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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36000-8.txt b/36000-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a7e7419 --- /dev/null +++ b/36000-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7489 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts Under Fire in Mexico, by +Lieut. Howard Payson + +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 Boy Scouts Under Fire in Mexico + +Author: Lieut. Howard Payson + +Release Date: April 30, 2011 [EBook #36000] +[Last updated: May 3, 2011] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, David K. Park and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "Don't shoot gents!" called out the man who was in the +crotch of an oak tree.--_Page 59._] + + + + +THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN MEXICO + +BY LIEUT. HOWARD PAYSON + + + + + AUTHOR OF + "The Boy Scouts of the Eagle Patrol," "The Boy Scouts + on the Range," "The Boy Scouts' Mountain Camp," + "The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam," "The Boy + Scouts at the Panama Canal," "The Boy + Scouts with the Allies in France," "The + Boy Scouts on Belgian Battlefields," + "The Boy Scouts at the + Panama-Pacific Exposition," + etc. + +[Illustration] + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +Publishers New York + +Printed in U. S. A. + + + + +Copyright, 1914, + +BY HURST & COMPANY + +MADE IN U. S. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I. SCOUTS AFLOAT 5 + + II. THE STRANGE LEAK 15 + + III. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD 26 + + IV. WHEN SCOUTCRAFT WAS IN DEMAND 37 + + V. ON THE TRAIL 48 + + VI. THE EAGLES LEAD THE WAY TO SUCCESS 59 + + VII. TUBBY REFUSES TO FORGET 70 + + VIII. A DAZZLING PLAN 81 + + IX. FIGURING IT ALL OUT 92 + + X. HOW THE LAND LAY 103 + + XI. "THEY'RE OFF!" 114 + + XII. ALONG THE RIO GRANDE 125 + + XIII. CROSSING THE FORD 136 + + XIV. A GALLOP ON MEXICAN SOIL 146 + + XV. ANDY SCATTERS THE SERENADERS 157 + + XVI. IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY 168 + + XVII. THE WHISTLE OF PASSING BULLETS 179 + + XVIII. AT THE BURNING BRIDGE 190 + + XIX. THE WIGWAG TALK 201 + + XX. "TRUST ROB!" 212 + + XXI. THE RETURN OF THE SCOUT MASTER 223 + + XXII. THE FIELD HOSPITAL IN OPERATION 234 + + XXIII. WHEN VILLA CAME 245 + + XXIV. A MAN OF HIS WORD 256 + + XXV. AGAIN UNDER THE FOLDS OF "OLD GLORY" 267 + + XXVI. ON TO WASHINGTON! 278 + + XXVII. TUBBY SOLVES THE MYSTERY 298 + + + + +THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN MEXICO. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FOUR SCOUTS AFLOAT. + + +"Luff a little, Merritt!" + +"Luff it is, Rob. And let me tell you right now that if this head wind +keeps on growing stronger, we're going to have it nip and tuck to get +home before dark sets in. These November, days have a quick end, you +know. Steady now, everybody; we'll have to come about." + +"On the next leg, Merritt, run in as close to the shore as you can," +continued the boy who was handling the sheet of the sailboat, and who +seemed to be in command, though he had given up his place at the helm to +a comrade. + +"Just what I'll do, Skipper Rob. Here, Andy, and you, Tubby, swing over +to the la'board in a hurry, now, and help hold her down. You're the best +ballast we've got aboard, Tubby." + +The stout boy who seemed so well named, for he was built on the order of +a tub of butter, hastened to change his position as the boom of the +sailboat swung over, and the little craft with a jump started on a new +tack, this time heading for the mainland. + +"Say, you want to make sure and clear that point over there!" he sang +out as he sprawled along the upper port side of the craft like a great +crab, owing to a sudden lurch of the boat. + +"Going to do it as easy as to turn your hand over," replied the boy at +the rudder; "but what makes you say that, Tubby?" + +"Oh! I reckon now there might be some fellers got a duck blind on that +point, which is said to be the best along the bay," replied the other. +"Leastways I noticed a whole raft of stools dancing up and down on the +waves the last time we ran in close to the shore." + +"Good for you, Tubby," remarked the boy called Rob, who was clinging +steadily to the sheet, with the strain mostly relieved by the fact that +it passed through a hole in the stout cleat; "it's plain that you've got +your eyes with you this trip, and don't mean to be caught napping. There +are two fellows in a blind over on the point; I saw them watching us +the last time we ran in; and they acted as though they were afraid we'd +anchor and spoil all their evening shoot when the ducks are moving +again. But never fear, we're going to clear the point by a wide margin +this time." + +"It was a good thing school let out so early to-day, boys," remarked the +lad who up to now had not spoken, and who seemed to answer to the name +of Andy; "and that Rob invited the rest of us to go with him after that +half bushel of big oysters his folks want for dinner to-morrow." + +"What makes you talk that way, Andy?" asked Rob, wondering if the other +had also been keeping his eyes about him and noticing things. "This is +Friday afternoon, and if we hadn't gone to-day what do you think would +hinder our taking a little spin up the bay in the morning?" + +"Oh! you never can count on the wind around Hampton," replied the other; +"chances are, when you want it most of all, it gives you the go-by. And +besides, Rob, I've been watching that sky up there. Look how it's +mottled, will you? I've always heard that that sort of clouds meant a +storm." + +Rob laughed as though rather pleased. + +"Well, that's just one good reason why I hurried off this afternoon +instead of waiting for morning," he observed; "but then, I had a better +warning than the looks of the sky to give me notice. You see, I chanced +to drop around by the post office on the way to school after lunch, and +stepped in to read what the weather report man in Washington had sent +along. There's a whopper of a storm coming up the coast from the West +Indies, and headed right this way; a sort of left-over hurricane, it +says; and storm warnings are ordered up from Jacksonville to Nantucket!" + +"Whee!" exclaimed Tubby, "that means winter will like as not set in +right after that storm passes along, and we'll get no more sails on the +bay. I hate winter for all the fun with skates and bobsleds. Don't I +wish now my Uncle Mark would make up his mind to send me down there to a +warm country like Mexico to look after his tangled business affairs? +Honest Injun, fellers, he did say he might think of something like that +if he didn't get some better soon. He's terribly bothered for fear he's +going to lose all his cattle and everything, with those rebels and +regulars cavorting all over that section. Hello! that was a gun spoke +then; and there goes another! Yes, and he got one duck, anyhow, because +I saw it drop like a stone. And we're already past the point, boys!" + +While the little sailboat is beating up against a head wind and sea, +bent on making Hampton, several miles away along the Long Island shore +of the bay, it might be a good time for us to renew acquaintance with +the four lads on board, and glance back over their past career. + +All of them were dressed in the well known khaki suits that, the world +over, have become a recognized sign manual of Boy Scouts. These lads +belonged to Hampton Troop, and were instrumental in starting the +organization in the shore town. For some time it had consisted of but a +single patrol, the Eagles; but as success followed their efforts, and +more boys became enthused and enlisted, other patrols known as the Owl, +the Black Fox, and the Badger were formed; so that at the time we meet +Rob and his chums in the sailboat there was a very strong troop in +Hampton, with even a rival organization under way. + +Rob Blake was the leader of the Eagle Patrol, and Merritt Crawford held +the post of second in command, or corporal; while Andy Bowles filled +the position of bugler. Tubby as yet had not aspired to fill anything, +unless it was his stomach; and his chums were forever joking him with +regard to his fondness for eating. + +In the first volume of this series, "The Boy Scouts of the Eagle +Patrol," the reader was made acquainted with Rob and his friends, and +followed their exciting fortunes after they had formed the patrol. Rob +was the son of the president of the local bank, while Merritt's father +had been known as the finest blacksmith and wheelwright in that section +of Long Island; Andy's folks ran the big livery stable; and Tubby's only +parent, his mother, was said to be fairly well off in property and +stocks. + +A happy chance allowed some of the scouts to visit the far Southwest, +and in the second story many of the strange adventures that befell them +there were narrated. Though "The Boy Scouts on the Range" teems with +thrilling happenings, those who read it from cover to cover will admit +that the Eagles bore themselves man-fully under all conditions, and +always acted according to scout law. + +Later on some of the boys became interested in the subject of aviation; +and about this time chance allowed them to be of considerable assistance +to certain parties in the employ of the Government, who were conducting +experiments not far from their home town; all of which was told in the +pages of "The Boy Scouts and the Army Airship." + +A fourth volume was given up to what occurred while the Eagles were +encamped in the wilderness; where circumstances arose that called for +all their knowledge of woodcraft and scout lore; but those who have read +"The Boy Scouts' Mountain Camp" will surely unite in saying that Rob and +his chums met the situation as became true scouts, and came out of the +affair with great credit. + +In the succeeding story, "The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam," the boys found +themselves involved in a succession of thrilling events. An opportunity +arose whereby their services were in demand in order to save the design +of a wonderful submarine craft, intended for the use of the United +States Government, from being stolen by the clever agents of a foreign +power. It was largely through the efforts of the scout patrol that this +treacherous design was finally foiled. + +A sixth volume, just preceding the present story, "The Boy Scouts at the +Panama Canal," contained the history of events that befell Rob and his +particular chums at a time when they were given a splendid chance to +visit the great ditch which Uncle Sam was then digging down on the +Isthmus. Once again they managed to bring into play the resourcefulness +which, as members of the Eagle Patrol, had been developed in them; and +it was principally through the agency of scoutcraft that the evil +designs which certain envious nations had upon the locks of the canal +were blocked. + +Which short but necessary explanation once more brings us to the four +chums as they tacked back and forth while trying to make the home port +before dusk set in. Now that they were headed toward the mainland they +made rapid progress, for the wind was certainly increasing in force +right along. It came from a point that enabled them to make this the +long leg, gaining quite a considerable distance. Once again they tacked, +and the best they could expect to do was to hold their own in a beat +toward the sandy outer shore of the bay, which helped to make the inlet +all but landlocked. + +"This is sure going some!" Tubby called out, as he began to get himself +into readiness for another quick slide across when they should come +about again; the spray was flying in their faces, more or less, and the +waves that raced past seemed tipped with white. + +"Look out for your heads when we swing around!" called Merritt. "That +boom is heavy enough to sweep you overboard, I guess!" + +"Excuse me from taking a bath right here and now!" exclaimed Tubby, who +was not much of a swimmer at the best. "But see here, what does all this +mean, fellers? Why, look at the water in the bottom of the boat, will +you? Tell you what, she's gone and sprung a leak as sure as anything! +Rob, you won't head out in the bay again, will you, with all this chance +of our foundering? Gingersnaps! it keeps on getting worse and worse, I +tell you! We'll sink inside of ten minutes!" + +Rob, who owned the sailboat, took one look at the water that was already +washing about in the bottom of the uptilted craft. He must have realized +that something strange had happened to cause so staunch a boat to spring +a leak, and also that the situation was serious; for no sooner had he +taken in the suspicious way in which the water was rising in the +cockpit, than he shouted: + +"Keep her headed straight for the shore, Merritt! We've got to beach her +one way or another. Tubby, help me with the halliards so we can drop the +sail. You pull up the centerboard, Andy! Hurry now, everybody!" + +There was a scene of activity on board the little pleasure craft just +then, with three of those lively scouts springing about their duty. And +as the sail came rattling down on top of the cabin, with Tubby sprawled +under its folds, and as Andy fastened the heavy centerboard which he had +drawn full height in the well, the boat ran up on the sandy beach of a +little cove that had chanced to lie directly ahead at the time the +skipper gave his hurried orders! + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE STRANGE LEAK. + + +"Gee whiz! but this is a bad job!" Merritt remarked, after the four of +them had clambered over the bow of the stranded sailboat. "Here we are +as much as three miles away from home, with night coming on and not much +chance of getting the boat fixed so we can go on again in her." + +"She never played you such a mean trick before, did she, Rob?" asked +Andy, who had managed to get his feet wet in making a jump for the sandy +beach, but, boylike, seemed to care very little about such a small +thing. + +"No, and I'm wondering right now what could have happened to make her +spring a big leak like that all of a sudden," replied the other. + +As though impelled by curiosity, Rob once more climbed aboard the boat +and started to look around. One of the first things he did was to fling +ashore a sack that seemed to be pretty heavy,--as might be expected, +since it contained the half bushel of extra large oysters for which he +had been sent to the beds near the ocean side of the bay, a long way +from Hampton town. + +"I'm bound to get that sack home with me if I have to carry it on my +back," he called out; at which the other boys, of course, declared that +they would willingly "spell" him, though the prospect could not have +seemed very inviting. + +"But see here, will it be safe to leave the boat in this little cove all +night with a big storm heading along up the coast?" Merritt asked next. + +"Safe or not," came from the one aboard the stranded boat, "there's +nothing else we can do, is there? Besides, if that storm holds off till +noon, I'll be up here on my wheel the first thing to-morrow, bale her +out, fix the leak, and work her back home by hook or crook. Hello! what +in the wide world does this mean, now?" + +"Found the place where the water came in, have you, Rob?" called Tubby, +who was hefting the sack of bivalves, and perhaps secretly wondering +whether it might not make their labor of transporting the same to the +Blake house easier if they proceeded to discard a few of the shells and +partake of the juicy contents. + +"Why, it's a _round_ hole, I tell you!" shouted Rob. + +"What's that you're giving us?" demanded Andy. "I've seen some queer +things happen to boats, but that's the first time I ever knew one to +spring a leak with a round hole. Are you joshing us, Rob?" + +"I tell you it's as round as a quarter, and about as big into the +bargain!" continued the other vigorously. "And what's more, this boat +never sprung a leak!" + +"Oh! say, p'raps now a sword fish rammed his beak through her planks!" +ejaculated Tubby, who could always be depended on to think up the most +extraordinary explanation possible when anything out of the ordinary +happened. + +All of the other scouts had now crawled back on the boat, their +curiosity having been fully aroused by the strange announcement made by +Rob. Merritt even insisted on feeling down in the water, and thrusting +his forefinger through the said hole. + +"Jiggered if what Rob says isn't so, boys," he called out; "because I've +got my finger all the way through the hole right now! Why, it's as +smooth as if it had been made with an inch bit. Take my word for it, +that's the truth!" + +"And I've got a good notion that was what did make it!" Rob observed +solemnly; at which Tubby gasped, opening his mouth in the queer way he +had of doing when greatly astonished. + +"You mean somebody went and bored a hole right through the planks of +your boat, do you, Rob?" he asked excitedly. "But why didn't the water +rush in before, when we've been more than a whole hour sailing?" + +"Why, you silly," cried Andy, "of course it must have had a plug in the +hole! It was probably fixed so that sooner or later it just had to be +jarred loose, and the pressure of the water outside would push the same +in. That was what happened when we made our last turn. And this same old +plug must have been hidden under the false bottom, which none of us +thought to pull up till she floated loose!" + +"Here's the proof of it, fellows!" said Rob just then; and he held up +something he had discovered floating on the surface of the water, that +already partly filled the cockpit toward the stern of the stranded boat. + +"It is a plug, as sure as you live!" ejaculated Merritt. "Let's look at +it, Rob!" + +One after another they examined the round piece of wood, which had +undoubtedly been shaped just to fit the hole bored in the bottom plank. + +"That was about the meanest trick I ever heard tell of!" grumbled Tubby, +his round face redder than ever with indignation. "If ever I could find +out who did it, I'd feel like showing him up to all Hampton, that's +what. Here, what's this on the water, fellers? Looks to me like a curled +chip, such as would come out when an auger or a brace and bit was used." + +"Just what it is, Tubby," added Merritt; "which shows that this measly +hole was bored since the last time Rob went sailing. Otherwise, he must +have seen the plug when he took out the false flooring to clean the +boat." + +"It's a queer shaving, boys," continued Tubby, with his head bent low +over the object he held in his hand. "See, here, where there's a break +all the way along, and right in the middle, too! What would you make of +that, Rob?" + +"I might be away off in my guess," the other went on to say, after he, +too, had closely examined the shaving; "but it seems to me as though +that bit must have had a good-sized nick in each half of the biting +edge, queer as that would be. As it kept on turning, it left this +raised ridge, you see." + +"Just what I had in my mind, Rob, give you my word for it," Tubby +continued excitedly. "And I'm thinking right now that this ought to be a +pretty good clew to prove who made that hole in your boat. All we've got +to do is to find a bit with a nick in both tongues that fits this +shaving; and the thing is as plain as the nose on Andy's face, here." + +"Suppose you leave me out when you're making comparisons, Tubby; but +then you're only saying that because you're envious; your own nose +doesn't count for much, with such fat cheeks alongside!" Andy burst out. + +But Rob considered that what Tubby had said was worth noticing for he +immediately started to congratulate him,--as a patrol leader always +should do when one of his comrades has given positive evidences of +waking up and noticing things. + +"Tubby, that's a smart dodge of yours, let me tell you," he went on to +say, as he turned on the fat scout; "and if you keep that chip so it +won't break, and can find a bit that fits the marks to a dot, the +chances are you'll know who played this dirty trick on me. And because +you thought of it first I'm going to hand that job over to you, see? +Here's the plug and the chip for you to keep. And some fine day I'll +expect to have a report from you." + +"Well, what's the next word, Rob?" asked Merritt, as they all made the +flying leap ashore again. This time it was Tubby who made a +miscalculation and landed in six inches of water. He hastily scrambled +up on the beach to the accompaniment of rude laughter from Andy, who +felt better now that there were a pair of them with wet feet; for misery +always likes company. + +"Oh! we'll make the cable fast to this stunted tree here, and leave the +old boat to take her chances to-night," replied the other, as he started +to carry his words into action. "Doubtless I'll find her safe in the +morning, and be able to get her home if the storm holds off." + +"You don't come up here without having me along, remember," warned +Merritt; at which Rob stopped long enough in his labor of securing the +end of the rope to the tree to give the other a nod and a smile; for +they were chums in everything, and almost inseparable. + +"And the rest of you just keep mum about this nasty little business, so +that I c'n have the whole field to myself," Tubby warned them, as though +feeling of considerable importance since the patrol leader had handed +the mysterious case over into his charge. "I'm going to learn who bored +that hole, or know the reason why, if I have to visit every workshop in +Hampton by degrees, and find some excuse for examining every blessed bit +there is. But right now I want to say I've got a hunch I c'n lay my +finger on the guilty one, even if I dassent say so till I get the proof +fixed on him good and hard. Then look out for explosions, that's all!" + +Having fastened his boat as well as circumstances allowed, Rob picked up +the sack containing the selected oysters, threw it over his shoulder, +and announced himself ready for the three mile walk along the road that +skirted the shore side of the bay. + +The four scouts soon found themselves trudging along the highway which +led from the direction of Montauk Point. It was in fair condition, as +they well knew, having been over it many times on their wheels, or in +vehicles of various types from a car to a hay wagon. + +"If we had any sort of luck, now," remarked Merritt, after they had been +walking for some little while, and he made ready to relieve Rob of his +load, "we'd hear some sort of wagon coming up behind, and get a ride +home." + +"Don't I wish it would happen, though?" sighed Tubby, who on account of +his burden of flesh always found it much harder than the other Eagles to +hike over the country. He was so stubborn, however, that he would +persist in anything he undertook until he fairly dropped in his tracks, +rather than give up. + +"Well," remarked Rob, chuckling, "some good fairy must have heard that +wish, Tubby, because right now I can get the thud of horses' hoofs on +the road back yonder. And there goes the crack of a whip." + +"You're right, Rob," observed Andy quickly; "queer how you get on to all +these little wrinkles before the rest of us. Seems like you must always +'be prepared,' like every true scout is expected to keep himself." + +"Hope it's an empty wagon, and not a loaded hay rig," grunted Tubby. + +"According to the way the sounds hit me," continued Rob, "it's a wagon, +all right; and it rumbles like an empty one, too. But we shall soon +know, for it is overtaking us right fast now." + +"Let's halt here, and line up, two on each side of the road," suggested +Merritt. "The darkness has gathered so it's hard to see any distance; +but there around the bend back of us comes a white horse on the trot! +Rob, you hit the nail right on the head, for sure enough it's drawing an +empty wagon, with two men sitting on the seat and using the whip." + +"Looks like they might be in a hurry," suggested Andy. "Watch that one +turning around to take another look along the road behind. Get ready to +give 'em a hail, Eagles. Rob, you do the talking while the rest of us +let out our Eagle cry." + +Two minutes later and the vehicle had arrived almost opposite where the +scouts stood half screened by the bushes. At a signal from Rob the four +stepped out upon the road. Rob started to call to the men in the wagon, +meaning to ask them for permission to ride, while Merritt and Tubby and +Andy gave a united "K-r-e-e-e," that sounded very weird as heard under +such conditions. + +What followed astonished the four boys very much indeed. The men, seeing +so many uniformed figures blocking the road, as it seemed, gave vent to +exclamations of abject alarm. Jumping from their seat, they started to +run back along the way they had just come. Then suddenly turning to one +side they plunged into the brush, where their hasty progress was marked +by all sorts of sounds that would indicate that they were stumbling +blindly through the thick undergrowth, tumbling over logs and rocks, +evidently on the verge of being panic-stricken! + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD. + + +The four boys stood there on the dusty road in the twilight of that +windy November day, and for a full minute seemed unable to express the +sense of bewilderment that had overwhelmed them all. Alongside was the +white horse attached to the empty wagon; and from the docile manner in +which the animal had come to a sudden halt and stood there, he was not +at all averse to having a resting spell after having been whipped so +steadily that he was in a sweat. + +"Well, I'll be jiggered, if that don't beat the Dutch!" Merritt burst +out, he being apparently the first to recover his breath. + +"Why, they're gone!" ejaculated Tubby. "And say, they went and left +their rig with us, don't you see? Well, I must say they are awfully +polite. This is more'n we ever expected, isn't it, fellers?" + +Rob was laughing, as though secretly amused at the hasty flight of the +two men who had been in the wagon. + +"Chances are, now, they took us for hoboes meaning to hold 'em up; and +that's why they jumped for it!" Andy suggested. + +"Well," remarked Rob, "I couldn't say that I'd blame them for thinking +anything after hearing all that racket you three scouts made giving the +Eagle cry. Most people would jump at the conclusion that a lot of +lunatics had broken loose from that asylum down at Amityville. You +should have let me say my little say without that heathen noise. It's +all very well for a scout in the bush to let another know what patrol he +belongs to when he sees another approaching; but ordinary people hardly +understand what that racket means." + +"But, Rob, do you believe they took us for desperate yeggmen wanting to +hold 'em up on the road here, and rob 'em?" asked Andy. + +"No, I don't," replied the patrol leader readily. "In the first place, +even if it is getting dusk right now, it's still light enough for +anybody with eyes to see that we don't happen to be a ragged lot like +tramps are pretty much all of the time." + +"Then why should they skoot like that, I want to know?" Tubby inquired. + +"Like as not they saw our scout uniforms," suggested Merritt at a +hazard. + +"That's just what they did," Rob hastened to add with emphasis; "and +from the shock the sight of the same gave the parties, I'm thinking they +must have guessed we were soldiers who meant to arrest a couple of men +driving a white nag!" + +"Oh! I wonder now if that would explain the queer stunt?" Tubby ventured +to say. + +"Sounds pretty good to me, Rob," was what the corporal of the troop +remarked as he stood there and stared at the spot where the pair of +alarmed men had left the road and plunged into the thicket. "And maybe +some of the rest of you noticed as I did that the taller one of the pair +limped, as though he might have a bad leg or a sprained ankle." + +"Yes, I noticed that, Merritt, and was waiting to see if any of the rest +of you had used your eyes to advantage," Rob told him. + +"I did, cross my heart if I didn't!" reported Tubby. + +"And I would have seen the same only the rest of you happened to be in +my way," the fourth scout struck in, not wanting to have it appear that +he was the only fellow to be so dazed by what had happened that he had +failed in his duty as a scout to observe every little detail. + +"And I want all of you to take notice," continued the patrol leader, +"that just where they left the road and disappeared from our sight, +there happens to be growing a white birch tree that hangs out at an +angle of twenty-five degrees. Birches are not so plentiful around here +but what we could easily find that same one again in case we wanted to +try and follow up the tracks of the men." + +"To give 'em back their rig, you mean, Rob?" hinted Tubby. + +"Either that or for some other reason," replied the other shortly. + +"Well, I don't hear any scrambling now," remarked Andy. "Probably they +are so far away the sounds don't carry." + +"But how about that ride to town?" demanded Tubby anxiously. "Do we get +cheated out of that just because a pair of sillies chose to get cold +feet at sight of scout uniforms, and skedaddled like a dog with a tin +can tied to his tail?" + +"Yes, how about it, Rob?" continued Merritt. "Do we leave this horse and +wagon on the road here, doing no good at all, while we trudge along +over two miles of ground, carrying this heavy sack of shellfish? If you +asked me now, I would say let's borrow the outfit, and give thanks!" + +"Ditto here!" exclaimed Tubby eagerly. + +"Count me in," said Andy, "and that makes it three affirmatives; how do +you vote, Rob? Say 'yes,' and make it unanimous, won't you?" + +The patrol leader laughed again at the appeal, and glanced around at the +faces of his three chums. + +"Well, it would be like looking a gift horse in the mouth to let this +fine chance slip past us," he went on to say, much to the delight of his +companions; for Tubby immediately threw up his campaign hat to signify +his joy, while the others nodded their heads and looked pleased. + +"Good for you, Rob," Merritt said, as he proceeded without more ado to +pick up the sack of oysters, and, stepping over to the tail end of the +wagon, toss them aboard. "So far as I can see, I don't believe we'll +have any trouble about taking the rig, even if the men turn out to be +honest, which I'm right sure they won't. We can say they abandoned it on +the road, and we thought we ought to fetch it into town to turn it over +to the police; which we mean to do, remember, fellows." + +"Sure, we'll only be doing the right thing to deliver the outfit to the +Chief," Tubby went on record as saying. "My Uncle Mark was telling me +about something that happened to him as near like this as two peas; and +it turned out that the men in the rig were a pair of desperate bank +burglars, making off with the stuff they'd hooked from a town not far +away. That was how he got his first thousand dollars, he says, that +started him along the road to success, years and years ago. And Merritt, +did you take a good look to see if there is any mysterious little +package in that same wagon? Wouldn't it be a queer thing now if history +took to repeating itself, and this time Uncle Mark's nephew was one of +the bunch that recovered the stolen plunder? Anything doing, Merritt?" + +"Well, you'll have to make up your mind to being disappointed this time, +Tubby," observed the corporal. "This wagon hasn't a thing in it except a +handful of hay, and I've pulled that around to make sure it didn't hide +anything. But we didn't calculate to discover any jewelry or bank +funds; the best we asked for was a chance to ride to Hampton; and we've +got it. Pile in, fellows. This horse has come some way, and has been +made to travel right lively, too. Why, he's reeking with sweat! Somebody +must have been in a hurry!" + +They lost no time in clambering into the wagon. Tubby, being the slowest +to get up, found the seat fully occupied. + +"Where do I come in?" he asked rather plaintively, after the fashion of +the unfortunate one who was usually being left out. + +"Plenty of room back there in the wagon, Tubby!" chuckled Rob. + +"Use the sack of oysters for a seat if you want to!" added Andy. + +"Can't you move over and make room for one more?" pleaded the fat scout. + +"We might if it was for a Living Skeleton, but not for the Fat Boy of +the Side Show," was Merritt's reply. And so Tubby was compelled to climb +into the body of the wagon, and sit down as best he could on the hard +bed. + +"Please don't make the nag gallop, boys," he asked as a particular +favor; "because if you do he'll swing the wagon around every-which-way, +and there's no telling what would happen to me. I guess I've got +feelings, if I do happen to measure a little more around the waist than +anybody else present." + +"A little!" jeered Andy. "You must mean as much as the whole three of us +put together, don't you, Tubby?" + +"Forget it," mumbled the other; for already the vehicle had begun to +move. As Merritt whipped the tired horse, it gave a jump forward that +caused Tubby to roll over on his back the first thing, and then clutch +wildly at the sides of the wagon, as though in mortal terror lest he be +tossed out and left there on the road to walk home. + +"This is something like a treat, after tramping along for a whole mile, +and with that heavy sack into the bargain," Rob declared, as they began +to make fair progress in the direction of the home town. + +"Talk to me about your good luck," ventured Andy, who sat on the other +end of the seat from the driver, "it seems to me the Eagles are always +having things happen to them that never would come to other fellows." + +"But not all of the same are favors by a long sight, Andy," Merritt +reminded him. "Don't forget how we had that boat spring a leak; and if +the accident had occurred when we were out in the middle of the bay, +chances are we'd have had to swim for the shore. The good luck came in +its happening near land." + +"Well, that's what I mean, of course," persisted the other. "If we do +have to run up against a snag, why something always turns up to help us +out. Look back at lots of things that have come our way, and you'll say +I'm right. And you three fellows especially have had luck chase after +you more than a few times." + +"I guess that is about right," sang out Tubby from the rear; showing +that although he might be having the time of his life holding on to the +sides of the wagon as it clattered along the road, all the same he kept +his ears wide open. + +"Well," remarked Rob, with a laugh, "any lot of scouts who can have a +rig like this handed to them without the asking, when they have several +miles over a dusty road to tramp, ought not to complain. We're on what +they call 'Easy Street' right now. And who knows but there may be a few +dollars' reward offered for the recovery of a stolen outfit? It +wouldn't surprise me very much; because the way those men scuttled at +sight of our suits makes me believe they couldn't have been strictly +honest. No decent party need fear the khaki uniform, whether of a +soldier or a Boy Scout!" + +"Look! what was it that flashed ahead there in the bushes?" suddenly +exclaimed Andy. Half unconsciously, Merritt at the same time started to +pull at the reins, so that the horse no longer galloped headlong as +before, much to the relief of poor knocked-about Tubby. + +The boy in the back of the wagon was just about to try and scramble to +his knees in order to look beyond his mates on the seat, when, without +the slightest warning, a very gruff voice full of authority called out: + +"Pull in there and throw up your hands, every one of you, d'ye hear? +You're all under arrest!" + +Moving figures sprang out upon the white road, and the horse, finding +his forward progress blocked, gladly came to a full stop. The occupants +of the wagon sat there, hardly knowing what to make of this new +happening. + +One man caught the horse close to the bits, and two others hastened to +advance to the wagon, as if to make sure that none of those who occupied +the vehicle made a flying leap from the back and took to their heels. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +WHEN SCOUTCRAFT WAS IN DEMAND. + + +"Looks like the rig, all right, Chief!" one of the men called out. + +The tall man he addressed did not reply; for, truth to tell, at that +particular minute he was staring very hard at the three scouts who sat +there on the seat of the wagon. There was not a great deal of light, but +evidently he had made a discovery that astounded him. + +"Why, they're a lot of boys, after all!" exclaimed the man who had +advanced to the other side of the wagon, holding something up that +glittered like a revolver. + +"Yes, and wearing scouts' uniforms at that!" added the tall man whom one +of the others had called "Chief." As he pushed still closer to the wagon +he went on to say, "I think I ought to know this lad here. Is it you, +Rob Blake?" + +"Just who it is, Chief," replied the other soberly; "and you can hardly +blame us for having our breath taken away on being held up so suddenly +at the point of the pistol and told that we were under arrest!" + +"But the white horse deceived us, Rob," hastily answered the other, who +was really the new head of the Hampton police force, a man who had made +it his business to get acquainted with every boy in town, believing that +he could nip lots of impending trouble in the bud by letting boys know +that he was interested in all they did, and ready to prove himself their +best friend. "You see, we've been 'phoned that a couple of desperate men +who escaped from the jail over at Riverhead had stolen a wagon and a +white horse and were heading this way. So we came out to lay for the +rascals. Sorry to have bothered you, boys." + +"Well, this may prove to be the very horse and wagon they told you +about, Chief," Rob went on to say; while the other two officers now +crowded up close to catch all that passed. + +"Just what it might!" added Andy, wishing to let everybody know that he +was in the affair, if he didn't happen to be holding either the lines or +the whip. + +"Please tell us, won't you, Chief, whether one of the men that broke +jail limped like he had a bad leg or a sprained ankle?" Tubby broke +out, before Rob could get in another word. + +"What's that you're telling me, my lad?" exclaimed the officer eagerly. +"Now, I didn't think it worth while to mention the fact to you, but the +truth is the taller man of the two did have a bad fall when he broke +out, and he must have injured himself in some way. Do you mean that +you've set eyes on that precious pair of rogues?" + +"It was this way," Rob started to say, meaning to make his explanations +as brief as possible. "We had been up the bay to get half a bushel of +select oysters from old Cap. Jenkins over at his beds; and on the way +home we had the misfortune to spring a leak, so that we had to beach the +sailboat and start along the road, as night was coming on, and we wanted +to get back in time for supper." + +"That's right, supper was the main thing we had in mind, Chief, believe +me," Tubby volunteered just then; after which he again relapsed into +silence, and allowed Rob to finish his story. + +"Of course we wanted to get a ride if we could, Chief, because the sack +was heavy," the patrol leader went on to say, "and, well, boys always +like to ride better than they do to walk. Pretty soon we heard a horse +and wagon coming after us, and one of the two men aboard was whipping +the poor beast dreadfully. Well, we lined up, and as soon as they came +along all of us stepped out to ask if we could have a lift as far as +Hampton; when, would you believe me, the men jumped out of the wagon as +if they'd seen a ghost, and went back along the road as fast as they +could tear, soon breaking into the scrub, and disappearing." + +"Leaving you the rig; is that it, Rob?" asked the officer, laughing as +he spoke. + +"Just what they did, sir," continued the patrol leader; "and you may be +sure we couldn't even get our breath together to call out and thank them +before they'd vanished. Well, we got to talking it over, and made up our +minds the men must have stolen the rig, and were badly frightened by the +sight of our scout uniforms, thinking we might be soldiers meaning to +arrest them. And after we had waited a little while, thinking they might +come back, why, we just made up our minds there wasn't any use looking a +gift horse in the mouth; but that we'd take the rig to town so as to +turn it over to you at Police Headquarters. And here it is at your +service, Chief." + +"But I hope you'll let us ride to town in it?" Tubby struck in. + +"Well, you've all done me a great favor, boys," the tall official went +on to say; "and if so be you feel that you must get along home, why, +take the rig and leave it in front of my office. But if you could put us +in the way of nabbing that pair of escaped rogues, you'd be doing a +great thing. They're a bad crowd, and the longer they stay loose, the +worse it is going to be for the community." + +"We can help you some there, Chief!" Rob hastened to declare. + +"I should say we could!" added Andy with emphasis. + +"We happen to know just where they left the road and plunged into the +brush; and perhaps we might even be of some assistance to you in +following their trail, Chief; because, you understand, scouts are +supposed to know more or less about such things. Woodcraft comes under +the head of a scout's education. What d'ye say, fellows; shall we turn +around right now and take these officers to the place where the leaning +white birch hangs over the road?" + +Every voice came in a decided affirmative. Even Tubby, who had been +amusing himself while holding on to the sides of the wagon by figuring +out just how long he must wait until he could hope to find himself +seated at the supper table, heroically pushed aside all such +temptations, and proved that he could rise to an occasion like a true +scout. + +"Then that's settled," said Rob, proud of his mates of the Eagle Patrol; +"and if you will wait till we turn the horse around, Chief, you can have +my seat here." + +Merritt quickly backed the wagon into the side of the road, and faced +the animal in the direction from which he had just come. + +Meanwhile Rob and Andy had crawled over the rear of the seat and joined +Tubby, who seemed pleased when he found that he was going to have +company. The Chief and one of his men occupied the seat, along with the +scout who was doing the driving; while the other officer contented +himself with sitting so that his legs dangled over the tail board. + +In this fashion, then, they started to retrace the ground the boys had +so recently gone over. Of course the Chief had a dozen questions to ask +in connection with the actions of the two men, as to what they said and +what they did. + +"The only words any of us heard them say were: 'Holy smoke, looky here, +Con!'" Rob told him. "But they made up for it by doing some tall +sprinting, lame man or not, that would have won them a prize at an +athletic meet." + +"Well, right there you've settled the thing and clinched it into the +bargain," the tall police officer remarked with a satisfied chuckle; +"because, don't you know, one of the rascals went by the name of Con +Keating. And if the taller of the pair has a broken leg, why we ought to +be able to run them down, and bag him, anyway, even if the other gives +us the slip. But I'm hoping he'll stick to his pal until we can come up +with them." + +"We ought to be nearly back to where we picked up the wagon, now, hadn't +we, Rob?" asked Merritt, who was straining his eyes trying to make out a +white birch tree leaning over the road on the left. + +"One more bend and we'll be there," answered Rob, with such absolute +confidence that every one of the other scouts knew he had been keeping +tabs of the conditions, and could tell to a fraction just when they +were drawing near the point that had been marked down in their memories. + +A minute later and it turned out that Rob was perfectly correct; because +Merritt discovered the landmark for himself. + +"There it is, Chief, just ahead of us," he remarked, "where you see that +white birch bending over. We made it a point to mark the place, thinking +that p'raps you or somebody else would want to know about the men who +ran away." + +"A clever bit of business, my lad," remarked the other admiringly. And, +indeed, what he had seen of these Scouts during the few months he had +been in charge of the Hampton police had caused the Chief to entertain a +very high opinion of their ability, and make him a firm advocate for the +cause they represented. + +The horse was pulled up close to where the white slender birch could be +seen through the gathering gloom. + +"Wait till I strike a match, and I'll try to find a piece of lightwood +to make a torch," said Rob, jumping from the wagon. + +"No use bothering that way, lad," called out the Chief; "because I've +got something along with me that goes away ahead of any wood torch you +ever saw." + +"Then you must mean an electric hand torch," Tubby ventured to remark. +"I know, because I've got one at home." + +"Much good that does you," jeered Andy. "A torch, like a gun, is the +kind of thing that when you do want it you want it badly." + +"Well, how was I to guess all that would happen?" demanded Tubby +indignantly. "Don't you think that if I had known we would get that hole +in the boat, have a horse and wagon shoved on us this way, and be held +up by the Chief and his men, I'd gone and made sure to fetch my little +torch along? Sure I would." + +"And if I'd known all that," chuckled Andy, always ready to have the +last word, "d'ye know what I would have done the first thing? Why, told +Rob about that old plug in the bottom of his boat, and seen to it that +it was driven in so hard it never could work loose. And that would have +saved us from all the rest of the business!" + +"All right," rejoined Tubby, with a never-say-die accent to his voice; +"all I can remark is that we would have lost a heap of entertaining +experiences, that's what!" + +They had all left the wagon before this, and Merritt managed to secure +the horse to a tree near by; so that in case they found the animal there +on their return, after striving to locate the two escaped jail birds, +they might have a pleasant means of transportation to Hampton town. + +When the police officer had produced his little electric hand torch, +which was capable of being carried in a vest pocket and yet gave quite a +fine glow when the current was switched on, he told Rob that he had +better take possession of the light, as he would really be the one to +need it. As for himself and his men, they meant to keep themselves in +constant readiness for grappling with the two desperate rogues, should +they have the good fortune to come up with them. + +Nothing could have pleased Rob more than this splendid chance to show +what the education of a scout along the line of woodcraft was doing for +the boys of the Eagle Patrol. Here was an opportunity to make a test of +their knowledge. If they proved equal to the task of finding those two +men who were doing all in their power to elude recapture, it would +certainly go far to witness that these scouts had not studied the art of +trailing in vain. + +And hence it was with considerable satisfaction, as well as a firm +determination to exhaust every means he had in his power in order to +come up with the fugitives, that the young leader of the Eagles accepted +that handy electric torch, and immediately commenced to flash its white +glow over the ground in the vicinity of the white birch. + +Men and boys trailed along after Rob; Tubby, Merritt and Andy making +sure to keep well in the rear, so that they might not interfere with the +plans of the Chief. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +ON THE TRAIL. + + +In this manner they left the dusty road behind them, and entered among +the bushes and growth of scrubby trees that bordered it. + +The three Eagles who came just after the stalwart police officers kept +in a bunch; not that any of them felt afraid in the least; but as they +were unarmed, save for the various clubs they had managed to pick up on +the way, they seemed to think there might be safety in numbers. + +Besides, if at any time they felt in a communicative mood, it was +possible to put their heads together and pass whispers along. + +Rob, in the lead, was bending over and bringing that little hand torch +into play in great style. Nothing could have been finer for the purpose, +he quickly concluded, and made up his mind on the spot that he would own +such a handy article at the very first opportunity. + +The steady white glow allowed him to see the ground so plainly that he +could readily distinguish every little mark made by the feet of the +fleeing men. On the whole, Rob would have called that job something of a +snap; for neither of the fugitives seemed to have once thought of such a +thing as "blinding their trail"; such as clever scouts generally do when +playing "fox and geese," or some game of that sort. + +In fact, the taller fellow, the one who limped so badly, had actually +dragged his injured leg after him; and in this way he managed to leave a +broad track that Rob believed even a tender-foot might follow with +ease. + +Still there were places where the ground was hard, being made for the +most part of rock; and here the tracker was compelled to be more careful +in order that he might not be thrown off the trail by accident and have +all sorts of trouble finding it again. + +"Say, keep your eye on Rob, fellers," Tubby whispered, when he was so +wound up that he just could not keep quiet any longer. "Isn't he showing +the Chief a few wrinkles about following a set of tracks, though?" + +"Not so loud, Tubby," cautioned Merritt, who, as the second in command +of the Eagle Patrol, had a certain amount of authority invested in him +that the rest of the scouts always recognized, particularly when Rob was +not on duty or absent. + +"But he is trailing along like a regular old fox, isn't he?" persisted +Tubby, who was hard to repress when he felt the spirit move within him. + +"Course he is," muttered Andy; "and this isn't the first time Rob has +made grown men sit up and take notice. But there, he's hit a snarl of +some kind!" + +"Well, you take my word for it, Rob will unravel it in double-quick +order!" the stout boy assured him. + +"Silence!" hissed Merritt; and this time he apparently "squelched" +Tubby, for the latter had nothing more to say just then; but as he had +freed his mind, that was a matter of small consequence. + +Rob was skirmishing around as though he might have lost the trail owing +to the hardness of the ground. He had held up a hand in order to warn +the three officers not to stumble over him, and then with his torch held +low, proceeded to examine his surroundings. + +They saw him rise up and flash his light to the right, then to the +left, and finally straight ahead. Apparently he was making up his mind +from the conformation of things which way the two fleeing men might have +chosen as they pushed forward in the semi-darkness. In other words, Rob +was applying an old principle, trying to "put himself in their place" so +that he could decide what their natural action under the circumstances +would have been. + +He seemed to settle quickly which way had looked the most promising to +the anxious eyes of two sorely pressed fellows, one of whom could hardly +drag himself along, for he immediately turned toward the left, and again +flashed his torch on the ground. + +Almost immediately afterward the three scouts in the rear caught a queer +little sound, not unlike the faint squawk of an eaglet in its nest at +feeding time. + +"There, did you hear that, fellers?" demanded Tubby excitedly, though he +did manage to keep his voice whittled down to a hoarse whisper. + +"It was Rob giving us the sign of the Eagles that told he had found what +he was looking for; sure it was!" observed Andy. + +"That's all right, but you boys let up on your talking. Understand?" +was the warning given by the corporal. + +Apparently the boy in the lead must have given the three officers some +sort of signal with his disengaged hand, for as he moved off they +started after him, doubtless with renewed confidence in his ability to +lead them. If either of those men who accompanied the Chief on this +mission had been inclined to scoff at the usefulness of the education of +a Boy Scout, he must have had an object lesson then and there that he +would not soon forget. + +Later on every one of them candidly admitted that without the aid of Rob +they would never have been able to follow the trail of the fleeing +rascals for five rods, not having been taught how to read signs, as are +all scouts who deserve the name. + +After that Rob did not seem to run up against any more snags, for he +kept moving steadily along, now turning to one side, and then to the +other, just as the parties he tracked had chanced to move in order to +avoid some fallen tree, a stump, or a thick clump of thorny bushes that +barred their path. + +It was splendid work, and the trio of boys who kept tabs on what their +patrol leader was doing, felt a genuine thrill of admiration for Rob's +skill. Once again were the Eagles proving their worth in an emergency; +and after this Hampton folks would have still more reason to feel proud +of the patrol and the troop. + +"Listen!" said Andy suddenly, "what is that I hear?" + +His two companions halted for a brief period of time, because apparently +they had not as yet chanced to catch the sound that disturbed Andy. + +"Seems like running water to me," ventured Tubby, as if in more or less +doubt. + +"It is running water," affirmed Merritt quickly; "a little stream of +some kind, I guess. Seems to me I remember one that trails through this +patch of scrub oak timber." + +"Well, we're heading straight for it," remarked Andy; "and like as not +the two men wanted to get a drink right bad. They ran so hard they felt +dry enough to drain a spring-hole at one turn." + +"Sh! You see Rob's heading that way; let's move on!" Merritt told them. + +It turned out just as they figured. The run-aways had indeed gone +straight for the little streamlet that gurgled through the underbrush; +and Rob showed by means of his light just where they had both knelt down +alongside the creek to drink. + +Just as the other three scouts came up, they heard Rob give a little +exclamation that seemed to have in it something like pity. + +"What have you found now, son?" asked the big Chief, understanding from +the manner in which the clever scout had given this cry that he must +have made a new discovery. + +"I reckon that poor wretch got a worse broken leg than any one has +thought up to now, Chief," Rob remarked with a long breath, as he +riveted the light of his little torch upon one certain spot of ground. + +"How d'ye make that out, Rob?" asked Tubby before any one else could +speak; for slow in his movements though the fat youth might often seem +no one was more ready to interject a word than Tubby. + +"Here is where both of them knelt down so they could bend forward and +drink," replied the obliging patrol leader, always ready to post his +comrades on these little points that would add to their scout +education. + +"Yep, we can see the marks easy," Andy assured the other. + +"Here is where the shorter one got down, because you can see the +distance between the marks of his knees and the toes of his shoes +doesn't measure nearly as much as this other does. And looking closer +you'll see that the tall man wasn't able to double up his left leg as he +wanted to." + +"That was the one they said he had hurt," remarked the Chief, +undoubtedly deeply interested in all that the boy was saying. + +"Now, if you look here at the place where his left foot dug into the +soil when he lay down to drink, you'll find a stain that tells a story +of its own!" Rob went on to say, as he held the torch still lower, so +that all could see. + +"Jiminy crickets!" exclaimed Tubby, in an awed tone. "Why, it's a blood +mark, fellers; sure it is!" + +"Yes," added the Chief, "that's right, son. He hurt his leg worse than +anybody could have known about. That Con has got plenty of nerve to keep +going all this time with such a bad wound! He certainly wanted to escape +a term at the pen, all right." + +"I think he couldn't drag himself much further, Chief; and we'll be apt +to run across him soon, even if the other man gets away," Rob observed; +and so much confidence had the big officer learned to put in what the +patrol leader of the Eagles said, that he nodded his head and simply +remarked: + +"That's good news, Rob; let's get a move on again, and close in on our +birds!" + +"Are they armed, do you know, Chief?" asked Merritt; for he had been +wondering what sort of reception they would receive when they finally +closed in on the fugitives, who were reckoned desperate men. + +"Not so far as is known," replied the other. "I was particular to ask +that, for I knew I'd have to shape my plans accordingly. It seems that +they raided an old scare-crow that had been left in a field, and managed +to change clothes with the dummy after a fashion, for they wanted to +pose as tramps, you see. But armed or not, we are ready to settle +accounts with the rascals. We're close at your heels, Rob; make all the +time you want." + +Rob was not having any difficulty whatever in following the trail after +the two fugitives had left the little streamlet. He seemed to be as +keen on the scent as a rabbit hound, only he went about his work +noiselessly, and not with the idea of giving tongue, such as a beagle +usually shows. + +"We're getting on a warm track, Chief," the boy with the torch suddenly +remarked, "because just then I saw a little twig right itself under my +very eyes, showing it must have been stepped on only a few minutes +before. Hello! here's only one set of tracks! The man with the broken +leg has drawn out!" + +"But where could he have gone?" asked Tubby. "He didn't have wings, did +he? And no aeroplane could dodge down in all this brush to carry him +off. If he isn't on the ground, where d'ye reckon he can be, Rob?" + +For answer the patrol leader gave one good look at the place where the +trail of the man who dragged his left leg after him seemed to stop. + +Then he quickly focused the white glow of his electric torch up into the +tree directly over-head. + +"Oh! looky there, would you, in the fork of the tree!" exclaimed Tubby, +always bent on expressing his opinion. + +And as the others cast their eyes upward, they saw the huddled figure of +a man where Tubby had indicated. Rob had undoubtedly run one of the +fugitives down; and hearing them coming through the brush, he must have +climbed the tree as a last resort, evidently hoping they might pass him +by. + +But he had not taken into consideration the fact that a scout was +leading the pursuing party, and that the sudden ending of his tracks was +bound to cause the trailer to survey the vicinity in the expectation of +locating his game. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE EAGLES LEAD THE WAY TO SUCCESS. + + +"Don't shoot, gents! I reckon I'm pretty near all in!" called out the +man who was in the crotch of the oak tree. + +At the same time he elevated both hands as a sign that he was unarmed +and did not intend to offer any hostile demonstration. Undoubtedly the +sight of the three big officers in blue, not to speak of four stalwart +lads dressed in scout uniforms, must have convinced him that he had +really run to the end of his rope; and that after being checked so +positively in his break for liberty, the next best thing for him to do +would be to give in and have his wounded leg attended to. + +"Hello! got you, have we, Con?" remarked the Chief pleasantly. + +"Looks like it, Chief," grunted the man, who must have been in +considerable pain, Rob determined, as he saw the drawn look on his face. +"Just gimme half a chance, and I'll drop down out of this. It ain't the +easiest thing agoin' for a man with a leg swollen up like mine to move, +once he sets still five minutes." + +"That's so, Con," the head of the Hampton police force said, as he +stepped forward; "and I'll help you down all I can." + +If Rob had had a good opinion of the burly Chief before, that added to +it; because his consideration for a suffering wretch, even if he were a +hard character, proved that the policeman had a heart. + +The fugitive was helped to the ground, and he sank down with a half +stifled groan. They could see that his face had a peaked look, and that +he was compelled to grit his teeth savagely together, as though trying +his best not to show signs of weakness. Yes, Con was a man of more than +ordinary nerve and grit, Rob knew, as he noticed all this; but then he +had made up his mind on that score before now, so he was not at all +surprised. + +"Corporal Merritt," he said, turning to his second in command; "suppose +you take a look at this poor fellow's leg, and see if you can't do +something in an emergency to ease the pain. Like as not we'll have to +make a stretcher and carry him to where the wagon was left." + +"All right, Rob!" was the ready answer Merritt gave; while his eyes +fairly sparkled with satisfaction at having the patrol leader show such +confidence in him as to turn over this duty to his charge. As a rule Rob +generally took it upon himself to play the part of doctor when an +occasion arose that required such work. + +And imagine the astonishment of those three policemen as they saw the +corporal immediately set to work to tackle his job with the assurance of +an experienced physician or surgeon. As for the injured man, he stared +as though hardly knowing what to believe, to see a mere boy undertake a +task like that. + +Tubby gave one look as Merritt unwound the rough bandage that the +wounded man had wrapped tightly around his injured leg, and gasped as he +turned his head away. Andy kept on staring as though fascinated; but at +the same time had any one observed the boy closely he would have found +that Andy's usual healthy color had given place to a ghastly hue. + +If Merritt experienced anything of the same feeling as he proceeded to +manipulate the limb of the man, he certainly did not let the weakness +interfere with his work. + +"I may hurt you some, but stand it as well as you can," he told the +other. "Because I have an idea the leg may not be broken after all, but +only badly wrenched and torn by striking some hard object. Steady, now!" + +A minute later, as boys and officers stared, and mentally gave Merritt +credit for knowing all about "first aid to the injured," the corporal +went on to say: + +"It is just as I thought, for there is no fracture of the bones that I +can find. But you have neglected it so long and strained it so by +walking and running that I'm afraid you're going to have a bad time with +that leg. But I'll put something on that will ease the pain, more or +less, and bind it up fresh for you. Then we'll get you to the wagon +somehow, without your having to walk." + +"Say, are you what they call the Boy Scouts?" asked the injured man, who +had been listening to all Merritt said, as well as watching his deft +fingers work, with amazement written large upon his peaked face. + +"Just what we are," Tubby hastened to inform him; "and you can see now +what the scouts learn. You are not the first man who has been handled by +the members of the Eagle Patrol, Mister." + +"Well, I wanted to know!" muttered the man, still staring, as though he +could not understand how mere boys could master the art of handling a +bad wound like that with such skill, and show the nerve to do it at the +same time. + +"Where's Rob going?" asked Tubby just then. + +While Merritt was working Rob had held the torch so that he could see, +until Andy had taken a hint, and scraped enough dead leaves together to +make a little fire, and in this way given all the light that was needed. + +Apparently the patrol leader was not satisfied with having overtaken one +of the desperate fugitives who had escaped from the Riverhead jail. He +must have figured, while standing there, waiting until the fire had +attained sufficient size to allow his moving off, that possibly the +other rascal might not have run much further, as they would surely have +caught the sound of his pressing through all that dense undergrowth; for +at the time Con was helped up into his tree by the shorter man, the +pursuers could not have been far away. + +And so the scout who carried that useful electric hand torch proceeded +to find the tracks of the second man; after which he began to follow +the trail. + +It immediately led him into the thickest of the underbrush; and this +fact only added strength to the boy's former deduction, to the effect +that no one could push on through all this matted growth without making +all sorts of sounds capable of being readily heard by keen ears a +quarter of a mile away almost. + +Merritt had now finished bandaging the wounded leg of the man, and the +fellow frankly told him it was feeling many times better already. + +"You're a sure enough wonder, boy, that's what!" the man went on to say; +and while he did not thank the amateur surgeon in so many words, Merritt +could easily trace gratitude in the tone of his voice. However, the +young corporal was not doing this in order to receive praise, but +because it lay in the line of his duty as a scout. + +"Got one man, anyway, Chief, didn't you?" Andy remarked. + +"Half a loaf, they say, is some better than no bread," answered the big +man, chuckling, as though vastly amused over the result of this +singular hunt in company with the Boy Scouts. + +Before he could say anything more, there arose a series of loud +"k-r-e-e-es" from the direction where the patrol leader had gone a +minute or two before. + +"That's Rob!" cried Tubby, all in a tremor at the thought of new +developments coming on the carpet. + +"And he wants us to come along!" added Andy. "Listen! There's somebody +else calling out, too, and it's a gruff voice, boys. I wonder, now, if +Rob's cornered the other runaway in a tree, too. Let's hurry on and +see!" + +They were soon all in motion, leaving the wounded man alone by the +little fire, since in all probability he would never dream of attempting +further flight. And Merritt did not feel like being cheated out of his +share of the fun in order to stand by and watch one who was really the +prisoner of the Chief. + +They had little difficulty in knowing which way to move, for the racket +still kept up ahead. It was found to be pretty hard work pushing through +all that dense mass of ground vines, bushes, and closely growing dwarf +oaks, whose branches caught Tubby several times and almost choked him. + +Once he did actually find himself gripped by the throat by one of these +lower limbs, and lifted off his feet for the space of three seconds; so +that ever afterward Tubby was fond of saying that he knew from actual +experience just how Absalom must have felt when he was caught by his +long hair and left hanging in a tree. + +"Rob, oh, Rob, where are you?" called Andy, as they drew nearer to the +strange sounds, which, besides spoken words, seemed to consist of the +swishing of hurtling stones or clubs, and jeering laughter, all so queer +that the scouts could make little or nothing of them. + +For answer there was a flash, as Rob turned his torch toward them for +just the space of a second; and at the same time he was heard calling +close at hand: + +"Here I am, just ahead of you, boys! Better look out or you'll get hit!" + +"But what in the wide world is going on, Rob?" demanded Merritt, as he +heard some object strike with a heavy thud among the bushes not two feet +away from him. + +"I'll show you what it means!" laughed Rob, who it turned out was +hiding back of a fairly large tree-trunk not five feet away. As he spoke +he sent the white light of his torch straight ahead once more. + +What they saw astonished them. A moving figure caught their attention, +and no explanation was needed to tell the boys that this must be the +shorter one of the precious pair of rogues who had broken jail, and +given the authorities of Suffolk and adjoining counties such a scare. + +He seemed to be groping all around him, as though trying to find more +stones or fragments of broken limbs with which to bombard the patrol +leader, whose presence was betrayed by the flash of his torch. + +"What's he doing there; and why does he lean over like that?" called out +Tubby, at the same time dodging behind a convenient tree, when he saw +the man proceed to hurl a stone in their direction, following it up with +a stream of hard words that told how furious he felt. + +"Why, the fact is," said Rob, still laughing, as though he considered it +a good joke on the fugitive, "that he got himself in the neatest trap +you ever saw. In the dark and his hurry he pushed his foot into some +sort of frog made of the roots of a bush, and after that got so twisted +up in the vines that if he was promised a thousand dollars for doing it, +he just couldn't break away. I flashed the light on him, you see, where +he was lying low, hoping we'd clear out and let him get away; and he was +so mad he began to fire everything he could lay hands on at me. There's +your second man, Chief. I'll hand over the job of taking him to you." + +"Well, I wouldn't be afraid to wager you could do it as clever as the +next one if it was up to you, son!" remarked the big officer, as he +started toward the spot where the baffled fugitive crouched, looking +about as furious and ugly as any one could who had been tripped up in +this neat manner by ill fortune. + +Of course the fellow saw that the game was up. He did not dare to offer +any resistance when the Chief walked up to him and ordered him to hold +out his hands. And when there came a sharp "click" that made Tubby +wince, they knew that the fugitive from justice had been retaken, and +that he stood a fair chance to face a judge and jury before many days. + +It required considerable labor to get him free from the trap that Nature +had so cruelly sprung upon him, but in the end this was accomplished; +and upon returning to where the little fire still burned, they found the +wounded man lying there on the ground, as comfortably as he could, and +awaiting them with an expectant look on his face. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +TUBBY REFUSES TO FORGET. + + +"Too bad they got you, too, Joe!" said the wounded man; and yet there +was something like satisfaction on his face, along with the grin he +gave; because misery likes company, and if his companion had managed to +escape it would have seemed doubly hard for him to be retaken, and badly +hurt at that. + +"This man isn't able to walk all the way back to the road, Chief," Rob +went on to say, indicating the tall fellow, who lay there with his leg +bound up the best Merritt could do with so little at hand to aid him. + +"I reckon, son," returned the big officer, so pleased with the success +that had come to him that he was ready to grant almost any favor these +scouts asked, "we'll just have to carry him, then." + +"And that would hurt him almost as much as limping along," Rob +continued; "so if you hold up for a little bit, we'll try and fix a +stretcher that ought to answer; though it's going to be a mighty poor +sort of thing, without even a camp hatchet to cut poles with. Get busy +with me, boys, and show the Chief what you know." + +Now this was one of the things in which all the Eagles had been +thoroughly drilled. They knew how to go to work to make a comfortable +stretcher on which an injured person might be carried for miles. But +just as the patrol leader said, not having a hatchet handy was likely to +prove something of a handicap. However, scouts always try to do the best +they can, no matter what difficulties they run up against, and Merritt +was the first to start scurrying around, looking for stout poles that +would serve for the sides and handles of the stretcher. + +Once more did those three police officers stand and watch what the boys +were doing with both wonder and interest written on their faces. Why, +they had never dreamed that half-grown lads could be so resourceful; and +even after a number of fairly straight poles had been collected, +calculated to bear easily the weight of the injured man, none of the men +could guess just how these were to be utilized, or fastened together. + +Judge of their astonishment, then, when they saw the boys make another +little side hunt and come back with strands of pliable vines that could +be twisted about the poles, fastening them together, each live vine +stronger three times over than a cord of the same size would have been. + +Each scout took pride in being able to render his share of the work; and +Rob, on his part, was filled with satisfaction to find how well things +began to shape themselves under the nimble fingers of his chums and +himself. + +As the rude but effective stretcher began to assume its desired form, +the Chief gave each of his men a nod and a wink, as though calling their +attention to the clever way in which these ready lads met an emergency +by "being prepared"; letting them understand, also, that a useful lesson +might be drawn from the happening. + +Even the two captured rogues manifested considerable interest in what +was going on, the wounded fellow because he had good reason to be +thankful for receiving so much consideration, and the shorter rascal +because he had never been given a chance to see scouts work before. + +"There's your stretcher, Chief," said Rob, when less than ten minutes +had slipped by, "and it's going to answer all right, I think." + +"No question about that, lad," replied the big officer; "and made so +strong into the bargain that it would bear even my weight without +trouble. And now let's get Con on it so we can start for the wagon." + +This was quickly done. The man winced when they moved him, but other +than that managed to repress all signs of his suffering. The two men +accompanying the Chief took hold of the handles that had been provided, +and had not the slightest trouble in walking away with the wounded rogue +on the stretcher. As for the Chief, he took the other prisoner in +charge. Rob walked in the van, accompanied by his chums, and tried to +pick out the easiest way, always thinking of the pain that the wretched +Con must be enduring every time one of the bearers stumbled over a root. + +"This is what I call great work," Tubby said, as he managed to keep +alongside the one who bore the torch, so that he could get the full +benefit of its light; for he did not fancy going down on all fours every +little while when some vine happened to be in the path. + +"And I'll surely never forget this scene," Andy remarked, showing that +it had made a great impression on him. "Lots of times I'll shut my +eyes, and see us all stringing along this way with that fellow laid out +on the stretcher. And say, when you look around and see how these old +vines hang down, you'd almost believe we were making our way through +some tropical forest like lots of men we've read about." + +"Well," spoke up Tubby briskly, "mebbe, now, we may be doing that same +thing before a great while, if only Uncle Mark makes up his mind to send +me down there to Mexico to straighten out his mixed affairs. I almost +believe he would right now, if only Rob, here, was going to be along, +because he's heard so much about him. And it wouldn't cost us a red +cent, either, because Uncle Mark'll stand for it. But the trouble is +we're bound to school right now, and can't get away, hang the luck!" + +"Careful there, Tubby," warned Merritt just then; "you're getting too +excited, and you don't watch your steps as you ought. That time you +nearly knocked me down banging against me so suddenly." + +"But aren't we nearly to the road, Rob?" pleaded Tubby, who was +breathing hard, partly on account of his exertions in keeping close to +the leader, and also because he persisted in wasting so much wind in +talking. + +"More than half way, Tubby, so cheer up; the worst is yet to come," +chuckled the patrol leader. And then as the fat scout gave a dismal +groan Rob hastened to add: "That was only said for fun, because we are +going to have it easier right along after this. I think in five minutes +we shall come out on the road." + +When about that time had expired, Rob flashed the light of his torch +ahead, and then called out: + +"There's the white birch that hangs over the road, boys; and the wagon +is not far away from that, you remember." + +"What d'ye think of that, Chief? If he didn't go and fetch us straight +back to the place we started from!" Andy called out. + +"That was easy," Rob told him; "because I only had to follow our own +trail, you understand. And here we are!" + +The horse whinnied at their approach, just as though he might have known +they were friends; and possibly the poor tired beast was as hungry for a +good feed of oats as animals of his class can get. + +The rude stretcher, having served its purpose, was cast aside, and the +wounded man made as comfortable as possible in the bed of the wagon. All +of the scouts but Merritt settled themselves as best they could, as did +also two of the officers. The Chief and his prisoner occupied the seat +with the driver, where the recaptured rogue could be constantly watched. + +In this way, then, they set out to cover the two miles or more that lay +between them and Hampton. Naturally the scouts felt quite jolly over the +remarkable success that had accompanied their labors of the evening. + +"Well, who would have thought when the water came a-rushing into our +boat, so we had to run her ashore and leave her there till morning, that +we'd come on the finest chance ever to show what we knew about +scoutcraft?" Andy burst out after they had been rumbling along the road +steadily for a short time. Merritt had been cautioned not to try and +make speed on account of the poor fellow who had hard work to repress a +groan with every jolt. + +"That's the way things come around, sometimes," Rob told him. "You never +can tell how they're going to turn out. Lots of times I've heard my +father say that the very things he looked on as disasters proved to be +blessings in disguise. And for one, I could almost forgive the fellow +who played that miserable trick on us, because of the great time we've +had since landing." + +"Well, I don't join with you there," grumbled Tubby, who did not often +hold a grudge against anybody, and therefore made his present action the +more singular. "What if that plug had dropped out when we were out in +the middle of the bay, with the wind and waves like they were? Wouldn't +we have been in danger of our lives? I can see a feller of my size +swimming a mile and more! Huh! that was a coward's trick, let me tell +you. And just wait and see if I don't fasten the guilt on the wretch +that played it on us. I've got all the evidence needed right here in my +pocket; and given a little time, I'll fix him,--but I'm not mentioning +any names _yet_!" + +Both Andy and Rob pretended to consider Tubby's intention to play +detective in the nature of a great joke, because they did not believe +that the fat scout had any particular gift along such lines; but he +certainly seemed in deadly earnest, and took himself seriously, for a +fact. + +"We are likely to be late to supper to-night, boys!" Rob remarked, as +they saw the lights of Hampton ahead, and knew that presently they would +be in the home town. + +"What of that, when we've got such a splendid excuse?" Tubby said, as he +puffed himself up with pride. "I know my maw and Uncle Mark'll listen +a-holding their breath while I tell of all the wonderful adventures that +came our way since we started after Rob's select oysters! Um! don't I +wish I had a few to sample right this minute! But then, I ought to be +home pretty quick now, and I guess I can hold in. Friday night we always +have Boston baked beans at our house; and you know I'm particularly fond +of those. And this is Friday, isn't it?" + +He heaved a contented sigh, as though making up his mind that supper +would taste all the finer for being held back so long; and that was +Tubby's way all over. + +"I'll jump out here, Chief," said Rob, as Merritt held up the horse, +knowing they were close to the banker's house. "I reckon I can tote that +sack of oysters such a short way. So-long, fellows; see you first thing +in the morning, Merritt. I'd like mighty much to get my boat home +before that old hurricane from the West Indies comes tearing up the +coast. Good night, Chief, and I'm glad we were able to lend you a hand. +I hope you get a doctor busy with that swollen leg Con's carrying around +with him. It'd be rough if blood poisoning set in." + +So saying, the patrol leader allowed the two boys in the body of the +wagon to heave the half bushel of prime shellfish over his right +shoulder, and walked off with his burden as though it did not amount to +much, anyway. + +The cheery words of the policemen followed him; but pleasant as these +may have been, it was something entirely different that caused Rob to +laugh softly to himself as he heard it. And this was the shrill +"k-r-e-e-e" of the Eagles, sent after him by his chums, as a token of +their esteem, and in recognition of the great aid scoutcraft had proven +to them during the last hour or more. + +Thus closed one of the most interesting experiences that had ever fallen +to the lot of the Eagle Patrol scouts; one that they would be apt to +remember years afterwards, when time had caused them to forget many +other adventures that had come their way. And doubtless Tubby did keep +his folks breathless while he narrated the exciting details over the +supper table--after he had taken off the first sharp edge of his +wonderful appetite. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A DAZZLING PLAN. + + +Rob was up and around at daybreak the following morning, for as yet the +anticipated storm had not come up the coast, and it seemed as though he +might manage to get his stranded sailboat back home before the wind +assumed hurricane force. + +He was just starting in to have a bit of breakfast, having made the +coffee, as every Boy Scout who is worth his salt is taught to do, when a +cheery whistle from without announced the coming of Merritt. As it had +been arranged between them that Rob would attend to the breakfast part, +the Crawford boy was soon partaking of his share. + +"Think we'll be able to get back with the boat?" he asked Rob, as he +swallowed his hot coffee in such large quantities that the tears came +into his eyes. + +"I don't see why we shouldn't," answered the other; "the wind has +shifted quite a lot, and once we start we'll be able to make it with +about three tacks." + +"How about that hole? I don't reckon you'll spend much time fixing that +now?" Merritt went on to say. + +"I should guess not," laughed Rob. "If a plug that wasn't pounded in any +too well in the first place held out all that time before working loose, +I can fill up the hole with a fresh piece of wood that will never drop +out. Besides, we can keep an eye on it. Any more coffee, Merritt?" + +"I'm done, and ready to take that little spin right away. Got your +sweater on, I see, Rob. You'll need it, and then some, on the boat, with +this wind blowing. I've fetched along my heavy storm coat into the +bargain." + +"I was meaning to carry mine, you can understand," Rob rejoined, as he +picked it up from the chair where he had tossed it. + +As soon as both of them were mounted on their wheels, they sped away +along the road in the direction of the place where the sailboat had been +left. And, as there had been no unusually strong wind from a quarter +that would bring the seas into the little sheltered cove, Rob had no +fear that his property could have been damaged since they abandoned it +on the preceding evening. + +Of course they covered the same stretch of road over which they had come +while in the wagon drawn by the white nag; and, as they swung past the +identical birch tree that marked the spot where the fugitives had turned +into the thick undergrowth, Merritt drew the fact to his chum's +attention. + +"I'll never see a white birch again as long as I live," he said +earnestly, "but I'll remember that one and all that happened to us +around here. But that cove can't be much more than half a mile away now, +Rob. Do you say the same?" + +"We're bearing down on the place right now, and you'll find that it lies +where that bush stands that holds its red leaves, while others are bare +or brown." + +"If you say so, I know it's going to be that way," returned the +corporal, "because you always look out to mark things down so in your +mind. Now, it never occurred to me to take any notice of what the side +of the road looked like when we came out on it. I seemed to think that, +because I knew that cove so well, I could find it again as easy as +falling off a log; but chances are I'd have run away over the mark, if +left to myself, because I thought it was further along." + +"I've found it pays always to notice things as you go," said Rob, as +they jumped from their saddles and pushed the wheels ahead of them while +passing along what seemed to be a trail leading toward the shore; "it +saves lots of time, and you have a sort of satisfied feeling, just as if +you were ready for anything." + +They came directly on the cove, and found the boat just as they had left +it. Of course the first thing to be done was to lower the water that was +in the stern of the boat. This Merritt proceeded to do with a small pail +Rob had brought along, while the other boy whittled a stick of white +pine until it suited his idea of what a proper plug should be, after +which he proceeded to pound it into the round hole in the bottom of the +sailboat's hull. + +After that they finished the job of clearing the water out, and then the +boat was launched. Pushing out into deeper water, they soon had the sail +up, and were buffeting the waves. Of course they lost ground until the +centerboard could be used, after which they were able to make a course +that would take them considerably nearer Hampton. + +It was quite a wild dash, and both scouts enjoyed fighting wind and wave +until, some two hours after starting, they managed to run into sheltered +water, and could feel that the victory had been won. + +"And none too soon, let me tell you, my boy," said Rob, as he pointed +out to where the white-caps were rushing furiously along before a wind +that was rapidly assuming the proportions of a storm. + +"Gee whiz! but were we out in that sea?" exclaimed Merritt, as though +hardly able to believe his eyes. "Why, I didn't dream it was half that +rough while we were booming along. But then we had our hands full +managing things, and couldn't do much looking around, could we? I'm glad +it's all over. Listen to the wind howl as it cuts around the corners of +the yacht club building! Looks as though we might get all the hurricane +Hampton can stand before another night comes." + +They did. + +The weather sharps at Washington had not sent out those storm warnings +without good cause, for there had never been such a wicked gale along +the south shore of Long Island at that late season of the year as this +one. + +Although it was Saturday and a holiday, few boys dared venture out, and +then only to run from one house to another, clad in waterproofs, their +heads covered with rubber capes such as duck shooters sport in rainy +weather, when holding forth in their "point" blinds. + +The storm raged all that night, and the following day also, doing all +manner of serious damage along the South Shore, where boats were sunk, +piers swept away, and even houses demolished. + +On Monday morning it showed signs of abating, so that Merritt managed to +get over to the Blake home. He was just in time to catch up with Tubby +and Andy, who, unable to stay indoors any longer, had determined to seek +company. + +"Whee! isn't this the limit, though?" called out Tubby as the corporal +of the Eagles came up, after being compelled to duck his head and fight +against the fury of the still stiff wind. + +"I hear it's done all manner of things around here," Andy remarked +earnestly. "I hope, Merritt, you and Rob managed to get that boat home; +because if she's up in that cove still there won't be two sticks of her +left fastened together. Why, the seas rose higher than they ever did +before, so I heard, and they must have pounded in along that shore like +hot cakes!" + +"Oh! we managed to work her down, never fear," Merritt assured him; "and +chances are she's O. K. now. Hello! Rob, we thought we'd step in and see +how you all managed to hold out through the storm!" + +"No damage done at our house; but I heard that the poor old Academy got +caught again," the patrol leader remarked. + +At which Andy threw up his hands, exclaiming, + +"Don't tell me it was burned again, after the other bad blaze that let +us out of school long enough for some of you fellows to run down to +Panama, and have all kinds of fun!" + +"No fire this time, but wind and rain," Rob said soberly. "Why, they say +the whole roof was carried two hundred yards away, so that the rain beat +in, and played hob with everything! The Academy is next door to a ruin +right now. It begins to look as if we might have to be given another +long vacation till they get a new roof on; and that may be a month, +perhaps two!" + +The three boys who heard this interesting news somehow did not seem to +feel particularly sorry. Indeed, as soon as he could find his voice, +Tubby burst out into a regular cowboy yell. + +"Hooray! that means we'll have a chance to take Uncle Mark at his word +if so be he wants the lot of us to hike down there over the Rio Grande, +and see what can be done with his cattle on that ranch in Mexico! Again +I say, 'Hooray for everybody.' Oh! say, tell me about that, won't you? +It sounds too good to be true, Rob! Are you dead sure that that +accommodating new roof went sailing away? And did it land two hundred +yards off? Wouldn't I have liked to be around to see her go, though! And +it will surely take the carpenters six weeks or two months to get a new +one on and the rooms fixed over. Talk about luck, it never rains but it +pours!" + +"Yes," said Rob, laughing at the extravagant actions and words by means +of which Tubby tried to express his joy; "we've just seen it pour the +worst ever. If an inch fell on poor old Hampton, I'd say there was a +foot solid came down; and without a roof on top, the inside of the +Academy must look pretty tough." + +"But about this queer old uncle of yours, Tubby, how is it we never met +him?" inquired Merritt. "Tell us all about him, won't you? He must be +some traveler; because I heard you say once he'd just been nearly a year +in Africa exploring over the course Livingstone and Stanley took a long +while back." + +"Why," Tubby immediately started in to say, "Uncle Mark Matthews is a +brother of my mother. He's always been a queer sort of fish, crazy about +hunting orchids, and all that sort of stuff, you know. Spent years and +years down in tropical South America, where no white man had ever been +before; and has a whole raft of strange plants, birds, butterflies and +what-not named after him. He settled down in Mexico some years ago, and +got together quite a respectable lot of prize cattle on a ranch that's +in the northern part of the country. And that is where a lot of this +fighting business has been going on between the rebels under Villa and +the troops of Huerta, now playing his little part as president of the +republic. + +"About a year or more ago it seems that Uncle Mark got the old fever on +him again; and this time it was Africa that called him. He wanted to do +something big over there before he found himself too old, he says. +Anyway, he put his ranch in charge of a man he believed he could trust +with things, even if he was a greaser; and away he cut for the heart of +the Dark Continent. + +"Well, he came near losing his life there, dying of the jungle fever, or +some kind of thing like that; and when, after a hard fight, he managed +to reach the coast, heading for America, first thing he heard was that +there were hot times all around where his prize ranch was located; and +also that if his bunch of cattle worth a fortune hadn't been confiscated +yet, they'd soon be lost to him. It seems that Uncle Mark has lost a +good part of the big pile he once owned, and if this ranch was sacked +he'd be in a bad hole; and that is what is worrying him right now. + +"If it is going to be saved at all, somebody has just got to go down +there and do the business; and Uncle Mark is too sick a man to dream of +trying it. That's why he's been talking to me as he has. You see, +ordinarily he wouldn't think of entrusting such a risky job to a boy of +my age; but ever since he's come to Hampton he's been hearing about what +clever chaps the Boy Scouts are, and particularly you, Rob, and Merritt, +here; and he told me again last night that if only it might be fixed so +you could go along--yes, and you, too, Andy, don't think I'd leave you +out of this deal--he'd hand the whole business over to me to handle. And +let me tell you, it looks like things might be shaping that way right +now, when you give me to understand, Rob, that the Academy is a wreck, +and that there can't be any school for six or eight weeks. And that's +why I'm tickled to death, and feel like throwing my hat over the church +steeple with joy. Because, don't you see, fellers, it's going to mean a +glorious trip for the whole four of us, a chance to see what Mexico +looks like in war times, and perhaps even an opportunity to run across +some of the natives who are doing all the fighting!" + +But Rob looked serious, as though there were things that he wanted +explained before he could consent to consider such a wild goose chase. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +FIGURING IT ALL OUT. + + +"Just hold your horses a bit, Tubby; you're going so fast I'm afraid +you'll break your neck," Rob told the fat boy. "Why, nobody ever saw you +half so excited in all your life as you are now." + +"Well, who wouldn't be, when everything is rooting for us to make that +lovely trip down to the land of sunshine, where there is something doing +every minute of the time right now?" Tubby declared. "And all I hope is, +first, that this rumor about the school roof taking wings and blowing +away doesn't turn out to be a fizzle; and, second, that you will make up +your mind to go along with me, Rob. Because I'm banking on the rest +falling all over themselves to sneeze if only you take snuff. That +right, fellers?" + +"You've got it down pretty pat, Tubby," chuckled Merritt. + +"Yes," added Andy, "you know mighty well that if Rob and you say 'go,' +the rest of us couldn't be held back with wild horses. That is, always +providing our folks give us permission, and I think they will when they +know how much the trip means to your poor uncle." + +"There, Rob, see that?" cried Tubby eagerly. "What's doing now?" + +"Before I say a word one way or the other," Rob told him, "there are +heaps of questions I want answered. Perhaps you can tell us a part of +the story; but we'd have to see Uncle Mark, and hear the rest. Get that, +Tubby?" + +"Sure I do, Rob, and you'll find me only too willing to accommodate all +I can. Fire away, now, and I'll try and put you wise to the facts," and +the fat boy threw himself into Rob's easy-chair, elevating one leg over +an arm, and assuming the air of a witness in the box ready to be +cross-questioned by the lawyer on the other side. + +"Tell us something more about your uncle first of all," said Rob, just +as if he might have a long list of questions on a slip of paper, which +he meant to put to the other. + +"About his life, do you mean, or just that part of it connected with +Mexico?" demanded Tubby. + +"We haven't the time to stand for it all," observed Rob; "because such a +wonderful man as your uncle must have run across more queer things than +we read about in Baron Munchausen or the Arabian Nights, he's been such +a great traveler and explorer. So just strike in where he made up his +mind to settle down on a Mexican ranch, and sent to England to import a +fine breed of cattle to improve the native stock. That was how long ago, +Tubby?" + +"From what he told me I guess it might have been six or seven years +back; but that doesn't matter so very much. He bought a big tract of +good land, and put up his ranch buildings; after which he got his stock +together and started raising the best brand of cattle ever known in +Northern Mexico, shipping his beef, on the hoof, of course, over the +border to the United States market." + +"That was when Diaz was president of Mexico," Rob remarked. "Now, how +did your uncle get along with the Government at that time? I want to +know, because it's going to cut a big figure with us when we get down +there--if we ever do." + +"Why, to tell you the truth, I don't believe Uncle Mark cared much for +President Diaz, because he had lots of trouble at times with the people +in power. And later on, when Madero went into Mexico to turn things +upside-down, I guess uncle helped him a whole lot. Anyway, I've heard +him say he admired Madero a heap, and that they were good friends. Why, +after Diaz lit out for Spain, Uncle Mark was so dead sure things would +run smooth down there that he left his ranch in charge of a man he +believed he could trust, and started on the trip to Africa that he'd +been staving off for ever so long. And he says he must have just missed +the news that Madero had been killed, and that another president was in +the chair. If he'd known that, he would never have made his dive into +the heart of Africa, but hurried back home." + +"Then he looks on Huerta as anything but a friend; is that it?" asked +Rob. + +"He's afraid the present Government is following along the same paths +Diaz made, and that everybody who was hand in glove with Madero must +come under the ban," Tubby went on to say with considerable importance, +as though he might be coining some of these phrases himself, when, +truth to tell, he only repeated them, parrot-like, after his uncle. + +"Now, that's something we would have to know," said Rob. "But tell us, +has your uncle had any word from his ranch since he came back?" + +"Not a whisper," Tubby assured him. "You see, things are in such a whirl +down over the border right now that letters never get to their +destinations; and as for a wire message being delivered, it isn't +possible in a year." + +"Then Uncle Mark doesn't know whether he has any cattle left on his +ranch to-day, or if it's just a howling wilderness, with every beef run +off, and the buildings burned to the ground. Is that the way it stands, +Tubby?" + +"Er--yes, I suppose it is," admitted the fat scout slowly. "And you see, +it's to find out the truth, for one thing, that he wants somebody to go +down there and cross over into Mexico. Then, if everything is lovely and +the goose hangs high, that messenger will be given authority to dispose +of every head of cattle so as to fetch as big a fistful of money back +here as he can." + +Rob shook his head, while the other three who were eagerly watching his +face looked keenly disappointed. The signs seemed to point to an +adverse decision in the matter by the patrol leader. + +"It appears to be even worse than what I called it first--a wild goose +chase," Rob presently pursued. "For months and months now there have +been all kinds of fighting around that section of country, if half we +see in the papers is true: first with the Government forces ahead, and +then the rebels clearing out everything, so that a hostile army couldn't +live off the land. It was just as Sheridan was ordered to do in the +Valley of the Shenandoah, you remember. If the army of Huerta didn't +carry off your uncle's prize stock, you can make sure the hungry rabble +of that rebel general, Villa, must have gobbled it up long ago." + +"Oh! but there is where uncle says he has his strongest hold!" exclaimed +Tubby, his round face lighting up again with new hope. + +"I'm glad to hear he's got a string out somewhere, then," Rob remarked. +"Suppose you tell us what you mean by that?" + +"Why, he knows General Villa real well," Tubby went on. "Fact is, he met +him some years ago when he was only a bandit, fighting against the Diaz +Government, because they'd gone and set a price on his head. It's too +long a story to tell you now, Rob, but the fact is that my uncle, who +used to be a pretty fine surgeon once on a time before he got this +exploring bee in his head, saved the life of Villa!" + +"He did, eh?" exclaimed the patrol leader, apparently beginning to take +new interest in the matter. "That sounds as though there might be a slim +chance for those herds to be left alone. Go on and tell us some more, +Tubby." + +"Villa was badly hurt, and uncle took him to his house and nursed him +back to life again, knowing who he was all the while; because, as I said +before, uncle didn't have any too much love for the party that was in +power just then. And Villa told him he would never forget what uncle had +done for him; that if he could do him a favor any time all uncle had to +do was to speak. So that is what he's hoping will turn out in his favor; +that General Villa, remembering how he was treated so well at the ranch, +would put a guard over the place and keep his men from raiding it, under +the belief that uncle must return home before long. Oh, Uncle Mark is +building big hopes on the gratitude of the man whose life he saved long +ago!" + +"I must say it does look some hopeful," Rob mused, as though trying to +convince himself along those lines; for a trip to the South did look +mighty alluring to him, if only he could believe it was not a foolish +errand that took them to the sorely troubled land of the Montezumas. + +"And I forgot to tell you this," Tubby continued breathlessly. "Just as +you read so often in stories of the old-time days, the bandit Villa gave +my uncle a queer ring which he wears all the time, and told him that if +that ring was ever brought to him he would go far out of his way to help +the person who fetched it!" + +When Tubby burst out with this new bombardment, Rob threw up his hands +as if he must capitulate on the spot. + +"That seems to clinch matters like a nail driven through a board, +Tubby," he went on to say. + +"Oh! then you mean you'll go; is that it, Rob?" exclaimed the fat boy, +scrambling out of the easy-chair, and landing on his feet with his short +legs spread out as though they were a letter A. + +Rob smiled. + +"It's too soon to settle the thing like that, Tubby; but I want to tell +you that after hearing all you've had to say, I must admit there's a +chance of my falling in with your scheme. It's a glorious outlook so far +as the trip goes. The trouble will be to get in touch with General Villa +with that country fairly swarming with guerillas and bandits of all +kinds, not to speak of the rebels themselves." + +"What will you do about it, Rob?" pleaded Tubby. "Because you know time +is going to count for a whole lot with us. Just as soon as we know for +sure that there will not be any school till long after Christmas, we +ought to be starting. It's going to take some days to get down there, +and across the Rio Grande." + +"Well, first, you must take us all to see your uncle so he can give us +more information. We shall need it all, depend on that," Rob told him, +laying one finger on the palm of his left hand as he checked things off. +"Then I want to talk it all over with dad, though somehow I don't seem +to fear any serious opposition from that quarter, because he's so good +to me, and has such a lot of faith in my being able to come out of any +scrape right-side up. Last of all, I mean to put it up to our +scout-master, Mr. Alec Sands, and get his advice." + +Hampton Troop of Boy Scouts now had a regular scout master, as the rules +of the organization demanded. He was a bright young man of about +twenty-five, who, while not very well acquainted with the secrets of the +Big Outdoors, as were some of the scouts, did know boys from the ground +up; and he was deeply interested in everything that went for the +betterment of the rising generation. Some time before, Rob had received +his certificate from Headquarters in New York City, and was qualified to +serve as assistant scout master in the absence of the real leader of the +troop; for only a first-class scout may fill this position, and then +only after he has been endorsed by the scout commissioner of the +district, as well as the local council. + +"Well," said Tubby, scratching his head dubiously, "I only hope, then, +that our Mr. Sands don't put the kibosh on the whole fine game by saying +there's too big a risk about it for us to undertake. I don't see why +that should be, when every day you read about scouts doing all sorts of +wonderful things,--rescuing folks from burning buildings, stopping +runaway horses at the risk of their lives, and such brave deeds that +get them medals from Headquarters. This means a whole lot to my uncle, +and to my folks; for whatever he owns will come to us if he should die; +and let me say this right now--if the rest of you back out, Tubby +Hopkins will make the try all by himself. You hear me talking, don't +you?" + +"That sounds pretty strong, Tubby," remarked Rob, smiling, yet in secret +admiring the undaunted spirit that caused the stout boy to make this +positive declaration; "but suppose you take us right now to see your +uncle; that may settle it once and for all!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +HOW THE LAND LAY. + + +Upon hearing Rob speak so favorably of the scheme, Tubby grinned, and +gave both of the other scouts a sly wink, as much as to say: "See how +you can get there by keeping everlastingly at it?" That was the fat +boy's best quality: persistence. If he failed to reach his aim twenty +times he was apt to proceed to try again and again until success +rewarded him. + +"Then come along over home with me and have a talk with Uncle Mark!" he +told the patrol leader as he began to hunt all around for his hat, which +he often mislaid. He was finally informed coolly by Andy that it was +perched on his head, as he had forgotten to remove it when entering +Rob's den! + +So the four hurried out. Signs of the late storm's fury could be seen in +every direction. Great limbs had been torn from some of Hampton's finest +trees; chimneys had been demolished in several places; and it was not +hard to believe that at the climax of the hurricane the new roof of the +Academy had been carried off. + +First of all, Rob said they should satisfy themselves that this report +was true; so they joined the crowds that were heading for the school +grounds. When the boys saw what a wreck the storm had made of the +building, none of them doubted any longer that a vacation period was +bound to result. And strange to say, while some of the town fathers +walked around, viewing the damage with long faces, knowing how heavily +it would cost to repair the school, nobody saw a single boy looking +glum! + +"That's one point settled, anyhow," Andy remarked gleefully, as they all +turned away, heading for the Hopkins' home. + +"And say, Mexico looks a whole lot closer to me, don't you know?" Tubby +chirped, with such a happy look on his rosy face that any one might have +thought he was on the eve of starting on a picnic instead of a serious +undertaking. But, then, boys never see the dark side of things, such is +the enthusiasm and optimism of youth. + +"Too bad about one thing, Tubby, if so be you get away on this journey," +remarked Andy, giving Merritt a wink as he spoke. + +"What's that, Andy, you're hinting about?" asked the other. + +"It's going to knock your fine plans silly; about searching every tool +chest in town, you know, and finding the brace and nicked bit that +chawed a hole through the bottom of Rob's sailboat," the bugler of the +Eagles went on to say. + +Tubby looked somewhat glum, and shrugged his plump shoulders ruefully. + +"Say, that's a fact, fellers," he remarked dolefully; "and I'd sure set +my heart on finding out the miscreant, and exposing him to his face. +Such a smart idea of mine it was, too, finding that shaving with the +tell-tale mark! But if I don't get a chance to spy around between now +and the time we leave Hampton, I'll keep it in mind. And every time I +look at that incriminating bit of evidence, I'll renew my vow to place +the guilt on the shoulders where it belongs just as soon as I get back +home after a successful trip." + +Tubby, when he wanted to, could appear very eloquent, and use some of +the longest words in the dictionary. Fortunately these periods did not +crop up very often, or his chums would not have stood for such airs. +Andy pretended to feel faint as it was, and begged Merritt to fan him. + +"All I can say about the matter is that I'm sorry for the fellow who +bored that hole through my boat," Rob remarked; "because when once Tubby +sets his mind on anything it's bound to come, sooner or later. But here +we are at your house; and now to meet Uncle Mark." + +Three minutes later they were all sitting around a small, dark-featured +gentleman, who wore a big pair of goggles and looked as though he might +be pretty sick. This was Uncle Mark. The fever he had contracted in the +hot depths of the African jungles had taken such a hold upon his system +that he began to despair of ever being able to travel again; and he had +sought his sister's home as a haven of refuge in his last days. + +He seemed to guess about what the three scouts had come to see him; +which would indicate that Tubby had done considerable talking, even to +promising that he would coax the others to join him in making the trip +to the country south of the Rio Grande. + +As Rob went over pretty much the same ground as when he was questioning +Tubby, it would hardly pay us to repeat what passed between Uncle Mark +and the boys for the first half hour of the conference. Of course the +old traveler was able to go further into details; and some of his +descriptions of those warm times when he first met Villa, the bandit, +thrilled his young hearers. + +"Some people might think it a very unwise thing for me to try and induce +a party of mere lads to start down into that sorely distressed and +torn-up country just now on such a strange errand," Uncle Mark said +after a while; "but I've considered everything carefully, and I actually +believe you would have a far better chance for success than if I +entrusted the mission to a man, who would be sure to get mixed up with +some of the rival factions and lose out. Besides, I've become very much +interested in the aims of Boy Scouts since I've come to Hampton; and +some of the things you Eagles have done fairly made my heart go out to +you. I believe that if anybody can make a success of this errand you +can." + +Naturally enough such words of warm praise made the scouts feel drawn +toward the broken down old traveler and explorer more than ever. Uncle +Mark had seen such a host of remarkable things during his roving life +that this fact alone would endear him to all boys who had red blood in +their veins. And scouts in particular, with their love for outdoors and +the myriad secrets of the wilderness, might be expected to feel warmly +toward one who had camped for months amidst the savage tribes of Africa, +hunted through the tropical forests of South America in search of new +orchids, and lived the free life of an explorer. + +Still Rob went on asking questions, for he knew that they could not have +too much information concerning the country they meant to visit, and the +people they must meet there. + +All of them examined the quaint ring that Uncle Mark passed around, +which, as he said, General Villa had given him years ago. At that time +the present leader of the rebel forces in Northern Mexico was looked on +as a hunted bandit, with a price set on his head by President Diaz. + +"Should you conclude to undertake this mission, Rob," the old gentleman +went on to say, with an anxious, almost pleading look on his face, +"which I earnestly hope may be the case, I mean to put this ring on your +finger, because I suppose you are to be the leader. When you want to +prove to General Villa that you come direct from his old friend, Doctor +Matthews, all you have to do is to show him that; and if he is the man +of his word that I firmly believe him to be, there is nothing he can do +for you that he will refuse. But more than that, I expect to entrust you +with a letter to him, written in Spanish, but also translated for your +benefit. In it I shall ask him to dispose of all my cattle, if they are +still safe, to the best advantage possible, and to send me the proceeds +by you, as I am in a bad state and shall need the money. Is that plain, +boys?" + +"It couldn't be more so, sir," Rob assured him. + +"And now, after you have heard all that I can tell you, what do you +think about undertaking the expedition for me?" continued the other +eagerly. Tubby gripped the sides of his chair and held his breath, +waiting for Rob to settle the important question then and there. + +Rob was too diplomatic to do so off-hand. He knew that several things +had to be taken into consideration before they could think of assenting. + +"All I can say just now is this, Dr. Matthews," he remarked. "I'm for +going, now that I understand things better, and know that there is +really some sort of chance that your cattle have been guarded, because +of this friendship for you on the part of Villa; and you tell us that he +is a man who never forgets a friend. But before we can say positively +that we'll undertake the job, we shall have to see what the home folks +have to say about it." + +"Of course. I expected that, Rob," the gentleman went on; "and if any of +you meet with opposition, please send the fathers or mothers over to see +me, and I'll try my best to win them to your way of thinking. It means +everything to me, because that ranch is all I've got left in the wide +world; and I put over a hundred thousand dollars into it." + +"Oh! so far as my father is concerned, sir," Rob assured him, "I'm +pretty sure there'll be little talking needed to make him see it in the +right light; because he's the finest dad on all Long Island, and he +believes in me from the word go. Merritt, here, has a coaxing way about +him that generally gets what he wants from his father, who is the +jolliest big man you ever saw wield a sledge. About Andy I'm not so +sure; but if there is going to be no school for two months, and his +father learns that the rest of us are going, I have hopes that he will +say yes." + +"And I know he will!" exclaimed the bugler of the troop positively. +"Because he believes that scouts can take care of themselves anywhere. +Since I joined the Eagles I've shown so much improvement, he says, that +there is really nothing he would refuse me that was in reason." + +"Which shows that your father is a sensible man," remarked Uncle Mark; +"and I hope to meet him before long. But how soon can all this be +settled, Rob? Because every day counts terribly now. If my cattle have +been spared all these months, it may be that General Villa, believing I +never mean to return to Mexico, and needing money to buy supplies for +his troops, may feel that he has done all that could be asked of him, +and yield to the pressure. Yes, a day might turn the scales, and lose me +all my valuable stock. Make it as short a delay as you can, please, +Rob." + +"Oh! we'll settle that this very night, sir," replied the patrol leader +promptly. "It has always been a habit of mine not to let the grass grow +under my feet. And if things turn out right, why, I can see no reason +why we shouldn't make a start--by, say, to-morrow afternoon!" + +"Hurray!" cried Tubby, dancing around the room; while his mother, who +had come in to hear what was being said, hardly knew whether to look +pleased or worried. To have her only boy leave home on such an errand +was enough to cause any mother considerable anxiety. + +Both Merritt and Andy grinned, as though the prospect pleased them +greatly. What scout could help feeling delighted over such a chance for +visiting a country about which they had been reading so much as they had +of Mexico lately? That the unhappy republic was in the throes of civil +war did not seem to appal them at all; for never having experienced any +of the horrors of such a conflict, they could not realize what it meant. + +Uncle Mark could understand all about it, though; but he was so anxious +to find out about his ranch, and had such blind faith in the ability of +these clever scouts to take care of themselves under any and all +conditions, that he shut his eyes to the possibility of their coming to +harm. + +And that was about the last word; for presently Rob and his chums said +good-bye to the sick man, who shook hands with each scout, and said he +would continue to hope they might decide to undertake the mission of +trying to save the last valuable possession he had in the wide world. +After which they went out to talk it all over again, and lay plans as to +what their program would be in case every obstacle were cleared away and +they saw an open door beyond them. + +"Well," said Rob finally; "if we do go we'll have our hands full getting +ready to skip out to-morrow; so Merritt, you and Andy had better see how +the land lies with your fathers; while I wait for mine to come home at +noon. Here's hoping you'll have the best of luck!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"THEY'RE OFF!" + + +It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that +morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this +story. And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept +employed carrying messages from house to house. + +In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and +upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited +voice of Andy. + +"Rob, is that you? Say, it's all right, and I'm going along!" + +"Oh! you didn't have to say more than one word to tell me that," +answered the patrol leader with a laugh. "Why, the minute you opened +your mouth you gave it all away. But I'm mighty glad you convinced your +folks, Andy." + +"At first father looked kind of glum, and shook his head as though he +wouldn't hear of such a thing," continued the other joyously. "But I +took your advice, and just started in to tell the whole yarn. I could +see his face keep getting lighter the further I went, till at the end he +shook me by the hand, and says he: 'Andy, I don't mean to refuse you any +reasonable thing; and while I'll worry a lot if you go down there to +that troubled country, still, it's in a good cause. And if Mrs. Hopkins, +Mr. Blake, and Mr. Crawford give their sons permission, I reckon I'll +have to do the same. I've found that scouts learn how to take care of +themselves no matter where they happen to be!' And so that's settled. +How about you?" + +"Oh! there wasn't any trouble," replied Rob proudly. "Dad asked me a lot +of questions, and then said he was willing to trust me anywhere. He's +the finest dad that ever lived, barring none! Now, we're only waiting to +hear from Merritt." + +"Well, you won't have to wait long, then," said a hearty voice just over +Rob's shoulder; and glancing up he saw the other chum, who had reached +the door of the room unobserved, even while the excited confab over the +wire was in progress. + +"There's no need of my asking what luck you've had, Merritt, my boy," +chuckled Rob, "because you carry the map on your face. It's all right, +do I hear you say?" + +"I should say, yes," hastily replied the other with a happy grin that +told how much his boyish heart was wrapped up in this grand project. + +"Why, I didn't have any trouble at all. Father simply said that while he +hardly approved of four lads like us going down into that country where +neighbor was warring with neighbor, and everything torn upside-down, +still, it would be a shame if Tubby's old uncle, whom he has met, should +lose all he had when there was a chance to save it. And so he told me +that if the other boys received permission to go, he wouldn't throw +anything in the way. You know, Rob, father has a heap of respect for the +opinion of your dad." + +"Good for you, Merritt," Rob rejoined. "I've been talking with Andy, and +everything is lovely over there at his house. I'm holding the wire, and +just wait till I tell him to come over here on the jump. He'd better +pick up Tubby on the way, because we want to talk things over once more, +so as to know just what we ought to take along with us." + +This was speedily arranged; and within ten minutes the other two +members of the Eagle Patrol bustled in, out of breath with the exertion +they had put forth in order to save time. + +Then the tongues began to wag, and all sorts of suggestions came thick +and fast. It seemed as though everybody had been thinking up ideas, as +well as getting new ones from outsiders, mostly fellow members of the +troop to whom the subject of the great expedition was mentioned. + +"My father advised that we go well armed," said Merritt; "not that we +would expect to use our guns against anybody, unless in the last pinch; +but he says there are ferocious wild beasts down in that country, and he +wouldn't feel easy to have us there with just a camp hatchet and our +staves along for defense." + +"How about that, Tubby? Did you happen to ask Uncle Mark whether we'd be +likely to run across any grizzly bears or panthers or big game like +that?" inquired Andy. + +"Just what I did, because you know my mother said she was worried about +my being gobbled up by a pack of hungry wolves," replied the fat scout. + +"Guess they would pick you out first pop!" struck in Andy, chuckling. + +"Which would show their good taste," Tubby informed him, without +hesitating a second. "But uncle admitted that we might run across wild +beasts of prey if we had to make much of a detour to avoid the Federal +troops that are combing the country back of Ciudad Juarez, on the Rio +Grande just opposite El Paso on the Texas side." + +"Did he happen to say what kind of animals?" asked Rob. + +"Oh! any old kind. There are wolves and coyotes on the plains, and in +the desert; jaguars among the hills; and sometimes even a bear is run +across, though not often. But my opinion is we'll have ten times as much +worry about rebels and Federal soldiers and some of the Mexican bandits +like that Castillo crowd we've read so much about in the papers the last +few months." + +"I think myself that you hit the target in the bull's-eye that time, +Tubby," was Merritt's way of expressing his opinion. + +"Well, it's settled then," added Rob, "that we go armed. Every fellow +will have to carry some sort of a gun; and if you don't happen to own +one, borrow it. Be sure to have some ammunition along, because we +mightn't be able to get the kind we need down there. Now, let's make +out a list of things we'll want with us. Of course we wouldn't think of +carrying a tent, because we don't mean to have a pack train along, and +we'll have to move in a hurry lots of times." + +"But what if it rains like all get-out?" questioned Tubby, who did not +altogether like the idea of getting his brand new khaki suit +water-soaked the first thing. + +"Oh! don't bother about such a little thing as that," Merritt told him, +with a snort of scorn. "What sort of scouts would we be if we couldn't +fix up some sort of shelter against rain? And even if we didn't, none of +us are made of salt, are we? Anyway, I don't believe it rains much down +there around Chihuahua, because a heap of the territory is only desert; +and it wouldn't be that if it had showers, you understand." + +By degrees they settled upon what they should take along. Tubby was for +loading himself down with such a raft of stuff,--all of which might come +in very handy, but could never be carried without breaking the back of +his horse,--that Rob finally made out a slip for him, and insisted that +he should not pack up more than those essential things contained on the +paper. + +"I'm going to take my fountain pen along, anyhow," grumbled Tubby, as +though determined to carry some article that was not on the list. "And I +bet, Rob, you'll be wanting to borrow it at every city where we stop for +ten minutes, to address post cards to somebody in Hampton, like you did +the time we went to Panama." + +Of course that sly allusion caused a laugh on the part of Merritt and +Andy, while Rob turned a bit red in the face. + +"Oh! have your fun if you want to, fellows," the patrol leader said, as +though he were proof against their prodding. "I acknowledge that I did +send a few cards to Lucy Mainwaring that time; yes, and I calculate to +do the same again. Just think up some nice girl, each of you, and invest +a few dimes that way yourself. It's lots of fun looking them over +afterward, when she's got them so neatly pasted in her post card album." + +"Well," Merritt proposed, "now that we know what's what, hadn't we +better scatter and get busy? There's an awful lot to be done between now +and night, looking over our clothes, having this fixed, or that button +sewed on. Suppose we get together after supper and report progress. How +would my house do?" + +"I'll be on deck, never fear," Tubby announced promptly. + +"Look for me about half-past seven, Merritt," Andy told him. + +"Sorry, fellows," Rob put in, with a shrug of his shoulders and a +whimsical smile on his face; "I'll have to plead a previous engagement." + +"Oh! sure you do," jeered Andy; "and it'd be a shame to ask you to break +it for such a little thing as this. But the rest of us'll be around, +Merritt. No need of worrying about Rob, anyhow, because we know he'll +have everything in ship-shape style long before our train leaves." + +After that the meeting was dissolved, and three of the lads hurried away +to start packing their duffel according to arrangements, getting it in +as small a compass as possible. + +They were frequently interrupted by other boy friends, calling to find +out if this startling rumor had any truth back of it. The visitors asked +unlimited questions, while they loudly bewailed their hard luck in not +getting a chance to accompany the four fortunate ones. + +Sim Jeffords and Hiram Nelson, indeed, went so far as to threaten +jokingly to start a rival expedition, and clean out all the rebels and +Regulars in the Mexican State of Chihuahua. While Fred Mainwaring, +Lucy's brother, who was at home at this time, boldly declared he had +half a mind to buy a ticket through to El Paso and wait for the four +scouts there, in hopes of thus forcing them to take him on. + +In the town it became a subject of common talk, and all sorts of ideas +were passed around concerning this new and most extraordinary scheme of +the scouts. Some people who were not in love with the organization, like +old Hiram Applegate, the farmer who had caused the boys so much trouble +in a previous story, openly scoffed at the idea of half-grown lads +undertaking such a risky mission. He said their parents must be crazy to +allow it; but when casual mention was made of his own wild son, Jared, +who had gone rapidly to the bad, and had not been heard from since his +misdeeds at Panama came near getting him into trouble with the United +States Government, Hiram suddenly remembered he had an engagement +elsewhere. + +Even the old-time enemies of the Eagles, Max Ramsay, Hodge Berry, and a +few of the members of the rival Hawk Patrol, investigated the exciting +news, and tried to prove to their own satisfaction that the people of +Hampton were prejudiced in favor of Rob Blake and his crowd, because all +sorts of splendid things seemed to be continually coming their way. They +were wilfully blind to the fact that the boys of the Eagle Patrol had +surely deserved all the good fortune that had been showered upon them +thus far. This was because they had set their standard high, and tried +to conform to the rules that govern the scout movement. + +That was a long night to four boys at least in Hampton. At noon on the +following day a great crowd gathered at the station to see them leave +for New York, where they expected to take the night train for the Far +Southwest. Rob and his three chums felt their hearts beat a lively +tattoo as they saw the faces of home folks and patrol comrades among +those present. + +As the train pulled out of the station amidst loud shouts and good +wishes, and waving hats and handkerchiefs, the boys could distinguish +one sound that thrilled them to the core, and made them remember the +vows they had taken always to be true scouts. + +This was the shrill "k-r-e-e-e" of the Eagles, given in concert by the +other members of the patrol to which all of the travelers belonged; and +the last thing they saw as they leaned from the windows was the swarm of +campaign hats that went flying up into the air. + +Then, as the scene was blotted out in the cloud of fine sand raised by +the train, the four boys, thus boldly starting on a long and hazardous +journey in quest of Uncle Mark's last remnant of his fortune, sank back +in their seats and just looked at each other, too overcome to say a +single word. Behind lay home and all the dear ones; while beyond was the +land of revolution and turmoil--Mexico! + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ALONG THE RIO GRANDE. + + +"Here we are coming into El Paso at last!" called out Rob, as he started +to get his various bundles together, so as to leave the train that had +carried them over the last part of their long and tiresome journey +across the whole of Texas. + +"And I'm about as happy to hear that as if you'd told me I was made a +first class scout, and could hang the whole badge on my sleeve, where +now I only sport the lower half, 'Be Prepared!'" cried Tubby, also +getting busy. + +The boys had some time before been warned that they were nearing their +objective point on the American side of the border stream known as the +Rio Grande. Tubby loudly declared that he could not see anything so very +grand about the river; that they had wider creeks up North than this +seemed to be, away up here so far away from the Gulf. + +When they alighted they stared around them, naturally, because strange +sights at once began to meet their eyes, accustomed to other types of +people. A great crowd stood around, in which were khaki-clad United +States regulars off duty; cowboys; Mexicans with swarthy faces, both men +and women; Indians with their curios for sale in the shape of +finely-woven baskets and pottery of gaudy hues; and many other classes +of people besides. + +Of course the four lads came in for return stares, and they could well +understand that, for doubtless they were the very first Boy Scouts to +drop in on El Paso. Many persons at once believed that they must be new +recruits for the army. These observers remarked to one another that +things had come to a pretty pass when Uncle Sam found it necessary to +enlist half-grown boys in the service, now that it looked as though +intervention in Mexico must come about sooner or later. + +Rob, however, paid little attention to curious looks. He went about his +business with the air of one who had all his plans well matured, and +knew just what must be done first. + +Asking a few questions, he was directed to a sort of hotel. When they +had reached it, it did not strike Tubby as giving much promise of good +"feeds"; and he did not hesitate to express that opinion when they were +alone in the big room with its two beds that had been assigned to them. + +"We don't expect to stay here more than the one night," Rob told him; +"only to get rested up and be in shape to start across the bridge there +after we've purchased horses and found a guide who can run off greaser +talk. So I wouldn't make any more row if I were you, Tubby." + +"We'll see that you get enough to eat if that is what worries you," +Merritt went on to say consolingly; and at that the fat scout managed to +smile a little. + +"Well," he remarked with a sigh, "if the rest of you can stand for it, I +guess I'll just have to, that's all. But, jiminy crickets, things look +pretty shady after coming straight from a nice clean home!" + +"You'll have to put up with lots worse than that, Tubby; so cheer up," +said Andy. "And now, what is the first thing on the program, Rob?" + +"Clean up the best we can, and rest till after we've had our dinner," +the other advised. "Then we'll try to get an interview with the +commander of the forces here, and see what he thinks we'd better do." + +"Huh! like as not he'll tell us we must not dream of venturing across to +the other side, unless General Villa happens to be in Juarez right now, +which I reckon would be too good luck," Tubby replied disconsolately. +"And I hope, Rob, that if he does talk that way he won't influence you +to call it all off. Think what silly guys we'd feel like, starting back +home without even making a try to invade Mexico!" + +"Don't let that keep you on edge, Tubby," the patrol leader told him; +"you ought to know me by this time, and that I never give up a thing +I've set my mind on till the last horn blows. We've started on this +business of your Uncle Mark's; and we'll see it through, or know the +reason why!" + +"Hurray! them's my sentiments!" exclaimed Andy, and even Merritt waved +his hand above his head, as though he fully agreed with the other +comrades; so Tubby was able to appear at ease once more, as a great load +had been removed from his heart. + +When they had partaken of a wretched dinner that made Tubby look quite +blue because there was hardly a thing that seemed to taste right, the +four boys started out to look the border town over. They cast frequent +glances across the guarded bridge connecting El Paso with the Mexican +shore of the river, and finally asked of a passing soldier the way to +headquarters. + +Already they had learned who was in command at El Paso at that time, and +had even glimpsed the general at a distance. It happened that they found +the commander at leisure, which was a wonder, for he had his hands full +during these troublous times trying to keep the peace, when there were +so many chances of Americans and Mexicans coming into armed conflict +along the river for miles. + +The officer looked them over as they were ushered into the room. Rob had +been wise enough to send in a note telling who they were, and that they +wished to consult him on a very important piece of business. + +"So, you are the four Boy Scouts whose arrival created so much furor, +are you?" the general asked, as he frankly held out his hand toward Rob, +whom he immediately recognized as the leader. Perhaps this was due to +Rob's manner of carrying himself; or else to the fact that he wore his +badge upon his left shoulder, showing that he was a scout master, and +hence in command. Soldiers have quick eyes to catch these things that +might slip past an ordinary citizen. + +"We are Boy Scouts, General," Rob replied; "but we did not know that our +coming to El Paso had made more than a ripple. My name is Rob Blake; +this is Corporal Merritt Crawford; the one next him is Andy Bowles, our +bugler; and this last member goes by the name of Tubby Hopkins!" + +The officer in command at the border town shook hands warmly with each +of the boys. He tried his best not to smile as he noted how well named +Tubby seemed to be; for one could hardly look at him without being +forcibly reminded of a butter firkin, or else of the most useful family +utensil on wash days. + +"Why, I understand that for a time, until they learned who you were," +the general went on to remark, with a quizzical look, "there was +considerable indignation going around that our great Government should +send out boys to help patrol the Rio Grande, and to keep the fighting +Mexicans on their own side of the river. But you say you wish to +consult me about something; so, as my time may be limited, suppose you +start in and give me the facts. I want to assure you in the start, +though, that I've watched the growth of the scout movement from a small +beginning; and that I'm heart and soul in favor of it as the finest +thing that ever happened for uplifting the American youth. It's going to +make a great difference in the kind of _men_ we'll be having ten and +twenty years from now." + +After hearing that, of course, Rob knew they would have the full +sympathy of the general in the carrying out of their mission. However, +he might fear that they were undertaking too great a task in risking the +dangers of travel through so disturbed a country as Mexico at that time, +since both Federals and rebels were feeling anything but friendly toward +Americans. + +So Rob started in to narrate the entire story, and he made such a fine +thing of it that the interested listener only interrupted him a few +times to ask further particulars concerning certain points. + +All the while his eyes kindled with growing admiration for these brave +lads, who were ready to take such great risks in order to save Uncle +Mark's cattle, if it so happened that they had not been already seized +by one side or the other of the contending forces. + +"I suppose it would do no good for me to try and discourage you, boys," +he said heartily, after the whole story had been told; "because I can +easily see that you would try to carry out your plans at any rate. And +that being the case, I might as well give you what advice I can, and +help you in that way." + +His words caused every boyish face to be wreathed in smiles. + +"That is very kind of you, General," said Rob; "and we will try to act +on the advice you give us, you may be sure. All we want is to meet +General Pancho Villa; and from what Uncle Mark told us about his being a +man of his word, we think the rest will be easy." + +The experienced officer smiled grimly. Possibly he had opinions of his +own about whether one who had been a lawless bandit for years would +remember a kind deed to the point of throwing protection about the ranch +of his former friend; but he did not venture to disturb the belief of +the sanguine scouts. + +"First of all you must have horses. I'll put you in touch with a man who +can supply those, for I understood you to say you had plenty of money to +pay for an outfit. Then you must take enough supplies along to do you +for a week; because you may be that long getting to the town of +Chihuahua, where we have reason to believe Villa is at present. He has +forced many rich Mexicans and trades people there to pay tribute; and +hundreds have made a pilgrimage across the desert with the two thousand +Federal soldiers who were forced to leave Chihuahua when the +Constitutionalists, as Villa's men call themselves, captured the place. +And last of all, I know the very man you will need to serve you as a +guide. He is a Mexican, but I have always found him entirely +trustworthy; and he will be glad to favor me. So I will give you a few +lines to Mardo Lopez, and tell you at what inn you can find him." + +It was certainly cheering to hear the general say such kind things; and +later on, when he shook hands all around again and told them to come and +see him if he could do them any further favor, the four boys felt that +they had indeed great reason to rejoice, because "all things seemed to +be coming their way," as Andy put it. + +They soon found the man called Mardo Lopez. While he did not impress +them very favorably, because he seemed to have what they thought to be a +dark, crafty face, he readily agreed to do everything in his power to +oblige the general, and to prove that he could be trusted. + +After that they took the guide with them to pick out the horses, knowing +that his judgment would be better than their own; for Mardo was +accustomed to traveling across the desert lands that stretched in many +places between the river and the capital of Chihuahua, some two hundred +miles and more from the border, and almost due south. + +By the middle of the afternoon they had bought everything needed, and +had their mounts, together with equipments for the same, safely housed +at the tavern where they put up. Then, at Andy's suggestion, the Mexican +took them for a little stroll, meaning to ask many questions concerning +the organization to which they belonged; for Mardo had, it seemed, heard +about the scouts, but up to that time had never been told what they +stood for. + +Rob, it may be set down as certain, was only too glad to pass the word +along; for he himself believed so thoroughly in the uplifting power of +the Boy Scout movement, that he wanted everybody to understand it in the +same light. + +The four boys and their new guide were walking along close to the bank +of the river, the latter telling them many things that they would have +to run up against once they found themselves on Mexican soil, when far +away across the river there came the dull report of a gun; and then, +just over their heads something cut through the air, making a whining +sound that gave them all a thrill. + +That was the first time they had really been under fire; but even Tubby +seemed to know instinctively what the queer whistle meant, and that a +bullet had passed within a few yards of their heads. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +CROSSING THE FORD. + + +"Whee! hunt cover, fellers! Somebody's making a target of us!" exclaimed +Tubby, looking wildly around for a convenient tree or adobe hut behind +which he might hide his ample form. + +But the Mexican guide showed them how they could quickly find shelter +back of the bank; and, possibly, all of the boys breathed easier when +assured that they were no longer exposed to the fire of the unseen +marksman far back on the other side of the narrow river. + +"But what does it mean?" asked Rob. "I thought the rebels were in force +across the bridge, and that they did all in their power to make Uncle +Sam look on their side with favor." + +"It is so, young señor," the guide replied; "but often have the bullets +come across here when the Federals and the rebels, they have fight it +out over there. But now it is that some man thinks if Americans are shot +it must come that the soldiers in El Paso will have to cross the +international bridge, and that would mean what they call intervention." + +"Oh! I see what you mean," Rob told him. "Then that was only some crazy +man with a gun who wanted to bother Uncle Sam and make him real mad so +he would send his soldiers across to punish him. And once they stepped +on Mexican soil it would mean we'd have a war on our hands." + +After that they were careful not to expose themselves more than seemed +necessary as they continued their walk; and coming back they kept +further away from the river so as to avoid a repetition of the +bombardment. There was not much chance of the wretched marksman hitting +them; but then, even bullets fired at random have been known to find a +lodging place, as Rob had been told. + +One of the first things the guide had assured them was that it would +never do for the scouts to think of trying to enter Mexico by openly +crossing the bridge. It was closely guarded on the one side by Uncle +Sam's soldiers, and across the line by squads of rebels. The latter +examined every one wishing to come or go, in many cases forcibly +preventing the exit of some promising subject who might be made to +yield tribute to the cause of the revolutionists, as well as refusing to +allow others to enter Mexico, whom they believed might have some object +contrary to the interests of their side. + +But then the guide had informed them that he knew a ford where they +might with perfect safety cross the river, now at a low stage. Once on +the opposite shore they must depend on the fleet heels of their horses +to take them inland, and in this manner avoid a meeting with any hostile +force. + +It was all arranged that they start early on the following morning. +Mardo was ready to do whatever they asked; and Tubby expressed himself +as decidedly anxious to meet General Villa with as little delay as +possible. He felt just as Uncle Mark had declared it might be, that the +rebel commander in Chihuahua would by now believe he had done all that +could be expected of him in serving the man who years before had saved +his life, and who had been also a friend of the lamented President +Madero. And as Villa's army needed rations and money desperately, +possibly he would be planning either to kill off the fine steers on the +Matthews Ranch, or else sell them to some enterprising American +speculator for shipment across the line. + +Perhaps none of the boys expected to sleep any too soundly that night, +thinking of what a novel experience was before them; though all of them +were tired after their long train ride. + +Not a great while after supper, however, a soldier came to the inn and +asked for Rob. He bore a message from the commandant to the effect that +he would be pleased to have another little chat with the young assistant +scout master to hear how his plans were coming on. + +This decided interest which the general seemed to take in their +enterprise gave Rob considerable pleasure. He eagerly availed himself of +the privilege of meeting the soldier once more, and only regretted that +his three chums had not been included in the invitation. + +And Rob spent a very satisfactory half hour with the general, to whom he +confided all his plans. He told so much about the previous experiences +of the Eagle scouts, also, that the interested soldier felt reluctant to +terminate the interview. + +"I could go on chatting with you for hours, my son," he said, shaking +hands as he dismissed the boy, "because I am so deeply interested in +your ambitions and in what you have already gone through, you and your +fine comrades. But I have appointed a meeting with some of my officers +to plan for the new emergencies that are continually arising. Believe +me, you have my best wishes, and if I do not see you again on your +return--for something tells me you _will_ return, and after successfully +carrying out your mission, too,--let me hear from you. It will give me +great pleasure to reply." + +This sort of talk was encouraging, to say the least. It gave Rob renewed +ambition to push on along the course he had mapped out. + +Of course, when he arrived at the inn he found the other boys still +sitting up waiting for him; so that by degrees everything that the +general had said had to be repeated before they consented to go to bed. + +With the coming of morning they were all up. Tubby kept declaring that +he did not have a wink of sleep all night on account of the hard bed and +the various strange noises that came from without. But Andy returned +that every time _he_ waked up, and it must have been in the neighborhood +of a dozen separate occasions, he had particularly noticed that Tubby +was sprawled over two-thirds of their bed, and snoring "to beat the +band." After that Tubby closed up, possibly under the impression that +the others would call him a fake. + +As soon as they had had breakfast they found the guide waiting, mounted +on his own horse; and then the bustle of preparation began. Tubby had to +be helped more than a few times, for he became so excited that he could +not remember where he had left a number of important things. Andy +finally declared that it was lucky that the fat scout's head was firmly +attached to his body, for otherwise he would be losing that also! + +"Well," answered Tubby, grinning, "even if that did happen, I wouldn't +be the first feller who'd gone and lost his head, would I? I'd like to +have ten dollars for every time you have, Andy Bowles." + +Finally everything was in readiness, and they started; but there were no +cheers wafted after them on this occasion. The boys, acting under the +advice of the general, had been very careful not to tell a single person +other than Mardo Lopez what they intended doing. The rebels had many +secret sympathizers on that shore of the Rio Grande; and perhaps one of +these might think it worth while to transmit the news across that a +little party of gringo boy soldiers contemplated invading the sacred +soil of Mexico. + +Leaving the lively town of El Paso behind, the little party struck along +the river, and continued to gallop for several hours, until they came to +the place where the ford mentioned by Lopez lay. + +The cautious native guide was very careful to keep a bright lookout, not +wishing to have his charges fired on from either bank of the stream +while crossing. + +"Better you wait here, young señors," he observed, as they pulled up in +the shelter of some scrub trees that grew on a rise; "as for me, I will +go over and take a look around on the other side. When you hear me call, +and I wave my hand, it is a sign that you cross safely." + +"All right, Lopez, we're on to what you mean," Andy told him. + +They watched him crossing the stream, taking note of what he did, so as +to keep the current from pushing his mount from the shelf that made the +water so shallow. + +"We must copy exactly that way of doing," Rob directed the rest. "I +never crossed a river at a ford in my life; and certainly not on +horseback. But it seems easy enough once you've got the hang of things." + +"Huh! won't be any trouble at all," Tubby assured him, being confident +of his ability to keep his horse headed right; and Andy also declared +that it looked "just as easy as falling off a log." + +Lopez, after pulling out on the other side, rode some distance up and +down, as well as back from the river, in order to make sure that there +might not be a party of natives, whether Federals, rebels, or bandits, +lying in ambush. Should such a party open fire upon the boys while they +were in the middle of the stream, they would be next to helpless to +return the shots. + +"There, he's waving his hat, now, and beckoning to us to come on!" +exclaimed Merritt, as the guide came galloping down close to the edge of +the river. "That means the coast is clear, and we can cross over in +peace. Rob, after you!" + +Rob started in, and so well had he taken note of his landmarks, that he +was able to follow exactly after the guide. At the same time he kept his +horse's head turned partly up-stream, so that it could resist the sweep +of the swift current. Had the flank of the animal caught the full force +of the rushing water the crossing would have been more difficult. + +Merritt came after Rob, then Andy, and last, but far from least, Tubby. +No sooner did the latter find himself in water deep enough to wet his +half-drawn-up feet than he realized that to a novice this crossing a +ford was not such a simple thing after all. He tried his best to follow +Andy, and in so doing exposed the side of his horse to the swing of the +current more than policy would seem to dictate. + +In consequence of this indiscretion, presently Tubby began to find that +he could no longer keep exactly in the wake of the scout just ahead of +him. Then he discovered that he was constantly losing ground, so to +speak, and being carried further and further down the river, a foot at a +time. + +He could hear Lopez shouting something, but as the Mexican had +unconsciously lapsed into Spanish, of course poor Tubby failed to +understand a single word of the instructions he was calling. + +"Hey, I'll have to swim for it, fellers!" the fat boy shouted; though +just what good it would do to inform his comrades of his predicament he +could not have told had he been asked. + +Rob turned in the saddle and saw that unless a miracle came to pass, +Tubby was bound to get a wetting. He started to call out something, and +then stopped short, for it was useless to try and tell the luckless +scout what to do. Already his horse had reached the end of the ford and +was in deep water, swimming lustily for the shore; while the alarmed +Tubby threw both arms around the animal's neck, and held on for dear +life. + +Whether there was any real danger in the situation or not the other boys +could not, of course, say; but Tubby's way of clasping his short arms +about his horse's neck so as to prevent himself from being washed +overboard was so comical that they had to laugh, even while urging their +own mounts to the farther shore, so as to be on hand to render +assistance if such should be needed. + +To Tubby it was all serious enough; and no doubt just then he imagined +that he stood a fair chance of being separated from his possessions and +carried down the Rio Grande, perhaps to an untimely death. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A GALLOP ON MEXICAN SOIL. + + +"Hey, Rob, tell me what to do!" Tubby could be heard shouting at the top +of his voice, as he kept on hugging his horse about the neck, being +evidently determined not to allow the current to pluck him out of his +saddle, at any rate so long as he could maintain that rigid grip. + +Even in that sudden emergency Tubby found himself depending on Rob as +usual; and to hear him asking for information, one would believe that +the young patrol leader knew more about river fords than a dozen native +guides who had been used to crossing by this means all their lives. + +Rob had reached shallow water, and immediately urged his horse +down-stream, in order to come opposite the drifting scout. + +"Just keep holding on, and the horse will bring you to land!" he called +out encouragingly. "He is making a plucky fight, and getting in closer +all the while. As soon as he strikes bottom it will be all over; so keep +your grip, Tubby." + +This the fat scout did; and just as Rob had said, presently the swimming +animal reached a more shallow point, where he could get his footing and +manage to swing in closer than ever. And in another five minutes Tubby +emerged from the river, "looking like a half-drowned rat," as Andy +assured him, for streams were dripping from each foot, and he was soaked +from his waist down. + +"Anyway, I had horse sense enough to keep my gun dry," Tubby observed. +"But what shall I do now, Rob? I'm weighing half a ton, I guess." + +"You're not apt to catch cold in this warm air," Rob told him; "and so +you might as well let your duds dry on you. At noon, when we halt for a +bite, you can open up your bundle and spread your blanket out for the +sun to dry. After all, there wasn't any damage done." + +"Only to my feelings," Tubby reminded him. + +"And they don't count," said Andy, laughing at the recollection of the +tragic way in which Tubby had embraced that horse. He had held to it +about as a leech might have clung when applied to the arm of a patient +in the old days when they bled sick men. + +They at once turned their backs on the Rio Grande, and according to +what Lopez told them, they were not likely to set eyes on the river +again until their mission had either been successfully carried out, or +proven a failure. + +Rob took a fond look at the stream. Somehow it seemed to be the very +last link binding them to their home land; for across the running water +lay the good old United States. And they were now on foreign soil, where +the Starry Flag at present was powerless to protect them from a +multitude of perils. + +Presently they could see the river no longer, because they were rising +over a level stretch of country through which the flood at some time in +the far past had cut a deep channel. + +From now on, what was around and before them was to serve fully to +occupy their attention. + +When half a dozen miles had been passed over, Rob began to notice that +Tubby was not looking as happy as he might; and he feared that the pace +was telling more or less on the stout chum. + +"Are we going too fast for you, Tubby?" he called out; and instantly the +other tried to look utterly unconcerned, as though he were enjoying +himself to the utmost. + +"What, for me?" he immediately answered, with a ring of indignation in +his voice; though every jump of his horse caused him to shake like a +mould of jelly. "Well, I should say not! You couldn't move too fast to +suit my mind, Rob. If I had an aeroplane right now you'd see me sailing +away at the rate of a hundred miles an hour, and headed for that same +old town of Chihuahua. Why didn't we think to bring something like that +along? Aeroplanes may be dangerous things, but then they're a heap more +comfortable than some nags I know!" + +No matter how Tubby suffered, he seemed bound not to admit the fact; and +knowing his stubborn nature, Rob did not try to show any further +sympathy for him. If things really became too bad, perhaps Tubby would +consent to ask them to hold up and let him have a breathing spell. But +at any rate, they were surely putting the miles behind them, and before +night-time would have made "quite a dent in that journey to the capital +of the State," as Andy said. + +Before the middle of the day came, Rob had the guide call a halt, for he +knew it was punishment to Tubby to keep this up as they were doing. The +sun was so scorchingly hot that the fat boy seemed very nearly as wet +with perspiration as he had been soaked with river water a little +earlier. But even then he complained at the stop, and told Rob he should +have been able to hold out another half-hour or until noon. This caused +the other scouts to exchange winks, and behind their hands tell each +other that for dogged perseverance Tubby surely had them all "beaten a +mile." + +While they rested their mounts and had a cold bite, Tubby was induced to +open his pack and spread out such things as seemed damp, so that when +night came he would not have to lie down under a blanket that gave him a +chill. Lopez warned the boys that while the day had been very hot, they +would find good reason to wish they had two blankets apiece before +morning. + +"We found that out the time we were down at Panama," said Rob; "though, +perhaps, being further north now may make a difference. But Tubby's just +got to have his blanket good and dry, and that goes." + +Tubby managed to accomplish this; and as they packed up later on to +continue their gallop, he told the others that the sun had done the +business all right. + +Several times during the morning's run the keen-sighted guide had +discovered moving figures far off. Rob had been thoughtful enough to +bring a small but powerful pair of field-glasses, along with many other +things; and these now came in handy to tell them whether the distant +parties were seemingly Federal soldiers or members of Villa's rebel army +foraging for supplies. + +"But if Villa's men are holding all the ground between Chihuahua, from +which they chased Salazar's forces a little while ago, and Juarez on the +river, why do we need to fear running across any Federal soldiers?" Andy +wanted to know, when once Lopez, after taking a look through the +glasses, declared that he believed the half dozen riders they watched +going further away might be men in the uniform of Mexican regulars. + +"Generally speaking, they do hold this territory, which mostly used to +belong to the wealthy Terrazas family," Rob explained; "but reports have +come in that several bodies of mounted regulars were dispatched from +Ojinaga, where half a dozen generals and their men are fortifying their +positions to make a stubborn stand against the rebels. These raiders +have orders to cut the telegraph lines, and destroy all the bridges +they can between Chihuahua and the border on both lines of railroad. And +so you see, we are apt to run across one of these flying columns at any +old time. That is what the good general warned me to look out for; +because, of course, we have more to fear from Salazar's men than from +the rebels." + +"Ginger snaps and pop-guns! I should say we had," exclaimed Tubby, "when +we remember what precious document--er, I mean how much we want to see +General Villa!" + +Rob had not thought it wise to tell everything to the guide until they +came to know him better; and hence his frown and vigorous shake of the +head toward the talkative Tubby, when the other came within an ace of +"letting the cat out of the bag." + +They did not ride quite so fast during the afternoon, all on Tubby's +account, though no one dared let him know that, or he would have been +very angry. As the day began to wane, and they seemed to be in a part of +the wild country free from either rebels or Government troops, Rob +suggested that they come to a halt and go into camp. + +"We must have made as much as forty miles and more since morning, and so +be that much nearer Chihuahua," he remarked; "and that's good enough for +one day. Perhaps to-morrow we may work closer to the railroad, and try +to get in touch with some of Villa's men, who will take us to him. +There's Lopez dismounting, boys, so let's do the same." + +Merritt and Andy both grunted as they managed with some difficulty to +get out of their saddles, after Rob had set the example. As for Tubby, +he seemed to be glued in his seat, for while they saw him make a +desperate effort several times, he did not seem able to accomplish a +separation. Finally, with a foolish grin on his face, he beckoned to Rob +to come nearer. + +"I'm afraid you'll have to give me a lift, Rob," he confessed; "fact is, +I don't seem able to raise either leg, I'm that stiff. That's a good +feller, just get me started and I'll be all right, sure I will. And +after I've jumped around a few dozen times I'll be ready to dance a +hoedown if you ask me." + +But it was noticed that Tubby was unusually quiet all that evening, +hardly bothering to move more than to reach out for his share of +supper; nor did he volunteer to do his part in the cooking. "For what +is the use," he complained, "when we have an experienced guide along who +loves to cook?" And at one time, when Rob leisurely got to his feet and +reached for a tin cup, Tubby even had the assurance to call out softly +after him: + +"If so be you're meaning to go to the creek for a drink, Rob, wish you'd +fetch a cup of water for me, and thank you!" + +The truth of the matter was that ride had been a terrible experience to +the fat scout, and he had suffered much more than anybody suspected. But +by slow degrees he would grow accustomed to the exercise, and perhaps +even enjoy life in the saddle before they were done scouring the country +in search of Villa. + +Lopez had taken every sort of precaution to avoid having their camp seen +by any hostile eyes. In the first place, he had selected for a site a +spot that was fairly well screened by dense thickets; it was also in a +sort of little depression or basin, where the glow of the small fire +they had lighted to prepare their meal might not be discovered. + +This blaze had been allowed to die out after it had served the purpose +for which Lopez had started it; so that as they sat there, talking in +low voices, only the soft starlight looked down upon them. + +Tubby was later on discovered to be sound asleep; and as Andy and +Merritt admitted feeling pretty drowsy themselves, Rob told them they +had better get their blankets ready to do duty. He himself fixed that of +Tubby, and managed to draw the sleeping scout under it without awakening +him. + +All seemed deathly quiet when Rob lay down to secure some rest. The +guide had assured him that there was no need of their keeping watch, +because his horse had been trained by a cowboy to give the alarm if any +enemy came prowling around. + +Confident that all would be well, the patrol leader settled himself as +comfortably as was possible, under the conditions, and after some little +time spent in running over in his mind various matters that had a +connection with their mission to Mexico, he fell asleep. + +Rob did not know whether it was half an hour that he had been lost in +slumber, or five times that long, when he was rudely disturbed by some +one kicking his shins. And at the same time he became conscious of a +low whispering voice saying: + +"Rob, oh! Rob, are you awake? What under the sun is making that queer +noise?" + +It was Andy calling; and becoming conscious that there were some strange +noises rising on the night air close by at the same time, Rob raised his +head the better to listen. + +Andy's question must have been overheard by Merritt, for he at once let +them know he was awake and on the alert; but as for Tubby, he only +wheezed, and breathed harder than ever; for he was a thousand miles away +in his dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +ANDY SCATTERS THE SERENADERS. + + +The first thing that Rob noticed was that it did not seem nearly as dark +and gloomy as when he had lain down. Could it be he had slept the whole +night through, and that daylight was at hand? He settled this mystery +with his first glance upward; for there he discovered that a pale +fragment of a once proud moon had arisen in the east, and was looking +mournfully down upon their hidden camp. + +Next he made out the form of Lopez, the Mexican guide, who was sitting +with his back against a tree, as though that might be his favorite way +of sleeping. But he was very much awake now, for he moved even as Rob +took notice of his presence. + +The queer chorus of sounds continued to arise from various points near +by. Rob made up his mind that they must be actually surrounded by some +species of animal that certainly sang away off the proper key, for they +made a noise that jarred on his ear terribly. + +"Hear 'em, don't you, Rob?" continued Andy, who doubtless must have been +observing the movements of the acting scout master all this while by the +aid of that friendly moonlight. + +"Do I? Well, I'd have to be pretty deaf not to, Andy," Rob replied. + +"What do you reckon it can be? I never in all my life heard such an +awful lot of discord," continued the other scout apprehensively. + +"I'm only giving a wide guess," Rob told him; "but I should think only a +pack of wolves could make a racket like that; or perhaps now, coyotes." + +"How about that, Lopez?" Merritt struck in; and the guide, chuckling, +replied: + +"Last is what it is, young señors; kiote make much noise when hungry. It +is our food they scent. Kiote happen to have a very keen nose. No +trouble, no danger as long as they hang around. Too much coward to sneak +in; and long as we hear kiote sing, we know no spy can be near, or they +run away." + +"Sing!" burst out Andy with a snort; "is that what they call it down +here? Mebbe some folks like that sort of song, but let me tell you it +grates on my ears like the screeching of a pack of cats at night. Sing! +Whoo-ee! are you joshing us poor tenderfeet, Lopez?" + +"Oh! there's nothing like getting used to things, Andy," Rob assured +him, while at the same time he was in doubt whether he himself could go +to sleep again if all that noise kept up right along. "After a while, +when you've heard that chant nightly, you may think it's the finest +lullaby ever invented, and miss it the worst kind after you hike away +north." + +"Don't you believe it, Rob," returned the other positively. "I wouldn't +mind being soothed to sleep by sweet sounds, like the thrumming of a +guitar or a mandolin; but excuse me from that caterwauling. Listen to it +rise and fall! That is just the way our old Tom used to sit on the back +fence and talk to the moon till I rigged up a wire along there and +connected it with our electric circuit. After that, when I woke and +heard him tuning up, all I had to do was to press the button, and +everything was still again. But he did always give one awful screech as +he lit out!" + +"Well, suppose you rig up a switch and circuit here, so you can give +these singing coyotes some of the same medicine?" laughed Merritt. + +"You know I can't do that," Andy admitted mournfully; "wish I could +right now; and let me tell you there'd be a heap of scatterin' out there +when the circuit was closed. But what's the matter with me sneaking out +and giving them a shot or two from my rifle? We didn't lug our guns all +this way just for ornament, did we? And surely they couldn't be used in +a nobler cause than to get us poor tired fellows decent sleep." + +"How about that, Lopez?" asked Rob. "Do you think there would be any +danger of the shots betraying our camp to others who might happen to be +around?" + +"The danger it is not much," came the reply; "and as for that, the +singing of the kiote pack, it tell that a camp must be here; so there is +no difference." + +"That settles it, then," said Andy exultantly, as he began to unwrap +himself from his blanket and grope for his rifle; "and mebbe I won't +surprise a few of the noisy gents out there!" + +"Don't go too far," Rob warned him, as he started to crawl away on his +hands and knees, trailing his gun after him. + +"I won't," Andy whispered back, turning his head and then giving a +little flirt with one hand in his customary jolly way. + +"No use trying to go to sleep till the circus ends, is there?" Merritt +demanded, as he shuffled around, trying to get into an easier position. + +"Just what I'd made up my mind to myself," replied Rob, following suit. + +"Look at Tubby here, sleeping as sweetly as an overgrown baby," the +corporal of the Eagle Patrol went on to say with a low laugh. + +"Oh! Tubby is the best sleeper I ever knew," Rob assured him. "He often +talks as if he had been wakeful all the night, but it's a false alarm. +He can sleep through a pretty good thunder-storm, and then remark in +the morning that he thinks it must have rained a little during the +night. But wait and see if he hears the noise when Andy lets fly with +his repeating rifle!" + +"Cracky! that's a fact. Chances are he'll just sit up and say the +mosquitoes are beginning to get bothersome, for he just heard one +singing near his ear; and then he'll call out to ask you for the dope to +rub on," Merritt remarked, humorously. + +"Wait and see," said Rob; "and it can't be long coming now, because I +should think Andy must have crawled far enough to glimpse the circle of +mourners." + +Hardly had Rob spoken than there came a loud report, instantly followed +by a series of yelps, that were drowned in snarls and howls as the other +coyotes took after their wounded comrade. + +Both boys had their eyes focused on the mound that stood for the +sleeping Tubby. There was a sudden upheaval, and the blanket flew aside, +revealing the fat scout trying to scramble to his knees with every +symptom of alarm. + +"Oh! what was that terrible noise?" he stammered. "Rob! Oh, Rob, are we +attacked by Injuns? Or was that thunder? Where am I at? Who's got a +torch lighted up there? Whatever does it all mean, anyway?" + +"Keep cool, Tubby," said Rob, while Merritt laughed at a great rate, +although rather softly; "it's all right, no danger. The camp was +surrounded by a pack of coyotes, that's all; and their singing kept Andy +awake, so he asked permission to crawl out and knock a few of them over. +You heard him shoot, and he must have wounded a prowler, for the whole +pack took after it at a hot pace. That's all!" + +"Oh, is it, Rob? Then, what's the sense of sitting up in the cold and +wasting time, when you might be getting forty winks?" With which remark +the fat boy cuddled down again under his blanket, and settled himself to +resume his interrupted slumbers. + +Rob and Merritt laughed again and again over his matter-of-fact way; but +beyond a grunt or two, Tubby paid no attention to them. Presently Andy +came back, a satisfied grin resting on his good-natured face. + +"Told you I'd pickle one silly old coyote, anyway," he remarked, as he +prepared to settle down again in his nest. + +"We heard him call out, and then the whole pack seemed to chase away +after him. Was that the way, Andy?" Merritt asked. + +"They all went spinning off in the direction of the desert there; and +the one I hit must have been ahead of the pack, because I could hear him +tooting up at a great rate. Sho! there must have been all of a dozen in +the lot! Bet you they don't come around here in a hurry again after that +lesson!" + +But Andy was mistaken. In less than half an hour the howls started in +once more, at first from some distance, but gradually drawing closer, +until apparently the coyote concert band was again at the old stand, +appealing to Andy to try it once more, and provide them with some +further pickings. + +Andy, however, refused to be tempted, for Rob, who was also awake, told +him he would have to sit up the balance of the night, since the animals +were bound to return time and again; nor would he be able to induce them +to stop their wailing, since, driven from the vicinity of the camp, they +would stand afar off and start a new chant. + +All of the boys were glad when the first peep of dawn drove the coyotes +to their dens among the rocks in the hills, or some barranca near by. + +Just as Rob had said, they would undoubtedly become more or less +accustomed to such nightly serenades in time, and pay little heed to the +howling. To one used to sleeping in the open, where wolves and coyotes +abound, the chorus comes to be a species of protection; and if it +suddenly ceased in the middle of the night he would immediately rouse +himself to investigate what had driven the pack away, for it must either +be a human enemy, or a jaguar. + +The boys expected, after partaking of hot coffee and a light breakfast, +to resume their gallop toward the south. Andy busied himself in laying +the fire, which they had allowed the guide to do on the previous +evening, although any one of the boys knew as much about arranging this +as Lopez. He had had actual experience all his adventurous life; but, +then, they had practiced the art of building cooking fires as one of the +duties with which a scout should be familiar, and they knew just how to +get the best results. + +Besides, the boys had learned something from the way Lopez selected +their camp site. They could guess why it was screened by thickets on +nearly all sides; and also why it lay in a slight depression, so that +the glow of the little blaze might not draw inquisitive strangers, as an +exposed light would. + +They had learned long ago to keep their eyes open so as to see +everything that went on around them. Rob in particular was always on the +alert, and if he thought any of the others failed to grasp what a +certain thing meant, it was his habit to call their attention to the +circumstances. For that is what a patrol leader is expected to do when +he has been elevated to his important position. + +Andy had just managed to get the cooking fire ready, and was asking +Tubby to bring him the frying-pan, because they expected to have a +rasher of bacon for breakfast, to go with the hardtack and coffee. At +that moment the horse of the guide, staked near by, began to snort and +prance, as well as give other indications of excitement. Lopez had been +in the act of rolling up his blanket into a small bundle that could +easily be carried behind his saddle. He seemed to know instinctively +what these riotous actions on the part of his mount stood for; because, +with an exclamation of alarm, he jumped for his gun that rested against +a tree trunk. + +Rob did the same, ditto Merritt; while Andy continued to kneel there in +front of his little fire as though frozen stiff. As for Tubby, he +dropped the frying-pan in a panic and snatched up the camp hatchet. + +Rob had already caught the sound of horses' hoofs near by; and even as +he turned his eyes in the quarter from which the sounds seemed to +spring, there came around the end of the thicket a couple of horsemen, +who, on discovering the camp with its surprised inmates, drew their +mounts in abruptly and sat there in their saddles staring hard. + +Rob could see that the men were garbed in a sort of dirty white uniform; +and from this he quickly judged that they must be a couple of Salazar's +cavalrymen, sent out to burn bridges and demoralize the railroad +completely between Chihuahua and Juarez. As Federals were bound to look +upon all Americans as their bitter enemies, on account of the attitude +taken by the Washington authorities concerning President Huerta, the +patrol leader guessed that they were in for another experience. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY. + + +"Don't shoot!" Rob called out hastily, fearing that Lopez might think it +his duty, as the guardian of the little party, to open fire on the +Regulars; and this was not in accordance with the designs of the Boy +Scouts, who were bound to exhaust every peaceful effort before +proceeding to any violence. + +Andy had by this time come to his senses, and started to crawl over to +where he had stacked his rifle. Shooting at coyotes was one thing, +however, and being compelled to fire upon human beings quite another; +and the boy looked pretty white "about the gills," as Merritt afterward +put it, as he clutched his weapon. But he had also heard what the patrol +leader said, and did not make any hostile demonstration, beyond pulling +back the hammer of his gun with his trembling thumb. + +Of course, if the two Mexican soldiers made any attempt to run off their +mounts, Rob knew very well that they could not stand for that; since to +be forced to foot it all the way to Chihuahua, across burning desert +sands, and rough hilly country, was a prospect that did not appeal to +him at all. + +Fortunately the pair of cavalrymen did not dream of attacking nearly +three times their number. They just took it out in staring, and possibly +saying things back and forth. Then, as though they had decided that +retreat was the best play, since they were plainly outnumbered, suddenly +both men wheeled their horses and went galloping swiftly away, sitting +their saddles with that grace that seems to be a natural heritage of all +Mexicans. + +"Good riddance of bad rubbage!" called out Merritt; though the boy was +undoubtedly relieved to see the cavalrymen depart without a fight. + +Whether the men heard what he said or not, they turned and shook their +fists in the direction of the scouts; and from the threatening gestures +that followed this action it was plainly to be seen that they did not +mean this to be the last time they expected to meet the little party. + +Rob turned to Lopez when the pair had vanished from view, and he could +no longer catch the heavy thud of their horses' hoofs on the hard +ground. + +He found the guide frowning, and this fact told Rob what to expect. + +"That spells trouble for us, doesn't it, Lopez?" he asked; while Tubby, +Merritt and Andy hung upon what was passing between guide and patrol +leader. + +The Mexican shrugged his shoulders. + +"If they can make it so, we will be followed, young señor," he remarked. +"You saw for yourself they were Federal cavalrymen, the same that +General Salazar he have send out to cut the railroad between Chihuahua +and the river. All men who fight for Huerta hate Yankee gringoes; and +they see these uniforms, so they understand you are Americano soldiers. +That is bad!" + +"So that's the way the land lies!" remarked Merritt. "Well, we do not +intend taking off these good old suits and wearing anything else, not if +we know it. But see here, Lopez, what if those fellows should take a +notion to sneak around on us, and try a shot from the rear?" + +"Not much chance of that, with all these thickets around, which Lopez +calls the chaparral," Rob told him; "but I'll just wander off a bit, +and see if I can glimpse them going. If that fails, I'll keep watch +while the rest of you eat breakfast. Get busy, Andy and Tubby, so we'll +have that agony over in a hurry." + +"Agony!" repeated Tubby indignantly. "Well, I like that, now, don't you, +Andy? As if eating could ever be a task!" + +Passing out of the hidden camp, Rob found a place where he could get an +uninterrupted view of the lower country. And it was not long before he +discovered two mounted men, whom he easily recognized as their unbidden +visitors, spurring away as fast as their horses could take them. When +the scout saw them look back several times, he no longer doubted that +they were positively the men he had come to watch. + +It made Rob a trifle uneasy to note the fact that the cavalrymen had +departed in almost a southerly direction; because that might indicate +future trouble for the little expedition. + +When he showed up in camp again breakfast was just ready. + +"Hello! changed your mind about not wanting to eat, have you, Rob?" +hailed Tubby. + +"Oh! you mistook what I said," replied the other laughingly, as he +threw himself down, selected a pannikin, and proceeded to slide several +slices of fried bacon out of the skillet. Then as he accepted the tin +cup of fragrant coffee which Merritt hastened to pour for him, he added, +"Guess I like to eat when I'm hungry as well as anybody." + +"But you draw the line there, don't you, Rob?" demanded Andy. "You don't +want to eat any old time, whether you're hungry or not, like some +fellows we know?" + +"Yes, we know a few, Andy," Tubby hastened to thrust in, realizing that +this was meant for his especial benefit; "and I notice that you're +copying after me in great shape, so that soon I'll have to take a back +seat." + +"But what about those two cavalrymen, Rob?" asked Merritt, more deeply +interested in seeking information along these lines than in learning +which of the two disputing scouts could boast of the greater appetite. + +"They've kicked the dust of this part of the country from their boots, +and are riding pellmell away to the south," Rob answered. "I reckon +there must be a big bunch of hard riders over there somewhere. All I +hope is that we don't run foul of them during the day and find +ourselves pursued." + +Tubby, at that, forgot all about his controversy with Andy. + +"What, us chased by a lot of greaser cavalry?" he exclaimed. "Jiminy +crickets! I hope that don't happen! I am not in the best shape going to +do any tall riding; though if I'm hard pushed, you'll find me sticking +to my horse like a mustard plaster. Mebbe you'll have to take a +crowbar next time, Rob, to pry me loose from my saddle." + +"Well, let's get through eating as soon as we can," Rob told him; +"because this isn't any time to take things easy." + +"Huh! always rushing me when I just get settled down to enjoy a little +bite of grub which I've helped cook," grumbled Tubby. But seeing that +the others were making haste, he set his jaws to working at double pace; +and when no one was looking he even managed to slip some of the hard +tack into his pocket. If they did force him to shorten his breakfast +hour to ten minutes, he wanted something to set his teeth into during +the long hours that must elapse before they found another chance to +break their fast. + +The horses were soon saddled and packed, so that the camp in the thicket +could be abandoned. Of course, as usual, they had to wait for Tubby, +because something was always wrong with his bridle, or else the girth +needed shortening so that his saddle would not turn with him as it had +threatened to do many times the day before. + +Finally the start was made. + +The morning was fresh and clear; and while the day might turn out to be +hot enough toward noon to "fry an egg on a stone in the sun," as Andy +expressed it, the boys certainly enjoyed that first hour's gallop. +Tubby, who soon found his former troubles coming back, did not have +unalloyed pleasure, although he did not complain. + +It was a fine stretch of country, and yet Rob knew that they were really +not far from the dreary desert. At times, when they had a chance to look +off to one side, they could see a vast level territory with not a single +tree to break its monotony, nothing but the dry sand that each wind +would send scurrying along to form new hillocks and valleys. + +But they had also discovered something else that pleased them more. +This was an occasional glimpse of the railroad that ran between +Chihuahua and Juarez, being long known as the Mexican Central. In other +days, before revolutions came again to vex Uncle Sam's southern +neighbor, it had run without interruption all the way from the Rio +Grande to Mexico City, many hundreds of miles. + +For some time past this road had been first in the hands of the rebels, +and then in the possession of the Federals. As each in turn tried to +destroy as much of the track and rolling stock as possible before +vacating, it can be understood that conditions were pretty bad all along +the road at this time. + +It was the intention of Rob later on in the day to seek this line of +rusty rails and keep following it south. He anticipated meeting with a +party of Villa's men, perhaps before dark set in. Making friends with +them, he would demand to be taken into the presence of the commanding +general, whether he happened to be in far-off Chihuahua, or at some +point nearer by. He might even be chasing the marauding bands of +Federals that were playing fast and loose with the railroad, on which he +depended to move his men and munitions of war from Juarez south, on the +way to Mexico City. + +They kept on riding constantly for several hours. Even Merritt and Andy +felt the strain, which must have been unusually severe on poor Tubby; +but no one heard the gamey fat scout give even a groan. Often, when Rob +would turn his head to look over his shoulder, he could not help but see +the look of "never-say-die" that was imprinted on Tubby's glowing face, +and notice how he kept mopping his streaming forehead. + +But they were covering considerable distance, and that was a great +comfort. Tubby had much more at stake than any one of his three chums, +and he must, as the boys always said, "grin and bear it." In fact, there +was nothing else that could be done, since going back now was out of the +question; nor would Tubby have allowed any one to mention such a thing +to him. + +Once when Rob dropped back to ask him how he felt, Tubby knew that the +leader was really solicitous about his welfare and had not made the +inquiry merely in fun. + +"I can stand it, Rob!" was all he said between his closely shut teeth; +and knowing Tubby as well as he did, Rob felt sure that the fat boy +would hold out, unless he actually fell from his saddle. + +At noon they halted in order to rest the horses, and at the same time +themselves have a bite. Again did Rob have to assist Tubby to alight, +though the other began to frisk around shortly, as though grimly +determined on showing them all that he had only been stiff from sitting +so long, and was far from being done up. + +It took a whole lot of grit for Tubby to mount when the time came to +make a fresh start; but he seemed to feel that curious eyes were +watching all he did; so summoning his reserve strength, he clambered +into his saddle, and tried to look as happy as though he did not feel +that he was sitting on an inverted pincushion. + +Just one hour later they noticed a dense smoke rising ahead, which +Lopez, on being asked, told them could only come from some burning +bridge. That would seem to indicate that they must now be getting into +the danger zone where Regulars and rebels were engaged in a game of tag, +one side doing the chasing now, and the other presently turning the +tables on them. + +The little party had come down to more level ground and were heading for +the railroad, when Rob, chancing to look back, meaning to see how Tubby +was coming along, made a discovery that gave him an unpleasant feeling. + +"We're being pursued, boys!" he called out, thinking it best that all of +them should know the truth at once, however unpleasant it might prove. + +Of course there was an immediate craning of necks, and startled +exclamations from the other chums. + +"Two dozen, if there's a man!" cried Merritt. + +"And Mexican Regulars, too, for they wear uniforms, which the rebels +don't!" added Andy. "Looks like we might be in for a lively run, doesn't +it, Rob? And with our horses anything but fresh into the bargain!" + +"Ginger snaps and pop guns!" Tubby was heard to say; "that settles my +hash all right!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE WHISTLE OF PASSING BULLETS. + + +"They seem to be gaining on us!" said Merritt uneasily. "Hadn't we +better romp ahead a little faster, boys?" + +"Sure! Hit up the pace all you want!" It was neither Rob nor Andy who +made this game reply, but Tubby! This response drew Rob's heart closer +to the fat chum than ever before. A fellow who could show such nerve +would have the best chance in the world to become a first-class scout, +when once he woke up and began to study as he should. + +They proceeded to coax their horses to pick up some, and for a time the +gallant animals did manage more than to hold their own with the +pursuers; but when half an hour had passed even Tubby could see that the +distance separating them from that hustling lot of hard riders did not +appear to be quite as great as after the spurt. + +"Say, do we fight for it if we are cornered?" Andy wanted to know. When +the patrol leader turned to glance back at him, he saw that while the +boy's face might be somewhat pale, there was a dogged look around the +eyes that spoke volumes. + +"Well, they say that Boy Scouts never should fight unless driven into a +corner, where they have to defend themselves to save their own lives, or +the lives of others," Rob shouted back. + +"That settles it, then," Andy replied. And Rob could see that +considerable of his anxiety must have been connected with his doubt as +to whether it should be their duty as lovers of peace to give up and +surrender without striking a blow, or resist; for he even seemed tickled +with what Rob had told him. + +No one asked Tubby what he thought about matters. It was enough for them +to know that the fat and clumsy chum was there in his saddle still, and +managing by some means to keep close behind them. His horse must have +suffered exceedingly, bearing all that heavy load; and it was lucky Rob +had been wise enough to select an especially sturdy beast when thinking +of Tubby. + +The pursuers were not all in a bunch, but scattered, according to the +ability of their mounts to maintain the killing pace. Undoubtedly, they +were urged on by the big cruel Mexican spurs, which, of course, every +cavalryman wore on his boot heels. + +This might seem to be a trifling matter; but Rob knew better. If it +really came to a running fight, as seemed likely, they would profit by +the fact that only a minority of their pursuers could fire upon them, +the rest being either too far off, or else fearful lest they might hit +their comrades in advance. + +Meanwhile they were approaching the big smoke that kept rising ahead, +and which must mean a burning bridge on the railroad, and perhaps a +stalled train into the bargain. + +Rob found himself wondering what sort of reception they would receive +should they find a party of Villa's rebels holding out against the +Regulars. He had already laid his plans and communicated them to his +chums, so that each would know just what was expected of him in the +emergency. + +Already several shots had been fired by the leading horsemen, but as +they were still pretty far distant, and as it is next to impossible to +do any serious business with a gun while going at such headlong speed, +of course these were sent after the fugitives more as an act of bravado +and alarm, than in the hope that any bullet might find its mark. + +At the same time it was not very pleasant for the scouts to hear those +leaden messengers singing so merrily through the air over their +heads,--for all the world like so many bees or locusts, as they +afterward decided. + +Every time a gun sounded, Tubby involuntarily ducked his head and tried +to flatten himself out on the neck of his horse, an utterly impossible +thing, on account of his build. He seemed to think that they must always +pick him out for a target, because he offered such a fine mark. + +"Guess you'd do the same, too," he called out to Andy, when he saw the +grin on the other's face as he turned in time to see one of these +performances, "if you made a shining mark like I do! And being in the +rear adds to my chance of stopping one of those lead pills. Anyway, I'm +going to do the trick right along, no matter what you think, Andy +Bowles!" + +"And you're right about that, Tubby!" called Merritt. "Even when you lie +down flat you make a better mark than most of us do sitting up!" + +"Keep your breath, fellows; you may need all of it!" Rob called out just +then, and this stopped the controversy. + +Rob urged his horse alongside that of the Mexican guide. + +"How are we going to come out of it, Lopez?" he asked anxiously. "Will +they get at us before we make the smoke?" + +The experienced eye of the other had before now accurately measured the +distances; and doubtless he was figuring matters out at the time the +scout broke in with this leading question. + +"If no bad luck," Lopez assured him, "we surely come to the burning +bridge before the wolf pack doubles us up, young señor." + +"By bad luck you mean an accident?" Rob demanded. + +Lopez shrugged his shoulders and cast a swift, meaning look back at poor +fat Tubby, who was belaboring his tired mount with the flat of one hand, +and urging the beast on and on. Evidently the guide had been half +expecting an accident to happen in this quarter for some time, and was, +in fact, surprised that the clumsy scout had held on so long; but then, +he did not know what a stubborn nature Tubby possessed. + +"Si, señor, a horse might slip, and toss his rider; or it may be a +passing bullet happen to go in the wrong place and do damage. Who can +tell? But let us hope it will not so bad as that prove. We are doing +well; and the smoke, it is not so far away as it seems!" + +All of which must have been poor satisfaction to Rob, who from that +moment found himself enduring new agonies every time he twisted around +to see whether Tubby still held forth. + +The horses were reeking with sweat, and while Rob did not pretend to be +as experienced in such matters as a cow puncher would be, still even he +understood that this sort of thing could not be kept up much longer. + +Only for the presence of that smoke and the hope that they might run +upon some friendly rebels at the burning bridge, he would have made up +his mind that there was no other way for them to escape save by turning +at bay and engaging in a regular fight with those persistent pursuers, +who kept dogging the heels of their horses mile after mile, bent on +running them down. + +"What do you think of our chances for finding some of Villa's men +ahead?" Rob asked the guide several minutes later. They were still +keeping up a furious pace and fairly holding their own, though none of +the horses in the race could be said to be running as fast as half an +hour previously. + +"It is an open chance," Lopez replied with another shrug. + +"But the Federals set the bridge on fire; and after doing that they +would hardly hang around, because this part of the country must be +swarming with rebels, who would be drawn to the burning bridge by the +smoke. Is that the way you figure it out, Lopez?" + +"You have said what was in my mind, young señor," came the reply; "and +that is why I have kept moving on all this while. Had it not been the +hope of finding friends, before now they must have felt our lead." + +"Then we're doing the right thing in trying to get to the bridge before +letting them come up on us," Rob decided. And after that he bent his +whole energy to carrying out the plan he had arranged. + +He even fell back so that he could ride alongside Tubby; for Rob had +often heard that no chain can be any stronger than its weakest link; +and this must surely mean Tubby, in their case. If any accident befell +the party, the chances were as ten to one it would spring from the fat +scout. + +And so Rob, believing in being prepared to meet things as they come +along, even went so far as to figure out just what his course of action +must be in case Tubby gave signs of falling off his horse, or the animal +tripped in its headlong flight. + +"It's only a little further, Tubby, so try your best to hold out!" he +kept saying. "See, there's a spur of the hill jutting out, and the +railroad comes around that. On the other side must be the Carmen River, +where the bridge that is burning crosses. Just one more push and we'll +be there in great shape. You're doing fine, I want to tell you, Tubby; I +never thought you had it in you; and we're bound to get through this +ride all right, believe me!" + +No doubt this sort of encouraging talk did more than a little to keep +Tubby from throwing up the sponge entirely; for he was close upon the +point of complete exhaustion, and ready to own himself "all in." + +"Try to think and tell me, Tubby," Rob went on earnestly, "where you've +got those signal flags you brought all the way down here, because you +said they might come in handy. I can use one right now, I believe." + +"Reach in that pocket on the side of my bag toward you, Rob," replied +Tubby in a gasping whisper. "You ought to find the lot there." + +This Rob managed to do in spite of the fact that both horses were +galloping at headlong speed. + +Just then they cleared the point of the hill that jutted out close to +the railroad track; and there in front of them lay the cause of the big +smoke. The bridge was afire, just as they had believed. There was also a +train stalled on the side near them, with its engine headed toward +Juarez. Doubtless this was the one of which the boys had heard, which, +starting from Chihuahua, laden with refugee Mexican families wanting to +seek shelter over in Texas, had been lost somewhere on the way, held up +by burned bridges, and possibly by other things in the way of damage +done to the locomotive by the Federal's marauding cavalry parties. + +As soon as Rob could manage to see what lay ahead, he felt cheered by +the sight; for behind the cars he discovered dozens of men with guns, +who seemed to be making a barrier of the train and exchanging long +distance shots with some enemy perched upon the higher ground, +undoubtedly Federals. + +There seemed nothing for the scouts to do but to join their fortunes +with those men of Villa's command who were holding the Regulars at bay. +So, without slackening the speed of their horses a particle, the little +party galloped forward, Rob leading the van and wildly waving one of the +signal flags, which, being white with a small red center, could be +looked upon as a flag of truce, and would surely keep the rebels from +firing on them. + +It must have astonished those fellows who were making a rampart of the +stalled train to discover thus a party wearing khaki uniforms so like +those of the American soldiers across the border, coming at headlong +speed toward them, and being fired after by a pack of pursuers whom they +readily recognized to be the regular troops of Huerta! + +And since all enemies of the prevailing government must be looked on as +friends to their cause, the Constitutionalists, as the rebels liked to +call themselves, made no attempt to halt the advance of the Boy Scouts. +They held their fire, waiting until the hard-pressed fugitives could +reach shelter, when explanations might be in order. + +But the unseen Regulars perched among the rocks on the hillside must +have discovered that those they were engaged in fighting seemed to be +receiving unexpected reinforcements, for they turned their attention to +the oncoming riders, and once more the nerve-racking zip-zip of passing +bullets gave Tubby a cold chill. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AT THE BURNING BRIDGE. + + +It was really only the bad marksmanship of the men among the rocks some +distance away, and the fact that the boys were now strung out in a +disorganized line as they drew near the stalled train that saved the +scouts from disaster, just as they saw a haven of refuge at hand. + +The bullets continued to whine around them in a most disagreeable +manner; while some, falling short, tore up the ground, causing little +patches of dust to leap upward where they struck. + +Tubby must have lived hours during those few but exciting minutes. Then, +to his great satisfaction he found himself riding behind the cars of the +train, where there were scores of people hiding, men, women and +children, fugitives from the city that had fallen into Villa's hands +once more. Some may have fled for fear that the rebel leader would +confiscate all their possessions, because they had been on friendly +terms with the troops of Huerta when the Government forces held the +capital of Chihuahua State. + +No one could say with what relief Tubby checked the onward rush of his +charger; Rob did not have to come to his assistance this time, for the +exhausted boy actually fell from the saddle, being caught by several +grim rebels, who had come crowding around to find out who these parties +were, and how it came that American soldiers dared invade the sacred +soil of Mexico,--which, had it been an actual fact, would have served to +unite both hostile factions against Uncle Sam's boys in khaki. + +But Lopez had unlimbered his tongue by now, and was rattling off the +greatest lot of jargon in Spanish the boys had ever listened to. They +could only understand a word here and there; but that did not matter, +for as he talked the guide made many gestures, and it was possible to +tell what he was saying from these alone. + +Many of the rebels crowded close around them, forming a circle, ten +deep. Others had hurried to exchange shots with the late pursuers of the +boys, and opened such a warm fire that the Regulars quickly turned and +fled, doubtless to join later on with their comrades among the rocks, +and plot to overwhelm the defenders of the stalled train. + +When the name of General Villa was mentioned several times, and always +with a grand sweep of the arm in the direction of the four scouts, Rob +knew that Lopez was surely "spreading it on pretty thick." He must be +telling the crowd that these gringo lads were great friends of the +commanding general, and that they had come all the way down here, +hundreds, yes, thousands of miles, just to see him, and tell him what a +great patriot he was. And if this were so, then they must be looked on +as comrades by every man who fought under Villa the Great; who would be +very angry with any wretch so unlucky as to raise a finger to offend +those whose friendship he valued so highly. + +Of course such talk created no end of a sensation among the rough men +who were enlisted in the cause of the revolutionists. They feared their +commanding general more than any man on earth; and after hearing what +Lopez had to say about these American boys, they were ready to give them +a wild cheer; especially when told that the newcomers stood ready to +cast their lot in with them, and help disperse the enemy. + +When the guide, turning to Rob, told him about what he had promised the +rebels in return for the protection they were giving the fugitives, the +patrol leader looked a bit grave. + +"Of course we're willing to do all we can, you understand, Lopez, to +help our new friends out; and if anybody is wounded, we know a whole lot +about how to take care of bad hurts; in other ways, too, we'll do all we +can; but except as a very last resort, I wouldn't want to shoot direct +at those men over there. We're not soldiers, even if we do wear a +uniform that seems to say we are; and the last thing a Boy Scout wants +to do is to fight. But wait and see how things turn out. There are lots +of ways we can assist without actually using our guns against the +Regulars; though if it came to the worst, and they were charging this +fort, you'd soon see how we'd pitch in and do our part." + +After that Rob and his three chums noticed that they were being observed +with even more curiosity. Later on it turned out that the cunning Lopez, +meaning to do things wholesale while about it, had hinted that these +young fellows might be secret messengers to Villa coming from +Washington; and that there was a strong chance that the American +Government was meaning finally to befriend the rebels, even allowing +them to get arms at will from across the border. In this way they might +be helped to hasten the fall of Huerta, who had never been recognized as +president by the new administration. + +Meanwhile, the fire of the Federals up there among the rocks had +entirely ceased. Tubby, not being versed in such things, believed that +the coming of reinforcements, in the shape of four boys and one man, +must have given the Federals what he chose to call "cold feet," and that +they had betaken themselves off. Rob, however, knew differently, for by +using that convenient field glass of his, he could see that there were +several men still up there. Evidently some sort of new scheme was being +figured out by those who were besieging the train; and unless the +defenders managed to learn its nature in advance, they might be given a +disagreeable surprise shortly. + +This gave Rob an idea. + +Just as he had told Lopez, while the scouts would not like to be asked +to fire on the enemy, unless the defenders of the train were hard +pushed, there were plenty of ways whereby wide-awake young chaps, such +as they were known to be, might make themselves useful. + +He saw such an opening right then, and quickly began to look into it +more closely to find out if it were indeed practicable. + +Examining the topography of the country through his glasses, Rob found +that it was possible for a smart fellow to climb up to a certain point, +where he could observe all that was going on beyond, and doubtless find +plenty of chances to transmit his discoveries to the other scouts below +by means of a signal flag and the wigwag code. There was Tubby, who had +done himself more credit with signal work than along any other line +connected with scout activities; why should he not keep himself in +readiness to receive whatever news the vidette on the pinnacle of rock +chose to send? + +After speaking about this idea to Lopez, and asking him to pass it along +to the rather fierce-looking individual who seemed to be in command of +the rebels, Rob sought out the fat chum. + +As more than a full hour had passed since their arrival at the still +burning railroad bridge, it was to be hoped that Tubby had, in some +measure at least, recovered from his state of exhaustion, and that he +would be in fit condition to manage his end of the receiving line. + +As he drew near the spot where he had discovered Tubby squatted like a +big bull frog on the ground, Rob had to smile to notice how carefully +the fat scout had folded his blanket several times and used it as a +seat; for Rob knew the reason why. + +"Now I wonder what he is looking at so seriously," he said to himself on +drawing closer. "It can't be either the magic ring that's going to make +General Villa fall on our necks and embrace us, nor yet that paper Uncle +Mark gave us for his old time friend; because I happen to have both on +my person right now." + +His curiosity aroused by Tubby's seeming fit of abstraction, Rob crept +softly up behind the other and peered over his shoulder. What he saw +caused him to chuckle, as though more amused than ever. + +Tubby had something in his hand, at which he was staring, all the while +muttering to himself; and Rob could even catch what he was saying. It +ran something like this: + +"That's a bully clew, all right, all right. Rob says so, and he ought to +know. And you needn't think that I'm going to let the whole thing drop, +just because I've been too busy with other jobs to follow it up. Just +you wait till I get back, and see if I don't find the identical brace +and bit that coward used to bore a hole in the bottom of Rob's sailboat, +and make this creased shaving in the shape of a curl. And say, bet you +that when I happen to mention the name of Max Ramsay I'm not very far +away from the guilty party; though I ought not to accuse anybody till +I'm dead sure. + +"Oh! hello! that you, Rob? What's new? I was only making sure that I +hadn't gone and lost that marked shaving we found in your boat, you +remember, and which some fine day is going to make some feller I know +start to shivering in his shoes. Sit down with me, won't you? I'd offer +you a bit of my cushion, but seems like I can't spare it just now; you +understand why." + +"Yes, that's all right, Tubby, and small blame to you if you do feel +badly. It was a tough ride for us all; and yet we ought to thank our +lucky stars that we found a chance to give our pursuers the slip without +a fight. But I wanted to ask if you thought you could bother taking a +few short messages with the wigwag flags?" + +Tubby became interested at once, and almost forgot how tired and sore he +felt. + +"Sure I can, and only too glad to be doing something in my particular +line, Rob," he hastened to remark. "And it's just fine of you to come to +_me_, when there's Merritt and Andy around. But what's doing? Have the +Feds been sending messages, and do you want me to intercept what they +say? Is that the game, Rob?" + +"You're away off there, Tubby," replied the patrol leader; "but if you +listen I'll try to explain. The idea struck me that perhaps I might +manage to climb to that high rock you can see up there, and watch what +the enemy is doing; because they must be up to some mischief, they keep +so quiet lately. And after I get there you must stand by to take what I +send and write it down. Have the other boys around to help, because +three heads are better than one in receiving. If you should get all +muddled up one of the others may carry the message through." + +"Whee! that's a mighty clever scheme of yours, Rob; and if I wasn't so +beastly tired and lame I'd ask to be allowed to go along with you. But +p'raps it's better not, for the climbing would be tough, and I'm nearly +all in for one day. But please don't go off alone that way, Rob, without +carrying your gun along. Some of the tricky Regulars might manage to +cut you off from us. And then wouldn't you be in a nice scrape without +some means for defending yourself? You will, Rob, won't you?" + +"Why, yes, I had thought it might be a bit foolish not to, with a chance +always hanging over my head that I'd need something like a gun. But you +can keep right on sitting here if you like, only turn around so you will +have that crag in full view. Of course I don't know just how long it +will take me to climb up there, because if they glimpse me they'll as +like as not keep firing every time I show my head. But I ought to know +how to creep, scout fashion. I've practiced it enough, goodness knows. +Is it all understood, and have you the other flags handy? I want to take +two along with me, after I've fastened them to a couple of sticks so I +can wave them the right way, though I may only need one." + +Tubby told him that all was clear, and Rob promised to send Merritt +around to fix the other flags. + +"When the time comes for you to send the first signal, guess I'll be +able to get on my feet," the fat scout said as Rob moved away; "and if +I can't make it alone, I reckon the boys'll give me a boost. You put +your faith in me to get whatever you wigwag, Rob; but take mighty good +care of yourself, hear?" + +So the patrol leader went away, bearing the two white and red flags, +which he meant to rig out with short staves before he started on his +perilous mission to the crag that jutted out far up the slope. From +there a splendid view could undoubtedly be obtained, not only of the +stalled train and the burning bridge, but also of the Federal cavalrymen +who were keeping out of sight among the small _arroyos_ along the +hillside. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE WIGWAG TALK. + + +"Don't you think Rob ought to be pretty nearly up there by now, boys?" +Tubby was asking, when about half an hour had crept by since the patrol +leader left them. + +He had become quite anxious, so much so, in fact, that with many grunts +and "whees" he had actually managed to get upon his feet. Either Andy or +Merritt would have been only too willing to lend the fat chum a helping +hand, but Tubby was more or less proud and sensitive; he might accept +assistance from Rob, who never made a habit of laughing in his face, but +it was a different matter when any of the other scouts were concerned. + +Then he had practiced waving his signal flags to and fro, making those +particular movements that stood for letters in the Myers' code of +wig-wagging. These had been readily interpreted by both Merritt and +Andy, who were fairly up in the service, and could also relay messages +by heliograph, using a bit of broken mirror to flash the rays of the +sun from hilltop to valley. + +"I'm looking to see him show up any old time now," Andy replied; for he +was at that moment standing with his eyes glued on the lofty crag, from +which the signal-sender expected to wave his message when the time came. + +"But none of us have so much as glimpsed our chum even once on his way +up there," Tubby complained; "which I take it is kind of queer. Gee! I +hope nothing's happened to Rob! That would be a calamity, sure!" + +"Oh! don't worry about Rob," Andy cautioned him; "he knows how to look +out for himself, all right. You don't find _him_ stumbling over roots +and all sorts of things like--er--some of the rest of us fellows. No +danger of Rob bringing up in one of those deep, dry ravines they call +_arroyos_ down here in Old Mexico." + +"Yes, but sometimes accidents do happen even to the smartest scouts, +don't they?" the fat boy persisted in saying, as though bent on allowing +his feeling of anxiety to have full sway. "Huh! haven't you ever had a +limb break when you believed it to be good and strong; or a stone slip +out from under your foot, throwing you on your face? Even Rob, clever +as he is, might run across a piece of bad luck. Then, how d'ye know but +that one or two of those greaser cavalrymen might not have been camping +somewhere along the trail Rob followed, and seeing him coming, decided +to lie in ambush to knock him over? Any way, I'm getting what my mother +calls 'fidgetty'; and I'll be glad when it's all over." + +"Well, chirk up, then, Tubby!" exclaimed Merritt just then, with a low +laugh. + +"Oh! did you see him, Merritt? And is that why you speak so +encouragingly?" demanded the stout boy with quivering lips and a look of +intense eagerness on his round face. + +The corporal of the Eagles nodded his head in the affirmative. + +"Yes, I'm dead sure I had a glimpse of his khaki coat close to the crag, +just while you were talking in such a gloomy way; and if you wait two +minutes, chances are you'll see him wave his flag to let us know he has +arrived." + +"Bully for you, Merritt; that's the best news I've had for a 'coon's +age.' But it is too bad we didn't think to bring a couple of mirrors +along with us on this trip. Then, you know, we could have carried on our +little confab by flashes of the heliograph. It's a whole lot easier +than wigwag work, where your arms get so tired waving flags." + +"There! See what's happened?" cried Andy suddenly. + +"It's Rob, as sure as anything!" exclaimed the pleased Tubby. "He got up +to that rock all right, didn't he? Watch him wave the O. K. sign, will +you? And now I guess he'll take a good look around, so as to locate the +enemy, and then begin to tell us what's doing." + +Evidently Rob was taking advantage of his elevated position to survey +the surrounding country in all directions. It would doubtless pay the +besieged rebel forces to know what was going on, and if there was any +hope of assistance coming to help drive the foe away. + +The minutes began to drag horribly to impatient Tubby, and doubtless to +the other scouts as well. They could see that Rob was turning this way +and that, as though making good use of the excellent field glasses he +had thought to carry with him on his ascent. + +"Why doesn't he hurry and send something?" Tubby muttered for the tenth +time as he walked to and fro, partly to work off his excitement, and +partly to avoid the stiffness that overtook him whenever he stood still. +"Here I'm all primed up for business at the old stand, and ready to +receive any message that may come. I've practiced the whole code over +and over, you notice, fellers; and if I do say it myself, that +shouldn't, I never felt in such good trim as right now. If only Rob +would get busy and whisper something! He must have learned a heap by +now. Why, it seems like half an hour since he bobbed up serenely there!" + +"Less than ten minutes, Tubby, because I timed him," interposed Merritt. + +"Well, long enough for him to take a squint at a whole circle and see +all sorts of things," grumbled Tubby, quite disconsolate over the delay. +"If this keeps up, it's going to wear me away to a skeleton, that's +what." + +"No danger, Tubby, of that happening," declared Andy. + +"And get busy now," added Merritt. "There comes your first signal! He is +asking if you are ready to take a message. Answer him O. K., Tubby." + +"Hurray! Now mebbe there won't be something doing!" exclaimed the +other, aroused to a full consciousness that duty called. + +Tubby in action was a sight to behold. He was so fat that, when his +chubby arms got to working vigorously, he looked something like a Dutch +windmill with the sails flapping furiously in a half gale. + +But Tubby knew his Myers' wigwag code all right, and could receive +better than nearly any fellow on the roster of the Eagle Patrol. When +one masters the art of taking a message with fair speed, sending is what +Tubby always called "pie." This is also the case in telegraph work. In +sending, one knows in advance what is coming, and the brain can work +ahead, but this is not so in receiving. + +Rob made his flag do its duty with a vigor that kept both Tubby and +Merritt keyed up to top notch in order to read the message, while, as +the fat scout called out the letters, Andy wrote them down. + +And this was what the boy on the rocky crag sent as a beginning: + +"Can see enemy--number about sixty in sight--have started to turn flank, +and make attack from other side--warn Lopez!" + +That was alarming news, because, if the movement were undertaken without +any notice to the rebel force, they would undoubtedly be caught napping; +and it does not require much of a surprise to create a panic with troops +who are unseasoned fighters. + +"But how could they cross over to the other side of the railroad without +being seen, I want to know?" Tubby asked, after the whole message had +been received. + +"We can't tell that from here, but you bet your boots Rob knows," Andy +was quick to reply, showing what an amount of confidence the boys of the +Eagle Patrol were wont to place in their recognized leader under any and +all conditions. + +"Yes, that's right," Merritt added. "It might be there is some gully +that the road spans, which we didn't notice when making our dash here, +where the Federals could dodge through without anybody being a whit the +wiser. Anyway, Rob says that's what they mean to do, which settles it, +Tubby." + +"There, he's waving again!" called out the observant Andy. "Quick, get +busy and let him know you're ready to take the next message, Tubby!" + +"On deck!" chirped the receiving end of the air telegraph, which the +boys often called their "wireless." + +This time Rob went on a little further. Possibly he may have guessed +that what he sent before was apt to mystify the boys, and wished to make +it plainer. At any rate he took up the very subject they had just been +discussing, as though he had some means of overhearing their little +talk. + +"One mile above, track passes over a little gulch. Shallow, but deep +enough to answer purpose. Can see soldiers crawling under right now. +Rocks lie beyond, and from that easy to creep close to train there. Warn +Lopez, and have him tell captain of rebel forces. Get all that?" + +Now came Tubby's turn. + +Really, all he had to send back was the "O. K." signal, showing that he +had read everything that had been sent; but, then, Tubby was a good +talker, and it was hard for him to resist a golden opportunity like the +present, where he could display his knowledge along the line of flirting +with the flags. + +So he started the wave, and in another minute was working industriously. + +"Don't think we missed a single letter," he told the boy on the crag; +"and you sure sent faster than ever before in your life. What are we to +do if they attack the train? Ought we to join in and use our guns? We +want to know, because it might be too late when you get back. Answer." + +The two watching boys had started to spell out Tubby's message. Thinking +it a waste of precious time at first, Merritt had even started forward +to object when he caught some of the later words, and this halted him. +After all, it was not so far out of the way for Tubby to want to know +what their line of conduct should be under certain conditions. They had +not anticipated anything like this when Rob left; and, as he was their +leader, all orders had to come from him. + +On this account, then, they waited to see what the answer would be. +Apparently Rob had made out what Tubby asked, for he at once sent +another message. As the letters followed each other in quick succession, +even Andy could read their import. + +"Hold back all you can, unless it seems absolutely necessary to join in. +We have come down here on a peaceful errand, and don't want to side with +either force more than we can help. This is a Mexican affair, and Uncle +Sam is keeping his hands off. Understand?" + +"What shall I tell him, Merritt?" questioned Tubby, eagerly waiting for +orders, because, in the absence of the acting scout master and patrol +leader, the corporal was looked upon as in charge. + +"We'll try to be wise and cautious, tell Rob that," replied Merritt; +"and we'll keep out of the muss till we think we've just _got_ to help, +in order to save our lives. That's all, Tubby." + +Accordingly, Tubby started in again, for his arm had by now rested up +more or less, so that he was in condition for work. The short message +was possibly strung out considerably, because Tubby realized that in all +probability it would be his last chance to flirt the flag, on this +occasion, at least. + +Then Rob waved them good-bye, and turned as though to take one last look +over the country beyond, which was hidden from the sight of the boys at +the stalled train. + +Tubby still remained on his feet, though casting anxious eyes toward the +spot where the comfortable blanket seat had been temporarily left, while +Merritt was going over the message Andy had written down, so that he +could give it to Lopez accurately for transmission to the rebel +captain. + +All at once Andy uttered an exclamation. There was such a note of alarm +in his voice that Merritt looked up from his paper, and Tubby whirled +around so as to face the other. + +"What ails you now, Andy?" demanded Merritt. + +"It's Rob!" exclaimed the scout addressed. "I just saw several soldiers +creeping along the trail he must use coming back; and they mean to lie +in ambush for him!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +"TRUST ROB!" + + +When Andy said that, both Tubby and Merritt felt a cold chill pass over +them. It could be easily understood that if those vindictive Regulars +had a chance to fire on the unknown party who wore the khaki of the +United States soldiers, and who, they must know, had been sending +messages from the rock jutting out above, there was no reason to believe +that they would have the least pity because he turned out to be a boy. +There were many mere lads bearing arms among the followers of Villa and +of President Huerta--there always are when revolution stalks through a +land and war clouds are in the air--so that the taking of a boy's life +did not mean anything unusual to these grim fighters. + +But Merritt was alive to the importance of letting Rob know of the peril +that was lying in wait for him on the back trail. If he slipped away and +started to come down the side of the rugged slope, there was always a +terrible chance that he might know nothing of the three Mexican +Regulars lying under the rocks like genuine bushwhackers, ready to pour +a deadly volley in his direction as soon as they felt that he was in +their grip. + +"Quick, Tubby, try and attract his attention again--tell him for +goodness' sake to wait up there and take another message!" + +Merritt almost shrieked this as he sprang toward the fat chum. Tubby +instantly started the human windmill in motion again, waving his flag at +a great rate, and forming the signal "1111--3: Wait a moment," that +would tell the boy on the crag there was still something of vast +importance to be wigwagged to him. + +"I can see him there yet!" said Andy, though his voice trembled as if he +were quaking with suspense. + +"Yes, but his back is this way!" groaned Tubby, still keeping busy with +his flags. + +Merritt even put his hands to his mouth and shouted the name of the +patrol leader several times, as though hoping with this primitive +megaphone to be able to attract the attention of the other; but +apparently sounds did not travel upward as well as they do on the level +ground. At any rate, they could not see Rob give the first sign of +turning; and he seemed to be busy watching something beyond, perhaps the +soldiers who were crawling through that little ravine under the railroad +track, a mile or more away. + +"What if he starts down without once looking this way?" asked Andy. + +"Oh! Ginger snaps and pop-guns! Don't mention it!" groaned Tubby. + +"But that wouldn't be like Rob!" asserted Merritt, just as though he +might be trying the best way he knew to bolster up his own courage with +this hope. "It would be more his style to take a last look this way to +see if we had scattered to carry out his orders. Keep doing it right +along, Tubby, while we all watch and hope he'll turn around soon!" + +It was an anxious time for those three lads, and one they were not +likely to forget soon, either. + +All at once a whoop went up from Tubby. + +"He's turned around, and is looking this way!" he exclaimed. + +"Keep going, then; faster, Tubby!" cried Merritt. "Tell him to wait +up--very important!" + +"There he is, starting in to wave!" cried Andy. + +"W-h-a-t d-o y-o-u w-a-n-t?" came the question from above, with every +one of the three eager scouts below spelling it aloud. + +"Stay where you are--great danger--three Federals in hiding on trail you +took going up. If you must come down, pick another route!" + +Tubby sent all of this, Merritt supplying him with the words in +rotation; and evidently it was read correctly, for immediately after the +message ceased, Rob sent back his "O. K.," and added: "Don't fear for +me; I can take care of myself. So long!" + +"He's gone!" cried Tubby, as the last fluttering letter came from above. + +"Yes, and slipped out of sight just as if he meant to come back the same +way he took going!" interjected Andy in dismay. + +"That's all right," added Merritt. "Don't you see it must have been just +a clever little stunt of Rob's, meant to fool the three cavalrymen who +are lying in wait down on that depressed route he took going up? He +reckons that they've been watching him all this while. So he just made +out to have no suspicion that he knew about their game. Trust our Rob +for keeping his wits about him! He'll slip around somehow, and leave +them in the lurch." + +"Say, I hope now none of that outfit can read wigwag work!" Tubby +remarked, with a new line of trouble appearing on his usually smooth +forehead. "Because then they'd know what I told Rob, and of course +they'd change their position so as to cover the ground all along." + +"Not one chance in a thousand that a single Federal ever took a lesson +in signal work with the flags," Merritt told him. But evidently he was +not so wholly free from fears himself, for immediately afterward he went +on to say: "Perhaps I'd better be hunting Lopez up and telling him all +that's happened. Out of gratitude for what Rob has done to save them +from being taken by surprise, these rebels may consent to make a little +sortie and chase the three fellows up there away." + +"A splendid idea, Merritt!" declared Andy, while Tubby burst out: + +"Gee! but wouldn't it be just glorious to turn the tables on that lot +and send them flying over the hill? Hurry up, and see if you can't get +our rebel friends to make a start. They could charge right up that hill +and scare the ambushers off like hot cakes. Go along, Merritt, and don't +let the grass grow under your feet!" + +Merritt was off even while Tubby spoke. He was something like Rob, for +whenever he had an idea he believed in carrying it out with speed. In +this case it was essential that no time should be lost, for at any +minute one of the armed men who lay there in wait for Rob might find an +opportunity to get a shot at him, with a result that neither Tubby nor +Andy dared allow themselves to consider. + +Both of them continued to stand there, keeping their eyes glued on the +side of the rise, at about the spot where they knew the soldiers lay +hidden. More than a few times one or the other believed he could detect +some slight movement, as though the men might be taking an observation; +but the distance was so great they could not be sure, and no doubt their +fears magnified many things. + +"He's found Lopez, and is talking to him right now!" Andy said, +referring to Merritt, after a little time had elapsed. + +"Yes, and you can see that our guide believes the news mighty important, +because already he's beckoning to that captain who's carrying a sword, +even if he hasn't any uniform," Tubby continued. "I hope now the feller +isn't going to show the white feather and just shrug his shoulders the +way they're so fond of doing down here, as much as to say Rob'll have +to take care of himself. That would be a burning shame, wouldn't it, +Andy?" + +"But I don't believe they'll act that way," the other told him +consolingly. "I reckon these rebels are fighters, and they'll think it a +bully good chance to get one back on the enemy by knocking over three of +the Regulars. See, he's showing a whole lot of interest right now. +There, Merritt is pointing up at the place where we know the ambushers +are squatting. Will they sally out and chase them away? Oh! I hope so, I +hope they will!" + +"It looks as though they might be thinking of doing that very thing, +doesn't it, Tubby?" Andy again burst out, a ring of satisfaction in his +boyish voice. "See, that captain is yelling something to his men, for a +lot of them are running up, waving their guns, and chattering all sorts +of things--like a pack of monkeys finding a cocoanut. Make your mind +easy, Tubby; there's going to be something doing soon!" + +All Tubby made answer was expressed in one word: + +"Bully!" + +Evidently Merritt had managed to tell Lopez what a great service Rob +had done in making his way to the top of the elevation, and sending word +as to what the enemy was doing; and the guide had in turn transmitted +this to the rebel chief, upon whom it must have made considerable +impression, for he was plainly excited and bent upon discharging his +obligations toward the signal sender, according to the plan suggested by +the Eagle's corporal. + +A dozen men were told off and given hurried instructions. They +immediately ran the length of the train, and then with loud shouts and +waving guns started for the foot of the rise, not bothering to take the +trouble Rob had done to keep their movements secret. In fact, they must +have meant to let the three Regulars know of their intentions as they +scattered and started to climb the hill. + +"There! Listen to that, will you?" shrilled the excited Tubby. + +"It was a gunshot, sure as anything!" added Andy, hardly less stirred +himself. "And I saw the puff of smoke up yonder where the three Regulars +are hiding! Guess they know the game is up and mean to have a few cracks +at the climbing rebels before they skip out!" + +"And there goes a shot from below," said Tubby, "showing that our +friends don't mean that the fun shall all be on one side. Yes, and +listen to how the dogs of war keep on barking, will you, Andy? Whee! +isn't this exciting, though? I can just imagine how the bullets sing as +they fly past! Hear 'em slash against the rocks! That will make 'em +flatten out like pancakes!" + +"All the while the rebels are climbing right along and getting nearer +and nearer," Andy remarked, though not once could he tear his eyes away +from the scene upon the side of the elevation. "They may hang on there +too long, and find it a hard job to make their get-away, after all." + +"I hope Rob isn't in line with all this shooting, or that he happens to +run across the Regulars when they're making off!" Tubby pursued, voicing +his fears. + +"Trust Rob, Tubby; give him credit for horse sense, won't you?" scoffed +the other scout. "And let me tell you, Tubby, that, if they do run +across him, chances are they'll be sorry! Remember, Rob's got a gun +along with him, and you've seen yourself how he could shoot at flying +game many's the time. If he has to defend himself, he'll wing that lot +in one, two, three order, give you my word for it!" + +"I know that, Andy, as well as you do," agreed the fat boy; "and I guess +I'm only saying what I do because my nerves are all unstrung. It's just +awful to have to stand here watching, not able to lift a finger to help +our chum! If I could only be in the thick of the thing, I wouldn't be +croaking like this." + +"I believe you, Tubby," said Merritt, who had come up in time to hear +the last few sentences spoken by the others. "But there's little danger +of Rob falling into a trap, now that he's been warned. I wouldn't be +surprised if he's just been lying low all this time in some nice hole +under a rock, waiting to find out what would happen. To tell the truth, +I'm more concerned about the rebels shooting at Rob, under the belief +that he's one of the enemy, than that those three Federals will catch +him napping." + +Unfortunately, these words gave poor Tubby fresh cause for alarm. + +"Oh! I hope that doesn't happen," he kept on saying, as they all stood +and watched the little puffs of smoke that broke out in ever so many +places along the side of the rugged slope. These told that the rebels +were advancing steadily upward toward the spot where the men who had +meant to waylay the wigwag operator had taken up their positions. + +All the people who had been on the stranded train, men, women and +children, had come out of their various hiding-places, and now stood in +groups, along with the rebels at bay, behind the line of cars. Their +eyes were glued on what was happening up there on the heights. For by +now it had been circulated that one of the Americano boys had gone aloft +to spy upon the enemy, and had reported important news, which fact had +acted so favorably on the commander of the Villa forces that he had sent +a detachment of his men to try and save the gringo lad from being +captured or shot. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE RETURN OF THE SCOUT MASTER. + + +The acting scout master of the Eagle Patrol was meanwhile making his way +down the ragged face of the slope pretty much as Merritt had pictured +him. + +After giving that last "all right" wave of his flag, Rob had apparently +started down toward the plain, and his course was, as nearly as could be +seen, just the same as that he had taken in order to reach the crag from +which he had wigwagged the news to his chums alongside the stalled +train. + +But this was only a "blind," intended to deceive the lurking Federals, +if it happened that they were watching his movements. They would feel +confident that, as he meant to retrace his steps, he would follow the +line of least resistance. Then all that they would have to do in order +to ambush him, would be to remain secreted in the cunningly arranged +hiding-place where the other three scouts had seen them take their +positions. + +When Rob had reason to believe that he was safe from observation, he +set about changing his downward course. It was not very difficult to run +across some other descending gully or miniature _arroyo_, where in rainy +weather doubtless copious streams of water flowed, but which now was +quite dry. The face of the elevation was fairly scarred with such +indentations. + +The scout slipped along cleverly, stooping all of the time, and +occasionally even dropping flat on his hands and knees, in order to +crawl past a suspicious point, where the chances of exposure seemed +greater. + +Rob had practiced this sort of thing many a time just for the fun of it, +when he and the other Eagles were camping out. Such tactics came well +within the scope of actual scout work, for boys are expected to exert +themselves while indulging in games that pertain to the open. They could +imagine themselves Indians in the old days, when the copper-skinned +natives of American forests had to depend on their skill as hunters, in +order to secure their daily rations of food, because at that time there +was no generous-handed Uncle Sam to issue such to them once in so many +months as the wards of the nation. + +This creeping game had always appealed to Rob so strongly that he had +taken particular pains to perfect himself in it, not dreaming how at +some future day his knowledge of it might come in handy, as it was now +doing. + +There was no particular hurry, he decided, as he picked his way +cautiously along among the rough rocks, always surveying the prospect +ahead before actually trusting himself to move on a little distance. The +Federals who were lying in ambush and waiting for him to come along +would hardly get impatient enough to start to meet him, he concluded. +And besides, there was another reason why he should allow some little +time to elapse before trying to reach the foot of the descent. + +He had tried to picture in his mind just what his three comrades would +be doing in the matter, and he came to the conclusion that Merritt must +certainly appeal to Lopez, in order to have the rebels try to raise the +siege. + +This they could easily do by dislodging the Federals who were in hiding +on the return trail awaiting his approach. + +Several times, when an opportunity occurred, Rob took occasion to raise +his head slowly and peer over the top of some friendly rock. He moved +carefully so that he might not draw attention to the spot; and his +motive was more to take a peep at the stalled train than any desire to +find out what the enemy might be doing. In this way, then, he saw the +dozen rebels finally make a sortie and run headlong for the foot of the +height, just about as he had done; only they failed to take advantage of +the chances there were for concealment, which he had utilized. + +And he could also see that those at the train had gathered in a throng +on that side toward the scene of action, as though deeply interested in +the outcome. + +Yes, there were Tubby, Merritt and Andy; he could plainly make them out +with his naked eye, and knew that they must be very anxious concerning +his safety. Rob was almost impelled to wave his signal flag, so that its +familiar white and red combination would catch their watching eyes and +tell them that thus far all was well, but he decided not to do it. How +was he to tell but that enemies might be close by who would take +advantage of his indiscretion to send a pattering shower of lead about +his ears? + +Once he half raised his field glasses, being tempted to make use of them +in order to see better what the boys were doing and whether they wore +anxious expressions on their faces, as he believed would be the case. +But again Rob's scout training held his hand, and he quickly decided +that he would be taking too much risk. Then, too, the sun chanced to be +shining in just such a way that if he moved the glasses it would be apt +to flash a warning ray, very much on the order of the heliograph signals +he was used to making with the aid of a broken piece of mirror, and such +a slight thing might catch the suspicious eyes of those who lay in wait. + +So Rob contented himself with taking another observation, and noting +that the advancing rebels showed all the evidences of being very much in +earnest. + +All at once, even as he looked, he heard the quick detonation of a gun +not far away from him. And at the same instant he saw a puff of white +smoke burst out from a clump of rocks, showing that one of the Federals +must be in hiding there. + +Undoubtedly he was firing at the advancing rebels, understanding that +they meant to dislodge himself and companions from their hiding-places +on the hillside. + +Derisive shouts answered the shot, and, so far as Rob could see, it had +accomplished nothing save to let the rebels know that their intentions +were understood, and that the concealed Federals would not run away +without a fight. + +Then came other shots. The second and third of those men who were lying +in ambush had taken up the gage of battle, and were trying to wing some +of the leaping, running rebels before they gained the shelter of the +outlying rocks at the foot of the hill. + +Nor were the men of Villa slow to return the fire, since they seemed to +have an abundance of ammunition. And for a short time the guns popped +merrily around that region. + +It was rather fascinating to crouch there and watch the curls of smoke +shooting up, telling Rob that he was looking upon a real battle on a +small scale. Presently, however, when the bullets coming from various +quarters below began to whine about his ears, the patrol leader decided +that he had better draw in his head, very much after the manner of a +tortoise, and make himself scarce, since he seemed to be in the line of +fire. + +Once, a little later, when he took another cautious observation as the +shooting slackened, he was thrilled to see a creeping soldier, clad in +a dirty white uniform, not more than thirty yards away from him! Indeed, +Rob could watch him carefully raise his head and look downward, as +though marking the advance of the foe, so as to calculate on his line of +retreat, and the expression on his swarthy face was plainly visible. + +"How easy it would be for me to pick that fellow off, if I were a rebel +right now," the boy told himself with something like a chuckle, as he +slowly advanced his rifle under cover of the sheltering rock and drew a +bead on the skulking figure in the Federal service uniform. But of +course this was only a little act of boyish bravado, for Rob did not +have the least temptation to fire and injure one of these men. He +believed that Americans could as yet have no particular interest in this +civil warfare that was going on south of the Rio Grande; and that the +Mexicans would be all the better for settling their differences among +themselves. + +Of course, if it went too far, doubtless Uncle Sam, in his character of +policeman for the Western Hemisphere, might have to intervene and try to +restore peace to the harassed country of the dons. + +Seeing which way the Federals were retreating, Rob changed his own +course again. Of course he wanted to avoid any collision with the three +who had been lying in ambush, and at the same time keep clear, as well +as he could, of the advancing rebels until such time as he could let +them know that he was a friend, and not an enemy. These fellows were +only too ready with their guns to open fire on the slightest +provocation, and Rob did not yearn to be made an object lesson. + +"As like as not," he was saying to himself as he shifted his position +again and again skillfully, "they'd bang away if they saw so much as the +crown of my campaign hat, and then apologize in their Mexican way after +they'd riddled me with bullets. But an ounce of prevention is a heap +better than a pound of cure, and I guess I'll keep out of the way till +the right time comes along to speak up." + +And having thus made up his mind as to what his course of action would +be, Rob began to hold back. He fancied that before long the advance +rebels must be coming up, when he could get in touch with them, so as to +let them know that the enemy had slunk away after the manner of a +beaten cur. + +Five, ten minutes passed. There had not been a shot exchanged for all +that time, and Rob was really beginning to grow impatient, when he +fancied he caught the mutter of voices. Taking another careful peep, he +discovered several men, whom he recognized as rebels, for they were +armed, alert, and wore no uniforms whatever. + +So the scout waved his signal flag above the rock, and at the same time +called out in a loud voice a word that he knew stood for "friend." + +"_Amigo! amigo!_" + +Quickly he saw that they understood, because they were making motions +for him to come forth. And, feeling that there was no longer anything to +fear, Rob proceeded to emerge from his place of concealment. + +Of course he could not converse in the Mexican lingo, which is supposed +to be a corruption of Spanish, but then, knowing a few words and being +able to gesticulate fairly well, Rob managed to give them the +information that the Regulars had taken themselves off, so that it was +really useless to remain up there on the hill, when the presence of +every man would soon be needed down by the train. + +Accordingly the party started downgrade and soon came to the level. +Their appearance in the open was greeted by vociferous "_Bravos_" by all +the assembled Mexicans; and from the racket one might fancy that those +gallant fighters had utterly annihilated a whole army of the enemy. +Spanish-American dispositions are ever excitable, and whatever they do +is generally accomplished with much noise and confusion. + +It thrilled Rob to the heart, though, to hear the shouts of his three +chums above all the rest of the noise; and he knew that they were +feeling better satisfied than all the rest to see him come out of the +lively little engagement unscathed. + +He believed that he had some news for them later on that would bolster +up their faltering spirits; but first of all preparations must be +started toward meeting successfully this coup on the part of the +Regulars. + +Tubby could not wait for Rob to reach them, but in his customary +warm-hearted manner he pushed away beyond the border of the throng and +met the returning scout. + +"Let me tell you we're mighty happy to see you back without a scratch, +after all that cannonading along the side of the mountain!" Tubby +exclaimed, as he pounced on Rob's hand and wrung it "like a pump +handle." + +"And I'm a bit glad myself to get back in good shape, believe me," Rob +told him. "After I've had a chance to shake hands all around we ought to +get busy doing something to better our conditions here; because in half +an hour or so the Federals calculate to open on us from both sides, in +what is called an enfilading fire. Hurrah, boys! Well, Merritt, I guess +we're showing the natives what Boy Scouts can do, eh?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE FIELD HOSPITAL IN OPERATION. + + +"What happened to the ambushers, Rob?" Andy inquired. + +The scout master was beginning to look around in the throng of cheering +Mexicans for Lopez, who must again act as interpreter for him if he +expected the rebel captain to grasp certain ideas he had evolved while +slowly making his way down from the lofty lookout. + +"Oh!" replied Rob, with a laugh, "they slid out from under when things +began to get too warm for their blood." + +"What! d'ye mean they got clear away, and never left one feller on the +gory field of action?" grumbled Tubby. + +"Why, you're getting real blood-thirsty, Tubby!" said Rob. "I'm surely +astonished to hear you talk like that!" + +"But wouldn't it give you a real hard pain to see how the fellers that +came back with you are strutting around and grinning! Why, that little +runt with the gay jacket slaps himself on his chest every half minute, +like he'd knocked over sixteen Regulars all by his lonely! What airs +they take on! And yet you say every Fed got clean away? Huh! we've heard +a heap of shootin' since we came on the spot; but only one man was hurt, +and Merritt fixed him up fine. I reckon he broke his arm trying to +hustle and get under shelter!" + +"Wait here for me, boys," Rob said; "if Lopez won't show up I'll have to +hunt for him, because it's important to do something right away, or +they'll be taken by surprise after all." + +"Sort of like I've heard my dad tell: 'If the mountain won't come to +Mohammed, why Mohammed must go to the mountain.' Well, come right back +again, Rob, when you get through talking with Lopez, because we want to +know some things." + +Rob soon found the guide in the crowd. Lopez was doing his share of +shouting and hand-shaking, and even the women and children were taking +part in the demonstration. It amused the boy about as much as anything +he had ever seen. + +"They're a queer lot," he told himself, suppressing a grin as he came up +to the guide; "you'd think they'd done something real wonderful, now, +instead of chasing up that rise and scaring off three skulkers who +didn't want to fight at all. But then, I kind of think, these fellows +can do considerable scrapping when once they get down to it. And they +may have to yet, unless all signs fail before help comes." + +Lopez, seeing his employer beckoning, quickly joined him. + +"We ought not to be loafing the minutes away like this, Lopez," Rob +began. "From what I saw when I was up there, chances are we'll have a +shower of bullets dropping down on us from both sides before long. And +think what that will mean when the women and children and unarmed +travelers can't depend on the cars to hide them!" + +Even Lopez seemed to be suitably impressed by the gravity of the +conditions. + +"The young señor has a plan? Let him tell it, and I will surely inform +the brave captain of the valiant defenders of the train," he hastened to +say. + +Lopez had been studying Rob all the time that they had been in company, +and evidently by now he had come to the conclusion that the boy was +equal to any emergency. Plans seemed to be as easy for him to originate +as for Lopez to roll a cigarette with his nimble fingers. + +"Yes, I happened to notice a spot close to the foot of the hill as I was +coming down that would afford shelter not only for the women and +children, but for our horses as well. Some of the rebels have animals, +too, and the Federals have been mean enough to shoot at them. Two lie +out there now, done to death. Let the captain know about this so that he +may order everybody who is not a fighter to get under cover in this +sunken spot among the rocks right away. Minutes may count with us, +Lopez." + +"Si, señor, right away will I do the same," replied the willing guide, +hurrying to the side of the captain. He must have explained the +situation to the commander of the rebels in few words, because presently +several men advanced toward Rob, Lopez and the leader among them. + +"He has sent word to everybody to follow," explained the guide, as they +came up, "and asks that you lead the way to the fort, señor." + +So Rob beckoned to the other three scouts, and upon their coming up, he +directed: + +"Bring the five horses, boys; we're going to hide the lot with the women +and kids in a rocky retreat close by, where they'll be safe from flying +lead." + +"That's a hunky idea!" declared Andy. "I was just bothering my head +trying to think what we could do to protect our mounts; because, seeing +how the cowardly Federals aimed to cut down the horses when they +couldn't hit a man, made me reckon we might have to continue our journey +afoot. We'll be right along after you, Rob. I'll see to your nag, and +Merritt will take care of the guide's broncho." + +Meanwhile, some of the rebels had made the crowd understand that they +must leave the train for a brief time, because it would soon be as much +as their lives were worth to remain out in the open. Once the enemy +started shooting from both sides, the chances of being struck were bound +to be tenfold as great as when they could hide behind the cars and use +them as a fortress. + +Some of the fugitives showed considerable concern about even temporarily +abandoning the train; they acted as though they had treasures of some +sort hidden in the luggage that was stored inside the cars. But the +rebels would not stand for any delay or quibbling; and as a consequence +the entire party, numbering almost a hundred, took up a line of march +after Rob and the advance guard, heading directly toward the nearby foot +of the rise. + +Trailing in and out among the large rocks that lay around near the base, +the young scout master led the way to the protected "sink" where the +fugitives from Chihuahua could find shelter while the coming battle +raged. + +A couple of minutes later the three boys came up with all the horses +belonging to Rob's party. Others among the rebels, understanding what +was going on and able to take a hint, made haste to fetch the rest of +the animals; for there was plenty of room in the sink to afford a +shelter for all. + +"Say, this wouldn't make a bad sort of fort, would it?" Tubby remarked, +as he glanced around at the rock walls that arose on nearly every side. +"Now, tell me, Rob, why shouldn't the whole outfit stay in here, instead +of sticking to the open and dodging bullets around that old train?" + +"Why, don't you see," replied the other, always willing to oblige a +comrade, "if the fighting men stayed here they could never tell where +the enemy was located; and the consequence would be that the Regulars +could drop down here and proceed to pour a hot fire right in among the +bunch. No, that would never do, and the rebel captain knows it, too. +Back to the train for us, boys. There we'll be in a position to see +whatever fighting happens along." + +"And what is our share of the row going to be, Rob?" asked Andy +anxiously. + +"Oh! don't bother about that--yet!" said Rob quietly. "If there happens +to be a lot of men struck, why we'll show them how scouts learn to +bandage wounds and render first aid to the injured. I'd do that for a +Federal just as quick as for a rebel, because we're supposed to be +neutrals in this Mexican mix-up, you understand. So we'll try and +imagine ourselves Red Cross workers for the time being." + +"Well, the fun's going to begin right away, I reckon!" Andy called out, +as there came the sharp crack of a gun from up on the side of the hill +which, before this, had been entirely free from the enemy. + +"Whee! Hear that bullet let out a yell as it jumped by over our heads, +did you?" gasped Tubby, trying to make himself as small as possible and +not meeting with very much success, for reasons that all of his chums +could easily understand. + +There was an immediate scurrying around of the rebels, each man trying +to find some place where he could be safe from the rain of lead that +would soon be falling. + +A number stuck to the cars, believing they could manage to lie low and +escape damage; while others, like the four boys, preferred to trust to +the outlying rocks that in places offered little harbors of refuge. + +In five minutes there was quite an exchange of shots going on, so that +things began to seem "pretty lively," as Andy called it. + +Acting on the advice of Rob, all of them had spread out what linen +bandages they carried in their packs, as well as other things calculated +to be of use in case of wounds. + +"If I had dreamed that we should have to play the part of field +hospital," Rob remarked, "I would have made sure to bring an extra +supply along. But in case we run short of bandages, why there's that big +night-shirt Tubby fetched, under the foolish impression he was going to +sleep like he does at home. And when that's gone we'll begin on his day +shirt. Like enough it will fill the bill!" + +Tubby hardly knew whether to take this in the light of a joke or not. + +"Now, I don't mind giving up the useless sack in my pack, because +several times I've been tempted to throw it away before some of you +fellers began to josh me about it; but I do draw the line about handing +over my spotted flannel shirt that I'm wearing right now to be torn into +bandages, and wrapped about the arms of these dirty--er, I mean, brave +señors who are fighting so hard." + +"Here comes a fellow who's got his dose, I guess, Rob," said Merritt, as +one of the rebels staggered toward their little enclosure, holding his +left arm rigidly with the clenched fingers of his right hand and trying +to suppress a look of pain on his swarthy face. + +The Federals attempted to add to his troubles by shooting at him, so +that the dust arose in several little spurts around his feet as he came +on; but luckily he was not struck again, and soon sank down with a groan +at the feet of the "gringo" boys, who had let it be known that they were +ready to treat any and all wounds. + +Rob immediately took the man in hand. He had several pails of water +handy, and was thus enabled to wash the fellow's arm first of all. It +turned out that he had received a pretty serious hurt. It made Tubby +shudder, but the fat scout showed plenty of grit, for he volunteered to +assist Rob in any way possible. + +Between them the wound was so well taken care of that when the bandage +had been fastened the man declared in broken English that he was +grateful, and would now dodge back to where he had dropped his gun, +hoping to repay some venturesome Regular for his injury. + +"There, I reckoned they had plenty of pluck once they got started!" Rob +declared, on seeing the man run across the open space, jumping in a +zig-zag fashion when the lead began to patter around him. + +Another came crawling into the hospital, having also been touched; and +before he could be discharged a third bounded toward them, now stopping +to limp, as though he hardly knew where he was hurt. + +"This is going some, let me tell you!" said Merritt. + +"Good practice for us scouts, all the same," Tubby declared, puffing out +his big chest with a suspicion of pride, and then as quickly subsiding +when he heard a bullet spatter on the rock not three feet away, so that +particles of stone even tingled his cheek. + +For some time the battle at the stalled train continued, until hundreds +of shots had been fired on either side and some seven or more rebels had +been ministered to by the young field surgeons. But so far as the boys +knew, there had thus far been no fatalities, at least on their side. +Though no one could say whether or not any of the Federals up there +among the rocks on the slope had been struck by the bullets the rebels +continued to send aloft so industriously. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +WHEN VILLA CAME. + + +"Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time. How +about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots +rang out. + +"They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who +had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he +had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his +comrades would notice it. + +"Hasn't the time come yet, Rob?" pleaded Andy. + +"For what?" asked the other, although he could easily guess what Andy +meant by the way he handled his rifle and looked anxiously up the slope +to where those little jets of smoke accompanied each shot on the part of +the advancing Federals. + +"To let us have a hand in the mix-up," Andy continued. "You as much as +said that if things got down to hard pan we'd just _have_ to help the +rebels. They're our best friends, and you reckoned the others would +treat us mean if they made us prisoners of war,--p'raps stand us up +against a rock and wind us up, like they're so fond of doing with lots +of prisoners down in this heathen country. Please say 'yes,' Rob. I'm +not a sharp-shooter, p'raps, but I just know I could chip off a shoulder +strap from the uniform of that officer trying to hide behind that stump +up there. Let me make him jump, won't you, Rob?" + +But the other shook his head in the negative. + +"Not yet, Andy, so lay your gun down again," he said, at which the other +grumbled not a little. + +"You said you'd let us if we got close to the last ditch, Rob," he +remarked complainingly; "and seems like we might be close on that line +now." + +"You may think so," said Rob, with a reassuring smile; "but that's the +time you shoot wild, Andy. Our prospects were never so bright as they +are right now." + +Even Merritt and Tubby showed that they were surprised to hear Rob speak +in so positive a way, when it was plainly to be seen that the men on the +hillside were becoming bolder, and apparently getting ready to rush the +defenses of the rebel force a little later, after they had covered more +ground. + +"Show your hand, Rob," said Merritt; "you're holding something out of +sight, or you wouldn't talk like that. I know your ways; what's doing?" + +"Listen, and you'll hear the rebels cheering right now!" said Rob. + +"Yes, that's so," Andy replied; "but then they're ready to yell if +anything happens. When that Federal lost his hold and fell about five +feet, scrambling around like a squirrel that had missed its jump from +one limb to another, they whooped it up till you'd thought the fight was +won! What are they cheering for now, Rob?" + +"Lopez has told the captain, as I made him promise to, when things began +to look kind of gloomy all along the line; and they're passing it on," +Rob observed. + +"Yes, that's all very fine, but passing what along?" demanded Andy. + +"Now that the cheering has let up for a few seconds, and the Federals +have stopped firing to puzzle out what the row means, suppose you boys +trim your ears, and see if you don't get some sort of sound that +surprises you!" + +"Great Cæsar! that rumbling must mean a train somewhere, Rob!" +ejaculated Merritt excitedly; while Andy chimed in: + +"Does it, Rob? And did you glimpse it coming when you were away up +yonder on the peak of the rocks?" + +"Yes," replied the scout master with a laugh, "through my glasses, away +off toward the south. And, boys, that train is just loaded down with +rebel soldiers coming up from Chihuahua to get after the raiding parties +of Federals that have been burning bridges and destroying railroad stock +on the Mexican Central here!" + +"And you didn't whisper a word of it to us, Rob, all this while?" cried +Tubby, with a reproachful look on his beaming face. + +"Why, you see, I didn't want any one to have false hopes," Rob told him. +"How could I tell whether that train would get here in a week? The track +might be all torn up on the other side of the burnt bridge. But I fixed +it with Lopez that he was to tell the captain when he saw me wave my red +bandanna handkerchief over this rock; and you saw me do that a few +minutes ago." + +"When you first caught the rumble of the train, and knew it must be +drawing near on the south side of the river?" interjected Merritt. + +"That's what happened," Rob replied. + +"But see here," Tubby insisted, "how are they going to help us if that +same train can't cross on the steel girders of the burned bridge? You +don't reckon it can do that, do you, Rob?" + +"Certainly not, Tubby," replied the other, "but that isn't going to keep +the men from getting over. You'll find some of them crossing like cats +on the remains of the bridge. Others may wade the river, which doesn't +appear to be very deep from what I saw of it." + +"Yes, I noticed that you walked up that way and took observations, while +the rest of us were watching the bridge burn," said Tubby. "And right +then chances were you figured it all out in your mind how a feller might +wade across if he had to! There never was such a chap to lay out plans +ahead of time. No wonder you're always ready to act when things happen +in a hurry!" + +Rob simply touched the badge that was fastened to his left sleeve at the +shoulder. Its position showed that he was filling the part of assistant +scout master; and the fact that it was complete, told that the wearer +must be a first class scout. Then he repeated the words emblazoned on +the badge: + +"Be prepared!" + +Merritt made a discovery about this time, which he announced in tones of +delight. + +"Looky there, boys! The enemy is in full flight, believe me! You can see +them skipping out everywhere. Guess they've glimpsed the train coming +along, and know that they'll soon be outnumbered five to one. And it's +going to take them some little time to reach the place where they've +left their mounts; so good-bye to you, Mr. Huerta's crowd!" + +In a short time it was considered safe to show one's head above the +rocks, and presently some of the rebels were running back toward the +remains of the bridge, shouting at the top of their lungs with joy. + +"There's the train!" cried Merritt, as he stood on the rock behind which +he and his three chums had established the Red Cross field hospital, and +done such effective work among the wounded. + +Tubby gave several loud cheers; in fact, every one was calling out now, +even the fugitives in the sink, some of whom appeared in view, hurrying +back to the cars, possibly to stand by their precious luggage and keep +inquisitive hands from opening the packages. + +The long troop-train came to a stand close to the other side of the +river. Immediately a swarm of dark-faced men dropped from the heavily +laden cars, and there was a concerted rush in the direction of the +smoking bridge. + +Just as Rob had said, many of the more daring, finding that the steel +work had cooled to some degree, started to make their way across like +monkeys, just as though they had lingering hopes of being able to come +to hand-grips with the Regulars who had set fire to the railroad +property. Others began to ford the stream, the water hardly coming up +more than to their waists, as the dry season was on at the time. + +"Well, I'm glad that it's all over and none of us got so much as a +scratch!" Tubby was saying, while with his comrades he watched the swarm +of men crossing the river. + +"Yes, but I feel bad because I never got a chance to bang away even +once," Andy grumbled, as, with gun tucked under his arm, he leaned +dejectedly against the end car, and took in all the bustling sights. + +"It's just as well," Rob told him. "If you knew right now that you had +made one of those men go limping off to suffer all sorts of pain, +because you felt that you just _had_ to use your gun, when it wasn't +your fight at all, do you think you'd feel any better because of it, +Andy?" + +Andy never said another word; but evidently Rob had set him to +considering the conditions, and he saw things in a different light. + +"They've got some horses aboard that car away back," Merritt announced. +"See, they are getting them out! Look at that man giving orders, Rob. +Seems like everybody just hustles whenever he says a single word. I +reckon he must be somebody away up!" + +"Mebbe General Villa himself!" suggested Tubby exultantly. + +"I'm hoping it may turn out that way," Rob remarked, trying to appear +calm, although himself more or less excited. "But whoever it is, he must +have given orders for a pursuit, because you notice that as fast as the +men get on this side they join some of our friends here, and go hurrying +off. It must be that they hope to waylay the Federals before they can +reach their horses and gallop away." + +A short time later they began to hear regular volleys from the quarter +whence these squads of eager-eyed men had gone, which would plainly +indicate that they had been successful in intercepting the enemy, so +that something like a fight was going on. Their shots must have bowled +over some of the cavalrymen's mounts, for several prisoners were brought +back to the train, wearing the dirty white uniforms of the Mexican +soldiers and looking as though they expected a short shrift, with a +firing squad to follow. + +Meanwhile, the boys had been intensely interested in watching the figure +of the mounted man who seemed to be a born leader. He directed all that +was done, and appeared capable even of starting the rebuilding of the +bridge after some fashion, so as to allow the passage of troop trains. + +"Yes," Rob was telling himself, as he kept his eyes focused on the +figure of this man, using his glasses meanwhile to aid his vision, "I +really and truly believe that must be General Villa himself! I've heard +him described, and this man seems to fill the bill." + +Each of the other scouts must needs have a look through the wonderful +lenses; after which, Rob called to Lopez, who chanced to be passing. + +"Is that General Villa?" the scout asked. + +"None other, young señor," the guide replied. + +Whereupon Tubby threw his hat several times high into the air, and said +"Bully, bully, and again bully!" until he quite lost his breath, and had +to rest. + +"There, he's made up his mind to cross the river and see how the land +lies on this side," remarked Merritt a little later on. + +So the four tried and true comrades stood there waiting, feeling more +than a little curiosity as they watched the remarkable man, whose name +had been before the public so much of late, ride down to the ford, push +his horse into the water, let him take a drink, and finally urge him +across. + +As he came up the near bank Rob, accompanied by his three chums, +advanced to meet him, each boy giving the scout salute gravely and then +standing at attention. Lopez hovered near, ready to render assistance in +case there was any need of an interpreter, which could hardly be, as +Villa was known to talk English fluently. + +Tubby was fairly holding his breath with anxiety, for the fateful +moment was now at hand when he would learn whether the former bandit, +Villa, now chief in command of the rebel forces operating in Chihuahua, +would remember the debt of gratitude he owed Doctor Mark Matthews. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +A MAN OF HIS WORD. + + +"Is this General Villa?" Rob asked. + +The man on the horse gave the scouts a scrutinizing look, and then +frowned. Possibly he recognized the khaki uniforms that he had become +accustomed to seeing United States regulars wear; and thus discovering +them far down on the sacred soil of Mexico, he was angered more or less. + +When Rob saw that frown he began to fear that he and his chums might not +have as smooth sailing as they had anticipated, unless something were +done immediately to interest the general in their favor. + +Accordingly Rob's next move was to hold up his hand, on a finger of +which he had made sure to slip that queer-looking ring which Uncle Mark +had seemed to believe possessed all the magic powers attributed to like +rings in fairy stories. + +Sure enough, no sooner had the quick glance of the general fallen on +the ring than he started and looked at it more closely. Then, as an +expression of intense interest flashed across his dark face, he beckoned +to the scouts to draw nearer. + +"Where did you get that ring, boy?" he demanded. "And who are you?" + +"We belong to the Boy Scout organization, General," replied Rob soberly; +"and have come several thousand miles just to meet you and show you this +ring. You once put it on the finger of the man who saved your life, +telling him that you would stand ready to do what you could for the one +who presented it to you. That man was Dr. Mark Matthews, and this boy, +here, is his nephew. Dr. Mark has recently got back from more than a +year in Africa, where he was taken down with the terrible jungle fever, +and is in a very bad way at the home of my friend, here. He has nothing +left of his once large fortune except the property in Chihuahua--his +cattle ranch, and the prize stock on it. And, General, he begs you to do +what you can to dispose of the cattle, and send him the money by us. I +have a letter in my coat that will explain all to you when you have more +time to read it. But we only wanted to let you know that we hadn't come +into Mexico to mix up in the war that is going on here. And your captain +will tell you that all we did was to take care of his wounded as fast as +they were hurt." + +"Yes, I have already heard that Americans who were on the ground had +done that; but little did I expect to learn that they were boys," the +general went on to say, as he looked still more keenly at them. But Rob +noticed that the scowl had now disappeared entirely from his strong +features. That ring had doubtless aroused memories of the days when he +was a hunted man with a price on his head, and of Dr. Mark Matthews, who +had sheltered him while attending to his severe wounds. + +"Do you think there is any chance of Dr. Matthews getting paid for his +cattle, General?" asked Tubby, emboldened to chime in by the fact that +it was a family affair. + +Something like a look of pride and deep satisfaction appeared on the +rebel leader's face, as he answered this question. + +"Why not, when for months I have had armed guards watching the ranch, so +that none of the stock could be stolen? But it could not last, and even +to-day I was considering making use of the herds for my army, and +settling with the owner when he came to put in a claim. Make yourselves +at home with my men, for depend on it, you have not come all this way to +have Pancho Villa redeem his sacred promise without reward. I am too +busy now to speak further; but later on be sure to hand me the letter +from my old and true friend, Dr. Matthews." + +He urged his horse on and left the four scouts staring hard at each +other with happy grins stealing over their faces. + +"Looks mighty good to me!" commented Andy. + +"Greatest thing that ever came down the pike!" exclaimed the delighted +Tubby. And if a face that looked as beaming as a full moon might be +taken as any indication of how the fat scout felt, he was certainly +happy. + +"It seems now as if we might go back with something to show for all our +work, that's a fact," Merritt added. + +"He did as much as say that he meant to take the cattle himself so as to +feed his army and that he'd see you got good pay for them, all right, +Tubby," Rob observed. "So it looks as though luck might be camping on +our trail." + +"And then, just think of all we've seen on this trip," added Andy. "A +real battle on Mexican soil, with eight or ten rebels needing the +assistance of the Boy Scout field hospital to keep them from bleeding to +death! Am I sorry I came? Well, don't you believe it! Though I did want +to take just a single crack at some of those crawlers up on the +mountain, only Rob wouldn't hear of it!" + +"Yes," Tubby said, with a sigh that seemed to well up from the very +bottom of his heart, "I'll be pleased when this ride is over; +because--well, I've got good reasons for thinking I'll be happier at +home again. Fact is, I'm all hooped up astraddling that big plug you got +for me, Rob. Makes me think of the bow-legged floor walker who waddled +up to a lady entering the store, and said: 'Silks? Certainly, madam; +walk this way, please,' and then ambled off. They say she nearly +fainted, and complained to the management that she had been insulted. I +expect to 'walk that way' for some time yet, till I get my proper shape +back again." + +"Oh! you'll be able to take it easy after this, Tubby," Merritt assured +him. + +"Yes," Rob added, "chances are that we'll be able to ride with General +Villa all the way back to Juarez, where he seems to be bound right now. +If they manage to get the engine of this train working again you might +ride aboard if you don't feel like keeping to the saddle with the rest +of us, Tubby." + +"Didn't you notice that when he said so pompously that he'd pay for the +cattle of his good friend Dr. Matthews, he slapped the side of his coat, +as though he might have a pocket chuck full of greenbacks?" Tubby asked +them. + +"That's right, he did," assented Andy; "but let me warn you, brother, if +it turns out to be rebel currency, don't you take it. And I'd likewise +fight shy of real Mexican paper money; because if the other side wins, +it won't be worth the paper it's printed on. Make him shell out in +American cash or English coin stuff, but no pesos, Tubby." + +"I'll be smart enough for that, and don't you forget it, Andy; thanking +you for the tip all the same," the fat scout replied, nodding his head +with the air of a shrewd business man who is about to make a big +bargain, and does not mean to be over-reached by sharp practice. + +The boys readily saw that Villa was what Andy called a "hustler," for +he soon had men busy examining the engine of the stalled train; and from +the way in which they went to work it became evident that they must be +mechanics accustomed to machinery. + +"What's the good word, Lopez?" Andy called out, as the Mexican guide was +hurrying past, possibly on an errand for the general, whom he appeared +proud to serve. "Is there any chance that the old heap of junk that +stands for an engine on this road these days will ever puff again and +pull a train?" + +"Si, señor, and before many hours have passed at that," came the +reassuring reply, accompanied with a smirk and a shrug of the shoulders. +"General Villa he has brought order out of chaos, and these wretched +people who are heading for Juarez may soon be on their way. Most of them +have already paid a heavy tribute to the rebel commanders for the +privilege of leaving Chihuahua, and they have just been shouting bravos +because the General assured them all would soon be well." + +"He's a smart, wide-awake man, all right," asserted Tubby, who of course +felt drawn toward the rebel chieftain. Had not General Villa called +them "_amigos_," and was he not already pledged to purchase the herds of +Uncle Mark's abandoned cattle ranch in Chihuahua State at the fairest +possible price? + +"Now I understand why some of these people hated to leave the cars, even +when told that it was dangerous to stay," said Rob. "They are fleeing +across to Texas, and carrying a lot of valuables with them, meaning to +keep out of Mexico as long as the rival factions are fighting and +destroying property everywhere. When the Federals find any one whose +sympathies are with the other side they run off his stock, seize him, +and make him pay all the tribute possible in order to spare his life. On +the other hand, the rebels do just the same thing with all the wealthy +people of Chihuahua who are believed to be for Huerta and his +government. Why, they say that the Terrazas family own half the State, +mines, ranches and all! But Villa has seized the whole thing, and will +sell to any buyer. I heard it said an American syndicate had already +offered him six million dollars for the lot; which was taking big +chances of the success of this uprising." + +"Perhaps that is where he is getting the money he expects to pay Uncle +Mark," suggested Tubby. "If it is in American bills, I'll believe so, +too." + +"Oh, they're taking in stacks and stacks of money, I heard one man say +up in El Paso," Merritt remarked. "Ever since the rebels have come into +possession of Chihuahua City they have squeezed the rich, taken +possession of all kinds of paying businesses, like banks, laundries and +groceries, started working the mines and getting the crude gold and +silver to make into bullion; and altogether milked the cow like good +fellows. They use this money to pay their soldiers, buy arms and get +them across on the sly, and ditto ammunition. If our Government ever +lets the rebels buy openly, there'll be big business along the Rio +Grande, because they're taking in plenty of hard cash." + +"But what d'ye reckon they'll do with that miserable lot of prisoners +coming this way now, in charge of guards?" Andy asked. All of them +glanced with a feeling akin to pity at the four men who, with drooping +heads, were marching past, half a dozen armed rebels accompanying them. + +"Well, there's so much bitterness shown between the Federals and the +rebels nowadays," Rob said, "that I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they +stood each one of those poor fellows up against a rock and gave him a +volley! It costs money to feed prisoners, and what's the use bothering? +That seems to be the motto of these men, who are not brought up to +civilized methods of fighting. Anyhow, I'd hate to stand in the shoes of +any one of that bunch, let me tell you." + +"They seem to know just what's going to happen to them pretty soon," +continued Andy. "You can see how they hang their heads and walk along as +if they didn't care a snap whether school kept or not. I guess you hit +the nail right on the head when you said what you did, Rob! Perhaps +they're on the way to execution now!" + +"Whew!" gasped Tubby, a look of pity crossing his good-natured face, "if +that's so I mean to stick my fingers in my ears so I won't hear the +volley. Why, it would be sure to haunt me all the years of my happy +natural life. Poor fellers! I'd like to put in a word for the lot with +Villa; but I'm afraid he wouldn't stand for our meddling with his +business; and it might queer my other game, too, which I'd hate to have +broken up." + +"Hello! what does this mean, boys?" suddenly exclaimed Andy. + +One of the four dejected-looking prisoners, at sound of the boys' +voices, had raised his head. They had a glimpse of a dirty face and +streaming hair. Even as they stared, this fellow broke out of the line, +sprang forward toward the four Boy Scouts, and throwing himself down on +his knees in front of them, clasped his hands convulsively together, as +he almost shrieked: + +"Save me, Rob Blake. Oh! don't let them shoot me! I'll promise anything +if only you get me off with your friend, General Villa! Oh! Rob, help +me, please!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +AGAIN UNDER THE FOLDS OF "OLD GLORY." + + +The four boys were so utterly astonished when this Mexican soldier made +his appeal in excellent English, calling Rob directly by name, that they +could hardly catch their breath for the moment. + +"Oh! don't you know me--Merritt, Andy, Tubby,--your old schoolmate, +Jared Applegate? For the sake of the good old days save me from being +shot by these human wolves! I've got an old father and mother up home in +Hampton, you know! Think what a shock it would be to them to hear what +had happened to their boy. Save me, Rob! You can do it, because I heard +General Villa promise you anything you asked!" + +The four scouts recognized him now, though never more taken aback in all +their lives. When last they saw this young fellow, who had indeed lived +near Hampton,--his father being a crabbed old farmer who hated the very +name of Boy Scouts,--Jared had been hand-in-glove with some foreign +plotters who meant to blow up the locks of the gigantic Panama Canal. +As narrated in the preceding volume, Rob and his intimate chums were +largely instrumental in preventing this terrible crime from being +carried out; and at that time young Jared had managed to escape, while +the chief conspirators were captured. + +Indeed, the scouts had forgotten that there had been such a fellow as +Jared Applegate in the wide world; and now to have him turn up +unexpectedly like this, with a frantic appeal for them to save his life +on account of those old schoolboy days, was certainly staggering. + +They turned and looked at each other, while the guard who had followed +after the prisoner-of-war waited to see what would happen, seeming to +realize that this fellow must know the American lads who were so high in +the good graces of the commander. + +"It is Jared, as sure as shooting!" ejaculated Tubby, staring as though +he had just seen a ghost. + +"They say bad pennies always turn up again," observed Andy; "and I +reckon Jared is about as tough a case as you could find." + +Rob and Merritt did not say anything along those lines. They could not +add to the burden under which it was plain the wretched youth was +already staggering. And so Jared continued to wring his hands, kneeling +there and waiting to hear the scout master, whom he knew so well, say +whether he would lift his hand to help him, or simply turn aside and let +things take their course. + +"But how does it come that we find you here, and wearing the uniform of a +Mexican Regular?" Rob asked him. + +"The last we saw of you, remember, was on the Isthmus, where you played +a low-down trick on us," Tubby interjected. + +"Yes; and after I managed to get away from there I drifted to Mexico, +because I was ashamed to go back home. I expected that you'd tell +everybody what a fool I'd been, working with men who hated the United +States and wanted to injure the Canal. Then I took the oath of +allegiance to Mexico and entered the army because there wasn't anything +else I could do. And now the rebels have captured me, they mean to stand +me up against a wall and murder me! Oh! Rob, please get me off! You can +do it if you will. It's up to you whether I'm killed or not! You +wouldn't care to think of that always, would you?" + +"Well, I don't like you any too much, Jared, because of what you've done +in the past," Rob said slowly; "and when you try to put the whole thing +on my shoulders you're on the wrong tack, because I haven't had a single +thing to do with it. But I can't forget that you _are_ a Hampton boy, +bad as you've always been. If I should manage to get General Villa to +let you go, what would you do?" + +"Get over the line the first thing," replied Jared promptly, showing +that this must have been on his mind for some time. "I meant to desert +any way, just as soon as I saw a chance to get clear. I've been treated +like a dog down here, and hate the whole country as well as the dagoes +in it. But, Rob, promise to help me, won't you? Here comes General Villa +now to see what it all means. Tell him I'm not going to lift a hand +against him again. I was forced into it this time." + +"Well, I'll see what I can do, Jared," Rob told the shivering wretch; +"but don't feel too sure that it'll come out as you wish. General Villa +is very bitter toward all of the men serving under Huerta; and I chance +to know he hates to find a foreigner in the ranks of the Government +troops." + +As the fighting general of the revolutionists came up, Rob started in to +tell him about Jared, and how he was from the same town away up on Long +Island that the other boys called home. He did not whisper a word about +what Jared had done in connection with that Canal conspiracy; for he +seemed to know that such a thing would be apt to set Villa's mind +against the young chap. + +"Since you say that he is from your town," the general observed, after +Rob had made his plea, "and was once a friend of yours, why, I will +agree to let him go free on condition that he crosses the river to Texas +without delay. Will you promise to see that this compact is carried out, +young señor?" + +There was nothing for Rob to do but agree, though he knew that this +would mean he must stand the company of Jared until such time as they +reached Juarez, and could cross to the other side of the Rio Grande. But +he could not find it in his generous heart to abandon the wretched +fellow, little as the other deserved mercy at his hands. + +General Villa, before hurrying away, said a few words to the guard, who +went back to the other prisoners and left Jared with the scouts. He +began to pour out his thanks, having been in a state of abject terror; +but Rob quickly put a stop to this. + +"Words are cheap, Jared, you understand," he said, "and actions speak a +great deal louder all the time. If you're really thankful for what we've +done for you, show it by turning over a new leaf, and doing something +that you'd be proud to have the home folks in old Hampton hear about." + +"I mean to, Rob," whined the other boy; "this here has been a terrible +lesson to me; and after this you don't catch me in any more games like +I've been meddlin' with lately. Some day, mebbe, you'll hear about Jared +Applegate doing a big thing. I'm a changed boy, I tell you, Rob, sure I +am!" + +But Rob felt that he "would have to be shown" before he could believe in +any reformation on the part of Jared Applegate. And more than that, he +duly warned his three chums that under no circumstances should they let +fall a hint regarding the true nature of their mission to Mexico while +Jared was in their company. He hoped the other had not guessed anything +along those lines as yet; for Rob believed that if Jared knew they were +carrying back a large sum of money, such as General Villa meant to hand +over to Tubby in payment for his friend's cattle, it would be a great +temptation to the weak boy, who might even plot to steal it while they +slept. + +The engine belonging to the stalled train was finally fixed, so that it +could again draw the long line of cars. Being desirous of taking his men +to Juarez as quickly as possible, on account of some _coup_ he expected +to make, Villa had most of them crowd aboard and on top of the train +that was ready to start, some being left to engage in the work of +rebuilding the burned bridge as soon as possible. + +Before he left the scouts, General Villa had another interview with +them. + +"Fortunately," he told the boys, "I know just about the number of head +of cattle there happens to be on Dr. Matthews' ranch right now, because +my men have been on guard there to protect it against all danger. And I +have figured it out that if I send him seventy-five thousand American +dollars it will cover the bill. This I now take pleasure in handing over +to you, as the nephew of my old friend, the man who saved Pancho +Villa's life. Sign this receipt, all of you, as the custodians of the +fund, so that I may have something to show. I shall sometimes think of +you, boys, for you are after my own heart. I shall immediately send men +to fetch my cattle to camp, so that my army may be fed. This money comes +from honest sources, tell Dr. Matthews. It is the advance payment made +by an American company for some of the property held by traitors to the +cause in Chihuahua, and which they can never own again while Villa or +his cause lives. That is all, for I must be gone." + +He shook hands with every one of the four boys, but drew the line at +Jared, for whom he evidently felt only contempt and distrust. Whether it +was an honor, or not, to press the hand of this rebel leader must always +be an open question in the minds of the scouts, because they had heard +many terrible stories about his cruelty, as well as others concerning +his rare ability as a leader of men. But at least, it would be something +to remember and to tell the other lads in Hampton when they reached home +again. + +Jared had not been close enough to overhear what was said at the time +the package of bills was turned over, and Tubby had been careful to +secrete it at once; so they hoped that the wretched traitor to his +country knew nothing about it. + +When Tubby found a chance, he turned the packet over to Rob for safe +keeping. + +"I managed to count it, Rob, on the sly," he whispered; "and just as +Villa said, there's a full seventy-five thousand dollars there in big +bills. Just to think of us carrying a whole fortune around like that! +But after you've sewed it in the lining of your coat, where that letter +was, I guess there'll be no danger." + +"More from Jared than anybody else," warned Rob; "so make sure not to +drop a hint." + +"Mum's the word," agreed Tubby with a set look on his face. "And say, I +hope we take things easy going all the way to Juarez again. No need for +hurrying, is there?" + +"No, not anything that would worry us," Rob replied; "though I won't +rest easy until we've handed this money over to a bank, and got a draft +for it. And I'll see if I can fix you a more comfortable seat by using +your blanket in four thicknesses. I managed to get a horse for Jared, so +we'll be able to ride in company. We'll feed him and take him along to +Juarez; but under no circumstances must he be allowed to join in our +talk." + +Lopez again took charge of the expedition, and they headed north, +satisfied with the result of their adventurous ride into Mexico. They +carried a paper from Villa that would serve to pass them, should they +come upon any detachment of roving rebels. If raiding Federals appeared, +they would have to gallop for it, or fight them off. + +But fortune was kind, and they finally arrived safely in the vicinity of +Juarez. Their paper allowed them to cross the international bridge, +which has been the scene of so many stirring events of late years; and +every Boy Scout was thrilled to the heart when he once more realized +that he stood on American soil and under the protecting folds of "Old +Glory." They gathered around Rob and gave three cheers and a tiger for +General Villa, toward whom, naturally enough, all of the boys were +feeling warmly, because he had shown himself their good friend. + +One of the first things Tubby did, after the money had been turned over +to a bank, was to send a long message over the wire, directed to Uncle +Mark, telling of their great good fortune, and asking that the home +folks of the other boys be informed of the fact that they were all well, +and headed for home. + +Jared Applegate was permitted to go, with a sum of money in his pocket +and many protestations of gratitude on his lips, which the scouts "took +with a grain of allowance," as the old saying is. Then they shook hands +with faithful Lopez, whom they would always remember, and were ready to +start on the long journey toward home. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +ON TO WASHINGTON! + + +"Now, fellers," said Tubby, drawing a long sigh as, business over, Rob +pulled out a railroad guide, "the time has come to spring a surprise on +you. I've nearly burst trying to keep it a secret." + +Tubby sighed again and took another "Mexican kiss" from the candy box in +his hand. + +"Have one, Andy? Help yourself, Merritt. Just hold this box a minute, +Rob," he continued indistinctly as his heavy jaws met on the sticky, +nutty mouthful. + +"No more for me, thank you," replied Andy with a little gesture of +refusal. "Just about one makes a satisfactory between-meal, in my +opinion." + +"None for me," rejoined Merritt, also. "I have barely succeeded in +washing off the sticky traces of my last 'kiss.'" + +"But what is the surprise, Tubby?" demanded Rob, keeping his finger in +the folded time table as he accommodatingly held the box. + +"Come over to this bench in the shade," directed Tubby importantly, "and +I will unveil the mystery!" + +The boys winked amusedly at one another as they followed Tubby. They +expected nothing more serious than a joke, and Rob was a little +impatient at the interruption. + +"I couldn't tell you at first," Tubby went on, sinking upon the seat as +the boys reached it, "because Uncle Mark told me to say nothing until we +were ready to leave Mexico. And then I didn't dare share the news so +long as Jared was around. But now----" + +Tubby paused dramatically, and drew out of an inner pocket a sealed +envelope that bulged invitingly. This he turned over several times, +apparently in an absent manner, and then looked up to see how the boys +were taking it. + +"What in the world----" began Andy wonderingly. + +"Out with it, Tubby!" cried Rob. "I'm in a hurry to look up the first +train that leaves here, going our way." + +"You needn't hurry," replied Tubby deliberately. "We shall not leave +until the evening train for the north." + +"Come, Tubby," urged Merritt, "what is up your sleeve?" + +"Oh, it is in my hand now," said Tubby teasingly. "Now listen, fellers! +When Uncle Mark bought our tickets, he secured them through a friend who +is in a big touring agency, you know. Instead of buying +straight-through, round-trip tickets, he got the return set with +stop-over privileges, and had a little private itinerary arranged for +us. + +"We leave El Paso to-night and have an hour or two in Albuquerque +to-morrow morning, before we take the train east. Beyond that, I know no +more than the rest of you,--but here goes!" + +With a quick motion, Tubby tore open the sealed envelope and took out +four long combination tickets, and a typewritten list of directions. + +"Here, Rob, you read them to us," he said, handing over the paper. + +"This gives us stop-overs at Albuquerque, St. Louis and Washington," +remarked Rob, glancing hastily at the items. "Each stop is for less than +a day, and we travel every night. Hurray for Uncle Mark!" + +"And a tiger!" added Andy enthusiastically. + +"And many _bravos_," supplemented Merritt, his eyes shining at the +prospect. "I have always wanted to visit Washington, but, with all our +travels, we have managed to skip straight to our destinations without +stopping anywhere." + +"At this rate," commented Andy, "it will take us a good deal longer to +get home!" + +"Even so," agreed Tubby. "But who is in a hurry now? Give them time to +finish their repairs on the old Academy, Andy." + +That evening, as arranged, the four boys took the train from El Paso. As +they sat on the observation platform for an hour before turning in, Rob +remarked: + +"Do you realize that we have been in the largest state in the +Union,--Texas? I can't appreciate it, for we have seen such a little +portion of the northwest corner. They say that El Paso, high and dry, is +the most isolated of the larger cities, and that irrigation has done +much to increase its products and its population." + +"I was surprised to learn that it is an important station on at least +five big railway lines," added Merritt. + +"But we have used the city in its most particular capacity," interjected +Tubby proudly. "You know it is called 'the doorway to Mexico'!" + +"And I guess that we are not very sorry to be on this side of the door!" +commented Andy with a nod of his head. + +All that night the train rumbled northward, never departing far from the +course of the Rio Grande, as if following it toward its source. And when +the boys awoke they were approaching Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they +were to breakfast and to spend some time before making their east-bound +connections. + +"Whoop-ee! Look at the gay buildings!" cried Tubby, thrusting his head +out of the car window as the train slowed down. "Is that what you'd call +modified adobe architecture?" + +"You may wish to modify that statement later," remarked Merritt dryly, +"so I will pull you in before you lose the top of your think-tank." + +"All ready, boys?" called Rob briskly. "All out for breakfast!" + +"Right here," replied Tubby promptly. "Hope we'll have a good one." + +"We shall. The chain of restaurants along this line has a great +reputation," Rob rejoined, smiling at Tubby's eagerness. "Got +everything, Andy?" + +The four boys and a few fellow passengers, likewise eastward bound, +alighted from the train as soon as it had stopped and took a bee-line +for the dining-room, scarcely noticing their unique surroundings. But +after even Tubby had pronounced his breakfast amply satisfying, the boys +stepped outside with eyes and ears open for new impressions. + +As they strolled along the broad, low piazza of the long Alvarado, Tubby +peered through the arched sides toward the railroad. + +"See the procession of Indians!" he ejaculated. "They are wearing all +the clothes they own and carrying the rest of their worldly possessions +on their heads!" + +Andy laughed outright at this observation. "Did you ever see such clumsy +legs?" he chuckled. "They are padded like a football player's." + +"Worse!" commented Merritt, joining the discussion. "And those are +women, too." + +At that moment the line of approaching Indians broke into several +groups. + +Each woman squatted down on the edge of the sidewalk leading to the main +entrance of the Indian Building, and spread about her the baskets and +pottery which she had been carrying on her head. + +The few Indian men who had sauntered on before the procession lounged +nonchalantly against the arches near the doorway, gazing at their women +in superior disdain. + +As the boys approached, the men merely looked at them from under the +black locks that straggled almost into their eyes; but the women rose +clumsily to their feet, pulled their big plaid shawls more closely about +their heads, and hastened to offer their wares. + +"By the way, fellers," said Tubby quietly, turning to the other boys, +"Uncle Mark said to tell you to pick up some souvenirs and he would foot +the bill. In fact, he gave me another sealed envelope marked +'Incidentals,' and I found four ten-dollar bills in it when I opened it +last night. So go ahead, and select some things for the home folks." + +"Tubby, your uncle is certainly all right!" exclaimed Andy. + +"Well, he is some grateful, you know," returned Tubby. + +"We won't refuse such a chance," remarked Rob appreciatively, "and I see +a basket right now that would look fine on my mother's sewing table." + +"Let's go inside and look around first," suggested Merritt. "It looks +like a museum in there." + +For the next hour the boys were absorbed in the interesting things +displayed in the various sections of the Indian Building. + +"Jiminy," cried Andy, as he caught sight of a bark canoe suspended from +the ceiling, "there is the genuine article, all right!" + +"Doesn't that rug make you think of a cozy den at home, Rob?" added +Merritt a moment later. + +"It is the very thing that a fellow likes,--red and black with a white +design," rejoined Rob. "And there's a little one with the swastika on +it; just right to throw over the foot of the couch." + +"What is the 'swastika'?" inquired Andy. + +"Oh, it is a good-luck sign. If you look, you will find it in a great +many rugs and blankets, and it is often woven into the baskets, too." + +"I wonder if this zig-zag pattern means anything?" asked Tubby, pointing +a chubby finger at a large rug that lay on the floor. + +"I've heard that that stands for lightning," Rob answered. "You know all +savage people have a great respect for the mysteries of nature." + +"What do I hear?" exclaimed Andy, halting suddenly. + +"It is a baby whimpering!" cried Tubby. "Of all things! There must be a +papoose somewhere around!" + +"Over here, boys," called Merritt, motioning toward the farther corner +of the room. The boys hastened to follow him and found a little alcove, +shut off by draped blankets and enclosed by a slender wooden gateway. +Through the wide slats of this, they discovered an Indian woman kneeling +on a fur rug and busily weaving a brilliant blanket on an upright loom. +Just beyond the mother, a little dark-skinned girl was peeping shyly at +them, one finger lost between her lips. And in the background, propped +against a roll of blankets, was the wailing papoose, securely wrapped +and bound upon a board-cradle in typical and traditional Indian fashion. + +As the boys looked in at this picturesque exhibition of family life, a +tall, lank Indian man sauntered up and muttered a few authoritative +words to the woman at the loom. She stopped her work and went over to +the child, trying to hush its cries by shaking a string of bright beads +before it. + +"Huh!" grunted Tubby, looking after the departing man. "He only wanted +us to see that he was 'big chief' here! Huh!" + +When the east-bound train stopped at Albuquerque an hour later, each one +of the boys had purchased a few small souvenirs. Rob had the tiny square +rug of Navajo weaving that had caught his eye, a round, almost flat +workbasket, and a little pair of bead-embroidered moccasins. + +Merritt and Andy had selected a few inexpensive, gaudily decorated +gourds and strings of beads for their boy friends. At the last moment, +Tubby decided to burden himself with what he considered an artistic bit +of pottery. Rob warned him that vases and jugs and urns were breakable, +but Tubby persisted in bargaining for the piece that he had chosen. + +"Two dolla'," the woman who held it said as he hesitated beside her. + +"No, no. _One_ dolla'," Tubby offered. + +"One dolla'," the woman agreed; and then as Tubby extended his hand for +the vase and gave her the money, the woman drew back and said +frowningly, "No, no! _Two_ dolla'!" + +At this Tubby seized his purchase and rather inelegantly rejoined, "Not +on your life!" as he made off for the car. + +At St. Louis the boys were glad to break the long railway journey and to +visit the places noted in the itinerary that Dr. Matthews had provided. +This included an automobile ride about the city, which gave them an +excellent idea of its arrangement, its fine system of parks and its +public buildings. At the end of the ride they felt quite ready to follow +the next suggestion, which directed them to a popular restaurant. And +after luncheon they still had time to walk across the great bridge that +spans the Mississippi and to return by ferry, before their train was due +to depart for Washington. + +They reached the National City early in the morning, and here, too, they +were advised by their typewritten directions to save time by taking a +sight-seeing automobile and sitting near the "personal conductor" of the +car in order to view quickly the important sections of Washington. + +Having engaged their seats, the four boys sat in the big machine and +studied diligently the map of the city and the guide books that they had +bought at the station, until the usual hour for the daily morning trip +arrived. Then, eagerly interested, they gave their whole attention to +the vistas that opened momentarily before them and to the descriptions +that interpreted the sights. They made many mental notes of places that +they would like to see again: the Capitol, the Congressional Library, +the Smithsonian Institute, the Washington Monument, the White House and +a dozen other interesting buildings. But when the ride was over, they +decided to accept the advice on the touring agent's list and spend most +of their remaining time in the Capitol and Congressional Library. + +"We'll engage a guide here," said Rob as they ran up the broad flight of +steps leading to the western entrance of the Capitol. "I know that it is +the customary thing to do, and it will save a lot of time, too." + +Scarcely had they entered the Rotunda before a blue-uniformed attendant +approached them and offered his services, and no time was lost in making +a start. + +The historical paintings gave the guide the text for his opening speech, +and from then to the end of the trip the boys followed him closely and +listened to his explanations with keen interest. + +Coming so recently from scenes of civil strife, the scouts had a new +respect for the torn and soiled battle flags that they saw, and for the +significant paintings that illustrated scenes of martial victory. + +"I'll bet Cornwallis hated to give up," ejaculated Tubby thoughtfully, +as he gazed at the picture of the surrender at Yorktown. + +"We don't often think of his feelings when we remember our victory," +responded Rob, "but it is just as well to know that there are two points +of view for every crisis." + +"This way, please," called the guide, and the boys hurried after him +into the Statuary Hall. + +While Tubby stood lost in contemplation before a statue of Daniel +Webster, the guide led Andy quietly out of sight behind another marble +figure. + +"Now whisper a message to your friend," directed the guide softly. + +"Hey, Tubby, how would you like to be the man on the pedestal?" +whispered Andy, seeing that there was some joke in store for his fat +chum. + +Tubby whirled around quickly at the question, and looked vastly +surprised not to find Andy at his elbow. + +"Where are you?" he asked, bewildered. + +Andy chuckled softly and, at a nod from the smiling guide, whispered, +"This side of the Rio Grande!" + +"Where _is_ Andy, fellers?" questioned Tubby, looking at Rob and +Merritt. "Honest, his voice sounded right in my ear!" + +At that Andy stepped into view, and the guide explained that the hall +had the properties of a "whispering gallery," and that half his fun in +life came through playing this simple trick on unsuspecting visitors. + +"It is a good trick, all right," admitted Tubby, grinning, "and I won't +hold it against you, Mr. Guide!" + +From this room,--in Daniel Webster's day the Hall of +Representatives,--the boys were led to the doors of the present +legislative chambers and permitted brief views of the imposing desks, +arranged in semi-circular rows, at which the men sent from all over the +nation sit in long sessions of serious deliberation. On the day of the +scouts' visit, Congress was not in session and there was nothing to +prevent the boys from peopling the empty seats with men of their own +imagination. + +"Some day maybe you and Merritt will sit there," said Tubby to Rob. + +"Why not you, Tubby?" asked Merritt quickly. + +"Oh, me?" questioned the fat boy in alarm. "This is no place for me. +Give me a good steady job that I can keep at till it's _finished_. +Perhaps _I'll_ join the Secret Service!" And Tubby patted the pocket +where the odd shaving lay. + +After lingering briefly in admiration before the paintings that adorned +these rooms and the statues that punctuated the long corridors, the +guide conducted the boys to the foot of the stairs that led to the lofty +dome above the Rotunda. + +"Better not hurry," he cautioned them, glancing at Tubby's bulk. "There +are three hundred and nineteen steps between us and the top gallery." + +"I'm game," said Tubby quickly. "Come on, fellers. It can't be so bad as +horseback riding in Mexico!" + +When about two-thirds of the way up, the guide halted the boys to +demonstrate a second "whispering gallery," and there he placed Rob and +Merritt sixty-five feet apart to enjoy a private conversation! Tubby +refused to be convinced without a trial himself, so he and Andy tested +the acoustic properties of the gallery until they were satisfied that +the guide's claims were well founded. + +When they reached the highest point available within the dome, Rob made +a discovery. + +"Boys, will you look at that mess of color over your heads? From 'way +down below I thought that was a very beautiful painting!" + +"And so it is," put in the guide. + +"One of the kind where 'distance lends enchantment,'" commented Merritt, +gazing at the thick patches of paint on the ceiling above them. + +"That is quite right," said the guide. "This painting was put here to be +seen from the floor of the Rotunda, and that is one hundred and eighty +feet below." + +"Jiminy," ejaculated Tubby, "our heads must look like mere specks to the +people who are looking up here now!" + +"And the people down there look like flies and ants scuttering around," +added Andy with his usual chuckle, as he peered over the lofty railing. + +On the way down, the attendant showed the boys a fine view from the +dome, and pointed out many of the prominent buildings and towers that +they had already passed in their morning's ride. + +As they paid the excellent guide in thanks as well as coin and went out +of the great eastern portico, Tubby patted the front of his coat +suggestively. + +"Fellers, my feelings tell me that it is long past noon," he said. + +Rob pulled out his watch. + +"For once your feelings are to be trusted, Tubby. It is one o'clock. +We'll get a hasty lunch nearby and try to visit both the Library and the +Monument this afternoon." + +An hour passed, however, before the boys were again free to go +sight-seeing. In Washington, distances are deceptive and time flies. + +"Well, which shall it be, boys?" asked Rob. "It is two o'clock, and we +have two hours before we must start for the station." + +"Let's make it the Monument," suggested Merritt. + +"Agreed," said the others. + +"And we'll ask this policeman the quickest way to get there," added Rob, +jumping after a passing uniform. + +The man pointed out a coming street car, gave them a few definite +directions, and the boys were off once more. + +At the Monument luck favored them again, for they were just in time to +catch an ascending elevator. In spite of all that they had seen, they +were greatly surprised at the extent and the beauty of the view from the +top of the tall shaft. It was fortunately a clear day and they could +trace easily the glint of the broad Potomac for many miles. + +"Time to be moving if we walk down," said Rob, after they had tried to +locate everything visible in the panorama spread out before them. + +"We must walk down," urged Merritt. "There is so much to see in the rare +stones and relics set all the way down in the inside of the tower +walls,--so I've been told." + +"If we read all the inscriptions it will take too much time," warned +Rob, "but we can spend half an hour more here." + +At the end of that time the boys emerged from the lofty shaft with a +feeling that they had been on a long journey. From all over the world +had come the mementos that they had just seen,--from foreign +battlegrounds, from fields of exploration, and from places of historic +sentiment. + +"That was as good as a lesson in 'Ancient and Modern History,'" claimed +Tubby, reluctant to go. + +"Yes, but now let's beat it to the station," Andy urged, "or we'll miss +our train." + +"Should you care if we missed it, boys?" asked Rob, stopping +deliberately and facing them. + +"What do you mean?" inquired Merritt. + +"Just this: We have purposely refrained from giving our folks the exact +date of our coming home, and this itinerary does not bind us to any +definite train. Why not get a glimpse of the Smithsonian Institute, +visit the Congressional Library this evening and take the midnight +sleeper for New York? Then we can walk in at home soon after breakfast +is over to-morrow morning and surprise everybody. What do you say?" + +"We say 'Yes'!" chimed in the three other voices. + +"It is a great idea," Merritt added. "They say that the Library is +really wonderful at night." + +And this was the program decided upon and carried out effectively. Tubby +and Andy were perhaps more enthusiastic over the collections in the +Institute than over the color decorations in the Library; but Rob and +Merritt observed no lack of interest, their own pleasure in everything +being so complete. + +It was a tired quartette of scouts who tumbled into their berths that +night half an hour before the "owl train" pulled out of Washington, but +not one of them thought of complaining of their weariness. They were +more than satisfied at the delightful ending of their hasty flight to +Mexico. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +TUBBY SOLVES THE MYSTERY. + + +"Well, I've got some great news for you, fellers!" Tubby exclaimed as he +came panting into Rob's den, where Andy and Merritt were comfortably +coiled in easy chairs, about a week after they had returned home from +their eventful trip down across the Rio Grande. + +"Another accident happened to the poor old Academy, just when they've +got the unlucky building fit for school! And perhaps a lovely journey +for us, away across the continent this time to Sunny California!" +suggested Andy, sitting up suddenly with a look of eagerness on his +boyish face. + +Tubby shook his head in the negative. + +"You're no good at guessing, Andy; perhaps now, Rob, here, or our +corporal, might hew closer to the line." + +Rob had been looking at the excited, triumphant face of the fat chum. He +remembered what a great fellow Tubby was to hang on to anything, just +like a bulldog might, and there flashed into his mind how he had once +caught Tubby looking at a certain little object which he had carried +carefully with him all the way to Mexico and back. + +"You've struck something new about that boat business, that's what, +Tubby!" he cried, pointing his finger at the other. + +"Oh! say, that is hardly fair," grumbled Tubby. "I expected to have you +all up in the air guessing; and here Rob goes and hits the facts the +very first pop." + +"Then you've made a discovery, is that it, Tubby?" asked Merritt. + +"I should say I had, and in the most remarkable way ever heard of," the +stout scout declared. "Talk about your luck--but then, if I hadn't been +prepared and kept my eyes open, it wouldn't have happened, that's what. +Yes, sir, it pays to have eyes in your head, and some gray matter in +your brain, if I do say it myself that oughtn't. Remember that, Andy +Bowles, and don't think you're doing your whole duty as a scout when you +just blow that bugle of yours now and then." + +"Oh! come, tell us what's happened, Tubby, and never mind about me," +suggested Andy with a broad grin. For it was like putting the cart +before the horse to have clumsy, good-natured, but careless Tubby tell +another boy how to prove himself worthy of bearing the name of scout. + +"All right, I won't keep you wondering too long," Tubby continued, being +in reality just wild to relate his story. "You all remember how, when I +picked up that little curled shaving floating on the water that was in +Rob's sailboat, and noticed how it had a queer raised ridge running all +along, I said that the bit that had been used to bore that round hole +must have a good-sized nick in each of the two cutting edges? Well, I +was right; it has!" + +"Then you prowled around, and poked into everybody's tool-chest till you +found such a bit, did you?" demanded Andy. + +"I meant to," admitted Tubby, "but so many things have kept coming up +since our getting back from Mexico that it just seemed as though I +couldn't make a start. But only this very morning I told myself I'd get +busy, and see if I couldn't wipe that old mystery off the slate. Then +that wonderful streak of good luck ran slap up against me, and I took +advantage of my opportunity. Every true scout has to grab a golden +chance when it comes along, Andy; you know that?" + +"Oh! go on, and quit your preaching," grunted the other scout. + +"Well, I was walking along the main street of Hampton just half an hour +ago, and all at once I happened to spy just such an object as I had in +my mind right then. It was a carpenter's brace, and was carried under +the arm of a man I immediately recognized as Jacob Ramsay." + +"H'm! the father of that bad boy, Max Ramsay," exclaimed Merritt, with a +wise nod of the head, as though he already knew what was coming. + +"Of course," continued Tubby, "that interested me a heap, and I wondered +why he was carrying a brace with him. Then he went into the hardware +store. That made me think quick, and so I hurried after him. Just as I +got inside, I heard him saying something to the dealer about his largest +bit having been badly nicked some months ago when he was cutting into a +heavy plank that had a lot of rusty nails in it, and that he wanted a +duplicate; also, that he'd fetched the bit along so as to make sure the +new one fitted." + +"Fine, Tubby!" exclaimed Rob laughingly. "You'd surely make a pretty +good detective. Wouldn't he, fellows?" + +"Well, I know that he's got a splendid detector for any kind of grub +that is lying around," Andy declared; "but I never before thought he +could follow up a clew that didn't have the odor of cooking about it." + +"And here's the broken bit!" Tubby said triumphantly, as he drew +something out of his pocket and held it up. "Mr. Ramsay got his new one, +and never bothered taking the old bit off the counter, because it could +never be fixed again. And I asked the hardware man if he cared to let me +have it, which he said was all right. And now, Rob, here's that shaving +I've been lugging around with me ever so long; just make a try, and see +if that raised ridge fits the nicks in the cutting edges, will you?" + +"Surely I will, Tubby," replied the scout master, reaching out his hand +for the two articles, and all the others bent their heads closer to +watch the result. + +After Rob had made repeated trials it was manifest to everyone that they +were positively looking on the identical bit used in boring that hole +through the bottom of Rob's boat. The circumstantial evidence was as +complete as any that ever sent a criminal to the gallows or the electric +chair. + +"Well, what d'ye say, Rob?" demanded the fat scout eagerly. + +"Shake hands on it, Tubby," remarked Rob. "You've proved your case as +clean as a whistle, hasn't he, boys?" + +"No question about it," replied Merritt, also grasping the pudgy fist of +Tubby and giving it a squeeze that made the tears come to the boy's +eyes. + +"Looks as though you'd hit on the right borer of holes," admitted Andy, +"but now, what are you going to do about it, Tubby? The boat wasn't +lost, so you couldn't have Max arrested, charged with malicious +destruction of property. And I don't think you're contemplating giving +him a licking for being so mean, because that isn't in your line very +much--even if you weren't a scout and dassent!" + +"I'll tell you what I thought," said Tubby. "Rob, your boat had the +mischief done to it, not mine; I've only been the means of finding out +who played that low-down trick on you that might have cost us dear. +Suppose now you take this bit and curl of shaving, and confront Max. +Let him know you'll tell his father all about it unless he says he's +sorry and promises never to try such a contemptible thing again. I +reckon that is what a scout's duty would be in a case like this." + +"And you're right about that, Tubby," said Rob, secretly pleased to see +how seriously the other took the affair. "I'll accept the mission, with +many thanks to you for finding out what you did. It was a clever job all +around. Lots of fellows would have forgotten all about that shaving +weeks ago, but you've been keeping it on your mind right along. I even +saw you looking at it away down in Mexico, and I had a pretty good hunch +you'd run that rascal down sooner or later." + +Rob was as good as his word, and did astonish Max Ramsay one fine day by +confronting him with the evidence of his rascality, to the utter +consternation of the boy. Finding himself cornered, Max confessed that +he had done the deed, but he stoutly declared that he had not dreamed +that anything like danger would result. He knew that, if the water +suddenly poured into the boat when the plug was dislodged, no harm would +follow, because Rob could swim like a fish. + +He professed to be sorry, but Rob fancied that this was assumed more in +order to keep the other from informing his father, who was already angry +because of his many pranks about town, than from any compunction that he +felt. + +All the same there was considerable satisfaction to Tubby, Rob and the +other two scouts, because the mystery had been cleared up. It was +noticeable in the future, however, that none of those fellows would ever +go out sailing without first carefully inspecting the bottom of the +boat, to make sure that it had not been tampered with. + +Tubby still keeps that nicked bit, as well as the shaving and the plug +that filled the hole in the bottom of the sailboat, to remind him of +what happened that dull November afternoon when, with his three chums, +he was wrecked three miles up the bay from Hampton town. + +The roof of the Academy having been properly repaired and the interior +put in shape again, school was resumed, and in the pursuit of their +studies Rob and his friends did not find many opportunities to get +outdoors while the winter lasted, save on Saturdays and holidays, when +the sports of the season claimed their undivided attention. + +But the weekly meetings of Hampton Troop, led by the Eagle Patrol, +continued to be held in their old quarters; and frequently on other +nights Tubby, Rob, Andy and Merritt would get together in one of their +homes and talk of the great adventure that had come to them when +favoring circumstances allowed them to go all the way to Mexico. They +read of the rebel chieftain, whose name figured daily in the papers, +with far deeper interest than ever before, since they now had a personal +knowledge of the man whose warlike doings kept several nations on the +anxious seat. + +"That was a great experience, fellers," Tubby often sighed, after they +had gone over the familiar scenes again and again, always finding +something new to discuss; "and I'm afraid we'll never meet with such a +heap of good times again. It doesn't stand to reason that we'd ever be +that lucky, does it, now?" + +And, while the other three reluctantly conceded that Tubby might be +right, events proved just the contrary. The scouts of the Eagle Patrol +were fated to come across other still more unexpected adventures, such +as were calculated to call heavily upon their knowledge of scoutcraft, +in order that puzzles might be solved and dangers avoided. What these +experiences were the future only has the power to disclose. + +The boys often wondered what had become of Jared Applegate, whether he +really did make an effort to reform, or whether he fell back into his +old mean ways that seemed bound to get him into serious trouble +continually. So far as they knew, his father and mother had heard +nothing from him, though Rob thought it his duty to let the old people +know that they had seen Jared while down in Mexico, and that he was in +Texas when they came away, bent on seeking work on some cattle ranch. + +They did have a letter from Lopez, telling them that he had heard the +"call" and was about to enlist in the army under the wonderful Villa, +meaning to march with the general to take the City of Mexico later on. + +Uncle Mark grew steadily better after he knew that a part of his once +large fortune had been saved to him through the gratitude of the man +whose life he had once been enabled to keep from slipping away. But he +feared that never again would he be able to endure the severe labor and +perils of penetrating dense jungles and tropical forests in search of +rare orchids, or of exploring unknown countries. + +In the future the old traveler would have to be content to sit quietly +and take his pleasure in reading of the achievements of other daring +souls, who were still in the heyday of their vigorous manhood and +capable of enduring privations. + +He was deeply interested in all the doings of the Boy Scouts, seeing +that the movement was the greatest thing that had ever come to pass for +developing the finest American characteristics in the future men of the +republic. + +Hampton Troop never had a more enthusiastic admirer than Uncle Mark +became, and indeed, in all quarters now, the scouts gained a fine +reputation for courage, true manliness, and knowledge of the +thousand-and-one things a boy ought to know, if he expects to climb up +the ladder of advancement. At the time we take leave of our young +friends, the prospects of the scouts never looked so bright, and we +shall hear more of their adventures in the succeeding volume, entitled +"The Boy Scouts on Belgian Battlefields." + + +THE END. + + + + +_SAVE THE WRAPPER!_ + + +_If_ you have enjoyed reading about the adventures of the new friends +you have made in this book and would like to read more clean, wholesome +stories of their entertaining experiences, turn to the book jacket--on +the inside of it, a comprehensive list of Burt's fine series of +carefully selected books for young people has been placed for your +convenience. + + * * * * * + +_Orders for these books, placed with your bookstore or sent to the +Publishers, will receive prompt attention._ + + + + +FRANK ARMSTRONG SERIES + + +By MATTHEW M. COLTON + +[Illustration] + +Six Exceptional Stories of College Life, Describing Athletics from Start +to Finish. For Boys 10 to 15 Years. + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + POSTAGE 10c EXTRA + + Cloth Bound + _With Attractive Jackets in Colors._ + + FRANK ARMSTRONG'S VACATION + FRANK ARMSTRONG AT QUEENS + FRANK ARMSTRONG'S SECOND TERM + FRANK ARMSTRONG, DROP KICKER + FRANK ARMSTRONG, CAPTAIN OF THE NINE + FRANK ARMSTRONG AT COLLEGE + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + +Border Boys Series + + +By Fremont B. Deering + +[Illustration] + +Mexican and Canadian Frontier Stories for Boys 12 to 16 Years. + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + POSTAGE 10c EXTRA + + _With Individual Jackets in Colors._ + Cloth Bound + + BORDER BOYS ON THE TRAIL + BORDER BOYS ACROSS THE FRONTIER + BORDER BOYS WITH THE MEXICAN RANGERS + BORDER BOYS WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS + BORDER BOYS IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES + BORDER BOYS ALONG THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + +The Boy Troopers Series + + +BY CLAIR W. HAYES Author of the Famous "Boy Allies" Series. + +[Illustration] + +The adventures of two boys with the Pennsylvania State Police. +For Boys 12 to 16 Years. + + All Copyrighted Titles. + + Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs. + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + POSTAGE 10c EXTRA + + THE BOY TROOPERS ON THE TRAIL + THE BOY TROOPERS IN THE NORTHWEST + THE BOY TROOPERS ON STRIKE DUTY + THE BOY TROOPERS AMONG THE WILD MOUNTAINEERS + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + +Boys of the Royal Mounted Police Series + + +By MILTON RICHARDS + +[Illustration] + +A new series of stories of Adventure in the North Woods +For Boys 12 to 16 Years + + Handsome Cloth Binding + + DICK KENT WITH THE MOUNTED POLICE + Dick and his friend Sandy meet with ambush and desperate + hand-to-hand encounters while on a dangerous mission with the + Canadian Mounted Police. + + DICK KENT IN THE FAR NORTH + Outwitting the notorious outlaw "Bear" Henderson with the help of + Malemute Slade, the two boys discover the secret of a lost gold + mine. + DICK KENT WITH THE ESKIMOS + In their search, with the mounted police, for an escaped murderer, + Dick and Sandy have thrilling experiences with ice floes and animals + in the Arctic. + DICK KENT, FUR TRADER + On the trail with Corporal Rand, Dick Kent and his two associates + unravel the mystery of the fur thieves. + DICK KENT WITH THE MALEMUTE MAIL + Entrusted with the vaccine for an isolated trading post, Dick and his + friends win through in spite of incredible difficulties. + DICK KENT ON SPECIAL DUTY + Corporal Rand and his young recruits solve a mystery and find a + hidden treasure. + +====================================================================== + + A. L. BURT COMPANY, Publishers, 114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK + + + + +The Boy Allies + + + (Registered in the United States Patent Office) + With the Navy + + BY ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE + + [Illustration] + + For Boys 12 to 16 Years. All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + Postage 10c Extra + + Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American lads, meet each other + in an unusual way soon after the declaration of war. Circumstances place + them on board the British cruiser, "The Sylph," and from there on, they + share adventures with the sailors of the Allies. Ensign Robert L. Drake, + the author, is an experienced naval officer, and he describes admirably + the many exciting adventures of the two boys. + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or, Striking the First Blow + at the German Fleet. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or, Sweeping the Enemy from the + Sea. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or, The Naval Raiders of + the Great War. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; or, The Last Shot of + Submarine D-16. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or, The Vanishing Submarine. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Fields of Ice to Aid the + Czar. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTLAND; or, The Greatest Naval Battle of + History. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM'S CRUISERS; or, Convoying the + American Army Across the Atlantic. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or, The Fall of the Russian + Empire. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or, The Fall of the + German Navy. + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + +_The Boy Allies_ + + + (Registered in the United States Patent Office) + _With the Army_ + + BY CLAIR W. HAYES + + [Illustration] + + For Boys 12 to 16 Years. + + All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + + In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads unable to + leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the soldiers of the + Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. Their experiences and + escapes are many, and furnish plenty of good, healthy action that every + boy loves. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel. + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days' Battle Along + the Marne. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash Over the + Carpathians. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot and Shell Along the + Aisne. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian Army in the + Alps. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The Struggle to Save a + Nation. + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and Bravery Rewarded. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from the Enemy. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; or, Leading the + American Troops to the Firing Line. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The Fighting Canadians of + Vimy Ridge. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or, Over the Top at Chateau + Thierry. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing Days of the Great + World War. + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY 114-120 EAST 23d STREET NEW YORK + + + + +The Boy Scout Series + + +BY HERBERT CARTER + +[Illustration] + +For Boys 12 to 16 Years + + All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + Postage 10c Extra + + New Stories of Camp Life + + THE BOY SCOUTS' FIRST CAMPFIRE; or, Scouting with the + Silver Fox Patrol. + + THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE BLUE RIDGE; or, Marooned Among the + Moonshiners. + + THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE TRAIL; or, Scouting through the Big Game + Country. + + THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The New Test for the Silver + Fox Patrol. + + THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER; or, The Search for the Lost + Tenderfoot. + + THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES; or, The Secret of the Hidden Silver + Mine. + + THE BOY SCOUTS ON STURGEON ISLAND; or, Marooned Among the Game-Fish + Poachers. + + THE BOY SCOUTS DOWN IN DIXIE; or, The Strange Secret of Alligator + Swamp. + + THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA; A story of Burgoyne's + Defeat in 1777. + + THE BOY SCOUTS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA; or, The Silver Fox Patrol + Caught in a Flood. + + THE BOY SCOUTS ON WAR TRAILS IN BELGIUM; or, Caught Between Hostile + Armies. + + THE BOY SCOUTS AFOOT IN FRANCE; or, With The Red Cross Corps at the + Marne. +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + + +The Golden Boys Series + + +BY L. P. WYMAN, PH.D. Dean of Pennsylvania Military College. + +[Illustration] + +A new series of instructive copyright stories for boys of High School +Age. + + Handsome Cloth Binding. + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + POSTAGE 10c EXTRA + + THE GOLDEN BOYS AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL + THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE FORTRESS + THE GOLDEN BOYS IN THE MAINE WOODS + THE GOLDEN BOYS WITH THE LUMBER JACKS + THE GOLDEN BOYS RESCUED BY RADIO + THE GOLDEN BOYS ALONG THE RIVER ALLAGASH + THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP + THE GOLDEN BOYS ON THE RIVER DRIVE + THE GOLDEN BOYS SAVE THE CHAMBERLAIN DAM + THE GOLDEN BOYS ON THE TRAIL +====================================================================== + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + +THE HUNNIWELL BOYS SERIES + + +By L. P. WYMAN +Author of "The Golden Boys" and +"The Lakewood Boys" Series + + Bill and Gordon Hunniwell, two enterprising and inventive young + Americans, have many thrilling experiences far above the clouds in the + "Albatross," their new electric airplane. Their adventures with the + Secret Service and narrow escapes in the fog, when searching for the + lost German aviators, are admirably described in this new series. + + THE HUNNIWELL BOYS IN THE AIR + THE HUNNIWELL BOYS' VICTORY + THE HUNNIWELL BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE + THE HUNNIWELL BOYS AND THE PLATINUM MYSTERY + THE HUNNIWELL BOYS' LONGEST FLIGHT + +====================================================================== + + A. L. BURT COMPANY, _Publishers_ + 114-120 EAST 23d STREET NEW YORK + + + + +The Jack Lorimer Series + + +BY WINN STANDISH + +[Illustration] + +For Boys 12 to 16 Years. All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH Postage 10c. Extra + + CAPTAIN JACK LORIMER; or, The Young Athlete of Millvale High. + Jack Lorimer is a fine example of the all-around American + high-school boys. His fondness for clean, honest sport of all kinds + will strike a chord of sympathy among athletic youths. + + JACK LORIMER'S CHAMPIONS; or, Sports on Land and Lake. + There is a lively story woven in with the athletic achievements, + which are all right, since the book has been O. K'd. by Chadwick, + the Nestor of American Sporting journalism. + + JACK LORIMER'S HOLIDAYS; or, Millvale High in Camp. + It would be well not to put this book into a boy's hands until the + chores are finished, otherwise they might be neglected. + + JACK LORIMER'S SUBSTITUTE; or, The Acting Captain of the Team. + On the sporting side, this book takes up football, wrestling, and + tobogganing. There is a good deal of fun in this book and plenty of + action. + + JACK LORIMER, FRESHMAN; or, From Millvale High to Exmouth. + Jack and some friends he makes crowd innumerable happenings into an + exciting freshman year at one of the leading Eastern colleges. The + book is typical of the American college boy's life, and there is a + lively story, interwoven with feats on the gridiron, hockey, + basketball and other clean honest sports for which Jack Lorimer + stands. + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + +The Oakdale Academy Series + + +BY MORGAN SCOTT + +[Illustration] + +A series of real boys' stories at the Oakdale Academy, Ben Stone, the +hero, wins his way under peculiar circumstances and against great odds. + +Clean-cut stories of real experiences in athletics and sports of academy +life, with adventures, mysteries and clever descriptions. + +Just the kind of books a boy 12 to 16 years would like to read. + + HANDSOME CLOTH BINDING. + JACKETS IN COLORS + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + POSTAGE 10c EXTRA + + Copyright Titles + + BEN STONE AT OAKDALE + BOYS OF OAKDALE ACADEMY + RIVAL PITCHERS OF OAKDALE + OAKDALE BOYS IN CAMP + THE GREAT OAKDALE MYSTERY + THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts Under Fire in Mexico, by +Lieut. Howard Payson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN *** + +***** This file should be named 36000-8.txt or 36000-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/0/0/36000/ + +Produced by David Edwards, David K. Park and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Howard Payson + +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 Boy Scouts Under Fire in Mexico + +Author: Lieut. Howard Payson + +Release Date: April 30, 2011 [EBook #36000] +[Last updated: May 3, 2011] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, David K. Park and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 410px;"> +<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="410" height="718" alt="Don't shoot gents! called the man who was in the crotch of an oak tree.—(Page 59.)" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"Don't shoot gents!" called out the man who was in the crotch of an tree.—</span> +<a href="#Page_59">Page 59</a> +</div> + +<h3>THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN MEXICO</h3> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By</span> LIEUT. HOWARD PAYSON</h3> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Author of</span></h4> + +<h4>"The Boy Scouts of the Eagle Patrol," "The Boy Scouts +on the Range," "The Boy Scouts' Mountain Camp," +"The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam," "The Boy +Scouts at the Panama Canal," "The Boy +Scouts with the Allies in France," "The +Boy Scouts on Belgian Battlefields," +"The Boy Scouts at the +Panama-Pacific Exposition," +etc.</h4> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 429px;"> +<img src="images/i002.jpg" width="429" height="530" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<h3>A. L. BURT COMPANY</h3> + +<h3>Publishers New York</h3> + +<h4>Printed in U. S. A.</h4> + + + + + +<h4>Copyright, 1914,</h4> + +<h3>BY HURST & COMPANY</h3> + +<h3>MADE IN U. S.</h3> + + + + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right">CHAPTER</td><td align="right" colspan="2">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">I.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Four Scouts Afloat</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">5</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">II.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Strange Leak</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">15</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">III.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">What Happened on the Road</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">When Scoutcraft Was in Demand</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">V.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">On the Trail</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VI.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Eagles Lead the Way to Success</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">59</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Tubby Refuses to Forget</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">70</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Dazzling Plan</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IX.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Figuring It All Out</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">X.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">How the Land Lay</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">103</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XI.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">They're Off!</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">114</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Along the Rio Grande</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">125</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Crossing the Ford</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">136</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIV.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Gallop on Mexican Soil</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">146</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XV.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Andy Scatters the Serenaders</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">157</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVI.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">In the Enemy's Country</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">168</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Whistle of Passing Bullets</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">179</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVIII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">At the Burning Bridge</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">190</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIX.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Wigwag Talk</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XX.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Trust Rob!</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">212</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXI.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Return of the Scout Master</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">223</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Field Hospital in Operation</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">234</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXIII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">When Villa Came</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">245</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXIV.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Man of His Word</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">256</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXV.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Again Under the Folds of "Old Glory"</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">267</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXVI.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">On to Washington!</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">278</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXVII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Tubby Solves the Mystery</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">298</a></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Boy Scouts Under Fire in Mexico.</h2> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>FOUR SCOUTS AFLOAT.</h3> + + +<p>"Luff a little, Merritt!"</p> + +<p>"Luff it is, Rob. And let me tell you right now that if this head wind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +keeps on growing stronger, we're going to have it nip and tuck to get +home before dark sets in. These November, days have a quick end, you +know. Steady now, everybody; we'll have to come about."</p> + +<p>"On the next leg, Merritt, run in as close to the shore as you can," +continued the boy who was handling the sheet of the sailboat, and who +seemed to be in command, though he had given up his place at the helm to +a comrade.</p> + +<p>"Just what I'll do, Skipper Rob. Here, Andy, and you, Tubby, swing over +to the la'board in a hurry, now, and help hold her down. You're the best +ballast we've got aboard, Tubby."</p> + +<p>The stout boy who seemed so well named, for he was built on the order of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +a tub of butter, hastened to change his position as the boom of the +sailboat swung over, and the little craft with a jump started on a new +tack, this time heading for the mainland.</p> + +<p>"Say, you want to make sure and clear that point over there!" he sang +out as he sprawled along the upper port side of the craft like a great +crab, owing to a sudden lurch of the boat.</p> + +<p>"Going to do it as easy as to turn your hand over," replied the boy at +the rudder; "but what makes you say that, Tubby?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I reckon now there might be some fellers got a duck blind on that +point, which is said to be the best along the bay," replied the other. +"Leastways I noticed a whole raft of stools dancing up and down on the +waves the last time we ran in close to the shore."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Tubby," remarked the boy called Rob, who was clinging +steadily to the sheet, with the strain mostly relieved by the fact that +it passed through a hole in the stout cleat; "it's plain that you've got +your eyes with you this trip, and don't mean to be caught napping. There +are two fellows in a blind over on the point; I saw them watching us<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +the last time we ran in; and they acted as though they were afraid we'd +anchor and spoil all their evening shoot when the ducks are moving +again. But never fear, we're going to clear the point by a wide margin +this time."</p> + +<p>"It was a good thing school let out so early to-day, boys," remarked the +lad who up to now had not spoken, and who seemed to answer to the name +of Andy; "and that Rob invited the rest of us to go with him after that +half bushel of big oysters his folks want for dinner to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"What makes you talk that way, Andy?" asked Rob, wondering if the other +had also been keeping his eyes about him and noticing things. "This is +Friday afternoon, and if we hadn't gone to-day what do you think would +hinder our taking a little spin up the bay in the morning?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! you never can count on the wind around Hampton," replied the other; +"chances are, when you want it most of all, it gives you the go-by. And +besides, Rob, I've been watching that sky up there. Look how it's +mottled, will you? I've always heard that that sort of clouds meant a +storm."</p> + +<p>Rob laughed as though rather pleased.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's just one good reason why I hurried off this afternoon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +instead of waiting for morning," he observed; "but then, I had a better +warning than the looks of the sky to give me notice. You see, I chanced +to drop around by the post office on the way to school after lunch, and +stepped in to read what the weather report man in Washington had sent +along. There's a whopper of a storm coming up the coast from the West +Indies, and headed right this way; a sort of left-over hurricane, it +says; and storm warnings are ordered up from Jacksonville to Nantucket!"</p> + +<p>"Whee!" exclaimed Tubby, "that means winter will like as not set in +right after that storm passes along, and we'll get no more sails on the +bay. I hate winter for all the fun with skates and bobsleds. Don't I +wish now my Uncle Mark would make up his mind to send me down there to a +warm country like Mexico to look after his tangled business affairs? +Honest Injun, fellers, he did say he might think of something like that +if he didn't get some better soon. He's terribly bothered for fear he's +going to lose all his cattle and everything, with those rebels and +regulars cavorting all over that section. Hello! that was a gun spoke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +then; and there goes another! Yes, and he got one duck, anyhow, because +I saw it drop like a stone. And we're already past the point, boys!"</p> + +<p>While the little sailboat is beating up against a head wind and sea, +bent on making Hampton, several miles away along the Long Island shore +of the bay, it might be a good time for us to renew acquaintance with +the four lads on board, and glance back over their past career.</p> + +<p>All of them were dressed in the well known khaki suits that, the world +over, have become a recognized sign manual of Boy Scouts. These lads +belonged to Hampton Troop, and were instrumental in starting the +organization in the shore town. For some time it had consisted of but a +single patrol, the Eagles; but as success followed their efforts, and +more boys became enthused and enlisted, other patrols known as the Owl, +the Black Fox, and the Badger were formed; so that at the time we meet +Rob and his chums in the sailboat there was a very strong troop in +Hampton, with even a rival organization under way.</p> + +<p>Rob Blake was the leader of the Eagle Patrol, and Merritt Crawford held +the post of second in command, or corporal; while Andy Bowles filled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +the position of bugler. Tubby as yet had not aspired to fill anything, +unless it was his stomach; and his chums were forever joking him with +regard to his fondness for eating.</p> + +<p>In the first volume of this series, "The Boy Scouts of the Eagle +Patrol," the reader was made acquainted with Rob and his friends, and +followed their exciting fortunes after they had formed the patrol. Rob +was the son of the president of the local bank, while Merritt's father +had been known as the finest blacksmith and wheelwright in that section +of Long Island; Andy's folks ran the big livery stable; and Tubby's only +parent, his mother, was said to be fairly well off in property and +stocks.</p> + +<p>A happy chance allowed some of the scouts to visit the far Southwest, +and in the second story many of the strange adventures that befell them +there were narrated. Though "The Boy Scouts on the Range" teems with +thrilling happenings, those who read it from cover to cover will admit +that the Eagles bore themselves manfully under all conditions, and +always acted according to scout law.</p> + +<p>Later on some of the boys became interested in the subject of aviation;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +and about this time chance allowed them to be of considerable assistance +to certain parties in the employ of the Government, who were conducting +experiments not far from their home town; all of which was told in the +pages of "The Boy Scouts and the Army Airship."</p> + +<p>A fourth volume was given up to what occurred while the Eagles were +encamped in the wilderness; where circumstances arose that called for +all their knowledge of woodcraft and scout lore; but those who have read +"The Boy Scouts' Mountain Camp" will surely unite in saying that Rob and +his chums met the situation as became true scouts, and came out of the +affair with great credit.</p> + +<p>In the succeeding story, "The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam," the boys found +themselves involved in a succession of thrilling events. An opportunity +arose whereby their services were in demand in order to save the design +of a wonderful submarine craft, intended for the use of the United +States Government, from being stolen by the clever agents of a foreign +power. It was largely through the efforts of the scout patrol that this +treacherous design was finally foiled.</p> + +<p>A sixth volume, just preceding the present story, "The Boy Scouts at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +Panama Canal," contained the history of events that befell Rob and his +particular chums at a time when they were given a splendid chance to +visit the great ditch which Uncle Sam was then digging down on the +Isthmus. Once again they managed to bring into play the resourcefulness +which, as members of the Eagle Patrol, had been developed in them; and +it was principally through the agency of scoutcraft that the evil +designs which certain envious nations had upon the locks of the canal +were blocked.</p> + +<p>Which short but necessary explanation once more brings us to the four +chums as they tacked back and forth while trying to make the home port +before dusk set in. Now that they were headed toward the mainland they +made rapid progress, for the wind was certainly increasing in force +right along. It came from a point that enabled them to make this the +long leg, gaining quite a considerable distance. Once again they tacked, +and the best they could expect to do was to hold their own in a beat +toward the sandy outer shore of the bay, which helped to make the inlet +all but landlocked.</p> + +<p>"This is sure going some!" Tubby called out, as he began to get himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +into readiness for another quick slide across when they should come +about again; the spray was flying in their faces, more or less, and the +waves that raced past seemed tipped with white.</p> + +<p>"Look out for your heads when we swing around!" called Merritt. "That +boom is heavy enough to sweep you overboard, I guess!"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me from taking a bath right here and now!" exclaimed Tubby, who +was not much of a swimmer at the best. "But see here, what does all this +mean, fellers? Why, look at the water in the bottom of the boat, will +you? Tell you what, she's gone and sprung a leak as sure as anything! +Rob, you won't head out in the bay again, will you, with all this chance +of our foundering? Gingersnaps! it keeps on getting worse and worse, I +tell you! We'll sink inside of ten minutes!"</p> + +<p>Rob, who owned the sailboat, took one look at the water that was already +washing about in the bottom of the uptilted craft. He must have realized +that something strange had happened to cause so staunch a boat to spring +a leak, and also that the situation was serious; for no sooner had he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +taken in the suspicious way in which the water was rising in the +cockpit, than he shouted:</p> + +<p>"Keep her headed straight for the shore, Merritt! We've got to beach her +one way or another. Tubby, help me with the halliards so we can drop the +sail. You pull up the centerboard, Andy! Hurry now, everybody!"</p> + +<p>There was a scene of activity on board the little pleasure craft just +then, with three of those lively scouts springing about their duty. And +as the sail came rattling down on top of the cabin, with Tubby sprawled +under its folds, and as Andy fastened the heavy centerboard which he had +drawn full height in the well, the boat ran up on the sandy beach of a +little cove that had chanced to lie directly ahead at the time the +skipper gave his hurried orders!</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>THE STRANGE LEAK.</h3> + + +<p>"Gee whiz! but this is a bad job!" Merritt remarked, after the four of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +them had clambered over the bow of the stranded sailboat. "Here we are +as much as three miles away from home, with night coming on and not much +chance of getting the boat fixed so we can go on again in her."</p> + +<p>"She never played you such a mean trick before, did she, Rob?" asked +Andy, who had managed to get his feet wet in making a jump for the sandy +beach, but, boylike, seemed to care very little about such a small +thing.</p> + +<p>"No, and I'm wondering right now what could have happened to make her +spring a big leak like that all of a sudden," replied the other.</p> + +<p>As though impelled by curiosity, Rob once more climbed aboard the boat +and started to look around. One of the first things he did was to fling +ashore a sack that seemed to be pretty heavy,—as might be expected, +since it contained the half bushel of extra large oysters for which he +had been sent to the beds near the ocean side of the bay, a long way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +from Hampton town.</p> + +<p>"I'm bound to get that sack home with me if I have to carry it on my +back," he called out; at which the other boys, of course, declared that +they would willingly "spell" him, though the prospect could not have +seemed very inviting.</p> + +<p>"But see here, will it be safe to leave the boat in this little cove all +night with a big storm heading along up the coast?" Merritt asked next.</p> + +<p>"Safe or not," came from the one aboard the stranded boat, "there's +nothing else we can do, is there? Besides, if that storm holds off till +noon, I'll be up here on my wheel the first thing to-morrow, bale her +out, fix the leak, and work her back home by hook or crook. Hello! what +in the wide world does this mean, now?"</p> + +<p>"Found the place where the water came in, have you, Rob?" called Tubby, +who was hefting the sack of bivalves, and perhaps secretly wondering +whether it might not make their labor of transporting the same to the +Blake house easier if they proceeded to discard a few of the shells and +partake of the juicy contents.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's a <i>round</i> hole, I tell you!" shouted Rob.</p> + +<p>"What's that you're giving us?" demanded Andy. "I've seen some queer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +things happen to boats, but that's the first time I ever knew one to +spring a leak with a round hole. Are you joshing us, Rob?"</p> + +<p>"I tell you it's as round as a quarter, and about as big into the +bargain!" continued the other vigorously. "And what's more, this boat +never sprung a leak!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! say, p'raps now a sword fish rammed his beak through her planks!" +ejaculated Tubby, who could always be depended on to think up the most +extraordinary explanation possible when anything out of the ordinary +happened.</p> + +<p>All of the other scouts had now crawled back on the boat, their +curiosity having been fully aroused by the strange announcement made by +Rob. Merritt even insisted on feeling down in the water, and thrusting +his forefinger through the said hole.</p> + +<p>"Jiggered if what Rob says isn't so, boys," he called out; "because I've +got my finger all the way through the hole right now! Why, it's as +smooth as if it had been made with an inch bit. Take my word for it, +that's the truth!"</p> + +<p>"And I've got a good notion that was what did make it!" Rob observed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +solemnly; at which Tubby gasped, opening his mouth in the queer way he +had of doing when greatly astonished.</p> + +<p>"You mean somebody went and bored a hole right through the planks of +your boat, do you, Rob?" he asked excitedly. "But why didn't the water +rush in before, when we've been more than a whole hour sailing?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you silly," cried Andy, "of course it must have had a plug in the +hole! It was probably fixed so that sooner or later it just had to be +jarred loose, and the pressure of the water outside would push the same +in. That was what happened when we made our last turn. And this same old +plug must have been hidden under the false bottom, which none of us +thought to pull up till she floated loose!"</p> + +<p>"Here's the proof of it, fellows!" said Rob just then; and he held up +something he had discovered floating on the surface of the water, that +already partly filled the cockpit toward the stern of the stranded boat.</p> + +<p>"It is a plug, as sure as you live!" ejaculated Merritt. "Let's look at +it, Rob!"</p> + +<p>One after another they examined the round piece of wood, which had +undoubtedly been shaped just to fit the hole bored in the bottom plank.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That was about the meanest trick I ever heard tell of!" grumbled Tubby, +his round face redder than ever with indignation. "If ever I could find +out who did it, I'd feel like showing him up to all Hampton, that's +what. Here, what's this on the water, fellers? Looks to me like a curled +chip, such as would come out when an auger or a brace and bit was used."</p> + +<p>"Just what it is, Tubby," added Merritt; "which shows that this measly +hole was bored since the last time Rob went sailing. Otherwise, he must +have seen the plug when he took out the false flooring to clean the +boat."</p> + +<p>"It's a queer shaving, boys," continued Tubby, with his head bent low +over the object he held in his hand. "See, here, where there's a break +all the way along, and right in the middle, too! What would you make of +that, Rob?"</p> + +<p>"I might be away off in my guess," the other went on to say, after he, +too, had closely examined the shaving; "but it seems to me as though +that bit must have had a good-sized nick in each half of the biting +edge, queer as that would be. As it kept on turning, it left this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +raised ridge, you see."</p> + +<p>"Just what I had in my mind, Rob, give you my word for it," Tubby +continued excitedly. "And I'm thinking right now that this ought to be a +pretty good clew to prove who made that hole in your boat. All we've got +to do is to find a bit with a nick in both tongues that fits this +shaving; and the thing is as plain as the nose on Andy's face, here."</p> + +<p>"Suppose you leave me out when you're making comparisons, Tubby; but +then you're only saying that because you're envious; your own nose +doesn't count for much, with such fat cheeks alongside!" Andy burst out.</p> + +<p>But Rob considered that what Tubby had said was worth noticing, +for he immediately started to congratulate him,—as a +patrol leader always should do when one of his comrades has given +positive evidences of waking up and noticing things.</p> + +<p>"Tubby, that's a smart dodge of yours, let me tell you," he went on to +say, as he turned on the fat scout; "and if you keep that chip so it +won't break, and can find a bit that fits the marks to a dot, the +chances are you'll know who played this dirty trick on me. And because<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +you thought of it first I'm going to hand that job over to you, see? +Here's the plug and the chip for you to keep. And some fine day I'll +expect to have a report from you."</p> + +<p>"Well, what's the next word, Rob?" asked Merritt, as they all made the +flying leap ashore again. This time it was Tubby who made a +miscalculation and landed in six inches of water. He hastily scrambled +up on the beach to the accompaniment of rude laughter from Andy, who +felt better now that there were a pair of them with wet feet; for misery +always likes company.</p> + +<p>"Oh! we'll make the cable fast to this stunted tree here, and leave the +old boat to take her chances to-night," replied the other, as he started +to carry his words into action. "Doubtless I'll find her safe in the +morning, and be able to get her home if the storm holds off."</p> + +<p>"You don't come up here without having me along, remember," warned +Merritt; at which Rob stopped long enough in his labor of securing the +end of the rope to the tree to give the other a nod and a smile; for +they were chums in everything, and almost inseparable.</p> + +<p>"And the rest of you just keep mum about this nasty little business, so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +that I c'n have the whole field to myself," Tubby warned them, as though +feeling of considerable importance since the patrol leader had handed +the mysterious case over into his charge. "I'm going to learn who bored +that hole, or know the reason why, if I have to visit every workshop in +Hampton by degrees, and find some excuse for examining every blessed bit +there is. But right now I want to say I've got a hunch I c'n lay my +finger on the guilty one, even if I dassent say so till I get the proof +fixed on him good and hard. Then look out for explosions, that's all!"</p> + +<p>Having fastened his boat as well as circumstances allowed, Rob picked up +the sack containing the selected oysters, threw it over his shoulder, +and announced himself ready for the three mile walk along the road that +skirted the shore side of the bay.</p> + +<p>The four scouts soon found themselves trudging along the highway which +led from the direction of Montauk Point. It was in fair condition, as +they well knew, having been over it many times on their wheels, or in +vehicles of various types from a car to a hay wagon.</p> + +<p>"If we had any sort of luck, now," remarked Merritt, after they had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +walking for some little while, and he made ready to relieve Rob of his +load, "we'd hear some sort of wagon coming up behind, and get a ride +home."</p> + +<p>"Don't I wish it would happen, though?" sighed Tubby, who on account of +his burden of flesh always found it much harder than the other Eagles to +hike over the country. He was so stubborn, however, that he would +persist in anything he undertook until he fairly dropped in his tracks, +rather than give up.</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Rob, chuckling, "some good fairy must have heard that +wish, Tubby, because right now I can get the thud of horses' hoofs on +the road back yonder. And there goes the crack of a whip."</p> + +<p>"You're right, Rob," observed Andy quickly; "queer how you get on to all +these little wrinkles before the rest of us. Seems like you must always +'be prepared,' like every true scout is expected to keep himself."</p> + +<p>"Hope it's an empty wagon, and not a loaded hay rig," grunted Tubby.</p> + +<p>"According to the way the sounds hit me," continued Rob, "it's a wagon, +all right; and it rumbles like an empty one, too. But we shall soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +know, for it is overtaking us right fast now."</p> + +<p>"Let's halt here, and line up, two on each side of the road," suggested +Merritt. "The darkness has gathered so it's hard to see any distance; +but there around the bend back of us comes a white horse on the trot! +Rob, you hit the nail right on the head, for sure enough it's drawing an +empty wagon, with two men sitting on the seat and using the whip."</p> + +<p>"Looks like they might be in a hurry," suggested Andy. "Watch that one +turning around to take another look along the road behind. Get ready to +give 'em a hail, Eagles. Rob, you do the talking while the rest of us +let out our Eagle cry."</p> + +<p>Two minutes later and the vehicle had arrived almost opposite where the +scouts stood half screened by the bushes. At a signal from Rob the four +stepped out upon the road. Rob started to call to the men in the wagon, +meaning to ask them for permission to ride, while Merritt and Tubby and +Andy gave a united "K-r-e-e-e," that sounded very weird as heard under +such conditions.</p> + +<p>What followed astonished the four boys very much indeed. The men, seeing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +so many uniformed figures blocking the road, as it seemed, gave vent to +exclamations of abject alarm. Jumping from their seat, they started to +run back along the way they had just come. Then suddenly turning to one +side they plunged into the brush, where their hasty progress was marked +by all sorts of sounds that would indicate that they were stumbling +blindly through the thick undergrowth, tumbling over logs and rocks, +evidently on the verge of being panic-stricken!</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD.</h3> + + +<p>The four boys stood there on the dusty road in the twilight of that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +windy November day, and for a full minute seemed unable to express the +sense of bewilderment that had overwhelmed them all. Alongside was the +white horse attached to the empty wagon; and from the docile manner in +which the animal had come to a sudden halt and stood there, he was not +at all averse to having a resting spell after having been whipped so +steadily that he was in a sweat.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll be jiggered, if that don't beat the Dutch!" Merritt burst +out, he being apparently the first to recover his breath.</p> + +<p>"Why, they're gone!" ejaculated Tubby. "And say, they went and left +their rig with us, don't you see? Well, I must say they are awfully +polite. This is more'n we ever expected, isn't it, fellers?"</p> + +<p>Rob was laughing, as though secretly amused at the hasty flight of the +two men who had been in the wagon.</p> + +<p>"Chances are, now, they took us for hoboes meaning to hold 'em up; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +that's why they jumped for it!" Andy suggested.</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Rob, "I couldn't say that I'd blame them for thinking +anything after hearing all that racket you three scouts made giving the +Eagle cry. Most people would jump at the conclusion that a lot of +lunatics had broken loose from that asylum down at Amityville. You +should have let me say my little say without that heathen noise. It's +all very well for a scout in the bush to let another know what patrol he +belongs to when he sees another approaching; but ordinary people hardly +understand what that racket means."</p> + +<p>"But, Rob, do you believe they took us for desperate yeggmen wanting to +hold 'em up on the road here, and rob 'em?" asked Andy.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," replied the patrol leader readily. "In the first place, +even if it is getting dusk right now, it's still light enough for +anybody with eyes to see that we don't happen to be a ragged lot like +tramps are pretty much all of the time."</p> + +<p>"Then why should they skoot like that, I want to know?" Tubby inquired.</p> + +<p>"Like as not they saw our scout uniforms," suggested Merritt at a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +hazard.</p> + +<p>"That's just what they did," Rob hastened to add with emphasis; "and +from the shock the sight of the same gave the parties, I'm thinking they +must have guessed we were soldiers who meant to arrest a couple of men +driving a white nag!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I wonder now if that would explain the queer stunt?" Tubby ventured +to say.</p> + +<p>"Sounds pretty good to me, Rob," was what the corporal of the troop +remarked as he stood there and stared at the spot where the pair of +alarmed men had left the road and plunged into the thicket. "And maybe +some of the rest of you noticed as I did that the taller one of the pair +limped, as though he might have a bad leg or a sprained ankle."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I noticed that, Merritt, and was waiting to see if any of the rest +of you had used your eyes to advantage," Rob told him.</p> + +<p>"I did, cross my heart if I didn't!" reported Tubby.</p> + +<p>"And I would have seen the same only the rest of you happened to be in +my way," the fourth scout struck in, not wanting to have it appear that +he was the only fellow to be so dazed by what had happened that he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +failed in his duty as a scout to observe every little detail.</p> + +<p>"And I want all of you to take notice," continued the patrol leader, +"that just where they left the road and disappeared from our sight, +there happens to be growing a white birch tree that hangs out at an +angle of twenty-five degrees. Birches are not so plentiful around here +but what we could easily find that same one again in case we wanted to +try and follow up the tracks of the men."</p> + +<p>"To give 'em back their rig, you mean, Rob?" hinted Tubby.</p> + +<p>"Either that or for some other reason," replied the other shortly.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't hear any scrambling now," remarked Andy. "Probably they +are so far away the sounds don't carry."</p> + +<p>"But how about that ride to town?" demanded Tubby anxiously. "Do we get +cheated out of that just because a pair of sillies chose to get cold +feet at sight of scout uniforms, and skedaddled like a dog with a tin +can tied to his tail?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, how about it, Rob?" continued Merritt. "Do we leave this horse and +wagon on the road here, doing no good at all, while we trudge along<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +over two miles of ground, carrying this heavy sack of shellfish? If you +asked me now, I would say let's borrow the outfit, and give thanks!"</p> + +<p>"Ditto here!" exclaimed Tubby eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Count me in," said Andy, "and that makes it three affirmatives; how do +you vote, Rob? Say 'yes,' and make it unanimous, won't you?"</p> + +<p>The patrol leader laughed again at the appeal, and glanced around at the +faces of his three chums.</p> + +<p>"Well, it would be like looking a gift horse in the mouth to let this +fine chance slip past us," he went on to say, much to the delight of his +companions; for Tubby immediately threw up his campaign hat to signify +his joy, while the others nodded their heads and looked pleased.</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Rob," Merritt said, as he proceeded without more ado to +pick up the sack of oysters, and, stepping over to the tail end of the +wagon, toss them aboard. "So far as I can see, I don't believe we'll +have any trouble about taking the rig, even if the men turn out to be +honest, which I'm right sure they won't. We can say they abandoned it on +the road, and we thought we ought to fetch it into town to turn it over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +to the police; which we mean to do, remember, fellows."</p> + +<p>"Sure, we'll only be doing the right thing to deliver the outfit to the +Chief," Tubby went on record as saying. "My Uncle Mark was telling me +about something that happened to him as near like this as two peas; and +it turned out that the men in the rig were a pair of desperate bank +burglars, making off with the stuff they'd hooked from a town not far +away. That was how he got his first thousand dollars, he says, that +started him along the road to success, years and years ago. And Merritt, +did you take a good look to see if there is any mysterious little +package in that same wagon? Wouldn't it be a queer thing now if history +took to repeating itself, and this time Uncle Mark's nephew was one of +the bunch that recovered the stolen plunder? Anything doing, Merritt?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll have to make up your mind to being disappointed this time, +Tubby," observed the corporal. "This wagon hasn't a thing in it except a +handful of hay, and I've pulled that around to make sure it didn't hide +anything. But we didn't calculate to discover any jewelry or bank<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +funds; the best we asked for was a chance to ride to Hampton; and we've +got it. Pile in, fellows. This horse has come some way, and has been +made to travel right lively, too. Why, he's reeking with sweat! Somebody +must have been in a hurry!"</p> + +<p>They lost no time in clambering into the wagon. Tubby, being the slowest +to get up, found the seat fully occupied.</p> + +<p>"Where do I come in?" he asked rather plaintively, after the fashion of +the unfortunate one who was usually being left out.</p> + +<p>"Plenty of room back there in the wagon, Tubby!" chuckled Rob.</p> + +<p>"Use the sack of oysters for a seat if you want to!" added Andy.</p> + +<p>"Can't you move over and make room for one more?" pleaded the fat scout.</p> + +<p>"We might if it was for a Living Skeleton, but not for the Fat Boy of +the Side Show," was Merritt's reply. And so Tubby was compelled to climb +into the body of the wagon, and sit down as best he could on the hard +bed.</p> + +<p>"Please don't make the nag gallop, boys," he asked as a particular +favor; "because if you do he'll swing the wagon around every-which-way, +and there's no telling what would happen to me. I guess I've got<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +feelings, if I do happen to measure a little more around the waist than +anybody else present."</p> + +<p>"A little!" jeered Andy. "You must mean as much as the whole three of us +put together, don't you, Tubby?"</p> + +<p>"Forget it," mumbled the other; for already the vehicle had begun to +move. As Merritt whipped the tired horse, it gave a jump forward that +caused Tubby to roll over on his back the first thing, and then clutch +wildly at the sides of the wagon, as though in mortal terror lest he be +tossed out and left there on the road to walk home.</p> + +<p>"This is something like a treat, after tramping along for a whole mile, +and with that heavy sack into the bargain," Rob declared, as they began +to make fair progress in the direction of the home town.</p> + +<p>"Talk to me about your good luck," ventured Andy, who sat on the other +end of the seat from the driver, "it seems to me the Eagles are always +having things happen to them that never would come to other fellows."</p> + +<p>"But not all of the same are favors by a long sight, Andy," Merritt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +reminded him. "Don't forget how we had that boat spring a leak; and if +the accident had occurred when we were out in the middle of the bay, +chances are we'd have had to swim for the shore. The good luck came in +its happening near land."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's what I mean, of course," persisted the other. "If we do +have to run up against a snag, why something always turns up to help us +out. Look back at lots of things that have come our way, and you'll say +I'm right. And you three fellows especially have had luck chase after +you more than a few times."</p> + +<p>"I guess that is about right," sang out Tubby from the rear; showing +that although he might be having the time of his life holding on to the +sides of the wagon as it clattered along the road, all the same he kept +his ears wide open.</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Rob, with a laugh, "any lot of scouts who can have a +rig like this handed to them without the asking, when they have several +miles over a dusty road to tramp, ought not to complain. We're on what +they call 'Easy Street' right now. And who knows but there may be a few +dollars' reward offered for the recovery of a stolen outfit? It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +wouldn't surprise me very much; because the way those men scuttled at +sight of our suits makes me believe they couldn't have been strictly +honest. No decent party need fear the khaki uniform, whether of a +soldier or a Boy Scout!"</p> + +<p>"Look! what was it that flashed ahead there in the bushes?" suddenly +exclaimed Andy. Half unconsciously, Merritt at the same time started to +pull at the reins, so that the horse no longer galloped headlong as +before, much to the relief of poor knocked-about Tubby.</p> + +<p>The boy in the back of the wagon was just about to try and scramble to +his knees in order to look beyond his mates on the seat, when, without +the slightest warning, a very gruff voice full of authority called out:</p> + +<p>"Pull in there and throw up your hands, every one of you, d'ye hear? +You're all under arrest!"</p> + +<p>Moving figures sprang out upon the white road, and the horse, finding +his forward progress blocked, gladly came to a full stop. The occupants +of the wagon sat there, hardly knowing what to make of this new +happening.</p> + +<p>One man caught the horse close to the bits, and two others hastened to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +advance to the wagon, as if to make sure that none of those who occupied +the vehicle made a flying leap from the back and took to their heels.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>WHEN SCOUTCRAFT WAS IN DEMAND.</h3> + + +<p>"Looks like the rig, all right, Chief!" one of the men called out.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<p>The tall man he addressed did not reply; for, truth to tell, at that +particular minute he was staring very hard at the three scouts who sat +there on the seat of the wagon. There was not a great deal of light, but +evidently he had made a discovery that astounded him.</p> + +<p>"Why, they're a lot of boys, after all!" exclaimed the man who had +advanced to the other side of the wagon, holding something up that +glittered like a revolver.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and wearing scouts' uniforms at that!" added the tall man whom one +of the others had called "Chief." As he pushed still closer to the wagon +he went on to say, "I think I ought to know this lad here. Is it you, +Rob Blake?"</p> + +<p>"Just who it is, Chief," replied the other soberly; "and you can hardly +blame us for having our breath taken away on being held up so suddenly +at the point of the pistol and told that we were under arrest!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But the white horse deceived us, Rob," hastily answered the other, who +was really the new head of the Hampton police force, a man who had made +it his business to get acquainted with every boy in town, believing that +he could nip lots of impending trouble in the bud by letting boys know +that he was interested in all they did, and ready to prove himself their +best friend. "You see, we've been 'phoned that a couple of desperate men +who escaped from the jail over at Riverhead had stolen a wagon and a +white horse and were heading this way. So we came out to lay for the +rascals. Sorry to have bothered you, boys."</p> + +<p>"Well, this may prove to be the very horse and wagon they told you +about, Chief," Rob went on to say; while the other two officers now +crowded up close to catch all that passed.</p> + +<p>"Just what it might!" added Andy, wishing to let everybody know that he +was in the affair, if he didn't happen to be holding either the lines or +the whip.</p> + +<p>"Please tell us, won't you, Chief, whether one of the men that broke +jail limped like he had a bad leg or a sprained ankle?" Tubby broke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +out, before Rob could get in another word.</p> + +<p>"What's that you're telling me, my lad?" exclaimed the officer eagerly. +"Now, I didn't think it worth while to mention the fact to you, but the +truth is the taller man of the two did have a bad fall when he broke +out, and he must have injured himself in some way. Do you mean that +you've set eyes on that precious pair of rogues?"</p> + +<p>"It was this way," Rob started to say, meaning to make his explanations +as brief as possible. "We had been up the bay to get half a bushel of +select oysters from old Cap. Jenkins over at his beds; and on the way +home we had the misfortune to spring a leak, so that we had to beach the +sailboat and start along the road, as night was coming on, and we wanted +to get back in time for supper."</p> + +<p>"That's right, supper was the main thing we had in mind, Chief, believe +me," Tubby volunteered just then; after which he again relapsed into +silence, and allowed Rob to finish his story.</p> + +<p>"Of course we wanted to get a ride if we could, Chief, because the sack +was heavy," the patrol leader went on to say, "and, well, boys always +like to ride better than they do to walk. Pretty soon we heard a horse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +and wagon coming after us, and one of the two men aboard was whipping +the poor beast dreadfully. Well, we lined up, and as soon as they came +along all of us stepped out to ask if we could have a lift as far as +Hampton; when, would you believe me, the men jumped out of the wagon as +if they'd seen a ghost, and went back along the road as fast as they +could tear, soon breaking into the scrub, and disappearing."</p> + +<p>"Leaving you the rig; is that it, Rob?" asked the officer, laughing as +he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Just what they did, sir," continued the patrol leader; "and you may be +sure we couldn't even get our breath together to call out and thank them +before they'd vanished. Well, we got to talking it over, and made up our +minds the men must have stolen the rig, and were badly frightened by the +sight of our scout uniforms, thinking we might be soldiers meaning to +arrest them. And after we had waited a little while, thinking they might +come back, why, we just made up our minds there wasn't any use looking a +gift horse in the mouth; but that we'd take the rig to town so as to +turn it over to you at Police Headquarters. And here it is at your +service, Chief."</p> + +<p>"But I hope you'll let us ride to town in it?" Tubby struck in.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, you've all done me a great favor, boys," the tall official went +on to say; "and if so be you feel that you must get along home, why, +take the rig and leave it in front of my office. But if you could put us +in the way of nabbing that pair of escaped rogues, you'd be doing a +great thing. They're a bad crowd, and the longer they stay loose, the +worse it is going to be for the community."</p> + +<p>"We can help you some there, Chief!" Rob hastened to declare.</p> + +<p>"I should say we could!" added Andy with emphasis.</p> + +<p>"We happen to know just where they left the road and plunged into the +brush; and perhaps we might even be of some assistance to you in +following their trail, Chief; because, you understand, scouts are +supposed to know more or less about such things. Woodcraft comes under +the head of a scout's education. What d'ye say, fellows; shall we turn +around right now and take these officers to the place where the leaning +white birch hangs over the road?"</p> + +<p>Every voice came in a decided affirmative. Even Tubby, who had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +amusing himself while holding on to the sides of the wagon by figuring +out just how long he must wait until he could hope to find himself +seated at the supper table, heroically pushed aside all such +temptations, and proved that he could rise to an occasion like a true +scout.</p> + +<p>"Then that's settled," said Rob, proud of his mates of the Eagle Patrol; +"and if you will wait till we turn the horse around, Chief, you can have +my seat here."</p> + +<p>Merritt quickly backed the wagon into the side of the road, and faced +the animal in the direction from which he had just come.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Rob and Andy had crawled over the rear of the seat and joined +Tubby, who seemed pleased when he found that he was going to have +company. The Chief and one of his men occupied the seat, along with the +scout who was doing the driving; while the other officer contented +himself with sitting so that his legs dangled over the tail board.</p> + +<p>In this fashion, then, they started to retrace the ground the boys had +so recently gone over. Of course the Chief had a dozen questions to ask<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +in connection with the actions of the two men, as to what they said and +what they did.</p> + +<p>"The only words any of us heard them say were: 'Holy smoke, looky here, +Con!'" Rob told him. "But they made up for it by doing some tall +sprinting, lame man or not, that would have won them a prize at an +athletic meet."</p> + +<p>"Well, right there you've settled the thing and clinched it into the +bargain," the tall police officer remarked with a satisfied chuckle; +"because, don't you know, one of the rascals went by the name of Con +Keating. And if the taller of the pair has a broken leg, why we ought to +be able to run them down, and bag him, anyway, even if the other gives +us the slip. But I'm hoping he'll stick to his pal until we can come up +with them."</p> + +<p>"We ought to be nearly back to where we picked up the wagon, now, hadn't +we, Rob?" asked Merritt, who was straining his eyes trying to make out a +white birch tree leaning over the road on the left.</p> + +<p>"One more bend and we'll be there," answered Rob, with such absolute +confidence that every one of the other scouts knew he had been keeping +tabs of the conditions, and could tell to a fraction just when they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +were drawing near the point that had been marked down in their memories.</p> + +<p>A minute later and it turned out that Rob was perfectly correct; because +Merritt discovered the landmark for himself.</p> + +<p>"There it is, Chief, just ahead of us," he remarked, "where you see that +white birch bending over. We made it a point to mark the place, thinking +that p'raps you or somebody else would want to know about the men who +ran away."</p> + +<p>"A clever bit of business, my lad," remarked the other admiringly. And, +indeed, what he had seen of these Scouts during the few months he had +been in charge of the Hampton police had caused the Chief to entertain a +very high opinion of their ability, and make him a firm advocate for the +cause they represented.</p> + +<p>The horse was pulled up close to where the white slender birch could be +seen through the gathering gloom.</p> + +<p>"Wait till I strike a match, and I'll try to find a piece of lightwood +to make a torch," said Rob, jumping from the wagon.</p> + +<p>"No use bothering that way, lad," called out the Chief; "because I've +got something along with me that goes away ahead of any wood torch you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +ever saw."</p> + +<p>"Then you must mean an electric hand torch," Tubby ventured to remark. +"I know, because I've got one at home."</p> + +<p>"Much good that does you," jeered Andy. "A torch, like a gun, is the +kind of thing that when you do want it you want it badly."</p> + +<p>"Well, how was I to guess all that would happen?" demanded Tubby +indignantly. "Don't you think that if I had known we would get that hole +in the boat, have a horse and wagon shoved on us this way, and be held +up by the Chief and his men, I'd gone and made sure to fetch my little +torch along? Sure I would."</p> + +<p>"And if I'd known all that," chuckled Andy, always ready to have the +last word, "d'ye know what I would have done the first thing? Why, told +Rob about that old plug in the bottom of his boat, and seen to it that +it was driven in so hard it never could work loose. And that would have +saved us from all the rest of the business!"</p> + +<p>"All right," rejoined Tubby, with a never-say-die accent to his voice; +"all I can remark is that we would have lost a heap of entertaining +experiences, that's what!"</p> + +<p>They had all left the wagon before this, and Merritt managed to secure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +the horse to a tree near by; so that in case they found the animal there +on their return, after striving to locate the two escaped jail birds, +they might have a pleasant means of transportation to Hampton town.</p> + +<p>When the police officer had produced his little electric hand torch, +which was capable of being carried in a vest pocket and yet gave quite a +fine glow when the current was switched on, he told Rob that he had +better take possession of the light, as he would really be the one to +need it. As for himself and his men, they meant to keep themselves in +constant readiness for grappling with the two desperate rogues, should +they have the good fortune to come up with them.</p> + +<p>Nothing could have pleased Rob more than this splendid chance to show +what the education of a scout along the line of woodcraft was doing for +the boys of the Eagle Patrol. Here was an opportunity to make a test of +their knowledge. If they proved equal to the task of finding those two +men who were doing all in their power to elude recapture, it would +certainly go far to witness that these scouts had not studied the art of +trailing in vain.</p> + +<p>And hence it was with considerable satisfaction, as well as a firm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +determination to exhaust every means he had in his power in order to +come up with the fugitives, that the young leader of the Eagles accepted +that handy electric torch, and immediately commenced to flash its white +glow over the ground in the vicinity of the white birch.</p> + +<p>Men and boys trailed along after Rob; Tubby, Merritt and Andy making +sure to keep well in the rear, so that they might not interfere with the +plans of the Chief.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>ON THE TRAIL.</h3> + + +<p>In this manner they left the dusty road behind them, and entered among<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +the bushes and growth of scrubby trees that bordered it.</p> + +<p>The three Eagles who came just after the stalwart police officers kept +in a bunch; not that any of them felt afraid in the least; but as they +were unarmed, save for the various clubs they had managed to pick up on +the way, they seemed to think there might be safety in numbers.</p> + +<p>Besides, if at any time they felt in a communicative mood, it was +possible to put their heads together and pass whispers along.</p> + +<p>Rob, in the lead, was bending over and bringing that little hand torch +into play in great style. Nothing could have been finer for the purpose, +he quickly concluded, and made up his mind on the spot that he would own +such a handy article at the very first opportunity.</p> + +<p>The steady white glow allowed him to see the ground so plainly that he +could readily distinguish every little mark made by the feet of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +fleeing men. On the whole, Rob would have called that job something of a +snap; for neither of the fugitives seemed to have once thought of such a +thing as "blinding their trail"; such as clever scouts generally do when +playing "fox and geese," or some game of that sort.</p> + +<p>In fact, the taller fellow, the one who limped so badly, had actually +dragged his injured leg after him; and in this way he managed to leave a +broad track that Rob believed even a tender-foot might follow with ease.</p> + +<p>Still there were places where the ground was hard, being made for the +most part of rock; and here the tracker was compelled to be more careful +in order that he might not be thrown off the trail by accident and have +all sorts of trouble finding it again.</p> + +<p>"Say, keep your eye on Rob, fellers," Tubby whispered, when he was so +wound up that he just could not keep quiet any longer. "Isn't he showing +the Chief a few wrinkles about following a set of tracks, though?"</p> + +<p>"Not so loud, Tubby," cautioned Merritt, who, as the second in command +of the Eagle Patrol, had a certain amount of authority invested in him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +that the rest of the scouts always recognized, particularly when Rob was +not on duty or absent.</p> + +<p>"But he is trailing along like a regular old fox, isn't he?" persisted +Tubby, who was hard to repress when he felt the spirit move within him.</p> + +<p>"Course he is," muttered Andy; "and this isn't the first time Rob has +made grown men sit up and take notice. But there, he's hit a snarl of +some kind!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you take my word for it, Rob will unravel it in double-quick +order!" the stout boy assured him.</p> + +<p>"Silence!" hissed Merritt; and this time he apparently "squelched" +Tubby, for the latter had nothing more to say just then; but as he had +freed his mind, that was a matter of small consequence.</p> + +<p>Rob was skirmishing around as though he might have lost the trail owing +to the hardness of the ground. He had held up a hand in order to warn +the three officers not to stumble over him, and then with his torch held +low, proceeded to examine his surroundings.</p> + +<p>They saw him rise up and flash his light to the right, then to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +left, and finally straight ahead. Apparently he was making up his mind +from the conformation of things which way the two fleeing men might have +chosen as they pushed forward in the semi-darkness. In other words, Rob +was applying an old principle, trying to "put himself in their place" so +that he could decide what their natural action under the circumstances +would have been.</p> + +<p>He seemed to settle quickly which way had looked the most promising to +the anxious eyes of two sorely pressed fellows, one of whom could hardly +drag himself along, for he immediately turned toward the left, and again +flashed his torch on the ground.</p> + +<p>Almost immediately afterward the three scouts in the rear caught a queer +little sound, not unlike the faint squawk of an eaglet in its nest at +feeding time.</p> + +<p>"There, did you hear that, fellers?" demanded Tubby excitedly, though he +did manage to keep his voice whittled down to a hoarse whisper.</p> + +<p>"It was Rob giving us the sign of the Eagles that told he had found what +he was looking for; sure it was!" observed Andy.</p> + +<p>"That's all right, but you boys let up on your talking. Understand?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +was the warning given by the corporal.</p> + +<p>Apparently the boy in the lead must have given the three officers some +sort of signal with his disengaged hand, for as he moved off they +started after him, doubtless with renewed confidence in his ability to +lead them. If either of those men who accompanied the Chief on this +mission had been inclined to scoff at the usefulness of the education of +a Boy Scout, he must have had an object lesson then and there that he +would not soon forget.</p> + +<p>Later on every one of them candidly admitted that without the aid of Rob +they would never have been able to follow the trail of the fleeing +rascals for five rods, not having been taught how to read signs, as are +all scouts who deserve the name.</p> + +<p>After that Rob did not seem to run up against any more snags, for he +kept moving steadily along, now turning to one side, and then to the +other, just as the parties he tracked had chanced to move in order to +avoid some fallen tree, a stump, or a thick clump of thorny bushes that +barred their path.</p> + +<p>It was splendid work, and the trio of boys who kept tabs on what their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +patrol leader was doing, felt a genuine thrill of admiration for Rob's +skill. Once again were the Eagles proving their worth in an emergency; +and after this Hampton folks would have still more reason to feel proud +of the patrol and the troop.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" said Andy suddenly, "what is that I hear?"</p> + +<p>His two companions halted for a brief period of time, because apparently +they had not as yet chanced to catch the sound that disturbed Andy.</p> + +<p>"Seems like running water to me," ventured Tubby, as if in more or less +doubt.</p> + +<p>"It is running water," affirmed Merritt quickly; "a little stream of +some kind, I guess. Seems to me I remember one that trails through this +patch of scrub oak timber."</p> + +<p>"Well, we're heading straight for it," remarked Andy; "and like as not +the two men wanted to get a drink right bad. They ran so hard they felt +dry enough to drain a spring-hole at one turn."</p> + +<p>"Sh! You see Rob's heading that way; let's move on!" Merritt told them.</p> + +<p>It turned out just as they figured. The run-aways had indeed gone +straight for the little streamlet that gurgled through the underbrush;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +and Rob showed by means of his light just where they had both knelt down +alongside the creek to drink.</p> + +<p>Just as the other three scouts came up, they heard Rob give a little +exclamation that seemed to have in it something like pity.</p> + +<p>"What have you found now, son?" asked the big Chief, understanding from +the manner in which the clever scout had given this cry that he must +have made a new discovery.</p> + +<p>"I reckon that poor wretch got a worse broken leg than any one has +thought up to now, Chief," Rob remarked with a long breath, as he +riveted the light of his little torch upon one certain spot of ground.</p> + +<p>"How d'ye make that out, Rob?" asked Tubby before any one else could +speak; for slow in his movements though the fat youth might often seem +no one was more ready to interject a word than Tubby.</p> + +<p>"Here is where both of them knelt down so they could bend forward and +drink," replied the obliging patrol leader, always ready to post his +comrades on these little points that would add to their scout +education.</p> + +<p>"Yep, we can see the marks easy," Andy assured the other.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Here is where the shorter one got down, because you can see the +distance between the marks of his knees and the toes of his shoes +doesn't measure nearly as much as this other does. And looking closer +you'll see that the tall man wasn't able to double up his left leg as he +wanted to."</p> + +<p>"That was the one they said he had hurt," remarked the Chief, +undoubtedly deeply interested in all that the boy was saying.</p> + +<p>"Now, if you look here at the place where his left foot dug into the +soil when he lay down to drink, you'll find a stain that tells a story +of its own!" Rob went on to say, as he held the torch still lower, so +that all could see.</p> + +<p>"Jiminy crickets!" exclaimed Tubby, in an awed tone. "Why, it's a blood +mark, fellers; sure it is!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," added the Chief, "that's right, son. He hurt his leg worse than +anybody could have known about. That Con has got plenty of nerve to keep +going all this time with such a bad wound! He certainly wanted to escape +a term at the pen, all right."</p> + +<p>"I think he couldn't drag himself much further, Chief; and we'll be apt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +to run across him soon, even if the other man gets away," Rob observed; +and so much confidence had the big officer learned to put in what the +patrol leader of the Eagles said, that he nodded his head and simply +remarked:</p> + +<p>"That's good news, Rob; let's get a move on again, and close in on our +birds!"</p> + +<p>"Are they armed, do you know, Chief?" asked Merritt; for he had been +wondering what sort of reception they would receive when they finally +closed in on the fugitives, who were reckoned desperate men.</p> + +<p>"Not so far as is known," replied the other. "I was particular to ask +that, for I knew I'd have to shape my plans accordingly. It seems that +they raided an old scare-crow that had been left in a field, and managed +to change clothes with the dummy after a fashion, for they wanted to +pose as tramps, you see. But armed or not, we are ready to settle +accounts with the rascals. We're close at your heels, Rob; make all the +time you want."</p> + +<p>Rob was not having any difficulty whatever in following the trail after +the two fugitives had left the little streamlet. He seemed to be as +keen on the scent as a rabbit hound, only he went about his work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +noiselessly, and not with the idea of giving tongue, such as a beagle +usually shows.</p> + +<p>"We're getting on a warm track, Chief," the boy with the torch suddenly +remarked, "because just then I saw a little twig right itself under my +very eyes, showing it must have been stepped on only a few minutes +before. Hello! here's only one set of tracks! The man with the broken +leg has drawn out!"</p> + +<p>"But where could he have gone?" asked Tubby. "He didn't have wings, did +he? And no aeroplane could dodge down in all this brush to carry him +off. If he isn't on the ground, where d'ye reckon he can be, Rob?"</p> + +<p>For answer the patrol leader gave one good look at the place where the +trail of the man who dragged his left leg after him seemed to stop.</p> + +<p>Then he quickly focused the white glow of his electric torch up into the +tree directly over-head.</p> + +<p>"Oh! looky there, would you, in the fork of the tree!" exclaimed Tubby, +always bent on expressing his opinion.</p> + +<p>And as the others cast their eyes upward, they saw the huddled figure of +a man where Tubby had indicated. Rob had undoubtedly run one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +fugitives down; and hearing them coming through the brush, he must have +climbed the tree as a last resort, evidently hoping they might pass him +by.</p> + +<p>But he had not taken into consideration the fact that a scout was +leading the pursuing party, and that the sudden ending of his tracks was +bound to cause the trailer to survey the vicinity in the expectation of +locating his game.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE EAGLES LEAD THE WAY TO SUCCESS.</h3> + + +<p>"Don't shoot, gents! I reckon I'm pretty near all in!" called out the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +man who was in the crotch of the oak tree.</p> + +<p>At the same time he elevated both hands as a sign that he was unarmed +and did not intend to offer any hostile demonstration. Undoubtedly the +sight of the three big officers in blue, not to speak of four stalwart +lads dressed in scout uniforms, must have convinced him that he had +really run to the end of his rope; and that after being checked so +positively in his break for liberty, the next best thing for him to do +would be to give in and have his wounded leg attended to.</p> + +<p>"Hello! got you, have we, Con?" remarked the Chief pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"Looks like it, Chief," grunted the man, who must have been in +considerable pain, Rob determined, as he saw the drawn look on his face. +"Just gimme half a chance, and I'll drop down out of this. It ain't the +easiest thing agoin' for a man with a leg swollen up like mine to move,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +once he sets still five minutes."</p> + +<p>"That's so, Con," the head of the Hampton police force said, as he +stepped forward; "and I'll help you down all I can."</p> + +<p>If Rob had had a good opinion of the burly Chief before, that added to +it; because his consideration for a suffering wretch, even if he were a +hard character, proved that the policeman had a heart.</p> + +<p>The fugitive was helped to the ground, and he sank down with a half +stifled groan. They could see that his face had a peaked look, and that +he was compelled to grit his teeth savagely together, as though trying +his best not to show signs of weakness. Yes, Con was a man of more than +ordinary nerve and grit, Rob knew, as he noticed all this; but then he +had made up his mind on that score before now, so he was not at all +surprised.</p> + +<p>"Corporal Merritt," he said, turning to his second in command; "suppose +you take a look at this poor fellow's leg, and see if you can't do +something in an emergency to ease the pain. Like as not we'll have to +make a stretcher and carry him to where the wagon was left."</p> + +<p>"All right, Rob!" was the ready answer Merritt gave; while his eyes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +fairly sparkled with satisfaction at having the patrol leader show such +confidence in him as to turn over this duty to his charge. As a rule Rob +generally took it upon himself to play the part of doctor when an +occasion arose that required such work.</p> + +<p>And imagine the astonishment of those three policemen as they saw the +corporal immediately set to work to tackle his job with the assurance of +an experienced physician or surgeon. As for the injured man, he stared +as though hardly knowing what to believe, to see a mere boy undertake a +task like that.</p> + +<p>Tubby gave one look as Merritt unwound the rough bandage that the +wounded man had wrapped tightly around his injured leg, and gasped as he +turned his head away. Andy kept on staring as though fascinated; but at +the same time had any one observed the boy closely he would have found +that Andy's usual healthy color had given place to a ghastly hue.</p> + +<p>If Merritt experienced anything of the same feeling as he proceeded to +manipulate the limb of the man, he certainly did not let the weakness +interfere with his work.</p> + +<p>"I may hurt you some, but stand it as well as you can," he told the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +other. "Because I have an idea the leg may not be broken after all, but +only badly wrenched and torn by striking some hard object. Steady, now!"</p> + +<p>A minute later, as boys and officers stared, and mentally gave Merritt +credit for knowing all about "first aid to the injured," the corporal +went on to say:</p> + +<p>"It is just as I thought, for there is no fracture of the bones that I +can find. But you have neglected it so long and strained it so by +walking and running that I'm afraid you're going to have a bad time with +that leg. But I'll put something on that will ease the pain, more or +less, and bind it up fresh for you. Then we'll get you to the wagon +somehow, without your having to walk."</p> + +<p>"Say, are you what they call the Boy Scouts?" asked the injured man, who +had been listening to all Merritt said, as well as watching his deft +fingers work, with amazement written large upon his peaked face.</p> + +<p>"Just what we are," Tubby hastened to inform him; "and you can see now +what the scouts learn. You are not the first man who has been handled by +the members of the Eagle Patrol, Mister."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wanted to know!" muttered the man, still staring, as though he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +could not understand how mere boys could master the art of handling a +bad wound like that with such skill, and show the nerve to do it at the +same time.</p> + +<p>"Where's Rob going?" asked Tubby just then.</p> + +<p>While Merritt was working Rob had held the torch so that he could see, +until Andy had taken a hint, and scraped enough dead leaves together to +make a little fire, and in this way given all the light that was needed.</p> + +<p>Apparently the patrol leader was not satisfied with having overtaken one +of the desperate fugitives who had escaped from the Riverhead jail. He +must have figured, while standing there, waiting until the fire had +attained sufficient size to allow his moving off, that possibly the +other rascal might not have run much further, as they would surely have +caught the sound of his pressing through all that dense undergrowth; for +at the time Con was helped up into his tree by the shorter man, the +pursuers could not have been far away.</p> + +<p>And so the scout who carried that useful electric hand torch proceeded +to find the tracks of the second man; after which he began to follow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +the trail.</p> + +<p>It immediately led him into the thickest of the underbrush; and this +fact only added strength to the boy's former deduction, to the effect +that no one could push on through all this matted growth without making +all sorts of sounds capable of being readily heard by keen ears a +quarter of a mile away almost.</p> + +<p>Merritt had now finished bandaging the wounded leg of the man, and the +fellow frankly told him it was feeling many times better already.</p> + +<p>"You're a sure enough wonder, boy, that's what!" the man went on to say; +and while he did not thank the amateur surgeon in so many words, Merritt +could easily trace gratitude in the tone of his voice. However, the +young corporal was not doing this in order to receive praise, but +because it lay in the line of his duty as a scout.</p> + +<p>"Got one man, anyway, Chief, didn't you?" Andy remarked.</p> + +<p>"Half a loaf, they say, is some better than no bread," answered the big +man, chuckling, as though vastly amused over the result of this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +singular hunt in company with the Boy Scouts.</p> + +<p>Before he could say anything more, there arose a series of loud +"k-r-e-e-es" from the direction where the patrol leader had gone a +minute or two before.</p> + +<p>"That's Rob!" cried Tubby, all in a tremor at the thought of new +developments coming on the carpet.</p> + +<p>"And he wants us to come along!" added Andy. "Listen! There's somebody +else calling out, too, and it's a gruff voice, boys. I wonder, now, if +Rob's cornered the other runaway in a tree, too. Let's hurry on and +see!"</p> + +<p>They were soon all in motion, leaving the wounded man alone by the +little fire, since in all probability he would never dream of attempting +further flight. And Merritt did not feel like being cheated out of his +share of the fun in order to stand by and watch one who was really the +prisoner of the Chief.</p> + +<p>They had little difficulty in knowing which way to move, for the racket +still kept up ahead. It was found to be pretty hard work pushing through +all that dense mass of ground vines, bushes, and closely growing dwarf +oaks, whose branches caught Tubby several times and almost choked him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>Once he did actually find himself gripped by the throat by one of these +lower limbs, and lifted off his feet for the space of three seconds; so +that ever afterward Tubby was fond of saying that he knew from actual +experience just how Absalom must have felt when he was caught by his +long hair and left hanging in a tree.</p> + +<p>"Rob, oh, Rob, where are you?" called Andy, as they drew nearer to the +strange sounds, which, besides spoken words, seemed to consist of the +swishing of hurtling stones or clubs, and jeering laughter, all so queer +that the scouts could make little or nothing of them.</p> + +<p>For answer there was a flash, as Rob turned his torch toward them for +just the space of a second; and at the same time he was heard calling +close at hand:</p> + +<p>"Here I am, just ahead of you, boys! Better look out or you'll get hit!"</p> + +<p>"But what in the wide world is going on, Rob?" demanded Merritt, as he +heard some object strike with a heavy thud among the bushes not two feet +away from him.</p> + +<p>"I'll show you what it means!" laughed Rob, who it turned out was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +hiding back of a fairly large tree-trunk not five feet away. As he spoke +he sent the white light of his torch straight ahead once more.</p> + +<p>What they saw astonished them. A moving figure caught their attention, +and no explanation was needed to tell the boys that this must be the +shorter one of the precious pair of rogues who had broken jail, and +given the authorities of Suffolk and adjoining counties such a scare.</p> + +<p>He seemed to be groping all around him, as though trying to find more +stones or fragments of broken limbs with which to bombard the patrol +leader, whose presence was betrayed by the flash of his torch.</p> + +<p>"What's he doing there; and why does he lean over like that?" called out +Tubby, at the same time dodging behind a convenient tree, when he saw +the man proceed to hurl a stone in their direction, following it up with +a stream of hard words that told how furious he felt.</p> + +<p>"Why, the fact is," said Rob, still laughing, as though he considered it +a good joke on the fugitive, "that he got himself in the neatest trap +you ever saw. In the dark and his hurry he pushed his foot into some +sort of frog made of the roots of a bush, and after that got so twisted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +up in the vines that if he was promised a thousand dollars for doing it, +he just couldn't break away. I flashed the light on him, you see, where +he was lying low, hoping we'd clear out and let him get away; and he was +so mad he began to fire everything he could lay hands on at me. There's +your second man, Chief. I'll hand over the job of taking him to you."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wouldn't be afraid to wager you could do it as clever as the +next one if it was up to you, son!" remarked the big officer, as he +started toward the spot where the baffled fugitive crouched, looking +about as furious and ugly as any one could who had been tripped up in +this neat manner by ill fortune.</p> + +<p>Of course the fellow saw that the game was up. He did not dare to offer +any resistance when the Chief walked up to him and ordered him to hold +out his hands. And when there came a sharp "click" that made Tubby +wince, they knew that the fugitive from justice had been retaken, and +that he stood a fair chance to face a judge and jury before many days.</p> + +<p>It required considerable labor to get him free from the trap that Nature +had so cruelly sprung upon him, but in the end this was accomplished;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +and upon returning to where the little fire still burned, they found the +wounded man lying there on the ground, as comfortably as he could, and +awaiting them with an expectant look on his face.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>TUBBY REFUSES TO FORGET.</h3> + + +<p>"Too bad they got you, too, Joe!" said the wounded man; and yet there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +was something like satisfaction on his face, along with the grin he +gave; because misery likes company, and if his companion had managed to +escape it would have seemed doubly hard for him to be retaken, and badly +hurt at that.</p> + +<p>"This man isn't able to walk all the way back to the road, Chief," Rob +went on to say, indicating the tall fellow, who lay there with his leg +bound up the best Merritt could do with so little at hand to aid him.</p> + +<p>"I reckon, son," returned the big officer, so pleased with the success +that had come to him that he was ready to grant almost any favor these +scouts asked, "we'll just have to carry him, then."</p> + +<p>"And that would hurt him almost as much as limping along," Rob +continued; "so if you hold up for a little bit, we'll try and fix a +stretcher that ought to answer; though it's going to be a mighty poor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +sort of thing, without even a camp hatchet to cut poles with. Get busy +with me, boys, and show the Chief what you know."</p> + +<p>Now this was one of the things in which all the Eagles had been +thoroughly drilled. They knew how to go to work to make a comfortable +stretcher on which an injured person might be carried for miles. But +just as the patrol leader said, not having a hatchet handy was likely to +prove something of a handicap. However, scouts always try to do the best +they can, no matter what difficulties they run up against, and Merritt +was the first to start scurrying around, looking for stout poles that +would serve for the sides and handles of the stretcher.</p> + +<p>Once more did those three police officers stand and watch what the boys +were doing with both wonder and interest written on their faces. Why, +they had never dreamed that half-grown lads could be so resourceful; and +even after a number of fairly straight poles had been collected, +calculated to bear easily the weight of the injured man, none of the men +could guess just how these were to be utilized, or fastened together.</p> + +<p>Judge of their astonishment, then, when they saw the boys make another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +little side hunt and come back with strands of pliable vines that could +be twisted about the poles, fastening them together, each live vine +stronger three times over than a cord of the same size would have been.</p> + +<p>Each scout took pride in being able to render his share of the work; and +Rob, on his part, was filled with satisfaction to find how well things +began to shape themselves under the nimble fingers of his chums and +himself.</p> + +<p>As the rude but effective stretcher began to assume its desired form, +the Chief gave each of his men a nod and a wink, as though calling their +attention to the clever way in which these ready lads met an emergency +by "being prepared"; letting them understand, also, that a useful lesson +might be drawn from the happening.</p> + +<p>Even the two captured rogues manifested considerable interest in what +was going on, the wounded fellow because he had good reason to be +thankful for receiving so much consideration, and the shorter rascal +because he had never been given a chance to see scouts work before.</p> + +<p>"There's your stretcher, Chief," said Rob, when less than ten minutes +had slipped by, "and it's going to answer all right, I think."</p> + +<p>"No question about that, lad," replied the big officer; "and made so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +strong into the bargain that it would bear even my weight without +trouble. And now let's get Con on it so we can start for the wagon."</p> + +<p>This was quickly done. The man winced when they moved him, but other +than that managed to repress all signs of his suffering. The two men +accompanying the Chief took hold of the handles that had been provided, +and had not the slightest trouble in walking away with the wounded rogue +on the stretcher. As for the Chief, he took the other prisoner in +charge. Rob walked in the van, accompanied by his chums, and tried to +pick out the easiest way, always thinking of the pain that the wretched +Con must be enduring every time one of the bearers stumbled over a root.</p> + +<p>"This is what I call great work," Tubby said, as he managed to keep +alongside the one who bore the torch, so that he could get the full +benefit of its light; for he did not fancy going down on all fours every +little while when some vine happened to be in the path.</p> + +<p>"And I'll surely never forget this scene," Andy remarked, showing that +it had made a great impression on him. "Lots of times I'll shut my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +eyes, and see us all stringing along this way with that fellow laid out +on the stretcher. And say, when you look around and see how these old +vines hang down, you'd almost believe we were making our way through +some tropical forest like lots of men we've read about."</p> + +<p>"Well," spoke up Tubby briskly, "mebbe, now, we may be doing that same +thing before a great while, if only Uncle Mark makes up his mind to send +me down there to Mexico to straighten out his mixed affairs. I almost +believe he would right now, if only Rob, here, was going to be along, +because he's heard so much about him. And it wouldn't cost us a red +cent, either, because Uncle Mark'll stand for it. But the trouble is +we're bound to school right now, and can't get away, hang the luck!"</p> + +<p>"Careful there, Tubby," warned Merritt just then; "you're getting too +excited, and you don't watch your steps as you ought. That time you +nearly knocked me down banging against me so suddenly."</p> + +<p>"But aren't we nearly to the road, Rob?" pleaded Tubby, who was +breathing hard, partly on account of his exertions in keeping close to +the leader, and also because he persisted in wasting so much wind in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +talking.</p> + +<p>"More than half way, Tubby, so cheer up; the worst is yet to come," +chuckled the patrol leader. And then as the fat scout gave a dismal +groan Rob hastened to add: "That was only said for fun, because we are +going to have it easier right along after this. I think in five minutes +we shall come out on the road."</p> + +<p>When about that time had expired, Rob flashed the light of his torch +ahead, and then called out:</p> + +<p>"There's the white birch that hangs over the road, boys; and the wagon +is not far away from that, you remember."</p> + +<p>"What d'ye think of that, Chief? If he didn't go and fetch us straight +back to the place we started from!" Andy called out.</p> + +<p>"That was easy," Rob told him; "because I only had to follow our own +trail, you understand. And here we are!"</p> + +<p>The horse whinnied at their approach, just as though he might have known +they were friends; and possibly the poor tired beast was as hungry for a +good feed of oats as animals of his class can get.</p> + +<p>The rude stretcher, having served its purpose, was cast aside, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +wounded man made as comfortable as possible in the bed of the wagon. All +of the scouts but Merritt settled themselves as best they could, as did +also two of the officers. The Chief and his prisoner occupied the seat +with the driver, where the recaptured rogue could be constantly watched.</p> + +<p>In this way, then, they set out to cover the two miles or more that lay +between them and Hampton. Naturally the scouts felt quite jolly over the +remarkable success that had accompanied their labors of the evening.</p> + +<p>"Well, who would have thought when the water came a-rushing into our +boat, so we had to run her ashore and leave her there till morning, that +we'd come on the finest chance ever to show what we knew about +scoutcraft?" Andy burst out after they had been rumbling along the road +steadily for a short time. Merritt had been cautioned not to try and +make speed on account of the poor fellow who had hard work to repress a +groan with every jolt.</p> + +<p>"That's the way things come around, sometimes," Rob told him. "You never +can tell how they're going to turn out. Lots of times I've heard my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +father say that the very things he looked on as disasters proved to be +blessings in disguise. And for one, I could almost forgive the fellow +who played that miserable trick on us, because of the great time we've +had since landing."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't join with you there," grumbled Tubby, who did not often +hold a grudge against anybody, and therefore made his present action the +more singular. "What if that plug had dropped out when we were out in +the middle of the bay, with the wind and waves like they were? Wouldn't +we have been in danger of our lives? I can see a feller of my size +swimming a mile and more! Huh! that was a coward's trick, let me tell +you. And just wait and see if I don't fasten the guilt on the wretch +that played it on us. I've got all the evidence needed right here in my +pocket; and given a little time, I'll fix him,—but I'm not mentioning +any names <i>yet</i>!"</p> + +<p>Both Andy and Rob pretended to consider Tubby's intention to play +detective in the nature of a great joke, because they did not believe +that the fat scout had any particular gift along such lines; but he +certainly seemed in deadly earnest, and took himself seriously, for a +fact.</p> + +<p>"We are likely to be late to supper to-night, boys!" Rob remarked, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +they saw the lights of Hampton ahead, and knew that presently they would +be in the home town.</p> + +<p>"What of that, when we've got such a splendid excuse?" Tubby said, as he +puffed himself up with pride. "I know my maw and Uncle Mark'll listen +a-holding their breath while I tell of all the wonderful adventures that +came our way since we started after Rob's select oysters! Um! don't I +wish I had a few to sample right this minute! But then, I ought to be +home pretty quick now, and I guess I can hold in. Friday night we always +have Boston baked beans at our house; and you know I'm particularly fond +of those. And this is Friday, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>He heaved a contented sigh, as though making up his mind that supper +would taste all the finer for being held back so long; and that was +Tubby's way all over.</p> + +<p>"I'll jump out here, Chief," said Rob, as Merritt held up the horse, +knowing they were close to the banker's house. "I reckon I can tote that +sack of oysters such a short way. So-long, fellows; see you first thing +in the morning, Merritt. I'd like mighty much to get my boat home +before that old hurricane from the West Indies comes tearing up the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +coast. Good night, Chief, and I'm glad we were able to lend you a hand. +I hope you get a doctor busy with that swollen leg Con's carrying around +with him. It'd be rough if blood poisoning set in."</p> + +<p>So saying, the patrol leader allowed the two boys in the body of the +wagon to heave the half bushel of prime shellfish over his right +shoulder, and walked off with his burden as though it did not amount to +much, anyway.</p> + +<p>The cheery words of the policemen followed him; but pleasant as these +may have been, it was something entirely different that caused Rob to +laugh softly to himself as he heard it. And this was the shrill +"k-r-e-e-e" of the Eagles, sent after him by his chums, as a token of +their esteem, and in recognition of the great aid scoutcraft had proven +to them during the last hour or more.</p> + +<p>Thus closed one of the most interesting experiences that had ever fallen +to the lot of the Eagle Patrol scouts; one that they would be apt to +remember years afterwards, when time had caused them to forget many +other adventures that had come their way. And doubtless Tubby did keep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +his folks breathless while he narrated the exciting details over the +supper table—after he had taken off the first sharp edge of his +wonderful appetite.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>A DAZZLING PLAN.</h3> + + +<p>Rob was up and around at daybreak the following morning, for as yet the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +anticipated storm had not come up the coast, and it seemed as though he +might manage to get his stranded sailboat back home before the wind +assumed hurricane force.</p> + +<p>He was just starting in to have a bit of breakfast, having made the +coffee, as every Boy Scout who is worth his salt is taught to do, when a +cheery whistle from without announced the coming of Merritt. As it had +been arranged between them that Rob would attend to the breakfast part, +the Crawford boy was soon partaking of his share.</p> + +<p>"Think we'll be able to get back with the boat?" he asked Rob, as he +swallowed his hot coffee in such large quantities that the tears came +into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why we shouldn't," answered the other; "the wind has +shifted quite a lot, and once we start we'll be able to make it with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +about three tacks."</p> + +<p>"How about that hole? I don't reckon you'll spend much time fixing that +now?" Merritt went on to say.</p> + +<p>"I should guess not," laughed Rob. "If a plug that wasn't pounded in any +too well in the first place held out all that time before working loose, +I can fill up the hole with a fresh piece of wood that will never drop +out. Besides, we can keep an eye on it. Any more coffee, Merritt?"</p> + +<p>"I'm done, and ready to take that little spin right away. Got your +sweater on, I see, Rob. You'll need it, and then some, on the boat, with +this wind blowing. I've fetched along my heavy storm coat into the +bargain."</p> + +<p>"I was meaning to carry mine, you can understand," Rob rejoined, as he +picked it up from the chair where he had tossed it.</p> + +<p>As soon as both of them were mounted on their wheels, they sped away +along the road in the direction of the place where the sailboat had been +left. And, as there had been no unusually strong wind from a quarter +that would bring the seas into the little sheltered cove, Rob had no +fear that his property could have been damaged since they abandoned it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +on the preceding evening.</p> + +<p>Of course they covered the same stretch of road over which they had come +while in the wagon drawn by the white nag; and, as they swung past the +identical birch tree that marked the spot where the fugitives had turned +into the thick undergrowth, Merritt drew the fact to his chum's +attention.</p> + +<p>"I'll never see a white birch again as long as I live," he said +earnestly, "but I'll remember that one and all that happened to us +around here. But that cove can't be much more than half a mile away now, +Rob. Do you say the same?"</p> + +<p>"We're bearing down on the place right now, and you'll find that it lies +where that bush stands that holds its red leaves, while others are bare +or brown."</p> + +<p>"If you say so, I know it's going to be that way," returned the +corporal, "because you always look out to mark things down so in your +mind. Now, it never occurred to me to take any notice of what the side +of the road looked like when we came out on it. I seemed to think that, +because I knew that cove so well, I could find it again as easy as +falling off a log; but chances are I'd have run away over the mark, if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +left to myself, because I thought it was further along."</p> + +<p>"I've found it pays always to notice things as you go," said Rob, as +they jumped from their saddles and pushed the wheels ahead of them while +passing along what seemed to be a trail leading toward the shore; "it +saves lots of time, and you have a sort of satisfied feeling, just as if +you were ready for anything."</p> + +<p>They came directly on the cove, and found the boat just as they had left +it. Of course the first thing to be done was to lower the water that was +in the stern of the boat. This Merritt proceeded to do with a small pail +Rob had brought along, while the other boy whittled a stick of white +pine until it suited his idea of what a proper plug should be, after +which he proceeded to pound it into the round hole in the bottom of the +sailboat's hull.</p> + +<p>After that they finished the job of clearing the water out, and then the +boat was launched. Pushing out into deeper water, they soon had the sail +up, and were buffeting the waves. Of course they lost ground until the +centerboard could be used, after which they were able to make a course +that would take them considerably nearer Hampton.</p> + +<p>It was quite a wild dash, and both scouts enjoyed fighting wind and wave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +until, some two hours after starting, they managed to run into sheltered +water, and could feel that the victory had been won.</p> + +<p>"And none too soon, let me tell you, my boy," said Rob, as he pointed +out to where the white-caps were rushing furiously along before a wind +that was rapidly assuming the proportions of a storm.</p> + +<p>"Gee whiz! but were we out in that sea?" exclaimed Merritt, as though +hardly able to believe his eyes. "Why, I didn't dream it was half that +rough while we were booming along. But then we had our hands full +managing things, and couldn't do much looking around, could we? I'm glad +it's all over. Listen to the wind howl as it cuts around the corners of +the yacht club building! Looks as though we might get all the hurricane +Hampton can stand before another night comes."</p> + +<p>They did.</p> + +<p>The weather sharps at Washington had not sent out those storm warnings +without good cause, for there had never been such a wicked gale along<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +the south shore of Long Island at that late season of the year as this +one.</p> + +<p>Although it was Saturday and a holiday, few boys dared venture out, and +then only to run from one house to another, clad in waterproofs, their +heads covered with rubber capes such as duck shooters sport in rainy +weather, when holding forth in their "point" blinds.</p> + +<p>The storm raged all that night, and the following day also, doing all +manner of serious damage along the South Shore, where boats were sunk, +piers swept away, and even houses demolished.</p> + +<p>On Monday morning it showed signs of abating, so that Merritt managed to +get over to the Blake home. He was just in time to catch up with Tubby +and Andy, who, unable to stay indoors any longer, had determined to seek +company.</p> + +<p>"Whee! isn't this the limit, though?" called out Tubby as the corporal +of the Eagles came up, after being compelled to duck his head and fight +against the fury of the still stiff wind.</p> + +<p>"I hear it's done all manner of things around here," Andy remarked +earnestly. "I hope, Merritt, you and Rob managed to get that boat home; +because if she's up in that cove still there won't be two sticks of her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +left fastened together. Why, the seas rose higher than they ever did +before, so I heard, and they must have pounded in along that shore like +hot cakes!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! we managed to work her down, never fear," Merritt assured him; "and +chances are she's O. K. now. Hello! Rob, we thought we'd step in and see +how you all managed to hold out through the storm!"</p> + +<p>"No damage done at our house; but I heard that the poor old Academy got +caught again," the patrol leader remarked.</p> + +<p>At which Andy threw up his hands, exclaiming,</p> + +<p>"Don't tell me it was burned again, after the other bad blaze that let +us out of school long enough for some of you fellows to run down to +Panama, and have all kinds of fun!"</p> + +<p>"No fire this time, but wind and rain," Rob said soberly. "Why, they say +the whole roof was carried two hundred yards away, so that the rain beat +in, and played hob with everything! The Academy is next door to a ruin +right now. It begins to look as if we might have to be given another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +long vacation till they get a new roof on; and that may be a month, +perhaps two!"</p> + +<p>The three boys who heard this interesting news somehow did not seem to +feel particularly sorry. Indeed, as soon as he could find his voice, +Tubby burst out into a regular cowboy yell.</p> + +<p>"Hooray! that means we'll have a chance to take Uncle Mark at his word +if so be he wants the lot of us to hike down there over the Rio Grande, +and see what can be done with his cattle on that ranch in Mexico! Again +I say, 'Hooray for everybody.' Oh! say, tell me about that, won't you? +It sounds too good to be true, Rob! Are you dead sure that that +accommodating new roof went sailing away? And did it land two hundred +yards off? Wouldn't I have liked to be around to see her go, though! And +it will surely take the carpenters six weeks or two months to get a new +one on and the rooms fixed over. Talk about luck, it never rains but it +pours!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Rob, laughing at the extravagant actions and words by means +of which Tubby tried to express his joy; "we've just seen it pour the +worst ever. If an inch fell on poor old Hampton, I'd say there was a +foot solid came down; and without a roof on top, the inside of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +Academy must look pretty tough."</p> + +<p>"But about this queer old uncle of yours, Tubby, how is it we never met +him?" inquired Merritt. "Tell us all about him, won't you? He must be +some traveler; because I heard you say once he'd just been nearly a year +in Africa exploring over the course Livingstone and Stanley took a long +while back."</p> + +<p>"Why," Tubby immediately started in to say, "Uncle Mark Matthews is a +brother of my mother. He's always been a queer sort of fish, crazy about +hunting orchids, and all that sort of stuff, you know. Spent years and +years down in tropical South America, where no white man had ever been +before; and has a whole raft of strange plants, birds, butterflies and +what-not named after him. He settled down in Mexico some years ago, and +got together quite a respectable lot of prize cattle on a ranch that's +in the northern part of the country. And that is where a lot of this +fighting business has been going on between the rebels under Villa and +the troops of Huerta, now playing his little part as president of the +republic.</p> + +<p>"About a year or more ago it seems that Uncle Mark got the old fever on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +him again; and this time it was Africa that called him. He wanted to do +something big over there before he found himself too old, he says. +Anyway, he put his ranch in charge of a man he believed he could trust +with things, even if he was a greaser; and away he cut for the heart of +the Dark Continent.</p> + +<p>"Well, he came near losing his life there, dying of the jungle fever, or +some kind of thing like that; and when, after a hard fight, he managed +to reach the coast, heading for America, first thing he heard was that +there were hot times all around where his prize ranch was located; and +also that if his bunch of cattle worth a fortune hadn't been confiscated +yet, they'd soon be lost to him. It seems that Uncle Mark has lost a +good part of the big pile he once owned, and if this ranch was sacked +he'd be in a bad hole; and that is what is worrying him right now.</p> + +<p>"If it is going to be saved at all, somebody has just got to go down +there and do the business; and Uncle Mark is too sick a man to dream of +trying it. That's why he's been talking to me as he has. You see, +ordinarily he wouldn't think of entrusting such a risky job to a boy of +my age; but ever since he's come to Hampton he's been hearing about what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +clever chaps the Boy Scouts are, and particularly you, Rob, and Merritt, +here; and he told me again last night that if only it might be fixed so +you could go along—yes, and you, too, Andy, don't think I'd leave you +out of this deal—he'd hand the whole business over to me to handle. And +let me tell you, it looks like things might be shaping that way right +now, when you give me to understand, Rob, that the Academy is a wreck, +and that there can't be any school for six or eight weeks. And that's +why I'm tickled to death, and feel like throwing my hat over the church +steeple with joy. Because, don't you see, fellers, it's going to mean a +glorious trip for the whole four of us, a chance to see what Mexico +looks like in war times, and perhaps even an opportunity to run across +some of the natives who are doing all the fighting!"</p> + +<p>But Rob looked serious, as though there were things that he wanted +explained before he could consent to consider such a wild goose chase.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>FIGURING IT ALL OUT.</h3> + + +<p>"Just hold your horses a bit, Tubby; you're going so fast I'm afraid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +you'll break your neck," Rob told the fat boy. "Why, nobody ever saw you +half so excited in all your life as you are now."</p> + +<p>"Well, who wouldn't be, when everything is rooting for us to make that +lovely trip down to the land of sunshine, where there is something doing +every minute of the time right now?" Tubby declared. "And all I hope is, +first, that this rumor about the school roof taking wings and blowing +away doesn't turn out to be a fizzle; and, second, that you will make up +your mind to go along with me, Rob. Because I'm banking on the rest +falling all over themselves to sneeze if only you take snuff. That +right, fellers?"</p> + +<p>"You've got it down pretty pat, Tubby," chuckled Merritt.</p> + +<p>"Yes," added Andy, "you know mighty well that if Rob and you say 'go,' +the rest of us couldn't be held back with wild horses. That is, always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +providing our folks give us permission, and I think they will when they +know how much the trip means to your poor uncle."</p> + +<p>"There, Rob, see that?" cried Tubby eagerly. "What's doing now?"</p> + +<p>"Before I say a word one way or the other," Rob told him, "there are +heaps of questions I want answered. Perhaps you can tell us a part of +the story; but we'd have to see Uncle Mark, and hear the rest. Get that, +Tubby?"</p> + +<p>"Sure I do, Rob, and you'll find me only too willing to accommodate all +I can. Fire away, now, and I'll try and put you wise to the facts," and +the fat boy threw himself into Rob's easy-chair, elevating one leg over +an arm, and assuming the air of a witness in the box ready to be +cross-questioned by the lawyer on the other side.</p> + +<p>"Tell us something more about your uncle first of all," said Rob, just +as if he might have a long list of questions on a slip of paper, which +he meant to put to the other.</p> + +<p>"About his life, do you mean, or just that part of it connected with +Mexico?" demanded Tubby.</p> + +<p>"We haven't the time to stand for it all," observed Rob; "because such a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +wonderful man as your uncle must have run across more queer things than +we read about in Baron Munchausen or the Arabian Nights, he's been such +a great traveler and explorer. So just strike in where he made up his +mind to settle down on a Mexican ranch, and sent to England to import a +fine breed of cattle to improve the native stock. That was how long ago, +Tubby?"</p> + +<p>"From what he told me I guess it might have been six or seven years +back; but that doesn't matter so very much. He bought a big tract of +good land, and put up his ranch buildings; after which he got his stock +together and started raising the best brand of cattle ever known in +Northern Mexico, shipping his beef, on the hoof, of course, over the +border to the United States market."</p> + +<p>"That was when Diaz was president of Mexico," Rob remarked. "Now, how +did your uncle get along with the Government at that time? I want to +know, because it's going to cut a big figure with us when we get down +there—if we ever do."</p> + +<p>"Why, to tell you the truth, I don't believe Uncle Mark cared much for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +President Diaz, because he had lots of trouble at times with the people +in power. And later on, when Madero went into Mexico to turn things +upside-down, I guess uncle helped him a whole lot. Anyway, I've heard +him say he admired Madero a heap, and that they were good friends. Why, +after Diaz lit out for Spain, Uncle Mark was so dead sure things would +run smooth down there that he left his ranch in charge of a man he +believed he could trust, and started on the trip to Africa that he'd +been staving off for ever so long. And he says he must have just missed +the news that Madero had been killed, and that another president was in +the chair. If he'd known that, he would never have made his dive into +the heart of Africa, but hurried back home."</p> + +<p>"Then he looks on Huerta as anything but a friend; is that it?" asked +Rob.</p> + +<p>"He's afraid the present Government is following along the same paths +Diaz made, and that everybody who was hand in glove with Madero must +come under the ban," Tubby went on to say with considerable importance, +as though he might be coining some of these phrases himself, when,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +truth to tell, he only repeated them, parrot-like, after his uncle.</p> + +<p>"Now, that's something we would have to know," said Rob. "But tell us, +has your uncle had any word from his ranch since he came back?"</p> + +<p>"Not a whisper," Tubby assured him. "You see, things are in such a whirl +down over the border right now that letters never get to their +destinations; and as for a wire message being delivered, it isn't +possible in a year."</p> + +<p>"Then Uncle Mark doesn't know whether he has any cattle left on his +ranch to-day, or if it's just a howling wilderness, with every beef run +off, and the buildings burned to the ground. Is that the way it stands, +Tubby?"</p> + +<p>"Er—yes, I suppose it is," admitted the fat scout slowly. "And you see, +it's to find out the truth, for one thing, that he wants somebody to go +down there and cross over into Mexico. Then, if everything is lovely and +the goose hangs high, that messenger will be given authority to dispose +of every head of cattle so as to fetch as big a fistful of money back +here as he can."</p> + +<p>Rob shook his head, while the other three who were eagerly watching his +face looked keenly disappointed. The signs seemed to point to an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +adverse decision in the matter by the patrol leader.</p> + +<p>"It appears to be even worse than what I called it first—a wild goose +chase," Rob presently pursued. "For months and months now there have +been all kinds of fighting around that section of country, if half we +see in the papers is true: first with the Government forces ahead, and +then the rebels clearing out everything, so that a hostile army couldn't +live off the land. It was just as Sheridan was ordered to do in the +Valley of the Shenandoah, you remember. If the army of Huerta didn't +carry off your uncle's prize stock, you can make sure the hungry rabble +of that rebel general, Villa, must have gobbled it up long ago."</p> + +<p>"Oh! but there is where uncle says he has his strongest hold!" exclaimed +Tubby, his round face lighting up again with new hope.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear he's got a string out somewhere, then," Rob remarked. +"Suppose you tell us what you mean by that?"</p> + +<p>"Why, he knows General Villa real well," Tubby went on. "Fact is, he met +him some years ago when he was only a bandit, fighting against the Diaz<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +Government, because they'd gone and set a price on his head. It's too +long a story to tell you now, Rob, but the fact is that my uncle, who +used to be a pretty fine surgeon once on a time before he got this +exploring bee in his head, saved the life of Villa!"</p> + +<p>"He did, eh?" exclaimed the patrol leader, apparently beginning to take +new interest in the matter. "That sounds as though there might be a slim +chance for those herds to be left alone. Go on and tell us some more, +Tubby."</p> + +<p>"Villa was badly hurt, and uncle took him to his house and nursed him +back to life again, knowing who he was all the while; because, as I said +before, uncle didn't have any too much love for the party that was in +power just then. And Villa told him he would never forget what uncle had +done for him; that if he could do him a favor any time all uncle had to +do was to speak. So that is what he's hoping will turn out in his favor; +that General Villa, remembering how he was treated so well at the ranch, +would put a guard over the place and keep his men from raiding it, under +the belief that uncle must return home before long. Oh, Uncle Mark is +building big hopes on the gratitude of the man whose life he saved long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +ago!"</p> + +<p>"I must say it does look some hopeful," Rob mused, as though trying to +convince himself along those lines; for a trip to the South did look +mighty alluring to him, if only he could believe it was not a foolish +errand that took them to the sorely troubled land of the Montezumas.</p> + +<p>"And I forgot to tell you this," Tubby continued breathlessly. "Just as +you read so often in stories of the old-time days, the bandit Villa gave +my uncle a queer ring which he wears all the time, and told him that if +that ring was ever brought to him he would go far out of his way to help +the person who fetched it!"</p> + +<p>When Tubby burst out with this new bombardment, Rob threw up his hands +as if he must capitulate on the spot.</p> + +<p>"That seems to clinch matters like a nail driven through a board, +Tubby," he went on to say.</p> + +<p>"Oh! then you mean you'll go; is that it, Rob?" exclaimed the fat boy, +scrambling out of the easy-chair, and landing on his feet with his short +legs spread out as though they were a letter A.</p> + +<p>Rob smiled.</p> + +<p>"It's too soon to settle the thing like that, Tubby; but I want to tell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +you that after hearing all you've had to say, I must admit there's a +chance of my falling in with your scheme. It's a glorious outlook so far +as the trip goes. The trouble will be to get in touch with General Villa +with that country fairly swarming with guerillas and bandits of all +kinds, not to speak of the rebels themselves."</p> + +<p>"What will you do about it, Rob?" pleaded Tubby. "Because you know time +is going to count for a whole lot with us. Just as soon as we know for +sure that there will not be any school till long after Christmas, we +ought to be starting. It's going to take some days to get down there, +and across the Rio Grande."</p> + +<p>"Well, first, you must take us all to see your uncle so he can give us +more information. We shall need it all, depend on that," Rob told him, +laying one finger on the palm of his left hand as he checked things off. +"Then I want to talk it all over with dad, though somehow I don't seem +to fear any serious opposition from that quarter, because he's so good +to me, and has such a lot of faith in my being able to come out of any +scrape right-side up. Last of all, I mean to put it up to our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +scout-master, Mr. Alec Sands, and get his advice."</p> + +<p>Hampton Troop of Boy Scouts now had a regular scout master, as the rules +of the organization demanded. He was a bright young man of about +twenty-five, who, while not very well acquainted with the secrets of the +Big Outdoors, as were some of the scouts, did know boys from the ground +up; and he was deeply interested in everything that went for the +betterment of the rising generation. Some time before, Rob had received +his certificate from Headquarters in New York City, and was qualified to +serve as assistant scout master in the absence of the real leader of the +troop; for only a first-class scout may fill this position, and then +only after he has been endorsed by the scout commissioner of the +district, as well as the local council.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Tubby, scratching his head dubiously, "I only hope, then, +that our Mr. Sands don't put the kibosh on the whole fine game by saying +there's too big a risk about it for us to undertake. I don't see why +that should be, when every day you read about scouts doing all sorts of +wonderful things,—rescuing folks from burning buildings, stopping +runaway horses at the risk of their lives, and such brave deeds that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +get them medals from Headquarters. This means a whole lot to my uncle, +and to my folks; for whatever he owns will come to us if he should die; +and let me say this right now—if the rest of you back out, Tubby +Hopkins will make the try all by himself. You hear me talking, don't +you?"</p> + +<p>"That sounds pretty strong, Tubby," remarked Rob, smiling, yet in secret +admiring the undaunted spirit that caused the stout boy to make this +positive declaration; "but suppose you take us right now to see your +uncle; that may settle it once and for all!"</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>HOW THE LAND LAY.</h3> + + +<p>Upon hearing Rob speak so favorably of the scheme, Tubby grinned, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +gave both of the other scouts a sly wink, as much as to say: "See how +you can get there by keeping everlastingly at it?" That was the fat +boy's best quality: persistence. If he failed to reach his aim twenty +times he was apt to proceed to try again and again until success +rewarded him.</p> + +<p>"Then come along over home with me and have a talk with Uncle Mark!" he +told the patrol leader as he began to hunt all around for his hat, which +he often mislaid. He was finally informed coolly by Andy that it was +perched on his head, as he had forgotten to remove it when entering +Rob's den!</p> + +<p>So the four hurried out. Signs of the late storm's fury could be seen in +every direction. Great limbs had been torn from some of Hampton's finest +trees; chimneys had been demolished in several places; and it was not +hard to believe that at the climax of the hurricane the new roof of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +Academy had been carried off.</p> + +<p>First of all, Rob said they should satisfy themselves that this report +was true; so they joined the crowds that were heading for the school +grounds. When the boys saw what a wreck the storm had made of the +building, none of them doubted any longer that a vacation period was +bound to result. And strange to say, while some of the town fathers +walked around, viewing the damage with long faces, knowing how heavily +it would cost to repair the school, nobody saw a single boy looking +glum!</p> + +<p>"That's one point settled, anyhow," Andy remarked gleefully, as they all +turned away, heading for the Hopkins' home.</p> + +<p>"And say, Mexico looks a whole lot closer to me, don't you know?" Tubby +chirped, with such a happy look on his rosy face that any one might have +thought he was on the eve of starting on a picnic instead of a serious +undertaking. But, then, boys never see the dark side of things, such is +the enthusiasm and optimism of youth.</p> + +<p>"Too bad about one thing, Tubby, if so be you get away on this journey," +remarked Andy, giving Merritt a wink as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"What's that, Andy, you're hinting about?" asked the other.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's going to knock your fine plans silly; about searching every tool +chest in town, you know, and finding the brace and nicked bit that +chawed a hole through the bottom of Rob's sailboat," the bugler of the +Eagles went on to say.</p> + +<p>Tubby looked somewhat glum, and shrugged his plump shoulders ruefully.</p> + +<p>"Say, that's a fact, fellers," he remarked dolefully; "and I'd sure set +my heart on finding out the miscreant, and exposing him to his face. +Such a smart idea of mine it was, too, finding that shaving with the +tell-tale mark! But if I don't get a chance to spy around between now +and the time we leave Hampton, I'll keep it in mind. And every time I +look at that incriminating bit of evidence, I'll renew my vow to place +the guilt on the shoulders where it belongs just as soon as I get back +home after a successful trip."</p> + +<p>Tubby, when he wanted to, could appear very eloquent, and use some of +the longest words in the dictionary. Fortunately these periods did not +crop up very often, or his chums would not have stood for such airs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +Andy pretended to feel faint as it was, and begged Merritt to fan him.</p> + +<p>"All I can say about the matter is that I'm sorry for the fellow who +bored that hole through my boat," Rob remarked; "because when once Tubby +sets his mind on anything it's bound to come, sooner or later. But here +we are at your house; and now to meet Uncle Mark."</p> + +<p>Three minutes later they were all sitting around a small, dark-featured +gentleman, who wore a big pair of goggles and looked as though he might +be pretty sick. This was Uncle Mark. The fever he had contracted in the +hot depths of the African jungles had taken such a hold upon his system +that he began to despair of ever being able to travel again; and he had +sought his sister's home as a haven of refuge in his last days.</p> + +<p>He seemed to guess about what the three scouts had come to see him; +which would indicate that Tubby had done considerable talking, even to +promising that he would coax the others to join him in making the trip +to the country south of the Rio Grande.</p> + +<p>As Rob went over pretty much the same ground as when he was questioning +Tubby, it would hardly pay us to repeat what passed between Uncle Mark<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +and the boys for the first half hour of the conference. Of course the +old traveler was able to go further into details; and some of his +descriptions of those warm times when he first met Villa, the bandit, +thrilled his young hearers.</p> + +<p>"Some people might think it a very unwise thing for me to try and induce +a party of mere lads to start down into that sorely distressed and +torn-up country just now on such a strange errand," Uncle Mark said +after a while; "but I've considered everything carefully, and I actually +believe you would have a far better chance for success than if I +entrusted the mission to a man, who would be sure to get mixed up with +some of the rival factions and lose out. Besides, I've become very much +interested in the aims of Boy Scouts since I've come to Hampton; and +some of the things you Eagles have done fairly made my heart go out to +you. I believe that if anybody can make a success of this errand you +can."</p> + +<p>Naturally enough such words of warm praise made the scouts feel drawn +toward the broken down old traveler and explorer more than ever. Uncle +Mark had seen such a host of remarkable things during his roving life +that this fact alone would endear him to all boys who had red blood in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +their veins. And scouts in particular, with their love for outdoors and +the myriad secrets of the wilderness, might be expected to feel warmly +toward one who had camped for months amidst the savage tribes of Africa, +hunted through the tropical forests of South America in search of new +orchids, and lived the free life of an explorer.</p> + +<p>Still Rob went on asking questions, for he knew that they could not have +too much information concerning the country they meant to visit, and the +people they must meet there.</p> + +<p>All of them examined the quaint ring that Uncle Mark passed around, +which, as he said, General Villa had given him years ago. At that time +the present leader of the rebel forces in Northern Mexico was looked on +as a hunted bandit, with a price set on his head by President Diaz.</p> + +<p>"Should you conclude to undertake this mission, Rob," the old gentleman +went on to say, with an anxious, almost pleading look on his face, +"which I earnestly hope may be the case, I mean to put this ring on your +finger, because I suppose you are to be the leader. When you want to +prove to General Villa that you come direct from his old friend, Doctor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +Matthews, all you have to do is to show him that; and if he is the man +of his word that I firmly believe him to be, there is nothing he can do +for you that he will refuse. But more than that, I expect to entrust you +with a letter to him, written in Spanish, but also translated for your +benefit. In it I shall ask him to dispose of all my cattle, if they are +still safe, to the best advantage possible, and to send me the proceeds +by you, as I am in a bad state and shall need the money. Is that plain, +boys?"</p> + +<p>"It couldn't be more so, sir," Rob assured him.</p> + +<p>"And now, after you have heard all that I can tell you, what do you +think about undertaking the expedition for me?" continued the other +eagerly. Tubby gripped the sides of his chair and held his breath, +waiting for Rob to settle the important question then and there.</p> + +<p>Rob was too diplomatic to do so off-hand. He knew that several things +had to be taken into consideration before they could think of assenting.</p> + +<p>"All I can say just now is this, Dr. Matthews," he remarked. "I'm for +going, now that I understand things better, and know that there is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +really some sort of chance that your cattle have been guarded, because +of this friendship for you on the part of Villa; and you tell us that he +is a man who never forgets a friend. But before we can say positively +that we'll undertake the job, we shall have to see what the home folks +have to say about it."</p> + +<p>"Of course. I expected that, Rob," the gentleman went on; "and if any of +you meet with opposition, please send the fathers or mothers over to see +me, and I'll try my best to win them to your way of thinking. It means +everything to me, because that ranch is all I've got left in the wide +world; and I put over a hundred thousand dollars into it."</p> + +<p>"Oh! so far as my father is concerned, sir," Rob assured him, "I'm +pretty sure there'll be little talking needed to make him see it in the +right light; because he's the finest dad on all Long Island, and he +believes in me from the word go. Merritt, here, has a coaxing way about +him that generally gets what he wants from his father, who is the +jolliest big man you ever saw wield a sledge. About Andy I'm not so +sure; but if there is going to be no school for two months, and his +father learns that the rest of us are going, I have hopes that he will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +say yes."</p> + +<p>"And I know he will!" exclaimed the bugler of the troop positively. +"Because he believes that scouts can take care of themselves anywhere. +Since I joined the Eagles I've shown so much improvement, he says, that +there is really nothing he would refuse me that was in reason."</p> + +<p>"Which shows that your father is a sensible man," remarked Uncle Mark; +"and I hope to meet him before long. But how soon can all this be +settled, Rob? Because every day counts terribly now. If my cattle have +been spared all these months, it may be that General Villa, believing I +never mean to return to Mexico, and needing money to buy supplies for +his troops, may feel that he has done all that could be asked of him, +and yield to the pressure. Yes, a day might turn the scales, and lose me +all my valuable stock. Make it as short a delay as you can, please, +Rob."</p> + +<p>"Oh! we'll settle that this very night, sir," replied the patrol leader +promptly. "It has always been a habit of mine not to let the grass grow +under my feet. And if things turn out right, why, I can see no reason<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +why we shouldn't make a start—by, say, to-morrow afternoon!"</p> + +<p>"Hurray!" cried Tubby, dancing around the room; while his mother, who +had come in to hear what was being said, hardly knew whether to look +pleased or worried. To have her only boy leave home on such an errand +was enough to cause any mother considerable anxiety.</p> + +<p>Both Merritt and Andy grinned, as though the prospect pleased them +greatly. What scout could help feeling delighted over such a chance for +visiting a country about which they had been reading so much as they had +of Mexico lately? That the unhappy republic was in the throes of civil +war did not seem to appal them at all; for never having experienced any +of the horrors of such a conflict, they could not realize what it meant.</p> + +<p>Uncle Mark could understand all about it, though; but he was so anxious +to find out about his ranch, and had such blind faith in the ability of +these clever scouts to take care of themselves under any and all +conditions, that he shut his eyes to the possibility of their coming to +harm.</p> + +<p>And that was about the last word; for presently Rob and his chums said +good-bye to the sick man, who shook hands with each scout, and said he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +would continue to hope they might decide to undertake the mission of +trying to save the last valuable possession he had in the wide world. +After which they went out to talk it all over again, and lay plans as to +what their program would be in case every obstacle were cleared away and +they saw an open door beyond them.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Rob finally; "if we do go we'll have our hands full getting +ready to skip out to-morrow; so Merritt, you and Andy had better see how +the land lies with your fathers; while I wait for mine to come home at +noon. Here's hoping you'll have the best of luck!"</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>"THEY'RE OFF!"</h3> + + +<p>It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this +story. And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept +employed carrying messages from house to house.</p> + +<p>In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and +upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited +voice of Andy.</p> + +<p>"Rob, is that you? Say, it's all right, and I'm going along!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! you didn't have to say more than one word to tell me that," +answered the patrol leader with a laugh. "Why, the minute you opened +your mouth you gave it all away. But I'm mighty glad you convinced your +folks, Andy."</p> + +<p>"At first father looked kind of glum, and shook his head as though he +wouldn't hear of such a thing," continued the other joyously. "But I +took your advice, and just started in to tell the whole yarn. I could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +see his face keep getting lighter the further I went, till at the end he +shook me by the hand, and says he: 'Andy, I don't mean to refuse you any +reasonable thing; and while I'll worry a lot if you go down there to +that troubled country, still, it's in a good cause. And if Mrs. Hopkins, +Mr. Blake, and Mr. Crawford give their sons permission, I reckon I'll +have to do the same. I've found that scouts learn how to take care of +themselves no matter where they happen to be!' And so that's settled. +How about you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! there wasn't any trouble," replied Rob proudly. "Dad asked me a lot +of questions, and then said he was willing to trust me anywhere. He's +the finest dad that ever lived, barring none! Now, we're only waiting to +hear from Merritt."</p> + +<p>"Well, you won't have to wait long, then," said a hearty voice just over +Rob's shoulder; and glancing up he saw the other chum, who had reached +the door of the room unobserved, even while the excited confab over the +wire was in progress.</p> + +<p>"There's no need of my asking what luck you've had, Merritt, my boy," +chuckled Rob, "because you carry the map on your face. It's all right,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +do I hear you say?"</p> + +<p>"I should say, yes," hastily replied the other with a happy grin that +told how much his boyish heart was wrapped up in this grand project.</p> + +<p>"Why, I didn't have any trouble at all. Father simply said that while he +hardly approved of four lads like us going down into that country where +neighbor was warring with neighbor, and everything torn upside-down, +still, it would be a shame if Tubby's old uncle, whom he has met, should +lose all he had when there was a chance to save it. And so he told me +that if the other boys received permission to go, he wouldn't throw +anything in the way. You know, Rob, father has a heap of respect for the +opinion of your dad."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Merritt," Rob rejoined. "I've been talking with Andy, and +everything is lovely over there at his house. I'm holding the wire, and +just wait till I tell him to come over here on the jump. He'd better +pick up Tubby on the way, because we want to talk things over once more, +so as to know just what we ought to take along with us."</p> + +<p>This was speedily arranged; and within ten minutes the other two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +members of the Eagle Patrol bustled in, out of breath with the exertion +they had put forth in order to save time.</p> + +<p>Then the tongues began to wag, and all sorts of suggestions came thick +and fast. It seemed as though everybody had been thinking up ideas, as +well as getting new ones from outsiders, mostly fellow members of the +troop to whom the subject of the great expedition was mentioned.</p> + +<p>"My father advised that we go well armed," said Merritt; "not that we +would expect to use our guns against anybody, unless in the last pinch; +but he says there are ferocious wild beasts down in that country, and he +wouldn't feel easy to have us there with just a camp hatchet and our +staves along for defense."</p> + +<p>"How about that, Tubby? Did you happen to ask Uncle Mark whether we'd be +likely to run across any grizzly bears or panthers or big game like +that?" inquired Andy.</p> + +<p>"Just what I did, because you know my mother said she was worried about +my being gobbled up by a pack of hungry wolves," replied the fat scout.</p> + +<p>"Guess they would pick you out first pop!" struck in Andy, chuckling.</p> + +<p>"Which would show their good taste," Tubby informed him, without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +hesitating a second. "But uncle admitted that we might run across wild +beasts of prey if we had to make much of a detour to avoid the Federal +troops that are combing the country back of Ciudad Juarez, on the Rio +Grande just opposite El Paso on the Texas side."</p> + +<p>"Did he happen to say what kind of animals?" asked Rob.</p> + +<p>"Oh! any old kind. There are wolves and coyotes on the plains, and in +the desert; jaguars among the hills; and sometimes even a bear is run +across, though not often. But my opinion is we'll have ten times as much +worry about rebels and Federal soldiers and some of the Mexican bandits +like that Castillo crowd we've read so much about in the papers the last +few months."</p> + +<p>"I think myself that you hit the target in the bull's-eye that time, +Tubby," was Merritt's way of expressing his opinion.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's settled then," added Rob, "that we go armed. Every fellow +will have to carry some sort of a gun; and if you don't happen to own +one, borrow it. Be sure to have some ammunition along, because we +mightn't be able to get the kind we need down there. Now, let's make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +out a list of things we'll want with us. Of course we wouldn't think of +carrying a tent, because we don't mean to have a pack train along, and +we'll have to move in a hurry lots of times."</p> + +<p>"But what if it rains like all get-out?" questioned Tubby, who did not +altogether like the idea of getting his brand new khaki suit +water-soaked the first thing.</p> + +<p>"Oh! don't bother about such a little thing as that," Merritt told him, +with a snort of scorn. "What sort of scouts would we be if we couldn't +fix up some sort of shelter against rain? And even if we didn't, none of +us are made of salt, are we? Anyway, I don't believe it rains much down +there around Chihuahua, because a heap of the territory is only desert; +and it wouldn't be that if it had showers, you understand."</p> + +<p>By degrees they settled upon what they should take along. Tubby was for +loading himself down with such a raft of stuff,—all of which might come +in very handy, but could never be carried without breaking the back of +his horse,—that Rob finally made out a slip for him, and insisted that +he should not pack up more than those essential things contained on the +paper.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to take my fountain pen along, anyhow," grumbled Tubby, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +though determined to carry some article that was not on the list. "And I +bet, Rob, you'll be wanting to borrow it at every city where we stop for +ten minutes, to address post cards to somebody in Hampton, like you did +the time we went to Panama."</p> + +<p>Of course that sly allusion caused a laugh on the part of Merritt and +Andy, while Rob turned a bit red in the face.</p> + +<p>"Oh! have your fun if you want to, fellows," the patrol leader said, as +though he were proof against their prodding. "I acknowledge that I did +send a few cards to Lucy Mainwaring that time; yes, and I calculate to +do the same again. Just think up some nice girl, each of you, and invest +a few dimes that way yourself. It's lots of fun looking them over +afterward, when she's got them so neatly pasted in her post card album."</p> + +<p>"Well," Merritt proposed, "now that we know what's what, hadn't we +better scatter and get busy? There's an awful lot to be done between now +and night, looking over our clothes, having this fixed, or that button +sewed on. Suppose we get together after supper and report progress. How<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +would my house do?"</p> + +<p>"I'll be on deck, never fear," Tubby announced promptly.</p> + +<p>"Look for me about half-past seven, Merritt," Andy told him.</p> + +<p>"Sorry, fellows," Rob put in, with a shrug of his shoulders and a +whimsical smile on his face; "I'll have to plead a previous engagement."</p> + +<p>"Oh! sure you do," jeered Andy; "and it'd be a shame to ask you to break +it for such a little thing as this. But the rest of us'll be around, +Merritt. No need of worrying about Rob, anyhow, because we know he'll +have everything in ship-shape style long before our train leaves."</p> + +<p>After that the meeting was dissolved, and three of the lads hurried away +to start packing their duffel according to arrangements, getting it in +as small a compass as possible.</p> + +<p>They were frequently interrupted by other boy friends, calling to find +out if this startling rumor had any truth back of it. The visitors asked +unlimited questions, while they loudly bewailed their hard luck in not +getting a chance to accompany the four fortunate ones.</p> + +<p>Sim Jeffords and Hiram Nelson, indeed, went so far as to threaten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +jokingly to start a rival expedition, and clean out all the rebels and +Regulars in the Mexican State of Chihuahua. While Fred Mainwaring, +Lucy's brother, who was at home at this time, boldly declared he had +half a mind to buy a ticket through to El Paso and wait for the four +scouts there, in hopes of thus forcing them to take him on.</p> + +<p>In the town it became a subject of common talk, and all sorts of ideas +were passed around concerning this new and most extraordinary scheme of +the scouts. Some people who were not in love with the organization, like +old Hiram Applegate, the farmer who had caused the boys so much trouble +in a previous story, openly scoffed at the idea of half-grown lads +undertaking such a risky mission. He said their parents must be crazy to +allow it; but when casual mention was made of his own wild son, Jared, +who had gone rapidly to the bad, and had not been heard from since his +misdeeds at Panama came near getting him into trouble with the United +States Government, Hiram suddenly remembered he had an engagement +elsewhere.</p> + +<p>Even the old-time enemies of the Eagles, Max Ramsay, Hodge Berry, and a +few of the members of the rival Hawk Patrol, investigated the exciting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +news, and tried to prove to their own satisfaction that the people of +Hampton were prejudiced in favor of Rob Blake and his crowd, because all +sorts of splendid things seemed to be continually coming their way. They +were wilfully blind to the fact that the boys of the Eagle Patrol had +surely deserved all the good fortune that had been showered upon them +thus far. This was because they had set their standard high, and tried +to conform to the rules that govern the scout movement.</p> + +<p>That was a long night to four boys at least in Hampton. At noon on the +following day a great crowd gathered at the station to see them leave +for New York, where they expected to take the night train for the Far +Southwest. Rob and his three chums felt their hearts beat a lively +tattoo as they saw the faces of home folks and patrol comrades among +those present.</p> + +<p>As the train pulled out of the station amidst loud shouts and good +wishes, and waving hats and handkerchiefs, the boys could distinguish +one sound that thrilled them to the core, and made them remember the +vows they had taken always to be true scouts.</p> + +<p>This was the shrill "k-r-e-e-e" of the Eagles, given in concert by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +other members of the patrol to which all of the travelers belonged; and +the last thing they saw as they leaned from the windows was the swarm of +campaign hats that went flying up into the air.</p> + +<p>Then, as the scene was blotted out in the cloud of fine sand raised by +the train, the four boys, thus boldly starting on a long and hazardous +journey in quest of Uncle Mark's last remnant of his fortune, sank back +in their seats and just looked at each other, too overcome to say a +single word. Behind lay home and all the dear ones; while beyond was the +land of revolution and turmoil—Mexico!</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>ALONG THE RIO GRANDE.</h3> + + +<p>"Here we are coming into El Paso at last!" called out Rob, as he started<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +to get his various bundles together, so as to leave the train that had +carried them over the last part of their long and tiresome journey +across the whole of Texas.</p> + +<p>"And I'm about as happy to hear that as if you'd told me I was made a +first class scout, and could hang the whole badge on my sleeve, where +now I only sport the lower half, 'Be Prepared!'" cried Tubby, also +getting busy.</p> + +<p>The boys had some time before been warned that they were nearing their +objective point on the American side of the border stream known as the +Rio Grande. Tubby loudly declared that he could not see anything so very +grand about the river; that they had wider creeks up North than this +seemed to be, away up here so far away from the Gulf.</p> + +<p>When they alighted they stared around them, naturally, because strange<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +sights at once began to meet their eyes, accustomed to other types of +people. A great crowd stood around, in which were khaki-clad United +States regulars off duty; cowboys; Mexicans with swarthy faces, both men +and women; Indians with their curios for sale in the shape of +finely-woven baskets and pottery of gaudy hues; and many other classes +of people besides.</p> + +<p>Of course the four lads came in for return stares, and they could well +understand that, for doubtless they were the very first Boy Scouts to +drop in on El Paso. Many persons at once believed that they must be new +recruits for the army. These observers remarked to one another that +things had come to a pretty pass when Uncle Sam found it necessary to +enlist half-grown boys in the service, now that it looked as though +intervention in Mexico must come about sooner or later.</p> + +<p>Rob, however, paid little attention to curious looks. He went about his +business with the air of one who had all his plans well matured, and +knew just what must be done first.</p> + +<p>Asking a few questions, he was directed to a sort of hotel. When they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +had reached it, it did not strike Tubby as giving much promise of good +"feeds"; and he did not hesitate to express that opinion when they were +alone in the big room with its two beds that had been assigned to them.</p> + +<p>"We don't expect to stay here more than the one night," Rob told him; +"only to get rested up and be in shape to start across the bridge there +after we've purchased horses and found a guide who can run off greaser +talk. So I wouldn't make any more row if I were you, Tubby."</p> + +<p>"We'll see that you get enough to eat if that is what worries you," +Merritt went on to say consolingly; and at that the fat scout managed to +smile a little.</p> + +<p>"Well," he remarked with a sigh, "if the rest of you can stand for it, I +guess I'll just have to, that's all. But, jiminy crickets, things look +pretty shady after coming straight from a nice clean home!"</p> + +<p>"You'll have to put up with lots worse than that, Tubby; so cheer up," +said Andy. "And now, what is the first thing on the program, Rob?"</p> + +<p>"Clean up the best we can, and rest till after we've had our dinner," +the other advised. "Then we'll try to get an interview with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +commander of the forces here, and see what he thinks we'd better do."</p> + +<p>"Huh! like as not he'll tell us we must not dream of venturing across to +the other side, unless General Villa happens to be in Juarez right now, +which I reckon would be too good luck," Tubby replied disconsolately. +"And I hope, Rob, that if he does talk that way he won't influence you +to call it all off. Think what silly guys we'd feel like, starting back +home without even making a try to invade Mexico!"</p> + +<p>"Don't let that keep you on edge, Tubby," the patrol leader told him; +"you ought to know me by this time, and that I never give up a thing +I've set my mind on till the last horn blows. We've started on this +business of your Uncle Mark's; and we'll see it through, or know the +reason why!"</p> + +<p>"Hurray! them's my sentiments!" exclaimed Andy, and even Merritt waved +his hand above his head, as though he fully agreed with the other +comrades; so Tubby was able to appear at ease once more, as a great load +had been removed from his heart.</p> + +<p>When they had partaken of a wretched dinner that made Tubby look quite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +blue because there was hardly a thing that seemed to taste right, the +four boys started out to look the border town over. They cast frequent +glances across the guarded bridge connecting El Paso with the Mexican +shore of the river, and finally asked of a passing soldier the way to +headquarters.</p> + +<p>Already they had learned who was in command at El Paso at that time, and +had even glimpsed the general at a distance. It happened that they found +the commander at leisure, which was a wonder, for he had his hands full +during these troublous times trying to keep the peace, when there were +so many chances of Americans and Mexicans coming into armed conflict +along the river for miles.</p> + +<p>The officer looked them over as they were ushered into the room. Rob had +been wise enough to send in a note telling who they were, and that they +wished to consult him on a very important piece of business.</p> + +<p>"So, you are the four Boy Scouts whose arrival created so much furor, +are you?" the general asked, as he frankly held out his hand toward Rob, +whom he immediately recognized as the leader. Perhaps this was due to +Rob's manner of carrying himself; or else to the fact that he wore his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +badge upon his left shoulder, showing that he was a scout master, and +hence in command. Soldiers have quick eyes to catch these things that +might slip past an ordinary citizen.</p> + +<p>"We are Boy Scouts, General," Rob replied; "but we did not know that our +coming to El Paso had made more than a ripple. My name is Rob Blake; +this is Corporal Merritt Crawford; the one next him is Andy Bowles, our +bugler; and this last member goes by the name of Tubby Hopkins!"</p> + +<p>The officer in command at the border town shook hands warmly with each +of the boys. He tried his best not to smile as he noted how well named +Tubby seemed to be; for one could hardly look at him without being +forcibly reminded of a butter firkin, or else of the most useful family +utensil on wash days.</p> + +<p>"Why, I understand that for a time, until they learned who you were," +the general went on to remark, with a quizzical look, "there was +considerable indignation going around that our great Government should +send out boys to help patrol the Rio Grande, and to keep the fighting +Mexicans on their own side of the river. But you say you wish to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +consult me about something; so, as my time may be limited, suppose you +start in and give me the facts. I want to assure you in the start, +though, that I've watched the growth of the scout movement from a small +beginning; and that I'm heart and soul in favor of it as the finest +thing that ever happened for uplifting the American youth. It's going to +make a great difference in the kind of <i>men</i> we'll be having ten and +twenty years from now."</p> + +<p>After hearing that, of course, Rob knew they would have the full +sympathy of the general in the carrying out of their mission. However, +he might fear that they were undertaking too great a task in risking the +dangers of travel through so disturbed a country as Mexico at that time, +since both Federals and rebels were feeling anything but friendly toward +Americans.</p> + +<p>So Rob started in to narrate the entire story, and he made such a fine +thing of it that the interested listener only interrupted him a few +times to ask further particulars concerning certain points.</p> + +<p>All the while his eyes kindled with growing admiration for these brave +lads, who were ready to take such great risks in order to save Uncle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +Mark's cattle, if it so happened that they had not been already seized +by one side or the other of the contending forces.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it would do no good for me to try and discourage you, boys," +he said heartily, after the whole story had been told; "because I can +easily see that you would try to carry out your plans at any rate. And +that being the case, I might as well give you what advice I can, and +help you in that way."</p> + +<p>His words caused every boyish face to be wreathed in smiles.</p> + +<p>"That is very kind of you, General," said Rob; "and we will try to act +on the advice you give us, you may be sure. All we want is to meet +General Pancho Villa; and from what Uncle Mark told us about his being a +man of his word, we think the rest will be easy."</p> + +<p>The experienced officer smiled grimly. Possibly he had opinions of his +own about whether one who had been a lawless bandit for years would +remember a kind deed to the point of throwing protection about the ranch +of his former friend; but he did not venture to disturb the belief of +the sanguine scouts.</p> + +<p>"First of all you must have horses. I'll put you in touch with a man who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +can supply those, for I understood you to say you had plenty of money to +pay for an outfit. Then you must take enough supplies along to do you +for a week; because you may be that long getting to the town of +Chihuahua, where we have reason to believe Villa is at present. He has +forced many rich Mexicans and trades people there to pay tribute; and +hundreds have made a pilgrimage across the desert with the two thousand +Federal soldiers who were forced to leave Chihuahua when the +Constitutionalists, as Villa's men call themselves, captured the place. +And last of all, I know the very man you will need to serve you as a +guide. He is a Mexican, but I have always found him entirely +trustworthy; and he will be glad to favor me. So I will give you a few +lines to Mardo Lopez, and tell you at what inn you can find him."</p> + +<p>It was certainly cheering to hear the general say such kind things; and +later on, when he shook hands all around again and told them to come and +see him if he could do them any further favor, the four boys felt that +they had indeed great reason to rejoice, because "all things seemed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +be coming their way," as Andy put it.</p> + +<p>They soon found the man called Mardo Lopez. While he did not impress +them very favorably, because he seemed to have what they thought to be a +dark, crafty face, he readily agreed to do everything in his power to +oblige the general, and to prove that he could be trusted.</p> + +<p>After that they took the guide with them to pick out the horses, knowing +that his judgment would be better than their own; for Mardo was +accustomed to traveling across the desert lands that stretched in many +places between the river and the capital of Chihuahua, some two hundred +miles and more from the border, and almost due south.</p> + +<p>By the middle of the afternoon they had bought everything needed, and +had their mounts, together with equipments for the same, safely housed +at the tavern where they put up. Then, at Andy's suggestion, the Mexican +took them for a little stroll, meaning to ask many questions concerning +the organization to which they belonged; for Mardo had, it seemed, heard +about the scouts, but up to that time had never been told what they +stood for.</p> + +<p>Rob, it may be set down as certain, was only too glad to pass the word<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +along; for he himself believed so thoroughly in the uplifting power of +the Boy Scout movement, that he wanted everybody to understand it in the +same light.</p> + +<p>The four boys and their new guide were walking along close to the bank +of the river, the latter telling them many things that they would have +to run up against once they found themselves on Mexican soil, when far +away across the river there came the dull report of a gun; and then, +just over their heads something cut through the air, making a whining +sound that gave them all a thrill.</p> + +<p>That was the first time they had really been under fire; but even Tubby +seemed to know instinctively what the queer whistle meant, and that a +bullet had passed within a few yards of their heads.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>CROSSING THE FORD.</h3> + + +<p>"Whee! hunt cover, fellers! Somebody's making a target of us!" exclaimed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +Tubby, looking wildly around for a convenient tree or adobe hut behind +which he might hide his ample form.</p> + +<p>But the Mexican guide showed them how they could quickly find shelter +back of the bank; and, possibly, all of the boys breathed easier when +assured that they were no longer exposed to the fire of the unseen +marksman far back on the other side of the narrow river.</p> + +<p>"But what does it mean?" asked Rob. "I thought the rebels were in force +across the bridge, and that they did all in their power to make Uncle +Sam look on their side with favor."</p> + +<p>"It is so, young señor," the guide replied; "but often have the bullets +come across here when the Federals and the rebels, they have fight it +out over there. But now it is that some man thinks if Americans are shot +it must come that the soldiers in El Paso will have to cross the +international bridge, and that would mean what they call intervention."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! I see what you mean," Rob told him. "Then that was only some crazy +man with a gun who wanted to bother Uncle Sam and make him real mad so +he would send his soldiers across to punish him. And once they stepped +on Mexican soil it would mean we'd have a war on our hands."</p> + +<p>After that they were careful not to expose themselves more than seemed +necessary as they continued their walk; and coming back they kept +further away from the river so as to avoid a repetition of the +bombardment. There was not much chance of the wretched marksman hitting +them; but then, even bullets fired at random have been known to find a +lodging place, as Rob had been told.</p> + +<p>One of the first things the guide had assured them was that it would +never do for the scouts to think of trying to enter Mexico by openly +crossing the bridge. It was closely guarded on the one side by Uncle +Sam's soldiers, and across the line by squads of rebels. The latter +examined every one wishing to come or go, in many cases forcibly +preventing the exit of some promising subject who might be made to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +yield tribute to the cause of the revolutionists, as well as refusing to +allow others to enter Mexico, whom they believed might have some object +contrary to the interests of their side.</p> + +<p>But then the guide had informed them that he knew a ford where they +might with perfect safety cross the river, now at a low stage. Once on +the opposite shore they must depend on the fleet heels of their horses +to take them inland, and in this manner avoid a meeting with any hostile +force.</p> + +<p>It was all arranged that they start early on the following morning. +Mardo was ready to do whatever they asked; and Tubby expressed himself +as decidedly anxious to meet General Villa with as little delay as +possible. He felt just as Uncle Mark had declared it might be, that the +rebel commander in Chihuahua would by now believe he had done all that +could be expected of him in serving the man who years before had saved +his life, and who had been also a friend of the lamented President +Madero. And as Villa's army needed rations and money desperately, +possibly he would be planning either to kill off the fine steers on the +Matthews Ranch, or else sell them to some enterprising American<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +speculator for shipment across the line.</p> + +<p>Perhaps none of the boys expected to sleep any too soundly that night, +thinking of what a novel experience was before them; though all of them +were tired after their long train ride.</p> + +<p>Not a great while after supper, however, a soldier came to the inn and +asked for Rob. He bore a message from the commandant to the effect that +he would be pleased to have another little chat with the young assistant +scout master to hear how his plans were coming on.</p> + +<p>This decided interest which the general seemed to take in their +enterprise gave Rob considerable pleasure. He eagerly availed himself of +the privilege of meeting the soldier once more, and only regretted that +his three chums had not been included in the invitation.</p> + +<p>And Rob spent a very satisfactory half hour with the general, to whom he +confided all his plans. He told so much about the previous experiences +of the Eagle scouts, also, that the interested soldier felt reluctant to +terminate the interview.</p> + +<p>"I could go on chatting with you for hours, my son," he said, shaking +hands as he dismissed the boy, "because I am so deeply interested in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +your ambitions and in what you have already gone through, you and your +fine comrades. But I have appointed a meeting with some of my officers +to plan for the new emergencies that are continually arising. Believe +me, you have my best wishes, and if I do not see you again on your +return—for something tells me you <i>will</i> return, and after successfully +carrying out your mission, too,—let me hear from you. It will give me +great pleasure to reply."</p> + +<p>This sort of talk was encouraging, to say the least. It gave Rob renewed +ambition to push on along the course he had mapped out.</p> + +<p>Of course, when he arrived at the inn he found the other boys still +sitting up waiting for him; so that by degrees everything that the +general had said had to be repeated before they consented to go to bed.</p> + +<p>With the coming of morning they were all up. Tubby kept declaring that +he did not have a wink of sleep all night on account of the hard bed and +the various strange noises that came from without. But Andy returned +that every time <i>he</i> waked up, and it must have been in the neighborhood +of a dozen separate occasions, he had particularly noticed that Tubby<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +was sprawled over two-thirds of their bed, and snoring "to beat the +band." After that Tubby closed up, possibly under the impression that +the others would call him a fake.</p> + +<p>As soon as they had had breakfast they found the guide waiting, mounted +on his own horse; and then the bustle of preparation began. Tubby had to +be helped more than a few times, for he became so excited that he could +not remember where he had left a number of important things. Andy +finally declared that it was lucky that the fat scout's head was firmly +attached to his body, for otherwise he would be losing that also!</p> + +<p>"Well," answered Tubby, grinning, "even if that did happen, I wouldn't +be the first feller who'd gone and lost his head, would I? I'd like to +have ten dollars for every time you have, Andy Bowles."</p> + +<p>Finally everything was in readiness, and they started; but there were no +cheers wafted after them on this occasion. The boys, acting under the +advice of the general, had been very careful not to tell a single person +other than Mardo Lopez what they intended doing. The rebels had many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +secret sympathizers on that shore of the Rio Grande; and perhaps one of +these might think it worth while to transmit the news across that a +little party of gringo boy soldiers contemplated invading the sacred +soil of Mexico.</p> + +<p>Leaving the lively town of El Paso behind, the little party struck along +the river, and continued to gallop for several hours, until they came to +the place where the ford mentioned by Lopez lay.</p> + +<p>The cautious native guide was very careful to keep a bright lookout, not +wishing to have his charges fired on from either bank of the stream +while crossing.</p> + +<p>"Better you wait here, young señors," he observed, as they pulled up in +the shelter of some scrub trees that grew on a rise; "as for me, I will +go over and take a look around on the other side. When you hear me call, +and I wave my hand, it is a sign that you cross safely."</p> + +<p>"All right, Lopez, we're on to what you mean," Andy told him.</p> + +<p>They watched him crossing the stream, taking note of what he did, so as +to keep the current from pushing his mount from the shelf that made the +water so shallow.</p> + +<p>"We must copy exactly that way of doing," Rob directed the rest. "I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +never crossed a river at a ford in my life; and certainly not on +horseback. But it seems easy enough once you've got the hang of things."</p> + +<p>"Huh! won't be any trouble at all," Tubby assured him, being confident +of his ability to keep his horse headed right; and Andy also declared +that it looked "just as easy as falling off a log."</p> + +<p>Lopez, after pulling out on the other side, rode some distance up and +down, as well as back from the river, in order to make sure that there +might not be a party of natives, whether Federals, rebels, or bandits, +lying in ambush. Should such a party open fire upon the boys while they +were in the middle of the stream, they would be next to helpless to +return the shots.</p> + +<p>"There, he's waving his hat, now, and beckoning to us to come on!" +exclaimed Merritt, as the guide came galloping down close to the edge of +the river. "That means the coast is clear, and we can cross over in +peace. Rob, after you!"</p> + +<p>Rob started in, and so well had he taken note of his landmarks, that he +was able to follow exactly after the guide. At the same time he kept his +horse's head turned partly up-stream, so that it could resist the sweep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +of the swift current. Had the flank of the animal caught the full force +of the rushing water the crossing would have been more difficult.</p> + +<p>Merritt came after Rob, then Andy, and last, but far from least, Tubby. +No sooner did the latter find himself in water deep enough to wet his +half-drawn-up feet than he realized that to a novice this crossing a +ford was not such a simple thing after all. He tried his best to follow +Andy, and in so doing exposed the side of his horse to the swing of the +current more than policy would seem to dictate.</p> + +<p>In consequence of this indiscretion, presently Tubby began to find that +he could no longer keep exactly in the wake of the scout just ahead of +him. Then he discovered that he was constantly losing ground, so to +speak, and being carried further and further down the river, a foot at a +time.</p> + +<p>He could hear Lopez shouting something, but as the Mexican had +unconsciously lapsed into Spanish, of course poor Tubby failed to +understand a single word of the instructions he was calling.</p> + +<p>"Hey, I'll have to swim for it, fellers!" the fat boy shouted; though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +just what good it would do to inform his comrades of his predicament he +could not have told had he been asked.</p> + +<p>Rob turned in the saddle and saw that unless a miracle came to pass, +Tubby was bound to get a wetting. He started to call out something, and +then stopped short, for it was useless to try and tell the luckless +scout what to do. Already his horse had reached the end of the ford and +was in deep water, swimming lustily for the shore; while the alarmed +Tubby threw both arms around the animal's neck, and held on for dear +life.</p> + +<p>Whether there was any real danger in the situation or not the other boys +could not, of course, say; but Tubby's way of clasping his short arms +about his horse's neck so as to prevent himself from being washed +overboard was so comical that they had to laugh, even while urging their +own mounts to the farther shore, so as to be on hand to render +assistance if such should be needed.</p> + +<p>To Tubby it was all serious enough; and no doubt just then he imagined +that he stood a fair chance of being separated from his possessions and +carried down the Rio Grande, perhaps to an untimely death.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>A GALLOP ON MEXICAN SOIL.</h3> + + +<p>"Hey, Rob, tell me what to do!" Tubby could be heard shouting at the top<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +of his voice, as he kept on hugging his horse about the neck, being +evidently determined not to allow the current to pluck him out of his +saddle, at any rate so long as he could maintain that rigid grip.</p> + +<p>Even in that sudden emergency Tubby found himself depending on Rob as +usual; and to hear him asking for information, one would believe that +the young patrol leader knew more about river fords than a dozen native +guides who had been used to crossing by this means all their lives.</p> + +<p>Rob had reached shallow water, and immediately urged his horse +down-stream, in order to come opposite the drifting scout.</p> + +<p>"Just keep holding on, and the horse will bring you to land!" he called +out encouragingly. "He is making a plucky fight, and getting in closer +all the while. As soon as he strikes bottom it will be all over; so keep +your grip, Tubby."</p> + +<p>This the fat scout did; and just as Rob had said, presently the swimming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +animal reached a more shallow point, where he could get his footing and +manage to swing in closer than ever. And in another five minutes Tubby +emerged from the river, "looking like a half-drowned rat," as Andy +assured him, for streams were dripping from each foot, and he was soaked +from his waist down.</p> + +<p>"Anyway, I had horse sense enough to keep my gun dry," Tubby observed. +"But what shall I do now, Rob? I'm weighing half a ton, I guess."</p> + +<p>"You're not apt to catch cold in this warm air," Rob told him; "and so +you might as well let your duds dry on you. At noon, when we halt for a +bite, you can open up your bundle and spread your blanket out for the +sun to dry. After all, there wasn't any damage done."</p> + +<p>"Only to my feelings," Tubby reminded him.</p> + +<p>"And they don't count," said Andy, laughing at the recollection of the +tragic way in which Tubby had embraced that horse. He had held to it +about as a leech might have clung when applied to the arm of a patient +in the old days when they bled sick men.</p> + +<p>They at once turned their backs on the Rio Grande, and according to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +what Lopez told them, they were not likely to set eyes on the river +again until their mission had either been successfully carried out, or +proven a failure.</p> + +<p>Rob took a fond look at the stream. Some-how it seemed to be the very +last link binding them to their home land; for across the running water +lay the good old United States. And they were now on foreign soil, where +the Starry Flag at present was powerless to protect them from a +multitude of perils.</p> + +<p>Presently they could see the river no longer, because they were rising +over a level stretch of country through which the flood at some time in +the far past had cut a deep channel.</p> + +<p>From now on, what was around and before them was to serve fully to +occupy their attention.</p> + +<p>When half a dozen miles had been passed over, Rob began to notice that +Tubby was not looking as happy as he might; and he feared that the pace +was telling more or less on the stout chum.</p> + +<p>"Are we going too fast for you, Tubby?" he called out; and instantly the +other tried to look utterly unconcerned, as though he were enjoying +himself to the utmost.</p> + +<p>"What, for me?" he immediately answered, with a ring of indignation in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +his voice; though every jump of his horse caused him to shake like a +mould of jelly. "Well, I should say not! You couldn't move too fast to +suit my mind, Rob. If I had an aeroplane right now you'd see me sailing +away at the rate of a hundred miles an hour, and headed for that same +old town of Chihuahua. Why didn't we think to bring something like that +along? Aeroplanes may be dangerous things, but then they're a heap more +comfortable than some nags I know!"</p> + +<p>No matter how Tubby suffered, he seemed bound not to admit the fact; and +knowing his stubborn nature, Rob did not try to show any further +sympathy for him. If things really became too bad, perhaps Tubby would +consent to ask them to hold up and let him have a breathing spell. But +at any rate, they were surely putting the miles behind them, and before +night-time would have made "quite a dent in that journey to the capital +of the State," as Andy said.</p> + +<p>Before the middle of the day came, Rob had the guide call a halt, for he +knew it was punishment to Tubby to keep this up as they were doing. The +sun was so scorchingly hot that the fat boy seemed very nearly as wet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +with perspiration as he had been soaked with river water a little +earlier. But even then he complained at the stop, and told Rob he should +have been able to hold out another half-hour or until noon. This caused +the other scouts to exchange winks, and behind their hands tell each +other that for dogged perseverance Tubby surely had them all "beaten a +mile."</p> + +<p>While they rested their mounts and had a cold bite, Tubby was induced to +open his pack and spread out such things as seemed damp, so that when +night came he would not have to lie down under a blanket that gave him a +chill. Lopez warned the boys that while the day had been very hot, they +would find good reason to wish they had two blankets apiece before +morning.</p> + +<p>"We found that out the time we were down at Panama," said Rob; "though, +perhaps, being further north now may make a difference. But Tubby's just +got to have his blanket good and dry, and that goes."</p> + +<p>Tubby managed to accomplish this; and as they packed up later on to +continue their gallop, he told the others that the sun had done the +business all right.</p> + +<p>Several times during the morning's run the keen-sighted guide had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +discovered moving figures far off. Rob had been thoughtful enough to +bring a small but powerful pair of field-glasses, along with many other +things; and these now came in handy to tell them whether the distant +parties were seemingly Federal soldiers or members of Villa's rebel army +foraging for supplies.</p> + +<p>"But if Villa's men are holding all the ground between Chihuahua, from +which they chased Salazar's forces a little while ago, and Juarez on the +river, why do we need to fear running across any Federal soldiers?" Andy +wanted to know, when once Lopez, after taking a look through the +glasses, declared that he believed the half dozen riders they watched +going further away might be men in the uniform of Mexican regulars.</p> + +<p>"Generally speaking, they do hold this territory, which mostly used to +belong to the wealthy Terrazas family," Rob explained; "but reports have +come in that several bodies of mounted regulars were dispatched from +Ojinaga, where half a dozen generals and their men are fortifying their +positions to make a stubborn stand against the rebels. These raiders +have orders to cut the telegraph lines, and destroy all the bridges<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +they can between Chihuahua and the border on both lines of railroad. And +so you see, we are apt to run across one of these flying columns at any +old time. That is what the good general warned me to look out for; +because, of course, we have more to fear from Salazar's men than from +the rebels."</p> + +<p>"Ginger snaps and pop-guns! I should say we had," exclaimed Tubby, "when +we remember what precious document—er, I mean how much we want to see +General Villa!"</p> + +<p>Rob had not thought it wise to tell everything to the guide until they +came to know him better; and hence his frown and vigorous shake of the +head toward the talkative Tubby, when the other came within an ace of +"letting the cat out of the bag."</p> + +<p>They did not ride quite so fast during the afternoon, all on Tubby's +account, though no one dared let him know that, or he would have been +very angry. As the day began to wane, and they seemed to be in a part of +the wild country free from either rebels or Government troops, Rob +suggested that they come to a halt and go into camp.</p> + +<p>"We must have made as much as forty miles and more since morning, and so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +be that much nearer Chihuahua," he remarked; "and that's good enough for +one day. Perhaps to-morrow we may work closer to the railroad, and try +to get in touch with some of Villa's men, who will take us to him. +There's Lopez dismounting, boys, so let's do the same."</p> + +<p>Merritt and Andy both grunted as they managed with some difficulty to +get out of their saddles, after Rob had set the example. As for Tubby, +he seemed to be glued in his seat, for while they saw him make a +desperate effort several times, he did not seem able to accomplish a +separation. Finally, with a foolish grin on his face, he beckoned to Rob +to come nearer.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid you'll have to give me a lift, Rob," he confessed; "fact is, +I don't seem able to raise either leg, I'm that stiff. That's a good +feller, just get me started and I'll be all right, sure I will. And +after I've jumped around a few dozen times I'll be ready to dance a +hoedown if you ask me."</p> + +<p>But it was noticed that Tubby was unusually quiet all that evening, +hardly bothering to move more than to reach out for his share of +supper; nor did he volunteer to do his part in the cooking. "For what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +is the use," he complained, "when we have an experienced guide along who +loves to cook?" And at one time, when Rob leisurely got to his feet and +reached for a tin cup, Tubby even had the assurance to call out softly +after him:</p> + +<p>"If so be you're meaning to go to the creek for a drink, Rob, wish you'd +fetch a cup of water for me, and thank you!"</p> + +<p>The truth of the matter was that ride had been a terrible experience to +the fat scout, and he had suffered much more than anybody suspected. But +by slow degrees he would grow accustomed to the exercise, and perhaps +even enjoy life in the saddle before they were done scouring the country +in search of Villa.</p> + +<p>Lopez had taken every sort of precaution to avoid having their camp seen +by any hostile eyes. In the first place, he had selected for a site a +spot that was fairly well screened by dense thickets; it was also in a +sort of little depression or basin, where the glow of the small fire +they had lighted to prepare their meal might not be discovered.</p> + +<p>This blaze had been allowed to die out after it had served the purpose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +for which Lopez had started it; so that as they sat there, talking in +low voices, only the soft starlight looked down upon them.</p> + +<p>Tubby was later on discovered to be sound asleep; and as Andy and +Merritt admitted feeling pretty drowsy themselves, Rob told them they +had better get their blankets ready to do duty. He himself fixed that of +Tubby, and managed to draw the sleeping scout under it without awakening +him.</p> + +<p>All seemed deathly quiet when Rob lay down to secure some rest. The +guide had assured him that there was no need of their keeping watch, +because his horse had been trained by a cowboy to give the alarm if any +enemy came prowling around.</p> + +<p>Confident that all would be well, the patrol leader settled himself as +comfortably as was possible, under the conditions, and after some little +time spent in running over in his mind various matters that had a +connection with their mission to Mexico, he fell asleep.</p> + +<p>Rob did not know whether it was half an hour that he had been lost in +slumber, or five times that long, when he was rudely disturbed by some +one kicking his shins. And at the same time he became conscious of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +low whispering voice saying:</p> + +<p>"Rob, oh! Rob, are you awake? What under the sun is making that queer +noise?"</p> + +<p>It was Andy calling; and becoming conscious that there were some strange +noises rising on the night air close by at the same time, Rob raised his +head the better to listen.</p> + +<p>Andy's question must have been overheard by Merritt, for he at once let +them know he was awake and on the alert; but as for Tubby, he only +wheezed, and breathed harder than ever; for he was a thousand miles away +in his dreams.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>ANDY SCATTERS THE SERENADERS.</h3> + + +<p>The first thing that Rob noticed was that it did not seem nearly as dark<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +and gloomy as when he had lain down. Could it be he had slept the whole +night through, and that daylight was at hand? He settled this mystery +with his first glance upward; for there he discovered that a pale +fragment of a once proud moon had arisen in the east, and was looking +mournfully down upon their hidden camp.</p> + +<p>Next he made out the form of Lopez, the Mexican guide, who was sitting +with his back against a tree, as though that might be his favorite way +of sleeping. But he was very much awake now, for he moved even as Rob +took notice of his presence.</p> + +<p>The queer chorus of sounds continued to arise from various points near +by. Rob made up his mind that they must be actually surrounded by some +species of animal that certainly sang away off the proper key, for they +made a noise that jarred on his ear terribly.</p> + +<p>"Hear 'em, don't you, Rob?" continued Andy, who doubtless must have been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +observing the movements of the acting scout master all this while by the +aid of that friendly moonlight.</p> + +<p>"Do I? Well, I'd have to be pretty deaf not to, Andy," Rob replied.</p> + +<p>"What do you reckon it can be? I never in all my life heard such an +awful lot of discord," continued the other scout apprehensively.</p> + +<p>"I'm only giving a wide guess," Rob told him; "but I should think only a +pack of wolves could make a racket like that; or perhaps now, coyotes."</p> + +<p>"How about that, Lopez?" Merritt struck in; and the guide, chuckling, +replied:</p> + +<p>"Last is what it is, young señors; kiote make much noise when hungry. It +is our food they scent. Kiote happen to have a very keen nose. No +trouble, no danger as long as they hang around. Too much coward to sneak +in; and long as we hear kiote sing, we know no spy can be near, or they +run away."</p> + +<p>"Sing!" burst out Andy with a snort; "is that what they call it down +here? Mebbe some folks like that sort of song, but let me tell you it +grates on my ears like the screeching of a pack of cats at night. Sing!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +Whoo-ee! are you joshing us poor tenderfeet, Lopez?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! there's nothing like getting used to things, Andy," Rob assured +him, while at the same time he was in doubt whether he himself could go +to sleep again if all that noise kept up right along. "After a while, +when you've heard that chant nightly, you may think it's the finest +lullaby ever invented, and miss it the worst kind after you hike away +north."</p> + +<p>"Don't you believe it, Rob," returned the other positively. "I wouldn't +mind being soothed to sleep by sweet sounds, like the thrumming of a +guitar or a mandolin; but excuse me from that caterwauling. Listen to it +rise and fall! That is just the way our old Tom used to sit on the back +fence and talk to the moon till I rigged up a wire along there and +connected it with our electric circuit. After that, when I woke and +heard him tuning up, all I had to do was to press the button, and +everything was still again. But he did always give one awful screech as +he lit out!"</p> + +<p>"Well, suppose you rig up a switch and circuit here, so you can give +these singing coyotes some of the same medicine?" laughed Merritt.</p> + +<p>"You know I can't do that," Andy admitted mournfully; "wish I could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +right now; and let me tell you there'd be a heap of scatterin' out there +when the circuit was closed. But what's the matter with me sneaking out +and giving them a shot or two from my rifle? We didn't lug our guns all +this way just for ornament, did we? And surely they couldn't be used in +a nobler cause than to get us poor tired fellows decent sleep."</p> + +<p>"How about that, Lopez?" asked Rob. "Do you think there would be any +danger of the shots betraying our camp to others who might happen to be +around?"</p> + +<p>"The danger it is not much," came the reply; "and as for that, the +singing of the kiote pack, it tell that a camp must be here; so there is +no difference."</p> + +<p>"That settles it, then," said Andy exultantly, as he began to unwrap +himself from his blanket and grope for his rifle; "and mebbe I won't +surprise a few of the noisy gents out there!"</p> + +<p>"Don't go too far," Rob warned him, as he started to crawl away on his +hands and knees, trailing his gun after him.</p> + +<p>"I won't," Andy whispered back, turning his head and then giving a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +little flirt with one hand in his customary jolly way.</p> + +<p>"No use trying to go to sleep till the circus ends, is there?" Merritt +demanded, as he shuffled around, trying to get into an easier position.</p> + +<p>"Just what I'd made up my mind to myself," replied Rob, following suit.</p> + +<p>"Look at Tubby here, sleeping as sweetly as an overgrown baby," the +corporal of the Eagle Patrol went on to say with a low laugh.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Tubby is the best sleeper I ever knew," Rob assured him. "He often +talks as if he had been wakeful all the night, but it's a false alarm. +He can sleep through a pretty good thunder-storm, and then remark in the +morning that he thinks it must have rained a little during the night. +But wait and see if he hears the noise when Andy lets fly with his +repeating rifle!"</p> + +<p>"Cracky! that's a fact. Chances are he'll just sit up and say the +mosquitoes are beginning to get bothersome, for he just heard one +singing near his ear; and then he'll call out to ask you for the dope to +rub on," Merritt remarked, humorously.</p> + +<p>"Wait and see," said Rob; "and it can't be long coming now, because I +should think Andy must have crawled far enough to glimpse the circle of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +mourners."</p> + +<p>Hardly had Rob spoken than there came a loud report, instantly followed +by a series of yelps, that were drowned in snarls and howls as the other +coyotes took after their wounded comrade.</p> + +<p>Both boys had their eyes focused on the mound that stood for the +sleeping Tubby. There was a sudden upheaval, and the blanket flew aside, +revealing the fat scout trying to scramble to his knees with every +symptom of alarm.</p> + +<p>"Oh! what was that terrible noise?" he stammered. "Rob! Oh, Rob, are we +attacked by Injuns? Or was that thunder? Where am I at? Who's got a +torch lighted up there? Whatever does it all mean, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Keep cool, Tubby," said Rob, while Merritt laughed at a great rate, +although rather softly; "it's all right, no danger. The camp was +surrounded by a pack of coyotes, that's all; and their singing kept Andy +awake, so he asked permission to crawl out and knock a few of them over. +You heard him shoot, and he must have wounded a prowler, for the whole +pack took after it at a hot pace. That's all!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, is it, Rob? Then, what's the sense of sitting up in the cold and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +wasting time, when you might be getting forty winks?" With which remark +the fat boy cuddled down again under his blanket, and settled himself to +resume his interrupted slumbers.</p> + +<p>Rob and Merritt laughed again and again over his matter-of-fact way; but +beyond a grunt or two, Tubby paid no attention to them. Presently Andy +came back, a satisfied grin resting on his good-natured face.</p> + +<p>"Told you I'd pickle one silly old coyote, anyway," he remarked, as he +prepared to settle down again in his nest.</p> + +<p>"We heard him call out, and then the whole pack seemed to chase away +after him. Was that the way, Andy?" Merritt asked.</p> + +<p>"They all went spinning off in the direction of the desert there; and +the one I hit must have been ahead of the pack, because I could hear him +tooting up at a great rate. Sho! there must have been all of a dozen in +the lot! Bet you they don't come around here in a hurry again after that +lesson!"</p> + +<p>But Andy was mistaken. In less than half an hour the howls started in +once more, at first from some distance, but gradually drawing closer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +until apparently the coyote concert band was again at the old stand, +appealing to Andy to try it once more, and provide them with some +further pickings.</p> + +<p>Andy, however, refused to be tempted, for Rob, who was also awake, told +him he would have to sit up the balance of the night, since the animals +were bound to return time and again; nor would he be able to induce them +to stop their wailing, since, driven from the vicinity of the camp, they +would stand afar off and start a new chant.</p> + +<p>All of the boys were glad when the first peep of dawn drove the coyotes +to their dens among the rocks in the hills, or some barranca near by.</p> + +<p>Just as Rob had said, they would undoubtedly become more or less +accustomed to such nightly serenades in time, and pay little heed to the +howling. To one used to sleeping in the open, where wolves and coyotes +abound, the chorus comes to be a species of protection; and if it +suddenly ceased in the middle of the night he would immediately rouse +himself to investigate what had driven the pack away, for it must either +be a human enemy, or a jaguar.</p> + +<p>The boys expected, after partaking of hot coffee and a light breakfast, +to resume their gallop toward the south. Andy busied himself in laying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +the fire, which they had allowed the guide to do on the previous +evening, although any one of the boys knew as much about arranging this +as Lopez. He had had actual experience all his adventurous life; but, +then, they had practiced the art of building cooking fires as one of the +duties with which a scout should be familiar, and they knew just how to +get the best results.</p> + +<p>Besides, the boys had learned something from the way Lopez selected +their camp site. They could guess why it was screened by thickets on +nearly all sides; and also why it lay in a slight depression, so that +the glow of the little blaze might not draw inquisitive strangers, as an +exposed light would.</p> + +<p>They had learned long ago to keep their eyes open so as to see +everything that went on around them. Rob in particular was always on the +alert, and if he thought any of the others failed to grasp what a +certain thing meant, it was his habit to call their attention to the +circumstances. For that is what a patrol leader is expected to do when +he has been elevated to his important position.</p> + +<p>Andy had just managed to get the cooking fire ready, and was asking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +Tubby to bring him the frying-pan, because they expected to have a +rasher of bacon for breakfast, to go with the hardtack and coffee. At +that moment the horse of the guide, staked near by, began to snort and +prance, as well as give other indications of excitement. Lopez had been +in the act of rolling up his blanket into a small bundle that could +easily be carried behind his saddle. He seemed to know instinctively +what these riotous actions on the part of his mount stood for; because, +with an exclamation of alarm, he jumped for his gun that rested against +a tree trunk.</p> + +<p>Rob did the same, ditto Merritt; while Andy continued to kneel there in +front of his little fire as though frozen stiff. As for Tubby, he +dropped the frying-pan in a panic and snatched up the camp hatchet.</p> + +<p>Rob had already caught the sound of horses' hoofs near by; and even as +he turned his eyes in the quarter from which the sounds seemed to +spring, there came around the end of the thicket a couple of horsemen, +who, on discovering the camp with its surprised inmates, drew their +mounts in abruptly and sat there in their saddles staring hard.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rob could see that the men were garbed in a sort of dirty white uniform; +and from this he quickly judged that they must be a couple of Salazar's +cavalrymen, sent out to burn bridges and demoralize the railroad +completely between Chihuahua and Juarez. As Federals were bound to look +upon all Americans as their bitter enemies, on account of the attitude +taken by the Washington authorities concerning President Huerta, the +patrol leader guessed that they were in for another experience.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY.</h3> + + +<p>"Don't shoot!" Rob called out hastily, fearing that Lopez might think it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +his duty, as the guardian of the little party, to open fire on the +Regulars; and this was not in accordance with the designs of the Boy +Scouts, who were bound to exhaust every peaceful effort before +proceeding to any violence.</p> + +<p>Andy had by this time come to his senses, and started to crawl over to +where he had stacked his rifle. Shooting at coyotes was one thing, +however, and being compelled to fire upon human beings quite another; +and the boy looked pretty white "about the gills," as Merritt afterward +put it, as he clutched his weapon. But he had also heard what the patrol +leader said, and did not make any hostile demonstration, beyond pulling +back the hammer of his gun with his trembling thumb.</p> + +<p>Of course, if the two Mexican soldiers made any attempt to run off their +mounts, Rob knew very well that they could not stand for that; since to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +be forced to foot it all the way to Chihuahua, across burning desert +sands, and rough hilly country, was a prospect that did not appeal to +him at all.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the pair of cavalrymen did not dream of attacking nearly +three times their number. They just took it out in staring, and possibly +saying things back and forth. Then, as though they had decided that +retreat was the best play, since they were plainly outnumbered, suddenly +both men wheeled their horses and went galloping swiftly away, sitting +their saddles with that grace that seems to be a natural heritage of all +Mexicans.</p> + +<p>"Good riddance of bad rubbage!" called out Merritt; though the boy was +undoubtedly relieved to see the cavalrymen depart without a fight.</p> + +<p>Whether the men heard what he said or not, they turned and shook their +fists in the direction of the scouts; and from the threatening gestures +that followed this action it was plainly to be seen that they did not +mean this to be the last time they expected to meet the little party.</p> + +<p>Rob turned to Lopez when the pair had vanished from view, and he could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +no longer catch the heavy thud of their horses' hoofs on the hard +ground.</p> + +<p>He found the guide frowning, and this fact told Rob what to expect.</p> + +<p>"That spells trouble for us, doesn't it, Lopez?" he asked; while Tubby, +Merritt and Andy hung upon what was passing between guide and patrol +leader.</p> + +<p>The Mexican shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"If they can make it so, we will be followed, young señor," he remarked. +"You saw for yourself they were Federal cavalrymen, the same that +General Salazar he have send out to cut the railroad between Chihuahua +and the river. All men who fight for Huerta hate Yankee gringoes; and +they see these uniforms, so they understand you are Americano soldiers. +That is bad!"</p> + +<p>"So that's the way the land lies!" remarked Merritt. "Well, we do not +intend taking off these good old suits and wearing anything else, not if +we know it. But see here, Lopez, what if those fellows should take a +notion to sneak around on us, and try a shot from the rear?"</p> + +<p>"Not much chance of that, with all these thickets around, which Lopez +calls the chaparral," Rob told him; "but I'll just wander off a bit,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +and see if I can glimpse them going. If that fails, I'll keep watch +while the rest of you eat breakfast. Get busy, Andy and Tubby, so we'll +have that agony over in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"Agony!" repeated Tubby indignantly. "Well, I like that, now, don't you, +Andy? As if eating could ever be a task!"</p> + +<p>Passing out of the hidden camp, Rob found a place where he could get an +uninterrupted view of the lower country. And it was not long before he +discovered two mounted men, whom he easily recognized as their unbidden +visitors, spurring away as fast as their horses could take them. When +the scout saw them look back several times, he no longer doubted that +they were positively the men he had come to watch.</p> + +<p>It made Rob a trifle uneasy to note the fact that the cavalrymen had +departed in almost a southerly direction; because that might indicate +future trouble for the little expedition.</p> + +<p>When he showed up in camp again breakfast was just ready.</p> + +<p>"Hello! changed your mind about not wanting to eat, have you, Rob?" +hailed Tubby.</p> + +<p>"Oh! you mistook what I said," replied the other laughingly, as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +threw himself down, selected a pannikin, and proceeded to slide several +slices of fried bacon out of the skillet. Then as he accepted the tin +cup of fragrant coffee which Merritt hastened to pour for him, he added, +"Guess I like to eat when I'm hungry as well as anybody."</p> + +<p>"But you draw the line there, don't you, Rob?" demanded Andy. "You don't +want to eat any old time, whether you're hungry or not, like some +fellows we know?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we know a few, Andy," Tubby hastened to thrust in, realizing that +this was meant for his especial benefit; "and I notice that you're +copying after me in great shape, so that soon I'll have to take a back +seat."</p> + +<p>"But what about those two cavalrymen, Rob?" asked Merritt, more deeply +interested in seeking information along these lines than in learning +which of the two disputing scouts could boast of the greater appetite.</p> + +<p>"They've kicked the dust of this part of the country from their boots, +and are riding pellmell away to the south," Rob answered. "I reckon +there must be a big bunch of hard riders over there somewhere. All I +hope is that we don't run foul of them during the day and find<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +ourselves pursued."</p> + +<p>Tubby, at that, forgot all about his controversy with Andy.</p> + +<p>"What, us chased by a lot of greaser cavalry?" he exclaimed. "Jiminy +crickets! I hope that don't happen! I am not in the best shape going to +do any tall riding; though if I'm hard pushed, you'll find me sticking +to my horse like a mustard plaster. Mebbe you'll have to take a crow-bar +next time, Rob, to pry me loose from my saddle."</p> + +<p>"Well, let's get through eating as soon as we can," Rob told him; +"because this isn't any time to take things easy."</p> + +<p>"Huh! always rushing me when I just get settled down to enjoy a little +bite of grub which I've helped cook," grumbled Tubby. But seeing that +the others were making haste, he set his jaws to working at double pace; +and when no one was looking he even managed to slip some of the hard +tack into his pocket. If they did force him to shorten his breakfast +hour to ten minutes, he wanted something to set his teeth into during +the long hours that must elapse before they found another chance to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +break their fast.</p> + +<p>The horses were soon saddled and packed, so that the camp in the thicket +could be abandoned. Of course, as usual, they had to wait for Tubby, +because something was always wrong with his bridle, or else the girth +needed shortening so that his saddle would not turn with him as it had +threatened to do many times the day before.</p> + +<p>Finally the start was made.</p> + +<p>The morning was fresh and clear; and while the day might turn out to be +hot enough toward noon to "fry an egg on a stone in the sun," as Andy +expressed it, the boys certainly enjoyed that first hour's gallop. +Tubby, who soon found his former troubles coming back, did not have +unalloyed pleasure, although he did not complain.</p> + +<p>It was a fine stretch of country, and yet Rob knew that they were really +not far from the dreary desert. At times, when they had a chance to look +off to one side, they could see a vast level territory with not a single +tree to break its monotony, nothing but the dry sand that each wind +would send scurrying along to form new hillocks and valleys.</p> + +<p>But they had also discovered something else that pleased them more.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +This was an occasional glimpse of the railroad that ran between +Chihuahua and Juarez, being long known as the Mexican Central. In other +days, before revolutions came again to vex Uncle Sam's southern +neighbor, it had run without interruption all the way from the Rio +Grande to Mexico City, many hundreds of miles.</p> + +<p>For some time past this road had been first in the hands of the rebels, +and then in the possession of the Federals. As each in turn tried to +destroy as much of the track and rolling stock as possible before +vacating, it can be understood that conditions were pretty bad all along +the road at this time.</p> + +<p>It was the intention of Rob later on in the day to seek this line of +rusty rails and keep following it south. He anticipated meeting with a +party of Villa's men, perhaps before dark set in. Making friends with +them, he would demand to be taken into the presence of the commanding +general, whether he happened to be in far-off Chihuahua, or at some +point nearer by. He might even be chasing the marauding bands of +Federals that were playing fast and loose with the railroad, on which he +depended to move his men and munitions of war from Juarez south, on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +way to Mexico City.</p> + +<p>They kept on riding constantly for several hours. Even Merritt and Andy +felt the strain, which must have been unusually severe on poor Tubby; +but no one heard the gamey fat scout give even a groan. Often, when Rob +would turn his head to look over his shoulder, he could not help but see +the look of "never-say-die" that was imprinted on Tubby's glowing face, +and notice how he kept mopping his streaming forehead.</p> + +<p>But they were covering considerable distance, and that was a great +comfort. Tubby had much more at stake than any one of his three chums, +and he must, as the boys always said, "grin and bear it." In fact, there +was nothing else that could be done, since going back now was out of the +question; nor would Tubby have allowed any one to mention such a thing +to him.</p> + +<p>Once when Rob dropped back to ask him how he felt, Tubby knew that the +leader was really solicitous about his welfare and had not made the +inquiry merely in fun.</p> + +<p>"I can stand it, Rob!" was all he said between his closely shut teeth; +and knowing Tubby as well as he did, Rob felt sure that the fat boy +would hold out, unless he actually fell from his saddle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<p>At noon they halted in order to rest the horses, and at the same time +themselves have a bite. Again did Rob have to assist Tubby to alight, +though the other began to frisk around shortly, as though grimly +determined on showing them all that he had only been stiff from sitting +so long, and was far from being done up.</p> + +<p>It took a whole lot of grit for Tubby to mount when the time came to +make a fresh start; but he seemed to feel that curious eyes were +watching all he did; so summoning his reserve strength, he clambered +into his saddle, and tried to look as happy as though he did not feel +that he was sitting on an inverted pincushion.</p> + +<p>Just one hour later they noticed a dense smoke rising ahead, which +Lopez, on being asked, told them could only come from some burning +bridge. That would seem to indicate that they must now be getting into +the danger zone where Regulars and rebels were engaged in a game of tag, +one side doing the chasing now, and the other presently turning the +tables on them.</p> + +<p>The little party had come down to more level ground and were heading for +the railroad, when Rob, chancing to look back, meaning to see how Tubby<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +was coming along, made a discovery that gave him an unpleasant feeling.</p> + +<p>"We're being pursued, boys!" he called out, thinking it best that all of +them should know the truth at once, however unpleasant it might prove.</p> + +<p>Of course there was an immediate craning of necks, and startled +exclamations from the other chums.</p> + +<p>"Two dozen, if there's a man!" cried Merritt.</p> + +<p>"And Mexican Regulars, too, for they wear uniforms, which the rebels +don't!" added Andy. "Looks like we might be in for a lively run, doesn't +it, Rob? And with our horses anything but fresh into the bargain!"</p> + +<p>"Ginger snaps and pop guns!" Tubby was heard to say; "that settles my +hash all right!"</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE WHISTLE OF PASSING BULLETS.</h3> + + +<p>"They seem to be gaining on us!" said Merritt uneasily. "Hadn't we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +better romp ahead a little faster, boys?"</p> + +<p>"Sure! Hit up the pace all you want!" It was neither Rob nor Andy who +made this game reply, but Tubby! This response drew Rob's heart closer +to the fat chum than ever before. A fellow who could show such nerve +would have the best chance in the world to become a first-class scout, +when once he woke up and began to study as he should.</p> + +<p>They proceeded to coax their horses to pick up some, and for a time the +gallant animals did manage more than to hold their own with the +pursuers; but when half an hour had passed even Tubby could see that the +distance separating them from that hustling lot of hard riders did not +appear to be quite as great as after the spurt.</p> + +<p>"Say, do we fight for it if we are cornered?" Andy wanted to know. When +the patrol leader turned to glance back at him, he saw that while the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +boy's face might be somewhat pale, there was a dogged look around the +eyes that spoke volumes.</p> + +<p>"Well, they say that Boy Scouts never should fight unless driven into a +corner, where they have to defend themselves to save their own lives, or +the lives of others," Rob shouted back.</p> + +<p>"That settles it, then," Andy replied. And Rob could see that +considerable of his anxiety must have been connected with his doubt as +to whether it should be their duty as lovers of peace to give up and +surrender without striking a blow, or resist; for he even seemed tickled +with what Rob had told him.</p> + +<p>No one asked Tubby what he thought about matters. It was enough for them +to know that the fat and clumsy chum was there in his saddle still, and +managing by some means to keep close behind them. His horse must have +suffered exceedingly, bearing all that heavy load; and it was lucky Rob +had been wise enough to select an especially sturdy beast when thinking +of Tubby.</p> + +<p>The pursuers were not all in a bunch, but scattered, according to the +ability of their mounts to maintain the killing pace. Undoubtedly, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +were urged on by the big cruel Mexican spurs, which, of course, every +cavalryman wore on his boot heels.</p> + +<p>This might seem to be a trifling matter; but Rob knew better. If it +really came to a running fight, as seemed likely, they would profit by +the fact that only a minority of their pursuers could fire upon them, +the rest being either too far off, or else fearful lest they might hit +their comrades in advance.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile they were approaching the big smoke that kept rising ahead, +and which must mean a burning bridge on the railroad, and perhaps a +stalled train into the bargain.</p> + +<p>Rob found himself wondering what sort of reception they would receive +should they find a party of Villa's rebels holding out against the +Regulars. He had already laid his plans and communicated them to his +chums, so that each would know just what was expected of him in the +emergency.</p> + +<p>Already several shots had been fired by the leading horsemen, but as +they were still pretty far distant, and as it is next to impossible to +do any serious business with a gun while going at such headlong speed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +of course these were sent after the fugitives more as an act of bravado +and alarm, than in the hope that any bullet might find its mark.</p> + +<p>At the same time it was not very pleasant for the scouts to hear those +leaden messengers singing so merrily through the air over their +heads,—for all the world like so many bees or locusts, as they +afterward decided.</p> + +<p>Every time a gun sounded, Tubby involuntarily ducked his head and tried +to flatten himself out on the neck of his horse, an utterly impossible +thing, on account of his build. He seemed to think that they must always +pick him out for a target, because he offered such a fine mark.</p> + +<p>"Guess you'd do the same, too," he called out to Andy, when he saw the +grin on the other's face as he turned in time to see one of these +performances, "if you made a shining mark like I do! And being in the +rear adds to my chance of stopping one of those lead pills. Anyway, I'm +going to do the trick right along, no matter what you think, Andy +Bowles!"</p> + +<p>"And you're right about that, Tubby!" called Merritt. "Even when you lie +down flat you make a better mark than most of us do sitting up!"</p> + +<p>"Keep your breath, fellows; you may need all of it!" Rob called out just<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +then, and this stopped the controversy.</p> + +<p>Rob urged his horse alongside that of the Mexican guide.</p> + +<p>"How are we going to come out of it, Lopez?" he asked anxiously. "Will +they get at us before we make the smoke?"</p> + +<p>The experienced eye of the other had before now accurately measured the +distances; and doubtless he was figuring matters out at the time the +scout broke in with this leading question.</p> + +<p>"If no bad luck," Lopez assured him, "we surely come to the burning +bridge before the wolf pack doubles us up, young señor."</p> + +<p>"By bad luck you mean an accident?" Rob demanded.</p> + +<p>Lopez shrugged his shoulders and cast a swift, meaning look back at poor +fat Tubby, who was belaboring his tired mount with the flat of one hand, +and urging the beast on and on. Evidently the guide had been half +expecting an accident to happen in this quarter for some time, and was, +in fact, surprised that the clumsy scout had held on so long; but then, +he did not know what a stubborn nature Tubby possessed.</p> + +<p>"Si, señor, a horse might slip, and toss his rider; or it may be a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +passing bullet happen to go in the wrong place and do damage. Who can +tell? But let us hope it will not so bad as that prove. We are doing +well; and the smoke, it is not so far away as it seems!"</p> + +<p>All of which must have been poor satisfaction to Rob, who from that +moment found himself enduring new agonies every time he twisted around +to see whether Tubby still held forth.</p> + +<p>The horses were reeking with sweat, and while Rob did not pretend to be +as experienced in such matters as a cow puncher would be, still even he +understood that this sort of thing could not be kept up much longer.</p> + +<p>Only for the presence of that smoke and the hope that they might run +upon some friendly rebels at the burning bridge, he would have made up +his mind that there was no other way for them to escape save by turning +at bay and engaging in a regular fight with those persistent pursuers, +who kept dogging the heels of their horses mile after mile, bent on +running them down.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of our chances for finding some of Villa's men +ahead?" Rob asked the guide several minutes later. They were still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +keeping up a furious pace and fairly holding their own, though none of +the horses in the race could be said to be running as fast as half an +hour previously.</p> + +<p>"It is an open chance," Lopez replied with another shrug.</p> + +<p>"But the Federals set the bridge on fire; and after doing that they +would hardly hang around, because this part of the country must be +swarming with rebels, who would be drawn to the burning bridge by the +smoke. Is that the way you figure it out, Lopez?"</p> + +<p>"You have said what was in my mind, young señor," came the reply; "and +that is why I have kept moving on all this while. Had it not been the +hope of finding friends, before now they must have felt our lead."</p> + +<p>"Then we're doing the right thing in trying to get to the bridge before +letting them come up on us," Rob decided. And after that he bent his +whole energy to carrying out the plan he had arranged.</p> + +<p>He even fell back so that he could ride alongside Tubby; for Rob had +often heard that no chain can be any stronger than its weakest link; +and this must surely mean Tubby, in their case. If any accident befell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +the party, the chances were as ten to one it would spring from the fat +scout.</p> + +<p>And so Rob, believing in being prepared to meet things as they come +along, even went so far as to figure out just what his course of action +must be in case Tubby gave signs of falling off his horse, or the animal +tripped in its headlong flight.</p> + +<p>"It's only a little further, Tubby, so try your best to hold out!" he +kept saying. "See, there's a spur of the hill jutting out, and the +railroad comes around that. On the other side must be the Carmen River, +where the bridge that is burning crosses. Just one more push and we'll +be there in great shape. You're doing fine, I want to tell you, Tubby; I +never thought you had it in you; and we're bound to get through this +ride all right, believe me!"</p> + +<p>No doubt this sort of encouraging talk did more than a little to keep +Tubby from throwing up the sponge entirely; for he was close upon the +point of complete exhaustion, and ready to own himself "all in."</p> + +<p>"Try to think and tell me, Tubby," Rob went on earnestly, "where you've +got those signal flags you brought all the way down here, because you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +said they might come in handy. I can use one right now, I believe."</p> + +<p>"Reach in that pocket on the side of my bag toward you, Rob," replied +Tubby in a gasping whisper. "You ought to find the lot there."</p> + +<p>This Rob managed to do in spite of the fact that both horses were +galloping at headlong speed.</p> + +<p>Just then they cleared the point of the hill that jutted out close to +the railroad track; and there in front of them lay the cause of the big +smoke. The bridge was afire, just as they had believed. There was also a +train stalled on the side near them, with its engine headed toward +Juarez. Doubtless this was the one of which the boys had heard, which, +starting from Chihuahua, laden with refugee Mexican families wanting to +seek shelter over in Texas, had been lost somewhere on the way, held up +by burned bridges, and possibly by other things in the way of damage +done to the locomotive by the Federal's marauding cavalry parties.</p> + +<p>As soon as Rob could manage to see what lay ahead, he felt cheered by +the sight; for behind the cars he discovered dozens of men with guns, +who seemed to be making a barrier of the train and exchanging long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +distance shots with some enemy perched upon the higher ground, +undoubtedly Federals.</p> + +<p>There seemed nothing for the scouts to do but to join their fortunes +with those men of Villa's command who were holding the Regulars at bay. +So, without slackening the speed of their horses a particle, the little +party galloped forward, Rob leading the van and wildly waving one of the +signal flags, which, being white with a small red center, could be +looked upon as a flag of truce, and would surely keep the rebels from +firing on them.</p> + +<p>It must have astonished those fellows who were making a rampart of the +stalled train to discover thus a party wearing khaki uniforms so like +those of the American soldiers across the border, coming at headlong +speed toward them, and being fired after by a pack of pursuers whom they +readily recognized to be the regular troops of Huerta!</p> + +<p>And since all enemies of the prevailing government must be looked on as +friends to their cause, the Constitutionalists, as the rebels liked to +call themselves, made no attempt to halt the advance of the Boy Scouts. +They held their fire, waiting until the hard-pressed fugitives could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +reach shelter, when explanations might be in order.</p> + +<p>But the unseen Regulars perched among the rocks on the hillside must +have discovered that those they were engaged in fighting seemed to be +receiving unexpected reinforcements, for they turned their attention to +the oncoming riders, and once more the nerve-racking zip-zip of passing +bullets gave Tubby a cold chill.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>AT THE BURNING BRIDGE.</h3> + + +<p>It was really only the bad marksmanship of the men among the rocks some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +distance away, and the fact that the boys were now strung out in a +disorganized line as they drew near the stalled train that saved the +scouts from disaster, just as they saw a haven of refuge at hand.</p> + +<p>The bullets continued to whine around them in a most disagreeable +manner; while some, falling short, tore up the ground, causing little +patches of dust to leap upward where they struck.</p> + +<p>Tubby must have lived hours during those few but exciting minutes. Then, +to his great satisfaction he found himself riding behind the cars of the +train, where there were scores of people hiding, men, women and +children, fugitives from the city that had fallen into Villa's hands +once more. Some may have fled for fear that the rebel leader would +confiscate all their possessions, because they had been on friendly +terms with the troops of Huerta when the Government forces held the +capital of Chihuahua State.</p> + +<p>No one could say with what relief Tubby checked the onward rush of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +charger; Rob did not have to come to his assistance this time, for the +exhausted boy actually fell from the saddle, being caught by several +grim rebels, who had come crowding around to find out who these parties +were, and how it came that American soldiers dared invade the sacred +soil of Mexico,—which, had it been an actual fact, would have served to +unite both hostile factions against Uncle Sam's boys in khaki.</p> + +<p>But Lopez had unlimbered his tongue by now, and was rattling off the +greatest lot of jargon in Spanish the boys had ever listened to. They +could only understand a word here and there; but that did not matter, +for as he talked the guide made many gestures, and it was possible to +tell what he was saying from these alone.</p> + +<p>Many of the rebels crowded close around them, forming a circle, ten +deep. Others had hurried to exchange shots with the late pursuers of the +boys, and opened such a warm fire that the Regulars quickly turned and +fled, doubtless to join later on with their comrades among the rocks, +and plot to overwhelm the defenders of the stalled train.</p> + +<p>When the name of General Villa was mentioned several times, and always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +with a grand sweep of the arm in the direction of the four scouts, Rob +knew that Lopez was surely "spreading it on pretty thick." He must be +telling the crowd that these gringo lads were great friends of the +commanding general, and that they had come all the way down here, +hundreds, yes, thousands of miles, just to see him, and tell him what a +great patriot he was. And if this were so, then they must be looked on +as comrades by every man who fought under Villa the Great; who would be +very angry with any wretch so unlucky as to raise a finger to offend +those whose friendship he valued so highly.</p> + +<p>Of course such talk created no end of a sensation among the rough men +who were enlisted in the cause of the revolutionists. They feared their +commanding general more than any man on earth; and after hearing what +Lopez had to say about these American boys, they were ready to give them +a wild cheer; especially when told that the newcomers stood ready to +cast their lot in with them, and help disperse the enemy.</p> + +<p>When the guide, turning to Rob, told him about what he had promised the +rebels in return for the protection they were giving the fugitives, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +patrol leader looked a bit grave.</p> + +<p>"Of course we're willing to do all we can, you understand, Lopez, to +help our new friends out; and if anybody is wounded, we know a whole lot +about how to take care of bad hurts; in other ways, too, we'll do all we +can; but except as a very last resort, I wouldn't want to shoot direct +at those men over there. We're not soldiers, even if we do wear a +uniform that seems to say we are; and the last thing a Boy Scout wants +to do is to fight. But wait and see how things turn out. There are lots +of ways we can assist without actually using our guns against the +Regulars; though if it came to the worst, and they were charging this +fort, you'd soon see how we'd pitch in and do our part."</p> + +<p>After that Rob and his three chums noticed that they were being observed +with even more curiosity. Later on it turned out that the cunning Lopez, +meaning to do things wholesale while about it, had hinted that these +young fellows might be secret messengers to Villa coming from +Washington; and that there was a strong chance that the American +Government was meaning finally to befriend the rebels, even allowing +them to get arms at will from across the border. In this way they might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +be helped to hasten the fall of Huerta, who had never been recognized as +president by the new administration.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the fire of the Federals up there among the rocks had +entirely ceased. Tubby, not being versed in such things, believed that +the coming of reinforcements, in the shape of four boys and one man, +must have given the Federals what he chose to call "cold feet," and that +they had betaken themselves off. Rob, however, knew differently, for by +using that convenient field glass of his, he could see that there were +several men still up there. Evidently some sort of new scheme was being +figured out by those who were besieging the train; and unless the +defenders managed to learn its nature in advance, they might be given a +disagreeable surprise shortly.</p> + +<p>This gave Rob an idea.</p> + +<p>Just as he had told Lopez, while the scouts would not like to be asked +to fire on the enemy, unless the defenders of the train were hard +pushed, there were plenty of ways whereby wide-awake young chaps, such +as they were known to be, might make themselves useful.</p> + +<p>He saw such an opening right then, and quickly began to look into it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +more closely to find out if it were indeed practicable.</p> + +<p>Examining the topography of the country through his glasses, Rob found +that it was possible for a smart fellow to climb up to a certain point, +where he could observe all that was going on beyond, and doubtless find +plenty of chances to transmit his discoveries to the other scouts below +by means of a signal flag and the wigwag code. There was Tubby, who had +done himself more credit with signal work than along any other line +connected with scout activities; why should he not keep himself in +readiness to receive whatever news the vidette on the pinnacle of rock +chose to send?</p> + +<p>After speaking about this idea to Lopez, and asking him to pass it along +to the rather fierce-looking individual who seemed to be in command of +the rebels, Rob sought out the fat chum.</p> + +<p>As more than a full hour had passed since their arrival at the still +burning railroad bridge, it was to be hoped that Tubby had, in some +measure at least, recovered from his state of exhaustion, and that he +would be in fit condition to manage his end of the receiving line.</p> + +<p>As he drew near the spot where he had discovered Tubby squatted like a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +big bull frog on the ground, Rob had to smile to notice how carefully +the fat scout had folded his blanket several times and used it as a +seat; for Rob knew the reason why.</p> + +<p>"Now I wonder what he is looking at so seriously," he said to himself on +drawing closer. "It can't be either the magic ring that's going to make +General Villa fall on our necks and embrace us, nor yet that paper Uncle +Mark gave us for his old time friend; because I happen to have both on +my person right now."</p> + +<p>His curiosity aroused by Tubby's seeming fit of abstraction, Rob crept +softly up behind the other and peered over his shoulder. What he saw +caused him to chuckle, as though more amused than ever.</p> + +<p>Tubby had something in his hand, at which he was staring, all the while +muttering to himself; and Rob could even catch what he was saying. It +ran something like this:</p> + +<p>"That's a bully clew, all right, all right. Rob says so, and he ought to +know. And you needn't think that I'm going to let the whole thing drop, +just because I've been too busy with other jobs to follow it up. Just<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +you wait till I get back, and see if I don't find the identical brace +and bit that coward used to bore a hole in the bottom of Rob's sailboat, +and make this creased shaving in the shape of a curl. And say, bet you +that when I happen to mention the name of Max Ramsay I'm not very far +away from the guilty party; though I ought not to accuse anybody till +I'm dead sure.</p> + +<p>"Oh! hello! that you, Rob? What's new? I was only making sure that I +hadn't gone and lost that marked shaving we found in your boat, you +remember, and which some fine day is going to make some feller I know +start to shivering in his shoes. Sit down with me, won't you? I'd offer +you a bit of my cushion, but seems like I can't spare it just now; you +understand why."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's all right, Tubby, and small blame to you if you do feel +badly. It was a tough ride for us all; and yet we ought to thank our +lucky stars that we found a chance to give our pursuers the slip without +a fight. But I wanted to ask if you thought you could bother taking a +few short messages with the wigwag flags?"</p> + +<p>Tubby became interested at once, and almost forgot how tired and sore he +felt.</p> + +<p>"Sure I can, and only too glad to be doing something in my particular<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +line, Rob," he hastened to remark. "And it's just fine of you to come to +<i>me</i>, when there's Merritt and Andy around. But what's doing? Have the +Feds been sending messages, and do you want me to intercept what they +say? Is that the game, Rob?"</p> + +<p>"You're away off there, Tubby," replied the patrol leader; "but if you +listen I'll try to explain. The idea struck me that perhaps I might +manage to climb to that high rock you can see up there, and watch what +the enemy is doing; because they must be up to some mischief, they keep +so quiet lately. And after I get there you must stand by to take what I +send and write it down. Have the other boys around to help, because +three heads are better than one in receiving. If you should get all +muddled up one of the others may carry the message through."</p> + +<p>"Whee! that's a mighty clever scheme of yours, Rob; and if I wasn't so +beastly tired and lame I'd ask to be allowed to go along with you. But +p'raps it's better not, for the climbing would be tough, and I'm nearly +all in for one day. But please don't go off alone that way, Rob, without +carrying your gun along. Some of the tricky Regulars might manage to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +cut you off from us. And then wouldn't you be in a nice scrape without +some means for defending yourself? You will, Rob, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, I had thought it might be a bit foolish not to, with a chance +always hanging over my head that I'd need something like a gun. But you +can keep right on sitting here if you like, only turn around so you will +have that crag in full view. Of course I don't know just how long it +will take me to climb up there, because if they glimpse me they'll as +like as not keep firing every time I show my head. But I ought to know +how to creep, scout fashion. I've practiced it enough, goodness knows. +Is it all understood, and have you the other flags handy? I want to take +two along with me, after I've fastened them to a couple of sticks so I +can wave them the right way, though I may only need one."</p> + +<p>Tubby told him that all was clear, and Rob promised to send Merritt +around to fix the other flags.</p> + +<p>"When the time comes for you to send the first signal, guess I'll be +able to get on my feet," the fat scout said as Rob moved away; "and if +I can't make it alone, I reckon the boys'll give me a boost. You put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +your faith in me to get whatever you wigwag, Rob; but take mighty good +care of yourself, hear?"</p> + +<p>So the patrol leader went away, bearing the two white and red flags, +which he meant to rig out with short staves before he started on his +perilous mission to the crag that jutted out far up the slope. From +there a splendid view could undoubtedly be obtained, not only of the +stalled train and the burning bridge, but also of the Federal cavalrymen +who were keeping out of sight among the small <i>arroyos</i> along the +hillside.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE WIGWAG TALK.</h3> + + +<p>"Don't you think Rob ought to be pretty nearly up there by now, boys?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +Tubby was asking, when about half an hour had crept by since the patrol +leader left them.</p> + +<p>He had become quite anxious, so much so, in fact, that with many grunts +and "whees" he had actually managed to get upon his feet. Either Andy or +Merritt would have been only too willing to lend the fat chum a helping +hand, but Tubby was more or less proud and sensitive; he might accept +assistance from Rob, who never made a habit of laughing in his face, but +it was a different matter when any of the other scouts were concerned.</p> + +<p>Then he had practiced waving his signal flags to and fro, making those +particular movements that stood for letters in the Myers' code of +wig-wagging. These had been readily interpreted by both Merritt and +Andy, who were fairly up in the service, and could also relay messages +by heliograph, using a bit of broken mirror to flash the rays of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +sun from hilltop to valley.</p> + +<p>"I'm looking to see him show up any old time now," Andy replied; for he +was at that moment standing with his eyes glued on the lofty crag, from +which the signal-sender expected to wave his message when the time came.</p> + +<p>"But none of us have so much as glimpsed our chum even once on his way +up there," Tubby complained; "which I take it is kind of queer. Gee! I +hope nothing's happened to Rob! That would be a calamity, sure!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! don't worry about Rob," Andy cautioned him; "he knows how to look +out for himself, all right. You don't find <i>him</i> stumbling over roots +and all sorts of things like—er—some of the rest of us fellows. No +danger of Rob bringing up in one of those deep, dry ravines they call +<i>arroyos</i> down here in Old Mexico."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but sometimes accidents do happen even to the smartest scouts, +don't they?" the fat boy persisted in saying, as though bent on allowing +his feeling of anxiety to have full sway. "Huh! haven't you ever had a +limb break when you believed it to be good and strong; or a stone slip +out from under your foot, throwing you on your face? Even Rob, clever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +as he is, might run across a piece of bad luck. Then, how d'ye know but +that one or two of those greaser cavalrymen might not have been camping +somewhere along the trail Rob followed, and seeing him coming, decided +to lie in ambush to knock him over? Any way, I'm getting what my mother +calls 'fidgetty'; and I'll be glad when it's all over."</p> + +<p>"Well, chirk up, then, Tubby!" exclaimed Merritt just then, with a low +laugh.</p> + +<p>"Oh! did you see him, Merritt? And is that why you speak so +encouragingly?" demanded the stout boy with quivering lips and a look of +intense eagerness on his round face.</p> + +<p>The corporal of the Eagles nodded his head in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm dead sure I had a glimpse of his khaki coat close to the crag, +just while you were talking in such a gloomy way; and if you wait two +minutes, chances are you'll see him wave his flag to let us know he has +arrived."</p> + +<p>"Bully for you, Merritt; that's the best news I've had for a 'coon's +age.' But it is too bad we didn't think to bring a couple of mirrors +along with us on this trip. Then, you know, we could have carried on our +little confab by flashes of the heliograph. It's a whole lot easier<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +than wigwag work, where your arms get so tired waving flags."</p> + +<p>"There! See what's happened?" cried Andy suddenly.</p> + +<p>"It's Rob, as sure as anything!" exclaimed the pleased Tubby. "He got up +to that rock all right, didn't he? Watch him wave the O. K. sign, will +you? And now I guess he'll take a good look around, so as to locate the +enemy, and then begin to tell us what's doing."</p> + +<p>Evidently Rob was taking advantage of his elevated position to survey +the surrounding country in all directions. It would doubtless pay the +besieged rebel forces to know what was going on, and if there was any +hope of assistance coming to help drive the foe away.</p> + +<p>The minutes began to drag horribly to impatient Tubby, and doubtless to +the other scouts as well. They could see that Rob was turning this way +and that, as though making good use of the excellent field glasses he +had thought to carry with him on his ascent.</p> + +<p>"Why doesn't he hurry and send something?" Tubby muttered for the tenth +time as he walked to and fro, partly to work off his excitement, and +partly to avoid the stiffness that overtook him whenever he stood still.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +"Here I'm all primed up for business at the old stand, and ready to +receive any message that may come. I've practiced the whole code over +and over, you notice, fellers; and if I do say it myself, that +shouldn't, I never felt in such good trim as right now. If only Rob +would get busy and whisper something! He must have learned a heap by +now. Why, it seems like half an hour since he bobbed up serenely there!"</p> + +<p>"Less than ten minutes, Tubby, because I timed him," interposed Merritt.</p> + +<p>"Well, long enough for him to take a squint at a whole circle and see +all sorts of things," grumbled Tubby, quite disconsolate over the delay. +"If this keeps up, it's going to wear me away to a skeleton, that's +what."</p> + +<p>"No danger, Tubby, of that happening," declared Andy.</p> + +<p>"And get busy now," added Merritt. "There comes your first signal! He is +asking if you are ready to take a message. Answer him O. K., Tubby."</p> + +<p>"Hurray! Now mebbe there won't be something doing!" exclaimed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +other, aroused to a full consciousness that duty called.</p> + +<p>Tubby in action was a sight to behold. He was so fat that, when his +chubby arms got to working vigorously, he looked something like a Dutch +windmill with the sails flapping furiously in a half gale.</p> + +<p>But Tubby knew his Myers' wigwag code all right, and could receive +better than nearly any fellow on the roster of the Eagle Patrol. When +one masters the art of taking a message with fair speed, sending is what +Tubby always called "pie." This is also the case in telegraph work. In +sending, one knows in advance what is coming, and the brain can work +ahead, but this is not so in receiving.</p> + +<p>Rob made his flag do its duty with a vigor that kept both Tubby and +Merritt keyed up to top notch in order to read the message, while, as +the fat scout called out the letters, Andy wrote them down.</p> + +<p>And this was what the boy on the rocky crag sent as a beginning:</p> + +<p>"Can see enemy—number about sixty in sight—have started to turn flank, +and make attack from other side—warn Lopez!"</p> + +<p>That was alarming news, because, if the movement were undertaken without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +any notice to the rebel force, they would undoubtedly be caught napping; +and it does not require much of a surprise to create a panic with troops +who are unseasoned fighters.</p> + +<p>"But how could they cross over to the other side of the railroad without +being seen, I want to know?" Tubby asked, after the whole message had +been received.</p> + +<p>"We can't tell that from here, but you bet your boots Rob knows," Andy +was quick to reply, showing what an amount of confidence the boys of the +Eagle Patrol were wont to place in their recognized leader under any and +all conditions.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's right," Merritt added. "It might be there is some gully +that the road spans, which we didn't notice when making our dash here, +where the Federals could dodge through without anybody being a whit the +wiser. Anyway, Rob says that's what they mean to do, which settles it, +Tubby."</p> + +<p>"There, he's waving again!" called out the observant Andy. "Quick, get +busy and let him know you're ready to take the next message, Tubby!"</p> + +<p>"On deck!" chirped the receiving end of the air telegraph, which the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +boys often called their "wireless."</p> + +<p>This time Rob went on a little further. Possibly he may have guessed +that what he sent before was apt to mystify the boys, and wished to make +it plainer. At any rate he took up the very subject they had just been +discussing, as though he had some means of overhearing their little +talk.</p> + +<p>"One mile above, track passes over a little gulch. Shallow, but deep +enough to answer purpose. Can see soldiers crawling under right now. +Rocks lie beyond, and from that easy to creep close to train there. Warn +Lopez, and have him tell captain of rebel forces. Get all that?"</p> + +<p>Now came Tubby's turn.</p> + +<p>Really, all he had to send back was the "O. K." signal, showing that he +had read everything that had been sent; but, then, Tubby was a good +talker, and it was hard for him to resist a golden opportunity like the +present, where he could display his knowledge along the line of flirting +with the flags.</p> + +<p>So he started the wave, and in another minute was working industriously.</p> + +<p>"Don't think we missed a single letter," he told the boy on the crag;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +"and you sure sent faster than ever before in your life. What are we to +do if they attack the train? Ought we to join in and use our guns? We +want to know, because it might be too late when you get back. Answer."</p> + +<p>The two watching boys had started to spell out Tubby's message. Thinking +it a waste of precious time at first, Merritt had even started forward +to object when he caught some of the later words, and this halted him. +After all, it was not so far out of the way for Tubby to want to know +what their line of conduct should be under certain conditions. They had +not anticipated anything like this when Rob left; and, as he was their +leader, all orders had to come from him.</p> + +<p>On this account, then, they waited to see what the answer would be. +Apparently Rob had made out what Tubby asked, for he at once sent +another message. As the letters followed each other in quick succession, +even Andy could read their import.</p> + +<p>"Hold back all you can, unless it seems absolutely necessary to join in. +We have come down here on a peaceful errand, and don't want to side with +either force more than we can help. This is a Mexican affair, and Uncle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +Sam is keeping his hands off. Understand?"</p> + +<p>"What shall I tell him, Merritt?" questioned Tubby, eagerly waiting for +orders, because, in the absence of the acting scout master and patrol +leader, the corporal was looked upon as in charge.</p> + +<p>"We'll try to be wise and cautious, tell Rob that," replied Merritt; +"and we'll keep out of the muss till we think we've just <i>got</i> to help, +in order to save our lives. That's all, Tubby."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, Tubby started in again, for his arm had by now rested up +more or less, so that he was in condition for work. The short message +was possibly strung out considerably, because Tubby realized that in all +probability it would be his last chance to flirt the flag, on this +occasion, at least.</p> + +<p>Then Rob waved them good-bye, and turned as though to take one last look +over the country beyond, which was hidden from the sight of the boys at +the stalled train.</p> + +<p>Tubby still remained on his feet, though casting anxious eyes toward the +spot where the comfortable blanket seat had been temporarily left, while +Merritt was going over the message Andy had written down, so that he +could give it to Lopez accurately for transmission to the rebel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +captain.</p> + +<p>All at once Andy uttered an exclamation. There was such a note of alarm +in his voice that Merritt looked up from his paper, and Tubby whirled +around so as to face the other.</p> + +<p>"What ails you now, Andy?" demanded Merritt.</p> + +<p>"It's Rob!" exclaimed the scout addressed. "I just saw several soldiers +creeping along the trail he must use coming back; and they mean to lie +in ambush for him!"</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>"TRUST ROB!"</h3> + + +<p>When Andy said that, both Tubby and Merritt felt a cold chill pass over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +them. It could be easily understood that if those vindictive Regulars +had a chance to fire on the unknown party who wore the khaki of the +United States soldiers, and who, they must know, had been sending +messages from the rock jutting out above, there was no reason to believe +that they would have the least pity because he turned out to be a boy. +There were many mere lads bearing arms among the followers of Villa and +of President Huerta—there always are when revolution stalks through a +land and war clouds are in the air—so that the taking of a boy's life +did not mean anything unusual to these grim fighters.</p> + +<p>But Merritt was alive to the importance of letting Rob know of the peril +that was lying in wait for him on the back trail. If he slipped away and +started to come down the side of the rugged slope, there was always a +terrible chance that he might know nothing of the three Mexican<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +Regulars lying under the rocks like genuine bushwhackers, ready to pour +a deadly volley in his direction as soon as they felt that he was in +their grip.</p> + +<p>"Quick, Tubby, try and attract his attention again—tell him for +goodness' sake to wait up there and take another message!"</p> + +<p>Merritt almost shrieked this as he sprang toward the fat chum. Tubby +instantly started the human windmill in motion again, waving his flag at +a great rate, and forming the signal "1111—3: Wait a moment," that +would tell the boy on the crag there was still something of vast +importance to be wigwagged to him.</p> + +<p>"I can see him there yet!" said Andy, though his voice trembled as if he +were quaking with suspense.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but his back is this way!" groaned Tubby, still keeping busy with +his flags.</p> + +<p>Merritt even put his hands to his mouth and shouted the name of the +patrol leader several times, as though hoping with this primitive +megaphone to be able to attract the attention of the other; but +apparently sounds did not travel upward as well as they do on the level +ground. At any rate, they could not see Rob give the first sign of +turning; and he seemed to be busy watching something beyond, perhaps the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +soldiers who were crawling through that little ravine under the railroad +track, a mile or more away.</p> + +<p>"What if he starts down without once looking this way?" asked Andy.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Ginger snaps and pop-guns! Don't mention it!" groaned Tubby.</p> + +<p>"But that wouldn't be like Rob!" asserted Merritt, just as though he +might be trying the best way he knew to bolster up his own courage with +this hope. "It would be more his style to take a last look this way to +see if we had scattered to carry out his orders. Keep doing it right +along, Tubby, while we all watch and hope he'll turn around soon!"</p> + +<p>It was an anxious time for those three lads, and one they were not +likely to forget soon, either.</p> + +<p>All at once a whoop went up from Tubby.</p> + +<p>"He's turned around, and is looking this way!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Keep going, then; faster, Tubby!" cried Merritt. "Tell him to wait +up—very important!"</p> + +<p>"There he is, starting in to wave!" cried Andy.</p> + +<p>"W-h-a-t d-o y-o-u w-a-n-t?" came the question from above, with every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +one of the three eager scouts below spelling it aloud.</p> + +<p>"Stay where you are—great danger—three Federals in hiding on trail you +took going up. If you must come down, pick another route!"</p> + +<p>Tubby sent all of this, Merritt supplying him with the words in +rotation; and evidently it was read correctly, for immediately after the +message ceased, Rob sent back his "O. K.," and added: "Don't fear for +me; I can take care of myself. So long!"</p> + +<p>"He's gone!" cried Tubby, as the last fluttering letter came from above.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and slipped out of sight just as if he meant to come back the same +way he took going!" interjected Andy in dismay.</p> + +<p>"That's all right," added Merritt. "Don't you see it must have been just +a clever little stunt of Rob's, meant to fool the three cavalrymen who +are lying in wait down on that depressed route he took going up? He +reckons that they've been watching him all this while. So he just made +out to have no suspicion that he knew about their game. Trust our Rob +for keeping his wits about him! He'll slip around somehow, and leave +them in the lurch."</p> + +<p>"Say, I hope now none of that outfit can read wigwag work!" Tubby<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +remarked, with a new line of trouble appearing on his usually smooth +forehead. "Because then they'd know what I told Rob, and of course +they'd change their position so as to cover the ground all along."</p> + +<p>"Not one chance in a thousand that a single Federal ever took a lesson +in signal work with the flags," Merritt told him. But evidently he was +not so wholly free from fears himself, for immediately afterward he went +on to say: "Perhaps I'd better be hunting Lopez up and telling him all +that's happened. Out of gratitude for what Rob has done to save them +from being taken by surprise, these rebels may consent to make a little +sortie and chase the three fellows up there away."</p> + +<p>"A splendid idea, Merritt!" declared Andy, while Tubby burst out:</p> + +<p>"Gee! but wouldn't it be just glorious to turn the tables on that lot +and send them flying over the hill? Hurry up, and see if you can't get +our rebel friends to make a start. They could charge right up that hill +and scare the ambushers off like hot cakes. Go along, Merritt, and don't +let the grass grow under your feet!"</p> + +<p>Merritt was off even while Tubby spoke. He was something like Rob, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +whenever he had an idea he believed in carrying it out with speed. In +this case it was essential that no time should be lost, for at any +minute one of the armed men who lay there in wait for Rob might find an +opportunity to get a shot at him, with a result that neither Tubby nor +Andy dared allow themselves to consider.</p> + +<p>Both of them continued to stand there, keeping their eyes glued on the +side of the rise, at about the spot where they knew the soldiers lay +hidden. More than a few times one or the other believed he could detect +some slight movement, as though the men might be taking an observation; +but the distance was so great they could not be sure, and no doubt their +fears magnified many things.</p> + +<p>"He's found Lopez, and is talking to him right now!" Andy said, +referring to Merritt, after a little time had elapsed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you can see that our guide believes the news mighty important, +because already he's beckoning to that captain who's carrying a sword, +even if he hasn't any uniform," Tubby continued. "I hope now the feller +isn't going to show the white feather and just shrug his shoulders the +way they're so fond of doing down here, as much as to say Rob'll have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +to take care of himself. That would be a burning shame, wouldn't it, +Andy?"</p> + +<p>"But I don't believe they'll act that way," the other told him +consolingly. "I reckon these rebels are fighters, and they'll think it a +bully good chance to get one back on the enemy by knocking over three of +the Regulars. See, he's showing a whole lot of interest right now. +There, Merritt is pointing up at the place where we know the ambushers +are squatting. Will they sally out and chase them away? Oh! I hope so, I +hope they will!"</p> + +<p>"It looks as though they might be thinking of doing that very thing, +doesn't it, Tubby?" Andy again burst out, a ring of satisfaction in his +boyish voice. "See, that captain is yelling something to his men, for a +lot of them are running up, waving their guns, and chattering all sorts +of things—like a pack of monkeys finding a cocoanut. Make your mind +easy, Tubby; there's going to be something doing soon!"</p> + +<p>All Tubby made answer was expressed in one word:</p> + +<p>"Bully!"</p> + +<p>Evidently Merritt had managed to tell Lopez what a great service Rob<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +had done in making his way to the top of the elevation, and sending word +as to what the enemy was doing; and the guide had in turn transmitted +this to the rebel chief, upon whom it must have made considerable +impression, for he was plainly excited and bent upon discharging his +obligations toward the signal sender, according to the plan suggested by +the Eagle's corporal.</p> + +<p>A dozen men were told off and given hurried instructions. They +immediately ran the length of the train, and then with loud shouts and +waving guns started for the foot of the rise, not bothering to take the +trouble Rob had done to keep their movements secret. In fact, they must +have meant to let the three Regulars know of their intentions as they +scattered and started to climb the hill.</p> + +<p>"There! Listen to that, will you?" shrilled the excited Tubby.</p> + +<p>"It was a gunshot, sure as anything!" added Andy, hardly less stirred +himself. "And I saw the puff of smoke up yonder where the three Regulars +are hiding! Guess they know the game is up and mean to have a few cracks +at the climbing rebels before they skip out!"</p> + +<p>"And there goes a shot from below," said Tubby, "showing that our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +friends don't mean that the fun shall all be on one side. Yes, and +listen to how the dogs of war keep on barking, will you, Andy? Whee! +isn't this exciting, though? I can just imagine how the bullets sing as +they fly past! Hear 'em slash against the rocks! That will make 'em +flatten out like pancakes!"</p> + +<p>"All the while the rebels are climbing right along and getting nearer +and nearer," Andy remarked, though not once could he tear his eyes away +from the scene upon the side of the elevation. "They may hang on there +too long, and find it a hard job to make their get-away, after all."</p> + +<p>"I hope Rob isn't in line with all this shooting, or that he happens to +run across the Regulars when they're making off!" Tubby pursued, voicing +his fears.</p> + +<p>"Trust Rob, Tubby; give him credit for horse sense, won't you?" scoffed +the other scout. "And let me tell you, Tubby, that, if they do run +across him, chances are they'll be sorry! Remember, Rob's got a gun +along with him, and you've seen yourself how he could shoot at flying +game many's the time. If he has to defend himself, he'll wing that lot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +in one, two, three order, give you my word for it!"</p> + +<p>"I know that, Andy, as well as you do," agreed the fat boy; "and I guess +I'm only saying what I do because my nerves are all unstrung. It's just +awful to have to stand here watching, not able to lift a finger to help +our chum! If I could only be in the thick of the thing, I wouldn't be +croaking like this."</p> + +<p>"I believe you, Tubby," said Merritt, who had come up in time to hear +the last few sentences spoken by the others. "But there's little danger +of Rob falling into a trap, now that he's been warned. I wouldn't be +surprised if he's just been lying low all this time in some nice hole +under a rock, waiting to find out what would happen. To tell the truth, +I'm more concerned about the rebels shooting at Rob, under the belief +that he's one of the enemy, than that those three Federals will catch +him napping."</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, these words gave poor Tubby fresh cause for alarm.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I hope that doesn't happen," he kept on saying, as they all stood +and watched the little puffs of smoke that broke out in ever so many +places along the side of the rugged slope. These told that the rebels<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +were advancing steadily upward toward the spot where the men who had +meant to waylay the wigwag operator had taken up their positions.</p> + +<p>All the people who had been on the stranded train, men, women and +children, had come out of their various hiding-places, and now stood in +groups, along with the rebels at bay, behind the line of cars. Their +eyes were glued on what was happening up there on the heights. For by +now it had been circulated that one of the Americano boys had gone aloft +to spy upon the enemy, and had reported important news, which fact had +acted so favorably on the commander of the Villa forces that he had sent +a detachment of his men to try and save the gringo lad from being +captured or shot.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>THE RETURN OF THE SCOUT MASTER.</h3> + + +<p>The acting scout master of the Eagle Patrol was meanwhile making his way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +down the ragged face of the slope pretty much as Merritt had pictured +him.</p> + +<p>After giving that last "all right" wave of his flag, Rob had apparently +started down toward the plain, and his course was, as nearly as could be +seen, just the same as that he had taken in order to reach the crag from +which he had wigwagged the news to his chums alongside the stalled +train.</p> + +<p>But this was only a "blind," intended to deceive the lurking Federals, +if it happened that they were watching his movements. They would feel +confident that, as he meant to retrace his steps, he would follow the +line of least resistance. Then all that they would have to do in order +to ambush him, would be to remain secreted in the cunningly arranged +hiding-place where the other three scouts had seen them take their +positions.</p> + +<p>When Rob had reason to believe that he was safe from observation, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +set about changing his downward course. It was not very difficult to run +across some other descending gully or miniature <i>arroyo</i>, where in rainy +weather doubtless copious streams of water flowed, but which now was +quite dry. The face of the elevation was fairly scarred with such +indentations.</p> + +<p>The scout slipped along cleverly, stooping all of the time, and +occasionally even dropping flat on his hands and knees, in order to +crawl past a suspicious point, where the chances of exposure seemed +greater.</p> + +<p>Rob had practiced this sort of thing many a time just for the fun of it, +when he and the other Eagles were camping out. Such tactics came well +within the scope of actual scout work, for boys are expected to exert +themselves while indulging in games that pertain to the open. They could +imagine themselves Indians in the old days, when the copper-skinned +natives of American forests had to depend on their skill as hunters, in +order to secure their daily rations of food, because at that time there +was no generous-handed Uncle Sam to issue such to them once in so many +months as the wards of the nation.</p> + +<p>This creeping game had always appealed to Rob so strongly that he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +taken particular pains to perfect himself in it, not dreaming how at +some future day his knowledge of it might come in handy, as it was now +doing.</p> + +<p>There was no particular hurry, he decided, as he picked his way +cautiously along among the rough rocks, always surveying the prospect +ahead before actually trusting himself to move on a little distance. The +Federals who were lying in ambush and waiting for him to come along +would hardly get impatient enough to start to meet him, he concluded. +And besides, there was another reason why he should allow some little +time to elapse before trying to reach the foot of the descent.</p> + +<p>He had tried to picture in his mind just what his three comrades would +be doing in the matter, and he came to the conclusion that Merritt must +certainly appeal to Lopez, in order to have the rebels try to raise the +siege.</p> + +<p>This they could easily do by dislodging the Federals who were in hiding +on the return trail awaiting his approach.</p> + +<p>Several times, when an opportunity occurred, Rob took occasion to raise +his head slowly and peer over the top of some friendly rock. He moved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +carefully so that he might not draw attention to the spot; and his +motive was more to take a peep at the stalled train than any desire to +find out what the enemy might be doing. In this way, then, he saw the +dozen rebels finally make a sortie and run headlong for the foot of the +height, just about as he had done; only they failed to take advantage of +the chances there were for concealment, which he had utilized.</p> + +<p>And he could also see that those at the train had gathered in a throng +on that side toward the scene of action, as though deeply interested in +the outcome.</p> + +<p>Yes, there were Tubby, Merritt and Andy; he could plainly make them out +with his naked eye, and knew that they must be very anxious concerning +his safety. Rob was almost impelled to wave his signal flag, so that its +familiar white and red combination would catch their watching eyes and +tell them that thus far all was well, but he decided not to do it. How +was he to tell but that enemies might be close by who would take +advantage of his indiscretion to send a pattering shower of lead about +his ears?</p> + +<p>Once he half raised his field glasses, being tempted to make use of them +in order to see better what the boys were doing and whether they wore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +anxious expressions on their faces, as he believed would be the case. +But again Rob's scout training held his hand, and he quickly decided +that he would be taking too much risk. Then, too, the sun chanced to be +shining in just such a way that if he moved the glasses it would be apt +to flash a warning ray, very much on the order of the heliograph signals +he was used to making with the aid of a broken piece of mirror, and such +a slight thing might catch the suspicious eyes of those who lay in wait.</p> + +<p>So Rob contented himself with taking another observation, and noting +that the advancing rebels showed all the evidences of being very much in +earnest.</p> + +<p>All at once, even as he looked, he heard the quick detonation of a gun +not far away from him. And at the same instant he saw a puff of white +smoke burst out from a clump of rocks, showing that one of the Federals +must be in hiding there.</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly he was firing at the advancing rebels, understanding that +they meant to dislodge himself and companions from their hiding-places +on the hillside.</p> + +<p>Derisive shouts answered the shot, and, so far as Rob could see, it had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +accomplished nothing save to let the rebels know that their intentions +were understood, and that the concealed Federals would not run away +without a fight.</p> + +<p>Then came other shots. The second and third of those men who were lying +in ambush had taken up the gage of battle, and were trying to wing some +of the leaping, running rebels before they gained the shelter of the +outlying rocks at the foot of the hill.</p> + +<p>Nor were the men of Villa slow to return the fire, since they seemed to +have an abundance of ammunition. And for a short time the guns popped +merrily around that region.</p> + +<p>It was rather fascinating to crouch there and watch the curls of smoke +shooting up, telling Rob that he was looking upon a real battle on a +small scale. Presently, however, when the bullets coming from various +quarters below began to whine about his ears, the patrol leader decided +that he had better draw in his head, very much after the manner of a +tortoise, and make himself scarce, since he seemed to be in the line of +fire.</p> + +<p>Once, a little later, when he took another cautious observation as the +shooting slackened, he was thrilled to see a creeping soldier, clad in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +a dirty white uniform, not more than thirty yards away from him! Indeed, +Rob could watch him carefully raise his head and look downward, as +though marking the advance of the foe, so as to calculate on his line of +retreat, and the expression on his swarthy face was plainly visible.</p> + +<p>"How easy it would be for me to pick that fellow off, if I were a rebel +right now," the boy told himself with something like a chuckle, as he +slowly advanced his rifle under cover of the sheltering rock and drew a +bead on the skulking figure in the Federal service uniform. But of +course this was only a little act of boyish bravado, for Rob did not +have the least temptation to fire and injure one of these men. He +believed that Americans could as yet have no particular interest in this +civil warfare that was going on south of the Rio Grande; and that the +Mexicans would be all the better for settling their differences among +themselves.</p> + +<p>Of course, if it went too far, doubtless Uncle Sam, in his character of +policeman for the Western Hemisphere, might have to intervene and try to +restore peace to the harassed country of the dons.</p> + +<p>Seeing which way the Federals were retreating, Rob changed his own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +course again. Of course he wanted to avoid any collision with the three +who had been lying in ambush, and at the same time keep clear, as well +as he could, of the advancing rebels until such time as he could let +them know that he was a friend, and not an enemy. These fellows were +only too ready with their guns to open fire on the slightest +provocation, and Rob did not yearn to be made an object lesson.</p> + +<p>"As like as not," he was saying to himself as he shifted his position +again and again skillfully, "they'd bang away if they saw so much as the +crown of my campaign hat, and then apologize in their Mexican way after +they'd riddled me with bullets. But an ounce of prevention is a heap +better than a pound of cure, and I guess I'll keep out of the way till +the right time comes along to speak up."</p> + +<p>And having thus made up his mind as to what his course of action would +be, Rob began to hold back. He fancied that before long the advance +rebels must be coming up, when he could get in touch with them, so as to +let them know that the enemy had slunk away after the manner of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +beaten cur.</p> + +<p>Five, ten minutes passed. There had not been a shot exchanged for all +that time, and Rob was really beginning to grow impatient, when he +fancied he caught the mutter of voices. Taking another careful peep, he +discovered several men, whom he recognized as rebels, for they were +armed, alert, and wore no uniforms whatever.</p> + +<p>So the scout waved his signal flag above the rock, and at the same time +called out in a loud voice a word that he knew stood for "friend."</p> + +<p>"<i>Amigo! amigo!</i>"</p> + +<p>Quickly he saw that they understood, because they were making motions +for him to come forth. And, feeling that there was no longer anything to +fear, Rob proceeded to emerge from his place of concealment.</p> + +<p>Of course he could not converse in the Mexican lingo, which is supposed +to be a corruption of Spanish, but then, knowing a few words and being +able to gesticulate fairly well, Rob managed to give them the +information that the Regulars had taken themselves off, so that it was +really useless to remain up there on the hill, when the presence of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +every man would soon be needed down by the train.</p> + +<p>Accordingly the party started downgrade and soon came to the level. +Their appearance in the open was greeted by vociferous "<i>Bravos</i>" by all +the assembled Mexicans; and from the racket one might fancy that those +gallant fighters had utterly annihilated a whole army of the enemy. +Spanish-American dispositions are ever excitable, and whatever they do +is generally accomplished with much noise and confusion.</p> + +<p>It thrilled Rob to the heart, though, to hear the shouts of his three +chums above all the rest of the noise; and he knew that they were +feeling better satisfied than all the rest to see him come out of the +lively little engagement unscathed.</p> + +<p>He believed that he had some news for them later on that would bolster +up their faltering spirits; but first of all preparations must be +started toward meeting successfully this coup on the part of the +Regulars.</p> + +<p>Tubby could not wait for Rob to reach them, but in his customary +warm-hearted manner he pushed away beyond the border of the throng and +met the returning scout.</p> + +<p>"Let me tell you we're mighty happy to see you back without a scratch,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +after all that cannonading along the side of the mountain!" Tubby +exclaimed, as he pounced on Rob's hand and wrung it "like a pump +handle."</p> + +<p>"And I'm a bit glad myself to get back in good shape, believe me," Rob +told him. "After I've had a chance to shake hands all around we ought to +get busy doing something to better our conditions here; because in half +an hour or so the Federals calculate to open on us from both sides, in +what is called an enfilading fire. Hurrah, boys! Well, Merritt, I guess +we're showing the natives what Boy Scouts can do, eh?"</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FIELD HOSPITAL IN OPERATION.</h3> + + +<p>"What happened to the ambushers, Rob?" Andy inquired.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p> + +<p>The scout master was beginning to look around in the throng of cheering +Mexicans for Lopez, who must again act as interpreter for him if he +expected the rebel captain to grasp certain ideas he had evolved while +slowly making his way down from the lofty lookout.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" replied Rob, with a laugh, "they slid out from under when things +began to get too warm for their blood."</p> + +<p>"What! d'ye mean they got clear away, and never left one feller on the +gory field of action?" grumbled Tubby.</p> + +<p>"Why, you're getting real blood-thirsty, Tubby!" said Rob. "I'm surely +astonished to hear you talk like that!"</p> + +<p>"But wouldn't it give you a real hard pain to see how the fellers that +came back with you are strutting around and grinning! Why, that little +runt with the gay jacket slaps himself on his chest every half minute,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +like he'd knocked over sixteen Regulars all by his lonely! What airs +they take on! And yet you say every Fed got clean away? Huh! we've heard +a heap of shootin' since we came on the spot; but only one man was hurt, +and Merritt fixed him up fine. I reckon he broke his arm trying to +hustle and get under shelter!"</p> + +<p>"Wait here for me, boys," Rob said; "if Lopez won't show up I'll have to +hunt for him, because it's important to do something right away, or +they'll be taken by surprise after all."</p> + +<p>"Sort of like I've heard my dad tell: 'If the mountain won't come to +Mohammed, why Mohammed must go to the mountain.' Well, come right back +again, Rob, when you get through talking with Lopez, because we want to +know some things."</p> + +<p>Rob soon found the guide in the crowd. Lopez was doing his share of +shouting and hand-shaking, and even the women and children were taking +part in the demonstration. It amused the boy about as much as anything +he had ever seen.</p> + +<p>"They're a queer lot," he told himself, suppressing a grin as he came up +to the guide; "you'd think they'd done something real wonderful, now,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +instead of chasing up that rise and scaring off three skulkers who +didn't want to fight at all. But then, I kind of think, these fellows +can do considerable scrapping when once they get down to it. And they +may have to yet, unless all signs fail before help comes."</p> + +<p>Lopez, seeing his employer beckoning, quickly joined him.</p> + +<p>"We ought not to be loafing the minutes away like this, Lopez," Rob +began. "From what I saw when I was up there, chances are we'll have a +shower of bullets dropping down on us from both sides before long. And +think what that will mean when the women and children and unarmed +travelers can't depend on the cars to hide them!"</p> + +<p>Even Lopez seemed to be suitably impressed by the gravity of the +conditions.</p> + +<p>"The young señor has a plan? Let him tell it, and I will surely inform +the brave captain of the valiant defenders of the train," he hastened to +say.</p> + +<p>Lopez had been studying Rob all the time that they had been in company, +and evidently by now he had come to the conclusion that the boy was +equal to any emergency. Plans seemed to be as easy for him to originate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +as for Lopez to roll a cigarette with his nimble fingers.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I happened to notice a spot close to the foot of the hill as I was +coming down that would afford shelter not only for the women and +children, but for our horses as well. Some of the rebels have animals, +too, and the Federals have been mean enough to shoot at them. Two lie +out there now, done to death. Let the captain know about this so that he +may order everybody who is not a fighter to get under cover in this +sunken spot among the rocks right away. Minutes may count with us, +Lopez."</p> + +<p>"Si, señor, right away will I do the same," replied the willing guide, +hurrying to the side of the captain. He must have explained the +situation to the commander of the rebels in few words, because presently +several men advanced toward Rob, Lopez and the leader among them.</p> + +<p>"He has sent word to everybody to follow," explained the guide, as they +came up, "and asks that you lead the way to the fort, señor."</p> + +<p>So Rob beckoned to the other three scouts, and upon their coming up, he +directed:</p> + +<p>"Bring the five horses, boys; we're going to hide the lot with the women +and kids in a rocky retreat close by, where they'll be safe from flying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +lead."</p> + +<p>"That's a hunky idea!" declared Andy. "I was just bothering my head +trying to think what we could do to protect our mounts; because, seeing +how the cowardly Federals aimed to cut down the horses when they +couldn't hit a man, made me reckon we might have to continue our journey +afoot. We'll be right along after you, Rob. I'll see to your nag, and +Merritt will take care of the guide's broncho."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, some of the rebels had made the crowd understand that they +must leave the train for a brief time, because it would soon be as much +as their lives were worth to remain out in the open. Once the enemy +started shooting from both sides, the chances of being struck were bound +to be tenfold as great as when they could hide behind the cars and use +them as a fortress.</p> + +<p>Some of the fugitives showed considerable concern about even temporarily +abandoning the train; they acted as though they had treasures of some +sort hidden in the luggage that was stored inside the cars. But the +rebels would not stand for any delay or quibbling; and as a consequence +the entire party, numbering almost a hundred, took up a line of march<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +after Rob and the advance guard, heading directly toward the nearby foot +of the rise.</p> + +<p>Trailing in and out among the large rocks that lay around near the base, +the young scout master led the way to the protected "sink" where the +fugitives from Chihuahua could find shelter while the coming battle +raged.</p> + +<p>A couple of minutes later the three boys came up with all the horses +belonging to Rob's party. Others among the rebels, understanding what +was going on and able to take a hint, made haste to fetch the rest of +the animals; for there was plenty of room in the sink to afford a +shelter for all.</p> + +<p>"Say, this wouldn't make a bad sort of fort, would it?" Tubby remarked, +as he glanced around at the rock walls that arose on nearly every side. +"Now, tell me, Rob, why shouldn't the whole outfit stay in here, instead +of sticking to the open and dodging bullets around that old train?"</p> + +<p>"Why, don't you see," replied the other, always willing to oblige a +comrade, "if the fighting men stayed here they could never tell where +the enemy was located; and the consequence would be that the Regulars +could drop down here and proceed to pour a hot fire right in among the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +bunch. No, that would never do, and the rebel captain knows it, too. +Back to the train for us, boys. There we'll be in a position to see +whatever fighting happens along."</p> + +<p>"And what is our share of the row going to be, Rob?" asked Andy +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Oh! don't bother about that—yet!" said Rob quietly. "If there happens +to be a lot of men struck, why we'll show them how scouts learn to +bandage wounds and render first aid to the injured. I'd do that for a +Federal just as quick as for a rebel, because we're supposed to be +neutrals in this Mexican mix-up, you understand. So we'll try and +imagine ourselves Red Cross workers for the time being."</p> + +<p>"Well, the fun's going to begin right away, I reckon!" Andy called out, +as there came the sharp crack of a gun from up on the side of the hill +which, before this, had been entirely free from the enemy.</p> + +<p>"Whee! Hear that bullet let out a yell as it jumped by over our heads, +did you?" gasped Tubby, trying to make himself as small as possible and +not meeting with very much success, for reasons that all of his chums<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +could easily understand.</p> + +<p>There was an immediate scurrying around of the rebels, each man trying +to find some place where he could be safe from the rain of lead that +would soon be falling.</p> + +<p>A number stuck to the cars, believing they could manage to lie low and +escape damage; while others, like the four boys, preferred to trust to +the outlying rocks that in places offered little harbors of refuge.</p> + +<p>In five minutes there was quite an exchange of shots going on, so that +things began to seem "pretty lively," as Andy called it.</p> + +<p>Acting on the advice of Rob, all of them had spread out what linen +bandages they carried in their packs, as well as other things calculated +to be of use in case of wounds.</p> + +<p>"If I had dreamed that we should have to play the part of field +hospital," Rob remarked, "I would have made sure to bring an extra +supply along. But in case we run short of bandages, why there's that big +night-shirt Tubby fetched, under the foolish impression he was going to +sleep like he does at home. And when that's gone we'll begin on his day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +shirt. Like enough it will fill the bill!"</p> + +<p>Tubby hardly knew whether to take this in the light of a joke or not.</p> + +<p>"Now, I don't mind giving up the useless sack in my pack, because +several times I've been tempted to throw it away before some of you +fellers began to josh me about it; but I do draw the line about handing +over my spotted flannel shirt that I'm wearing right now to be torn into +bandages, and wrapped about the arms of these dirty—er, I mean, brave +señors who are fighting so hard."</p> + +<p>"Here comes a fellow who's got his dose, I guess, Rob," said Merritt, as +one of the rebels staggered toward their little enclosure, holding his +left arm rigidly with the clenched fingers of his right hand and trying +to suppress a look of pain on his swarthy face.</p> + +<p>The Federals attempted to add to his troubles by shooting at him, so +that the dust arose in several little spurts around his feet as he came +on; but luckily he was not struck again, and soon sank down with a groan +at the feet of the "gringo" boys, who had let it be known that they were +ready to treat any and all wounds.</p> + +<p>Rob immediately took the man in hand. He had several pails of water<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +handy, and was thus enabled to wash the fellow's arm first of all. It +turned out that he had received a pretty serious hurt. It made Tubby +shudder, but the fat scout showed plenty of grit, for he volunteered to +assist Rob in any way possible.</p> + +<p>Between them the wound was so well taken care of that when the bandage +had been fastened the man declared in broken English that he was +grateful, and would now dodge back to where he had dropped his gun, +hoping to repay some venturesome Regular for his injury.</p> + +<p>"There, I reckoned they had plenty of pluck once they got started!" Rob +declared, on seeing the man run across the open space, jumping in a +zig-zag fashion when the lead began to patter around him.</p> + +<p>Another came crawling into the hospital, having also been touched; and +before he could be discharged a third bounded toward them, now stopping +to limp, as though he hardly knew where he was hurt.</p> + +<p>"This is going some, let me tell you!" said Merritt.</p> + +<p>"Good practice for us scouts, all the same," Tubby declared, puffing out +his big chest with a suspicion of pride, and then as quickly subsiding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +when he heard a bullet spatter on the rock not three feet away, so that +particles of stone even tingled his cheek.</p> + +<p>For some time the battle at the stalled train continued, until hundreds +of shots had been fired on either side and some seven or more rebels had +been ministered to by the young field surgeons. But so far as the boys +knew, there had thus far been no fatalities, at least on their side. +Though no one could say whether or not any of the Federals up there +among the rocks on the slope had been struck by the bullets the rebels +continued to send aloft so industriously.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>WHEN VILLA CAME.</h3> + + +<p>"Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time. How<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> +about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots +rang out.</p> + +<p>"They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who +had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he +had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his +comrades would notice it.</p> + +<p>"Hasn't the time come yet, Rob?" pleaded Andy.</p> + +<p>"For what?" asked the other, although he could easily guess what Andy +meant by the way he handled his rifle and looked anxiously up the slope +to where those little jets of smoke accompanied each shot on the part of +the advancing Federals.</p> + +<p>"To let us have a hand in the mix-up," Andy continued. "You as much as +said that if things got down to hard pan we'd just <i>have</i> to help the +rebels. They're our best friends, and you reckoned the others would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +treat us mean if they made us prisoners of war,—p'raps stand us up +against a rock and wind us up, like they're so fond of doing with lots +of prisoners down in this heathen country. Please say 'yes,' Rob. I'm +not a sharp-shooter, p'raps, but I just know I could chip off a shoulder +strap from the uniform of that officer trying to hide behind that stump +up there. Let me make him jump, won't you, Rob?"</p> + +<p>But the other shook his head in the negative.</p> + +<p>"Not yet, Andy, so lay your gun down again," he said, at which the other +grumbled not a little.</p> + +<p>"You said you'd let us if we got close to the last ditch, Rob," he +remarked complainingly; "and seems like we might be close on that line +now."</p> + +<p>"You may think so," said Rob, with a reassuring smile; "but that's the +time you shoot wild, Andy. Our prospects were never so bright as they +are right now."</p> + +<p>Even Merritt and Tubby showed that they were surprised to hear Rob speak +in so positive a way, when it was plainly to be seen that the men on the +hillside were becoming bolder, and apparently getting ready to rush the +defenses of the rebel force a little later, after they had covered more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +ground.</p> + +<p>"Show your hand, Rob," said Merritt; "you're holding something out of +sight, or you wouldn't talk like that. I know your ways; what's doing?"</p> + +<p>"Listen, and you'll hear the rebels cheering right now!" said Rob.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's so," Andy replied; "but then they're ready to yell if +anything happens. When that Federal lost his hold and fell about five +feet, scrambling around like a squirrel that had missed its jump from +one limb to another, they whooped it up till you'd thought the fight was +won! What are they cheering for now, Rob?"</p> + +<p>"Lopez has told the captain, as I made him promise to, when things began +to look kind of gloomy all along the line; and they're passing it on," +Rob observed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's all very fine, but passing what along?" demanded Andy.</p> + +<p>"Now that the cheering has let up for a few seconds, and the Federals +have stopped firing to puzzle out what the row means, suppose you boys +trim your ears, and see if you don't get some sort of sound that +surprises you!"</p> + +<p>"Great Cæsar! that rumbling must mean a train somewhere, Rob!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> +ejaculated Merritt excitedly; while Andy chimed in:</p> + +<p>"Does it, Rob? And did you glimpse it coming when you were away up +yonder on the peak of the rocks?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the scout master with a laugh, "through my glasses, away +off toward the south. And, boys, that train is just loaded down with +rebel soldiers coming up from Chihuahua to get after the raiding parties +of Federals that have been burning bridges and destroying railroad stock +on the Mexican Central here!"</p> + +<p>"And you didn't whisper a word of it to us, Rob, all this while?" cried +Tubby, with a reproachful look on his beaming face.</p> + +<p>"Why, you see, I didn't want any one to have false hopes," Rob told him. +"How could I tell whether that train would get here in a week? The track +might be all torn up on the other side of the burnt bridge. But I fixed +it with Lopez that he was to tell the captain when he saw me wave my red +bandanna handkerchief over this rock; and you saw me do that a few +minutes ago."</p> + +<p>"When you first caught the rumble of the train, and knew it must be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +drawing near on the south side of the river?" interjected Merritt.</p> + +<p>"That's what happened," Rob replied.</p> + +<p>"But see here," Tubby insisted, "how are they going to help us if that +same train can't cross on the steel girders of the burned bridge? You +don't reckon it can do that, do you, Rob?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, Tubby," replied the other, "but that isn't going to keep +the men from getting over. You'll find some of them crossing like cats +on the remains of the bridge. Others may wade the river, which doesn't +appear to be very deep from what I saw of it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I noticed that you walked up that way and took observations, while +the rest of us were watching the bridge burn," said Tubby. "And right +then chances were you figured it all out in your mind how a feller might +wade across if he had to! There never was such a chap to lay out plans +ahead of time. No wonder you're always ready to act when things happen +in a hurry!"</p> + +<p>Rob simply touched the badge that was fastened to his left sleeve at the +shoulder. Its position showed that he was filling the part of assistant +scout master; and the fact that it was complete, told that the wearer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> +must be a first class scout. Then he repeated the words emblazoned on +the badge:</p> + +<p>"Be prepared!"</p> + +<p>Merritt made a discovery about this time, which he announced in tones of +delight.</p> + +<p>"Looky there, boys! The enemy is in full flight, believe me! You can see +them skipping out everywhere. Guess they've glimpsed the train coming +along, and know that they'll soon be outnumbered five to one. And it's +going to take them some little time to reach the place where they've +left their mounts; so good-bye to you, Mr. Huerta's crowd!"</p> + +<p>In a short time it was considered safe to show one's head above the +rocks, and presently some of the rebels were running back toward the +remains of the bridge, shouting at the top of their lungs with joy.</p> + +<p>"There's the train!" cried Merritt, as he stood on the rock behind which +he and his three chums had established the Red Cross field hospital, and +done such effective work among the wounded.</p> + +<p>Tubby gave several loud cheers; in fact, every one was calling out now, +even the fugitives in the sink, some of whom appeared in view, hurrying +back to the cars, possibly to stand by their precious luggage and keep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +inquisitive hands from opening the packages.</p> + +<p>The long troop-train came to a stand close to the other side of the +river. Immediately a swarm of dark-faced men dropped from the heavily +laden cars, and there was a concerted rush in the direction of the +smoking bridge.</p> + +<p>Just as Rob had said, many of the more daring, finding that the steel +work had cooled to some degree, started to make their way across like +monkeys, just as though they had lingering hopes of being able to come +to hand-grips with the Regulars who had set fire to the railroad +property. Others began to ford the stream, the water hardly coming up +more than to their waists, as the dry season was on at the time.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad that it's all over and none of us got so much as a +scratch!" Tubby was saying, while with his comrades he watched the swarm +of men crossing the river.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I feel bad because I never got a chance to bang away even +once," Andy grumbled, as, with gun tucked under his arm, he leaned +dejectedly against the end car, and took in all the bustling sights.</p> + +<p>"It's just as well," Rob told him. "If you knew right now that you had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +made one of those men go limping off to suffer all sorts of pain, +because you felt that you just <i>had</i> to use your gun, when it wasn't +your fight at all, do you think you'd feel any better because of it, +Andy?"</p> + +<p>Andy never said another word; but evidently Rob had set him to +considering the conditions, and he saw things in a different light.</p> + +<p>"They've got some horses aboard that car away back," Merritt announced. +"See, they are getting them out! Look at that man giving orders, Rob. +Seems like everybody just hustles whenever he says a single word. I +reckon he must be somebody away up!"</p> + +<p>"Mebbe General Villa himself!" suggested Tubby exultantly.</p> + +<p>"I'm hoping it may turn out that way," Rob remarked, trying to appear +calm, although himself more or less excited. "But whoever it is, he must +have given orders for a pursuit, because you notice that as fast as the +men get on this side they join some of our friends here, and go hurrying +off. It must be that they hope to waylay the Federals before they can +reach their horses and gallop away."</p> + +<p>A short time later they began to hear regular volleys from the quarter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +whence these squads of eager-eyed men had gone, which would plainly +indicate that they had been successful in intercepting the enemy, so +that something like a fight was going on. Their shots must have bowled +over some of the cavalrymen's mounts, for several prisoners were brought +back to the train, wearing the dirty white uniforms of the Mexican +soldiers and looking as though they expected a short shrift, with a +firing squad to follow.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the boys had been intensely interested in watching the figure +of the mounted man who seemed to be a born leader. He directed all that +was done, and appeared capable even of starting the rebuilding of the +bridge after some fashion, so as to allow the passage of troop trains.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Rob was telling himself, as he kept his eyes focused on the +figure of this man, using his glasses meanwhile to aid his vision, "I +really and truly believe that must be General Villa himself! I've heard +him described, and this man seems to fill the bill."</p> + +<p>Each of the other scouts must needs have a look through the wonderful +lenses; after which, Rob called to Lopez, who chanced to be passing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is that General Villa?" the scout asked.</p> + +<p>"None other, young señor," the guide replied.</p> + +<p>Whereupon Tubby threw his hat several times high into the air, and said +"Bully, bully, and again bully!" until he quite lost his breath, and had +to rest.</p> + +<p>"There, he's made up his mind to cross the river and see how the land +lies on this side," remarked Merritt a little later on.</p> + +<p>So the four tried and true comrades stood there waiting, feeling more +than a little curiosity as they watched the remarkable man, whose name +had been before the public so much of late, ride down to the ford, push +his horse into the water, let him take a drink, and finally urge him +across.</p> + +<p>As he came up the near bank Rob, accompanied by his three chums, +advanced to meet him, each boy giving the scout salute gravely and then +standing at attention. Lopez hovered near, ready to render assistance in +case there was any need of an interpreter, which could hardly be, as +Villa was known to talk English fluently.</p> + +<p>Tubby was fairly holding his breath with anxiety, for the fateful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> +moment was now at hand when he would learn whether the former bandit, +Villa, now chief in command of the rebel forces operating in Chihuahua, +would remember the debt of gratitude he owed Doctor Mark Matthews.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>A MAN OF HIS WORD.</h3> + + +<p>"Is this General Villa?" Rob asked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p> + +<p>The man on the horse gave the scouts a scrutinizing look, and then +frowned. Possibly he recognized the khaki uniforms that he had become +accustomed to seeing United States regulars wear; and thus discovering +them far down on the sacred soil of Mexico, he was angered more or less.</p> + +<p>When Rob saw that frown he began to fear that he and his chums might not +have as smooth sailing as they had anticipated, unless something were +done immediately to interest the general in their favor.</p> + +<p>Accordingly Rob's next move was to hold up his hand, on a finger of +which he had made sure to slip that queer-looking ring which Uncle Mark +had seemed to believe possessed all the magic powers attributed to like +rings in fairy stories.</p> + +<p>Sure enough, no sooner had the quick glance of the general fallen on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +the ring than he started and looked at it more closely. Then, as an +expression of intense interest flashed across his dark face, he beckoned +to the scouts to draw nearer.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get that ring, boy?" he demanded. "And who are you?"</p> + +<p>"We belong to the Boy Scout organization, General," replied Rob soberly; +"and have come several thousand miles just to meet you and show you this +ring. You once put it on the finger of the man who saved your life, +telling him that you would stand ready to do what you could for the one +who presented it to you. That man was Dr. Mark Matthews, and this boy, +here, is his nephew. Dr. Mark has recently got back from more than a +year in Africa, where he was taken down with the terrible jungle fever, +and is in a very bad way at the home of my friend, here. He has nothing +left of his once large fortune except the property in Chihuahua—his +cattle ranch, and the prize stock on it. And, General, he begs you to do +what you can to dispose of the cattle, and send him the money by us. I +have a letter in my coat that will explain all to you when you have more +time to read it. But we only wanted to let you know that we hadn't come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> +into Mexico to mix up in the war that is going on here. And your captain +will tell you that all we did was to take care of his wounded as fast as +they were hurt."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have already heard that Americans who were on the ground had +done that; but little did I expect to learn that they were boys," the +general went on to say, as he looked still more keenly at them. But Rob +noticed that the scowl had now disappeared entirely from his strong +features. That ring had doubtless aroused memories of the days when he +was a hunted man with a price on his head, and of Dr. Mark Matthews, who +had sheltered him while attending to his severe wounds.</p> + +<p>"Do you think there is any chance of Dr. Matthews getting paid for his +cattle, General?" asked Tubby, emboldened to chime in by the fact that +it was a family affair.</p> + +<p>Something like a look of pride and deep satisfaction appeared on the +rebel leader's face, as he answered this question.</p> + +<p>"Why not, when for months I have had armed guards watching the ranch, so +that none of the stock could be stolen? But it could not last, and even<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> +to-day I was considering making use of the herds for my army, and +settling with the owner when he came to put in a claim. Make yourselves +at home with my men, for depend on it, you have not come all this way to +have Pancho Villa redeem his sacred promise without reward. I am too +busy now to speak further; but later on be sure to hand me the letter +from my old and true friend, Dr. Matthews."</p> + +<p>He urged his horse on and left the four scouts staring hard at each +other with happy grins stealing over their faces.</p> + +<p>"Looks mighty good to me!" commented Andy.</p> + +<p>"Greatest thing that ever came down the pike!" exclaimed the delighted +Tubby. And if a face that looked as beaming as a full moon might be +taken as any indication of how the fat scout felt, he was certainly +happy.</p> + +<p>"It seems now as if we might go back with something to show for all our +work, that's a fact," Merritt added.</p> + +<p>"He did as much as say that he meant to take the cattle himself so as to +feed his army and that he'd see you got good pay for them, all right, +Tubby," Rob observed. "So it looks as though luck might be camping on +our trail."</p> + +<p>"And then, just think of all we've seen on this trip," added Andy. "A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> +real battle on Mexican soil, with eight or ten rebels needing the +assistance of the Boy Scout field hospital to keep them from bleeding to +death! Am I sorry I came? Well, don't you believe it! Though I did want +to take just a single crack at some of those crawlers up on the +mountain, only Rob wouldn't hear of it!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Tubby said, with a sigh that seemed to well up from the very +bottom of his heart, "I'll be pleased when this ride is over; +because—well, I've got good reasons for thinking I'll be happier at +home again. Fact is, I'm all hooped up astraddling that big plug you got +for me, Rob. Makes me think of the bow-legged floor walker who waddled +up to a lady entering the store, and said: 'Silks? Certainly, madam; +walk this way, please,' and then ambled off. They say she nearly +fainted, and complained to the management that she had been insulted. I +expect to 'walk that way' for some time yet, till I get my proper shape +back again."</p> + +<p>"Oh! you'll be able to take it easy after this, Tubby," Merritt assured +him.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Rob added, "chances are that we'll be able to ride with General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +Villa all the way back to Juarez, where he seems to be bound right now. +If they manage to get the engine of this train working again you might +ride aboard if you don't feel like keeping to the saddle with the rest +of us, Tubby."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you notice that when he said so pompously that he'd pay for the +cattle of his good friend Dr. Matthews, he slapped the side of his coat, +as though he might have a pocket chuck full of greenbacks?" Tubby asked +them.</p> + +<p>"That's right, he did," assented Andy; "but let me warn you, brother, if +it turns out to be rebel currency, don't you take it. And I'd likewise +fight shy of real Mexican paper money; because if the other side wins, +it won't be worth the paper it's printed on. Make him shell out in +American cash or English coin stuff, but no pesos, Tubby."</p> + +<p>"I'll be smart enough for that, and don't you forget it, Andy; thanking +you for the tip all the same," the fat scout replied, nodding his head +with the air of a shrewd business man who is about to make a big +bargain, and does not mean to be over-reached by sharp practice.</p> + +<p>The boys readily saw that Villa was what Andy called a "hustler," for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> +he soon had men busy examining the engine of the stalled train; and from +the way in which they went to work it became evident that they must be +mechanics accustomed to machinery.</p> + +<p>"What's the good word, Lopez?" Andy called out, as the Mexican guide was +hurrying past, possibly on an errand for the general, whom he appeared +proud to serve. "Is there any chance that the old heap of junk that +stands for an engine on this road these days will ever puff again and +pull a train?"</p> + +<p>"Si, señor, and before many hours have passed at that," came the +reassuring reply, accompanied with a smirk and a shrug of the shoulders. +"General Villa he has brought order out of chaos, and these wretched +people who are heading for Juarez may soon be on their way. Most of them +have already paid a heavy tribute to the rebel commanders for the +privilege of leaving Chihuahua, and they have just been shouting bravos +because the General assured them all would soon be well."</p> + +<p>"He's a smart, wide-awake man, all right," asserted Tubby, who of course +felt drawn toward the rebel chieftain. Had not General Villa called<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +them "<i>amigos</i>," and was he not already pledged to purchase the herds of +Uncle Mark's abandoned cattle ranch in Chihuahua State at the fairest +possible price?</p> + +<p>"Now I understand why some of these people hated to leave the cars, even +when told that it was dangerous to stay," said Rob. "They are fleeing +across to Texas, and carrying a lot of valuables with them, meaning to +keep out of Mexico as long as the rival factions are fighting and +destroying property everywhere. When the Federals find any one whose +sympathies are with the other side they run off his stock, seize him, +and make him pay all the tribute possible in order to spare his life. On +the other hand, the rebels do just the same thing with all the wealthy +people of Chihuahua who are believed to be for Huerta and his +government. Why, they say that the Terrazas family own half the State, +mines, ranches and all! But Villa has seized the whole thing, and will +sell to any buyer. I heard it said an American syndicate had already +offered him six million dollars for the lot; which was taking big +chances of the success of this uprising."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps that is where he is getting the money he expects to pay Uncle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +Mark," suggested Tubby. "If it is in American bills, I'll believe so, +too."</p> + +<p>"Oh, they're taking in stacks and stacks of money, I heard one man say +up in El Paso," Merritt remarked. "Ever since the rebels have come into +possession of Chihuahua City they have squeezed the rich, taken +possession of all kinds of paying businesses, like banks, laundries and +groceries, started working the mines and getting the crude gold and +silver to make into bullion; and altogether milked the cow like good +fellows. They use this money to pay their soldiers, buy arms and get +them across on the sly, and ditto ammunition. If our Government ever +lets the rebels buy openly, there'll be big business along the Rio +Grande, because they're taking in plenty of hard cash."</p> + +<p>"But what d'ye reckon they'll do with that miserable lot of prisoners +coming this way now, in charge of guards?" Andy asked. All of them +glanced with a feeling akin to pity at the four men who, with drooping +heads, were marching past, half a dozen armed rebels accompanying them.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's so much bitterness shown between the Federals and the +rebels nowadays," Rob said, "that I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> +stood each one of those poor fellows up against a rock and gave him a +volley! It costs money to feed prisoners, and what's the use bothering? +That seems to be the motto of these men, who are not brought up to +civilized methods of fighting. Anyhow, I'd hate to stand in the shoes of +any one of that bunch, let me tell you."</p> + +<p>"They seem to know just what's going to happen to them pretty soon," +continued Andy. "You can see how they hang their heads and walk along as +if they didn't care a snap whether school kept or not. I guess you hit +the nail right on the head when you said what you did, Rob! Perhaps +they're on the way to execution now!"</p> + +<p>"Whew!" gasped Tubby, a look of pity crossing his good-natured face, "if +that's so I mean to stick my fingers in my ears so I won't hear the +volley. Why, it would be sure to haunt me all the years of my happy +natural life. Poor fellers! I'd like to put in a word for the lot with +Villa; but I'm afraid he wouldn't stand for our meddling with his +business; and it might queer my other game, too, which I'd hate to have +broken up."</p> + +<p>"Hello! what does this mean, boys?" suddenly exclaimed Andy.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span></p> + +<p>One of the four dejected-looking prisoners, at sound of the boys' +voices, had raised his head. They had a glimpse of a dirty face and +streaming hair. Even as they stared, this fellow broke out of the line, +sprang forward toward the four Boy Scouts, and throwing himself down on +his knees in front of them, clasped his hands convulsively together, as +he almost shrieked:</p> + +<p>"Save me, Rob Blake. Oh! don't let them shoot me! I'll promise anything +if only you get me off with your friend, General Villa! Oh! Rob, help +me, please!"</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>AGAIN UNDER THE FOLDS OF "OLD GLORY."</h3> + + +<p>The four boys were so utterly astonished when this Mexican soldier made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +his appeal in excellent English, calling Rob directly by name, that they +could hardly catch their breath for the moment.</p> + +<p>"Oh! don't you know me—Merritt, Andy, Tubby,—your old schoolmate, +Jared Applegate? For the sake of the good old days save me from being +shot by these human wolves! I've got an old father and mother up home in +Hampton, you know! Think what a shock it would be to them to hear what +had happened to their boy. Save me, Rob! You can do it, because I heard +General Villa promise you anything you asked!"</p> + +<p>The four scouts recognized him now, though never more taken aback in all +their lives. When last they saw this young fellow, who had indeed lived +near Hampton,—his father being a crabbed old farmer who hated the very +name of Boy Scouts,—Jared had been hand-in-glove with some foreign +plotters who meant to blow up the locks of the gigantic Panama Canal.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> +As narrated in the preceding volume, Rob and his intimate chums were +largely instrumental in preventing this terrible crime from being +carried out; and at that time young Jared had managed to escape, while +the chief conspirators were captured.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the scouts had forgotten that there had been such a fellow as +Jared Applegate in the wide world; and now to have him turn up +unexpectedly like this, with a frantic appeal for them to save his life +on account of those old schoolboy days, was certainly staggering.</p> + +<p>They turned and looked at each other, while the guard who had followed +after the prisoner-of-war waited to see what would happen, seeming to +realize that this fellow must know the American lads who were so high in +the good graces of the commander.</p> + +<p>"It is Jared, as sure as shooting!" ejaculated Tubby, staring as though +he had just seen a ghost.</p> + +<p>"They say bad pennies always turn up again," observed Andy; "and I +reckon Jared is about as tough a case as you could find."</p> + +<p>Rob and Merritt did not say anything along those lines. They could not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +add to the burden under which it was plain the wretched youth was +already staggering. And so Jared continued to wring his hands, kneeling +there and waiting to hear the scout master, whom he knew so well, say +whether he would lift his hand to help him, or simply turn aside and let +things take their course.</p> + +<p>"But how does it come that we find you here, and wearing the uniform of a +Mexican Regular?" Rob asked him.</p> + +<p>"The last we saw of you, remember, was on the Isthmus, where you played +a low-down trick on us," Tubby interjected.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and after I managed to get away from there I drifted to Mexico, +because I was ashamed to go back home. I expected that you'd tell +everybody what a fool I'd been, working with men who hated the United +States and wanted to injure the Canal. Then I took the oath of +allegiance to Mexico and entered the army because there wasn't anything +else I could do. And now the rebels have captured me, they mean to stand +me up against a wall and murder me! Oh! Rob, please get me off! You can +do it if you will. It's up to you whether I'm killed or not! You +wouldn't care to think of that always, would you?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I don't like you any too much, Jared, because of what you've done +in the past," Rob said slowly; "and when you try to put the whole thing +on my shoulders you're on the wrong tack, because I haven't had a single +thing to do with it. But I can't forget that you <i>are</i> a Hampton boy, +bad as you've always been. If I should manage to get General Villa to +let you go, what would you do?"</p> + +<p>"Get over the line the first thing," replied Jared promptly, showing +that this must have been on his mind for some time. "I meant to desert +any way, just as soon as I saw a chance to get clear. I've been treated +like a dog down here, and hate the whole country as well as the dagoes +in it. But, Rob, promise to help me, won't you? Here comes General Villa +now to see what it all means. Tell him I'm not going to lift a hand +against him again. I was forced into it this time."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll see what I can do, Jared," Rob told the shivering wretch; +"but don't feel too sure that it'll come out as you wish. General Villa +is very bitter toward all of the men serving under Huerta; and I chance +to know he hates to find a foreigner in the ranks of the Government<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> +troops."</p> + +<p>As the fighting general of the revolutionists came up, Rob started in to +tell him about Jared, and how he was from the same town away up on Long +Island that the other boys called home. He did not whisper a word about +what Jared had done in connection with that Canal conspiracy; for he +seemed to know that such a thing would be apt to set Villa's mind +against the young chap.</p> + +<p>"Since you say that he is from your town," the general observed, after +Rob had made his plea, "and was once a friend of yours, why, I will +agree to let him go free on condition that he crosses the river to Texas +without delay. Will you promise to see that this compact is carried out, +young señor?"</p> + +<p>There was nothing for Rob to do but agree, though he knew that this +would mean he must stand the company of Jared until such time as they +reached Juarez, and could cross to the other side of the Rio Grande. But +he could not find it in his generous heart to abandon the wretched +fellow, little as the other deserved mercy at his hands.</p> + +<p>General Villa, before hurrying away, said a few words to the guard, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> +went back to the other prisoners and left Jared with the scouts. He +began to pour out his thanks, having been in a state of abject terror; +but Rob quickly put a stop to this.</p> + +<p>"Words are cheap, Jared, you understand," he said, "and actions speak a +great deal louder all the time. If you're really thankful for what we've +done for you, show it by turning over a new leaf, and doing something +that you'd be proud to have the home folks in old Hampton hear about."</p> + +<p>"I mean to, Rob," whined the other boy; "this here has been a terrible +lesson to me; and after this you don't catch me in any more games like +I've been meddlin' with lately. Some day, mebbe, you'll hear about Jared +Applegate doing a big thing. I'm a changed boy, I tell you, Rob, sure I +am!"</p> + +<p>But Rob felt that he "would have to be shown" before he could believe in +any reformation on the part of Jared Applegate. And more than that, he +duly warned his three chums that under no circumstances should they let +fall a hint regarding the true nature of their mission to Mexico while +Jared was in their company. He hoped the other had not guessed anything +along those lines as yet; for Rob believed that if Jared knew they were +carrying back a large sum of money, such as General Villa meant to hand +over to Tubby in payment for his friend's cattle, it would be a great +temptation to the weak boy, who might even plot to steal it while they +slept.</p> + +<p>The engine belonging to the stalled train was finally fixed, so that it +could again draw the long line of cars. Being desirous of taking his men +to Juarez as quickly as possible, on account of some <i>coup</i> he expected +to make, Villa had most of them crowd aboard and on top of the train +that was ready to start, some being left to engage in the work of +rebuilding the burned bridge as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>Before he left the scouts, General Villa had another interview with +them.</p> + +<p>"Fortunately," he told the boys, "I know just about the number of head +of cattle there happens to be on Dr. Matthews' ranch right now, because +my men have been on guard there to protect it against all danger. And I +have figured it out that if I send him seventy-five thousand American +dollars it will cover the bill. This I now take pleasure in handing over +to you, as the nephew of my old friend, the man who saved Pancho<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +Villa's life. Sign this receipt, all of you, as the custodians of the +fund, so that I may have something to show. I shall sometimes think of +you, boys, for you are after my own heart. I shall immediately send men +to fetch my cattle to camp, so that my army may be fed. This money comes +from honest sources, tell Dr. Matthews. It is the advance payment made +by an American company for some of the property held by traitors to the +cause in Chihuahua, and which they can never own again while Villa or +his cause lives. That is all, for I must be gone."</p> + +<p>He shook hands with every one of the four boys, but drew the line at +Jared, for whom he evidently felt only contempt and distrust. Whether it +was an honor, or not, to press the hand of this rebel leader must always +be an open question in the minds of the scouts, because they had heard +many terrible stories about his cruelty, as well as others concerning +his rare ability as a leader of men. But at least, it would be something +to remember and to tell the other lads in Hampton when they reached home +again.</p> + +<p>Jared had not been close enough to overhear what was said at the time +the package of bills was turned over, and Tubby had been careful to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +secrete it at once; so they hoped that the wretched traitor to his +country knew nothing about it.</p> + +<p>When Tubby found a chance, he turned the packet over to Rob for safe +keeping.</p> + +<p>"I managed to count it, Rob, on the sly," he whispered; "and just as +Villa said, there's a full seventy-five thousand dollars there in big +bills. Just to think of us carrying a whole fortune around like that! +But after you've sewed it in the lining of your coat, where that letter +was, I guess there'll be no danger."</p> + +<p>"More from Jared than anybody else," warned Rob; "so make sure not to +drop a hint."</p> + +<p>"Mum's the word," agreed Tubby with a set look on his face. "And say, I +hope we take things easy going all the way to Juarez again. No need for +hurrying, is there?"</p> + +<p>"No, not anything that would worry us," Rob replied; "though I won't +rest easy until we've handed this money over to a bank, and got a draft +for it. And I'll see if I can fix you a more comfortable seat by using +your blanket in four thicknesses. I managed to get a horse for Jared, so +we'll be able to ride in company. We'll feed him and take him along to +Juarez; but under no circumstances must he be allowed to join in our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +talk."</p> + +<p>Lopez again took charge of the expedition, and they headed north, +satisfied with the result of their adventurous ride into Mexico. They +carried a paper from Villa that would serve to pass them, should they +come upon any detachment of roving rebels. If raiding Federals appeared, +they would have to gallop for it, or fight them off.</p> + +<p>But fortune was kind, and they finally arrived safely in the vicinity of +Juarez. Their paper allowed them to cross the international bridge, +which has been the scene of so many stirring events of late years; and +every Boy Scout was thrilled to the heart when he once more realized +that he stood on American soil and under the protecting folds of "Old +Glory." They gathered around Rob and gave three cheers and a tiger for +General Villa, toward whom, naturally enough, all of the boys were +feeling warmly, because he had shown himself their good friend.</p> + +<p>One of the first things Tubby did, after the money had been turned over +to a bank, was to send a long message over the wire, directed to Uncle +Mark, telling of their great good fortune, and asking that the home<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> +folks of the other boys be informed of the fact that they were all well, +and headed for home.</p> + +<p>Jared Applegate was permitted to go, with a sum of money in his pocket +and many protestations of gratitude on his lips, which the scouts "took +with a grain of allowance," as the old saying is. Then they shook hands +with faithful Lopez, whom they would always remember, and were ready to +start on the long journey toward home.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>ON TO WASHINGTON!</h3> + + +<p>"Now, fellers," said Tubby, drawing a long sigh as, business over, Rob<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +pulled out a railroad guide, "the time has come to spring a surprise on +you. I've nearly burst trying to keep it a secret."</p> + +<p>Tubby sighed again and took another "Mexican kiss" from the candy box in +his hand.</p> + +<p>"Have one, Andy? Help yourself, Merritt. Just hold this box a minute, +Rob," he continued indistinctly as his heavy jaws met on the sticky, +nutty mouthful.</p> + +<p>"No more for me, thank you," replied Andy with a little gesture of +refusal. "Just about one makes a satisfactory between-meal, in my +opinion."</p> + +<p>"None for me," rejoined Merritt, also. "I have barely succeeded in +washing off the sticky traces of my last 'kiss.'"</p> + +<p>"But what is the surprise, Tubby?" demanded Rob, keeping his finger in +the folded time table as he accommodatingly held the box.</p> + +<p>"Come over to this bench in the shade," directed Tubby importantly, "and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +I will unveil the mystery!"</p> + +<p>The boys winked amusedly at one another as they followed Tubby. They +expected nothing more serious than a joke, and Rob was a little +impatient at the interruption.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't tell you at first," Tubby went on, sinking upon the seat as +the boys reached it, "because Uncle Mark told me to say nothing until we +were ready to leave Mexico. And then I didn't dare share the news so +long as Jared was around. But now——"</p> + +<p>Tubby paused dramatically, and drew out of an inner pocket a sealed +envelope that bulged invitingly. This he turned over several times, +apparently in an absent manner, and then looked up to see how the boys +were taking it.</p> + +<p>"What in the world——" began Andy wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Out with it, Tubby!" cried Rob. "I'm in a hurry to look up the first +train that leaves here, going our way."</p> + +<p>"You needn't hurry," replied Tubby deliberately. "We shall not leave +until the evening train for the north."</p> + +<p>"Come, Tubby," urged Merritt, "what is up your sleeve?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, it is in my hand now," said Tubby teasingly. "Now listen, fellers! +When Uncle Mark bought our tickets, he secured them through a friend who +is in a big touring agency, you know. Instead of buying +straight-through, round-trip tickets, he got the return set with +stop-over privileges, and had a little private itinerary arranged for +us.</p> + +<p>"We leave El Paso to-night and have an hour or two in Albuquerque +to-morrow morning, before we take the train east. Beyond that, I know no +more than the rest of you,—but here goes!"</p> + +<p>With a quick motion, Tubby tore open the sealed envelope and took out +four long combination tickets, and a typewritten list of directions.</p> + +<p>"Here, Rob, you read them to us," he said, handing over the paper.</p> + +<p>"This gives us stop-overs at Albuquerque, St. Louis and Washington," +remarked Rob, glancing hastily at the items. "Each stop is for less than +a day, and we travel every night. Hurray for Uncle Mark!"</p> + +<p>"And a tiger!" added Andy enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"And many <i>bravos</i>," supplemented Merritt, his eyes shining at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +prospect. "I have always wanted to visit Washington, but, with all our +travels, we have managed to skip straight to our destinations without +stopping anywhere."</p> + +<p>"At this rate," commented Andy, "it will take us a good deal longer to +get home!"</p> + +<p>"Even so," agreed Tubby. "But who is in a hurry now? Give them time to +finish their repairs on the old Academy, Andy."</p> + +<p>That evening, as arranged, the four boys took the train from El Paso. As +they sat on the observation platform for an hour before turning in, Rob +remarked:</p> + +<p>"Do you realize that we have been in the largest state in the +Union,—Texas? I can't appreciate it, for we have seen such a little +portion of the northwest corner. They say that El Paso, high and dry, is +the most isolated of the larger cities, and that irrigation has done +much to increase its products and its population."</p> + +<p>"I was surprised to learn that it is an important station on at least +five big railway lines," added Merritt.</p> + +<p>"But we have used the city in its most particular capacity," interjected +Tubby proudly. "You know it is called 'the doorway to Mexico'!"</p> + +<p>"And I guess that we are not very sorry to be on this side of the door!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> +commented Andy with a nod of his head.</p> + +<p>All that night the train rumbled northward, never departing far from the +course of the Rio Grande, as if following it toward its source. And when +the boys awoke they were approaching Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they +were to breakfast and to spend some time before making their east-bound +connections.</p> + +<p>"Whoop-ee! Look at the gay buildings!" cried Tubby, thrusting his head +out of the car window as the train slowed down. "Is that what you'd call +modified adobe architecture?"</p> + +<p>"You may wish to modify that statement later," remarked Merritt dryly, +"so I will pull you in before you lose the top of your think-tank."</p> + +<p>"All ready, boys?" called Rob briskly. "All out for breakfast!"</p> + +<p>"Right here," replied Tubby promptly. "Hope we'll have a good one."</p> + +<p>"We shall. The chain of restaurants along this line has a great +reputation," Rob rejoined, smiling at Tubby's eagerness. "Got +everything, Andy?"</p> + +<p>The four boys and a few fellow passengers, likewise eastward bound,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +alighted from the train as soon as it had stopped and took a bee-line +for the dining-room, scarcely noticing their unique surroundings. But +after even Tubby had pronounced his breakfast amply satisfying, the boys +stepped outside with eyes and ears open for new impressions.</p> + +<p>As they strolled along the broad, low piazza of the long Alvarado, Tubby +peered through the arched sides toward the railroad.</p> + +<p>"See the procession of Indians!" he ejaculated. "They are wearing all +the clothes they own and carrying the rest of their worldly possessions +on their heads!"</p> + +<p>Andy laughed outright at this observation. "Did you ever see such clumsy +legs?" he chuckled. "They are padded like a football player's."</p> + +<p>"Worse!" commented Merritt, joining the discussion. "And those are +women, too."</p> + +<p>At that moment the line of approaching Indians broke into several +groups.</p> + +<p>Each woman squatted down on the edge of the sidewalk leading to the main +entrance of the Indian Building, and spread about her the baskets and +pottery which she had been carrying on her head.</p> + +<p>The few Indian men who had sauntered on before the procession lounged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> +nonchalantly against the arches near the doorway, gazing at their women +in superior disdain.</p> + +<p>As the boys approached, the men merely looked at them from under the +black locks that straggled almost into their eyes; but the women rose +clumsily to their feet, pulled their big plaid shawls more closely about +their heads, and hastened to offer their wares.</p> + +<p>"By the way, fellers," said Tubby quietly, turning to the other boys, +"Uncle Mark said to tell you to pick up some souvenirs and he would foot +the bill. In fact, he gave me another sealed envelope marked +'Incidentals,' and I found four ten-dollar bills in it when I opened it +last night. So go ahead, and select some things for the home folks."</p> + +<p>"Tubby, your uncle is certainly all right!" exclaimed Andy.</p> + +<p>"Well, he is some grateful, you know," returned Tubby.</p> + +<p>"We won't refuse such a chance," remarked Rob appreciatively, "and I see +a basket right now that would look fine on my mother's sewing table."</p> + +<p>"Let's go inside and look around first," suggested Merritt. "It looks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +like a museum in there."</p> + +<p>For the next hour the boys were absorbed in the interesting things +displayed in the various sections of the Indian Building.</p> + +<p>"Jiminy," cried Andy, as he caught sight of a bark canoe suspended from +the ceiling, "there is the genuine article, all right!"</p> + +<p>"Doesn't that rug make you think of a cozy den at home, Rob?" added +Merritt a moment later.</p> + +<p>"It is the very thing that a fellow likes,—red and black with a white +design," rejoined Rob. "And there's a little one with the swastika on +it; just right to throw over the foot of the couch."</p> + +<p>"What is the 'swastika'?" inquired Andy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is a good-luck sign. If you look, you will find it in a great +many rugs and blankets, and it is often woven into the baskets, too."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if this zig-zag pattern means anything?" asked Tubby, pointing +a chubby finger at a large rug that lay on the floor.</p> + +<p>"I've heard that that stands for lightning," Rob answered. "You know all +savage people have a great respect for the mysteries of nature."</p> + +<p>"What do I hear?" exclaimed Andy, halting suddenly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is a baby whimpering!" cried Tubby. "Of all things! There must be a +papoose somewhere around!"</p> + +<p>"Over here, boys," called Merritt, motioning toward the farther corner +of the room. The boys hastened to follow him and found a little alcove, +shut off by draped blankets and enclosed by a slender wooden gateway. +Through the wide slats of this, they discovered an Indian woman kneeling +on a fur rug and busily weaving a brilliant blanket on an upright loom. +Just beyond the mother, a little dark-skinned girl was peeping shyly at +them, one finger lost between her lips. And in the background, propped +against a roll of blankets, was the wailing papoose, securely wrapped +and bound upon a board-cradle in typical and traditional Indian fashion.</p> + +<p>As the boys looked in at this picturesque exhibition of family life, a +tall, lank Indian man sauntered up and muttered a few authoritative +words to the woman at the loom. She stopped her work and went over to +the child, trying to hush its cries by shaking a string of bright beads +before it.</p> + +<p>"Huh!" grunted Tubby, looking after the departing man. "He only wanted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> +us to see that he was 'big chief' here! Huh!"</p> + +<p>When the east-bound train stopped at Albuquerque an hour later, each one +of the boys had purchased a few small souvenirs. Rob had the tiny square +rug of Navajo weaving that had caught his eye, a round, almost flat +workbasket, and a little pair of bead-embroidered moccasins.</p> + +<p>Merritt and Andy had selected a few inexpensive, gaudily decorated +gourds and strings of beads for their boy friends. At the last moment, +Tubby decided to burden himself with what he considered an artistic bit +of pottery. Rob warned him that vases and jugs and urns were breakable, +but Tubby persisted in bargaining for the piece that he had chosen.</p> + +<p>"Two dolla'," the woman who held it said as he hesitated beside her.</p> + +<p>"No, no. <i>One</i> dolla'," Tubby offered.</p> + +<p>"One dolla'," the woman agreed; and then as Tubby extended his hand for +the vase and gave her the money, the woman drew back and said +frowningly, "No, no! <i>Two</i> dolla'!"</p> + +<p>At this Tubby seized his purchase and rather inelegantly rejoined, "Not +on your life!" as he made off for the car.</p> + +<p>At St. Louis the boys were glad to break the long railway journey and to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +visit the places noted in the itinerary that Dr. Matthews had provided. +This included an automobile ride about the city, which gave them an +excellent idea of its arrangement, its fine system of parks and its +public buildings. At the end of the ride they felt quite ready to follow +the next suggestion, which directed them to a popular restaurant. And +after luncheon they still had time to walk across the great bridge that +spans the Mississippi and to return by ferry, before their train was due +to depart for Washington.</p> + +<p>They reached the National City early in the morning, and here, too, they +were advised by their typewritten directions to save time by taking a +sight-seeing automobile and sitting near the "personal conductor" of the +car in order to view quickly the important sections of Washington.</p> + +<p>Having engaged their seats, the four boys sat in the big machine and +studied diligently the map of the city and the guide books that they had +bought at the station, until the usual hour for the daily morning trip +arrived. Then, eagerly interested, they gave their whole attention to +the vistas that opened momentarily before them and to the descriptions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> +that interpreted the sights. They made many mental notes of places that +they would like to see again: the Capitol, the Congressional Library, +the Smithsonian Institute, the Washington Monument, the White House and +a dozen other interesting buildings. But when the ride was over, they +decided to accept the advice on the touring agent's list and spend most +of their remaining time in the Capitol and Congressional Library.</p> + +<p>"We'll engage a guide here," said Rob as they ran up the broad flight of +steps leading to the western entrance of the Capitol. "I know that it is +the customary thing to do, and it will save a lot of time, too."</p> + +<p>Scarcely had they entered the Rotunda before a blue-uniformed attendant +approached them and offered his services, and no time was lost in making +a start.</p> + +<p>The historical paintings gave the guide the text for his opening speech, +and from then to the end of the trip the boys followed him closely and +listened to his explanations with keen interest.</p> + +<p>Coming so recently from scenes of civil strife, the scouts had a new +respect for the torn and soiled battle flags that they saw, and for the +significant typo for magnificent paintings that illustrated scenes of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +martial victory.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet Cornwallis hated to give up," ejaculated Tubby thoughtfully, +as he gazed at the picture of the surrender at Yorktown.</p> + +<p>"We don't often think of his feelings when we remember our victory," +responded Rob, "but it is just as well to know that there are two points +of view for every crisis."</p> + +<p>"This way, please," called the guide, and the boys hurried after him +into the Statuary Hall.</p> + +<p>While Tubby stood lost in contemplation before a statue of Daniel +Webster, the guide led Andy quietly out of sight behind another marble +figure.</p> + +<p>"Now whisper a message to your friend," directed the guide softly.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Tubby, how would you like to be the man on the pedestal?" +whispered Andy, seeing that there was some joke in store for his fat +chum.</p> + +<p>Tubby whirled around quickly at the question, and looked vastly +surprised not to find Andy at his elbow.</p> + +<p>"Where are you?" he asked, bewildered.</p> + +<p>Andy chuckled softly and, at a nod from the smiling guide, whispered,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> +"This side of the Rio Grande!"</p> + +<p>"Where <i>is</i> Andy, fellers?" questioned Tubby, looking at Rob and +Merritt. "Honest, his voice sounded right in my ear!"</p> + +<p>At that Andy stepped into view, and the guide explained that the hall +had the properties of a "whispering gallery," and that half his fun in +life came through playing this simple trick on unsuspecting visitors.</p> + +<p>"It is a good trick, all right," admitted Tubby, grinning, "and I won't +hold it against you, Mr. Guide!"</p> + +<p>From this room,—in Daniel Webster's day the Hall of +Representatives,—the boys were led to the doors of the present +legislative chambers and permitted brief views of the imposing desks, +arranged in semi-circular rows, at which the men sent from all over the +nation sit in long sessions of serious deliberation. On the day of the +scouts' visit, Congress was not in session and there was nothing to +prevent the boys from peopling the empty seats with men of their own +imagination.</p> + +<p>"Some day maybe you and Merritt will sit there," said Tubby to Rob.</p> + +<p>"Why not you, Tubby?" asked Merritt quickly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, me?" questioned the fat boy in alarm. "This is no place for me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +Give me a good steady job that I can keep at till it's <i>finished</i>. +Perhaps <i>I'll</i> join the Secret Service!" And Tubby patted the pocket +where the odd shaving lay.</p> + +<p>After lingering briefly in admiration before the paintings that adorned +these rooms and the statues that punctuated the long corridors, the +guide conducted the boys to the foot of the stairs that led to the lofty +dome above the Rotunda.</p> + +<p>"Better not hurry," he cautioned them, glancing at Tubby's bulk. "There +are three hundred and nineteen steps between us and the top gallery."</p> + +<p>"I'm game," said Tubby quickly. "Come on, fellers. It can't be so bad as +horseback riding in Mexico!"</p> + +<p>When about two-thirds of the way up, the guide halted the boys to +demonstrate a second "whispering gallery," and there he placed Rob and +Merritt sixty-five feet apart to enjoy a private conversation! Tubby +refused to be convinced without a trial himself, so he and Andy tested +the acoustic properties of the gallery until they were satisfied that +the guide's claims were well founded.</p> + +<p>When they reached the highest point available within the dome, Rob made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +a discovery.</p> + +<p>"Boys, will you look at that mess of color over your heads? From 'way +down below I thought that was a very beautiful painting!"</p> + +<p>"And so it is," put in the guide.</p> + +<p>"One of the kind where 'distance lends enchantment,'" commented Merritt, +gazing at the thick patches of paint on the ceiling above them.</p> + +<p>"That is quite right," said the guide. "This painting was put here to be +seen from the floor of the Rotunda, and that is one hundred and eighty +feet below."</p> + +<p>"Jiminy," ejaculated Tubby, "our heads must look like mere specks to the +people who are looking up here now!"</p> + +<p>"And the people down there look like flies and ants scuttering around," +added Andy with his usual chuckle, as he peered over the lofty railing.</p> + +<p>On the way down, the attendant showed the boys a fine view from the +dome, and pointed out many of the prominent buildings and towers that +they had already passed in their morning's ride.</p> + +<p>As they paid the excellent guide in thanks as well as coin and went out +of the great eastern portico, Tubby patted the front of his coat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> +suggestively.</p> + +<p>"Fellers, my feelings tell me that it is long past noon," he said.</p> + +<p>Rob pulled out his watch.</p> + +<p>"For once your feelings are to be trusted, Tubby. It is one o'clock. +We'll get a hasty lunch nearby and try to visit both the Library and the +Monument this afternoon."</p> + +<p>An hour passed, however, before the boys were again free to go +sight-seeing. In Washington, distances are deceptive and time flies.</p> + +<p>"Well, which shall it be, boys?" asked Rob. "It is two o'clock, and we +have two hours before we must start for the station."</p> + +<p>"Let's make it the Monument," suggested Merritt.</p> + +<p>"Agreed," said the others.</p> + +<p>"And we'll ask this policeman the quickest way to get there," added Rob, +jumping after a passing uniform.</p> + +<p>The man pointed out a coming street car, gave them a few definite +directions, and the boys were off once more.</p> + +<p>At the Monument luck favored them again, for they were just in time to +catch an ascending elevator. In spite of all that they had seen, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> +were greatly surprised at the extent and the beauty of the view from the +top of the tall shaft. It was fortunately a clear day and they could +trace easily the glint of the broad Potomac for many miles.</p> + +<p>"Time to be moving if we walk down," said Rob, after they had tried to +locate everything visible in the panorama spread out before them.</p> + +<p>"We must walk down," urged Merritt. "There is so much to see in the rare +stones and relics set all the way down in the inside of the tower +walls,—so I've been told."</p> + +<p>"If we read all the inscriptions it will take too much time," warned +Rob, "but we can spend half an hour more here."</p> + +<p>At the end of that time the boys emerged from the lofty shaft with a +feeling that they had been on a long journey. From all over the world +had come the mementos that they had just seen,—from foreign +battlegrounds, from fields of exploration, and from places of historic +sentiment.</p> + +<p>"That was as good as a lesson in 'Ancient and Modern History,'" claimed +Tubby, reluctant to go.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but now let's beat it to the station," Andy urged, "or we'll miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +our train."</p> + +<p>"Should you care if we missed it, boys?" asked Rob, stopping +deliberately and facing them.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" inquired Merritt.</p> + +<p>"Just this: We have purposely refrained from giving our folks the exact +date of our coming home, and this itinerary does not bind us to any +definite train. Why not get a glimpse of the Smithsonian Institute, +visit the Congressional Library this evening and take the midnight +sleeper for New York? Then we can walk in at home soon after breakfast +is over to-morrow morning and surprise everybody. What do you say?"</p> + +<p>"We say 'Yes'!" chimed in the three other voices.</p> + +<p>"It is a great idea," Merritt added. "They say that the Library is +really wonderful at night."</p> + +<p>And this was the program decided upon and carried out effectively. Tubby +and Andy were perhaps more enthusiastic over the collections in the +Institute than over the color decorations in the Library; but Rob and +Merritt observed no lack of interest, their own pleasure in everything +being so complete.</p> + +<p>It was a tired quartette of scouts who tumbled into their berths that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> +night half an hour before the "owl train" pulled out of Washington, but +not one of them thought of complaining of their weariness. They were +more than satisfied at the delightful ending of their hasty flight to +Mexico.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>TUBBY SOLVES THE MYSTERY.</h3> + + +<p>"Well, I've got some great news for you, fellers!" Tubby exclaimed as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> +came panting into Rob's den, where Andy and Merritt were comfortably +coiled in easy chairs, about a week after they had returned home from +their eventful trip down across the Rio Grande.</p> + +<p>"Another accident happened to the poor old Academy, just when they've +got the unlucky building fit for school! And perhaps a lovely journey +for us, away across the continent this time to Sunny California!" +suggested Andy, sitting up suddenly with a look of eagerness on his +boyish face.</p> + +<p>Tubby shook his head in the negative.</p> + +<p>"You're no good at guessing, Andy; perhaps now, Rob, here, or our +corporal, might hew closer to the line."</p> + +<p>Rob had been looking at the excited, triumphant face of the fat chum. He +remembered what a great fellow Tubby was to hang on to anything, just<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> +like a bulldog might, and there flashed into his mind how he had once +caught Tubby looking at a certain little object which he had carried +carefully with him all the way to Mexico and back.</p> + +<p>"You've struck something new about that boat business, that's what, +Tubby!" he cried, pointing his finger at the other.</p> + +<p>"Oh! say, that is hardly fair," grumbled Tubby. "I expected to have you +all up in the air guessing; and here Rob goes and hits the facts the +very first pop."</p> + +<p>"Then you've made a discovery, is that it, Tubby?" asked Merritt.</p> + +<p>"I should say I had, and in the most remarkable way ever heard of," the +stout scout declared. "Talk about your luck—but then, if I hadn't been +prepared and kept my eyes open, it wouldn't have happened, that's what. +Yes, sir, it pays to have eyes in your head, and some gray matter in +your brain, if I do say it myself that oughtn't. Remember that, Andy +Bowles, and don't think you're doing your whole duty as a scout when you +just blow that bugle of yours now and then."</p> + +<p>"Oh! come, tell us what's happened, Tubby, and never mind about me," +suggested Andy with a broad grin. For it was like putting the cart<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> +before the horse to have clumsy, good-natured, but careless Tubby tell +another boy how to prove himself worthy of bearing the name of scout.</p> + +<p>"All right, I won't keep you wondering too long," Tubby continued, being +in reality just wild to relate his story. "You all remember how, when I +picked up that little curled shaving floating on the water that was in +Rob's sailboat, and noticed how it had a queer raised ridge running all +along, I said that the bit that had been used to bore that round hole +must have a good-sized nick in each of the two cutting edges? Well, I +was right; it has!"</p> + +<p>"Then you prowled around, and poked into everybody's tool-chest till you +found such a bit, did you?" demanded Andy.</p> + +<p>"I meant to," admitted Tubby, "but so many things have kept coming up +since our getting back from Mexico that it just seemed as though I +couldn't make a start. But only this very morning I told myself I'd get +busy, and see if I couldn't wipe that old mystery off the slate. Then +that wonderful streak of good luck ran slap up against me, and I took +advantage of my opportunity. Every true scout has to grab a golden +chance when it comes along, Andy; you know that?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! go on, and quit your preaching," grunted the other scout.</p> + +<p>"Well, I was walking along the main street of Hampton just half an hour +ago, and all at once I happened to spy just such an object as I had in +my mind right then. It was a carpenter's brace, and was carried under +the arm of a man I immediately recognized as Jacob Ramsay."</p> + +<p>"H'm! the father of that bad boy, Max Ramsay," exclaimed Merritt, with a +wise nod of the head, as though he already knew what was coming.</p> + +<p>"Of course," continued Tubby, "that interested me a heap, and I wondered +why he was carrying a brace with him. Then he went into the hardware +store. That made me think quick, and so I hurried after him. Just as I +got inside, I heard him saying something to the dealer about his largest +bit having been badly nicked some months ago when he was cutting into a +heavy plank that had a lot of rusty nails in it, and that he wanted a +duplicate; also, that he'd fetched the bit along so as to make sure the +new one fitted."</p> + +<p>"Fine, Tubby!" exclaimed Rob laughingly. "You'd surely make a pretty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> +good detective. Wouldn't he, fellows?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I know that he's got a splendid detector for any kind of grub +that is lying around," Andy declared; "but I never before thought he +could follow up a clew that didn't have the odor of cooking about it."</p> + +<p>"And here's the broken bit!" Tubby said triumphantly, as he drew +something out of his pocket and held it up. "Mr. Ramsay got his new one, +and never bothered taking the old bit off the counter, because it could +never be fixed again. And I asked the hardware man if he cared to let me +have it, which he said was all right. And now, Rob, here's that shaving +I've been lugging around with me ever so long; just make a try, and see +if that raised ridge fits the nicks in the cutting edges, will you?"</p> + +<p>"Surely I will, Tubby," replied the scout master, reaching out his hand +for the two articles, and all the others bent their heads closer to +watch the result.</p> + +<p>After Rob had made repeated trials it was manifest to everyone that they +were positively looking on the identical bit used in boring that hole +through the bottom of Rob's boat. The circumstantial evidence was as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> +complete as any that ever sent a criminal to the gallows or the electric +chair.</p> + +<p>"Well, what d'ye say, Rob?" demanded the fat scout eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Shake hands on it, Tubby," remarked Rob. "You've proved your case as +clean as a whistle, hasn't he, boys?"</p> + +<p>"No question about it," replied Merritt, also grasping the pudgy fist of +Tubby and giving it a squeeze that made the tears come to the boy's +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Looks as though you'd hit on the right borer of holes," admitted Andy, +"but now, what are you going to do about it, Tubby? The boat wasn't +lost, so you couldn't have Max arrested, charged with malicious +destruction of property. And I don't think you're contemplating giving +him a licking for being so mean, because that isn't in your line very +much—even if you weren't a scout and dassent!"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what I thought," said Tubby. "Rob, your boat had the +mischief done to it, not mine; I've only been the means of finding out +who played that low-down trick on you that might have cost us dear. +Suppose now you take this bit and curl of shaving, and confront Max.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> +Let him know you'll tell his father all about it unless he says he's +sorry and promises never to try such a contemptible thing again. I +reckon that is what a scout's duty would be in a case like this."</p> + +<p>"And you're right about that, Tubby," said Rob, secretly pleased to see +how seriously the other took the affair. "I'll accept the mission, with +many thanks to you for finding out what you did. It was a clever job all +around. Lots of fellows would have forgotten all about that shaving +weeks ago, but you've been keeping it on your mind right along. I even +saw you looking at it away down in Mexico, and I had a pretty good hunch +you'd run that rascal down sooner or later."</p> + +<p>Rob was as good as his word, and did astonish Max Ramsay one fine day by +confronting him with the evidence of his rascality, to the utter +consternation of the boy. Finding himself cornered, Max confessed that +he had done the deed, but he stoutly declared that he had not dreamed +that anything like danger would result. He knew that, if the water +suddenly poured into the boat when the plug was dislodged, no harm would +follow, because Rob could swim like a fish.</p> + +<p>He professed to be sorry, but Rob fancied that this was assumed more in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> +order to keep the other from informing his father, who was already angry +because of his many pranks about town, than from any compunction that he +felt.</p> + +<p>All the same there was considerable satisfaction to Tubby, Rob and the +other two scouts, because the mystery had been cleared up. It was +noticeable in the future, however, that none of those fellows would ever +go out sailing without first carefully inspecting the bottom of the +boat, to make sure that it had not been tampered with.</p> + +<p>Tubby still keeps that nicked bit, as well as the shaving and the plug +that filled the hole in the bottom of the sailboat, to remind him of +what happened that dull November afternoon when, with his three chums, +he was wrecked three miles up the bay from Hampton town.</p> + +<p>The roof of the Academy having been properly repaired and the interior +put in shape again, school was resumed, and in the pursuit of their +studies Rob and his friends did not find many opportunities to get +outdoors while the winter lasted, save on Saturdays and holidays, when +the sports of the season claimed their undivided attention.</p> + +<p>But the weekly meetings of Hampton Troop, led by the Eagle Patrol,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> +continued to be held in their old quarters; and frequently on other +nights Tubby, Rob, Andy and Merritt would get together in one of their +homes and talk of the great adventure that had come to them when +favoring circumstances allowed them to go all the way to Mexico. They +read of the rebel chieftain, whose name figured daily in the papers, +with far deeper interest than ever before, since they now had a personal +knowledge of the man whose warlike doings kept several nations on the +anxious seat.</p> + +<p>"That was a great experience, fellers," Tubby often sighed, after they +had gone over the familiar scenes again and again, always finding +something new to discuss; "and I'm afraid we'll never meet with such a +heap of good times again. It doesn't stand to reason that we'd ever be +that lucky, does it, now?"</p> + +<p>And, while the other three reluctantly conceded that Tubby might be +right, events proved just the contrary. The scouts of the Eagle Patrol +were fated to come across other still more unexpected adventures, such +as were calculated to call heavily upon their knowledge of scoutcraft, +in order that puzzles might be solved and dangers avoided. What these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> +experiences were the future only has the power to disclose.</p> + +<p>The boys often wondered what had become of Jared Applegate, whether he +really did make an effort to reform, or whether he fell back into his +old mean ways that seemed bound to get him into serious trouble +continually. So far as they knew, his father and mother had heard +nothing from him, though Rob thought it his duty to let the old people +know that they had seen Jared while down in Mexico, and that he was in +Texas when they came away, bent on seeking work on some cattle ranch.</p> + +<p>They did have a letter from Lopez, telling them that he had heard the +"call" and was about to enlist in the army under the wonderful Villa, +meaning to march with the general to take the City of Mexico later on.</p> + +<p>Uncle Mark grew steadily better after he knew that a part of his once +large fortune had been saved to him through the gratitude of the man +whose life he had once been enabled to keep from slipping away. But he +feared that never again would he be able to endure the severe labor and +perils of penetrating dense jungles and tropical forests in search of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> +rare orchids, or of exploring unknown countries.</p> + +<p>In the future the old traveler would have to be content to sit quietly +and take his pleasure in reading of the achievements of other daring +souls, who were still in the heyday of their vigorous manhood and +capable of enduring privations.</p> + +<p>He was deeply interested in all the doings of the Boy Scouts, seeing +that the movement was the greatest thing that had ever come to pass for +developing the finest American characteristics in the future men of the +republic.</p> + +<p>Hampton Troop never had a more enthusiastic admirer than Uncle Mark +became, and indeed, in all quarters now, the scouts gained a fine +reputation for courage, true manliness, and knowledge of the +thousand-and-one things a boy ought to know, if he expects to climb up +the ladder of advancement. At the time we take leave of our young +friends, the prospects of the scouts never looked so bright, and we +shall hear more of their adventures in the succeeding volume, entitled</p> +<h3>"The Boy Scouts on Belgian Battlefields."</h3> + + +<h2>THE END.</h2> + + + + +<h2><i>SAVE THE WRAPPER!</i></h2> + + +<p><i>If</i> you have enjoyed reading about the adventures of the new friends +you have made in this book and would like to read more clean, wholesome +stories of their entertaining experiences, turn to the book jacket—on +the inside of it, a comprehensive list of Burt's fine series of +carefully selected books for young people has been placed for your +convenience.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><i>Orders for these books, placed with your bookstore or sent to the +Publishers, will receive prompt attention.</i></p> + + +<h2>FRANK ARMSTRONG SERIES</h2> +<p class="center">By MATTHEW M. COLTON</p> +<p>Six Exceptional Stories of College Life, Describing Athletics from Start +to Finish. For Boys 10 to 15 Years.</p> +<p>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH +POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</p> +<p>Cloth Bound +<i>With Attractive Jackets in Colors.</i></p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/311.jpg" width="150" height="191" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p><b>FRANK ARMSTRONG'S VACATION</b></p> +<p><b>FRANK ARMSTRONG AT QUEENS</b></p> +<p><b>FRANK ARMSTRONG'S SECOND TERM</b></p> +<p><b>FRANK ARMSTRONG, DROP KICKER</b></p> +<p><b>FRANK ARMSTRONG, CAPTAIN OF THE NINE</b></p> +<p><b>FRANK ARMSTRONG AT COLLEGE</b></p> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the +Publishers<br /> +A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + +<h2>BORDER BOYS SERIES</h2> +<p class="center">By FREMONT B. DEERING</p> +<p>Mexican and Canadian frontier Stories for Boys 12 to 16 Years.</p> +<p>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</p> +<p><i>With Individual Jackets in Colors.</i></p> +<p>Cloth Bound</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/312.jpg" width="150" height="191" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><b>BORDER BOYS ON THE TRAIL</b></p> +<p><b>BORDER BOYS ACROSS THE FRONTIER</b></p> +<p><b>BORDER BOYS WITH THE MEXICAN RANGERS</b></p> +<p><b>BORDER BOYS WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS</b></p> +<p><b>BORDER BOYS IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES</b></p> +<p><b>BORDER BOYS ALONG THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER</b></p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p>A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2>THE BOY TROOPERS SERIES</h2> +<p class="center">by CLAIR W. HAYES author of the Famous "Boy Allies" series.</p> +<p>The adventures of two boys with the Pennsylvania State Police.</p> +<p>For Boys 12 to 16 Years.</p> +<p>All Copyrighted Titles.</p> +<p>Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Desi's.</p> +<p>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH +POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/313.jpg" width="150" height="191" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p><b>THE BOY TROOPERS ON THE TRAIL</b></p> +<p><b>THE BOY TROOPERS IN THE NORTHWEST</b></p> +<p><b>THE BOY TROOPERS ON STRIKE DUTY</b></p> +<p><b>THE BOY TROOPERS AMONG THE WILD MOUNTAINEERS</b></p> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> +<p>A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>Boys of the Royal Mounted Police Series</h2> +<p class="center">by Milton Richards</p> +<p>The Dick and his friend Sandy meet with ambush and desperate +hand-to-hand encounters while on a dangerous mission with the +Canadian Mounted Police.</p> +<p>For boys 12 to 16 Years.</p> +<p>Handsome Cloth Binding</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/314.jpg" width="150" height="191" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>DICK KENT WITH THE MOUNTED POLICE<br /> +Dick and his friend Sandy meet with ambush and desperate hand-to-hand +encounters while on a dangerous mission with the Canadian Mounted +Police.</p> + +<p>DICK KENT IN THE FAR NORTH<br /> +Outwitting the notorious outlaw "Bear" Henderson with the help of +Malemute Slade, the two boys discover the secret of a lost gold mine.</p> + +<p>DICK KENT WITH THE ESKIMOS<br /> +In their search, with the mounted police, for an escaped murderer, Dick +and Sandy have thrilling experiences with ice floes and animals in the +Arctic.</p> + +<p>DICK KENT, FUR TRADER<br /> +On the trail with Corporal Rand, Dick Kent and his two associates +unravel the mystery of the fur thieves.</p> + +<p>DICK KENT WITH THE MALEMUTE MAIL<br /> +Entrusted with the vaccine for an isolated trading post, Dick and his +friends win through in spite of incredible difficulties.</p> + +<p>DICK KENT ON SPECIAL DUTY<br /> +Corporal Rand and his young recruits solve a mystery and find a hidden +treasure.</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p>A. L. BURT COMPANY, Publishers, 114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2>The Boy Allies</h2> +<h4>(Registered in the United States Patent Office)</h4> +<p class="center">By ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE</p> +<p>For Boys 12 to 16 Years.</p> +<p>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</p> +<p>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH +POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/315.jpg" width="150" height="191" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American lads, meet each other +in an unusual way soon after the declaration of war. Circumstances place +them on board the British cruiser, "The Sylph," and from there on, they +share adventures with the sailors of the Allies. Ensign Robert L. Drake, +the author, is an experienced naval officer, and he describes admirably +the many exciting adventures of the two boys.</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or, Striking the First Blow</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">at the German Fleet.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or, Sweeping the Enemy from the</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Sea.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or, The Naval Raiders of</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">the Great War.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; or, The Last Shot of</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Submarine D-16.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or, The Vanishing Submarine.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Fields of Ice to Aid the</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Czar.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTLAND; or, The Greatest Naval Battle of</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">History.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM'S CRUISERS; or, Convoying the</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">American Army Across the Atlantic.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or, The Fall of the Russian</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Empire.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or, The Fall of the</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">German Navy.</span></p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p>A. L. BURT COMPANY, Publishers, 114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2>The Boy Allies</h2> +<h4>(Registered in the United States Patent Office)</h4> +<h2>With the Army</h2> +<p class="center">By CLAIR W. HAYES</p> +<p>For Boys 12 to 16 Years.</p> +<p>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/316.jpg" width="150" height="191" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p>In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads unable to +leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the soldiers of the +Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. Their experiences and +escapes are many, and furnish plenty of good, healthy action that every +boy loves.</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days' Battle Along</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">the Marne.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash Over the</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Carpathians.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot and Shell Along the</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Aisne.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian Army in the</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Alps.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The Struggle to Save a</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Nation.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and Bravery Rewarded.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from the Enemy.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; or, Leading the</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">American Troops to the Firing Line.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The Fighting Canadians of</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Vimy Ridge.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or, Over the Top at Chateau</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Thierry.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing Days of the Great</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">World War.</span></p> + + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p>A. L. BURT COMPANY 114-120 EAST 23d STREET NEW YORK</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2>The Boy Scout Series</h2> +<p class="center">By HERBERT CARTER</p> +<p>For Boys 12 to 16 Years.</p> +<p>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</p> +<p>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH +POSTAGE 10c EXTRA +New Stores of camp Life</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/317.jpg" width="150" height="191" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY SCOUTS' FIRST CAMPFIRE; or, Scouting with the Silver Fox</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Patrol.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE BLUE RIDGE; or, Marooned Among the</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Moonshiners.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE TRAIL; or, Scouting through the Big Game</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Country.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The New Test for the Silver</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Fox Patrol.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER; or, The Search for the Lost</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Tenderfoot.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES; or, The Secret of the Hidden Silver</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Mine.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY SCOUTS ON STURGEON ISLAND; or, Marooned Among the Game-Fish</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Poachers.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY SCOUTS DOWN IN DIXIE; or, The Strange Secret of Alligator</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Swamp.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA; A story of Burgoyne's</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Defeat in 1777.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY SCOUTS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA; or, The Silver Fox Patrol</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Caught in a Flood.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY SCOUTS ON WAR TRAILS IN BELGIUM; or, Caught Between Hostile</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Armies.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">THE BOY SCOUTS AFOOT IN FRANCE; or, With The Red Cross Corps at the</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Marne.</span></p> + + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p>A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2>The Golden Boy Series</h2> +<p class="center">By ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE<br /> +Dean of Pennsylvania Military College.</p> +<p>A new series of instructive Copyright stories for +boy of High School Age.</p> +<p>Handsome Cloth Binding. </p> +<p>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH +POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/318.jpg" width="150" height="191" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL</b></p> +<p><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE FORTRESS</b></p> +<p><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS IN THE MAINE WOODS</b></p> +<p><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS WITH THE LUMBER JACKS</b></p> +<p><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS RESCUED BY RADIO</b></p> +<p><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS ALONG THE RIVER ALLAGASH</b></p> +<p><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP</b></p> +<p><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS ON THE RIVER DRIVE</b></p> +<p><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS SAVE THE CHAMBERLAIN DAM</b></p> +<p><b>THE GOLDEN BOYS ON THE TRAIL</b></p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p>A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2>THE HUNNIWELL BOYS SERIES</h2> +<p class="center">By L. P. WYMAN<br /> +Author of "The Golden Boys" and "The Lakewood Boys" Series</p> + +<p>Bill and Gordon Hunniwell, two enterprising and inventive young +Americans, have many thrilling experiences far above the clouds in the +"Albatross," their new electric airplane. Their adventures with the +Secret Service and narrow escapes in the fog, when searching for the +lost German aviators, are admirably described in this new series.</p> + +<p><b>THE HUNNIWELL BOYS IN THE AIR</b></p> +<p><b>THE HUNNIWELL BOYS' VICTORY</b></p> +<p><b>THE HUNNIWELL BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE</b></p> +<p><b>THE HUNNIWELL BOYS AND THE PLATINUM MYSTERY</b></p> +<p><b>THE HUNNIWELL BOYS' LONGEST FLIGHT</b></p> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p>A. L. BURT COMPANY, <i>Publishers</i></p> + +<p>114-120 EAST 23d STREET NEW YORK</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2>The Jack Loimer Series</h2> +<p class="center">By WINN STANDISH</p> +<p>For Boys 12 to 16 Years.</p> +<p>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</p> +<p>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH +POSTAGE 10c EXTRA +New Stores of camp Life</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/320.jpg" width="150" height="191" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">CAPTAIN JACK LORIMER; or, The Young Athlete of Millvale High.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Jack Lorimer is a fine example of the all-around American</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">high-school boys. His fondness for clean, honest sport of all kinds</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">will strike a chord of sympathy among athletic youths.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">JACK LORIMER'S CHAMPIONS; or, Sports on Land and Lake.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">There is a lively story woven in with the athletic achievements,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">which are all right, since the book has been O. K'd. by Chadwick,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">the Nestor of American Sporting journalism.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">JACK LORIMER'S HOLIDAYS; or, Millvale High in Camp.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">It would be well not to put this book into a boy's hands until the</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">chores are finished, otherwise they might be neglected.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">JACK LORIMER'S SUBSTITUTE; or, The Acting Captain of the Team.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">On the sporting side, this book takes up football, wrestling, and</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">tobogganing. There is a good deal of fun in this book and plenty of</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">action.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">JACK LORIMER, FRESHMAN; or, From Millvale High to Exmouth.</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Jack and some friends he makes crowd innumerable happenings into an</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">exciting freshman year at one of the leading Eastern colleges. The</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">book is typical of the American college boy's life, and there is a</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">lively story, interwoven with feats on the gridiron, hockey,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">basketball and other clean honest sports for which Jack Lorimer</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">stands.</span></p> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> + +<p>A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2><b>The Oakdale Academy Series</b></h2> +<p class="center">By MORGAN SCOTT</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/321.jpg" width="150" height="191" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p>A series of real boys' stories at the Oakdale Academy, Ben Stone, the +hero, wins his way under peculiar circumstances and against great odds.</p> + +<p>Clean-cut stories of real experiences in athletics and sports of academy +life, with adventures, mysteries and clever descriptions.</p> + +<p>Just the kind of books a boy 12 to 16 years would like to read.</p> + +<p>HANDSOME CLOTH BINDING. +JACKETS IN COLORS</p> + +<p>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH</p> + +<p>POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</p> + +<p>Copyright Titles</p> + +<p><b>BEN STONE AT OAKDALE</b></p> +<p><b>BOYS OF OAKDALE ACADEMY</b></p> +<p><b>RIVAL PITCHERS OF OAKDALE</b></p> +<p><b>OAKDALE BOYS IN CAMP</b></p> +<p><b>THE GREAT OAKDALE MYSTERY</b></p> +<p><b>THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE</b></p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p>A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts Under Fire in Mexico, by +Lieut. Howard Payson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN *** + +***** This file should be named 36000-h.htm or 36000-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/0/0/36000/ + +Produced by David Edwards, David K. 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Howard Payson + +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 Boy Scouts Under Fire in Mexico + +Author: Lieut. Howard Payson + +Release Date: April 30, 2011 [EBook #36000] +[Last updated: May 3, 2011] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, David K. Park and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "Don't shoot gents!" called out the man who was in the +crotch of an oak tree.--_Page 59._] + + + + +THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN MEXICO + +BY LIEUT. HOWARD PAYSON + + + + + AUTHOR OF + "The Boy Scouts of the Eagle Patrol," "The Boy Scouts + on the Range," "The Boy Scouts' Mountain Camp," + "The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam," "The Boy + Scouts at the Panama Canal," "The Boy + Scouts with the Allies in France," "The + Boy Scouts on Belgian Battlefields," + "The Boy Scouts at the + Panama-Pacific Exposition," + etc. + +[Illustration] + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +Publishers New York + +Printed in U. S. A. + + + + +Copyright, 1914, + +BY HURST & COMPANY + +MADE IN U. S. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I. SCOUTS AFLOAT 5 + + II. THE STRANGE LEAK 15 + + III. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD 26 + + IV. WHEN SCOUTCRAFT WAS IN DEMAND 37 + + V. ON THE TRAIL 48 + + VI. THE EAGLES LEAD THE WAY TO SUCCESS 59 + + VII. TUBBY REFUSES TO FORGET 70 + + VIII. A DAZZLING PLAN 81 + + IX. FIGURING IT ALL OUT 92 + + X. HOW THE LAND LAY 103 + + XI. "THEY'RE OFF!" 114 + + XII. ALONG THE RIO GRANDE 125 + + XIII. CROSSING THE FORD 136 + + XIV. A GALLOP ON MEXICAN SOIL 146 + + XV. ANDY SCATTERS THE SERENADERS 157 + + XVI. IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY 168 + + XVII. THE WHISTLE OF PASSING BULLETS 179 + + XVIII. AT THE BURNING BRIDGE 190 + + XIX. THE WIGWAG TALK 201 + + XX. "TRUST ROB!" 212 + + XXI. THE RETURN OF THE SCOUT MASTER 223 + + XXII. THE FIELD HOSPITAL IN OPERATION 234 + + XXIII. WHEN VILLA CAME 245 + + XXIV. A MAN OF HIS WORD 256 + + XXV. AGAIN UNDER THE FOLDS OF "OLD GLORY" 267 + + XXVI. ON TO WASHINGTON! 278 + + XXVII. TUBBY SOLVES THE MYSTERY 298 + + + + +THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN MEXICO. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FOUR SCOUTS AFLOAT. + + +"Luff a little, Merritt!" + +"Luff it is, Rob. And let me tell you right now that if this head wind +keeps on growing stronger, we're going to have it nip and tuck to get +home before dark sets in. These November, days have a quick end, you +know. Steady now, everybody; we'll have to come about." + +"On the next leg, Merritt, run in as close to the shore as you can," +continued the boy who was handling the sheet of the sailboat, and who +seemed to be in command, though he had given up his place at the helm to +a comrade. + +"Just what I'll do, Skipper Rob. Here, Andy, and you, Tubby, swing over +to the la'board in a hurry, now, and help hold her down. You're the best +ballast we've got aboard, Tubby." + +The stout boy who seemed so well named, for he was built on the order of +a tub of butter, hastened to change his position as the boom of the +sailboat swung over, and the little craft with a jump started on a new +tack, this time heading for the mainland. + +"Say, you want to make sure and clear that point over there!" he sang +out as he sprawled along the upper port side of the craft like a great +crab, owing to a sudden lurch of the boat. + +"Going to do it as easy as to turn your hand over," replied the boy at +the rudder; "but what makes you say that, Tubby?" + +"Oh! I reckon now there might be some fellers got a duck blind on that +point, which is said to be the best along the bay," replied the other. +"Leastways I noticed a whole raft of stools dancing up and down on the +waves the last time we ran in close to the shore." + +"Good for you, Tubby," remarked the boy called Rob, who was clinging +steadily to the sheet, with the strain mostly relieved by the fact that +it passed through a hole in the stout cleat; "it's plain that you've got +your eyes with you this trip, and don't mean to be caught napping. There +are two fellows in a blind over on the point; I saw them watching us +the last time we ran in; and they acted as though they were afraid we'd +anchor and spoil all their evening shoot when the ducks are moving +again. But never fear, we're going to clear the point by a wide margin +this time." + +"It was a good thing school let out so early to-day, boys," remarked the +lad who up to now had not spoken, and who seemed to answer to the name +of Andy; "and that Rob invited the rest of us to go with him after that +half bushel of big oysters his folks want for dinner to-morrow." + +"What makes you talk that way, Andy?" asked Rob, wondering if the other +had also been keeping his eyes about him and noticing things. "This is +Friday afternoon, and if we hadn't gone to-day what do you think would +hinder our taking a little spin up the bay in the morning?" + +"Oh! you never can count on the wind around Hampton," replied the other; +"chances are, when you want it most of all, it gives you the go-by. And +besides, Rob, I've been watching that sky up there. Look how it's +mottled, will you? I've always heard that that sort of clouds meant a +storm." + +Rob laughed as though rather pleased. + +"Well, that's just one good reason why I hurried off this afternoon +instead of waiting for morning," he observed; "but then, I had a better +warning than the looks of the sky to give me notice. You see, I chanced +to drop around by the post office on the way to school after lunch, and +stepped in to read what the weather report man in Washington had sent +along. There's a whopper of a storm coming up the coast from the West +Indies, and headed right this way; a sort of left-over hurricane, it +says; and storm warnings are ordered up from Jacksonville to Nantucket!" + +"Whee!" exclaimed Tubby, "that means winter will like as not set in +right after that storm passes along, and we'll get no more sails on the +bay. I hate winter for all the fun with skates and bobsleds. Don't I +wish now my Uncle Mark would make up his mind to send me down there to a +warm country like Mexico to look after his tangled business affairs? +Honest Injun, fellers, he did say he might think of something like that +if he didn't get some better soon. He's terribly bothered for fear he's +going to lose all his cattle and everything, with those rebels and +regulars cavorting all over that section. Hello! that was a gun spoke +then; and there goes another! Yes, and he got one duck, anyhow, because +I saw it drop like a stone. And we're already past the point, boys!" + +While the little sailboat is beating up against a head wind and sea, +bent on making Hampton, several miles away along the Long Island shore +of the bay, it might be a good time for us to renew acquaintance with +the four lads on board, and glance back over their past career. + +All of them were dressed in the well known khaki suits that, the world +over, have become a recognized sign manual of Boy Scouts. These lads +belonged to Hampton Troop, and were instrumental in starting the +organization in the shore town. For some time it had consisted of but a +single patrol, the Eagles; but as success followed their efforts, and +more boys became enthused and enlisted, other patrols known as the Owl, +the Black Fox, and the Badger were formed; so that at the time we meet +Rob and his chums in the sailboat there was a very strong troop in +Hampton, with even a rival organization under way. + +Rob Blake was the leader of the Eagle Patrol, and Merritt Crawford held +the post of second in command, or corporal; while Andy Bowles filled +the position of bugler. Tubby as yet had not aspired to fill anything, +unless it was his stomach; and his chums were forever joking him with +regard to his fondness for eating. + +In the first volume of this series, "The Boy Scouts of the Eagle +Patrol," the reader was made acquainted with Rob and his friends, and +followed their exciting fortunes after they had formed the patrol. Rob +was the son of the president of the local bank, while Merritt's father +had been known as the finest blacksmith and wheelwright in that section +of Long Island; Andy's folks ran the big livery stable; and Tubby's only +parent, his mother, was said to be fairly well off in property and +stocks. + +A happy chance allowed some of the scouts to visit the far Southwest, +and in the second story many of the strange adventures that befell them +there were narrated. Though "The Boy Scouts on the Range" teems with +thrilling happenings, those who read it from cover to cover will admit +that the Eagles bore themselves man-fully under all conditions, and +always acted according to scout law. + +Later on some of the boys became interested in the subject of aviation; +and about this time chance allowed them to be of considerable assistance +to certain parties in the employ of the Government, who were conducting +experiments not far from their home town; all of which was told in the +pages of "The Boy Scouts and the Army Airship." + +A fourth volume was given up to what occurred while the Eagles were +encamped in the wilderness; where circumstances arose that called for +all their knowledge of woodcraft and scout lore; but those who have read +"The Boy Scouts' Mountain Camp" will surely unite in saying that Rob and +his chums met the situation as became true scouts, and came out of the +affair with great credit. + +In the succeeding story, "The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam," the boys found +themselves involved in a succession of thrilling events. An opportunity +arose whereby their services were in demand in order to save the design +of a wonderful submarine craft, intended for the use of the United +States Government, from being stolen by the clever agents of a foreign +power. It was largely through the efforts of the scout patrol that this +treacherous design was finally foiled. + +A sixth volume, just preceding the present story, "The Boy Scouts at the +Panama Canal," contained the history of events that befell Rob and his +particular chums at a time when they were given a splendid chance to +visit the great ditch which Uncle Sam was then digging down on the +Isthmus. Once again they managed to bring into play the resourcefulness +which, as members of the Eagle Patrol, had been developed in them; and +it was principally through the agency of scoutcraft that the evil +designs which certain envious nations had upon the locks of the canal +were blocked. + +Which short but necessary explanation once more brings us to the four +chums as they tacked back and forth while trying to make the home port +before dusk set in. Now that they were headed toward the mainland they +made rapid progress, for the wind was certainly increasing in force +right along. It came from a point that enabled them to make this the +long leg, gaining quite a considerable distance. Once again they tacked, +and the best they could expect to do was to hold their own in a beat +toward the sandy outer shore of the bay, which helped to make the inlet +all but landlocked. + +"This is sure going some!" Tubby called out, as he began to get himself +into readiness for another quick slide across when they should come +about again; the spray was flying in their faces, more or less, and the +waves that raced past seemed tipped with white. + +"Look out for your heads when we swing around!" called Merritt. "That +boom is heavy enough to sweep you overboard, I guess!" + +"Excuse me from taking a bath right here and now!" exclaimed Tubby, who +was not much of a swimmer at the best. "But see here, what does all this +mean, fellers? Why, look at the water in the bottom of the boat, will +you? Tell you what, she's gone and sprung a leak as sure as anything! +Rob, you won't head out in the bay again, will you, with all this chance +of our foundering? Gingersnaps! it keeps on getting worse and worse, I +tell you! We'll sink inside of ten minutes!" + +Rob, who owned the sailboat, took one look at the water that was already +washing about in the bottom of the uptilted craft. He must have realized +that something strange had happened to cause so staunch a boat to spring +a leak, and also that the situation was serious; for no sooner had he +taken in the suspicious way in which the water was rising in the +cockpit, than he shouted: + +"Keep her headed straight for the shore, Merritt! We've got to beach her +one way or another. Tubby, help me with the halliards so we can drop the +sail. You pull up the centerboard, Andy! Hurry now, everybody!" + +There was a scene of activity on board the little pleasure craft just +then, with three of those lively scouts springing about their duty. And +as the sail came rattling down on top of the cabin, with Tubby sprawled +under its folds, and as Andy fastened the heavy centerboard which he had +drawn full height in the well, the boat ran up on the sandy beach of a +little cove that had chanced to lie directly ahead at the time the +skipper gave his hurried orders! + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE STRANGE LEAK. + + +"Gee whiz! but this is a bad job!" Merritt remarked, after the four of +them had clambered over the bow of the stranded sailboat. "Here we are +as much as three miles away from home, with night coming on and not much +chance of getting the boat fixed so we can go on again in her." + +"She never played you such a mean trick before, did she, Rob?" asked +Andy, who had managed to get his feet wet in making a jump for the sandy +beach, but, boylike, seemed to care very little about such a small +thing. + +"No, and I'm wondering right now what could have happened to make her +spring a big leak like that all of a sudden," replied the other. + +As though impelled by curiosity, Rob once more climbed aboard the boat +and started to look around. One of the first things he did was to fling +ashore a sack that seemed to be pretty heavy,--as might be expected, +since it contained the half bushel of extra large oysters for which he +had been sent to the beds near the ocean side of the bay, a long way +from Hampton town. + +"I'm bound to get that sack home with me if I have to carry it on my +back," he called out; at which the other boys, of course, declared that +they would willingly "spell" him, though the prospect could not have +seemed very inviting. + +"But see here, will it be safe to leave the boat in this little cove all +night with a big storm heading along up the coast?" Merritt asked next. + +"Safe or not," came from the one aboard the stranded boat, "there's +nothing else we can do, is there? Besides, if that storm holds off till +noon, I'll be up here on my wheel the first thing to-morrow, bale her +out, fix the leak, and work her back home by hook or crook. Hello! what +in the wide world does this mean, now?" + +"Found the place where the water came in, have you, Rob?" called Tubby, +who was hefting the sack of bivalves, and perhaps secretly wondering +whether it might not make their labor of transporting the same to the +Blake house easier if they proceeded to discard a few of the shells and +partake of the juicy contents. + +"Why, it's a _round_ hole, I tell you!" shouted Rob. + +"What's that you're giving us?" demanded Andy. "I've seen some queer +things happen to boats, but that's the first time I ever knew one to +spring a leak with a round hole. Are you joshing us, Rob?" + +"I tell you it's as round as a quarter, and about as big into the +bargain!" continued the other vigorously. "And what's more, this boat +never sprung a leak!" + +"Oh! say, p'raps now a sword fish rammed his beak through her planks!" +ejaculated Tubby, who could always be depended on to think up the most +extraordinary explanation possible when anything out of the ordinary +happened. + +All of the other scouts had now crawled back on the boat, their +curiosity having been fully aroused by the strange announcement made by +Rob. Merritt even insisted on feeling down in the water, and thrusting +his forefinger through the said hole. + +"Jiggered if what Rob says isn't so, boys," he called out; "because I've +got my finger all the way through the hole right now! Why, it's as +smooth as if it had been made with an inch bit. Take my word for it, +that's the truth!" + +"And I've got a good notion that was what did make it!" Rob observed +solemnly; at which Tubby gasped, opening his mouth in the queer way he +had of doing when greatly astonished. + +"You mean somebody went and bored a hole right through the planks of +your boat, do you, Rob?" he asked excitedly. "But why didn't the water +rush in before, when we've been more than a whole hour sailing?" + +"Why, you silly," cried Andy, "of course it must have had a plug in the +hole! It was probably fixed so that sooner or later it just had to be +jarred loose, and the pressure of the water outside would push the same +in. That was what happened when we made our last turn. And this same old +plug must have been hidden under the false bottom, which none of us +thought to pull up till she floated loose!" + +"Here's the proof of it, fellows!" said Rob just then; and he held up +something he had discovered floating on the surface of the water, that +already partly filled the cockpit toward the stern of the stranded boat. + +"It is a plug, as sure as you live!" ejaculated Merritt. "Let's look at +it, Rob!" + +One after another they examined the round piece of wood, which had +undoubtedly been shaped just to fit the hole bored in the bottom plank. + +"That was about the meanest trick I ever heard tell of!" grumbled Tubby, +his round face redder than ever with indignation. "If ever I could find +out who did it, I'd feel like showing him up to all Hampton, that's +what. Here, what's this on the water, fellers? Looks to me like a curled +chip, such as would come out when an auger or a brace and bit was used." + +"Just what it is, Tubby," added Merritt; "which shows that this measly +hole was bored since the last time Rob went sailing. Otherwise, he must +have seen the plug when he took out the false flooring to clean the +boat." + +"It's a queer shaving, boys," continued Tubby, with his head bent low +over the object he held in his hand. "See, here, where there's a break +all the way along, and right in the middle, too! What would you make of +that, Rob?" + +"I might be away off in my guess," the other went on to say, after he, +too, had closely examined the shaving; "but it seems to me as though +that bit must have had a good-sized nick in each half of the biting +edge, queer as that would be. As it kept on turning, it left this +raised ridge, you see." + +"Just what I had in my mind, Rob, give you my word for it," Tubby +continued excitedly. "And I'm thinking right now that this ought to be a +pretty good clew to prove who made that hole in your boat. All we've got +to do is to find a bit with a nick in both tongues that fits this +shaving; and the thing is as plain as the nose on Andy's face, here." + +"Suppose you leave me out when you're making comparisons, Tubby; but +then you're only saying that because you're envious; your own nose +doesn't count for much, with such fat cheeks alongside!" Andy burst out. + +But Rob considered that what Tubby had said was worth noticing for he +immediately started to congratulate him,--as a patrol leader always +should do when one of his comrades has given positive evidences of +waking up and noticing things. + +"Tubby, that's a smart dodge of yours, let me tell you," he went on to +say, as he turned on the fat scout; "and if you keep that chip so it +won't break, and can find a bit that fits the marks to a dot, the +chances are you'll know who played this dirty trick on me. And because +you thought of it first I'm going to hand that job over to you, see? +Here's the plug and the chip for you to keep. And some fine day I'll +expect to have a report from you." + +"Well, what's the next word, Rob?" asked Merritt, as they all made the +flying leap ashore again. This time it was Tubby who made a +miscalculation and landed in six inches of water. He hastily scrambled +up on the beach to the accompaniment of rude laughter from Andy, who +felt better now that there were a pair of them with wet feet; for misery +always likes company. + +"Oh! we'll make the cable fast to this stunted tree here, and leave the +old boat to take her chances to-night," replied the other, as he started +to carry his words into action. "Doubtless I'll find her safe in the +morning, and be able to get her home if the storm holds off." + +"You don't come up here without having me along, remember," warned +Merritt; at which Rob stopped long enough in his labor of securing the +end of the rope to the tree to give the other a nod and a smile; for +they were chums in everything, and almost inseparable. + +"And the rest of you just keep mum about this nasty little business, so +that I c'n have the whole field to myself," Tubby warned them, as though +feeling of considerable importance since the patrol leader had handed +the mysterious case over into his charge. "I'm going to learn who bored +that hole, or know the reason why, if I have to visit every workshop in +Hampton by degrees, and find some excuse for examining every blessed bit +there is. But right now I want to say I've got a hunch I c'n lay my +finger on the guilty one, even if I dassent say so till I get the proof +fixed on him good and hard. Then look out for explosions, that's all!" + +Having fastened his boat as well as circumstances allowed, Rob picked up +the sack containing the selected oysters, threw it over his shoulder, +and announced himself ready for the three mile walk along the road that +skirted the shore side of the bay. + +The four scouts soon found themselves trudging along the highway which +led from the direction of Montauk Point. It was in fair condition, as +they well knew, having been over it many times on their wheels, or in +vehicles of various types from a car to a hay wagon. + +"If we had any sort of luck, now," remarked Merritt, after they had been +walking for some little while, and he made ready to relieve Rob of his +load, "we'd hear some sort of wagon coming up behind, and get a ride +home." + +"Don't I wish it would happen, though?" sighed Tubby, who on account of +his burden of flesh always found it much harder than the other Eagles to +hike over the country. He was so stubborn, however, that he would +persist in anything he undertook until he fairly dropped in his tracks, +rather than give up. + +"Well," remarked Rob, chuckling, "some good fairy must have heard that +wish, Tubby, because right now I can get the thud of horses' hoofs on +the road back yonder. And there goes the crack of a whip." + +"You're right, Rob," observed Andy quickly; "queer how you get on to all +these little wrinkles before the rest of us. Seems like you must always +'be prepared,' like every true scout is expected to keep himself." + +"Hope it's an empty wagon, and not a loaded hay rig," grunted Tubby. + +"According to the way the sounds hit me," continued Rob, "it's a wagon, +all right; and it rumbles like an empty one, too. But we shall soon +know, for it is overtaking us right fast now." + +"Let's halt here, and line up, two on each side of the road," suggested +Merritt. "The darkness has gathered so it's hard to see any distance; +but there around the bend back of us comes a white horse on the trot! +Rob, you hit the nail right on the head, for sure enough it's drawing an +empty wagon, with two men sitting on the seat and using the whip." + +"Looks like they might be in a hurry," suggested Andy. "Watch that one +turning around to take another look along the road behind. Get ready to +give 'em a hail, Eagles. Rob, you do the talking while the rest of us +let out our Eagle cry." + +Two minutes later and the vehicle had arrived almost opposite where the +scouts stood half screened by the bushes. At a signal from Rob the four +stepped out upon the road. Rob started to call to the men in the wagon, +meaning to ask them for permission to ride, while Merritt and Tubby and +Andy gave a united "K-r-e-e-e," that sounded very weird as heard under +such conditions. + +What followed astonished the four boys very much indeed. The men, seeing +so many uniformed figures blocking the road, as it seemed, gave vent to +exclamations of abject alarm. Jumping from their seat, they started to +run back along the way they had just come. Then suddenly turning to one +side they plunged into the brush, where their hasty progress was marked +by all sorts of sounds that would indicate that they were stumbling +blindly through the thick undergrowth, tumbling over logs and rocks, +evidently on the verge of being panic-stricken! + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD. + + +The four boys stood there on the dusty road in the twilight of that +windy November day, and for a full minute seemed unable to express the +sense of bewilderment that had overwhelmed them all. Alongside was the +white horse attached to the empty wagon; and from the docile manner in +which the animal had come to a sudden halt and stood there, he was not +at all averse to having a resting spell after having been whipped so +steadily that he was in a sweat. + +"Well, I'll be jiggered, if that don't beat the Dutch!" Merritt burst +out, he being apparently the first to recover his breath. + +"Why, they're gone!" ejaculated Tubby. "And say, they went and left +their rig with us, don't you see? Well, I must say they are awfully +polite. This is more'n we ever expected, isn't it, fellers?" + +Rob was laughing, as though secretly amused at the hasty flight of the +two men who had been in the wagon. + +"Chances are, now, they took us for hoboes meaning to hold 'em up; and +that's why they jumped for it!" Andy suggested. + +"Well," remarked Rob, "I couldn't say that I'd blame them for thinking +anything after hearing all that racket you three scouts made giving the +Eagle cry. Most people would jump at the conclusion that a lot of +lunatics had broken loose from that asylum down at Amityville. You +should have let me say my little say without that heathen noise. It's +all very well for a scout in the bush to let another know what patrol he +belongs to when he sees another approaching; but ordinary people hardly +understand what that racket means." + +"But, Rob, do you believe they took us for desperate yeggmen wanting to +hold 'em up on the road here, and rob 'em?" asked Andy. + +"No, I don't," replied the patrol leader readily. "In the first place, +even if it is getting dusk right now, it's still light enough for +anybody with eyes to see that we don't happen to be a ragged lot like +tramps are pretty much all of the time." + +"Then why should they skoot like that, I want to know?" Tubby inquired. + +"Like as not they saw our scout uniforms," suggested Merritt at a +hazard. + +"That's just what they did," Rob hastened to add with emphasis; "and +from the shock the sight of the same gave the parties, I'm thinking they +must have guessed we were soldiers who meant to arrest a couple of men +driving a white nag!" + +"Oh! I wonder now if that would explain the queer stunt?" Tubby ventured +to say. + +"Sounds pretty good to me, Rob," was what the corporal of the troop +remarked as he stood there and stared at the spot where the pair of +alarmed men had left the road and plunged into the thicket. "And maybe +some of the rest of you noticed as I did that the taller one of the pair +limped, as though he might have a bad leg or a sprained ankle." + +"Yes, I noticed that, Merritt, and was waiting to see if any of the rest +of you had used your eyes to advantage," Rob told him. + +"I did, cross my heart if I didn't!" reported Tubby. + +"And I would have seen the same only the rest of you happened to be in +my way," the fourth scout struck in, not wanting to have it appear that +he was the only fellow to be so dazed by what had happened that he had +failed in his duty as a scout to observe every little detail. + +"And I want all of you to take notice," continued the patrol leader, +"that just where they left the road and disappeared from our sight, +there happens to be growing a white birch tree that hangs out at an +angle of twenty-five degrees. Birches are not so plentiful around here +but what we could easily find that same one again in case we wanted to +try and follow up the tracks of the men." + +"To give 'em back their rig, you mean, Rob?" hinted Tubby. + +"Either that or for some other reason," replied the other shortly. + +"Well, I don't hear any scrambling now," remarked Andy. "Probably they +are so far away the sounds don't carry." + +"But how about that ride to town?" demanded Tubby anxiously. "Do we get +cheated out of that just because a pair of sillies chose to get cold +feet at sight of scout uniforms, and skedaddled like a dog with a tin +can tied to his tail?" + +"Yes, how about it, Rob?" continued Merritt. "Do we leave this horse and +wagon on the road here, doing no good at all, while we trudge along +over two miles of ground, carrying this heavy sack of shellfish? If you +asked me now, I would say let's borrow the outfit, and give thanks!" + +"Ditto here!" exclaimed Tubby eagerly. + +"Count me in," said Andy, "and that makes it three affirmatives; how do +you vote, Rob? Say 'yes,' and make it unanimous, won't you?" + +The patrol leader laughed again at the appeal, and glanced around at the +faces of his three chums. + +"Well, it would be like looking a gift horse in the mouth to let this +fine chance slip past us," he went on to say, much to the delight of his +companions; for Tubby immediately threw up his campaign hat to signify +his joy, while the others nodded their heads and looked pleased. + +"Good for you, Rob," Merritt said, as he proceeded without more ado to +pick up the sack of oysters, and, stepping over to the tail end of the +wagon, toss them aboard. "So far as I can see, I don't believe we'll +have any trouble about taking the rig, even if the men turn out to be +honest, which I'm right sure they won't. We can say they abandoned it on +the road, and we thought we ought to fetch it into town to turn it over +to the police; which we mean to do, remember, fellows." + +"Sure, we'll only be doing the right thing to deliver the outfit to the +Chief," Tubby went on record as saying. "My Uncle Mark was telling me +about something that happened to him as near like this as two peas; and +it turned out that the men in the rig were a pair of desperate bank +burglars, making off with the stuff they'd hooked from a town not far +away. That was how he got his first thousand dollars, he says, that +started him along the road to success, years and years ago. And Merritt, +did you take a good look to see if there is any mysterious little +package in that same wagon? Wouldn't it be a queer thing now if history +took to repeating itself, and this time Uncle Mark's nephew was one of +the bunch that recovered the stolen plunder? Anything doing, Merritt?" + +"Well, you'll have to make up your mind to being disappointed this time, +Tubby," observed the corporal. "This wagon hasn't a thing in it except a +handful of hay, and I've pulled that around to make sure it didn't hide +anything. But we didn't calculate to discover any jewelry or bank +funds; the best we asked for was a chance to ride to Hampton; and we've +got it. Pile in, fellows. This horse has come some way, and has been +made to travel right lively, too. Why, he's reeking with sweat! Somebody +must have been in a hurry!" + +They lost no time in clambering into the wagon. Tubby, being the slowest +to get up, found the seat fully occupied. + +"Where do I come in?" he asked rather plaintively, after the fashion of +the unfortunate one who was usually being left out. + +"Plenty of room back there in the wagon, Tubby!" chuckled Rob. + +"Use the sack of oysters for a seat if you want to!" added Andy. + +"Can't you move over and make room for one more?" pleaded the fat scout. + +"We might if it was for a Living Skeleton, but not for the Fat Boy of +the Side Show," was Merritt's reply. And so Tubby was compelled to climb +into the body of the wagon, and sit down as best he could on the hard +bed. + +"Please don't make the nag gallop, boys," he asked as a particular +favor; "because if you do he'll swing the wagon around every-which-way, +and there's no telling what would happen to me. I guess I've got +feelings, if I do happen to measure a little more around the waist than +anybody else present." + +"A little!" jeered Andy. "You must mean as much as the whole three of us +put together, don't you, Tubby?" + +"Forget it," mumbled the other; for already the vehicle had begun to +move. As Merritt whipped the tired horse, it gave a jump forward that +caused Tubby to roll over on his back the first thing, and then clutch +wildly at the sides of the wagon, as though in mortal terror lest he be +tossed out and left there on the road to walk home. + +"This is something like a treat, after tramping along for a whole mile, +and with that heavy sack into the bargain," Rob declared, as they began +to make fair progress in the direction of the home town. + +"Talk to me about your good luck," ventured Andy, who sat on the other +end of the seat from the driver, "it seems to me the Eagles are always +having things happen to them that never would come to other fellows." + +"But not all of the same are favors by a long sight, Andy," Merritt +reminded him. "Don't forget how we had that boat spring a leak; and if +the accident had occurred when we were out in the middle of the bay, +chances are we'd have had to swim for the shore. The good luck came in +its happening near land." + +"Well, that's what I mean, of course," persisted the other. "If we do +have to run up against a snag, why something always turns up to help us +out. Look back at lots of things that have come our way, and you'll say +I'm right. And you three fellows especially have had luck chase after +you more than a few times." + +"I guess that is about right," sang out Tubby from the rear; showing +that although he might be having the time of his life holding on to the +sides of the wagon as it clattered along the road, all the same he kept +his ears wide open. + +"Well," remarked Rob, with a laugh, "any lot of scouts who can have a +rig like this handed to them without the asking, when they have several +miles over a dusty road to tramp, ought not to complain. We're on what +they call 'Easy Street' right now. And who knows but there may be a few +dollars' reward offered for the recovery of a stolen outfit? It +wouldn't surprise me very much; because the way those men scuttled at +sight of our suits makes me believe they couldn't have been strictly +honest. No decent party need fear the khaki uniform, whether of a +soldier or a Boy Scout!" + +"Look! what was it that flashed ahead there in the bushes?" suddenly +exclaimed Andy. Half unconsciously, Merritt at the same time started to +pull at the reins, so that the horse no longer galloped headlong as +before, much to the relief of poor knocked-about Tubby. + +The boy in the back of the wagon was just about to try and scramble to +his knees in order to look beyond his mates on the seat, when, without +the slightest warning, a very gruff voice full of authority called out: + +"Pull in there and throw up your hands, every one of you, d'ye hear? +You're all under arrest!" + +Moving figures sprang out upon the white road, and the horse, finding +his forward progress blocked, gladly came to a full stop. The occupants +of the wagon sat there, hardly knowing what to make of this new +happening. + +One man caught the horse close to the bits, and two others hastened to +advance to the wagon, as if to make sure that none of those who occupied +the vehicle made a flying leap from the back and took to their heels. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +WHEN SCOUTCRAFT WAS IN DEMAND. + + +"Looks like the rig, all right, Chief!" one of the men called out. + +The tall man he addressed did not reply; for, truth to tell, at that +particular minute he was staring very hard at the three scouts who sat +there on the seat of the wagon. There was not a great deal of light, but +evidently he had made a discovery that astounded him. + +"Why, they're a lot of boys, after all!" exclaimed the man who had +advanced to the other side of the wagon, holding something up that +glittered like a revolver. + +"Yes, and wearing scouts' uniforms at that!" added the tall man whom one +of the others had called "Chief." As he pushed still closer to the wagon +he went on to say, "I think I ought to know this lad here. Is it you, +Rob Blake?" + +"Just who it is, Chief," replied the other soberly; "and you can hardly +blame us for having our breath taken away on being held up so suddenly +at the point of the pistol and told that we were under arrest!" + +"But the white horse deceived us, Rob," hastily answered the other, who +was really the new head of the Hampton police force, a man who had made +it his business to get acquainted with every boy in town, believing that +he could nip lots of impending trouble in the bud by letting boys know +that he was interested in all they did, and ready to prove himself their +best friend. "You see, we've been 'phoned that a couple of desperate men +who escaped from the jail over at Riverhead had stolen a wagon and a +white horse and were heading this way. So we came out to lay for the +rascals. Sorry to have bothered you, boys." + +"Well, this may prove to be the very horse and wagon they told you +about, Chief," Rob went on to say; while the other two officers now +crowded up close to catch all that passed. + +"Just what it might!" added Andy, wishing to let everybody know that he +was in the affair, if he didn't happen to be holding either the lines or +the whip. + +"Please tell us, won't you, Chief, whether one of the men that broke +jail limped like he had a bad leg or a sprained ankle?" Tubby broke +out, before Rob could get in another word. + +"What's that you're telling me, my lad?" exclaimed the officer eagerly. +"Now, I didn't think it worth while to mention the fact to you, but the +truth is the taller man of the two did have a bad fall when he broke +out, and he must have injured himself in some way. Do you mean that +you've set eyes on that precious pair of rogues?" + +"It was this way," Rob started to say, meaning to make his explanations +as brief as possible. "We had been up the bay to get half a bushel of +select oysters from old Cap. Jenkins over at his beds; and on the way +home we had the misfortune to spring a leak, so that we had to beach the +sailboat and start along the road, as night was coming on, and we wanted +to get back in time for supper." + +"That's right, supper was the main thing we had in mind, Chief, believe +me," Tubby volunteered just then; after which he again relapsed into +silence, and allowed Rob to finish his story. + +"Of course we wanted to get a ride if we could, Chief, because the sack +was heavy," the patrol leader went on to say, "and, well, boys always +like to ride better than they do to walk. Pretty soon we heard a horse +and wagon coming after us, and one of the two men aboard was whipping +the poor beast dreadfully. Well, we lined up, and as soon as they came +along all of us stepped out to ask if we could have a lift as far as +Hampton; when, would you believe me, the men jumped out of the wagon as +if they'd seen a ghost, and went back along the road as fast as they +could tear, soon breaking into the scrub, and disappearing." + +"Leaving you the rig; is that it, Rob?" asked the officer, laughing as +he spoke. + +"Just what they did, sir," continued the patrol leader; "and you may be +sure we couldn't even get our breath together to call out and thank them +before they'd vanished. Well, we got to talking it over, and made up our +minds the men must have stolen the rig, and were badly frightened by the +sight of our scout uniforms, thinking we might be soldiers meaning to +arrest them. And after we had waited a little while, thinking they might +come back, why, we just made up our minds there wasn't any use looking a +gift horse in the mouth; but that we'd take the rig to town so as to +turn it over to you at Police Headquarters. And here it is at your +service, Chief." + +"But I hope you'll let us ride to town in it?" Tubby struck in. + +"Well, you've all done me a great favor, boys," the tall official went +on to say; "and if so be you feel that you must get along home, why, +take the rig and leave it in front of my office. But if you could put us +in the way of nabbing that pair of escaped rogues, you'd be doing a +great thing. They're a bad crowd, and the longer they stay loose, the +worse it is going to be for the community." + +"We can help you some there, Chief!" Rob hastened to declare. + +"I should say we could!" added Andy with emphasis. + +"We happen to know just where they left the road and plunged into the +brush; and perhaps we might even be of some assistance to you in +following their trail, Chief; because, you understand, scouts are +supposed to know more or less about such things. Woodcraft comes under +the head of a scout's education. What d'ye say, fellows; shall we turn +around right now and take these officers to the place where the leaning +white birch hangs over the road?" + +Every voice came in a decided affirmative. Even Tubby, who had been +amusing himself while holding on to the sides of the wagon by figuring +out just how long he must wait until he could hope to find himself +seated at the supper table, heroically pushed aside all such +temptations, and proved that he could rise to an occasion like a true +scout. + +"Then that's settled," said Rob, proud of his mates of the Eagle Patrol; +"and if you will wait till we turn the horse around, Chief, you can have +my seat here." + +Merritt quickly backed the wagon into the side of the road, and faced +the animal in the direction from which he had just come. + +Meanwhile Rob and Andy had crawled over the rear of the seat and joined +Tubby, who seemed pleased when he found that he was going to have +company. The Chief and one of his men occupied the seat, along with the +scout who was doing the driving; while the other officer contented +himself with sitting so that his legs dangled over the tail board. + +In this fashion, then, they started to retrace the ground the boys had +so recently gone over. Of course the Chief had a dozen questions to ask +in connection with the actions of the two men, as to what they said and +what they did. + +"The only words any of us heard them say were: 'Holy smoke, looky here, +Con!'" Rob told him. "But they made up for it by doing some tall +sprinting, lame man or not, that would have won them a prize at an +athletic meet." + +"Well, right there you've settled the thing and clinched it into the +bargain," the tall police officer remarked with a satisfied chuckle; +"because, don't you know, one of the rascals went by the name of Con +Keating. And if the taller of the pair has a broken leg, why we ought to +be able to run them down, and bag him, anyway, even if the other gives +us the slip. But I'm hoping he'll stick to his pal until we can come up +with them." + +"We ought to be nearly back to where we picked up the wagon, now, hadn't +we, Rob?" asked Merritt, who was straining his eyes trying to make out a +white birch tree leaning over the road on the left. + +"One more bend and we'll be there," answered Rob, with such absolute +confidence that every one of the other scouts knew he had been keeping +tabs of the conditions, and could tell to a fraction just when they +were drawing near the point that had been marked down in their memories. + +A minute later and it turned out that Rob was perfectly correct; because +Merritt discovered the landmark for himself. + +"There it is, Chief, just ahead of us," he remarked, "where you see that +white birch bending over. We made it a point to mark the place, thinking +that p'raps you or somebody else would want to know about the men who +ran away." + +"A clever bit of business, my lad," remarked the other admiringly. And, +indeed, what he had seen of these Scouts during the few months he had +been in charge of the Hampton police had caused the Chief to entertain a +very high opinion of their ability, and make him a firm advocate for the +cause they represented. + +The horse was pulled up close to where the white slender birch could be +seen through the gathering gloom. + +"Wait till I strike a match, and I'll try to find a piece of lightwood +to make a torch," said Rob, jumping from the wagon. + +"No use bothering that way, lad," called out the Chief; "because I've +got something along with me that goes away ahead of any wood torch you +ever saw." + +"Then you must mean an electric hand torch," Tubby ventured to remark. +"I know, because I've got one at home." + +"Much good that does you," jeered Andy. "A torch, like a gun, is the +kind of thing that when you do want it you want it badly." + +"Well, how was I to guess all that would happen?" demanded Tubby +indignantly. "Don't you think that if I had known we would get that hole +in the boat, have a horse and wagon shoved on us this way, and be held +up by the Chief and his men, I'd gone and made sure to fetch my little +torch along? Sure I would." + +"And if I'd known all that," chuckled Andy, always ready to have the +last word, "d'ye know what I would have done the first thing? Why, told +Rob about that old plug in the bottom of his boat, and seen to it that +it was driven in so hard it never could work loose. And that would have +saved us from all the rest of the business!" + +"All right," rejoined Tubby, with a never-say-die accent to his voice; +"all I can remark is that we would have lost a heap of entertaining +experiences, that's what!" + +They had all left the wagon before this, and Merritt managed to secure +the horse to a tree near by; so that in case they found the animal there +on their return, after striving to locate the two escaped jail birds, +they might have a pleasant means of transportation to Hampton town. + +When the police officer had produced his little electric hand torch, +which was capable of being carried in a vest pocket and yet gave quite a +fine glow when the current was switched on, he told Rob that he had +better take possession of the light, as he would really be the one to +need it. As for himself and his men, they meant to keep themselves in +constant readiness for grappling with the two desperate rogues, should +they have the good fortune to come up with them. + +Nothing could have pleased Rob more than this splendid chance to show +what the education of a scout along the line of woodcraft was doing for +the boys of the Eagle Patrol. Here was an opportunity to make a test of +their knowledge. If they proved equal to the task of finding those two +men who were doing all in their power to elude recapture, it would +certainly go far to witness that these scouts had not studied the art of +trailing in vain. + +And hence it was with considerable satisfaction, as well as a firm +determination to exhaust every means he had in his power in order to +come up with the fugitives, that the young leader of the Eagles accepted +that handy electric torch, and immediately commenced to flash its white +glow over the ground in the vicinity of the white birch. + +Men and boys trailed along after Rob; Tubby, Merritt and Andy making +sure to keep well in the rear, so that they might not interfere with the +plans of the Chief. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +ON THE TRAIL. + + +In this manner they left the dusty road behind them, and entered among +the bushes and growth of scrubby trees that bordered it. + +The three Eagles who came just after the stalwart police officers kept +in a bunch; not that any of them felt afraid in the least; but as they +were unarmed, save for the various clubs they had managed to pick up on +the way, they seemed to think there might be safety in numbers. + +Besides, if at any time they felt in a communicative mood, it was +possible to put their heads together and pass whispers along. + +Rob, in the lead, was bending over and bringing that little hand torch +into play in great style. Nothing could have been finer for the purpose, +he quickly concluded, and made up his mind on the spot that he would own +such a handy article at the very first opportunity. + +The steady white glow allowed him to see the ground so plainly that he +could readily distinguish every little mark made by the feet of the +fleeing men. On the whole, Rob would have called that job something of a +snap; for neither of the fugitives seemed to have once thought of such a +thing as "blinding their trail"; such as clever scouts generally do when +playing "fox and geese," or some game of that sort. + +In fact, the taller fellow, the one who limped so badly, had actually +dragged his injured leg after him; and in this way he managed to leave a +broad track that Rob believed even a tender-foot might follow with +ease. + +Still there were places where the ground was hard, being made for the +most part of rock; and here the tracker was compelled to be more careful +in order that he might not be thrown off the trail by accident and have +all sorts of trouble finding it again. + +"Say, keep your eye on Rob, fellers," Tubby whispered, when he was so +wound up that he just could not keep quiet any longer. "Isn't he showing +the Chief a few wrinkles about following a set of tracks, though?" + +"Not so loud, Tubby," cautioned Merritt, who, as the second in command +of the Eagle Patrol, had a certain amount of authority invested in him +that the rest of the scouts always recognized, particularly when Rob was +not on duty or absent. + +"But he is trailing along like a regular old fox, isn't he?" persisted +Tubby, who was hard to repress when he felt the spirit move within him. + +"Course he is," muttered Andy; "and this isn't the first time Rob has +made grown men sit up and take notice. But there, he's hit a snarl of +some kind!" + +"Well, you take my word for it, Rob will unravel it in double-quick +order!" the stout boy assured him. + +"Silence!" hissed Merritt; and this time he apparently "squelched" +Tubby, for the latter had nothing more to say just then; but as he had +freed his mind, that was a matter of small consequence. + +Rob was skirmishing around as though he might have lost the trail owing +to the hardness of the ground. He had held up a hand in order to warn +the three officers not to stumble over him, and then with his torch held +low, proceeded to examine his surroundings. + +They saw him rise up and flash his light to the right, then to the +left, and finally straight ahead. Apparently he was making up his mind +from the conformation of things which way the two fleeing men might have +chosen as they pushed forward in the semi-darkness. In other words, Rob +was applying an old principle, trying to "put himself in their place" so +that he could decide what their natural action under the circumstances +would have been. + +He seemed to settle quickly which way had looked the most promising to +the anxious eyes of two sorely pressed fellows, one of whom could hardly +drag himself along, for he immediately turned toward the left, and again +flashed his torch on the ground. + +Almost immediately afterward the three scouts in the rear caught a queer +little sound, not unlike the faint squawk of an eaglet in its nest at +feeding time. + +"There, did you hear that, fellers?" demanded Tubby excitedly, though he +did manage to keep his voice whittled down to a hoarse whisper. + +"It was Rob giving us the sign of the Eagles that told he had found what +he was looking for; sure it was!" observed Andy. + +"That's all right, but you boys let up on your talking. Understand?" +was the warning given by the corporal. + +Apparently the boy in the lead must have given the three officers some +sort of signal with his disengaged hand, for as he moved off they +started after him, doubtless with renewed confidence in his ability to +lead them. If either of those men who accompanied the Chief on this +mission had been inclined to scoff at the usefulness of the education of +a Boy Scout, he must have had an object lesson then and there that he +would not soon forget. + +Later on every one of them candidly admitted that without the aid of Rob +they would never have been able to follow the trail of the fleeing +rascals for five rods, not having been taught how to read signs, as are +all scouts who deserve the name. + +After that Rob did not seem to run up against any more snags, for he +kept moving steadily along, now turning to one side, and then to the +other, just as the parties he tracked had chanced to move in order to +avoid some fallen tree, a stump, or a thick clump of thorny bushes that +barred their path. + +It was splendid work, and the trio of boys who kept tabs on what their +patrol leader was doing, felt a genuine thrill of admiration for Rob's +skill. Once again were the Eagles proving their worth in an emergency; +and after this Hampton folks would have still more reason to feel proud +of the patrol and the troop. + +"Listen!" said Andy suddenly, "what is that I hear?" + +His two companions halted for a brief period of time, because apparently +they had not as yet chanced to catch the sound that disturbed Andy. + +"Seems like running water to me," ventured Tubby, as if in more or less +doubt. + +"It is running water," affirmed Merritt quickly; "a little stream of +some kind, I guess. Seems to me I remember one that trails through this +patch of scrub oak timber." + +"Well, we're heading straight for it," remarked Andy; "and like as not +the two men wanted to get a drink right bad. They ran so hard they felt +dry enough to drain a spring-hole at one turn." + +"Sh! You see Rob's heading that way; let's move on!" Merritt told them. + +It turned out just as they figured. The run-aways had indeed gone +straight for the little streamlet that gurgled through the underbrush; +and Rob showed by means of his light just where they had both knelt down +alongside the creek to drink. + +Just as the other three scouts came up, they heard Rob give a little +exclamation that seemed to have in it something like pity. + +"What have you found now, son?" asked the big Chief, understanding from +the manner in which the clever scout had given this cry that he must +have made a new discovery. + +"I reckon that poor wretch got a worse broken leg than any one has +thought up to now, Chief," Rob remarked with a long breath, as he +riveted the light of his little torch upon one certain spot of ground. + +"How d'ye make that out, Rob?" asked Tubby before any one else could +speak; for slow in his movements though the fat youth might often seem +no one was more ready to interject a word than Tubby. + +"Here is where both of them knelt down so they could bend forward and +drink," replied the obliging patrol leader, always ready to post his +comrades on these little points that would add to their scout +education. + +"Yep, we can see the marks easy," Andy assured the other. + +"Here is where the shorter one got down, because you can see the +distance between the marks of his knees and the toes of his shoes +doesn't measure nearly as much as this other does. And looking closer +you'll see that the tall man wasn't able to double up his left leg as he +wanted to." + +"That was the one they said he had hurt," remarked the Chief, +undoubtedly deeply interested in all that the boy was saying. + +"Now, if you look here at the place where his left foot dug into the +soil when he lay down to drink, you'll find a stain that tells a story +of its own!" Rob went on to say, as he held the torch still lower, so +that all could see. + +"Jiminy crickets!" exclaimed Tubby, in an awed tone. "Why, it's a blood +mark, fellers; sure it is!" + +"Yes," added the Chief, "that's right, son. He hurt his leg worse than +anybody could have known about. That Con has got plenty of nerve to keep +going all this time with such a bad wound! He certainly wanted to escape +a term at the pen, all right." + +"I think he couldn't drag himself much further, Chief; and we'll be apt +to run across him soon, even if the other man gets away," Rob observed; +and so much confidence had the big officer learned to put in what the +patrol leader of the Eagles said, that he nodded his head and simply +remarked: + +"That's good news, Rob; let's get a move on again, and close in on our +birds!" + +"Are they armed, do you know, Chief?" asked Merritt; for he had been +wondering what sort of reception they would receive when they finally +closed in on the fugitives, who were reckoned desperate men. + +"Not so far as is known," replied the other. "I was particular to ask +that, for I knew I'd have to shape my plans accordingly. It seems that +they raided an old scare-crow that had been left in a field, and managed +to change clothes with the dummy after a fashion, for they wanted to +pose as tramps, you see. But armed or not, we are ready to settle +accounts with the rascals. We're close at your heels, Rob; make all the +time you want." + +Rob was not having any difficulty whatever in following the trail after +the two fugitives had left the little streamlet. He seemed to be as +keen on the scent as a rabbit hound, only he went about his work +noiselessly, and not with the idea of giving tongue, such as a beagle +usually shows. + +"We're getting on a warm track, Chief," the boy with the torch suddenly +remarked, "because just then I saw a little twig right itself under my +very eyes, showing it must have been stepped on only a few minutes +before. Hello! here's only one set of tracks! The man with the broken +leg has drawn out!" + +"But where could he have gone?" asked Tubby. "He didn't have wings, did +he? And no aeroplane could dodge down in all this brush to carry him +off. If he isn't on the ground, where d'ye reckon he can be, Rob?" + +For answer the patrol leader gave one good look at the place where the +trail of the man who dragged his left leg after him seemed to stop. + +Then he quickly focused the white glow of his electric torch up into the +tree directly over-head. + +"Oh! looky there, would you, in the fork of the tree!" exclaimed Tubby, +always bent on expressing his opinion. + +And as the others cast their eyes upward, they saw the huddled figure of +a man where Tubby had indicated. Rob had undoubtedly run one of the +fugitives down; and hearing them coming through the brush, he must have +climbed the tree as a last resort, evidently hoping they might pass him +by. + +But he had not taken into consideration the fact that a scout was +leading the pursuing party, and that the sudden ending of his tracks was +bound to cause the trailer to survey the vicinity in the expectation of +locating his game. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE EAGLES LEAD THE WAY TO SUCCESS. + + +"Don't shoot, gents! I reckon I'm pretty near all in!" called out the +man who was in the crotch of the oak tree. + +At the same time he elevated both hands as a sign that he was unarmed +and did not intend to offer any hostile demonstration. Undoubtedly the +sight of the three big officers in blue, not to speak of four stalwart +lads dressed in scout uniforms, must have convinced him that he had +really run to the end of his rope; and that after being checked so +positively in his break for liberty, the next best thing for him to do +would be to give in and have his wounded leg attended to. + +"Hello! got you, have we, Con?" remarked the Chief pleasantly. + +"Looks like it, Chief," grunted the man, who must have been in +considerable pain, Rob determined, as he saw the drawn look on his face. +"Just gimme half a chance, and I'll drop down out of this. It ain't the +easiest thing agoin' for a man with a leg swollen up like mine to move, +once he sets still five minutes." + +"That's so, Con," the head of the Hampton police force said, as he +stepped forward; "and I'll help you down all I can." + +If Rob had had a good opinion of the burly Chief before, that added to +it; because his consideration for a suffering wretch, even if he were a +hard character, proved that the policeman had a heart. + +The fugitive was helped to the ground, and he sank down with a half +stifled groan. They could see that his face had a peaked look, and that +he was compelled to grit his teeth savagely together, as though trying +his best not to show signs of weakness. Yes, Con was a man of more than +ordinary nerve and grit, Rob knew, as he noticed all this; but then he +had made up his mind on that score before now, so he was not at all +surprised. + +"Corporal Merritt," he said, turning to his second in command; "suppose +you take a look at this poor fellow's leg, and see if you can't do +something in an emergency to ease the pain. Like as not we'll have to +make a stretcher and carry him to where the wagon was left." + +"All right, Rob!" was the ready answer Merritt gave; while his eyes +fairly sparkled with satisfaction at having the patrol leader show such +confidence in him as to turn over this duty to his charge. As a rule Rob +generally took it upon himself to play the part of doctor when an +occasion arose that required such work. + +And imagine the astonishment of those three policemen as they saw the +corporal immediately set to work to tackle his job with the assurance of +an experienced physician or surgeon. As for the injured man, he stared +as though hardly knowing what to believe, to see a mere boy undertake a +task like that. + +Tubby gave one look as Merritt unwound the rough bandage that the +wounded man had wrapped tightly around his injured leg, and gasped as he +turned his head away. Andy kept on staring as though fascinated; but at +the same time had any one observed the boy closely he would have found +that Andy's usual healthy color had given place to a ghastly hue. + +If Merritt experienced anything of the same feeling as he proceeded to +manipulate the limb of the man, he certainly did not let the weakness +interfere with his work. + +"I may hurt you some, but stand it as well as you can," he told the +other. "Because I have an idea the leg may not be broken after all, but +only badly wrenched and torn by striking some hard object. Steady, now!" + +A minute later, as boys and officers stared, and mentally gave Merritt +credit for knowing all about "first aid to the injured," the corporal +went on to say: + +"It is just as I thought, for there is no fracture of the bones that I +can find. But you have neglected it so long and strained it so by +walking and running that I'm afraid you're going to have a bad time with +that leg. But I'll put something on that will ease the pain, more or +less, and bind it up fresh for you. Then we'll get you to the wagon +somehow, without your having to walk." + +"Say, are you what they call the Boy Scouts?" asked the injured man, who +had been listening to all Merritt said, as well as watching his deft +fingers work, with amazement written large upon his peaked face. + +"Just what we are," Tubby hastened to inform him; "and you can see now +what the scouts learn. You are not the first man who has been handled by +the members of the Eagle Patrol, Mister." + +"Well, I wanted to know!" muttered the man, still staring, as though he +could not understand how mere boys could master the art of handling a +bad wound like that with such skill, and show the nerve to do it at the +same time. + +"Where's Rob going?" asked Tubby just then. + +While Merritt was working Rob had held the torch so that he could see, +until Andy had taken a hint, and scraped enough dead leaves together to +make a little fire, and in this way given all the light that was needed. + +Apparently the patrol leader was not satisfied with having overtaken one +of the desperate fugitives who had escaped from the Riverhead jail. He +must have figured, while standing there, waiting until the fire had +attained sufficient size to allow his moving off, that possibly the +other rascal might not have run much further, as they would surely have +caught the sound of his pressing through all that dense undergrowth; for +at the time Con was helped up into his tree by the shorter man, the +pursuers could not have been far away. + +And so the scout who carried that useful electric hand torch proceeded +to find the tracks of the second man; after which he began to follow +the trail. + +It immediately led him into the thickest of the underbrush; and this +fact only added strength to the boy's former deduction, to the effect +that no one could push on through all this matted growth without making +all sorts of sounds capable of being readily heard by keen ears a +quarter of a mile away almost. + +Merritt had now finished bandaging the wounded leg of the man, and the +fellow frankly told him it was feeling many times better already. + +"You're a sure enough wonder, boy, that's what!" the man went on to say; +and while he did not thank the amateur surgeon in so many words, Merritt +could easily trace gratitude in the tone of his voice. However, the +young corporal was not doing this in order to receive praise, but +because it lay in the line of his duty as a scout. + +"Got one man, anyway, Chief, didn't you?" Andy remarked. + +"Half a loaf, they say, is some better than no bread," answered the big +man, chuckling, as though vastly amused over the result of this +singular hunt in company with the Boy Scouts. + +Before he could say anything more, there arose a series of loud +"k-r-e-e-es" from the direction where the patrol leader had gone a +minute or two before. + +"That's Rob!" cried Tubby, all in a tremor at the thought of new +developments coming on the carpet. + +"And he wants us to come along!" added Andy. "Listen! There's somebody +else calling out, too, and it's a gruff voice, boys. I wonder, now, if +Rob's cornered the other runaway in a tree, too. Let's hurry on and +see!" + +They were soon all in motion, leaving the wounded man alone by the +little fire, since in all probability he would never dream of attempting +further flight. And Merritt did not feel like being cheated out of his +share of the fun in order to stand by and watch one who was really the +prisoner of the Chief. + +They had little difficulty in knowing which way to move, for the racket +still kept up ahead. It was found to be pretty hard work pushing through +all that dense mass of ground vines, bushes, and closely growing dwarf +oaks, whose branches caught Tubby several times and almost choked him. + +Once he did actually find himself gripped by the throat by one of these +lower limbs, and lifted off his feet for the space of three seconds; so +that ever afterward Tubby was fond of saying that he knew from actual +experience just how Absalom must have felt when he was caught by his +long hair and left hanging in a tree. + +"Rob, oh, Rob, where are you?" called Andy, as they drew nearer to the +strange sounds, which, besides spoken words, seemed to consist of the +swishing of hurtling stones or clubs, and jeering laughter, all so queer +that the scouts could make little or nothing of them. + +For answer there was a flash, as Rob turned his torch toward them for +just the space of a second; and at the same time he was heard calling +close at hand: + +"Here I am, just ahead of you, boys! Better look out or you'll get hit!" + +"But what in the wide world is going on, Rob?" demanded Merritt, as he +heard some object strike with a heavy thud among the bushes not two feet +away from him. + +"I'll show you what it means!" laughed Rob, who it turned out was +hiding back of a fairly large tree-trunk not five feet away. As he spoke +he sent the white light of his torch straight ahead once more. + +What they saw astonished them. A moving figure caught their attention, +and no explanation was needed to tell the boys that this must be the +shorter one of the precious pair of rogues who had broken jail, and +given the authorities of Suffolk and adjoining counties such a scare. + +He seemed to be groping all around him, as though trying to find more +stones or fragments of broken limbs with which to bombard the patrol +leader, whose presence was betrayed by the flash of his torch. + +"What's he doing there; and why does he lean over like that?" called out +Tubby, at the same time dodging behind a convenient tree, when he saw +the man proceed to hurl a stone in their direction, following it up with +a stream of hard words that told how furious he felt. + +"Why, the fact is," said Rob, still laughing, as though he considered it +a good joke on the fugitive, "that he got himself in the neatest trap +you ever saw. In the dark and his hurry he pushed his foot into some +sort of frog made of the roots of a bush, and after that got so twisted +up in the vines that if he was promised a thousand dollars for doing it, +he just couldn't break away. I flashed the light on him, you see, where +he was lying low, hoping we'd clear out and let him get away; and he was +so mad he began to fire everything he could lay hands on at me. There's +your second man, Chief. I'll hand over the job of taking him to you." + +"Well, I wouldn't be afraid to wager you could do it as clever as the +next one if it was up to you, son!" remarked the big officer, as he +started toward the spot where the baffled fugitive crouched, looking +about as furious and ugly as any one could who had been tripped up in +this neat manner by ill fortune. + +Of course the fellow saw that the game was up. He did not dare to offer +any resistance when the Chief walked up to him and ordered him to hold +out his hands. And when there came a sharp "click" that made Tubby +wince, they knew that the fugitive from justice had been retaken, and +that he stood a fair chance to face a judge and jury before many days. + +It required considerable labor to get him free from the trap that Nature +had so cruelly sprung upon him, but in the end this was accomplished; +and upon returning to where the little fire still burned, they found the +wounded man lying there on the ground, as comfortably as he could, and +awaiting them with an expectant look on his face. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +TUBBY REFUSES TO FORGET. + + +"Too bad they got you, too, Joe!" said the wounded man; and yet there +was something like satisfaction on his face, along with the grin he +gave; because misery likes company, and if his companion had managed to +escape it would have seemed doubly hard for him to be retaken, and badly +hurt at that. + +"This man isn't able to walk all the way back to the road, Chief," Rob +went on to say, indicating the tall fellow, who lay there with his leg +bound up the best Merritt could do with so little at hand to aid him. + +"I reckon, son," returned the big officer, so pleased with the success +that had come to him that he was ready to grant almost any favor these +scouts asked, "we'll just have to carry him, then." + +"And that would hurt him almost as much as limping along," Rob +continued; "so if you hold up for a little bit, we'll try and fix a +stretcher that ought to answer; though it's going to be a mighty poor +sort of thing, without even a camp hatchet to cut poles with. Get busy +with me, boys, and show the Chief what you know." + +Now this was one of the things in which all the Eagles had been +thoroughly drilled. They knew how to go to work to make a comfortable +stretcher on which an injured person might be carried for miles. But +just as the patrol leader said, not having a hatchet handy was likely to +prove something of a handicap. However, scouts always try to do the best +they can, no matter what difficulties they run up against, and Merritt +was the first to start scurrying around, looking for stout poles that +would serve for the sides and handles of the stretcher. + +Once more did those three police officers stand and watch what the boys +were doing with both wonder and interest written on their faces. Why, +they had never dreamed that half-grown lads could be so resourceful; and +even after a number of fairly straight poles had been collected, +calculated to bear easily the weight of the injured man, none of the men +could guess just how these were to be utilized, or fastened together. + +Judge of their astonishment, then, when they saw the boys make another +little side hunt and come back with strands of pliable vines that could +be twisted about the poles, fastening them together, each live vine +stronger three times over than a cord of the same size would have been. + +Each scout took pride in being able to render his share of the work; and +Rob, on his part, was filled with satisfaction to find how well things +began to shape themselves under the nimble fingers of his chums and +himself. + +As the rude but effective stretcher began to assume its desired form, +the Chief gave each of his men a nod and a wink, as though calling their +attention to the clever way in which these ready lads met an emergency +by "being prepared"; letting them understand, also, that a useful lesson +might be drawn from the happening. + +Even the two captured rogues manifested considerable interest in what +was going on, the wounded fellow because he had good reason to be +thankful for receiving so much consideration, and the shorter rascal +because he had never been given a chance to see scouts work before. + +"There's your stretcher, Chief," said Rob, when less than ten minutes +had slipped by, "and it's going to answer all right, I think." + +"No question about that, lad," replied the big officer; "and made so +strong into the bargain that it would bear even my weight without +trouble. And now let's get Con on it so we can start for the wagon." + +This was quickly done. The man winced when they moved him, but other +than that managed to repress all signs of his suffering. The two men +accompanying the Chief took hold of the handles that had been provided, +and had not the slightest trouble in walking away with the wounded rogue +on the stretcher. As for the Chief, he took the other prisoner in +charge. Rob walked in the van, accompanied by his chums, and tried to +pick out the easiest way, always thinking of the pain that the wretched +Con must be enduring every time one of the bearers stumbled over a root. + +"This is what I call great work," Tubby said, as he managed to keep +alongside the one who bore the torch, so that he could get the full +benefit of its light; for he did not fancy going down on all fours every +little while when some vine happened to be in the path. + +"And I'll surely never forget this scene," Andy remarked, showing that +it had made a great impression on him. "Lots of times I'll shut my +eyes, and see us all stringing along this way with that fellow laid out +on the stretcher. And say, when you look around and see how these old +vines hang down, you'd almost believe we were making our way through +some tropical forest like lots of men we've read about." + +"Well," spoke up Tubby briskly, "mebbe, now, we may be doing that same +thing before a great while, if only Uncle Mark makes up his mind to send +me down there to Mexico to straighten out his mixed affairs. I almost +believe he would right now, if only Rob, here, was going to be along, +because he's heard so much about him. And it wouldn't cost us a red +cent, either, because Uncle Mark'll stand for it. But the trouble is +we're bound to school right now, and can't get away, hang the luck!" + +"Careful there, Tubby," warned Merritt just then; "you're getting too +excited, and you don't watch your steps as you ought. That time you +nearly knocked me down banging against me so suddenly." + +"But aren't we nearly to the road, Rob?" pleaded Tubby, who was +breathing hard, partly on account of his exertions in keeping close to +the leader, and also because he persisted in wasting so much wind in +talking. + +"More than half way, Tubby, so cheer up; the worst is yet to come," +chuckled the patrol leader. And then as the fat scout gave a dismal +groan Rob hastened to add: "That was only said for fun, because we are +going to have it easier right along after this. I think in five minutes +we shall come out on the road." + +When about that time had expired, Rob flashed the light of his torch +ahead, and then called out: + +"There's the white birch that hangs over the road, boys; and the wagon +is not far away from that, you remember." + +"What d'ye think of that, Chief? If he didn't go and fetch us straight +back to the place we started from!" Andy called out. + +"That was easy," Rob told him; "because I only had to follow our own +trail, you understand. And here we are!" + +The horse whinnied at their approach, just as though he might have known +they were friends; and possibly the poor tired beast was as hungry for a +good feed of oats as animals of his class can get. + +The rude stretcher, having served its purpose, was cast aside, and the +wounded man made as comfortable as possible in the bed of the wagon. All +of the scouts but Merritt settled themselves as best they could, as did +also two of the officers. The Chief and his prisoner occupied the seat +with the driver, where the recaptured rogue could be constantly watched. + +In this way, then, they set out to cover the two miles or more that lay +between them and Hampton. Naturally the scouts felt quite jolly over the +remarkable success that had accompanied their labors of the evening. + +"Well, who would have thought when the water came a-rushing into our +boat, so we had to run her ashore and leave her there till morning, that +we'd come on the finest chance ever to show what we knew about +scoutcraft?" Andy burst out after they had been rumbling along the road +steadily for a short time. Merritt had been cautioned not to try and +make speed on account of the poor fellow who had hard work to repress a +groan with every jolt. + +"That's the way things come around, sometimes," Rob told him. "You never +can tell how they're going to turn out. Lots of times I've heard my +father say that the very things he looked on as disasters proved to be +blessings in disguise. And for one, I could almost forgive the fellow +who played that miserable trick on us, because of the great time we've +had since landing." + +"Well, I don't join with you there," grumbled Tubby, who did not often +hold a grudge against anybody, and therefore made his present action the +more singular. "What if that plug had dropped out when we were out in +the middle of the bay, with the wind and waves like they were? Wouldn't +we have been in danger of our lives? I can see a feller of my size +swimming a mile and more! Huh! that was a coward's trick, let me tell +you. And just wait and see if I don't fasten the guilt on the wretch +that played it on us. I've got all the evidence needed right here in my +pocket; and given a little time, I'll fix him,--but I'm not mentioning +any names _yet_!" + +Both Andy and Rob pretended to consider Tubby's intention to play +detective in the nature of a great joke, because they did not believe +that the fat scout had any particular gift along such lines; but he +certainly seemed in deadly earnest, and took himself seriously, for a +fact. + +"We are likely to be late to supper to-night, boys!" Rob remarked, as +they saw the lights of Hampton ahead, and knew that presently they would +be in the home town. + +"What of that, when we've got such a splendid excuse?" Tubby said, as he +puffed himself up with pride. "I know my maw and Uncle Mark'll listen +a-holding their breath while I tell of all the wonderful adventures that +came our way since we started after Rob's select oysters! Um! don't I +wish I had a few to sample right this minute! But then, I ought to be +home pretty quick now, and I guess I can hold in. Friday night we always +have Boston baked beans at our house; and you know I'm particularly fond +of those. And this is Friday, isn't it?" + +He heaved a contented sigh, as though making up his mind that supper +would taste all the finer for being held back so long; and that was +Tubby's way all over. + +"I'll jump out here, Chief," said Rob, as Merritt held up the horse, +knowing they were close to the banker's house. "I reckon I can tote that +sack of oysters such a short way. So-long, fellows; see you first thing +in the morning, Merritt. I'd like mighty much to get my boat home +before that old hurricane from the West Indies comes tearing up the +coast. Good night, Chief, and I'm glad we were able to lend you a hand. +I hope you get a doctor busy with that swollen leg Con's carrying around +with him. It'd be rough if blood poisoning set in." + +So saying, the patrol leader allowed the two boys in the body of the +wagon to heave the half bushel of prime shellfish over his right +shoulder, and walked off with his burden as though it did not amount to +much, anyway. + +The cheery words of the policemen followed him; but pleasant as these +may have been, it was something entirely different that caused Rob to +laugh softly to himself as he heard it. And this was the shrill +"k-r-e-e-e" of the Eagles, sent after him by his chums, as a token of +their esteem, and in recognition of the great aid scoutcraft had proven +to them during the last hour or more. + +Thus closed one of the most interesting experiences that had ever fallen +to the lot of the Eagle Patrol scouts; one that they would be apt to +remember years afterwards, when time had caused them to forget many +other adventures that had come their way. And doubtless Tubby did keep +his folks breathless while he narrated the exciting details over the +supper table--after he had taken off the first sharp edge of his +wonderful appetite. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A DAZZLING PLAN. + + +Rob was up and around at daybreak the following morning, for as yet the +anticipated storm had not come up the coast, and it seemed as though he +might manage to get his stranded sailboat back home before the wind +assumed hurricane force. + +He was just starting in to have a bit of breakfast, having made the +coffee, as every Boy Scout who is worth his salt is taught to do, when a +cheery whistle from without announced the coming of Merritt. As it had +been arranged between them that Rob would attend to the breakfast part, +the Crawford boy was soon partaking of his share. + +"Think we'll be able to get back with the boat?" he asked Rob, as he +swallowed his hot coffee in such large quantities that the tears came +into his eyes. + +"I don't see why we shouldn't," answered the other; "the wind has +shifted quite a lot, and once we start we'll be able to make it with +about three tacks." + +"How about that hole? I don't reckon you'll spend much time fixing that +now?" Merritt went on to say. + +"I should guess not," laughed Rob. "If a plug that wasn't pounded in any +too well in the first place held out all that time before working loose, +I can fill up the hole with a fresh piece of wood that will never drop +out. Besides, we can keep an eye on it. Any more coffee, Merritt?" + +"I'm done, and ready to take that little spin right away. Got your +sweater on, I see, Rob. You'll need it, and then some, on the boat, with +this wind blowing. I've fetched along my heavy storm coat into the +bargain." + +"I was meaning to carry mine, you can understand," Rob rejoined, as he +picked it up from the chair where he had tossed it. + +As soon as both of them were mounted on their wheels, they sped away +along the road in the direction of the place where the sailboat had been +left. And, as there had been no unusually strong wind from a quarter +that would bring the seas into the little sheltered cove, Rob had no +fear that his property could have been damaged since they abandoned it +on the preceding evening. + +Of course they covered the same stretch of road over which they had come +while in the wagon drawn by the white nag; and, as they swung past the +identical birch tree that marked the spot where the fugitives had turned +into the thick undergrowth, Merritt drew the fact to his chum's +attention. + +"I'll never see a white birch again as long as I live," he said +earnestly, "but I'll remember that one and all that happened to us +around here. But that cove can't be much more than half a mile away now, +Rob. Do you say the same?" + +"We're bearing down on the place right now, and you'll find that it lies +where that bush stands that holds its red leaves, while others are bare +or brown." + +"If you say so, I know it's going to be that way," returned the +corporal, "because you always look out to mark things down so in your +mind. Now, it never occurred to me to take any notice of what the side +of the road looked like when we came out on it. I seemed to think that, +because I knew that cove so well, I could find it again as easy as +falling off a log; but chances are I'd have run away over the mark, if +left to myself, because I thought it was further along." + +"I've found it pays always to notice things as you go," said Rob, as +they jumped from their saddles and pushed the wheels ahead of them while +passing along what seemed to be a trail leading toward the shore; "it +saves lots of time, and you have a sort of satisfied feeling, just as if +you were ready for anything." + +They came directly on the cove, and found the boat just as they had left +it. Of course the first thing to be done was to lower the water that was +in the stern of the boat. This Merritt proceeded to do with a small pail +Rob had brought along, while the other boy whittled a stick of white +pine until it suited his idea of what a proper plug should be, after +which he proceeded to pound it into the round hole in the bottom of the +sailboat's hull. + +After that they finished the job of clearing the water out, and then the +boat was launched. Pushing out into deeper water, they soon had the sail +up, and were buffeting the waves. Of course they lost ground until the +centerboard could be used, after which they were able to make a course +that would take them considerably nearer Hampton. + +It was quite a wild dash, and both scouts enjoyed fighting wind and wave +until, some two hours after starting, they managed to run into sheltered +water, and could feel that the victory had been won. + +"And none too soon, let me tell you, my boy," said Rob, as he pointed +out to where the white-caps were rushing furiously along before a wind +that was rapidly assuming the proportions of a storm. + +"Gee whiz! but were we out in that sea?" exclaimed Merritt, as though +hardly able to believe his eyes. "Why, I didn't dream it was half that +rough while we were booming along. But then we had our hands full +managing things, and couldn't do much looking around, could we? I'm glad +it's all over. Listen to the wind howl as it cuts around the corners of +the yacht club building! Looks as though we might get all the hurricane +Hampton can stand before another night comes." + +They did. + +The weather sharps at Washington had not sent out those storm warnings +without good cause, for there had never been such a wicked gale along +the south shore of Long Island at that late season of the year as this +one. + +Although it was Saturday and a holiday, few boys dared venture out, and +then only to run from one house to another, clad in waterproofs, their +heads covered with rubber capes such as duck shooters sport in rainy +weather, when holding forth in their "point" blinds. + +The storm raged all that night, and the following day also, doing all +manner of serious damage along the South Shore, where boats were sunk, +piers swept away, and even houses demolished. + +On Monday morning it showed signs of abating, so that Merritt managed to +get over to the Blake home. He was just in time to catch up with Tubby +and Andy, who, unable to stay indoors any longer, had determined to seek +company. + +"Whee! isn't this the limit, though?" called out Tubby as the corporal +of the Eagles came up, after being compelled to duck his head and fight +against the fury of the still stiff wind. + +"I hear it's done all manner of things around here," Andy remarked +earnestly. "I hope, Merritt, you and Rob managed to get that boat home; +because if she's up in that cove still there won't be two sticks of her +left fastened together. Why, the seas rose higher than they ever did +before, so I heard, and they must have pounded in along that shore like +hot cakes!" + +"Oh! we managed to work her down, never fear," Merritt assured him; "and +chances are she's O. K. now. Hello! Rob, we thought we'd step in and see +how you all managed to hold out through the storm!" + +"No damage done at our house; but I heard that the poor old Academy got +caught again," the patrol leader remarked. + +At which Andy threw up his hands, exclaiming, + +"Don't tell me it was burned again, after the other bad blaze that let +us out of school long enough for some of you fellows to run down to +Panama, and have all kinds of fun!" + +"No fire this time, but wind and rain," Rob said soberly. "Why, they say +the whole roof was carried two hundred yards away, so that the rain beat +in, and played hob with everything! The Academy is next door to a ruin +right now. It begins to look as if we might have to be given another +long vacation till they get a new roof on; and that may be a month, +perhaps two!" + +The three boys who heard this interesting news somehow did not seem to +feel particularly sorry. Indeed, as soon as he could find his voice, +Tubby burst out into a regular cowboy yell. + +"Hooray! that means we'll have a chance to take Uncle Mark at his word +if so be he wants the lot of us to hike down there over the Rio Grande, +and see what can be done with his cattle on that ranch in Mexico! Again +I say, 'Hooray for everybody.' Oh! say, tell me about that, won't you? +It sounds too good to be true, Rob! Are you dead sure that that +accommodating new roof went sailing away? And did it land two hundred +yards off? Wouldn't I have liked to be around to see her go, though! And +it will surely take the carpenters six weeks or two months to get a new +one on and the rooms fixed over. Talk about luck, it never rains but it +pours!" + +"Yes," said Rob, laughing at the extravagant actions and words by means +of which Tubby tried to express his joy; "we've just seen it pour the +worst ever. If an inch fell on poor old Hampton, I'd say there was a +foot solid came down; and without a roof on top, the inside of the +Academy must look pretty tough." + +"But about this queer old uncle of yours, Tubby, how is it we never met +him?" inquired Merritt. "Tell us all about him, won't you? He must be +some traveler; because I heard you say once he'd just been nearly a year +in Africa exploring over the course Livingstone and Stanley took a long +while back." + +"Why," Tubby immediately started in to say, "Uncle Mark Matthews is a +brother of my mother. He's always been a queer sort of fish, crazy about +hunting orchids, and all that sort of stuff, you know. Spent years and +years down in tropical South America, where no white man had ever been +before; and has a whole raft of strange plants, birds, butterflies and +what-not named after him. He settled down in Mexico some years ago, and +got together quite a respectable lot of prize cattle on a ranch that's +in the northern part of the country. And that is where a lot of this +fighting business has been going on between the rebels under Villa and +the troops of Huerta, now playing his little part as president of the +republic. + +"About a year or more ago it seems that Uncle Mark got the old fever on +him again; and this time it was Africa that called him. He wanted to do +something big over there before he found himself too old, he says. +Anyway, he put his ranch in charge of a man he believed he could trust +with things, even if he was a greaser; and away he cut for the heart of +the Dark Continent. + +"Well, he came near losing his life there, dying of the jungle fever, or +some kind of thing like that; and when, after a hard fight, he managed +to reach the coast, heading for America, first thing he heard was that +there were hot times all around where his prize ranch was located; and +also that if his bunch of cattle worth a fortune hadn't been confiscated +yet, they'd soon be lost to him. It seems that Uncle Mark has lost a +good part of the big pile he once owned, and if this ranch was sacked +he'd be in a bad hole; and that is what is worrying him right now. + +"If it is going to be saved at all, somebody has just got to go down +there and do the business; and Uncle Mark is too sick a man to dream of +trying it. That's why he's been talking to me as he has. You see, +ordinarily he wouldn't think of entrusting such a risky job to a boy of +my age; but ever since he's come to Hampton he's been hearing about what +clever chaps the Boy Scouts are, and particularly you, Rob, and Merritt, +here; and he told me again last night that if only it might be fixed so +you could go along--yes, and you, too, Andy, don't think I'd leave you +out of this deal--he'd hand the whole business over to me to handle. And +let me tell you, it looks like things might be shaping that way right +now, when you give me to understand, Rob, that the Academy is a wreck, +and that there can't be any school for six or eight weeks. And that's +why I'm tickled to death, and feel like throwing my hat over the church +steeple with joy. Because, don't you see, fellers, it's going to mean a +glorious trip for the whole four of us, a chance to see what Mexico +looks like in war times, and perhaps even an opportunity to run across +some of the natives who are doing all the fighting!" + +But Rob looked serious, as though there were things that he wanted +explained before he could consent to consider such a wild goose chase. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +FIGURING IT ALL OUT. + + +"Just hold your horses a bit, Tubby; you're going so fast I'm afraid +you'll break your neck," Rob told the fat boy. "Why, nobody ever saw you +half so excited in all your life as you are now." + +"Well, who wouldn't be, when everything is rooting for us to make that +lovely trip down to the land of sunshine, where there is something doing +every minute of the time right now?" Tubby declared. "And all I hope is, +first, that this rumor about the school roof taking wings and blowing +away doesn't turn out to be a fizzle; and, second, that you will make up +your mind to go along with me, Rob. Because I'm banking on the rest +falling all over themselves to sneeze if only you take snuff. That +right, fellers?" + +"You've got it down pretty pat, Tubby," chuckled Merritt. + +"Yes," added Andy, "you know mighty well that if Rob and you say 'go,' +the rest of us couldn't be held back with wild horses. That is, always +providing our folks give us permission, and I think they will when they +know how much the trip means to your poor uncle." + +"There, Rob, see that?" cried Tubby eagerly. "What's doing now?" + +"Before I say a word one way or the other," Rob told him, "there are +heaps of questions I want answered. Perhaps you can tell us a part of +the story; but we'd have to see Uncle Mark, and hear the rest. Get that, +Tubby?" + +"Sure I do, Rob, and you'll find me only too willing to accommodate all +I can. Fire away, now, and I'll try and put you wise to the facts," and +the fat boy threw himself into Rob's easy-chair, elevating one leg over +an arm, and assuming the air of a witness in the box ready to be +cross-questioned by the lawyer on the other side. + +"Tell us something more about your uncle first of all," said Rob, just +as if he might have a long list of questions on a slip of paper, which +he meant to put to the other. + +"About his life, do you mean, or just that part of it connected with +Mexico?" demanded Tubby. + +"We haven't the time to stand for it all," observed Rob; "because such a +wonderful man as your uncle must have run across more queer things than +we read about in Baron Munchausen or the Arabian Nights, he's been such +a great traveler and explorer. So just strike in where he made up his +mind to settle down on a Mexican ranch, and sent to England to import a +fine breed of cattle to improve the native stock. That was how long ago, +Tubby?" + +"From what he told me I guess it might have been six or seven years +back; but that doesn't matter so very much. He bought a big tract of +good land, and put up his ranch buildings; after which he got his stock +together and started raising the best brand of cattle ever known in +Northern Mexico, shipping his beef, on the hoof, of course, over the +border to the United States market." + +"That was when Diaz was president of Mexico," Rob remarked. "Now, how +did your uncle get along with the Government at that time? I want to +know, because it's going to cut a big figure with us when we get down +there--if we ever do." + +"Why, to tell you the truth, I don't believe Uncle Mark cared much for +President Diaz, because he had lots of trouble at times with the people +in power. And later on, when Madero went into Mexico to turn things +upside-down, I guess uncle helped him a whole lot. Anyway, I've heard +him say he admired Madero a heap, and that they were good friends. Why, +after Diaz lit out for Spain, Uncle Mark was so dead sure things would +run smooth down there that he left his ranch in charge of a man he +believed he could trust, and started on the trip to Africa that he'd +been staving off for ever so long. And he says he must have just missed +the news that Madero had been killed, and that another president was in +the chair. If he'd known that, he would never have made his dive into +the heart of Africa, but hurried back home." + +"Then he looks on Huerta as anything but a friend; is that it?" asked +Rob. + +"He's afraid the present Government is following along the same paths +Diaz made, and that everybody who was hand in glove with Madero must +come under the ban," Tubby went on to say with considerable importance, +as though he might be coining some of these phrases himself, when, +truth to tell, he only repeated them, parrot-like, after his uncle. + +"Now, that's something we would have to know," said Rob. "But tell us, +has your uncle had any word from his ranch since he came back?" + +"Not a whisper," Tubby assured him. "You see, things are in such a whirl +down over the border right now that letters never get to their +destinations; and as for a wire message being delivered, it isn't +possible in a year." + +"Then Uncle Mark doesn't know whether he has any cattle left on his +ranch to-day, or if it's just a howling wilderness, with every beef run +off, and the buildings burned to the ground. Is that the way it stands, +Tubby?" + +"Er--yes, I suppose it is," admitted the fat scout slowly. "And you see, +it's to find out the truth, for one thing, that he wants somebody to go +down there and cross over into Mexico. Then, if everything is lovely and +the goose hangs high, that messenger will be given authority to dispose +of every head of cattle so as to fetch as big a fistful of money back +here as he can." + +Rob shook his head, while the other three who were eagerly watching his +face looked keenly disappointed. The signs seemed to point to an +adverse decision in the matter by the patrol leader. + +"It appears to be even worse than what I called it first--a wild goose +chase," Rob presently pursued. "For months and months now there have +been all kinds of fighting around that section of country, if half we +see in the papers is true: first with the Government forces ahead, and +then the rebels clearing out everything, so that a hostile army couldn't +live off the land. It was just as Sheridan was ordered to do in the +Valley of the Shenandoah, you remember. If the army of Huerta didn't +carry off your uncle's prize stock, you can make sure the hungry rabble +of that rebel general, Villa, must have gobbled it up long ago." + +"Oh! but there is where uncle says he has his strongest hold!" exclaimed +Tubby, his round face lighting up again with new hope. + +"I'm glad to hear he's got a string out somewhere, then," Rob remarked. +"Suppose you tell us what you mean by that?" + +"Why, he knows General Villa real well," Tubby went on. "Fact is, he met +him some years ago when he was only a bandit, fighting against the Diaz +Government, because they'd gone and set a price on his head. It's too +long a story to tell you now, Rob, but the fact is that my uncle, who +used to be a pretty fine surgeon once on a time before he got this +exploring bee in his head, saved the life of Villa!" + +"He did, eh?" exclaimed the patrol leader, apparently beginning to take +new interest in the matter. "That sounds as though there might be a slim +chance for those herds to be left alone. Go on and tell us some more, +Tubby." + +"Villa was badly hurt, and uncle took him to his house and nursed him +back to life again, knowing who he was all the while; because, as I said +before, uncle didn't have any too much love for the party that was in +power just then. And Villa told him he would never forget what uncle had +done for him; that if he could do him a favor any time all uncle had to +do was to speak. So that is what he's hoping will turn out in his favor; +that General Villa, remembering how he was treated so well at the ranch, +would put a guard over the place and keep his men from raiding it, under +the belief that uncle must return home before long. Oh, Uncle Mark is +building big hopes on the gratitude of the man whose life he saved long +ago!" + +"I must say it does look some hopeful," Rob mused, as though trying to +convince himself along those lines; for a trip to the South did look +mighty alluring to him, if only he could believe it was not a foolish +errand that took them to the sorely troubled land of the Montezumas. + +"And I forgot to tell you this," Tubby continued breathlessly. "Just as +you read so often in stories of the old-time days, the bandit Villa gave +my uncle a queer ring which he wears all the time, and told him that if +that ring was ever brought to him he would go far out of his way to help +the person who fetched it!" + +When Tubby burst out with this new bombardment, Rob threw up his hands +as if he must capitulate on the spot. + +"That seems to clinch matters like a nail driven through a board, +Tubby," he went on to say. + +"Oh! then you mean you'll go; is that it, Rob?" exclaimed the fat boy, +scrambling out of the easy-chair, and landing on his feet with his short +legs spread out as though they were a letter A. + +Rob smiled. + +"It's too soon to settle the thing like that, Tubby; but I want to tell +you that after hearing all you've had to say, I must admit there's a +chance of my falling in with your scheme. It's a glorious outlook so far +as the trip goes. The trouble will be to get in touch with General Villa +with that country fairly swarming with guerillas and bandits of all +kinds, not to speak of the rebels themselves." + +"What will you do about it, Rob?" pleaded Tubby. "Because you know time +is going to count for a whole lot with us. Just as soon as we know for +sure that there will not be any school till long after Christmas, we +ought to be starting. It's going to take some days to get down there, +and across the Rio Grande." + +"Well, first, you must take us all to see your uncle so he can give us +more information. We shall need it all, depend on that," Rob told him, +laying one finger on the palm of his left hand as he checked things off. +"Then I want to talk it all over with dad, though somehow I don't seem +to fear any serious opposition from that quarter, because he's so good +to me, and has such a lot of faith in my being able to come out of any +scrape right-side up. Last of all, I mean to put it up to our +scout-master, Mr. Alec Sands, and get his advice." + +Hampton Troop of Boy Scouts now had a regular scout master, as the rules +of the organization demanded. He was a bright young man of about +twenty-five, who, while not very well acquainted with the secrets of the +Big Outdoors, as were some of the scouts, did know boys from the ground +up; and he was deeply interested in everything that went for the +betterment of the rising generation. Some time before, Rob had received +his certificate from Headquarters in New York City, and was qualified to +serve as assistant scout master in the absence of the real leader of the +troop; for only a first-class scout may fill this position, and then +only after he has been endorsed by the scout commissioner of the +district, as well as the local council. + +"Well," said Tubby, scratching his head dubiously, "I only hope, then, +that our Mr. Sands don't put the kibosh on the whole fine game by saying +there's too big a risk about it for us to undertake. I don't see why +that should be, when every day you read about scouts doing all sorts of +wonderful things,--rescuing folks from burning buildings, stopping +runaway horses at the risk of their lives, and such brave deeds that +get them medals from Headquarters. This means a whole lot to my uncle, +and to my folks; for whatever he owns will come to us if he should die; +and let me say this right now--if the rest of you back out, Tubby +Hopkins will make the try all by himself. You hear me talking, don't +you?" + +"That sounds pretty strong, Tubby," remarked Rob, smiling, yet in secret +admiring the undaunted spirit that caused the stout boy to make this +positive declaration; "but suppose you take us right now to see your +uncle; that may settle it once and for all!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +HOW THE LAND LAY. + + +Upon hearing Rob speak so favorably of the scheme, Tubby grinned, and +gave both of the other scouts a sly wink, as much as to say: "See how +you can get there by keeping everlastingly at it?" That was the fat +boy's best quality: persistence. If he failed to reach his aim twenty +times he was apt to proceed to try again and again until success +rewarded him. + +"Then come along over home with me and have a talk with Uncle Mark!" he +told the patrol leader as he began to hunt all around for his hat, which +he often mislaid. He was finally informed coolly by Andy that it was +perched on his head, as he had forgotten to remove it when entering +Rob's den! + +So the four hurried out. Signs of the late storm's fury could be seen in +every direction. Great limbs had been torn from some of Hampton's finest +trees; chimneys had been demolished in several places; and it was not +hard to believe that at the climax of the hurricane the new roof of the +Academy had been carried off. + +First of all, Rob said they should satisfy themselves that this report +was true; so they joined the crowds that were heading for the school +grounds. When the boys saw what a wreck the storm had made of the +building, none of them doubted any longer that a vacation period was +bound to result. And strange to say, while some of the town fathers +walked around, viewing the damage with long faces, knowing how heavily +it would cost to repair the school, nobody saw a single boy looking +glum! + +"That's one point settled, anyhow," Andy remarked gleefully, as they all +turned away, heading for the Hopkins' home. + +"And say, Mexico looks a whole lot closer to me, don't you know?" Tubby +chirped, with such a happy look on his rosy face that any one might have +thought he was on the eve of starting on a picnic instead of a serious +undertaking. But, then, boys never see the dark side of things, such is +the enthusiasm and optimism of youth. + +"Too bad about one thing, Tubby, if so be you get away on this journey," +remarked Andy, giving Merritt a wink as he spoke. + +"What's that, Andy, you're hinting about?" asked the other. + +"It's going to knock your fine plans silly; about searching every tool +chest in town, you know, and finding the brace and nicked bit that +chawed a hole through the bottom of Rob's sailboat," the bugler of the +Eagles went on to say. + +Tubby looked somewhat glum, and shrugged his plump shoulders ruefully. + +"Say, that's a fact, fellers," he remarked dolefully; "and I'd sure set +my heart on finding out the miscreant, and exposing him to his face. +Such a smart idea of mine it was, too, finding that shaving with the +tell-tale mark! But if I don't get a chance to spy around between now +and the time we leave Hampton, I'll keep it in mind. And every time I +look at that incriminating bit of evidence, I'll renew my vow to place +the guilt on the shoulders where it belongs just as soon as I get back +home after a successful trip." + +Tubby, when he wanted to, could appear very eloquent, and use some of +the longest words in the dictionary. Fortunately these periods did not +crop up very often, or his chums would not have stood for such airs. +Andy pretended to feel faint as it was, and begged Merritt to fan him. + +"All I can say about the matter is that I'm sorry for the fellow who +bored that hole through my boat," Rob remarked; "because when once Tubby +sets his mind on anything it's bound to come, sooner or later. But here +we are at your house; and now to meet Uncle Mark." + +Three minutes later they were all sitting around a small, dark-featured +gentleman, who wore a big pair of goggles and looked as though he might +be pretty sick. This was Uncle Mark. The fever he had contracted in the +hot depths of the African jungles had taken such a hold upon his system +that he began to despair of ever being able to travel again; and he had +sought his sister's home as a haven of refuge in his last days. + +He seemed to guess about what the three scouts had come to see him; +which would indicate that Tubby had done considerable talking, even to +promising that he would coax the others to join him in making the trip +to the country south of the Rio Grande. + +As Rob went over pretty much the same ground as when he was questioning +Tubby, it would hardly pay us to repeat what passed between Uncle Mark +and the boys for the first half hour of the conference. Of course the +old traveler was able to go further into details; and some of his +descriptions of those warm times when he first met Villa, the bandit, +thrilled his young hearers. + +"Some people might think it a very unwise thing for me to try and induce +a party of mere lads to start down into that sorely distressed and +torn-up country just now on such a strange errand," Uncle Mark said +after a while; "but I've considered everything carefully, and I actually +believe you would have a far better chance for success than if I +entrusted the mission to a man, who would be sure to get mixed up with +some of the rival factions and lose out. Besides, I've become very much +interested in the aims of Boy Scouts since I've come to Hampton; and +some of the things you Eagles have done fairly made my heart go out to +you. I believe that if anybody can make a success of this errand you +can." + +Naturally enough such words of warm praise made the scouts feel drawn +toward the broken down old traveler and explorer more than ever. Uncle +Mark had seen such a host of remarkable things during his roving life +that this fact alone would endear him to all boys who had red blood in +their veins. And scouts in particular, with their love for outdoors and +the myriad secrets of the wilderness, might be expected to feel warmly +toward one who had camped for months amidst the savage tribes of Africa, +hunted through the tropical forests of South America in search of new +orchids, and lived the free life of an explorer. + +Still Rob went on asking questions, for he knew that they could not have +too much information concerning the country they meant to visit, and the +people they must meet there. + +All of them examined the quaint ring that Uncle Mark passed around, +which, as he said, General Villa had given him years ago. At that time +the present leader of the rebel forces in Northern Mexico was looked on +as a hunted bandit, with a price set on his head by President Diaz. + +"Should you conclude to undertake this mission, Rob," the old gentleman +went on to say, with an anxious, almost pleading look on his face, +"which I earnestly hope may be the case, I mean to put this ring on your +finger, because I suppose you are to be the leader. When you want to +prove to General Villa that you come direct from his old friend, Doctor +Matthews, all you have to do is to show him that; and if he is the man +of his word that I firmly believe him to be, there is nothing he can do +for you that he will refuse. But more than that, I expect to entrust you +with a letter to him, written in Spanish, but also translated for your +benefit. In it I shall ask him to dispose of all my cattle, if they are +still safe, to the best advantage possible, and to send me the proceeds +by you, as I am in a bad state and shall need the money. Is that plain, +boys?" + +"It couldn't be more so, sir," Rob assured him. + +"And now, after you have heard all that I can tell you, what do you +think about undertaking the expedition for me?" continued the other +eagerly. Tubby gripped the sides of his chair and held his breath, +waiting for Rob to settle the important question then and there. + +Rob was too diplomatic to do so off-hand. He knew that several things +had to be taken into consideration before they could think of assenting. + +"All I can say just now is this, Dr. Matthews," he remarked. "I'm for +going, now that I understand things better, and know that there is +really some sort of chance that your cattle have been guarded, because +of this friendship for you on the part of Villa; and you tell us that he +is a man who never forgets a friend. But before we can say positively +that we'll undertake the job, we shall have to see what the home folks +have to say about it." + +"Of course. I expected that, Rob," the gentleman went on; "and if any of +you meet with opposition, please send the fathers or mothers over to see +me, and I'll try my best to win them to your way of thinking. It means +everything to me, because that ranch is all I've got left in the wide +world; and I put over a hundred thousand dollars into it." + +"Oh! so far as my father is concerned, sir," Rob assured him, "I'm +pretty sure there'll be little talking needed to make him see it in the +right light; because he's the finest dad on all Long Island, and he +believes in me from the word go. Merritt, here, has a coaxing way about +him that generally gets what he wants from his father, who is the +jolliest big man you ever saw wield a sledge. About Andy I'm not so +sure; but if there is going to be no school for two months, and his +father learns that the rest of us are going, I have hopes that he will +say yes." + +"And I know he will!" exclaimed the bugler of the troop positively. +"Because he believes that scouts can take care of themselves anywhere. +Since I joined the Eagles I've shown so much improvement, he says, that +there is really nothing he would refuse me that was in reason." + +"Which shows that your father is a sensible man," remarked Uncle Mark; +"and I hope to meet him before long. But how soon can all this be +settled, Rob? Because every day counts terribly now. If my cattle have +been spared all these months, it may be that General Villa, believing I +never mean to return to Mexico, and needing money to buy supplies for +his troops, may feel that he has done all that could be asked of him, +and yield to the pressure. Yes, a day might turn the scales, and lose me +all my valuable stock. Make it as short a delay as you can, please, +Rob." + +"Oh! we'll settle that this very night, sir," replied the patrol leader +promptly. "It has always been a habit of mine not to let the grass grow +under my feet. And if things turn out right, why, I can see no reason +why we shouldn't make a start--by, say, to-morrow afternoon!" + +"Hurray!" cried Tubby, dancing around the room; while his mother, who +had come in to hear what was being said, hardly knew whether to look +pleased or worried. To have her only boy leave home on such an errand +was enough to cause any mother considerable anxiety. + +Both Merritt and Andy grinned, as though the prospect pleased them +greatly. What scout could help feeling delighted over such a chance for +visiting a country about which they had been reading so much as they had +of Mexico lately? That the unhappy republic was in the throes of civil +war did not seem to appal them at all; for never having experienced any +of the horrors of such a conflict, they could not realize what it meant. + +Uncle Mark could understand all about it, though; but he was so anxious +to find out about his ranch, and had such blind faith in the ability of +these clever scouts to take care of themselves under any and all +conditions, that he shut his eyes to the possibility of their coming to +harm. + +And that was about the last word; for presently Rob and his chums said +good-bye to the sick man, who shook hands with each scout, and said he +would continue to hope they might decide to undertake the mission of +trying to save the last valuable possession he had in the wide world. +After which they went out to talk it all over again, and lay plans as to +what their program would be in case every obstacle were cleared away and +they saw an open door beyond them. + +"Well," said Rob finally; "if we do go we'll have our hands full getting +ready to skip out to-morrow; so Merritt, you and Andy had better see how +the land lies with your fathers; while I wait for mine to come home at +noon. Here's hoping you'll have the best of luck!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"THEY'RE OFF!" + + +It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that +morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this +story. And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept +employed carrying messages from house to house. + +In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and +upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited +voice of Andy. + +"Rob, is that you? Say, it's all right, and I'm going along!" + +"Oh! you didn't have to say more than one word to tell me that," +answered the patrol leader with a laugh. "Why, the minute you opened +your mouth you gave it all away. But I'm mighty glad you convinced your +folks, Andy." + +"At first father looked kind of glum, and shook his head as though he +wouldn't hear of such a thing," continued the other joyously. "But I +took your advice, and just started in to tell the whole yarn. I could +see his face keep getting lighter the further I went, till at the end he +shook me by the hand, and says he: 'Andy, I don't mean to refuse you any +reasonable thing; and while I'll worry a lot if you go down there to +that troubled country, still, it's in a good cause. And if Mrs. Hopkins, +Mr. Blake, and Mr. Crawford give their sons permission, I reckon I'll +have to do the same. I've found that scouts learn how to take care of +themselves no matter where they happen to be!' And so that's settled. +How about you?" + +"Oh! there wasn't any trouble," replied Rob proudly. "Dad asked me a lot +of questions, and then said he was willing to trust me anywhere. He's +the finest dad that ever lived, barring none! Now, we're only waiting to +hear from Merritt." + +"Well, you won't have to wait long, then," said a hearty voice just over +Rob's shoulder; and glancing up he saw the other chum, who had reached +the door of the room unobserved, even while the excited confab over the +wire was in progress. + +"There's no need of my asking what luck you've had, Merritt, my boy," +chuckled Rob, "because you carry the map on your face. It's all right, +do I hear you say?" + +"I should say, yes," hastily replied the other with a happy grin that +told how much his boyish heart was wrapped up in this grand project. + +"Why, I didn't have any trouble at all. Father simply said that while he +hardly approved of four lads like us going down into that country where +neighbor was warring with neighbor, and everything torn upside-down, +still, it would be a shame if Tubby's old uncle, whom he has met, should +lose all he had when there was a chance to save it. And so he told me +that if the other boys received permission to go, he wouldn't throw +anything in the way. You know, Rob, father has a heap of respect for the +opinion of your dad." + +"Good for you, Merritt," Rob rejoined. "I've been talking with Andy, and +everything is lovely over there at his house. I'm holding the wire, and +just wait till I tell him to come over here on the jump. He'd better +pick up Tubby on the way, because we want to talk things over once more, +so as to know just what we ought to take along with us." + +This was speedily arranged; and within ten minutes the other two +members of the Eagle Patrol bustled in, out of breath with the exertion +they had put forth in order to save time. + +Then the tongues began to wag, and all sorts of suggestions came thick +and fast. It seemed as though everybody had been thinking up ideas, as +well as getting new ones from outsiders, mostly fellow members of the +troop to whom the subject of the great expedition was mentioned. + +"My father advised that we go well armed," said Merritt; "not that we +would expect to use our guns against anybody, unless in the last pinch; +but he says there are ferocious wild beasts down in that country, and he +wouldn't feel easy to have us there with just a camp hatchet and our +staves along for defense." + +"How about that, Tubby? Did you happen to ask Uncle Mark whether we'd be +likely to run across any grizzly bears or panthers or big game like +that?" inquired Andy. + +"Just what I did, because you know my mother said she was worried about +my being gobbled up by a pack of hungry wolves," replied the fat scout. + +"Guess they would pick you out first pop!" struck in Andy, chuckling. + +"Which would show their good taste," Tubby informed him, without +hesitating a second. "But uncle admitted that we might run across wild +beasts of prey if we had to make much of a detour to avoid the Federal +troops that are combing the country back of Ciudad Juarez, on the Rio +Grande just opposite El Paso on the Texas side." + +"Did he happen to say what kind of animals?" asked Rob. + +"Oh! any old kind. There are wolves and coyotes on the plains, and in +the desert; jaguars among the hills; and sometimes even a bear is run +across, though not often. But my opinion is we'll have ten times as much +worry about rebels and Federal soldiers and some of the Mexican bandits +like that Castillo crowd we've read so much about in the papers the last +few months." + +"I think myself that you hit the target in the bull's-eye that time, +Tubby," was Merritt's way of expressing his opinion. + +"Well, it's settled then," added Rob, "that we go armed. Every fellow +will have to carry some sort of a gun; and if you don't happen to own +one, borrow it. Be sure to have some ammunition along, because we +mightn't be able to get the kind we need down there. Now, let's make +out a list of things we'll want with us. Of course we wouldn't think of +carrying a tent, because we don't mean to have a pack train along, and +we'll have to move in a hurry lots of times." + +"But what if it rains like all get-out?" questioned Tubby, who did not +altogether like the idea of getting his brand new khaki suit +water-soaked the first thing. + +"Oh! don't bother about such a little thing as that," Merritt told him, +with a snort of scorn. "What sort of scouts would we be if we couldn't +fix up some sort of shelter against rain? And even if we didn't, none of +us are made of salt, are we? Anyway, I don't believe it rains much down +there around Chihuahua, because a heap of the territory is only desert; +and it wouldn't be that if it had showers, you understand." + +By degrees they settled upon what they should take along. Tubby was for +loading himself down with such a raft of stuff,--all of which might come +in very handy, but could never be carried without breaking the back of +his horse,--that Rob finally made out a slip for him, and insisted that +he should not pack up more than those essential things contained on the +paper. + +"I'm going to take my fountain pen along, anyhow," grumbled Tubby, as +though determined to carry some article that was not on the list. "And I +bet, Rob, you'll be wanting to borrow it at every city where we stop for +ten minutes, to address post cards to somebody in Hampton, like you did +the time we went to Panama." + +Of course that sly allusion caused a laugh on the part of Merritt and +Andy, while Rob turned a bit red in the face. + +"Oh! have your fun if you want to, fellows," the patrol leader said, as +though he were proof against their prodding. "I acknowledge that I did +send a few cards to Lucy Mainwaring that time; yes, and I calculate to +do the same again. Just think up some nice girl, each of you, and invest +a few dimes that way yourself. It's lots of fun looking them over +afterward, when she's got them so neatly pasted in her post card album." + +"Well," Merritt proposed, "now that we know what's what, hadn't we +better scatter and get busy? There's an awful lot to be done between now +and night, looking over our clothes, having this fixed, or that button +sewed on. Suppose we get together after supper and report progress. How +would my house do?" + +"I'll be on deck, never fear," Tubby announced promptly. + +"Look for me about half-past seven, Merritt," Andy told him. + +"Sorry, fellows," Rob put in, with a shrug of his shoulders and a +whimsical smile on his face; "I'll have to plead a previous engagement." + +"Oh! sure you do," jeered Andy; "and it'd be a shame to ask you to break +it for such a little thing as this. But the rest of us'll be around, +Merritt. No need of worrying about Rob, anyhow, because we know he'll +have everything in ship-shape style long before our train leaves." + +After that the meeting was dissolved, and three of the lads hurried away +to start packing their duffel according to arrangements, getting it in +as small a compass as possible. + +They were frequently interrupted by other boy friends, calling to find +out if this startling rumor had any truth back of it. The visitors asked +unlimited questions, while they loudly bewailed their hard luck in not +getting a chance to accompany the four fortunate ones. + +Sim Jeffords and Hiram Nelson, indeed, went so far as to threaten +jokingly to start a rival expedition, and clean out all the rebels and +Regulars in the Mexican State of Chihuahua. While Fred Mainwaring, +Lucy's brother, who was at home at this time, boldly declared he had +half a mind to buy a ticket through to El Paso and wait for the four +scouts there, in hopes of thus forcing them to take him on. + +In the town it became a subject of common talk, and all sorts of ideas +were passed around concerning this new and most extraordinary scheme of +the scouts. Some people who were not in love with the organization, like +old Hiram Applegate, the farmer who had caused the boys so much trouble +in a previous story, openly scoffed at the idea of half-grown lads +undertaking such a risky mission. He said their parents must be crazy to +allow it; but when casual mention was made of his own wild son, Jared, +who had gone rapidly to the bad, and had not been heard from since his +misdeeds at Panama came near getting him into trouble with the United +States Government, Hiram suddenly remembered he had an engagement +elsewhere. + +Even the old-time enemies of the Eagles, Max Ramsay, Hodge Berry, and a +few of the members of the rival Hawk Patrol, investigated the exciting +news, and tried to prove to their own satisfaction that the people of +Hampton were prejudiced in favor of Rob Blake and his crowd, because all +sorts of splendid things seemed to be continually coming their way. They +were wilfully blind to the fact that the boys of the Eagle Patrol had +surely deserved all the good fortune that had been showered upon them +thus far. This was because they had set their standard high, and tried +to conform to the rules that govern the scout movement. + +That was a long night to four boys at least in Hampton. At noon on the +following day a great crowd gathered at the station to see them leave +for New York, where they expected to take the night train for the Far +Southwest. Rob and his three chums felt their hearts beat a lively +tattoo as they saw the faces of home folks and patrol comrades among +those present. + +As the train pulled out of the station amidst loud shouts and good +wishes, and waving hats and handkerchiefs, the boys could distinguish +one sound that thrilled them to the core, and made them remember the +vows they had taken always to be true scouts. + +This was the shrill "k-r-e-e-e" of the Eagles, given in concert by the +other members of the patrol to which all of the travelers belonged; and +the last thing they saw as they leaned from the windows was the swarm of +campaign hats that went flying up into the air. + +Then, as the scene was blotted out in the cloud of fine sand raised by +the train, the four boys, thus boldly starting on a long and hazardous +journey in quest of Uncle Mark's last remnant of his fortune, sank back +in their seats and just looked at each other, too overcome to say a +single word. Behind lay home and all the dear ones; while beyond was the +land of revolution and turmoil--Mexico! + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ALONG THE RIO GRANDE. + + +"Here we are coming into El Paso at last!" called out Rob, as he started +to get his various bundles together, so as to leave the train that had +carried them over the last part of their long and tiresome journey +across the whole of Texas. + +"And I'm about as happy to hear that as if you'd told me I was made a +first class scout, and could hang the whole badge on my sleeve, where +now I only sport the lower half, 'Be Prepared!'" cried Tubby, also +getting busy. + +The boys had some time before been warned that they were nearing their +objective point on the American side of the border stream known as the +Rio Grande. Tubby loudly declared that he could not see anything so very +grand about the river; that they had wider creeks up North than this +seemed to be, away up here so far away from the Gulf. + +When they alighted they stared around them, naturally, because strange +sights at once began to meet their eyes, accustomed to other types of +people. A great crowd stood around, in which were khaki-clad United +States regulars off duty; cowboys; Mexicans with swarthy faces, both men +and women; Indians with their curios for sale in the shape of +finely-woven baskets and pottery of gaudy hues; and many other classes +of people besides. + +Of course the four lads came in for return stares, and they could well +understand that, for doubtless they were the very first Boy Scouts to +drop in on El Paso. Many persons at once believed that they must be new +recruits for the army. These observers remarked to one another that +things had come to a pretty pass when Uncle Sam found it necessary to +enlist half-grown boys in the service, now that it looked as though +intervention in Mexico must come about sooner or later. + +Rob, however, paid little attention to curious looks. He went about his +business with the air of one who had all his plans well matured, and +knew just what must be done first. + +Asking a few questions, he was directed to a sort of hotel. When they +had reached it, it did not strike Tubby as giving much promise of good +"feeds"; and he did not hesitate to express that opinion when they were +alone in the big room with its two beds that had been assigned to them. + +"We don't expect to stay here more than the one night," Rob told him; +"only to get rested up and be in shape to start across the bridge there +after we've purchased horses and found a guide who can run off greaser +talk. So I wouldn't make any more row if I were you, Tubby." + +"We'll see that you get enough to eat if that is what worries you," +Merritt went on to say consolingly; and at that the fat scout managed to +smile a little. + +"Well," he remarked with a sigh, "if the rest of you can stand for it, I +guess I'll just have to, that's all. But, jiminy crickets, things look +pretty shady after coming straight from a nice clean home!" + +"You'll have to put up with lots worse than that, Tubby; so cheer up," +said Andy. "And now, what is the first thing on the program, Rob?" + +"Clean up the best we can, and rest till after we've had our dinner," +the other advised. "Then we'll try to get an interview with the +commander of the forces here, and see what he thinks we'd better do." + +"Huh! like as not he'll tell us we must not dream of venturing across to +the other side, unless General Villa happens to be in Juarez right now, +which I reckon would be too good luck," Tubby replied disconsolately. +"And I hope, Rob, that if he does talk that way he won't influence you +to call it all off. Think what silly guys we'd feel like, starting back +home without even making a try to invade Mexico!" + +"Don't let that keep you on edge, Tubby," the patrol leader told him; +"you ought to know me by this time, and that I never give up a thing +I've set my mind on till the last horn blows. We've started on this +business of your Uncle Mark's; and we'll see it through, or know the +reason why!" + +"Hurray! them's my sentiments!" exclaimed Andy, and even Merritt waved +his hand above his head, as though he fully agreed with the other +comrades; so Tubby was able to appear at ease once more, as a great load +had been removed from his heart. + +When they had partaken of a wretched dinner that made Tubby look quite +blue because there was hardly a thing that seemed to taste right, the +four boys started out to look the border town over. They cast frequent +glances across the guarded bridge connecting El Paso with the Mexican +shore of the river, and finally asked of a passing soldier the way to +headquarters. + +Already they had learned who was in command at El Paso at that time, and +had even glimpsed the general at a distance. It happened that they found +the commander at leisure, which was a wonder, for he had his hands full +during these troublous times trying to keep the peace, when there were +so many chances of Americans and Mexicans coming into armed conflict +along the river for miles. + +The officer looked them over as they were ushered into the room. Rob had +been wise enough to send in a note telling who they were, and that they +wished to consult him on a very important piece of business. + +"So, you are the four Boy Scouts whose arrival created so much furor, +are you?" the general asked, as he frankly held out his hand toward Rob, +whom he immediately recognized as the leader. Perhaps this was due to +Rob's manner of carrying himself; or else to the fact that he wore his +badge upon his left shoulder, showing that he was a scout master, and +hence in command. Soldiers have quick eyes to catch these things that +might slip past an ordinary citizen. + +"We are Boy Scouts, General," Rob replied; "but we did not know that our +coming to El Paso had made more than a ripple. My name is Rob Blake; +this is Corporal Merritt Crawford; the one next him is Andy Bowles, our +bugler; and this last member goes by the name of Tubby Hopkins!" + +The officer in command at the border town shook hands warmly with each +of the boys. He tried his best not to smile as he noted how well named +Tubby seemed to be; for one could hardly look at him without being +forcibly reminded of a butter firkin, or else of the most useful family +utensil on wash days. + +"Why, I understand that for a time, until they learned who you were," +the general went on to remark, with a quizzical look, "there was +considerable indignation going around that our great Government should +send out boys to help patrol the Rio Grande, and to keep the fighting +Mexicans on their own side of the river. But you say you wish to +consult me about something; so, as my time may be limited, suppose you +start in and give me the facts. I want to assure you in the start, +though, that I've watched the growth of the scout movement from a small +beginning; and that I'm heart and soul in favor of it as the finest +thing that ever happened for uplifting the American youth. It's going to +make a great difference in the kind of _men_ we'll be having ten and +twenty years from now." + +After hearing that, of course, Rob knew they would have the full +sympathy of the general in the carrying out of their mission. However, +he might fear that they were undertaking too great a task in risking the +dangers of travel through so disturbed a country as Mexico at that time, +since both Federals and rebels were feeling anything but friendly toward +Americans. + +So Rob started in to narrate the entire story, and he made such a fine +thing of it that the interested listener only interrupted him a few +times to ask further particulars concerning certain points. + +All the while his eyes kindled with growing admiration for these brave +lads, who were ready to take such great risks in order to save Uncle +Mark's cattle, if it so happened that they had not been already seized +by one side or the other of the contending forces. + +"I suppose it would do no good for me to try and discourage you, boys," +he said heartily, after the whole story had been told; "because I can +easily see that you would try to carry out your plans at any rate. And +that being the case, I might as well give you what advice I can, and +help you in that way." + +His words caused every boyish face to be wreathed in smiles. + +"That is very kind of you, General," said Rob; "and we will try to act +on the advice you give us, you may be sure. All we want is to meet +General Pancho Villa; and from what Uncle Mark told us about his being a +man of his word, we think the rest will be easy." + +The experienced officer smiled grimly. Possibly he had opinions of his +own about whether one who had been a lawless bandit for years would +remember a kind deed to the point of throwing protection about the ranch +of his former friend; but he did not venture to disturb the belief of +the sanguine scouts. + +"First of all you must have horses. I'll put you in touch with a man who +can supply those, for I understood you to say you had plenty of money to +pay for an outfit. Then you must take enough supplies along to do you +for a week; because you may be that long getting to the town of +Chihuahua, where we have reason to believe Villa is at present. He has +forced many rich Mexicans and trades people there to pay tribute; and +hundreds have made a pilgrimage across the desert with the two thousand +Federal soldiers who were forced to leave Chihuahua when the +Constitutionalists, as Villa's men call themselves, captured the place. +And last of all, I know the very man you will need to serve you as a +guide. He is a Mexican, but I have always found him entirely +trustworthy; and he will be glad to favor me. So I will give you a few +lines to Mardo Lopez, and tell you at what inn you can find him." + +It was certainly cheering to hear the general say such kind things; and +later on, when he shook hands all around again and told them to come and +see him if he could do them any further favor, the four boys felt that +they had indeed great reason to rejoice, because "all things seemed to +be coming their way," as Andy put it. + +They soon found the man called Mardo Lopez. While he did not impress +them very favorably, because he seemed to have what they thought to be a +dark, crafty face, he readily agreed to do everything in his power to +oblige the general, and to prove that he could be trusted. + +After that they took the guide with them to pick out the horses, knowing +that his judgment would be better than their own; for Mardo was +accustomed to traveling across the desert lands that stretched in many +places between the river and the capital of Chihuahua, some two hundred +miles and more from the border, and almost due south. + +By the middle of the afternoon they had bought everything needed, and +had their mounts, together with equipments for the same, safely housed +at the tavern where they put up. Then, at Andy's suggestion, the Mexican +took them for a little stroll, meaning to ask many questions concerning +the organization to which they belonged; for Mardo had, it seemed, heard +about the scouts, but up to that time had never been told what they +stood for. + +Rob, it may be set down as certain, was only too glad to pass the word +along; for he himself believed so thoroughly in the uplifting power of +the Boy Scout movement, that he wanted everybody to understand it in the +same light. + +The four boys and their new guide were walking along close to the bank +of the river, the latter telling them many things that they would have +to run up against once they found themselves on Mexican soil, when far +away across the river there came the dull report of a gun; and then, +just over their heads something cut through the air, making a whining +sound that gave them all a thrill. + +That was the first time they had really been under fire; but even Tubby +seemed to know instinctively what the queer whistle meant, and that a +bullet had passed within a few yards of their heads. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +CROSSING THE FORD. + + +"Whee! hunt cover, fellers! Somebody's making a target of us!" exclaimed +Tubby, looking wildly around for a convenient tree or adobe hut behind +which he might hide his ample form. + +But the Mexican guide showed them how they could quickly find shelter +back of the bank; and, possibly, all of the boys breathed easier when +assured that they were no longer exposed to the fire of the unseen +marksman far back on the other side of the narrow river. + +"But what does it mean?" asked Rob. "I thought the rebels were in force +across the bridge, and that they did all in their power to make Uncle +Sam look on their side with favor." + +"It is so, young senor," the guide replied; "but often have the bullets +come across here when the Federals and the rebels, they have fight it +out over there. But now it is that some man thinks if Americans are shot +it must come that the soldiers in El Paso will have to cross the +international bridge, and that would mean what they call intervention." + +"Oh! I see what you mean," Rob told him. "Then that was only some crazy +man with a gun who wanted to bother Uncle Sam and make him real mad so +he would send his soldiers across to punish him. And once they stepped +on Mexican soil it would mean we'd have a war on our hands." + +After that they were careful not to expose themselves more than seemed +necessary as they continued their walk; and coming back they kept +further away from the river so as to avoid a repetition of the +bombardment. There was not much chance of the wretched marksman hitting +them; but then, even bullets fired at random have been known to find a +lodging place, as Rob had been told. + +One of the first things the guide had assured them was that it would +never do for the scouts to think of trying to enter Mexico by openly +crossing the bridge. It was closely guarded on the one side by Uncle +Sam's soldiers, and across the line by squads of rebels. The latter +examined every one wishing to come or go, in many cases forcibly +preventing the exit of some promising subject who might be made to +yield tribute to the cause of the revolutionists, as well as refusing to +allow others to enter Mexico, whom they believed might have some object +contrary to the interests of their side. + +But then the guide had informed them that he knew a ford where they +might with perfect safety cross the river, now at a low stage. Once on +the opposite shore they must depend on the fleet heels of their horses +to take them inland, and in this manner avoid a meeting with any hostile +force. + +It was all arranged that they start early on the following morning. +Mardo was ready to do whatever they asked; and Tubby expressed himself +as decidedly anxious to meet General Villa with as little delay as +possible. He felt just as Uncle Mark had declared it might be, that the +rebel commander in Chihuahua would by now believe he had done all that +could be expected of him in serving the man who years before had saved +his life, and who had been also a friend of the lamented President +Madero. And as Villa's army needed rations and money desperately, +possibly he would be planning either to kill off the fine steers on the +Matthews Ranch, or else sell them to some enterprising American +speculator for shipment across the line. + +Perhaps none of the boys expected to sleep any too soundly that night, +thinking of what a novel experience was before them; though all of them +were tired after their long train ride. + +Not a great while after supper, however, a soldier came to the inn and +asked for Rob. He bore a message from the commandant to the effect that +he would be pleased to have another little chat with the young assistant +scout master to hear how his plans were coming on. + +This decided interest which the general seemed to take in their +enterprise gave Rob considerable pleasure. He eagerly availed himself of +the privilege of meeting the soldier once more, and only regretted that +his three chums had not been included in the invitation. + +And Rob spent a very satisfactory half hour with the general, to whom he +confided all his plans. He told so much about the previous experiences +of the Eagle scouts, also, that the interested soldier felt reluctant to +terminate the interview. + +"I could go on chatting with you for hours, my son," he said, shaking +hands as he dismissed the boy, "because I am so deeply interested in +your ambitions and in what you have already gone through, you and your +fine comrades. But I have appointed a meeting with some of my officers +to plan for the new emergencies that are continually arising. Believe +me, you have my best wishes, and if I do not see you again on your +return--for something tells me you _will_ return, and after successfully +carrying out your mission, too,--let me hear from you. It will give me +great pleasure to reply." + +This sort of talk was encouraging, to say the least. It gave Rob renewed +ambition to push on along the course he had mapped out. + +Of course, when he arrived at the inn he found the other boys still +sitting up waiting for him; so that by degrees everything that the +general had said had to be repeated before they consented to go to bed. + +With the coming of morning they were all up. Tubby kept declaring that +he did not have a wink of sleep all night on account of the hard bed and +the various strange noises that came from without. But Andy returned +that every time _he_ waked up, and it must have been in the neighborhood +of a dozen separate occasions, he had particularly noticed that Tubby +was sprawled over two-thirds of their bed, and snoring "to beat the +band." After that Tubby closed up, possibly under the impression that +the others would call him a fake. + +As soon as they had had breakfast they found the guide waiting, mounted +on his own horse; and then the bustle of preparation began. Tubby had to +be helped more than a few times, for he became so excited that he could +not remember where he had left a number of important things. Andy +finally declared that it was lucky that the fat scout's head was firmly +attached to his body, for otherwise he would be losing that also! + +"Well," answered Tubby, grinning, "even if that did happen, I wouldn't +be the first feller who'd gone and lost his head, would I? I'd like to +have ten dollars for every time you have, Andy Bowles." + +Finally everything was in readiness, and they started; but there were no +cheers wafted after them on this occasion. The boys, acting under the +advice of the general, had been very careful not to tell a single person +other than Mardo Lopez what they intended doing. The rebels had many +secret sympathizers on that shore of the Rio Grande; and perhaps one of +these might think it worth while to transmit the news across that a +little party of gringo boy soldiers contemplated invading the sacred +soil of Mexico. + +Leaving the lively town of El Paso behind, the little party struck along +the river, and continued to gallop for several hours, until they came to +the place where the ford mentioned by Lopez lay. + +The cautious native guide was very careful to keep a bright lookout, not +wishing to have his charges fired on from either bank of the stream +while crossing. + +"Better you wait here, young senors," he observed, as they pulled up in +the shelter of some scrub trees that grew on a rise; "as for me, I will +go over and take a look around on the other side. When you hear me call, +and I wave my hand, it is a sign that you cross safely." + +"All right, Lopez, we're on to what you mean," Andy told him. + +They watched him crossing the stream, taking note of what he did, so as +to keep the current from pushing his mount from the shelf that made the +water so shallow. + +"We must copy exactly that way of doing," Rob directed the rest. "I +never crossed a river at a ford in my life; and certainly not on +horseback. But it seems easy enough once you've got the hang of things." + +"Huh! won't be any trouble at all," Tubby assured him, being confident +of his ability to keep his horse headed right; and Andy also declared +that it looked "just as easy as falling off a log." + +Lopez, after pulling out on the other side, rode some distance up and +down, as well as back from the river, in order to make sure that there +might not be a party of natives, whether Federals, rebels, or bandits, +lying in ambush. Should such a party open fire upon the boys while they +were in the middle of the stream, they would be next to helpless to +return the shots. + +"There, he's waving his hat, now, and beckoning to us to come on!" +exclaimed Merritt, as the guide came galloping down close to the edge of +the river. "That means the coast is clear, and we can cross over in +peace. Rob, after you!" + +Rob started in, and so well had he taken note of his landmarks, that he +was able to follow exactly after the guide. At the same time he kept his +horse's head turned partly up-stream, so that it could resist the sweep +of the swift current. Had the flank of the animal caught the full force +of the rushing water the crossing would have been more difficult. + +Merritt came after Rob, then Andy, and last, but far from least, Tubby. +No sooner did the latter find himself in water deep enough to wet his +half-drawn-up feet than he realized that to a novice this crossing a +ford was not such a simple thing after all. He tried his best to follow +Andy, and in so doing exposed the side of his horse to the swing of the +current more than policy would seem to dictate. + +In consequence of this indiscretion, presently Tubby began to find that +he could no longer keep exactly in the wake of the scout just ahead of +him. Then he discovered that he was constantly losing ground, so to +speak, and being carried further and further down the river, a foot at a +time. + +He could hear Lopez shouting something, but as the Mexican had +unconsciously lapsed into Spanish, of course poor Tubby failed to +understand a single word of the instructions he was calling. + +"Hey, I'll have to swim for it, fellers!" the fat boy shouted; though +just what good it would do to inform his comrades of his predicament he +could not have told had he been asked. + +Rob turned in the saddle and saw that unless a miracle came to pass, +Tubby was bound to get a wetting. He started to call out something, and +then stopped short, for it was useless to try and tell the luckless +scout what to do. Already his horse had reached the end of the ford and +was in deep water, swimming lustily for the shore; while the alarmed +Tubby threw both arms around the animal's neck, and held on for dear +life. + +Whether there was any real danger in the situation or not the other boys +could not, of course, say; but Tubby's way of clasping his short arms +about his horse's neck so as to prevent himself from being washed +overboard was so comical that they had to laugh, even while urging their +own mounts to the farther shore, so as to be on hand to render +assistance if such should be needed. + +To Tubby it was all serious enough; and no doubt just then he imagined +that he stood a fair chance of being separated from his possessions and +carried down the Rio Grande, perhaps to an untimely death. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A GALLOP ON MEXICAN SOIL. + + +"Hey, Rob, tell me what to do!" Tubby could be heard shouting at the top +of his voice, as he kept on hugging his horse about the neck, being +evidently determined not to allow the current to pluck him out of his +saddle, at any rate so long as he could maintain that rigid grip. + +Even in that sudden emergency Tubby found himself depending on Rob as +usual; and to hear him asking for information, one would believe that +the young patrol leader knew more about river fords than a dozen native +guides who had been used to crossing by this means all their lives. + +Rob had reached shallow water, and immediately urged his horse +down-stream, in order to come opposite the drifting scout. + +"Just keep holding on, and the horse will bring you to land!" he called +out encouragingly. "He is making a plucky fight, and getting in closer +all the while. As soon as he strikes bottom it will be all over; so keep +your grip, Tubby." + +This the fat scout did; and just as Rob had said, presently the swimming +animal reached a more shallow point, where he could get his footing and +manage to swing in closer than ever. And in another five minutes Tubby +emerged from the river, "looking like a half-drowned rat," as Andy +assured him, for streams were dripping from each foot, and he was soaked +from his waist down. + +"Anyway, I had horse sense enough to keep my gun dry," Tubby observed. +"But what shall I do now, Rob? I'm weighing half a ton, I guess." + +"You're not apt to catch cold in this warm air," Rob told him; "and so +you might as well let your duds dry on you. At noon, when we halt for a +bite, you can open up your bundle and spread your blanket out for the +sun to dry. After all, there wasn't any damage done." + +"Only to my feelings," Tubby reminded him. + +"And they don't count," said Andy, laughing at the recollection of the +tragic way in which Tubby had embraced that horse. He had held to it +about as a leech might have clung when applied to the arm of a patient +in the old days when they bled sick men. + +They at once turned their backs on the Rio Grande, and according to +what Lopez told them, they were not likely to set eyes on the river +again until their mission had either been successfully carried out, or +proven a failure. + +Rob took a fond look at the stream. Somehow it seemed to be the very +last link binding them to their home land; for across the running water +lay the good old United States. And they were now on foreign soil, where +the Starry Flag at present was powerless to protect them from a +multitude of perils. + +Presently they could see the river no longer, because they were rising +over a level stretch of country through which the flood at some time in +the far past had cut a deep channel. + +From now on, what was around and before them was to serve fully to +occupy their attention. + +When half a dozen miles had been passed over, Rob began to notice that +Tubby was not looking as happy as he might; and he feared that the pace +was telling more or less on the stout chum. + +"Are we going too fast for you, Tubby?" he called out; and instantly the +other tried to look utterly unconcerned, as though he were enjoying +himself to the utmost. + +"What, for me?" he immediately answered, with a ring of indignation in +his voice; though every jump of his horse caused him to shake like a +mould of jelly. "Well, I should say not! You couldn't move too fast to +suit my mind, Rob. If I had an aeroplane right now you'd see me sailing +away at the rate of a hundred miles an hour, and headed for that same +old town of Chihuahua. Why didn't we think to bring something like that +along? Aeroplanes may be dangerous things, but then they're a heap more +comfortable than some nags I know!" + +No matter how Tubby suffered, he seemed bound not to admit the fact; and +knowing his stubborn nature, Rob did not try to show any further +sympathy for him. If things really became too bad, perhaps Tubby would +consent to ask them to hold up and let him have a breathing spell. But +at any rate, they were surely putting the miles behind them, and before +night-time would have made "quite a dent in that journey to the capital +of the State," as Andy said. + +Before the middle of the day came, Rob had the guide call a halt, for he +knew it was punishment to Tubby to keep this up as they were doing. The +sun was so scorchingly hot that the fat boy seemed very nearly as wet +with perspiration as he had been soaked with river water a little +earlier. But even then he complained at the stop, and told Rob he should +have been able to hold out another half-hour or until noon. This caused +the other scouts to exchange winks, and behind their hands tell each +other that for dogged perseverance Tubby surely had them all "beaten a +mile." + +While they rested their mounts and had a cold bite, Tubby was induced to +open his pack and spread out such things as seemed damp, so that when +night came he would not have to lie down under a blanket that gave him a +chill. Lopez warned the boys that while the day had been very hot, they +would find good reason to wish they had two blankets apiece before +morning. + +"We found that out the time we were down at Panama," said Rob; "though, +perhaps, being further north now may make a difference. But Tubby's just +got to have his blanket good and dry, and that goes." + +Tubby managed to accomplish this; and as they packed up later on to +continue their gallop, he told the others that the sun had done the +business all right. + +Several times during the morning's run the keen-sighted guide had +discovered moving figures far off. Rob had been thoughtful enough to +bring a small but powerful pair of field-glasses, along with many other +things; and these now came in handy to tell them whether the distant +parties were seemingly Federal soldiers or members of Villa's rebel army +foraging for supplies. + +"But if Villa's men are holding all the ground between Chihuahua, from +which they chased Salazar's forces a little while ago, and Juarez on the +river, why do we need to fear running across any Federal soldiers?" Andy +wanted to know, when once Lopez, after taking a look through the +glasses, declared that he believed the half dozen riders they watched +going further away might be men in the uniform of Mexican regulars. + +"Generally speaking, they do hold this territory, which mostly used to +belong to the wealthy Terrazas family," Rob explained; "but reports have +come in that several bodies of mounted regulars were dispatched from +Ojinaga, where half a dozen generals and their men are fortifying their +positions to make a stubborn stand against the rebels. These raiders +have orders to cut the telegraph lines, and destroy all the bridges +they can between Chihuahua and the border on both lines of railroad. And +so you see, we are apt to run across one of these flying columns at any +old time. That is what the good general warned me to look out for; +because, of course, we have more to fear from Salazar's men than from +the rebels." + +"Ginger snaps and pop-guns! I should say we had," exclaimed Tubby, "when +we remember what precious document--er, I mean how much we want to see +General Villa!" + +Rob had not thought it wise to tell everything to the guide until they +came to know him better; and hence his frown and vigorous shake of the +head toward the talkative Tubby, when the other came within an ace of +"letting the cat out of the bag." + +They did not ride quite so fast during the afternoon, all on Tubby's +account, though no one dared let him know that, or he would have been +very angry. As the day began to wane, and they seemed to be in a part of +the wild country free from either rebels or Government troops, Rob +suggested that they come to a halt and go into camp. + +"We must have made as much as forty miles and more since morning, and so +be that much nearer Chihuahua," he remarked; "and that's good enough for +one day. Perhaps to-morrow we may work closer to the railroad, and try +to get in touch with some of Villa's men, who will take us to him. +There's Lopez dismounting, boys, so let's do the same." + +Merritt and Andy both grunted as they managed with some difficulty to +get out of their saddles, after Rob had set the example. As for Tubby, +he seemed to be glued in his seat, for while they saw him make a +desperate effort several times, he did not seem able to accomplish a +separation. Finally, with a foolish grin on his face, he beckoned to Rob +to come nearer. + +"I'm afraid you'll have to give me a lift, Rob," he confessed; "fact is, +I don't seem able to raise either leg, I'm that stiff. That's a good +feller, just get me started and I'll be all right, sure I will. And +after I've jumped around a few dozen times I'll be ready to dance a +hoedown if you ask me." + +But it was noticed that Tubby was unusually quiet all that evening, +hardly bothering to move more than to reach out for his share of +supper; nor did he volunteer to do his part in the cooking. "For what +is the use," he complained, "when we have an experienced guide along who +loves to cook?" And at one time, when Rob leisurely got to his feet and +reached for a tin cup, Tubby even had the assurance to call out softly +after him: + +"If so be you're meaning to go to the creek for a drink, Rob, wish you'd +fetch a cup of water for me, and thank you!" + +The truth of the matter was that ride had been a terrible experience to +the fat scout, and he had suffered much more than anybody suspected. But +by slow degrees he would grow accustomed to the exercise, and perhaps +even enjoy life in the saddle before they were done scouring the country +in search of Villa. + +Lopez had taken every sort of precaution to avoid having their camp seen +by any hostile eyes. In the first place, he had selected for a site a +spot that was fairly well screened by dense thickets; it was also in a +sort of little depression or basin, where the glow of the small fire +they had lighted to prepare their meal might not be discovered. + +This blaze had been allowed to die out after it had served the purpose +for which Lopez had started it; so that as they sat there, talking in +low voices, only the soft starlight looked down upon them. + +Tubby was later on discovered to be sound asleep; and as Andy and +Merritt admitted feeling pretty drowsy themselves, Rob told them they +had better get their blankets ready to do duty. He himself fixed that of +Tubby, and managed to draw the sleeping scout under it without awakening +him. + +All seemed deathly quiet when Rob lay down to secure some rest. The +guide had assured him that there was no need of their keeping watch, +because his horse had been trained by a cowboy to give the alarm if any +enemy came prowling around. + +Confident that all would be well, the patrol leader settled himself as +comfortably as was possible, under the conditions, and after some little +time spent in running over in his mind various matters that had a +connection with their mission to Mexico, he fell asleep. + +Rob did not know whether it was half an hour that he had been lost in +slumber, or five times that long, when he was rudely disturbed by some +one kicking his shins. And at the same time he became conscious of a +low whispering voice saying: + +"Rob, oh! Rob, are you awake? What under the sun is making that queer +noise?" + +It was Andy calling; and becoming conscious that there were some strange +noises rising on the night air close by at the same time, Rob raised his +head the better to listen. + +Andy's question must have been overheard by Merritt, for he at once let +them know he was awake and on the alert; but as for Tubby, he only +wheezed, and breathed harder than ever; for he was a thousand miles away +in his dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +ANDY SCATTERS THE SERENADERS. + + +The first thing that Rob noticed was that it did not seem nearly as dark +and gloomy as when he had lain down. Could it be he had slept the whole +night through, and that daylight was at hand? He settled this mystery +with his first glance upward; for there he discovered that a pale +fragment of a once proud moon had arisen in the east, and was looking +mournfully down upon their hidden camp. + +Next he made out the form of Lopez, the Mexican guide, who was sitting +with his back against a tree, as though that might be his favorite way +of sleeping. But he was very much awake now, for he moved even as Rob +took notice of his presence. + +The queer chorus of sounds continued to arise from various points near +by. Rob made up his mind that they must be actually surrounded by some +species of animal that certainly sang away off the proper key, for they +made a noise that jarred on his ear terribly. + +"Hear 'em, don't you, Rob?" continued Andy, who doubtless must have been +observing the movements of the acting scout master all this while by the +aid of that friendly moonlight. + +"Do I? Well, I'd have to be pretty deaf not to, Andy," Rob replied. + +"What do you reckon it can be? I never in all my life heard such an +awful lot of discord," continued the other scout apprehensively. + +"I'm only giving a wide guess," Rob told him; "but I should think only a +pack of wolves could make a racket like that; or perhaps now, coyotes." + +"How about that, Lopez?" Merritt struck in; and the guide, chuckling, +replied: + +"Last is what it is, young senors; kiote make much noise when hungry. It +is our food they scent. Kiote happen to have a very keen nose. No +trouble, no danger as long as they hang around. Too much coward to sneak +in; and long as we hear kiote sing, we know no spy can be near, or they +run away." + +"Sing!" burst out Andy with a snort; "is that what they call it down +here? Mebbe some folks like that sort of song, but let me tell you it +grates on my ears like the screeching of a pack of cats at night. Sing! +Whoo-ee! are you joshing us poor tenderfeet, Lopez?" + +"Oh! there's nothing like getting used to things, Andy," Rob assured +him, while at the same time he was in doubt whether he himself could go +to sleep again if all that noise kept up right along. "After a while, +when you've heard that chant nightly, you may think it's the finest +lullaby ever invented, and miss it the worst kind after you hike away +north." + +"Don't you believe it, Rob," returned the other positively. "I wouldn't +mind being soothed to sleep by sweet sounds, like the thrumming of a +guitar or a mandolin; but excuse me from that caterwauling. Listen to it +rise and fall! That is just the way our old Tom used to sit on the back +fence and talk to the moon till I rigged up a wire along there and +connected it with our electric circuit. After that, when I woke and +heard him tuning up, all I had to do was to press the button, and +everything was still again. But he did always give one awful screech as +he lit out!" + +"Well, suppose you rig up a switch and circuit here, so you can give +these singing coyotes some of the same medicine?" laughed Merritt. + +"You know I can't do that," Andy admitted mournfully; "wish I could +right now; and let me tell you there'd be a heap of scatterin' out there +when the circuit was closed. But what's the matter with me sneaking out +and giving them a shot or two from my rifle? We didn't lug our guns all +this way just for ornament, did we? And surely they couldn't be used in +a nobler cause than to get us poor tired fellows decent sleep." + +"How about that, Lopez?" asked Rob. "Do you think there would be any +danger of the shots betraying our camp to others who might happen to be +around?" + +"The danger it is not much," came the reply; "and as for that, the +singing of the kiote pack, it tell that a camp must be here; so there is +no difference." + +"That settles it, then," said Andy exultantly, as he began to unwrap +himself from his blanket and grope for his rifle; "and mebbe I won't +surprise a few of the noisy gents out there!" + +"Don't go too far," Rob warned him, as he started to crawl away on his +hands and knees, trailing his gun after him. + +"I won't," Andy whispered back, turning his head and then giving a +little flirt with one hand in his customary jolly way. + +"No use trying to go to sleep till the circus ends, is there?" Merritt +demanded, as he shuffled around, trying to get into an easier position. + +"Just what I'd made up my mind to myself," replied Rob, following suit. + +"Look at Tubby here, sleeping as sweetly as an overgrown baby," the +corporal of the Eagle Patrol went on to say with a low laugh. + +"Oh! Tubby is the best sleeper I ever knew," Rob assured him. "He often +talks as if he had been wakeful all the night, but it's a false alarm. +He can sleep through a pretty good thunder-storm, and then remark in +the morning that he thinks it must have rained a little during the +night. But wait and see if he hears the noise when Andy lets fly with +his repeating rifle!" + +"Cracky! that's a fact. Chances are he'll just sit up and say the +mosquitoes are beginning to get bothersome, for he just heard one +singing near his ear; and then he'll call out to ask you for the dope to +rub on," Merritt remarked, humorously. + +"Wait and see," said Rob; "and it can't be long coming now, because I +should think Andy must have crawled far enough to glimpse the circle of +mourners." + +Hardly had Rob spoken than there came a loud report, instantly followed +by a series of yelps, that were drowned in snarls and howls as the other +coyotes took after their wounded comrade. + +Both boys had their eyes focused on the mound that stood for the +sleeping Tubby. There was a sudden upheaval, and the blanket flew aside, +revealing the fat scout trying to scramble to his knees with every +symptom of alarm. + +"Oh! what was that terrible noise?" he stammered. "Rob! Oh, Rob, are we +attacked by Injuns? Or was that thunder? Where am I at? Who's got a +torch lighted up there? Whatever does it all mean, anyway?" + +"Keep cool, Tubby," said Rob, while Merritt laughed at a great rate, +although rather softly; "it's all right, no danger. The camp was +surrounded by a pack of coyotes, that's all; and their singing kept Andy +awake, so he asked permission to crawl out and knock a few of them over. +You heard him shoot, and he must have wounded a prowler, for the whole +pack took after it at a hot pace. That's all!" + +"Oh, is it, Rob? Then, what's the sense of sitting up in the cold and +wasting time, when you might be getting forty winks?" With which remark +the fat boy cuddled down again under his blanket, and settled himself to +resume his interrupted slumbers. + +Rob and Merritt laughed again and again over his matter-of-fact way; but +beyond a grunt or two, Tubby paid no attention to them. Presently Andy +came back, a satisfied grin resting on his good-natured face. + +"Told you I'd pickle one silly old coyote, anyway," he remarked, as he +prepared to settle down again in his nest. + +"We heard him call out, and then the whole pack seemed to chase away +after him. Was that the way, Andy?" Merritt asked. + +"They all went spinning off in the direction of the desert there; and +the one I hit must have been ahead of the pack, because I could hear him +tooting up at a great rate. Sho! there must have been all of a dozen in +the lot! Bet you they don't come around here in a hurry again after that +lesson!" + +But Andy was mistaken. In less than half an hour the howls started in +once more, at first from some distance, but gradually drawing closer, +until apparently the coyote concert band was again at the old stand, +appealing to Andy to try it once more, and provide them with some +further pickings. + +Andy, however, refused to be tempted, for Rob, who was also awake, told +him he would have to sit up the balance of the night, since the animals +were bound to return time and again; nor would he be able to induce them +to stop their wailing, since, driven from the vicinity of the camp, they +would stand afar off and start a new chant. + +All of the boys were glad when the first peep of dawn drove the coyotes +to their dens among the rocks in the hills, or some barranca near by. + +Just as Rob had said, they would undoubtedly become more or less +accustomed to such nightly serenades in time, and pay little heed to the +howling. To one used to sleeping in the open, where wolves and coyotes +abound, the chorus comes to be a species of protection; and if it +suddenly ceased in the middle of the night he would immediately rouse +himself to investigate what had driven the pack away, for it must either +be a human enemy, or a jaguar. + +The boys expected, after partaking of hot coffee and a light breakfast, +to resume their gallop toward the south. Andy busied himself in laying +the fire, which they had allowed the guide to do on the previous +evening, although any one of the boys knew as much about arranging this +as Lopez. He had had actual experience all his adventurous life; but, +then, they had practiced the art of building cooking fires as one of the +duties with which a scout should be familiar, and they knew just how to +get the best results. + +Besides, the boys had learned something from the way Lopez selected +their camp site. They could guess why it was screened by thickets on +nearly all sides; and also why it lay in a slight depression, so that +the glow of the little blaze might not draw inquisitive strangers, as an +exposed light would. + +They had learned long ago to keep their eyes open so as to see +everything that went on around them. Rob in particular was always on the +alert, and if he thought any of the others failed to grasp what a +certain thing meant, it was his habit to call their attention to the +circumstances. For that is what a patrol leader is expected to do when +he has been elevated to his important position. + +Andy had just managed to get the cooking fire ready, and was asking +Tubby to bring him the frying-pan, because they expected to have a +rasher of bacon for breakfast, to go with the hardtack and coffee. At +that moment the horse of the guide, staked near by, began to snort and +prance, as well as give other indications of excitement. Lopez had been +in the act of rolling up his blanket into a small bundle that could +easily be carried behind his saddle. He seemed to know instinctively +what these riotous actions on the part of his mount stood for; because, +with an exclamation of alarm, he jumped for his gun that rested against +a tree trunk. + +Rob did the same, ditto Merritt; while Andy continued to kneel there in +front of his little fire as though frozen stiff. As for Tubby, he +dropped the frying-pan in a panic and snatched up the camp hatchet. + +Rob had already caught the sound of horses' hoofs near by; and even as +he turned his eyes in the quarter from which the sounds seemed to +spring, there came around the end of the thicket a couple of horsemen, +who, on discovering the camp with its surprised inmates, drew their +mounts in abruptly and sat there in their saddles staring hard. + +Rob could see that the men were garbed in a sort of dirty white uniform; +and from this he quickly judged that they must be a couple of Salazar's +cavalrymen, sent out to burn bridges and demoralize the railroad +completely between Chihuahua and Juarez. As Federals were bound to look +upon all Americans as their bitter enemies, on account of the attitude +taken by the Washington authorities concerning President Huerta, the +patrol leader guessed that they were in for another experience. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY. + + +"Don't shoot!" Rob called out hastily, fearing that Lopez might think it +his duty, as the guardian of the little party, to open fire on the +Regulars; and this was not in accordance with the designs of the Boy +Scouts, who were bound to exhaust every peaceful effort before +proceeding to any violence. + +Andy had by this time come to his senses, and started to crawl over to +where he had stacked his rifle. Shooting at coyotes was one thing, +however, and being compelled to fire upon human beings quite another; +and the boy looked pretty white "about the gills," as Merritt afterward +put it, as he clutched his weapon. But he had also heard what the patrol +leader said, and did not make any hostile demonstration, beyond pulling +back the hammer of his gun with his trembling thumb. + +Of course, if the two Mexican soldiers made any attempt to run off their +mounts, Rob knew very well that they could not stand for that; since to +be forced to foot it all the way to Chihuahua, across burning desert +sands, and rough hilly country, was a prospect that did not appeal to +him at all. + +Fortunately the pair of cavalrymen did not dream of attacking nearly +three times their number. They just took it out in staring, and possibly +saying things back and forth. Then, as though they had decided that +retreat was the best play, since they were plainly outnumbered, suddenly +both men wheeled their horses and went galloping swiftly away, sitting +their saddles with that grace that seems to be a natural heritage of all +Mexicans. + +"Good riddance of bad rubbage!" called out Merritt; though the boy was +undoubtedly relieved to see the cavalrymen depart without a fight. + +Whether the men heard what he said or not, they turned and shook their +fists in the direction of the scouts; and from the threatening gestures +that followed this action it was plainly to be seen that they did not +mean this to be the last time they expected to meet the little party. + +Rob turned to Lopez when the pair had vanished from view, and he could +no longer catch the heavy thud of their horses' hoofs on the hard +ground. + +He found the guide frowning, and this fact told Rob what to expect. + +"That spells trouble for us, doesn't it, Lopez?" he asked; while Tubby, +Merritt and Andy hung upon what was passing between guide and patrol +leader. + +The Mexican shrugged his shoulders. + +"If they can make it so, we will be followed, young senor," he remarked. +"You saw for yourself they were Federal cavalrymen, the same that +General Salazar he have send out to cut the railroad between Chihuahua +and the river. All men who fight for Huerta hate Yankee gringoes; and +they see these uniforms, so they understand you are Americano soldiers. +That is bad!" + +"So that's the way the land lies!" remarked Merritt. "Well, we do not +intend taking off these good old suits and wearing anything else, not if +we know it. But see here, Lopez, what if those fellows should take a +notion to sneak around on us, and try a shot from the rear?" + +"Not much chance of that, with all these thickets around, which Lopez +calls the chaparral," Rob told him; "but I'll just wander off a bit, +and see if I can glimpse them going. If that fails, I'll keep watch +while the rest of you eat breakfast. Get busy, Andy and Tubby, so we'll +have that agony over in a hurry." + +"Agony!" repeated Tubby indignantly. "Well, I like that, now, don't you, +Andy? As if eating could ever be a task!" + +Passing out of the hidden camp, Rob found a place where he could get an +uninterrupted view of the lower country. And it was not long before he +discovered two mounted men, whom he easily recognized as their unbidden +visitors, spurring away as fast as their horses could take them. When +the scout saw them look back several times, he no longer doubted that +they were positively the men he had come to watch. + +It made Rob a trifle uneasy to note the fact that the cavalrymen had +departed in almost a southerly direction; because that might indicate +future trouble for the little expedition. + +When he showed up in camp again breakfast was just ready. + +"Hello! changed your mind about not wanting to eat, have you, Rob?" +hailed Tubby. + +"Oh! you mistook what I said," replied the other laughingly, as he +threw himself down, selected a pannikin, and proceeded to slide several +slices of fried bacon out of the skillet. Then as he accepted the tin +cup of fragrant coffee which Merritt hastened to pour for him, he added, +"Guess I like to eat when I'm hungry as well as anybody." + +"But you draw the line there, don't you, Rob?" demanded Andy. "You don't +want to eat any old time, whether you're hungry or not, like some +fellows we know?" + +"Yes, we know a few, Andy," Tubby hastened to thrust in, realizing that +this was meant for his especial benefit; "and I notice that you're +copying after me in great shape, so that soon I'll have to take a back +seat." + +"But what about those two cavalrymen, Rob?" asked Merritt, more deeply +interested in seeking information along these lines than in learning +which of the two disputing scouts could boast of the greater appetite. + +"They've kicked the dust of this part of the country from their boots, +and are riding pellmell away to the south," Rob answered. "I reckon +there must be a big bunch of hard riders over there somewhere. All I +hope is that we don't run foul of them during the day and find +ourselves pursued." + +Tubby, at that, forgot all about his controversy with Andy. + +"What, us chased by a lot of greaser cavalry?" he exclaimed. "Jiminy +crickets! I hope that don't happen! I am not in the best shape going to +do any tall riding; though if I'm hard pushed, you'll find me sticking +to my horse like a mustard plaster. Mebbe you'll have to take a +crowbar next time, Rob, to pry me loose from my saddle." + +"Well, let's get through eating as soon as we can," Rob told him; +"because this isn't any time to take things easy." + +"Huh! always rushing me when I just get settled down to enjoy a little +bite of grub which I've helped cook," grumbled Tubby. But seeing that +the others were making haste, he set his jaws to working at double pace; +and when no one was looking he even managed to slip some of the hard +tack into his pocket. If they did force him to shorten his breakfast +hour to ten minutes, he wanted something to set his teeth into during +the long hours that must elapse before they found another chance to +break their fast. + +The horses were soon saddled and packed, so that the camp in the thicket +could be abandoned. Of course, as usual, they had to wait for Tubby, +because something was always wrong with his bridle, or else the girth +needed shortening so that his saddle would not turn with him as it had +threatened to do many times the day before. + +Finally the start was made. + +The morning was fresh and clear; and while the day might turn out to be +hot enough toward noon to "fry an egg on a stone in the sun," as Andy +expressed it, the boys certainly enjoyed that first hour's gallop. +Tubby, who soon found his former troubles coming back, did not have +unalloyed pleasure, although he did not complain. + +It was a fine stretch of country, and yet Rob knew that they were really +not far from the dreary desert. At times, when they had a chance to look +off to one side, they could see a vast level territory with not a single +tree to break its monotony, nothing but the dry sand that each wind +would send scurrying along to form new hillocks and valleys. + +But they had also discovered something else that pleased them more. +This was an occasional glimpse of the railroad that ran between +Chihuahua and Juarez, being long known as the Mexican Central. In other +days, before revolutions came again to vex Uncle Sam's southern +neighbor, it had run without interruption all the way from the Rio +Grande to Mexico City, many hundreds of miles. + +For some time past this road had been first in the hands of the rebels, +and then in the possession of the Federals. As each in turn tried to +destroy as much of the track and rolling stock as possible before +vacating, it can be understood that conditions were pretty bad all along +the road at this time. + +It was the intention of Rob later on in the day to seek this line of +rusty rails and keep following it south. He anticipated meeting with a +party of Villa's men, perhaps before dark set in. Making friends with +them, he would demand to be taken into the presence of the commanding +general, whether he happened to be in far-off Chihuahua, or at some +point nearer by. He might even be chasing the marauding bands of +Federals that were playing fast and loose with the railroad, on which he +depended to move his men and munitions of war from Juarez south, on the +way to Mexico City. + +They kept on riding constantly for several hours. Even Merritt and Andy +felt the strain, which must have been unusually severe on poor Tubby; +but no one heard the gamey fat scout give even a groan. Often, when Rob +would turn his head to look over his shoulder, he could not help but see +the look of "never-say-die" that was imprinted on Tubby's glowing face, +and notice how he kept mopping his streaming forehead. + +But they were covering considerable distance, and that was a great +comfort. Tubby had much more at stake than any one of his three chums, +and he must, as the boys always said, "grin and bear it." In fact, there +was nothing else that could be done, since going back now was out of the +question; nor would Tubby have allowed any one to mention such a thing +to him. + +Once when Rob dropped back to ask him how he felt, Tubby knew that the +leader was really solicitous about his welfare and had not made the +inquiry merely in fun. + +"I can stand it, Rob!" was all he said between his closely shut teeth; +and knowing Tubby as well as he did, Rob felt sure that the fat boy +would hold out, unless he actually fell from his saddle. + +At noon they halted in order to rest the horses, and at the same time +themselves have a bite. Again did Rob have to assist Tubby to alight, +though the other began to frisk around shortly, as though grimly +determined on showing them all that he had only been stiff from sitting +so long, and was far from being done up. + +It took a whole lot of grit for Tubby to mount when the time came to +make a fresh start; but he seemed to feel that curious eyes were +watching all he did; so summoning his reserve strength, he clambered +into his saddle, and tried to look as happy as though he did not feel +that he was sitting on an inverted pincushion. + +Just one hour later they noticed a dense smoke rising ahead, which +Lopez, on being asked, told them could only come from some burning +bridge. That would seem to indicate that they must now be getting into +the danger zone where Regulars and rebels were engaged in a game of tag, +one side doing the chasing now, and the other presently turning the +tables on them. + +The little party had come down to more level ground and were heading for +the railroad, when Rob, chancing to look back, meaning to see how Tubby +was coming along, made a discovery that gave him an unpleasant feeling. + +"We're being pursued, boys!" he called out, thinking it best that all of +them should know the truth at once, however unpleasant it might prove. + +Of course there was an immediate craning of necks, and startled +exclamations from the other chums. + +"Two dozen, if there's a man!" cried Merritt. + +"And Mexican Regulars, too, for they wear uniforms, which the rebels +don't!" added Andy. "Looks like we might be in for a lively run, doesn't +it, Rob? And with our horses anything but fresh into the bargain!" + +"Ginger snaps and pop guns!" Tubby was heard to say; "that settles my +hash all right!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE WHISTLE OF PASSING BULLETS. + + +"They seem to be gaining on us!" said Merritt uneasily. "Hadn't we +better romp ahead a little faster, boys?" + +"Sure! Hit up the pace all you want!" It was neither Rob nor Andy who +made this game reply, but Tubby! This response drew Rob's heart closer +to the fat chum than ever before. A fellow who could show such nerve +would have the best chance in the world to become a first-class scout, +when once he woke up and began to study as he should. + +They proceeded to coax their horses to pick up some, and for a time the +gallant animals did manage more than to hold their own with the +pursuers; but when half an hour had passed even Tubby could see that the +distance separating them from that hustling lot of hard riders did not +appear to be quite as great as after the spurt. + +"Say, do we fight for it if we are cornered?" Andy wanted to know. When +the patrol leader turned to glance back at him, he saw that while the +boy's face might be somewhat pale, there was a dogged look around the +eyes that spoke volumes. + +"Well, they say that Boy Scouts never should fight unless driven into a +corner, where they have to defend themselves to save their own lives, or +the lives of others," Rob shouted back. + +"That settles it, then," Andy replied. And Rob could see that +considerable of his anxiety must have been connected with his doubt as +to whether it should be their duty as lovers of peace to give up and +surrender without striking a blow, or resist; for he even seemed tickled +with what Rob had told him. + +No one asked Tubby what he thought about matters. It was enough for them +to know that the fat and clumsy chum was there in his saddle still, and +managing by some means to keep close behind them. His horse must have +suffered exceedingly, bearing all that heavy load; and it was lucky Rob +had been wise enough to select an especially sturdy beast when thinking +of Tubby. + +The pursuers were not all in a bunch, but scattered, according to the +ability of their mounts to maintain the killing pace. Undoubtedly, they +were urged on by the big cruel Mexican spurs, which, of course, every +cavalryman wore on his boot heels. + +This might seem to be a trifling matter; but Rob knew better. If it +really came to a running fight, as seemed likely, they would profit by +the fact that only a minority of their pursuers could fire upon them, +the rest being either too far off, or else fearful lest they might hit +their comrades in advance. + +Meanwhile they were approaching the big smoke that kept rising ahead, +and which must mean a burning bridge on the railroad, and perhaps a +stalled train into the bargain. + +Rob found himself wondering what sort of reception they would receive +should they find a party of Villa's rebels holding out against the +Regulars. He had already laid his plans and communicated them to his +chums, so that each would know just what was expected of him in the +emergency. + +Already several shots had been fired by the leading horsemen, but as +they were still pretty far distant, and as it is next to impossible to +do any serious business with a gun while going at such headlong speed, +of course these were sent after the fugitives more as an act of bravado +and alarm, than in the hope that any bullet might find its mark. + +At the same time it was not very pleasant for the scouts to hear those +leaden messengers singing so merrily through the air over their +heads,--for all the world like so many bees or locusts, as they +afterward decided. + +Every time a gun sounded, Tubby involuntarily ducked his head and tried +to flatten himself out on the neck of his horse, an utterly impossible +thing, on account of his build. He seemed to think that they must always +pick him out for a target, because he offered such a fine mark. + +"Guess you'd do the same, too," he called out to Andy, when he saw the +grin on the other's face as he turned in time to see one of these +performances, "if you made a shining mark like I do! And being in the +rear adds to my chance of stopping one of those lead pills. Anyway, I'm +going to do the trick right along, no matter what you think, Andy +Bowles!" + +"And you're right about that, Tubby!" called Merritt. "Even when you lie +down flat you make a better mark than most of us do sitting up!" + +"Keep your breath, fellows; you may need all of it!" Rob called out just +then, and this stopped the controversy. + +Rob urged his horse alongside that of the Mexican guide. + +"How are we going to come out of it, Lopez?" he asked anxiously. "Will +they get at us before we make the smoke?" + +The experienced eye of the other had before now accurately measured the +distances; and doubtless he was figuring matters out at the time the +scout broke in with this leading question. + +"If no bad luck," Lopez assured him, "we surely come to the burning +bridge before the wolf pack doubles us up, young senor." + +"By bad luck you mean an accident?" Rob demanded. + +Lopez shrugged his shoulders and cast a swift, meaning look back at poor +fat Tubby, who was belaboring his tired mount with the flat of one hand, +and urging the beast on and on. Evidently the guide had been half +expecting an accident to happen in this quarter for some time, and was, +in fact, surprised that the clumsy scout had held on so long; but then, +he did not know what a stubborn nature Tubby possessed. + +"Si, senor, a horse might slip, and toss his rider; or it may be a +passing bullet happen to go in the wrong place and do damage. Who can +tell? But let us hope it will not so bad as that prove. We are doing +well; and the smoke, it is not so far away as it seems!" + +All of which must have been poor satisfaction to Rob, who from that +moment found himself enduring new agonies every time he twisted around +to see whether Tubby still held forth. + +The horses were reeking with sweat, and while Rob did not pretend to be +as experienced in such matters as a cow puncher would be, still even he +understood that this sort of thing could not be kept up much longer. + +Only for the presence of that smoke and the hope that they might run +upon some friendly rebels at the burning bridge, he would have made up +his mind that there was no other way for them to escape save by turning +at bay and engaging in a regular fight with those persistent pursuers, +who kept dogging the heels of their horses mile after mile, bent on +running them down. + +"What do you think of our chances for finding some of Villa's men +ahead?" Rob asked the guide several minutes later. They were still +keeping up a furious pace and fairly holding their own, though none of +the horses in the race could be said to be running as fast as half an +hour previously. + +"It is an open chance," Lopez replied with another shrug. + +"But the Federals set the bridge on fire; and after doing that they +would hardly hang around, because this part of the country must be +swarming with rebels, who would be drawn to the burning bridge by the +smoke. Is that the way you figure it out, Lopez?" + +"You have said what was in my mind, young senor," came the reply; "and +that is why I have kept moving on all this while. Had it not been the +hope of finding friends, before now they must have felt our lead." + +"Then we're doing the right thing in trying to get to the bridge before +letting them come up on us," Rob decided. And after that he bent his +whole energy to carrying out the plan he had arranged. + +He even fell back so that he could ride alongside Tubby; for Rob had +often heard that no chain can be any stronger than its weakest link; +and this must surely mean Tubby, in their case. If any accident befell +the party, the chances were as ten to one it would spring from the fat +scout. + +And so Rob, believing in being prepared to meet things as they come +along, even went so far as to figure out just what his course of action +must be in case Tubby gave signs of falling off his horse, or the animal +tripped in its headlong flight. + +"It's only a little further, Tubby, so try your best to hold out!" he +kept saying. "See, there's a spur of the hill jutting out, and the +railroad comes around that. On the other side must be the Carmen River, +where the bridge that is burning crosses. Just one more push and we'll +be there in great shape. You're doing fine, I want to tell you, Tubby; I +never thought you had it in you; and we're bound to get through this +ride all right, believe me!" + +No doubt this sort of encouraging talk did more than a little to keep +Tubby from throwing up the sponge entirely; for he was close upon the +point of complete exhaustion, and ready to own himself "all in." + +"Try to think and tell me, Tubby," Rob went on earnestly, "where you've +got those signal flags you brought all the way down here, because you +said they might come in handy. I can use one right now, I believe." + +"Reach in that pocket on the side of my bag toward you, Rob," replied +Tubby in a gasping whisper. "You ought to find the lot there." + +This Rob managed to do in spite of the fact that both horses were +galloping at headlong speed. + +Just then they cleared the point of the hill that jutted out close to +the railroad track; and there in front of them lay the cause of the big +smoke. The bridge was afire, just as they had believed. There was also a +train stalled on the side near them, with its engine headed toward +Juarez. Doubtless this was the one of which the boys had heard, which, +starting from Chihuahua, laden with refugee Mexican families wanting to +seek shelter over in Texas, had been lost somewhere on the way, held up +by burned bridges, and possibly by other things in the way of damage +done to the locomotive by the Federal's marauding cavalry parties. + +As soon as Rob could manage to see what lay ahead, he felt cheered by +the sight; for behind the cars he discovered dozens of men with guns, +who seemed to be making a barrier of the train and exchanging long +distance shots with some enemy perched upon the higher ground, +undoubtedly Federals. + +There seemed nothing for the scouts to do but to join their fortunes +with those men of Villa's command who were holding the Regulars at bay. +So, without slackening the speed of their horses a particle, the little +party galloped forward, Rob leading the van and wildly waving one of the +signal flags, which, being white with a small red center, could be +looked upon as a flag of truce, and would surely keep the rebels from +firing on them. + +It must have astonished those fellows who were making a rampart of the +stalled train to discover thus a party wearing khaki uniforms so like +those of the American soldiers across the border, coming at headlong +speed toward them, and being fired after by a pack of pursuers whom they +readily recognized to be the regular troops of Huerta! + +And since all enemies of the prevailing government must be looked on as +friends to their cause, the Constitutionalists, as the rebels liked to +call themselves, made no attempt to halt the advance of the Boy Scouts. +They held their fire, waiting until the hard-pressed fugitives could +reach shelter, when explanations might be in order. + +But the unseen Regulars perched among the rocks on the hillside must +have discovered that those they were engaged in fighting seemed to be +receiving unexpected reinforcements, for they turned their attention to +the oncoming riders, and once more the nerve-racking zip-zip of passing +bullets gave Tubby a cold chill. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AT THE BURNING BRIDGE. + + +It was really only the bad marksmanship of the men among the rocks some +distance away, and the fact that the boys were now strung out in a +disorganized line as they drew near the stalled train that saved the +scouts from disaster, just as they saw a haven of refuge at hand. + +The bullets continued to whine around them in a most disagreeable +manner; while some, falling short, tore up the ground, causing little +patches of dust to leap upward where they struck. + +Tubby must have lived hours during those few but exciting minutes. Then, +to his great satisfaction he found himself riding behind the cars of the +train, where there were scores of people hiding, men, women and +children, fugitives from the city that had fallen into Villa's hands +once more. Some may have fled for fear that the rebel leader would +confiscate all their possessions, because they had been on friendly +terms with the troops of Huerta when the Government forces held the +capital of Chihuahua State. + +No one could say with what relief Tubby checked the onward rush of his +charger; Rob did not have to come to his assistance this time, for the +exhausted boy actually fell from the saddle, being caught by several +grim rebels, who had come crowding around to find out who these parties +were, and how it came that American soldiers dared invade the sacred +soil of Mexico,--which, had it been an actual fact, would have served to +unite both hostile factions against Uncle Sam's boys in khaki. + +But Lopez had unlimbered his tongue by now, and was rattling off the +greatest lot of jargon in Spanish the boys had ever listened to. They +could only understand a word here and there; but that did not matter, +for as he talked the guide made many gestures, and it was possible to +tell what he was saying from these alone. + +Many of the rebels crowded close around them, forming a circle, ten +deep. Others had hurried to exchange shots with the late pursuers of the +boys, and opened such a warm fire that the Regulars quickly turned and +fled, doubtless to join later on with their comrades among the rocks, +and plot to overwhelm the defenders of the stalled train. + +When the name of General Villa was mentioned several times, and always +with a grand sweep of the arm in the direction of the four scouts, Rob +knew that Lopez was surely "spreading it on pretty thick." He must be +telling the crowd that these gringo lads were great friends of the +commanding general, and that they had come all the way down here, +hundreds, yes, thousands of miles, just to see him, and tell him what a +great patriot he was. And if this were so, then they must be looked on +as comrades by every man who fought under Villa the Great; who would be +very angry with any wretch so unlucky as to raise a finger to offend +those whose friendship he valued so highly. + +Of course such talk created no end of a sensation among the rough men +who were enlisted in the cause of the revolutionists. They feared their +commanding general more than any man on earth; and after hearing what +Lopez had to say about these American boys, they were ready to give them +a wild cheer; especially when told that the newcomers stood ready to +cast their lot in with them, and help disperse the enemy. + +When the guide, turning to Rob, told him about what he had promised the +rebels in return for the protection they were giving the fugitives, the +patrol leader looked a bit grave. + +"Of course we're willing to do all we can, you understand, Lopez, to +help our new friends out; and if anybody is wounded, we know a whole lot +about how to take care of bad hurts; in other ways, too, we'll do all we +can; but except as a very last resort, I wouldn't want to shoot direct +at those men over there. We're not soldiers, even if we do wear a +uniform that seems to say we are; and the last thing a Boy Scout wants +to do is to fight. But wait and see how things turn out. There are lots +of ways we can assist without actually using our guns against the +Regulars; though if it came to the worst, and they were charging this +fort, you'd soon see how we'd pitch in and do our part." + +After that Rob and his three chums noticed that they were being observed +with even more curiosity. Later on it turned out that the cunning Lopez, +meaning to do things wholesale while about it, had hinted that these +young fellows might be secret messengers to Villa coming from +Washington; and that there was a strong chance that the American +Government was meaning finally to befriend the rebels, even allowing +them to get arms at will from across the border. In this way they might +be helped to hasten the fall of Huerta, who had never been recognized as +president by the new administration. + +Meanwhile, the fire of the Federals up there among the rocks had +entirely ceased. Tubby, not being versed in such things, believed that +the coming of reinforcements, in the shape of four boys and one man, +must have given the Federals what he chose to call "cold feet," and that +they had betaken themselves off. Rob, however, knew differently, for by +using that convenient field glass of his, he could see that there were +several men still up there. Evidently some sort of new scheme was being +figured out by those who were besieging the train; and unless the +defenders managed to learn its nature in advance, they might be given a +disagreeable surprise shortly. + +This gave Rob an idea. + +Just as he had told Lopez, while the scouts would not like to be asked +to fire on the enemy, unless the defenders of the train were hard +pushed, there were plenty of ways whereby wide-awake young chaps, such +as they were known to be, might make themselves useful. + +He saw such an opening right then, and quickly began to look into it +more closely to find out if it were indeed practicable. + +Examining the topography of the country through his glasses, Rob found +that it was possible for a smart fellow to climb up to a certain point, +where he could observe all that was going on beyond, and doubtless find +plenty of chances to transmit his discoveries to the other scouts below +by means of a signal flag and the wigwag code. There was Tubby, who had +done himself more credit with signal work than along any other line +connected with scout activities; why should he not keep himself in +readiness to receive whatever news the vidette on the pinnacle of rock +chose to send? + +After speaking about this idea to Lopez, and asking him to pass it along +to the rather fierce-looking individual who seemed to be in command of +the rebels, Rob sought out the fat chum. + +As more than a full hour had passed since their arrival at the still +burning railroad bridge, it was to be hoped that Tubby had, in some +measure at least, recovered from his state of exhaustion, and that he +would be in fit condition to manage his end of the receiving line. + +As he drew near the spot where he had discovered Tubby squatted like a +big bull frog on the ground, Rob had to smile to notice how carefully +the fat scout had folded his blanket several times and used it as a +seat; for Rob knew the reason why. + +"Now I wonder what he is looking at so seriously," he said to himself on +drawing closer. "It can't be either the magic ring that's going to make +General Villa fall on our necks and embrace us, nor yet that paper Uncle +Mark gave us for his old time friend; because I happen to have both on +my person right now." + +His curiosity aroused by Tubby's seeming fit of abstraction, Rob crept +softly up behind the other and peered over his shoulder. What he saw +caused him to chuckle, as though more amused than ever. + +Tubby had something in his hand, at which he was staring, all the while +muttering to himself; and Rob could even catch what he was saying. It +ran something like this: + +"That's a bully clew, all right, all right. Rob says so, and he ought to +know. And you needn't think that I'm going to let the whole thing drop, +just because I've been too busy with other jobs to follow it up. Just +you wait till I get back, and see if I don't find the identical brace +and bit that coward used to bore a hole in the bottom of Rob's sailboat, +and make this creased shaving in the shape of a curl. And say, bet you +that when I happen to mention the name of Max Ramsay I'm not very far +away from the guilty party; though I ought not to accuse anybody till +I'm dead sure. + +"Oh! hello! that you, Rob? What's new? I was only making sure that I +hadn't gone and lost that marked shaving we found in your boat, you +remember, and which some fine day is going to make some feller I know +start to shivering in his shoes. Sit down with me, won't you? I'd offer +you a bit of my cushion, but seems like I can't spare it just now; you +understand why." + +"Yes, that's all right, Tubby, and small blame to you if you do feel +badly. It was a tough ride for us all; and yet we ought to thank our +lucky stars that we found a chance to give our pursuers the slip without +a fight. But I wanted to ask if you thought you could bother taking a +few short messages with the wigwag flags?" + +Tubby became interested at once, and almost forgot how tired and sore he +felt. + +"Sure I can, and only too glad to be doing something in my particular +line, Rob," he hastened to remark. "And it's just fine of you to come to +_me_, when there's Merritt and Andy around. But what's doing? Have the +Feds been sending messages, and do you want me to intercept what they +say? Is that the game, Rob?" + +"You're away off there, Tubby," replied the patrol leader; "but if you +listen I'll try to explain. The idea struck me that perhaps I might +manage to climb to that high rock you can see up there, and watch what +the enemy is doing; because they must be up to some mischief, they keep +so quiet lately. And after I get there you must stand by to take what I +send and write it down. Have the other boys around to help, because +three heads are better than one in receiving. If you should get all +muddled up one of the others may carry the message through." + +"Whee! that's a mighty clever scheme of yours, Rob; and if I wasn't so +beastly tired and lame I'd ask to be allowed to go along with you. But +p'raps it's better not, for the climbing would be tough, and I'm nearly +all in for one day. But please don't go off alone that way, Rob, without +carrying your gun along. Some of the tricky Regulars might manage to +cut you off from us. And then wouldn't you be in a nice scrape without +some means for defending yourself? You will, Rob, won't you?" + +"Why, yes, I had thought it might be a bit foolish not to, with a chance +always hanging over my head that I'd need something like a gun. But you +can keep right on sitting here if you like, only turn around so you will +have that crag in full view. Of course I don't know just how long it +will take me to climb up there, because if they glimpse me they'll as +like as not keep firing every time I show my head. But I ought to know +how to creep, scout fashion. I've practiced it enough, goodness knows. +Is it all understood, and have you the other flags handy? I want to take +two along with me, after I've fastened them to a couple of sticks so I +can wave them the right way, though I may only need one." + +Tubby told him that all was clear, and Rob promised to send Merritt +around to fix the other flags. + +"When the time comes for you to send the first signal, guess I'll be +able to get on my feet," the fat scout said as Rob moved away; "and if +I can't make it alone, I reckon the boys'll give me a boost. You put +your faith in me to get whatever you wigwag, Rob; but take mighty good +care of yourself, hear?" + +So the patrol leader went away, bearing the two white and red flags, +which he meant to rig out with short staves before he started on his +perilous mission to the crag that jutted out far up the slope. From +there a splendid view could undoubtedly be obtained, not only of the +stalled train and the burning bridge, but also of the Federal cavalrymen +who were keeping out of sight among the small _arroyos_ along the +hillside. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE WIGWAG TALK. + + +"Don't you think Rob ought to be pretty nearly up there by now, boys?" +Tubby was asking, when about half an hour had crept by since the patrol +leader left them. + +He had become quite anxious, so much so, in fact, that with many grunts +and "whees" he had actually managed to get upon his feet. Either Andy or +Merritt would have been only too willing to lend the fat chum a helping +hand, but Tubby was more or less proud and sensitive; he might accept +assistance from Rob, who never made a habit of laughing in his face, but +it was a different matter when any of the other scouts were concerned. + +Then he had practiced waving his signal flags to and fro, making those +particular movements that stood for letters in the Myers' code of +wig-wagging. These had been readily interpreted by both Merritt and +Andy, who were fairly up in the service, and could also relay messages +by heliograph, using a bit of broken mirror to flash the rays of the +sun from hilltop to valley. + +"I'm looking to see him show up any old time now," Andy replied; for he +was at that moment standing with his eyes glued on the lofty crag, from +which the signal-sender expected to wave his message when the time came. + +"But none of us have so much as glimpsed our chum even once on his way +up there," Tubby complained; "which I take it is kind of queer. Gee! I +hope nothing's happened to Rob! That would be a calamity, sure!" + +"Oh! don't worry about Rob," Andy cautioned him; "he knows how to look +out for himself, all right. You don't find _him_ stumbling over roots +and all sorts of things like--er--some of the rest of us fellows. No +danger of Rob bringing up in one of those deep, dry ravines they call +_arroyos_ down here in Old Mexico." + +"Yes, but sometimes accidents do happen even to the smartest scouts, +don't they?" the fat boy persisted in saying, as though bent on allowing +his feeling of anxiety to have full sway. "Huh! haven't you ever had a +limb break when you believed it to be good and strong; or a stone slip +out from under your foot, throwing you on your face? Even Rob, clever +as he is, might run across a piece of bad luck. Then, how d'ye know but +that one or two of those greaser cavalrymen might not have been camping +somewhere along the trail Rob followed, and seeing him coming, decided +to lie in ambush to knock him over? Any way, I'm getting what my mother +calls 'fidgetty'; and I'll be glad when it's all over." + +"Well, chirk up, then, Tubby!" exclaimed Merritt just then, with a low +laugh. + +"Oh! did you see him, Merritt? And is that why you speak so +encouragingly?" demanded the stout boy with quivering lips and a look of +intense eagerness on his round face. + +The corporal of the Eagles nodded his head in the affirmative. + +"Yes, I'm dead sure I had a glimpse of his khaki coat close to the crag, +just while you were talking in such a gloomy way; and if you wait two +minutes, chances are you'll see him wave his flag to let us know he has +arrived." + +"Bully for you, Merritt; that's the best news I've had for a 'coon's +age.' But it is too bad we didn't think to bring a couple of mirrors +along with us on this trip. Then, you know, we could have carried on our +little confab by flashes of the heliograph. It's a whole lot easier +than wigwag work, where your arms get so tired waving flags." + +"There! See what's happened?" cried Andy suddenly. + +"It's Rob, as sure as anything!" exclaimed the pleased Tubby. "He got up +to that rock all right, didn't he? Watch him wave the O. K. sign, will +you? And now I guess he'll take a good look around, so as to locate the +enemy, and then begin to tell us what's doing." + +Evidently Rob was taking advantage of his elevated position to survey +the surrounding country in all directions. It would doubtless pay the +besieged rebel forces to know what was going on, and if there was any +hope of assistance coming to help drive the foe away. + +The minutes began to drag horribly to impatient Tubby, and doubtless to +the other scouts as well. They could see that Rob was turning this way +and that, as though making good use of the excellent field glasses he +had thought to carry with him on his ascent. + +"Why doesn't he hurry and send something?" Tubby muttered for the tenth +time as he walked to and fro, partly to work off his excitement, and +partly to avoid the stiffness that overtook him whenever he stood still. +"Here I'm all primed up for business at the old stand, and ready to +receive any message that may come. I've practiced the whole code over +and over, you notice, fellers; and if I do say it myself, that +shouldn't, I never felt in such good trim as right now. If only Rob +would get busy and whisper something! He must have learned a heap by +now. Why, it seems like half an hour since he bobbed up serenely there!" + +"Less than ten minutes, Tubby, because I timed him," interposed Merritt. + +"Well, long enough for him to take a squint at a whole circle and see +all sorts of things," grumbled Tubby, quite disconsolate over the delay. +"If this keeps up, it's going to wear me away to a skeleton, that's +what." + +"No danger, Tubby, of that happening," declared Andy. + +"And get busy now," added Merritt. "There comes your first signal! He is +asking if you are ready to take a message. Answer him O. K., Tubby." + +"Hurray! Now mebbe there won't be something doing!" exclaimed the +other, aroused to a full consciousness that duty called. + +Tubby in action was a sight to behold. He was so fat that, when his +chubby arms got to working vigorously, he looked something like a Dutch +windmill with the sails flapping furiously in a half gale. + +But Tubby knew his Myers' wigwag code all right, and could receive +better than nearly any fellow on the roster of the Eagle Patrol. When +one masters the art of taking a message with fair speed, sending is what +Tubby always called "pie." This is also the case in telegraph work. In +sending, one knows in advance what is coming, and the brain can work +ahead, but this is not so in receiving. + +Rob made his flag do its duty with a vigor that kept both Tubby and +Merritt keyed up to top notch in order to read the message, while, as +the fat scout called out the letters, Andy wrote them down. + +And this was what the boy on the rocky crag sent as a beginning: + +"Can see enemy--number about sixty in sight--have started to turn flank, +and make attack from other side--warn Lopez!" + +That was alarming news, because, if the movement were undertaken without +any notice to the rebel force, they would undoubtedly be caught napping; +and it does not require much of a surprise to create a panic with troops +who are unseasoned fighters. + +"But how could they cross over to the other side of the railroad without +being seen, I want to know?" Tubby asked, after the whole message had +been received. + +"We can't tell that from here, but you bet your boots Rob knows," Andy +was quick to reply, showing what an amount of confidence the boys of the +Eagle Patrol were wont to place in their recognized leader under any and +all conditions. + +"Yes, that's right," Merritt added. "It might be there is some gully +that the road spans, which we didn't notice when making our dash here, +where the Federals could dodge through without anybody being a whit the +wiser. Anyway, Rob says that's what they mean to do, which settles it, +Tubby." + +"There, he's waving again!" called out the observant Andy. "Quick, get +busy and let him know you're ready to take the next message, Tubby!" + +"On deck!" chirped the receiving end of the air telegraph, which the +boys often called their "wireless." + +This time Rob went on a little further. Possibly he may have guessed +that what he sent before was apt to mystify the boys, and wished to make +it plainer. At any rate he took up the very subject they had just been +discussing, as though he had some means of overhearing their little +talk. + +"One mile above, track passes over a little gulch. Shallow, but deep +enough to answer purpose. Can see soldiers crawling under right now. +Rocks lie beyond, and from that easy to creep close to train there. Warn +Lopez, and have him tell captain of rebel forces. Get all that?" + +Now came Tubby's turn. + +Really, all he had to send back was the "O. K." signal, showing that he +had read everything that had been sent; but, then, Tubby was a good +talker, and it was hard for him to resist a golden opportunity like the +present, where he could display his knowledge along the line of flirting +with the flags. + +So he started the wave, and in another minute was working industriously. + +"Don't think we missed a single letter," he told the boy on the crag; +"and you sure sent faster than ever before in your life. What are we to +do if they attack the train? Ought we to join in and use our guns? We +want to know, because it might be too late when you get back. Answer." + +The two watching boys had started to spell out Tubby's message. Thinking +it a waste of precious time at first, Merritt had even started forward +to object when he caught some of the later words, and this halted him. +After all, it was not so far out of the way for Tubby to want to know +what their line of conduct should be under certain conditions. They had +not anticipated anything like this when Rob left; and, as he was their +leader, all orders had to come from him. + +On this account, then, they waited to see what the answer would be. +Apparently Rob had made out what Tubby asked, for he at once sent +another message. As the letters followed each other in quick succession, +even Andy could read their import. + +"Hold back all you can, unless it seems absolutely necessary to join in. +We have come down here on a peaceful errand, and don't want to side with +either force more than we can help. This is a Mexican affair, and Uncle +Sam is keeping his hands off. Understand?" + +"What shall I tell him, Merritt?" questioned Tubby, eagerly waiting for +orders, because, in the absence of the acting scout master and patrol +leader, the corporal was looked upon as in charge. + +"We'll try to be wise and cautious, tell Rob that," replied Merritt; +"and we'll keep out of the muss till we think we've just _got_ to help, +in order to save our lives. That's all, Tubby." + +Accordingly, Tubby started in again, for his arm had by now rested up +more or less, so that he was in condition for work. The short message +was possibly strung out considerably, because Tubby realized that in all +probability it would be his last chance to flirt the flag, on this +occasion, at least. + +Then Rob waved them good-bye, and turned as though to take one last look +over the country beyond, which was hidden from the sight of the boys at +the stalled train. + +Tubby still remained on his feet, though casting anxious eyes toward the +spot where the comfortable blanket seat had been temporarily left, while +Merritt was going over the message Andy had written down, so that he +could give it to Lopez accurately for transmission to the rebel +captain. + +All at once Andy uttered an exclamation. There was such a note of alarm +in his voice that Merritt looked up from his paper, and Tubby whirled +around so as to face the other. + +"What ails you now, Andy?" demanded Merritt. + +"It's Rob!" exclaimed the scout addressed. "I just saw several soldiers +creeping along the trail he must use coming back; and they mean to lie +in ambush for him!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +"TRUST ROB!" + + +When Andy said that, both Tubby and Merritt felt a cold chill pass over +them. It could be easily understood that if those vindictive Regulars +had a chance to fire on the unknown party who wore the khaki of the +United States soldiers, and who, they must know, had been sending +messages from the rock jutting out above, there was no reason to believe +that they would have the least pity because he turned out to be a boy. +There were many mere lads bearing arms among the followers of Villa and +of President Huerta--there always are when revolution stalks through a +land and war clouds are in the air--so that the taking of a boy's life +did not mean anything unusual to these grim fighters. + +But Merritt was alive to the importance of letting Rob know of the peril +that was lying in wait for him on the back trail. If he slipped away and +started to come down the side of the rugged slope, there was always a +terrible chance that he might know nothing of the three Mexican +Regulars lying under the rocks like genuine bushwhackers, ready to pour +a deadly volley in his direction as soon as they felt that he was in +their grip. + +"Quick, Tubby, try and attract his attention again--tell him for +goodness' sake to wait up there and take another message!" + +Merritt almost shrieked this as he sprang toward the fat chum. Tubby +instantly started the human windmill in motion again, waving his flag at +a great rate, and forming the signal "1111--3: Wait a moment," that +would tell the boy on the crag there was still something of vast +importance to be wigwagged to him. + +"I can see him there yet!" said Andy, though his voice trembled as if he +were quaking with suspense. + +"Yes, but his back is this way!" groaned Tubby, still keeping busy with +his flags. + +Merritt even put his hands to his mouth and shouted the name of the +patrol leader several times, as though hoping with this primitive +megaphone to be able to attract the attention of the other; but +apparently sounds did not travel upward as well as they do on the level +ground. At any rate, they could not see Rob give the first sign of +turning; and he seemed to be busy watching something beyond, perhaps the +soldiers who were crawling through that little ravine under the railroad +track, a mile or more away. + +"What if he starts down without once looking this way?" asked Andy. + +"Oh! Ginger snaps and pop-guns! Don't mention it!" groaned Tubby. + +"But that wouldn't be like Rob!" asserted Merritt, just as though he +might be trying the best way he knew to bolster up his own courage with +this hope. "It would be more his style to take a last look this way to +see if we had scattered to carry out his orders. Keep doing it right +along, Tubby, while we all watch and hope he'll turn around soon!" + +It was an anxious time for those three lads, and one they were not +likely to forget soon, either. + +All at once a whoop went up from Tubby. + +"He's turned around, and is looking this way!" he exclaimed. + +"Keep going, then; faster, Tubby!" cried Merritt. "Tell him to wait +up--very important!" + +"There he is, starting in to wave!" cried Andy. + +"W-h-a-t d-o y-o-u w-a-n-t?" came the question from above, with every +one of the three eager scouts below spelling it aloud. + +"Stay where you are--great danger--three Federals in hiding on trail you +took going up. If you must come down, pick another route!" + +Tubby sent all of this, Merritt supplying him with the words in +rotation; and evidently it was read correctly, for immediately after the +message ceased, Rob sent back his "O. K.," and added: "Don't fear for +me; I can take care of myself. So long!" + +"He's gone!" cried Tubby, as the last fluttering letter came from above. + +"Yes, and slipped out of sight just as if he meant to come back the same +way he took going!" interjected Andy in dismay. + +"That's all right," added Merritt. "Don't you see it must have been just +a clever little stunt of Rob's, meant to fool the three cavalrymen who +are lying in wait down on that depressed route he took going up? He +reckons that they've been watching him all this while. So he just made +out to have no suspicion that he knew about their game. Trust our Rob +for keeping his wits about him! He'll slip around somehow, and leave +them in the lurch." + +"Say, I hope now none of that outfit can read wigwag work!" Tubby +remarked, with a new line of trouble appearing on his usually smooth +forehead. "Because then they'd know what I told Rob, and of course +they'd change their position so as to cover the ground all along." + +"Not one chance in a thousand that a single Federal ever took a lesson +in signal work with the flags," Merritt told him. But evidently he was +not so wholly free from fears himself, for immediately afterward he went +on to say: "Perhaps I'd better be hunting Lopez up and telling him all +that's happened. Out of gratitude for what Rob has done to save them +from being taken by surprise, these rebels may consent to make a little +sortie and chase the three fellows up there away." + +"A splendid idea, Merritt!" declared Andy, while Tubby burst out: + +"Gee! but wouldn't it be just glorious to turn the tables on that lot +and send them flying over the hill? Hurry up, and see if you can't get +our rebel friends to make a start. They could charge right up that hill +and scare the ambushers off like hot cakes. Go along, Merritt, and don't +let the grass grow under your feet!" + +Merritt was off even while Tubby spoke. He was something like Rob, for +whenever he had an idea he believed in carrying it out with speed. In +this case it was essential that no time should be lost, for at any +minute one of the armed men who lay there in wait for Rob might find an +opportunity to get a shot at him, with a result that neither Tubby nor +Andy dared allow themselves to consider. + +Both of them continued to stand there, keeping their eyes glued on the +side of the rise, at about the spot where they knew the soldiers lay +hidden. More than a few times one or the other believed he could detect +some slight movement, as though the men might be taking an observation; +but the distance was so great they could not be sure, and no doubt their +fears magnified many things. + +"He's found Lopez, and is talking to him right now!" Andy said, +referring to Merritt, after a little time had elapsed. + +"Yes, and you can see that our guide believes the news mighty important, +because already he's beckoning to that captain who's carrying a sword, +even if he hasn't any uniform," Tubby continued. "I hope now the feller +isn't going to show the white feather and just shrug his shoulders the +way they're so fond of doing down here, as much as to say Rob'll have +to take care of himself. That would be a burning shame, wouldn't it, +Andy?" + +"But I don't believe they'll act that way," the other told him +consolingly. "I reckon these rebels are fighters, and they'll think it a +bully good chance to get one back on the enemy by knocking over three of +the Regulars. See, he's showing a whole lot of interest right now. +There, Merritt is pointing up at the place where we know the ambushers +are squatting. Will they sally out and chase them away? Oh! I hope so, I +hope they will!" + +"It looks as though they might be thinking of doing that very thing, +doesn't it, Tubby?" Andy again burst out, a ring of satisfaction in his +boyish voice. "See, that captain is yelling something to his men, for a +lot of them are running up, waving their guns, and chattering all sorts +of things--like a pack of monkeys finding a cocoanut. Make your mind +easy, Tubby; there's going to be something doing soon!" + +All Tubby made answer was expressed in one word: + +"Bully!" + +Evidently Merritt had managed to tell Lopez what a great service Rob +had done in making his way to the top of the elevation, and sending word +as to what the enemy was doing; and the guide had in turn transmitted +this to the rebel chief, upon whom it must have made considerable +impression, for he was plainly excited and bent upon discharging his +obligations toward the signal sender, according to the plan suggested by +the Eagle's corporal. + +A dozen men were told off and given hurried instructions. They +immediately ran the length of the train, and then with loud shouts and +waving guns started for the foot of the rise, not bothering to take the +trouble Rob had done to keep their movements secret. In fact, they must +have meant to let the three Regulars know of their intentions as they +scattered and started to climb the hill. + +"There! Listen to that, will you?" shrilled the excited Tubby. + +"It was a gunshot, sure as anything!" added Andy, hardly less stirred +himself. "And I saw the puff of smoke up yonder where the three Regulars +are hiding! Guess they know the game is up and mean to have a few cracks +at the climbing rebels before they skip out!" + +"And there goes a shot from below," said Tubby, "showing that our +friends don't mean that the fun shall all be on one side. Yes, and +listen to how the dogs of war keep on barking, will you, Andy? Whee! +isn't this exciting, though? I can just imagine how the bullets sing as +they fly past! Hear 'em slash against the rocks! That will make 'em +flatten out like pancakes!" + +"All the while the rebels are climbing right along and getting nearer +and nearer," Andy remarked, though not once could he tear his eyes away +from the scene upon the side of the elevation. "They may hang on there +too long, and find it a hard job to make their get-away, after all." + +"I hope Rob isn't in line with all this shooting, or that he happens to +run across the Regulars when they're making off!" Tubby pursued, voicing +his fears. + +"Trust Rob, Tubby; give him credit for horse sense, won't you?" scoffed +the other scout. "And let me tell you, Tubby, that, if they do run +across him, chances are they'll be sorry! Remember, Rob's got a gun +along with him, and you've seen yourself how he could shoot at flying +game many's the time. If he has to defend himself, he'll wing that lot +in one, two, three order, give you my word for it!" + +"I know that, Andy, as well as you do," agreed the fat boy; "and I guess +I'm only saying what I do because my nerves are all unstrung. It's just +awful to have to stand here watching, not able to lift a finger to help +our chum! If I could only be in the thick of the thing, I wouldn't be +croaking like this." + +"I believe you, Tubby," said Merritt, who had come up in time to hear +the last few sentences spoken by the others. "But there's little danger +of Rob falling into a trap, now that he's been warned. I wouldn't be +surprised if he's just been lying low all this time in some nice hole +under a rock, waiting to find out what would happen. To tell the truth, +I'm more concerned about the rebels shooting at Rob, under the belief +that he's one of the enemy, than that those three Federals will catch +him napping." + +Unfortunately, these words gave poor Tubby fresh cause for alarm. + +"Oh! I hope that doesn't happen," he kept on saying, as they all stood +and watched the little puffs of smoke that broke out in ever so many +places along the side of the rugged slope. These told that the rebels +were advancing steadily upward toward the spot where the men who had +meant to waylay the wigwag operator had taken up their positions. + +All the people who had been on the stranded train, men, women and +children, had come out of their various hiding-places, and now stood in +groups, along with the rebels at bay, behind the line of cars. Their +eyes were glued on what was happening up there on the heights. For by +now it had been circulated that one of the Americano boys had gone aloft +to spy upon the enemy, and had reported important news, which fact had +acted so favorably on the commander of the Villa forces that he had sent +a detachment of his men to try and save the gringo lad from being +captured or shot. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE RETURN OF THE SCOUT MASTER. + + +The acting scout master of the Eagle Patrol was meanwhile making his way +down the ragged face of the slope pretty much as Merritt had pictured +him. + +After giving that last "all right" wave of his flag, Rob had apparently +started down toward the plain, and his course was, as nearly as could be +seen, just the same as that he had taken in order to reach the crag from +which he had wigwagged the news to his chums alongside the stalled +train. + +But this was only a "blind," intended to deceive the lurking Federals, +if it happened that they were watching his movements. They would feel +confident that, as he meant to retrace his steps, he would follow the +line of least resistance. Then all that they would have to do in order +to ambush him, would be to remain secreted in the cunningly arranged +hiding-place where the other three scouts had seen them take their +positions. + +When Rob had reason to believe that he was safe from observation, he +set about changing his downward course. It was not very difficult to run +across some other descending gully or miniature _arroyo_, where in rainy +weather doubtless copious streams of water flowed, but which now was +quite dry. The face of the elevation was fairly scarred with such +indentations. + +The scout slipped along cleverly, stooping all of the time, and +occasionally even dropping flat on his hands and knees, in order to +crawl past a suspicious point, where the chances of exposure seemed +greater. + +Rob had practiced this sort of thing many a time just for the fun of it, +when he and the other Eagles were camping out. Such tactics came well +within the scope of actual scout work, for boys are expected to exert +themselves while indulging in games that pertain to the open. They could +imagine themselves Indians in the old days, when the copper-skinned +natives of American forests had to depend on their skill as hunters, in +order to secure their daily rations of food, because at that time there +was no generous-handed Uncle Sam to issue such to them once in so many +months as the wards of the nation. + +This creeping game had always appealed to Rob so strongly that he had +taken particular pains to perfect himself in it, not dreaming how at +some future day his knowledge of it might come in handy, as it was now +doing. + +There was no particular hurry, he decided, as he picked his way +cautiously along among the rough rocks, always surveying the prospect +ahead before actually trusting himself to move on a little distance. The +Federals who were lying in ambush and waiting for him to come along +would hardly get impatient enough to start to meet him, he concluded. +And besides, there was another reason why he should allow some little +time to elapse before trying to reach the foot of the descent. + +He had tried to picture in his mind just what his three comrades would +be doing in the matter, and he came to the conclusion that Merritt must +certainly appeal to Lopez, in order to have the rebels try to raise the +siege. + +This they could easily do by dislodging the Federals who were in hiding +on the return trail awaiting his approach. + +Several times, when an opportunity occurred, Rob took occasion to raise +his head slowly and peer over the top of some friendly rock. He moved +carefully so that he might not draw attention to the spot; and his +motive was more to take a peep at the stalled train than any desire to +find out what the enemy might be doing. In this way, then, he saw the +dozen rebels finally make a sortie and run headlong for the foot of the +height, just about as he had done; only they failed to take advantage of +the chances there were for concealment, which he had utilized. + +And he could also see that those at the train had gathered in a throng +on that side toward the scene of action, as though deeply interested in +the outcome. + +Yes, there were Tubby, Merritt and Andy; he could plainly make them out +with his naked eye, and knew that they must be very anxious concerning +his safety. Rob was almost impelled to wave his signal flag, so that its +familiar white and red combination would catch their watching eyes and +tell them that thus far all was well, but he decided not to do it. How +was he to tell but that enemies might be close by who would take +advantage of his indiscretion to send a pattering shower of lead about +his ears? + +Once he half raised his field glasses, being tempted to make use of them +in order to see better what the boys were doing and whether they wore +anxious expressions on their faces, as he believed would be the case. +But again Rob's scout training held his hand, and he quickly decided +that he would be taking too much risk. Then, too, the sun chanced to be +shining in just such a way that if he moved the glasses it would be apt +to flash a warning ray, very much on the order of the heliograph signals +he was used to making with the aid of a broken piece of mirror, and such +a slight thing might catch the suspicious eyes of those who lay in wait. + +So Rob contented himself with taking another observation, and noting +that the advancing rebels showed all the evidences of being very much in +earnest. + +All at once, even as he looked, he heard the quick detonation of a gun +not far away from him. And at the same instant he saw a puff of white +smoke burst out from a clump of rocks, showing that one of the Federals +must be in hiding there. + +Undoubtedly he was firing at the advancing rebels, understanding that +they meant to dislodge himself and companions from their hiding-places +on the hillside. + +Derisive shouts answered the shot, and, so far as Rob could see, it had +accomplished nothing save to let the rebels know that their intentions +were understood, and that the concealed Federals would not run away +without a fight. + +Then came other shots. The second and third of those men who were lying +in ambush had taken up the gage of battle, and were trying to wing some +of the leaping, running rebels before they gained the shelter of the +outlying rocks at the foot of the hill. + +Nor were the men of Villa slow to return the fire, since they seemed to +have an abundance of ammunition. And for a short time the guns popped +merrily around that region. + +It was rather fascinating to crouch there and watch the curls of smoke +shooting up, telling Rob that he was looking upon a real battle on a +small scale. Presently, however, when the bullets coming from various +quarters below began to whine about his ears, the patrol leader decided +that he had better draw in his head, very much after the manner of a +tortoise, and make himself scarce, since he seemed to be in the line of +fire. + +Once, a little later, when he took another cautious observation as the +shooting slackened, he was thrilled to see a creeping soldier, clad in +a dirty white uniform, not more than thirty yards away from him! Indeed, +Rob could watch him carefully raise his head and look downward, as +though marking the advance of the foe, so as to calculate on his line of +retreat, and the expression on his swarthy face was plainly visible. + +"How easy it would be for me to pick that fellow off, if I were a rebel +right now," the boy told himself with something like a chuckle, as he +slowly advanced his rifle under cover of the sheltering rock and drew a +bead on the skulking figure in the Federal service uniform. But of +course this was only a little act of boyish bravado, for Rob did not +have the least temptation to fire and injure one of these men. He +believed that Americans could as yet have no particular interest in this +civil warfare that was going on south of the Rio Grande; and that the +Mexicans would be all the better for settling their differences among +themselves. + +Of course, if it went too far, doubtless Uncle Sam, in his character of +policeman for the Western Hemisphere, might have to intervene and try to +restore peace to the harassed country of the dons. + +Seeing which way the Federals were retreating, Rob changed his own +course again. Of course he wanted to avoid any collision with the three +who had been lying in ambush, and at the same time keep clear, as well +as he could, of the advancing rebels until such time as he could let +them know that he was a friend, and not an enemy. These fellows were +only too ready with their guns to open fire on the slightest +provocation, and Rob did not yearn to be made an object lesson. + +"As like as not," he was saying to himself as he shifted his position +again and again skillfully, "they'd bang away if they saw so much as the +crown of my campaign hat, and then apologize in their Mexican way after +they'd riddled me with bullets. But an ounce of prevention is a heap +better than a pound of cure, and I guess I'll keep out of the way till +the right time comes along to speak up." + +And having thus made up his mind as to what his course of action would +be, Rob began to hold back. He fancied that before long the advance +rebels must be coming up, when he could get in touch with them, so as to +let them know that the enemy had slunk away after the manner of a +beaten cur. + +Five, ten minutes passed. There had not been a shot exchanged for all +that time, and Rob was really beginning to grow impatient, when he +fancied he caught the mutter of voices. Taking another careful peep, he +discovered several men, whom he recognized as rebels, for they were +armed, alert, and wore no uniforms whatever. + +So the scout waved his signal flag above the rock, and at the same time +called out in a loud voice a word that he knew stood for "friend." + +"_Amigo! amigo!_" + +Quickly he saw that they understood, because they were making motions +for him to come forth. And, feeling that there was no longer anything to +fear, Rob proceeded to emerge from his place of concealment. + +Of course he could not converse in the Mexican lingo, which is supposed +to be a corruption of Spanish, but then, knowing a few words and being +able to gesticulate fairly well, Rob managed to give them the +information that the Regulars had taken themselves off, so that it was +really useless to remain up there on the hill, when the presence of +every man would soon be needed down by the train. + +Accordingly the party started downgrade and soon came to the level. +Their appearance in the open was greeted by vociferous "_Bravos_" by all +the assembled Mexicans; and from the racket one might fancy that those +gallant fighters had utterly annihilated a whole army of the enemy. +Spanish-American dispositions are ever excitable, and whatever they do +is generally accomplished with much noise and confusion. + +It thrilled Rob to the heart, though, to hear the shouts of his three +chums above all the rest of the noise; and he knew that they were +feeling better satisfied than all the rest to see him come out of the +lively little engagement unscathed. + +He believed that he had some news for them later on that would bolster +up their faltering spirits; but first of all preparations must be +started toward meeting successfully this coup on the part of the +Regulars. + +Tubby could not wait for Rob to reach them, but in his customary +warm-hearted manner he pushed away beyond the border of the throng and +met the returning scout. + +"Let me tell you we're mighty happy to see you back without a scratch, +after all that cannonading along the side of the mountain!" Tubby +exclaimed, as he pounced on Rob's hand and wrung it "like a pump +handle." + +"And I'm a bit glad myself to get back in good shape, believe me," Rob +told him. "After I've had a chance to shake hands all around we ought to +get busy doing something to better our conditions here; because in half +an hour or so the Federals calculate to open on us from both sides, in +what is called an enfilading fire. Hurrah, boys! Well, Merritt, I guess +we're showing the natives what Boy Scouts can do, eh?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE FIELD HOSPITAL IN OPERATION. + + +"What happened to the ambushers, Rob?" Andy inquired. + +The scout master was beginning to look around in the throng of cheering +Mexicans for Lopez, who must again act as interpreter for him if he +expected the rebel captain to grasp certain ideas he had evolved while +slowly making his way down from the lofty lookout. + +"Oh!" replied Rob, with a laugh, "they slid out from under when things +began to get too warm for their blood." + +"What! d'ye mean they got clear away, and never left one feller on the +gory field of action?" grumbled Tubby. + +"Why, you're getting real blood-thirsty, Tubby!" said Rob. "I'm surely +astonished to hear you talk like that!" + +"But wouldn't it give you a real hard pain to see how the fellers that +came back with you are strutting around and grinning! Why, that little +runt with the gay jacket slaps himself on his chest every half minute, +like he'd knocked over sixteen Regulars all by his lonely! What airs +they take on! And yet you say every Fed got clean away? Huh! we've heard +a heap of shootin' since we came on the spot; but only one man was hurt, +and Merritt fixed him up fine. I reckon he broke his arm trying to +hustle and get under shelter!" + +"Wait here for me, boys," Rob said; "if Lopez won't show up I'll have to +hunt for him, because it's important to do something right away, or +they'll be taken by surprise after all." + +"Sort of like I've heard my dad tell: 'If the mountain won't come to +Mohammed, why Mohammed must go to the mountain.' Well, come right back +again, Rob, when you get through talking with Lopez, because we want to +know some things." + +Rob soon found the guide in the crowd. Lopez was doing his share of +shouting and hand-shaking, and even the women and children were taking +part in the demonstration. It amused the boy about as much as anything +he had ever seen. + +"They're a queer lot," he told himself, suppressing a grin as he came up +to the guide; "you'd think they'd done something real wonderful, now, +instead of chasing up that rise and scaring off three skulkers who +didn't want to fight at all. But then, I kind of think, these fellows +can do considerable scrapping when once they get down to it. And they +may have to yet, unless all signs fail before help comes." + +Lopez, seeing his employer beckoning, quickly joined him. + +"We ought not to be loafing the minutes away like this, Lopez," Rob +began. "From what I saw when I was up there, chances are we'll have a +shower of bullets dropping down on us from both sides before long. And +think what that will mean when the women and children and unarmed +travelers can't depend on the cars to hide them!" + +Even Lopez seemed to be suitably impressed by the gravity of the +conditions. + +"The young senor has a plan? Let him tell it, and I will surely inform +the brave captain of the valiant defenders of the train," he hastened to +say. + +Lopez had been studying Rob all the time that they had been in company, +and evidently by now he had come to the conclusion that the boy was +equal to any emergency. Plans seemed to be as easy for him to originate +as for Lopez to roll a cigarette with his nimble fingers. + +"Yes, I happened to notice a spot close to the foot of the hill as I was +coming down that would afford shelter not only for the women and +children, but for our horses as well. Some of the rebels have animals, +too, and the Federals have been mean enough to shoot at them. Two lie +out there now, done to death. Let the captain know about this so that he +may order everybody who is not a fighter to get under cover in this +sunken spot among the rocks right away. Minutes may count with us, +Lopez." + +"Si, senor, right away will I do the same," replied the willing guide, +hurrying to the side of the captain. He must have explained the +situation to the commander of the rebels in few words, because presently +several men advanced toward Rob, Lopez and the leader among them. + +"He has sent word to everybody to follow," explained the guide, as they +came up, "and asks that you lead the way to the fort, senor." + +So Rob beckoned to the other three scouts, and upon their coming up, he +directed: + +"Bring the five horses, boys; we're going to hide the lot with the women +and kids in a rocky retreat close by, where they'll be safe from flying +lead." + +"That's a hunky idea!" declared Andy. "I was just bothering my head +trying to think what we could do to protect our mounts; because, seeing +how the cowardly Federals aimed to cut down the horses when they +couldn't hit a man, made me reckon we might have to continue our journey +afoot. We'll be right along after you, Rob. I'll see to your nag, and +Merritt will take care of the guide's broncho." + +Meanwhile, some of the rebels had made the crowd understand that they +must leave the train for a brief time, because it would soon be as much +as their lives were worth to remain out in the open. Once the enemy +started shooting from both sides, the chances of being struck were bound +to be tenfold as great as when they could hide behind the cars and use +them as a fortress. + +Some of the fugitives showed considerable concern about even temporarily +abandoning the train; they acted as though they had treasures of some +sort hidden in the luggage that was stored inside the cars. But the +rebels would not stand for any delay or quibbling; and as a consequence +the entire party, numbering almost a hundred, took up a line of march +after Rob and the advance guard, heading directly toward the nearby foot +of the rise. + +Trailing in and out among the large rocks that lay around near the base, +the young scout master led the way to the protected "sink" where the +fugitives from Chihuahua could find shelter while the coming battle +raged. + +A couple of minutes later the three boys came up with all the horses +belonging to Rob's party. Others among the rebels, understanding what +was going on and able to take a hint, made haste to fetch the rest of +the animals; for there was plenty of room in the sink to afford a +shelter for all. + +"Say, this wouldn't make a bad sort of fort, would it?" Tubby remarked, +as he glanced around at the rock walls that arose on nearly every side. +"Now, tell me, Rob, why shouldn't the whole outfit stay in here, instead +of sticking to the open and dodging bullets around that old train?" + +"Why, don't you see," replied the other, always willing to oblige a +comrade, "if the fighting men stayed here they could never tell where +the enemy was located; and the consequence would be that the Regulars +could drop down here and proceed to pour a hot fire right in among the +bunch. No, that would never do, and the rebel captain knows it, too. +Back to the train for us, boys. There we'll be in a position to see +whatever fighting happens along." + +"And what is our share of the row going to be, Rob?" asked Andy +anxiously. + +"Oh! don't bother about that--yet!" said Rob quietly. "If there happens +to be a lot of men struck, why we'll show them how scouts learn to +bandage wounds and render first aid to the injured. I'd do that for a +Federal just as quick as for a rebel, because we're supposed to be +neutrals in this Mexican mix-up, you understand. So we'll try and +imagine ourselves Red Cross workers for the time being." + +"Well, the fun's going to begin right away, I reckon!" Andy called out, +as there came the sharp crack of a gun from up on the side of the hill +which, before this, had been entirely free from the enemy. + +"Whee! Hear that bullet let out a yell as it jumped by over our heads, +did you?" gasped Tubby, trying to make himself as small as possible and +not meeting with very much success, for reasons that all of his chums +could easily understand. + +There was an immediate scurrying around of the rebels, each man trying +to find some place where he could be safe from the rain of lead that +would soon be falling. + +A number stuck to the cars, believing they could manage to lie low and +escape damage; while others, like the four boys, preferred to trust to +the outlying rocks that in places offered little harbors of refuge. + +In five minutes there was quite an exchange of shots going on, so that +things began to seem "pretty lively," as Andy called it. + +Acting on the advice of Rob, all of them had spread out what linen +bandages they carried in their packs, as well as other things calculated +to be of use in case of wounds. + +"If I had dreamed that we should have to play the part of field +hospital," Rob remarked, "I would have made sure to bring an extra +supply along. But in case we run short of bandages, why there's that big +night-shirt Tubby fetched, under the foolish impression he was going to +sleep like he does at home. And when that's gone we'll begin on his day +shirt. Like enough it will fill the bill!" + +Tubby hardly knew whether to take this in the light of a joke or not. + +"Now, I don't mind giving up the useless sack in my pack, because +several times I've been tempted to throw it away before some of you +fellers began to josh me about it; but I do draw the line about handing +over my spotted flannel shirt that I'm wearing right now to be torn into +bandages, and wrapped about the arms of these dirty--er, I mean, brave +senors who are fighting so hard." + +"Here comes a fellow who's got his dose, I guess, Rob," said Merritt, as +one of the rebels staggered toward their little enclosure, holding his +left arm rigidly with the clenched fingers of his right hand and trying +to suppress a look of pain on his swarthy face. + +The Federals attempted to add to his troubles by shooting at him, so +that the dust arose in several little spurts around his feet as he came +on; but luckily he was not struck again, and soon sank down with a groan +at the feet of the "gringo" boys, who had let it be known that they were +ready to treat any and all wounds. + +Rob immediately took the man in hand. He had several pails of water +handy, and was thus enabled to wash the fellow's arm first of all. It +turned out that he had received a pretty serious hurt. It made Tubby +shudder, but the fat scout showed plenty of grit, for he volunteered to +assist Rob in any way possible. + +Between them the wound was so well taken care of that when the bandage +had been fastened the man declared in broken English that he was +grateful, and would now dodge back to where he had dropped his gun, +hoping to repay some venturesome Regular for his injury. + +"There, I reckoned they had plenty of pluck once they got started!" Rob +declared, on seeing the man run across the open space, jumping in a +zig-zag fashion when the lead began to patter around him. + +Another came crawling into the hospital, having also been touched; and +before he could be discharged a third bounded toward them, now stopping +to limp, as though he hardly knew where he was hurt. + +"This is going some, let me tell you!" said Merritt. + +"Good practice for us scouts, all the same," Tubby declared, puffing out +his big chest with a suspicion of pride, and then as quickly subsiding +when he heard a bullet spatter on the rock not three feet away, so that +particles of stone even tingled his cheek. + +For some time the battle at the stalled train continued, until hundreds +of shots had been fired on either side and some seven or more rebels had +been ministered to by the young field surgeons. But so far as the boys +knew, there had thus far been no fatalities, at least on their side. +Though no one could say whether or not any of the Federals up there +among the rocks on the slope had been struck by the bullets the rebels +continued to send aloft so industriously. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +WHEN VILLA CAME. + + +"Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time. How +about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots +rang out. + +"They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who +had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he +had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his +comrades would notice it. + +"Hasn't the time come yet, Rob?" pleaded Andy. + +"For what?" asked the other, although he could easily guess what Andy +meant by the way he handled his rifle and looked anxiously up the slope +to where those little jets of smoke accompanied each shot on the part of +the advancing Federals. + +"To let us have a hand in the mix-up," Andy continued. "You as much as +said that if things got down to hard pan we'd just _have_ to help the +rebels. They're our best friends, and you reckoned the others would +treat us mean if they made us prisoners of war,--p'raps stand us up +against a rock and wind us up, like they're so fond of doing with lots +of prisoners down in this heathen country. Please say 'yes,' Rob. I'm +not a sharp-shooter, p'raps, but I just know I could chip off a shoulder +strap from the uniform of that officer trying to hide behind that stump +up there. Let me make him jump, won't you, Rob?" + +But the other shook his head in the negative. + +"Not yet, Andy, so lay your gun down again," he said, at which the other +grumbled not a little. + +"You said you'd let us if we got close to the last ditch, Rob," he +remarked complainingly; "and seems like we might be close on that line +now." + +"You may think so," said Rob, with a reassuring smile; "but that's the +time you shoot wild, Andy. Our prospects were never so bright as they +are right now." + +Even Merritt and Tubby showed that they were surprised to hear Rob speak +in so positive a way, when it was plainly to be seen that the men on the +hillside were becoming bolder, and apparently getting ready to rush the +defenses of the rebel force a little later, after they had covered more +ground. + +"Show your hand, Rob," said Merritt; "you're holding something out of +sight, or you wouldn't talk like that. I know your ways; what's doing?" + +"Listen, and you'll hear the rebels cheering right now!" said Rob. + +"Yes, that's so," Andy replied; "but then they're ready to yell if +anything happens. When that Federal lost his hold and fell about five +feet, scrambling around like a squirrel that had missed its jump from +one limb to another, they whooped it up till you'd thought the fight was +won! What are they cheering for now, Rob?" + +"Lopez has told the captain, as I made him promise to, when things began +to look kind of gloomy all along the line; and they're passing it on," +Rob observed. + +"Yes, that's all very fine, but passing what along?" demanded Andy. + +"Now that the cheering has let up for a few seconds, and the Federals +have stopped firing to puzzle out what the row means, suppose you boys +trim your ears, and see if you don't get some sort of sound that +surprises you!" + +"Great Caesar! that rumbling must mean a train somewhere, Rob!" +ejaculated Merritt excitedly; while Andy chimed in: + +"Does it, Rob? And did you glimpse it coming when you were away up +yonder on the peak of the rocks?" + +"Yes," replied the scout master with a laugh, "through my glasses, away +off toward the south. And, boys, that train is just loaded down with +rebel soldiers coming up from Chihuahua to get after the raiding parties +of Federals that have been burning bridges and destroying railroad stock +on the Mexican Central here!" + +"And you didn't whisper a word of it to us, Rob, all this while?" cried +Tubby, with a reproachful look on his beaming face. + +"Why, you see, I didn't want any one to have false hopes," Rob told him. +"How could I tell whether that train would get here in a week? The track +might be all torn up on the other side of the burnt bridge. But I fixed +it with Lopez that he was to tell the captain when he saw me wave my red +bandanna handkerchief over this rock; and you saw me do that a few +minutes ago." + +"When you first caught the rumble of the train, and knew it must be +drawing near on the south side of the river?" interjected Merritt. + +"That's what happened," Rob replied. + +"But see here," Tubby insisted, "how are they going to help us if that +same train can't cross on the steel girders of the burned bridge? You +don't reckon it can do that, do you, Rob?" + +"Certainly not, Tubby," replied the other, "but that isn't going to keep +the men from getting over. You'll find some of them crossing like cats +on the remains of the bridge. Others may wade the river, which doesn't +appear to be very deep from what I saw of it." + +"Yes, I noticed that you walked up that way and took observations, while +the rest of us were watching the bridge burn," said Tubby. "And right +then chances were you figured it all out in your mind how a feller might +wade across if he had to! There never was such a chap to lay out plans +ahead of time. No wonder you're always ready to act when things happen +in a hurry!" + +Rob simply touched the badge that was fastened to his left sleeve at the +shoulder. Its position showed that he was filling the part of assistant +scout master; and the fact that it was complete, told that the wearer +must be a first class scout. Then he repeated the words emblazoned on +the badge: + +"Be prepared!" + +Merritt made a discovery about this time, which he announced in tones of +delight. + +"Looky there, boys! The enemy is in full flight, believe me! You can see +them skipping out everywhere. Guess they've glimpsed the train coming +along, and know that they'll soon be outnumbered five to one. And it's +going to take them some little time to reach the place where they've +left their mounts; so good-bye to you, Mr. Huerta's crowd!" + +In a short time it was considered safe to show one's head above the +rocks, and presently some of the rebels were running back toward the +remains of the bridge, shouting at the top of their lungs with joy. + +"There's the train!" cried Merritt, as he stood on the rock behind which +he and his three chums had established the Red Cross field hospital, and +done such effective work among the wounded. + +Tubby gave several loud cheers; in fact, every one was calling out now, +even the fugitives in the sink, some of whom appeared in view, hurrying +back to the cars, possibly to stand by their precious luggage and keep +inquisitive hands from opening the packages. + +The long troop-train came to a stand close to the other side of the +river. Immediately a swarm of dark-faced men dropped from the heavily +laden cars, and there was a concerted rush in the direction of the +smoking bridge. + +Just as Rob had said, many of the more daring, finding that the steel +work had cooled to some degree, started to make their way across like +monkeys, just as though they had lingering hopes of being able to come +to hand-grips with the Regulars who had set fire to the railroad +property. Others began to ford the stream, the water hardly coming up +more than to their waists, as the dry season was on at the time. + +"Well, I'm glad that it's all over and none of us got so much as a +scratch!" Tubby was saying, while with his comrades he watched the swarm +of men crossing the river. + +"Yes, but I feel bad because I never got a chance to bang away even +once," Andy grumbled, as, with gun tucked under his arm, he leaned +dejectedly against the end car, and took in all the bustling sights. + +"It's just as well," Rob told him. "If you knew right now that you had +made one of those men go limping off to suffer all sorts of pain, +because you felt that you just _had_ to use your gun, when it wasn't +your fight at all, do you think you'd feel any better because of it, +Andy?" + +Andy never said another word; but evidently Rob had set him to +considering the conditions, and he saw things in a different light. + +"They've got some horses aboard that car away back," Merritt announced. +"See, they are getting them out! Look at that man giving orders, Rob. +Seems like everybody just hustles whenever he says a single word. I +reckon he must be somebody away up!" + +"Mebbe General Villa himself!" suggested Tubby exultantly. + +"I'm hoping it may turn out that way," Rob remarked, trying to appear +calm, although himself more or less excited. "But whoever it is, he must +have given orders for a pursuit, because you notice that as fast as the +men get on this side they join some of our friends here, and go hurrying +off. It must be that they hope to waylay the Federals before they can +reach their horses and gallop away." + +A short time later they began to hear regular volleys from the quarter +whence these squads of eager-eyed men had gone, which would plainly +indicate that they had been successful in intercepting the enemy, so +that something like a fight was going on. Their shots must have bowled +over some of the cavalrymen's mounts, for several prisoners were brought +back to the train, wearing the dirty white uniforms of the Mexican +soldiers and looking as though they expected a short shrift, with a +firing squad to follow. + +Meanwhile, the boys had been intensely interested in watching the figure +of the mounted man who seemed to be a born leader. He directed all that +was done, and appeared capable even of starting the rebuilding of the +bridge after some fashion, so as to allow the passage of troop trains. + +"Yes," Rob was telling himself, as he kept his eyes focused on the +figure of this man, using his glasses meanwhile to aid his vision, "I +really and truly believe that must be General Villa himself! I've heard +him described, and this man seems to fill the bill." + +Each of the other scouts must needs have a look through the wonderful +lenses; after which, Rob called to Lopez, who chanced to be passing. + +"Is that General Villa?" the scout asked. + +"None other, young senor," the guide replied. + +Whereupon Tubby threw his hat several times high into the air, and said +"Bully, bully, and again bully!" until he quite lost his breath, and had +to rest. + +"There, he's made up his mind to cross the river and see how the land +lies on this side," remarked Merritt a little later on. + +So the four tried and true comrades stood there waiting, feeling more +than a little curiosity as they watched the remarkable man, whose name +had been before the public so much of late, ride down to the ford, push +his horse into the water, let him take a drink, and finally urge him +across. + +As he came up the near bank Rob, accompanied by his three chums, +advanced to meet him, each boy giving the scout salute gravely and then +standing at attention. Lopez hovered near, ready to render assistance in +case there was any need of an interpreter, which could hardly be, as +Villa was known to talk English fluently. + +Tubby was fairly holding his breath with anxiety, for the fateful +moment was now at hand when he would learn whether the former bandit, +Villa, now chief in command of the rebel forces operating in Chihuahua, +would remember the debt of gratitude he owed Doctor Mark Matthews. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +A MAN OF HIS WORD. + + +"Is this General Villa?" Rob asked. + +The man on the horse gave the scouts a scrutinizing look, and then +frowned. Possibly he recognized the khaki uniforms that he had become +accustomed to seeing United States regulars wear; and thus discovering +them far down on the sacred soil of Mexico, he was angered more or less. + +When Rob saw that frown he began to fear that he and his chums might not +have as smooth sailing as they had anticipated, unless something were +done immediately to interest the general in their favor. + +Accordingly Rob's next move was to hold up his hand, on a finger of +which he had made sure to slip that queer-looking ring which Uncle Mark +had seemed to believe possessed all the magic powers attributed to like +rings in fairy stories. + +Sure enough, no sooner had the quick glance of the general fallen on +the ring than he started and looked at it more closely. Then, as an +expression of intense interest flashed across his dark face, he beckoned +to the scouts to draw nearer. + +"Where did you get that ring, boy?" he demanded. "And who are you?" + +"We belong to the Boy Scout organization, General," replied Rob soberly; +"and have come several thousand miles just to meet you and show you this +ring. You once put it on the finger of the man who saved your life, +telling him that you would stand ready to do what you could for the one +who presented it to you. That man was Dr. Mark Matthews, and this boy, +here, is his nephew. Dr. Mark has recently got back from more than a +year in Africa, where he was taken down with the terrible jungle fever, +and is in a very bad way at the home of my friend, here. He has nothing +left of his once large fortune except the property in Chihuahua--his +cattle ranch, and the prize stock on it. And, General, he begs you to do +what you can to dispose of the cattle, and send him the money by us. I +have a letter in my coat that will explain all to you when you have more +time to read it. But we only wanted to let you know that we hadn't come +into Mexico to mix up in the war that is going on here. And your captain +will tell you that all we did was to take care of his wounded as fast as +they were hurt." + +"Yes, I have already heard that Americans who were on the ground had +done that; but little did I expect to learn that they were boys," the +general went on to say, as he looked still more keenly at them. But Rob +noticed that the scowl had now disappeared entirely from his strong +features. That ring had doubtless aroused memories of the days when he +was a hunted man with a price on his head, and of Dr. Mark Matthews, who +had sheltered him while attending to his severe wounds. + +"Do you think there is any chance of Dr. Matthews getting paid for his +cattle, General?" asked Tubby, emboldened to chime in by the fact that +it was a family affair. + +Something like a look of pride and deep satisfaction appeared on the +rebel leader's face, as he answered this question. + +"Why not, when for months I have had armed guards watching the ranch, so +that none of the stock could be stolen? But it could not last, and even +to-day I was considering making use of the herds for my army, and +settling with the owner when he came to put in a claim. Make yourselves +at home with my men, for depend on it, you have not come all this way to +have Pancho Villa redeem his sacred promise without reward. I am too +busy now to speak further; but later on be sure to hand me the letter +from my old and true friend, Dr. Matthews." + +He urged his horse on and left the four scouts staring hard at each +other with happy grins stealing over their faces. + +"Looks mighty good to me!" commented Andy. + +"Greatest thing that ever came down the pike!" exclaimed the delighted +Tubby. And if a face that looked as beaming as a full moon might be +taken as any indication of how the fat scout felt, he was certainly +happy. + +"It seems now as if we might go back with something to show for all our +work, that's a fact," Merritt added. + +"He did as much as say that he meant to take the cattle himself so as to +feed his army and that he'd see you got good pay for them, all right, +Tubby," Rob observed. "So it looks as though luck might be camping on +our trail." + +"And then, just think of all we've seen on this trip," added Andy. "A +real battle on Mexican soil, with eight or ten rebels needing the +assistance of the Boy Scout field hospital to keep them from bleeding to +death! Am I sorry I came? Well, don't you believe it! Though I did want +to take just a single crack at some of those crawlers up on the +mountain, only Rob wouldn't hear of it!" + +"Yes," Tubby said, with a sigh that seemed to well up from the very +bottom of his heart, "I'll be pleased when this ride is over; +because--well, I've got good reasons for thinking I'll be happier at +home again. Fact is, I'm all hooped up astraddling that big plug you got +for me, Rob. Makes me think of the bow-legged floor walker who waddled +up to a lady entering the store, and said: 'Silks? Certainly, madam; +walk this way, please,' and then ambled off. They say she nearly +fainted, and complained to the management that she had been insulted. I +expect to 'walk that way' for some time yet, till I get my proper shape +back again." + +"Oh! you'll be able to take it easy after this, Tubby," Merritt assured +him. + +"Yes," Rob added, "chances are that we'll be able to ride with General +Villa all the way back to Juarez, where he seems to be bound right now. +If they manage to get the engine of this train working again you might +ride aboard if you don't feel like keeping to the saddle with the rest +of us, Tubby." + +"Didn't you notice that when he said so pompously that he'd pay for the +cattle of his good friend Dr. Matthews, he slapped the side of his coat, +as though he might have a pocket chuck full of greenbacks?" Tubby asked +them. + +"That's right, he did," assented Andy; "but let me warn you, brother, if +it turns out to be rebel currency, don't you take it. And I'd likewise +fight shy of real Mexican paper money; because if the other side wins, +it won't be worth the paper it's printed on. Make him shell out in +American cash or English coin stuff, but no pesos, Tubby." + +"I'll be smart enough for that, and don't you forget it, Andy; thanking +you for the tip all the same," the fat scout replied, nodding his head +with the air of a shrewd business man who is about to make a big +bargain, and does not mean to be over-reached by sharp practice. + +The boys readily saw that Villa was what Andy called a "hustler," for +he soon had men busy examining the engine of the stalled train; and from +the way in which they went to work it became evident that they must be +mechanics accustomed to machinery. + +"What's the good word, Lopez?" Andy called out, as the Mexican guide was +hurrying past, possibly on an errand for the general, whom he appeared +proud to serve. "Is there any chance that the old heap of junk that +stands for an engine on this road these days will ever puff again and +pull a train?" + +"Si, senor, and before many hours have passed at that," came the +reassuring reply, accompanied with a smirk and a shrug of the shoulders. +"General Villa he has brought order out of chaos, and these wretched +people who are heading for Juarez may soon be on their way. Most of them +have already paid a heavy tribute to the rebel commanders for the +privilege of leaving Chihuahua, and they have just been shouting bravos +because the General assured them all would soon be well." + +"He's a smart, wide-awake man, all right," asserted Tubby, who of course +felt drawn toward the rebel chieftain. Had not General Villa called +them "_amigos_," and was he not already pledged to purchase the herds of +Uncle Mark's abandoned cattle ranch in Chihuahua State at the fairest +possible price? + +"Now I understand why some of these people hated to leave the cars, even +when told that it was dangerous to stay," said Rob. "They are fleeing +across to Texas, and carrying a lot of valuables with them, meaning to +keep out of Mexico as long as the rival factions are fighting and +destroying property everywhere. When the Federals find any one whose +sympathies are with the other side they run off his stock, seize him, +and make him pay all the tribute possible in order to spare his life. On +the other hand, the rebels do just the same thing with all the wealthy +people of Chihuahua who are believed to be for Huerta and his +government. Why, they say that the Terrazas family own half the State, +mines, ranches and all! But Villa has seized the whole thing, and will +sell to any buyer. I heard it said an American syndicate had already +offered him six million dollars for the lot; which was taking big +chances of the success of this uprising." + +"Perhaps that is where he is getting the money he expects to pay Uncle +Mark," suggested Tubby. "If it is in American bills, I'll believe so, +too." + +"Oh, they're taking in stacks and stacks of money, I heard one man say +up in El Paso," Merritt remarked. "Ever since the rebels have come into +possession of Chihuahua City they have squeezed the rich, taken +possession of all kinds of paying businesses, like banks, laundries and +groceries, started working the mines and getting the crude gold and +silver to make into bullion; and altogether milked the cow like good +fellows. They use this money to pay their soldiers, buy arms and get +them across on the sly, and ditto ammunition. If our Government ever +lets the rebels buy openly, there'll be big business along the Rio +Grande, because they're taking in plenty of hard cash." + +"But what d'ye reckon they'll do with that miserable lot of prisoners +coming this way now, in charge of guards?" Andy asked. All of them +glanced with a feeling akin to pity at the four men who, with drooping +heads, were marching past, half a dozen armed rebels accompanying them. + +"Well, there's so much bitterness shown between the Federals and the +rebels nowadays," Rob said, "that I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they +stood each one of those poor fellows up against a rock and gave him a +volley! It costs money to feed prisoners, and what's the use bothering? +That seems to be the motto of these men, who are not brought up to +civilized methods of fighting. Anyhow, I'd hate to stand in the shoes of +any one of that bunch, let me tell you." + +"They seem to know just what's going to happen to them pretty soon," +continued Andy. "You can see how they hang their heads and walk along as +if they didn't care a snap whether school kept or not. I guess you hit +the nail right on the head when you said what you did, Rob! Perhaps +they're on the way to execution now!" + +"Whew!" gasped Tubby, a look of pity crossing his good-natured face, "if +that's so I mean to stick my fingers in my ears so I won't hear the +volley. Why, it would be sure to haunt me all the years of my happy +natural life. Poor fellers! I'd like to put in a word for the lot with +Villa; but I'm afraid he wouldn't stand for our meddling with his +business; and it might queer my other game, too, which I'd hate to have +broken up." + +"Hello! what does this mean, boys?" suddenly exclaimed Andy. + +One of the four dejected-looking prisoners, at sound of the boys' +voices, had raised his head. They had a glimpse of a dirty face and +streaming hair. Even as they stared, this fellow broke out of the line, +sprang forward toward the four Boy Scouts, and throwing himself down on +his knees in front of them, clasped his hands convulsively together, as +he almost shrieked: + +"Save me, Rob Blake. Oh! don't let them shoot me! I'll promise anything +if only you get me off with your friend, General Villa! Oh! Rob, help +me, please!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +AGAIN UNDER THE FOLDS OF "OLD GLORY." + + +The four boys were so utterly astonished when this Mexican soldier made +his appeal in excellent English, calling Rob directly by name, that they +could hardly catch their breath for the moment. + +"Oh! don't you know me--Merritt, Andy, Tubby,--your old schoolmate, +Jared Applegate? For the sake of the good old days save me from being +shot by these human wolves! I've got an old father and mother up home in +Hampton, you know! Think what a shock it would be to them to hear what +had happened to their boy. Save me, Rob! You can do it, because I heard +General Villa promise you anything you asked!" + +The four scouts recognized him now, though never more taken aback in all +their lives. When last they saw this young fellow, who had indeed lived +near Hampton,--his father being a crabbed old farmer who hated the very +name of Boy Scouts,--Jared had been hand-in-glove with some foreign +plotters who meant to blow up the locks of the gigantic Panama Canal. +As narrated in the preceding volume, Rob and his intimate chums were +largely instrumental in preventing this terrible crime from being +carried out; and at that time young Jared had managed to escape, while +the chief conspirators were captured. + +Indeed, the scouts had forgotten that there had been such a fellow as +Jared Applegate in the wide world; and now to have him turn up +unexpectedly like this, with a frantic appeal for them to save his life +on account of those old schoolboy days, was certainly staggering. + +They turned and looked at each other, while the guard who had followed +after the prisoner-of-war waited to see what would happen, seeming to +realize that this fellow must know the American lads who were so high in +the good graces of the commander. + +"It is Jared, as sure as shooting!" ejaculated Tubby, staring as though +he had just seen a ghost. + +"They say bad pennies always turn up again," observed Andy; "and I +reckon Jared is about as tough a case as you could find." + +Rob and Merritt did not say anything along those lines. They could not +add to the burden under which it was plain the wretched youth was +already staggering. And so Jared continued to wring his hands, kneeling +there and waiting to hear the scout master, whom he knew so well, say +whether he would lift his hand to help him, or simply turn aside and let +things take their course. + +"But how does it come that we find you here, and wearing the uniform of a +Mexican Regular?" Rob asked him. + +"The last we saw of you, remember, was on the Isthmus, where you played +a low-down trick on us," Tubby interjected. + +"Yes; and after I managed to get away from there I drifted to Mexico, +because I was ashamed to go back home. I expected that you'd tell +everybody what a fool I'd been, working with men who hated the United +States and wanted to injure the Canal. Then I took the oath of +allegiance to Mexico and entered the army because there wasn't anything +else I could do. And now the rebels have captured me, they mean to stand +me up against a wall and murder me! Oh! Rob, please get me off! You can +do it if you will. It's up to you whether I'm killed or not! You +wouldn't care to think of that always, would you?" + +"Well, I don't like you any too much, Jared, because of what you've done +in the past," Rob said slowly; "and when you try to put the whole thing +on my shoulders you're on the wrong tack, because I haven't had a single +thing to do with it. But I can't forget that you _are_ a Hampton boy, +bad as you've always been. If I should manage to get General Villa to +let you go, what would you do?" + +"Get over the line the first thing," replied Jared promptly, showing +that this must have been on his mind for some time. "I meant to desert +any way, just as soon as I saw a chance to get clear. I've been treated +like a dog down here, and hate the whole country as well as the dagoes +in it. But, Rob, promise to help me, won't you? Here comes General Villa +now to see what it all means. Tell him I'm not going to lift a hand +against him again. I was forced into it this time." + +"Well, I'll see what I can do, Jared," Rob told the shivering wretch; +"but don't feel too sure that it'll come out as you wish. General Villa +is very bitter toward all of the men serving under Huerta; and I chance +to know he hates to find a foreigner in the ranks of the Government +troops." + +As the fighting general of the revolutionists came up, Rob started in to +tell him about Jared, and how he was from the same town away up on Long +Island that the other boys called home. He did not whisper a word about +what Jared had done in connection with that Canal conspiracy; for he +seemed to know that such a thing would be apt to set Villa's mind +against the young chap. + +"Since you say that he is from your town," the general observed, after +Rob had made his plea, "and was once a friend of yours, why, I will +agree to let him go free on condition that he crosses the river to Texas +without delay. Will you promise to see that this compact is carried out, +young senor?" + +There was nothing for Rob to do but agree, though he knew that this +would mean he must stand the company of Jared until such time as they +reached Juarez, and could cross to the other side of the Rio Grande. But +he could not find it in his generous heart to abandon the wretched +fellow, little as the other deserved mercy at his hands. + +General Villa, before hurrying away, said a few words to the guard, who +went back to the other prisoners and left Jared with the scouts. He +began to pour out his thanks, having been in a state of abject terror; +but Rob quickly put a stop to this. + +"Words are cheap, Jared, you understand," he said, "and actions speak a +great deal louder all the time. If you're really thankful for what we've +done for you, show it by turning over a new leaf, and doing something +that you'd be proud to have the home folks in old Hampton hear about." + +"I mean to, Rob," whined the other boy; "this here has been a terrible +lesson to me; and after this you don't catch me in any more games like +I've been meddlin' with lately. Some day, mebbe, you'll hear about Jared +Applegate doing a big thing. I'm a changed boy, I tell you, Rob, sure I +am!" + +But Rob felt that he "would have to be shown" before he could believe in +any reformation on the part of Jared Applegate. And more than that, he +duly warned his three chums that under no circumstances should they let +fall a hint regarding the true nature of their mission to Mexico while +Jared was in their company. He hoped the other had not guessed anything +along those lines as yet; for Rob believed that if Jared knew they were +carrying back a large sum of money, such as General Villa meant to hand +over to Tubby in payment for his friend's cattle, it would be a great +temptation to the weak boy, who might even plot to steal it while they +slept. + +The engine belonging to the stalled train was finally fixed, so that it +could again draw the long line of cars. Being desirous of taking his men +to Juarez as quickly as possible, on account of some _coup_ he expected +to make, Villa had most of them crowd aboard and on top of the train +that was ready to start, some being left to engage in the work of +rebuilding the burned bridge as soon as possible. + +Before he left the scouts, General Villa had another interview with +them. + +"Fortunately," he told the boys, "I know just about the number of head +of cattle there happens to be on Dr. Matthews' ranch right now, because +my men have been on guard there to protect it against all danger. And I +have figured it out that if I send him seventy-five thousand American +dollars it will cover the bill. This I now take pleasure in handing over +to you, as the nephew of my old friend, the man who saved Pancho +Villa's life. Sign this receipt, all of you, as the custodians of the +fund, so that I may have something to show. I shall sometimes think of +you, boys, for you are after my own heart. I shall immediately send men +to fetch my cattle to camp, so that my army may be fed. This money comes +from honest sources, tell Dr. Matthews. It is the advance payment made +by an American company for some of the property held by traitors to the +cause in Chihuahua, and which they can never own again while Villa or +his cause lives. That is all, for I must be gone." + +He shook hands with every one of the four boys, but drew the line at +Jared, for whom he evidently felt only contempt and distrust. Whether it +was an honor, or not, to press the hand of this rebel leader must always +be an open question in the minds of the scouts, because they had heard +many terrible stories about his cruelty, as well as others concerning +his rare ability as a leader of men. But at least, it would be something +to remember and to tell the other lads in Hampton when they reached home +again. + +Jared had not been close enough to overhear what was said at the time +the package of bills was turned over, and Tubby had been careful to +secrete it at once; so they hoped that the wretched traitor to his +country knew nothing about it. + +When Tubby found a chance, he turned the packet over to Rob for safe +keeping. + +"I managed to count it, Rob, on the sly," he whispered; "and just as +Villa said, there's a full seventy-five thousand dollars there in big +bills. Just to think of us carrying a whole fortune around like that! +But after you've sewed it in the lining of your coat, where that letter +was, I guess there'll be no danger." + +"More from Jared than anybody else," warned Rob; "so make sure not to +drop a hint." + +"Mum's the word," agreed Tubby with a set look on his face. "And say, I +hope we take things easy going all the way to Juarez again. No need for +hurrying, is there?" + +"No, not anything that would worry us," Rob replied; "though I won't +rest easy until we've handed this money over to a bank, and got a draft +for it. And I'll see if I can fix you a more comfortable seat by using +your blanket in four thicknesses. I managed to get a horse for Jared, so +we'll be able to ride in company. We'll feed him and take him along to +Juarez; but under no circumstances must he be allowed to join in our +talk." + +Lopez again took charge of the expedition, and they headed north, +satisfied with the result of their adventurous ride into Mexico. They +carried a paper from Villa that would serve to pass them, should they +come upon any detachment of roving rebels. If raiding Federals appeared, +they would have to gallop for it, or fight them off. + +But fortune was kind, and they finally arrived safely in the vicinity of +Juarez. Their paper allowed them to cross the international bridge, +which has been the scene of so many stirring events of late years; and +every Boy Scout was thrilled to the heart when he once more realized +that he stood on American soil and under the protecting folds of "Old +Glory." They gathered around Rob and gave three cheers and a tiger for +General Villa, toward whom, naturally enough, all of the boys were +feeling warmly, because he had shown himself their good friend. + +One of the first things Tubby did, after the money had been turned over +to a bank, was to send a long message over the wire, directed to Uncle +Mark, telling of their great good fortune, and asking that the home +folks of the other boys be informed of the fact that they were all well, +and headed for home. + +Jared Applegate was permitted to go, with a sum of money in his pocket +and many protestations of gratitude on his lips, which the scouts "took +with a grain of allowance," as the old saying is. Then they shook hands +with faithful Lopez, whom they would always remember, and were ready to +start on the long journey toward home. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +ON TO WASHINGTON! + + +"Now, fellers," said Tubby, drawing a long sigh as, business over, Rob +pulled out a railroad guide, "the time has come to spring a surprise on +you. I've nearly burst trying to keep it a secret." + +Tubby sighed again and took another "Mexican kiss" from the candy box in +his hand. + +"Have one, Andy? Help yourself, Merritt. Just hold this box a minute, +Rob," he continued indistinctly as his heavy jaws met on the sticky, +nutty mouthful. + +"No more for me, thank you," replied Andy with a little gesture of +refusal. "Just about one makes a satisfactory between-meal, in my +opinion." + +"None for me," rejoined Merritt, also. "I have barely succeeded in +washing off the sticky traces of my last 'kiss.'" + +"But what is the surprise, Tubby?" demanded Rob, keeping his finger in +the folded time table as he accommodatingly held the box. + +"Come over to this bench in the shade," directed Tubby importantly, "and +I will unveil the mystery!" + +The boys winked amusedly at one another as they followed Tubby. They +expected nothing more serious than a joke, and Rob was a little +impatient at the interruption. + +"I couldn't tell you at first," Tubby went on, sinking upon the seat as +the boys reached it, "because Uncle Mark told me to say nothing until we +were ready to leave Mexico. And then I didn't dare share the news so +long as Jared was around. But now----" + +Tubby paused dramatically, and drew out of an inner pocket a sealed +envelope that bulged invitingly. This he turned over several times, +apparently in an absent manner, and then looked up to see how the boys +were taking it. + +"What in the world----" began Andy wonderingly. + +"Out with it, Tubby!" cried Rob. "I'm in a hurry to look up the first +train that leaves here, going our way." + +"You needn't hurry," replied Tubby deliberately. "We shall not leave +until the evening train for the north." + +"Come, Tubby," urged Merritt, "what is up your sleeve?" + +"Oh, it is in my hand now," said Tubby teasingly. "Now listen, fellers! +When Uncle Mark bought our tickets, he secured them through a friend who +is in a big touring agency, you know. Instead of buying +straight-through, round-trip tickets, he got the return set with +stop-over privileges, and had a little private itinerary arranged for +us. + +"We leave El Paso to-night and have an hour or two in Albuquerque +to-morrow morning, before we take the train east. Beyond that, I know no +more than the rest of you,--but here goes!" + +With a quick motion, Tubby tore open the sealed envelope and took out +four long combination tickets, and a typewritten list of directions. + +"Here, Rob, you read them to us," he said, handing over the paper. + +"This gives us stop-overs at Albuquerque, St. Louis and Washington," +remarked Rob, glancing hastily at the items. "Each stop is for less than +a day, and we travel every night. Hurray for Uncle Mark!" + +"And a tiger!" added Andy enthusiastically. + +"And many _bravos_," supplemented Merritt, his eyes shining at the +prospect. "I have always wanted to visit Washington, but, with all our +travels, we have managed to skip straight to our destinations without +stopping anywhere." + +"At this rate," commented Andy, "it will take us a good deal longer to +get home!" + +"Even so," agreed Tubby. "But who is in a hurry now? Give them time to +finish their repairs on the old Academy, Andy." + +That evening, as arranged, the four boys took the train from El Paso. As +they sat on the observation platform for an hour before turning in, Rob +remarked: + +"Do you realize that we have been in the largest state in the +Union,--Texas? I can't appreciate it, for we have seen such a little +portion of the northwest corner. They say that El Paso, high and dry, is +the most isolated of the larger cities, and that irrigation has done +much to increase its products and its population." + +"I was surprised to learn that it is an important station on at least +five big railway lines," added Merritt. + +"But we have used the city in its most particular capacity," interjected +Tubby proudly. "You know it is called 'the doorway to Mexico'!" + +"And I guess that we are not very sorry to be on this side of the door!" +commented Andy with a nod of his head. + +All that night the train rumbled northward, never departing far from the +course of the Rio Grande, as if following it toward its source. And when +the boys awoke they were approaching Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they +were to breakfast and to spend some time before making their east-bound +connections. + +"Whoop-ee! Look at the gay buildings!" cried Tubby, thrusting his head +out of the car window as the train slowed down. "Is that what you'd call +modified adobe architecture?" + +"You may wish to modify that statement later," remarked Merritt dryly, +"so I will pull you in before you lose the top of your think-tank." + +"All ready, boys?" called Rob briskly. "All out for breakfast!" + +"Right here," replied Tubby promptly. "Hope we'll have a good one." + +"We shall. The chain of restaurants along this line has a great +reputation," Rob rejoined, smiling at Tubby's eagerness. "Got +everything, Andy?" + +The four boys and a few fellow passengers, likewise eastward bound, +alighted from the train as soon as it had stopped and took a bee-line +for the dining-room, scarcely noticing their unique surroundings. But +after even Tubby had pronounced his breakfast amply satisfying, the boys +stepped outside with eyes and ears open for new impressions. + +As they strolled along the broad, low piazza of the long Alvarado, Tubby +peered through the arched sides toward the railroad. + +"See the procession of Indians!" he ejaculated. "They are wearing all +the clothes they own and carrying the rest of their worldly possessions +on their heads!" + +Andy laughed outright at this observation. "Did you ever see such clumsy +legs?" he chuckled. "They are padded like a football player's." + +"Worse!" commented Merritt, joining the discussion. "And those are +women, too." + +At that moment the line of approaching Indians broke into several +groups. + +Each woman squatted down on the edge of the sidewalk leading to the main +entrance of the Indian Building, and spread about her the baskets and +pottery which she had been carrying on her head. + +The few Indian men who had sauntered on before the procession lounged +nonchalantly against the arches near the doorway, gazing at their women +in superior disdain. + +As the boys approached, the men merely looked at them from under the +black locks that straggled almost into their eyes; but the women rose +clumsily to their feet, pulled their big plaid shawls more closely about +their heads, and hastened to offer their wares. + +"By the way, fellers," said Tubby quietly, turning to the other boys, +"Uncle Mark said to tell you to pick up some souvenirs and he would foot +the bill. In fact, he gave me another sealed envelope marked +'Incidentals,' and I found four ten-dollar bills in it when I opened it +last night. So go ahead, and select some things for the home folks." + +"Tubby, your uncle is certainly all right!" exclaimed Andy. + +"Well, he is some grateful, you know," returned Tubby. + +"We won't refuse such a chance," remarked Rob appreciatively, "and I see +a basket right now that would look fine on my mother's sewing table." + +"Let's go inside and look around first," suggested Merritt. "It looks +like a museum in there." + +For the next hour the boys were absorbed in the interesting things +displayed in the various sections of the Indian Building. + +"Jiminy," cried Andy, as he caught sight of a bark canoe suspended from +the ceiling, "there is the genuine article, all right!" + +"Doesn't that rug make you think of a cozy den at home, Rob?" added +Merritt a moment later. + +"It is the very thing that a fellow likes,--red and black with a white +design," rejoined Rob. "And there's a little one with the swastika on +it; just right to throw over the foot of the couch." + +"What is the 'swastika'?" inquired Andy. + +"Oh, it is a good-luck sign. If you look, you will find it in a great +many rugs and blankets, and it is often woven into the baskets, too." + +"I wonder if this zig-zag pattern means anything?" asked Tubby, pointing +a chubby finger at a large rug that lay on the floor. + +"I've heard that that stands for lightning," Rob answered. "You know all +savage people have a great respect for the mysteries of nature." + +"What do I hear?" exclaimed Andy, halting suddenly. + +"It is a baby whimpering!" cried Tubby. "Of all things! There must be a +papoose somewhere around!" + +"Over here, boys," called Merritt, motioning toward the farther corner +of the room. The boys hastened to follow him and found a little alcove, +shut off by draped blankets and enclosed by a slender wooden gateway. +Through the wide slats of this, they discovered an Indian woman kneeling +on a fur rug and busily weaving a brilliant blanket on an upright loom. +Just beyond the mother, a little dark-skinned girl was peeping shyly at +them, one finger lost between her lips. And in the background, propped +against a roll of blankets, was the wailing papoose, securely wrapped +and bound upon a board-cradle in typical and traditional Indian fashion. + +As the boys looked in at this picturesque exhibition of family life, a +tall, lank Indian man sauntered up and muttered a few authoritative +words to the woman at the loom. She stopped her work and went over to +the child, trying to hush its cries by shaking a string of bright beads +before it. + +"Huh!" grunted Tubby, looking after the departing man. "He only wanted +us to see that he was 'big chief' here! Huh!" + +When the east-bound train stopped at Albuquerque an hour later, each one +of the boys had purchased a few small souvenirs. Rob had the tiny square +rug of Navajo weaving that had caught his eye, a round, almost flat +workbasket, and a little pair of bead-embroidered moccasins. + +Merritt and Andy had selected a few inexpensive, gaudily decorated +gourds and strings of beads for their boy friends. At the last moment, +Tubby decided to burden himself with what he considered an artistic bit +of pottery. Rob warned him that vases and jugs and urns were breakable, +but Tubby persisted in bargaining for the piece that he had chosen. + +"Two dolla'," the woman who held it said as he hesitated beside her. + +"No, no. _One_ dolla'," Tubby offered. + +"One dolla'," the woman agreed; and then as Tubby extended his hand for +the vase and gave her the money, the woman drew back and said +frowningly, "No, no! _Two_ dolla'!" + +At this Tubby seized his purchase and rather inelegantly rejoined, "Not +on your life!" as he made off for the car. + +At St. Louis the boys were glad to break the long railway journey and to +visit the places noted in the itinerary that Dr. Matthews had provided. +This included an automobile ride about the city, which gave them an +excellent idea of its arrangement, its fine system of parks and its +public buildings. At the end of the ride they felt quite ready to follow +the next suggestion, which directed them to a popular restaurant. And +after luncheon they still had time to walk across the great bridge that +spans the Mississippi and to return by ferry, before their train was due +to depart for Washington. + +They reached the National City early in the morning, and here, too, they +were advised by their typewritten directions to save time by taking a +sight-seeing automobile and sitting near the "personal conductor" of the +car in order to view quickly the important sections of Washington. + +Having engaged their seats, the four boys sat in the big machine and +studied diligently the map of the city and the guide books that they had +bought at the station, until the usual hour for the daily morning trip +arrived. Then, eagerly interested, they gave their whole attention to +the vistas that opened momentarily before them and to the descriptions +that interpreted the sights. They made many mental notes of places that +they would like to see again: the Capitol, the Congressional Library, +the Smithsonian Institute, the Washington Monument, the White House and +a dozen other interesting buildings. But when the ride was over, they +decided to accept the advice on the touring agent's list and spend most +of their remaining time in the Capitol and Congressional Library. + +"We'll engage a guide here," said Rob as they ran up the broad flight of +steps leading to the western entrance of the Capitol. "I know that it is +the customary thing to do, and it will save a lot of time, too." + +Scarcely had they entered the Rotunda before a blue-uniformed attendant +approached them and offered his services, and no time was lost in making +a start. + +The historical paintings gave the guide the text for his opening speech, +and from then to the end of the trip the boys followed him closely and +listened to his explanations with keen interest. + +Coming so recently from scenes of civil strife, the scouts had a new +respect for the torn and soiled battle flags that they saw, and for the +significant paintings that illustrated scenes of martial victory. + +"I'll bet Cornwallis hated to give up," ejaculated Tubby thoughtfully, +as he gazed at the picture of the surrender at Yorktown. + +"We don't often think of his feelings when we remember our victory," +responded Rob, "but it is just as well to know that there are two points +of view for every crisis." + +"This way, please," called the guide, and the boys hurried after him +into the Statuary Hall. + +While Tubby stood lost in contemplation before a statue of Daniel +Webster, the guide led Andy quietly out of sight behind another marble +figure. + +"Now whisper a message to your friend," directed the guide softly. + +"Hey, Tubby, how would you like to be the man on the pedestal?" +whispered Andy, seeing that there was some joke in store for his fat +chum. + +Tubby whirled around quickly at the question, and looked vastly +surprised not to find Andy at his elbow. + +"Where are you?" he asked, bewildered. + +Andy chuckled softly and, at a nod from the smiling guide, whispered, +"This side of the Rio Grande!" + +"Where _is_ Andy, fellers?" questioned Tubby, looking at Rob and +Merritt. "Honest, his voice sounded right in my ear!" + +At that Andy stepped into view, and the guide explained that the hall +had the properties of a "whispering gallery," and that half his fun in +life came through playing this simple trick on unsuspecting visitors. + +"It is a good trick, all right," admitted Tubby, grinning, "and I won't +hold it against you, Mr. Guide!" + +From this room,--in Daniel Webster's day the Hall of +Representatives,--the boys were led to the doors of the present +legislative chambers and permitted brief views of the imposing desks, +arranged in semi-circular rows, at which the men sent from all over the +nation sit in long sessions of serious deliberation. On the day of the +scouts' visit, Congress was not in session and there was nothing to +prevent the boys from peopling the empty seats with men of their own +imagination. + +"Some day maybe you and Merritt will sit there," said Tubby to Rob. + +"Why not you, Tubby?" asked Merritt quickly. + +"Oh, me?" questioned the fat boy in alarm. "This is no place for me. +Give me a good steady job that I can keep at till it's _finished_. +Perhaps _I'll_ join the Secret Service!" And Tubby patted the pocket +where the odd shaving lay. + +After lingering briefly in admiration before the paintings that adorned +these rooms and the statues that punctuated the long corridors, the +guide conducted the boys to the foot of the stairs that led to the lofty +dome above the Rotunda. + +"Better not hurry," he cautioned them, glancing at Tubby's bulk. "There +are three hundred and nineteen steps between us and the top gallery." + +"I'm game," said Tubby quickly. "Come on, fellers. It can't be so bad as +horseback riding in Mexico!" + +When about two-thirds of the way up, the guide halted the boys to +demonstrate a second "whispering gallery," and there he placed Rob and +Merritt sixty-five feet apart to enjoy a private conversation! Tubby +refused to be convinced without a trial himself, so he and Andy tested +the acoustic properties of the gallery until they were satisfied that +the guide's claims were well founded. + +When they reached the highest point available within the dome, Rob made +a discovery. + +"Boys, will you look at that mess of color over your heads? From 'way +down below I thought that was a very beautiful painting!" + +"And so it is," put in the guide. + +"One of the kind where 'distance lends enchantment,'" commented Merritt, +gazing at the thick patches of paint on the ceiling above them. + +"That is quite right," said the guide. "This painting was put here to be +seen from the floor of the Rotunda, and that is one hundred and eighty +feet below." + +"Jiminy," ejaculated Tubby, "our heads must look like mere specks to the +people who are looking up here now!" + +"And the people down there look like flies and ants scuttering around," +added Andy with his usual chuckle, as he peered over the lofty railing. + +On the way down, the attendant showed the boys a fine view from the +dome, and pointed out many of the prominent buildings and towers that +they had already passed in their morning's ride. + +As they paid the excellent guide in thanks as well as coin and went out +of the great eastern portico, Tubby patted the front of his coat +suggestively. + +"Fellers, my feelings tell me that it is long past noon," he said. + +Rob pulled out his watch. + +"For once your feelings are to be trusted, Tubby. It is one o'clock. +We'll get a hasty lunch nearby and try to visit both the Library and the +Monument this afternoon." + +An hour passed, however, before the boys were again free to go +sight-seeing. In Washington, distances are deceptive and time flies. + +"Well, which shall it be, boys?" asked Rob. "It is two o'clock, and we +have two hours before we must start for the station." + +"Let's make it the Monument," suggested Merritt. + +"Agreed," said the others. + +"And we'll ask this policeman the quickest way to get there," added Rob, +jumping after a passing uniform. + +The man pointed out a coming street car, gave them a few definite +directions, and the boys were off once more. + +At the Monument luck favored them again, for they were just in time to +catch an ascending elevator. In spite of all that they had seen, they +were greatly surprised at the extent and the beauty of the view from the +top of the tall shaft. It was fortunately a clear day and they could +trace easily the glint of the broad Potomac for many miles. + +"Time to be moving if we walk down," said Rob, after they had tried to +locate everything visible in the panorama spread out before them. + +"We must walk down," urged Merritt. "There is so much to see in the rare +stones and relics set all the way down in the inside of the tower +walls,--so I've been told." + +"If we read all the inscriptions it will take too much time," warned +Rob, "but we can spend half an hour more here." + +At the end of that time the boys emerged from the lofty shaft with a +feeling that they had been on a long journey. From all over the world +had come the mementos that they had just seen,--from foreign +battlegrounds, from fields of exploration, and from places of historic +sentiment. + +"That was as good as a lesson in 'Ancient and Modern History,'" claimed +Tubby, reluctant to go. + +"Yes, but now let's beat it to the station," Andy urged, "or we'll miss +our train." + +"Should you care if we missed it, boys?" asked Rob, stopping +deliberately and facing them. + +"What do you mean?" inquired Merritt. + +"Just this: We have purposely refrained from giving our folks the exact +date of our coming home, and this itinerary does not bind us to any +definite train. Why not get a glimpse of the Smithsonian Institute, +visit the Congressional Library this evening and take the midnight +sleeper for New York? Then we can walk in at home soon after breakfast +is over to-morrow morning and surprise everybody. What do you say?" + +"We say 'Yes'!" chimed in the three other voices. + +"It is a great idea," Merritt added. "They say that the Library is +really wonderful at night." + +And this was the program decided upon and carried out effectively. Tubby +and Andy were perhaps more enthusiastic over the collections in the +Institute than over the color decorations in the Library; but Rob and +Merritt observed no lack of interest, their own pleasure in everything +being so complete. + +It was a tired quartette of scouts who tumbled into their berths that +night half an hour before the "owl train" pulled out of Washington, but +not one of them thought of complaining of their weariness. They were +more than satisfied at the delightful ending of their hasty flight to +Mexico. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +TUBBY SOLVES THE MYSTERY. + + +"Well, I've got some great news for you, fellers!" Tubby exclaimed as he +came panting into Rob's den, where Andy and Merritt were comfortably +coiled in easy chairs, about a week after they had returned home from +their eventful trip down across the Rio Grande. + +"Another accident happened to the poor old Academy, just when they've +got the unlucky building fit for school! And perhaps a lovely journey +for us, away across the continent this time to Sunny California!" +suggested Andy, sitting up suddenly with a look of eagerness on his +boyish face. + +Tubby shook his head in the negative. + +"You're no good at guessing, Andy; perhaps now, Rob, here, or our +corporal, might hew closer to the line." + +Rob had been looking at the excited, triumphant face of the fat chum. He +remembered what a great fellow Tubby was to hang on to anything, just +like a bulldog might, and there flashed into his mind how he had once +caught Tubby looking at a certain little object which he had carried +carefully with him all the way to Mexico and back. + +"You've struck something new about that boat business, that's what, +Tubby!" he cried, pointing his finger at the other. + +"Oh! say, that is hardly fair," grumbled Tubby. "I expected to have you +all up in the air guessing; and here Rob goes and hits the facts the +very first pop." + +"Then you've made a discovery, is that it, Tubby?" asked Merritt. + +"I should say I had, and in the most remarkable way ever heard of," the +stout scout declared. "Talk about your luck--but then, if I hadn't been +prepared and kept my eyes open, it wouldn't have happened, that's what. +Yes, sir, it pays to have eyes in your head, and some gray matter in +your brain, if I do say it myself that oughtn't. Remember that, Andy +Bowles, and don't think you're doing your whole duty as a scout when you +just blow that bugle of yours now and then." + +"Oh! come, tell us what's happened, Tubby, and never mind about me," +suggested Andy with a broad grin. For it was like putting the cart +before the horse to have clumsy, good-natured, but careless Tubby tell +another boy how to prove himself worthy of bearing the name of scout. + +"All right, I won't keep you wondering too long," Tubby continued, being +in reality just wild to relate his story. "You all remember how, when I +picked up that little curled shaving floating on the water that was in +Rob's sailboat, and noticed how it had a queer raised ridge running all +along, I said that the bit that had been used to bore that round hole +must have a good-sized nick in each of the two cutting edges? Well, I +was right; it has!" + +"Then you prowled around, and poked into everybody's tool-chest till you +found such a bit, did you?" demanded Andy. + +"I meant to," admitted Tubby, "but so many things have kept coming up +since our getting back from Mexico that it just seemed as though I +couldn't make a start. But only this very morning I told myself I'd get +busy, and see if I couldn't wipe that old mystery off the slate. Then +that wonderful streak of good luck ran slap up against me, and I took +advantage of my opportunity. Every true scout has to grab a golden +chance when it comes along, Andy; you know that?" + +"Oh! go on, and quit your preaching," grunted the other scout. + +"Well, I was walking along the main street of Hampton just half an hour +ago, and all at once I happened to spy just such an object as I had in +my mind right then. It was a carpenter's brace, and was carried under +the arm of a man I immediately recognized as Jacob Ramsay." + +"H'm! the father of that bad boy, Max Ramsay," exclaimed Merritt, with a +wise nod of the head, as though he already knew what was coming. + +"Of course," continued Tubby, "that interested me a heap, and I wondered +why he was carrying a brace with him. Then he went into the hardware +store. That made me think quick, and so I hurried after him. Just as I +got inside, I heard him saying something to the dealer about his largest +bit having been badly nicked some months ago when he was cutting into a +heavy plank that had a lot of rusty nails in it, and that he wanted a +duplicate; also, that he'd fetched the bit along so as to make sure the +new one fitted." + +"Fine, Tubby!" exclaimed Rob laughingly. "You'd surely make a pretty +good detective. Wouldn't he, fellows?" + +"Well, I know that he's got a splendid detector for any kind of grub +that is lying around," Andy declared; "but I never before thought he +could follow up a clew that didn't have the odor of cooking about it." + +"And here's the broken bit!" Tubby said triumphantly, as he drew +something out of his pocket and held it up. "Mr. Ramsay got his new one, +and never bothered taking the old bit off the counter, because it could +never be fixed again. And I asked the hardware man if he cared to let me +have it, which he said was all right. And now, Rob, here's that shaving +I've been lugging around with me ever so long; just make a try, and see +if that raised ridge fits the nicks in the cutting edges, will you?" + +"Surely I will, Tubby," replied the scout master, reaching out his hand +for the two articles, and all the others bent their heads closer to +watch the result. + +After Rob had made repeated trials it was manifest to everyone that they +were positively looking on the identical bit used in boring that hole +through the bottom of Rob's boat. The circumstantial evidence was as +complete as any that ever sent a criminal to the gallows or the electric +chair. + +"Well, what d'ye say, Rob?" demanded the fat scout eagerly. + +"Shake hands on it, Tubby," remarked Rob. "You've proved your case as +clean as a whistle, hasn't he, boys?" + +"No question about it," replied Merritt, also grasping the pudgy fist of +Tubby and giving it a squeeze that made the tears come to the boy's +eyes. + +"Looks as though you'd hit on the right borer of holes," admitted Andy, +"but now, what are you going to do about it, Tubby? The boat wasn't +lost, so you couldn't have Max arrested, charged with malicious +destruction of property. And I don't think you're contemplating giving +him a licking for being so mean, because that isn't in your line very +much--even if you weren't a scout and dassent!" + +"I'll tell you what I thought," said Tubby. "Rob, your boat had the +mischief done to it, not mine; I've only been the means of finding out +who played that low-down trick on you that might have cost us dear. +Suppose now you take this bit and curl of shaving, and confront Max. +Let him know you'll tell his father all about it unless he says he's +sorry and promises never to try such a contemptible thing again. I +reckon that is what a scout's duty would be in a case like this." + +"And you're right about that, Tubby," said Rob, secretly pleased to see +how seriously the other took the affair. "I'll accept the mission, with +many thanks to you for finding out what you did. It was a clever job all +around. Lots of fellows would have forgotten all about that shaving +weeks ago, but you've been keeping it on your mind right along. I even +saw you looking at it away down in Mexico, and I had a pretty good hunch +you'd run that rascal down sooner or later." + +Rob was as good as his word, and did astonish Max Ramsay one fine day by +confronting him with the evidence of his rascality, to the utter +consternation of the boy. Finding himself cornered, Max confessed that +he had done the deed, but he stoutly declared that he had not dreamed +that anything like danger would result. He knew that, if the water +suddenly poured into the boat when the plug was dislodged, no harm would +follow, because Rob could swim like a fish. + +He professed to be sorry, but Rob fancied that this was assumed more in +order to keep the other from informing his father, who was already angry +because of his many pranks about town, than from any compunction that he +felt. + +All the same there was considerable satisfaction to Tubby, Rob and the +other two scouts, because the mystery had been cleared up. It was +noticeable in the future, however, that none of those fellows would ever +go out sailing without first carefully inspecting the bottom of the +boat, to make sure that it had not been tampered with. + +Tubby still keeps that nicked bit, as well as the shaving and the plug +that filled the hole in the bottom of the sailboat, to remind him of +what happened that dull November afternoon when, with his three chums, +he was wrecked three miles up the bay from Hampton town. + +The roof of the Academy having been properly repaired and the interior +put in shape again, school was resumed, and in the pursuit of their +studies Rob and his friends did not find many opportunities to get +outdoors while the winter lasted, save on Saturdays and holidays, when +the sports of the season claimed their undivided attention. + +But the weekly meetings of Hampton Troop, led by the Eagle Patrol, +continued to be held in their old quarters; and frequently on other +nights Tubby, Rob, Andy and Merritt would get together in one of their +homes and talk of the great adventure that had come to them when +favoring circumstances allowed them to go all the way to Mexico. They +read of the rebel chieftain, whose name figured daily in the papers, +with far deeper interest than ever before, since they now had a personal +knowledge of the man whose warlike doings kept several nations on the +anxious seat. + +"That was a great experience, fellers," Tubby often sighed, after they +had gone over the familiar scenes again and again, always finding +something new to discuss; "and I'm afraid we'll never meet with such a +heap of good times again. It doesn't stand to reason that we'd ever be +that lucky, does it, now?" + +And, while the other three reluctantly conceded that Tubby might be +right, events proved just the contrary. The scouts of the Eagle Patrol +were fated to come across other still more unexpected adventures, such +as were calculated to call heavily upon their knowledge of scoutcraft, +in order that puzzles might be solved and dangers avoided. What these +experiences were the future only has the power to disclose. + +The boys often wondered what had become of Jared Applegate, whether he +really did make an effort to reform, or whether he fell back into his +old mean ways that seemed bound to get him into serious trouble +continually. So far as they knew, his father and mother had heard +nothing from him, though Rob thought it his duty to let the old people +know that they had seen Jared while down in Mexico, and that he was in +Texas when they came away, bent on seeking work on some cattle ranch. + +They did have a letter from Lopez, telling them that he had heard the +"call" and was about to enlist in the army under the wonderful Villa, +meaning to march with the general to take the City of Mexico later on. + +Uncle Mark grew steadily better after he knew that a part of his once +large fortune had been saved to him through the gratitude of the man +whose life he had once been enabled to keep from slipping away. But he +feared that never again would he be able to endure the severe labor and +perils of penetrating dense jungles and tropical forests in search of +rare orchids, or of exploring unknown countries. + +In the future the old traveler would have to be content to sit quietly +and take his pleasure in reading of the achievements of other daring +souls, who were still in the heyday of their vigorous manhood and +capable of enduring privations. + +He was deeply interested in all the doings of the Boy Scouts, seeing +that the movement was the greatest thing that had ever come to pass for +developing the finest American characteristics in the future men of the +republic. + +Hampton Troop never had a more enthusiastic admirer than Uncle Mark +became, and indeed, in all quarters now, the scouts gained a fine +reputation for courage, true manliness, and knowledge of the +thousand-and-one things a boy ought to know, if he expects to climb up +the ladder of advancement. At the time we take leave of our young +friends, the prospects of the scouts never looked so bright, and we +shall hear more of their adventures in the succeeding volume, entitled +"The Boy Scouts on Belgian Battlefields." + + +THE END. + + + + +_SAVE THE WRAPPER!_ + + +_If_ you have enjoyed reading about the adventures of the new friends +you have made in this book and would like to read more clean, wholesome +stories of their entertaining experiences, turn to the book jacket--on +the inside of it, a comprehensive list of Burt's fine series of +carefully selected books for young people has been placed for your +convenience. + + * * * * * + +_Orders for these books, placed with your bookstore or sent to the +Publishers, will receive prompt attention._ + + + + +FRANK ARMSTRONG SERIES + + +By MATTHEW M. COLTON + +[Illustration] + +Six Exceptional Stories of College Life, Describing Athletics from Start +to Finish. For Boys 10 to 15 Years. + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + POSTAGE 10c EXTRA + + Cloth Bound + _With Attractive Jackets in Colors._ + + FRANK ARMSTRONG'S VACATION + FRANK ARMSTRONG AT QUEENS + FRANK ARMSTRONG'S SECOND TERM + FRANK ARMSTRONG, DROP KICKER + FRANK ARMSTRONG, CAPTAIN OF THE NINE + FRANK ARMSTRONG AT COLLEGE + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + +Border Boys Series + + +By Fremont B. Deering + +[Illustration] + +Mexican and Canadian Frontier Stories for Boys 12 to 16 Years. + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + POSTAGE 10c EXTRA + + _With Individual Jackets in Colors._ + Cloth Bound + + BORDER BOYS ON THE TRAIL + BORDER BOYS ACROSS THE FRONTIER + BORDER BOYS WITH THE MEXICAN RANGERS + BORDER BOYS WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS + BORDER BOYS IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES + BORDER BOYS ALONG THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + +The Boy Troopers Series + + +BY CLAIR W. HAYES Author of the Famous "Boy Allies" Series. + +[Illustration] + +The adventures of two boys with the Pennsylvania State Police. +For Boys 12 to 16 Years. + + All Copyrighted Titles. + + Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs. + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + POSTAGE 10c EXTRA + + THE BOY TROOPERS ON THE TRAIL + THE BOY TROOPERS IN THE NORTHWEST + THE BOY TROOPERS ON STRIKE DUTY + THE BOY TROOPERS AMONG THE WILD MOUNTAINEERS + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + +Boys of the Royal Mounted Police Series + + +By MILTON RICHARDS + +[Illustration] + +A new series of stories of Adventure in the North Woods +For Boys 12 to 16 Years + + Handsome Cloth Binding + + DICK KENT WITH THE MOUNTED POLICE + Dick and his friend Sandy meet with ambush and desperate + hand-to-hand encounters while on a dangerous mission with the + Canadian Mounted Police. + + DICK KENT IN THE FAR NORTH + Outwitting the notorious outlaw "Bear" Henderson with the help of + Malemute Slade, the two boys discover the secret of a lost gold + mine. + DICK KENT WITH THE ESKIMOS + In their search, with the mounted police, for an escaped murderer, + Dick and Sandy have thrilling experiences with ice floes and animals + in the Arctic. + DICK KENT, FUR TRADER + On the trail with Corporal Rand, Dick Kent and his two associates + unravel the mystery of the fur thieves. + DICK KENT WITH THE MALEMUTE MAIL + Entrusted with the vaccine for an isolated trading post, Dick and his + friends win through in spite of incredible difficulties. + DICK KENT ON SPECIAL DUTY + Corporal Rand and his young recruits solve a mystery and find a + hidden treasure. + +====================================================================== + + A. L. BURT COMPANY, Publishers, 114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK + + + + +The Boy Allies + + + (Registered in the United States Patent Office) + With the Navy + + BY ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE + + [Illustration] + + For Boys 12 to 16 Years. All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + Postage 10c Extra + + Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American lads, meet each other + in an unusual way soon after the declaration of war. Circumstances place + them on board the British cruiser, "The Sylph," and from there on, they + share adventures with the sailors of the Allies. Ensign Robert L. Drake, + the author, is an experienced naval officer, and he describes admirably + the many exciting adventures of the two boys. + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or, Striking the First Blow + at the German Fleet. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or, Sweeping the Enemy from the + Sea. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or, The Naval Raiders of + the Great War. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; or, The Last Shot of + Submarine D-16. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or, The Vanishing Submarine. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Fields of Ice to Aid the + Czar. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTLAND; or, The Greatest Naval Battle of + History. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM'S CRUISERS; or, Convoying the + American Army Across the Atlantic. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or, The Fall of the Russian + Empire. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or, The Fall of the + German Navy. + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + +_The Boy Allies_ + + + (Registered in the United States Patent Office) + _With the Army_ + + BY CLAIR W. HAYES + + [Illustration] + + For Boys 12 to 16 Years. + + All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + + In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads unable to + leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the soldiers of the + Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. Their experiences and + escapes are many, and furnish plenty of good, healthy action that every + boy loves. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel. + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days' Battle Along + the Marne. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash Over the + Carpathians. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot and Shell Along the + Aisne. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian Army in the + Alps. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The Struggle to Save a + Nation. + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and Bravery Rewarded. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from the Enemy. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; or, Leading the + American Troops to the Firing Line. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The Fighting Canadians of + Vimy Ridge. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or, Over the Top at Chateau + Thierry. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing Days of the Great + World War. + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY 114-120 EAST 23d STREET NEW YORK + + + + +The Boy Scout Series + + +BY HERBERT CARTER + +[Illustration] + +For Boys 12 to 16 Years + + All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + Postage 10c Extra + + New Stories of Camp Life + + THE BOY SCOUTS' FIRST CAMPFIRE; or, Scouting with the + Silver Fox Patrol. + + THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE BLUE RIDGE; or, Marooned Among the + Moonshiners. + + THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE TRAIL; or, Scouting through the Big Game + Country. + + THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The New Test for the Silver + Fox Patrol. + + THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER; or, The Search for the Lost + Tenderfoot. + + THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES; or, The Secret of the Hidden Silver + Mine. + + THE BOY SCOUTS ON STURGEON ISLAND; or, Marooned Among the Game-Fish + Poachers. + + THE BOY SCOUTS DOWN IN DIXIE; or, The Strange Secret of Alligator + Swamp. + + THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA; A story of Burgoyne's + Defeat in 1777. + + THE BOY SCOUTS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA; or, The Silver Fox Patrol + Caught in a Flood. + + THE BOY SCOUTS ON WAR TRAILS IN BELGIUM; or, Caught Between Hostile + Armies. + + THE BOY SCOUTS AFOOT IN FRANCE; or, With The Red Cross Corps at the + Marne. +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + + +The Golden Boys Series + + +BY L. P. WYMAN, PH.D. Dean of Pennsylvania Military College. + +[Illustration] + +A new series of instructive copyright stories for boys of High School +Age. + + Handsome Cloth Binding. + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + POSTAGE 10c EXTRA + + THE GOLDEN BOYS AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL + THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE FORTRESS + THE GOLDEN BOYS IN THE MAINE WOODS + THE GOLDEN BOYS WITH THE LUMBER JACKS + THE GOLDEN BOYS RESCUED BY RADIO + THE GOLDEN BOYS ALONG THE RIVER ALLAGASH + THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP + THE GOLDEN BOYS ON THE RIVER DRIVE + THE GOLDEN BOYS SAVE THE CHAMBERLAIN DAM + THE GOLDEN BOYS ON THE TRAIL +====================================================================== + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + +THE HUNNIWELL BOYS SERIES + + +By L. P. WYMAN +Author of "The Golden Boys" and +"The Lakewood Boys" Series + + Bill and Gordon Hunniwell, two enterprising and inventive young + Americans, have many thrilling experiences far above the clouds in the + "Albatross," their new electric airplane. Their adventures with the + Secret Service and narrow escapes in the fog, when searching for the + lost German aviators, are admirably described in this new series. + + THE HUNNIWELL BOYS IN THE AIR + THE HUNNIWELL BOYS' VICTORY + THE HUNNIWELL BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE + THE HUNNIWELL BOYS AND THE PLATINUM MYSTERY + THE HUNNIWELL BOYS' LONGEST FLIGHT + +====================================================================== + + A. L. BURT COMPANY, _Publishers_ + 114-120 EAST 23d STREET NEW YORK + + + + +The Jack Lorimer Series + + +BY WINN STANDISH + +[Illustration] + +For Boys 12 to 16 Years. All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH Postage 10c. Extra + + CAPTAIN JACK LORIMER; or, The Young Athlete of Millvale High. + Jack Lorimer is a fine example of the all-around American + high-school boys. His fondness for clean, honest sport of all kinds + will strike a chord of sympathy among athletic youths. + + JACK LORIMER'S CHAMPIONS; or, Sports on Land and Lake. + There is a lively story woven in with the athletic achievements, + which are all right, since the book has been O. K'd. by Chadwick, + the Nestor of American Sporting journalism. + + JACK LORIMER'S HOLIDAYS; or, Millvale High in Camp. + It would be well not to put this book into a boy's hands until the + chores are finished, otherwise they might be neglected. + + JACK LORIMER'S SUBSTITUTE; or, The Acting Captain of the Team. + On the sporting side, this book takes up football, wrestling, and + tobogganing. There is a good deal of fun in this book and plenty of + action. + + JACK LORIMER, FRESHMAN; or, From Millvale High to Exmouth. + Jack and some friends he makes crowd innumerable happenings into an + exciting freshman year at one of the leading Eastern colleges. The + book is typical of the American college boy's life, and there is a + lively story, interwoven with feats on the gridiron, hockey, + basketball and other clean honest sports for which Jack Lorimer + stands. + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + +The Oakdale Academy Series + + +BY MORGAN SCOTT + +[Illustration] + +A series of real boys' stories at the Oakdale Academy, Ben Stone, the +hero, wins his way under peculiar circumstances and against great odds. + +Clean-cut stories of real experiences in athletics and sports of academy +life, with adventures, mysteries and clever descriptions. + +Just the kind of books a boy 12 to 16 years would like to read. + + HANDSOME CLOTH BINDING. + JACKETS IN COLORS + + PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH + POSTAGE 10c EXTRA + + Copyright Titles + + BEN STONE AT OAKDALE + BOYS OF OAKDALE ACADEMY + RIVAL PITCHERS OF OAKDALE + OAKDALE BOYS IN CAMP + THE GREAT OAKDALE MYSTERY + THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE + +====================================================================== + + For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the + Publishers + A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts Under Fire in Mexico, by +Lieut. Howard Payson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN *** + +***** This file should be named 36000.txt or 36000.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/0/0/36000/ + +Produced by David Edwards, David K. Park and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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