CHAPTER XIV.
PANCHO VILLA.
Several days have elapsed, days filled with anxiety over the fate ofSantiago, and once more the boys find themselves in the saddle, headedfor the Rio Grande.
"It sure does seem good to feel your pony between your knees," exclaimedDonald, after they had galloped along a couple of miles at a livelyrate, the horses themselves setting the pace after their days of rest.
"That it does," replied Billie, "especially when your mind is at ease. Ishouldn't be enjoying myself at all, were I not sure that Santiago wason the road to recovery. That certainly was a nasty cut. I hope thistrail will lead us to where we want to go."
"I can see no reason why it should not," declared Adrian. "It is asplain as the nose on your face."
"And that's pretty plain in your case," laughed Donald, for it was awell-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 asthough this were a good deal of a wild goose chase."
"I don't see how you figure it," retorted Adrian, and he put his handinto his inside pocket and took therefrom a piece of paper. "Here is theaddress as plain as can be: 'Rafael Solis, Presidio del Norte, careSenor Pancho Villa.' What more do you want?"
"I want to know who Pancho Villa is, and where he lives! There isnothing 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 verylittle in a place as big as Presidio del Norte."
"To hear Santiago talk about him," interjected Donald, "you'd think hewas a great general."
"That's because he was the head of a little band of what Santiago callspatriots during the Madero revolution," replied Billie.
"Well, that ought to be enough to identify him," declared Adrianexultantly. "I'll bet we can find him."
Billie was not satisfied, but as the road at this point was through aford of the river, conversation for the time was interrupted; and, whenthe boys again came abreast, the conversation took another turn. Whathas been said, however, is sufficient to show the mission upon which theboys were bent.
By dint of hard riding the boys reached the Rio Grande before dark, andimmediately crossed to the American side and hunted up Captain Peak.
"Well, well!" he exclaimed, as he caught sight of them. "I was afraidyou had run into some kind of trouble, you were gone so long!"
"Some kind of trouble!" laughed Donald. "Several kinds of trouble wouldcome 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. "Supposeyou come into the hotel and tell me about it."
Giving their horses to the _mozo_, the boys accepted the captain'sinvitation; but, after a few words, which indicated that the story wasto be a long one, he insisted that its recital be postponed until theyhad eaten their supper. The suggestion was promptly seconded by Billie,who declared emphatically that the story could wait, but that the suppercould not.
If it were not that Captain Peak might be kept waiting too long, itwould be interesting to tell you what and how much Billie ate at thatmeal. He has since declared it was the greatest he ever ate--which is amost remarkable statement, and easily classes it as "some supper."
But the longest meal eventually comes to an end, and then the boys satdown with Captain Peak and gave him a detailed account of theirhappenings 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 veryband I have been looking for. Of course I have heard something of thecapture from across the river, the captain of the rurales having givenout the information. Naturally he took all the credit, and no mentionwas made of you boys, which," continued Captain Peak, after a minute'sreflection, "is a good thing, seeing that the adventure is only justbegun."
"Only just begun!" exclaimed Billie. "I was in hopes we were near theend."
"So far as your part is concerned, that may be true; but it looks to melike the beginning of another serious revolution. Evidently this DonRafael is acting for someone else--whom, I cannot tell, but I imagine forFelix Diaz--who naturally would like to take revenge upon Madero fordriving his uncle, Porfirio Diaz, out of Mexico.
"If he expects any help from Villa, however, I am afraid he is going tobe greatly mistaken. I know Villa well, and, peon though he is, he is abrainy man, and an ardent Maderist. I don't believe they will ever gethim to join a movement against the president."
"That's what Santiago says; but Don Rafael is a smooth talker, and hemay make such promises that Villa will listen to him," explained Adrian.
"Of course it is none of my business," continued Captain Peak, "as longas they stay on their own side of the river; but the trouble is, theyare always coming over here to do their plotting, and to get arms enoughto start things going. That's why I am glad of this information, and Ishall 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 notifythe proper authorities, and I think the rurales will not lose himagain."
"I'll do all I can," said Captain Peak, "but I must act within myjurisdiction."
"How can we find this Pancho Villa?" queried Adrian.
"Just go over to Presidio del Norte and ask the first peon you see," wasthe captain's reply. "They all know him."
Billie sprang from his chair. "Come on!" he exclaimed, "let's waste notime. 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 Iknow 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; butwe wouldn't mind if something should happen that would give us a chanceto 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 soparticular who furnishes it. But, take my advice, and don't get intotrouble tonight. Things are too unsettled, and I don't want to beobliged to make a raid into Mexico to rescue you. I have even had toanswer quite a few questions about the trouble we had the other day overby Don Pablo's."
"All right," laughed Billie. "We won't get into any trouble. We willjust see this wonderful peon, and put a flea in his ear, and then we'llcome back."
"Just as you say," was the captain's answer. "I'm sure you are able totake care of yourself."
Bidding the captain good-night, the boys called for their horses andslowly rode across the river.
Presidio del Norte is not a large town, but as it is on the line of theOrient railroad--which at this particular time was in process ofconstruction--it was quite a lively place for a Mexican pueblo. It isbuilt 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 anintelligent-looking peon, and stated their errand. He looked at them abit suspiciously, but finally agreed to help them find the object oftheir 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,_senores_, and does not live in a very nice place."
"He didn't need to tell us that," laughed Adrian. "We still are able tosee."
/> "No," said Donald to the guide, "you do not need to apologize. Weunderstand that Pancho is an honest man, which is more to his creditthan to live in a fine house."
The Mexican led them about four or five squares and stopped before amiserable 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 manappeared in the doorway.
"I am Pancho Villa," he said pleasantly. "What can I do for you?" andthis was the Broncho Rider Boys' introduction to the man who afterwardbecame the foremost general of Mexico.