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diff --git a/39577-0.txt b/39577-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f33bbaf --- /dev/null +++ b/39577-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7677 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas +Rangers, by Frank Fowler + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers + The Capture of the Smugglers on the Rio Grande + + +Author: Frank Fowler + + + +Release Date: April 30, 2012 [eBook #39577] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRONCHO RIDER BOYS WITH THE +TEXAS RANGERS*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by +the HathiTrust Digital Library (http://www.hathitrust.org/digital_library) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 39577-h.htm or 39577-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39577/39577-h/39577-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39577/39577-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through the + HathiTrust Digital Library. See + http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433082303128 + + + + + +[Illustration: Pulling himself together and grasping his Marlin +firmly, Adrian stepped cautiously toward the broken door.] + + +THE BRONCHO RIDER BOYS WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS + +or + +The Capture of the Smugglers On the Rio Grande + +by + +FRANK FOWLER + +Author of + “The Broncho Rider Boys At Keystone Ranch.” + “The Broncho Rider Boys In Arizona.” + “The Broncho Rider Boys Along The Border.” + “The Broncho Rider Boys On The Wyoming Trail.” + + + + + + + +A. L. Burt Company +New York. + +Copyright, 1915 +By A. L. Burt Company + +THE BRONCHO RIDER BOYS WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER I.—A MULE HUNT IN THE CHAPARRAL. + CHAPTER II.—A WILD CHASE AND ITS RESULT. + CHAPTER III.—A DANGEROUS MISSION. + CHAPTER IV.—A FRIEND IN NEED. + CHAPTER V.—A NIGHT IN A MEXICAN KITCHEN. + CHAPTER VI.—ADRIAN MAKES A CAPTURE. + CHAPTER VII.—IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. + CHAPTER VIII.—IN THE SMUGGLER’S CAVE. + CHAPTER IX.—GUADALUPE IN DANGER. + CHAPTER X.—SANTIAGO’S STRATEGY. + CHAPTER XI.—A COUNCIL OF WAR. + CHAPTER XII.—THE BATTLE AT THE CAVE. + CHAPTER XIII.—A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. + CHAPTER XIV.—PANCHO VILLA. + CHAPTER XV.—A SHOT IN THE DARK. + CHAPTER XVI.—A VALUABLE DISCOVERY. + CHAPTER XVII.—A MEETING OF REVOLUTIONISTS. + CHAPTER XVIII.—SPRINGING THE TRAP. + CHAPTER XIX.—WITH THE REGULAR ARMY. + CHAPTER XX.—SCOUTING FOR UNCLE SAM. + CHAPTER XXI.—JOINING THE REVOLUTIONISTS. + CHAPTER XXII.—BESIEGED BY REVOLUTIONISTS. + CHAPTER XXIII.—BILLIE SOLVES A MYSTERY. + CHAPTER XXIV.—LOST IN THE CHAPARRAL. + CHAPTER XXV.—THE FIGHT IN MIDSTREAM. + CHAPTER XXVI.—BILLIE OVERHEARS A SECRET. + CHAPTER XXVII.—HUSTLING FOR EVIDENCE. + CHAPTER XXVIII.—A QUESTION OF NEUTRALITY. + CHAPTER XXIX.—IN THE DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN. + CHAPTER XXX.—AU REVOIR, BUT NOT GOOD-BY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A MULE HUNT IN THE CHAPARRAL. + + +“Crack!” went Broncho Billie’s revolver and the silver dollar which had +been tossed into the air as a target went spinning into the yellow +waters of the Rio Grande as a result of Billie’s unerring aim. + +“Not a bad shot, Ad,” remarked Billie with a laugh as he ejected the +shell from the cylinder and shoved a fresh cartridge into the empty +chamber of the revolver. “I don’t miss ’em very often now, and this time +the river is a dollar in.” + +“Yes,” replied Adrian, a bit crestfallen, “and I’m a dollar out.” + +“Didn’t think I’d hit it, eh?” and Billie’s round face broadened till it +looked like a full moon. + +“Well, I didn’t know but you might, but I hadn’t stopped to think what +would happen to the dollar if you did. The river didn’t look so near.” + +Billie chuckled to himself good-naturedly as he returned his six-shooter +to its holster, while Adrian continued: + +“I’ll make a better guess at distances before I try it again. I can’t +afford to be losing dollars like that.” + +“Oh, that’s all right, Ad!” and Billie shoved his hand down into his +pocket. “Here’s one to take its place.” + +Adrian shook his head and made no move to take the proffered coin. + +“Go on, take it!” insisted Billie. “I don’t want to make you lose your +last dollar.” + +“That’s all right about my last dollar,” replied Adrian. “I guess I know +where to get another, and the lesson is worth a peso.” + +“Well, if you go broke because of it, don’t be afraid to tell me,” was +Billie’s joking reply; “but what can be keeping Donald, I wonder. It’s +high time we were getting back over the river,” and Billie cast his eye +toward the mountains some miles in the distance to see how close to +their tops the sun was getting. + +“He’ll surely be here in a few minutes,” said Adrian. “He knows how long +it will take us to get to town as well as we do.” + +And while the boys are awaiting the arrival of their companion, it might +be well to explain to any reader who has not had the pleasure of reading +the preceding volumes of the Broncho Rider Boys series something about +the trio of young Americans whose names have been mentioned. + +Adrian Sherwood, who had so recklessly risked his silver dollar as a +target for his companion to shoot at, was the owner of a ranch in +Wyoming, which he had but recently inherited and come into possession of +through a series of most exciting adventures as told in a preceding +volume of this series, entitled “The Broncho Rider Boys on the Wyoming +Trail.” He was a youth of much wisdom and judgment for one of his years +and a close chum of Billie, who had been christened William Stonewall +Jackson Winkle. + +Because of the exciting adventures through which Adrian, Billie and +Donald had passed and because they had practically lived in the saddle +for the past year and a half, they had become known to the cowboys and +rough riders of three states as “The Broncho Rider Boys.” Born in the +south, but having spent most of his boyhood in New York State, Billie +had come west nearly two years previous to find health and to rid +himself of the superfluous weight which some good-natured doctor had +said was the cause of his trouble. Months in the saddle had made very +little difference in his weight and if there were a more healthy chap in +the country than he, such a one would be hard to find. + +When Billie first came west, he was a veritable tenderfoot. He was +always creating fun for those with whom he was thrown and was invariably +in some sort of trouble. The number of times he had been thrown from the +back of his broncho could hardly be enumerated, and more in fun than +because he was a daring rider, he had been rechristened Broncho Billie +by his cowboy friends. + +But Billie had developed rapidly. Of the three there was not one who +could ride or shoot better than he. His only weak spot was in throwing +the lariat. He never seemed to get just the proper hang and his attempts +to use the rope almost invariably resulted in disaster to himself or his +friends. As is usually the case with fat people, Billie fairly bubbled +over with good humor, being a fine example of Tony Lumpkin’s famous +advice to “laugh and grow fat.” + +Donald Mackay, Billie’s cousin, whom he had come west to visit, was the +son of the owner of a big ranch, known as Keystone Ranch. He was one of +those steady, reliable boys whom we have all met and who can always be +depended upon in any emergency to do the right thing, although at times +he may be slower than some others in the manner in which he works. Taken +all in all they were a well-balanced trio, as their actions under many +trying conditions and in many hazardous adventures had justly proved. +They had thwarted an unscrupulous syndicate from robbing Donald’s father +of valuable property. They had protected an inoffensive tribe of Indians +against the designs of a band of sharpers, and they had straightened out +affairs at Adrian’s ranch in a manner which would have been a credit to +much older heads. + +After their adventures in Wyoming, as told in a preceding volume, they +had started to return to Arizona by a two months’ ride through Colorado +and New Mexico; but, when they reached Albuquerque, they had received a +letter from Billie’s father, saying that he was going on a vacation trip +to El Paso, Texas, and asking if it were possible for Billie to meet him +there. + +“Of course I can,” exclaimed Billie aloud, as he read the letter. + +“Of course you can what?” queried Donald. + +“Meet father in El Paso,” was the reply. + +“What, and leave us to go home all alone?” said Adrian. + +“There’s two of you, isn’t there?” retorted Billie, forgetting his +grammar entirely. + +“Of course there are two of us; but that’s hardly a company, while, as +everybody knows, three make a crowd,” and Adrian laughed almost sadly. +“Who’d take care of Jupiter?” + +Now Jupiter was the broncho which Billie’s uncle had given him when he +first came West, and a terrible time Billie had had in breaking him. He +hadn’t thought about him. + +“You could lead him, couldn’t you?” asked Billie. + +“We’re driving two pack mules now. How would you expect us to take care +of Jupiter?” + +Billie shook his head slowly. “I don’t know,” he said. + +“I’ll tell you what,” suddenly exclaimed Donald, “we’ll all go to El +Paso. We’ll ride there. It isn’t so many days out of our way, and we’ll +see something of the country. We might even get a look at President +Madero, of Mexico.” + +Donald’s suggestion met with immediate approval by the others, and so, +instead of going southwest from Albuquerque, they headed south. Because +of the lay of the land, they had traveled farther south than was really +necessary, but had figured it out that it would be better riding in the +valley of the Rio Grande than to climb over the range of mountains that +forms the watershed of the Pecos River. Striking the Rio Grande near +Langtry, they had slowly ridden up stream toward El Paso, first on one +side of the river and then on the other, until this afternoon found them +approaching the mouth of the Concho river, which empties into the Rio +Grande from the Mexican side. + +Two hours previous they had halted in the chaparral for a bite to eat +and a short _siesta_. While they were lounging about, Donald had +announced his intention of going to a little hamlet, the adobe houses of +which could be seen a couple of miles away, to see if he could not buy a +_riata_, as a rope for leading horses is called. + +“Why not wait until we reach Presidio?” queried Adrian. “We should reach +there by dark.” + +“We may not, and we need it to tether the pack mules. The one on Bray is +worn out, and first thing we know he’ll wander away and we’ll waste a +whole day looking for him.” + +“Well, hurry up, then,” said Billie. “We don’t want to be waiting around +here all the afternoon.” + +Without more words Donald had mounted Wireless, for so his mount was +named, and ridden away in the direction of the houses, while Billie and +Adrian had strolled up the bank of the river, killing time. It was +during this stroll that Billie had offered to show his skill with a +six-shooter by hitting a silver dollar thrown into the air. + +They had hardly been out of sight of the halting place during their +stroll, but, upon their return, instead of finding Donald, they found +old Bray, one of the pack mules, missing, just as Donald had predicted. + +“He cannot have gone far,” declared Adrian. “He hasn’t had time.” + +“That’s certain,” was Billie’s reassuring comment, and, feeling sure +that a few minutes’ search of the chaparral would reveal the missing +animal, they started out hastily, on foot, not deeming it necessary even +to mount their steeds. + +For the next ten minutes they tramped through the chaparral, calling to +each other as they went, but no sign of the mule could be found. Then +they returned to the camp and mounted their horses, but, although this +enabled them to see over the tops of the mesquite bushes that spread out +for miles up and down the river, they could see nothing of the missing +animal. + +“There comes Don,” Billie at last sung out, as he caught sight of the +returning horseman. “Maybe he can give us some advice.” + +But Donald had no advice to give, except to scatter and search. + +“I hate to say 'I told you so,’” laughed Donald, “because it was really +my fault that I didn’t get a new _riata_ before. I reckon now we might +as well decide to stop here all right, for I can see we have our +afternoon’s work cut out.” + +Half an hour’s riding having revealed no sign of Bray, the boys again +met at the camp. + +“Haven’t you seen anything at all?” called out Adrian, as the boys came +within hailing distance of each other. + +“Yes,” replied Billie, “I saw a _hacienda_ about three miles up the +river. I knew Don spoke a little Mexican, so I came back to tell him, +and ask if you didn’t think it would be a good thing to apply to the +owner for help. Maybe some of the peons have run across Bray and driven +him home.” + +“Good idea,” said Adrian. “You fellows go up to the _hacienda_ and I’ll +stay here and look after the other mule and the camp. I’m glad Bray +didn’t have his pack on, or we’d stand a chance of going hungry +tonight.” + +“Don’t mention such a thing,” laughed Billie. “The very thought of it +fills me with despair.” + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A WILD CHASE AND ITS RESULT. + + +The _hacienda_ which Billie had discovered in his search for the lost +pack mule was located about a mile from the Rio Grande on the Mexican +side of the river, and appeared to be part of an estate of considerable +size. The house itself was a good-sized dwelling, built in true Mexican +style, with a great wall surrounding it, and the yard, or _patio_, as it +is called, inside the walls. It was of dazzling whiteness, and, situated +upon a little knoll that rose almost abruptly out of the otherwise level +plain, made quite a pretentious appearance. + +“Looks as though it might belong to people of quality,” remarked Donald, +as the boys approached it, after a sharp gallop of twenty minutes. + +“Yes, or a fort of some kind, with that high wall all around it.” + +“The wall, as you call it, is part of the house,” explained Donald. +“However, it serves the purpose of a fortification. Father told me they +got into the habit of building their houses in this way during the days +when revolutions were of almost daily occurrence.” + +“A habit from which they haven’t yet recovered,” laughed Billie. + +Riding up to the great front door, or gate, which they found closed, +they knocked loudly. A sharp-eyed Mexican lad answered the summons and +ushered them into the _patio_, where they sat quietly upon their horses +until the owner appeared. He was a little, weazened old man—Don Pablo +Ojeda, by name, as the boys afterward learned—but he received them with +a great show of friendliness. + +“Welcome, strangers,” he said, by way of greeting. “What can I do for +you today?” + +“We are travelers,” replied Donald, “and one of our pack mules strayed +away. Being unable to find it, we thought perhaps some of your servants +might have come across it, and, not knowing to whom it belonged, have +driven it to this place.” + +“Quite possible,” replied the old man. “I will summon them and inquire.” + +This he did. In response to his summons, half a dozen peons put in an +appearance, but all denied any knowledge of the mule. + +“He has probably gone down the river in the direction from which you +came,” said Don Pablo, after the servants had gone back to their work. +“That would be the most natural thing.” + +“Quite likely,” was Donald’s reply. “We will look for him in that +direction. We are much obliged to you for your trouble.” + +“_No hay de que_,” meaning, there is no occasion for thanks, was the +Mexican’s answer, and, without more ado, the boys took their departure. + +“The old hypocrite,” exclaimed Donald, as soon as the boys were out of +earshot. “I actually believe he found the mule himself, and knows where +he is at this very minute.” + +“I thought that myself,” commented Billie, “although I could understand +very little of what was being said. But he was altogether too gracious.” + +“What most aroused my suspicions,” said Donald, “was a side remark I +heard him whisper to that big dark peon. I didn’t get the whole of it, +but it was something about removing the livestock to another pasture. +But he can’t fool me, if ever I get sight of old Bray, for he had the +Keystone brand.” + +The boys walked their horses slowly along, talking the matter over, +undecided what to do next; but, as they at last emerged from behind a +long row of cactus, which formed a hedge around one side of the +_hacienda_, Billie uttered a sudden exclamation. + +“Look!” he almost shouted, and pointed away to the left, where, about a +mile distant, could be seen a couple of men on horseback, driving before +them a dozen or more horses and mules. “I believe that big mule a little +to the side is old Bray.” + +“I’m sure of it,” replied Donald. “It’s a long ways too far to see the +brand, but he’s got a peculiar stride that I recognize as soon as I set +eyes on him.” + +“What had we better do?” queried Billie. “We’re perfect strangers here, +you know.” + +“I don’t care if we are,” was the emphatic response. “No thieving +hypocrite can get away with my mule as long as my name is Donald Mackay. +Follow me,” and, putting spurs to Wireless, he dashed off in the +direction of the drove, closely followed by Billie. + +From the direction in which the men were driving the animals it was very +evident they were headed for the mountains, some seven or eight miles +away, and it was plain to the boys that, if they ever expected to get +old Bray, they would have to overtake the drove before it reached the +foothills. A small stream flowed across the plain and emptied into the +Concho some miles farther west, and it was necessary for the men with +the drove to cross this stream before they could make a direct line for +the place they wished. + +The boys were unfamiliar with the lay of the land, but they made up +their mind that they could cross the stream higher up and thus get +between the men and the mountains. They did not know that the only ford +was the one toward which the men were driving the horses, and +accordingly, instead of following the direct trail, they struck off +diagonally across the plain. + +The men saw the boys as soon as they appeared upon the scene, and +immediately put the drove on a full run for the ford. + +While the stream toward which both the pursued and the pursuers were +heading was not a large one, it was quite a torrent because of the heavy +rains of the past two or three days—the rainy season having already +begun. The natives were well aware of this, and thought it impossible +for anyone to cross it except at the ford in question. Being fully a +mile in advance, they had no fear of being overtaken, as they felt +certain that when the boys reached the river they would have to turn +down stream for more than half a mile before they could cross. This +would give the thieves another good mile the advantage. + +Wireless and Jupiter seemed to know what was expected of them, and +fairly flew over the ground. The natives were also well mounted, and the +chase would have been a fruitless one, had conditions been as they +supposed. But they did not know the kind of boys they had to deal with, +nor the mettle of the horses they rode. + +After ten minutes of hard riding, it became evident that the boys were +gaining, and as the thieves and their booty plunged into the ford, the +boys were rapidly approaching the river at the place they had picked out +to cross. + +Then for the first time the pursuers saw why it was that the thieves had +chosen a crossing so far downstream. + +For just a moment they drew rein, seeing which the natives gave a shout +of derision as they, too, slackened their pace and rode more leisurely +toward the mountains. + +But again the thieves had reckoned without their host, for, in another +minute the boys put spurs to their horses and dashed toward the stream, +even higher up than they had first aimed. Billie had discovered a narrow +place, and had made a suggestion to Donald, which they determined to +carry out. + +At the spot which Billie had discovered the stream was about thirty feet +from bank to bank. Billie’s suggestion was that they make the horses +jump it. + +It was a dangerous suggestion, because the very narrowness of the stream +made the current at this point exceedingly swift. How deep it was +neither of the boys had the slightest idea; they did know, however, that +it was necessarily the deepest spot on the whole plain. But this did not +deter them. They had made up their minds to head off the thieves, and +such a small thing as a thirty-foot leap over a raging torrent of water +was not to be considered. + +So surprised were the men whom they were pursuing, that for the time +they forgot their herd and riveted their attention upon the boys, not +for a moment expecting them to try to cross when once they approached +near enough to the stream to know the actual condition. + +But, never flagging, almost neck and neck, Wireless and Jupiter dashed +toward the narrow spot. + +As they drew nearer, both boys saw that the stream was wider than they +had thought, and swerved just a moment from their course. + +Again the natives uttered a shout of derision, expecting to see them +pull up; but on they came. + +“Can we make it?” shouted Billie. + +“Sure,” replied Donald, who was better acquainted with the latent +ability of his horse than his eastern-bred cousin. “Give Jupiter his +head and just a touch of the spur, and over we go!” + +They were right on the brink, and suiting the action to the word, they +gave their horses their heads for the leap. + +Into the air they rose like a couple of soaring birds, and for one brief +moment were flying over the rushing water. The shout of derision died on +the lips of the now thoroughly frightened natives, as both the +thoroughbred beauties landed fairly on the opposite bank and sped on +their way, as though they had but jumped a ditch. + +By their daring feat the boys had so gained upon the thieves that they +were now not more than a quarter of a mile behind and gaining rapidly. +Seeing that they could not escape with their booty, the thieves turned +suddenly to the left, deserting their herd, and rode as fast as their +horses could carry them directly toward the chaparral that skirted the +Rio Grande. + +At this the boys would have drawn rein, seeing that old Bray was now +within their grasp, but their attention was attracted by a shout from +the opposite side of the stream which they had just crossed. + +Turning their heads to see whence came the noise, they beheld a body of +a dozen or more horsemen headed toward the ford at full speed. + +“Don’t let them escape! Don’t let them escape!” shouted the leader of +the band, and, without stopping to think why they should obey such an +order, but feeling that there was good reason for it, the boys again +took up the chase. + +As they espied the horsemen on the opposite bank, and realizing that +there was but one way to escape, the thieves turned in their saddles and +simultaneously fired a shot at their boy pursuers. + +The balls whistled by the boys’ heads, but did not stop their furious +gallop. Again the thieves fired, and again the balls whistled harmlessly +by their heads. + +But they had no chance to fire again, for the lads were right upon them. +Suddenly Donald’s hand shot forward, and his lariat sung out with +lightning speed. True to its aim, it fell over the shoulders of the +nearest Mexican. Wireless stopped as though he had been suddenly rooted +to the spot; the Mexican’s horse dashed on riderless, and his master lay +senseless upon the ground. + +At the same moment Billie’s revolver cracked and the horse of the other +fleeing Mexican pitched headlong to the earth, carrying his rider with +him. Before he could recover himself, Billie had pulled up beside him, +and, leaping to the ground, quickly bound him with his own lariat. + +The boys had hardly regained their breath, when a loud cheer announced +the arrival of the other horsemen. + +“Good for you, young fellows,” exclaimed the leader of the band, as he, +too, sprang from his saddle. “You’ve made an important capture. We’ve +been trying to get evidence against these cutthroats for weeks. I surely +owe you one.” + +“That’s good,” laughed Billie. “It’s mighty nice to have something +coming. But who are you?” + +“Oh, me,” was the good-natured rejoinder. “I’m Captain June Peak, of the +Texas Rangers, and these are part of my company.” + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A DANGEROUS MISSION. + + +Of course both Donald and Billie had heard of the Texas Rangers, that +daring body of the Texas militia which has done so much in maintaining +law and order along the Mexican frontier, as well as in the lawless +communities farther interior. This, however, was their first +introduction to the rangers, and they gazed at the riders with +considerable astonishment, their appearance not being such as would give +a stranger a very good opinion of their law-abiding character. + +“Texas Rangers,” finally exclaimed Donald, in a tone that indicated some +doubt. “Then what are you doing this side of the Rio Grande?” + +“Well, I declare,” responded Captain Peak, looking around at his men +with a twinkle in his eye, “we must have crossed the river without +seeing it. We’d better get back just as fast as we can.” + +“That’s right, Cap.,” replied one of the men, “but you wouldn’t think of +leaving these poor fellows lying on the ground, would you?” + +“Sure not. Just pick them up, some of you, and we’ll get right back to +our own side of the river.” + +The words were no sooner spoken than several of the men sprang to the +ground. The two Mexicans were quickly thrown across the backs of a +couple of horses, and the rangers prepared to return. + +The boys had heard the words of the captain, and watched the proceedings +without a word, realizing by the captain’s manner that the affair was +more serious than he let on. As the men again resumed their saddles, and +the captain was about to mount, Donald thought it high time to ask +further questions; but he hadn’t decided just what to say before Captain +Peak asked: + +“How did you boys happen to be chasing these greasers?” + +“They were stealing our mule—that big one there,” replied Donald, +pointing to old Bray. “You can see he has the Keystone brand, the same +as our horses,” and he indicated the marks upon Jupiter and Wireless. + +“Then you’d better cut him out and come along with us,” said Captain +Peak. “This won’t be a very healthy place for you much longer.” + +“No?” And the boys looked at the captain inquiringly. + +“No; there’s going to be trouble along the border, and it may break out +any minute. That’s why these horse-thieves are so bold; and that’s why +we are on this side the river, where we really have no business. But +these fellows have become such a nuisance that when we saw them leaving +the _casa_ a little while ago we couldn’t resist the chance of getting +them. We shall turn them over to the Mexican authorities at the first +opportunity, and I hope you boys will be on hand to give your testimony +against them.” + +“If they are really horse-thieves,” replied Donald, “we shall be glad to +help bring them to justice; but we are only travelers, and don’t wish to +be delayed on our journey any longer than necessary. We have a companion +and another mule back there in the chaparral.” + +“All right,” replied Captain Peak, “we’ll ride back that way and see +that no one disturbs you. Then we’ll all get into town as soon as +possible. It’s only six or seven miles.” + +Acting upon Captain Peak’s advice, the boys cut old Bray out from the +rest of the drove, and in company with the rangers, galloped back toward +the place where they had left Adrian. It is hard to say which was the +greater, his pleasure at seeing his companions with old Bray in their +possession, or his surprise at the numerous company that was with them. + +As they rode leisurely toward Presidio, after crossing to the American +shore, Donald explained to Captain Peak how they happened to be so far +from home. He was much interested in their story, and when they reached +town introduced them to the officials, both civil and military. The +captured horse-thieves were locked up in jail and the boys went home +with Captain Peak, who invited them to spend the night with him at the +hotel. + +“I tell you,” exclaimed Billie, as they sat on the porch that evening +after supper, “a woman’s cooking surely does taste good! Why, just +think, we haven’t had a bite for most a month that we didn’t cook +ourselves.” + +The following morning the boys were awakened by a big commotion outside, +and, looking down the street toward the jail, saw that it was surrounded +by a great crowd. They hastily dressed themselves and rushed out of the +hotel. Almost the first man they met was Captain Peak. + +“What’s the matter?” asked Billie. + +“There has been an attempt to rescue the prisoners, but it did not +succeed.” + +“Who did it?” queried Adrian. + +“We are not exactly sure, as the rescuers mounted their horses as soon +as they were discovered, and managed to get away. Some of the rangers +are after them, however, and I hope will get a trace of them.” + +“They must have been pretty bold to come into a town as big as this,” +said Donald. + +“So they are; but, as I told you yesterday, there is likely to be a lot +of trouble the other side of the river, and the authorities are having +their hands full looking after possible revolutionists. As a result +lesser culprits go free.” + +“That must make a lot of trouble on this side,” suggested Adrian. + +“It does, for, in addition to watching for horse and cattle thieves, we +have to keep our eyes open for gun runners.” + +“What do you mean?” asked Billie. “What are gun runners?” + +“Would-be revolutionists, who smuggle quantities of arms into Mexico +without the knowledge of the Mexican officials.” + +“I didn’t know it was our business to stop that. I thought anybody could +buy arms to sell in Mexico?” said Adrian. + +“So they can; but these arms would not be for sale. They would be for +arming bands of men to overturn the government. We are under no +obligation to stop it, but, as we want law and order along the border, +we always try to help the Mexican authorities,” explained Captain Peak. + +“But there come my men now,” he continued, as several horsemen turned +into the main street. + +The boys crowded around with others to hear the result of the chase, +which the men reported to have been fruitless. + +“If we could only have chased them over the river we could have captured +them,” declared the sergeant in charge, “but, after the little raid +yesterday, we thought we’d better not try it.” + +Seeing that there was likely to be no more excitement, the crowd +dispersed and the boys went into the hotel for breakfast; but when they +came out they found Captain Peak waiting for them. + +“How would you boys like to do a little scout duty for me over the +river?” he asked. + +“Scout duty?” repeated Donald. “I don’t think I understand.” + +“Draw up some chairs,” replied the captain, “and I’ll explain.” + +The boys did as directed, and the captain continued: + +“I’ve been interested a whole lot in the adventures you boys have had, +and I can see you are a smart bunch. You said you were willing to stay +and help convict the cattle thieves, but we can’t arrange to turn them +over to the Mexican officials and have their trial before tomorrow, no +matter how fast we act. The Mexican always wants to wait till tomorrow.” + +“Now, as long as you will be here a day or two, anyway, I thought maybe +you would like to take a little excursion across the Rio Grande, and see +how people live on that side. If you kept your eyes open, you might see +something that would be useful to me.” + +“In what way?” queried Adrian. + +Captain Peak drew his chair a bit nearer and looked all around to be +sure no one was listening. + +“It is like this,” he continued. “President Madero has discovered that +there is a real plot on foot to start another revolution and overthrow +his government. Arms for the revolutionists would have to come from this +side of the river. As a revolution is unlawful, carrying arms across the +Rio Grande to help a revolution is unlawful, and he has asked Uncle Sam +and the State of Texas to prevent any guns or ammunition from going into +Mexico which do not go through the Mexican custom house.” + +“It looks to me,” broke in Billie, “as though that was the business of +the Mexican government.” + +“So it is,” replied Captain Peak, “but as long as Mexico is a friendly +nation it is also our business to prevent filibustering—and that is what +gun running amounts to. + +“There is also another reason for helping to prevent this sort of +smuggling. We frequently have to ask the Mexican government to aid us in +running down outlaws who escape into that country. If we don’t help +them, they won’t help us. So you can see, if we can learn anything about +this revolutionary movement, it will be a good thing. You boys, because +you are strangers and travelers, are just the ones to help. What do you +say?” + +For several moments the boys said nothing, but finally Donald replied +that if the captain would give them a few minutes to talk the matter +over between themselves, they would be able to let him know. + +“All right,” was the reply, “I’ve an appointment with the mayor, which +will give you all the time you need,” and he left the hotel to keep his +appointment. + +“Well,” remarked Billie, as the captain disappeared around the corner, +“what do you think of that?” + +“I don’t think anything of it,” replied Donald. “I’ve no liking for that +kind of work.” + +“Why not?” queried Adrian. + +“I don’t know. I just haven’t, that’s all.” + +“You’d like to prevent war, wouldn’t you?” + +“Sure,” was Donald’s emphatic rejoinder; “but I can’t see how this trip +can prevent war.” + +“I don’t know as it would,” said Adrian, “but, if we could do anything +which would keep a lot of dissatisfied peons from getting guns and going +out and killing people, it seems to me we would be doing a good deed.” + +“That’s just the way it seems to me,” declared Billie. “The average +Mexican who wants to start a revolution looks to me a good deal like the +fellows who stole our mule.” + +“Not necessarily,” replied Adrian. “Sometimes revolutions are started by +men to overthrow a bad government. But my mother has always taught me +there was a better way to right a wrong than to go to war over it. +That’s why I am in favor of doing all we can to help those who want to +prevent trouble.” + +“Of course if you put it that way,” said Donald, “I’ve no objection to +the excursion, as the captain calls it.” + +When Captain Peak returned, they unanimously announced their readiness +for the trip, and, half an hour later, fully instructed as to what was +expected of them, they were across the Rio Grande, engaged upon what +proved to be the most important adventure of their career. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A FRIEND IN NEED. + + +“This is certainly a funny excursion,” laughed Billie, after the boys +had ridden along in silence for some minutes. “It’s like looking for a +needle in a haystack.” + +“How so?” queried Donald. + +“Well, isn’t it? This big country is the haystack, and the bunch of gun +runners is the needle. I see mighty little chance of finding them.” + +“Oh, I don’t know,” replied Donald. “We never started out to find +anything yet that we didn’t locate it—even old Bray,” he added as an +afterthought. + +“That’s right,” chimed in Adrian. “There is nothing like having your +luck with you.” + +“Huh,” grunted Billie, “I’m not sure but the greatest luck we could have +would be not to find anything.” + +Adrian looked at the speaker in surprise. + +“It’s the first time I ever knew you to show the white feather,” he +said. + +“Who’s showing the white feather?” demanded Billie, with much spirit. +“I’m just as anxious as anyone to put a stop to lawlessness; but you +wouldn’t call any man a coward, would you, because he wouldn’t +deliberately stick his head in a hornet’s nest?” And he gave his horse a +vicious dig with his spurs. + +“Oh, don’t get mad about it,” said Adrian. “I didn’t mean to hurt your +feelings.” + +“Well, then, don’t be accusing me of showing the white feather. There’s +a whole lot of difference, in my mind, between being a coward and using +a little common sense.” + +“He has the best of you there, Ad.,” remarked Donald; “when it comes to +doing things, Billie will be on the job.” + +Donald’s words were like oil on the troubled waters, and after a few +minutes Billie continued in a voice entirely free from any irritation: + +“The thing I can’t understand is this: If somebody has so much +information as to what is to be done, why don’t they have some little +knowledge of those who propose to do it? The whole thing looks fishy to +me.” + +“I believe you’re right,” assented Adrian, after turning the matter over +in his mind for several minutes. “There is something kind of mysterious +about it.” + +“I don’t see it,” declared Donald, “but, even if there is, all we have +to do is to keep our eyes and ears open. We have the law on our side.” + +“Looks like mighty little law to me,” replied Billie, who, for some +reason or other insisted upon looking on the dark side. “But, to change +the subject, what do you call that?” and he pointed away to the south, +where a cloud of dust was to be seen. + +“Looks as though it might be a herd of cattle.” said Donald, after a +moment’s inspection. “Although,” he added, after further observation, +“it would be a mighty small one.” + +“They certainly make a lot of dust,” was Adrian’s comment, followed in a +moment with: “Look! Look! It’s a race! It’s a race!” + +A race it certainly was, in which something less than half a dozen +horsemen were engaged, and the boys drew rein to watch it. + +At the first glance it did not appear to be very exciting, as one of the +riders was so far in advance that there seemed very little chance for +any of the others. But, as the boys watched the flying horsemen, it +slowly dawned upon Donald that there was something wrong. + +“By George!” he suddenly exclaimed, “I don’t believe it’s a race at all. +It looks to me as though there were three trying to catch one, and I +don’t think it’s for any good purpose.” + +“I believe you’re right, Don; and, look,” exclaimed Adrian, “they’re +headed this way!” + +That the boys were right was fully evidenced as the flying horsemen +approached. The pursuers seemed to be men, while the fugitive was a lad +of about the same age as our travelers. + +All at once the boy espied the Broncho Rider Boys, and, digging his +spurs into his horse, turned abruptly and rode directly toward them. + +“_Socorre mi! Socorre mi!_” he called, as he came within hailing +distance. + +“What does he say?” asked Billie. + +“He’s crying for help,” replied Donald. “What had we better do?” + +“Help him, of course,” replied Billie. + +“And get ourselves into a lot of trouble for our pains,” declared +Donald. + +“Who cares! Three to one is more than I can stand,” and Billie yanked +his Marlin from its sheath at his saddle girth. + +Seeing that Billie intended to interfere, even if he had to go it alone, +Don and Adrian followed his example, and, spurring their horses forward, +interposed between the boy and his pursuers. + +“What’s all the trouble?” asked Donald in Spanish, as soon as the +pursuing horsemen had come to a halt. + +“He is running away from home,” replied one who seemed to be the leader, +“and his uncle sent us to bring him back.” + +“It isn’t so,” declared the lad, who had stopped his flight and had come +up behind the boys. “Do not believe him, _señores_!” + +Adrian turned at the sound of the lad’s voice. “Which are we to +believe?” he asked. + +“Believe me,” exclaimed the lad imploringly. “If you let them take me, I +do not know what they will do with me.” + +“Why are they chasing you?” asked Don. + +“I don’t know, unless it is because they do not like my father.” + +“Who is your father?” + +“General Sanchez, of President Madero’s staff.” + +“Who are these?” and Don pointed to the waiting horsemen. + +“I don’t know who that man is,” replied the lad, pointing to the leader, +“but the others are peons on my uncle’s _hacienda_.” + +“Is this true?” asked Don, turning to the pursuers, while Billie and +Adrian tenderly fondled their rifles. + +“Partly,” replied the leader. “But you heard him say he did not know who +I am. Well, I am one of his uncle’s closest friends. I learned this +morning that Pedro,” and he pointed at the boy, “was getting into bad +company, and so came out to look for him. I found him in bad company and +told him he must come home with me. He refused and rode away. I then +started after him. If I were not his uncle’s friend, do you think I +would have his uncle’s peons with me?” + +“It hardly seems so,” replied Donald; “but, if you are such a good +friend of his uncle, it’s a wonder he does not know you. How about that, +Pedro,” and he again turned to the boy. + +“It’s all a lie,” was the emphatic reply. “I was out watching the men at +work at the foot of the mountains this morning, when this man rode up. +He told me to come with him. Never having seen him, I refused, whereupon +he threatened to flog me. I jumped on my horse and rode away. A few +minutes later he came after me, making all sorts of threats. Then he +summoned the peons and chased me. They seem to do everything he tells +them, but I do not know why.” + +“It sure is a queer mix-up,” said Donald to his companions, in English, +“and I don’t know what to do.” + +“I’ll tell you what,” exclaimed Billie, after the matter had been fully +explained to him, “let’s all ride back to his uncle’s, wherever that is, +and see what he says.” + +“Why, sure,” said Donald. “Billie, you’ll make a judge some day. We’ll +go at once.” + +When the proposed plan was explained to the Mexicans, both sides to the +controversy quickly acquiesced, and, turning their horses about, the +combined parties started toward the mountains, Pedro leading the way. + +The road ran along the bank of the Concho for a couple of miles, and +then turned abruptly toward the foothills. It was a beautiful valley, +and the Broncho Rider Boys were much interested in the scenery. They +passed several small groups of adobe houses, which Pedro explained were +on his uncle’s estate, which seemed very large. + +“There is the house,” Pedro at length explained, pointing to a fine +appearing place on the top of a small hill. “It’s only a couple of miles +farther.” + +So interested had the boys become in what Pedro was telling them that +they had paid very little attention to the rest of the company, until, +as they rounded a turn in the now rocky road, Adrian discovered that the +man who had made all the trouble had disappeared. Adrian quickly turned +and rode back a few rods to where he could get an unobstructed view of +the road behind, and there was Mr. Mexican riding away as fast as his +horse could carry him. + +“What shall we do?” queried Adrian, as soon as he had called the others +back. + +“Nothing, I should say,” was Donald’s advice. “It looks like the +question of who was right and who wrong had settled itself. I say good +riddance. What do you say, Pedro?” + +“I say let him go. I don’t want him; but I should like to know who he +is.” Then to the peons: “Do you know who he is?” + +The peons looked stupidly at each other, but made no reply. + +“Why don’t you answer?” asked Donald sharply. “Who is that man?” + +“_Quien sabe!_” was the exasperating answer, as the men shrugged their +shoulders in a manner which reminded Billie so much of a vaudeville act +that he burst into a hearty laugh. + +“_Quien sabe!_” he repeated. “Well, I know enough Spanish to understand +that they don’t know. But why don’t they know?” + +“It’s too deep for me,” replied Adrian. “The whole affair is too +mysterious for anyone but a Sherlock Holmes to ferret out; but there is +certainly no need of our going any farther in this direction, and I move +that we start back.” + +“You won’t have any trouble in getting home now, will you?” he asked, +turning to Pedro. + +“Oh, no; and are you going back to the Rio Brava?” + +“To the what?” asked Donald. + +“The Rio Brava.” + +“He means the Rio Grande,” explained Adrian. “The Mexicans call it the +Rio Brava, and that is the way it is on their maps. I saw one of their +geographies once.” + +“Then we’re going back to the Rio Brava,” laughed Billie, “and I hope we +get there before it begins to rain.” + +Whereupon, bidding good-by to Pedro, who was most profound in his +thanks, they started on their return ride. + +They had not been riding more than half an hour before the clouds, which +had been getting blacker and blacker, became so angry-looking that they +determined to seek shelter, and turned their horses’ heads toward one of +the little cluster of houses they had passed earlier in the day. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A NIGHT IN A MEXICAN KITCHEN. + + +By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the +rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical +surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable. As they +approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door +opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds +and conditions, made his appearance. Rushing at the horses, the dogs +made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no +attempt to do more. + +“What do you want?” called out the man, speaking in Spanish. + +“Call off your dogs,” replied Donald, “so we can talk with you.” + +The man did as requested, and the animals grouped themselves around him +in the doorway. + +“We want a place to get in out of the rain and something to eat,” Donald +continued, as soon as the barking had ceased. + +“There is no place here,” replied the peon. + +“What is this building?” and Donald pointed at a small hut at one side, +which was covered with a thatched roof. + +“It’s the kitchen.” + +“What does he say?” asked Billie, who hadn’t been able to gain the +faintest idea of the conversation. + +“He says that’s the kitchen,” replied Adrian. + +“Huh!” grunted Billie, “looks more like a pigpen.” + +“What’s the matter with our going in there until it stops raining?” +continued Donald, pressing his inquiries. + +“You can go in there, if you want to, but there is nothing for you to +eat.” + +“No eggs?” + +“No.” + +“No tortillas?” + +“No.” + +“No frijolles?” + +“No.” + +“We will pay you well,” added Donald. + +The peon’s manner underwent a remarkable change. + +“Perhaps the _señora_ has a few tortillas,” he said. “I’ll go and see.” + +He turned and quickly entered the house, returning in a minute to say +that there were both tortillas—corn cakes—and beans, and inviting the +boys to alight. + +“There is no room in my _casa_,” he said, “but, if the young _señores_ +will be satisfied to go into the kitchen, I will make a fire and the +_señora_ will get them something to eat.” + +The boys needed no second bidding, and, quickly dismounting, they threw +their bridle-reins over some cactus growing about, and went inside. + +“I’d rather eat out of doors,” declared Billie, after looking the place +over. + +“So would I,” said Adrian, “if it were not for the rain.” + +“Oh, I don’t know,” ventured Donald philosophically, “I’ve seen worse +places than this. Do you remember the Zunis?” + +“It was always dry there,” declared Billie. + +“Yes, and there were always plenty of snakes,” laughed Adrian, who never +had forgotten Billie’s aversion to reptiles since his visit to the snake +dancers. + +Their conversation was interrupted by the appearance of the peon’s wife, +who proceeded to make a fire in the Mexican range, as the boys called +the few bricks set up on edge. From a little earthen dish she produced a +few thin corn cakes, which she toasted over the fire. When they were +properly done, she put them on a dish and poured over them a couple of +spoonfuls of black beans. These she offered to the boys to eat. + +Billie looked at it askance. + +“I thought I was glad to eat a woman’s cooking at Presidio last night,” +he said. “If this is a sample of Mexican women’s cooking, I’d rather get +my own meals.” + +However, they were all hungry, and the beans and tortillas soon +disappeared. + +“How much are you going to pay him for this, Don?” queried Adrian. “You +said you would pay him well.” + +“I don’t know. Do you think fifty cents is enough?” + +“Try him and see.” + +Donald took a silver half dollar from his pocket and held it out toward +the man, who had been watching the boys in silence. He looked stupidly +at it, but made no move to take it. + +“Don’t you want it?” asked Donald. + +“No, _señor_; it is too much.” + +“How much do you want?” + +“A real is plenty.” + +A real is worth in American money about seven cents. + +“Oh, take it,” urged Donald in Spanish, “although I think a real is all +it’s worth,” he added in English, which the peon could not understand. + +Thus urged the man took the coin and bowed low with many expressions of +thanks. The coin also seemed to have loosened his tongue, and he urged +the boys to make themselves perfectly at home. + +“My poor house is yours,” he declared, “as long as you will honor it +with your presence. I will go and give your horses some straw.” + +Suiting the action to the word, he hastily left the hut, and, looking +through the door, the boys saw him leading the animals to a little +corral a short distance from the kitchen. + +The rain continued to descend almost in sheets. + +“This must be the way it rained in the days of Noah,” Billie suggested. + +“Yes,” replied Adrian, “and it looks as though it might continue for +forty days. I’ve never seen anything like it.” + +“What had we better do?” asked Billie, thinking about the ride back to +Presidio. + +“What can we do?” echoed Donald. “We never could find our way back to +the Rio Grande in this rain, and, if we did, we would find it so full of +water we couldn’t get across. The only thing we can do is to stay right +here till it stops raining.” + +And stay they did. + +The afternoon passed and darkness fell. The peon brought in a candle +stuck into a most unique candlestick, which must have been the property +of some ancient Don. The boys wondered where he got it, but did not +think it wise to inquire. They knew too little Spanish to engage in +anything like a general conversation with the man, but they did manage +to get enough out of him to discover that he was much dissatisfied. Why, +they could not make out. + +Along about nine o’clock, the peon and his wife betook themselves off to +the other hut, which served as their main house, and the boys, piling +their saddles in the doorway, to keep out any stray dog that might be +prowling about, rolled themselves up in their blankets, stretched +themselves out on the floor, and were soon asleep. + +How long he had slept, Billie could not tell, when he was awakened by a +most unusual noise. The rain was still falling, although not in such +torrents. At first Billie thought that the noise was caused by the rain +on the thatched roof; but he soon became convinced that such was not the +case. Finally he reached over and shook the sleeper nearest to him. It +happened to be Adrian. + +“What’s the matter?” queried that young gentleman, sitting up and +peering into the darkness. + +“I don’t know,” whispered Billie, “but it sounds as though some one were +trying to get in.” + +“Where?” + +“That’s what I can’t make out.” + +Adrian pulled his saddle-bag toward him and took out his electric torch. +Slowly he pointed it in every direction, but he could see nothing +unusual, although the strange noise continued. + +“Funny, isn’t it?” he said, and then he arose to his feet. + +As he did so, Billie glanced up at the speaker, and what he saw caused a +broad grin to overspread his rotund countenance. + +“Look!” he exclaimed, and pointed toward the roof. + +Adrian did as he was told, and burst into a hearty laugh, which aroused +Donald. + +“What is it?” he exclaimed, also springing to his feet. + +“Goats,” laughed Billy. “They’re climbing all over the roof.” + +And sure enough they were, for what Billie had seen was the hoof of one +of them sticking through the roof. + +“They’ll all be coming through, first thing you know,” said Billie. + +“I’m not so much afraid of that as that they will make holes for the +rain to come through,” declared Adrian. “We must scare them off. Shoo!” + +But he might as well have cried shoo at the moon. + +“Wait a minute,” exclaimed Billie, “I’ll fix them.” + +He crawled over to the other side of the kitchen, where a great dry +cactus stem was leaned up against the side of the wall. It was as thick +as a man’s leg, about six or eight feet long, and almost as light as +cork. Waiting until he was satisfied by the sound that a goat was +directly over his head, he gave a great thrust with the cactus log. + +His aim was a good one. With a loud bleat, that was almost a wail, the +goat went tumbling off the roof, and in a minute the boys heard it +pattering away as fast as it could scamper. Twice during the night was +the feat repeated, the only inconvenience it caused being that the boys +did not sleep as soundly as they otherwise would. + +After the last interruption Billie did not return to sleep, but lay +awake thinking about the strange experiences of the past two days. As a +result he saw daylight slowly breaking, and finding himself so wide +awake, he determined to go and tend to the horses. + +Removing the saddles from the doorway, he went out. The rain had ceased +and there was every indication of a fine day. After taking a critical +survey of the landscape, he went to the corral and examined the horses, +to see that they were all right, after which he led them to a pool some +distance away to water. + +The whole proceeding consumed some fifteen or twenty minutes, so that, +by the time he was ready to return to the hut, the sun was just rising +above the horizon. + +Giving the horses an armful of straw, which he found under a little +shed, he started back to awaken his companions, when, to his surprise, +he found himself confronted by the whole pack of wolfish dogs, who not +only refused to let him advance, but threatened to attack him. + +He uttered a loud “Halloo,” but no one seemed to hear him. + +“Get out of my way,” he shouted, but his words only seemed to make the +animals more furious. + +Again he uttered a loud “Halloo,” and again no one replied. + +By this time the dogs had become more courageous, and it began to look +like a very serious situation, so that Billie, in order to defend +himself, drew his six-shooter, determined to use it on the first of the +dogs who should make up his mind to attack him. + +Once more, however, he called aloud, and in response to the shout Donald +appeared at the door, just as Billie was taking aim at a big gaunt hound +which seemed determined to spring upon him. + +“Don’t do it,” called Donald. “Don’t shoot unless you want to get us +into all sorts of trouble.” + +“Why not?” asked Billie. “I’m not going to be made dog meat.” + +“You’ll be made worse than that if you kill one of the peon’s dogs.” + +Just what might have been the outcome of the situation is hard to tell, +had not a voice of authority suddenly rang out from the direction of the +house: + +“_Vaya te, perros! Vaya te!_”[1] + +The dogs ceased their angry barking, and slunk hastily away, while +Billie, looking in the direction from which the voice proceeded, saw +Pedro riding around the kitchen. + +Footnote: + +[1]: “Go away, dogs! Go away!” + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ADRIAN MAKES A CAPTURE. + + +“By George!” exclaimed Billie, as he advanced to meet Pedro, “you surely +did come right in the nick of time. I thought I’d have to become +dog-meat, just to keep the others out of trouble, and I was going to do +it.” + +“I don’t think that would have been necessary,” declared Donald, as he +came out from the kitchen, followed by Adrian. “But I’m glad you got out +of the trouble without killing the peon’s dog. I know how much the peons +think of their dogs—more than their wives.” + +“I’m very sorry,” said Pedro, “that you should have had so much trouble, +and that I did not take you home with me yesterday. My uncle says I was +very rude not to have brought you home to breakfast.” + +“Breakfast!” exclaimed Billie. “How could you have taken us home to +breakfast? It was after eleven o’clock when we met you.” + +Donald laughed. + +“You don’t understand,” he said; “in Mexico they call the meal that we +name breakfast simply coffee, as that is all they have to break their +morning fast. From eleven to half-past twelve they have what they call +_almuerzo_, or breakfast. Along about five o’clock they have _cena_, or +supper, and dinner comes anywhere from seven to ten o’clock. This they +call _comida_.” + +Billie’s round face expanded into a broad smile. + +“Four meals a day!” he finally exclaimed. “Fine! I think I’d like to +live in Mexico.” + +“I’m sure we’d like to have you,” laughed Pedro, “and now that I have +found you again, you must come with me and have coffee. Then my uncle +will send someone with you to show you the short way back to the Rio +Brava.” + +The Broncho Rider Boys looked at each other knowingly as Adrian +explained that they were not at all anxious to find a short road back, +as they wished to see as much of the country as possible. + +“That’s fine,” was Pedro’s exultant exclamation, “for, if you are in no +hurry, you can stay with us several days, and I can take you up the +Concho. I surely want to do something to show you how much I appreciate +what you did for me yesterday. My uncle thinks I was in great danger.” + +“How so?” asked Donald. + +“Get onto your horses, and I’ll tell you as you ride along,” replied +Pedro. “Here, Fillipe!” he called, “come and saddle the horses.” + +Not only Fillipe, but several other peons, who had made their appearance +while the boys were talking, hastened to obey Pedro’s command, and in a +very few minutes the four boys were jogging along toward the Hacienda +del Rio, for so the estate of Pedro’s uncle was called. + +“Now for the story,” laughed Billie, “and I wish you would tell it in +English so I can understand.” + +“If you won’t laugh at my English,” said Pedro, “I’ll try.” + +“What, do you speak English?” asked Adrian. + +“A little. My sister, Guadalupe, speaks it well, as does my uncle; but +they call me the lazy one, because I have never tried very hard. I’m +sorry now I didn’t try harder.” + +“Well, try now,” insisted Billie. “We have so many foreigners in the +United States and so many speak poor English that we can understand most +anything.” + +Pedro laughed heartily. + +“I hope I can do as well as some; so, to begin with, I must tell you +something about my home. We live on a large _hacienda_, in the State of +Michoa-can, and our house is built only a little ways from the shore of +a small lake, Tiasca by name. On the other side of this lake are +mountains, very much like these across the Concho,” and he pointed +across the river to the west. + +“On the shore of the lake, nearest the mountains, is a little village of +fisher-folk, but they are a bad lot. They are lazy and dishonest. They +steal at every opportunity. Hardly a week passes that some of them do +not cross the lake and steal chickens, pigs, goats, and even cattle. We +call them pirates, because they come over in little boats. They have +always been bad, but since they became Zapatists they are worse than +ever.” + +“What do you mean by Zapatists?” asked Adrian. + +“Followers of the robber, Zapata. You must have heard about him.” + +“Now that you explain, I believe I have. So these men are followers of +Zapata?” + +“Yes; and before the days of President Madero they were a part of what +was known as the Las Cruces robbers. + +“Well, ever since my father was a young officer he has always had +trouble with these pirates.” + +“Do they ever try to break into your house?” queried Billie. + +“They did once, and that is part of the story. It happened when +Guadalupe was a baby and I was only a little more. My father was away at +the time with almost all the rurales in the district, and the robbers +must have known that there were only a few peons left to guard the +house. + +“Three of them came to the gate and demanded that my mother give them +five hundred dollars. She refused, and they threatened to come and get +it. Mother was not much afraid, as our house is very strongly built of +stone; but still she took every precaution to see that they could not +break in; but that night about twenty-five of them surrounded the house +and sat down to a regular siege.” + +“Couldn’t you shoot them from the windows?” asked Billie. + +“I suppose we could, but mother didn’t wish to do that. So she just kept +everything shut tight, expecting every hour that my father would return. + +“After they had been there three days, one of our peons, Jose Gonzales, +who had been away to Morelia on an errand, came home. He said that, as +he came up the shore of the lake, he heard a group of the pirates saying +that they were getting afraid to stay longer, and that they were going +back across the lake. Sure enough, they did, and my mother was so +relieved, especially to have Jose home, for he was considered above the +ordinary run of peons, that she ceased her watchfulness and turned the +care of the place over to Jose. + +“Along about midnight my sister was taken sick, and my mother was +obliged to get up to take care of her. As she came out into the rotunda +and cast her eyes across the _patio_ toward the great front gate, she +saw a sight which frightened her nearly to death. Jose was standing in +the half-open gate, talking to men whom my mother knew must be the +pirates. She realized at once that he was a traitor, and, drawing +quickly back into her room, she barred the door as best she could, and +waited to see what would happen. + +“She didn’t have long to wait, as the robbers soon attempted to get in; +but for a long time the bar held. Then Jose brought a great hammer and +the door finally yielded.” + +“The villain!” exclaimed Billie, whose fighting blood was stirred by the +recital of such treachery. + +“It is even worse than you think,” continued Pedro, “for, as the pirates +rushed in, Jose called out, as he pointed to my father’s strong box: +'There is the silver. You can have that, but the _señora_ is mine.’ + +“At this he seized my mother, and started to carry her out of the door; +but, as he turned, he saw a sight which caused him to loose his hold and +draw his knife, for there in the door stood my father, his drawn saber +in his hand and death in his eye. He took a step forward and aimed a +blow at Jose, but as he struck, my mother, overcome with joy, seized him +around the knees and spoiled his aim. Instead of cleaving Jose’s skull, +he struck a glancing blow and cut off his left ear. We found the ear +later.” + +“Good for your father!” exclaimed all the boys. “But then what +happened?” and they drew their horses down to a walk, so interested had +they become in the story. + +“Well, for a moment the robbers were surprised by the attack, but when +they saw my father was alone, they all turned upon him and he would +undoubtedly have been killed, but that his men, who had by this time +overpowered the robbers in the _patio_, came to his aid. The bandits +were soon secured, but in the fight and darkness, Jose escaped. We +afterwards learned that he had been an accomplice of the bandits for +years and had planned this attack for the sole purpose of stealing my +mother. His aim was to become a gentleman and live in the City of +Mexico, and for a while he did. Later my father learned of his +whereabouts and his arrest was ordered, but again he managed to escape. + +“During the Madero revolution he tried to win the good graces of +President Madero, but his record was too bad and President Madero +ordered him out of the city. Since that time he has threatened vengeance +on the President and all his friends. It is even said he is trying to +start a new revolution. He is none too good, I can tell you.” + +“But what has all this to do with your great danger?” asked Adrian. + +“Why, my uncle thinks Jose is the man from whom you rescued me +yesterday.” + +“What!” exclaimed all the boys in chorus. “That man!” + +“That’s what my uncle thinks. He has been reported in this vicinity. He +has changed his name to Rafael Solis and I heard one of the peons +yesterday address him as Don Rafael.” + +“I didn’t notice that he had lost an ear,” said Donald. + +“No,” said Billie, “but you noticed that he wore his hair unusually +long, didn’t you? I expect he does that to hide the missing ear.” + +“That’s it exactly!” exclaimed Donald. “I knew there was something +strange about his appearance, but for the life of me I couldn’t tell +what it was.” + +“Well, that’s it,” replied Billie, “and if I ever get my eye on you +again, Mr. Don Rafael, I’ll know you.” + +“You mustn’t say Mr. Don Rafael,” explained Pedro. “Don means Mr. If you +want to, you can call him Don Rafael; but as for me I shall think of him +always as Jose the traitor. + +“But here we are at my uncle’s house and he will be more than glad to +see you.” + +As the little cavalcade drew up in front of the great white house, a +peon opened the big gate and the quartette rode into the patio. Other +servants quickly took their horses and led them to the stable, while +Pedro escorted the boys up a broad flight of stairs to the second floor, +on which were located the parlors, library and dining room. It was a +beautiful home and our boys felt just a little bit awkward on coming +into such a sumptuous house dressed in their travel-stained riding +garments. But if they had any sense of being out of place, they were +quickly put at their ease by a kindly faced gentleman of middle age, who +advanced to the head of the stairs and greeted them pleasantly. + +“These are the brave Americans who gave me such unexpected assistance +yesterday,” said Pedro by way of introduction. + +“I guessed as much,” replied his uncle. + +“And this is my uncle, Don Antonio Sanchez,” said Pedro to the boys, “he +is just as glad to see you and to have you here as I am. And uncle,” he +continued without stopping to catch his breath, “they are going to stay +with me several days, aren’t you?” to the boys. + +“I don’t think we promised, did we?” replied Donald, “but we will stay +today, anyway. We shall be pleased to see something of the Concho +valley.” + +Don Antonio lead the way to the dining room, where the boys were +introduced to Pedro’s aunt and to his sister, Guadalupe. + +If the boys had been embarrassed upon meeting Don Antonio, they were +more so upon meeting Guadalupe, who was something different from any +girl they had ever met. When she was introduced to Billie and called him +Don Guillermo, he turned as red as a turkey gobbler and wished he was +somewhere else; but, after a few minutes, he forgot his embarrassment in +his morning meal—for when it came to eating, there was nothing could +interfere with the business of the moment. + +Don Antonio and his wife were much pleased with the boys and asked +Donald and Adrian many questions about the big ranches from which they +came. Both were able to give him all the information he wanted and he +insisted that after breakfast all should ride over his _hacienda_ and +see the American improvements he had put upon it. + +A member of Don Antonio’s household who attracted much attention from +the boys was a great Newfoundland dog, by the name of Tanto. He was +Guadalupe’s special property, and at first eyed the boys with a good +deal of suspicion. But, when he discovered that they were friends of the +family, he became quite as friendly as any of the others. + +“He seems very fond of you,” said Billie to Guadalupe, in an attempt to +make himself agreeable to the beautiful _señorita_. + +“Yes, indeed,” she replied. “I raised him from a puppy. Are you fond of +dogs, Don Guillermo?” + +“Oh, yes,” interrupted Adrian, who overheard the remark, “Don Guillermo +is very fond of dogs. If you could have seen him playing with them, +about daylight this morning, you would have thought so,” at which remark +all the boys laughed heartily, and Billie had to explain his adventure. + +“Well, I think it was too bad that you should be caught in such a place; +but Tanto will never do a thing like that. Will you, Tanto?” and she +patted the dog’s head. + +“Come on,” called Pedro from the _patio_, “if we’re going to look over +the _hacienda_, let’s get started before it gets any warmer.” + +Accompanied by Don Antonio, the boys rode from place to place over the +great farm, along the eastern border of which the Concho river wound its +way, while on the other side the mountains rose abruptly to several +hundred feet. At the southern extremity the river approached almost to +the foot of the mountains, making a narrow neck of land. Still farther +south the river broadened out into quite a lake, upon which were a +number of small boats. + +As the boys turned to retrace their path, Adrian lingered a moment to +watch the flight of a flock of water-fowl, and, as he did so, his +attention was attracted to the movements of a boat, which had put out +from the mountain-side, and which had started the flight of the +water-fowl. It contained three men, and, as it slipped silently out of +the shadows of the overhanging trees, there was something about the +appearance of the man at the stern which seemed most familiar, although +he had his blanket thrown over his shoulder in such a manner as to +conceal his face. + +At first Adrian started to call his companions, but upon second thought +he decided to do a little reconnoitering on his own hook. He accordingly +dismounted from his horse, and walked slowly around the trees which +obscured his view. At his left was a little point of land, extending out +into the water, and he slowly and cautiously made his way thither. From +this point of vantage he obtained a good view of the river for quite a +distance, and could see the boat without being seen. + +It was very evident that the boat had come out of a little inlet about a +hundred yards from the point upon which Adrian was standing, which +appeared to be the mouth of a small brook. On the other side of the +point, around which the boat was slowly being rowed, was a steep rock, +at least three times the length of an ordinary skiff, beyond which it +was impossible for Adrian to see. The boat headed directly for the rock, +and a moment later disappeared behind it; but that one look was +sufficient to convince Adrian that the man who had attracted his +attention was the same who had tried to steal Pedro. + +“I wonder what he is doing around here, anyway?” soliloquized Adrian. +“No good, I’m sure. The best thing I can do is to hurry after the rest +of them and tell them what I have seen. They’ll be wondering where I +am.” + +Hastily he scrambled up the bank to where he had left his horse, when, +just as he raised his head above the edge, he felt a hand grasp his +right foot, and he was pulled violently downward. For just a minute he +clung to the shrubbery about him, and then, gaining his wits, he +suddenly relaxed his hold and, turning half way round, push himself +backward. + +It was an old trick he had learned at school, and the result was that he +came down on top, instead of underneath, the man who had grasped his +ankle. + +In another moment he was engaged in a rough-and-tumble fight, which +proved of short duration, for Adrian was much more than a match for his +assailant. Almost as soon as it takes to tell it, Adrian was sitting on +top of a white-shirted peon, whose only weapon was a great stone, with +which he had doubtless intended to intimidate, rather than hit, the boy. + +“Well,” exclaimed Adrian, as soon as he had gained his breath +sufficiently to speak, “what do you mean by dragging me down like this?” + +At the sound of Adrian’s voice the peon turned his head and looked up at +his captor in the greatest surprise. + +“Pardon me,” he whined. “It was a mistake. I thought you were someone +else.” + +“Who did you think I was?” + +“_El niño de Sanchez_”—meaning the Sanchez boy—whined the peon. + +“Oh, you did, eh?” exclaimed Adrian. “Well, you come with me and let Don +Antonio question you. I think he is looking for you.” + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. + + +Adrian did not have to lead his captive far, for, when he reached the +place where his horse was waiting for him, he saw the others returning. +They had become concerned at his delay, and had come back to look for +him. + +“What’s the matter?” called Donald, as soon as he was within speaking +distance. + +“I’ve had a fight,” was the response, “and this is the result,” pushing +the peon forward. + +“Fight!” exclaimed Billie. “What were you fighting about?” + +“Oh, nothing. This man tried to capture me, and I turned the tables, +that’s all.” + +“Explain,” said Don Antonio, looking first at Adrian and then at the +peon. + +“This man mistook me for Pedro, he says, and tried to drag me into the +river, or somewhere.” + +Don Antonio turned upon the peon fiercely. + +“Is this true?” he demanded sternly. + +“Forgive me, _señor_,” whined the peon, “I was ordered to do it.” + +“Ordered!” thundered Don Antonio. “By whom?” + +“Don Rafael.” + +“_Asi!_” exclaimed Don Antonio, and his face grew even more stern. “So +it is that scoundrel who put you up to this? Where is he?” + +The peon remained silent. + +“Where is he, I say?” repeated Don Antonio. + +“I can’t tell.” + +“Why not?” + +“He would kill me, _señor_.” + +“Have no fear. If you will tell me why you tried to take Pedro and where +we can catch Don Rafael, as you call him, I will give you ample +protection.” + +Thus encouraged, the peon said that Don Rafael was hiding in the +mountains a short distance from the river. He said that he had gathered +about him a band of more than fifty men, and that he had told them they +were to be part of a new army to overthrow President Madero and make +Porfirio Diaz again president. In order to protect themselves, he told +them they must make a captive of General Sanchez’s son, Pedro. + +“I see,” exclaimed Don Antonio. “They want to hold Pedro as a hostage, +in case any of them get into the hands of the law. Isn’t that it?” + +“_Si, señor_,” said the peon, nodding his head emphatically. If this +proved to be true then Donald’s guess had been along correct lines. This +little fact seemed like a good omen to begin with. Now, if it turned out +that this further prediction regarding the limited number of the +rustlers also came to pass, and they could only catch them off their +guard before dawn arrived, it would not be strange if they turned the +trick, daring as their plans might appear. + +“Now, first of all we’ve got to muffle our ponies’ heads so they can’t +betray us by neighing,” announced Donald. + +“A good idea, I say,” Adrian went on to remark, approvingly. “I’ve known +the best trained cayuse going to let out a neigh when it scented some of +its own kind near by. That’s a thing they just can’t help, seems like. +So, the sooner we get their muzzles tied up the better.” + +“You’ll have to show me how,” said Billie; “because that’s where my +education’s been sorter neglected, so to speak. But I want to know, just +stick a pin in that, please.” + +He soon learned just how this could be accomplished by the aid of their +blankets. The horses objected to such treatment, but had to submit in +the end. And when the job had been completed they were so muzzled that +they could not have whinnied, no matter how hard they tried. + +Mounting them again the three boys moved cautiously ahead. It was their +purpose to cover a cer- [Transcriber's note: missing line(s) of text at +this place in original printed text.] can get away. The rurales can take +care of the fifty others later on.“ + +“That is good advice,” declared Don Antonio. “Let us hasten back and +send a messenger to Presidio del Norte, and then we can return and watch +for Don Rafael.” + +“I don’t see any use of all of us returning to the house,” declared +Billie. “I’ll stay here and watch the river.” + +“And I’ll stay with you,” declared Adrian. + +“Suppose we fix it this way,” said Don Antonio: “Pedro and one of you +return to the house and send the messenger, and I and two others will +stay and watch the river, as Don Guillermo says.” + +“If Don Guillermo’s willing,” replied Adrian, with a laugh at Billie’s +Mexican name. + +“Sure I’m willing,” said Billie, “and tell the rurales to hurry up or +we’ll capture the whole bunch.” + +The matter having been thus decided, Pedro and Donald returned to the +house, taking the captured peon with them, while the other three hitched +their horses and proceeded to the little point of land from which Adrian +made his observation. + +The morning was now far spent, and the sun was rapidly approaching the +meridian; but for once Billie seemed to have forgotten that it was +dinnertime. In fact, so interested was he in the adventure, that he +seemed utterly oblivious of the sun itself, which beat down fiercely +upon the trio, and made the shade almost a necessity. So interested was +he, in fact, that he ventured to the very edge of the point, and peered +eagerly in the direction of the great rock. + +“I could almost swim around there,” he said to himself. “I’ve a great +notion to do it.” + +For a minute he stood undecided. + +“If it wasn’t for my Marlin I would,” he mused. “As it is, I guess I’d +better go around.” + +He walked back toward the place where he had left the others, all the +time looking for a place where he could get around behind the big rock. + +“What are you looking after?” queried Adrian, as Billie passed the spot +where he sat with his eyes glued on the river. + +“I want to see what is the other side of that rock.” + +“What good’ll that do? We can see way up the river from here.” + +“I don’t know,” was Billie’s response, “but I’ve got a hunch to take a +look.” + +“Well, go ahead. Don Antonio and I will stay here. If you see anything, +call.” + +Slowly Billie forced his way through the fringe of bushes that lined the +bank, and, little by little, climbed to the top of the big rock, from +which he could gain just as good a view of the mountainous country at +the side as he could of the river. What he saw caused him to drop +hastily to the ground and crawl a step or two backward, for directly in +front of him, not a hundred yards away, was a score or more men grouped +around Don Rafael, who was addressing them earnestly. + +Waiting to see whether or not he had been observed, and judging from the +fact that there was no commotion from below that he had not, Billie +cautiously peered through the foliage. + +The spot upon which the men were gathered was right at the mouth of the +little stream before mentioned. A boat, evidently the one in which +Adrian had seen Don Rafael and his two companions, was tied to the bank. + +So far as Billie could see, only three or four of the men were armed. +They seemed a peaceable lot. + +“I wonder what he is telling them?” mused Billie in a partly audible +voice—a habit of talking with himself of which he seemed totally +unconscious. “I wish I could get near enough to hear.” + +Cautiously he crept nearer the edge of the rock, in the meantime +straining every nerve to catch a word. Once he did catch the sound of +Don Rafael’s voice, but he could not understand. + +“The trouble is,” explained Billie to himself, “he is talking Spanish, +and I’m not familiar enough with the lingo to distinguish the sounds. I +wish he would talk English.” + +Again he advanced his position a couple of feet. + +The voice was more distinct, and, as Don Rafael became somewhat excited, +Billie caught the words, “_carbina_” and “_macheté_,” which he knew +referred to arms. + +“By George!” suddenly exclaimed Billie, in a voice loud enough for +anyone near him to have heard, “I’ll bet they’re talking about running +guns into the country. I’ll bet we’ve stumbled onto the very thing we +came out to find. I must hurry back and tell Ad.” + +Unmindful of the men below, he jumped up from his recumbent position and +started to leave the rock the way he had come. In his haste, he did not +notice that the spot upon which he had been reclining was covered with +moss, and, as he took his first step forward, his foot slipped; he +grasped frantically at the surrounding bushes, to save himself, failed +in his attempt, and the next moment pitched head first off the rock. + +Vainly he tried to break his fall by catching at the shrubbery. His +efforts only resulted in his turning almost a complete somersault and +landing head first upon the sand, in the very midst of the men upon whom +he had been spying. + +As he fell, he gave one cry for help, and then, as his head came into +contact with the hard ground, all around him became dark, and he knew no +more. + +The cry for help reached his companions in the midst of an animated +discussion about Mexico and its needs, and they sprang to their feet on +the instant. For just a moment they waited to hear the cry repeated, +but, when it was not, Adrian threw a shell into his repeater, and +started in the direction of the cry, closely followed by Don Antonio, +whose greater age made him somewhat slower in his movements. + +From the time the cry was heard until Adrian reached the summit of the +rock, could not have been more than three minutes, but in that time the +men and Billie had completely disappeared, the only thing remaining to +give any idea of what had happened being Billie’s hat, which had fallen +from his head in his fall, and the sound of oarlocks, which seemed to +come from up the little creek. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +IN THE SMUGGLER’S CAVE. + + +The soft purling of water was the first sound which greeted Billie’s ear +when he was again able to collect his thoughts. He was lying upon his +back and looking up into darkness. He tried to move, but was unable to +do so, and so closed his eyes and tried to think what had happened. + +As his mind became clearer, he remembered his fall; and, as he became +more and more normal, and could move his hands about, he realized that +he was lying in the bottom of a boat and that the purling of the water +was caused by the rapid movement of the boat through the water. + +“I wonder what makes it so dark?” he thought. “It was dinnertime the +last I remember, and I don’t feel as though I had been asleep very +long.” + +All at once the noise of the water ceased, and a moment later he heard +the boat grate upon the sand. A man sprang over him and beached the +boat, and Billie could feel it being pulled up onto the shore. Then a +light appeared, and in another minute a man with a lighted torch in his +hand came and peered into the boat. + +“_Buenos noches_,” Billie exclaimed, after the man had been gazing +silently into his face for several seconds. “_Que hora es?_” + +He thought it must be quite right to say “good evening” because it was +dark, but he asked the time to make sure. + +The man made no reply, but turned and walked hastily away. + +“That’s funny,” said Billie. “I think I’ll follow him.” + +He attempted to arise, but a strange feeling in his head and in the pit +of his stomach caused him to forego the attempt. + +“I must be hungry,” he thought. “That’s what I get for going without my +dinner. But I’ve been hungry before and never felt this way.” + +Somehow or other he didn’t seem able to figure it out, and so he closed +his eyes and lay perfectly quiet, with a sense of going to sleep. + +The next time he opened his eyes, the whole scene had changed. He was +lying on some sort of a coarse bed and by the light that came in through +a small grated window in the ceiling, he could see that he was in a +good-sized room, the walls of which appeared to be solid stone. + +There were several pieces of furniture in the room, consisting of +chairs, a table and a chest of drawers. On the walls were a couple of +old-fashioned gun-racks, but no guns. The general impression it gave was +not pleasant, and reminded him of some of the old Scotch prisons he had +read about in the works of Sir Walter Scott. + +“I wonder where I am,” was the first thought that came to his mind. “I’m +out of the boat, that’s certain, but how did I get here?” + +Again he attempted to arise, and this time found that he was stronger +and able to sit up. + +He made a careful inspection of the room, and discovered that there was +only one door, directly facing the bed, and no windows save the one in +the ceiling. Then he happened to think of his revolver, and felt for it. +It was gone, but his holster and belt, filled with cartridges, still +remained about his waist. + +“I’m in a jolly nice fix,” he muttered to himself, and, for want of +anything better to do, he lay back on the bed and closed his eyes, still +wondering what had happened. + +A few minutes later he heard the door open, footsteps approach his bed, +and a hand was laid upon his head. + +Billie looked up through half-closed eyelids, and was surprised to see +bending over him a strange-looking individual, who reminded him strongly +of the Zuni medicine man, only that his face was more refined. + +“What do you think of him, Santiago?” asked a voice in English, whose +owner Billie could not see, but which sounded somewhat familiar. + +“I do not think he is badly hurt. I think he will be all right soon.” + +“_Bueno!_ Then I will leave him in your care; but see to it that he does +not escape. Our safety may depend upon keeping him prisoner.” + +“That’s nice, pleasant information,” thought Billie as he heard the +speaker withdraw. “To be kept a prisoner, am I? Well, we’ll see about +it.” + +He uttered a faint groan and threw his hands over his head as though in +pain. + +“I’ll not get well as fast as they expect,” was his mental resolve. +“I’ll make them think I’m too sick to get away until the right time +comes.” + +Again Billie felt a hand upon his head and again he observed the man +beside him with half closed eyes. + +When the man spoke again his voice was as soft as a woman’s. + +“Where do you feel badly?” he asked. + +Then for the first time it occurred to Billie to wonder how he happened +to be addressed in English. + +“It must be a friend,” he thought. So he replied in a voice that sounded +most strange to him: “In my head. It seems too big for the rest of me.” + +“No wonder,” said his companion—whether nurse or jailer, Billie was +trying to determine. “You struck right on top of it when you fell off +the rock.” + +It was the first time that Billie had thought of the rock; but at the +word, the happenings of all that had gone before came back to him. + +“Now I remember,” he thought. “I must have fallen right in the middle of +that bunch and they have brought me here—wherever this is. That must +have been Don Rafael who was in here; but why are they all talking +English?” + +It was a bigger problem than he felt like answering, so he just lay +quiet as he felt a cooling lotion applied to his head and a pleasant but +very pungent odor filled the room. + +“I think I’ll go to sleep if you don’t mind,” he finally said and he +closed his eyes. + +It did not seem to Billie that he had slept more than fifteen minutes +when he again opened his eyes, but as he learned afterwards he must have +slept nearly twenty-four hours. The strange man still stood beside him, +holding in his hand a dish of steaming soup, while at the foot of the +bed stood Don Rafael. + +For just a moment Billie did not recognize either of them, but was +brought to himself by hearing Don Rafael say: + +“I am very sorry you met with such a serious accident. I suppose you +must have been hunting and lost your foothold. I have sent word to your +friends and am sure they will come for you as soon as you are able to be +moved.” + +He spoke with such an air of truthfulness, that if Billie had not been +absolutely certain that he was a bad man, he would have believed him. +However, he said nothing, and after a minute Don Rafael continued: + +“You must not think I have any animosity against you for what you did in +helping Pedro to escape me. That is a matter of Mexican politics of +which you young Americans know nothing. The Americans are all my +friends. Now you must eat your dinner. I will come and see you again.” + +The word dinner sounded pretty good to Billie and so he felt justified +in saying “thank you,” and sitting up in his bed took the soup from +Santiago’s hand as Don Rafael left the room. + +“You are much better,” said Santiago, as Billie ate his soup as only a +hungry boy can. + +“Yes, I think so; but I don’t feel exactly right yet.” + +“You will in a little while. Do you want some more?” as Billie emptied +the dish and handed it back. + +“I usually eat something besides soup,” declared Billie. “Have you +anything else?” + +“Oh, yes,” and Santiago took from a tray which he had placed on the +table a dish of black beans. + +“Frijolles!” exclaimed Billie. “They look pretty good. I’m sure I can +eat them,” and eat them he did. + +“Are you Don Rafael’s mozo?” he asked as he finally finished his meal. + +“Santiago is no man’s servant,” was the soft but dignified reply. +“Santiago belongs to Mexico.” + +“I wonder what he means by that?” thought Billie, but he didn’t think it +wise to ask, so he simply said: “Oh!” But after a few minutes he +ventured to ask: + +“How do you come to speak English?” + +“So that everyone who hears me will not understand. Don Rafael is the +only one here who understands English. It is a foreign tongue.” + +Again Billie replied “Oh!” to himself. He thought: “Funny, isn’t it, +that English is a foreign language. I never thought of it before.” + +“Do you wish to get up?” Santiago finally asked. + +“After a little. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll lie here a while +longer.” + +“Very well. I’ll be back soon.” + +For a long time Billie lay with wide-open eyes, looking at the ceiling. + +“I wonder why I don’t feel like getting up?” he asked himself. “I guess +I must have had a hard bump. I wonder where Donald and Adrian are, and +if they really do know what has become of me. Of course they’ll come and +get me after a while; but where do you suppose I am? It must be some +sort of a cave, I guess.” + +He looked at the grated window in the ceiling, through which came the +sunlight as the leaves which almost covered it on the outside were blown +backward and forward by the breeze. + +“I wonder where that opening leads to,” he thought. “If I could only get +through that, I’d be all right; but I reckon that’s impossible.” + +Still he kept on looking and wishing he were on the other side of the +grating. + +All at once something shut off the light. + +“Hello!” exclaimed Billie. “I wonder what’s happened?” + +In another second the obstacle was removed and the sun shone in again, +only to be shut out a minute later. + +“By George!” exclaimed Billie, sitting up in bed, “there’s something +looking in at the window. I believe it’s a dog.” + +He got out of bed, and stood directly under the opening, looking upward. + +“It is a dog,” he declared. “I wonder whose?” Then all of a sudden: “It +might be Pedro’s. Suppose it is! Tanto! Tanto!” he called. + +The animal gave a low whine, as of recognition. + +“By George, I’m right!” declared Billie, becoming much excited. “There +must be somebody with him. They must be looking for me. Tanto! Tanto!” +he again called. + +At this the dog gave a sharp bark and immediately disappeared. + +For a long time Billie watched the opening for him to reappear, but he +did not come back, and Billie finally went and lay down; but not for an +instant did he take his eyes from the little window in the ceiling. He +could tell by the way the glints of light moved about that fully an hour +had passed, when again the opening was darkened and a face appeared at +the grating. + +“Don Guillermo! Don Guillermo!” a voice softly called, and then Billie +recognized that his caller was Pedro’s sister, Guadalupe. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +GUADALUPE IN DANGER. + + +In order to explain Guadalupe’s presence at the grated window in the top +of Billie’s prison-house, it is necessary to recount the happenings at +the Hacienda del Rio and vicinity since the hour that Billie plunged +from the top of the rock into the midst of Don Rafael’s band. + +It was shortly after noon when Billie’s accident happened, and Donald +and Pedro were on their way to send for the rurales. As we have seen, +Adrian and Don Antonio ran to Billie’s assistance, but were too late to +discover his whereabouts. They did, however, find his hat, and, in +searching more closely, also discovered the print of many feet on the +sand along the bank of the creek. + +Upon making this discovery, Adrian led the way up the creek for several +hundred yards, and finally arrived at a place where the creek seemed to +flow right out from under the side of the mountain. + +This solved the mystery. There was undoubtedly a cave under the +mountain, which was entered by means of the stream. Adrian was for +getting one of the small boats he had seen on the banks of the Concho, +and going immediately to Billie’s rescue, but Don Antonio advised that +nothing be done until the rurales arrived and there was a sufficient +force to arrest Don Rafael and his band. + +Adrian finally agreed to the plan, and, after a careful survey of the +location, he and Don Antonio returned to the house. + +When Donald heard what had happened he was even more insistent than +Adrian had been that they should proceed at once to examine the cave. If +they found it was in possession of Don Rafael and his band, Donald was +in favor of forcing their way in, no matter what the opposition. + +“I am sure that would be very unwise,” declared Don Antonio. “Our +messenger is already on his way to Presidio del Norte to summon the +rurales. They will certainly be here by daylight tomorrow morning. Then +we can go in force and will be sure to succeed. If only four of us go, +we will probably be overpowered by numbers and your friend may suffer. +Let us have patience.” + +“Well,” replied Donald slowly, “I’ll agree to wait until morning; but, +if the rurales are not here by that time, I shall go after Billie, if I +have to go alone.” + +“You won’t have to go alone,” said Adrian. “You know that.” + +“Indeed you won’t,” chimed in Pedro. “I remember what you did for me.” + +The night passed slowly to our boys, and they were up the following +morning at sunrise. Coffee was served soon after, and still the rurales +had not arrived. + +A few minutes later the messenger sent to summon them returned to say +that, owing to a report that a quantity of arms were to be run across +the river lower down the Rio Grande, most of the rurales had been sent +thither, and would not return till morning. This meant they could not +possibly reach the Hacienda del Rio before noon. + +“That settles it,” declared Donald. “I’m going to find Billie.” + +“And I, too,” said Adrian. “I’ll bet the place the rurales have gone is +at the same place we lost old Bray.” + +“Where was that?” asked Don Antonio. + +“At the _hacienda_ of old Pablo Ojeda,” replied Adrian, and he told of +their experience. + +“I have heard of him often,” said Don Antonio. “He has always been +suspected of smuggling across the border—not only cattle, but liquor, +ammunition, and all dutiable goods.” + +“I should think the rurales would lock him up,” said Pedro. + +“They have, several times, but he has always managed to escape +punishment. He has some sort of political influence, which has helped +him escape.” + +“Well, I don’t care what they do with the old chap,” said Donald. “I’m +off to find Billie.” + +“I shall stay and guide the rurales,” said Don Antonio. “You boys go and +do all the scouting you wish; but take my advice and do nothing rash +until I come with the rurales.” + +Promising him they would be careful, the little party of three set out, +and Don Antonio went to his study to do some writing. Guadalupe, who had +stood silently by, listening to the conversation, followed the boys to +the great gate, and waved them a good-by, after which she returned to +her room and tried to busy herself in her daily tasks. But somehow she +could not become interested in her work, and, a little later, calling +Tanto, she wandered out into the fields, finally straying to the bank of +the river. + +For a time she sat on the bank, watching the flowing water, and thinking +about the three boys, who had so unexpectedly come into her life. She +was much interested in them and their adventures, and her thought went +out especially to Billie, whose captivity seemed most hard. + +“And he is in all this trouble just because he helped Pedro to escape +Don Rafael,” she thought to herself, not knowing that the boys had a +mission of their own. “I wish I could do something to help him.” + +After a while she arose and walked slowly up the river, toward the spot +where Billie disappeared. + +“I mustn’t be walking in this direction,” she suddenly thought, “I might +get into trouble.” + +Espying a cow-path, which seemed to lead away from the river, she turned +to the left, thinking that she would come out into the open field after +a little. Instead, she found herself going deeper into the woods, and +after a few minutes again sat down to rest, before retracing her +footsteps. + +She called Tanto, but he did not seem inclined to lie down. Instead, +after the manner of dogs, went off on an exploring expedition of his +own. + +Guadalupe must have fallen asleep, for she was awakened by Tanto licking +her face. + +“Go away,” she exclaimed, springing to her feet, and then she noted that +it was afternoon. + +“I must have slept a couple of hours,” she thought. Then, as she started +back by the way she had come: “Come, Tanto, we must be going.” + +But Tanto refused to go, and when she turned to call him, he indicated +by every means he could that he wanted her to go in the opposite +direction. + +“What is it?” she asked. + +Tanto barked loudly, and again started off in the opposite direction, +stopping every few feet and looking back to see if she were following. + +“Do you want me to go that way?” she asked, taking a few steps toward +him. + +The dog barked joyfully and gave every evidence of pleasure. + +“Well, go on, then,” she finally said. “You may know the way home better +than I.” + +Off went Tanto on a gentle trot and Guadalupe followed as best she +could. + +Tanto led the way up a little hill and down the other side to a ravine +of some depth. It didn’t look very inviting, and Guadalupe stopped. + +“I’m sure this isn’t the way home,” she exclaimed. “Come on back, +Tanto.” + +But the dog refused to obey, and continued his antics. + +“Well,” thought the girl, “I might as well see what he has found,” and +she again followed him until he came to a spot were the path terminated +abruptly in front of a steep bank which was covered with vines and +underbrush. + +Up this bank Tanto scrambled, and, with nose to the ground, emitted +several sharp barks. + +“What is it?” asked Guadalupe, as she, too, climbed to the top of the +bank, noticing as she did so that she could see the river through the +trees fully half a mile away. + +Again the dog barked and put his nose to the ground, while, with his +feet, he began to scratch among the leaves. + +Looking down to see what he was trying to get, Guadalupe saw the +grating, and, a moment later, she was down upon her knees beside the +dog. + +The grating was partly covered with leaves, so that at first the girl +could not make out what it was. Brushing these aside, the opening was +revealed, and a moment later she had her eyes down as close as she could +get, and was peering into the darkness. + +As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, she discovered that she +was looking into a large room, and gradually she could make out the +various pieces of furniture. Then she discovered there was someone on +the bed, and having no doubt as to who it was, she called: + +“Don Guillermo! Don Guillermo!” + +This was the sound which had attracted Billie’s attention. + +“Is that you, Don Guillermo?” she asked. + +“Yes,” came the whispered reply. + +“Are you hurt?” she next asked. + +“Not much.” + +“Are you a prisoner?” + +“Yes; but I’m not going to be long.” + +Guadalupe could see that he was getting upon his feet, and partly arose +to shift her position, when Tanto sprang back with a deep growl. The +next instant she felt herself seized from behind, and, when she would +have screamed, a hand was placed firmly over her mouth. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +SANTIAGO’S STRATEGY. + + +Guadalupe was a girl of spirit. Through her veins flowed the blood of +fighting ancestors, and, when she felt herself so suddenly seized upon, +she had no mind to give up her freedom without a struggle. + +Wrenching herself free, she gave one scream. Before she could repeat it, +she heard Tanto utter a fierce growl, and the next minute felt her +captor fall. + +Turning quickly to discover what had happened, she saw that Tanto had +grasped her assailant by the throat, and that man and dog were engaged +in a fierce fight upon the ground at her feet. + +Even while she looked the man ceased to struggle and lay still. + +Calling to the dog, Guadalupe started to leave the spot, but was +prevented by the appearance of two more men. They both started back with +surprise, at sight of the girl and dog, and the lifeless figure at their +feet. + +Turning from the prostrate form, Tanto drew back, facing the newcomers. + +“_Caramba!_” exclaimed one. “Shoot the brute. I’ve left my pistol in the +cave.” + +“And I, too,” said the other. “I have nothing but my knife.” + +“Well, then, use your knife. I’ll take care of the girl,” and he +advanced upon Guadalupe. + +But Tanto’s blood was up. Everyone but Guadalupe was an enemy. As he +stood by the girl’s side, with lips drawn back and every hair erect, he +was a foe to be considered. The taste of blood had made him wild. Before +the speaker had taken five steps, the dog was at his throat. The force +of the attack carried both dog and man to the ground, where for some +seconds they fought desperately. But the unarmed peon was no match for +the great beast. In a few minutes the conflict was over, and a second +figure lay stretched upon the earth, while Guadalupe—unnerved by the +sight—covered her face with her hands. + +She was brought back to herself by a soft voice saying: “Call off your +dog, _señorita_, and I will help you to get away from here.” + +Guadalupe raised her eyes in surprise. + +“You need have no fear,” the speaker continued. “I am not making war on +women. Call off your dog, or I shall be obliged to kill him,” and +Santiago, for it was he, drew a revolver from his breast. + +Seeing that the man was armed, when he had declared to his companion +that he was not, Guadalupe perceived that he must be friendly, and so +called to the dog. + +At first Tanto was not inclined to mind, but, after a second command, he +left his last victim and placed himself at Guadalupe’s side. + +“You can see I could kill your dog,” explained Santiago. “I could have +killed him before. But I have no love for these,” and he gave the two +bodies a contemptuous kick. “Keep your dog at your side and follow me +before someone else comes.” + +Even as Santiago spoke, they heard voices, and other men came crashing +through the bushes some distance away. + +“This way,” said Santiago, and he started in an opposite direction. + +But they had no more than reached level ground than they heard voices on +the other side. + +“It is impossible for us to get away without being seen,” said Santiago. +“Can you send the dog home?” + +“Yes.” + +“Then do so, and trust to me.” + +Bending over Tanto, the girl said in a firm, low voice: “Go home, Tanto! +Go home and bring my father!” + +The dog looked at her earnestly for a moment and then at Santiago. + +“Go!” again said Guadalupe, and she reached out and took Santiago’s +hand. “No one is going to harm me.” + +The dog gave a low whine, as though he perfectly understood, and bounded +away through the underbrush. As he disappeared, Santiago fired his +revolver into the air and advanced toward the approaching footsteps. A +moment later a dozen of the smugglers appeared. + +“What’s the meaning of this shooting?” asked the leader. + +“Go to the top of yonder mound and see for yourself,” was Santiago’s +reply. + +Several of the men hastened to follow the instructions. They scrambled +up the mound, where they recoiled in fright at the sight of their +comrades. + +“How did it happen?” asked the leader, as he returned to where Santiago +and Guadalupe were standing. + +“Ask the girl,” replied Santiago. “All I know is that I came up from the +room below to bring an order to Louis and Leocadio, who are on guard at +this place. I found them both as you see them. The girl and her dog were +running away as fast as they could. I fired a shot at the dog, but +missed him. I captured the girl, and am going to hold her for a ransom.” + +The leader looked at him incredulously. Then to Guadalupe he said: + +“How could a dog kill two men?” + +Guadalupe looked at Santiago, but made no reply. + +“Tell him,” said Santiago. “Tell Fillipe how it happened.” + +“I don’t know,” declared Guadalupe. “One man seized me and Tanto sprang +upon him. A few minutes later the other came.” + +“Who is the girl?” asked Fillipe. + +“She belongs at the Hacienda del Rio,” replied Santiago. + +“_Asi!_” exclaimed Fillipe. “This is good news. Don Rafael will be glad +to get her. Come along!” + +He seized Guadalupe by the arm and started to lead her away, but +Santiago interfered. + +“Hands off!” he said. “She belongs to me. I’ll take her to Don Rafael, +and, if there is any ransom, I shall have it.” + +Although Santiago’s words were spoken in a low, soft tone, Fillipe +obeyed, and the entire party left the place and proceeded by a +circuitous route to the rear of the little chain of foothills which +bordered the river. After a walk of some five or ten minutes they +approached a clump of bushes in front of which a Mexican was standing +guard. He stepped aside, and the men entered the bushes, which Guadalupe +soon discovered concealed a door in the hillside. At a knock from +Fillipe the door was opened, disclosing a passageway through which the +men and their captive proceeded, closing the door behind them. + +They had no sooner disappeared than two figures emerged stealthily from +behind a jutting rock and threw themselves upon the guard, whom they +quickly overcame and bound. + +The two figures were Donald and Adrian. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A COUNCIL OF WAR. + + +Having secured the guard and bound him firmly to a tree, the boys +approached the door through which Guadalupe had just been led captive. + +“I never suspected it,” said Adrian. + +“Nor I,” said Donald, “I thought sure it would be Billie. Where do you +suppose they caught her?” + +“I can’t imagine. You don’t suppose they have attacked the house, do +you?” + +“Hardly.” + +“Where do you suppose this door leads to?” + +“There must be some sort of a cave back in these hills,” and Donald left +the door and began exploring the immediate neighborhood. + +“By George!” he finally exclaimed, “I believe I’ve got it. You see these +hills form a little ridge leading to the creek. Somewhere in here there +is a cave which opens onto the creek, and these cutthroats have made +some kind of an underground passage to the cave.” + +Donald’s guess was a good one. The only thing wrong about it was the +fact that the underground passage was not made by the men at present +using it, but by others many years before—how long, no one knows. + +“I believe you are right,” said Adrian, “and, if you are, what is the +matter with following this ridge until we find the other entrance?” + +“That’s just what I was going to suggest,” was Donald’s reply. “Come +on!” + +Suiting the action to the word, he ascended the hill, followed by +Adrian. + +Arrived at the top, the boys could see that they were some little +distance from the creek and that the ridge upon which they stood was not +continuous but broken and irregular. There were also two paths. + +“Which of these paths had we better follow, Don?” asked Adrian. + +Donald bent down and examined both carefully. + +“I believe,” he finally said, “that this one on the left has been the +most used. Suppose we take this?” + +They did so, and after a few minutes approached the place where the +bodies of the two smugglers were lying. + +“What’s this?” exclaimed Donald, starting back as the two figures caught +his eye. + +Adrian made no reply, but stood staring in surprise at the unexpected +sight. It was not a pleasant spectacle, and both the boys involuntarily +turned away from the place. + +Donald was the first to regain his composure. “Come,” he said, “this is +no time for squeamishness. Something serious has occurred, and we have +been in too many serious scrapes to falter now! Let’s see what has +happened.” + +They approached closer and examined the bodies. + +“They have been killed by some wild beast,” declared Adrian. “They look +just like sheep that have been killed by wolves.” + +“Yes,” replied Donald, “or by dogs.” + +“Why do you say dogs, Don?” + +“I just have an idea; that’s all.” + +Adrian wrinkled his brow. Then a smile of intelligence passed over his +face. + +“I see,” he exclaimed. “I have the same idea—Tanto!” + +“Exactly,” replied Don. “But they have captured Guadalupe in spite of +the dog.” + +“By George, Don, you’ve hit it exactly! But where is the dog now? He +must have escaped, or we should see his body here.” + +“True,” replied Don. “But why should he run away? You’d think a dog +which could do such a thing would stick to his mistress no matter what +happened.” + +“Sure you would. There’s a mystery here we must unravel. Where do you +suppose Tanto is?” + +As though in response to the question, there was a sharp bark from the +thicket, and the next moment Tanto sprang up onto the mound and attacked +one of the lifeless bodies. + +Both the boys turned at the unexpected arrival, only to confront Don +Antonio and an officer of the rurales, who clambered up beside the boys. + +“What is the meaning of all this?” demanded the officer, gazing first at +the boys and then at the dog and his victims. + +“You know as much about it as we,” replied Adrian; “but anyone can guess +what has happened,” and he proceeded to tell the officer about seeing +Guadalupe taken into captivity by the smugglers and the finding of the +bodies, while Don Antonio called Tanto away and ordered the peons who +had followed him to cover the bodies with branches until they could be +properly cared for. + +“Well,” exclaimed the captain, for so the officer proved to be, “we have +evidently run to earth a desperate band; but I am not sure whether they +are simply smugglers or revolutionists.” + +“The presence of Don Rafael leads me to believe they are the latter,” +said Don Antonio. + +“We shall very soon find out,” declared the captain. “My men will be +here shortly, and we will force the door to the cave and run them out +and capture them.” + +“How?” queried Donald. + +“Very simply! I will station a part of my men in front of the cave. Then +I will force the rear door! If they try to escape by boat, they will be +either captured or shot. If they turn and show fight, we will be in +sufficient force to overpower them.” + +“And, while you are doing this, what do you think will happen to our +friend and to Don Antonio’s niece?” + +“Yes,” echoed Don Antonio, “we must remember Guadalupe! We can do +nothing until she is rescued!” + +The captain removed his sombrero and scratched his head. + +“I hadn’t thought of that,” he finally said. + +“That is where Don Rafael is the smartest,” said Adrian. “That is why he +was trying to capture Pedro.” + +“What would you suggest?” asked Don Antonio, who had come to have a +wholesome respect for the opinions of the American boys. + +“I haven’t figured it out yet,” replied Adrian. “Have you thought of +anything, Don?” + +“Yes; I have thought of a number of things, but none that seems to meet +the requirements.” + +“How would it do to try and get into communication with Don Rafael?” +suggested Adrian. + +“Not a bad idea at all,” replied Donald; “but—hello! what’s the dog +found?” he suddenly asked, as Tanto, with nose to the ground, began to +wag his tail and utter a joyous whine. + +The exclamation at once called the attention of the four to the little +grated window, through which Guadalupe was looking when seized by the +bandits, and Donald threw himself down beside the dog and peered into +the space below. + +“What do you see?” asked Adrian. + +“Three figures,” whispered Donald, “but I can’t make out who they are. I +wish we could pull out these iron bars!” + +He seized the grating and pulled with all his might, but the bars +refused to yield. + +“If we only had a crowbar!” he exclaimed. + +“Beat them down,” came a voice from below. + +Donald started back in surprise for just a moment, then put his face +close to the bars and whispered back: + +“What did you say?” + +“Beat the bars down! They are only held in their place by a frame which +must be rotten.” + +Donald repeated the instructions to the others. + +“We haven’t anything to beat them in with,” replied Adrian. “Who is it +talking—Billie?” + +“I don’t know who it is,” replied Donald. “Sounds like a woman’s voice. +Can’t somebody find a big stone?” + +“Plenty,” said Don Antonio. “Here, _hombres_,” to the peons, “bring one +of those big stones yonder.” + +The men hastened to obey, and, with the stone for a sledge hammer, +Donald quickly knocked out the iron bars, which fell noisily to the +floor below. + +The opening thus made enabled him to get his head in sufficiently to +have seen the interior of the room, had it not been that he shut off his +own light; but it was not necessary for him to see what was going on, +for this time Billie was out of bed and talking to him. + +“Is that you, Ad?” he asked. + +“No, it’s Don. How are you, Billie? All right?” + +“All except a little weakness in my legs and a bit of dizziness in my +head.” + +“Who is with you?” + +“Guadalupe and Santiago.” + +“Santiago who?” + +“I don’t know his other name, but he’s all right. He’s looking out for +us.” + +“Are you a prisoner?” + +“Sure. What do you suppose I’m doing here—taking a vacation?” + +Donald could not help laughing at Billie’s characteristic reply, in +spite of the seriousness of the situation, as he turned from the window +to repeat his conversation to his companions. + +“What had we better do?” he finally asked. + +“Is your friend armed?” asked the captain. + +Donald put the question to Billie and received a negative reply. + +“Suppose you hand him your rifle and then find out just how things are +in the room below.” + +“Here, Billie,” called Don, “you take my Marlin and defend yourself to +the last. How are things fixed down there?” + +“Santiago can tell you better than I,” was the response. Whereupon +Santiago explained to Donald the exact condition in the cave. + +It appears that when the men who had captured Guadalupe took her before +Don Rafael, he was filled with joy, and ordered that she should be kept +with the greatest care. + +“She will prove another and most valuable hostage,” he declared, and at +once ordered her locked up in the same cell with Billie, which was the +only place of its kind in the cave. When Santiago objected, he ordered +him locked up also. + +“And here we are,” explained Santiago. “There is but one door into the +cell, and that very narrow, so now that we have two weapons, for I still +have my revolver, we can prevent anyone from coming in. The only way +they could get us out is to starve us out, which, of course, is +impossible now that you are here.” + +The information was received with great thankfulness by the rescuing +party. In his attempt to make the escape of his prisoners impossible Don +Rafael had put them in the one spot where, under the changed conditions, +they were comparatively, if not perfectly, safe. + +Very briefly Don whispered the proposed plan of attack to those within +the cave, closing with an injunction to Billie to be on the alert and to +make every shot count if the smugglers should attempt to force the +entrance. + +“And here’s something to keep up your courage,” he added, throwing into +the cell the luncheon which had been given him when he left the Hacienda +del Rio that morning. “You see, I remembered your failing.” + +While this conversation had been going on, the rurales to the number of +half a hundred, guided by Pedro, had arrived, and arrangements were at +once perfected for an attack upon the smugglers’ stronghold. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE BATTLE AT THE CAVE. + + +Mustering his band, the captain of the rurales quickly formed his plan +of attack. Ten of the company were to seize the two boats at the mouth +of the creek and take their positions at the side of the big rock, whose +slippery top had proved so disastrous to Billie. Ten others were to +secrete themselves on the bank of the stream opposite the water entrance +to the cave. The balance of the band were to force the door whose outer +guard had been overpowered and bound by Donald and Adrian. + +Having thus disposed his forces, the captain started with his division +of thirty toward the door, with the understanding that he would not +attempt to force an entrance until a shot from the river should advise +him that the water forces were in position. + +“What will you have us do?” asked Donald. + +“Keep out of the way, so that you will not be shot,” laughed the +captain. “That’s the proper thing for boys.” + +“We’re not that kind of boys,” declared Adrian. + +“Oh, well then,” answered the captain, “you just skirmish around on the +outside to pick up any who might succeed in getting away! I don’t think +you’ll have a great deal to do, for my men intend to bag the entire +band.” + +The plan suited the boys first rate and they proceeded immediately to +take advantage of the instructions. + +“I’ll have to station myself somewhere in short range,” declared Donald. +“Having loaned Billie my Marlin, I have nothing but my six-shooter.” + +“I reckon that’ll be sufficient. It looks to me as though the whole +thing would be at short range and of short duration. I hope so. We’re +not down here looking for trouble.” + +“That’s surely the truth,” laughed Donald, “but somehow or other, we +seem to have a faculty of getting mixed up in all sorts of things.” + +“That’s because you are always trying to help some one out of trouble,” +declared Pedro. “If it had not been for me, you would never have been +mixed up in this at all.” + +“It does look that way, doesn’t it?” laughed Adrian. “But appearances +are sometimes deceitful, eh Don?” and he gave Donald a knowing look. + +“They sure are; but let’s be hunting a place where we may be of +service.” + +“I’ll tell you what,” exclaimed Adrian after they had stood undecided +for several minutes, trying to decide upon a position of vantage, “let’s +station ourselves on that little knoll just above the door. Then if any +should get by those guarding the river entrance I could pick them up +with my rifle; while if any should be able to dash past the captain’s +party, you can stop them with your Colt.” + +“How about me?” asked Pedro. + +“You can either stay with us, or follow Don Antonio.” + +“I think I’ll stay with you. As you say, you seem to have a faculty for +getting mixed up in things and this is one of the things I want a hand +in.” + +The boys had hardly reached the place they had selected, when a shot +from the river front told that the flanking party had taken its position +and a minute later the boys could hear the blows that were being rained +upon the door to force it from its place. + +“It isn’t quite as easy a job as the captain thought,” said Donald after +the battering had continued for several minutes. + +“I should say not!” declared Adrian. “He never will get in that way. Why +doesn’t he blow it open?” + +“Maybe he doesn’t know how!” + +“Then we’d better go and show him! He’s wasting time.” + +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the air was rent by a +terrific explosion and great pieces of rock and a cloud of dust and dirt +were thrown high into the air, almost burying the Broncho Rider Boys and +their companion in the débris. + +The smugglers had fired a mine which had been arranged for just such an +attack. + +As soon as the boys could gain their feet and free themselves from the +pile of dirt which had been thrown up, they turned their attention to +the rurales to see what might have been the damage done. Fortunately it +was slight. Two men had been killed and three wounded, but not +seriously. The worst feature of the explosion was that the rear entrance +to the cave had been so blocked with the falling rock, that an entrance +was impossible without much digging and clearing away of the rubbish. + +However, if the rurales could not get in, neither could the smugglers +get out, except by the river entrance. That they had no desire to do so +was soon evident, for before the main force, accompanied by the boys, +could reach the river front, the smugglers—or as many as could be loaded +into three skiffs—emerged from the cave on the river side. + +That they had not expected to meet any resistance in that quarter was +evident from the fact that they were not at all prepared to fight, nor +did they take any precaution to defend themselves until greeted by a +volley from the rurales stationed on the opposite side of the creek. + +But no sooner had they received the first volley, than they turned +sharply up stream and a minute later replied with a well directed fire. + +Immediately thereafter the ten men who had been posted behind the big +rock clambered up to the top and from this position of vantage poured a +volley into the boats. Almost at the same moment the captain led the +main force around from the other side, thus taking the boats between two +fires. + +Seeing their hopeless position and realizing that they were greatly +outnumbered, the smugglers threw down their arms and surrendered. The +boats were quickly drawn ashore and the captured smugglers landed and +placed under a guard. + +“There must be at least as many more,” said Donald to the captain, when +he had counted the prisoners and found there were only twenty-four. +“During our scouting we have seen fully forty.” + +“Is that true?” the captain asked one of the prisoners. + +“_Quien sabe_” was the unsatisfactory reply. + +“You don’t know, eh?” said the captain. + +“No, _señor capitan_.” + +“Perhaps I can help you,” said the captain. Then turning to one of his +men: “Here, corporal, stand this man up against that rock, and if he +doesn’t answer by the time I count ten, shoot him.” + +Without a word the corporal obeyed and told off six men as a firing +squad. The smuggler’s hands were tied behind him and he was placed with +his back to the rock, while the rurales with carbines leveled stood +ready to fire. + +“Look, you,” said the captain as he took his position a little to one +side. “At the word ten the men will fire and I shall not count very +slowly either. Ready. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight——” + +“There are forty-five besides the captain and Santiago,” broke forth the +smuggler. + +“Nine, ten, fire,” finished the captain, and at the word the carbines +cracked and the smuggler pitched forward and lay motionless! + +An exclamation of horror burst from both the American boys. + +“Captain!” cried Donald. “It’s murder.” + +“How could you after he had spoken!” exclaimed Adrian. + +The captain shrugged his shoulders and lighted a cigarette. + +“It had to be done sooner or later. It might as well be now as later.” + +“But you broke your word!” + +“Not at all. I told him if he did not speak I would shoot. I did not +tell him I would not shoot if he did. You Americans are too +tender-hearted.” + +“I shall report the case to your superior officer,” declared Donald. + +Again the captain shrugged his shoulders. + +“I shall report it myself,” he said. “The man simply tried to escape and +we shot him. It is the _ley de fuga_.”[2] + +“Can such things be?” queried Adrian. + +“You can see that they are,” answered Don Antonio, who had come up in +time to hear the conversation. “In dealing with men of this class, when +revolution is plotted on every hand, things are done in Mexico which +would not be done could a stable government be established.” + +“Before we are through with this band, you may wish that more of them +could be thus disposed of,” declared the captain. “Remember that you +have a companion in there who has not yet been rescued.” + +The boys started as though they had been stung. In the excitement of the +tragedy they had just witnessed Billie had passed entirely from their +thoughts. + +“We’re a nice pair of chums, ain’t we?” exclaimed Adrian. “No knowing +what is going on inside that cave. Let’s get busy.” + +Without waiting to see what the others might be going to do, Adrian +started on a run for the window in the cave. + +“If I can’t do anything more,” he thought, “I can at least tell Billie +to keep up his courage! I wish I was in there with him.” + +As he climbed up the mound, he noted that a little volume of smoke was +coming out of the window, which now served as a chimney for the cell in +which Billie was confined. + +“Powder smoke!” he exclaimed as he drew near enough to get a whiff. “It +must be from the explosion.” + +He bent over the hole and tried to look into the cell, but could see +nothing. + +“Billie!” he called; but there was no response. + +Again he called, this time more loudly, but still there was no answer, +and Adrian’s heart fairly stood still with apprehension. + +“I wonder what can be the matter?” he gasped. “By George, I wish I was +in there!” + +He had hardly uttered the words, when the place on which he was standing +seemed to give way beneath his feet and he felt himself slowly falling. + +It was not a long nor a hard fall, and, as he felt himself once more on +a solid foundation, and looked up toward the sky, he saw he had not +fallen more than twenty or twenty-five feet. What had really happened +was that the roof of the cell, cracked by the explosion, had caved in +with Adrian’s weight, and he was in the very place he was wishing he +was, although the condition of the cell had materially changed since +Donald had looked down into it less than twenty minutes before. + +Before the explosion, the cell had been a room some thirty feet square +and twenty or more feet high. Now it was half filled with dirt and +pieces of rock, the door which had guarded its entrance had been +crushed, and through the opening Adrian caught a glimpse of the front +entrance to the cave and the water beyond. + +But there was no sign of Billie or the smugglers. + +Pulling himself together and grasping his Marlin firmly, so as to be +ready for any emergency, Adrian stepped cautiously toward the broken +door. Hiding himself as well as he could behind the shattered casemate, +he peered out into the cave. + +The room was empty and at first there appeared no way in which the +smugglers could have left except by the river, seeing which Adrian +breathed easier. + +“They must have gone out like the others,” he thought, “and have been +captured by the rurales.” + +Having arrived at this decision, he walked boldly out toward the river +entrance. + +But he had not advanced ten paces into the main cave before a noose fell +silently over his shoulders, and he felt himself jerked violently +backward. + +The very act, however, caused him to tighten his grip upon his rifle, +and the weapon was discharged, the report vibrating with an echo that +made it seem almost a cannonade. At the same time his head came into +contact with the hard floor with such force that it completely stunned +him. + +In the moment of consciousness between the report of the rifle and the +time his head struck the floor, he saw a figure leap forward out of the +darkness, and as he lost consciousness the sound of his own rifle seemed +to be taken up and echoed back by an innumerable number. + +And that was just exactly what happened. + +The figure that had leaped forward was Donald, and the volley came from +the carbines of a score of rurales, who had followed him into the cave, +and fired pointblank at the smugglers over Adrian’s prostrate form. The +lariat in the hands of one of the smugglers had pulled Adrian to the +earth, just in time to save him from the fire of the rurales. + +For the next few minutes the battle in the cave raged with the utmost +fierceness. The smugglers had taken their stand in an alcove, hewn into +one side of the cave, a little above the floor level. A projecting shelf +afforded them a slight shelter, and from this partially fortified +position, they made a desperate fight. In fact, they were doing great +damage among the rurales, and it had begun to look as though they might +succeed in driving them to shelter, when a rattle of shots from their +rear completely disconcerted them, and they threw down their guns and +called out that they surrendered. + +The next instant there emerged, seemingly out of the solid rock, three +figures with blackened faces and tattered garments, who advanced toward +the rurales. They were Billie, Santiago and Guadalupe. + +“Don’t shoot!” cried Billie, as the rurales, thinking them some new foe, +raised their carbines. “We are friends!” + +“Billie!” shouted Donald, dropping his revolver and grasping his stout +comrade in both arms. “What has happened to you?” + +“We were in the explosion.” + +“You look like you had been in a coal mine. Are you hurt?” + +“Not a scratch—none of us!” + +“Then look after Ad, while I help dispose of these cutthroats.” + +“Ad!” exclaimed Billie. “Is he hurt?” + +“I don’t know. There he is. Find out and do something for him as soon as +possible.” + +Billie hastened to do Donald’s bidding, but Santiago was before him. He +raised the boy’s head onto his knee, and from a small flask forced a few +drops of liquid down his throat. A moment later Adrian opened his eyes, +gave one look at the two blackened faces before him, and uttered a yell +that brought everyone to “attention” as though a bomb had exploded. + +“What is it?” asked Donald, jumping to Adrian’s side. + +“That’s what I want to know! What is it?” pointing his finger at Billie. + +Donald burst into a loud laugh. He had been under the most intense +excitement for hours, and, as the ludicrousness of the situation struck +him, he could not have kept from laughing had a howitzer been pointed at +his head. His overwrought feelings simply relaxed, and he fairly +screamed with laughter. + +Realizing the humor of the situation, Billie speedily joined in, and the +combined laughter of the two was so infectious that, without at all +understanding what it was about, the rurales and smugglers also began to +laugh. It is probable that no battle ever fought had such a remarkable +ending. + +For Adrian, it was the best thing that could have happened, for it +brought him to himself, and he discovered at once who the three +black-faced individuals were; but it was a bad thing for the rurales. +While they were indulging in their most enjoyable recreation, Don Rafael +quietly withdrew into the darkness and disappeared into the opening +through which Billie and Santiago had made their entrance. + +Footnote: + +[2]: Fugitive law. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. + + +It was a couple of hours later and the Broncho Rider Boys had just seen +the rurales ride away toward Presidio del Norte with their prisoners. +The two hours had been spent in a vain endeavor to find Don Rafael, +whose sudden disappearance and escape had taken away much of the success +of the expedition. The boys had just made another examination of the +cave, and were now grouped together on the water’s edge, undecided what +should be their next step. + +“It is certainly the most mysterious affair I ever had anything to do +with,” declared Donald, “and we have solved some pretty big mysteries.” + +“Right you are,” said Adrian. “I thought the mystery of the Zuni +medicine man was the biggest mystery we should ever have to unravel, but +this beats it.” + +“What was that?” asked Pedro, who was one of the company. + +“It’s most too long a story to tell now,” replied Adrian, “but it was +told in print a few months ago by a friend of ours, Mr. Frank Fowler, +who wrote it into a book under the title of 'The Broncho Rider Boys +Along the Border.’ I’ll send you a copy when we get back to the States. +It was a mystery, all right, but we ferreted it out, hey, Don?” + +“We sure did, and we must ferret this one out, too.” + +“The most mysterious part to me,” said Billie, who up to this time had +stood apart thinking, “is not the disappearance of Don Rafael, but the +disappearance of Santiago. There is something unusual about him that I +must know.” + +“The captain didn’t seem to care much about his disappearance,” said +Adrian. + +“I know he didn’t, but he simply took him for another of the smugglers, +while he believes that Don Rafael is the head of a new revolutionary +movement. I am sure that this is not so.” + +“What?” asked Don. “Don’t you think Don Rafael is stirring up a +revolution?” + +“I meant I didn’t think as the captain does about Santiago,” explained +Billie. + +“Oh! Well, what do you think about him?” + +“I hardly know; but I don’t believe he is a peon. I believe he is an +educated man and is here in disguise for some purpose.” + +“What makes you think that?” asked Pedro. “He seemed like a peon to me.” + +“That’s because you did not get well acquainted with him. I did; for, +when you are in as tight a place as we were right after the explosion, +it doesn’t take long to get acquainted.” + +“What did he do?” queried Adrian. + +“That would be hard to tell. It would be easier to tell what he did not +do; but the thing that first attracted me was the way in which he cared +for Guadalupe.” + +“Speaking of Guadalupe,” exclaimed Adrian, “I’d forgotten all about her! +What became of her?” + +“Don Antonio took her home long ago,” replied Donald. Then to Billie: +“Then what did Santiago do?” + +“He just took charge of the both of us as though he owned us. He didn’t +even appear nervous. You would have thought that he was in the habit of +being blown up. A peon wouldn’t have done that! He would have thought +only of himself.” + +“That’s so,” declared Pedro; “I’ve seen them do it.” + +“Well, Santiago didn’t. As soon as he had gained his feet after the +explosion knocked him down, he picked Guadalupe up in his arms, and, +calling out to me to follow him, he dashed out into the cave. The place +was full of men, but they were for the most part busy getting into the +boats. They evidently thought that the only attack they had to fear was +from the rear and were all hurrying to get out. + +“Without stopping to speak to anyone, he turned toward the rear of the +cave, stood still for a moment, as though looking for something on the +wall, and then gave a sudden push with his hand. As though by magic the +opening appeared through which you saw the three of us come and by which +Don Rafael escaped.” + +“Then why can’t we find the place?” interrupted Adrian. + +Billie shook his head slowly. + +“That’s part of the mystery,” he finally said. + +“Yes, and a big part,” declared Donald. “If we could locate that door, +we could find Don Rafael. Don’t you think so, Billie?” + +“I’m sure of it.” + +“Then let’s find it!” + +“I’ll show it to you,” said a soft voice, which came to them out of the +semi-darkness. + +At the sound of the voice the boys turned hastily and grasped their +weapons. + +“Don’t be afraid,” continued the voice. “No one is going to hurt you,” +and out of the darkness stepped Santiago. + +“I just said you were the greatest mystery,” exclaimed Billie, as soon +as he saw who the newcomer was, “and now I know it.” + +“Not a mystery,” declared Santiago, “but a patriot.” + +“Which is even a greater curiosity in Mexico,” declared Donald. + +“I am afraid you are right,” was the sad reply; “but there are still a +few, and some day we will free Mexico from the rule of those who seek +nothing but their own advancement.” + +“To which class does Don Rafael belong?” asked Adrian. + +Santiago’s usually mild face grew stern. + +“To the wrong one, I fear. That is what I am trying to find out. I have +been told he was a patriot. What I have seen today leads me to believe +the opposite.” + +Pedro had listened eagerly to what Santiago had been saying, but without +speaking a word. Now he could contain himself no longer. + +“He is a dog!” he exclaimed, “a would-be murderer and a thief. He knows +not honor! He bites the hand that fed him, and he would now help to +assassinate our good president, Francisco Madero!” + +Santiago’s eyes flashed. “Have a care,” he said. “How do you know all +this?” + +“My father is a trusted friend of President Madero. He knows that the +president has at heart the good of all the people, not the rich alone. +Don Rafael, as you call him, was a trusted servant of my father. He +betrayed his trust, and has become the vilest of the vile. I can give +you the proof!” + +For several minutes Santiago remained silent, thinking deeply. When he +spoke it was with determination. + +“You say you can give me proof,” he said. “You shall have the +opportunity. Come!” + +He quickly led the way to the place in the wall of the cave where the +boys felt sure the secret door was hidden. With one foot he gave a +sliding push to a triangular stone in the floor, and a moment later the +secret opening was disclosed. + +“No wonder,” exclaimed Billie, “that we couldn’t locate the door. We +never thought that the key might be hidden in the floor. We only +searched in the wall! What simpletons!” + +Santiago smiled whimsically, but made no reply, as he led the way +through the door. + +“We will not need to close it now,” he explained, “as there is no one +here whom we need fear.” + +He took from a niche in the rock a small lantern, which he was about to +light, when Donald drew from his pocket his electric searchlight. + +“Take this,” he said, handing it to Santiago. “It is much better.” + +Santiago took it in his hand and regarded it curiously. + +“It is a strange instrument,” he said. “Is it safe to use it?” + +“Why not?” queried Donald in mild surprise. + +“It looks like magic. It might bring ill luck.” + +“Oh, no,” laughed Don. “Everyone uses them where we came from.” + +Santiago hesitated for a moment, and then said slowly: “It may be right +for those who understand. For those who do not it is ill luck. Take it +back. I dare not use it.” + +Slowly Donald returned the searchlight to his pocket, while Santiago +fumbled with the lantern which he was trying to light. + +As the blue flame of the match cast a flickering light about the place, +suddenly from out the darkness there sprang a figure with uplifted hand, +and hurled itself upon Santiago. There was a muttered oath, a blow, and +the figure darted through the still open door, and disappeared in the +outer cave, while Santiago sank down upon the floor, murmuring to +himself: + +“The magic light! The magic light! The ill luck has come!” + +“It’s Don Rafael! It’s Don Rafael!” shouted Pedro. “Don’t let him +escape!” + +He sprang after the fleeing figure, closely followed by Billie and +Adrian, while Donald bent over the prostrate Santiago, examining his +wound by the light of his electric. + +A moment later there was a shot from without, but, while Donald still +bent over Santiago, trying to stop the flow of blood from a wound in his +shoulder, the others came back. + +“Did you get him?” he asked. + +“I didn’t even wing him,” was Billie’s crestfallen reply. “He must bear +a charmed life. But I’ll get him yet, if I have to stay in Mexico all +summer!” + +Santiago raised his eyes, and a fierce smile played upon his lips, as he +fixed his gaze upon Billie. + +“Do you mean it, _señor_?” he asked. + +“You bet I do!” + +“Promise me!” + +“Sure, if that will do you any good!” replied Billie lightly. + +“Look out!” exclaimed Adrian. “That may mean more than you think!” + +“I don’t care what it means,” declared Billie; “I’ve given my word, and +I’ll stick to it!” + +Santiago reached out and took him feebly by the hand. “You will never +regret it,” he said. “When you have made your promise good, come back to +me for your reward.” + +And then the strange man swooned in Donald’s arms. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +PANCHO VILLA. + + +Several days have elapsed, days filled with anxiety over the fate of +Santiago, and once more the boys find themselves in the saddle, headed +for the Rio Grande. + +“It sure does seem good to feel your pony between your knees,” exclaimed +Donald, after they had galloped along a couple of miles at a lively +rate, the horses themselves setting the pace after their days of rest. + +“That it does,” replied Billie, “especially when your mind is at ease. I +shouldn’t be enjoying myself at all, were I not sure that Santiago was +on the road to recovery. That certainly was a nasty cut. I hope this +trail will lead us to where we want to go.” + +“I can see no reason why it should not,” declared Adrian. “It is as +plain as the nose on your face.” + +“And that’s pretty plain in your case,” laughed Donald, for it was a +well-known fact that Adrian’s nose was his most prominent feature. + +“I wish I could see it that way,” insisted Billie. “It looks to me as +though this were a good deal of a wild goose chase.” + +“I don’t see how you figure it,” retorted Adrian, and he put his hand +into his inside pocket and took therefrom a piece of paper. “Here is the +address as plain as can be: 'Rafael Solis, Presidio del Norte, care +Señor Pancho Villa.’ What more do you want?” + +“I want to know who Pancho Villa is, and where he lives! There is +nothing sure we can locate such a man.” + +“Santiago says he is well known.” + +“Yes, for a peon,” said Billie, determined not to be satisfied. + +“Santiago says he is more than a peon. He says he is a great man.” + +“That may be so—in the eyes of Santiago; and still he may amount to very +little in a place as big as Presidio del Norte.” + +“To hear Santiago talk about him,” interjected Donald, “you’d think he +was a great general.” + +“That’s because he was the head of a little band of what Santiago calls +patriots during the Madero revolution,” replied Billie. + +“Well, that ought to be enough to identify him,” declared Adrian +exultantly. “I’ll bet we can find him.” + +Billie was not satisfied, but as the road at this point was through a +ford of the river, conversation for the time was interrupted; and, when +the boys again came abreast, the conversation took another turn. What +has been said, however, is sufficient to show the mission upon which the +boys were bent. + +By dint of hard riding the boys reached the Rio Grande before dark, and +immediately crossed to the American side and hunted up Captain Peak. + +“Well, well!” he exclaimed, as he caught sight of them. “I was afraid +you had run into some kind of trouble, you were gone so long!” + +“Some kind of trouble!” laughed Donald. “Several kinds of trouble would +come nearer hitting it.” + +“You don’t say so!” and the captain opened his eyes wide. + +“Indeed we do,” said Billie. + +“Then I’m even more glad to see you,” chuckled Captain Peak. “Suppose +you come into the hotel and tell me about it.” + +Giving their horses to the _mozo_, the boys accepted the captain’s +invitation; but, after a few words, which indicated that the story was +to be a long one, he insisted that its recital be postponed until they +had eaten their supper. The suggestion was promptly seconded by Billie, +who declared emphatically that the story could wait, but that the supper +could not. + +If it were not that Captain Peak might be kept waiting too long, it +would be interesting to tell you what and how much Billie ate at that +meal. He has since declared it was the greatest he ever ate—which is a +most remarkable statement, and easily classes it as “some supper.” + +But the longest meal eventually comes to an end, and then the boys sat +down with Captain Peak and gave him a detailed account of their +happenings from the time they left him a week before up to their return. + +“I was sure I was making no mistake when I sent you out,” he declared, +when the story was finished. “You evidently stumbled right into the very +band I have been looking for. Of course I have heard something of the +capture from across the river, the captain of the rurales having given +out the information. Naturally he took all the credit, and no mention +was made of you boys, which,” continued Captain Peak, after a minute’s +reflection, “is a good thing, seeing that the adventure is only just +begun.” + +“Only just begun!” exclaimed Billie. “I was in hopes we were near the +end.” + +“So far as your part is concerned, that may be true; but it looks to me +like the beginning of another serious revolution. Evidently this Don +Rafael is acting for someone else—whom, I cannot tell, but I imagine for +Felix Diaz—who naturally would like to take revenge upon Madero for +driving his uncle, Porfirio Diaz, out of Mexico. + +“If he expects any help from Villa, however, I am afraid he is going to +be greatly mistaken. I know Villa well, and, peon though he is, he is a +brainy man, and an ardent Maderist. I don’t believe they will ever get +him to join a movement against the president.” + +“That’s what Santiago says; but Don Rafael is a smooth talker, and he +may make such promises that Villa will listen to him,” explained Adrian. + +“Of course it is none of my business,” continued Captain Peak, “as long +as they stay on their own side of the river; but the trouble is, they +are always coming over here to do their plotting, and to get arms enough +to start things going. That’s why I am glad of this information, and I +shall do all I can to help the present government.” + +“My interest in the matter is all on account of my promise to Santiago,” +said Billie. “If we can find this Don Rafael, we shall at once notify +the proper authorities, and I think the rurales will not lose him +again.” + +“I’ll do all I can,” said Captain Peak, “but I must act within my +jurisdiction.” + +“How can we find this Pancho Villa?” queried Adrian. + +“Just go over to Presidio del Norte and ask the first peon you see,” was +the captain’s reply. “They all know him.” + +Billie sprang from his chair. “Come on!” he exclaimed, “let’s waste no +time. We may find him in time to put him on his guard.” + +“I wouldn’t go tonight, if I were you,” cautioned the captain. + +“Why not?” asked Billie. + +“Well, I don’t think it is hardly safe.” + +“You don’t think we are afraid, do you?” + +“It isn’t a question of fear. It is rather a question of a fight, and I +know you don’t want to get into a fight.” + +Billie scratched his head. + +“I don’t know as I should exactly say we wanted to get into a fight; but +we wouldn’t mind if something should happen that would give us a chance +to take a fall out of our friend, Don Rafael.” + +Captain Peak laughed. + +“I see!” he said. “All you want is a chance, and you’re not so +particular who furnishes it. But, take my advice, and don’t get into +trouble tonight. Things are too unsettled, and I don’t want to be +obliged to make a raid into Mexico to rescue you. I have even had to +answer quite a few questions about the trouble we had the other day over +by Don Pablo’s.” + +“All right,” laughed Billie. “We won’t get into any trouble. We will +just see this wonderful peon, and put a flea in his ear, and then we’ll +come back.” + +“Just as you say,” was the captain’s answer. “I’m sure you are able to +take care of yourself.” + +Bidding the captain good-night, the boys called for their horses and +slowly rode across the river. + +Presidio del Norte is not a large town, but as it is on the line of the +Orient railroad—which at this particular time was in process of +construction—it was quite a lively place for a Mexican pueblo. It is +built around the inevitable plaza, the stores all facing thereon, and, +when the stores and the little booths in the plaza are all lighted, +becomes quite an attractive spot. + +Drawing up at one of the booths, the boys accosted an +intelligent-looking peon, and stated their errand. He looked at them a +bit suspiciously, but finally agreed to help them find the object of +their search. + +“Follow me,” he said, and, turning away from the brightly lighted plaza, +led them down a dark and narrow street. “Pancho is a poor man, +_señores_, and does not live in a very nice place.” + +“He didn’t need to tell us that,” laughed Adrian. “We still are able to +see.” + +“No,” said Donald to the guide, “you do not need to apologize. We +understand that Pancho is an honest man, which is more to his credit +than to live in a fine house.” + +The Mexican led them about four or five squares and stopped before a +miserable little adobe house. + +“_Aqui’sta!_” he exclaimed, and knocked loudly on the half-open door. + +“_Quien es?_” came a voice from within, meaning, “Who is it?” + +“Americanos to see Pancho,” replied the guide. + +“_Bueno!_” came the voice, and a moment later a large, fine-looking man +appeared in the doorway. + +“I am Pancho Villa,” he said pleasantly. “What can I do for you?” and +this was the Broncho Rider Boys’ introduction to the man who afterward +became the foremost general of Mexico. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A SHOT IN THE DARK. + + +“What can I do for you?” again asked Villa, as the boys did not at once +reply, not knowing exactly what to say, nor how to say it in the +presence of a third person. + +“We have a message for you from a fellow patriot,” Adrian finally +replied. “Perhaps it would be better if we entered your house.” + +“My casa is a very humble one,” replied Villa, “but, if you will deign +to honor it with your presence, you are quite welcome, _señores_.” + +The boys alighted and threw their bridle-reins over a post at the side +of the gate. + +“Stay here and watch the gentlemen’s horses, Secundino,” said Villa to +the guide, who was about to leave. “If you see anyone lurking about, +call.” + +“_Bueno_” was the reply and the guide threw himself down beside the +horses. + +The boys entered the house, followed by Villa. As their guide had said, +it was a poor house, but it was comfortable and clean. Its only +furniture consisted of a few chairs, a table, a bed, and some rugs on +the floor. A single candle furnished the light. + +“Now, _señores_,” said Villa, after they had all been seated, “we can +talk without being interrupted. What is your message, and from whom?” + +“Our message,” replied Adrian, who seemed to have made himself the +spokesman, “is a warning. It is from one who calls himself only +Santiago.” + +“Santiago!” exclaimed Pancho. “Santiago! And how did he come to make +strangers—Americans—the bearer of a message to Pancho Villa?” + +“It is a long story,” replied Adrian, “but if you will listen we shall +be glad to explain.” + +“No story is too long, if it is the truth,” said Villa. + +“Which this is,” declared Adrian earnestly, and for the second time that +evening the events of the past few days were rehearsed. + +“And you mean to tell me that Rafael Solis attempted to kidnap the son +of General Sanchez?” + +“That is exactly what he did,” declared Billie, who had scarcely been +able to keep quiet while Adrian was talking. “And he would have +succeeded, too, if we had not been there to help him escape.” + +“But that isn’t the worst, to my way of thinking,” exclaimed Donald. +“The worst thing was his assault upon Santiago!” + +“He explained that to me by saying that Santiago was playing into the +hands of the _haciendados_,” declared Villa, meaning by the +“_haciendados_” the rich landowners, who for years have been grinding +the peons under their heel. + +“Explained to you!” exclaimed Billie. “Then you have seen him?” + +“He left me not an hour ago.” + +“It is none of our business,” said Donald, “but as we are interested in +Santiago, we should be glad to know what he wanted.” + +“Just what you might expect—to help him overthrow President Madero, who, +he says, is just as bad as was Diaz.” + +“Do you think he is?” asked Billie, who had become much interested in +Mexican affairs during the past few days. + +“_Quien sabe!_” was Villa’s non-committal reply. “We hope not, but +Mexico has suffered much from those who should have been her friends.” + +“Well, whatever President Madero may be,” said Adrian emphatically, “Don +Rafael is a scoundrel and murderer at heart.” + +For several minutes Villa made no reply, then with a shake of his head: +“Time will tell!” + +A few minutes later, when the boys were leaving the house, he said: “You +may tell Santiago that he can depend upon me to do the right thing. I am +working for Mexico—not for Pancho Villa.” + +“We are sure you are,” was Adrian’s reply, and the others echoed his +words. + +Tossing a peso to the peon who had been guarding their horses, the boys +mounted and slowly rode back the way they had come. They had almost +reached the plaza when there was a pistol shot in their rear, followed +by a cry of pain. + +Without stopping to consider what their action might lead to, the boys +with one accord wheeled about and dashed back down the street. The +street was as deserted as when they passed up it a moment before. When +they reached Villa’s house they drew rein and called loudly, but there +was no response. + +“That’s mighty strange,” said Donald, after they had called a couple of +times with like result. “What do you suppose has happened?” + +“Can’t imagine,” replied Billie. “Maybe he doesn’t hear us. I’ll knock.” + +He dismounted and gave the door, which was still ajar, a vigorous thump, +but no one replied. Then suddenly, while they were wondering what they +had better do, there was a sound of voices at the head of the street, +and a moment later a crowd of people, headed by several policemen, came +hastily down to where they were standing. + +“There they are! There they are!” cried out a voice. “They are the men +who were with him!” And the speaker pointed at the three boys. + +“What’s the matter?” asked Adrian, as the policemen stopped at his side. + +“This man says you have been plotting with Pancho Villa to start a new +revolution.” + +“Nonsense!” exclaimed Adrian. “You know that Villa is a friend of +President Madero.” + +“Yes, everybody knows that,” said the other policeman. + +“How about that?” the first policeman asked, turning to their accuser. + +“That’s what I said,” declared the man. “I said they were trying to get +Pancho to join a revolution against the president.” + +The boys by this time had a chance to take a good look at the man, and +recognized him as the one who had guided them to Villa’s house. +Whereupon Donald exclaimed, with considerable warmth: “That’s a lie, and +you know it.” Then to the policemen: “You don’t have to take our word; +ask Pancho.” + +“Of course,” replied the policeman, and he approached Villa’s door and +knocked loudly. + +But, as in the case of the boys, there was no reply. + +“Where has he gone?” asked the policeman, turning to Adrian. + +“I don’t know. He was here just a few minutes ago; but when we came back +to see who was shot, he was gone.” + +“What’s that?” asked the policeman. “Did you say somebody was shot?” + +“We thought so. We were riding up the street when we heard a shot, +followed by a cry. We came back to find out about it. That’s how we +happen to be here now.” + +“What did you find?” + +“Nothing!” replied Adrian. + +The policeman eyed the boys fiercely. + +“Don’t try to make fools of us,” said one. + +“No,” declared the other, “we are not to be played with by any young +Gringoes. We don’t believe any such story.” + +“I can’t help it whether you believe or not,” retorted Adrian angrily. +“It is the truth!” + +“We shall see,” declared the first policeman. “You come with us to the +_cuartel_. The _jeffe politico_ will have to look into this.” + +“Now we are in for it,” said Billie, under his breath. “The next time I +hear a Mexican shoot another I’ll ride the other way.” + +“Where do you suppose Villa can have gone to?” asked Donald of the other +two, as they rode along behind the policeman, followed by a shouting, +hooting mob. + +“Give it up,” replied Adrian. “It couldn’t have been he that was shot.” + +“Who knows?” said Billie suddenly. “No one entered the house. He may be +lying in there dead.” + +“That’s so!” exclaimed Adrian, “I’ll suggest it to the policeman.” + +“Not as you value your life,” interrupted Donald. “If by any chance they +should find him dead, they’d accuse us of killing him.” + +All this had been said in English, of which the policemen did not +understand a word. In fact, had it been said in Spanish, it is doubtful +if the policemen could have heard, on account of the hooting and the +cries of “Down with the Americanos! Death to the Gringoes!” + +“If they ever get us locked up,” said Donald, a moment later, “it’s +going hard with us. We’ve simply got to get away!” + +“All right!” replied Billie. “You lead the way.” + +“Wait till the right moment and keep your eye on me. When I shout, both +of you join in and we’ll try and stampede this herd.” + +Slowly they rode along the narrow street and finally emerged on to the +plaza. Here the street was much wider, and the crowd became less dense, +although no smaller numerically. + +As they passed one of the _cantinas_, a gang of half-drunken railroad +laborers of various nationalities came out, singing and shouting. Among +them were several Americans, seeing which Donald gave a wild yell, +crying at the top of his voice: + +“Hurrah for Uncle Sam!” + +Billie and Adrian joined in the cry, at the same time putting spurs to +their horses, which sprang forward, upsetting the policemen and creating +a tumult which quickly became a riot, as the Americans in the crowd took +up the cry and shouted lustily for Uncle Sam. + +In the confusion which followed shots rang out from every side, most of +them fired into the air, and there was a general scurrying to shelter by +the natives, who had learned to get out of the way when a crowd of track +hands and cowboys began to shoot up the town. Taking advantage of this, +the boys dashed out of the light of the plaza, and were soon well on +their way to the river; and it was none too soon, for, attracted by the +commotion, a band of rurales was ordered out to arrest every foreigner +found on the street. + +“It was some excitement while it lasted,” remarked Billie, as they +gained the American side. “I think I’ll stay out of Mexico for a while.” + +“What!” exclaimed Donald, “with Don Rafael still at large?” + +“Yes,” said Adrian, “how about your promise?” + +“By George!” exclaimed Billie. “The excitement had driven it entirely +out of my mind—and besides, I must learn what has become of Villa.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A VALUABLE DISCOVERY. + + +It was late the next morning when the boys awoke and began calling to +each other. + +“What’s the first thing on the program?” asked Adrian, as he put the +last touch upon his toilet. + +“The first thing,” declared Billie emphatically, “is breakfast. I hope +they have hot cakes and sorghum molasses.” + +“Not a very fashionable dish,” laughed Donald. + +“Hang the fashion,” replied Billie. “What I want is something that +tastes good. How about you, Ad?” + +“That’s me, too. But I think I prefer ham and eggs, sunny side up.” + +“What are you fellows trying to do?” asked Donald, “increase my +appetite?” + +“No need of that,” laughed Billie. “I’ve never seen you when you +couldn’t do justice to whatever is set before you; but hurry up.” + +Five minutes later they were seated before a breakfast table that seemed +to have been fixed for their special benefit, for not only did the bill +of fare contain ham and eggs, but hot cakes and syrup as well. + +For several minutes they were too busy to talk, but finally Donald +pushed back his chair with the remark that so long as he could get a +breakfast like that, he didn’t care how long he stayed on the border. + +“Nor I either,” echoed Billie. “But what had we better do to get into +touch with matters across the river?” + +“I should certainly advise seeing Capt. Peak,” said Adrian. + +“Of course; but what then?” + +“Depends upon his answer.” + +“Well,” said Billie, “I have a duty to perform and the sooner I set +about it the better. Come on!” + +He led the way out of the hotel and down to Capt. Peak’s headquarters. +They found the captain mounting his horse. + +“I was just coming to see what had become of you,” he said. “I didn’t +know but you had left the country.” + +“No reason why we should, is there?” laughed Donald. + +“None at all; but I wouldn’t be found on the other side of the river too +soon, if I were you. You must have stirred up a hornet’s nest last +night.” + +“I don’t know what you mean by a hornet’s nest,” replied Billie, “but we +did have quite an exciting time.” + +“Of course you found Villa,” said the captain. + +“Found him and lost him,” replied Adrian, and he proceeded to narrate +their adventure. + +“And you have no idea who fired the shot?” + +“Not the slightest.” + +“I’m sure Villa was not the victim,” continued Capt. Peak, “or we should +have heard of it by this time. They would have been over here looking +for the murderer.” + +“Which might have made a lot of trouble for us,” said Donald. + +“Exactly! But if you boys want something to help pass away the time for +a couple of hours, get your horses and we’ll ride down the river and see +if we can hear anything.” + +The boys gladly accepted the invitation and a few minutes later were +riding leisurely along the bank of the Rio Grande on what the captain +called a tour of inspection. + +“Sort of scout duty,” laughed Adrian. + +“Exactly; only we’re not likely to discover anything at this hour of the +day.” + +It seems, however, that it is the unexpected that happens, and they had +not ridden more than two or three miles from town before they made a +discovery which brought them to a sudden halt and caused the utmost +astonishment. + +Not twenty feet from the river bank, entirely free from any attempt at +concealment, lay at least a dozen cases of rifles and a rapid-fire +Maxim. + +“Well!” exclaimed Capt. Peak, as he surveyed the arms from the back of +his horse, “What do you think of that?” + +“The thinking doesn’t seem to be up to us,” laughed Billie. “The +question is, what do you think?” + +For some minutes Capt. Peak made no reply, the while his eye noted the +surroundings. Then he dismounted and examined the ground carefully, +while the boys watched him with interest. + +“I’ll tell you what I think,” he finally exclaimed, as he came slowly +back to his horse. “There has been a pretty good-sized gun-running +expedition—so large, in fact, that these few arms have been entirely +overlooked.” + +“They must have been pretty bold to attempt such a thing so near +Presidio del Norte.” + +“Yes,” replied Capt. Peak, “and the very boldness of it is what helped +them to succeed. This is the last place I should have looked for a +crossing. I must send out and get these guns.” + +“Don’t you think they will be missed later?” asked Adrian. + +“No doubt; but the owners will have discovered the loss too late.” + +“I was just thinking it might be a good thing to leave them here +unmolested and set a watch over them.” + +“What good would that do? They will not make a second attempt at the +same place.” + +“It occurs to me,” said Adrian with becoming modesty, “that it would be +a good thing to ride on just as though we had found nothing. As soon as +we get around that piece of chaparral, let me come back and hide myself. +I believe somebody will be around trying to locate the missing weapons. +As I understand it, that rapid-fire gun is a valuable piece.” + +“There is no doubt of that,” admitted the captain. + +“If the one who comes hunting it finds it has not been molested, he will +think it has not been discovered and he will take some steps to carry it +away. When he does so, I can give the alarm and we can pounce down upon +him.” + +“Your idea isn’t at all unreasonable,” said the Captain, “and I’m +perfectly willing to see what we can do.” + +Accordingly the little cavalcade rode along for more than half a mile. +It then halted in the edge of the chaparral, where Adrian dismounted and +slowly made his way back through the mesquite bushes which covered the +plain. + +It was hot lying there in the broiling sun, but Adrian did not mind. +This was his idea, and somehow he felt sure that it would meet with +success; but for a long time it did not seem so. Finally, however, as +Adrian began to think the Captain might better take charge of the arms, +he noted a strange figure on the opposite bank of the Rio Grande. He was +a little man, and, as nearly as Adrian could make out, old. + +“He doesn’t look like a gun runner,” thought Adrian; “but you never can +tell.” + +At first the little man did not appear to be looking across the river at +all; but as Adrian watched, he saw that the man on the other shore +carried a pair of field glasses. + +“That means that I must lie mighty low,” muttered Adrian to himself, and +he hugged the ground tight, behind the mesquite bush. + +The man at length leveled his glasses and peered long and earnestly—not +only at the rapid-fire gun, which showed most prominently—but at all the +bushes up and down the river for some distance. + +“He certainly knows what he is looking after,” thought Adrian, “but I +don’t believe he will come over in the day time.” + +For the time being at any rate, Adrian was right; for after some minutes +spent in observation, the man returned his glasses to their case and +walked rapidly away. + +Slowly Adrian withdrew from his position, backing out on hands and knees +until he was hidden from the other bank. Then, rising, he hastened to +where he had left his friends. + +“Well,” was Billie’s greeting as soon as Adrian came in sight. “I hope +you discovered something to pay us for going without our dinner.” + +“If catching a gang of gun runners is enough, I think I did.” + +“What’s that?” inquired Capt. Peak. “You think you have a line on them?” + +“You can judge for yourself,” replied Adrian, and he related what he had +seen. + +“Don Pablo Ojeda!” exclaimed Capt. Peak as soon as Adrian had described +the appearance of the man on the opposite shore. “If we can only catch +him red-handed, it will be a great capture!” + +“You don’t mean he’s the old chap who tried to steal our mule, do you?” + +“He surely is,” declared Donald. “The description fits him perfectly.” + +“And it’s very plain, now,” continued the captain, “why they selected +this spot. It is only half a mile up stream from the trail that leads +from Don Pablo’s to the river—just far enough for a boat to float down +of its own accord. All it would take would be one man to steer. Once the +guns were put on board, the others could ride down the river, swim their +horses across and thus avoid any trouble in case the boat were +discovered.” + +“I’m glad if my information is of any use,” said Adrian. + +“It unquestionably is. Now then,” and the captain mounted his horse, “to +make arrangements to capture all who come to this side of the river.” + +“Hadn’t we ought to notify the Mexican authorities?” queried Donald. + +“If we were sure the information wouldn’t leak out,” was Capt. Peak’s +reply; “but there is too much revolution in the air right now to know +whom to trust. + +“No,” after a pause, “we’ll play this game alone,” and turning his horse +to the north, he started by a circuitous route for town, closely +followed by the boys. + +“I’m glad we’re this side the river,” said Billie as they rode along. “I +seem to have more faith in the Rangers than in the Rurales.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A MEETING OF REVOLUTIONISTS. + + +Midway between the Hacienda del Rio and the _hacienda_ of Don Pablo +Ojeda, near the source of the little mountain stream across which the +Broncho Rider Boys chased the horse thieves in recovering old Bray, +there stands an old mill. When built, or by whom, not even the oldest +inhabitant of that region can remember. It is made of rock quarried out +of the mountain side; and although the water wheel has long since gone +to decay and the millstones have fallen into their beds, the walls of +the building remain intact. + +To be sure there is no roof on the building, but the heavy oak rafters, +cut from trees on the mountain side, are reasonably strong, and, covered +with a wealth of tropical foliage, form sufficient covering for one who +is accustomed to the outdoor life of these regions. + +Into this ancient structure, on the afternoon of the same day on which +Capt. Peak and his young comrades discovered the rifles of the +gun-runners, four men might have been seen to enter. Three of them were +strangers. The fourth was the missing Don Rafael. + +That they had no fear that they would be seen, was evidenced by the open +manner in which the strangers dismounted from their horses and threw +their bridle reins to their accompanying servants. + +Of the three one had a decidedly military bearing while the others bore +evidence of being well-to-do landowners. + +“You surely have a veritable fortress here, Don Rafael,” declared the +military man after a brief glance around. “With a little work in the way +of outer trenches, it might be made well nigh impregnable to any but +those armed with modern siege guns.” + +“So I have thought, General,” replied Don Rafael deferentially. + +“Where have you hidden the arms?” + +“This way, General,” and Don Rafael led the way to the rear of the ruins +and pointed out a strongly constructed door, which apparently opened +into a vault. “They are well cared for.” + +“How many have you?” asked one of the others. + +“In the neighborhood of ten thousand small arms and ten machine guns. +Another shipment was brought over the river last night and will be +carted up here tonight.” + +“Good!” exclaimed the general. “But now to the purpose of our visit. You +asked us to meet you to hear the plans of General Orosco regarding the +overthrow of the Madero government. What are they?” + +“Sh-sh-h! Not so loud,” exclaimed Don Rafael, as he cast furtive glances +out toward the servants and the horses. “Your mozos might overhear!” + +“Small chance of that,” said the general, “and if they did they would +want to join the movement.” + +“Briefly,” said Don Rafael, “the plan is this: To start the movement in +the northern states with the revolt of the Chihuahua garrison. General +Orosco stands ready at a moment’s notice to come north and assume +command; but you will have to start the movement in your state. I will +start it here.” + +“How about Villa? Will he join us?” + +“I am sure he will; but if he will not, I will see that he does not +interfere.” + +“How many men can you muster?” asked the general. + +“I shall have two thousand. I should have been able to do better, had it +not been that my plans were interfered with by three young Gringoes who +are touring this state on horseback! I ran into them at a most +inopportune time, and as I did not wish to get into trouble with the +United States authorities, I could not punish them as I otherwise +would.” + +“That’s bad,” said the general. + +“Yes, it is; but if they come across my path again, I shall make short +work of them.” + +“Well,” said the general after a few more questions and answers, “I +think we know enough. I shall expect to see you at Presidio del Norte in +a few days. I trust you will succeed in your mission with Villa.” + +Then, as he emerged from the old mill and once more stood and looked at +the old structure: “This surely is a wonderful spot! We must see that it +is properly fortified.” + +The visitors approached their horses and were about to mount, when a +peon on foot was seen approaching from downstream. That he was the +bearer of a message of some sort was evident from his actions, and the +horsemen remained unmounted, awaiting his coming. + +“It’s one of the men who were with us on last night’s expedition,” +explained Don Rafael as the man approached near enough to be recognized. +“I wonder what he wants.” + +They were not kept long in suspense, for the messenger, seeing that they +were waiting, hastened his footsteps and soon reached them. + +“What is it, hombre?” asked Don Rafael. + +“A serious mistake was made last night.” + +“How so?” + +“A lot of rifles and a machine gun were left on the American side of the +river.” + +“What!” exclaimed Don Rafael “A machine gun?” + +“Si, Señor!” + +“What’s to be done?” + +“That’s what Don Pablo wants to know. He told me to say that he has +discovered that the guns are right where they were left and so far have +not been seen. One of the men has been posted on this side of the river +to watch that no one molests them. Don Pablo thinks if they are not +discovered during the day, we can easily bring them over right after +dark, so that they can come up here with the others!” + +“I don’t see anything else to do,” said Don Rafael. + +“Then you will send the men to help?” asked the man. + +“Is that what Don Pablo wants?” + +“Si, Señor!” + +“Very well. Tell him I will have a dozen men on hand as soon as it is +dark. I may come myself to see that he makes no more blunders.” + +“That’s the only safe way,” said the general. + +The messenger made no reply, but with a muttered “_Hasta lluego_,”[3] +took his departure as fast as he had come and the three strangers soon +followed his example. + +Left alone, Don Rafael watched them as they slowly wound their way down +the mountain path, and when they finally passed from view, turned and +entered the mill. Quickly he ascended the dilapidated stone stairs to +the second story, where, in a small room partitioned off from the rest +of the mill, he had made him a habitation, and threw himself upon his +crude bed. + +“Pancho Villa!” he exclaimed with a mocking laugh. “Pancho Villa, +indeed! It will be a long time before anyone sees Pancho Villa!” + +Footnote: + +[3]: Until we meet again. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +SPRINGING THE TRAP. + + +Feeling assured that the trap was well baited with the forgotten guns, +Capt. Peak determined to omit no detail which would insure the complete +capture of the gun-runners when the trap was sprung. + +He accordingly mustered his men early in the afternoon, and, accompanied +by the boys, who were most anxious to take a hand in the capture, openly +left town in exactly the opposite direction from the place where the +guns had been discovered. By this plan he hoped to allay any suspicion +which might be aroused and communicated to the smugglers by their spies, +with whom he had no doubt the city was filled. + +Riding up stream for several miles, until the city was entirely lost +sight of, the Rangers made a wide detour back into the country, arriving +in the vicinity of the trap just as the sun had set. + +As soon as it was sufficiently dark for the men to come out into the +open without being seen from the Mexican shore, they were so disposed +that they could surround the gun-runners on three sides, while a fourth +detachment was posted up stream, but sufficiently near the bank of the +river to cut off a retreat in that direction. + +“It would please me greatly,” said Capt. Peak, in giving the last +instruction, “if we could also capture the boat in which the guns are to +be carried over the river. Not only would it be good evidence, but it +would help to prevent similar expeditions in the immediate future.” + +This remark offered a suggestion to Donald, and when the others had been +stationed, he announced his plan to Capt. Peak. + +“I’m sure,” he said, “that we three boys can capture that boat better +than anyone else, because we are all good swimmers.” + +“What has that to do with it?” asked the Captain. “The boat will have to +come to shore to get the guns.” + +“I know that,” replied Donald; “but suppose they even succeeded in +getting the guns down to the river bank, what good would it do if they +found the boat gone?” + +“I see,” laughed the Captain. “Well, go ahead; but we shall not wait for +the Greasers to get the guns down to the shore before we nab them.” + +Having obtained permission to act, Donald at once called Adrian and +Billie and unfolded to them his plan. It was very simple, namely, to +secrete themselves on the shore, or even in the water if necessary. +Then, as soon as the boat had landed the men, to swim up behind it and +draw it back into the river. + +“Suppose they make it fast to the bank,” suggested Adrian. + +“I had thought of that,” replied Donald, “and that is why I think it +better to hide on shore.” + +“How would it do for one of us to remain on shore,” suggested Billie, +“and the others to station themselves out in the river where the water +is breast high? Then, if they fastened the boat to the shore, the one on +land could, in the dark, easily slip up and cut the ropes.” + +“Not a bad idea,” replied Donald. “Suppose you stay on shore and Ad and +I will do the water act.” + +“Yes,” said Adrian, “and if you are discovered you can easily pass +yourself off as a Mexican. If you are questioned all you have to say is +'quien sabe’ and stick to it, and they’ll know you are a peon.” + +“Suits me,” declared Billie, and he drew his hunting knife from his +belt. “One stroke of this will cut any ordinary rope.” + +This plan having been decided upon, Donald and Adrian threw off their +superfluous clothing and waded out into the stream, while Billie +secreted himself behind a little pile of brush, left on the shore by the +last high water. + +They had hardly taken their positions, when the faint sound of oars came +to their ears and a couple of minutes later a good-sized batteau came +into sight through the darkness. It was rowed by six men while a half +dozen more were seated at the bow and in the stern. + +The batteau had no sooner touched the shore than those in the bow sprang +out and pulled the boat partially onto the gravelly beach. The others +followed more slowly, but after a minute or more all were landed. Not a +word was spoken for some minutes, and several of the men spread +themselves out into a scouting party. One of them passed so close to the +place where Billie was concealed that he could have touched him with his +hand; but it never seemed to occur to the Mexicans that anyone might be +hidden on the beach. + +Those who were not on the lookout, pushed the boat back into the water +and turned it so they could pull out immediately it had received its +load. Then for the first time a spoken order was given in a low voice—a +voice which sounded strangely familiar to Billie, although he could not +think where he had heard it. + +“All ready!” it said, “and hurry up! Juan and I will be sufficient to +guard the boat!” + +“So ho!” exclaimed Billie to himself! “It appears we are to have two to +deal with,” and as he saw the figures steal away in the darkness he +slipped silently nearer to the boat to see how the guard was placed. + +A glance was sufficient to show him that one man sat in the boat with +oars in his hands, while the speaker stood on the shore. He had not yet +decided what to do, when he noticed that the boat was silently and +slowly drawing away from land. The shore guard must have noticed it at +the same time, for he said in a sharp whisper to the oarsman: + +“You’re drifting out! Hold your boat to the shore!” + +The oarsman gave a couple of strokes with his oars, but without any +apparent result! The boat continued to draw away. + +“The current must be very swift!” he muttered. + +“Or else you are very weak,” declared the man on shore, and he leaned +over to grasp the boat, which was still within reach. + +This was Billie’s opportunity and he was quick to seize it. He had +realized from the beginning that it was not the current, but Adrian and +Donald who were pulling the boat into the stream, and so, as the man on +shore leaned over to grasp the boat, Billie sprang forward and gave him +a violent shove, which landed him face down in the bottom of the +batteau, and sent the craft well out into the stream. + +Then, without a moment’s hesitation, Billie sprang in after him, calling +out to the other two boys to scramble aboard without delay. + +Almost before the words were out of his mouth, there was a crack of +rifles and the shouts of the Rangers mingled with the cries of the +gun-runners, who had been caught in the trap. + +But quick as Billie had been, the man whom he had pushed into the boat +was quicker. He was on his feet in an instant and grappling with the +lad, while at the sound of the shots he called to the oarsman: + +“Pull for the other shore! Pull for your life!” + +Although Billie was large and strong for his age he was no match for his +assailant, who was not only possessed of much strength, but was as agile +as a cat. Almost in less time than it takes to tell it, he had thrown +the boy to the bottom of the boat. Quickly he picked up an oar, as +though to deal him a blow, when his attention was diverted by the severe +rocking of the boat. + +Turning to see the cause, he espied Donald and Adrian piling in over the +gunwale. + +Raising aloft the oar which he had intended for Billie, he aimed a +vicious blow at the head nearest him, but as the blow was about to +descend, Billie caught him by one leg and he dropped the oar to save +himself from falling into the water. + +By this time the oarsman had discovered the condition of affairs and had +come to his companion’s rescue. Rising in his place he struck with his +oar the boy nearest him. It happened to be Donald, and the oar came down +on his shoulder with a sounding whack. It was only by the greatest good +luck that it did not hit him on the head. As it was it caused him to +utter a cry of pain and release his hold on the boat. + +It was a critical moment. + +Adrian had just succeeded in pulling himself into the boat, but had not +yet gained his footing; Donald was apparently helpless in the water, and +Billie was struggling with the leader of the gun-runners, while the +oarsman, with oar in hand, seemed to command the situation. + +But before the man with the oar could gather himself for another blow +Adrian, from his crouching position, sprang upon him. His head struck +the Mexican squarely in the pit of the stomach, and with a loud “Ah!” as +the wind was knocked out of him he toppled over into the water. The next +instant Adrian reached over and seized Donald by the hair and pulled him +up to the boat, where he was able to grasp the gunwale with his +uninjured arm. + +The blow which struck Donald, and his cry, had a most unfortunate result +upon Billie. For just a moment he was undecided whether to throw his +antagonist into the river, or to release his hold and help Donald. In +that moment his opponent saw his opportunity and took advantage of it. + +With his doubled knee he struck Billie in the face and as the lad fell +over into the boat, he plunged into the river and struck out for the +Mexican shore. + +“Don’t let him get away,” cried Billie, as soon as he could gather +himself to speak. “It’s the leader of the gang!” + +“All right,” said Adrian. “Help me pull Donald in and we’ll row after +him.” + +In almost no time Donald was helped into the boat and Billie and Adrian +seized the oars and started in pursuit of the fleeing Mexican. They were +not expert oarsmen, but they did their best and the boat made good +headway. But row as hard as they could, they were unable to discover a +trace of the fugitive, and it soon became evident that he had escaped in +the darkness. Neither did they see anything of the man whom Adrian had +knocked overboard. + +“We haven’t made a very creditable record,” declared Adrian as they +finally ceased rowing and tried to make out where they were. “I hope +Capt. Peak did better.” + +Considerably crestfallen, the boys turned the boat and rowed for the +American shore, where they shortly arrived. + +“Well,” said Capt. Peak as they beached the batteau and sprang ashore, +“I see you have the boat. Did you get anything else?” + +“Nothing but a sore shoulder,” replied Donald ruefully. + +“It’s all my fault,” declared Billie. “I ought to have shot the leader +instead of trying to capture him.” + +“The leader!” exclaimed Capt. Peak. “Was it the leader you were fighting +with?” + +“Sure!” was Billie’s emphatic reply. “And he’s a good one, too!” + +“You ought to know,” laughed the Captain. “It was your old friend, Don +Rafael.” + +“What!” cried Billie, as he regarded Capt. Peak with a look of blank +despair. “Don Rafael! You don’t mean it!” + +“That’s what the men say, and I have no doubt they know.” + +“And to think that I had my hands on him and didn’t recognize him!” said +Billie, almost in tears with disappointment. “That’s twice I’ve let him +escape. I’ll bet I don’t do it a third time!” + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +WITH THE REGULAR ARMY. + + +Despite the escape of Don Rafael, the expedition had been a great +success. All the other gun-runners, with the possible exception of the +one whom Adrian knocked into the river, had either been captured or +shot, the arms had been secured for evidence, and the boat, which had +been so well used, had been captured. + +“It’s all very well for the Rangers,” said Billie to Donald as they were +climbing into bed that night, “but it hasn’t helped me a bit. I am no +nearer keeping my promise to Santiago than I was yesterday morning. In +fact, I am further away, for Don Rafael will be more cautious than +ever.” + +“Well, I wouldn’t worry about it,” replied Donald good-naturedly. “Go to +bed and sleep over it. You may dream it out. Because we’ve done our best +today is no sign we cannot do better tomorrow. We profit by experience, +my father says. Our very failures make us try that much harder.” + +“That’s a fact,” declared Adrian. “I’ve proved that myself.” + +“It doesn’t seem as though I could try much harder,” said Billie, with a +vigorous shake of his head; “but as Donald says, the best thing to do +now is to sleep over it,” and he tumbled into bed and was soon sleeping +as soundly as though he had not just been through an ordeal which would +have been a memorable one even for one much more experienced than +Broncho Billie. + +The events of the morrow proved that sleeping over the matter was the +very best thing that could have been done, because it was the last real +good night’s sleep the boys had for some time. While they were eating +their breakfast the next morning, Capt. Peak came in and told them that +a revolution against President Madero had already broken out and that +General Felix Diaz was attacking Vera Cruz. + +“So you see,” he added, “our predictions were pretty nearly correct.” + +“What effect will it have upon your work?” asked Donald. + +“I expect it will increase it greatly. We shall have to be more active +than ever to prevent gun-runners, smugglers—for gun-running is nothing +less than smuggling—from getting arms across the border.” + +“You seem to have done about all you can since we have known you,” +laughed Adrian. “I don’t see how you can do much more.” + +“Well, in the first place,” explained Capt. Peak, “I expect we shall be +attached to some regiment of regular army cavalry, or at least we shall +be under the direct orders of some United States officer, instead of +working as state troops as we do in times of quiet. This will +undoubtedly be the first step. After that, we can only guess as to what +duty may be assigned us.” + +The Captain’s prediction proved quite correct and before night it was +announced that Captain Peak’s company had been assigned to duty with the +regulars under command of Col. Bliss. + +During the day many rumors were afloat as to happenings across the +river, but it was not until that night that the revolution developed in +Presidio del Norte. Then firing was heard, and from the American side it +could be seen that a skirmish of some sort was in progress. + +It was while these events were shaping themselves that the Broncho Rider +Boys held a council of war over their own future. + +“We ought to be in El Paso now,” said Donald, in reviewing the +situation. “We are already past due and Billie’s father will be greatly +worried at our non-appearance; but I don’t know how we can help it.” + +“Can’t we telegraph him?” asked Billie. + +“There is nothing but a military line from here to Langtry,” replied +Donald. + +“Well, I’m sure Capt. Peak can get a message through for us,” insisted +Billie. “I feel more like staying here now than ever. I am sure I shall +be able to get a line on Don Rafael, and if I can’t capture him I may be +able to help some one else do so.” + +“I feel a good deal like Billie,” declared Adrian, “and I vote to notify +Billie’s father, if possible, and stay right here for a few days longer +anyway.” + +“Two is a majority,” said Donald, “so let’s go and see what we can do.” + +They found Capt. Peak in conversation with a member of Col. Bliss’ staff +and made known their wants. + +“These are the young men of whom I have just been speaking,” said Capt. +Peak to the officer. “Boys, I want to introduce you to Lieut. Grant of +the regular army!” + +The boys acknowledged the introduction. + +“And so you want to get a message to El Paso,” said the Lieutenant. + +“If we can,” replied Billie. “I am afraid my father will be getting +worried.” + +“Of course you know the line is for purely military purposes?” + +“Yes sir,” was Billie’s prompt reply, “and this message is a military +necessity.” + +“Yes?” queried the Lieutenant. “How so?” + +“Because it has to be sent to prevent Capt. Peak from losing our +services.” + +Both the Lieutenant and Capt. Peak laughed heartily at Billie’s witty +reply, while the Lieutenant said forcibly: + +“And that he cannot afford to do right now. We have already counted upon +your assistance in a little scouting expedition.” + +“Then the message can be sent?” + +“Undoubtedly. Also, we will undertake to get you a reply.” + +“That is most kind of you,” said Billie, “and for my part I am ready to +volunteer for duty this minute.” + +“How about your companions?” asked the Lieutenant. + +“We are like Dumas’s three guardsmen,” said Adrian. “'One for all and +all for one.’” + +“Then we’ll consider the matter settled,” said the Lieutenant. “Report +here at seven o’clock this evening for instructions.” + +“Well,” remarked Donald as the trio rode away, “I never expected to +become a military scout.” + +“Nor I,” declared Billie, “but neither did I ever expect to be +christened Broncho Billie. I’ll sure have some tales to tell when I get +back east.” + +“Yes,” laughed Adrian. “First thing you know you’ll become a regular +Buffalo Bill, and be running a Wild West show!” + +“I shouldn’t be at all surprised. In these days of rapid-fire methods, +why not a circus?” asked Billie. + +And the other two replied: “Why not?” + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +SCOUTING FOR UNCLE SAM. + + +When the boys reported for duty to Lieut. Grant at seven o’clock they +found that conditions across the river had developed rapidly. The +revolutionists had taken possession of Presidio del Norte and the +skirmish referred to in the last chapter was in full swing. + +“I hadn’t expected such rapid developments,” said the Lieutenant after a +word of greeting. “This breaking out of open hostilities has made the +mission upon which I wish to send you much more dangerous than I had +thought. If, under the circumstances, you do not feel like undertaking +it, I will detail someone else.” + +“Has the telegram gone to my father?” asked Billie. + +“Yes.” + +“Then I feel bound to perform the duty you desire.” + +“You need not,” said the Lieutenant. + +“Whether I need, or not, I do. When I’m paid for doing a job I expect to +do it. Of course,” he added, “we’d do whatever you want us to anyway; +but the telegram is personal with me.” + +“I admire your spirit,” said the Lieutenant earnestly, “and I am now +more than ever convinced that you are the very ones to perform the +service.” + +The Lieutenant opened a drawer in his desk and took therefrom a large +map, which he spread out upon a table. It was drawn so as to show, not +only the boundaries of the different counties and districts, the +watercourses and highways, but was also shaded so as to show the +topography of the country on both sides the Rio Grande. + +“Now look,” he said to the boys, placing the point of his pencil on the +map, “and listen carefully. Here is where you found the guns the other +day. Here is the beach where you captured the boat. Back here, half a +mile, you strike the trail leading to the little town of Alamito. There +you come upon the line which has been surveyed by the Orient road and +which strikes the Southern Pacific at Alpine. The reason why this spot +has been selected for gun-running is that arms can be unloaded at Alpine +and brought down here over these trails. Do you understand?” + +The boys nodded their heads. + +“Perfectly,” they exclaimed. + +“Col. Bliss has been informed that a decoy expedition is to be started +from Alamito within a day or two, possibly tomorrow night, for the +purpose of drawing our soldiers into a conflict with a band of Mexican +revolutionists, in the hope that we will follow them across the river +into Mexican territory. This would create an international dispute, +which the revolutionists hope would cause the United States to take a +hand in the Mexican troubles. + +“The information desired, is to know, not the exact time of the proposed +decoy expedition, for the conspirators will see that this information +comes to us, but the exact size of the force, the route to be followed +and the names of the men who are planning the expedition. The latter is +the most important. Once their identity is known, it will be easy to do +the rest, even to stopping the expedition before it starts.” + +“Have you any suggestion as to how to go about this?” asked Donald. + +“Yes; that is one of the things I was going to explain. My idea is for +you to join the expedition.” + +“Will they take us?” queried Adrian. + +“It is for you to see that they do.” + +“We don’t look like Mexicans,” ventured Billie. + +“The conspirators are not all Mexicans,” said the Lieutenant. “In fact, +it is thought that the whole thing is planned by Americans who own +property in Mexico and want this government to intervene. Cowboys are +the very chaps needed, and you can fill all the requirements. I should +say the best place to join the expedition is in Presidio del Norte. If +you can cross the river while the fighting is going on you stand a good +chance of meeting the very men you are looking for.” + +“It’s about the biggest job we ever tackled,” said Donald aside to +Adrian. + +“Oh, I don’t know,” replied Adrian. “That bunch of smugglers was no +small proposition.” + +“You are not afraid to undertake it, are you?” asked the Lieutenant. + +“Afraid!” exclaimed Billie. “Why, Lieutenant, we’re scared half to death +most of the time; but that doesn’t keep us from going ahead and doing +whatever needs to be done. The only real fear in this matter is that we +may not be smart enough to work the thing out.” + +“Then I know of no one who is,” laughed the Lieutenant. + +“We’ll do our best,” said Donald. + +“I am sure of that,” declared Lieut. Grant, “so now off with you! Do not +delay your report a minute longer than necessary. Everything depends +upon having information in advance.” + +The Lieutenant turned again to his desk and filled out a blank. + +“Here is a pass through the patrol,” he said as he handed Donald the +paper. “Also an order to allow you to use the barge you captured. A +couple of my men will row you over and bring the barge back. You can +swim your horses behind. Once on the other side, you will have to look +out for yourselves.” + +Leaving the Lieutenant, the boys mounted their horses and rode rapidly +out of town to the spot where the boat lay. A short distance from the +shore they were stopped by the patrol and presented the pass. The +corporal of the guard was called, to whom they also gave the order for +the use of the batteau and men to row them over. Both the pass and the +order were promptly honored and in less than half an hour after leaving +the Lieutenant they were on the Mexican shore. + +While the spot upon which they landed was some distance from the firing +line between the Federal troops and the revolutionists, they soon found +that they were in the direct line of fire and quickly proceeded to +change their position. + +“I don’t mind taking some chances in a fight for Uncle Sam,” said +Adrian, “but I object to being made a mark for a lot of greasers, who +are fighting among themselves.” + +“Right,” assented Billie, “but it looks as though this were Uncle Sam’s +service, so we’ll have to take some chances. Suppose we get to the top +of that knoll and see if there is still enough light to determine what +is happening.” + +For want of better advice the boys accepted Billie’s suggestion, and +rode toward the little rise of ground. When they had approached the top, +they dismounted, threw their bridle reins over a mesquite bush and +cautiously made their way to the summit on foot. + +While it was after sunset, it was well that the boys took this +precaution. As they lifted their heads above the brow of the little hill +they discovered, a short distance away, a force of Federals so posted as +to command the knoll, evidently fearing that it might conceal some of +the attacking revolutionists. + +Quickly the boys dropped out of sight, and remounting their horses rode +rapidly farther up stream. Then, using the little ridge as a screen, +they made their way around to where they could approach the Federal line +from the left. + +Having then determined their position by a hasty reconnoiter, they +advanced openly as though ignorant of all the trouble. + +Their presence was quickly discovered and a detachment of cavalry +charged down upon them, whereupon Donald waved his white handkerchief as +a flag of truce, and the three halted until the horsemen came up. + +“_Quien viva?_” shouted the leader as he came within hailing distance, +which, being translated, means, “Who lives?” and is the common challenge +either on the field or in camp. + +“Mexico!” replied Donald, acting as spokesman. + +“_Que gente?_” demanded the officer, meaning literally, “What people?” +although the challenge is used very much as our soldiers call, “Who goes +there?” + +“Friends!” replied Donald. “We are Americans and wish to go to Presidio +del Norte.” + +“Impossible!” declared the officer, who bore the rank of lieutenant. “No +one can pass the lines.” + +“Will you take us to the commanding officer?” was Donald’s next +question. + +“Without doubt,” replied the officer with a broad smile. “We are bound +to do that, whether you wish or not.” + +“Suits us,” was the reply; and at the word of command the little +detachment started for headquarters, wherever that might be, the +cavalrymen keeping the boys well surrounded. + +It was a short ride, the commanding officer having made his headquarters +in an adobe hut just behind a knoll similar to the one on the side of +the valley where the boys had obtained their first view of the battle. +They were quickly ushered into his presence and their joy and surprise +may well be imagined when they recognized, in one of his aides, the +captain of the rurales who had captured the smugglers at the cave. + +The recognition was mutual and an exclamation of surprise burst from the +lips of the captain. + +“_Caramba!_” he exclaimed. “Where do you come from?” + +The boys looked at each other in some confusion, not knowing just what +to say. But once more Billie was equal to the occasion and he replied +with his most innocent smile, “We were captured!” + +“So I see,” laughed the captain. “But what were you doing?” + +“We wanted to see the battle,” replied Billie. “We never had seen one +and we wanted to know what it was like.” + +The captain smiled grimly and was about to say something more, when the +general demanded sternly: + +“Who are these boys, Captain?” + +“They are the boys who aided in capturing Don Rafael’s gang,” was the +prompt reply. + +“What! The boys who rescued my son from that cutthroat!” + +“The same, General!” + +If the boys had been surprised at recognizing the captain, they were +much more surprised at what followed. + +Springing from his chair, the general seized first one boy by the hands +and then another and wound up by throwing his arms about all three, much +to their discomfort as well as their embarrassment. + +“My brave lads!” he exclaimed. “How can I ever thank you for what you +did for my son? He has told me all about you! I can never repay you.” + +“We’re not looking for any payment,” stammered Adrian. “All we want is +to get into Presidio del Norte.” + +General Sanchez drew back and regarded them in surprise. + +“Presidio del Norte!” he exclaimed. “What can you possibly want there?” + +For a moment the boys made no reply, but eyed each other in a +questioning manner. Each knew what the other was thinking, but neither +was sure just what to say. At last Billie spoke. + +“Tell him, Donald,” he said. “It’s the very best thing to do.” + +“Right!” was Donald’s reply. Then to the general: “Can we have five +minutes with you in private?” + +“Five!” exclaimed General Sanchez. “Ten times five if you wish!” + +“Five will be plenty,” said Donald. + +The general issued an order and the room was quickly cleared. + +“Now, then,” said he, “you may talk to me like I was your own father! +That is the way I feel toward you.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +JOINING THE REVOLUTIONISTS. + + +Fifteen minutes later, just as the last rays of daylight were fading +away, three horsemen were seen to dash out of the Federal lines and head +straight for the intrenchments which the revolutionists had hastily +thrown up around Presidio del Norte. + +A minute later a band of at least a dozen cavalrymen followed in hot +pursuit. + +But that one minute had been sufficient to give the three horsemen +enough of a lead to make it a stern chase, which everyone knows is a +long chase; and although the cavalry were plainly well mounted, the +three horsemen gradually ran away from them. + +When this became evident, the pursuers opened fire upon the trio, but +their shots failed to reach their mark. In a couple of minutes more, the +cavalrymen were obliged to draw rein to prevent them from coming within +range of the revolutionists’ rifles, while the fleeing horsemen rode +directly into the trenches and later into the town. + +The three horsemen were the Broncho Rider Boys and the chase was a ruse +determined upon by the boys and General Sanchez when they told him their +mission, for of course General Sanchez was as anxious to thwart the +revolutionist plot as was Lieut. Grant. + +So well was the ruse carried out, however, that it completely deceived +the revolutionists; and as the boys came inside the revolutionary lines, +they were cheered loudly. + +They approached the first officer they met and asked the way to the +commander of the city. He was not only glad to direct them, but even +offered to accompany them—an offer which they were glad to accept. + +“That was a narrow escape,” he said as they rode along. + +“It was that,” replied Donald; “but it was either escape or be stood up +before a firing squad, and we took the chance. If that’s the way the +Madero government treats people, it’s no wonder you all revolted.” + +“That’s right,” declared Billie. “I’d like to have a chance to take a +shot at them.” + +“You shall have it,” declared the officer. “I will tell the general and +he will be glad to enlist you.” + +“_Bueno!_” replied Billie, although joining the revolutionists was a +thing he had not before considered. A gun-running expedition didn’t seem +so bad; but to be put out on the firing line was a good deal too much +like war. + +They soon reached the barracks, and for the second time that evening the +boys were ushered into the presence of a commanding general. + +Without giving them a chance to speak, the officer who had conducted +them thither introduced them by saying: + +“General, here are three Americans who have just broken through the +enemy’s line and want to join our army.” + +“Is it possible?” queried the general, a dapper little man, who looked +about as much like the boys’ idea of a revolutionist as a horse looks +like a goat. + +The officer assured him that it was more than possible; that it was a +fact. + +“They must be smart young men to escape General Sanchez,” was the +general’s next remark. + +“They are,” declared the officer, who seemed to be considerably nettled +at the general’s manner. It was a daring ride, he had seen it and he +wanted the credit of bringing in three such valuable recruits. “I’d be +glad to have them in my battalion,” he added. + +“_Asi!_” said the general as he slowly nodded his head. He was clearly +suspicious and still the revolution was so new and the need of men so +great that he couldn’t afford to be too particular. “So you would like +them in your company, Don Carlos?” + +“_Cierto!_” was the officer’s emphatic reply. + +“Very well; take them along. But remember, you have sharp work ahead, +and want only men on whom you can depend. These American cowboys are a +hard lot, especially when they are drinking.” + +“I know men when I see them,” replied Don Carlos, with an air of +self-importance. “I wasn’t born yesterday.” + +“_Bueno!_” and the general waved his hand. “Take them away. I’m busy +now; but come back in an hour and I’ll give you your instructions.” + +“Come,” commanded the officer called Don Carlos, and the boys followed +him from the room, not having spoken a word. + +“I hope we’re going to see some active service,” said Adrian to Donald +in an undertone, which was intended for the ears of the officer, +although it was supposed not to be. + +“I’ll bet we will,” replied Donald in the same manner. “The major here +is all right.” + +Don Carlos squared his shoulders and threw out his chest, the remark +having greatly pleased his vanity. And right here it may be said that +Don Carlos was as brave and dashing a revolutionist as there was in the +army, his only weakness being his egotism. Because of this his judgment +was bad, and courage without wisdom is quite apt to get one into +trouble. + +“Well,” muttered Billie, who had quickly caught on to the game, “I’d +like to know where I’m going before I join any company. The major may be +all right, but unless he gets a chance, what can he do?” + +“We’ll have plenty of chance,” interrupted the major. + +“Yes, I know,” grumbled Billie, “to stand in a trench and shoot at +nothing. What I want is something with a dash!” + +“We’ll have that, too,” declared Don Carlos. “What would you say to a +raid across the river and a fight with the patrol?” + +“Fine! That’s the kind of a job for me!” + +“How about your comrades?” + +“We’re with you!” exclaimed both Adrian and Donald in one breath. +“Anything for excitement!” + +“You’re young men after my own heart!” declared Don Carlos, who was a +right young man himself. + +“Where are we going now?” asked Billie, seeing that they were riding +back toward the firing line. + +“My men are mostly in the trenches,” replied Don Carlos, “but the dozen +or more I have selected for this raid are in a little cantina just +around the corner.” + +He gave his horse the spur and a moment later pulled up at the most +inviting of the numerous cantinas which encircled the plaza. + +“Here we are!” he exclaimed, as he leaped from his horse. “Come in and +I’ll introduce you to the rest of the troop.” + +As the boys alighted they recognized the place as the one that had +played such a conspicuous part in their recent visit to Villa, but they +felt sure that no one would recognize them; and even if anyone did, the +revolution had completely changed conditions since that time. The only +fear they had was that they would not be able to play the part they had +assumed. + +“Take your time,” was Donald’s advice, “and keep your wits about you.” + +“You don’t suppose they’ll want us to drink, do you?” asked Billie. + +“I hardly think so,” answered Donald. “My observation is that the +average Mexican is not a drinker of anything stronger than agua +frescas”—meaning by this, drinks like limeade, piña and other soft +drinks. + +“Oh, well,” laughed Billie, “I could stand a good lemonade right now. +Let’s hurry up!” + +Donald’s prediction was quite right, and when the boys entered they +found a number of the troop just about to indulge in a _grosella_, a +very palatable beverage made from currants and tasting much like the now +famous grape juice. A couple of tough-looking Americans were the only +ones who were drinking anything intoxicating. + +“These are our new recruits,” cried Don Carlos, so that all could hear. +“Here’s their health!” + +“_Salud!_” meaning, “your health,” was the boisterous response, and in a +very few minutes the boys found themselves on terms of soldierly good +fellowship with the whole band, not excepting the Americans, who were +the most boisterous of all. + +“I don’t like these fellows’ looks at all,” declared Adrian to Billie, +the first time he got a chance to speak to him privately. “They look +like a couple of outlaws.” + +“I expect they are,” laughed Billie. “Perhaps they take us for the +same.” + +“By George, I believe they do!” was Adrian’s answer. “Now what do you +think of that?” + +“What do I think of what?” queried Donald, who had heard the remark. + +Adrian repeated the conversation. + +“Well,” declared Donald, “I don’t know but we are, in the eyes of anyone +who don’t know the facts.” + +“What!” exclaimed Billie. “Haven’t I a right to fight for the +revolutionists if I want to?” + +“Sure you have; but if you are caught at it, your own government would +not interfere in your behalf. If you expect the United States to protect +you, you must be neutral in other peoples’ battles!” + +“Of course,” explained Adrian, “our present position is not that.” + +“Oh, no!” replied Donald. “We are on a mission for our own government.” + +Their conversation was interrupted by the major, who, calling all the +men aside, explained to them briefly that they were to go on a dangerous +mission across the river into the United States. + +“If it succeeds,” he said, “it will not only insure the success of our +cause, but will mean a goodly sum of money to each one of us.” + +“How is that?” asked one of the Mexicans. + +“Because the work we have to do is in the interest of a large railroad +syndicate, which is most anxious to have the United States intervene in +the troubles in Mexico!” + +“We want no intervention by the United States,” declared several of the +men fiercely. “Rather Francisco Madero than the American pigs!” + +“You don’t understand,” explained one of the Americans, to whom our boys +had taken such a dislike. “The Americans only want to be guaranteed——” + +“We know,” replied one Mexican. “We are willing to fight, but not for +the Americans.” + +“_Bueno!_” exclaimed several. + +For a few minutes it looked as though there might be a small revolution +among the revolutionists, but Don Carlos was equal to the occasion and +announced that no one had to go who did not want to. + +“Neither will they get any of the money,” he added. “Now then, all who +do not wish to go may return to the trenches.” + +No one made a move, although there was considerable muttering. + +“Now that this matter is settled,” said Don Carlos, “I will go and get +my final instructions. I’ll be back soon.” + +“We seem to be getting pretty close to the facts,” said Donald as Don +Carlos left. “If we can only get some names we shall have all the +information we need.” + +“We shall get those after we get a little better acquainted,” said +Adrian, and he proceeded to make friends with the members of the band as +best he could. + +Perceiving that this was the proper thing to do, Donald and Billie also +began to get better acquainted and were making good progress when Don +Carlos returned, accompanied by two companions, which brought the number +up to twenty. + +“Attention!” he called as soon as he entered the cantina. + +The order was obeyed, although not in a very soldierly manner. + +“The expedition is to leave for the American side in twos and threes,” +he explained, “and we are to meet at Alamita at eight o’clock tomorrow +night. If any are captured, they are to allow themselves to be +imprisoned without protest. No matter what happens, keep your orders +secret. You understand?” + +“_Bueno!_” was the unanimous reply. + +“Then go!” ordered Don Carlos, and he stepped aside to allow the men to +pass out. + +“Stop!” exclaimed a voice from the rear of the cantina. “One thing you +have forgotten!” + +The boys, along with the others, turned at the sound of the voice and +there in a rear door stood Don Rafael. + +“Great Scott!” exclaimed Billie. “This is no place for me!” and he made +a bolt for the door, followed by Adrian and Donald. + +“Stop them,” cried Don Rafael, who recognized them at the same instant +they recognized him. “They are spies!” + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +BESIEGED BY REVOLUTIONISTS. + + +At the cry of spies all was confusion, and the revolutionists, with loud +imprecations, sprang forward to seize the accused. + +But quick as were the Mexicans, the Broncho Rider Boys were quicker! +Evading the outstretched hands which would hold them, the boys dashed +for the door, striking right and left at all who came within reach. + +“Look out for the knives and use your fists,” cried Donald, as he +planted a well directed blow on the point of Don Carlos’ chin, which +laid that enthusiastic revolutionist low. + +Billie and Adrian followed suit, and the two nearest them went down +under their attack. + +Another bound and they had reached the door. + +“Shoot them,” cried Don Rafael. “They are friends of Gen. Sanchez!” + +He drew his revolver and would have fired, had not the man nearest him +knocked his revolver from his hand. + +“You’ll hit our own men,” he said. “Who are you anyway?” + +“I’ll show you who I am,” replied Don Rafael, beside himself with rage. +“Take that!” and he aimed a blow at the man, which not only knocked the +man down, but caused Don Rafael to nurse his fist with pain. + +And now the boys are in the street and the whole band is after them, +shouting and firing their revolvers indiscriminately. + +Ordinarily such an affair would have created great excitement, but with +firing in progress all about the city, it only attracted a few old men +and boys, who joined in the pursuit. + +“Get off the plaza,” cried Adrian. “Get into the dark!” + +“Can’t we get our horses?” gasped Billie. + +“No!” replied Donald as they ran. “Never mind the horses! Look for some +place where we can hide.” + +They darted down the first street which seemed to offer a refuge, with +the whole band in hot pursuit. + +“They’re gaining on us,” said Billie. “Let’s turn another corner!” + +This they did and still another, but were unable to shake off their +pursuers, who seemed to increase in numbers. + +“In here!” at last cried Donald, as he noticed the door of a house +standing partly open. “In here and shut the door!” + +Suiting the action to the word, he darted in. The others followed, +slamming the door behind them. + +It was not a moment too soon, for the next instant the crowd came around +the corner and passed down the street, thinking the boys still ahead. + +It was pitch dark in the room into which they had stumbled, but Donald +produced his electric light and they took a hasty survey of their +surroundings. + +“Here’s a candle,” he said. “We’d better light it and save our +electricity.” + +This they did, and as the dim light gave them a better view of the +entire place they were all struck with its familiar appearance. + +“It seems to me as though I had been in here before some time,” said +Billie. + +“Me too,” declared Adrian, and he looked about more carefully. + +“I’ve got it!” exclaimed Billie. “It’s Villa’s house!” + +“By George, you’re right,” said Adrian. “I wonder where he is?” + +“It don’t look as though anyone had been here since we were,” said +Billie. + +“Maybe there hasn’t,” replied Donald. “This surely is a queer mess we +have fallen into.” + +The noise of a great commotion in the street and the sound of pounding +on doors came to them through the grated window. + +“The mob is returning!” said Adrian. + +“What do you suppose the pounding is?” queried Billie. + +“I should say they were breaking into the houses along the street,” said +Donald. + +“That is just what they are doing,” asserted Adrian. “Looking for us, no +doubt.” + +“We’d better barricade the door,” exclaimed Donald, and he grabbed the +bed and pushed it against the door, while Billie pushed up the table. + +“Not much to barricade with,” remarked Adrian and he piled up the +chairs. + +The work had hardly been completed when there was a knocking on the +door. + +The boys made no response. + +“Open!” cried a voice, “in the name of the law, open the door!” + +Still the boys made no reply; but they made ready to use their weapons +if necessity demanded. + +Then came blows upon the door, evidently from an ax, and in a moment the +lock was shattered. + +“It’s time to give them warning,” said Donald. “Fire through the first +opening they make.” + +The very next blow made the opening desired and three shots rang out. +They were followed by screams from the street and the hammering ceased. + +“They’ve found out that there is some one here, anyway,” said Billie. “I +wonder what they’ll do next?” + +A volley from without was his answer, but the shots were all high and no +damage was done. The boys did not wait for a second volley, but jumped +around to each side of the door, out of range. + +Evidently believing that the shots had taken effect, the besiegers +renewed their attack; but at the first blow the boys reached around and +delivered their fire. + +There was no answering shout to tell that the shots had taken effect, +but the hammering ceased and a second later there was another volley. + +“They are simply wasting their ammunition,” said Donald. “As long as we +stay away from in front of the door they cannot possibly hit us.” + +“They might batter the house down though,” said Adrian. “I wonder if +there isn’t some way of escaping by the rear.” + +“Suppose you go and look,” said Donald. + +“I’ll go,” exclaimed Billie. “My experience in the smugglers’ cave has +made me expert.” He dropped down on the floor and made his way on all +fours to the back of the room. + +There seemed to be but one entrance to the room and that was from the +street. The entrance into the patio, which might have been expected, +being lacking. + +“I wonder why that is,” thought Billie. “All the Mexican houses I have +ever seen opened into a patio.” + +The patio is the little court around which Mexican houses are almost +invariably built. + +“Give me your electric light,” he at length said to Donald. “I am sure +there must be an opening somewhere.” + +Donald did as requested and Billie on all fours went carefully round the +room, looking for a possible door. + +“Here’s the place,” he finally exclaimed, “but the door has been walled +up.” Then a moment later: “Hello, what’s this? A trap door.” + +Quickly he brushed away the sand with which the floor had been covered, +as is the Mexican custom, and the outlines of a door were plainly +visible; but there seemed no way of raising it. Several times he passed +his hand over the door, if perchance he could find a knob or a secret +bolt, but in vain! + +“I’ll have to pry it open with my hunting knife,” he finally exclaimed +and began digging away with all his might. + +“Are you sure it’s a door?” asked Donald, crawling over to where Billie +was at work. + +“Sure! Can’t you see?” + +“It surely is,” said Donald. “Here, let me hold the light, while you get +a good purchase with the knife.” + +Billie handed over the electric light and gave the knife a vicious dig +into the crack between the door and the surrounding floor. At the same +time the besiegers struck the street door a terrific blow with the end +of a steel rail which had been brought up from the railroad camp. + +Just exactly what happened, Billie was at first unable to realize. All +he knew was that the trap door, upon which he was leaning with one hand, +had given way beneath him, and he was falling head first down a flight +of stairs. + +Picking himself up as soon as he struck bottom, which was not more than +six feet, he started to ascend the stairs, but at the second step his +head came into contact with the floor. + +The trap door had flown back into its place. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +BILLIE SOLVES A MYSTERY. + + +“Ouch!” exclaimed Billie, as his head came into contact with the door. +“I wonder what——” and then he stopped and listened. + +Overhead he could hear the sound of stamping feet and the sound of +shots. After a couple of minutes there was silence, which was more +ominous than the sound of fighting. + +For a moment Billie’s heart fairly stopped beating with fear for what +might have happened to his companions. Had they been killed or simply +overpowered? What was he to do? + +Even while these thoughts flashed through his mind the silence was +broken by voices, and above all the others he could hear that of Don +Rafael, which he had now come to recognize. + +“Bring them out into the light where I can get a good look at them,” he +ordered. “The gringo curs! We’ll have a nice little shooting party at +daylight that will make them an example for others who want to spy upon +Mexican patriots!” + +“Patriots!” thought Billie. “If they are patriots, I’m sorry for +Mexico.” + +“Where is the other one?” he heard Don Rafael ask a minute later. + +“These are the only two,” was the reply. + +“Where is your comrade?” he heard Don Rafael ask, and Billie’s heart +gave a great leap for joy as Donald’s voice replied: + +“Don’t you wish you knew?” + +“Answer,” commanded Don Rafael. + +To which Billie heard Adrian say: “You’ll find out soon enough where he +is!” + +“_Caramba!_” almost shouted Don Rafael. “If you don’t answer at once +I’ll shoot you now instead of waiting till daylight.” + +“Do,” replied Adrian, “and it will make it just that much worse for +you!” + +Evidently Don Rafael must have been somewhat impressed by what Adrian +said, for he did not shoot. Instead he commanded to bring more lights +and search the place. + +But there was nothing to be seen but the empty room, the scuffle having +obliterated all signs of the trap door. + +“Whose house is this?” Don Rafael at length asked. + +“Pancho Villa’s,” replied one of the men. + +“Villa’s!” cried Don Rafael. “Villa’s! May the saints protect us! Let us +go at once!” + +A minute later Billie heard the retreating footsteps overhead and a +couple of minutes later all was again still. + +“I wonder what there is about Villa to scare Don Rafael in that way,” he +thought. “The last I knew, he was trying to get Villa to join the +revolution.” + +It was too big a problem for Billie, and so instead of bothering about +it he began to figure how he was going to get out. + +“If the door could open to let me in,” he said aloud to himself, “it can +open to let me out.” + +“You are right!” replied a voice in Spanish from somewhere out of the +darkness. + +To say that Billie was not startled by the voice would be rather a +strong statement, for brave as he was, such a happening tended to send +several creepy chills up his back. He had retained his hold upon his +knife as he fell, and his clasp upon it tightened considerably as he +asked with all the courage he could command: + +“Who are you and how do you know?” + +“I know because I fixed it to open. I will leave you to guess who I am.” + +In an instant it flashed into Billie’s mind who it was that was speaking +to him, and he replied with a good deal more assurance: + +“There is but one person who could have made and used it! You are Pancho +Villa.” + +“_Bueno!_” was the reply. + +“Well then,” asked Billie, “will you kindly show me how to get out?” + +“Yes, if you will tell no one I am here.” + +“It’s a bargain,” said Billie. + +A moment later there was a sound of a match being lighted and the cellar +was illumined by a faint gleam of light, which grew larger as the light +was applied to the wick of a candle. By this light Billie saw he was in +a cellar the same size as the room above and that his companion was +lying on a bed in one corner of the cellar. + +“What’s the matter?” asked Billie. “Are you sick?” + +“I have been wounded,” was the reply. + +“When?” + +“The night you boys visited me.” + +“By whom?” + +“I am not sure, but I think it was Don Rafael Solis.” + +“That must have been the shot we heard as we were leaving that night!” + +“Yes!” + +“How are you now?” + +“I was going to leave here tomorrow. I am afraid there is going to be an +uprising against President Madero very soon.” + +“What!” asked Billie. “Didn’t you know it had already broken out? Why, +they are fighting all around here right now.” + +Villa sprang to his feet, entirely forgetful of the wound in his side. + +“Do you mean to tell me,” he said, “that a revolution has already +begun?” + +“Exactly!” + +“Who started it?” + +“Gen. Felix Diaz, they say. Up here, the garrison has joined the +revolution. Gen. Sanchez was on his way to take command when the +revolution broke out. He failed to reach here in time. He is now +attacking the city with a thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry.” + +“Who is in command of the revolutionists?” + +“I do not know for sure; but one of the chief actors is called Don +Carlos, while Don Rafael seems to have a lot to say.” + +For several minutes Villa stood silent, turning the matter over in his +mind and seemingly undecided as to the course he should pursue. Then he +suddenly straightened himself and looked Billie squarely in the eye. + +“The revolution is wrong,” he said. “President Madero is the friend of +the peon. I shall stick to him no matter what happens. Come, it is time +I was acting.” + +He took a step up the stairs and by the light of the candle drew back a +bolt and opened the trap door. Then he stood aside for Billie to pass. + +Arriving in the room above they stopped and surveyed the wreck. The +rail, with which the door had been battered in, was where it had fallen +and confusion reigned. + +“Where are you going?” asked Billie after a moment. + +“To join Gen. Sanchez. Why?” + +“Because something has got to be done between now and daylight to save +my companions!” + +“_Bueno!_” exclaimed Villa. “They shall be saved!” + +“How?” + +“I will explain later! No friend of Santiago shall suffer for trying to +do me a kindness. And, besides,” he added after a moment, “I owe Don +Rafael one for this.” + +He placed his hand on his wound and a look of fierce determination +passed over his face. + +“How did it happen?” asked Billie, no longer able to restrain his +curiosity. + +“He tried to assassinate me and would have succeeded had I not had the +trap door to hide me. I think my sudden disappearance must have +frightened him. That is why he was frightened again tonight when he +found he was in my home. He must think that the place is guarded by an +evil spirit.” + +“It seems more like a good spirit to me,” declared Billie, “but let us +hasten to Gen. Sanchez! I cannot rest easy till my companions have been +rescued.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +LOST IN THE CHAPARRAL. + + +An hour later Billie and Pancho Villa stood before Gen. Sanchez. It was +then ten o’clock and the sun would arise shortly before five. Neither +Billie nor Villa had any doubt that Don Rafael would carry out his +threat to execute the two young Americans. It was in keeping with his +previous actions and with the so-called laws of the revolution. + +They had encountered some difficulty in getting through the city lines, +but Villa was equal to the occasion and they reached the Federal pickets +in safety. Here they gave their names and were quickly escorted to Gen. +Sanchez’s headquarters. + +The general had lain down to take a few minutes’ sleep, but had left +word to be awakened if anything was heard from the boys. + +Briefly Billie told his story. + +“What can be done to save my friends?” he asked. + +Gen. Sanchez looked grave. + +“It is a hard problem,” he replied. “We have been trying all day to +force our way into the city, but have not yet succeeded, as you know. It +seems hardly possible that we should be able to carry the lines between +now and dawn.” + +“Still there is a way,” said Villa. + +The general regarded him with considerable surprise. + +“How?” he asked. + +“By the bed of the river.” + +“What do you mean?” + +“The river,” explained Pancho, “runs right beside the walls of the +barracks. The water on this side is not so deep but that it is possible +for men to march right up to the walls of the barracks, if they know the +channel. I know it. If I had a hundred men who were not afraid I could +carry the barracks. + +“But,” he continued, “in order to lead this force to the barracks +unobserved, it would be necessary for you first to attack the city from +the opposite side. While the fighting is going on fiercely over there +and the revolutionists are striving to prevent you from entering the +city on the east, I will lead this hundred men into the barracks. As +soon as we have rescued the Americans we will attack the revolutionists +in the rear! You know what the result will be?” + +“Undoubtedly!” + +“Then you agree?” + +“Yes; but I hardly know how to withdraw a hundred men from any one place +on our attacking line. Our force is small as it is.” + +“I wish some of the rangers were over here,” exclaimed Billie. “They’d +help, I know.” + +“Yes,” replied Gen. Sanchez, “but that is impossible. If any American +soldiers were to help us it would be almost as bad at this particular +time as though they helped the other side. We shall have to do the best +we can. I will promise you fifty, and a hundred if possible. Return at +3:30 o’clock and I will give the order.” + +“I need a hundred men,” declared Villa as he and Billie left the +general’s presence, “and I don’t see how I can do with less.” + +“I’ll tell you!” suddenly exclaimed Billie. “Maybe the rangers cannot +come as rangers to help rescue Donald and Adrian, but they can come as +friends of mine and I believe they will. I have at least five hours to +get across the river and bring them back. I am going to try. It is the +only way. I wonder if we can find a horse!” + +“_Cierto!_” replied Villa. “We’ll take the first good one we see!” + +This they did, and ten minutes later Billie was again headed for the +American shore. + +Billie had been over the ground between Presidio and Presidio del Norte +so many times that he thought he knew it perfectly, and as a result, +although the night was dark, he put spurs to his mount and was quickly +beyond the Federal outposts. + +But the horse Billie was riding was not Jupiter. He was undoubtedly a +good horse, as the speed at which he went fully testified. But it is one +thing to have a horse that understands English and another to have one +that understands only Mexican, as Billie soon discovered. + +The horse which Billie had mounted at Pancho’s suggestion was Mexican +clear through. He had never been across the Rio Grande, nor had he the +slightest knowledge of the ground over which he was running. He had come +from the south only twenty-four hours before, and, despite all that +Billie could do, he insisted in bearing away from the river. Time and +again Billie forced him back into the right direction, as he thought, +but after half an hour’s hard riding, which should have brought him to +the spot where the boys had landed from the boat, there was no river in +sight. + +“By George!” exclaimed Billie aloud, as he finally drew rein and peered +into the darkness, “I wonder where that river has gone to. It ought to +be around here somewhere!” + +He turned his horse sharply to the left and for several minutes rode +slowly along, looking all about his narrow horizon. + +“Don’t you know where you are?” he asked of the horse; but not +understanding English, there was no answering movement of the animal’s +ears and no sense of that companionship which a horseman should feel +from his mount. + +“If I’d had Jupiter under me I wouldn’t be in this fix!” thought Billie, +and for a brief moment he was almost overcome with a sense of +loneliness. + +But there was no time to waste. The lives of his companions depended +upon his success, and he hastily pulled himself together and spurred +forward. + +For another five minutes he galloped along, when all at once his horse +went down upon his knees and only the saddle kept Billie from going over +his head. + +Quickly gathering himself, he tried his best with the reins to lift the +animal to his feet; but his efforts were in vain and he was obliged to +dismount. + +One look at the ground beneath his feet was sufficient. He had ridden +into the midst of a prairie dog village and his horse had fallen into +one of the holes. + +After some minutes, Billie succeeded in getting the animal on his feet; +but when he mounted and started to ride, he found that the broncho was +so lame he could scarcely move. + +While the accident was unfortunate in one way, it was a good thing in +another. It served as a landmark to tell Billie where he was—for the +very first day the boys had arrived on the Rio Grande they had noticed +it and Billie was sure that it was the only dog village for miles. + +“I must be about two miles from Don Pablo’s,” he mused. “That makes me +fully six miles from the city and with this lame pony I don’t know how +long it will take me to get there! I wish I could get hold of one of old +Don Pablo’s mules.” + +He gave the broncho a slap with the reata, not having the heart to use +his spurs. The animal tried to go a bit faster, but the effort was a +failure. + +“I can walk faster than this,” was the lad’s next thought and without a +moment’s hesitation he threw himself from the horse and started in the +direction of the river on a run. + +“If I can only find that river,” he muttered as he sped along. “I’ll +stick close to it until I reach town. It can’t be so very far away!” + +Billie was a good runner and he had learned in his months of experience +on the plains how to run so as not to tire himself. It was vastly +different from running along a beaten path, or even along a regular +trail. The ground was covered with sand hummocks, and every once in a +while he would run into a patch of sand so deep that it was impossible +to do more than walk. + +After some minutes Billie struck a belt of chaparral. + +“Well!” he gasped, “this is encouraging, anyway. I am getting nearer the +river.” + +Through the brush he ran and finally, to his great delight, he emerged +into a beaten path. + +“Now I’m all right,” he thought. “This will lead me right down to the +shore.” + +Encouraged by the thought, he put on more steam and spurted ahead; but +when, after five minutes’ running, he failed to come to the water, he +stopped and looked around. + +“I must be going in the wrong direction,” he exclaimed, and turning, +began to retrace his tracks. + +For nearly ten minutes he kept on his course and then again stopped, +pretty well tired out. + +“This is something fierce!” he said aloud. “I’m in as bad a fix as that +chap you read about in mythology, who was lost in a labyrinth. I used to +think that was a pretty fishy story, but here I find myself in the same +fix. I wish the stars would come out!” + +But the stars failed to appear and Billie stood perplexed. + +As he stood thus undecided, his ears caught the sound of a strange +little cough and a smile spread itself over his face. + +“The prairie dogs are barking at the pinto,” he laughed. “Well, anyway, +I know where I am as far as they are concerned. I must have gone pretty +nearly in a circle. That wouldn’t be strange for me, but why should this +path go in a circle?” + +He took off his sombrero and wiped the sweat from his forehead. + +“It’s mighty funny,” he continued, still thinking of the path. + +Then an explanation came to him. + +“It isn’t a circle!” he exclaimed. “It’s a loop and I would have gone +straight across it if I had kept on the way I was going when I first +struck it. There must be a bend in the river down here somewhere.” + +Billie’s surmise was quite correct. It was a bend in the river, and in a +few minutes more, pushing straight through the chaparral, he came in +sight of the water. + +“Well!” declared the lad as he drew a deep breath, “I’m certainly glad +to see you! And now to get to the other side.” + +He sprang down the bank in three long strides and peered out toward the +American shore. It seemed a long way and the water was running at a good +speed. + +“What a fool I was not to stick to the broncho,” he muttered. “If he +couldn’t walk, he could swim. If I was sure he was still there I’d go +back and get him; but that’s altogether unlikely. No sir, I’ve just got +to swim it alone and the sooner the better.” + +He threw off his jacket and began to unbuckle his cartridge belt. + +“If I could only find a log of some kind, it wouldn’t be so bad; but I +don’t see any.” + +He took a few steps along the shore, peering into the darkness, as he +rolled his belt about his six-shooter and deposited them in his hat. + +Then he turned again to the water, and, throwing off his boots—which +together with his jacket he tossed up on the bank, as if perchance he +might come back for them on the morrow—he waded in. + +He had reached deep water, and was just about to strike out for the +opposite shore, when his ear caught the sound of oar-locks. He paused in +the act of launching himself into the current, and listened attentively. +There was no mistaking the sound, and he waited anxiously to see what +would appear. + +He had not long to wait, for a couple of minutes later a batteau, very +much like the one the rangers had captured the night before, came into +sight, rowing slowly upstream. It contained three persons, two at the +oars and the third standing in the bow of the boat, looking forward. + +Billie sank himself into the water until nothing could be seen below his +eyes. There was only one chance in fifty that he would escape detection, +but he was in luck, and, as soon as the boat passed him, he struck out +for it with all his speed. + +Good swimmer though he was, he would never have been able to catch the +boat had the men been rowing with any speed; but they were evidently +looking for something, and were going so slowly that it was no trick at +all to swim up behind and seize the stern with both hands. + +For several minutes after he had secured a hold he made no move, being +content to let the boat tow him along; but, after a few minutes, he +began silently to use his feet and legs and to turn the boat’s head +toward the American shore. + +At first the oarsmen did not notice what was happening. Then the one on +the American side of the boat exclaimed: + +“_Caramba, hombre!_ Don’t pull so hard! Can’t you see you are pulling us +out of our course?” + +“Yes,” echoed the man in the bow, “don’t get too near the American shore +tonight. We may be watched.” + +“I’m not pulling hard,” replied the other oarsman. “It’s Emilio who is +weak. If he would pull harder, there’d be no trouble!” + +Hearing the controversy, Billie sank lower into the water, and let the +boat hold its course. Then, after a couple of minutes, he again diverted +the little craft, being more careful, however, to do it gradually. + +Several times he performed the feat, until the boat was past the middle +of the stream. + +“I guess I’m near enough now,” he thought to himself, “so I won’t have +any trouble,” and was about to release his hold and let the boat go on +her way, when the man at the bow called out sharply: + +“Where are you going? Do you want the gringo patrol to get you?” + +The words were spoken in a much louder tone, evidently, than had been +intended, and must have been heard from the American shore, for +immediately thereafter there came a challenge in English: + +“Boat ahoy! Who goes there?” + +There was no answer from the boat, only an answering tug from the +oarsman, who pulled lustily to turn his boat from shore, while Billie, +using himself as a rudder, strove his best to keep the boat in an +opposite direction. The result was that the boat kept straight ahead. + +“Who goes there?” again came the challenge. “Answer, or I’ll fire!” A +threat which was carried out a moment later when no reply was +forthcoming. + +The patrol must have caught a glimpse of the boat, for the bullet +whistled through the air close to it. + +“_Caramba!_” shouted the man in the bow. “Why don’t you pull?” + +“We are pulling!” exclaimed the oarsmen, “but the evil one must have the +boat in his grasp, Don Pablo! We can’t turn it!” + +“Don Pablo!” exclaimed Billie to himself, “so that’s who it is!” And he +struggled harder than ever to turn the boat toward the shore, while the +patrol, evidently reinforced by two or three comrades, poured a sharp +fusillade in the direction of the sound of the voices. + +“The evil one, verdad!” exclaimed Don Pablo. “The evil one must have +hold of you, Emilio. Pull!” + +But, instead of pulling, Emilio dropped his oar and pitched forward into +the boat, pierced by a rifle ball from the shore patrol, which now +seemed to have the range of the boat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE FIGHT IN MIDSTREAM. + + +As the bullets whizzed overhead and all about the boat, and as Billie +saw the oarsman pitch forward, he had two thoughts in his mind—one to +keep from being hit by the bullets, and the other to capture Don Pablo, +whom he considered as the real leader of the gun runners. + +It took some quick thinking to know what to do, but Billie was learning +how to do that very thing. + +Seizing the oar which had fallen from Emilio’s hand, he dragged it out +of the rowlocks, at the same time calling out with all his might: + +“Cease firing!” + +The command, given in excellent English, had its effect upon the +soldiers on the shore. The firing ceased, and a voice called out: + +“Who are you?” + +“I’m a messenger from Americans who are in danger in Presidio del +Norte,” replied Billie; “but there are Mexicans in the boat. You have +hit one of them, and I’ve captured the boat!” + +“Then bring the boat ashore,” called the patrol. + +“I can’t!” + +“Why not?” + +“They won’t let me!” + +“I thought you said you had captured the boat!” + +“So I have,” replied Billie, “but I haven’t captured the Mexicans!” + +“No,” shouted Don Pablo, who was now slowly making his way toward the +stern of the boat, “nor will you. Your hour has come!” + +“Don’t be so sure!” called the voice from the shore, and a shot rang +out, which came so close that Billie could hear it sing above his head. +Don Pablo ducked into the bottom of the boat, as though to dodge a +bullet which was already yards away. + +“Did I hit him?” called the patrol. + +“No, but you came pretty close,” replied Billie. “But you hadn’t better +try it again. You might hit me. I’m in the water.” + +“What, swimming?” + +“Yes! I’ve got hold of the stern of the boat; but I’ve got to let go,” +he added hastily, as he saw Don Pablo again rise to his feet. + +“What for?” + +“They’ll get me!” + +“If we fire high enough can’t we keep ’em down till you can push the +boat to shore?” asked the patrol. + +“You might try it!” + +And they did, with the result that Don Pablo again ducked to the bottom +of the _batteau_, while Billie worked with all his might to push the +boat toward shore. + +It is one thing to swing a boat under headway, and another to push a +boat of the size of the _batteau_ even obliquely against a current. Thus +it was that, while Billie had been talking, the boat had slowly drifted +downstream and the patrol had been obliged to run along the bank. + +“I’m afraid I can’t do it!” Billie finally shouted. “I guess I’ll have +to give up!” + +“Don’t,” called back the soldiers. “Hang on and we’ll come out after +you. One of the boys has gone for a boat.” + +“All right,” called Billie. “Hurry up!” + +“If they don’t,” muttered the lad, “I’ll have to give up.” + +Then he thought of his mission, which had momentarily been driven from +his mind by the excitement. + +“I can’t give up,” he thought. “I must get into the boat.” + +Holding on to the gunwale with one hand, he reached up and took his +six-shooter from under his hat, letting both the hat and cartridge belt +fall into the river. Then, as the shots continued to fly over the boat, +he slowly pulled himself aboard, at the same time calling out to those +on shore: + +“Cease firing! I’ve boarded her!” + +Having boarded the _batteau_, the next thing for Billie was to make +himself master of the craft, an act which he at once recognized was +somewhat difficult, seeing it was two to one, and at least one of the +two was probably just as well or better armed than he. + +However, there was no backing out, nor had our hero any idea of such a +thing. He knew if he would succeed in the mission which he had +undertaken there must be no such word as fail. Therefore, the first +weapon at hand was strategy, and strategy Billie at once employed by +putting himself in a position where the oarsman served as a shield for +any bullet Don Pablo might see fit to fire at him. + +This was comparatively easy, as Don Pablo, in his endeavor to get at +Billie, had left the bow of the boat and gone astern, while Billie had +executed a flank movement by swimming around and boarding the craft from +the bow. This put the oarsman between him and Don Pablo, with his face +toward the latter. + +At the sound of the lad’s voice, the oarsman arose and turned his head +to see what had happened. + +“'Bout face!” exclaimed Billie, covering the man with his Colt. “If you +move I’ll fire!” + +The oarsman turned his face quickly, only to find himself looking into +the muzzle of Don Pablo’s revolver, that nimble old gentleman having +arisen from the bottom of the boat as soon as the firing on shore had +ceased, with the intention of taking a shot at Billie before he could +put himself on the offensive. + +Finding himself thus between two fires, the oarsman let out a yell that +would have done credit to a bunch of football players. + +“Don’t shoot!” he cried. “For the love of the saints, don’t shoot, Don +Pablo! You will hit me instead of the gringo!” + +“Sit down!” commanded Don Pablo. + +“Don’t you dare,” countermanded Billie, “unless you want a bullet in +your back!” + +“I’ll shoot you if you don’t,” said Don Pablo. + +“I’ll shoot you if you do,” declared Billie. + +“Mercy! Mercy! _Señores!_” cried the oarsman. “I have done nothing for +which I should be shot.” + +“You are protecting the gringo!” said Don Pablo. + +“You are protecting Don Pablo!” repeated Billie, who, now that he had +shaken the water out of his eyes and had secured a firm footing, could +fully appreciate the strange condition of affairs. + +If Don Pablo should carry out his threat to shoot the man, he would +leave himself at Billie’s mercy. Should Billie shoot first, and his +bullet fail to reach Don Pablo, he would be at the mercy of the Mexican. + +But Billie seemed to have the best of the situation, for all he wished +to do was to hold Don Pablo at bay until the boat from the American +shore should come to his rescue. As a result he was satisfied to let +matters remain as they were. Especially did he feel that he had the +better of the situation when he heard the sound of oar-locks from out +the darkness. + +“You won’t have to stand long,” he said to the oarsman, “I hear them +coming after us. As soon as they arrive you can sit down.” + +“They shall never get us!” exclaimed Don Pablo. “I’ll die first!” and he +pulled the trigger of his revolver. + +Had the old man fired without speaking, there is no knowing what damage +he might have done; but, from his words, Billie guessed exactly what he +proposed to do, and ere Don Pablo could pull the trigger, he rocked the +boat. As might have been expected, the shot flew wild, as Don Pablo +sought to maintain his balance. + +“Now I’ve got you,” said Billie. “Surrender or I’ll fire.” + +Almost at the same instant the form of another _batteau_ loomed up in +the darkness, and a voice exclaimed in Spanish: + +“Look out! There’s a boat ahead!” + +The cry was followed by a wild attempt of those in the oncoming boat to +check its progress; but the effort was in vain and the two boats came +together with such force as to cause Billie to lose his balance. He made +a vain attempt to regain his equilibrium, but without avail, and so, in +order to make the best of a bad situation, he plunged, rather than fell, +into the river. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +BILLIE OVERHEARS A SECRET. + + +It might have been expected that, as Billie plunged into the water, his +chief thought would have been regarding his safety. But such is the +vagary of the human mind, that safety was the least of his thoughts. The +question he asked himself as he dove from the boat was: + +“Now, who do you suppose they are, and where did they come from?” + +In order to answer the question it is necessary to make a word of +explanation. + +As stated before, the _batteau_ to which Billie was clinging had +gradually drifted downstream, even while he was shouting his story to +the patrol. After Billie climbed into the boat, and ceased his effort to +direct its course, it drifted even more rapidly than before. The result +was that, when struck by the other boat, it had drifted back nearly to +the bend in the river where Billie first took to the water. + +When Billie arose to the surface, after his dive, he looked about to see +what had become of the boats. There they were, not twenty feet away, +side by side! One might have thought they had met on purpose, rather +than by chance, so friendly was their appearance. + +And this was exactly the case, although that purpose came very near +being thwarted by Billie’s activity. + +“Well,” thought Billie, as he shook the water from his eyes, “seeing +that I am here, I might as well find out what is going on.” + +Slowly he approached the boats, and now that he was bareheaded, he could +not be distinguished from the water. + +“He must be somewhere around,” he heard one voice declare. + +“Unless he has been drowned,” suggested another. + +“No such good fortune,” said a third, which Billie recognized as +belonging to Don Pablo. + +“Do you know who he was?” asked another voice, this in English. + +“He said he was a messenger,” replied Don Pablo, also in English. “He +said something about going for help for some Americans who are in +danger.” + +“There are plenty of them in danger, for that matter,” replied the +voice, “but they are not likely to get any help from him, whoever he +was. If he didn’t drown, he has probably made for the shore. I don’t see +any use of our worrying about him any longer.” + +“He may be clinging to the boats, as he did before,” said Don Pablo. + +“We can soon find out,” was the answer. “You look all around my boat, +and I’ll look around yours.” + +The oarsmen slowly swung both boats, so that those in one could obtain a +view of the other. There was no Billie in sight, and each speaker so +reported. But, in spite of the report, Billie was right there, just the +same. + +Any boy who can tread water knows how easy it is to stand still, and, +with little or no effort, allow a boat to which he might have attached +himself to turn, without turning with it. That is just what Billie did. +He practically went clear around the boat without moving. The boat did +the moving instead. + +Having satisfied themselves that they were alone in the middle of the +river, the occupants of the boats drew them close together, and began an +animated conversation in English, so that the oarsmen could not +understand. + +“What was all that shooting going on upstream?” asked the newcomer. + +“It was the patrol. The American drew their fire,” was Don Pablo’s +response. “They pretty nearly finished Emilio.” + +“No great loss,” muttered the other. + +“Not to you,” replied Don Pablo bitterly. “You foreigners seem to think +that a Mexican more or less is a small matter.” + +“Oh, come now, Don Pablo,” replied his companion, in a changed tone of +voice, “don’t get a wrong impression. There is a whole lot of difference +between Mexicans. You know as well as I do that a peon more or less +makes little difference, even to you. Men like you are the real support +and strength of Mexico.” + +“Whether they are or not makes little difference. But now to the matter +we came here to discuss: How much will you give me if I bring about an +invasion of American territory by our people?” + +“Who do you mean by our people?” + +“I mean the Mexicans.” + +“There are two kinds of Mexicans since this morning,” was the reply. + +“How so?” + +“There are now Maderists and revolutionists,” said the newcomer. “I +wouldn’t give you five cents to bring about an invasion by the +revolutionists.” + +“Why not?” + +“Because they are not the government.” + +“Not yet!” said Don Pablo. + +“When they become the government it will be time to discuss them,” was +the curt reply. + +“Then what do you want?” asked Don Pablo. + +“This is what I want,” said the other. “I want you to bring about some +action that will cause the United States to intervene in Mexican +affairs.” + +“For what purpose?” + +“So that our property in Chihuahua will be protected. There will never +be a real government in Mexico until the United States makes it. If your +revolution——” + +“Sh-h-h!” exclaimed Don Pablo. “These peons might understand.” + +“What do you care? It is your revolution, isn’t it?” + +“No! No! It is the people who have arisen.” + +“All right. Have it your own way; but whose ever revolution it is, if it +succeeds in bringing about intervention by the United States, the +purpose will be accomplished and you will be well paid. If this +revolution fails to bring about the result, then we must keep having +revolutions till we do succeed. Do you understand?” + +“Perfectly.” + +“We will furnish the money. You do the rest.” + +“We!” thought Billie to himself, as he followed the conversation. “I +wonder who we are?” + +Then again, after a moment’s thought: “Great Scott! This must be the +party whom Lieut. Grant wanted us to locate. Don Pablo and Don Rafael +are only tools. This man is the real power. How am I going to land him?” + +While he was still turning the matter over in his mind, he heard the +stranger say: + +“Here are drafts on the Bank of England for ten thousand pounds. See +that the money is used to the best advantage if you ever expect any +more. You’ll hear from me when I want to see you again.” + +Then to his oarsmen: “All right! Let’s go home!” + +Slowly the boats drew apart. For just a moment Billie was undecided +which one to follow. Evidently the visitor was the very man he had +started out to find, and yet, what would happen if he followed him? +Would anyone believe his story without some other evidence—evidence +which he did not have? But Don Pablo had the evidence—the drafts on the +Bank of England. Those were what he needed and those he must have. + +Without a moment’s hesitation he turned and grasped the stern of Don +Pablo’s boat, which was slowly moving away under the power of only one +oar. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +HUSTLING FOR EVIDENCE. + + +After what seemed an age to Billie, although the time actually consumed +could not have been more than fifteen minutes, the boat reached the +shore at a spot with which he was most familiar. It was the end of the +trail leading from the river to Don Pablo’s _hacienda_. + +As soon as the boat touched the beach, Don Pablo sprang ashore and +pulled it up onto the land and made it fast to a post. The oarsman +followed more slowly, while Billie remained in the water until both men +started up the trail. + +Then he came ashore and silently followed after. He was barefooted and +bareheaded. He was wet through and had no weapon; still he was +undaunted. + +He kept as close to the two men as he dared, fearing he might lose sight +of them in the dark. He had no idea of what time it was, but figured +that he must have been away from General Sanchez’ headquarters at least +three hours. This gave him only three hours to finish his mission and +return. His heart sank, as he thought what might happen in case he +should fail, and a great sob welled up in his throat, as the faces of +his chums came to his thoughts. + +“I can’t fail!” he declared to himself. “I have just got to win.” + +The men ahead of him walked rapidly, and in a comparatively short time +reached the _hacienda_. Billie remembered it well—every spot he had +noticed upon his first visit to the _hacienda_ had impressed itself upon +his memory. + +Reaching the big gate, Don Pablo knocked lustily and the gate was +quickly opened. + +Here was Billie’s first real difficulty. How was he to enter? Once the +gate was shut, he knew it might take him hours to find a way in. +Something had to be done and done at once. + +Picking up a good-sized stone, Billie let it drive with all his might at +the boy who stood in the gateway holding the light. It was a good shot +and struck the boy on the shin. With a cry of pain he dropped the lamp +and grabbed the injured member. + +“_Caramba_, what is that?” exclaimed Don Pablo, as he drew his revolver. +“Are we attacked by thieves, or is the spirit of evil in the air?” + +“It is neither,” replied the boy who had been hit. “It must be Juanito +who threw the stone. He is jealous because I have a better place than +he.” + +“What is Juanito doing outside the _hacienda_ at this time of night?” +demanded Don Pablo. “Go bring him in, and do you, Luis,” turning to the +oarsman, “give him a good beating. Then take three men and go and bring +the body of Emilio to the _hacienda_.” + +As soon as he had thrown the stone Billie had glided quickly to the +adobe wall which surrounded the _hacienda_, and, as the boy and Luis +went in search of the supposed Juanito, and Don Pablo passed within the +gate, Billie darted in behind him and hid himself behind one of the +bushes which he remembered seeing in one corner of the _patio_. + +Stopping only for a moment to take a drink from a jar, which stood at +the foot of the stairs, Don Pablo ascended to the second floor. A moment +later, seeing that the way was clear, Billie followed, just in time to +see Don Pablo enter one of the rooms which opened out onto the great +corridor, for it must be said that the _casa_ of Don Pablo was a large +and handsome one. + +Having located the room, Billie sat down in the dark to wait. + +He did not have to wait long, for in a few minutes Luis and the boy +returned, much chagrined over their inability to locate little John. + +“What’s that?” asked Don Pablo, coming to the door in his shirt-sleeves, +“can’t you find him?” + +“No, _señor_,” was the reply. “It is too dark.” + +“Well, let him go until morning. Then give him a good beating.” + +“Who is that you are going to whip?” called a woman’s voice from +somewhere down below. + +“Juanito. He threw a stone and made us a lot of trouble.” + +“Why, he couldn’t,” replied the woman. “He is here with me and hasn’t +been out tonight.” + +“What,” queried Don Pablo, “hasn’t been out tonight? Then there is +something wrong! Quick, Luis, call some of the men and make a thorough +search.” + +The servant hastened to obey, while Don Pablo went back into his room. +Through the open door Billie saw him take an envelope from the pocket of +the coat which he had thrown over a chair and place it in the drawer of +a great secretary. Then, seizing his hat, he ran quickly downstairs, +closing the door behind him. + +“I thought I would stir things up,” mused Billie, as he crept silently +toward the room which Don Pablo had just vacated. “Now, if I can get +that envelope and get out of here while the men are hunting for me, I’ll +be all right!” + +Reaching the door, he waited until the voices below told him that the +men had gone out. Then he softly pushed open the door and entered. + +It was a larger room than he had thought from the glimpse he had from +without, but it lay just as he expected. Quickly he opened the drawer of +the secretary and took therefrom the envelope. By the light of the oil +lamp that hung from the ceiling he saw that it bore the name of a New +York bank and he had no doubt it contained the evidence he sought. + +He closed the drawer, and as he turned to leave the room caught sight of +Don Pablo’s cartridge belt and revolver hanging on the back of a chair. + +“I might need something like this,” he thought, and without a single +qualm of conscience he buckled the belt around him, drew out the +revolver, and loaded the empty chamber which Don Pablo had fired while +in the boat. + +With the revolver in his hand he was about to leave the room, when a +soft voice—a voice which he never could forget—said quietly: + +“Don’t you think, _señor_, that you are making yourself almost too much +at home?” + +At the sound of the voice, Billie turned as though shot. + +“Santiago!” he exclaimed. “Where did you come from?” + +If Billie had been surprised by the sound of the voice, Santiago was +even more surprised when he recognized the visitor. + +“Don Guillermo!” he cried. “Is it really you? I did not recognize you in +that attire!” + +“You mean in this lack of attire,” replied Billie quizzically, as he +regarded his bare feet and drabbled condition. + +“But why are you here?” asked Santiago. + +In just as few words as possible Billie explained. + +“And you have seen Pancho Villa?” queried Santiago. + +“Yes, and things are just as I tell you. Don Rafael and Don Pablo are +both enemies of Mexico. They are both working for their own advancement. +You know that a war with the United States is the last thing honest +Mexicans desire.” + +“Undoubtedly. And you think the possession of these drafts will aid you +in preventing it?” + +“Unquestionably,” was Billie’s emphatic reply. + +“Then go! I shall make no attempt to detain you, although I am powerless +right now to aid you. This shall be a part of the reward I promised you. +When you can come to me and tell me that Don Rafael is no more, you +shall have the rest. Now go, before the men return. They are a wild lot. +and now that the revolution has broken out, there is no controlling +them.” + +Billie started for the stairs; but, before he reached them, he could +hear the men coming in, grumbling at their ill luck and in finding no +one. + +“Wait,” said Santiago. “I will go down and attract their attention, so +that you may come down. Be careful.” + +Suiting the action to the word, Santiago ran quickly down the stairs, as +though just awakened. + +“What is all the trouble?” he asked. “Have the Maderists attacked us?” + +“Maderists,” laughed one. “_Caramba_, no! Don Pablo has been frightened +by a shadow.” + +“By his guilty conscience, more likely,” muttered another. “The idea of +getting honest men up at this time of night to hunt goblins.” + +“Look out! There he comes!” whispered another. “If he hears you, you +will think of something besides goblins!” + +While this conversation had been going on, Billie had managed to slip +down stairs, and again took his place behind the bush in the _patio_. +Then, as the men went back to the servants’ quarters, he edged around +near the gate, watching an opportunity to slip through. + +While he stood there waiting, he heard a clock strike midnight. + +“It is not as late as I thought,” he said to himself. “There is still +time if I am not detained.” + +He glanced around and no one was in sight but Santiago. Outside all was +dark, and he decided now was his chance. + +Grasping the revolver tightly in his hand, he darted for the gateway, +and bumped squarely into Don Pablo, who entered at the same moment. + +For a moment the collision stopped Billie and sent Don Pablo reeling +against the wall. Billie was much the heavier, but the old man was a +bunch of sinews. Both gathered themselves for a spring as Don Pablo gave +a cry that sounded like a wild beast and could be heard all over the +_hacienda_. + +“Gringo dog!” he exclaimed. “Now I have you!” and he made a dash at the +boy. + +Billie raised the revolver in his hand as though to fire, and then +changed his mind. + +“He must be unarmed,” he thought, “and I don’t want to kill him.” + +He shoved his arm out sharply and the barrel of the revolver struck Don +Pablo full in the face, knocking him to the ground. + +With a yell which he had learned from the Wyoming cowboys, Billie sprang +over the prostrate form and dashed away in the darkness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +A QUESTION OF NEUTRALITY. + + +So sudden had been Billie’s assault and escape that it was several +minutes before those in and about the _hacienda_ could understand what +had occurred. But when they did at last comprehend, they started after +him with a wild cry of revenge. + +This time, however, Billie knew his ground and whither he was going. +Straight as an arrow he ran, in spite of the darkness, and, several +minutes before the pursuing Mexicans had reached the river, he had +unfastened the boat and launched it into the stream. With the aid of one +oar, which he used as a paddle, he was slowly disappearing in the gloom +when he heard the pursuers upon the bank. Several shots were fired at +him, but all went wild. In a few minutes he was within hailing distance +of the American shore. + +Thinking it wise under the circumstances, he called aloud as he +approached land, and after two or three shouts received an answer from +the patrol. + +Guiding the boat by the sound of the voices, he was soon ashore, where +he was surrounded by the United States soldiers. + +“Who are you?” demanded the corporal of the guard. + +Billie explained. + +“Why didn’t you come in sooner?” + +Again Billie explained. + +“It doesn’t sound exactly right,” was the corporal’s reply. “We shall +have to take you to headquarters.” + +“That’s exactly what I want,” declared Billie, “and the sooner the +better. If I don’t get help quick my friends will be executed.” + +“What’s that?” asked the corporal, with added interest. + +Briefly Billie explained. + +“You’ll never get any help from the lieutenant,” he was told. + +“I’m not expecting it,” was Billie’s response. “But I’ll bet the rangers +will help me!” + +The corporal shook his head. “It would be a breach of neutrality,” he +declared. “The President wouldn’t stand for it, even if the commanding +officer did. It would cost him his commission; maybe something worse.” + +“We’ll see,” was Billie’s only reply. “Now will you rush me to +headquarters?” + +“You bet I will,” replied the corporal, emphatically, and in almost no +time Billie was galloping toward Presidio in charge of a couple of +troopers. + +Lieutenant Grant had turned in when the galloping horsemen drew rein in +front of his headquarters, half an hour later, but he quickly turned out +again when the troopers made known their errand. + +“Well, well,” he exclaimed, as he caught sight of Billie. “There must be +something serious to have caused you to make a report at this time of +night!” + +“There is,” was Billie’s forcible reply. “The lives of my two companions +depend upon my getting assistance to rescue them from the +revolutionists!” + +“Tell me about it,” said the lieutenant, and Billie did so in the +shortest manner possible. + +“What do you expect me to do?” asked the lieutenant, when he had +finished. + +“I don’t know. I was in hopes you could suggest something!” + +“I’m afraid that even a suggestion from an officer of the United States +might be looked upon as a breach of neutrality,” was the reply. + +“Then how would it do if you should go to bed and go to sleep?” asked +Billie. “Of course you could not violate your order of neutrality if you +were asleep.” + +“That’s true.” + +“And then, again,” explained Billie, “there is a dangerous man abroad +tonight, who needs watching.” + +“How’s that?” + +“I saw an English-speaking foreigner give a Mexican ten thousand pounds +tonight to aid the revolution.” + +“What!” almost shouted the lieutenant. “Ten thousand pounds?” + +“Exactly.” + +“How do you know he gave him that amount?” + +Billie ran his hand inside his shirt and pulled forth the big envelope +he had taken from Don Pablo’s secretary. + +“I couldn’t swear to it yet,” he said; “because I have not looked inside +this envelope; but, if I am not mistaken there is that sum in drafts on +the Bank of England in this envelope.” + +With trembling fingers he tore open the wrapper, and there, just as he +had expected, were the drafts—ten, each for a thousand pounds! + +“And who was the man?” asked Lieutenant Grant. + +“I don’t know, but I had hoped that the name on the drafts might tell.” + +The lieutenant examined them carefully. Then he shook his head. “No,” he +said, “there is nothing to show by whom they were drawn. They are simply +bank checks of one of the largest banks in New York on the Bank of +England, with whom they doubtless have a large account. They are made +payable to Pablo Ojeda, and, so far as the checks go to show, might have +been purchased by Don Pablo himself. However, in the expert hands of the +United States Secret Service, we may be able to find out whose money +this really is.” + +At this information Billie’s face fell. + +“I thought I was doing a big thing,” he muttered. “Now I see I might +better have followed the man.” + +“You have done a big thing,” said the lieutenant; “and, to show my +appreciation of what you have done, I am going to send all the pickets +for half a mile down the river to hunt the man. If any of your friends +should slip across the river at that point, I shall not know it. And +now, I’d advise you to hunt up Captain Peak and go to bed—that is, +unless you and he should decide to do a little more scout duty before +daylight.” + +Billie was not slow to take the hint, and started for the hotel. He had +not gone twenty paces when the two troopers who had ridden in with him +overtook him. + +“Just tell Captain Peak,” said one of them, “that there’ll be ten of us +waiting for you down below the custom house. We’ll be in our +shirt-sleeves, as it wouldn’t do to be found dead in our uniforms if +anything should happen.” + +Billie’s heart gave a great bound. “I see,” he said. “You won’t have to +wait long.” + +Five minutes later he was in Captain Peak’s room telling his story. In +another ten minutes the two of them emerged from the hotel and walked +swiftly down the street. In still another ten minutes, men who looked +like cowboys, but each carrying a Winchester, might have been seen going +toward the river below the custom house. Half an hour later the streets +again took on a deserted appearance, save for the two or three policemen +who suddenly emerged from unknown quarters and resumed their beats. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +IN THE DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN. + + +Promptly at the appointed hour—the darkest hour in the whole +twenty-four, the hour before dawn—Pancho Villa appeared at the door of +General Sanchez’s headquarters. Almost simultaneously General Sanchez +appeared in the doorway. + +“Is everything in readiness?” he inquired, as he recognized Villa. + +“Everything but the men, general.” + +“They are also ready,” was the response. “I regret that there are only +fifty; but they are well officered, and will do whatever they are told. +They are the pick of my force.” + +Villa saluted, but made no reply. + +“Don’t you think them sufficient?” + +“No, general; but I hope for reinforcements!” + +“I am afraid you will not receive them. But where is the American +youth?” + +“He has gone across the river, general.” + +“Across the river? You don’t mean he has deserted his comrades?” + +“No, general. He has gone for reinforcements!” + +“Oh! I see,” and General Sanchez shrugged his shoulders. + +“But I am afraid they will not come,” continued Villa. “The pickets on +both sides of the river are very alert tonight.” + +“Do you know where the Americans expect to cross?” + +“I can only guess, general.” + +“Perhaps you will guess aloud.” + +“I should guess they might cross below the ferry.” + +“Very well.” + +He turned to an orderly who stood ready to ride at a moment’s notice: +“Go tell Captain Rodriguez that if a band of refugees should seek to +land from the American shore they are to be allowed to pass +unquestioned.” Then to Villa: “Is that all?” + +“Yes, general.” + +“Very well, go! You will find your force down by the water’s edge. The +assault upon the revolutionists’ lines will begin in half an hour!” + +But, in the meantime, what of Donald and Adrian? + +When the revolutionists headed by Don Rafael had broken into the house +and the boys were taken prisoners, they had been as greatly surprised at +the disappearance of Billie as had the others; but it did not take +Donald long to figure out what had happened. Of course he did not know +that Billie was hearing all that was going on, but he felt sure that he +was safe. + +At the first opportunity he had explained to Adrian his solution of the +mystery, and both had confidence that in some way Billie would bring +about their escape, although they could not see how. + +Because of this confidence they kept a bold front, but it must be +admitted that they thought their last hour had come when Don Rafael had +declared that he would have them shot immediately. When he gave orders +to suddenly leave the place, they were much mystified, not knowing that +a guilty conscience had filled him with a great fear. + +After leaving the place where they were captured, the boys were first +escorted to the _cuartel_ by a shouting, howling mob. Here they were +examined by a petty officer. After that they were conducted into the +presence of the commanding general and again examined with a view to +finding out what their mission really was. Finally, they were turned +over to a corporal, and after several hours were locked up in a room in +the barracks to await further action. + +“Well!” exclaimed Adrian, as soon as they were left alone. “This seems +the most serious situation in which we have ever found ourselves!” + +“Possibly so,” replied Donald; “but we know that Billie is at work to +get us out.” + +“We certainly do,” affirmed Adrian; “just as he knew we were at work to +rescue him when he was captured by the smugglers; but it is going to be +a great deal harder to get to us, with a battle line all around us. For +my part, the situation seems hopeless.” + +“'While there is life there is hope,’ says the old proverb,” declared +Donald, “and we are very much alive.” + +“Yes, and able to put up a fight if we had a chance; but what chance is +there, when we have been deprived of our arms, and will be taken from +this room by a file of soldiers? No, old man”—and there was a visible +tremor in Adrian’s voice—“I’m afraid our time has come.” + +He bowed his face in his hands, and for some minutes both the boys were +silent. Then Adrian straightened up, and, looking Donald squarely in the +face, said: + +“If it comes to the worst, I am not afraid to die. It will be in the +service of our country and a man can die but once.” + +“That’s the way to talk,” said Donald. “No matter what happens, we must +be brave. If we die, it will be like Americans!” + +He put out his hand, which was warmly clasped by Adrian. + +“It shall be as you say,” he declared. “But I shall not give up hope +till the very last minute.” + +They were still standing with hands clasped, when they heard the key +grate in the lock. They turned quickly at the sound, and, although it +was still an hour until day, and, in spite of their determination to be +brave, for a moment their cheeks paled. + +But their time was not yet. + +Instead of the file of soldiers which they feared they might see, their +visitor proved to be Don Rafael. + +“So!” he exclaimed, as he noticed the pallor upon their faces, “you are +not so brave as you would have me think!” and he laughed scornfully. + +The boys made no reply and he continued: + +“You thought you would trap me, did you? You thought I wouldn’t +recognize you as the ones who upset my plans at the cave? You are too +young, my friends, to catch an old fox like me!” + +“We may be,” said Donald, “but, if anything happens to us, there are +those who will make you pay dearly.” + +“Bah!” and Don Rafael snapped his fingers. “That for your friends! I +have been in too many affairs to be bluffed by a couple of striplings.” + +“Just as you please,” replied Donald, “but what I say is true. Why, at +this minute they are on their way here!” + +As he spoke, there was the boom of a cannon from the outskirts of the +city, followed almost immediately by the crash of rifles. + +“Perhaps you think those are your friends,” laughed Don Rafael. “If so +they will meet with a warm reception.” + +“They’ll be here before daybreak,” said Adrian. + +“You think so?” exclaimed Don Rafael, and he regarded the boys with a +crafty expression. “Well, perhaps you are right, and so, to avoid any +danger of your escape, we will not wait until daylight for your +execution.” + +He stepped to the door of the guard room and called: + +“Don Carlos!” + +A moment later that young gentleman appeared. + +“Send me a sergeant and a file of soldiers,” ordered Don Rafael. “I have +decided not to wait until daylight. The execution will take place at +once in the _patio_.” + +“It has come!” said Donald aside to Adrian. “Be brave!” + +Silently they once more clasped hands, and awaited the coming of the +soldiers, while Don Rafael eyed them savagely. + +“I’ll teach you,” he exclaimed, “to interfere with my plans. It will +serve as a lesson to other Americans!” + +Then, as the tramp of feet was heard on the stone pavement without: +“Here they come! Now, then, get ready,” and he stepped aside, so as not +to obstruct the doorway. + +The boys threw back their shoulders, and looked the man squarely in the +face. His eyes fell before their honest gaze, and he turned his head +with a muttered oath. + +At the same moment there was a crash of rifles, which seemed at the very +door, and the sergeant, who had just appeared in the doorway, fell with +a groan. + +“_Caramba!_ What is it?” yelled Don Rafael. + +He dashed across the room toward the door, as a hearty American +“Hurrah!” followed by a regular cowboy yell was heard without. + +At the sound Don Rafael turned as white as his dusky color would permit. +He drew his revolver from his holster, and backed slowly into the room, +with his eye fastened upon the doorway. + +So sudden had been the change in affairs, that for a moment the two +Broncho Rider Boys stood stupefied; but, as Don Rafael slowly retreated, +their wits returned. + +“Grab him!” shouted Donald. + +At the cry Don Rafael turned quickly upon the boys, revolver in hand. + +“So,” he exclaimed, “this is your work, too! Well, it is your last!” + +Slowly he raised his weapon as though to enjoy the full measure of his +revenge. Then, as his finger pressed the trigger, there was another +crash of rifles. Both boys threw themselves flat upon the floor, and the +bullet from Don Rafael’s revolver buried itself in the adobe wall. + +Before he could take a second aim, a tall figure in peon’s garb sprang +into the room. + +It was Pancho Villa. + +One glance told the story. Without a moment’s warning his revolver +cracked, and Don Rafael pitched forward to the floor, dead. + +The next instant a dozen Americans, headed by Billie, rushed into the +room. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +AU REVOIR, BUT NOT GOOD-BY. + + +It was not until two hours after daylight that the complete result of +Villa’s strategy was apparent. At that hour the battle was over and the +Federals took possession of the city. For a minor battle it had been a +severe one, and the victory was well won. + +From the balcony of the city hall the Broncho Rider Boys watched the +victorious army, with General Sanchez at its head, march into the town. +As the column passed the place where the boys stood, the general caught +sight of them as he glanced from right to left, and gave them a salute +with his sword, which was followed by every member of his staff. The +boys returned the salute, and a few minutes later were given a chorus of +“_Vivas_,” as the troop of Villa passed the balcony. + +The Americans who had taken part in the rescue of the boys had returned +to the American side before it was light. + +“I reckon we had better return, too,” said Donald, as the boys were +talking the matter over a few minutes later. + +“Yes,” replied Adrian, “I suppose we should go and make our report to +Lieutenant Grant.” + +“I can’t see that there is much to report,” declared Donald. + +“Why,” exclaimed Billie, with a hearty laugh, “that the gun-running +expedition has been abandoned for want of runners.” + +“Don’t you think he has heard about it before this?” asked Adrian. + +“Possibly,” and Billie chuckled to himself; “but that doesn’t relieve us +from making our report. Besides (decidedly), I’m hungry, and there is +nothing this side of the river fit to eat!” + +“I thought there was some reason for the anxiety,” laughed Donald, “but +at that, I think we should go and report.” + +They made their way hastily to General Sanchez’s headquarters, where +they were cordially received, although General Sanchez was so busy with +the work of taking over the city that he could spare them but a moment. +He thanked them, however, in the presence of all the officers for what +they had done, and gave them an escort to the river. + +“When these troublesome times are over,” he said, as the boys were +leaving, “you must all come and pay Pedro a visit in the City of Mexico. +We shall be most glad to see you.” + +The boys thanked him for his invitation, and rode away. + +It was not until they had enjoyed a good breakfast that they put in +their appearance at Lieutenant Grant’s quarters. Here again they were +cordially received, although, as they had expected, a report of what had +happened on the other side of the river had already been made. Here, +also, Billie found a telegram from his father, telling him that he could +wait no longer in El Paso, and saying that he would write him about +coming back East in the near future. + +“It looks as though my days as a Broncho Rider Boy were about over,” +said Billie, with a sigh; “but whenever you fellows are ready to go and +visit Pedro in the City of Mexico, let me know, and I’ll surely be with +you.” + +And in passing it may be well to say that some two months later, when +affairs became so bad in Mexico under General Huerta that the United +States government was obliged to send a force of sailors and soldiers to +take possession of Vera Cruz, our Broncho Rider Boys found +themselves—because of General Sanchez’s invitation—right in the midst of +this trouble. This furnishes another story of the Broncho Rider Boys, +which will be known as The Broncho Rider Boys With Funston At Vera Cruz, +Or Scout Duty Afloat and Ashore. + +“You must leave me your permanent address,” declared Lieutenant Grant. +“I may have occasion to write you almost any time.” + +“For what?” asked Billie. + +“Why, in reference to the ten thousand pounds. If we succeed in tracing +the purchaser of these drafts, your testimony will be necessary to +punish those who may be responsible for creating this trouble along the +Rio Grande.” + +“What is he talking about, Ad?” queried Donald. + +“I’m sure I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything about ten thousand +pounds. What is it, Billie?” + +In answer to which question, Billie related again, both for the benefit +of his chums and of Lieutenant Grant and Captain Peak, the story of his +experiences in the river and at Don Pablo’s _hacienda_. + +“Suppose no owner is found for the drafts?” asked Captain Peak. “Then +what?” + +“I reckon the bank will be that much ahead, unless,” the lieutenant +added, with a laugh, “our friend Billie should wish to return them to +Don Pablo.” + +“Hardly,” replied Billie. Then, as an afterthought: “Santiago said they +were to be a part of my reward.” + +“Who is Santiago?” queried Lieutenant Grant. + +“A mystery,” was the laughing rejoinder. + +And a mystery he must remain for the present, although in the story of +the Broncho Rider Boys with Funston, the mystery is cleared away, and +the ownership of the ten thousand pounds is settled in a manner that +shows what strange things may happen when a nation is at war. + +“There is just one more question which I should like to ask,” said +Lieutenant Grant to Billie, as the boys were about to leave. “Of course +there were no Americans in the force that captured Presidio del Norte?” + +“Certainly not,” replied Billie. “I am reliably informed that every +American, except we three, left the city some hours before it was +captured. Isn’t that right, Captain Peak?” And Billie turned to the +captain of the rangers. + +“Such is the report that was made to me,” declared the captain, “and I +have no reason to doubt it!” + +“Then that will be all,” laughed the lieutenant; “and I wish you a +pleasant journey home. When do you start?” + +“Just as soon,” replied Billie, “as we can get old Bray loaded with +enough provisions to carry us through.” + +And with a hearty handshake all around, the boys started to make +preparations for continuing their journey, carrying with them the best +wishes of all the Texas Rangers. + +THE END. + + + + +THE NAVY BOYS SERIES + +A series of excellent stories of adventure on sea and land, selected +from the works of popular writers; each volume designed for boys’ +reading. + +Handsome Cloth Bindings + +Price, 60 cents per volume + +THE NAVY BOYS IN DEFENCE OF LIBERTY. + + A story of the burning of the British schooner Gaspee in 1772. By + William P. 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