?"</p> + +<p>"Challenge him in Spanish, why don't you?" muttered Frank.</p> + +<p>Before Jack could repeat his challenge, however, a familiar voice +replied:</p> + +<p>"That you, Jack? This is Tom."</p> + +<p>"Tom? Tom Bodine?"</p> + +<p>"The same," replied the ex-cowboy, materializing out of the darkness, +and approaching. "And glad I am," he added, "to find you."</p> + +<p>"But, good gracious, Tom, is anything the matter? Why are you here? I +thought we left you heading back for home five hours ago?"</p> + +<p>"No, you just left me," said Tom. "That's all. I didn't head home, +because I wanted to come along. Been a-trailin' you all the way. And +here I am."</p> + +<p>Jack was surprised, indeed. But now that Tom was with them, he +experienced a sense of relief. To venture into a strange land without +a guide, and in pitch darkness, besides, was a pretty stiff +undertaking. The responsibility of looking after his friends was no +light one.</p> + +<p>"To tell the truth, Tom," Jack said, "I'm glad you came."</p> + +<p>Bob and Frank echoed his words heartily.</p> + +<p>"I had just about decided when you came up," Jack added, "that I had +lost my way. Frank thought, however, we merely hadn't gone far enough +to find your landmarks."</p> + +<p>"He was right," said Tom. "You come straight as a die. All we got to +do is to ride on a piece an' we'll be in the snuggest cave ever you +see."</p> + +<p>Riding two abreast, Tom and Jack in the lead and Frank and Bob close +behind, they pressed on another twenty minutes when Tom called a halt +to indicate a clump of rocks close at hand which suggested in their +outline a crouching camel. Then he led the way toward the left.</p> + +<p>"Wait, wait," called Bob, in a tense voice that reached the ears of +all, and caused them to halt. "Keep your horses quiet and listen. +There. I was right."</p> + +<p>All sat silent, and distinctly there came to their ears the hum of an +approaching airplane.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII" />CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>INSIDE THE CAVE +<br /> </h3> + +<p>"What is it?" whispered Tom Bodine, to whom the sound was unfamiliar. +"Sounds like machinery of some kind."</p> + +<p>"It's an airplane," Jack answered.</p> + +<p>"Airplane? <i>An</i> airplane?" said Bob, low voiced. "It's better than +that. It's our airplane, if I know anything."</p> + +<p>"Righto, Bob," agreed Frank. "I'd know the old baby's voice a mile +off."</p> + +<p>"They've shut off the motor," said Jack. "They must be going to land. +But where in the world could they land in these hills and in this +darkness, too?"</p> + +<p>Tom Bodine slapped his knee.</p> + +<p>"That's it," he said emphatically. "That must be it."</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Why, there's a big level place just below the cave I was tellin' you +'bout. A plateau. Smooth as a floor."</p> + +<p>The hum of the airplane had died away. The boys and their guide never +had caught sight of the machine in the darkness.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Frank pointed in the direction whence the sound of the +airplane had come, ahead and slightly to the left.</p> + +<p>"I thought I saw a light there," he whispered. "It was just a faint +streak of orange. Now it's gone."</p> + +<p>"Look here," said Bob to Tom Bodine, "does that cave face this way or +is it on the other side of a hill?"</p> + +<p>"It's on t'other side," answered Tom, "an' near the top."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll bet you there's somebody in that cave. And the light that +Frank saw was some kind of a signal to the airplane."</p> + +<p>The big ex-cowboy scratched his head.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe you're right," he said doubtfully. "I don't know 'bout such +things. But who'da thought that cave would be discovered. Why, I just +come on it accidental like onct when I was wanderin' through these +hills."</p> + +<p>"Boys, there's only one thing to do," said Jack in a determined voice, +"and that's to investigate."</p> + +<p>"Righto, Jack," said Frank eagerly. "Here's our chance to get back our +airplane."</p> + +<p>"You said it," declared Bob. "Let's go."</p> + +<p>"Not so fast," said Jack. "First we must have a plan of campaign. +Tom, what's the lay of the land? How far away is the cave? Would it be +better to leave our horses here and approach on foot?"</p> + +<p>"Cave's not more'n half a mile from here," answered Tom. "It's just +around the shoulder o' this hill we're on right now and near the top. +I tole you 'bout that big rock in front o' the entrance an' them three +lonesome trees at the foot that give you a bee-line to the rock. Well, +we can git to them trees without bein' noticed an' tie our horses +there an' then sneak up afoot."</p> + +<p>"Is there only the one entrance to the cave?"</p> + +<p>"Only one," answered Tom. "There's a kind o' chimney up through the +rock to the top o' the hill. But nobody couldn't git out there in much +of a hurry. We won't have to worry 'bout that."</p> + +<p>Frank had an idea.</p> + +<p>"How far would those fellows in the airplane have to go to reach the +cave after landing?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, le's see. 'Bout as fur as us, I reckon."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we can cut them off before they enter the cave," said Frank. +"They'll be busy about the airplane for several minutes before they +start to make their way to the cave. How would they have to approach +the cave?"</p> + +<p>"Same way as us from the trees on," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, if we hurry," Frank declared excitedly, "maybe we can capture +them before they reach the cave."</p> + +<p>"Right you are, young feller," approved Tom. "But we'll have to leave +our horses behind or they might give us away. We can't tie 'em to +those trees like we planned."</p> + +<p>"We can't hobble them," said Jack, thinking quickly, "because they +would wander aside a little distance, anyway. And we may want them +again in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"Tell you what," said Tom, "seems like I remember a clump o' trees +just this side o' them three I spoke about. We can tie 'em there. An' +them fellers in the machine won't have no horses, so ours ain't likely +to nicker."</p> + +<p>"Good," said Jack. "You lead the way and we'll follow."</p> + +<p>Presently at a low-spoken word from the guide the boys dismounted and +tied up their horses. Then, Jack carrying his rifle, and the others +following close at his heels, revolvers in hand, they pressed on +toward the three trees forming Tom Bodine's landmark.</p> + +<p>As they reached the trees, low exclamations burst from the boys. +Hitherto, they had been cut off from the plateau by the shoulder of +the hill. Now it lay below and before them. This of itself would not +have permitted them to see, as the darkness was intense. But now the +scene was illuminated by a number of oil flares stuck upright in the +ground in a rude circle.</p> + +<p>And right in the middle of the circle was the airplane stolen from Bob +and Frank. There could be no mistaking the all-metal body nor the +peculiar wing spread, even at that distance of close to half a mile.</p> + +<p>Several figures were moving about. As the boys looked on, these seized +oil flares and started moving toward them.</p> + +<p>"Here's where our turn comes at last," said Frank.</p> + +<p>Jack laid a hand on his arm.</p> + +<p>"Better than that, Frank," he said. "How many do you make out?"</p> + +<p>"Three is my guess."</p> + +<p>"The two men in the airplane and the man in charge of the cave," said +Jack. "Dollars to doughnuts, the cave is undefended right this minute. +What do you say to capturing it and laying for them there?"</p> + +<p>All four were grouped together, and consequently all heard Jack's +proposal. Bob and Tom Bodine agreed eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Lead the way, then, Tom," said Jack, "because you know the route. And +be quick."</p> + +<p>Swiftly, yet withal cautiously, because the cave might be defended, +they approached the big rock. As they sidled around it, a gleam of +light from the mouth of the cave at the rear of the rock fell athwart +their path. Involuntarily they drew back.</p> + +<p>Then Jack brushed Tom Bodine aside and took the lead. His repeater +thrust before him, crouching, he entered the mouth of the cave. A +moment later his whisper came back:</p> + +<p>"Coast's clear."</p> + +<p>But the others already were at his heels.</p> + +<p>A hasty glance around revealed the first of the two chambers, which +Tom had said the cave possessed, was luxuriously furnished and lighted +by a powerful electric bulb enclosed in a huge frosted globe suspended +from the middle of the roof. There was no time for further +investigation because Jack already was pushing on toward the heavy +hangings at the rear covering the mouth of the second chamber, and the +others clung to his heels.</p> + +<p>Parting the hangings quickly, Jack threw his rifle to his shoulder. +Then he and his companions received their second big surprise. The +room was empty of human occupants. But it, too, was brilliantly +lighted.</p> + +<p>And it was a radio broadcasting station.</p> + +<p>To the trained eyes of the boys that much was apparent at first +glance. In one corner of the tremendous cave hummed the dynamo. From +it, of course, came also the electricity for the lights. Before they +could pursue their investigations, however, Tom Bodine, who had +dropped back to the outer entrance, issued a warning hiss. Then he +darted across the outer room and joined them.</p> + +<p>"Three of 'em," he whispered. "They'll be here in a minute."</p> + +<p>"Good," said Jack, taking command. "We'll give them a surprise. These +hangings are fastened to rings on a big pole up above us there, and +they'll slide easily. Tom, you and Bob grab the hangings in the middle +and be ready to pull them aside when I say the word. Frank, you and I +will stand here in the middle and keep them covered."</p> + +<p>All took their assigned positions as the sound of voices was heard at +the outer entrance. Jack peered between the two folds of the hangings +and smiled with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"Let's go," he said.</p> + +<p>The hangings flew aside.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII" />CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>THE FIGHT IN THE CAVE +<br /> </h3> + +<p>"Hands up, gentlemen," ordered Jack, rifle to shoulder.</p> + +<p>"And be quick about it," added Frank, revolver extended.</p> + +<p>Tom and Bob, the hangings disposed of, ranged themselves on either +side of the pair. Four weapons covered the group in the outer room.</p> + +<p>The three men, who had advanced well to the center of the room, stared +dumbfounded at these apparitions. Then amazement gave place to anger, +and one of the trio made a move as if to draw his revolver.</p> + +<p>"None of that," commanded Jack, sternly. "Up with them quick or I'll +shoot."</p> + +<p>Three pairs of hands were unwillingly elevated. Two of the men wore +sheepskin jackets and leather helmets and the boys surmised correctly +that they had been up in the airplane. Bob felt certain they were +Morales and Von Arnheim, the two who had made the trip to the East to +steal Mr. Hampton's papers and whom he had foiled in that purpose, but +who had succeeded in stealing the airplane and making their way to +Mexico in it. The other was a rangy man of about twenty-six, keen and +shrewd-looking, and had the appearance of an American. Evidently he +was the guardian of the cave. And it was he who had moved to draw his +weapon when surprised. A tough customer and one to be watched, thought +the boys.</p> + +<p>"Face about," ordered Jack.</p> + +<p>They obeyed.</p> + +<p>"Keep them covered, Tom," Jack then commanded. "Well search them."</p> + +<p>With weapons held ready, the three boys advanced. At that moment, the +caretaker of the cave took one step forward and instantly the lights +in both rooms faded out and the cave was in inky darkness.</p> + +<p>He had pressed a button in the floor, switching off the lights.</p> + +<p>The boys were so taken by surprise that for a moment they did not +fire. Neither did Tom, for fear of hitting them as they were in front +of him. This gave their three enemies an opportunity to shift position +and fling themselves prone.</p> + +<p>When after their surprise, the boys did fire, their bullets merely +pinged against the distant wall and did no damage. But the flash of +their weapons betrayed their positions and answering bullets came +uncomfortably close. One swept Jack's hat from his head.</p> + +<p>From behind them Tom Bodine's revolver spoke, as the enemy thus +betrayed themselves. The soft thud of a bullet striking flesh, a +groan, choked off in the middle, a hasty scrambling to get away from +the danger point on the part of the man struck, then silence.</p> + +<p>This silence was so profound the boys seemed to hear the beating of +their own hearts, and tried to hold their breath for fear of betrayal. +They had thrown themselves prone after the first volley and lay so +close they were touching, Jack in the middle.</p> + +<p>Each side was fearful now of firing at the other, lest the flashes +give their position and an answering bullet find its mark.</p> + +<p>Jack thought quickly. Putting his lips to the ear of each of his +companions in turn, he whispered:</p> + +<p>"Wait till I get Tom and come back. Then we'll make our way to the +entrance."</p> + +<p>Each signified by the pressure of a hand that he understood. Certainly +it would not do to have the enemy escape and thus cut them off in the +cave!</p> + +<p>Slowly, carefully, noiselessly, Jack wormed his way to the rear and +when he considered he must be in Tom Bodine's neighborhood he began +whispering in a tone that could not be heard more than three feet +away:</p> + +<p>"Tom. Tom. Tom."</p> + +<p>A hand gripped his leg. A voice whispered so low it was barely audible +to him:</p> + +<p>"That you, Jack?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Listen."</p> + +<p>Running a hand over Tom Bodine's body, Jack found his ear and, as he +had done with Bob and Frank, set his lips to it. He explained his +purpose to gain the entrance to the cave and prevent being bottled up. +Tom nodded approval, and Jack was about to return to his companions +when he suddenly thought of the radio room beyond, and its +possibilities. It would never do to leave that unguarded. Their +enemies could telephone the Calomares ranch. Then, even if the boys +escaped, their identities would have become known at rebel +headquarters. Their chances of rescuing Mr. Hampton would go +glimmering.</p> + +<p>Once more Jack set his lips to Tom's ear and explained the situation.</p> + +<p>"That's right," whispered Tom in return. "Tell you what. I'll guard +this here inner room from behind the rocks in this doorway. You three +stop up the outer entrance, an' well have 'em bottled."</p> + +<p>Jack made his way back to his comrades, and the three started +crawling. They moved inch by inch, so as to avoid bumping into +furniture—a number of heavy chairs had been seen standing about the +great room.</p> + +<p>Jack was in the lead, Frank at his heels, Bob bringing up the rear. +Cautiously, tortuously, they made their way ahead for what seemed like +ages, pausing frequently to listen.</p> + +<p>After one such pause, as he again started to follow Frank, Bob felt a +form brush against him from the side. Then an arm shot out and +encircled his neck. Bob wriggled about to face his opponent and threw +both arms about him in a mighty clasp.</p> + +<p>As they fell to the floor, Bob heard a strangled cry from Frank and a +grunt from Jack. They, too, had come to grips with the enemy. Their +three opponents had started for the door with the same purpose held by +the boys—that of bottling up the other side. The two crawling trios +had brushed against each other in the middle of the floor.</p> + +<p>Now three individual fights raged furiously on the floor of the cave +in Stygian darkness. Every man fought for his very life. The sob of +labored breathing was the only sound—that and the threshing about of +bodies.</p> + +<p>Tom Bodine was sick with rage at his helplessness, for he dared not +shoot lest he hit one of the boys, and he could not see to take a +hand. He decided to try to find that button in the middle of the floor +of the outer cave which the enemy had used to throw off the lights. +If not that, perhaps there was a wall switch somewhere. In his pockets +was a box of safety matches. With these in his hands he started for +what he thought was the middle of the room.</p> + +<p>Recklessly Tom struck and lighted matches, searching the floor for +that button, stopping after each match burned down to his fingers to +listen to the panting, heaving struggle going on about him.</p> + +<p>At last he found the button and pressed it. Light once more flooded +both caves, dazzling to the eye after the pitch darkness of the moment +before. Jack and Frank were still tightly locked with their respective +foemen. But at the very moment the lights were switched on, Bob got +the upper hand of his man with a famous hold he had used to advantage +in winning his wrestling fame at school. There was a heave, and then +Bob straightened up and the other went hurtling through the air. He +was the American of the enemy trio.</p> + +<p>The man fell on his left side, a yard or more away, by a quick twist +avoiding the descent on his head, which is the usual result of such a +wrestling toss. His right arm was outflung and, as he skidded along +the floor, the fingers of his right hand came in contact with a +revolver dropped by one of the wrestlers.</p> + +<p>Twisting about like a cat, with a convulsive movement, the man came to +his knees and fired. There was a warning shout to Bob from Tom Bodine. +But the man's aim was far from steady, and the shot went wide.</p> + +<p>Bob leaped forward as if shot from a catapult, letting out a wild yell +as he did so. It was a tremendous leap from a standing position, and +he descended feet first on the other before he could discharge the +revolver again. Beneath the impact of Bob's weight the man went down +like a shot rabbit and lay still. Bob disarmed him, turned him on his +face, pulled his arms behind him and began tying them with his belt.</p> + +<p>Meantime Jack was getting the better of his man, the Mexican. But +Frank, slightest of the three boys, was putting up a losing fight +against the German. The latter had him down and was kneeling on his +chest with his hands throttling the boy. Frank's face was purple and +the breath was whistling in his throat, while his efforts to throw the +other off were becoming more and more feeble.</p> + +<p>Tom Bodine took in the situation and sprang forward, clubbing his +revolver. He brought it down on the German's head. There was a +sickening thud. One blow was enough. The German's hands relaxed their +grip on Frank's throat, and he rolled over unconscious.</p> + +<p>At the same moment Jack pinioned the arms of the Mexican, and the +latter lay helpless.</p> + +<p>The fight was over.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX" />CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>RESTING UP +<br /> </h3> + +<p>Swiftly Tom Bodine trussed up the unconscious German with the man's +own belt, while Jack similarly treated the thoroughly cowed Mexican, +Morales. Meanwhile, Bob went to Frank's aid, assisting him to a chair, +bringing him water from a spring in a corner of the inner cave and +fanning him with his sombrero.</p> + +<p>None of the three boys had suffered more serious injuries than +bruises, but Frank had been badly battered in the encounter with his +heavier opponent and the muscles of his left shoulder had been +severely strained.</p> + +<p>Despite the mauling he had received, Frank wanted to go and inspect +his beloved airplane at once and Bob, the co-owner with him, was +equally eager. Jack, however, protested.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said he firmly, "you are in no condition to go chasing off +down this rocky slope. The airplane isn't going to fly away. It's in a +pocket in the hills that nobody is going to discover. And, anyhow, +there is nobody around in this desert place to do any discovering.</p> + +<p>"Moreover," he continued, "it is almost morning now. We all have been +riding all night and with this fight coming on top of everything else, +we are thoroughly tired out. So, instead of any more conversation +tonight, I propose that we turn in and go to sleep, leaving one man on +guard. At the end of two hours he can call another fellow, and in that +way we can all get four or five hours sleep. I'll take the first watch +and—"</p> + +<p>At that moment a groan from one of the prisoners on the other side of +the room interrupted, and with an exclamation Bob started forward.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious," he said, "I'd forgotten all about that chap. His arm +felt wet and sticky when we were wrestling and I believe he's the man +Tom wounded with that first shot in the darkness."</p> + +<p>Bending over his late opponent, Bob noted a dark brown stain on the +left shoulder of his coat.</p> + +<p>"Only a flesh wound, I reckon," said the other. "But it sure hurts. +Are you going to leave me like this?"</p> + +<p>Bob flushed.</p> + +<p>"Of course not," he said. "What do you think I am? Here, let me help +you up and we'll have a look at it."</p> + +<p>Bob assisted the other to a chair. His hands were then untied, the +coat sleeve cut away and an examination made of his injury. It proved +not serious. The man told Bob where to find a bottle of iodine. He +winced under the sting of its application, but made no outcry. Then a +rough bandage was made of clean handkerchiefs, and the boys stood back +to examine their handiwork, for all had taken part in the operation.</p> + +<p>"You're some fighter, kid," the other said approvingly to Bob. "But I +reckon I'da got you at that if it hadn't been for that arm."</p> + +<p>"Maybe so," Bob modestly agreed. "You put up a stiff fight."</p> + +<p>"You're an American, aren't you?" asked Frank. "What's your name? And +how do you happen to be with these fellows?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" said the other, answering the last question first. "I'm a +rolling stone and joined up with this outfit because it looked like +something doing. And that's what I want. As for my name, it's Roy +Stone. And you guessed right. I am an American. Born an' raised in +Wooster, out in Ohio."</p> + +<p>He paused and looked curiously from one to the other of the boys. Tom +Bodine was examining the two other prisoners for possible injuries +needing attention. Stone nodded toward him.</p> + +<p>"I can place a fellow like that, all right," he said. "Know this kind +down here on the border. But who are you? You're only kids. What's +your game? Are you with Obregon?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," said Bob. Turning to Jack, he whispered:</p> + +<p>"Is it safe to tell him who we are? He's an American. And, somehow, I +have an idea he might help us."</p> + +<p>"Well, it won't hurt, I guess," said Jack, doubtfully. "He might +escape and betray us to rebel headquarters, but I suspect we can guard +against that. Besides, he's bound to find out our identities, because +those other two chaps will recognize you."</p> + +<p>"Hardly in this rig," said Bob, referring to his clothing. "We talked +all that over, you remember."</p> + +<p>"That's right. I had forgotten."</p> + +<p>Bob and Jack had drawn aside during the whispered colloquy. Now Bob +turned back to his prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Look here," he said. "We'll have a little talk later. Right now we +all need a good sleep."</p> + +<p>Without more ado, Bob and Frank tied Stone's hands and led him to his +bed, behind a curtain in one corner of the outer room. They considered +that inasmuch as he was wounded, he was entitled to the bed. The +German had recovered consciousness from the blow on the head dealt him +by Tom, and the latter already had ranged him and the Mexican along +the wall where the sentinel could keep an eye on them. For +themselves, the boys pulled a heavy rug to another portion of the +wall, spread the heavy hangings formerly covering the door to the +inner cave on top, and here Bob and Frank lay down with their ponchos +over them. Presently they were joined by Jack who had planned to mount +guard the first two hours, but who had been overruled by Tom Bodine.</p> + +<p>"No, you don't," said the latter. "I'm a tougher bird than you, and I +take this job myself, an' that goes."</p> + +<p>Too tired to protest very vehemently, Jack turned in after exacting a +promise that Tom would call him at the end of two hours. The old +cowman, however, had no such intention. It was not until eight hours +later that he summoned Jack. The lights in the cave still burned +brightly, for Tom had refrained from switching them off for the +obvious reason that they made it easy to keep an eye on the prisoners. +Day-light, however, showed at the mouth of the cave. When Jack noted +the time, he began to scold.</p> + +<p>"Forgit it," said Tom Bodine, gruffly. "You boys needed a good sleep +while I'm an old hand at ridin' night herd. It didn't bother me none +to stay up."</p> + +<p>Without further words, he turned in and was asleep almost on the +instant. Jack roused Bob and Frank, and while Bob mounted guard at the +mouth of the cave where he could keep watch both on their prisoners +and on the approach from below, the two others explored a rude pantry +behind a curtain. They found a plentiful stock of provisions, which +made it unnecessary for them to draw upon their own limited food +supplies for breakfast.</p> + +<p>When they themselves had eaten, they released the captives one at a +time and fed them, afterwards replacing their bonds. The Mexican and +the German were surly and uncommunicative. The latter tried to ply +them with questions, but when they refused to answer he adopted a +bullying tone and threatened them with all sorts of dire punishment. +His threats, however, were no more effective at breaking down their +silence than were his questions.</p> + +<p>Bob remained at the doorway to avoid the risk of recognition by +Morales and Von Arnheim as the youth who had foiled their attempt to +steal Mr. Hampton's papers from his Long Island home. Jack, who had no +means of knowing how much the traitor, Rollins, might have told Von +Arnheim in the past about Mr. Hampton's personal affairs, watched +keenly for some indication on the German's part that he had formed an +idea as to their identity, but none was forthcoming.</p> + +<p>Jack was correspondingly elated.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," he said to Frank, after Morales and Von Arnheim had been +fed and returned to the other side of the cave, "that Rollins never +bothered to speak about us because we were just boys. Then, too, you +fellows arrived only the very day that we discovered Rollins's +treachery and put a stop to his communications with these people."</p> + +<p>"That may all be true," said Frank. "Probably it is. Just the same, +Von Arnheim and Morales are bound to put two and two together and make +a shrewd guess as to our identities, even if they say nothing to us +about the matter.</p> + +<p>"But," he added, confidently, "what if they do? We have them prisoners +now and if we keep them well guarded until we have rescued your +father, what does it matter how much they know?"</p> + +<p>Jack nodded agreement.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to keep mighty strict watch, though," he said. "Well, now +let's feed this American, Stone. I'll draw straws with you to see who +keeps guard while Bob comes to get his breakfast at the same time. He +wants to talk to Stone, he said."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX" />CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>CONFERRING BY RADIO +<br /> </h3> + +<p>Bob, however, told his companions he had decided not to interview +Stone for the time being, and explained his reason, as well as what he +hoped to gain from conversation with the prisoner.</p> + +<p>"I believe," he declared, "that Stone is a warm-hearted, adventurous +young fellow with no particular love for the Mexican rebels, but +merely serving under their banner for the excitement. And I believe if +we approach him right we can win his help in rescuing Mr. Hampton. He +must know a good deal about this Calomares ranch and if we can get him +to give us some pointers it will be worth while.</p> + +<p>"That was what I had in mind last night. But mounting guard here this +morning I had time to think it over, and I decided we had better go +slow and, if possible, get the advice of my father on the matter."</p> + +<p>"But how could you do that?" asked Frank. "Go back to Hampton ranch +again?"</p> + +<p>Jack interrupted excitedly.</p> + +<p>"No, Frank, don't you see!" he said. "Bob is thinking of the radio +here in the cave. Aren't you, Bob? I'm a simpleton not to have thought +of it before."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Bob, "we've all been so excited, that's not to be +wondered at. But while I mounted guard here during your breakfast, I +had a chance to calm down and do some thinking."</p> + +<p>Bob was eager to use the radio telephone at once, but Jack persuaded +him to eat breakfast first. The big fellow literally bolted his bacon, +bread and coffee, and then accompanied by Jack, while Frank mounted +guard, he retired to the inner room where the radio outfit was +located.</p> + +<p>"Let's have a look around here before we try to telephone," said Jack. +"It will take us only a few minutes. And we ought to know what we have +captured. What say?"</p> + +<p>"Fair enough," Bob agreed.</p> + +<p>A cursory inspection quickly convinced Jack that the station was not +of recent installation, but had been put in about the year 1918. Much +of the equipment, while of the best at the time it was put in, had +been antiquated since by improved parts.</p> + +<p>It was a complete two-way installation, however, comprising a +generator of practically sustained waves, a good control system to +modulate the output, and a ground system for radiating a portion of +the modulated energy as well as a receiver and a good amplifier.</p> + +<p>"Here is this chimney in the rock about which Tom spoke," Jack pointed +out. "They have hooked up through this. And the antenna, I suppose, is +on top of the rock above us.</p> + +<p>"This arc," he continued, advancing to the coils, "looks pretty strong +and seems to have a rather elaborate water-cooling system. I think it +is of foreign design, probably German. The Germans were early in the +field with radio telephony development, you know."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Bob, who was beginning to grow impatient, "I'll take +your word for it. But what I want to know is, can we telephone my +father at your ranch?"</p> + +<p>"Say, Bob, I'm sorry," Jack said quickly. "You know how crazy Dad and +I are over this radio telephone. But, of course, you are anxious to +get your father. Come on, let's try. I'll throw on the generator."</p> + +<p>Suiting action to words, Jack shortly had the generator at work, while +Bob began calling through the air for his father.</p> + +<p>"Be careful to use our code," Jack warned him. "You know Rollins said +these fellows had a powerful radio station at the Calomares ranch, and +if they were to pick up your call and listen in there'd be trouble."</p> + +<p>"Right," said Bob. "But if Dave answers the signal, I'll have to ask +for father, because Dave doesn't understand the code."</p> + +<p>It was Dave Morningstar who answered, the other ex-cowboy employed as +mechanic and guard at Mr. Hampton's radio plant in New Mexico. And +when he had tuned to the proper pitch to hear distinctly and Bob's +voice greeted him he was so surprised he stuttered and was incapable +for a moment of coherent speech. Then he began to pour a flood of +questions at Bob, wanting to know where he was, how he happened to be +able to radio, what had happened to the boys, why Tom Bodine, his +partner, had failed to return, and so on. But Bob cut him short.</p> + +<p>"Stop it, Dave," he said. "We may be overheard. Call father to the +telephone, so I can speak in code. Then I'll explain."</p> + +<p>Fortunately, although it was past noon, Mr. Temple was at hand. So +anxious was he about the boys that he had been unable to sleep during +the night. All morning, despite the belief that it was folly to expect +to hear from the lads so early, he had stayed at the radio plant. Now, +when he heard his son's voice, there was heartfelt thanksgiving in his +reply.</p> + +<p>"Is it really you, Bob?" he asked, speaking in code. "I must have +been insane to let you three lads go off on such a foolish venture. I +have been tortured with anxiety every minute since you left. Tell me +where you are and what has happened. And how in the world is it +possible for you to radio? Are you all right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we're all right, Dad," answered Bob, and there was a good deal +of emotion in his voice, too. The big fellow and his father were real +pals. "Don't you worry, Dad," he added. "We're doing well, thank you."</p> + +<p>Then he retailed their adventures from the time of crossing the border +into Old Mexico and leaving Tom Bodine at the boundary. There were +many interruptions from his father.</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven," said the latter, when learning that Tom Bodine had +followed the boys and joined them. "He's a trustworthy chap, and to +know that he is with you makes me breathe more easily."</p> + +<p>When he came to relate the fight in the cave, Bob diplomatically made +little of it. He felt there was nothing to be gained by unnecessarily +harrowing the feelings of his father. The latter's anxiety, however, +was great and he pumped rapid questions at his son which Bob could not +avoid answering. The result was that Mr. Temple gained a fairly +accurate idea of the peril in which the boys had been involved.</p> + +<p>"But, Dad," Bob interrupted his parent's horrified exclamations, +"it's all over now. None of us is injured, and we have got back our +airplane."</p> + +<p>"I know, Bob, I know," answered the older man. "But you can't +understand a father's feelings. And it isn't all over yet by any +means, for you haven't rescued Mr. Hampton. And you don't know what +difficulties you will encounter in doing so, and what dangers you will +run."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I believe the worst is over, Dad," answered Bob. "We have +captured Morales and Von Arnheim, and they were our two worst dangers. +If we had encountered them at rebel headquarters and they had +recognized me, our goose would have been cooked. We would have been +taken prisoners, too. But now there will be nobody to recognize us. +The rebels will take us for what we pretend to be, young Americans +seeking adventure and riding in to enlist."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, Bob," said his father, only half convinced. "But let me +think this over. There ought to be some other way to rescue Mr. +Hampton now that you have the airplane again. Also you have these +prisoners. It may be that you can gain some valuable information from +them. Have you questioned them yet?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what I was coming to, Dad," said Bob.</p> + +<p>Thereupon he proceeded to tell his father of Roy Stone, the young +American in charge of the radio plant in the cave, whom they had made +prisoner. A lengthy conversation ensued. Mr. Temple was reluctant at +first to have the boys reveal their identities inasmuch as so far they +had escaped detection. But he saw that if an ally could be made of +Stone it would be of the highest importance to the boys. He finally +authorized Bob to promise Stone a suitable reward, if he thought that +would appeal to him. Then, enjoining Bob to take no further steps +without first consulting him by radio, Mr. Temple concluded the +conversation.</p> + +<p>To Jack and Frank, speaking in low tones at the entrance to the cave +where Frank kept guard, Bob explained the gist of his conversation +with his father. Tom Bodine still slumbered heavily. Stone lay napping +on his bed. Morales and Von Arnheim sat with drooping heads in the +heavy chairs where, while Bob telephoned, Jack had thought it best to +bind them.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's talk with Stone and see what he has to say," Jack said. +"Frank and I have been talking the situation over, too, and we've got +all sorts of ideas. For one thing, we thought there was a chance the +rebels could be persuaded to exchange father for Von Arnheim and +Morales. Stone might know how important those two worthies are +considered by the rebels."</p> + +<p>"Can't I listen in on this confab?" Frank asked, plaintively. "Or +must I continue to mount guard here? Besides, I want to go down and +look at our airplane, and pat it even if I can't get in and fly. I can +see it from here, and it looks tempting."</p> + +<p>"You'll have to wait awhile to do that, I expect," said Jack with a +smile. "We must decide what to do next before we spend any time +playing."</p> + +<p>At that moment, Tom Bodine yawned prodigiously and sat up on his +make-shift couch.</p> + +<p>"At least I can have a voice in the conference," said Frank. "If Tom's +awake he can mount guard."</p> + +<p>"All right, fine," said Jack. "We'll leave him out here with Morales +and Von Arnheim, as soon as he has had something to eat. Then the +three of us can take Stone into the other room and have a talk with +him."</p> + +<p>So it was arranged.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI" />CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>GAINING AN ALLY +</h3> + +<p>Before mounting guard, however, Tom thought of their horses, a detail +which the boys had forgotten in the quick march of events. He and Bob +descended the slope, brought the animals into the valley where there +was grass along the bed of a little stream trickling from a spring, +and a few trees that provided shade. The horses were hobbled to +prevent wandering too far, and then left to do as they pleased. They +pleased, every one, to lie down at once and roll.</p> + +<p>Upon their return to the cave, after Bob first had inspected the +airplane and found it in tiptop condition and stocked with gas and +oil, Tom mounted guard while the boys carried out their intention of +taking Stone into the inner room for a conference.</p> + +<p>Stone made matters easy for all concerned by speaking first, as soon +as they all were out of earshot of Morales and Von Arnheim, and +telling the boys he had guessed their identities.</p> + +<p>"Of course, I don't know your names," he said, "but I reckon one of +you is the son of that American bigbug old Calomares is holding +prisoner up at his ranch. And the rest of you are his pals."</p> + +<p>Bob's face fell. He had believed their identities were unsuspected. If +this man could draw so clever a deduction, then their two other +prisoners could do likewise. Moreover, if they carried out their +original plan and went to rebel headquarters to enlist, would they not +there, too, be suspected?</p> + +<p>"Do the others guess who we are?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Don't know," said Stone. "I haven't been given much chance to talk to +'em, have I? But that German is smart, and he may suspect. But"—and +with this statement he set at rest a part of Bob's fears—"my bed is +pretty close to this room an' I have pretty good ears. I overheard +some things that Morales and Von Arnheim couldn't hear, especially +when you used the radio to call your father. Anyhow, I thought it was +your father. Mostly you spoke in code, but I heard you call him 'Dad' +a couple of times."</p> + +<p>The three chums looked at each other, nonplussed. Stone laughed.</p> + +<p>"Until I made out who you were," he said, "I thought you were some +wild-eyed kids looking for adventure an' comin' to the right place to +find it. But once I got a suspicion, it was easy to figure out the +rest. You see, I knew about your owning the airplane that Von Arnheim +stole, an' about your radio stations. When you started the generator +that showed me you knew something about radio, an' that was another +clue.</p> + +<p>"So I just put two an' two together. Anyhow, it finally came to me who +you were. Am I right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack, taking the initiative as Stone concluded, "you are +correct. It is my father who is held prisoner by the Mexicans, and +these are my chums."</p> + +<p>Jack regarded the other searchingly.</p> + +<p>"We're in trouble," he said, simply, "and we need help that you could +give us. How closely are you tied up with the rebels? You're an +American and we are Americans. Does that mean anything to you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, kid, it does," said Stone. Despite the fact that he was only +seven or eight years older than the three chums, he had led a roving +life that had given him a world of experience and an older viewpoint, +and he persisted in regarding them as youngsters. "I'm strong for the +good old U.S.A.," he continued.</p> + +<p>"But don't get me wrong. These are fine people down here, and don't +you believe they ain't. Their standards aren't American standards +either in manners or politics. But, just the same, they're good folks, +and don't you let anybody tell you different. I wouldn't turn against +them for anything. So, although your fathers have lots of +money"—here he looked fixedly at Bob, who felt uncomfortable +remembering his father's authorization to offer Stone money to help +them—"well, don't offer me any, that's all."</p> + +<p>Bob was silent, but Jack again stepped into the breach.</p> + +<p>"Good for you," he said warmly. "I'm glad to hear you talk that way. +But"—and here Jack paused impressively—"suppose the imprisonment of +my father threatened the peace and prosperity of the 'good old U.S.A.' +as you call it. What then?"</p> + +<p>Stone looked troubled.</p> + +<p>"See here," he said. "What are you driving at?"</p> + +<p>"Shall we tell him what Mr. Temple says is behind all this?" Jack +asked his companions.</p> + +<p>Bob and Frank nodded agreement.</p> + +<p>"Well," began Jack, "it's this way." Thereupon he proceeded to relate +Mr. Temple's theory that the attacks on the independent oil operators, +the capturing of Mr. Hampton and the attempt engineered by Rollins and +Remedios to capture himself, were all part of a plan to embroil the +United States government with President Obregon, as the responsible +head of the country whence the outrages originated.</p> + +<p>"And Mr. Temple says," concluded Jack, "that if the two countries did +come to war, it would hurt us very much with all Latin-America."</p> + +<p>"Sure would," agreed Stone thoughtfully. "I've knocked about among +these Spanish-American republics for years, an' they all look on the +little old U.S.A. as a dollar-chaser and a bully." He was silent for a +moment, and when he resumed, he said: "Look here. What you've just +told me makes a big difference. You haven't said yet what you are out +to do. But I can make a pretty good guess. You're going to try to +rescue your father without letting the American authorities know +anything about it. Am I right?"</p> + +<p>Jack nodded.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll help you," said Stone. "I know where he is and how to get +him, an' I'll tell you all I know."</p> + +<p>"Hurray," yelled Frank, the impulsive.</p> + +<p>Jack and Bob contented themselves with grasping Stone's hand warmly. +Realizing Stone still was bound, Bob pulled out a pocket knife and +started to cut his bonds, but Stone made him desist.</p> + +<p>"Keep this dark from Von Arnheim and Morales," he said. "And keep me +tied up. They may suspect I'm throwing in with you, but I don't want +'em to know. I want to be able to make a getaway, because these parts +won't be very pleasant for me hereafter."</p> + +<p>"That's right," said Bob. "Well, even if you won't take money, you'll +have to let my father or Mr. Hampton help you in some way, with a job +or something."</p> + +<p>Stone smiled tolerantly.</p> + +<p>"Buddy," said he, "getting along is the least of my troubles."</p> + +<p>With Stone's aid won, the boys now set about learning from him how +matters stood at the Calomares ranch.</p> + +<p>For hours they continued to talk, so absorbed that they did not +realize the flight of time until Tom Bodine came to inform them the +sun was near setting and to ask what they intended to do that night. +By then, however, they had obtained from Stone all the information he +could give them, which was considerable; Bob had had another talk by +radio with his father, and a plan for further proceedings had been +worked out.</p> + +<p>Jack and Bob were to make the attempt at the rescue of Mr. Hampton +alone. They were to fly to the Calomares ranch in the airplane with +Bob at the wheel, as Jack was not so experienced a flyer. Bob, on the +other hand, knew his machine thoroughly, and was familiar with its +every trick, a knowledge much to be desired as airplanes even more +than motor cars and ships develop temperament and have got to be +"humored," so to speak.</p> + +<p>Frank rebelled at the part assigned him. He was to stay behind at the +cave with Tom Bodine and Roy Stone, guarding the prisoners, Morales +and Von Arnheim. When they had rescued Mr. Hampton, Jack and Bob would +take him in the airplane and start flying to the Hampton ranch.</p> + +<p>By means of the radio in the airplane, which could send 150 to 200 +miles, although it could receive messages from a much greater +distance, the Hamptons and Bob would notify the party left behind in +the cave. Then Frank, Tom Bodine and Stone would ride for the border +on horseback. Morales and Von Arnheim would be left bound so as to +prevent their giving an alarm or offering any interference with the +programme. After the party had been given time to make its way well +along toward the border, rebel headquarters was to be notified by +radio from the Hampton ranch of the location of the prisoners. The +latter would, therefore, suffer nothing but inconvenience.</p> + +<p>"But what fun do I get out of this?" lamented Frank, enviously +regarding Bob and Jack. "You fellows get all the fun and all the +glory. I ride tamely back to the ranch."</p> + +<p>"It is hard luck, Frank," said Bob. "But your shoulder is sore and +aching from your fight last night, and I'm in better condition to +operate the plane. Besides, you know we can't take you, as the plane +will hold only three and when we get Mr. Hampton we'll have our full +complement. Some one of us has to stay behind. You've had your share +of the fun so far, anyhow, and your turn will come again."</p> + +<p>"I don't see it," said Frank. "It looks to me as if when you rescue +Mr. Hampton the fun will all be over. But that's the way with you big +bullies. Always picking on the little fellow."</p> + +<p>"Well, you see," said Bob mischievously, "I've got to keep you out of +danger for Della's sake. Ouch! Wow! Letup. Can't you take a joke."</p> + +<p>For, lame shoulder notwithstanding, Frank leaped and, bowling the big +fellow out of his chair, got astride of his writhing body and began to +pummel him.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII" />CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>FLYING TO THE RESCUE +<br /> </h3> + +<p>"Come on. Strip."</p> + +<p>It was Bob talking, and the command was addressed to Morales and Von +Arnheim. Tom Bodine stood guard over them with leveled revolver.</p> + +<p>"But, why?" protested Von Arnheim.</p> + +<p>"Ask us no questions an' we'll tell you no lies," said Tom, waving his +weapon. "Jest do what you're tole."</p> + +<p>Sullenly the two men obeyed. When their outer clothing had been +removed, and they stood revealed in light-weight undergarments—a well +set-up powerful pair of men, about the height of Jack and Bob although +neither was so sturdy as the latter—Bob halted them.</p> + +<p>"That's enough," he said. "Here put these around you."</p> + +<p>And he tossed them rubber ponchos which they threw around their +shoulders.</p> + +<p>Scooping up the discarded clothing of the two men, Bob and Jack +retired to the radio room. Stripping quickly, Jack dressed in Morales' +clothing and Bob in that of the German aviator. This arrangement was +adopted because Jack could speak Spanish with considerable fluency and +thus fitted into the role of the Mexican. Bob, on the other hand, was +better adapted to pass as the German who, they had been informed by +Roy Stone, spoke Spanish only awkwardly.</p> + +<p>"Buenos dios, Senor," said Jack, bowing gracefully.</p> + +<p>"Ach du lieber Augustine," answered Bob, standing at salute.</p> + +<p>They burst into hearty laughter, in which they were joined by Frank +and Roy Stone, who were present at the transformation.</p> + +<p>"How will we do?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>Stone eyed them critically.</p> + +<p>"To fellows that know Morales and Von Arnheim only by sight," he said, +"you will pass for them easily enough. Both of them are smooth-shaven, +which is unusual, for Mexicans and Germans both favor mustaches. But +that's all the better for you boys.</p> + +<p>"One thing you want to remember," he said to Bob, "and that is to walk +pretty stiffly like you had a bone in your leg an' swallowed a ramrod. +That's the way Von Arnheim always steps out, An' both of you keep your +hats pulled down."</p> + +<p>"Now you boys have got the bearings I gave you. +You can easy enough find the landing field, even in the darkness. +It's a big meadow as flat as a table, with the ranch house and +outbuildings in a clump at one end, an' the radio station with its big +tower supporting the antenna at t'other. Both places will be all +lighted up, for Calomares lives like one o' them old-time barons an' +he's always got so many men around the place he needn't fear nobody, +so why put out lights? He likes light. He's a bug on it, in fact."</p> + +<p>"Suits me," said Bob. "That gives me some beacons to go by."</p> + +<p>From the foregoing it will be seen that the boys had changed +materially their original plan of riding in as adventure-seeking +American youths to enlist in the rebel forces, and wait their chance +to effect the rescue of Mr. Hampton. As matters now stood. Bob and +Jack were to land in the airplane, and while Bob stayed by it, Jack +was to make his way to the room where his father was held prisoner, +free him, and guide him back to the airplane, when they would fly for +the border.</p> + +<p>Of course, the plan would not be so easy of execution as it sounded. +To find the ranch and make a safe landing would be a fairly easy task. +The ranch was not more than fifty miles distant by air line, and in +that sparsely habited country there would be no other similar group of +lights to puzzle Bob. Once they had alighted, however, the +difficulties would be encountered.</p> + +<p>At first the boys had considered the advisability of waiting until a +late hour to make their attempt. Rebel headquarters then would have +retired for the night, and they would run less danger of encountering +anybody on landing. In that event, however, they soon realized, ranch +and radio station alike would be dark and Bob would have no beacons to +guide him to a landing.</p> + +<p>No, there was only one thing to do, and that was to arrive at an early +hour. Moreover, there would be this advantage attached, namely, that +sentries would be lax and that, with many persons coming and going in +and about the ranch, the passage of a familiar figure, such as they +would take Jack to be, would arouse no comment. Jack might be halted, +of course, by some one desirous of conversation. But he could make +some excuse to pass on. As a matter of fact he planned to wrap a +handkerchief about his jaw and pretend to be suffering from toothache. +This would serve the double purpose of partially hiding his features, +and of excusing him from indulging in extended speech.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Jack, finally, as he finished donning his disguise +by clapping Morales' hat on his head. "Let's go."</p> + +<p>"Ya, ya," said Bob, doing a goosestep. Once more they all had a good +laugh. Then Bob and Jack walked into the outer room of the cave, +followed by Frank and Roy Stone. Stone had thrown caution to the +winds, and had decided not to try any longer to hide his defection +from Morales and Von Arnheim.</p> + +<p>"I'll soon be riding away from here with you, anyhow," he told Frank. +"And they'll find out then, if they haven't already suspected. I'm +going down to the airplane to see the kids off."</p> + +<p>Frank had demanded this privilege of going down to the valley and +seeing Bob and Jack get away, and the others had no thought of denying +him. So all four, bearing the oil torches kept in the cave by Stone +for the purpose of lighting the landing field at night, descended from +the cave. Tom Bodine was left to guard the two prisoners.</p> + +<p>These had again suffered the ignominy of having their hands tied, +after they had undressed, and, wrapped in the rubber ponchos given +them by Bob, they had flung themselves down on the pallet prepared the +previous night by the boys.</p> + +<p>Stationed in the outer entrance of the cave, Tom Bodine looked around +at the two prone forms several times. But always they lay motionless +under their ponchos, and there seemed no cause for suspicion regarding +them. Poor fellows, thought Tom, who held no particular animosity +against them, they had had a hard time of it lately. After landing +from a flying trip, they had been set upon and beaten. Then, made +prisoner, they had spent the intervening hours cramped in bonds and in +doubt as to what their captors intended doing with them. Probably were +tired out and asleep by now, thought Tom. He even tiptoed over to +where they lay and found, as he had expected, that both had their eyes +closed and were breathing heavily.</p> + +<p>Returning to the entrance, Tom took a step or two forward so as the +better to see past the big rock outside and thus get a clearer view of +the airplane. The boys had reached it by now, the oil flares were +planted to both sides, and it was illuminated, standing out in the +tossing light like a great bird.</p> + +<p>As the propeller began to whirl, Tom took another step or two forward. +An airplane was a new puzzle to him, and he was so interested in +watching it get under way that he forgot his trust, forgot he had +prisoners to watch, forgot everything but the mystery of that piece of +mechanism, that gigantic bird, running bumpily now over the ground and +now beginning to lift into the air, and now——</p> + +<p>Tom whirled about. The old instinct of the man who lives much in the +open, telling him danger is close at hand, was stirring at the roots +of his hair. But he was just a trifle too late. As he faced about, a +form shot out of the cave and Tom, totally unprepared for attack, was +bowled over.</p> + +<p>As he fell he let out a great wordless cry, thinking to warn Frank and +Roy Stone. Then the butt of a revolver descended on his head.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII" />CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>THE TABLES TURNED +<br /> </h3> + +<p>"What was that?" asked Frank, turning to Roy Stone, as the airplane +bearing Jack and Bob on their romantic adventure dwindled in the +darkening sky. "I thought I heard a shout."</p> + +<p>"Guess you did," said Stone. "I heard it, too. It came from the cave."</p> + +<p>Both turned to stare upward toward the distant cave. There was no sign +of movement. Only the dim bulk of the rock obscuring the entrance +could be distinguished. They looked at each other, a nameless fear +stirring at their hearts. Then Frank shook himself and laughed.</p> + +<p>"Pshaw," said he, "this lonesome place seems spooky. I know what it +must have been. It must have been Tom shouting a farewell to the +fellows."</p> + +<p>"Reckon you're right," said Stone, brightening. "Sure, that must be +it. Well, let's go back. We'll be starting in a couple of hours, if +all goes well."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Frank, reaching to pluck one of the oil flares out +of the ground.</p> + +<p>Stone halted him. Again he looked anxiously toward the cave.</p> + +<p>"Let's not take the torches," said he.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Just playing a hunch," said Stone. "I have the feeling that all may +not be well up at the cave."</p> + +<p>Frank dropped his voice unconsciously, as if fearing eavesdroppers in +that lonely spot.</p> + +<p>"To tell you the truth," said he frankly. "I feel the same way. I say! +I have an idea. Let's edge out of the light without hurry, not toward +the cave, but out that way," pointing in the direction taken by the +airplane. "We'll put our hands up to our eyes and pretend to be +watching the sky for the airplane's flight. It would be natural for us +to want to get beyond the light of these torches, if we were trying to +follow the boys with our eyes."</p> + +<p>"That's the ticket," said Stone, and the two put Frank's plan into +execution.</p> + +<p>Beyond the light cast by the torches they paused. Darkness had +descended now, in truth. Not even the shadowy bulk of the big rock +before the entrance to the cave could be distinguished.</p> + +<p>"Maybe we're making ourselves nervous over nothing," said Stone. "I +feel kind of foolish. After all, what could happen? That old cowman +pal of yours looks pretty capable."</p> + +<p>"He is, too," said Frank. "Just the same, I feel we ought to be +cautious. If Tom's all right when we reach the cave, well and good. +But if he isn't———"</p> + +<p>"You're right, kid," said Stone. "I'm no more of a coward than the +next fellow. But if Morales and Von Arnheim by any chance gained the +upper hand and got their clutches on me, I'd hear the birdies sing."</p> + +<p>Frank had been thinking rapidly.</p> + +<p>"Look here," he said, "isn't there some way we can sneak up there to +find out if matters are all right or not? Suppose Tom has been +overcome. We wouldn't stand much chance approaching the cave by the +regular entrance." He paused and again stared upward. "We've been gone +a considerable time," he said nervously. "You'd think if he were all +right, Tom would have called to find out what is delaying us."</p> + +<p>"Tell you what," said Stone, "I've got a little private path to the +top of the cave where the antenna is located. It isn't much more than +a goat track. But we'll have to be goats. Never been up it in the +dark, but I think I can make it. Are you game to follow me?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said Frank, "if it will be of any advantage for us to do +so."</p> + +<p>"Well, there's a fissure through the rock down into the cave. That's +where the Germans that put in the radio plant made their hook-up. We +can listen there, and maybe hear something to guide us."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I remember that," said Frank, and added excitedly: "Maybe I could +crawl down into the cave."</p> + +<p>"You might be able to, at that," said Stone. "You're pretty slight. +But it would be a ticklish proposition without any rope from above. +Well, if you're on, let's go."</p> + +<p>Turning he struck off across the valley, approaching the hill some +distance from the path leading to the cave. Frank followed closely at +his heels. Soon they began mounting upward. The climb in the darkness +became more and more difficult, made more so by the care they +exercised to prevent dislodging stones. They feared the clatter of +these descending to the bottom would betray them.</p> + +<p>Once Stone, who was in the lead, slipped and slid backward, clutching +frantically to stay his fall. Fortunately, Frank was well braced at +the moment and was able to stop him. After a rest to regain their +breath and calm their shaking nerves, they resumed the climb.</p> + +<p>At length Frank's feet were on level ground and ahead he saw the +outlines of two latticed towers of familiar construction, and between +them overheard the strands of the antenna. The Germans, Stone earlier +had explained, had built the towers in such fashion that the crest of +the hill hid them from the plain on one side while they were so far +back from the edge of the flat plateau crowning the hill as to be also +hidden from view from the valley.</p> + +<p>Whispering an injunction to Frank to follow close at his heels, Stone +crawled on hands and knees to the fissure in the rocks down which led +the wires of the hook-up. It was not a straight descent into the cave, +and no light came from it. But the two knelt in the darkness and put +their heads close to the black opening to listen.</p> + +<p>A murmur of speech could be heard distinctly, coming up through the +hole. Frank could not distinguish the words, but with his limited +knowledge of Spanish he was able to decipher that language was being +employed.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he whispered to Stone. "Can you hear? Are they speaking +in Spanish?"</p> + +<p>"Silence. Just a minute," answered Stone.</p> + +<p>His voice was anxious. Frank obeyed the command. In a moment, Stone +lifted his head and said hoarsely:</p> + +<p>"It's Morales. He and the German must have overcome your friend in +some way. And I think he's got the Calomares ranch on the phone and is +giving warning that your friends are on the way."</p> + +<p>Frank groaned.</p> + +<p>"Then when Jack and Bob land, they'll be surprised and captured. Oh, +can't we do something?" Excitedly he jumped to his feet. "Let's put +the radio out of commission."</p> + +<p>Stone also leaped up and laid a restraining hand on his arm.</p> + +<p>"No, no. Wait a minute. The damage is done already. These fellows +already have given sufficient warning to put them on guard at the +ranch, even though they can't have told the whole story."</p> + +<p>They stood undecided, looking at each other, in the starlit darkness. +With an exclamation, Frank seized Stone by the arm. In his excitement, +he shook it.</p> + +<p>"Jack and Bob both clamped the headpieces on when they left in the +airplane," he said. "And Jack tuned the radio to the pitch of this +station, in order to be able to call us after rescuing his father. +Why, he must have heard Morales give his warning! Yes, sirree. Why +this isn't so bad!"</p> + +<p>In their relief, the two laughed a trifle hysterically. In a moment, +however, Frank sobered again.</p> + +<p>"Just the same," he said, "the ranch would get the warning, unless—"</p> + +<p>"Unless what?"</p> + +<p>"Unless Jack was quick enough to grasp the situation."</p> + +<p>Stone slapped his leg.</p> + +<p>"I see what you mean," he said. "Your friend Jack could call the +ranch, too, and interfere so much that Morales' message would be all +twisted up."</p> + +<p>"That's it," said Frank. "And when it comes to thinking quickly and +acting at once, you can count on Jack. Just the same," he added, "he +can't keep that up forever, and when he lands—"</p> + +<p>"Which he'll have to do shortly," interrupted Stone, "because the ranch +is only fifty miles from here."</p> + +<p>"Why, then," continued Frank, "these fellows can get their warning to +the ranch and the boys will be captured, or at least their plan to +rescue Mr. Hampton will be spoiled. No, sir, we'll have to wreck the +radio plant here to give them a chance. If Jack has been able so far +to interfere with the warning, and we put this plant out of commission +now, they may be able to carry out their rescue after all. Let's see. +How will we go about it?"</p> + +<p>Both had been so engrossed they had failed to notice a dark form +which, after creeping noiselessly up the slope, had started edging +across the little plateau. Now this form suddenly straightened up and +leaped forward. Frank cried out in alarm and jumped sideways, just as +a spurt of flame split the darkness. The bullet sped by, leaving him +unharmed. Stone, who was closer and stood with back turned, whirled +about. The charging form cannoned into him, and he went down.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV" />CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>FRANK SAVES THE DAY + </h3> + +<p>Frank's first thought was to go to the assistance of Roy Stone. The +latter and his opponent—in the darkness Frank could not distinguish +whether it was Morales or Von Arnheim—were locked with their arms +about each other and rolling on the ground. His second thought was as +to the whereabouts of the other man.</p> + +<p>He glanced about in alarm. Dark though the plateau was, however, he +could see there was no other in sight. Bending down to the fissure in +the rock, he could still hear the voice of Morales, and although he +could not distinguish the words, he received the impression that the +Mexican was angered for some reason. To Frank this meant that Morales +was having difficulty in radioing the Calomares ranch, and his heart +leaped with exultation. Jack had interfered.</p> + +<p>A wild thought leaped full grown into his mind. Stone had given Bob a +stiff battle; he probably would do the same to Von Arnheim, even +though his shoulder was sore. What was to prevent Frank from slipping +down to the cave while the two were engaged, where he could release +Tom Bodine, surprise Morales and recapture the cave and the radio +plant?</p> + +<p>The next moment a feeling of shame surged over him. If Von Arnheim +gained the upper hand, he would kill Stone without compunction. +Putting aside his first thought, Frank ran to where the two forms +still lay tightly locked on the ground, neither able to gain an +advantage.</p> + +<p>He bent down, and the first thing his gaze encountered was an upflung +hand grasping a revolver, and another hand gripped about the wrist of +the first and preventing use of the weapon. He surmised it was Von +Arnheim who held the weapon, and acted accordingly.</p> + +<p>Grasping the German's hand, he pressed back the fingers so sharply a +cry of pain was wrung from Von Arnheim's lip. The revolver dropped to +the ground. Its owner, however, pluckily continued the fight. Frank +danced about, the captured weapon clubbed in his hand, ready to deal a +blow when possible. But so furious was the fight that he feared to +strike, lest he hit his friend.</p> + +<p>Precious minutes were flying by. He was in an agony. Morales had to be +prevented from radioing the ranch, if Jack and Bob were to stand their +chance.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly Roy Stone gained the upper hand of his opponent. He +legs were twined about Von Arnheim, he clutched the other to his +chest, one arm was in the small of his back, the other was pressed +across his throat, his chin was sunk deep into the German's shoulder. +Von Arnheim had only one arm free, the other was pinioned to his side. +With this free arm he plucked futilely at Roy's arm across his throat, +unable to reach the guarded face. It was a grip Von Arnheim was +powerless to break, and it was only a question of time until he would +be throttled into submission.</p> + +<p>With a leap of the heart, Frank realized this. And bending down with +his lips to Stone's ear, he said:</p> + +<p>"I've got his gun. If you can hold him now I'm going into the cave +after Morales. He's still at the phone."</p> + +<p>A grunt was Stone's only reply as he pressed his chin deeper into the +other's shoulder. Von Arnheim's body was beginning to arch like a bow. +If he did not surrender soon, his back would be broken.</p> + +<p>Frank darted off down the slope.</p> + +<p>Morales was seated at the telephone as Frank entered the cave, +captured revolver in his hand. His own weapon hung forgotten at his +side, so little used was he to the handling of small arms. Frank had +tumbled, fallen, rolled down the slope, taking no precautions, fired +only with anxiety to prevent Morales from radioing while there was yet +time.</p> + +<p>The Mexican also, in his anxiety to reach the ranch and give the +warning, had cast caution aside.</p> + +<p>Across the outer room dashed Frank, scarcely noting the trussed-up +figure of Tom Bodine flung in one corner. No hangings obscured the +brightly-lighted interior of the inner cave, for they had been torn +down the night before to form a pallet.</p> + +<p>Morales sat with his back turned, the headpiece clamped over his ears.</p> + +<p>Frank darted forward and brought the butt of the revolver crashing +down on the Mexican's head. Without a sound, without a gurgle or a +cry, Morales swayed in the chair, then slumped to one side and slid to +the floor.</p> + +<p>With nervous haste Frank pulled the headpiece from the other and +clamped it on his head. At once a crackle of Spanish words filled his +ears. He could make nothing of them. What little knowledge of Spanish +he once had possessed was not at his command now.</p> + +<p>"Jack, Bob," he cried, pulling the microphone toward him. "This is +Frank. Do you hear me? Frank."</p> + +<p>The chattering ceased as if by magic.</p> + +<p>"Frank? What in the world?"</p> + +<p>Glory be! It was Jack's voice in reply.</p> + +<p>"Use the code," cried Frank. In this emergency his brain was working +lightning-fast. And in their own private code he added:</p> + +<p>"It's all right now. They captured Tom Bodine while we were down in +the valley seeing you off. But we've recaptured the cave."</p> + +<p>"You saved our lives," came back Jack's voice. "I heard your Mexican +friend call the ranch while we were flying, and at once started to +interfere. It's been a job and my throat's hoarse. But he never got +his message through, I can tell you that. Whatever it was he had to +tell, I never did find out. I just started interfering, singing, +talking, shouting. The ranch never found out what he was trying to +say, and neither did I. But, boy, you're just in time. We can see the +lights now. What? What's that?"</p> + +<p>What he heard was a shout.</p> + +<p>But Frank was too busy to answer his question. Morales had recovered +consciousness and was on his knees and struggling to his feet, when +out of the tail of his eye Frank saw his peril. Snatching the +instrument from his head, he flung himself sideways. The impact of his +body hurled Morales again to the floor.</p> + +<p>Frank had placed the captured revolver on the table, as he telephoned. +He would have to fight with his bare hands. Well, he would not let the +Mexican overcome him and regain possession of that radiophone unless +he killed Frank first. With hands gripped about the other's throat and +legs twined about his body, Frank fought as he never thought he could +fight. Morales was a heavy man, heavier even than Von Arnheim who had +overcome Frank in that tempestuous fight in the darkness the night +before. But his senses were still somewhat numbed from the blow on the +head dealt him earlier by Frank, and the boy was fighting with a +strength born of desperate resolve.</p> + +<p>Frank's grip on the Mexican's throat tightened. Morales was unable to +pluck those cruel hands away. His face became purple. His eyes started +from his head. Suddenly he went limp beneath Frank, and sank to the +floor.</p> + +<p>Frank stood up swaying. The excitement and the strain of the combat +had had their effect on him. There are mighty few boys of his age and +build who could have gone through what he did and still keep their +feet. Dancing points of light swam before his vision. He brushed a +hand across his eyes to clear them. He reeled and would have fallen, +but his hand clutched the table and steadied him.</p> + +<p>What was it he must do? There was something which had to be done. Oh, +if his head only would clear. Call Jack! Yes, that was it. Had to tell +the old boy to go ahead—radio plant still Frank's—enemy couldn't +get any warning from that Mexican fellow—had to tell him, had to.</p> + +<p>Clutching the table, swaying, but with lips tightly pressed together +and teeth clenched, Frank made his way to the microphone. Holding the +headpiece to his ear, he set his lips to the telephone instrument and +called:</p> + +<p>"Jack, Jack, you there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," came back the anxious reply. "What happened?"</p> + +<p>"It's all right, Jack. Go ahead. I licked—him."</p> + +<p>The headpiece fell from his grasp. Frank sank to the floor.</p> + +<p>It was there a moment later that Roy Stone found him, fallen in a heap +across the body of the Mexican. Both were unconscious.</p> + +<p>Stone was shaky himself. His battle with Von Arnheim had been a severe +one, and the wound in his shoulder had started bleeding again. But as +his gaze took in the situation, he turned to Tom Bodine, whose bonds +he had cut on his way through the outer cave, and said in a tone of +warmest admiration:</p> + +<p>"Some boy."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV" />CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>DANGER AT HAND +<br /> </h3> + +<p>Bob as well as Jack had heard Frank's explanation of the occurrences +at the cave, for he also wore a headpiece as he piloted the airplane. +And it was with warm admiration toward the absent chum who so +heroically had thwarted Morales' attempt to betray their hazardous +expedition that he circled now above the two groups of lights which +marked the Calomares ranch and radio station.</p> + +<p>Smaller and smaller grew the circles, as with engine shut off he +volplaned. The field was hard-packed and smooth and the plane alighted +finally with practically no jar. When it came to a dead stop at last, +Bob drew a long breath of relief. He had not been up for several +weeks. And night flying above strange country to a landing on +unfamiliar ground had been a strain upon him.</p> + +<p>There were no mechanics running out to greet the alighting plane and +trundle it into its hangar. Had this been a well-appointed landing +field, such absence would have been suspicious. But to Bob and Jack it +meant only confirmation of Roy Stone's remark that they were a +"careless lot at the ranch."</p> + +<p>"Now for it," said Jack, clambering out of the plane.</p> + +<p>The two chums stared around them, trying to pierce the darkness. They +were in the middle of a long and wide field. A ring of low hills +encircled them, the tops clearly outlined against the velvety sky. +Overhead twinkled stars, brighter, warmer and apparently closer than +when viewed in their Long Island home.</p> + +<p>The hills on either hand were close. So, too, was the rampart at their +back, over which they had flown. Those ahead were more distant, for it +was in that direction extended the valley. Behind them was the radio +plant with its tracery of tower and antenna against the sky and the +windows of the power house gleaming from the light within. Ahead was a +long, irregular clump of buildings set among trees. Some were dark. +But the main structure, which they knew from Stone's description was +the ranch house, was brightly lighted.</p> + +<p>Try as they would to pierce the darkness, the boys were unable to +discern anything other than this. There was not a human figure in +sight.</p> + +<p>They gazed with especial interest toward the ranch house, because it +was somewhere within those walls that Mr. Hampton was held prisoner. +Soon, if all went well, Jack would be making his way within in search +of his father. At the thought, his heart which heretofore had been +calm enough, began to beat rapidly and for a moment he felt as if he +were about to suffocate. His breath almost failed him. It was a not +unnatural feeling, and soon passed, but Bob noting the labored +breathing climbed from the airplane and put an arm over his chum's +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Steady, Jack," he said. "Everything's going to be all right."</p> + +<p>The friendly gesture and the sympathy in his chum's voice did steady +Jack.</p> + +<p>"All right, now, Bob," he said. "Just at first, though——"</p> + +<p>"Righto," the big fellow answered. "I'm scared stiff myself, and I'm +not even going into the ranch. If I were in your boots I'd probably be +shaking myself loose from them."</p> + +<p>The pleasantry was what Jack needed. He grinned at the thought of big +Bob shaking so much with fear as to shake off his shoes, and his +recovery was complete.</p> + +<p>The plan was for Jack, in the dress and character of Morales, to go to +the ranch house, enter boldly and make his way to the room where his +father was held prisoner. Bob was to stay with the plane. Releasing +his father, Jack would return with him. Then they would all three fly +away across the international boundary to the north.</p> + +<p>It was impossible to foretell, of course, what obstacles to the +carrying out of this daring proposal would arise. Both boys felt +certain, however, that so far they were not suspected, and that first +Jack and then Frank had successfully thwarted the attempt of Morales +to send a warning to the ranch by radio.</p> + +<p>Neither was aware, of course, that the jumble of sounds through the +air, when Jack from the airplane had interfered with Morales' attempt +to warn the ranch, and later the code conversation between Jack and +Frank, after the latter had obtained possession of the radio plant in +the cave and had overcome Morales, had aroused the curiosity and then +the suspicions of the young German, Muller, who operated the radio +plant at the Calomares ranch.</p> + +<p>A few moments before the beat of its engine in the sky signalized the +approach of the airplane, Muller had decided to go to the ranch and +report to Calomares. He had crossed the landing field afoot and had +just reached the belt of trees when the machine volplaned to the field +behind him.</p> + +<p>Although, as has been said, his suspicions were aroused, Muller was +far from suspecting the truth. He had no idea the airplane had been +recovered by its rightful owners and that these latter were about to +make a daring attempt to rescue Mr. Hampton. His thought on the +contrary, was that something—he could not make a more definite +surmise—had gone wrong at the cave.</p> + +<p>Therefore, when, after standing several minutes at the belt of trees, +gazing back toward the airplane, he saw a figure start from it for the +ranch house, he believed it was either Von Arnheim or Morales coming +to report.</p> + +<p>Muller was a sycophant, the type of man eager to curry favor with +those in authority. He decided he would gain the ear of the great +Calomares first. That would detract somewhat from the glory of the +other when he arrived. Turning he darted for the ranch.</p> + +<p>Meantime, Jack was making his way ahead more slowly. While not +attempting to hide, he was on unfamiliar ground and felt that it +behooved him to follow implicitly the directions given by Roy Stone +and make no mistakes.</p> + +<p>Passing through the grove, Jack came in sight of the ranch. He paused +in astonishment. Roy Stone's description of the great house had +prepared him in a measure. Yet he was astounded. Here, indeed, was a +palace in the wilderness.</p> + +<p>The mansion stood on a slight elevation with a lawn in front sloping +down to the trees from which Jack had emerged. In design it was like a +country house of the ancient Roman aristocracy. The walls were of +vari-colored brick with inlaid designs representing formal flowers. +Two stories in height, with towers at the corners rising another two +stories higher, the building was in two wings or sections, joined in +front by a marble-tiled walk, roofed and pillared, but with the sides +open. Inside, between these two wings, Roy Stone had told Jack, was an +open court.</p> + +<p>Nerving himself to the ordeal, and pulling down his hat to obscure his +features, Jack crossed the lawn and started mounting the wide flight +of stone steps flanked by crouching stone lions. He reached the marble +tiles of the walk above and then, despite his anxiety to gain the left +wing and the tower where his father was confined, he involuntarily +paused.</p> + +<p>The scene before him was one of the strangest to be found on the North +American continent—this marble courtyard, with its overhanging +balcony around the sides and rear and its splashing fountain and pool +in the center, the whole illuminated by the soft glow of electric +lights cunningly concealed along the edges of the balcony like +footlights on the lip of a stage.</p> + +<p>But it was not this alone which held Jack's gaze riveted and caused a +smothered cry of surprise to burst from his lips. Involuntarily he +stepped from the shelter of a pillar behind which he had been +standing.</p> + +<p>For approaching along the balcony of the left wing, Jack saw the +loved figure of his father engrossed in conversation with a small, +dark man of patrician bearing.</p> + +<p>It was instinct rather than conscious thought which checked the cry on +his lips. Instinct told him a shout would mean betrayal, and the +shattering of his desperate plan.</p> + +<p>Yet careless of who might see, he stood there looking up at the +distant figure until it was lost to view, cut off by the outjutting +roof above him. That one sight, however, lifted a vast load from the +boy's mind. His father, at least, was not mistreated. Evidently the +man with him was the Don. And as evidently his father was treated more +as guest than prisoner.</p> + +<p>At sound of a footstep on the marble tiles behind him, Jack returned +with a start to a realization of his surroundings and the perils of +his position. Assuming a carelessness which he was far from feeling, +he refrained from turning about but instead started walking for that +left wing ahead in the tower of which he knew his father to be lodged.</p> + +<p>But the step behind him was accelerated, and he was hailed by name as +Morales. Jack halted. Here was the first ordeal to be passed. Well, he +was prepared for it. According to his plan, he had bound his face in a +handkerchief and intended to pretend having the toothache. The +swathings partly hid his features, and the pulled-down hat further +obscured them.</p> + +<p>"I'm busy. Don't delay me," he growled in Spanish, imitating Morales' +voice.</p> + +<p>The newcomer approached. It was Muller.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI" />CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<h3>THE NIGHT ATTACK +<br /> </h3> + + +<p>When Jack's figure had become merged in the shadows of the grove, big +Bob, standing beside the airplane, reached a decision.</p> + +<p>"Not a soul in sight here," he muttered to himself, once more letting +his gaze rove over his surroundings. "Jack thought it would be best +for me to stay here, but nobody's going to monkey with the plane. I'm +going to follow him—till he reaches the house, anyhow. He may need my +help."</p> + +<p>Thus the big fellow salved his conscience for departing from orders. +But he was so eager to take a hand in proceedings that he felt it +would be torture to stay behind. He was dressed in Von Arnheim's +clothes. And his build was that of the German aviator. If he were +observed, he would not be suspected. Even his atrocious Spanish would +not betray him, as the German spoke the language almost as horribly as +he.</p> + +<p>Thus he reasoned to himself, as he strode rapidly after Jack.</p> + +<p>When he reached the other side of the grove, and came in sight of the +ranch house Bob, as Jack had done, halted in amazement at sight of the +splendid structure.</p> + +<p>He gazed around him. Nobody in sight. Shrubbery intervening prevented +him from gaining a clear view of the house. He started to skirt the +bushes.</p> + +<p>Meantime, not far away, the conversation between Jack and Muller was +nearing a climax. Approaching the pretended Morales, Muller asked what +he had tried to convey in his radio call, explaining it had been so +interfered with by another mysterious call as to be +non-understandable. Not knowing Muller was the radio man at the ranch, +Jack was nonplussed. Again he answered that he could not be delayed, +and started to withdraw. Then Muller laid a detaining hand on his arm.</p> + +<p>"Keep it to yourself, if you want to," Muller said. "But I know +something happened at the cave and I have already reported so to the +Don. First I thought you were trying to radio from the cave. Now here +you come by airplane. There's—"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" growled Jack gruffly, although secretly alarmed.</p> + +<p>"I mean there's something wrong," Muller said.</p> + +<p>Muller still had no suspicion that the man before him was other than +he pretended to be. Merely he was trying to pry into a matter that had +aroused his curiosity. Jack, however, thought he was on the eve of +being discovered, and was alarmed.</p> + +<p>At this moment Bob, skirting a clump of bushes on the lawn below, came +in sight of the two figures and halted.</p> + +<p>He saw Jack wrench his arm from the other's grasp and turn to stride +away. He saw the other raise an arm as if to stay Jack. And he saw the +movement flip Jack's low-pulled hat from his head. It was accidental, +but to Jack and Bob—the actor and the observer in this little +drama—it seemed to be by intent. It is possible Jack still might have +saved the day, had he stooped quickly, recovered his hat and clapped +it on again before Muller could have seen his features.</p> + +<p>As it was, however, Jack thought he was discovered. And he turned to +deal with Muller. Then, in truth, he <i>was</i> discovered. Muller cried +out in amazement. Then Jack landed a stinging blow on the mouth which +sent the young German toppling to the marble pave.</p> + +<p>At Muller's shout, several rebel sentries, who had been snoozing in +the shadows beside the palace, instead of mounting guard, were +startled into instant wakefulness. They came trotting in bare feet, +long rifles in hand, and ran up the wide flight of steps.</p> + +<p>Bob started forward to help Jack. The latter, however, took one look +at the sentries and then dashed into the left wing of the building.</p> + +<p>The sentries for a moment did not pursue, believing the fleeing man +was Morales. Instead, they bent above Muller and helped him to his +feet. Bob halted, and backed into the bushes, keeping his eyes on the +scene. No use rushing in to help Jack now. He would merely succeed in +getting into trouble himself, without aiding his chum.</p> + +<p>From his vantage point he was able to read aright what followed. +Although he could not overhear what was being said and would not have +understood the Spanish words, if he had overheard, nevertheless he +gathered that Muller was explaining the fugitive was not Morales, but +someone wearing his clothes.</p> + +<p>Then he saw the sentries dart away in pursuit of Jack, while Muller +whipped out a revolver and fired three shots into the air.</p> + +<p>"That's an alarm," Bob said to himself. "I'd better back off before +this place is alive with soldiers."</p> + +<p>Turning, he ran through the trees. Big Bob was not the one to desert a +friend, but he saw no chance to help Jack now. On the other hand, he +told himself, if he retained his freedom, he would be able to help +Jack later perhaps.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he carromed into a man running toward the house. Both +rebounded from the contact. Bob saw the other was a Mexican with a +rifle. Quick as thought, he lashed out with his right fist and caught +the soldier on the point of the jaw. Totally unprepared for this +attack, the man went down as if shot.</p> + +<p>Bob ran on at redoubled speed, burst through the screen of trees, and +dashed across the landing field toward his airplane. He had no +definite idea as to what course to pursue. He and Jack, of course, had +counted upon the possibility of Jack's being discovered. In that case, +when he heard the alarm, Bob—supposedly sticking by his airplane—was +to have flown away.</p> + +<p>There were shouts behind him. Evidently his soldier victim had +recovered. Perhaps, even, Muller had suspected the truth, namely, that +if Jack were not Morales the aviator who had brought him was not Von +Arnheim. In that case, Muller would be on his trail and he would have +no time to lose.</p> + +<p>What should he do?</p> + +<p>The shouts behind him were not repeated. Perhaps, after all, his +identity was not yet suspected and he was not pursued. Jack might be +keeping all hands busy at the ranch.</p> + +<p>In great leaps, he approached the airplane and, as he drew near, +another thought obtruded itself. If he were to take flight in it, how +was he to get away? Who would crank the motor by twirling the +propeller?</p> + +<p>This latter difficulty was quickly solved. Two Mexicans stood at +respectful attention as he approached. Bob was dismayed for a moment, +but then, seeing their awkward salute, he chuckled inwardly. They +mistook him for Von Arnheim and evidently that German officer was a +martinet who exacted a measure of discipline from the slovenly rebel +soldiers.</p> + +<p>Cracking an order at them in his best garbled Spanish, Bob clambered +into the pilot's seat. He was understood, and better, was obeyed. One +man gingerly approached the propeller and started twirling it, while +the other went to the side of the plane and helped push it forward.</p> + +<p>The propeller began to whirl furiously as Bob worked the starting +mechanism. The Mexicans leaped out of the way. The plane began to bump +ahead.</p> + +<p>Shouts of anger burst forth at the same moment, there was the crack of +a rifle, and a bullet sang unpleasantly close to Bob's ears. Out of +the tail of his eye he could see a number of dark figures running +toward him from the grove.</p> + +<p>But Bob did not wait to be interviewed. With a swoop, the airplane +left the ground and started upward. His pursuers were so close at hand +they could almost grasp the wheels, as they leaped upward. Yet not +quite. Bullets whistled about him, and several pinged against the +body of the machine with a sharp metallic ring. Bob thanked his stars +that the plane had an all-metal body. Once above pursuit, he was safe +from stray rifle shots.</p> + +<p>With a curse the baffled Muller, who had been quick to realize that if +one masquerader was not Morales, then the other was not Von Arnheim, +watched the airplane shoot away at dizzying speed and disappear beyond +the guarding hills to the north.</p> + +<p>Then he turned back toward the ranch house, eager to learn how the +pursuit of Jack had ended.</p> + +<p>But for young Herr Muller and the Calomares ranch in general the night +alarms were not ended. In fact, they had just begun.</p> + +<p>Before Muller on his return trip had reached the belt of trees, while +the search for Jack, who had mysteriously disappeared, went on merrily +within the Calomares palace, and while Bob was yet flying over the +hills to the north, rebel pickets below him were attacked by Mexican +government troops.</p> + +<p>It was an attack in force.</p> + +<p>"Viva, Obregon," shouted the attackers.</p> + +<p>The rebels on the northern rampart of hills defending the natural +amphitheatre where the Calomares ranch was located, fell back +hurriedly. They were outnumbered.</p> + +<p>Out of the huddled buildings, which the boys had only glimpsed at the +rear of the great ranch house boiled scores of rebel soldiery, +rubbing the sleep from their eyes, hugging their rifles as they +trotted forward in bare feet. Within the house, the search for Jack +was temporarily abandoned, while the peppery little Don Fernandez +Calomares, alarmed at this night attack which might mean that the +government troops were in force, hastened to take command outdoors.</p> + +<p>To Bob, who having crossed the crest of the hill had shut off his +motor and volplaning, the shots and cries of the attackers came +distinctly. He had intended making a hazardous landing beyond the +rebel lines and returning afoot to try and rescue Jack. But this +newest development in the situation caused him to open the motor and +start to spiralling upward.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII" />CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<h3>SENORITA RAFAELA +<br /> </h3> + +<p>Meantime, what of Jack.</p> + +<p>After bowling Muller over and fleeing from the sentries drawn by the +latter's shout, Jack ran through the great arched doorway into the +left wing of the palace. Ahead lay a dark corridor, upon which opened +the doors of the ground floor rooms. He was in a round entranceway +from which ascended a flight of winding stone steps to the balconied +upper floor and the turret rooms above. Up there, somewhere, was his +father. Jack paused only a moment, then sprang up the steps.</p> + +<p>As he reached the upper landing, he heard the sound of footsteps +descending from the tower. He listened a moment. They were not the +familiar footsteps of his father.</p> + +<p>He must act quickly, if he were to stand any chance of escape. +Springing forward, revolver in hand, he seized the knob of the nearest +door on the balcony, found the door give and leaped in, pushing it to +behind him and setting his back against it.</p> + +<p>The room was brightly lighted, evidently a young lady's boudoir. This +much his first glance showed Jack. It showed him also two women—one +young and very beautiful, the other wizened and monkey-like, both +terrified and speechless. They were Don Fernandez' daughter, Rafaela, +and her duenna or chaperone, Donna Ana.</p> + +<p>"Quiet," hissed Jack in Spanish, waving his weapon threateningly.</p> + +<p>He listened with strained attention to sounds from outside. The +menacing footsteps reached the landing, and then continued to descend. +Jack turned the key in the lock. He was none too soon. A moment later +the padding of the bare feet of the sentries sounded muffled outside, +then grew fainter as the men separated, one ascending the stairway of +the tower, the other running along the balcony.</p> + +<p>Jack was puzzled as to what next to do. From Roy Stone's brief +description of the Don's family, he guessed at the identities of the +two women. While he stood irresolute, the girl recovered from her +fright. Her dark eyes flashed, and she commanded him in an imperious +tone to lower his weapon.</p> + +<p>"Not till you promise me not to shout, Miss," Jack said.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said the girl. "But who are you? You cannot escape. My +father will capture you."</p> + +<p>"Not if I can help it, Miss," said Jack grimly.</p> + +<p>In the rapid march of events, the handkerchief with which he had +bound up his jaw had become loosened. Now it fell, revealing Jack's +handsome features and his close-clinging mop of dark curls.</p> + +<p>"Why, you are just a boy," declared Rafaela, and her eyes lost some of +their hostility while at the same time, unconsciously, her voice +became less harsh.</p> + +<p>"Surely," she said, turning to Donna Ana, "this lad can have done +nothing so terrible."</p> + +<p>The prim, black-robed duenna had gained courage from her mistress's +temerity. She had ceased trembling. Yet she was exercised about +something. Jack could not understand why. Surely, she was no longer +fearful of him. She leaned closer to her young mistress, seated at a +low writing table, and whispered in her ear. Rafaela threw back her +head and laughed—a low, musical laugh that sounded fascinatingly +pleasant in Jack's ears, worried though he was.</p> + +<p>"My dear Donna Ana," said the girl. "What if he is a man! And in my +room! Are you not here to watch over me? And I do not believe he will +bite. No, no. See, he is such a nice young man that I can chuck him +under the chin. So!"</p> + +<p>And suiting action to words, the girl sprang from her chair, walked +swiftly across the room and chucked Jack under the chin.</p> + +<p>To say that Jack was surprised would be a mild statement. From his +knowledge of Latin-American girls gathered in Peru, he believed those +of good family invariably were convent-bred and extremely decorous in +the presence of young men. He was so dazed at the girl's action that +her next move, which was a lightning-quick attempt to grasp his +revolver and wrest it from him, almost succeeded.</p> + +<p>Jack retained a grip on the weapon, however, and managed to prevent +Rafaela from obtaining it. Foiled in her attempt, all her bravado +deserted her and running back to her chair, she sank into it and began +to weep.</p> + +<p>What in the world should a fellow do in a case like this? Jack didn't +know. Usually, he was equal to emergencies, but this one was something +beyond his understanding. He stood helpless, while the duenna +alternately glared at him and patted her young charge on the back, +muttering soft words of comfort to her meanwhile.</p> + +<p>Quickly as the shower came, however, it disappeared. Rafaela pushed +Donna Ana aside impatiently and looked at Jack, smiling through her +tears.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," she said, demurely, "that did not succeed. What do you +intend to do with your prisoners?"</p> + +<p>This wasn't so bad. Jack grinned.</p> + +<p>"Look here," he said, sensing a kindred spirit. "I'm not a rascal. You +will have to believe me. I haven't done anything so terrible, after +all. You need not be scared of me."</p> + +<p>"But who are you, then?" asked the girl. "Listen. They are shouting +through the house. Soon they will be making a search from room to +room."</p> + +<p>Jack started. If that were true, when the searchers came to this +locked door, what would happen? He thought for a moment. The daring +idea to take the girl into his confidence and enlist her aid had been +budding in his mind. He regarded her keenly for the first time. Would +she help? Perhaps the romantic nature of his enterprise would appeal +to her, even though he was fighting against her father. Well, it would +do no harm to try.</p> + +<p>"You asked who I am," he said, "and why I am here. Well, I shall tell +you."</p> + +<p>And speaking rapidly in his fluent Spanish, in a few brief statements, +he laid before her the main fact that Mr. Hampton, whom she doubtless +knew, was his father, and that he had come to the rescue in an +airplane.</p> + +<p>"Only now," he concluded mournfully, "I have been discovered. I expect +my chum will be forced to fly away. And it looks as if I were bound to +fail."</p> + +<p>During his recital, the girl's eyes had grown bright with interest. +She leaned forward, listening with eager attention. As Jack ceased, +apparently she was about to speak, but there came a tattoo of +knuckles on the door which caused her to halt abruptly.</p> + +<p>"Our deliverers," murmured Donna Ana, who had never entirely ceased +trembling, and she cast a spiteful glance at Jack. To the duenna, +young men, and especially one so unceremonious, were terrible +creatures.</p> + +<p>"Silence," hissed the girl, and the old duenna in evident fear of her +imperious young mistress, trembled the more.</p> + +<p>"Quick," whispered Rafaela to Jack, "get under here."</p> + +<p>Rising, she seized him by an arm and partly led, partly pushed him to +the chair upon which she had been sitting. It was a wicker chair, with +wicker-latticed sides extending clear to the floor. Lifting it, she +ordered Jack to kneel down and crouch into as small a space as +possible. He complied. Then she clapped the chair over him. He was +completely hidden, except in front, where the wicker latticing did not +extend.</p> + +<p>Seating herself calmly in the chair, Rafaela so disposed her skirts +that Jack could not be seen. Then she picked up her pen and sat as if +just interrupted at her writing.</p> + +<p>The knocking on the door was repeated, louder this time, and the +voice of the Don himself impatiently bade that the door be opened.</p> + +<p>Bending low so that Jack could hear her words, the girl whispered:</p> + +<p>"Have no fear. Trust me."</p> + +<p>To the duenna, she said:</p> + +<p>"Open the door. And if you betray me——"</p> + +<p>And she shot at Donna Ana a terrible glance, which caused the latter +to cringe. Evidently, the duenna stood in considerable awe of her +temperamental young mistress.</p> + +<p>The old woman unlocked the door and stepped back, revealing on the +threshold Don Fernandez with several armed retainers at his back.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" he demanded, glaring at his daughter as he +advanced a step or two into the room. "Locked doors at so early an +hour?"</p> + +<p>"Why, papa, dear, we heard the shouts and several revolver shots," +said his daughter. "Was it not natural for two lone women to lock +their door?"</p> + +<p>"Humm!"</p> + +<p>The Don glanced quickly about the room.</p> + +<p>"Papa, what is the matter? What is the meaning of all this noise? Of +those shots?" Rafaela anxiously inquired.</p> + +<p>"Some man impersonating one of my lieutenants gained entrance," said +the Don. "I believe him a government agent. He may have come to +attempt my life."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, papa, dear," protested Rafaela, shocked. "Why, he—"</p> + +<p>Frantic lest she might betray herself and him, Jack reached forward +cautiously and tapped the tiny ankle dangling before him.</p> + +<p>He was none too soon. Thus brought to a realization of her position, +Rafaela checked the words.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked her father. "What did you say?"</p> + +<p>"Why, papa," she answered, "I was going to say he couldn't be so mean. +To come here to kill you. Oh, no. That would be too terrible."</p> + +<p>"But I do believe it," affirmed the Don. "What do you know of how +politics is carried on in our poor, distracted country? Tut, tut, you +are just a girl. What I came to ask was whether the man had hidden +here? We have searched all the rooms on this balcony, without success. +Yet most certainly Pedro and Pancho"—indicating the armed men in the +corridor—"saw him bound up the stairs."</p> + +<p>"Here?" said Rafaela. "Why, our door has been locked, as you see."</p> + +<p>Before Don Fernandez could retort, the report of distant rifle fire +came to the ears of all in the room, followed by a growing fusillade +as the sentries on the northern rim of the valley fell back before +attack.</p> + +<p>The Don whirled around.</p> + +<p>"Hark," said he, and added with conviction: "The government troops are +attacking. And they sent an assassin ahead of them. Well, he has been +foiled. And they will be foiled, too."</p> + +<p>And without more ado he darted from the room, Pancho and Pedro +obediently following at his heels.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII" />CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<h3>THE FAIR TRAITRESS +<br /> </h3> + +<p>Rafaela leaped up and lifted her chair, permitting Jack to emerge from +his unique hiding place. He was overcome with gratitude at the thought +of what she had done for him, and hesitated to speak.</p> + +<p>"Speak," she said, frowning, and stamped her foot. "Tell me, is this +true?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Jack in surprise.</p> + +<p>"That you are an assassin sent by that horrible President Obregon?"</p> + +<p>Jack was hurt, and showed his feelings.</p> + +<p>"I told you the truth," he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I want to believe you," cried the girl, twisting her hands. "But +father was so positive."</p> + +<p>Donna Ana sidled close and whispered:</p> + +<p>"Shall I call your father? It is not too late."</p> + +<p>That decided Rafaela.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," she declared, sharply, glaring at her duenna. "Cannot you +see this young man is telling the truth? I," she declared proudly, +"can tell a truthful person from a liar at once. And I declare to you +this young man is truthful."</p> + +<p>Jack smothered a smile. The girl was as changeable as a weathercock. +And calling him "young man" in that lofty tone, too. Why, she was +little more than a youngster herself—couldn't be as old as he.</p> + +<p>"Come now," said the girl suddenly, seizing him by the hand. "We have +no time to lose. Now is your opportunity."</p> + +<p>"Opportunity?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes"—impatiently. "While the government troops attack, you must +release your father and escape."</p> + +<p>Jack was amazed. Would this surprising girl never cease astonishing +him?</p> + +<p>"Do you mean you will help me—actually?"</p> + +<p>"Have I not said so?" asked Rafaela impatiently. "And it seems to me I +have already been of some trifling aid—actually?"</p> + +<p>The sarcasm was not lost on Jack. But he ignored it. Finding he still +held the hand she had extended when urging him to follow her, he +squeezed it.</p> + +<p>"You're—you're fine," he said, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>Rafaela tossed her head, smiling in superior fashion.</p> + +<p>"You are not a very accomplished courtier, Mr. Jack Hampton," she +said, withdrawing her hand.</p> + +<p>Jack would have protested. He was rapidly falling under the spell of +her charm. But she halted him with an imperious gesture.</p> + +<p>"We are wasting precious time," she said. "Come." Then, turning to +Donna Ana, she said sharply: "You will stay here until I return. And +if you betray me—" Again she made a threatening gesture, and again +the old duenna cowered. Thereupon, the girl hastened from the room and +Jack followed.</p> + +<p>Up the spiral stone stairway of the tower ran Rafaela, passing the +first landing where burned an electric light. Jack was close at her +heels. At length they reached the top landing, and stood before the +single door there. It was of stout oak, heavy and ponderous.</p> + +<p>"This is your father's room," whispered Rafaela.</p> + +<p>So near to a successful conclusion of his adventure, Jack's heart beat +so rapidly that once again he experienced that sensation of +suffocation which had seized him on landing from the airplane.</p> + +<p>He tried the door knob. The barrier was locked.</p> + +<p>"Locked," he whispered. "What shall we do?"</p> + +<p>In the dim light on the landing, they stared at each other in dismay. +Here was a contingency which had occurred to neither.</p> + +<p>The whispering, the careful trying of the door, the sound of their +footsteps—these had aroused Mr. Hampton from his reading on the other +side of the door.</p> + +<p>"Who's there?" he called sharply.</p> + +<p>Jack set his mouth close to the keyhole.</p> + +<p>"Dad," he whispered tensely. "It's Jack. Don't make a noise. I've come +to rescue you."</p> + +<p>There was a moment of silence, then the sound of rapid footsteps +crossing the room.</p> + +<p>"Jack?" Mr. Hampton also had stooped to the keyhole. "It can't be. Yet +that voice! My boy, my boy. But how in the world did you come here?"</p> + +<p>"Too long to tell, Dad," whispered Jack. "But have you the key to this +door?"</p> + +<p>"Key? No."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Jack, despairingly, "it looks as if we were balked at the +end. This door is too stout to break down without bringing the enemy +on us. It's thick and bound with iron straps besides."</p> + +<p>"Who is with you?"</p> + +<p>"Bob. No. I mean Miss Calomares. She's helping me."</p> + +<p>"This is too much for me," declared Mr. Hampton.</p> + +<p>"Dad, we'll have to break down the door. The government troops are +attacking. Even if we do make a lot of noise, it may go unnoticed. +Have you a heavy chair you can use?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered his father. "But, wait. Government troops attacking, +hey? Then that is the meaning of those shots which caused Don +Fernandez to leave me so hurriedly."</p> + +<p>"No, Dad, those first shots were when they sounded the alarm on +discovering me."</p> + +<p>"They discovered you?" Mr. Hampton groaned in mock dismay. "Oh, this +is too much. But, Jack, what I started to say was that as Don +Fernandez dashed down the steps, I heard him drop something in his +haste that rang on the stones. Maybe that was the key."</p> + +<p>"I'll look."</p> + +<p>Jack stood upright, and communicated to the impatient Rafaela what his +father had said. She had been unable to hear. Fortunately, he carried +an electric torch. Swinging this so that the light fell on the steps, +he started downward. Before he had gone three steps, the girl's quick +eyes saw the key gleam in the light. She snatched it up with an +exclamation, turned, inserted it in the keyhole, and the door swung +in.</p> + +<p>Jack leaped through the opening, and the tall and handsome man, to +whom he bore so striking a resemblance, enfolded him in his arms.</p> + +<p>"My boy, my boy. I can hardly believe it."</p> + +<p>"But it's true, Dad."</p> + +<p>They drew apart and stood looking at each other. There was more than a +suspicion of moisture in each pair of eyes.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hampton's gaze fell on Rafaela, with whom he had had a number of +pleasant conversations during his captivity. He dropped a hand on her +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"My dear girl," he said. "You never did a kinder deed. I hope you will +not have cause to regret it."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said she with an arch smile. "Papa would be furious if he +discovered what I have done. But I can manage him."</p> + +<p>The older man smiled. He had observed the managerial process at work.</p> + +<p>"But you must not delay," added Rafaela, anxiously. "Even now the +firing seems to be farther away. My father keeps many soldiers here. +And he is, doubtless, driving away the attacking party. You must go +quickly before he returns, and while all is confusion."</p> + +<p>"She is right, Dad," said Jack. "Let's go. Anything you want to take +with you?"</p> + +<p>"No, nothing. But how are we to escape, Jack? How did you arrive?"</p> + +<p>"I arrived by airplane," said Jack. "But whether we can get away by +the same means is another matter."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hampton looked dazed.</p> + +<p>"The younger generation moves too fast for me," he said. "But will you +please explain?"</p> + +<p>"It's a long story, Dad," said Jack, "and I haven't the time. But it's +Bob's airplane. The fellows who kidnapped you stole the machine in +Long Island several days before that. Well, Mr. Temple and the boys +came out to New Mexico, and we recovered the plane and, and—well, +there you are."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see," said Mr. Hampton. "It's as clear as a New York fog. But +it's enough to know that Bob—didn't you mention his name—is here +with the machine. Let's go and find him."</p> + +<p>He started for the door. But at that moment Rafaela, who stood closer +to it, halted him with upraised hand.</p> + +<p>"Listen," she whispered.</p> + +<p>Cautious footsteps could be heard ascending the stairs.</p> + +<p>"Quick, Jack," whispered Mr. Hampton, "you mustn't be seen. Nor you, +Miss Calomares. Here, hide behind this bed. And he pushed the two +behind the hangings of a great four-poster. Then removing the key from +the outside of the door, he hurriedly but noiselessly swung the +ponderous frame shut, and locked it on the inside.</p> + +<p>"Calomares won't recall losing the key," he said grimly to himself. +"There may be a chance yet."</p> + +<p>He listened with his ear at the keyhole. The cautious footsteps +mounted higher. They reached the landing. Then there was a low knock +on the panel, and a voice called low and urgently:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hampton. Mr. Hampton. This is Bob."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX" />CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + +<h3>THREE CHEERS FOR THE RADIO BOYS +<br /> </h3> + +<p>Mr. Hampton unlocked and opened the door, and greeted the big fellow +as warmly as he had his own son.</p> + +<p>"Where's Jack?" asked Bob. "Did they capture him?"</p> + +<p>Jack, who was peeping from behind the four-poster, sprang into the +room, and slapped his chum resoundingly on the back.</p> + +<p>"Thought you were to stick by the airplane," he said, with mock +severity.</p> + +<p>Bob swung around, the worried look vanishing from his face.</p> + +<p>"Hurray," he said. "So they didn't get you after all? When I saw you +punch that fellow I thought your goose was cooked."</p> + +<p>"Saw me punch him? Why, where were you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I had followed you," said Bob. Then he explained.</p> + +<p>"Then when the attack began," he added, "I flew around overhead until +I saw my chance to return and land. I wasn't going to leave without +you. Presently, the government troops were beaten at the north. That +was only a feint on their part, anyhow, I believe, to engage the +attention of the rebels. For at once, heavy shooting broke out farther +down the valley. Sounded like the main body was attacking there. Then +the rebels scooted down that way to repulse the new attack, and I took +a chance and landed. Not a soul in sight. And here I am."</p> + +<p>Jack was speechless. But the look in his eyes betrayed his emotion.</p> + +<p>"Bob, I'm proud of you," said Mr. Hampton. "Well, let's hurry away +before it is too late."</p> + +<p>Rafaela stepped from her place of concealment.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you going to say farewell?" she asked.</p> + +<p>Bob looked at her in astonishment. Mr. Hampton, with a twinkle in his +eye, viewed Jack ardently. The latter advanced with extended hand.</p> + +<p>"Miss Calomares," he said, "I can't tell you how grateful I am. I hope +we shall meet again."</p> + +<p>"Miss Calomares?" muttered Bob, under his breath, his eyes on the +beautiful girl. "Jack certainly has moved fast. I don't get this."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hampton took pity on him.</p> + +<p>"Miss Calomares," he said, leading Bob forward. "This is my son's +chum. He came with him tonight in his airplane."</p> + +<p>The girl held out her hand. Bob took it as in a daze.</p> + +<p>"Pinch me," he said, in an aside to Jack.</p> + +<p>All heard the remark, and laughed at Bob's mystification.</p> + +<p>"Come," said Mr. Hampton, and once more moved toward the door. Once +more, however, his steps were arrested by a noise outside. This time +they heard the shouts of many men approaching the house and crying +"Viva, Calomares."</p> + +<p>"Too late," groaned Mr. Hampton. "They have driven off the attack, and +are returning."</p> + +<p>Rafaela uttered an exclamation.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I must go to my room before papa discovers me here," she cried. +She darted for the door, but paused to give them parting cheer. "Do +not give up hope," she said. "They will drink a great deal, and then +all will sleep very soundly. You may escape late tonight. Good-bye," +and turning, she ran lightly down the steps.</p> + +<p>Jack's eyes followed. At the turning, she paused, looked back, and +waved to him, then disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Now what will we do?" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"You boys hide behind the bed," said Mr. Hampton. "I'll close the +door, but I won't lock it this time, for on second thought I believe +if it were locked and Calomares came up to see me—as he frequently +does before retiring—it would make him suspicious. I shall leave it +unlocked, and then he will believe he left it so himself in his +haste."</p> + +<p>"Dad," said Jack, "I have an idea."</p> + +<p>"What is it? Out with it."</p> + +<p>"Well, we are trapped here. Suppose we turn the tables."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"Well, Dad," said Jack, turning to his father, "didn't you say Don +Fernandez comes to call on you before retiring?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we have become good companions. He guards me carefully, keeps me +a prisoner for his own ends, but he is a cultured man and we have much +in common."</p> + +<p>"Father says," asserted Bob, "that you are being held prisoner in +order to make trouble between the United States and the Mexican +government."</p> + +<p>"He is correct," approved Mr. Hampton. "Don Fernandez has not +attempted to conceal from me that that is his desire. He sent a demand +for a preposterous ransom, merely in order to precipitate action at +Washington, and he has been wondering why no action was taken."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's what father thought," declared Bob. "So he has kept the +matter of your being kidnapped a secret. Instead of appealing to our +government, we set out to rescue you. Father says we must do our +utmost to avert trouble between Mexico and the United States."</p> + +<p>"So that accounts for many things," said Mr. Hampton. "I'm glad to +have them cleared up. But we are forgetting your idea, Jack. What is +it?"</p> + +<p>"Simply that we capture Don Fernandez and make him release us all +under a guarantee of safe conduct," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"You see," he added, "Bob and I are both armed, and we can do it."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Jack," said Bob.</p> + +<p>"I believe it can be done," said Mr. Hampton. "And here," he added, +listening, "comes our opportunity, if I am not mistaken. You boys get +behind the four-poster and wait until I give you your cue."</p> + +<p>Noiselessly Mr. Hampton closed the door, as the boys went into hiding. +Then the older man resumed his seat by the table, picked up his book, +and appeared to be reading.</p> + +<p>Quick, light footsteps sounded on the landing outside. There was a +pause, while Don Fernandez searched his pockets for the key to the +door. Unable to find it, he turned as if to depart. To three pairs of +ears, straining to hear his every movement, the interpretation was +clear. He believed he had locked the door and lost the key and was +about to depart. Mr. Hampton saved the situation by raising his voice, +and calling:</p> + +<p>"Is that you, Don Fernandez? Will you not honor me by coming in? I am +eager to learn what has occurred."</p> + +<p>The Don decided to try the door. To his surprise, it opened to his +touch. "I must have forgotten to lock it in my haste," he muttered, +and stepped into the room.</p> + +<p>"Government troops," he said, advancing, "They thought to surprise us +but we have beaten them off decisively." He sat down heavily. "It has +been strenuous work," he said. "But that is over. Now to find the +assassin, if he has not already escaped."</p> + +<p>"Assassin?" queried Mr. Hampton, in genuine surprise. He had not been +told the Don's belief regarding Jack.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Don Fernandez, violently. "That miserable Obregon." And he +proceeded to relate his version of Jack's arrival.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you are mistaken," said Mr. Hampton, coolly. "That was no +assassin, but my son. He came to attempt to rescue me."</p> + +<p>Don Fernandez leaped to his feet, as if shot upward by a spring.</p> + +<p>"Your son?" he cried. "Came to rescue you? Preposterous. Then, why are +you here?"</p> + +<p>"Because," said Jack, stepping from hiding, with revolver leveled, "I +wanted to meet you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and so did I," said Bob, not to be outdone, as he emerged, also +with leveled weapon, from the other side of the four-poster.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hampton quickly slipped the key into the lock of the door, turned +it and drew back. Don Fernandez saw the action. He glared from one to +the other of the three, and then sat down with a resigned shrug of the +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"You wanted to meet me?" he said. "I am honored. But, Mr. Hampton, +there is not only one son but two!"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," said the American. "This lad"—laying a hand on Jack's +shoulder—"is my son, the young man you pursued for a time tonight. +This other"—placing his other hand on Bob's shoulder—"is my son's +chum."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Don Fernandez, the faintest suggestion of a twinkle in +his eye, "now that you have met me, as you desired, what have you to +say?"</p> + +<p>"Just this," said Jack, boldly, "we want you to permit us to leave +under safe conduct. We want to take father with us in Bob's airplane. +Oh, yes, it was my chum's airplane which your men stole in Long +Island. But we have gotten it back again."</p> + +<p>"So?" said Don Fernandez. "Well, nothing surprises me tonight. And +where, may I ask, are Morales and Von Arnheim? I see you are wearing +their clothes."</p> + +<p>"We have got them imprisoned," said Jack. "But we are in earnest, sir, +about this. We are armed and have the upper hand, and we mean to have +your protection. If you are armed, you had better give your weapon to +father."</p> + +<p>"As your father very well knows," said the Don, "I never carry +weapons. And now"—with grave courtesy—"if you will permit me, young +sir, I would like to speak privately with your father."</p> + +<p>At a nod of agreement from his father, Jack withdrew to the door, +followed by Bob, leaving the two older men in low-voiced conversation. +They spoke animatedly, and to the anxious boys there came more than +once a low chuckle of laughter from Don Fernandez while they could see +Mr. Hampton beginning to smile. At length, Don Fernandez beckoned +imperiously, and the boys approached.</p> + +<p>He regarded them with twinkling eyes, but it was Mr. Hampton who acted +as spokesman.</p> + +<p>"Boys," said he, "Don Fernandez consents. But I do not believe he was +influenced by fear for his life."</p> + +<p>Don Fernandez stood up between the two chums, and put an arm over the +shoulder of each—or, rather, tried to, as they towered above him.</p> + +<p>"No, it was not fear," said he. "But Mr. Hampton has told me a little +of what you have done, and I see it is useless to fight against Young +America. You are fine fellows. If I had a son"—wistfully—"I would +want him to be like you."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX" />CHAPTER XXX</h2> + +<h3>GOOD NEWS FOR ANXIOUS EARS +<br /> </h3> + +<p>"Now to call Father," said big Bob.</p> + +<p>He and Jack, escorted by several Mexicans of Don Fernandez' band who +had been informed by the Don himself that the boys were friends who +were to be treated with every respect, were approaching the radio +station of the Calomares ranch.</p> + +<p>Jack was exuberant. Plans for the rescue of his father from the +stronghold of the rebel leader had not worked out just as proposed. +Yet the wild adventure upon which he and Bob had embarked had come to +a successful conclusion, after all. And he was correspondingly elated.</p> + +<p>Jack and his father were close pals. And he knew that Bob and his +father were the same. He threw an arm over the shoulder of his chum.</p> + +<p>"Your father will certainly be relieved," he said. "I imagine he has +been sitting up there at the radio station on our ranch in New Mexico +for hours, waiting to hear from you. I can just see him in there, +walking up and down impatiently, with that bow-legged old cowboy, Dave +Morningstar, tilted back in a chair, with his hat down over; his +eyes, smoking and never making a move."</p> + +<p>"Won't he be delighted," said Bob. "Just won't he."</p> + +<p>"And Frank, too," said Jack, thinking of the third chum, left behind +at the cave.</p> + +<p>"Good old Frank," said Bob, warmly. "We've got to tell him as soon as +I've notified father."</p> + +<p>"He certainly put up some fight, I'll bet," said Jack, thinking of the +hurried radio reaching them from the cave as they neared the Calomares +ranch in their airplane hours before. "And maybe he was hurt in that +fight with Morales. He said he licked the Mexican, but that was all we +heard. You remember? His voice was broken off after that."</p> + +<p>"That's right," said Bob. "I hope nothing serious happened to him. +What a shame it would be if he was hurt, while here we came through +practically without a scratch."</p> + +<p>All this time they had been walking across the starlit landing field, +where could be seen Bob's airplane, and now they drew near the +brightly-lighted radio station.</p> + +<p>Entering the sending room they were confronted by Muller. That young +German operator, whose perspicacity almost had caused their undoing +and whom Jack earlier had floored with a blow on the chin, was sitting +in a chair reading. He had returned to the station after the attack +of the Mexican regulars had been beaten off.</p> + +<p>Muller jumped to his feet, surprise giving way to anger, but before he +could draw and level the revolver swinging at his hip, one of the +Mexican guards accompanying the boys pushed them aside and thrust +himself forward.</p> + +<p>"None of that," he said in Spanish. "The General has commanded that +these young Americanos be well treated. They are friends."</p> + +<p>"Friends," muttered Muller, sullenly, nevertheless withdrawing his +hand from the revolver butt. "That wasn't a very friendly way to treat +me awhile ago."</p> + +<p>He turned to Jack.</p> + +<p>"And why, if you are friends," he demanded, "do you two appear in the +clothing of Herr von Arnheim and Captain Morales?"</p> + +<p>"A number of events have occurred," said Jack, quietly. "That is why. +However, Don Fernandez has heard the tale, and that is sufficient. He +has given orders personally to these soldiers that we shall be +permitted to use the radio. That is why we are here."</p> + +<p>"Is that so?" demanded Muller of the Mexican guards.</p> + +<p>The spokesman of the pair nodded agreement.</p> + +<p>"The General has so commanded," he said.</p> + +<p>Grudgingly, Muller stepped aside. Here was a mystery, and he hated +mysteries. Besides, these two youths were Americans. He was a German +and although the war between their respective countries was at an end, +he could not bring himself to entertain kindly feelings toward them. +Like many Germans, he believed the United States responsible for the +defeat of his fatherland in the World War. He was working in the ranks +of Germans in Mexico to embroil the United States with that country. +Such war, he believed, would strike a blow at the prestige of the +hated Yankees.</p> + +<p>"If the General has commanded," he said, stepping aside, "go ahead."</p> + +<p>"Look here," said Jack, flushing at this grumpy attitude, but deciding +to do the manly thing, nevertheless, and extending his hand, "let +bygones be bygones."</p> + +<p>After a moment's hesitation, Muller shook hands. To do him justice, it +is only fair to point out that he was sincere in his attitude toward +Americans, but misled.</p> + +<p>"I haven't time to explain about that blow," said Jack, "but at the +moment it was necessary. Matters have changed since then. It was +nothing personal."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Muller, his grumpiness beginning to disappear +beneath the charm of Jack's manner. "Say no more. Now what is it you +want? Perhaps I can help you."</p> + +<p>"We want to use the radio," said Jack, noting Bob's growing impatience +at their delay.</p> + +<p>"What station do you want to call?"</p> + +<p>"The Hampton ranch," interrupted Bob, who decided it was time to bring +this conversation to an end. He was in a hurry to talk with his +father.</p> + +<p>"Are you calling Rollins?"</p> + +<p>This reminder of the erstwhile traitor at the Hampton ranch brought +both boys to a realization that Muller was familiar with the manner of +calling their station, as undoubtedly he had handled or conducted +radio conversations with Rollins in the past.</p> + +<p>"No, not Rollins," said Bob, shortly. It was all right for Jack to +shake hands with Muller if he wanted to. Jack and Muller had been +active opponents, and such an act was only sportsmanlike under the +circumstances. But Bob disliked the young German on sight. "Just let +me at the phone," he said, "and turn on the juice."</p> + +<p>"Very well."</p> + +<p>Muller turned stiffly and entered the power plant adjacent, while Bob +in a fever adjusted the headpiece. As the hum of machinery sounded +from the power plant, Jack laid a hand on Bob's arm.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Bob. Wait a minute."</p> + +<p>Bob regarded him inquiringly, his fingers reaching for the knobs on +the instrument box before him, preparatory to sending out his signal +call.</p> + +<p>"What is it, now?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you know old Frank will have his ear glued to the receiver at +the cave. Suppose you call your father, but tell Frank to listen in +and not interrupt."</p> + +<p>"Right," said Bob. "Well, here goes." And he began calling the Hampton +ranch.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI" />CHAPTER XXXI</h2> + +<h3>CALM AFTER THE STORM +<br /> </h3> + +<p>Meanwhile, as Jack had foreseen, Mr. Temple waited at the radio plant +at the Hampton ranch with ill-concealed impatience.</p> + +<p>Dave Morningstar, hat pulled down over his eyes, sat in a chair tilted +back against the wall, watching him from beneath the brim. The only +signs of life about the ex-cowboy turned mechanic were the occasional +movements of the eyes, and the occasional refilling of his pipe, from +which lazy streamers of smoke now and again floated upward.</p> + +<p>All the evening these two had held watch. And, as hour after hour +passed, with no word from the boys, Mr. Temple's anxiety rose to a +fever. He condemned himself for ever having given his consent to his +son and Jack starting upon so foolhardy an expedition as that of +attempting to rescue Jack's father from the rebel headquarters and fly +to safety with him in Bob's airplane.</p> + +<p>Surely, he thought, the boys long since would have reached the ranch +and made their departure. They had promised to call him by radio from +the airplane the moment they started on their return flight. From +their failure to do so he argued the worst. Their expedition must have +come to grief, probably even now they were prisoners, perhaps—</p> + +<p>But he shuddered to think of the alternative. He would not let himself +consider that possibility. In desperation he turned to Dave +Morningstar.</p> + +<p>"Isn't there something we can do?" he asked imploringly.</p> + +<p>The old ex-cowboy took his pipe from his mouth, spat deliberately to +one side, then brought the forelegs of his chair to the floor.</p> + +<p>"Le's see," he said. "I been a'most asleep. Le's see. What say to +calling the cave?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple eagerly grasped at the proposal.</p> + +<p>"Yes, certainly," he said. "Why haven't I thought of that before? +Perhaps Frank has heard something."</p> + +<p>He did not pause to consider that the party at the cave in all +likelihood was little better prepared than he with information. The +mere idea of doing something, of taking some action that would break +up this horrible spell of waiting, appealed to him in his excited +state.</p> + +<p>But after hearing from Frank an account not only of the fight the +latter had had to recover the cave, after once having been +dispossessed, but also of the attempt to warn the Calomares ranch +ahead of the boys' coming which Morales had made, he began to wish he +never had called Frank.</p> + +<p>"Think of it," he said to Dave Morningstar, after explaining the +situation. "In all likelihood all that clash of conversation in the +air put them on guard at the Calomares ranch. They were led to suspect +all was not well. And then when the boys landed they were captured. +That can be the only reason for our failure to hear from Bob and +Jack."</p> + +<p>Dave attempted sympathetic protest, but Mr. Temple shook his head and +groaned.</p> + +<p>"No, something has happened to them," he said. "Oh, I was a fool to +let them go. I'll never forgive myself. If only they were not injured. +If only they were merely made prisoner, I——"</p> + +<p>"Hey," said Dave, "look at that signal bulb. Somebody's calling us."</p> + +<p>"It's only Frank, calling back, I suppose," groaned Mr. Temple.</p> + +<p>But Dave took up a headpiece and began adjusting the tuner knob. In a +moment he tapped Mr. Temple on the bowed shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Listen here," he said, and clapped the headpiece over Mr. Temple's +ears.</p> + + +<p>Similar anxieties to those ruling at the Hampton radio station had +been in control at the cave during the evening hours.</p> + +<p>Frank had been frightfully anxious as the hours wore on with no word +from the boys. The flight to the ranch was a short one of only fifty +miles. Surely, if they had been successful, Jack and Bob long ere this +would have called him by radio in accordance with their agreement.</p> + +<p>The poor boy stamped up and down the cave in such a fret that Tom +Bodine and Roy Stone made repeated efforts to calm him, but without +success. They began seriously to fear the effect of this anxiety upon +his system, already fevered by the several hard fights through which +he had gone in the last thirty-six hours.</p> + +<p>Mr. Temple's call had done nothing to assuage Frank's anxiety. If +anything it had increased it. As he put aside the headpiece, he looked +so woebegone that Tom Bodine went up to him and laid an arm over his +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Now, look here, kid," he began.</p> + +<p>But before he could proceed, Frank's glance caught the light flashing +in the signal bulb, and he leaped to the headpiece and microphone with +a glad cry.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"Father, we are all right. Mr. Hampton is freed."</p> + +<p>At the cave in the mountains of Old Mexico and at the Hampton ranch +across the border in American territory, these welcome words uttered +in Bob's well-known voice were received with delight. Across mountain +and desert sped the message by radio. Modern science making possible +the utilization of the forces of the air brought this quick relief to +an anxiety that otherwise would have continued for hours at the least, +until Bob and Jack could have flown back to the ranch.</p> + +<p>But neither Mr. Temple nor Frank took that thought into consideration. +To them radio telephony was an accepted fact, part of their daily +equipment for carrying on life.</p> + +<p>What filled their minds to the exclusion of all else was, at first, a +sense of gratitude and thankfulness for the lucky outcome of the +adventurous mission of the two boys, and, in the second place, a +desire to learn the details.</p> + +<p>"Now don't interrupt, Frank," said Bob. "Just listen while I talk to +father, and you can hear all about it."</p> + +<p>Under this admonition Frank ceased the flood of eager questions he had +loosed and confined himself to listening. As the story of the +remarkable series of adventures undergone by Jack and Bob at the +Calomares ranch poured through the air, however, Frank, at times, +could not curb his quick tongue, and many an exclamation he let slip. +His hand, placed across the mouth of the microphone, however, acted to +prevent these exclamations from interrupting the flow of Bob's +explanation.</p> + +<p>When Bob had finished his account, Jack took a turn. And at the +recital of his adventures, Frank began to laugh. Removing his hand +from the microphone, he interrupted his chum with the question:</p> + +<p>"Now, who's the lady-killer?"</p> + +<p>Jack, who at the moment, was telling of the part played by Senorita +Rafaela, blushed violently and grew indignant. Bob, standing near, +looked at him speculatively. Was old Jack hard hit by that little +Spanish beauty? Ordinarily, Jack would have answered Frank's joking in +kind. But to grow indignant! Bob feared his chum was smitten.</p> + +<p>For a long time the three-cornered conversation was carried on through +the air, Mr. Temple and Frank both being eager to hear every detail +and compelling Jack and Bob to repeat their stories several times.</p> + +<p>Finally, drawn by the long absence of the boys, Mr. Hampton appeared +at the radio station accompanied by Don Fernandez himself, and he and +Mr. Temple held a brief conversation.</p> + +<p>At length it was decided that the next day Mr. Hampton, with Bob and +Jack, would fly back to the Hampton ranch in New Mexico. Frank, Tom +and Roy Stone were to ride for the border at the same time, after +another night's sleep at the cave. Morales and Von Arnheim, to whom +Don Fernandez spoke personally, were apprised of the turn of affairs, +and were told to stay at the cave, which was plentifully provisioned, +until a relief party from headquarters could reach them with mounts.</p> + +<p>Then "good nights" were said, and at their three different points our +respective characters retired for the night, well pleased with the +outcome of their adventures.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII" />CHAPTER XXXII</h2> + +<h3>MORE ADVENTURE AHEAD +<br /> </h3> + +<p>"Farewell, Senor Jack Hampton."</p> + +<p>Jack clasped the sprightly Spanish girl's hand, reluctant to release +it. It was noon of the next day. Brilliant sunshine flooded the +landing field of the Calomares ranch. Bob already had clambered into +the pilot's seat of the airplane. Mr. Hampton stood to one side, +exchanging farewells with Don Fernandez.</p> + +<p>"Not farewell, Senorita," said Jack, ardently. "We must meet again."</p> + +<p>The girl shrugged.</p> + +<p>"But where?" said she. "Will you come back to capture our castle +again?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Jack, grinning. "But," he added, significantly, "I may come +back—to capture one of its inhabitants."</p> + +<p>Low though his tone was, the words reached the ears of Donna Ana, the +ever-present duenna, and she glared at him. This was no way for a +brash young Americano to be speaking to the daughter of the great Don +Fernandez. Jack caught the glance and laughed. He turned to the +duenna and extended his hand.</p> + +<p>"Farewell, Donna Ana," he said. "It's been such a pleasure to meet +you."</p> + +<p>The wizened old duenna was nonplussed. She did not know whether to +resent this pleasantry or be gratified by it. Mechanically she +accepted Jack's extended hand.</p> + +<p>At that moment, Bob called to him. Jack turned. Mr. Hampton already +had entered the airplane. They were waiting for him. Once more he +seized Rafaela's hand.</p> + +<p>"Remember," he said, so low that only her ears could hear his words, +"you haven't seen the last of me."</p> + +<p>She cast him an arch glance.</p> + +<p>"Senor Jack is improving," she whispered. "He will be a courtier yet."</p> + +<p>Then Jack climbed into his seat. A mechanic started the propeller, the +machine began to bump over the ground, and presently it was in the air +and climbing.</p> + +<p>Bob spiralled upward until they were high above the ranch, and the +figures below seemed little manikins. Jack believed he could +distinguish Rafaela waving a lacy handkerchief, and leaned far over +the side to wave in reply.</p> + +<p>Then they were off, zooming through the air, straight as an arrow for +the international boundary and the Hampton ranch beyond. The flight +was brief. Bob covered the distance of 150 miles in considerably less +than two hours.</p> + +<p>"Look here," he said to his father, after greetings had been +exchanged, and the latter had thumped his big son so hard and often +that Bob dodged when further "love taps" came his way. "I'm not going +to stay here to be pounded into a jelly. Tell you what, father, that's +a long ride up here from the cave. Frank started early this morning, +but he cannot arrive for another day. Suppose I go back and pick up +him and Roy Stone, and leave Tom to bring in the horses?"</p> + +<p>Reluctant though he was to let his son depart so soon after regaining +him, Mr. Temple was persuaded, and Bob set off. Far down in Old +Mexico, back trailing over the route they had followed in entering the +country, he saw three horsemen leading a fourth animal, and on +approaching close, saw they were his friends.</p> + +<p>Landing near them, Bob called an explanation of his mission. Roy Stone +demurred at the proposal.</p> + +<p>"Much obliged for the offer," he said, "but I'll ride along with Tom +Bodine, if it's all the same to you. I'm in no hurry to get anywhere, +and you fellows will be having your own reunion at your ranch. Take +your chum with you, but leave Tom and me. We'll be in with the horses +sooner or later. Each of us will have a spare mount now, and it'll be +an easy trip. Anyhow, I never did like those airplanes."</p> + +<p>"Same here," said Tom Bodine, staring with awe at the machine. "You +couldn't get me in that thing on a bet."</p> + +<p>Frank, accordingly, relinquished the reins of his horse to Tom Bodine, +and with "good-byes" to his friends clambered into the airplane with +Bob. Roy Stone obligingly spun the propeller, an accomplishment with +which his association with Von Arnheim had made him familiar, and once +more the plane soared upward and headed across the border.</p> + +<p>At the ranch that night it was a jolly party that gathered around the +board, with Mr. Hampton, Mr. Temple and the three boys. Gabby Pete, +talkative as ever, was bursting with desire for information about all +their adventures. He had prepared a surprisingly good dinner in honor +of the occasion.</p> + +<p>Rollins alone was not present. When told of Mr. Hampton's impending +arrival, he had begged Mr. Temple to let him go to a distant oil well +for several days until Mr. Hampton could be informed in detail of his +treachery in the past and the reason for it. This Mr. Temple had +agreed to.</p> + +<p>Back and forth across the table flew the conversation and, when the +meal was at an end, all continued to sit around the table until a late +hour.</p> + + +<p>During the weeks that followed Bob and Frank spent many enjoyable +hours rambling on horseback over the surrounding country and taking +more extended trips by airplane. The love for the country of which +Jack had spoken on arrival, seized them, too. The bright hot days +succeeded by cool nights—for in New Mexico the air cools immediately +upon the setting of the sun—appealed powerfully to boys reared on the +seacoast. The absence of raw winds and fogs especially appealed to +them. The weather was something which could be counted upon. Every day +was fair.</p> + +<p>So passed the weeks, with the boys under Jack's pilotage travelling +far and wide, scouting through the mountains to discover new beauties +of scenery, making visits to the ancient Spanish ruins at Santa Fe, +attending a rodeo at Gallup, to which came cowboys and cowgirls from a +vast stretch of territory to perform hair-raising feats of +horsemanship and exhibit well-nigh miraculous skill with the lasso.</p> + +<p>A month after their advent, and when their summer vacation was not yet +half spent, Mr. Temple at dinner one night announced that before +ending his prolonged vacation from business—the first he had taken in +ten years—he planned to go to San Francisco to consult with the +manager of his western exporting office.</p> + +<p>"Why, father," said Bob. "I've always wanted to see the city by the +Golden Gate, and I know the fellows feel the same way about it. What +do you say to taking us with you? We won't get in your way. And you +can drop us here on your way back East."</p> + +<p>Smilingly, Mr. Temple gazed at the faces of the three eager boys. Jack +and Frank enthusiastically echoed their chum's appeal.</p> + +<p>"Yes, do, Mr. Temple," said Jack. "That is, if we wouldn't be in your +way."</p> + +<p>"Uncle, I'm crazy to see San Francisco," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's a good deal changed from the days of the Forty-Niners," +said Mr. Temple, smiling. "You may have your hopes too high, and may +be disappointed."</p> + +<p>"Oh, come now, father," said Bob. "If you're going to be there only a +week, it'll be worth while for us."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's the length of time I planned to stay," said Mr. Temple, +thoughtfully. "But I'll be pretty busy while I'm there. Do you boys +feel you can keep out of mischief if left to yourselves?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Hampton interrupted.</p> + +<p>"I reckon they can, Temple," he said. "They saved the day for me. I'm +beginning to think they are a pretty self-reliant lot. If you can see +your way to doing so, take them along. The trip will be a fine +experience."</p> + +<p>"All right, boys," said Mr. Temple. "But you'll have to leave your +airplane. If you are going to see San Francisco, you can't do it very +well by airplane. And, anyhow, I wouldn't care to see you tackle the +Rockies."</p> + +<p>"All right, father," agreed Bob. "We'll be too busy seeing the sights +to want the plane, anyhow. When do we start?"</p> + +<p>"In two days," said his father.</p> + +<p>With this we take leave of the three chums, whose adventures on the +Mexican border have come to so successful a conclusion. But in the +next story of "The Radio Boys on Secret Service Duty" we shall follow +their further adventures after they reach the city by the Golden +Gate—adventures fully as thrilling as those on the Mexican border, in +which they become drawn into the plots of an international gang of +smugglers engaged in bringing Chinese coolies into the United States +in defiance of the Exclusion Laws.</p> + +<p><b>THE END.</b></p> + +<p> </p> + +<hr /> + +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/241.gif" width="211" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h2>The</h2> +<h1>Radio Boys Series</h1> +<h4>BY GERALD BRECKENRIDGE</h4> +<h5>A new series of copyright titles for <br />boys of all ages.</h5> +<h5><i>Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs</i></h5> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p class="indt"><b>THE RADIO BOYS ON THE MEXICAN BORDER</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE RADIO BOYS ON SECRET SERVICE DUTY</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE REVENUE GUARDS</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE RADIO BOYS' SEARCH FOR THE INCA'S TREASURE</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE RADIO BOYS RESCUE THE LOST ALASKA EXPEDITION</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/242.gif" width="214" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h2>The <br />Ranger Boys <br />Series</h2> +<h4>BY CLAUDE H. LA BELLE</h4> +<h5>A new series of copyright titles telling of the adventures of three +<br />boys with the Forest Rangers in the state of Maine.</h5> +<h4>Handsome Cloth Binding.</h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH.</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p class="indt"><b>THE RANGER BOYS TO THE RESCUE</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE RANGER BOYS FIND THE HERMIT</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE RANGER BOYS AND THE BORDER SMUGGLERS</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE RANGER BOYS OUTWIT THE TIMBER THIEVES</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE RANGER BOYS AND THEIR REWARD</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/243.gif" width="209" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h2>The <br />Boy Troopers <br />Series</h2> +<h4>BY CLAIR W. HAYES</h4> +<h5>Author of the Famous "Boy Allies" Series.</h5> +<h4>The adventures of two boys with the Pennsylvania State Police.</h4> +<h4>All Copyrighted Titles.</h4> +<h4>Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs.</h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH.</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY TROOPERS ON THE TRAIL</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY TROOPERS IN THE NORTHWEST</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY TROOPERS ON STRIKE DUTY</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY TROOPERS AMONG THE WILD MOUNTAINEERS</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/244.gif" width="211" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h2>The <br />Golden Boys <br />Series</h2> +<h4>BY L.P. WYMAN, PH.D.</h4> +<h5>Dean of Pennsylvania Military College.</h5> +<h4>A new series of instructive copyright stories for boys of High School Age.</h4> +<h4>Handsome Cloth Binding.</h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH.</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p class="indt"><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE FORTRESS</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS IN THE MAINE WOODS</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS WITH THE LUMBER JACKS</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS ON THE RIVER DRIVE</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/245.gif" width="204" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h2>The Boy Allies</h2> +<h6>(Registered in the United States Patent Office)</h6> +<h2>With the Navy</h2> +<h4>BY ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE</h4> +<h4>----</h4> +<h4>For Boys 12 to 16 Years.</h4> +<h4>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p>Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American lads, meet each +other in an unusual way soon after the declaration of war. +Circumstances place them on board the British cruiser, "The Sylph," +and from there on, they share adventures with the sailors of the +Allies. Ensign Robert L. Drake, the author, is an experienced naval +officer, and he describes admirably the many exciting adventures of +the two boys.</p> + +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or, Striking the First Blow at the German Fleet.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or, Sweeping the Enemy from the Sea.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or, The Naval Raiders of the Great War.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; or, The Last Shot of Submarine D-16.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or, The Vanishing Submarine.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Fields of Ice to Aid the Czar.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTLAND; or, The Greatest Naval Battle of History.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM'S CRUISERS; or, Convoying the American +Army Across the Atlantic.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or, The Fall of the Russian Empire.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or, The Fall of the German Navy.</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/246.gif" width="227" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h2>The Boy Allies</h2> +<h6>(Registered in the United States Patent Office)</h6> +<h2>With the Army</h2> +<h4>BY CLAIR W. HAYES</h4> +<h4>----</h4> +<h4>For Boys 12 to 16 Years.</h4> +<h4>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p>In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads unable to +leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the soldiers of the +Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. Their experiences and +escapes are many, and furnish plenty of good, healthy action that +every boy loves.</p> + +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days Battle Along the Marne.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash Over the Carpathians.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot and Shell Along the Aisne.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian Army In the Alps.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The Struggle to Save a Nation.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and Bravery Rewarded.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from the Enemy.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; or, Leading the American +Troops to the Firing Line.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or, Over the Top at Chateau Thierry.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE GREAT ADVANCE; or, Driving the Enemy Through +France and Belgium.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing Days of the Great World War.</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/247.gif" width="178" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + + +<h2>The Boy Scouts Series</h2> +<h4>BY HERBERT CARTER</h4> +<h4>----</h4> +<h4>For Boys 12 to 16 Years.</h4> +<h4>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</h4> +<h4>New Stories of Camp Life</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY SCOUTS' FIRST CAMPFIRE; or, Scouting with the Silver Fox Patrol.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE BLUE RIDGE; or, Marooned Among the Moonshiners.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE TRAIL; or, Scouting through the Big Game Country.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The New Test for the Silver Fox Patrol.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER; or, The Search for the Lost Tenderfoot.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES; or, The Secret of the Hidden Silver Mine.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY SCOUTS ON STURGEON ISLAND; or, Marooned Among the Game-Fish Poachers.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY SCOUTS DOWN IN DIXIE; or, The Strange Secret of Alligator Swamp.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA; A story of Burgoyne's Defeat in 1777.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY SCOUTS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA; or, The Silver Fox Patrol Caught in a Flood.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY SCOUTS ON WAR TRAILS IN BELGIUM; or, Caught Between Hostile Armies.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BOY SCOUTS AFOOT IN FRANCE; or, With The Red Cross Corps at the Marne.</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/248.gif" width="219" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h2>Our Young <br />Aeroplane Scout Series</h2> +<h6>(Registered in the United States Patent Office)</h6> +<h4>BY HORACE PORTER</h4> +<h4>----</h4> +<h4>For Boys 12 to 16 Years.</h4> +<h4>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p>A Series of Remarkable Stories of the Adventures of Two Boy Flyers in +The European War Zone.</p> + +<p class="indt"><b>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM; or, Saving The +Fortunes of the Trouvilles.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN GERMANY.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN RUSSIA, or, Lost on the Frozen Steppes.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN TURKEY; or, Bringing the Light to Yusef.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN ENGLAND; or, Twin Stars In the London Sky Patrol.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN ITALY; or, Flying with the War Eagles of the Alps.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS AT VERDUN; or, Driving Armored Meteors Over +Flaming Battle Fronts.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN THE BALKANS; or, Wearing the Red Badge +of Courage Among Warring Legions.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN THE WAR ZONE; or, Serving Uncle Sam in +the Great Cause of the Allies.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS FIGHTING TO THE FINISH; or Striking Hard +Over the Sea for the Stars and Stripes.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS AT THE MARNE; or, Hurrying the Huns from +Allied Battle Planes.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN AT THE VICTORY; or, Speedy High Flyers +Smashing the Hindenburg Line.</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/249.gif" width="209" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h2>The Jack Lorimer Series</h2> +<h4>BY WINN STANDISH</h4> +<h4>----</h4> +<h4>For Boys 12 to 16 Years.</h4> +<h4>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p class="indt"><b>CAPTAIN JACK LORIMER; or, The Young Athlete of Millvale High.</b></p> +<p>Jack Lorimer is a fine example of the all-around American high-school +boys. His fondness for clean, honest sport of all kinds will strike a +chord of sympathy among athletic youths.</p> + + +<p class="indt"><b>JACK LORIMER'S CHAMPIONS; or, Sports on Land and Lake.</b></p> +<p>There is a lively story woven in with the athletic achievements, which +are all right, since the book has been O.K'd. by Chadwick, the Nestor +of American Sporting journalism.</p> + + +<p class="indt"><b>JACK LORIMER'S HOLIDAYS; or, Millvale High in Camp.</b></p> +<p>It would be well not to put this book into a boy's hands until the +chores are finished, otherwise they might be neglected.</p> + + +<p class="indt"><b>JACK LORIMER'S SUBSTITUTE; or, The Acting Captain of the Team.</b></p> +<p>On the sporting side, this book takes up football, wrestling, and +tobogganing. There is a good deal of fun in this book and plenty of action.</p> + + +<p class="indt"><b>JACK LORIMER, FRESHMAN; or, From Millvale High to Exmouth.</b></p> +<p>Jack and some friends he makes crowd innumerable happenings into an +exciting freshman year at one of the leading Eastern colleges. The +book is typical of the American College boy's life, and there is a +lively story, interwoven with feats on the gridiron, hockey, +basketball and other clean honest sports for which Jack Lorimer stands.</p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/250.gif" width="217" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h1> <br />The <br />Girl Scouts <br />Series</h1> +<h4>BY EDITH LAVELL</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p>A new copyright series of Girl Scouts stories by an author of wide +experience in Scouts' craft, as Director of Girl Scouts of +Philadelphia.</p> + +<h4>Clothbound, with Attractive Color Designs. </h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH.</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p class="indt"><b>THE GIRL SCOUTS AT MISS ALLEN'S SCHOOL</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE GIRL SCOUTS AT CAMP</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE GIRL SCOUTS' GOOD TURN</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE GIRL SCOUTS' CANOE TRIP</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE GIRL SCOUTS' RIVALS</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/251.gif" width="216" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h1> <br />Marjorie Dean <br />College <br />Series</h1> +<h4>BY PAULINE LESTER</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p><b>Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean High School Series.</b></p> + +<p>Those who have read the Marjorie Dean High School Series will be eager +to read this new series, as Marjorie Dean continues to be the heroine +in these stories.</p> + +<h4>All Clothbound. Copyright Titles.</h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH.</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p class="indt"><b>MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE FRESHMAN</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SOPHOMORE</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SENIOR</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/252.gif" width="224" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h1> <br />Marjorie Dean <br />High School <br />Series</h1> +<h4>BY PAULINE LESTER</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p><b>Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean College Series</b></p> + +<p>These are clean, Wholesome stones that will be of great interest to +all girls of high school age.</p> + +<h4>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles.</h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH.</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p class="indt"><b>MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/253.gif" width="207" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h1>The Camp Fire <br />Girls Series</h1> +<h4>By HILDEGARD G. FREY</h4> +<h4>----</h4> +<h5>A Series of Outdoor Stories for Girls 12 to 16 Years.</h5> +<h4>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles </h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p class="indt"><b>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The Winnebagos go Camping.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL; or, The Wohelo Weavers.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; or, The Magic Garden.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS GO MOTORING; or, Along the Road That Leads the Way.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' LARKS AND PRANKS; or, The House of the Open Door.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON ELLEN'S ISLE; or, The Trail of the Seven Cedars.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON THE OPEN ROAD; or, Glorify Work.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS DO THEIR BIT; or, Over the Top with the Winnebagos.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SOLVE A MYSTERY; or, The Christmas Adventure at Carver House.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT CAMP KEEWAYDIN; or, Down Paddles.</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<img src="images/254a.gif" width="224" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h2>The Blue Grass <br />Seminary Girls Series</h2> +<h4>BY CAROLYN JUDSON BURNETT</h4> +<h4>----</h4> +<h5>For Girls 12 to 16 Years.</h5> +<h4>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles </h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p><b>Splendid stories of the Adventures of a Group of Charming Girls.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS' VACATION ADVENTURES; or, Shirley +Willing to the Rescue.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS' CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS; or, A Four Weeks' +Tour with the Glee Club.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS IN THE MOUNTAINS; or, Shirley Willing on +a Mission of Peace.</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS ON THE WATER; or, Exciting Adventures on +a Summerer's Cruise Through the Panama Canal.</b></p> + +<hr /> + +<div class="floatr"> +<img src="images/254b.gif" width="222" height="300" title="illustration: book" +alt="illustration: book" /> +</div> + +<h1>The Mildred Series</h1> +<h4>BY MARTHA FINLEY</h4> +<h4>----</h4> +<h5>For Girls 12 to 16 Years.</h5> +<h4>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles </h4> +<h4>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p>A Companion Series to the famous "Elsie" books by the same author.</p> + +<p class="indt"><b>MILDRED KEITH</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>MILDRED AT ROSELAND</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>MILDRED AND ELSIE</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>MILDRED'S MARRIED LIFE</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>MILDRED AT HOME</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>MILDRED'S BOYS AND GIRLS</b></p> +<p class="indt"><b>MILDRED'S NEW DAUGHTER</b></p> + +<hr class="fullrule" /> +<hr class="fullrule" /> + +<h6>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers.</h6> +<h4>A.L. BURT COMPANY</h4> +<h5>114-120 East 23rd Street, New York</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p>[Transcriber's Note: Added a Table of Contents.]</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14278 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/14278-h/images/001.gif b/14278-h/images/001.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7973db7 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/001.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/006.gif b/14278-h/images/006.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b0851ae --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/006.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/009.gif b/14278-h/images/009.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b1a07e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/009.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/241.gif b/14278-h/images/241.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3b6edec --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/241.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/242.gif b/14278-h/images/242.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ebebb8 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/242.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/243.gif b/14278-h/images/243.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a728ea8 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/243.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/244.gif b/14278-h/images/244.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..db2b21a --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/244.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/245.gif b/14278-h/images/245.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..329e39b --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/245.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/246.gif b/14278-h/images/246.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a05f0da --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/246.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/247.gif b/14278-h/images/247.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2329d74 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/247.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/248.gif b/14278-h/images/248.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d53225 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/248.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/249.gif b/14278-h/images/249.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..047e0f1 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/249.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/250.gif b/14278-h/images/250.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6083676 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/250.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/251.gif b/14278-h/images/251.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ea6b00 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/251.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/252.gif b/14278-h/images/252.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b0d96ee --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/252.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/253.gif b/14278-h/images/253.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..791c3ef --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/253.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/254a.gif b/14278-h/images/254a.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0310c95 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/254a.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/254b.gif b/14278-h/images/254b.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8feef90 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/254b.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/cover.jpg b/14278-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..13264c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/14278-h/images/frontis.gif b/14278-h/images/frontis.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ac26495 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/frontis.gif diff --git a/14278-h/images/titlepg.gif b/14278-h/images/titlepg.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..af3a6f9 --- /dev/null +++ b/14278-h/images/titlepg.gif |
