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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Broncho Rider Boys with Funston at Vera
+Cruz, by Frank Fowler
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Broncho Rider Boys with Funston at Vera Cruz
+       Or, Upholding the Honor of the Stars and Stripes
+
+Author: Frank Fowler
+
+Release Date: October 14, 2006 [EBook #19538]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRONCHO RIDER BOYS WITH ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Suzan Flanagan and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "THIS IS NO PLACE FOR ME," COMMENTED BILLIE AS HE
+KEPT HIMSELF WELL HIDDEN BEHIND A GIANT CACTUS.
+
+_The Broncho Rider Boys with Funston at Vera Cruz. Page 33._]
+
+               The Broncho Rider Boys
+
+               With Funston at Vera Cruz
+
+                         OR
+
+     Upholding the Honor of the Stars and Stripes
+
+                    By FRANK FOWLER
+
+                       AUTHOR OF
+
+"The Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers," "The Broncho
+  Rider Boys at Keystone Ranch," "The Broncho Rider
+    Boys Down in Arizona," "The Broncho Rider Boys
+       Along the Border," "The Broncho Rider
+            Boys on the Wyoming Trail."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+       A. L. BURT COMPANY
+           NEW YORK.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        Copyright, 1916
+     BY A. L. BURT COMPANY
+
+THE BRONCHO RIDER BOYS WITH FUNSTON AT VERA CRUZ
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+THE BRONCHO RIDER BOYS WITH
+  FUNSTON AT VERA CRUZ.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+A DARING ADVENTURE.
+
+
+"Let me look, Billie," and Donald reached out his hand for the
+field glass through which Broncho Billie was gazing down from the
+summit of Real del Monte upon the plain of Quesco, through which
+the Pachuca river winds its way. "Maybe I can make out who they
+are."
+
+Billie handed over the glass without a word and stood expectant,
+while Donald scrutinized closely a body of horsemen--twenty or
+more in number--which had halted beside the railroad that
+connects the little city of Pachuca with the City of Mexico.
+
+"They are not soldiers, that's certain," was Donald's comment
+after he had inspected the riders carefully for a couple of
+minutes.
+
+"That's what I thought," from Billie. "They look like a bunch of
+_vaqueros_ to me; but what would a crowd of fifty cowpunchers be
+doing in a country where the only cattle are goats?"
+
+"That's right!" laughed Donald, greatly amused at Billie's odd
+expression, "but still that is what they appear to be. Perhaps
+they are expecting a drove of cattle up on the train."
+
+"More likely they are expecting a load of bullion going down to
+the City of Mexico," remarked the third of the party. "What do
+you think, Pedro?" turning to the fourth of the boys who composed
+the quartette.
+
+"I am afraid you are right, Adrian," replied Pedro, with an
+accent which denoted that of the four he was the only one who was
+not of an English-speaking race.
+
+"You don't think they would hold up a train in broad daylight,
+and that not more than five miles from town, do you?" queried
+Billie.
+
+"If they are what I suspect," declared Pedro, "I think they would
+hold it up at the station, if there were only a few more of
+them."
+
+"And what do you think they are?"
+
+"I think they are Zapatistas."
+
+"What are they?" asked Donald.
+
+"Followers of the bandit leader, Emilio Zapata."
+
+"Which side does he belong to?" asked Adrian. "Huerta or
+Carranza?"
+
+"Neither. He is simply a bandit, and his followers prey upon any
+whom they find unprotected."
+
+"And do you really think they are going to hold up and rob the
+train from Pachuca?"
+
+"_Sin duda!_" meaning without doubt.
+
+"Then we must prevent them," declared Donald emphatically.
+
+"What business is it of ours?" asked Billie. "If one bunch of
+Mexicans wants to rob another bunch, especially if the second
+bunch are Huertistas, I don't know that it is for us to
+interfere. I'm not looking for trouble."
+
+"You're not afraid, are you? If----"
+
+"Say, Don," interrupted Billie, "what's the use of always asking
+such foolish questions? If I remember rightly, the last time you
+asked me that question was up on the Rio Grande a year ago, about
+the time that I was swimming rivers and breaking into prisons
+with the Texas Rangers to get you and Ad out of trouble. Now
+why----"
+
+Donald held up both hands.
+
+"That's enough, Billie," he laughed. "I'll take it all back. Of
+course you're not afraid. But I insist we must prevent this
+hold-up."
+
+"And again I ask, why?"
+
+"Because there may be women and children on the train and----"
+
+"That's enough," exclaimed Billie. "You needn't go on with the
+rest. But what's the plan? We're a good ten miles from those
+chaps--unless we had an airship."
+
+"And then how far do you think it is?" queried Adrian.
+
+"Well," replied Billie slowly, as he squinted up one eye, "I
+should say they are about four miles away as the crow flies. But
+we are not crows. By the Real road, it is at least ten miles."
+
+"There must be a short cut somewhere," insisted Donald.
+
+"There is," explained Pedro. "Just around the next turn in the
+road there is a goat path that leads down to the river. If you
+are not afraid of getting wet----"
+
+"There you go," laughed Billie. "Afraid of getting wet! Just
+let's settle it once for all that we are not afraid of anything
+that it is right for us to do."
+
+Pedro laughed good-naturedly.
+
+"Well, then, since we are not afraid of getting wet, we can
+follow the river for about two miles by fording it several times,
+and emerge on the plain a mile this side of the clump of trees
+which hides those fellows from the highway."
+
+"And then what?" from Billie.
+
+"That is as far as I've gone."
+
+"Then you'll have to do better. Just as soon as we emerge from
+behind those trees, we'll be a fair target. Four against twenty
+is 'most too much on an open plain."
+
+For several minutes no one spoke. It was Adrian who broke the
+silence.
+
+"I think I see a way, not only to save the train, but possibly to
+capture the bandits."
+
+The boys looked up in surprise.
+
+"Do you notice how the railroad curves in toward the hills just
+after it crosses the river bridge?" he continued, pointing out
+the place he meant.
+
+"Sure, we see it," from Billie.
+
+"Well, when we leave the river, instead of riding toward that
+bunch of trees, we'll ride the other way. That will bring us to
+the railroad track near the curve. Then we'll ride up the track.
+If we do not reach the station before the train leaves, we can
+flag it. There is sure to be at least half a dozen guards aboard.
+We will make ten. Most of the men aboard will have revolvers. The
+result will be that instead of the bandits taking the train by
+surprise, we will take them by surprise, and----"
+
+"And the army that takes the other by surprise wins," finished
+Billie, taking off his sombrero and bowing to Adrian in mock
+gravity. Then to Pedro, "Let the scout lead the way and the army
+will fall in behind, with the general at the head."
+
+A laugh followed Billie's words, and putting spurs to their
+horses, the four lads dashed down the mountain road upon their
+self-appointed mission, which was by no means the first daring
+adventure in which they had engaged; for the stories of the
+doings of the three American lads in the quartette have furnished
+interesting reading for thousands of American boys.
+
+It is because of their numerous adventures and their skill as
+horsemen that the trio has become known as the Broncho Rider
+Boys. Their names are Donald Mackay, Adrian Sherwood and William
+Stonewall Jackson Winkle, better known as "Broncho Billie." This
+latter name was given him some two years before when he went to
+visit his cousin Donald at the latter's home on the Keystone
+Ranch in Wyoming. It was not given him because he was such an
+expert rider, but because he could fall from his broncho pony
+easier than any boy in that section. Rotund in appearance, he was
+as jolly as he was fat, and his chief failing was his appetite.
+No matter what the hour, no one ever mentioned eats that Billie
+was not hungry.
+
+When he first came West he was supposed to be in poor health. It
+speedily developed that such was not the case. He was simply
+hungry. Months in the open air had enabled him to eat without
+fear and he was now about the most robust specimen of boy that
+any one ever saw.
+
+Donald, the oldest of the trio, was one of those level-headed
+chaps who had a knack of doing the right thing at the right time.
+His judgment had been proven good in many a tight place and under
+many thrilling conditions. As a result, he was generally looked
+up to as a leader by the others, although it must be admitted
+that Adrian was also a lad of sense and plenty of nerve.
+
+Adrian was the owner of a large Wyoming ranch, and one of the
+books which has proved most interesting to American boys is known
+as The Broncho Rider Boys on the Wyoming Trail, a story of how
+Adrian saved his property from being taken away from him by a
+dishonest uncle.
+
+About a year previous to the time this story opens, these three
+boys had been on a trip along the Rio Grande, when they fell in
+with Capt. June Peak and a company of Texas Rangers, who had been
+detailed to keep watch of the actions of a band of cattle
+smugglers. Sent across the river into Mexican territory on a
+secret mission, the Broncho Rider Boys had the good fortune to
+rescue Pedro Sanchez, the fourth member of the quartette, from
+the hands of a band of ruffians. Pedro turned out to be the son
+of Gen. Sanchez of the Mexican army, who was visiting an uncle in
+northern Mexico. After a series of thrilling adventures, which
+are told in full in The Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas
+Rangers, Donald, Adrian and Billie returned to their homes,
+promising to visit Pedro in the City of Mexico whenever the time
+was ripe.
+
+During the time that the boys were scouting in Mexico they had
+learned to speak Spanish quite well, and this knowledge had been
+so improved during their visit with Pedro that they now spoke the
+language well, an accomplishment which proved of much value to
+them later on.
+
+About a month prior to the day upon which this story opens, the
+three Americans had met by appointment at New York City and had
+come to Vera Cruz by boat and thence to the City of Mexico, where
+they found everything in a greatly disturbed condition because
+of the revolution which had been started some months previous by
+Gen. Carranza.
+
+It might be well right here to state briefly the history of the
+previous few months in Mexico, so that all may understand how it
+happened that none of the four boys had a very high opinion of
+Gen. Huerta, at that time dictator of Mexico.
+
+For nearly 35 years, up to 1911, Mexico had a peaceful existence
+under a republican form of government. During the last 32 years
+of that time Porfirio Diaz was president. Just prior to 1912 a
+revolution was begun against what had come to be called the Diaz
+government, and Diaz was compelled to flee from Mexico. The
+revolution was headed by Francisco Madero, who was then made
+president.
+
+In February of 1913 a revolution was started against President
+Madero by Felix Diaz, nephew of Porfirio Diaz, and the City of
+Mexico was attacked. At that time Gen. Huerta was in command of
+Madero's forces in the City of Mexico. He proved a traitor to
+Madero, went over to Diaz, arrested Madero and confined him in
+prison. Two days later, April 22, 1913, President Madero was shot
+by order of Huerta, who then declared himself dictator. At the
+same time he asked that the other nations of the earth recognize
+him as the head of the Mexican government, a thing which the
+government of the United States refused to do.
+
+March 26, 1913, another revolution was started, this time
+against Gen. Huerta by Gen. Carranza, governor of the state of
+Chihuahua. This revolution had been in progress more than a year
+when this story opens.
+
+Pedro's father, Gen. Sanchez, had been a friend of President
+Madero. When Madero was shot, Gen. Sanchez fled to Pachuca where
+he had a large hacienda and also owned vast interests in the
+silver mines at Real del Monte, some six miles up the mountains.
+Later, however, he was promised protection by Gen. Huerta, who
+was anxious to have the friendship of such a prominent man, and
+returned to the City of Mexico. It was some time after this,
+about March 1, 1914--when matters had quieted down in the City of
+Mexico--that the three American boys went to visit Pedro.
+
+A few days previous to the one on which we find the four boys
+headed for the railroad to foil the would-be train robbers, they
+had come to Pachuca, which is located some sixty miles from the
+City of Mexico, on horses furnished them by Gen. Sanchez, to see
+the mines and the beautiful mountains overlooking the plains of
+Quesco. Every day they took long rides in various directions, in
+spite of the unsettled condition of the country--a condition
+which compelled them always to go armed with their trusty Marlins
+and Colts--and that is how they happened to be on the Real road
+at such an opportune time.
+
+With these explanations, it is no wonder that the boys were keen
+for the adventure upon which they were now embarked.
+
+A sharp ride of fifteen minutes brought them to the river and
+into it the horses plunged. At places it was only knee deep and
+at other places where they were obliged to cross it was necessary
+for the horses to swim; but this was only fun for the Broncho
+Rider Boys.
+
+Half an hour after sighting the bandits, the boys halted on the
+railroad track, well secreted from their quarry by the curve
+before mentioned.
+
+"And none too soon," declared Donald as the sharp whistle of the
+engine was heard perhaps half a mile away.
+
+"How shall we flag her?" asked Pedro.
+
+"With that red bandana handkerchief on Billie's neck," replied
+Donald as he reached over and snatched the neckwear from its
+place.
+
+Springing from his horse, he ran up the track waving the red
+signal as he ran.
+
+A sharp blast from the whistle a couple of minutes later gave
+proof that the danger signal had been seen, and the grinding of
+the brakes told that the train was coming to a stop. Even before
+this was an accomplished fact the conductor swung himself from
+the front car and came running down the track to see what was the
+matter, while the guards covered the boys with their carbines.
+
+"What do you mean by stopping the train?" he demanded angrily.
+
+Donald explained in as few words as possible.
+
+The conductor signalled the guards to him and told them what
+Donald had said.
+
+"What had we better do?" asked the conductor.
+
+"We had better go back to Pachuca for help," replied the guards.
+
+"And let the Zapatistas escape!" exclaimed Billie hotly. "What do
+you want to do that for?"
+
+"We have only six guards," the conductor explained, "and----"
+
+"And that, with us, makes ten," interrupted Billie.
+
+The conductor regarded the boy with surprise.
+
+"Do you mean you will join us to help capture the bandits?"
+
+"What do you think we're here for?" asked Billie.
+
+"Yes," chimed in Adrian. "What do you suppose we stopped the
+train for?"
+
+"But even ten are no match for twenty or more," declared the
+guard.
+
+"Of course they are," said Donald, "if the twenty are taken by
+surprise."
+
+"Which they will not be if we don't act pretty quick," insisted
+Billie. "Come on! Let's go after them," and he climbed up onto
+the car.
+
+"That's what I say," said Pedro, following Billie's example.
+
+Without more words the others followed and the conductor gave the
+signal to go ahead.
+
+"How about the horses?" asked Donald, turning to Pedro.
+
+"They'll be all right; but if we capture the Zapatistas we'll
+have horses enough any way."
+
+"And if we don't," remarked Billie grimly, "there'll be some
+riderless horses any way."
+
+"Let us hope that they will not be the ones we have left behind,"
+said Donald gravely.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+A STRANGE MIX-UP.
+
+
+While the train was gathering headway the conductor and the
+guards rounded up all the men they could find on the train who
+were armed. There were more than a dozen, so that in point of
+numbers, the force on the train nearly equalled the Zapatistas.
+These were so stationed at the windows that they could give the
+would-be robbers a warm reception.
+
+"We must use some strategy," declared Adrian, "or we will simply
+succeed in killing a few and scaring away the others. That will
+not be a very brilliant deed."
+
+"No," from Donald, "but it will save the bullion. What's your
+plan?"
+
+"Well, I was thinking it would be a good plan to separate the
+train."
+
+"How?"
+
+"You can see it is all down grade from here to where the bandits
+are waiting for us."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"As soon as we get to running a good speed, Billie and I will go
+into the express car with the three guards. You and Pedro stay
+here with the other guards and the passengers. As we near the
+bandits, uncouple the train, put on the brakes and stop the
+coaches. We will rush by with the engine and express car, firing
+as we go----"
+
+"Which will be all right," interrupted Billie, "if they don't
+ditch the engine."
+
+Adrian's face fell.
+
+"I hadn't thought of that."
+
+"Well, you'd better."
+
+After a moment Adrian's face brightened.
+
+"They might better ditch the engine and express car than the
+whole train," he declared.
+
+"Right you are," from Donald. "If you and Billie are game enough
+to try it, I say it is the proper thing. If they ditch the
+engine, we will be back a ways and can run down to your
+assistance. If they don't ditch you, we will have them between
+two fires."
+
+"Just what I thought," replied Adrian. "How about it, Billie?"
+
+"I'm game. My head may be a little thick, but I can see just as
+far through a two-inch plank as the next one."
+
+"All right, then. Come on," and Adrian led the way into the car
+ahead, while Donald and Pedro stood by to uncouple as soon as
+they passed the clump of trees before alluded to.
+
+Almost at the same instant several sharp blasts from the whistle
+gave the danger signal, and Donald threw over the coupling lever
+and put on the brake. The coaches slowed quickly down, but the
+engine and express car dashed in between the horsemen stationed
+on either side of the track.
+
+Prepared for what they knew was coming, the engineer and fireman
+had thrown themselves down on the floor of the cab, while Adrian,
+Billie and the three guards poured a volley into the robbers as
+they passed and several horses lost their mounts.
+
+This fire was followed by a fusillade from the horsemen and a
+minute later the engine, striking an unspiked rail, rolled
+completely over into the ditch, wrenching itself clear from the
+express car, which, after bumping over the ties for several
+seconds, suddenly ceased its antics and glided smoothly along.
+
+As by a miracle it had run completely over the space from which
+the rail had been loosed and landed upon the good track, down
+which it now sped.
+
+So unexpected was the change from ties to track that Adrian and
+Billie were unable for a few moments to understand what had
+happened. Then Billie rushed to the door and seized the hand
+brake.
+
+"Grab hold and help stop this car," he yelled to Adrian, "or
+there is no knowing where we'll land."
+
+Adrian hastened to obey, but the wrench that had been given the
+car when the engine broke loose had put the brake out of
+commission and the car sped on.
+
+The three Mexican guards now appeared on the platform and gazed
+wildly up the track where they could see the fight going on
+between the bandits and their companions.
+
+"What shall we do, Senor?" asked one of them.
+
+"Search me," from Billie. "How long is this grade?"
+
+"It is down hill all the way to Pitahaya."
+
+"How far is that?"
+
+"Ten kilometers from Pachuca."
+
+"That must be about three miles farther," said Adrian.
+
+"Correct," from Billie, "but unless it's a mighty steep up-grade
+the other side of Pita-what's-its-name, we're going so fast we'll
+not stop till we've run away past it."
+
+"Well, what of it? We can coast back, can't we?"
+
+The car gave a lurch to one side that almost threw the boys off
+the platform.
+
+"We're certainly going some," called Adrian. "Hang on!"
+
+And hang on they did until they dashed past the little station of
+Pitahaya and after several minutes began to slow down.
+
+"This is a little better," Adrian finally remarked as the car
+showed some sign of coming to a stop.
+
+"Yes, indeed," from Billie. "I suppose we'll come to a dead stop
+soon. Do you think she'll start back on her own hook, or shall we
+have to start her?"
+
+"We'll soon see," and see they did, for a couple of minutes later
+the car came to a stop.
+
+For some minutes the five occupants of the car waited to see if
+it would start back down the grade. When it did not they got off
+to decide what could be done.
+
+"It's a mighty steep hill," Billie ventured. "Looks as though the
+five of us ought to start it. Let's try."
+
+The five put their shoulders against the car and pushed with all
+their might, but it refused to budge.
+
+"If we only had a crowbar," said Adrian, "we could start it in a
+jiffy. Suppose some of you look in the car. There might be one
+there."
+
+The three Mexicans jumped to obey.
+
+Directly they appeared in the doorway with a large claw-bar in
+their hands.
+
+"Will this do?" asked one.
+
+"Sure! Throw it off," said Billie, "and I'll soon start the old
+caboose."
+
+Picking up the bar, Billie inserted the claw under one of the
+wheels while Adrian stood with his hand on the car rail ready to
+spring aboard.
+
+At the first attempt the claw slipped and nothing happened, but
+at the second attempt the wheels yielded a little.
+
+"This time she'll go," Billie called. "All aboard!"
+
+Adrian sprang onto the car as Billie bore down upon the bar and
+the wheels began to revolve.
+
+"Never mind the bar," cried Adrian as he saw that Billie was
+raising the implement to throw it onto the platform. "Jump
+aboard!"
+
+Billie started to obey, but the advice came too late. As he
+dropped the bar it struck one end of a tie, flopped over and hit
+him on the shin.
+
+"Wow!" he yelled, grabbing his ankle with both hands.
+
+"Never mind your leg," shouted Adrian. "Jump on or you'll be
+left."
+
+Billie tried to obey, but the car was now under headway and
+although he sprinted his best, he was soon left behind.
+
+Adrian started to jump off the car, but seeing his intention
+Billie called to him not to do it.
+
+"I'll get there some time," he called. "Just tell them I'm
+coming," and he stood in the middle of the track looking ruefully
+after the rapidly disappearing car.
+
+After some moments he picked up the claw-bar and threw it
+spitefully into the ditch beside the track, as much as to say,
+"Lay there! You're the cause of all the trouble." Then he started
+slowly after the car.
+
+In the meantime Adrian was flying as fast back toward Pachuca as
+he had been flying away from it only a few minutes before. It
+could not have been more than ten minutes altogether since the
+wreck of the engine and Adrian figured that if the grade were
+steep enough the car might gain momentum enough to carry it back
+to the scene of the trouble; but he had little hope that it
+would.
+
+When he shot through Pitahaya on his return trip, however, he saw
+that the car was going at a terrific rate of speed.
+
+"What do you think?" he asked one of the Mexicans. "Do you think
+we'll get all the way back?"
+
+"Cierto," was the reply. "When they first built this road they
+used to have mules haul the car to the top of this hill and then
+turn it loose and it would run almost to Pachuca. That was before
+it had any engines."
+
+Adrian looked at the man and winked one eye very slowly.
+
+"Senor, it is true," spoke up another. "I was a guard at the
+time."
+
+Adrian could scarcely believe the statement, but he afterward
+learned that the men spoke the truth.
+
+"Well, then," he said, "we had better look to our arms, for we
+may need them. There is no knowing how this affair has turned
+out."
+
+The advice was well taken, for as they drew near the scene of the
+wreck, they saw that they were badly needed. More than a dozen
+horsemen were in sight at some distance from the wreck and with
+their long-range rifles were doing their best to pick off any one
+who showed his head.
+
+"Our party must be out of ammunition," suggested Adrian, "or they
+would give a better account of themselves."
+
+"Our carbines would not carry that far," explained one of the
+guards.
+
+"Our Marlins will," replied Adrian, and as he spoke there were
+two simultaneous flashes from two of the car windows and two of
+the bandits fell, one shot from his horse and the other with his
+horse shot under him.
+
+For a moment the other horsemen hesitated as to the course they
+should pursue and then, putting spurs to their horses, they
+dashed toward the train, just as the express car, having reached
+the end of the track, bumped onto the ties and came to a stop.
+
+"Now!" cried Adrian as the riders drew near, firing as they came,
+and four shots rang out.
+
+The volley from so unexpected a quarter took the horsemen
+completely by surprise, and they pulled up with a jerk. The
+action proved their undoing, for as they stood thus for a moment,
+they gave those in the train the opportunity they desired and the
+volley that followed turned four more riderless horses upon the
+plain.
+
+It was more than flesh and blood could stand, and the seven or
+eight remaining horsemen turned and fled, followed by at least
+three whistling bullets from as many Marlins.
+
+The fight was over and the bullion had been saved, but what of
+Broncho Billie, who had been left at the top of the hill four
+miles away?
+
+That was the first question asked by Donald when he greeted
+Adrian two minutes later.
+
+"Oh, he's all right," was the laughing reply. "He's just taking a
+little walk for his health."
+
+But when Billie failed to put in an appearance an hour later, the
+boys mounted their horses and started up the track to meet him,
+leading Billie's mount between them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+BILLIE LOSES HIS NERVE.
+
+
+Broncho Billie was not a rapid walker. In fact, if there was any
+one thing in which Billie was not a success, it was walking. He
+could ride a horse all day, but when it came to depending upon
+his own legs as a means of locomotion, he was a dead failure.
+
+Therefore he walked slowly along, counting the ties as he went.
+
+"They certainly do lay 'em thick," he mused after some minutes.
+"Three hundred and one, three hundred and two, three hundred and
+three, three hundred and four, three hun----"
+
+He stopped short and looked behind him.
+
+"I sure thought I heard some one," he muttered. "It must have
+been a bird."
+
+He turned and started forward.
+
+"Let's see, where was I? Oh, yes, three hundred and five, three
+hundred and six, three hundred and----"
+
+Again he stopped, but did not turn around. Instead he stooped
+down as though to pick up a stone, which enabled him to look
+backward between his knees.
+
+He caught a movement in the grass at the edge of the right of
+way.
+
+"I thought so," he muttered. "Now to find out who it is, and what
+he wants."
+
+He picked up a small stone and threw it at a tall cactus which
+grew near the track some distance ahead.
+
+"Good shot," he said aloud as the stone hit the stalk. "I wonder
+if I could do it again."
+
+He stooped down and picked up another stone, taking a good look
+backward from his stooping position. There was not a movement to
+indicate the presence of a living thing.
+
+"This is getting on my nerves," the boy mused as he picked up
+several small stones and again walked forward. "I don't mind
+being followed by a white man, but I'm a whole lot leary of these
+greasers. They're bad enough when they're friendly."
+
+Then aloud, as he threw a couple of stones: "I'll never get
+anywhere if I don't make better time than this. I'll just sprint
+a few."
+
+Suiting the action to the word, he started on a run.
+
+Almost immediately he was aware of a soft pat-pat in his rear. He
+had heard a similar sound in the wilds of Wyoming and he
+recognized it at once.
+
+It was the footfall of a four-legged animal.
+
+"So!" he ejaculated. "I wonder what it is. If there were wolves
+down here I would say it was a wolf, but I don't believe there
+are." Then a minute later, "Well, whatever it is, I'm going to
+find out."
+
+He whipped out his automatic and turned suddenly.
+
+As before, not a single living thing was in sight, only in the
+grass a movement as before.
+
+Without a moment's aim, he fired a single shot at the spot. It
+was an act born of fear and Billie knew it, but for the life of
+him he could not have done otherwise, so nervous had he become.
+
+The report was followed by a cry of pain and an instant later
+there came running directly toward him out of the tall grass a
+figure so weird that Billie stood as one paralysed.
+
+The figure was that of a man not more than two feet high, with
+long arms and a head of diminutive size. While it stood upright
+at times, at others it came forward on all fours. To Billie it
+seemed a cross between a man and a monkey.
+
+Gathering his wits in an instant, Billie would have fired
+again--in fact, raised his revolver to do so, when the strange
+creature fell to its knees and raised its hands in supplication.
+
+"By George!" exclaimed the lad as he stood with lowered weapon.
+"What kind of a thing is this? I wonder if it can talk?"
+
+Then as he took a step toward it: "I'm not going to hurt you.
+Come here."
+
+The creature arose to its feet and came slowly toward him. As it
+did so Billie noticed that blood was running from a wound in its
+scalp.
+
+"Poor thing," he said. "That must have been where the bullet hit
+him. It was a close shave."
+
+"Can you talk?" he finally asked.
+
+The strange creature turned its head to one side and eyed him
+closely, but no sound came from its lips.
+
+"It must be an ape of some sort," mused the boy; "but how did it
+become so tame?"
+
+He slowly returned his automatic to its holster, thinking in the
+meantime how he could dress the creature's wound; but no sooner
+had his hand left his weapon than the ape sprang at him with the
+utmost fury. It landed on his shoulder, wound its legs about his
+neck, and with its long arms made a wild grab for the revolver.
+
+Then began a strange and terrible struggle for the possession of
+the weapon. Even as he fought the beast, Billie realized that in
+some manner the ape had learned to fear firearms, but whether it
+had ever learned to use them he could not venture a guess. He
+felt certain if he could draw the weapon and point it at the ape,
+it would at once cringe in fear. What might happen if the ape
+should get possession of it, he could only imagine.
+
+For a youth of eighteen, there were few whom Billie met that were
+his match physically, but this diminutive man-animal held him as
+in a vise. Billie exerted every ounce of his strength to free
+himself from the terrible hold, while the ape fought even more
+fiercely to retain its grip and to gain possession of the weapon.
+
+It was a weird and fearful struggle waged there in the stillness
+of the tropical woodland--a stillness broken only by the
+occasional wild scream of the ape, or the hoarse breathing of the
+boy as he fought to free himself from that horrible grasp.
+
+The struggle must have lasted for two or three minutes--to Billie
+it seemed hours--when by a sudden wrench the lad managed to free
+his left arm sufficiently to get the beast by the throat. For an
+instant it loosed its hold on his right arm and that act decided
+the battle.
+
+Finding his right arm free, Billie seized his revolver and
+without drawing it from the holster pulled the trigger.
+
+At the sound of the shot, the ape uttered a plaintive cry,
+relaxed its hold upon the lad and fell upon its knees on the
+ground with its hands raised in supplication as previously.
+
+"I ought to shoot you," declared the lad between his gasps for
+breath as he drew the weapon from its holster and pointed it at
+the animal, "but I won't. I'll take you with me and maybe I can
+sell you for enough to pay me for the scare you've given me. Now,
+march!"
+
+He pointed with his finger down the track, but the beast would
+not stir.
+
+"Don't you intend to do what I tell you?"
+
+The animal perked up his head and kept his eye upon the revolver.
+
+"Well," exclaimed Billie as he drew a long breath, "this is the
+limit. I can't make you mind and I won't hurt you. I guess the
+only thing I can do is to go and leave you."
+
+Suiting the action to the word, Billie turned and started down
+the track, his revolver still in his hand.
+
+He had not gone more than a dozen steps, before he heard the soft
+pat-pat behind him, and on looking back could see nothing but the
+waving grass to indicate the whereabouts of his erstwhile
+assailant.
+
+"So I am to be followed, am I? Well, all right." Then, as an
+afterthought: "I wonder how I can catch him when I want him. I
+wonder if this will do," and he raised his weapon and pointed it
+toward the moving grass.
+
+With the same plaintive cry which Billie had come to recognize
+as one of fear, the animal ran toward him and sank to his knees.
+
+Billie smiled.
+
+"It's all right, old chap. As long as I know how to handle you,
+why you can follow me right back to the train."
+
+Again he started down the track at a brisk walk, it having just
+occurred to him that there might be something doing at the other
+end of his journey.
+
+Twenty minutes later he reached the station at Pitahaya where he
+had expected to find Adrian and the three Mexicans awaiting him,
+but, as we know, they had gone on to the scene of the wreck. Not
+realizing just what had happened, but always on the alert for the
+unexpected, Billie, therefore, began an inspection of the
+station.
+
+It did not take him long to discover that Pitahaya was little
+more than a siding with a one-room building, which was used as a
+freight house and a waiting room. It did not even boast of a
+station master.
+
+"There must be some reason for having a building here," he mused.
+"There must be some sort of a settlement around somewhere. But
+what's that to me? I might as well be jogging along towards
+Pachuca."
+
+Then he bethought him of the ape, which he had no mind to lose
+after his exciting experience. But the animal was nowhere to be
+seen.
+
+"I wonder if I could raise him with a shot," soliloquized
+Billie.
+
+He raised his weapon, which he still carried in his hand, and
+fired aimlessly, while he turned his eyes in various directions,
+but there was nothing to be seen.
+
+"Oh, well," he thought, "what's the difference? He'd just be a
+nuisance anyway. I might as well be trudging along."
+
+He jumped off the station platform and proceeded down the track,
+filling the magazine to his automatic as he went. Then having
+finished the task, he returned it to his holster and once more
+began counting the ties.
+
+"One, two, three, four, five, six----"
+
+Bing! And a stone whistled by his head.
+
+Billie turned, and as he did so a second stone from the same
+source struck him on the temple, and he fell to the ground.
+
+A second later the ape sprang from a palm beside the station and
+ran toward him, stopping every few feet to see if the lad would
+rise.
+
+When within a few feet of the prostrate lad the animal made a
+leap and landed upon his body. In another instant it had gained
+possession of Billie's weapon, which it examined curiously for a
+moment, ere it sprang away and stationed itself some two rods
+distant, where it sat watching with the weapon aimed directly at
+him.
+
+For perhaps five minutes the two retained their relative
+positions and then Billie began to regain consciousness. Several
+times he moved uneasily and then he suddenly sat up and looked
+around.
+
+"I wonder what happened," he finally thought, and then he became
+conscious of a pain in his head.
+
+He raised his hand to the aching spot and his fingers encountered
+a big lump.
+
+The truth came upon him like a flash. He dropped his hand to his
+holster, and sprang to his feet.
+
+As he did so he caught sight of the ape and found himself looking
+into the business end of his own weapon.
+
+With a yell he dropped to the ground as though the expected had
+happened.
+
+But when no shot followed, he began to regain his wits and lay
+still trying to figure out once more just how much the ape might
+know about the use of the weapon.
+
+He remembered the old saying that a gun was a dangerous weapon
+without lock, stock or barrel, because a man killed his wife
+with the ramrod; and so he figured that an animal which had
+intelligence enough to throw a stone and knock him senseless,
+might have sense enough to fire a revolver.
+
+"If I only knew something about his history," soliloquized
+Billie, "I might be able to guess how much he knew. But he is a
+perfect stranger to me. I don't even know his name."
+
+After several minutes and nothing had happened, Billie decided to
+make some effort to get away.
+
+"I might as well be shot as to be prisoner to an ape," he
+thought, and so he arose to a sitting posture and surveyed the
+scene.
+
+There sat the ape as before, with the automatic pointed at
+Billie, but with a puzzled look upon its face. When the lad
+finally arose, the ape appeared still more puzzled and at length,
+turning the weapon away from Billie, looked into the muzzle.
+
+"That settles it," exclaimed Billie. "He doesn't know how to fire
+it. I'll go and take it away from him."
+
+He started toward the animal, which at once pointed the revolver
+in Billie's direction. There came a sharp report and a bullet
+whizzed by the boy's head.
+
+"Worse and more of it," exclaimed Billie. "He doesn't know how to
+use the thing, but he's liable to shoot me as long as I stay in
+range. I'll just make myself scarce."
+
+Stooping down, he picked up a good-sized stone and hurled it at
+the ape and then, without waiting to see the result of his throw,
+jumped into the jungle which lined both sides of the track,
+determined to make a detour and if possible lose his unpleasant
+companion.
+
+He had not run far before he realized that the ape was following,
+but this he did not mind. There were plenty of trees between
+them, and he felt sure he would soon be able to reach some sort
+of a habitation, when he suddenly found himself on the edge of a
+deep basin into which he plunged before he was able to gain his
+equilibrium.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+THE ROSARIO VIEJO.
+
+
+To be suddenly pitched head-foremost down a rocky declivity into
+a mass of prickly pear bushes and other tropical brambles is by
+no means pleasant; and as a result Billie was not in the best of
+humor when he picked himself up and looked to the top of the
+60-foot embankment down which he had slid.
+
+"It's a wonder they wouldn't hang out a red light when they dig a
+hole like this," he declared angrily, "and not let a fellow most
+break his neck, to say nothing of scratching his eyes out! This
+is worse than a subway cave-in."
+
+He pulled himself together and surveyed his surroundings.
+
+The basin looked very much like an old quarry--so old that the
+shrubbery on the sides had grown into good-sized trees, and the
+whole place was covered with herbage of one sort or another. In
+one corner of the excavation, which must have covered some two
+acres, there was the ruin of an adobe house, while near the
+center was a stone structure made of four stone pillars about
+twenty feet apart and roofed over with two huge stone slabs, set
+so as to form a gable roof. Except for its size, it had the
+appearance of the old-fashioned well houses, which were once so
+common in New England.
+
+"It's a tough-looking place, whatever it is," was Billie's
+comment. "I wish the fellows were here."
+
+And then for the first time in more than half an hour Billie
+bethought him of his companions. His strange experience with the
+ape had driven all other thoughts out of his mind.
+
+"By George!" he exclaimed aloud, "I wonder how the fight with the
+bandits came out?"
+
+Almost as in answer to his words, there appeared upon the edge of
+the excavation into which he had fallen, but upon the opposite
+side from that on which he had taken his slide, ten horsemen,
+three of whom carried across the pommel of their saddles the
+bodies of three men. They halted and surveyed the basin
+critically. Then, single file, they slowly descended into the
+quarry.
+
+Billie recognized them the minute he laid eyes upon them. They
+were the remnant of the bandit band, and the bodies carried
+across the pommels of the saddles were three of their wounded
+companions.
+
+"This is no place for me," commented Billie as he kept himself
+well hidden behind a giant cactus. "It reminds me of Ali Baba and
+the forty thieves. I hope I have better luck than Ali Baba."
+
+As though to carry out the trend of Billie's thoughts, the
+horsemen halted near the ruin of the adobe house before mentioned
+and two of their number dismounted and entered. A minute later
+the rest of the band rode into the ruins and disappeared,
+followed by the riderless horses of the two dismounted men.
+
+Billie rubbed his eyes.
+
+"I wonder if I'm getting dippy," he muttered. "Maybe that crack
+on the side of my head has made me see things."
+
+He sat down to think.
+
+"If I only had some kind of a gun," he mused, "I wouldn't feel so
+everlasting helpless. Confound that ape! If I ever see him again
+I'll break his neck."
+
+Then, after a moment's thought: "I don't believe the beast would
+give up the chase. He's likely to show up at any minute.
+Something has to be done."
+
+The boy scanned the edge of the embankment, if perchance he might
+see anything of his persecutor. There was nothing in sight and he
+decided to go on a tour of inspection. As quietly as possible he
+stole along the side of the excavation toward the spot where the
+ruin stood, when once more he had that sense of being watched.
+
+Turning his head quickly, he saw the ape about twenty paces to
+one side aiming the revolver at him.
+
+Then Billie lost his temper.
+
+"This thing has got to stop," he exclaimed. "I'll be doggoned if
+I'm going to stand for it any longer."
+
+He ran quickly toward the ape, and fell on his knees as he had
+seen the ape do, and raised his hands in supplication.
+
+The animal quirked its head and fairly beamed with pleasure as it
+slowly advanced and stood beside him.
+
+But its simian smile was quickly turned to surprise, for like a
+flash Billie snatched the weapon from its hand and aimed it at
+the animal's head.
+
+"Now," he said, "you come with me."
+
+The animal made no move.
+
+"We'll see whether you will come or not," said Billie, and
+stooping down he broke off a good-sized sprout from a live oak.
+"Now, march!" and he raised the whip.
+
+It was the one thing needed. The beast had evidently felt the
+touch of a whip before, for it raised its arm and danced about as
+though going through some circus maneuver.
+
+"The first mystery is solved," laughed Billie. "Now for the
+second one. Come on, Ab," unconsciously naming his companion
+after the hero of Stanley Waterloo's famous story.
+
+The ape seemed to know what was wanted and the two proceeded
+slowly and silently toward the ruin.
+
+"I've been in a whole lot of queer scrapes," mused Billie as he
+crept along, "but this is surely the queerest--tramping around
+with an ape to solve the disappearance of ten cutthroats. I hope
+I wake up pretty soon."
+
+But it was no dream, as Billie was soon to discover.
+
+Arriving at the ruined building, Billie crawled along by the wall
+until he came directly under what had once been a window. Then,
+after listening a long time and hearing no sound, he ventured to
+raise his head and peep in.
+
+The old ruin was as empty as though there were not a living
+person within fifty miles.
+
+"Great Scott!" gasped the boy. "What do you think of that! Now I
+know I'm dreaming!"
+
+He turned to the ape, waving his whip.
+
+"Here you, Ab," he said, "go in there and see what you can find."
+
+He pointed to the window and the animal sprang lightly in and a
+minute later perched itself on one of the decaying rafters.
+
+"If there were any one around, they would certainly see Ab,"
+reasoned Billie, "and would make some noise about it. I guess
+it's safe to go in."
+
+He crawled around to the door and entered. There were the tracks
+of the horses, but the horses had disappeared as completely as
+though they had been swallowed up.
+
+Billie called softly to Ab, who did not see fit to obey until he
+waved his whip. Then the animal sprang lightly to the ground.
+Billie showed him the tracks.
+
+"Where do you suppose they went?" he asked.
+
+Ab blinked his eyes and, for the first time since Billie had
+become acquainted with him, made a noise in his throat, much like
+the voice of a child.
+
+Billie smiled in spite of himself.
+
+"I'm glad you've decided to become sociable," he said, "What do
+you make of this? You look as though you could think."
+
+Ab blinked his eyes stupidly and then suddenly became alert as
+though listening.
+
+"What is it?" asked Billie, impressed by the ape's attitude.
+
+For a reply Ab sprang through the window and made straight for
+the structure in the middle of the quarry. In another instant he
+was on the roof.
+
+Billie followed as fast as he could and as he stepped beneath the
+roof started back in the utmost amazement, for up through what
+looked like a huge well there came the distinct sound of human
+voices.
+
+For several seconds he stood as one in a spell and then he
+started forward to peer into the well, but on a second thought
+did not.
+
+"I couldn't see anything if I did," he thought, "but any one
+looking up could see me. I'll do better by listening."
+
+The words came to him almost as distinctly as though he were in
+the same room with the speakers, and there was no longer any
+doubt that the voices were those of the Zapatistas who had
+attempted to rob the train.
+
+From their conversation Billie learned the outcome of the fight,
+and he was greatly amused at the attempt of the bandits to figure
+out who had betrayed them. Each one had a different theory, but
+all agreed that there must have been a traitor in the band. It
+was all the lad could do to prevent himself from calling out to
+them, just to see what effect his words would have.
+
+After discovering from the conversation that the bandits felt
+themselves perfectly secure where they were and that they were
+likely to stay there for some time, he finally decided to get
+back to the railroad and thence to Pachuca and give the alarm.
+
+Acting upon the decision, he made his way across the basin to
+where he had slid down the embankment and slowly and laboriously
+climbed to the top, followed by Ab.
+
+Retracing his steps, he soon reached the railroad and looking
+down the track toward Pachuca gave a shout of delight as he saw
+his three chums approaching, leading a fourth horse between them.
+
+"Just in time," he said, as they drew near enough to exchange
+greetings.
+
+"Just in time for what?" queried the others as one.
+
+"To capture the bandits that you let escape."
+
+"How do you know that we let any escape?" asked Adrian.
+
+"I'm a mind reader."
+
+The other three looked incredulous.
+
+"Oh, it's a fact," declared Billie. "I can tell you all about the
+fight just as well as though I had been there," and he proceeded
+to prove his words.
+
+"Some one told you," said Adrian.
+
+"Sure," laughed Billie, thoroughly enjoying the perplexity of
+his companions. "My friend Ab. Come here, old man, and be
+introduced," and Billie waved his whip, which he still carried.
+
+With a little cry the ape sprang to his side, an act which only
+added to the amazement of the others.
+
+"Allow me," said Billie with mock gravity, "to introduce my
+friend Mr. Ab from No-man's-land. Ab, these are the rest of the
+Broncho Rider Boys. How would you like to join the company?"
+
+Ab scratched his ear and looked wise.
+
+"Oh, come," interrupted Donald. "Tell us what's up and what we
+must do to capture the rest of this band of cutthroats."
+
+Thinking that he had carried the joke far enough, and realizing
+also that he might be wasting valuable time, Billie related his
+adventure, describing the place he had discovered.
+
+"It is the Rosario viejo," said Pedro, as soon as Billie had
+finished his story.
+
+"What's that?" asked Billie.
+
+"An abandoned mine. It is called the old Rosario to distinguish
+it from the new Rosario, which is now one of the most valuable
+mines in this region. The station at Pitahaya was built
+especially to serve it."
+
+"I see," said Billie. "Where is the new mine?"
+
+"Down there," and Pedro pointed to a trail leading in the
+opposite direction. "It is just about as far from the station on
+that side of the railroad as the old Rosario is on this."
+
+"Don't you think we had better summon some assistance from the
+mine workers?" asked Adrian.
+
+"They may be in cahoots with the bandits," laughed Donald. "I
+have lost my confidence in about every one in this bandit-ridden
+land."
+
+"I don't blame you," said Pedro, "and I hope the day will soon
+come when all this trouble will be over."
+
+"Then you agree with me that we should tackle the bandits alone,
+do you?" asked Donald.
+
+"It is the only safe way."
+
+"All right, then," exclaimed Billie. "Let's be off. If we use a
+little strategy, I'm sure we shall succeed."
+
+He turned to mount the horse, which a minute before had been
+standing a few feet away, but it was gone.
+
+"Where's my horse?" he cried.
+
+The others turned in surprise.
+
+"It certainly was here a minute ago," declared Adrian.
+
+"Then it can't be very far away," insisted Donald.
+
+"It's so far I can't see it," replied Billie.
+
+"There it goes!" shouted Pedro, who had jumped his mount across
+the track as soon as he heard Billie's cry.
+
+The others looked in the direction indicated, and sure enough,
+there went the horse about a quarter of a mile away on a dead run
+and on its back was Billie's late acquaintance, Ab.
+
+"By George," exclaimed Billie angrily as he snatched a rifle from
+Donald's holster, "I've had enough of that ape. I'll put a stop
+to his foolishness," and he leveled the rifle.
+
+But ere he could press the trigger, there was a report from
+another quarter and the horse and its rider hit the dust.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+WHEN THE OLD WAS NEW.
+
+
+A cry of astonishment went up from the quartette and then they
+stood silent to see what would be the next move.
+
+They did not have long to wait, for presently a tall, gaunt
+figure strode out of the brambles some yards from the fallen
+horse and uttered a hoarse shout, upon which Ab sprang from the
+spot where he had fallen and ran toward the newcomer, giving vent
+to shrill cries as he ran.
+
+"That must be his master," muttered Billie. "I'm glad I didn't
+shoot the little beggar."
+
+"I'm more interested in the master than in the monkey," said
+Donald. "He is evidently not a Mexican. Who and what do you
+suppose he is?"
+
+"An animal trainer from a circus," replied Adrian.
+
+"There are no circuses in this part of the world," commented
+Billie.
+
+"If he only had a hand organ instead of a gun, I could place
+him," laughed Donald. "What do you make out of him, Pedro?"
+
+"It's a _saltimbanco_."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"A man who goes about making people laugh."
+
+"Oh!" from Adrian. "You mean a mountebank?"
+
+"I think so."
+
+"And this chap," ventured Billie, "isn't satisfied with making a
+monkey of himself, but carries a real one with him."
+
+Pedro laughed. "That seems to be it."
+
+"I'm sorry he killed the horse," said Donald. "We need him."
+
+"Perhaps he didn't," suggested Adrian. "Suppose we ride over and
+see."
+
+Suiting the action to the word, the boys rode out into the open,
+much to the newcomer's surprise and consternation.
+
+"Senors," he exclaimed, as he came running toward them, "I am
+sorry I had to hurt your horse; but I couldn't lose my brother."
+
+"Your what?" asked Billie.
+
+"My brother. My little brother. Could I, Ambrosio?" and he patted
+the ape on the cheek.
+
+"What do you call him?" asked Donald.
+
+"I call him Ambrosio because he is so sweet."
+
+"Bah!" exclaimed Billie. "I called him Ab, but he ought to be
+named Diabolo. But how about the horse?"
+
+"I am afraid I have rendered him quite useless for the present,
+Senor. I may have broken his leg."
+
+An examination of the fallen animal revealed the fact that while
+the leg was not splintered, it was so badly injured that the
+animal was quite useless.
+
+"Have you far to go, Senors?" queried the mountebank.
+
+"Only as far as the Rosario viejo for the present," answered
+Adrian. "After that----"
+
+"After that," interrupted Billie, "we may not want to go
+anywhere."
+
+The mountebank looked at Billie questioningly.
+
+"That's what I mean," reiterated Billie. "We are going there to
+capture a band of cutthroats, but we may have a fight."
+
+The man made a grimace, which was intended for a smile.
+
+"I understand. Can I be of any service?"
+
+Donald eyed him suspiciously.
+
+"What do you think?" he asked.
+
+"You may have noticed how I stopped the runaway," he remarked.
+
+"Very neatly."
+
+"Sure," from Billie. "It was a short stop."
+
+"I perceive that you are an American. I am also a fan."
+
+"What!" from the three Americans.
+
+"True. I am even worse. I formerly shot the pill in one of the
+bush leagues. I aspired to a place in the box of one of the major
+league clubs, but instead I joined the Madero revolution. I had
+all the sport I wanted and finding my brother in this forsaken
+land, I joined him as a public entertainer. Shall we give you a
+sample of our performance?"
+
+"Not now," from Donald. "Let's go and round up this bunch of
+revolutionists first."
+
+"But why?" queried the mountebank. "To-morrow they may be the
+government."
+
+The boys looked at each other with an expression that said as
+plainly as words: "True! We never thought of that."
+
+"Now, I have a better plan," continued the mountebank. "Let's go
+and entertain the revolutionists. Let's be neutral."
+
+"I'm afraid we are already belligerents," laughed Adrian. "We
+have had one brush with them."
+
+The mountebank heaved a sigh.
+
+"Of course, if you have declared war, we shall have to fight to a
+finish, unless," with a grin, "we can intrench."
+
+"It is they who are intrenched," explained Billie. "They are at
+the bottom of the old mine, although I don't know how they got
+there."
+
+"So," laughed the mountebank. "Suppose we go and find out."
+
+Arrived at the shaft house, for that is what the gable-roofed
+building was, the boys and their new-found friend approached and
+listened to the sound of voices which still arose to the top of
+the shaft.
+
+Evidently considering themselves free and safe, the bandits were
+preparing their evening meal, for it was now well on toward
+sunset. They were singing and joking as though they had not just
+lost half or two-thirds their number.
+
+From a few remarks made now and then, it appeared that they
+proposed on the following day to recruit the band up to its
+former strength.
+
+"That is the thing we must prevent," declared Donald.
+
+"A very easy thing," said the mountebank, "if we had enough
+provisions to remain here for twenty-four hours, or more."
+
+"How so?" asked Billie.
+
+"Why, they will doubtless send out two or three to do the
+recruiting. We can capture them as they leave the ruins."
+
+Billie glanced at the man from under his broad-rimmed sombrero as
+he asked: "How did you know they came out through the ruins?"
+
+The mountebank smiled.
+
+"Now, don't go to mistrusting me, young fellow, for I'm on the
+level. But I've been in this place before, and I know that the
+only way to where your friends down there are camping is through
+the ruins."
+
+"Have you ever been down there?"
+
+"Yes. They are only about sixty feet below the ground, in a
+chamber which was originally a gallery in the mine. The shaft
+over which this house is built is over two hundred feet deep."
+
+"I'd like to explore it," remarked Adrian.
+
+"Do you think you have the nerve?" and the stranger bent upon him
+a penetrating gaze.
+
+Billie laughed softly.
+
+"Say, stranger," he finally said. "I guess you never heard of the
+Broncho Rider Boys. We've got the nerve to do anything that any
+other human being dare do."
+
+"Then we'll get rid of these bandits in short notice," declared
+the mountebank emphatically. "You are just the chaps I have been
+looking for."
+
+He leaned over the mouth of the shaft and gave a shrill whistle.
+
+In an instant all was silent below.
+
+Half a minute later he repeated the whistle thrice.
+
+There was a clatter below of arms and accoutrements.
+
+"Over behind those big cactus with you, quick," was the next
+command. "If you insist on fighting these men later, you can.
+Now let's get rid of them."
+
+For just a moment the boys hesitated, but there was something in
+the man's manner that seemed to force obedience and they obeyed.
+
+They were not a moment too soon, for they had no more than
+secreted themselves than the back wall of the ruin flew open and
+the men rode out. Of those who had been at the mouth of the shaft
+only a few moments before, only the mountebank with his ape was
+in sight.
+
+"What is it?" asked one of the band, riding up to him.
+
+"Guard the track at the summit. Let no train pass, even if you
+have to tear up the track."
+
+"By whose order?"
+
+The mountebank made a mysterious sign with his left hand.
+
+"_Bueno!_" from the horseman. "Close up the doors and care for
+the wounded," and putting spurs to his horse, he led the bandits
+from the basin.
+
+As soon as they were out of sight, the mountebank summoned the
+boys to the shaft house by a wave of his hand.
+
+"Now," he said, "you'll have a chance to test your nerve, and we
+must work rapidly to get where we wish to go before dark."
+
+He took from a crude knapsack which he wore upon his shoulders a
+coil of cord about half the size of a lead pencil, but evidently
+of much strength. Then seizing the ape, he fastened one end of
+the cord to the belt about the animal's body, and despite its
+unwillingness to be thus treated began to lower it into the
+shaft.
+
+Totally unable to account for his actions, the boys stood
+speechless, watching the operations.
+
+After some minutes, the cord slackened.
+
+"He's reached the bottom," was the information vouchsafed. Then a
+moment later: "Help me to pull him up, one of you."
+
+Billie hastened to lend a hand and in a short time the head of
+the ape appeared above the edge of the shaft. In his hand he held
+one end of a good-sized rope, which the mountebank took and tied
+around one of the stone pillars which supported the roof.
+
+"Now, then," he said, "we are ready to descend into the old mine.
+Which one of you will go first?"
+
+The boys looked at each other, but there was no reply until
+Donald asked:
+
+"Why should we go down at all?"
+
+"Why," was the somewhat quizzical reply, "to show your nerve."
+
+"Unless there is some good reason other than that, there are
+plenty of ways to show our nerve without lowering ourselves to
+the bottom of an old mine."
+
+"There is a good reason," was the reply.
+
+"Then tell us. If it is good, there can be no objection."
+
+"The object of this descent," said the stranger calmly, "is to
+see if we cannot solve the mystery of the abandonment of the
+mine."
+
+"Have you ever been down?" asked Billie.
+
+"Often."
+
+"There is no foul gas at the bottom?"
+
+"Not now, as you may see by the condition of Ambrosio, who has
+been clear to the bottom."
+
+"Then I am willing to be the first to descend; but first I must
+know more about you than I do."
+
+"What difference does that make? You will have three friends here
+with me. They are all armed and I can see they know how to use
+their weapons. I cannot possibly harm you. I will be the third to
+descend. I assure you that the descent and the ascent are
+comparatively easy for athletic young chaps, as the sides of the
+shaft are very uneven. By the aid of this rope you can come up
+almost as easily as you would climb a ladder. The adventure is
+well worth your while."
+
+"And you won't tell us who you are?"
+
+"I have already told you. I am an American soldier of fortune. My
+name, if that means anything to you, is Francis Strong, and I
+have assumed this character of a mountebank solely for the
+purpose of going about the country without being molested. What I
+hope to do, is of no interest to any one but myself."
+
+It was a straightforward statement and the boys saw no reason to
+doubt its truthfulness.
+
+"All right, then," exclaimed Billie. "Here goes!"
+
+He grasped the rope and lowered himself over the side. It was as
+Strong had said and in a very few minutes he found himself at the
+bottom. He could see nothing except the dim light at the mouth of
+the shaft.
+
+Giving the rope a vigorous shake, as had been agreed upon, he saw
+another figure begin to descend, and in a short time Pedro stood
+beside him. Strong was next to descend, then came Ambrosio, and
+after him Adrian and Donald in the order named--Donald having
+determined to be the last, that he might be sure that everything
+was safe above ground.
+
+"I should have given you this," was Strong's first remark upon
+alighting at Billie's side, and he drew from his pocket an
+electric torch. "But it slipped my mind."
+
+"We all have them in our trunk in the City of Mexico," replied
+Billie, "but I doubt if either of us has one with him."
+
+"This is sufficient, for I shall light some torches I have
+prepared as soon as we are ready for our work."
+
+When Donald had descended, Strong led the way through a lateral
+about thirty or forty feet, at the end of which another vertical
+shaft had been sunk. Around the mouth of this Strong had set a
+number of torches, which he now proceeded to light. By their
+glare it was possible to see part way down the hole.
+
+"The thing I hope to find," explained Strong, "is at the bottom
+of that hole, if it exists at all."
+
+"What is that?" asked Billie.
+
+"I think I can best answer your question," was the reply, "by
+reading you a translation of a paper which is said to have been
+found in the shaft above, where the bandits have made their
+rendezvous. How it came into my possession, matters not. I
+believe there are now enough of us here to prove or disprove its
+truthfulness, unless some one has been here before us."
+
+Seating himself on a jutting boulder, Strong took from his
+pocket a paper, which he read as follows under the flickering
+torchlight:
+
+  "Being about to leave this world, I desire to obtain forgiveness
+  for the great and only crime of my life, hence this confession.
+
+  "There were five of us. Names do not matter. They were my fellow
+  workmen. We had been entrusted with the output of the Rosario for
+  the year and had promised to guard it with our lives. We heard
+  the soldiers of Maximilian coming. We were not enough to
+  withstand them. We determined to hide the treasure in the western
+  shaft. We carried it to the edge and threw it in. My four
+  companions went down to cover it over with dirt, which I brought
+  from the other shaft and gave them, shovel by shovel. A mad idea
+  seized me. If they were dead, no one but I would know the hiding
+  place of the treasure. I would kill them; but how? I glanced
+  about. Great pieces of rock were on every hand. Without stopping
+  to consider the foulness of the deed I rolled a huge piece to the
+  mouth of the shaft and pushed it in. There was a cry of terror
+  and I heard a voice call out to know what had happened. I said a
+  piece of rock had broken loose and asked what damage it had done.
+  Only one replied. The others had been stricken down. Madly I
+  pushed over another rock and then another and still another. Then
+  there was silence and I fled. The soldiers found me unconscious
+  at the bottom of the shaft. Ere I became conscious, Maximilian
+  was no more. When I returned hither, the mine had been abandoned.
+  Here I have lived for years alone with my misery. Now I die. May
+  God forgive me.
+
+                                                    JOSE RODRIGUEZ.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+A FEARFUL EXPERIENCE.
+
+
+"Well?" queried Donald when Strong had finished reading the
+paper, "what are we going to do about it?"
+
+"We are going to find out, if we can, whether Jose Rodriguez told
+the truth, and if he did, whether any one else has tried to prove
+it."
+
+"What do you think of it, Pedro?" asked Billie, indicating the
+opening at their feet.
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"Have you ever been down in it?" asked Adrian of Strong.
+
+"No! I did not feel equal to the task and I was afraid to ask
+help of any of these cutthroats."
+
+"What do you think of it, Pedro?" asked Billie, turning to the
+Mexican lad, who had made no comment whatever.
+
+"It's an old tale," was the reply, "this story of the Rosario
+viejo. I have heard it many times and I presume this shaft has
+been explored by every prospector in this section. In my opinion
+it is a huge hoax."
+
+At Pedro's words, Strong's face became ashen.
+
+"Are you telling the truth?" he asked hoarsely.
+
+"Indeed I am. My father knows of several who have searched the
+place and nothing has ever been found."
+
+Strong drew a long breath and passed his hand over his face.
+
+"I have believed it true," he finally said, "ever since I first
+came into possession of this paper. There is something about it
+that rings true and I have counted upon finding sufficient wealth
+to enable me to achieve a long cherished plan. If what you say,"
+turning to Pedro, "is true, my chance of attaining my ambition is
+very slim."
+
+"I'm sorry, sir, but if I had known for certain what your object
+was in coming down here I might have saved you the trouble.
+Isn't there any other way you might obtain the money you wish?"
+
+"If there is, I don't know it."
+
+"Pedro may be right," spoke up Billie suddenly, "but I am in
+favor of making an inspection of our own, now that we are here.
+What do you say, Don?"
+
+"I'm with you." Then to Strong: "How are we to get to the
+bottom?"
+
+Strong reached over and from behind a nearby boulder produced
+another bundle of rope.
+
+"I had intended making a rope ladder," he said.
+
+"All right, then," from Donald, "a rope ladder it shall be."
+
+The boys set to work and in the course of an hour had made a rope
+ladder more than fifty feet in length. Lowering it into the
+shaft, it seemed to reach to the bottom and Billie started to go
+down, but Strong prevented him.
+
+"I shall go first," he said. "If there is any danger from
+poisonous gas, or from reptiles, I shall take the risk. You boys
+have parents and homes. I have no one. If I should suffer any
+mishap, do not attempt to rescue me. It would not be worth
+while."
+
+"Nothing will happen," declared Adrian. "I have a hunch and my
+hunches are usually right."
+
+The rope having been properly fastened and warded off the side by
+an ingenious arrangement of several large rocks, Strong began his
+descent. In his left hand he carried a flaming torch and Donald
+leaned over the edge, looking down, with rifle sighted, to fire
+upon any reptile which might be brought to light by the torch's
+ruddy glare.
+
+Step by step Strong went down, stopping every now and then to
+hold his torch below him, if perchance it might come into contact
+with fire damp or any other noxious gas.
+
+He had descended at least three-fourths of the way, when, as he
+swung his torch below, he uttered a cry that was almost a shriek
+and the torch fell from his hand.
+
+At the same instant Donald gave vent to a loud exclamation and
+his rifle cracked.
+
+"Hold on," he cried as he arose from the ground, "as you value
+your life, don't lose your hold."
+
+"What is it?" asked the others in one voice.
+
+"Snakes! Dozens of them," replied Donald. "Climb up, Strong, as
+fast as you can."
+
+"All right," came a feeble reply, followed almost immediately by
+a louder call of "Help!"
+
+"Hold fast," called Donald. "I'm coming."
+
+But before he could turn to step down the ladder, a chattering
+figure sprang past him and shot down the rope.
+
+It was the ape. He had heard his master's call and had gone to
+his assistance.
+
+A moment later came a joyful cry that told as plainly as words
+that Ambrosio had reached his master in time.
+
+"Are you all right now?" called Donald.
+
+"Yes. I'll be up in a minute. Good old boy," the last remark
+evidently addressed to the ape.
+
+When Strong's head appeared above the edge of the shaft a couple
+of minutes later he was as pale as a ghost and when he at length
+came into the full light of the torches, it was seen that his
+hair was as white as snow. The fright had completely changed its
+color.
+
+"Let's get out of here," he gasped as soon as he was helped to
+his feet. "I wouldn't go down into that place again for all the
+gold and silver in the world."
+
+"It was pretty rough for sure," admitted Donald. "I just caught a
+glimpse as the torch fell among them, but it was so quickly
+extinguished by the wriggling mass I only shot once for fear of
+hitting you."
+
+"It was the darkness that frightened me," Strong explained
+feebly. "If I hadn't let go my torch to hold on with both hands,
+I don't think I would have minded so much. But the darkness hid
+what was below and it just seemed as though they were right after
+me. I'd have been a goner sure if it hadn't been for good old
+Ambrosio," and he laid his hand affectionately on the ape's head.
+
+"Do you think you'll be able to climb out of the mine?" asked
+Billie as they reached the main shaft.
+
+"Yes, with Ambrosio's aid; but I'm going out first. I don't think
+I have nerve enough left right now to be the last out."
+
+The exit from the mine was much slower than the descent had been,
+but in the course of an hour they were all once more out under
+the stars.
+
+"What about the bandits?" queried Billie.
+
+"Take my advice," said Strong, "and let them alone. This is none
+of your quarrel. If the Mexicans want to fight among themselves,
+let them. It's a family quarrel and you will only make matters
+worse by interfering. The time may come when these very men may
+prove your best friends."
+
+"That's the advice I gave when we first discovered them to-day. I
+wish now we had all followed it."
+
+"If we are not going to do anything," declared Adrian, "the
+quicker we get out of here the better."
+
+"I consider that more good advice," laughed Billie, "especially
+as I am just reminded that I haven't had a bite to eat since
+noon. But I have no horse."
+
+"That's easily remedied," replied Strong.
+
+He went into the old ruin and in a few minutes returned with a
+very good animal, all saddled and bridled.
+
+"It will not be missed," he said. "Now ride for your lives. Take
+the trail to the left and don't let moonlight catch you within
+five miles of here."
+
+"Aren't you coming with us?" asked Donald.
+
+"No! I am better off here."
+
+"How will you account for your white hair?"
+
+"I'll tell them it is a charm. They'll believe it and it will
+make me that much more valuable. Now go!"
+
+Without wasting more words the boys put spurs to their horses and
+were soon out of the basin and on their way to Pachuca.
+
+"It seems like a year since we came down here," remarked Adrian
+to Billie as they galloped along.
+
+"It sure does," was the reply as Billie rubbed his stomach
+suggestively. "I'll never go out again as long as I'm in this
+revolutionary republic without a haversack full of grub."
+
+"Who said grub?" called back Donald.
+
+"What a question," laughed Adrian. "Who is it that's always
+hungry? It's all he thinks about."
+
+"Oh, it is, eh?" from Billie. "Well, I'm thinking about something
+else now. There's the moon coming up over the valley and we're
+not three miles from the old Rosario. We'd better keep our eyes
+peeled and see that our shooting irons are in shape. We may have
+to fight our way home even yet."
+
+As though to verify the prediction there appeared at the moment
+the figure of a solitary horseman silhouetted against the rising
+moon.
+
+"You're a prophet of evil all right," said Adrian. "Now what?"
+
+"Just keep on riding."
+
+"But that chap is right in our way."
+
+"Then ride him down. He'll be worse scared than we are."
+
+The advice seemed good and the boys spurred forward.
+
+"If you think he means us any harm," Donald remarked, "I might
+take a shot at him."
+
+"I don't believe he does."
+
+Again Billie proved a good prophet as the rider rode directly
+toward them, waving his hat in his hand.
+
+"It's Tony," exclaimed Pedro as the rider approached a little
+nearer.
+
+Tony was one of Gen. Sanchez' servants.
+
+"Why, so it is," laughed Donald. "I suppose he is out looking for
+us."
+
+Which was exactly the case. The news of the fight had reached
+Pachuca along with the part the boys had played in saving the
+bullion, and Pedro's father had heard it along with the others.
+
+Later, word had been brought that one of the boys was missing and
+the others had gone to look for him. When none of them returned
+after all these hours, Gen. Sanchez had organized a searching
+party, of which Tony proved to be the advance guard.
+
+A few minutes later, several horsemen dashed up and the boys were
+given a rousing reception.
+
+"The _Jefe politico_ is waiting to greet you," Tony told the
+boys.
+
+The jefe politico is the mayor.
+
+Billie smiled broadly and once more rubbed his stomach.
+
+"This begins to look encouraging," he remarked to Pedro. "I think
+I can taste the good things already."
+
+Half an hour later the boys reached the city and were given a
+cheer as they passed through the main street and up to Gen.
+Sanchez' home, which was located half a block from the plaza. And
+in another ten minutes Billie was facing the mayor over a plate
+of steaming soup, while a mozo stood at his back waiting to serve
+the leg of a twenty-five pound turkey. Raising his eyes from the
+table, he caught sight of what was coming and gave Donald, who
+sat next to him, a dig in the ribs with his elbow.
+
+"How's this for a prophet of evil?" he asked.
+
+Donald took a look at the great bird which was rapidly falling
+into pieces under Gen. Sanchez' skillful hand, and remarked with
+a wink:
+
+"Great!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE INSULT TO THE FLAG.
+
+
+A week later, or, to be more exact, on April 10, 1914, the
+Broncho Rider Boys and their friend Pedro were back in the City
+of Mexico. During the two weeks they had been at Pachuca, many
+changes had taken place and on the morning in question they had
+just finished their coffee in the breakfast room when Guadalupe,
+Pedro's sister, brought in the morning paper.
+
+"What's the news?" asked Adrian.
+
+Guadalupe glanced at the paper and hid it behind her back without
+making any reply.
+
+"Why, Sister!" exclaimed Pedro with all the dignity of his
+sixteen years. "How can you be so rude?"
+
+"She's only joking," laughed Billie, who was always found on
+Guadalupe's side when any argument took place. "Come, tell us!
+What is it?"
+
+Guadalupe shook her head.
+
+"Oh, I can't," she replied in a pained voice.
+
+"Why not?" from Billie.
+
+"It says we are going to have war with the United States and I
+don't believe it."
+
+"Of course you don't," replied Billie. "Neither does any one
+else."
+
+"Let me see," said Pedro sternly.
+
+Slowly the girl handed her brother the paper.
+
+He opened it and read.
+
+"A party of American marines was arrested in Tampico yesterday
+for landing on Mexican soil with arms in their hands. They were
+marched through the streets under a heavy guard and lodged in
+jail. After a parley with the American Admiral, Mayo, the
+commandant of the city finally released them upon the assurance
+of the Admiral that it should not occur again."
+
+"Well, if it was only a mistake, that doesn't mean war," laughed
+Billie, but Donald's face took on a more serious look.
+
+"That isn't all," said Pedro.
+
+"Well," from Billie, "let's have the rest of it."
+
+"The American Admiral has now declared that the men did not land
+on Mexican soil with arms in their hands, but that they were in
+their boat at the pier when arrested. He claims that they were
+taken from under the American flag----"
+
+"What?" almost shouted Billie, springing to his feet. "Taken
+from under the American flag? Well, I'll bet that will mean
+war--unless," he added after a brief pause, "Gen. Huerta
+apologizes."
+
+"Why should he apologize?" asked Pedro.
+
+"For insulting the American flag."
+
+"That's what the American Admiral says," interrupted Guadalupe,
+"and he threatens to fire on the city."
+
+"And I'll bet he'll do it," said Adrian.
+
+"If he does we'll sink his ships," said Pedro.
+
+"What with?" asked Billie sarcastically. "Why, Admiral Mayo could
+blow Tampico out of the water."
+
+"If he does, the Mexicans will march on Washington," from Pedro.
+
+"What?" from Donald. "March on Washington? Why, Huerta can't
+hardly keep Carranza out of the City of Mexico."
+
+"But if your admiral fires on Tampico, Carranza will help Gen.
+Huerta," declared Pedro.
+
+"Do you really think so?" asked Adrian.
+
+"I know it. We may have our little family troubles down here in
+Mexico, but if the United States should interfere, we'd all turn
+in and fight her."
+
+Billie was about to reply when Gen. Sanchez entered the room.
+
+"I see you have been reading the news," he said calmly.
+
+"And discussing it too," said Donald.
+
+"Which we had better not at present," replied the General. "You
+boys are our guests and as long as you are, you are our friends;
+but I am afraid there is serious trouble coming and I think it
+will be much better if you make arrangements at once to return to
+the United States. As you know, I am not a favorite with the
+present administration and I might not be able to protect you."
+
+"We can ask the protection of the American Ambassador," said
+Donald.
+
+Gen. Sanchez smiled kindly.
+
+"The American Ambassador may be asked to leave."
+
+The boys looked serious.
+
+"Do you really think it is as bad as that?" asked Adrian.
+
+"I fear so. Later dispatches from Tampico state that the American
+Admiral has demanded a salute of twenty-one guns to the American
+flag. I know Gen. Huerta well enough to know that he will never
+order the salute."
+
+"Then what will happen?" asked Donald.
+
+"No one can say. I understand that the American government has
+placed the matter in the hands of Admiral Fletcher, the ranking
+officer, who is in charge of the Atlantic fleet off Vera Cruz."
+
+"Do you think we should go at once?" queried Billie.
+
+"Yes, I think it would be better. I will make such arrangements
+as I can for your transportation to Vera Cruz. In the meantime
+you had better go and register yourselves at the United States
+Embassy. I am never sure of Gen. Huerta."
+
+Without further discussion the boys prepared to take Gen.
+Sanchez' advice, and, donning their hats, started for the
+embassy, leaving Pedro much chagrined and Guadalupe in tears.
+
+"I can't see why there has to be war!" she declared. "Why can't
+men behave themselves?"
+
+"What do girls know about war?" asked Pedro.
+
+"They know it's terrible and takes their fathers and brothers,
+that's what they know, and they wish they didn't have to know
+that."
+
+Pedro made no reply, but went to his room, where he selected from
+among his most cherished belongings a gift for each of his
+guests--three beautiful opals--and laid them upon their
+respective suit cases.
+
+When the Broncho Rider Boys arrived at the embassy they found a
+large crowd of Americans already assembled. Word had been
+circulated that it would be wise for all of them to leave Mexico
+and those who could were going, while many men whose business
+detained them in Mexico were sending their families. All had come
+to the embassy for information and to register.
+
+As a result it was late in the afternoon before the boys returned
+to Gen. Sanchez' residence. But late as they were, the general
+had not yet come in. They went to their room and when they saw
+the gifts which Pedro had laid on each valise, they could not
+keep back the tears.
+
+"Well, there's one thing," declared Billie as he drew the back of
+his hand across his eyes, "we don't have to fight Pedro, no
+matter what comes. I'm going to hunt him up and tell him so."
+
+And he did.
+
+It was some hours later when Gen. Sanchez returned and announced
+that it would be impossible for the boys to get transportation to
+Vera Cruz for two or three days, as the track had been torn up in
+the neighborhood of Cordoba, but that he had been promised that
+they would be given safe conduct as soon as the track was
+repaired.
+
+It was three days later, therefore, before the boys were able to
+leave, during which time they remained in the house at Gen.
+Sanchez' request to avoid any unpleasantness, which might make
+trouble for him.
+
+On the morning of the 13th the boys bade good-bye to their host
+and his family and were driven in an automobile to the station.
+Already there were more than enough persons to fill four trains,
+and the guards were permitting only those to board the cars who
+had passes signed by the Mexican provost marshal.
+
+Thanks to Gen. Sanchez, our boys had been provided with such
+passes, but they were not allowed to take their rifles or
+revolvers aboard the train. They had no more than found seats and
+made themselves comfortable than the conductor shouted "Vamanos,"
+and the train pulled slowly out of the shed.
+
+"Well," remarked Donald as they rolled slowly along, "this is a
+pretty tough ending to a friendly visit. I think I've seen about
+all I want of Mexico for some time to come."
+
+"What do you suppose will happen?" asked Billie. "Do you think
+we'll really go to war with Mexico unless Gen. Huerta orders the
+salute?"
+
+"I don't know," was Donald's cautious reply. "I hope not."
+
+"And I hope we do!" exclaimed a somewhat florid gentleman who sat
+in the seat ahead and who had overheard the conversation. "I'd
+just like an opportunity to come down here with an army and wipe
+the whole nation off the earth."
+
+Donald made no reply, but Adrian asked sympathetically: "Have
+they treated you badly, sir?"
+
+"Have they treated me badly? Well, I should say so. They wouldn't
+let me out of my hotel for two days and now they have refused to
+carry my trunk and made me leave it with the express company. I
+guess they don't know who I am."
+
+"I'm sure they do not, sir."
+
+"Well, I'll show them who I am as soon as I get to Vera Cruz and
+can see Admiral Fletcher. He'll know how to protect Americans!"
+
+"I'm sure he will, sir."
+
+"And when the first marine lands, I want to be right there with a
+rifle to help drive the Mexicans off the earth."
+
+"It would be wise not to say too much," whispered Adrian. "I see
+that officer in the end of the car has his eye on you. He may
+speak English."
+
+"I don't care who hears me," said the florid man angrily. "I mean
+it."
+
+At the same moment a guard who had approached from the other end
+of the car laid his hand upon the angry man's shoulder.
+
+"If the Senor is not satisfied," he said, "we shall be pleased to
+send him back to the City of Mexico."
+
+"Oh, no-no-no," was the stammering reply. "I am very well
+satisfied. All I want is to get out of the country."
+
+"Let us hope there will be no trouble about that," was the polite
+response, and the florid man lapsed into silence.
+
+Ordinarily it is a pleasant day's journey from the City of Mexico
+to the seaport city of Vera Cruz; or if one prefers he may make a
+night ride of it in times of peace. The train which left the City
+of Mexico that April morning made no such time. After a tiresome
+all-day ride with numerous aggravating stops, when darkness fell
+they were still on the plateau of Mexico, some miles west of
+Orizaba, running slowly for fear some stray bunch of Carranzistas
+or Zapatistas might have torn up a length or two of track.
+
+It was possibly an hour later that the engine gave a furious
+jerk, followed by a bump and another jerk, and then the train
+came to a dead stop.
+
+In a minute everybody was on his feet asking everybody else what
+had happened. As no one knew, there was a general movement for
+the doors, as it was too dark to see much from the windows.
+
+"Sit down, everybody," ordered the guard. "There is no danger,
+but we have stopped on a high trestle."
+
+The passengers obeyed, realizing the danger of leaving the
+coaches. There was a general round of conversation, and then as
+the train did not start, people settled back in their seats and
+tried to sleep.
+
+Some minutes later Billie gave Adrian a nudge with his elbow.
+
+"Are you asleep?" he asked.
+
+"No. Why?"
+
+"I've just been looking out of the window. We're not on a
+trestle."
+
+"No? Well, what of it?"
+
+"Only that the guard was lying. What did he do it for?"
+
+"I don't know. Because he was a Mexican, I guess. Go on to
+sleep."
+
+"That isn't the answer, although it's pretty good. They have some
+scheme. I wouldn't be surprised if they were going to keep us
+prisoners somewhere around here."
+
+"Nonsense. Go on to sleep."
+
+But Billie was not satisfied. He leaned over and tried to talk to
+Donald, but he was fast asleep.
+
+"I think I'll go on a little scouting expedition," he muttered.
+"I need some exercise."
+
+He arose, stretched himself and walked slowly toward the door,
+which stood wide open.
+
+"I wonder where the guard is?" he thought. "It's mighty funny
+he'd go and leave the coach like this."
+
+He stepped on to the coach ahead. The same condition existed.
+
+Billie's curiosity got the best of him and he jumped out onto the
+ground. It was pitch dark, but he had not advanced more than
+twenty steps before he discovered groups of men seated upon the
+grass. A second glance convinced him they were armed.
+
+He drew back and stood beside the coach, where he thought fast.
+
+"There's one of two things," he soliloquized. "We are either
+prisoners or else we are being guarded against an expected
+attack. Whichever it is, this is no time for the Broncho Rider
+Boys to be asleep. I'll go and tell the others."
+
+He started to climb onto the car, but a guard appeared on the
+platform and ordered him away at the point of his bayonet.
+
+"I'm a passenger," explained Billie.
+
+"Go away!" was the reply, emphasized by a quick advance of the
+bayonet.
+
+Seeing that it was no time to argue, Billie slid back into the
+darkness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+TREACHERY FOILED.
+
+
+Broncho Billie had been in too many unpleasant places to be at
+all worried over his predicament, but he was much concerned about
+the condition of the train and its passengers, practically all of
+whom were Americans and a large majority of whom were women and
+children.
+
+"It would be fierce," he mused, "to have them held here, or in a
+detention camp as prisoners; and it would be worse if we should
+be attacked by an overwhelming force of revolutionists. I've just
+got to know the truth."
+
+He glanced up at the coach with its dimly lighted windows.
+
+"I wish I could talk to old Don. He most always knows what to do.
+But how can I get at him?"
+
+He sneaked out to where he could see the coach platform. The
+guard was still there, as well as the guard on the other car.
+
+"Worse and more of it," he exclaimed.
+
+Then he examined the car, trying to determine at which window he
+had been seated. Several were open, and he determined to try and
+speak to some one.
+
+"Our seats are not far from here," he thought as he stopped under
+the second one. "I'll try this."
+
+He picked up a stone about as big as an egg and tossed it into
+the window. A howl from a child followed the act and Billie
+ducked under the car. He could hear the mother pacifying it, but
+evidently she, too, had been asleep and had not discovered the
+stone.
+
+"I think I know just which child it is," said Billie with a grin,
+"and this next open window must be ours."
+
+He picked up another stone and tossed it in to his second choice,
+this time with better results.
+
+Donald had just aroused from a nap, and, missing Billie, was
+looking for him. Not seeing him in the car, he was about to look
+out of the window when the stone hit him on the chin.
+
+"Ouch!" he exclaimed as he started back.
+
+Billie heard the exclamation and gave the familiar whistle.
+
+Donald was on the alert in an instant. Looking up and down the
+car to be sure he was not being watched, he stuck his head out of
+the window.
+
+"What is it?" he asked.
+
+"Trouble," was Billie's laconic reply. "Come out."
+
+"How can I? The guard is at the door."
+
+"Jump out of the window."
+
+"They might see me."
+
+Billie thought fast.
+
+"Let Ad stand between you and the door."
+
+"Great," from Donald.
+
+He aroused Adrian and told him the situation.
+
+"You stay in the train," he said, "and we'll keep you posted as
+to what is going on outside. If there is any real danger we will
+give the alarm."
+
+He picked up his overcoat and pretended to be fixing a pillow.
+Adrian did the same. Then, while the guard's back was turned, he
+dropped out of the window.
+
+Billie was beside him when he rose to his feet.
+
+"This way, Don," he whispered. "Let's get out into the dark and
+hold a council of war."
+
+They glided out into darkness, but where they could keep their
+eyes on the engine.
+
+"Now tell me about it," said Don.
+
+Billie told him what he had discovered.
+
+"It does look strange," Donald admitted. "Have you any plan?"
+
+"I haven't an idea above an oyster," was the characteristic
+reply.
+
+Donald scratched his ear reflectively.
+
+"How would it do," he finally asked, "to sneak over by the
+soldiers and see if we can't pick up some scrap of conversation
+that may give us a clue as to what is going on?"
+
+"Fine. We must keep together, though. We might never find each
+other in the dark if we should become separated."
+
+Silently they crawled toward the spot where Billie had seen the
+soldiers. When they did not hear any sign of them after several
+minutes' crawling they stopped to listen.
+
+"There surely was a squad here a few minutes ago," declared
+Billie. "They must have moved."
+
+They remained silently thoughtful for several minutes, but all
+was as silent as a graveyard.
+
+"That's mighty funny," said Billie. "I know I was not mistaken.
+Let's go back by the train."
+
+They turned for that purpose and could see a group of figures at
+the platform of each coach.
+
+"That's the answer," exclaimed Billie. "They have surrounded the
+train. Now let's see what will happen."
+
+They had not long to wait as an officer shortly boarded each car
+and a minute later there was a commotion among the passengers.
+
+Drawing a little nearer, the boys could hear the officer in the
+car nearest them explaining that the passengers would be obliged
+to alight and change trains.
+
+"The track has been torn up ahead of us," he said, "and we shall
+have to walk nearly a mile to where the train is that came up
+from Vera Cruz."
+
+This had been quite the customary thing in Mexico for some months
+and the passengers prepared to obey.
+
+"I don't believe it is true," said Billie to Donald.
+
+"We can soon find out," declared Donald. "Let's walk down the
+track a piece. We can easily keep ahead of the crowd."
+
+Avoiding the glare of the locomotive's headlight, the boys
+hurried down the track and when far enough away from the train to
+feel secure, they took the middle of the track.
+
+"This is far enough ahead," said Donald, "to keep out of sight
+and the track is all right so far. I don't believe it is torn up
+at all."
+
+"Then what is up?"
+
+"That is what I've been trying to decide for nearly an hour,"
+replied Billie. "It looks as though they intended to make all the
+Americans prisoners."
+
+"But what for?"
+
+"Why, for hostages, to be sure. Don't you remember how Caesar took
+a lot of the Helvetians for hostages?"
+
+"By George!" from Donald. "I believe you are right. Do you
+suppose it is Huerta's orders?"
+
+"I expect so. He hates Americans."
+
+While the boys had been talking the passengers had been taken
+from the train and were now coming toward them.
+
+"Let's keep just far enough ahead to see what will happen," said
+Donald. "We must get in touch with Adrian somehow."
+
+They started ahead, but it speedily developed that the others
+were not following. Instead they had been halted a short distance
+from the locomotive, back from the track, and surrounded by
+soldiers.
+
+"There seems to be a hitch somewhere," Don finally remarked.
+"They don't seem to know just what they do want to do."
+
+"Come on back and find out," said Billie. "It's up to us to do
+something."
+
+Cautiously they crept back to where they could hear the
+conversation among the passengers and the questions they
+asked the guard. Some were laughing and more were expressing
+indignation. A few of the women were crying, but above all they
+could hear the voice of the florid-faced man telling what he
+would do as soon as he could get into touch with Admiral
+Fletcher.
+
+"Which won't be very soon, unless I'm mistaken," laughed Donald.
+
+Presently some one began to whistle a popular air, but in such a
+way that the boys recognized the well-known whistle of Adrian.
+
+"Do you hear that?" asked Billie. "Ad wants to know what we are
+doing."
+
+"He'll have to want for the present," said Don, "but there go a
+couple of officers back to the train. Let's follow them."
+
+The boys darted into the shadow of the coaches and crept back
+only a few steps behind what proved to be the captain in charge
+of the company and his second lieutenant.
+
+"If I only had my automatic, I'd soon settle this whole matter,"
+declared Billie.
+
+"You wouldn't hurt anybody, would you?"
+
+"I'd capture the officer and make him take us to Vera Cruz."
+
+"Of course," from Donald. "Why didn't I think of it before? Let's
+do it."
+
+"But we have no weapons."
+
+"Then we must get some."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Keep your eyes open. There must be some way."
+
+The officers kept on their way until they reached the first
+Pullman, where they stopped for a minute.
+
+"Are the orders in here?" asked the captain.
+
+"No; the conductor has them. He wouldn't stop the train without I
+gave them to him."
+
+"Carramba! Why didn't you tell me so before? Go and take them
+from him and bring them here at once."
+
+"Bueno, Capitan! Will you wait here?"
+
+"Yes, I'll go inside. Hurry."
+
+The lieutenant turned and hurried back. The boys only saved
+themselves from being detected by throwing themselves flat on the
+ground.
+
+For a moment the captain remained looking after his companion and
+then turned and entered the car.
+
+"We must have that order," said Donald.
+
+"We must!" echoed Billie.
+
+"Then we'll get it," they exclaimed as one.
+
+So alike were the thoughts that passed through their minds that
+they did not even feel obliged to speak the plan aloud.
+
+"Which one of us will stop him?" asked Donald.
+
+"You'd better. I'm heavier and I can handle him easier."
+
+They walked back some ten feet, where Donald stopped, while
+Billie went about ten feet farther and drew off into the
+darkness.
+
+A couple of minutes later they heard the lieutenant coming. He
+passed Billie without seeing him.
+
+Then Donald advanced and met him as by chance.
+
+"Who comes there?" asked the lieutenant in a sharp tone, drawing
+his revolver.
+
+"Why, hello, lieutenant," said Donald as he came close to him.
+"What's happened?"
+
+The lieutenant eyed him suspiciously.
+
+"Where did you come from?" he asked.
+
+"From the rear sleeper. I woke up and found myself all alone."
+
+"Humph!" grunted the lieutenant. "You must have been overlooked.
+Come with me."
+
+He started to replace his revolver in its holster when a slight
+noise behind him caused him to turn his head. As he did so,
+Billie's fist caught him under the chin and he fell in a heap
+without making a sound.
+
+"Good work!" muttered Donald as he picked up the revolver which
+the lieutenant had let fall. "Now to business."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+DONALD'S STRATEGY.
+
+
+Lifting the unconscious man in their arms, they bore him into the
+darkness away from the train, where he was soon deprived of his
+coat, hat, and weapons. Then he was gagged and securely tied with
+his own sabretasche.
+
+Donald, being nearest the lieutenant's size, donned his uniform,
+buckled on his sword, and with the order in his hand hastily
+entered the car, closely followed by Billie, with the ready
+revolver in his hand.
+
+The captain had thrown aside his hat and was smoking a cigarette
+in one of the easy seats as the boys entered. He gave them only a
+hasty glance as he blew a cloud of smoke into the air, and the
+next minute he was covered by Billie's weapon.
+
+"Up with your hands!" was the stern order.
+
+The captain hesitated, but a sharp prick from Donald's sword sent
+the hands into the air.
+
+In another minute the captain was disarmed.
+
+"Now," said Donald sternly, "we'll see what all this trouble is
+about."
+
+He opened the telegram he held in his hand and read:
+
+  "American Admiral has given an ultimatum. Hold train and
+  passengers until further orders.
+                                                    Maas."
+
+"Who is Maas?" asked Donald sternly.
+
+The captain shrugged his shoulders, but said nothing.
+
+"You'll answer in just one minute, or you'll never have a chance
+to answer another question," said Donald, as he stood with drawn
+sword, while Billie covered the captain with his revolver.
+
+"Would you murder an unarmed man?" asked the captain.
+
+"I wouldn't consider it murder. Answer."
+
+The look in Donald's eyes was not to be mistaken.
+
+"Gen. Maas is in command of Vera Cruz," the captain said.
+
+"Good. I think I see it all. If it is decided not to accede to
+the ultimatum, it is proposed to hold the train load as
+hostages."
+
+The captain smiled.
+
+"Now listen!" and Donald spoke very slowly so that every word
+might find lodgment. "You have one chance for your life. Can you
+guess what it is?"
+
+The captain shook his head.
+
+"To do just exactly as I bid. Just one little attempt to do
+differently, and you are a dead man."
+
+The captain scowled, but made no reply.
+
+"Put on your hat and come with me. Order the passengers back on
+to the train and give your engineer instructions to cover just as
+much of the distance between here and Vera Cruz by daylight as he
+knows how!"
+
+The captain shrugged his shoulders as he arose from his seat.
+
+"I see you think it will be easy to escape. Just put any such
+idea out of your mind. There is no possible chance."
+
+Donald turned to Billie.
+
+"This is what must be done. We shall walk directly back to where
+the passengers are. The captain will give his order without any
+hesitation. Otherwise I shall shoot him through my pocket. You
+will keep right behind us. If I fire, you fire also. One of us
+will be sure to kill him."
+
+Donald led the way from the car and Billie brought up the rear.
+
+Through the dark they marched, each with a hand on the captain,
+so they might feel his slightest tremor.
+
+Arriving at the engine the captain summoned the sergeant.
+
+"Order the passengers to board the train," was the brief command.
+
+The sergeant hastened to obey.
+
+"Bueno!" said Donald, as the passengers rushed back.
+
+Then under his breath to Billie: "Call Adrian."
+
+Billie did so.
+
+"Where are you?" Adrian called back.
+
+"Down near the engine."
+
+A moment later Adrian appeared coming through the crowd of
+hurrying passengers.
+
+"Where's Don?" he asked as soon as he caught sight of Billie.
+
+"Not far. Stay here. We may need you."
+
+Adrian's face showed some surprise, but he said nothing.
+
+"Now, captain," said Don quietly, "your orders to the engineer,"
+and under cover of the darkness he pushed the point of his
+revolver into the captain's side, while Billie touched him
+significantly in the back.
+
+The captain gave the order as he had been instructed.
+
+"Now for the conductor," ordered Donald.
+
+The order was given, but the conductor refused to obey.
+
+"I must have a written order," he said.
+
+"Why?" asked Donald, in his role of lieutenant.
+
+"To countermand the order of Gen. Maas."
+
+"Captain," was Donald's quiet hint, "don't you think it would be
+well to place the conductor under arrest?" and again he poked his
+revolver into the captain's side.
+
+The order for the conductor's arrest was quickly given.
+
+"Now, then, vamose," called Adrian. Then to the engineer, "I will
+act as conductor."
+
+The guards and extra soldiers who had been detailed for this
+special service, sprang aboard; the engineer pulled open the
+throttle and the train began to move.
+
+"Aren't you going, too?" asked Adrian.
+
+"Yes," whispered Billie to Donald, "hurry aboard with your
+prisoner."
+
+The captain was evidently of the same mind, for he started to
+board the already moving train.
+
+"No you don't," exclaimed Donald, pulling him back. "You're going
+to stay here with us!"
+
+"Do you mean it, Don?" asked Billie in surprise.
+
+"Sure! What do you think he'd do to us as soon as it was light?"
+
+By this time the train was under headway; a second later the last
+coach passed them and in another minute the tail lights were
+disappearing in the darkness.
+
+"It looks to me," remarked Adrian with a long breath, "as though
+we were in the consomme."
+
+"Perhaps," was Donald's laconic reply, "but those women and
+children will be safe in Vera Cruz under the guns of Admiral
+Fletcher's fleet by daylight, or I'm greatly mistaken."
+
+"And what are we going to do with our friend the captain?"
+queried Billie.
+
+"He'll have to accept our hospitality under the stars until
+morning and then we'll see."
+
+In telling about his experiences later Billie said it was the
+longest and the shortest night he ever knew. It seemed a long
+time for daylight, but it seemed a short time for the train which
+was bearing his countrymen to safety.
+
+When day finally began to break, the first thing that became
+visible was the snow-tipped peak of Mt. Orizaba, against which
+the sun threw his brilliant rays long before he could be seen
+above the horizon. It was a beautiful sight and the boys voiced
+their admiration with many exclamations of delight. Then they
+turned their attention to the more serious thoughts for the day.
+
+The first thing they did was to release the lieutenant from his
+unpleasant predicament and restore to him his uniform.
+
+"We should like to return you your arms also," said Donald, "but
+your government took ours from us and I think we shall have to
+keep yours in their place."
+
+Neither of the officers made any reply, but their dark looks
+boded no good for the boys.
+
+"You might just as well look pleasant," laughed Billie. "All is
+fair in love and war."
+
+"We'll make you sing a different song when we get you in Vera
+Cruz," said the captain.
+
+"And when do you think that will be, Captain?" queried Adrian.
+
+"As soon as the next train comes along."
+
+"Oh, that's it, is it?" said Donald. "That being the case, I
+guess we will not wait for another train. By the way, how far is
+it to Vera Cruz?"
+
+"About a hundred kilometers."
+
+"That's about eighty-four miles, isn't it, Ad?"
+
+"Just about."
+
+"And it's down hill pretty much all the way, isn't it?"
+
+"I should say so by looking down the valley."
+
+"A right nice little walk, Captain. Let's be going. We ought to
+make it easily in four days."
+
+At this cordial invitation the captain lost his temper.
+
+"Carramba!" he exclaimed. "Am I a boy to be made sport of? I will
+not go. If you wish me to go you will have to carry me," and he
+deliberately laid himself down on the ground.
+
+In spite of themselves the boys were obliged to laugh.
+
+"We carried the lieutenant last night, but we don't desire your
+company badly enough to carry you," laughed Billie. "If you don't
+want to go, I for one vote to leave you. We have to forage for
+something to eat and the fewer there are, the easier it will be.
+And speaking of eats, it seems to me I smell something cooking
+right now."
+
+At Billie's words the others sniffed up their noses.
+
+"It's a fact as sure as you're born," declared Donald.
+
+"And I'm going to find out where the odor comes from," said
+Billie. "There must be a house around here somewhere."
+
+Again he sniffed the air and smiled jubilantly.
+
+"The wind's in the east," he laughed. "It must be somewhere in
+this direction. Come on, Captain."
+
+The captain refused to move, but Billie led the way, followed by
+the two boys. They had not gone many rods when through an opening
+in the trees they beheld a good-sized adobe house. Pushing
+hastily toward it, they soon reached a cleared space, and there,
+gathered about a bunch of some forty or fifty horses, were a
+dozen men, while through the open door of the house many more
+were to be seen seated at a table--eating.
+
+"Come on!" exclaimed Billie. "I'm going to have something to eat;
+I don't care who they are."
+
+"We might as well make the best of it," declared Donald. "We are
+discovered any way and the best thing we can do is to put on a
+bold front."
+
+Without further words the three boys walked boldly toward the
+house.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+A TIMELY RESCUE.
+
+
+The minute the boys' presence became known, there was a commotion
+in the house and in the clearing surrounding it. Those in the
+yard sprang toward their guns and those in the house jumped from
+the table.
+
+"Don't move," called out Billie. "We are friends."
+
+But the men were not sure and at once surrounded the boys.
+
+They appeared to be soldiers, but their uniforms were of a great
+variety and many hues. Only the officer in command had anything
+the appearance of a real soldier.
+
+"Who are you?" he demanded as he came forward.
+
+"Friends! Americanos!" replied Donald.
+
+"Yes; and hungry ones," added Billie with a gesture that brought
+a smile to the officer's face.
+
+"Where did you come from?" was the next inquiry.
+
+Donald explained that they had been left by a train that had
+stopped nearby. He did not think it necessary to enlighten the
+officer as to the circumstances.
+
+"If you don't believe us," broke in Billie, "you can ask the
+officers we left back there by the track."
+
+Donald made a gesture of impatience, which Billie failed to
+understand, but which the officer was quick to interpret.
+
+"Officers? Of which army?" he quickly asked.
+
+"Gen. Huerta's."
+
+"Carramba!" exclaimed the officer in command. "Go quick,
+corporal, and bring them to me."
+
+Then to Billie: "If you are telling me the truth you have done me
+a great favor."
+
+The boys looked surprised.
+
+"How is that?" asked Donald.
+
+"Do you not know that we are of the army of Gen. Carranza?" was
+the interrogative reply.
+
+"Why, no!" exclaimed the boys in unison.
+
+"It is true," said the officer. "I am Captain Lopez. Now tell me,
+who are you?"
+
+Briefly Donald told of their acquaintance with Gen. Sanchez and
+of their adventures of the night before, at which the captain
+laughed heartily.
+
+"You are smart boys," he declared.
+
+"And hungry ones," again added Billie.
+
+"You must be. Here, Juan," calling a soldier to him. "Take these
+_muchachos_ to the house and feed them. I'll have a look at these
+rebels."
+
+"Rebels," said Adrian to Donald under his breath as they walked
+toward the house. "Now what do you think of that?"
+
+"That's his viewpoint," replied Don. "He thinks of the men who
+overthrew President Madero as rebels."
+
+By this time they were near enough the house for Billie to smell
+the aroma of the coffee and he quickened his pace.
+
+"I'll talk politics after I've sampled the breakfast," he
+declared. "If the breakfast is good, I'll join the band."
+
+It was nearly half an hour later that the boys stood before the
+captain. With a good breakfast under their belts they felt fit
+for anything that might offer.
+
+"I'm afraid you boys are in a bad fix," said Captain Lopez. "I
+suppose you want to get to Vera Cruz and on to some ship that
+will take you to the United States; but I don't know how you are
+going to make it."
+
+"Why, can't we get another train somewhere down the line?" asked
+Adrian.
+
+"There may not be any more trains for some time."
+
+"How's that?"
+
+"We are here to stop them."
+
+"Does that mean you are going out to tear up the track?"
+
+"Not right here, but a little nearer Vera Cruz. There is a much
+larger body of troops about five miles below."
+
+Billie uttered a prolonged whistle.
+
+"That does look bad, sure enough," he declared. Then, after a
+pause: "What's the matter with walking?"
+
+"It's a long ways and the mountains are full of our men."
+
+"Can't you give us a safe passage? You say we have done you a
+favor by turning these two officers over to you," suggested
+Donald, indicating with a nod of his head the captain and
+lieutenant of the train guard who were now held prisoners.
+
+"I'll do the best I can," was the reply, "but you will have to
+remain with me to-day. We are on scout duty and shall not return
+to the main body until to-night."
+
+"That'll suit me all right," laughed Billie, "and if you don't
+mind I think I'll go into the house somewhere and take a nap."
+
+"Bueno," laughed the captain. "You might as well all take a nap.
+If we have occasion to leave the neighborhood we will call you."
+
+Ten minutes later the three were fast asleep on a pile of Mexican
+blankets in the best room in the house.
+
+Three hours later they were awakened by a fusillade of shots.
+
+They sprang to their feet and looked around. For just a moment
+they could not remember where they were. Then they recalled their
+situation and became on the alert.
+
+"Trouble outside," was Don's laconic statement.
+
+He and Billie drew the revolvers they had captured the night
+before.
+
+"Put 'em up," advised Adrian. "We're not here to fight."
+
+"We might have to," from Billie.
+
+"Not at all. If one side wins, we are safe. If the other side
+wins, we are prisoners and the attackers will be our rescuers."
+
+"Great head, Ad," was Billie's comment. "But I'd like to know
+what is going on," as another fusillade was heard.
+
+"Better stay where we are till the shooting stops," said Don.
+
+It was good advice and the boys waited as quietly as they could.
+
+A few minutes later there was a volley and a shout, followed by
+the sound of rushing feet. Then there was quiet as the shots were
+heard receding.
+
+When none of their friends returned after a few minutes, the boys
+ventured to the door. There was no one in sight.
+
+"I wonder where they have all gone?" ventured Billie.
+
+"I expect that our friends have run away and some of Huerta's
+soldiers are chasing them."
+
+"If they do, they will run into an ambush," said Adrian.
+
+Which is exactly what happened.
+
+"That won't do us any good," said Don. "Now that we are alone, I
+vote that we get back to the railroad track. We won't get lost if
+we follow that and a train may come along."
+
+The advice seemed good and they started to go.
+
+"Hold on," exclaimed Billie. "Let's see if we can't find some
+grub to take with us."
+
+"Great head!" laughed Adrian.
+
+"Great stomach, you mean," from Donald. "It never lets him
+forget."
+
+The boys plundered through the house. The owners must have been
+scared away, for nothing had been disturbed. In the kitchen they
+found a big plate of _tortillas_, half a baked kid, and some
+wheat bread. This they appropriated.
+
+"We might as well have a blanket apiece," said Donald. "It is
+only another case of a fair exchange. The Mexicans have our suit
+cases."
+
+Each took a blanket and Adrian was so fortunate after searching
+all over the house as to find a shotgun and a belt full of loaded
+shells that went with it.
+
+"If those shells were loaded with buckshot you'd be all right,"
+said Billie. "They're the----"
+
+His speech was interrupted by a cry that fairly made their blood
+run cold.
+
+"What's that?" and the three stopped as though they had been
+paralysed.
+
+Again came the cry, and with a single bound the boys were out in
+the open, each with his weapon ready for instant use.
+
+They could see no one, but there was the sound of something
+crashing through the brush which hid the railroad from the house.
+
+"Sounded like a wild cat," declared Donald.
+
+"Or a coyote," said Billie.
+
+"I'm sure it was a human voice," remarked Adrian. "Do you
+remember the Zunis?" referring to another adventure told in the
+story of the "Broncho Rider Boys Along the Border."
+
+Even as he spoke there emerged from the brush the figure of a
+woman carrying in her arms a small child. Winged by fear, she was
+bounding along like an antelope.
+
+A moment later, and not two rods behind her, came forth a figure
+which the boys instantly recognized as a mountain lion.
+
+How the woman had succeeded in escaping it even for a moment was
+a mystery.
+
+In a second the three weapons spoke. The report was followed by a
+scream from the beast and a cry from the woman, both of whom fell
+lifeless to the earth--the beast dead and the woman in a swoon.
+
+"Take care of the woman, you two," said Adrian. "I'll examine the
+beast."
+
+No one stopped to question the order.
+
+Billie picked up the child which the woman had let fall, while
+Donald stooped down and felt the woman's pulse. Then he darted
+into the house and was back in a minute with a bucket half filled
+with water. With it he bathed the woman's temples and poured a
+little down her throat.
+
+In a couple of minutes she revived and looked around.
+
+"Mi nina!" she gasped.
+
+"She's asking for her child," said Donald.
+
+Billie carried the little one over and stood it beside her.
+
+With a glad cry she snatched it in her arms and burst into tears.
+
+"She's all right," laughed Donald. "Now let's have a look at that
+animal."
+
+They walked over to where Adrian was watching the inanimate
+carcass.
+
+"Where did we hit him?" asked Billie.
+
+"I can see three places and one is big enough to throw a baseball
+through it."
+
+"That's from the shotgun," said Donald. "It's what did the
+business. Must have been buckshot and we were so close it didn't
+have a chance to scatter."
+
+"I'd sure like that hide," said Adrian.
+
+"We'll be in luck if we save our own," remarked Billie. "Unless
+we can do something for the woman, we'd better be jogging along."
+
+By this time the woman had risen to her feet and the boys could
+see that she was not a peon as they had supposed, but of the
+better class.
+
+"Where could she have come from?" queried Donald under his
+breath.
+
+"Suppose you ask her," laughed Adrian.
+
+Donald did so. At first she was too dazed to answer, but after
+Donald spoke a few words quietly and in his very best Spanish,
+she was able to answer his questions.
+
+"Is this your house?" he asked.
+
+"No, Senor; my house is down the mountain."
+
+"What are you doing here alone?"
+
+She gave him a startled glance and then hugged the child closer
+to her breast.
+
+"You need not fear us," were the reassuring words.
+
+"The soldiers came," she said slowly. "They had already killed
+the others. They would have killed me."
+
+"The soldiers?"
+
+"Yes. They were looking for my husband. They said he was hidden
+in the house; but he was not. He is with Gen. Carranza."
+
+"When was this?"
+
+"Yesterday. I have been in the mountains all night. There was a
+fight a few minutes ago and I saw them pass. Then I came here,
+when the awful beast sprang out," and again she drew the child to
+her.
+
+"Are you hungry?"
+
+"Si, senor!"
+
+It was the child that answered.
+
+In an instant Billie's hand was in his pack and he held out the
+_tortillas_, which both mother and child took and ate ravenously.
+
+After their hunger had been appeased, they questioned the woman
+further, telling her they were going to Vera Cruz.
+
+"If you will come with me down the mountain, you can hide in my
+house," she said.
+
+"We don't want to hide," laughed Billie. "We want to get to Vera
+Cruz. However, we'll see you home, if you don't mind."
+
+Without more words the woman led the way, Billie insisting upon
+carrying the little girl.
+
+After a walk of more than two hours, the woman stopped in a
+little clearing from which a view of the mountainside for miles
+could be gained.
+
+"There is my house," she said, pointing to the roof of a really
+noble mansion constructed of stone. "But what is that flag I see
+on top of it?"
+
+The boys took one good look at it and then they let out a wild
+yell.
+
+"Hurrah!" they cried. "It's the Stars and Stripes."
+
+"I don't know what it means away out here," said Donald, "but
+wherever it is it means something. Come on!" and he dashed down
+the mountainside, followed by the others.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+FRIENDS IN DISTRESS.
+
+
+Half an hour later the boys stopped beside a ruined wall in which
+was a still more ruined gate.
+
+It was the home of Gen. Luiz Blanco, whose wife and child it was
+that the boys had saved from the mountain lion.
+
+Above the house, on a lofty turret, waved the American flag--a
+fact which caused the boys to enter the gate and approach the
+house without hesitation.
+
+But when they reached the great front door leading into the
+patio, they found it shut and barred.
+
+Here they knocked loudly.
+
+For some minutes there was no reply, despite repeated knocks, but
+finally a voice called out in English:
+
+"Who's there?"
+
+"American boys in trouble."
+
+"What?" was the surprised reply. "Say it again, till I see if it
+is true."
+
+"It's true all right, all right," said Billie. "If you don't
+believe it we'll sing the 'Star Spangled Banner,' or 'Hail
+Columbia'."
+
+They could hear some one removing the bars and a moment later the
+gate swung open, and a huge, bewhiskered man in ragged garments
+and a Winchester rifle in his hand stood before them.
+
+"Come in quick," he commanded, "and let's get this gate barred.
+There is no knowing when that band of robbers will be back."
+
+"Robbers?" queried Billie, as he set the little girl on the
+ground and extended his hand to the man. "What robbers?"
+
+"They call themselves soldiers," and the man seized Billie's hand
+and gave it a mighty grip, which made even Broncho Billie wince,
+"but what do we care for them? With four Americans we can defy a
+hundred of them." Then, as Donald and Adrian finished barring the
+gate: "It's certainly good for sore eyes to see such faces," and
+he grasped each boy in turn.
+
+"Well, we're mighty glad to see you," replied Donald. "We
+expected to find the place deserted."
+
+"How did you know anything about the place?"
+
+"This lady told us it is her home."
+
+"What?" from the man. "Do you mean to tell me this is the Senora
+Blanco?"
+
+"Even so, Senor," replied the lady. "No one would recognize me in
+these rags and grief. Oh, Senor, had it not been for these brave
+Americans I should have been devoured by a lion."
+
+"You don't tell me. But I'd know they were the real thing. Their
+faces show it. But come, let's go into the house. You'll excuse
+me, Senora, for taking possession of your castle."
+
+"It is yours, Senor. Do with it as you will. But will you not do
+me the favor of your name?"
+
+"I beg your pardon, Senora. I had forgotten. I am Ebenezer Black,
+who owns the ranch across the valley. My daughter and I were out
+on a hunt for some lost cattle when we were waylaid by this
+so-called company of soldiers. I drove them off but my daughter
+was wounded and I made for this place. Finding no one at home, I
+took possession."
+
+"I am so glad, Senor. And where is your daughter now?"
+
+"Sitting in a big armchair, nursing a wounded arm."
+
+"Oh, let us hasten," cried the senora. "I may be of some
+assistance."
+
+They hurried into the house and into the great library, now all
+in disorder and strewn with bits of cigars and cigarettes. In one
+of the big leather chairs sat a girl of some sixteen or
+seventeen, with her left arm in a sling, but in her right hand
+she held a glistening revolver. She was very slight, but dressed
+in a riding costume of unique design, and with a wealth of soft
+brown hair hanging just to her collar. With just a touch of
+pallor due to the wound, the boys thought her the most beautiful
+girl they had ever seen, not excepting Pedro's sister Guadalupe.
+
+That the girl was surprised at the addition to the party goes
+without saying. She looked first at her father, then at the
+newcomers and then back to her father, as much as to ask: "Who
+are they?"
+
+"This," said Mr. Black as the senora came forward, "is the lady
+of the house and her daughter. These are American boys, as you
+can see, although you haven't had a chance to know many American
+boys. I don't know their names, but names don't count. I'll vouch
+for them."
+
+"We are very highly complimented," laughed Donald, "but I shall
+be pleased to introduce us. I am Donald Mackay. Now that you know
+me, I will introduce my friends, Adrian Sherwood, ranch owner and
+good fellow, and William Stonewall Jackson Winkle, better known
+as 'Broncho Billie.' We are known as the Broncho Rider Boys."
+
+"Oh, Father," exclaimed the girl, "I've read about them. I have a
+book some one sent me from the United States telling about their
+adventures at the Keystone ranch."
+
+"You don't say so," from her father. "I didn't know they were
+such celebrities. Such being the case, young gentlemen, allow me
+to introduce my daughter, Josephine, commonly called Josie. Now
+then, how did you all come here?"
+
+As briefly as possible Adrian related their adventures since they
+left the City of Mexico the previous morning; told about the
+information contained in the telegram from Gen. Maas, and wound
+up by saying: "We may be at war with Mexico right now for all we
+know."
+
+"Well, now what do you think of that?" exclaimed Mr. Black. "I
+just knew I had a reason when I hoisted that flag. It's one Josie
+always carries in her saddle bags. It makes her feel safer, she
+says."
+
+"And I hope she is safer," exclaimed Billie, "with it waving over
+her to-day, than she would be without it."
+
+"At any rate she has more protection than she had a few hours
+ago," ventured the senora. "I shall never forget how I was
+protected."
+
+"I'd feel a whole lot better," said Donald, "if I had some other
+weapon. A Colt does very well in a tight place; but I certainly
+miss my Marlin."
+
+"We formerly had quite a supply of arms," was the explanation
+offered by the senora, "but when Gen. Blanco went to join Gen.
+Carranza he armed all his men and it took about everything we
+had. However, there are a few weapons left--unless," she added as
+an afterthought, "the Huerta soldiers have discovered their
+hiding place."
+
+She led the way to the cellar and pointed to a spot at one side.
+
+"If you will brush away the dirt that covers the floor about
+there," she said, "you will find a large slab. This can be
+raised, and underneath there should still be several good
+rifles."
+
+Donald and Billie, who had accompanied her, while Adrian remained
+up stairs with the others, quickly followed her instructions. The
+edges of the slab were exposed to view and after some effort the
+opening was revealed. In it were four rifles and an old-fashioned
+cannon. The rifles were not of the latest make, but two were
+magazine rifles and were a decided improvement over revolvers in
+case it came to defending the house.
+
+"I suppose that old cannon might be mounted on the roof somehow
+and made effective," said Donald after he and Billie had
+inspected the other arms. Then to the senora: "Is there any
+ammunition?"
+
+"There was powder in that wine cask," she replied, "but I don't
+know whether there is any left. The balls for the cannon are on
+the roof."
+
+The boys examined the cask and found it contained quite a
+quantity of powder. Then they all returned to the library and
+made their report.
+
+"Not a very heavy armament to withstand a siege, is it?" was Mr.
+Black's comment. "Half a dozen rifles with about a hundred
+cartridges, an old cannon that might explode any minute, and four
+revolvers. It won't do."
+
+"What else can we do?" asked Billie.
+
+"Why, now that there are four of us, we'll cross the valley to my
+house. It is just as well located to withstand a siege as this
+and it is thoroughly armed and provisioned."
+
+"Suppose we have to fight?"
+
+"Then we'll fight."
+
+"But you forget your daughter and the senora and her child."
+
+"I didn't forget Josie," was the reply, "and, wounded as she is,
+she can take care of herself; but I don't know about the others.
+They would be a handicap. Have you anything better to offer?"
+
+Billie scratched his head.
+
+"Not for the moment."
+
+"Well, I have," exclaimed Adrian.
+
+"I thought it was about time Ad woke up," laughed Donald. "Let's
+have it."
+
+"Captain Lopez told us that there was a large body of Carranza's
+troops down the railroad a short distance. If he meant by a short
+distance six or eight miles they can not be more than a couple of
+miles from where we now are. I feel sure that the skirmish we
+passed through has proved disastrous to the Huerta forces and I
+am willing to go out and find Captain Lopez and bring relief."
+
+"And I'll go with you," said Billie.
+
+"I can do just as well alone. If I am not captured by the other
+side I shall make it easily, and," he added, "I am sure I shall
+not be captured, for I can lick any squad of peons that I'm
+likely to meet."
+
+"You are a brave boy," said Josie, a bit of praise which brought
+the color to Adrian's cheeks and was an added incentive for
+bravery.
+
+"But why shouldn't I go?" insisted Billie.
+
+"You may be needed here. This house is a marked place and if a
+small band of the Huerta forces has escaped, this will be one of
+the places where they will rally."
+
+"Your friend is right," agreed Mr. Black. "I admire the pluck of
+all of you, but his plan is best. The sooner he goes the better
+and we will make the house as impregnable as we can. Let us hope
+he is successful."
+
+"You can bet on me," was Adrian's reply as he shouldered his
+rifle, looked to the fastening of his belt, and descended to the
+gate, where Mr. Black let him out.
+
+After Adrian had gone the others inspected the house and its
+approaches for the purpose of determining where they might mount
+the cannon. They finally decided upon a spot in an angle of the
+roof, where a chimney offered some protection and from which it
+commanded the main approach to the house.
+
+"I'm not sure we will be able to get the cannon up there,"
+laughed Billie as they passed through the library on their way to
+the cellar, "but we'll do the best we can."
+
+"Don't worry," was Josie's reply. "You don't know how strong Dad
+is."
+
+The boys thought they could guess, but when they saw Mr. Black
+pick up the cannon as though it had been a log of cord wood and
+carry it upstairs they concluded that Josie was right.
+
+"When I was a young man," was Mr. Black's only comment, "I was
+considered the strongest man in our county. I reckon if it came
+to a pinch I'd be a pretty hard man to handle even yet."
+
+The boys had no doubt of it.
+
+By the time the cannon was mounted and loaded the sun was nearing
+the top of the mountains behind them and a few minutes later it
+sank from sight.
+
+"It won't be long now until we shall have to depend upon our ears
+instead of our eyes for our protection," said Donald. "Where is
+the best place to watch?"
+
+"I'll tell you what I think," said Billie. "Let one watch from
+the roof and the other down by the gate. The one on the roof can
+hear noises from a distance. The one by the gate can hear any one
+who may be sneaking around."
+
+"I'll watch on the roof," said the senora. "I know the chirp of
+every bird that belongs here. I shall know in a minute if
+anything happens that is unusual."
+
+"And I'll watch by the gate," declared Donald.
+
+"Only till midnight," said Billie, "when I'll relieve you."
+
+"And I'll relieve the senora," said Josie.
+
+"Where do I come in?" queried Mr. Black.
+
+"You are the general, Dad. You can be everywhere."
+
+Sentry duty is always nerve-racking business. If you have ever
+been obliged to sit alone in the dark and watch with your ears,
+you will understand this and you will understand how Donald felt
+sitting alone by the barred gate in the dark, 3,000 miles from
+home and in the midst of a war-stricken country.
+
+Even the north star looked unfamiliar, so close was it to the
+northern horizon. Once in a while he fancied he could hear the
+senora weeping, but for at least three hours this was all he
+heard.
+
+Then he heard a distinct "S-s-s-s," which was the signal agreed
+upon between him and the senora if she heard anything unusual.
+
+In an instant he was on the alert. Yes, he was sure he heard
+footsteps near the gate, without. Then there were some minutes of
+silence, then the hiss of a fuse and a moment later an explosion
+which blew the gate from its hinges.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+A NIGHT ATTACK.
+
+
+Realizing in an instant that the hiss of the fuse, like the
+rattle of the snake, betokened danger, Donald drew hastily back
+into the patio in time to be out of reach of the explosion which
+splintered the gate and tore it from its hinges.
+
+Then, with finger on trigger, he awaited the coming of the foe.
+
+It was a tense moment and the boy's heart beat fast. He had been
+in many trying situations, but never in one where the safety of
+so many others seemed to depend upon him.
+
+He heard the sound of oncoming feet and intuitively threw himself
+upon the ground behind a little stone paling which surrounded a
+dismantled fountain.
+
+The act undoubtedly saved his life, for an instant later there
+was a scattering volley and he could hear the bullets hit against
+the stone wall of the house behind him.
+
+In an instant he pressed the trigger and a yell which followed
+gave evidence that the bullet found a mark.
+
+He fired again, but evidently without effect, and a minute later
+a light at one side of the patio told him that the enemy, or a
+part of them at least, were inside the gate.
+
+As the light flared up Donald fired again, but again without
+avail; but a moment later the cannon on the roof spoke.
+
+"So," he thought, "Billie and Mr. Black are at last awake."
+
+At the report of the cannon the light went out and there was the
+rush of scurrying feet, followed by a shout.
+
+The shout indicated that those within the patio had withdrawn to
+the other side of the gate.
+
+Feeling sure that the patio was now free of the enemy for a time
+at least, Donald retreated in the dark to the house and was soon
+inside. At the first landing he encountered Josie, sitting on a
+step with a ready revolver. He was able to see her by the dim
+light of an oil lamp which hung from the ceiling.
+
+"Where are the others?" he asked.
+
+"On the roof. They are trying to locate the enemy."
+
+Donald ascended to the roof.
+
+"I have a plan," he said, "which will enable us to get in another
+shot. Load with shrapnel and I will see if I can't make some sort
+of a light outside the gate. Be ready on the instant."
+
+He ran downstairs and again crept out into the dark patio. He had
+noticed in the afternoon that there were several bundles of straw
+in the stable.
+
+Taking one of these under his arm, he approached the angle in the
+wall near the outer gate. He lighted a match and as the flame
+caught the straw he flung the bundle over the wall, at the same
+time darting inside the stable.
+
+He had hardly found a safe position when the cannon spoke again
+and evidently with telling effect.
+
+But before those inside the walls had time to think, the enemy
+rushed in, determined to capture the place.
+
+In the dark they rushed to the house, but once under the gallery
+which extended all around the inside of the patio, they produced
+a light which enabled them to find the doors.
+
+The light also enabled Donald to see those at the door and he
+fired from the stable.
+
+For a moment the fire in the rear disconcerted the enemy and
+several fled, but others took possession of the doorway and
+forced their way in.
+
+The first one who entered fell by a bullet from Josie's revolver;
+but realizing her weakness she jumped and fled to the floor
+above, where she met her father coming down.
+
+"They have gained possession of the house," Mr. Black told Billie
+as he and the senora also descended from the roof. "We must now
+guard the stairway. We should be able to hold it indefinitely."
+
+This prediction seemed correct, as the first four or five men who
+attempted to reach the second story never got more than their
+heads above the floor.
+
+After several trials of this sort, they withdrew and held a
+council of war. The result was that a few minutes later a voice
+called out from below:
+
+"If you will surrender, your lives will be spared."
+
+In reply Mr. Black shouted: "If you do not withdraw and leave us
+in peace you will meet a fearful punishment."
+
+His reply was greeted with jeers.
+
+"I wonder how many of them there are?" queried Billie.
+
+"Quite a bunch from the sound." Then, a moment later, "They seem
+to be going out."
+
+"Maybe they think we will come down," said Josie.
+
+"But we must not," exclaimed the senora. "They would kill us.
+Surely our friend must bring us aid soon."
+
+"Let us hope so," was Mr. Black's reply.
+
+And hope was the best they could do.
+
+There was no further attack, although they could hear the sound
+of voices in the patio below.
+
+After a long period of quiet Mr. Black ventured the assertion
+that they were waiting for daylight, and his surmise proved
+correct.
+
+No attempt was made to force an entrance until the first faint
+light of day began to appear. Then there was renewed activity
+below and a few minutes later the sound of a single shot.
+
+"I wonder what that was," exclaimed Billie.
+
+No one could answer, but had Billie been where he could see, he
+would have known that it was Donald who fired.
+
+As the light came, Donald, peering through a crack in the stable,
+had seen a man climbing up the side of the house toward the roof.
+Without a moment's hesitation he fired and the man dropped, shot
+through the right hand.
+
+But the shot was Donald's undoing. The flash of his gun was
+detected and half a dozen men rushed his hiding place and took
+him prisoner.
+
+He was at once taken before the captain of the band and
+questioned as to the number of defenders and as to the
+whereabouts of Gen. Blanco.
+
+To all the questions Donald gave an evasive answer.
+
+"If you will tell me where Gen. Blanco is," said the captain, "I
+will give you your freedom."
+
+"That's easy," was Donald's reply. "He is with Gen. Carranza."
+
+"I don't believe it."
+
+"Well, I can't help that, nor does what you believe make any
+difference. It is the truth and what you may believe has nothing
+whatever to do with it."
+
+The captain scowled.
+
+"Who is it then, that is defending the house?"
+
+"Americans. You had better let us go, or it will be the worse
+for you. We had a safe conduct from Gen. Huerta, but we were
+betrayed."
+
+"If I had my way," said the captain, "I'd shoot every American in
+the whole of Mexico."
+
+"I don't see why," from Donald. "We have nothing against you."
+
+"Take him away," ordered the captain, "and see that he does not
+escape. Now let us capture the others."
+
+There was a rush for the house as Donald was led back to the
+stable.
+
+Billie and Mr. Black heard them coming.
+
+"Go to the roof," commanded Mr. Black, speaking to the two
+females, "and keep yourselves and the little girl out of sight.
+We will hold them back here as long as we can and then we will
+also come to the roof."
+
+The command had hardly been obeyed than the Mexicans began to
+crowd up the stairs. They were met with shot after shot, but at
+last all the weapons were empty.
+
+"Run for the roof," said Mr. Black as he arose to his feet and
+with his heavy boot kicked a head which was just coming up the
+stairs.
+
+Billie obeyed and a minute later the fugitives had gathered upon
+the last place of safety left.
+
+"If we only had some ammunition," moaned Billie. "Can't we do
+something?"
+
+Then, as in answer to his own query, he picked up a twelve-pound
+cannon ball that lay on the roof and, raising it above his head
+with both hands, hurled it through the opening upon those below.
+
+This unexpected attack caused the besiegers to draw back, but
+only for a moment. Then they came on again. In his desperation,
+Mr. Black, with almost superhuman strength, picked up the cannon
+itself, just as Billie had picked up the ball, and hurled it down
+the stairs.
+
+Half a dozen men fell beneath its weight, while the others,
+frightened at such an exhibition of strength, fell back in
+dismay.
+
+A shout from the captain urged them forward, but ere they could
+gather their courage for another rush there came the sound of a
+volley in the patio below and a minute later Adrian rushed up the
+stairs, followed by Captain Lopez and a squad of his soldiers.
+
+Taken in the rear and entirely by surprise, the Huerta forces
+threw down their arms and cried for mercy, and in less than five
+minutes after the arrival of Captain Lopez and his men, the
+entire force, or as many as remained, were prisoners.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+A NARROW ESCAPE.
+
+
+Two days later the three boys sat on the verandah of Mr. Black's
+commodious house awaiting the call to breakfast. Under escort of
+Captain Lopez' men they had crossed the valley between Mr.
+Black's and Gen. Blanco's the day after the night attack and had
+spent the time since in getting a much needed rest.
+
+"It's less than four days since we left the City of Mexico,"
+remarked Donald, "but it seems like a month. I wonder how matters
+stand at Vera Cruz?"
+
+"From that telegram from Gen. Maas, that we took from the
+lieutenant, Admiral Fletcher may have taken the city," said
+Billie.
+
+"I hope not," from Adrian.
+
+"Why?" asked both the others.
+
+"'Cause I'd like to be there when it happens."
+
+"Yes, so would I," echoed Billie.
+
+"If he has taken it," ventured Donald, "we may have difficulty
+getting through the Mexican lines."
+
+"Well, the best thing we can do," asserted Adrian, "is to get
+somewhere and find out what is going on just as soon as we can."
+
+The call to breakfast interrupted their conversation, but as soon
+as they were seated at the table, they broached the matter to Mr.
+Black.
+
+"I expect you are right," he said, "but I'd like to have you stay
+with me a while. It's mighty lonesome here for Josie and me."
+
+"If we are at war with the Mexicans," remarked Billie, "this will
+be an unhealthy place for an American, I imagine. I should think
+you would want to take your daughter away from here."
+
+"Oh, Josie and I are not afraid, are we, Josie?"
+
+"No indeed, Dad. We are a match for a regiment of Mexicans when
+we are on our own ground."
+
+But in spite of the assertion made by Mr. Black he admitted to
+the boys after breakfast when Josie was not present that he
+wished his daughter was safe in Vera Cruz.
+
+"Why don't you go with us?" asked Adrian. "We should be pleased
+to act as an escort."
+
+"Yes," echoed Billie. "We'll see you through."
+
+"I'll tell you what I had thought of doing," said Mr. Black.
+"It's only a good day's ride a-horseback to Moreno. We have many
+friends there with whom I could leave her. If you boys would act
+as an escort that far you would be no farther from Vera Cruz than
+you are now and I believe you would have a better chance in
+reaching the port over the Tierra Blanca division than on the
+main line."
+
+"Whether we would or not," replied Adrian, "we should be glad to
+act as your escort."
+
+"There is another thing in favor of that route," continued Mr.
+Black. "The farther we keep from the main line of railroad, the
+less likely we are to fall in with the Huerta forces. The
+southern territory as far as Santa Lucrecia is practically in the
+hands of Carranza."
+
+"From what you say," was Donald's comment, "it is greatly to our
+advantage to do as you wish. Let's consider the matter settled
+and start at once."
+
+"It's too late in the day to start now," was Mr. Black's reply.
+"We shall wait until to-morrow morning and be on our way by
+daylight. I don't want to be riding through the mountains after
+dark. There are wild animals that are worse than the soldiers."
+
+"As the Senora Blanco can testify," laughed Billie. "Every time I
+think of what a close shave she had, it gives me a chill."
+
+That afternoon Mr. Black brought out half a dozen horses for the
+inspection of his guests.
+
+"A day's ride on a strange horse isn't always an easy task," he
+explained, "and I thought you might amuse yourself trying these.
+You can each pick out the one that suits him best."
+
+It was a task which suited the boys better than any they had
+undertaken in days, and as they had not only Mr. Black, but Josie
+and the General's wife for spectators, they were more than
+pleased to show their dexterity after true cowboy fashion.
+
+The remainder of the afternoon was therefore spent in riding,
+throwing the lariat and in shooting, much to the gratification of
+Mr. Black, who declared he had never seen a better exhibition of
+its kind.
+
+As a result of their experience, the boys picked out three
+medium-sized horses, which Mr. Black emphatically stated showed
+their good judgment of horse flesh, as completely as their riding
+had proved their horsemanship.
+
+They were all in the saddle early the following morning, Josie's
+wound having healed sufficiently to permit her to ride without
+danger.
+
+Early morning in the tropics is the pleasantest time of the day,
+and although the road from Mr. Black's hacienda to Moreno would take
+them from an altitude of over four thousand feet down to about two
+thousand feet above sea level, they would be sufficiently up in
+the mountains to make riding fairly comfortable.
+
+The route chosen took the little party first to the headquarters
+of the Carranza force operating in that section. They were warmly
+greeted by General Dorantes, the commanding officer, who
+furnished them with a guard of four men and passes through the
+lines, "if," he added as he bade them good luck, "you should find
+it necessary to pass our lines. If my reports are correct, we are
+in possession of all the territory to the south."
+
+For hours the cavalcade rode on without incident, stopping only
+long enough to partake of a mid-day meal at the hacienda of Don
+Alvaro Flores, a friend of Mr. Black's. Late in the afternoon,
+however, when about six miles from their destination, there came
+to their ears the sound of heavy firing--of field pieces mingled
+with the occasional roll of a machine gun.
+
+They stopped and listened intently.
+
+"Which direction do you make the firing to be?" asked Mr. Black
+of the corporal in command of the escort.
+
+"In the direction of Tierra Blanca, sir. It sounds as though our
+forces might have been attacked."
+
+"How will that affect our journey?"
+
+"Hard to tell, sir. If we win, as we shall, the enemy may fall
+back toward Santa Lucrecia, or they may retreat toward Moreno. If
+you will take my advice, you will halt here until the action is
+over."
+
+The advice seemed most excellent and the cavalcade came to a halt
+and the riders dismounted to give themselves a much-needed rest.
+
+The firing lasted something like twenty minutes, then suddenly
+ceased, with the exception of an occasional "Boom!"
+
+"It sounds as though we had beaten them off," said the corporal.
+
+"Is there any way that we can tell in which direction they have
+retreated?"
+
+"Only by a reconnoiter."
+
+"Which is our long suit," declared Billie. "You just stay here
+with the guard, Mr. Black, and we three will soon have a report."
+
+Looking to their arms, with which they had been well supplied by
+their host before leaving the hacienda, the boys rode forward
+toward an elevation something like a mile distant. From this they
+hoped to get a view of the country.
+
+There was a fairly level road and they dashed along at a good
+rate despite their long ride. The horses were as hard as iron and
+the boys did not know the meaning of the word tired.
+
+Reaching the top of the hill, they found a space, from which they
+could see clear across the valley through which ran the railroad
+from Santa Lucrecia to Vera Cruz. To the right, some miles away,
+they could see a good-sized little city which their common sense
+told them must be Tierra Blanca. To the left, but nearer, was the
+smaller town of Moreno, for which they were headed.
+
+Between the two towns, and coming directly toward them, was a
+band of galloping horsemen, probably one hundred or more in
+number.
+
+"Great Scott!" was Billie's ejaculation as he caught sight of the
+horsemen, "they're coming right at us."
+
+"I believe you are right," from Donald. "They seem to be on this
+very road."
+
+"What would you take them to be?" was Billie's next question.
+
+"Give it up," replied Donald.
+
+"I'll bet I can make a good guess," said Adrian. "They are a
+flying column of Huerta cavalry, sent out to test the Carranza
+lines. They have paid their respects to Tierra Blanca and now
+they are headed for Cordoba."
+
+"They'll never get there," said Billie. "They'll run into General
+Dorante's men."
+
+"But if it's a surprise, they'll cut their way through."
+
+"It's up to us to see that it is not a surprise!" cried Donald.
+"Come on!" and he turned and dashed back the road they had come.
+
+In less than five minutes they were where they had left their
+companions. In another two minutes they had told their story and
+in another minute the corporal and his men were on their way back
+toward General Dorante's headquarters.
+
+"It's only a question of whose horses are the best," said Mr.
+Black. "And now let us to cover."
+
+Leaving the highway, the Americans turned sharply to the left and
+dashed for the shelter of a piece of woodland something like a
+half a mile away. Pell-mell they went over rocks and shrubs,
+regardless of themselves or their horses, and succeeded in
+reaching the friendly cover just about three minutes before the
+cavalry came into sight over the hill.
+
+"We're all right now," said Mr. Black, "if the troopers will
+stick to the road, but if they should take it into their heads to
+scatter, we might have trouble."
+
+With eager eyes the boys watched the oncoming horsemen, prepared
+to flee for their lives if they should be discovered, as they
+realized how useless would be any resistance.
+
+Nearer and nearer they came until the leaders were at the very
+spot they had just left, and then with a rush they passed by,
+turning neither to the right nor to the left.
+
+Every one in the party heaved a deep sigh of relief.
+
+"It's a wonder some of them didn't stop," said Billie.
+
+"Oh, I don't know," laughed Adrian. "Look yonder," and he pointed
+to the brow of the hill, where another, but much smaller body of
+horsemen had appeared. "They evidently didn't intend to have
+their mission interfered with by fighting a rear-guard skirmish."
+
+"I think the best thing we can do," said Mr. Black, "is to
+surrender ourselves to the pursuers. They are evidently
+Carranzistas and our passes will protect us."
+
+Breaking off a piece of bamboo, Mr. Black tied a handkerchief to
+it and raising it above his head the little party rode out of the
+woods. They were sighted at once and a party of horsemen dashed
+toward them, and surrounded them.
+
+It was as they had expected and Gen. Dorantes' passes were
+immediately recognized by the officer in command. He was much
+pleased at the information given him concerning the corporal and
+thanked the boys in the name of Gen. Carranza for their good
+offices. He furthermore detached an escort of a dozen men to see
+that they reached Moreno in safety and commended them to the care
+of the jefe politico, with the verbal instruction that the boys
+be allowed to proceed on their way to Vera Cruz at their will.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+APRIL TWENTY-ONE.
+
+
+"Boys," said Mr. Black the following morning as they were
+preparing to pay a visit to the jefe politico, "I want you to do
+me a favor."
+
+The boys looked at him in surprise.
+
+"Well, what is it?" asked Donald, when Mr. Black did not
+immediately continue.
+
+"I want you to accept, as a mark of my appreciation of your
+bravery and good services, the horses upon which you are mounted
+and the accoutrements."
+
+The look of surprise on the faces of the boys deepened.
+
+"I am sure, sir," replied Donald, speaking for the others, "we
+should be pleased to accept them if we were expecting to remain
+in the country. We hope, however, to leave Vera Cruz in a very
+few days."
+
+"Boys," and Mr. Black's face was most serious, "there is no
+knowing when you will reach Vera Cruz; much less leave it."
+
+"What do you mean?" from Billie.
+
+"I had a long talk with my friend, Don Ramon, last night after
+you were in bed and he tells me that the railroad between here
+and Vera Cruz is in the hands of Gen. Maas, the other side of
+Guayabo, and there is almost no chance of your being allowed to
+pass through the lines."
+
+"Why not?" from Adrian.
+
+"Well, you see, since we have heard anything, relations between
+the two countries have become more and more strained and the
+United States has practically declared a blockade on Vera Cruz.
+The entire Atlantic fleet is assembled outside and there is
+liable to be a clash at any time."
+
+"Then we'll accept the horses, Mr. Black," spoke up Donald, "and
+we'll ride to Vera Cruz. It can't be more than fifty miles."
+
+"Forty-six by rail," said Mr. Black. "I kind of thought you might
+like to try and make it, is why I want to give you the horses,"
+and the speaker smiled knowingly.
+
+"The sooner we start the better, I expect," said Adrian.
+
+"Yes; after you pay your respects to the mayor."
+
+The foregoing conversation explains how it happened that on the
+morning of April 21, 1914, the Broncho Rider Boys looked down
+from a little hill, the top of which was covered by tropical
+foliage, upon the harbor of Vera Cruz, with the American fleet in
+the offing.
+
+By a circuitous route and by two nights of riding, hiding in the
+day, the boys had reached this spot about an hour after sunrise.
+
+"Whew!" was Billie's exclamation as he looked out across the
+harbor at the men-of-war flying the American flag. "There's a
+bunch of them, isn't there?"
+
+"Sure is," from Adrian, "and they look peaceable, too."
+
+"You never can tell by the looks of a toad how far it will jump,"
+laughed Donald. "But peaceable or warlike, I'd like mighty well
+to be on board one of them."
+
+"Here, too," from Billie. "I wonder how we're going to make it."
+
+"How would it do for one of us to try and get into town and find
+the American consul?" queried Adrian.
+
+"Fine," from Donald, "if he succeeded; but bad if he did not."
+
+"Then what had we better do?"
+
+"Give it up. Suppose we wait here a while and something may turn
+up."
+
+"I'd like to know what can turn up?" asked Billie.
+
+"I don't know; but I was thinking that one of the ships might
+happen to send a boat ashore for something. If we saw it coming,
+we could ride quickly into town."
+
+Adrian laughed. "I reckon it would be just as hard to get through
+the Mexican lines then as now. No! I'm going out to reconnoiter."
+
+It was an hour later when he returned.
+
+"I've found a way," he said as he threw himself on the ground and
+fanned himself vigorously with his hat. "It's down by the water
+works. There are several Americans down there."
+
+"Good," said Billie. "Let's go. I'm getting mighty hungry."
+
+"Now don't be in a rush," cautioned Adrian. "There's a picket
+between here and there. We'll have to ride easy. You put the
+saddles on the horses. I'm pretty well tired. I want to tell you
+it's hot."
+
+Billie was busy with the horses when Don suddenly pointed out
+toward the American men-of-war.
+
+"Look!" he exclaimed. "There's something doing."
+
+And sure enough there was.
+
+Out from behind two of the largest vessels there suddenly darted
+a number of launches loaded with blue-jackets and marines.
+
+In another instant they had headed for the shore, while out
+behind them trailed the American flag.
+
+The boys sprang to their feet and watched the approaching boats
+with the utmost interest.
+
+"There must be a thousand of them!" exclaimed Billie.
+
+"More than that," said Donald, as his eyes ran over the oncoming
+boats. "There's nearer fifteen hundred."
+
+"And look there," cried Adrian. "See those two smaller ships
+moving in toward shore."
+
+"What do you suppose they are going to do?" asked Billie, all in
+a tremor of excitement.
+
+"Looks to me," replied Donald, "like they were going to capture
+the town."
+
+"Why, that's war!" from Adrian.
+
+"Well, isn't that what we've been expecting? I wish I knew what
+it all means."
+
+As some of the readers may not know what was the cause of the
+action it may be explained that a German steamship had arrived
+the night before loaded with arms for Huerta's army. Admiral
+Fletcher had no right to seize the German ship, so he determined
+to seize the port of Vera Cruz. Then if the arms were landed they
+would be in the hands of the Americans.
+
+"Well," declared Adrian, "whatever else it means, it means
+business."
+
+"Do you suppose the Mexicans will try to prevent the landing?"
+asked Billie.
+
+"We'll know in a minute, for they are most ashore," said Donald.
+
+Donald was right and in another minute a shot rang out followed
+by a rattle of musketry.
+
+"Flash! Flash! Bang! Bang!" spoke the howitzers in the foremost
+of the launches.
+
+Boom! Boom! Boom! came the sound of three guns from the ship
+nearest the city, which proved to be the _Prairie_.
+
+The crash of the six-inch shells as they struck in the city could
+be heard above the rattle of the rifle fire which had now become
+continuous.
+
+"It's a sure enough battle," cried Billie. "Come on! Let's go
+down!" and he flung himself onto his horse.
+
+"What would you do?" cried Donald, seizing Billie's horse by the
+bridle. "You'd be killed by the fire from our own guns. This is
+the best place we could be in while the firing is going on. As
+soon as our men have driven the Mexicans out of town, then we can
+go in."
+
+"But I want to take a hand in the fun," said Billie.
+
+"It's no fun, as you'll find after it's all over. No knowing how
+many of our boys are being lost, to say nothing of the Mexicans."
+
+"Look!" cried Adrian, who had not taken his eyes from the scene
+in the harbor. "There are a couple of other ships going into
+action."
+
+Billie turned at sound of Adrian's words. Sure enough, there came
+flashes from more guns, as the _Chester_ and _San Francisco_
+moved up into striking distance, although at that time the boys
+did not know the vessels' names.
+
+"What show will the Mexicans have against those guns!" exclaimed
+Donald. "They'll be driven out of town in short order."
+
+Once more Donald was right and after some minutes of firing, the
+boys realized that the rifle fire was becoming less.
+
+"If they retreat, which way do you suppose they will go?" queried
+Adrian.
+
+"I was just thinking about that," was Donald's reply. "What do
+you think, Billie?"
+
+"I should think along the main line of railroad."
+
+"And I imagine they'll retreat in every direction," said Adrian.
+
+"In which case," advised Donald, "we'd better be prepared to make
+a dash through."
+
+"Look here," from Billie. "Can't you see that the shots are all
+aimed at one particular place? I'm sure if we come around by the
+south, we can get in behind our men some way. It's a good deal
+better chance than to stay here to be shot down by the retreating
+Mexicans."
+
+The others were forced to admit the wisdom of Billie's advice and
+they proceeded to follow it.
+
+Mounting their horses, they rapidly retraced their steps for a
+couple of hundred yards and then headed for the harbor.
+
+They had not gone more than half a mile when they caught a
+glimpse of foot soldiers forming in line on what appeared to be a
+parade ground.
+
+"This is no place for us," exclaimed Donald. "Back to the woods."
+
+"I'm afraid it's too late," from Adrian.
+
+"I hate to run for it," was Billie's comment, "but it's the best
+we can do. I have no mind to fall into Mexican hands right now."
+
+He put spurs to his horse and dashed through a little clump of
+trees which grew by the way, closely followed by the other two.
+
+They seemed to have done just the right thing and were
+congratulating themselves upon their lucky escape, when they
+heard horses coming from the other way.
+
+Billie drew his horse up with a sudden turn.
+
+"It looks as though we'd have to fight for it, boys! If we do
+let's give a good account of ourselves."
+
+They drew their Winchesters for instant use.
+
+The sound of hoofbeats drew nearer and then there burst into
+sight from around a turn in the road a sight which caused the
+boys nearly to fall from their horses with laughter.
+
+Riding on a mule and followed by several peons on burros was the
+florid-faced gentleman whom they had met on the train the day
+they left the City of Mexico. He was bare-headed and his coat
+tails streamed out in the breeze. He had no saddle and was
+clinging onto the mule by grasping him around the neck.
+
+"Help! Help!" he cried as he caught sight of the boys. "I
+surrender. I surrender."
+
+Seeing the boys' horses directly in his path, the mule came to a
+sudden stop, with both feet stuck out before him. The result was
+that the florid-faced gentleman, who wished to head a company of
+marines to drive the Mexicans off the earth, shot forward over
+the mule's head and landed in a cactus bush.
+
+Now a cactus is not a pleasant thing to sit upon, even when the
+greatest care is used; but to be shot into it as from a catapult
+is more than any one can bear.
+
+With a yell that might have been heard half a mile, had it not
+been for the noise of the guns, the man scrambled to his feet and
+darted away down the hill, while the peons stopped at the
+unexpected sight of the boys.
+
+"Americanos!" they cried, and, tumbling off their burros, fell on
+their knees in abject terror, as though expecting that their end
+had come.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+THE INSULT AVENGED.
+
+
+Perceiving that the advantage was on their side, the boys did not
+hesitate to profit by it.
+
+"Do as we bid," ordered Donald sternly, "and your lives will be
+saved. Disobey and we will not answer for the consequences."
+
+The kneeling peons uttered never a word, but raised their eyes
+with a look of surprise.
+
+"Get up," was the next command.
+
+The peons obeyed.
+
+"Now conduct us to the water front by a route where there are no
+Mexican soldiers."
+
+"Do you think you can trust them?" asked Billie.
+
+"At any sign of treachery, our first shot will be for them." Then
+to the peons: "Now march."
+
+Without a word the peons, five in number, started back over the
+route by which they had come but a minute before.
+
+"Where did the other American come from?" asked Billie of the
+peon nearest him as they rode along.
+
+"Quien sabe, senor," was the hesitating response. "We saw him
+riding by and we followed him."
+
+"That's the way with loud talkers," remarked Adrian. "When the
+test comes they usually weaken."
+
+The firing, which had somewhat subsided for a few minutes,
+suddenly began again with renewed vigor, especially on the part
+of the ships.
+
+"Our boys are getting ready for another advance," said Billie,
+and his manner became greatly excited. "Let's get there in time
+to take part."
+
+"I'm willing," declared Adrian. "Come on!"
+
+The two boys dug their spurs into their horses and dashed
+forward, upsetting a couple of the peons in their flight.
+
+"Hold on!" called out Donald. "You'll get into trouble."
+
+Billie and Adrian paid no attention to his cry, whereupon he
+also put spurs to his horse, leaving the peons gaping with
+astonishment in the middle of the road.
+
+And now the boys came into sight of the water front where the
+fighting was going on. It was at the instant that the order had
+been given to clear the space around the custom house, and the
+boys saw the marines advance on the double quick.
+
+The Mexicans gave way, but volley after volley was poured down
+upon the advancing Americans from the roofs of houses and from
+nearby church towers.
+
+There were several shots in rapid succession from the _Chester_,
+which had drawn in more closely, every one of which struck a
+tower where a large force of Mexicans had gathered.
+
+The tower toppled and fell, carrying many with it.
+
+"Hurrah!" cried Billie. "Give it to them!" and, firing his rifle
+as he went, he rode right down into the main street.
+
+"He'll be killed by our own men!" cried Donald.
+
+But he was not. Instead he dashed into the open space in front of
+the custom house, just as the marines swept by, his hat off and
+his rifle cracking as fast as he could fire.
+
+Seeing that the danger from the marines was past, Donald and
+Adrian fell in behind Billie, just as an officer came around the
+corner at the head of another company.
+
+Espying the boys, he halted his command.
+
+"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
+
+"We just came to town," replied Billie, "and we're trying to help
+avenge the insult to the flag."
+
+"Good!" was the emphatic reply. "Fall in behind us. You may be of
+service."
+
+The boys obeyed and followed the company as it swept up the
+street. Presently they came to a barricade, behind which the
+marines had taken a stand. The boys expected the command to halt,
+but instead they passed the barricade and pushed onward toward
+the outskirts of the city.
+
+All the time there was a continuous fire upon them by men
+secreted on the roofs of houses.
+
+"I'd clean out those snipers if I were in command," said Donald
+to his companions.
+
+The words were hardly out of his mouth ere another company of
+marines made its appearance and the men dashed into the houses on
+either side of the street.
+
+"Somebody has the same idea, Don," was Billie's comment as they
+rode along.
+
+Two blocks farther came the order to halt and entrench. A minute
+later the officer called the boys toward him.
+
+"Would you rather lend us your horses, or act as orderlies?" he
+asked.
+
+"If it's all the same to you," was the reply, "we'll serve as
+orderlies."
+
+"Very well. Will you," turning to Adrian, "go back to the custom
+house and tell Captain Rush that we have reached our position.
+You," to Billie, "ride with all speed to the landing and say that
+the enemy has retreated toward the water works. They should not
+be allowed to stop long enough to do any damage."
+
+The two boys were off like the wind to carry the orders.
+
+"Anything for me?" asked Donald.
+
+"Not for the present. Better dismount and get behind something."
+
+Two minutes later Adrian pulled up in front of the Custom House
+and delivered his message, while Billie kept on to the water's
+edge.
+
+"Do you know where the water works are?" asked the officer to
+whom Billie gave his order.
+
+"Yes, sir!"
+
+"Then lead us to it."
+
+Without a word Billie obeyed and the Jackies followed on the run.
+
+The information was evidently received none too soon, for they
+encountered quite a force of Mexicans, guarding the works.
+
+A volley from the bluejackets was returned by a scattering fire
+and the Mexicans turned and fled.
+
+But the volley had been sufficient to lose Billie his mount, as
+his horse came to his knees with a bullet in his shoulder.
+
+Without waiting to see the cause of Billie's fall any more than
+to ask if he was hit, the Jackies pushed on toward the water
+works, leaving Billie to look out for himself as best he could
+until the work in hand was completed.
+
+"This is sure enough tough luck," was Billie's comment as he
+helped the horse to his feet and examined the wound. "It will lay
+him up for a week."
+
+He took the horse by the bridle and led him slowly back toward
+the Custom House, where he reported to an officer and hunted up
+Adrian.
+
+"What had we better do now?" he asked. "I'd like to find a place
+to tend to my horse."
+
+"The fighting seems about over," was Adrian's reply, "and I
+reckon the horse will be given attention by some one."
+
+"Oh, I don't want to make any trouble, Ad! If nobody objects,
+suppose we go hunt a stable."
+
+They were about to leave when a sergeant stopped them.
+
+"You're to follow me to the Captain," he said. "Here," to a
+marine who stood by, "take charge of these horses and see that
+the lame one is cared for."
+
+"I wonder if they will take our horses away from us?" muttered
+Adrian as they followed the sergeant.
+
+"Give it up. I wonder what he wants of us?"
+
+It did not take them long to find out.
+
+"Are you the boys that brought the messages from Lieutenant
+Blunt?" asked Captain Rush.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Will you undertake another mission?"
+
+"With pleasure," replied Adrian.
+
+"Same here, sir," from Billie, "but my horse has been wounded."
+
+"That's bad. However, I guess we can find another."
+
+"Sure, sir. I can borrow Don's."
+
+"Who is Don?"
+
+"He's the other one of us, sir. He is still out with Lieutenant
+Blunt."
+
+"Well," said the Captain, "either two of you will do. What I want
+is to find out to just what point the Mexican army is falling
+back. Do you think you can find out?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"Very well. My compliments to Lieutenant Blunt and give him this
+order. He will pass two of you through the lines. The other can
+remain with him. Sergeant, their horses."
+
+Five minutes later, both astride Adrian's horse and leading the
+other, they appeared at the outpost and delivered the order.
+
+"Which two shall it be?" laughed the lieutenant as he looked the
+boys over.
+
+"I guess it will have to be Adrian and Don," replied Billie
+ruefully. "I've had glory enough for one day. The insult to the
+flag has been avenged and the Stars and Stripes are floating over
+Vera Cruz."
+
+"I think it's only fair that Don, as you call him, should share
+in the adventure," said the lieutenant, "and the sooner you go
+the better. It is almost sundown now."
+
+Then as Donald and Adrian started on their mission:
+
+"Success to you and report here when you return."
+
+"Is there any place near here where I can care for my horse?"
+asked Billie as soon as the others had passed out of sight.
+
+"Why, yes. There are stables in almost any of these houses. Here,
+try this one," and the lieutenant indicated the one before which
+they were standing.
+
+Billie knocked on the big door, but there was no reply.
+
+"Knock louder," laughed the lieutenant. "Use your boot."
+
+Billie used his foot and with such vigor that the gate flew open.
+
+When no one appeared to answer his summons, he stuck his head
+inside the patio and called lustily.
+
+"Must be deserted," he finally remarked. "Such being the case,
+lieutenant, I reckon I might as well take possession."
+
+"Sure. Go ahead. If every one has gone, I may join you later."
+
+Billie led his horse within and looked around. It was a large
+house and the patio was the most elaborate Billie had ever seen.
+He had thought that Pedro's home in Mexico City was fine, but
+this was much finer.
+
+"They must be swells," was the lad's comment. "I reckon they
+became frightened and have run away with General Maas."
+
+He started to lead the horse to the stable and then stopped.
+
+"I might as well shut this big gate," he thought. "I'll leave the
+little gate open so the lieutenant can come in."
+
+He pushed the big gate together and dropped the bolt in its
+place.
+
+"Now to do something for the horse," and he turned to the animal
+which stood patiently by.
+
+Then he stopped and stood in mute astonishment at what his eyes
+beheld.
+
+In the center of the patio, with rifle in hand, aimed squarely at
+his head, stood a figure he had last seen on the banks of the Rio
+Grande more than a year before--the figure of a man whom he had
+known only as Santiago.
+
+The recognition was mutual, but instead of the friendliness which
+had always before marked the attitude of the strange man, there
+was now upon his face a look of the most bitter hatred.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+SHADOWING AN ARMY.
+
+
+When Donald and Adrian left the city they rode slowly along for
+some distance without any sign of the retreating Mexicans,
+except the occasional sight of some camp utensil which had been
+thrown aside as too heavy to carry. Occasionally they met peons
+or women, who looked at them curiously, but all of whom were more
+than willing to tell of the army that had so recently passed.
+
+"How many men do you suppose General Maas has?" queried Adrian.
+
+"The lieutenant said it was supposed he had about seven thousand.
+It may be more, and it may be less."
+
+"Well, they're certainly light-footed," laughed Adrian. "Don't
+you think we ought to get closer?"
+
+"If we can without being seen."
+
+They put spurs to their horses and for a mile or more galloped
+along at a fair speed.
+
+Then from a little eminence they saw the rear guard of the
+retreating army.
+
+"This is near enough," cautioned Donald.
+
+They halted and watched the marching men.
+
+"How far would you say we are from town, Don?"
+
+"At least seven or eight miles."
+
+"Do you know what towns are in this direction?"
+
+"Not the slightest idea. That's the next thing we must find out."
+
+The enemy having by this time passed out of sight, they again
+spurred forward, but holding their distance.
+
+Darkness had now fallen and the boys were obliged to pick their
+way more carefully.
+
+For half an hour they rode silently and then Donald spoke:
+
+"They certainly will not march all night. They must have some
+place in mind."
+
+"So I think," from Adrian. "But there seems no sign of a halt."
+
+Ten minutes later, however, they caught sight of a fire light.
+
+"That looks like it might be a camp," suggested Adrian.
+
+They rode cautiously forward.
+
+"It surely is," affirmed Donald a couple of minutes later. "We'd
+better dismount and do a little reconnoitering on foot."
+
+The suggestion was immediately put into effect.
+
+Leaving their horses tethered beneath a giant palm, which would
+serve as a landmark, the boys crept stealthily forward. In a few
+minutes they were near enough to see figures about the fire.
+
+"They are evidently getting ready to pass the night," said
+Donald.
+
+"Yes," from Adrian, "and there is another fire off yonder," and
+he pointed to the right.
+
+"They are getting ready to post their pickets," explained Donald.
+
+"Then we'd better get busy, Don. There must be some way of
+finding out where the army is going to stop."
+
+As with one accord they drew still nearer the camp, they could
+smell the coffee and their appetites began to assert themselves.
+
+"Wish I had some," whispered Adrian.
+
+"You'll get to be as bad as Billie first thing you know," was the
+retort. "But, hush! There comes some one."
+
+They lay flat on the ground and listened.
+
+Whoever it might be was coming directly toward them.
+
+Not a move did the boys make, hoping that they might not be
+discovered, but ready to act if they were.
+
+When within ten feet of them the footsteps halted and they heard
+a voice say:
+
+"This will be far enough. You are the end man on the line."
+
+"Bueno, caporal!"
+
+"Keep a close watch," cautioned the corporal. "You never know
+what these Americans may do."
+
+"Si, Senor. How far are we from Vera Cruz?"
+
+"About four leagues" (twelve miles). "General Maas will make a
+stand at Tejeria, about a league further on."
+
+Then as he moved away. "Remember now, no sleeping. This is a real
+war."
+
+"Bueno, mi caporal. I understand."
+
+The corporal departed and the sentry, shouldering his rifle,
+began pacing his station.
+
+A minute later Donald gave Adrian a dig with his elbow as a
+signal, and they slowly crawled away.
+
+"That's the information we are after," whispered Donald when they
+were out of earshot. "Now to get back to Vera Cruz as quickly as
+possible."
+
+They rose to their feet and ran swiftly but silently toward the
+palm tree, where their horses were tethered.
+
+Suddenly Adrian stopped and grabbed Donald by the arm.
+
+"What is it, Ad?" asked Donald.
+
+"Can't you see! There is some one there with the horses."
+
+They both peered through the darkness and Donald quickly
+perceived that Adrian was right.
+
+Then as by one impulse they drew a few steps nearer.
+
+In the dim starlight they were able to make out the figures of
+several men.
+
+"Do you think they are soldiers?" whispered Don.
+
+Adrian shook his head.
+
+"Camp followers. Thieves," he whispered.
+
+Donald nodded his head in acquiescence.
+
+The boys lay down upon the ground and put their heads together.
+
+"It wouldn't be any trick at all," whispered Donald, "if it were
+not for the pickets. But any noise will bring down upon us a
+couple of hundred men. Maybe more. We have simply got to dispose
+of that outfit without noise. But how?"
+
+"Bad job," was Adrian's only reply.
+
+"If the horses were only our Wyoming cow ponies, they'd come at
+our call."
+
+"But they're not," replied Adrian.
+
+For several minutes neither spoke, but lay silently watching the
+movements of the men about the horses.
+
+"How many can you make out, Ad?"
+
+"Five."
+
+"I don't see but four."
+
+Adrian pointed to the left, about ten or twelve feet, to one who
+stood alone.
+
+"What's he doing there?"
+
+"Give it up." Then a moment later: "I have it!"
+
+"Well, what is it?"
+
+"He's watching for us to return. That's what they're all waiting
+for. They think we'll be a great catch."
+
+"That's just it," from Donald. "Let's fool them!"
+
+"Well, first, let's capture the one yonder. We'll show them a
+Wyoming Indian trick."
+
+Slowly and silently the boys wiggled their way to where the lone
+robber stood. Then as silently as a ghost Donald arose, while
+Adrian bent on his knees.
+
+There was a swift movement and Donald's arm was around the
+Mexican's neck, shutting off his wind, while Adrian pulled his
+feet from beneath him. In another minute he was bound by his own
+sash and gagged with a handful of grass.
+
+"That's one!" exclaimed Donald, as he sat upon his prisoner's
+chest. "Now, how about the others?"
+
+"Not so easy, Don."
+
+"But it has to be done," declared Donald. "Scratch your head."
+
+Adrian did so, but to no avail.
+
+Time was passing and they did not know how long ere something
+would turn up, when Donald gave Adrian a kick.
+
+"Look! They're getting uneasy."
+
+This was undoubtedly true, as the men were moving about and one
+of them even had the temerity to light a cigarette.
+
+Then of a sudden Adrian spoke.
+
+"I've got it!" he exclaimed under his breath. "Help drag this
+chap farther away."
+
+They picked him up bodily and carried him fifteen or twenty feet.
+
+"Now, listen," said Adrian, "both of you. You, Don, sneak as near
+the horses as you dare. I'll give you just five minutes by my
+watch. Then I am going to give this man one chance for his life.
+I am going to take the gag from his mouth and let him give one
+call for help. If he makes another sound, it will be his last."
+
+"Then what?"
+
+"Those fellows have waited so long that they are tired. They will
+all rush to where they expect to find him. Then you will rush in
+and cut the tethers. By the time they find this man I will be
+with you. Sabe?"
+
+"Good!" from Donald. "I'm off."
+
+In exactly five minutes by his watch Adrian gave the prisoner a
+rough shake.
+
+"You know what I said?"
+
+The man nodded his head.
+
+"Well, I am now going to take out your gag. If you make more than
+one cry, or utter more than one word, your own knife will finish
+you."
+
+He held the knife before the man's eyes. Then with the knife in
+one hand, Adrian pulled the wad of grass from between the
+prisoner's teeth.
+
+No sooner had the man drawn one long breath than he let out a
+yell that might have been heard half a mile and which he was
+about to repeat with variations, when with a swift movement,
+Adrian forced the grass back into his mouth and the yell died in
+a dismal gurgle.
+
+"I ought to use the knife," said Adrian, "but I guess this will
+do."
+
+With a bound he sprang to his feet and dashed to where Donald was
+already performing his part of the work.
+
+The plan had worked exactly as Adrian had figured, and in another
+moment the boys were astride the horses and away toward Vera
+Cruz.
+
+But one thing they had not taken into consideration. That single
+yell of their erstwhile prisoner had aroused the Mexican pickets
+and from half a dozen directions came the sound of rifle shots
+and then the sound of a bugle calling to arms.
+
+Even while Adrian was running toward the horses, the excitement
+had begun, and as the boys started on their homeward ride, a
+volley from the encamped forces sent the bullets whistling by
+their ears.
+
+"This is no place for us!" cried Donald. "Don't be afraid to use
+the spur. It is our only chance."
+
+And now as they rode furiously forward, came the sound of firing
+on their left and some distance ahead.
+
+"What does it mean?" called out Adrian as they rode neck and neck
+through the darkness.
+
+"Search me, Ad; but our only chance is in our horses," and Donald
+again plied the spur.
+
+Outlined against the sky at the top of a small knoll, they could
+see a small body of horsemen.
+
+"Keep away to the right," said Donald. "Keep in the valley and in
+the shadow," and he drew off the beaten highway, with Adrian
+close behind.
+
+On the soft earth their horses' hoofs made no sound and in a
+couple of minutes more they descended into a little valley and
+the noise of the alarm passed out of hearing.
+
+"It was a mighty close shave," declared Adrian a few minutes
+later, when they pulled their horses down to a walk to allow them
+to catch their breath.
+
+"Sure was," from Donald, "but we got the information we went
+after."
+
+Half an hour later they were challenged by the American pickets,
+which had been thrown even further forward than where the boys
+had passed through the lines. They stated their mission and were
+at once sent under guard to the officer of the day.
+
+"Oh, it's you!" was the lieutenant's salutation as he saw who it
+was. "Did you get what you went after?"
+
+"Yes, sir," from Donald. "The enemy has halted at Tejeria,
+fifteen miles away."
+
+"Well done. I'll send an orderly to carry the report to
+headquarters. You boys are entitled to a rest."
+
+"Where's Billie?" asked Adrian, looking around after the orderly
+had departed.
+
+"Who?"
+
+"Billie. Our chum."
+
+"Oh, yes," replied the lieutenant. "He's disappeared."
+
+"Disappeared?"
+
+"Yes. He went into this house here," pointing to the building
+before which he had stationed himself, "and when I went in later
+to see how he was coming on with his wounded horse, I found the
+horse standing in the middle of the patio, but your chum had
+disappeared."
+
+"And then what?" queried Donald.
+
+"Nothing. I made up my mind he had gone after something to put on
+his horse and I haven't thought much about him since."
+
+"Then it's up to us to find him. Can we go inside?"
+
+"Sure," laughed the lieutenant. "Go as far as you like, only keep
+inside the lines."
+
+Without more words the boys entered the patio.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+BILLIE GETS A SURPRISE.
+
+
+When Billie found himself looking into the muzzle of a rifle in
+the hands of Santiago, his first impulse was to call out; but the
+expression on Santiago's face caused him to remain silent.
+
+While the strange man owed his life to the lad, as is related in
+the story of the "Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers,"
+there was that in the man's face which told that he was under a
+severe mental strain, and Billie did not think it wise to presume
+upon his former friendship.
+
+Therefore, he remained quiet, waiting for Santiago to speak.
+
+If he recognized Billie, he gave no intimation of the fact; but
+in a harsh voice commanded: "Up with your hands!"
+
+Billie obeyed.
+
+"Turn to the left and march. In there," he continued a moment
+later as Billie approached an open door in the rear of the patio.
+
+Into the house Billie went--into a large room, but dimly lighted.
+Santiago followed, closing the door behind him with a kick.
+
+"Why shouldn't I shoot you down like a dog?" asked Santiago as
+soon as the door was closed.
+
+"I can't see any reason," was the reply, "except that it might
+cause you a lot of trouble when it was found out. I imagine that
+Admiral Fletcher is going to be pretty severe upon snipers and
+others who shoot Americans."
+
+"Bah!" exclaimed Santiago angrily. "I spit upon Americans! Bah!"
+
+"That's all right," Billie agreed, "if it's the way you feel
+about it."
+
+"Just because you Americans have driven away a few soldiers with
+the guns of your great fleet, you don't think you can conquer
+Mexico, do you?"
+
+"I hadn't thought much about it."
+
+"Then it's time you did, as you may never have another chance."
+
+"Well, then," explained Billie, "I'll tell you how it looks to
+me. You might a great deal better be governed by the United
+States than by a man like Huerta."
+
+"Huerta! Huerta!" fairly screamed Santiago. "He is not the
+governor of Mexico."
+
+"No," from Billie. "He calls himself the provisional president.
+In reality he is a dictator."
+
+"He is a murderer!" shouted the thoroughly excited man.
+
+"Then what are you worrying about? All that the Americans want is
+to get rid of Huerta. They don't want Mexico. Didn't you know
+that, Santiago?"
+
+"What? Who calls me Santiago? I am Ixtazhl, Prince of the Aztecs
+and guardian of the treasures of Montezuma. Who calls me
+Santiago?"
+
+In his excitement he rested the stock of his rifle upon the floor
+and bent upon Billie a gaze so fierce as greatly to disconcert
+him for the moment.
+
+But Billie was not a lad to be easily unnerved and after a moment
+he replied calmly:
+
+"I call you by the only name I know. It was the one you used on
+the Rio Grande when you sent me on a mission to Pancho Villa."
+
+"Villa! Villa!" repeated Santiago, as though trying to recall
+something that had passed from his memory. "Villa! Where have I
+heard that name before?"
+
+"On the Rio Grande is all I can tell you. Do you remember Don
+Rafael?"
+
+At mention of the name the expression on Santiago's face changed
+again, this time to one of fiercest rage.
+
+"Don Rafael!" he cried. "Don Rafael! Now I know you! You are Don
+Rafael. That is why I should kill you!"
+
+"Great Scott, no, I am not Don Rafael!" shouted Billie as
+Santiago again raised his rifle and the lad perceived that he had
+to do with a crazy man. "I'm the boy that saved your life when
+Don Rafael tried to kill you. Don't you remember?"
+
+Again Santiago lowered his weapon, and again there came upon his
+face that puzzled expression.
+
+"Tell me, Santiago--I mean Prince Iztazil, or whatever you call
+it, what are you doing here?"
+
+Santiago eyed him suspiciously, but finally laid his rifle across
+a table in the center of the room and approached nearer the lad.
+
+"Listen!" he said in a whisper. "I am the guardian of the
+treasure of Montezuma. It is to be used to free Mexico from the
+Spaniard. He must be driven out. The land belongs to the Aztec."
+
+"But where is the Aztec?" queried Billie. "I know him not."
+
+"I am he. The peons are my people. The Spaniard--bah! He owns the
+houses and he owns the lands; but he must be driven out."
+
+"Isn't that what Villa says?"
+
+"Villa? Villa?" again repeated Santiago, and again he lapsed into
+silence.
+
+For some minutes he remained motionless ere he stepped back,
+picked up his rifle and started for a door leading to a stairway.
+
+"Come!" he commanded. "I will show you."
+
+"Hadn't we better take care of the horse first?" asked Billie,
+not at all anxious to be wandering around with an armed lunatic.
+"He may die."
+
+"What is a horse when the future of Mexico is at stake, my son?
+Come with me and you shall hear a strange tale."
+
+"I have heard one already," was Billie's mental comment, but
+realizing by the term son which Santiago had applied to him that
+he was in no immediate danger and trusting to his wits to finally
+overcome the strange man should it become necessary, he followed.
+
+At the head of the stairs was another door, which Santiago opened
+and entered. It was a sort of ante-room, much like the entrance
+into a lodge room. Around the walls was a motley collection of
+firearms, swords, spears and smaller weapons.
+
+Stopping in front of one of the racks, Santiago placed his rifle
+in it, and then from another took a couple of small swords, one
+of which he handed to Billie.
+
+"This is a bug house sure enough," muttered the boy as he took
+the sword and examined it curiously. "I wonder what next?"
+
+He had not long to wait, for opening a closet, Santiago took
+therefrom two beautifully embroidered robes, one of which he
+threw over his own shoulders and the other of which he put on
+Billie.
+
+"It doesn't hardly match my hat," laughed Billie.
+
+Without a word, Santiago removed Billie's sombrero and hung it
+on a peg in the closet, which he closed.
+
+Then he opened another door and led Billie into a large,
+brilliantly lighted room, hung with the richest tapestries.
+
+"Looks like we had strayed into some Turkish bath house," thought
+Billie, "but I might as well see the thing through."
+
+"Sit here beside me, my son," Santiago finally said. "You shall
+become my heir. I will introduce you to the court."
+
+Santiago clapped his hands, as though bidding a servant to
+attend; but there was no response.
+
+He turned his head from one side to the other as though in
+amazement and again clapped his hands, this time with vigor.
+
+After a moment's delay, there was a movement behind one of the
+draperies and presently the curtain was drawn back and a man's
+face appeared.
+
+"Come hither," commanded Santiago.
+
+The man obeyed.
+
+"Where are the others?" demanded Santiago.
+
+"Oh, senor," cried the man, "the others have hidden themselves in
+the cellar!"
+
+"Slaves! Cowards!" exclaimed Santiago. "What do they fear?"
+
+"The great guns, senor. We might all be killed."
+
+"You will certainly be killed if you do not mind what I say," was
+the reply as Santiago drew his sword. "Now summon the court that
+I may introduce my son."
+
+The man bowed and left the room, and in a few minutes returned
+accompanied by two more men and several women, all arrayed in
+fantastic costumes.
+
+All bowed as they entered, and Santiago waved his hand.
+
+"This is my son and heir," he said. "Come and kiss his hand."
+
+They all came forward and kissed Billie's hand, which he held out
+in order to facilitate the job.
+
+"Now," said Santiago, "we----"
+
+"Now," interrupted Billie, "if it is all the same to you, Prince,
+we'll have supper. I haven't had a mouthful to eat since
+daylight. I'm 'most starved to death."
+
+"It is well," agreed Santiago. "It is well that my heir should
+not die of hunger. Let the table be placed."
+
+The order seemed to meet with general approval, and in the course
+of half an hour there was spread what would have proved a feast
+at any time, but which was beyond description to a hungry boy;
+and the way he waded into the food was a caution.
+
+During all this time Santiago had uttered never a word, nor would
+he eat but the smallest portion of food--a taste of every dish
+which he set before his guest.
+
+"My son tells the truth," Santiago finally remarked as Billie
+pushed back his chair with the single word "Bastante," meaning
+enough.
+
+"I always try to," was the smiling rejoinder, for Billie was now
+in the very best humor. Eating was his strong point and he had
+gone the limit.
+
+"Clear away the feast and then reassemble," was Santiago's next
+order.
+
+This order was carried into effect, and the servants also must
+have enjoyed a square meal, for it was more than an hour ere they
+again assembled, during which time Billie sank back in his chair
+and slumbered peacefully.
+
+He was finally awakened by a hand laid upon his arm.
+
+"Awake, my son," were the words he heard. "It is now time that I
+reveal to you the secret of my life. It is now time that I should
+tell you the secret of the treasure of Montezuma."
+
+"That's right, Prince," said Billie sleepily. "Let her go."
+
+Santiago regarded him interrogatively.
+
+"What said my son?"
+
+"Oh, yes, Prince. I forgot you only understood good English. Let
+her go, means proceed with the secret."
+
+"Let her go. Let her go," Santiago repeated a couple of times.
+"Yes," he continued, "I had forgotten about her."
+
+He clapped his hands and the same servant who had first appeared
+approached his chair.
+
+Santiago gave an order in a language which Billie did not
+understand, but which he imagined was Indian, and the servant
+withdrew, only to reappear a few minutes later with a young woman
+who greatly resembled Santiago and who was also arrayed in a
+gorgeous costume.
+
+She had evidently not expected to meet a stranger, for she drew
+back upon seeing Billie and the color rushed to her face.
+
+"Come hither, daughter," was Santiago's command.
+
+The young woman obeyed.
+
+"Lucia," said Santiago, "this is the honorable young man whom I
+have chosen for my heir. Henceforth consider him your betrothed.
+The marriage shall take place one new moon from to-day."
+
+"Oh, Father," cried the girl, her face becoming even more scarlet
+than before, "I cannot----"
+
+"No!" interrupted Billie, springing to his feet, "neither can I.
+You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Santiago----"
+
+"What!" cried Santiago, springing to his feet and again drawing
+his sword. "Who calls me Santiago? I am Prince Ixtazhl of the
+great Aztec nation and guardian of the treasure of Montezuma!"
+
+He raised his sword and would have stricken Billie down ere the
+boy could have prevented had not the young woman thrown herself
+between them and seized his arm.
+
+At the same instant the door from the ante-room opened and Donald
+and Adrian entered.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+A MISSION FOR FUNSTON.
+
+
+"Santiago!" exclaimed Donald.
+
+"By all that's great!" from Adrian.
+
+"Help!" cried Lucia. "He will do something desperate!"
+
+Donald and Adrian sprang forward, but their assistance was not
+needed. Billie had by this time gathered his wits and in a
+twinkling the mad-man was disarmed.
+
+"Shall we bind him?" asked Adrian as they came forward.
+
+"No, indeed," replied Billie as the now helpless man sank down
+upon the chair. "He isn't dangerous."
+
+"What's it all about?" queried Donald.
+
+"Oh, nothing much! He simply wanted to make me his heir and marry
+me to his daughter."
+
+Donald and Adrian cast an admiring gaze upon Lucia, who was now
+kneeling at her father's side.
+
+"Well," said Adrian in an aside, "I don't see why you should
+object to that."
+
+"Who said I objected?" demanded Billie. "It is the young woman
+who objects."
+
+"But whoever supposed he had a daughter?" said Donald.
+
+"Not I," from Billie. "But this is certainly a queer mess."
+
+Then to Lucia: "How long has he been in this way, Senorita?"
+
+"Only a few days. Since this trouble with the Americanos."
+
+"But how could that affect him?"
+
+"It is a long story, senor. For years he has been trying to
+overthrow the government. When Madero was made president, he was
+happy. Then came that awful tragedy, by which Madero was killed.
+Since that time he has not been himself. But when it became
+evident that the United States would interfere he became as you
+have seen him to-day."
+
+"When I told him that all the United States wanted was to get rid
+of Huerta, he was much pleased," explained Billie. "That was when
+he proposed to make me his heir."
+
+Lucia's cheeks grew red, as she asked: "And did you accept his
+proposal?"
+
+"I neither accepted nor rejected. I just followed him in to see
+what would happen next."
+
+"But would you accept?" insisted Lucia.
+
+"That depends," replied Billie, with a touch of color in his own
+face. "But what had we better do now? You and I will discuss the
+other question later."
+
+"The best thing we can do," interposed Donald, "is to report to
+Lieutenant Blunt. Isn't there some place, Senorita, where your
+father can be placed for safe-keeping?"
+
+"He will be perfectly safe here with me, senors, if the servants
+are allowed to remain."
+
+"They certainly will be," declared Billie. "I will personally
+vouch for that. We have done Captain Rush a good turn to-day and
+I know he will be glad to do that much for us. And besides, the
+Americans will harm no one."
+
+Lucia gave Billie a grateful look as she replied:
+
+"Ah, senor, I shall trust it all to you. I can see that you are a
+friend of my father and I know you are telling the truth."
+
+"You bet you can trust me," was Billie's emphatic reply. "Come
+on, fellows, let's go look after my horse."
+
+In the door Billie turned:
+
+"I'll leave my robe in the cupboard, Senorita; and, if you don't
+mind, I'll ask Lieutenant Blunt to make himself at home in the
+patio."
+
+"The house is yours, senor. Do as you think best."
+
+"By George!" exclaimed Adrian as they descended the stairs to the
+patio, "this is getting serious."
+
+"What?" queried Donald.
+
+"Why this affair of Billie and the young lady we have just
+left."
+
+"Nonsense!" from Billie. "It isn't half as serious as what I saw
+at Moreno."
+
+"No!" laughed Donald. "I saw that myself; but Josie is an
+American. Hey, Ad?"
+
+"I don't think it's very nice to be making remarks about young
+ladies in their absence," retorted Adrian, bristling up.
+
+"Oh, come now, Adrian!" laughed Billie. "You started it. But what
+do you make out of Santiago?"
+
+"He's evidently a rich old chap with a bug. That's all."
+
+"Well," commented Billie, with a nod of his head, "strange things
+do happen when you travel. Who'd have thought we'd ever see the
+old chap again, and at a time like this?" and he went back to
+where Adrian and Donald had stabled the horses, to see if there
+was anything he could do for the wounded animal.
+
+When Lieutenant Blunt was made acquainted with the conditions
+prevailing in the house, he immediately took possession of the
+lower floor and from that time on until the arrival of General
+Funston with the Fifth Brigade, it was made one of the official
+residences.
+
+The week following the occupation of Vera Cruz by the American
+forces was a busy one for our boys. Because of their intimate
+knowledge with the Spanish language, they were continually in
+demand. There was never a verbal message from the American
+Admiral to some Mexican official but what they were called upon,
+and they very soon made friends of every Jackie and marine in the
+city.
+
+Ten days later the boys stood upon the wharf awaiting the arrival
+of the first boatload of General Funston's regulars from the big
+transports which had anchored in the harbor the night before.
+Because of the shallowness of the water, everything in Vera Cruz
+harbor has to be brought ashore in small boats, known as
+lighters. As the boys watched the first of these to approach
+there was something in the face and bearing of the officer in
+command which attracted their attention.
+
+"By George!" exclaimed Donald, "I seem to know that face. Don't
+you, Billie?"
+
+"Does look kind o' familiar. Where have we seen him?"
+
+"I'll tell you!" cried Adrian. "It's the lieutenant who was in
+charge of the patrol on the Rio Grande."
+
+"Lieutenant Grant!" exclaimed Billie. "Sure as you're born. Well
+this is luck!"
+
+"Luck? What do you mean?"
+
+"Why, maybe he'll be able to tell me whatever became of those
+drafts for ten thousand pounds that I took from old Don Pablo."
+
+His companions laughed.
+
+"Still thinking about that, are you?" said Donald. "Why of course
+you'll never hear of them again. The bank is simply in that
+much."
+
+"Maybe so," admitted Billie, "but I'll get something official."
+
+And he did.
+
+It was several days later, though, after the regulars had taken
+possession of the city and the navy forces had withdrawn to their
+ships. The boys were sitting in Lieutenant Grant's quarters, to
+whom they had offered their services as soon after his landing as
+they were able, and were laughing over their adventures on the
+border.
+
+"It was certainly a close call you boys had," the lieutenant was
+saying. "I'm not sure but our neutrality was mighty near a
+breaking point. What do you think, Billie?"
+
+"Possibly so; Americans will be Americans. But say, Lieutenant,
+whatever was done about those drafts I took from Don Pablo? I've
+never been called upon to tell my story, nor have they ever come
+back to me."
+
+"That's because you were out of the United States," replied
+Lieutenant Grant. "It was less than a month ago that I was asked
+if I knew your whereabouts. Uncle Sam has decided that he has no
+claim to the drafts and they were returned to me. I have them in
+my army chest. If they are any good to you, I shall be pleased to
+hand them over."
+
+"I guess they are not much use to any one," sighed Billie
+mournfully. "My father says no bank would cash them without Don
+Pablo's signature, and no one can get that."
+
+"I'm glad you take it so philosophically," laughed the
+lieutenant. "I hope you'll have better luck next time."
+
+The boys arose to leave.
+
+"Which way?" asked the lieutenant.
+
+"No place in particular. We thought we'd go home."
+
+"You mean to the United States?"
+
+"Not to-night," laughed Adrian. "Just to the house where we are
+living. It belongs to old Santiago."
+
+"Who is he?"
+
+Briefly the boys narrated what they knew about him on the Rio
+Grande, how they had met him here, and why they were staying at
+his house.
+
+"Has he no other name?"
+
+"Why, yes, I suppose so," replied Billie. "We always call him
+Prince to his face, and his daughter as the Princess Lucia. Of
+course, it is all make-believe, but it is one way of keeping him
+quiet."
+
+He called to one of Santiago's servants, whom Lucia had lent them
+to look after their horses.
+
+"Oh, Chomo!" he said. "Do you know what Santiago's surname is?"
+
+"Si, senor. It is Ojeda."
+
+"What?" cried all the boys at once. "Ojeda? Why, that was old Don
+Pablo's name."
+
+The boys stood and eyed each other in speechless wonder. The same
+thought was in all their minds.
+
+"Do you think it is possible?" asked Billie at last.
+
+"Do I think what is possible?" asked Lieutenant Grant.
+
+"Why, that Santiago could have given those drafts to the stranger
+so as not to be known in the matter."
+
+"Possibly. He seems a man of mystery."
+
+"Well," declared Billie, "I am going to find out."
+
+"How, I should like to know," asked Donald. "He's too crazy to
+remember anything, even if he wanted to tell you."
+
+"You forget Lucia," said Billie.
+
+"Oh, no, I haven't," laughed Donald, "and I have no doubt she
+would tell you all about it if she knew; but I do not believe she
+does. Santiago is too deep to have entrusted his secrets to a
+girl not yet out of her teens."
+
+"You never can tell," remarked the lieutenant. "Men with a
+hobby do strange things. You'd better ride along with me to
+headquarters. I'd like to introduce you to General Funston. He's
+a man after your own hearts. You know how he went out and
+captured Aguinaldo when he was in the Philippines."
+
+"I've read about it," replied Adrian. "It was a bold deed."
+
+"Sure was," said Donald. "We'll be mighty glad to meet him."
+
+It may also be said that General Funston was glad to meet the
+Broncho Rider Boys, especially after Lieutenant Grant told him in
+a few words of the good work they had done on the border and on
+the day that Vera Cruz was taken.
+
+"And when do you expect to return to the United States?" asked
+the general.
+
+"Just as soon as we can obtain passage," replied Donald.
+
+"I think we can arrange that for you in a few days," replied the
+general. "In the meantime come in occasionally."
+
+The boys thanked him and started to leave, when the telephone in
+the general's quarters rang. He looked for some one to answer,
+but no one being at hand, he picked up the 'phone himself.
+
+"What's that?" he asked after a brief moment. "The water works.
+You think they are attempting to cut you off. All right, I'll
+rush help."
+
+He set down the 'phone and turned to Lieutenant Grant.
+
+"The enemy has gathered in force about the water works," he said
+sharply. "They evidently intend cutting off the water supply.
+Tell Colonel Bright to send them reinforcements at once. Do you
+boys know the way there?"
+
+"Yes, sir," from all three.
+
+"Then show the men the nearest way! Now go! The safety of the
+city may depend upon you!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+AN UNUSUAL RIDING PARTY.
+
+
+Flinging themselves into the saddle, the boys rode rapidly after
+Lieutenant Grant and were at Colonel Bright's quarters by the
+time the bugle had called to boots and saddle. In another minute,
+at the head of a squadron of cavalry, they dashed over the road
+they had come to know so well.
+
+What happened during the next twenty minutes is history.
+
+Guided by the boys, the reinforcements arrived opportunely to
+stop the advance of a large body of Mexicans who would have
+destroyed the water works and have left the inhabitants and the
+American troops entirely without water.
+
+A few minutes later two batteries with rapid-fire guns put in an
+appearance, and in less time than it takes to tell it, the
+Mexicans turned and fled.
+
+It was not General Funston's mission in Vera Cruz to overrun any
+more Mexican territory, so the Mexicans were allowed to retreat
+without pursuit; but the lines were strengthened so that from
+that time on there was never any danger from Huerta's forces,
+although there were numerous alarms and plenty of scout duty.
+
+During the few minutes of fighting, the boys were in the midst
+of it and all came through it without a scratch. But it was
+exciting work and when it was over they were publicly thanked by
+Colonel Bright for their good work.
+
+"Well," laughed Billie as the three rode slowly back to their
+home, "that's glory enough for one day. I don't care to be a
+soldier."
+
+"Nor I!" agreed Donald. "I prefer a quiet life on the ranch."
+
+"Which we are in a fair way to see in a few weeks," commented
+Adrian. "I have no doubt that General Funston will do as he
+agreed and find us passage."
+
+"I for one shall be glad to return to the States," said Donald.
+
+"So shall I after I have found out about Santiago's connection
+with that ten thousand pounds."
+
+"That's right," was the laughing rejoinder. "Stick to it, Billie,
+and who knows what may happen?"
+
+"Do you know," remarked Adrian slowly, "I'm beginning to be
+considerably worried for the Americans scattered throughout
+Mexico."
+
+"Why should you be?" from Donald.
+
+"I remember Pedro's words that, if the United States did
+anything, Carranza would unite with Huerta."
+
+"I don't believe he would."
+
+"Maybe not. But the Zapata brothers will think this a good time
+to make the Americans trouble. I was thinking of Mr. Black and
+Josie."
+
+"I'll bet you were," laughed Billie. "I wouldn't be surprised if
+they were thinking about you. Hey, Don?"
+
+"Well, they might do worse," said Donald. "There are worse
+fellows than Adrian."
+
+"That's right," retorted Adrian good-humoredly. "I can stand it.
+But, just the same, I wish I knew they were safe."
+
+"Well, what's the matter with our paying them a visit?" queried
+Billie.
+
+"Nix," from Donald. "We'll stay inside the lines. I've had enough
+of this bush fighting."
+
+They approached Santiago's residence, where they had decided to
+remain until they sailed, when they perceived a peon on a pony
+standing by the gate. As they drew near they recognized him as
+one of the peons who had served as Mr. Black's mozo.
+
+"Why, hello, Jose!" exclaimed Donald. "What brings you here?"
+
+The mozo drew a letter from beneath his poncho and handed it to
+Donald.
+
+"For me?" asked Donald. "I thought it must be for Adrian. I
+didn't think the----"
+
+"It is from the jefe," interrupted the mozo.
+
+"Oh, it's from Mr. Black!" with an accent on the Mr. "That's
+different."
+
+Donald opened the letter and read it hastily.
+
+"Well, by George!" he exclaimed, "what do you think of that?"
+
+"I can tell you better when I know what that is," replied Billie.
+
+"Why, Mr. Black is becoming alarmed over the activities of the
+Carranza forces and wants us to ask General Funston if he won't
+send out enough cavalry to escort him and his daughter to Vera
+Cruz in safety."
+
+"Of course we'll ask him!" exclaimed Adrian. "Let's do it at
+once."
+
+"Now wait a minute," said Donald. "Let's see about it."
+
+"What is there to see?"
+
+"There's a good deal to see. You remember our experiences on the
+Rio Grande?"
+
+"But this is different! We are at war with Mexico now."
+
+"No, we are not. We have simply seized one port as a reprisal. To
+send a cavalry force out into the country might bring on more
+trouble."
+
+"Well, I don't care!" exclaimed Adrian hotly. "I'll go and ask
+him alone if you are afraid to go with me. I'm not going to leave
+Jos--I mean Mr. Black and his daughter out there at the mercies
+of these greasers. You hear me!"
+
+"Oh, we'll go with you, all right!" said Billie. "But don't be
+surprised if you don't get what you ask."
+
+Accordingly the trio started for General Funston's headquarters.
+After some delay they were admitted to his presence and Donald
+showed him Mr. Black's letter.
+
+The general perused it carefully and then remained silently
+thoughtful for some moments.
+
+"I wish I could do what our countryman asks," he finally said,
+"but I do not see how I can. To send a force out nearly fifty
+miles, even for such a service, would be overstepping the purpose
+for which I am here. I----"
+
+"But you wouldn't leave them out there to be mistreated and
+perhaps killed, would you?" interrupted Adrian.
+
+The general smiled.
+
+"Such is not my intention; but we must plan some other way. We
+must use a little strategy."
+
+"That's right!" exclaimed Billie, "and I'll bet the man who went
+out and rounded up Aguinaldo will know how to do it!"
+
+Again the general smiled broadly, evidently well pleased at the
+implied compliment.
+
+"I'll do the best I can," he said quietly, "but I am not very
+familiar with the lay of the land. You boys have had some
+experience. Perhaps you can suggest something."
+
+Adrian said nothing, and Donald scratched his head. It was Billie
+who spoke.
+
+"I was just wondering, General," he said, "if some of the men
+wouldn't like to take a little horseback ride and see something
+of the country."
+
+"Well, now, perhaps they might," assented the general.
+
+"We could show them some mighty fine scenery, sir."
+
+"By the moonlight, I suppose?"
+
+"Yes, sir. By the moonlight and early sunrise."
+
+"And about how many would you like to take on this picnic?"
+
+"Well," replied Billie, squinting up one eye, "I was thinking
+that Adrian and I might take out about ten to-night. Then about
+the same time to-morrow night Don could take another ten. We
+would probably meet somewhere in the mountains and watch the sun
+rise."
+
+"A very nice plan," said the general, "and one of which I
+approve. You may ask Lieutenant Grant to make enquiries among the
+men in his company and see if there are any who would like to be
+given two or three days' leave for such a purpose."
+
+"Thank you, sir!" and Billie touched his hat in true military
+style.
+
+"And you might say to the lieutenant," was General Funston's
+parting words, "that I should be glad to hear later how the men
+enjoyed their ride. I think, now that the boys are down here,
+they should be given a chance to see the country."
+
+"Billie, you have the making of a great general," was Donald's
+comment as they left the general's quarters. "How did you think
+of it?"
+
+"I remembered my experience when I wanted men to help me get you
+and Ad out of trouble in Presidio. Lieutenant Grant will know all
+about it."
+
+And so he did. In less than half an hour ten regulars, some of
+them but very little older than Billie and Adrian, were ready for
+the ride which Billie had proposed and which in his mind would be
+as far as Moreno.
+
+"You are sure ten will be enough?" asked Lieutenant Grant.
+
+"Sure! Twelve Americans are enough to lick fifty Mexicans if it
+comes to that; and besides we shall have Mr. Black and Josie.
+He's as good as four."
+
+"And don't forget the reinforcements, if they are needed,"
+laughed Donald. "We will be right on the spot where we saw the
+sun rise the first morning after we left Moreno."
+
+"It looks all right," was Lieutenant Grant's comment, "but it is
+always well to have a big enough force. Success to you!"
+
+"You'll make all the necessary explanations to the crowd you
+bring out, Don," was Billie's parting words. "Adrian and I will
+explain the nature of the trip to our fellows as we ride along."
+
+This they did, and gave the soldier boys a little history of
+their own troubles in reaching Vera Cruz.
+
+"No explanations are necessary," remarked a young chap by the
+name of Brooks, a corporal. "We saw you out at the water works
+and we know you are made of the right stuff. You lead! We'll
+follow, won't we, boys?"
+
+"You bet!" replied the others in one voice.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+ADRIAN FOILS A TRAITOR.
+
+
+It was nine o'clock of the second night that Adrian and Billie,
+accompanied by Mr. Black's mozo, Jose, and the ten troopers,
+reached the outskirts of Moreno.
+
+They had made good headway the first night, had slept in the
+hills during the day and had come this far without molestation.
+
+"If everything goes to the end as it has this far," remarked
+Corporal Brooks to Billie as they neared the little town, "it
+will be nothing but a pleasant outing, sure enough."
+
+Arriving at the edge of the town, the boys sent Jose forward to
+see how the land lay and to bring them word.
+
+"Do you think you can trust him?" asked the corporal.
+
+"We'll have to," replied Adrian. "I believe he is loyal, and Mr.
+Black seems to have complete confidence in him."
+
+"Let's hope so, anyway," said Billie. "It seems to be the best we
+can do to get word to Mr. Black of our presence."
+
+"Hurry back, Jose," urged Adrian as the mozo departed.
+
+"Si, senor," was the brief reply. "You may depend on me."
+
+"It ought not to take him more than half an hour," explained
+Billie. "It isn't more than a mile."
+
+But a half hour passed and then another and still no Jose.
+
+"Something must have happened to him," said Adrian.
+
+"That's the charitable way to look at it," laughed the corporal.
+"It's more likely, however, that he's making arrangements to have
+something happen to us."
+
+"I hardly think so," was Billie's comment, "but, if he is, we'll
+fool him."
+
+"How?"
+
+"We'll move."
+
+"But he may come back."
+
+"We'll leave one man here on guard. The rest of us will go around
+to the other side of town."
+
+"Good!" from the corporal. "You are a strategist."
+
+The plan was at once carried into effect.
+
+"Now then," said Billie, "I'm going in to town myself."
+
+"Not much," declared Adrian. "I'm going."
+
+"I'd offer to go myself," laughed the corporal, "but I don't know
+the place."
+
+"We'll toss for it," said Billie.
+
+"All right," and Adrian produced a coin. "Heads I win. Tails you
+lose."
+
+"No funny business," said Billie. "Choose heads if you want."
+
+Adrian flipped the coin. It came down heads up.
+
+"All right," agreed Billie. "Now for some set of signals."
+
+"Our old Broncho Rider whistle if I need help," said Adrian. "If
+everything is O. K., I'll give the whip-poor-will."
+
+Adrian slid from his horse.
+
+"What are you doing?" asked Billie.
+
+"I'm going afoot. I didn't spend my boyhood among the Indians for
+nothing. Good-bye!" and a moment later he disappeared in the
+fading moonlight.
+
+"Whatever the conditions," said Billie, "we'll soon know," as he
+settled back in his saddle.
+
+Running swiftly along, Adrian made straight for the barracks in
+which he knew would be found whatever soldiers might be in the
+city.
+
+"If I find everything quiet at the barracks," was his thought, "I
+can go straight to where Mr. Black is stopping without fear. If I
+find there is any disturbance, I'll be more careful."
+
+Ten minutes of running brought him to the barracks. All was as
+quiet as the hour demanded. He stood under the shadow of the back
+wall long enough to hear the sentry's call and then he turned in
+the direction of the house where the two Americans were stopping.
+
+It was only a few blocks away and he reached it without incident.
+
+"Kind o' funny," he mused, "that I haven't seen or heard a soul
+on the street. I wonder what's become of Jose?"
+
+He stopped a minute to ponder.
+
+"Things are going almost too smooth. I'll just stop a bit."
+
+He stole past the house and a moment later threw himself into the
+gutter, where he lay as one dead.
+
+The wisdom of his action soon became apparent.
+
+He hadn't been lying there two minutes until a solitary figure
+passed him and stopped in front of the house, evidently listening
+to hear what might be going on inside.
+
+A moment later he was joined by another figure. Adrian could just
+make them out in the darkness.
+
+"Have they come?" was the whispered question.
+
+"I can't tell," was the whispered reply.
+
+Adrian heard both the question and the answer distinctly.
+
+"It's Jose," he said to himself. "He knew that it was the plan
+for Billie and I both to come to the house. The traitor! I have a
+notion to shoot him in his tracks."
+
+Only the fear of creating a disturbance kept the lad from
+carrying out his notion.
+
+"Why don't you knock and tell the Gringo you are here?" was the
+next question.
+
+"They might be in there."
+
+"Well, what of that? You can tell them you were stopped by the
+guard and have just been released. That'll seem reasonable."
+
+Jose stepped to the door and knocked.
+
+There was no response and he knocked again.
+
+"Who is there?" asked a voice.
+
+"Jose. I just come from Vera Cruz. Let me in."
+
+There was a movement within and presently the door opened and
+Jose entered, closing the door behind him.
+
+Adrian slowly arose to a kneeling posture.
+
+"I wonder what the other will do now?" he wondered.
+
+He did not have long to wait, for the other knocked on the
+pavement with his gun and presently several more figures
+appeared. Adrian had just time to throw himself to the ground and
+escape detection.
+
+The men in front of the house exchanged whispered confidences and
+then all but one started to leave.
+
+"If any one attempts to leave the house," was the command, "fire!
+If any one attempts to enter, allow them to do so and then give
+the customary call."
+
+"Bueno!" was the response, and all but the one withdrew.
+
+A minute later Adrian again arose to a crouching posture and as
+the sentry cautiously approached the door, he crept up behind
+him. An instant more and he was upon the man and had him by the
+throat.
+
+The man was a wiry Mexican and evidently in training, for he
+squirmed and kicked vigorously; but Adrian's grip was too firm
+upon him and in a couple of minutes he sank down limp upon the
+ground.
+
+The noise of the scuffle must have been heard inside, for the
+door cautiously opened and a head peered out.
+
+Without a question Adrian sprang within, dragging the lifeless
+form of the sentry with him.
+
+"Quick, bar the gate!" he commanded.
+
+The command was obeyed.
+
+"Now where is Mr. Black?" he asked.
+
+"Upstairs talking with Jose."
+
+"All right. Bind this man while I go up. Don't let him escape or
+he is liable to cut your throat."
+
+"_No temer V, senor_" was the response, meaning "Have no fear."
+
+Adrian ran lightly up the stairs, revolver in hand. He heard
+voices talking and had no doubt that Jose was narrating some
+trumped-up story.
+
+"Yes, senor," he heard the mozo say, "they are expecting you. It
+is necessary that you go at once."
+
+Adrian flung open the door and covered Jose with his revolver.
+
+"Put up your hands," he commanded. Then to Mr. Black, to whom
+Jose was talking: "Take his weapons away from him, Mr. Black."
+
+Realizing at once that something was wrong, Mr. Black obeyed.
+
+"Now tie him."
+
+This was also quickly done, Mr. Black asking at the same time
+what had happened.
+
+"I can't tell you exactly, Mr. Black, but this man has betrayed
+us and we are now watched by a squad of soldiers."
+
+Mr. Black's face turned as black as his name.
+
+"Is that true?" he demanded, seizing Jose by the shoulder with
+such a powerful grip that the man cried out with pain.
+
+"Oh, senor," he cried, "don't kill me! I will tell you all."
+
+"See that you do," was the command. "One lie and I will wring
+your neck as I would a chicken. You know me."
+
+"I'll tell the truth. I told the captain at the barracks. He is
+going to capture all the Americanos and hold them for ransom and
+I am to have half."
+
+"That is evidently the truth," declared Adrian, and he proceeded
+to tell Mr. Black what was being done to get him and his daughter
+to Vera Cruz, and how Jose had played them false.
+
+For a moment it looked as though Mr. Black might wreak his
+vengeance on Jose, but after a minute he thought better of it.
+
+"You ought to die this minute," he declared, "but I'll wait till
+I have more time." Then to Adrian: "What had we better do now?"
+
+Before Adrian could reply the clear note of a bugle rang out upon
+the night air.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+ADRIAN HAS AN ACCIDENT.
+
+
+"What do you suppose that means?" asked Adrian.
+
+Mr. Black made no reply and a moment later the bugle call was
+repeated.
+
+"It sounds to me," said Mr. Black, "as though some fresh troops
+were coming in."
+
+"That's bad," was Adrian's comment.
+
+"Perhaps not, my lad, if we act quickly."
+
+"How so?"
+
+"The new arrivals may take up the attention of the gang of
+bandits outside and we may get away ere they return."
+
+"Good," was Adrian's comment. "Where is Miss Josie?"
+
+"Waiting in the next room with the family of my host."
+
+Mr. Black stepped to the door and called to those within. In a
+few words he explained the situation and in less than three
+minutes he and the girl were mounted and ready to ride.
+
+"Where is your horse?" he asked Adrian.
+
+"I left it with the boys at the cocoanut grove."
+
+"But we can't go and leave you here."
+
+"Of course not. I shall run alongside of your horse, holding to
+its mane, Indian fashion. Now then, are we ready?"
+
+"All ready!"
+
+The great gate was opened noiselessly and, bidding a subdued
+good-bye to the family, the three passed out into the night.
+
+"I should have throttled Jose ere I left," declared Mr. Black as
+they passed down the street.
+
+"I wish we were as safe as he is," laughed Adrian.
+
+For three blocks they wended their way as silently as possible
+and just as they came out into the open there came another bugle
+call.
+
+"That's for us," said Adrian. "There is no mistaking that
+command. Now to run for it."
+
+The two riders put spurs to their horses and Adrian bounded along
+at their side, running as lightly as an antelope. They were
+rapidly nearing the spot where the Americans were in waiting,
+when Adrian stepped into a hole and pitched forward onto his
+face.
+
+"Don't stop for me!" he called. "I'll be there as quick as you
+are!"
+
+He picked himself up and started to run, but his ankle gave him
+such a pain that he almost fainted.
+
+"Great Scott!" he exclaimed, "I've sprained my ankle."
+
+He sat down and rubbed the maimed member for a couple of minutes
+and then attempted to hobble on. It was more than he could bear
+and he sat down again.
+
+"By George," he groaned, "this is tough! I'll have to call for
+help."
+
+He gave the well-known whistle, but there was no response.
+
+He gave it again; but still no answer.
+
+"Worse and more of it," he muttered. "Something has happened to
+Billie."
+
+What it might be Adrian could not imagine, but he was sure that
+his chum was not at the appointed spot, as he was near enough to
+have heard the whistle and would surely have answered.
+
+"Well, I can't stay here. The greasers will be coming pretty
+soon. I must get along some way."
+
+He got up and walked a few steps and again sat down. There was no
+sound of a pursuit and the hoofbeats of Mr. Black's horses had
+ceased.
+
+"They have reached the grove," Adrian muttered. "I must get there
+some way."
+
+Once more he arose to his feet and took several steps and then
+sank down in a faint, so great was the pain.
+
+When he came to himself he was lying upon a matting of some kind
+and to his ears came the faint sound of a guitar, followed a few
+moments later by sounds of girlish laughter.
+
+He sat up and looked around, but could see nothing, except a ray
+of light coming in through a little crack between a couple of
+blankets that formed a curtain in a doorway.
+
+"Where in the name of common sense am I?" he muttered.
+
+He attempted to get to his feet, but the pain in his ankle
+brought him quickly to himself.
+
+"Now I remember!" he exclaimed. "I fell and sprained my ankle.
+But how did I get here?"
+
+He started to call, but at that moment the music ceased and a
+minute later he heard voices saying good night. Then a door was
+closed and immediately the curtains were thrown open and a peon
+woman stood in the door.
+
+"Oh!" she exclaimed, upon seeing Adrian sitting up and looking at
+her. "Then you are not dead?"
+
+"I should say not. Did you think I was?"
+
+"I was afraid so."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because your death might be laid at my door."
+
+"Evidently she hasn't discovered I am an American," thought
+Adrian. "Well, I'll not tell her until I have to."
+
+The woman turned around and called to some one in the other room
+and another figure appeared in the door--that of a girl some
+fifteen years of age.
+
+"Look, Peppita," and the elder woman pointed at Adrian.
+
+The girl gave a little scream.
+
+"_Madre mia!_" she exclaimed. "Who is it?"
+
+"I know not, my child. I found him unconscious at our back door
+and dragged him inside."
+
+"I beg your pardon," said Adrian. "I didn't know I was near any
+house."
+
+"It is a very poor one, senor. I and my daughter are all alone
+since my poor Leocadio was killed."
+
+"Who killed him?" asked Adrian, becoming interested.
+
+"The Huertistas. He was a soldier under Gen. Dorantes."
+
+"Is that so?" exclaimed Adrian. "I know Gen. Dorantes well. He is
+a fine man. But you will soon be avenged, for Huerta's days are
+short."
+
+The woman's eyes snapped.
+
+"_Es verdad?_" meaning, "Is it true?"
+
+"It certainly is. Since the Americans have taken Vera Cruz, Gen.
+Huerta will have to go. It is only a question of a few days."
+
+"_Bienissimo!_ The Americans are brave men! My Leocadio was fond
+of the Americans."
+
+"I am glad of that, senora, for I am an American."
+
+The woman and girl both started back as in fear and then came
+forward again.
+
+"How did you come here, senor?"
+
+"I fell from a horse and sprained my ankle. I tried to walk and
+must have fainted."
+
+"Have you friends in Moreno?"
+
+"I did have, but they have gone and I want to get to Vera Cruz."
+
+"Vera Cruz is a long way, senor. I never expect to go that far
+from home--me and my little Peppa."
+
+Adrian smiled.
+
+"I expect it does look like a long ways to you, senora; but it is
+not far. Do you think I can stay here with you until my ankle is
+well enough to walk? I have a little money. I will pay you
+something."
+
+"Oh, Mother!" exclaimed the girl, who now spoke for the first
+time. "You will let him stay, won't you?"
+
+"The wife of Leocadio would not turn a lame dog out, much less a
+lame boy."
+
+"_Mil gracias, senora!_" exclaimed Adrian, with much gratitude.
+"Yes, more than a thousand thanks. You will never regret it."
+
+"The wife of Leocadio is not learned," was the reply, "but she
+knows an honest youth when she sees one. Come, Peppita, let the
+young man go to sleep. We will make our bed out here."
+
+She drew the curtains together and Adrian was left alone to his
+own reflections.
+
+"By George!" he exclaimed under his breath, "if I ever get out of
+this measly country, I'll be glad. I wonder what has become of
+Billie? Of course he'll look for me, and old Don, too; but it
+looks as though it might be weeks before I could walk. Well, I
+don't care. If Mr. Black and Josie got away, that's glory enough
+for one day."
+
+He settled himself down and tried to go to sleep, but his leg
+hurt him so that he could not. In fact, the pain was so great
+that every once in a while he groaned.
+
+After a few of these groans the woman appeared in the door with
+an earthen vessel filled with hot water.
+
+"If the senor will bind this on his ankle, it will do it much
+good," she said.
+
+"I'll do anything to get rid of this pain," said Adrian.
+
+He took the jar and, dipping his handkerchief in it, bathed his
+ankle freely and finally bound the cloth around the swollen part.
+
+"There," he muttered as he at last succeeded in finding a
+comfortable position, "now I think I can get a little sleep."
+
+How long thereafter it was before he came to himself he did not
+know, but when he opened his eyes the first streak of daylight
+was creeping in through a little window.
+
+A minute later there was the rattle of musketry, followed by a
+hearty American cheer. He raised up to look out of the window,
+when the side of the room came in with a crash.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+A RESCUE AND A SURPRISE.
+
+
+It would be hard to describe Adrian's surprise at the unexpected
+event which closed the preceding chapter. His first thought was
+that a cannon ball had struck the house, but a second thought
+convinced him that such was not the case. Before he had time to
+think further he heard a big voice call out:
+
+"Here he is!"
+
+A moment later Mr. Black burst in through the opening in the wall
+and, picking Adrian up in his arms as though he had been a baby,
+started on a run with him for the nearest horse.
+
+"There you are!" he exclaimed as he set the boy on the horse.
+"Now to run for it!"
+
+Adrian needed no second bidding, but digging his heels into the
+horse's side he dashed away toward the cocoanut grove, his flight
+being protected by the Americans with Billie at their head.
+
+A couple of minutes after, the entire band had rallied in the
+shelter of the trees, where they stopped to plan for the next
+move.
+
+"How did you ever find me?" asked Adrian as he and Billie peered
+out toward the town.
+
+"Mr. Black knew about where he lost you and we tracked you by
+your trail. Whoever dragged you into the house, left a trail as
+wide as your body."
+
+"It was a woman," explained Adrian, "and she was hiding me. But
+where were you when I whistled for help?"
+
+"That's a long story," was the reply, "which I will tell you when
+we have time; but briefly we were on the other side of the town,
+where we left the man on guard. It appears that our friend Jose
+was a first-class traitor."
+
+"As I discovered," said Adrian.
+
+"Yes," continued Billie, "he sent a bunch of soldiers to capture
+us. The sentry heard them coming and gave the alarm. We went to
+his aid and succeeded in rescuing him, but that is what got us
+into this trouble."
+
+"And now what?"
+
+"Now we have to get away just as soon as we can."
+
+"Right," said Mr. Black. "There is no enemy in sight at this
+moment and the best thing we can do is to run for it. If we can
+cross the valley safely, we shall have little trouble."
+
+"I'd like to stay and give them a few shots," said the corporal,
+"but it would probably be unwise."
+
+"I'll tell you what, Brooks," suggested Billie, "suppose you and
+I remain behind until we see the others well across the valley.
+If there is any pursuit, we can hold them back for a few
+minutes. They will not know how many we are and it will give the
+others a chance to escort Mr. Black and his daughter to a place
+of safety. You know that is what we really came for."
+
+"Fine!" was the corporal's reply.
+
+Mr. Black and Adrian protested, but they were overruled.
+
+"It's a good idea," said the oldest of the troopers, "and now to
+run for it."
+
+It was fully five minutes after the others had left that Billie
+and Brooks saw the Mexican infantry, some fifty in number, emerge
+from the town and come slowly toward them.
+
+Looking across the valley, they could perceive that the little
+band under the direction of Mr. Black was nearing the protection
+of the forest that covered the next hillside.
+
+"Two minutes more and they will be safe," said Billie.
+
+"Then we'll give them the two minutes," replied the corporal.
+"Cut loose at the bunch as soon as it is near enough."
+
+A moment later two rifles spoke out and then they turned loose
+their automatics, to give the impression of a much larger force.
+
+Two men fell and a minute later two more, as the boys'
+Winchesters again spoke.
+
+"Now for the horses!" cried Billie as the Mexicans threw
+themselves upon the ground.
+
+They sprang to their horses and dashed away down the valley.
+
+They were not discovered until they had cleared the shelter of
+the trees and then a volley was fired after them. The bullets
+sang all around them, but they escaped unhurt, and before another
+volley they were out of range.
+
+"It's a good thing for us that they have no cavalry," said Brooks
+as they sped along.
+
+"Sure is," was the response, "and I hope they don't succeed in
+getting word ahead of us."
+
+"We'll fix that," said Brooks. "We cross the railroad just at the
+foot of the hill and I'll climb up and cut the telegraph wires."
+
+"They may have sent word already."
+
+"Hardly. They may have tried to, but it's dollars to doughnuts
+that there was nobody at Joachin or Rio Blanco to receive it. The
+nearest night operator, I imagine, is at Piedras Negras."
+
+"They may send a force from there to head us off," suggested
+Billie.
+
+"That's so; but I'm not sure whether Piedras Negras is held by
+the Carranza or the Huerta forces."
+
+"It's a terrible mix-up, isn't it?" laughed Billie. "But I guess
+either side would be glad to get us."
+
+They had reached the tracks by this time and a couple of minutes
+later Brooks was up a pole and with the aid of his bayonet broke
+the wires.
+
+"If it isn't too late, that'll hold 'em for a while," he remarked
+as he descended from the pole and mounted his horse.
+
+When they joined the main company, Billie told Mr. Black what
+they had done and repeated to him what Brooks had said.
+
+"I think he is right," said Mr. Black, "and my advice is that we
+should give Piedras Negras a wide berth."
+
+"We can't get too far away from the railroad," explained Billie,
+"or we shall miss Don and his company. They are coming out for
+just such an emergency."
+
+They rode rapidly forward for a couple of hours and then, turning
+sharply off the highway, took to the woods which now grew dense
+all along the mountain sides.
+
+About ten o'clock they stopped for breakfast and then all took a
+nap until the sun drew near the western horizon.
+
+"We should reach our rendezvous with Don about dark," explained
+Billie, "and that would get us into Vera Cruz about daylight."
+
+As they approached the appointed spot, Billie and Adrian, ever on
+the alert, noticed almost as one that the place had a changed
+appearance and mentioned it to the others.
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the corporal.
+
+"I can't exactly explain," was Adrian's reply, "but my prairie
+training always warns me to go slow when I sense danger."
+
+"A mighty good idea," muttered one of the troopers, an old
+campaigner who had seen service with Funston in the Philippines.
+"These are slippery chaps."
+
+"If I could walk," was Adrian's comment, "I'd soon find out what
+is wrong; but you can't scout on horseback."
+
+The cavalcade came to a halt and the men examined their weapons
+to be sure they were in order.
+
+"What do you think we'd better do, Ad?" queried Billie.
+
+"I don't know. How far are we from the rendezvous?"
+
+"Not more than half a mile."
+
+"If it were not for the possibility of making matters worse,"
+suggested Adrian, "I'd fire a few shots; but of course what we
+want is to get into Vera Cruz without a fight. What do you think,
+Mr. Black?"
+
+"This is new business to me, boys," was the reply. "I'll have to
+leave it to you."
+
+"What's the matter with my going on a scout?" asked Billie.
+
+"Nothing the matter with your going," laughed Adrian, "but there
+might be with your coming back. No, I shall have to go, ankle or
+no ankle."
+
+He slid from his horse, and almost before any one realized what
+he was doing he had slipped away on his hands and knees.
+
+"He is certainly a brave boy," was Josie's remark, "and I hate to
+think of his taking all this risk on my account."
+
+"Not so much risk for him as for us, I'm thinking," muttered the
+old trooper. "They are looking for mounted men--if they're
+looking at all--and not for crawling boys."
+
+The old trooper was right, and ten minutes later Adrian returned
+to say that there was a small body of horsemen at the next turn
+of the road.
+
+"Did you see anything of Don?" queried Billie.
+
+"Not a sign."
+
+"That's mighty funny. Where do you suppose he can be?"
+
+"He may be hiding back in the woods, just as we are."
+
+"Well," said the corporal, "now that we know where the greasers
+are, what's the matter of going forward?"
+
+"No matter at all," replied Adrian. "We can easily bear away to
+the left and give them the shake, but I don't know what to do
+about the others."
+
+"The others will have to look out for themselves," replied
+Brooks. "They are able to do it."
+
+The words had hardly left his lips ere there came the sound of a
+single shot away to the left.
+
+"There they are!" cried Billie. "Come on!"
+
+The little cavalcade started forward, but ere they had gone a
+dozen rods they could hear the sound of approaching horsemen,
+crashing through the woods to their right.
+
+"The Mexicans!" said Adrian.
+
+"To cover, every man!" cried the corporal.
+
+A minute later every horse lay flat on the ground with his rider
+concealed behind him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+A DINNER AND ITS RESULT.
+
+
+With a shout the Mexicans broke into the clearing which the
+Americans had just left. They were a motley crowd, not much like
+the cavalry that forms such a great part of Uncle Sam's army.
+
+"It seems a shame to hurt them," muttered the corporal. "They
+look as though they would run if you said boo!"
+
+Seeing no one, the Mexicans, some twenty or twenty-five in
+number, came to a halt and their leaders held a council of war.
+
+The Americans, a couple of rods back in the woods, partly
+concealed by the trees and partly by the deepening twilight,
+watched them silently.
+
+After a couple of minutes' confab, the captain of the band gave
+an order which the boys could not hear and a couple of Mexicans
+dismounted and began carefully to examine the ground. They were
+looking for the prints of horses' hoofs.
+
+"_Aqui'sta!_" exclaimed one of the men on foot, pointing to the
+ground.
+
+The captain drew near and leaned over from his horse to see more
+clearly.
+
+He was evidently satisfied, for he straightened up and gave
+another command and the two horsemen sprang to their saddles.
+
+Another command and every man's sabre flashed in the air.
+
+Raising his own sabre aloft, the captain was about to give
+another command, when there was the sound of a single shot from
+the rear and the captain's sabre went flying from his hand,
+struck by a rifle ball.
+
+"_Carramba!_" he cried. "_Emboscado!_" meaning "an ambush," and
+putting spurs to his horse he turned and fled in the direction
+from which he had come, followed by the entire band, while the
+Americans fired a volley into the air.
+
+"They'll never stop running," laughed the corporal, "until they
+reach home--wherever that is."
+
+"And in the meantime we'll get out of here," said Mr. Black.
+
+The men sprang to their feet and to their horses. At the same
+moment there came from the woods to the left the well-known
+whistle of the Broncho Rider Boys.
+
+"It's Don!" cried Billie, as he gave the answering call, and an
+instant later Donald came into view through the trees, closely
+followed by half a score of Uncle Sam's troopers.
+
+"Just too late," said Adrian.
+
+"Too late for what?" queried Donald.
+
+"To see a masterly retreat," and in a few words he told Donald
+what had occurred.
+
+"Well," was the rejoinder, "I am glad no blood was shed. But who
+fired the shot from the rear?"
+
+"I," came a voice, and out of the shadows appeared a figure which
+had a most familiar appearance. "If you don't recognize me," he
+continued, "you may recognize Ambrosio."
+
+"By George!" exclaimed Billie, "if it isn't our old friend
+Strong. Where on earth did you come from?"
+
+"I suppose I might ask you the same thing," was the laughing
+reply. "Briefly, I am on my way to Vera Cruz. I heard there was a
+band of American brigands out in the mountains and I thought I
+might fall in with them."
+
+"So that's what they call us, is it?" said Billie. "I never
+expected to be called a brigand."
+
+"Strange things happen to men who travel," declared Strong
+facetiously; "but you'd better be going. There are some good
+troops in this section and they are on the lookout."
+
+"Good advice," muttered the old trooper. "This ain't no pleasure
+excursion."
+
+"Sorry we haven't a horse for you," said Adrian to Strong, "but I
+guess you are used to walking."
+
+"A good deal more so than riding. But, if one of you don't mind
+giving Ambrosio a lift, it will help some."
+
+Several expressed their willingness to take the ape on behind,
+but he would go to no one but Billie.
+
+"All right, old man," laughed the boy; "but no funny business,"
+and he broke off a twig and shook it at Ambrosio. "You see this."
+
+Now that the two companies had united, they broke away from the
+railroad and made a bee line toward Vera Cruz, arriving in sight
+of the city at daybreak.
+
+"Here's where we part company with the troopers," explained
+Donald. "We six and Ambrosio will ride into town together and the
+boys will come in as they wish. There must be no suggestion of a
+military expedition."
+
+"I see," said Mr. Black, "and I want to thank you all for your
+kindness to my daughter and to me. That is about all I can do
+now. Perhaps some day I can do more."
+
+"That's enough," muttered the old trooper, "unless you can get us
+all sent back home. I can't see any use of keeping us here."
+
+"That's all right, old man," laughed the corporal. "You know you
+would not go home if you could."
+
+"Better not give me a chance," was the grumbling reply, as the
+trooper bit off a big piece of tobacco and tucked it away in his
+cheek.
+
+Reveille was just sounding when the boys, accompanied by their
+three friends and Ambrosio, perched upon Billie's horse, drew up
+in front of Lieut. Grant's quarters. They had been recognized and
+passed through the lines, and as the men caught sight of them
+they were given a hearty cheer.
+
+"You seem to have made friends," laughed the lieutenant as he
+greeted them, "and there is every reason why you should. The
+general will be glad to see you and hear your report. I have no
+doubt you have a good story to tell, and he likes a good story."
+
+When the boys reached home they found the gate still locked,
+although it was now considerably past the time when the household
+was astir. Their knock was answered by the _portero_, who, in
+response to a question by Billie, said that Santiago was
+seriously ill and had been for thirty-six hours.
+
+"What is the matter?" asked Donald.
+
+"Fever."
+
+"I am not surprised," declared Adrian. "The strange thoughts he
+has been thinking so many days were bound to result in something
+serious."
+
+"Perhaps it is not convenient for us to remain here," said Mr.
+Black. "We can, I am sure, find some other place."
+
+But at this moment Lucia appeared at the head of the stairs.
+When made acquainted with Mr. Black's words she would not hear of
+his taking Josie to any other house and gave orders for making
+her perfectly at home. The only one who did not remain was
+Strong.
+
+"I'll come back this evening," he said. "I have a strange story
+to tell you boys and I may need your help in locating a man I am
+most anxious to find."
+
+But he did not come back that evening, and when he did come the
+next night the boys were not there, having been invited to dine
+with Gen. Funston. Had things not happened thus, a part of this
+story could never have been written, for it was while dining with
+the general that the boys were given a duty to perform, which was
+the most arduous of all their adventures in the land of the
+Montezumas.
+
+And this was the manner of it.
+
+They were just finishing dinner and Billie was congratulating
+himself that he had had his fill of good American cooking, when
+an aide announced that a Mexican gentleman, Don Esteban Mendoza,
+craved an immediate audience with Gen. Funston.
+
+"I am sure you young gentlemen will excuse me a few minutes,"
+said the general, "as Don Esteban is one of the prominent bankers
+of the city and I know his business must be of importance."
+
+The boys were glad to accept the proffered excuse and the general
+withdrew, leaving them in the company of several members of his
+staff, to whom they briefly related their recent adventure. When
+they told of the "ambush" there was much amusement.
+
+In the midst of their conversation the general returned
+accompanied by Don Esteban.
+
+"These are the young gentlemen to whom I referred," explained the
+general, introducing the boys. "They are typical Americans and,
+being civilians and speaking Spanish fluently, will be just the
+ones to help you in your trouble."
+
+Then to the boys: "Don Esteban has a very delicate mission for
+which he asks the assistance of Americans. He wished me to detail
+three young officers for the work, but this I do not feel I can
+do, as it is strictly a private mission. If you feel that you can
+undertake it, he will be glad to explain it to you."
+
+"Anything that you recommend, General, we shall be glad to
+undertake," replied Donald, acting as spokesman for the trio.
+
+"Then I shall turn you over to Don Esteban, and as his business
+is pressing, I will excuse you if you wish to accompany him
+home."
+
+"A thousand thanks, General," said Don Esteban effusively. Then
+to the boys: "My automobile is at the door. If you will take
+seats in it, we shall be speedily at my house. You will pardon me
+if I speak nothing but Spanish, as I know very little English,
+although"--with an expressive glance at Gen. Funston--"I hope to
+know it better."
+
+Following Don Esteban, they were soon speeding through the
+streets and five minutes later entered a handsome patio.
+
+"This is my house," said Don Esteban. "Be pleased to consider it
+your own. Now, if you will follow me to the library, I will
+explain the mission I wish you to undertake."
+
+The boys followed without a word, but as they passed up the
+stairs Billie muttered under his breath:
+
+"Did you notice, boys, that this house backs right up against
+Santiago's?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+DON ESTEBAN'S STRANGE LOSS.
+
+
+"Before I explain to you the mission I wish you to undertake,"
+said Don Esteban, "I must narrate briefly a story that has been
+handed down from the days of Montezuma. It is to the effect that
+when the Spanish conqueror, Cortez, was about to capture the City
+of Mexico, most of the treasure of the Aztecs was sunk in the
+lake, which at that time covered a portion of the Mexican
+plateau.
+
+"A part of this treasure is said to have been recovered, but the
+mine from which the gold of Montezuma was taken has never been
+discovered, although search has been made for upward of five
+hundred years. Some have supposed that the mine was adjacent to
+the City of Mexico and that it was flooded at the time the
+treasure was sunk in the lake. Others have thought it was located
+in the state of Michoacan, while still others have believed it
+located in the vicinity of Mt. Orizaba.
+
+"My reason for telling you this is that some years ago a strange
+appearing man came to our bank and made a large deposit of money,
+all in gold. He did not deposit it all at once, but brought it in
+a few thousand dollars at a time until it amounted to more than a
+million dollars. Then he disappeared and we have never seen him
+since."
+
+"And has he never called for any of the money?" asked Billie.
+
+"Not in person, although he has drawn upon it at frequent
+intervals. The name under which it was deposited is James Moon."
+
+"An American?" asked Donald.
+
+"I could not say whether he was an American or an Englishman. We
+took him for the latter. But now I am coming to the real part of
+the story.
+
+"In addition to the money which he deposited, he also left with
+us a small brass-bound box, in which he said there were valuable
+papers. He gave orders that it should be delivered to no one but
+himself in person, or until the expiration of ten years. The ten
+years will be up in a few days and this afternoon I bethought me
+of the box. But when I went into the vault in which it has been
+kept for so many years, the place upon an upper shelf, where it
+has always stood, was vacant. The box was gone!"
+
+"Gone?" exclaimed all the boys in unison. "Do you mean stolen?"
+
+"So it would appear."
+
+"How could it have been done?" asked Adrian.
+
+"I cannot say; but the strange thing about the whole matter
+is that in place of the box, there lay upon the shelf an
+envelope--yellow with age, upon which was written in ink that had
+scarcely faded the words: 'Montezuma's Mine.'"
+
+"Well, what do you think of that?" queried Billie, looking at the
+others in amazement.
+
+"I don't think," laughed Adrian. "It's up to you to do the
+thinking."
+
+"Is there no clue whatever?" asked Donald.
+
+"Not that could be really called a clue. The only suspicious
+thing that has happened to-day at all, was that a mountebank came
+into our bank----"
+
+"A mountebank!" from all.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Did he have an ape with him?"
+
+"No! He was quite alone. He did not come in to make merry, but to
+get a bill changed. While he was there he was observed to
+scrutinize the place very closely."
+
+"But he did not go into your vault?"
+
+"No! He took his change and went peaceably out."
+
+"Then, why should you suspect him?" insisted Donald, casting a
+knowing glance at the other boys.
+
+"Because, an hour later, he came in again and said that one of
+the bills we gave him as change was a counterfeit."
+
+"Was it?"
+
+"No, it was not, although it was an old issue. The teller who
+waited upon him had no recollection of ever having seen the bill
+before, but rather than have a scene, we gave him another bill
+for it."
+
+"How large a bill was it?" asked Adrian.
+
+"Only a peso"--that is a dollar--"and it seemed hardly worth
+talking about; but you'd have thought it was a hundred."
+
+"Perhaps it seemed a large amount to him," ventured Billie.
+
+"Perhaps," admitted Don Esteban. "But be that as it may, I should
+like to see the man again, and especially would I like to know
+where he got that old dollar."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because it may have come out of that box."
+
+"Well, yes," said Donald, with a shake of his head, "it might
+have; but how could the mountebank have gotten the box?"
+
+"That is the mystery," was Don Esteban's reply.
+
+"And how do you wish us to help you?" asked Adrian.
+
+"Why," explained the banker, "I asked Gen. Funston to find the
+mountebank for me. He said you boys would do better than any one
+else."
+
+"But why us? Why not a Mexican policeman?"
+
+"Because the mountebank was an American. He may even have been a
+soldier and have hidden himself among your men."
+
+"Oh, he was an American, was he?" laughed Donald. "Then I believe
+we can put our finger on him with ease. But the man we have in
+mind always carried with him an ape."
+
+"Then it may not be the same," replied Don Esteban, "for this one
+had no ape with him either time."
+
+"It certainly does look like a mystery," was Adrian's comment.
+"Where is the vault from which the box was taken?"
+
+"On the other side of the patio."
+
+"May we examine it?"
+
+"Certainly. I'll show it to you now."
+
+Don Esteban led the way downstairs and across the patio. Opening
+the rear door of the bank, he escorted them within and closed the
+door.
+
+Passing behind the counter, he opened the iron door of the vault,
+disclosing within a good-sized chamber, in the rear of which was
+set the great steel safe, locked with a time lock.
+
+"There," explained Don Esteban, pointing to an upper shelf, "is
+where the box stood."
+
+"Oh, it was not a large box, then!" said Adrian.
+
+"Oh, no! Not more than eight or nine inches cube."
+
+The boy examined the vault carefully by the light of a gas jet.
+
+"There seems no way that any one could have entered except by the
+door," said Donald.
+
+"None whatever!"
+
+"You are sure there is no opening in the ceiling?"
+
+"Absolutely."
+
+Don Esteban led the boys out and locked the door of the vault.
+
+"Well," declared Donald as they came out into the patio after
+finishing their inspection, not only of the vault but of the rest
+of the office, "I guess we had better go home and study over the
+matter a little. I should not be surprised if we could put our
+hands upon the mountebank with very little trouble; but I feel
+sure he had nothing to do with the disappearance of the box."
+
+"I wish I could feel that way," said Adrian after they were out
+of hearing of Don Esteban. "I have never quite trusted Strong.
+There is something strange about him."
+
+"Yes, he is a bit queer; but how on earth could he have stolen
+the box if he did not even go behind the counter?"
+
+"He couldn't; but still I mistrust him."
+
+"I wonder where Ambrosio was all this time?" mused Billie.
+
+"Tied up at home, most likely. An American among Americans would
+hardly feel like traveling around with a hand organ and a
+monkey," was Don's emphatic reply.
+
+Upon arriving at Santiago's residence they were told that
+Strong had been there earlier in the evening and seemed much
+disappointed at not finding them at home.
+
+"Did he leave any word?" asked Billie of the portero.
+
+"None, senor; but Donna Lucia would like to see you in the
+library."
+
+"What is the matter? Is Santiago worse?"
+
+"No, senor. He is sleeping quietly. I could not say what she
+wants, but she seemed considerably disturbed."
+
+"Better go up alone, Billie," said Donald. "If we are needed, you
+can call us. We'll wait here in the patio for a few minutes
+before we turn in."
+
+Billie ran up the stairs and tapped at the library door. He was
+immediately admitted by Lucia and the door was closed behind him.
+
+"It is getting to be a good deal of a family affair," laughed
+Adrian.
+
+"Yes," replied Donald, with a grin. "I wonder where Josie and Mr.
+Black are?"
+
+Adrian colored.
+
+"I don't know why you should have thought of them!"
+
+"Oh," replied Donald nonchalantly, "speaking of family affairs
+naturally reminded me that you----"
+
+"Oh, Don!" came Billie's voice, breaking in upon the
+conversation.
+
+"Yes. What is it?"
+
+"Come up here, the both of you! Quick!"
+
+The boys ran up the stairs two steps at a time.
+
+"In here," and Billie held the library door open. "I've something
+I want to show you."
+
+He led the way to the table, and there, under the glow of the
+lamp, stood a brass-bound box about eight or nine inches cube.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+DONALD IS KIDNAPED.
+
+
+"Great Scott!" was the spontaneous exclamation of both the
+newcomers. "Where did it come from?"
+
+"You tell," replied Billie. "Lucia says it was not here an hour
+ago. Neither has any one been in the room so far as she knows."
+
+"Has she been here all the time?" asked Adrian.
+
+"No, she was with Josie in her room for a time; but the door into
+the patio was locked."
+
+"Some one might have come in through the window."
+
+"A fat chance, isn't there!" laughed Billie, pointing to the only
+window in the room which was protected with long and heavy iron
+bars, set so closely together that a child would have had trouble
+in squeezing through--much less a man.
+
+"Does look a little difficult," replied Adrian.
+
+"Worse than difficult. Impossible," was Donald's comment.
+
+"Did you hear any noise?" asked Billie of Lucia.
+
+"None whatever."
+
+"And you have never seen the box before?"
+
+Lucia wrinkled her brows and thought deeply.
+
+"Do you know," she finally said, "I have a sort of a dim
+recollection that, away back in my childhood somewhere, I have
+seen it or one just like it."
+
+"Away back in your childhood," laughed Donald, "couldn't have
+been so very far, Senorita."
+
+Lucia made a little grimace.
+
+"I'm nearly seventeen," she said.
+
+"Botheration!" said Billie. "We are not here to discuss ages, but
+to find out how this box came here. I have no doubt that Lucia
+has seen many similar boxes in her time."
+
+"Well," asked Donald, somewhat nettled, "what do you propose to
+do?"
+
+"In the first place, I want to search the house."
+
+"That's a good idea," declared Adrian. "Donna Lucia, will you
+lead the way?"
+
+"Certainly. Right this way; but don't go into father's room. I
+know there is no one in there. One of the servants has been with
+him every minute of the time."
+
+Headed by Lucia, the boys explored the house from top to bottom,
+but not a sign of any one could they find. So far as they could
+determine, the box must have come in of its own self.
+
+"I'll tell you one thing we can and must do," said Billie, after
+they had returned to the library. "We must keep a watch in this
+room to-night. Whoever put the box here may return."
+
+"Right!" from Don. "You do have occasional lucid intervals,
+Billie."
+
+Billie grinned, but made no reply.
+
+"I think we may all stay here for a few hours," suggested Lucia.
+"Father is so much better that I think we may have a little
+music. I will play some accompaniments on the guitar and Josie
+can sing."
+
+"That will seem a good deal like being back in the States,"
+declared Adrian. "With the Stars and Stripes flying over my head,
+a brigade of American troops on guard and an American girl
+singing, I can almost forget I am on Mexican soil."
+
+"How about the accompanist?" queried Billie.
+
+"Oh!" laughed Adrian, "we're quite willing to adopt her. Hey,
+Donald?"
+
+"Don't ask me, Ad. Ask Billie."
+
+"I am sure we could do no better," was Billie's gallant reply.
+
+Lucia's suggestion was carried out and for a couple of hours
+there was a merry little party under Santiago's hospitable roof.
+Even the mysterious box was forgotten and the young people were
+giving themselves up to a jolly good time, when suddenly there
+came a scream which caused every one to turn their eyes toward
+the room in which the sick man was supposed to be lying.
+
+But there in the doorway he stood, his long night robe reaching
+nearly to the floor and his thin black hair standing almost on
+end.
+
+"Father!" cried Lucia, rushing toward him "What is it?"
+
+He waved her off, but made no reply, while with his long bony
+finger he pointed at the brass-bound box.
+
+"Where did it come from?" he asked in a shrill, querulous tone.
+"Who brought back my secret casket?"
+
+"Yours?" came from every one in the room.
+
+"Yes! Mine! Mine!!" he almost screamed.
+
+"He's raving!" cried Josie. "Can't some one do something for
+him?"
+
+"No," he replied, and his voice became more calm, "I am not
+raving. I know whereof I speak. Quick! Let me look within it to
+see that all is safe."
+
+"It is locked, Father," said Lucia, coming to his side, "and we
+have no key."
+
+"I can unlock it," he cried. "I can unlock it. Give it to me.
+Give it to me."
+
+He staggered forward and seized the box in his hands. For several
+seconds he fumbled with it, turning it first upon one side and
+then upon another, and at last raised the lid. He thrust in his
+hand and then stopped as one stupefied.
+
+"Empty! Empty!" he gasped in an almost audible whisper. "The plan
+of Montezuma's mine is gone! Gone!!"
+
+A moment he stood and gazed around upon the faces of those in the
+room and then collapsed upon the floor.
+
+Quickly the boys picked him up and carried him to his bed and the
+attending physician was summoned.
+
+Billie picked up the box and examined it curiously.
+
+"I wonder how he opened it?" he mused. "There must be some sort
+of a spring somewhere."
+
+He felt the box all over, but could find nothing. Then he closed
+it and set it upon the table. A moment later Donald picked it up
+and tried to open it, but it was locked fast.
+
+"Nothing but mysteries," he said. "I'm getting tired of them. But
+before anything else happens, I'm going around and notify Don
+Esteban that the box is here."
+
+"I'll go with you," said Adrian.
+
+"No, you'd better stay here. I'll take a mozo with me."
+
+He ran hastily down the stairs and a minute later the boys heard
+the gate close behind him.
+
+"I guess this is the quickest way," thought Donald as he gained
+the sidewalk. "I'll not bother with a mozo. With American
+soldiers on guard and my automatic in my pocket, I have nothing
+to fear."
+
+A couple of minutes later he was ringing the bell at Don
+Esteban's house. He was hastily admitted and at once conducted to
+that gentleman's presence, where he narrated hastily what had
+occurred at the other house.
+
+"Who is this old man?" Don Esteban asked of Donald.
+
+Donald explained as best he could.
+
+"Which is mighty little," he declared when he had finished. "He
+is the greatest mystery we have ever encountered. There is no
+doubt that he is an Indian, but he speaks English like an
+Englishman."
+
+"I must go and see him at once," declared Don Esteban, rising.
+
+"I don't think you can, sir, to-night. I don't think the
+physician would permit it."
+
+"Well, then, the first thing in the morning. I thank you, young
+sir. Won't you have a glass of wine before you go?"
+
+"No, I think not," replied Donald. "I've never acquired that
+Mexican habit yet. Good night, sir."
+
+He left the house feeling greatly relieved that he had reported
+the finding of the box and walked slowly along whistling merrily.
+As he turned off the street upon which Don Esteban lived he heard
+soft footsteps behind him and turned hastily.
+
+But he was too late.
+
+Before he could see who it was, or ere he could cry out, a cloak
+was thrown over his head and he was picked up and carried away
+bodily.
+
+Donald was not the boy to give in without a struggle, but kick
+and squirm as he might, he could not free himself. Presently
+those who were carrying him stopped and laid him on the sidewalk.
+Then he heard a knock and a gate opened. Then he was lifted up
+again and, almost before he knew it, he was thrust into a little
+room--a closet it seemed--and the door closed upon him.
+
+It was a hot night and the little place was stifling.
+
+"I'll smother if I don't get out of this," he muttered.
+
+Slowly he unwrapped the cloak from about his head and at last
+freed himself completely from its folds; but he secured little
+relief from the heat.
+
+The room could not have been more than six feet square and it did
+not take Donald long to run his hand clear around the wall.
+
+There was only one door, that through which he had been thrust,
+and it was locked. He pounded upon it, but to no avail. Then he
+sat down to think.
+
+"There is certainly no use to sweat myself to death," he told
+himself. "I'd better be as quiet as I can. There is air enough
+coming under the door so I won't suffocate, so I might just as
+well wait and see what will turn up."
+
+He ran his hand all over his automatic and found it in good
+shape. Then he leaned back against the wall opposite the door and
+waited. Ten minutes later the door was suddenly yanked open,
+another figure was bundled into the closet and the door slammed
+shut, almost before Donald could think.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+A PLOT AGAINST FUNSTON.
+
+
+A muttered imprecation was the only intimation that the figure
+which had been so unceremoniously bundled into the closet was
+alive.
+
+"Who are you?" asked Donald in Spanish.
+
+"Let me out of this," was the unsatisfactory response in English.
+
+"Oh!" from Donald. "You are an American. Well, keep still and
+I'll help you to get rid of the blanket."
+
+He grabbed hold of the covering and the newcomer was soon
+uncovered.
+
+"Now, then, who are you?" asked Donald again.
+
+"I'll show you who I am if I get hold of you," was the uncivil
+answer, and an arm shot out.
+
+"Now look here," said Donald, "if you don't stop that I'll let
+daylight through you. We are in a bad box and the only thing to
+do is to make the best of it."
+
+"We?" exclaimed the newcomer. "Why do you say we?"
+
+"Because I am a prisoner the same as you are. Now, who are you?"
+
+"I'm Lieutenant Grimes of the general's staff. Who are you?"
+
+"I am Donald Mackay, on a special mission for Gen. Funston."
+
+"How did they get you?"
+
+"Kidnaped me on the street. How did they get you?"
+
+"Same way. I had just left the general's quarters."
+
+"I can see that some one might want to capture you, lieutenant,
+but I cannot see what they want of me."
+
+"How long have you been here?" asked the lieutenant.
+
+"About half an hour. By the way, are you armed?"
+
+"No; they took away my weapons. How about you?"
+
+"I have my automatic. I'd have used it when you came in, only
+you were dumped in so suddenly."
+
+"What do you suppose the game is?"
+
+"I don't know; but we'll find out. I've been in tighter places
+than this--but no hotter," after a pause.
+
+"Have you tried to get out?"
+
+"Yes; but it was too hot work. The door seemed pretty strong."
+
+"Perhaps the two of us might force it," suggested Grimes. "I'm a
+pretty husky chap."
+
+"We might try," replied Donald. "The place is so narrow we can
+get a good brace."
+
+They put their feet against the opposite wall and pushed against
+the door.
+
+"We'll never make it that way," said the lieutenant. "We'll have
+to throw ourselves at it."
+
+"Not much room for that, Lieutenant, but you give the word and
+we'll have a try."
+
+Getting their bearings as well as they could in the dark, they
+drew themselves back and then literally threw themselves at the
+door. It gave way with a snap and both fell to their feet on the
+outside.
+
+Quick as a flash they were on their feet, Donald with his weapon
+ready for instant action.
+
+But there was no one in sight.
+
+"That's mighty funny!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "Lock two strong
+men up in a place like that and not guard it."
+
+"It's a mighty good thing for us they didn't," laughed Donald. "I
+wonder where we are?"
+
+He glanced about the room which was dimly lighted by a couple of
+lamps, fastened to the wall by brackets. It was well--yes,
+elegantly furnished. At one side of the room was the closet out
+of which they had just emerged, while at the opposite side were
+three doors. On a third side were two windows and the fourth side
+was a plain wall.
+
+"Not a bad-looking place," observed the lieutenant.
+
+"Not at all," echoed Donald, "and there seem plenty of means of
+exit."
+
+"Sure, my boy; and if it's all the same to you, we'll go. The
+sooner I get back the quicker I'll be able to start something in
+this direction. Come on!"
+
+They crossed over to the doors and tried the first one. It was
+locked. They tried the second and it opened into another closet.
+
+"Three times and out," laughed Donald as he took hold of the knob
+of the last door.
+
+It yielded to his touch and he opened it gently. Then he quickly
+and quietly closed it.
+
+"What's up?" asked the lieutenant.
+
+Donald put his fingers to his lips.
+
+"How many?" queried Lieut. Grimes.
+
+"Three," was the whispered response. "Let's hear what they have
+to say."
+
+He opened the door a crack, through which they could see three
+men seated at a table. One wore the uniform of a Mexican officer,
+the other was dressed in Mexican costume, while the third was
+unquestionably an American, although they could only see his
+back.
+
+"I have carried out my part of the agreement," the American was
+saying, "and now I want my money."
+
+"How do we know you have?" asked the officer.
+
+"Haven't I put Gen. Funston into your hands?"
+
+"We are not sure it is Funston," said the other.
+
+"Then bring him out and look at him. You know the general when
+you see him, don't you?"
+
+"I think so, although I've never seen him but once."
+
+"Well, that is he, all right," declared the American.
+
+Donald turned and looked at his companion. Then he chuckled.
+
+The lieutenant said nothing, but stroked his whiskers which he
+wore in exact imitation of his chief.
+
+"Lucky for the general," he whispered, and Donald nodded his head
+that he understood.
+
+The two Mexicans exchanged a few words under their breath which
+Donald could not hear and then the officer took from his breast
+pocket a large wallet, from which he counted out ten bank notes.
+They were yellow backs and Donald was not at all surprised when
+the officer said:
+
+"Here are ten one-thousand-dollar bills in American money. We
+believe you are telling us the truth, as your words are
+corroborated by the men who brought him here. But if you are
+playing us false, we shall know how to reach you."
+
+The American shrugged his shoulders as he took the bills, rolled
+them up nonchalantly and placed them in his trousers pocket.
+
+"You can find me at the Hidalgo Hotel whenever you want me," he
+said, "and now I must be going."
+
+He arose from his seat, and as he did so, Donald caught sight of
+his face. It was the mountebank, Strong, but in his stylish
+clothing Don had failed to recognize him.
+
+"Great Scott!" he muttered to himself, "the plot thickens!"
+
+"What's that?" queried the lieutenant, who caught the muttered
+exclamation.
+
+"Nothing much," replied Donald as the three men walked toward a
+door in the farther end of the room and he was enabled to speak
+without being heard, "only that is the man I'm looking for. Let's
+get out of the window and see if we can't head him off."
+
+He closed the door and turned the key which he had quietly taken
+from the other side.
+
+The windows were open and they looked out. They were on the side
+of the house overlooking a good-sized lawn.
+
+"That's the reason they are not barred," explained Donald. "Had
+they been front windows, we might as well have been in jail. You
+go first and I'll cover the retreat."
+
+Lieut. Grimes sprang into the window and lowered himself to the
+ground, just as a hand turned the knob.
+
+"Good-bye!" muttered Donald. "Sorry I can't wait to receive you,"
+and he followed the lieutenant.
+
+On the ground they could hear the men trying to open the door and
+as they sped across the lawn toward a high brick wall, the door
+gave way with a crash and they could hear surprised voices.
+
+"They have discovered our wreckage!" cried Donald. "Over the wall
+you go!"
+
+"You first this time," said the lieutenant.
+
+"No, you first. I can boost you up, but I couldn't pull you. You
+can pull me."
+
+The argument was good and the lieutenant acted upon it.
+
+A minute later he was on top of the wall.
+
+"Great Caesar!" he exclaimed. "There's nothing under me but
+water."
+
+"Never mind that," was the response. "Haul me up."
+
+The lieutenant leaned down and gave the lad a hand.
+
+"Here we are," he said a minute later. "We can't jump in, for
+there is no knowing where we are."
+
+"Sure," from Donald. "Let's run along the wall."
+
+This they did for about a hundred yards and then the wall ended
+abruptly against what appeared to be an abutment.
+
+"We must act quickly," declared Donald. "They think you are
+Funston and won't hurt you. Keep up the deception. I'm going to
+swim for it. I'll have help here just as quick as I can. So
+long," and, throwing off his coat, he jumped into the water some
+twenty feet below.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+THE ADMIRAL TO THE RESCUE.
+
+
+When Donald struck the water he allowed himself to go clear to
+the bottom, as he wanted to find out just about how deep it was.
+
+It was, as he had expected, about the depth of the water in the
+harbor and he made up his mind that he could not be far from some
+of the wharves that constitute the water front.
+
+When he came to the surface, he struck out away from the wall,
+and by the light of the moon was soon able to see the vessels in
+the offing. He could also see that he was well north of the
+principal docks.
+
+"I guess I'll land at the first place that offers," he thought,
+"and find my way to headquarters from there."
+
+He struck out lustily, but had not been swimming more than a
+couple of minutes, when he heard the sharp exhaust of a gasoline
+launch.
+
+Realizing that it must be an American craft, he shouted at the
+top of his voice.
+
+At first there was no response, but as the boat came nearer and
+he shouted even more loudly, a friendly hail came over the
+waters.
+
+"Where are you?" came the voice as the boat came to a stop.
+
+"Here, to your port side," he replied.
+
+The launch was started again slowly and Donald was soon able to
+make himself visible.
+
+"Who are you?" was the first question pumped at him by the
+officer in command.
+
+"Special messenger for Gen. Funston," was the response.
+
+"Where is your uniform?"
+
+"I'm not a soldier. I am a civilian."
+
+"A likely story," snapped the officer, who chanced to be an
+ensign.
+
+"I can't help how likely it is," snapped Donald in return. "It's
+true, and I want to be put ashore as quickly as possible. I have
+an important message and the safety of one of his staff is
+involved. There is also a plot on foot to capture the general
+himself."
+
+"Nonsense! And besides, I can't put you ashore. I am carrying a
+message to Admiral Fletcher."
+
+"But my business is important," insisted Donald.
+
+"So is mine," declared the ensign.
+
+He ordered his launch full speed ahead in the direction of the
+flagship.
+
+"It's pretty tough," commented Donald, "but I'll prove I am right
+when I get to the ship."
+
+"I hope so," was the reply. "I haven't anything against you and
+you may be telling the truth, but I can't take any chances."
+
+Fifteen minutes later they drew up beside the flagship.
+
+"Up you go," said the ensign, motioning Donald up the ladder.
+"I'll present you to the officer of the deck," which he quickly
+did.
+
+"Here's a man I picked up in the water, sir, who says he has a
+message for Gen. Funston, but I had no time to put him ashore."
+
+"Looks more like a boy than a man," replied the officer. Then to
+Donald: "What's this about you having a message for Gen.
+Funston?"
+
+Donald repeated what he had told the ensign.
+
+"What's that?" asked another officer, coming forward out of the
+shadow of the after turret.
+
+The first officer saluted.
+
+"Tell the Admiral your story, my lad," he said.
+
+Again Donald repeated his story, this time going more into
+detail.
+
+"Come with me," ordered the Admiral, and he led the way to the
+wireless operator.
+
+"Get into communication with Gen. Funston at once," was the
+admiral's order.
+
+"Here he is, sir," was the report a couple of minutes later.
+
+"Ask him if he has three American boys on a special mission."
+
+The answer came back promptly that he had.
+
+"Ask him if Lieut. Grimes is missing."
+
+Again came back the answer that he was.
+
+"Tell the general that we have one of the lads on the _Arkansas_,
+and that he has had a strange adventure. Tell him I will send the
+lad ashore immediately."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Donald. "I knew some one would know what
+to do."
+
+"You're a brave lad," was the Admiral's comment, "and I shall be
+glad to hear the end of the adventure. You and your companions
+must come out and dine with us as soon as your mission is ended."
+
+Donald thanked him for his kindness and hastened to the launch
+which was to take him back.
+
+Twenty minutes later he stood before Gen. Funston.
+
+"You seem to have been in the water," was the general's first
+words.
+
+"Yes, sir," laughed Donald. "I jumped from a wall north of town,
+leaving Lieut. Grimes on top of it."
+
+"What! Lieut. Grimes on top of a wall? How did he get there?"
+
+"He was kidnapped, sir! It was a case of mistaken identity!"
+
+"Mistaken identity! I don't understand!"
+
+"They took him for you, sir, because his beard is trimmed like
+yours."
+
+The general smiled grimly.
+
+"Think I shall have all my staff officers do the same," he
+commented. Then more seriously: "Can you lead us to the house?"
+
+"I'm not sure about the house; but I can take you to the stone
+wall from which I jumped. That ought to guide us to the house."
+
+"Right," said the general.
+
+He called another member of his staff and gave a few brief
+orders.
+
+In another ten minutes two launches loaded with regulars and
+armed with a rapid-fire gun in each, steamed swiftly up the
+harbor.
+
+"There's the wall!" exclaimed Donald a few minutes later, "and
+there's where I jumped," pointing to a spot near the abutment.
+
+The officer in command headed the boats for the shore.
+
+"It is not only a question of freeing Lieut. Grimes," said the
+officer, "but we also want to capture the conspirators. This is
+a much more serious matter than Gen. Funston is willing to
+admit."
+
+"Then if you will take my suggestion, sir," said Donald modestly,
+"I would let a few soldiers go over the wall as well as entering
+the front of the house."
+
+The officer looked up twenty feet. The wall was absolutely
+perpendicular and as smooth as the side of a house.
+
+"I'm afraid none of my men can scale it," he said.
+
+"Can't we throw a grapnel over it, sir?"
+
+"We might; but it would be a very slight hold."
+
+"If you can make it hold at all," laughed Donald, "I'm willing to
+make the effort. At best I can only fall back into the water."
+
+"True," declared the officer. "We'll try it."
+
+A grapnel was tied to a long line, such as is used in tying the
+launch to the shore, and after several vain attempts the grapnel
+caught in the top of the wall.
+
+Donald sprang forward and tested it with his weight and it held.
+Then, without another word, he braced his feet against the wall
+and in almost less time than it takes to write it, he was at the
+top.
+
+"Do you see any one?" asked the officer from below.
+
+"No, sir; but there is the sound of pacing footsteps on the walk
+that runs along the side of the house."
+
+"Good! Now make fast the grapnel and we will see if there are a
+dozen men here who can climb to the top."
+
+The dozen were quickly found and they were soon at the top of the
+wall. The officer finally decided to add to their armament one of
+the rapid-firers.
+
+"If there is any resistance," he said, "we'll knock the side of
+the house in."
+
+"What shall I do?" asked Donald.
+
+"You'd better come back into the boat. You can help us to enter
+the house in front."
+
+Donald slid down the rope and the expedition quickly made a
+landing. Silently, so as not to alarm those within the house, the
+men took their way to the front of the mansion, which was at once
+recognized as one of the finest in Vera Cruz.
+
+"Do you know who lives here?" asked the officer.
+
+"No, sir," replied Donald.
+
+"I was told it was the residence of one of Huerta's generals,"
+said a soldier. "It was pointed out to me the first day we
+landed."
+
+"Good!" from the officer. "I shall now have no compunction about
+entering the place."
+
+With Donald and a couple of soldiers, the officer approached the
+door and gave a vigorous knock.
+
+There was no response and he knocked again.
+
+"Who is there?" finally came a voice, evidently a mozo.
+
+"An American officer. Open the door in the name of the law."
+
+There was a still further delay and then another voice asked:
+"How do we know it is an officer?"
+
+"Open and find out, before I force the door."
+
+There was a still further delay.
+
+"It's a good thing we guarded the rear," said Donald. "They are
+evidently trying to gain time to spirit Lieut. Grimes away,
+thinking it is Gen. Funston."
+
+"True," said the officer. "We'll wait no longer. Corporal, force
+the door!"
+
+The corporal placed a small stick of dynamite under the door and
+fixed a fuse.
+
+"Step back a little," he said.
+
+All obeyed, when at the instant the door was thrown open and a
+hand, in which was an automatic revolver, was thrust out,
+directly in the face of the officer.
+
+But quick as was the action, Donald was not taken off his guard.
+
+With a single swift blow he struck the weapon into the air.
+
+At the same instant a fusillade from the rear of the house gave
+evidence that the men stationed upon the wall had done their
+work.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+BILLIE MAKES A DISCOVERY.
+
+
+Having released Lieut. Grimes and taken the plotters into
+custody, the next task was to locate Strong, the mountebank, and
+to solve the mystery of the box.
+
+Outside the one exclamation which Donald had uttered when he
+recognized Strong as the third of the plotters, he had not
+betrayed his secret to any one, and when Lieut. Grimes told his
+story to Gen. Funston and described the American, Donald
+vouchsafed no information which might help to apprehend him.
+
+"The plotter told the Mexicans that he could be found at the
+Hidalgo Hotel whenever he was wanted," explained Lieut. Grimes.
+"While he may have lied about it, I think we should send a force
+and try to locate him."
+
+The advice was acted upon and a corporal and four soldiers sent
+to the hotel, but to no purpose. No such man was known there.
+
+"What was the use of my saying anything about it?" asked Donald
+of the other two boys when he returned to Santiago's house and
+narrated to them the story of his evening's adventure. "I was
+sure he was not there and I have no idea where he is; but we'll
+find him and the ten thousand dollars given him by the Mexicans
+for his treachery."
+
+"That's right, Don," was Billie's comment. "If you can get that
+money and I can get my ten thousand pounds, this trip won't be so
+bad."
+
+"In the meantime," said Adrian, "I propose that some of us go to
+bed. It's nearly two o'clock and there is mighty little chance
+that any one will try to steal the box again."
+
+"I think you are right," said Billie. "We might as well all go.
+The doctor is still with Santiago and will stay until he is
+better. It isn't at all likely that any one will try to come into
+this room while he is here."
+
+Billie voiced the unanimous opinion, and a few minutes later the
+young people had all sought their beds, leaving instructions with
+the physician and the servants that they were to be called if any
+change for the worse occurred in Santiago's condition.
+
+It was probably two hours later, just about daylight, that the
+entire household was awakened by a terrible shriek and one of the
+maids rushed out into the patio.
+
+The boys came to their feet with a bound and hurried from their
+room on the ground floor, while the others appeared at the head
+of the stairs.
+
+"What is it?" asked Donald as soon as he could quiet the
+shrieking maid. "What are you yelling about?"
+
+"Oh, senor!" she cried. "I have seen the devil."
+
+"Nonsense," laughed the boy. "You had a nightmare."
+
+"No, senor. It was the devil. He had horns and a tail and he had
+the little box under his arm. I saw him!"
+
+"The box!" cried Billie. "Quick, Lucia, look and see if the box
+is gone!"
+
+The girl rushed back into the library and she, too, gave a
+shriek.
+
+"It's gone!" she cried. "It's gone!"
+
+The boys sprang up the stairs three at a time and into the
+library. Lucia was right. The box was gone.
+
+"It must be the old boy, sure enough," said Billie, "or at least
+one of his imps." Then to the maid: "How did he get in?"
+
+"I don't know, senor. I only saw him go out. He went right
+through the door without opening it."
+
+"Nonsense!" from Donald. "His Satanic majesty might go through
+a solid door, but the box wouldn't. There is some other
+explanation."
+
+"But who could it be?" queried Lucia in great fear.
+
+"Some one who knows the house," declared Adrian emphatically. "He
+may have put on some masquerade costume just to frighten these
+superstitious servants in case he was discovered."
+
+"I believe Ad is right," agreed Donald. "What do you think,
+Billie?"
+
+"Maybe, Don; but I have a theory of my own. If I am right, I can
+work it better if I tell no one."
+
+At this moment the physician entered the room.
+
+"How is Santiago?" asked Donald.
+
+"Better! He has gone to sleep, and if he is not disturbed, I
+expect him to be greatly improved when he awakens. I should not
+be surprised if this were the turning point in his illness."
+
+"Then we had all better go down on to the first floor and leave
+him alone with his nurses."
+
+"I'd give a good deal to know where Strong is," remarked Donald
+as they were drinking their coffee an hour later.
+
+"So would I," declared Billie. "I believe, if we can find him, we
+can solve this entire mystery."
+
+"As soon as we finish our coffee," suggested Donald, "let's get
+busy and find him. He can't be far."
+
+"That's right," said Adrian. "We'll round him up in short order.
+Hey, Billie?"
+
+"We ought to; but I'll tell you what. You fellows go out and see
+if you can get a line on him, and I'll hang round the house to
+see that the devil doesn't come and steal the rest of the house."
+
+"Especially Lucia," laughed Donald.
+
+"That's all right," was the good-natured reply; "but I have an
+idea that the devil and Strong may have something in common."
+
+"You don't think it was Strong who came and took the box, do
+you?" queried Adrian.
+
+"I don't know just what I do think, Ad; but I'm going to do a
+little detective work and I want to give the impression that we
+are all out. When you fellows go out, don't say anything that
+would cause any one in hiding to think we are not all going out
+together. Do you sabe?"
+
+"Sure. I hope you'll get a clue if we do not."
+
+When the others had gone, Billie sat quietly in his room for a
+long time. He could easily have gone to sleep, as he had had only
+a couple of hours' rest, but he made up his mind that he would
+not be caught napping again if anything should happen.
+
+But nothing happened.
+
+The minutes passed into hours and it was rapidly nearing noon
+when Billie made up his mind that it was a bad job.
+
+"We had our chance at daylight," he muttered, "and now we will
+not get another. Whoever is after the box, has it and is not
+going to take any further chance of being caught."
+
+He went out into the patio and looked up at the sun. It was
+almost in the zenith and the air was stifling.
+
+"Any one would be a fool to go out at this time of day," he
+mused. "I wonder where the fellows are?"
+
+He stepped back under the shade of the arcade that extended clear
+around the patio and threw himself onto a stone seat.
+
+"Queer old place," he thought, "and a queer old seat."
+
+He laid his hand on one of the carved arms and mechanically toyed
+with an eagle's head that formed one of the decorations. To his
+surprise the head turned in his hand.
+
+"I hope I haven't broken it," he said as he examined it more
+closely.
+
+It was clearly made to revolve and so he turned it clear around,
+when of a sudden the arm of the seat fell apart and the bottom
+collapsed, disclosing to Billie's astonished eyes a pair of
+stairs.
+
+Almost thrown to the pavement by the giving way of the seat,
+Billie picked himself up and looked about to see if he were
+observed.
+
+There was no one in sight and he stooped down and examined the
+stairs carefully. Then he straightened up and rubbed his chin as
+a sudden gleam of intelligence passed through his brain.
+
+"So," he muttered, "this is why Santiago dwells in a house that
+is directly back of the banker's. That was his box and he is the
+strange man who made the million-dollar deposit in Don Esteban's
+bank."
+
+Then he stopped and pondered.
+
+"But who stole the box? Not Santiago, for he has not left his
+room for days. If it was Strong, he must have entered the bank
+from some direction other than this. I don't understand, but I'm
+going to make some further investigation."
+
+He reentered his room, buckled on his automatic and took from his
+suit case--which, by the way, he had located at the railway
+station along with that of his companions after the occupation of
+the city by the marines--his electric torch. Then he went out and
+descended the stairs, which he discovered were twenty-four in
+number.
+
+Reaching the bottom he found himself upon a landing some six or
+eight feet square, from the opposite side of which another flight
+of stairs ascended.
+
+"I reckon I better see where they lead to," was his comment as he
+slowly began their ascent.
+
+After going up eighteen stairs his head touched the floor above.
+He counted the remaining steps by the light of his torch and
+found that there were six more. This would make the floor over
+his head on an exact level with the floor of Santiago's house.
+
+"It's just as I expected," he muttered. "If I can get
+through this floor, I shall find myself in Don Esteban's
+residence--somewhere. But just where? That's the question."
+
+He pushed upon the stone above his head, but it refused to move.
+Then he held up his torch and examined the ceiling carefully.
+Whatever the method by which the stones could be moved, it was
+carefully concealed.
+
+Much chagrined, Billie at length decided to retrace his steps and
+await the coming of his companions. He reached the landing and
+crossed over to the steps by which he had descended.
+
+Glancing up, he uttered an exclamation of surprise, for there at
+the opening and peering down the stairs was Ambrosio, the ape.
+
+With a cry of recognition the simian started to descend the
+stairs, but at a noise from above he hesitated and then sprang
+back and out of sight.
+
+An instant later the opening was closed and Billie was left in
+the darkness, except for the light of his torch.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+THE MYSTERY DEEPENS.
+
+
+While Billie was making his discoveries Donald and Adrian had
+also been busy.
+
+When they left the house, at Donald's suggestion, they went first
+to the bank and told Don Esteban about the disappearance of the
+box and what the maid had seen. He was much disappointed until it
+was explained to him that they also had another clue.
+
+"We shall spend our time in the slums," said Donald, "while our
+chum keeps watch at the house. We feel sure that between us we
+shall solve the mystery."
+
+"I hope so," was Don Esteban's response. "Do you think I might be
+able to see this man Santiago?"
+
+"I'm afraid not, sir! The doctor wants him to sleep as long as
+he can. We will let you know later in the day."
+
+Leaving Don Esteban, the boys started for the plaza, intending to
+play the part of sightseers and visit every place in which a
+mountebank might reasonably expect to go. They felt certain that
+Strong would keep away from the more aristocratic places.
+
+Keeping their eyes open and ever on the alert, they wandered
+about the streets and into many public places, but up to eleven
+o'clock had made no discovery. Then they entered a cantina for
+breakfast, purposely choosing one that was little frequented by
+Americans.
+
+Seating themselves at a table in one corner where they could see
+without being seen, the boys ordered a hearty breakfast and then
+turned their attention to the others in the place.
+
+At the table nearest them were three men of ordinary appearance,
+busy with their meal. Beyond them was an American soldier, who
+seemed to have dropped in out of curiosity. He was paying very
+little attention to his meal, but was eyeing a young woman who
+was seated behind the cash counter.
+
+On the other side of the room, and partially hidden from our boys
+by the cash counter, was another man, smoking, and evidently
+waiting for some one. He kept his eye on the door and every once
+in a while glanced nervously at his watch.
+
+"Not much going on in here," said Donald in English.
+
+"No; but we are a little early. There may be more in before we
+finish our breakfast."
+
+It was a true prediction, for within the next five minutes as
+many more persons entered and disposed themselves around the
+various tables. Then the boys' breakfast was served and for a few
+minutes they were more absorbed in the food than in the guests.
+
+As Donald raised his eyes for a moment, however, he caught sight
+of a man talking to the one sitting back of the cash counter.
+They were evidently arguing about something in an undertone and a
+minute later the newcomer took a seat with his back to the boys.
+
+"Look!" was Donald's smothered exclamation, "over there by the
+cashier. Isn't that our man?"
+
+Adrian raised his eyes and gazed hard at the back of the man's
+head.
+
+"I could tell better if he would remove his hat. It does look
+like him, but he has disguised himself some way."
+
+"Sure," laughed Donald. "That's part of his trade; but I'm dead
+sure it is Strong."
+
+"What had we better do?"
+
+"I don't know. He'll recognize us the minute he sees us. If he is
+keeping away from us, he will leave. If he is not, he may come
+over and speak to us. There is no reason why he should not, so
+far as he knows."
+
+"How would it do to make ourselves visible?"
+
+"I hardly know." Then after a pause: "I'll tell you what. As soon
+as we finish we'll go out, as though we did not see him, but we
+will be sure to make enough commotion to attract his attention.
+Then we'll station ourselves where we can see him as he comes
+out."
+
+"That's all right, Don; but suppose he doesn't come out?"
+
+Donald scratched his head.
+
+"Oh!" he exclaimed, "I knew I had a thought back of that. When he
+sees us, if he is not trying to avoid us, he will speak to us. If
+he does not speak to us, we will know there is something wrong
+and take immediate steps to have him arrested."
+
+"But he may escape."
+
+"How can he?"
+
+"I suppose he could go out through the kitchen if he had to," was
+the ready reply.
+
+"Yes, I suppose he could. We must do better than that."
+
+"I'll tell you," said Adrian. "I'll go over and speak to that
+soldier in English. If it is Strong, he will hear me and will
+involuntarily make some move. If he wants to make himself known,
+he will. If he does not do so, we will simply sit here till he
+goes out and then shadow him."
+
+"That sounds good. Go over and say 'Howdy' to the soldier."
+
+Adrian arose from his seat and stepped over to the soldier.
+
+"Hello, partner!" was his somewhat noisy greeting. "Won't you
+come over to our table?"
+
+"Why, sure, neighbor! I was just thinking that I was getting
+mighty lonesome."
+
+He arose from his chair and took a seat beside Donald, who had
+been observing Strong closely. There could be no doubt that he
+had been attracted by Adrian's voice, but he gave no intimation
+that he knew the boys.
+
+"Glad to see you," said Donald, without taking his eyes from his
+man. "Won't you have another cup of coffee?"
+
+"Bet your life, neighbor!" Then as he lighted a fresh cigarette:
+"Smoke?"
+
+"Never learned!" laughed Donald. "Seems mighty funny down here,
+doesn't it?"
+
+"Sure does; but you're just as well off without it. Live here?"
+
+"No," replied Adrian; "we were on our way home and got stuck!"
+
+"What's the matter?" asked the soldier, with much concern. "Out
+of coin?"
+
+"We haven't much; but Gen. Funston has promised to find us
+passage home in a few days. Our friend saw him early this
+morning," this latter remark expressly for Strong's ears.
+
+"If he told you he'd do it, he will," said the soldier. "You can
+bet on him every time."
+
+It was very evident from Strong's actions that he was taking in
+every word of the conversation, which was in English and in an
+unusually loud voice. He pretended to eat, then leaned over and
+said something to his companion, and a minute later arose from
+the table and hastily quitted the place.
+
+But the boys were not to be fooled. They sprang from the table
+and hastily followed, Donald throwing a greenback to the cashier
+which more than doubly paid the bill.
+
+Their sudden action did not escape the soldier, who, attributing
+it to another cause, also hastily quitted the cantina.
+
+As the boys emerged into the street, they saw Strong hastening
+away in the direction of the custom house.
+
+"Going to lose himself in the crowd," said Donald. "Don't let him
+get out of your sight."
+
+"What's the matter?" asked the soldier, running to catch up with
+the boys. "Ugly greasers?"
+
+"No," replied Donald, "we're shadowing a man who is wanted by
+Gen. Funston. That's him," pointing; "keep your eye on him."
+
+"I thought you chaps had something on," laughed the soldier. "You
+can bet on me!"
+
+Now that they approached nearer the center of the business
+portion of the city, there were more people on the street; but
+they were so near their quarry that they easily kept him in
+sight. Only once had he glanced back, but that was enough to
+convince him that he was followed.
+
+"He's headed for somewhere," said Adrian. "He doesn't expect to
+get away from us simply by walking."
+
+"Right," agreed Donald. "There he goes into the post office."
+
+"Yes," from Adrian, "and it has two doors. You stop at the first
+one and I'll run to the other."
+
+He started on a run and the soldier followed suit.
+
+The sight of a man running and a soldier following, quickly
+attracted attention and pedestrians began to stop and see what
+the matter might be. In less than a minute a crowd had collected,
+among them several soldiers, who quickly brought Adrian to a
+halt.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked one. Then as the soldier came up:
+"What are you chasing him for?"
+
+"I'm not chasing him," laughed the seeming pursuer. "He and I are
+after another chap."
+
+The delay occasioned by this interference was not great, but it
+was sufficient to allow Strong to escape, had it not been for
+Donald. He had seen the crowd gathering and, realizing what would
+happen, ran around the other way, just in time to see Strong
+disappearing around the corner of the street on which the bank
+was located.
+
+Madly he dashed down the street and turned the corner in time to
+see Strong enter the big gate leading into the patio of Don
+Esteban's residence.
+
+Putting on more steam, a couple of minutes later Donald also
+dashed into the patio; but Strong was nowhere to be seen.
+
+"He must be in the bank," muttered the boy, and he quickly
+entered the door.
+
+But Strong had disappeared as completely as though the earth had
+opened and swallowed him up.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+THE MYSTERY SOLVED.
+
+
+When the opening at the head of the stairs had closed upon Billie
+and he realized that he was shut in a subterranean passage, for a
+minute his heart sank within him.
+
+He had tried to find an opening at the top of the opposite stairs
+and had failed, and he did not know that he would have any better
+success in trying to find a way to open the place through which
+he had descended.
+
+"Nobody on earth knows that I am down here," he thought, "and
+with Santiago sick and maybe dying, no one on earth probably
+knows that there is such a passage."
+
+But Billie was not the lad to sit down and cry. He had been in
+tight places before and he had an abiding faith in his own
+ability to do things. Therefore, he called up his courage and
+slowly mounted the stairs leading to Santiago's patio.
+
+At the top of the stairs he found himself confronted by exactly
+the same condition as he had found on the opposite side.
+
+"But there is this difference," muttered Billie. "I know that
+there must be some sort of a crack where that slab fell back."
+
+He held the electric bull's-eye close to the stone and
+scrutinized every spot.
+
+Not a single crack could he spy.
+
+Then he took out his big jack-knife and prodded with it clear
+across the width of the stairway.
+
+There was nothing but solid stone.
+
+"Looks kind o' desperate," he told himself, "but I have simply
+got to find an opening."
+
+Again he prodded the place over without result.
+
+"It's no use," he finally said to himself. "If I am to get out of
+here, help will have to come from somewhere outside. But how can
+it?"
+
+He sat down on the stairs and thought deeply.
+
+"If it is as I think," he mused, "these stairs have been used
+recently. The very fact that Ambrosio is prowling around here is
+proof that Strong must have been here at some time. But where is
+Strong?"
+
+He slid down several steps and threw the light of his torch
+across to the opposite stairs.
+
+"Bang!" went something that sounded like a falling stone.
+
+Billie sprang to his feet.
+
+"Click! Bang!" and down the opposite stairway streamed a ray of
+light.
+
+Billie shut off his electric torch and waited.
+
+Then on the steps there appeared a foot, then another, until a
+whole human body was in sight. Then "click, snap!" and the light
+disappeared.
+
+"By George!" exclaimed Billie under his breath, "there's a man on
+the stairs right opposite to me. Who on earth can it be?"
+
+His first inclination was to turn on the light, but on second
+thought he decided not to.
+
+"I'll let him set the copy," thought Billie. "It's a mighty good
+thing to be able to spring the surprise."
+
+He drew his automatic and stood ready for any emergency.
+
+It was still as a tomb.
+
+He could hear his own heart beat and he could also hear the heavy
+breathing of the other man.
+
+"Sounds like he had been running and was just catching his
+breath," was Billie's mental comment.
+
+After some minutes the man's breathing became more quiet and
+Billie heard him slowly descending the stairs.
+
+"This won't do," thought Billie. "He probably has some kind of a
+light, and if he gets on the landing and I'm up here, I'll be
+like a man up a tree."
+
+The lad sat down and slowly slid toward the bottom.
+
+Being only a few steps from the landing, Billie was down first.
+He crowded to the right and listened.
+
+The other was now nearly on the landing. Now he was on the
+landing, hugging the wall on the side opposite Billie. Now they
+passed each other, or rather the man passed Billie, for Billie
+stood perfectly still.
+
+It seemed as though he must hear Billie's breathing, but if he
+heard anything he must have thought it his own echo, never
+dreaming that he was not alone in the passage.
+
+Now Billie could hear him ascending the stairs leading to
+Santiago's house, and his hope rose high.
+
+"He must know how to open the floor," thought Billie. "I'll be
+right there when he does."
+
+Silently as a cat Billie crept up the stairs behind his unknown
+companion.
+
+Near the top the man stopped and a minute later he flashed an
+electric light against the stone overhead. Another minute and he
+heaved with the top of his head and the slab slid back.
+
+"And now," exclaimed Billie in a deep voice, "put your hands over
+your head!"
+
+Whether from fear or from the unparalleled surprise caused by
+hearing a human voice at such a time and in such a place, instead
+of obeying Billie's command, Strong's hands--for Strong it
+was--fell limp at his side and his electric torch fell to the
+stones beneath his feet.
+
+"All right," continued Billy, "if that's the way you feel about
+it; but just remember that a single false move and I'll cut this
+automatic loose among your ribs. Now climb out a step at a time."
+
+With face as white as marble at the shock he had just sustained,
+Strong obeyed implicitly and Billie was soon standing on the
+stone patio, looking Strong in the face.
+
+"You're a good one, you are," he said sarcastically. "I should
+think you'd be ashamed to call yourself an American."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Strong in a trembling voice.
+
+"Why, first of all, stealing from the bank, and then selling your
+own countrymen to the Mexicans."
+
+"Who have I sold?"
+
+"Do you mean to say that you didn't sell Gen. Funston to the
+greasers for ten thousand dollars?"
+
+"Of course I do!" in a somewhat stronger voice.
+
+"Perhaps you'll deny that you are Strong, the mountebank. You
+don't think for one minute that I don't know you in spite of your
+make-up, do you?"
+
+"No, I'll admit that I'm the mountebank. As for my name that is
+of small importance in a country like this. But I did not sell
+Gen. Funston, as you put it. I knew the man I pointed out was not
+Funston and I knew that as soon as the Mexicans found it out they
+would let him go. Some one might have told them rightly. As it
+was I spoiled their game and I got the money. Do you think it any
+crime to do that?"
+
+"That's a matter I am not in a position to discuss," was Billie's
+answer. "But how about robbing the bank?"
+
+"I had as much right to the box as any one."
+
+"You'll have to prove that to some one besides me; all I can do
+is to turn you over to the authorities."
+
+"Never!" cried Strong. "I'll die before I'll rot in a Mexican
+jail!"
+
+He uttered a peculiar noise and before Billie could imagine what
+it meant, he felt himself seized from behind by a pair of hairy
+hands.
+
+He had been in that clutch once before and recognized in an
+instant that he was in the grip of the ape.
+
+He gave one loud cry for help and then turned loose with his
+automatic.
+
+The tumult which followed is beyond description. Billie's shout
+was as nothing compared to the cry of the ape as one of the
+bullets struck him in the leg and another pierced his foot.
+Loosing his hold upon the lad, he grabbed for the weapon, but
+Billie managed to evade him and would undoubtedly have slain the
+animal had not Strong sprung to his assistance, with the result
+that in another minute Billie was disarmed.
+
+Ill would the lad have fared then, at the hands of his two
+assailants, had not the noise attracted to the scene several
+soldiers, while an instant later came a loud shout as Donald and
+Adrian dashed into the patio.
+
+On the other side of the square they had heard Billie's shout,
+followed by the automatic, and had rushed to his aid.
+
+In another minute both Strong and his hairy friend were overcome
+and securely bound.
+
+"Where did you find him?" asked Donald, pointing to Strong.
+
+"Down there," was Billie's reply, as he pointed toward the still
+open underground passage way.
+
+"How did he get there?"
+
+"I suppose he entered from a similar entrance in Don Esteban's
+patio. I have had an idea all the time that there was some reason
+for the position of these two houses."
+
+"But it doesn't lead into the bank. How could he steal the box
+out of the vault?"
+
+"There is the real thief!" exclaimed Billie, pointing to the ape.
+"He sneaked in while Strong kept the bank employes engaged. By
+some mistake in his understanding he put the envelope back in the
+bank the next day instead of putting back the box. It was he who
+crawled through the bars into Santiago's library. He was also the
+devil who scared the maid almost into fits."
+
+"Well! Well!" exclaimed a voice from the gateway. "I never could
+have believed it."
+
+The voice was that of Don Esteban, who had entered while Billie
+was speaking.
+
+"I have come to see this strange man, Santiago Ojeda," he
+explained. "What says the doctor?"
+
+"Here comes the doctor now," announced Adrian as the physician
+made his appearance in the gateway. "He can speak for himself."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+THE TREASURE OF MONTEZUMA.
+
+
+The shadows of evening had fallen and a cool breeze was blowing
+in off the Gulf of Mexico when a group of persons, among whom
+were the Broncho Rider Boys, gathered around the bedside of the
+sick man.
+
+It was as the physician had predicted, and when Santiago had
+awakened after his long sleep, he had regained his senses,
+although he was very weak. But as the day declined and the heat
+lessened he had become stronger, and now at his own request,
+Lucia and her friends drew around to listen to his tale.
+
+At one side of the bed stood Lucia, the three boys and Don
+Esteban. At the other stood Mr. Black, Josie and the physician,
+while at the foot of the bed was Strong, with Ambrosio in his
+arms, and a couple of soldiers who had the mountebank in
+custody.
+
+"As my daughter knows," began Santiago in a feeble voice, "I am a
+direct descendant of the great Montezuma. My ancestor was the
+guardian of the treasure which had been accumulated by the Aztec
+kings for years. After the overthrow of my race by the Spanish
+conquerors, there was given to my first great ancestor the
+keeping of the secret of the source of the gold which had made
+the city of Anahuac such a rich prize.
+
+"This secret has been handed down through all these generations,
+the one object being to use this knowledge in freeing Mexico from
+the Spanish yoke. This secret I, as the last of my race,
+possess."
+
+The aged man paused, his strength being hardly able to the task
+he had set himself.
+
+"It is much as I suspected," whispered Don Esteban to Donald,
+while Lucia bent over and smoothed the brow of the sick man.
+
+"A few years ago," Santiago finally continued, "I began to see an
+opportunity for the people to assert their rights. In our good
+Senor Madero I saw the one who should lead the common people out
+of their bondage. I went to him and offered him all the wealth at
+my command. He accepted the trust and we began our work. It was
+at that time that I placed the money with Don Esteban. Also the
+box, containing the secret of the mine, of which only I and
+Madero knew.
+
+"You all know what has happened since that time. Madero won, but
+he was betrayed. His betrayer now seeks to rule the republic, but
+he can never do it. He must be overthrown."
+
+The aged man became greatly excited and the physician cautioned
+him to be careful. In a few minutes he became more peaceful and
+continued:
+
+"I have always been a great friend of the Americans. I admired
+their integrity and their government. I spent many years of my
+youth in the United States. I have known many of their great men.
+I was sure they would be pleased with Madero, and they were. But
+after he was betrayed, then I began to fear them, as I was told
+that the usurper, Huerta, had been helped by them."
+
+"Who told you that?" asked Billie, almost without thinking.
+
+"That man there," and Santiago pointed with his long bony finger
+at the mountebank, Strong. "That man, Francisco Rodriguez, who
+claims to be an American, but who is a traitor to his country. He
+fed me with lies, as I now know, and he wormed out of me the
+secret of Montezuma's Mine."
+
+Again the aged man's excitement nearly overcame him, but again he
+rallied with an almost superhuman effort.
+
+"It was because of his lies that I made him my trusted agent;
+but he betrayed me as he has others. It was to him I gave the ten
+thousand pounds which the young senor took away from my servant,
+Pablo Ojeda--who is not an Ojeda, but whom I have allowed to use
+that name. I desire that the money become the property of the
+young senor," and he feebly extended his hand toward Billie, "who
+has always been such a good friend to me and mine. The secret of
+the mine is to be found in the box which I left with Don Esteban.
+I am getting to be an old man, and if you will now bring in the
+box, I will turn it over to my daughter Lucia, who is my only
+descendant."
+
+Don Esteban made no move to comply with the request, but looked
+at the boys in such a perplexed manner that the sick man was
+quick to take notice.
+
+"What is it?" he asked, rising on his elbow and looking at Don
+Esteban with burning gaze. "What is it? Has anything happened to
+the box?"
+
+"Yes," faltered the banker, "it has been stolen."
+
+"Stolen!" almost shrieked Santiago. "Stolen! Then there stands
+the thief!" and he pointed to Strong, who stood with blanched
+face.
+
+"We know that," said Billie, "but the box has been stolen again
+and no one knows where it has gone."
+
+"You are wrong," muttered Strong. "It has not been stolen. It is
+in the bank where it always was."
+
+"Impossible!" cried Don Esteban. "How could it be back in the
+vault?"
+
+"Ask Ambrosio," replied Strong, with a wan smile. "He can tell."
+
+"Of course he cannot tell," almost shouted Don Esteban.
+
+"Then we shall never know; but I am sure the box is there."
+
+"Send for it! Send for it!" cried Santiago. "Send for it at once
+that I may turn over to my daughter the secret of the mine."
+
+"That you will never be able to do," said Strong. "It has been
+destroyed."
+
+"Destroyed!" burst from almost every lip. "Destroyed? How?"
+
+Strong shook his head.
+
+"I can't tell. Again you'll have to ask Ambrosio. It is he who
+destroyed it."
+
+"By George!" exclaimed Billie, "I knew I ought to have killed
+that monk the first time I had any dealings with him. I'm sorry
+now that I didn't."
+
+"At any rate," declared Don Esteban, "I shall send for the box."
+
+He turned to Santiago, who had fallen back upon his pillow, and
+over whom the physician was bending and feeling his pulse.
+
+"I shall send for it at once," he repeated.
+
+Slowly the physician raised his head and loosed his hold upon the
+sick man's wrist.
+
+"It is too late," he said. "He will not need it. He is dead."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+On board a returning army transport bound for New York stood the
+Broncho Rider Boys casting their last glance shoreward as the sun
+was setting behind the mountains that form the background of the
+city of Vera Cruz. Over the city still waved the Stars and
+Stripes, and as the darkness fell and the tip of Mt. Orizaba
+gradually faded from sight, Billie turned to the others and in a
+voice tinged with sadness remarked:
+
+"There's only one thing about the whole country that I admire."
+
+"What's, that?" asked Adrian. "Lucia?"
+
+"No; it's the wholesome respect the Mexicans show for
+Brigadier-General Funston."
+
+"Yes, and if he is let alone, he'll make them respect the
+American flag," echoed Donald.
+
+"Long may it wave!" was Adrian's sententious comment.
+
+But it did not wave long over Vera Cruz, for the following
+November, Huerta having been obliged to leave the country in the
+meantime and Gen. Carranza having established himself for the
+time being in the City of Mexico, the American forces were
+withdrawn and the Carranza forces took possession of Vera Cruz.
+Some months later Carranza was recognized by the United States,
+and at this writing is establishing his government, which
+promises to be a continuation of the one established by Madero.
+
+Thus it will be seen that Santiago's work for his country was
+productive of good, as are all efforts to bring liberty to the
+people and to free them from the rule of a few.
+
+Before sailing for home, the boys had the satisfaction of knowing
+that the man known as Strong had been properly punished, and
+that, in accordance with Santiago's dying wish, the ten thousand
+pounds which he had practically given to Billie months before on
+the Rio Grande, were placed to the lad's credit in the banking
+house of Don Esteban.
+
+The fate of Ambrosio, the ape which caused so much trouble, was
+left in the hands of the keeper of the prison to which Strong was
+sentenced. It is to be hoped that his behavior will improve.
+
+THE END.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
+
+Page 48: Removed extra quotation mark.
+
+Page 60: Changed "moso" to "mozo."
+
+Page 62: Changed typo "gaurd" to "guard."
+
+Page 87: Changed typo "variey" to "variety."
+
+Pages 123, 132: Left words "blue-jackets" and "bluejackets" as
+printed.
+
+Page 140: Added closing quotation mark.
+
+Page 197: Added missing period.
+
+Pages 206, 214, 224: Left words "kipnaped" and "kipnapped" as
+printed.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Broncho Rider Boys with Funston at
+Vera Cruz, by Frank Fowler
+
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