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 completecapture of the gun-runners when the trap was sprung.
He accordingly mustered his men early in the afternoon, and, accompaniedby the boys, who were most anxious to take a hand in the capture, openlyleft town in exactly the opposite direction from the place where theguns had been discovered. By this plan he hoped to allay any suspicionwhich 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 lostsight of, the Rangers made a wide detour back into the country, arrivingin 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 theopen without being seen from the Mexican shore, they were so disposedthat they could surround the gun-runners on three sides, while a fourthdetachment was posted up stream, but sufficiently near the bank of theriver to cut off a retreat in that direction.
"It would please me greatly," said Capt. Peak, in giving the lastinstruction, "if we could also capture the boat in which the guns are tobe carried over the river. Not only would it be good evidence, but itwould help to prevent similar expeditions in the immediate future."
This remark offered a suggestion to Donald, and when the others had beenstationed, he announced his plan to Capt. Peak.
"I'm sure," he said, "that we three boys can capture that boat betterthan anyone else, because we are all good swimmers."
"What has that to do with it?" asked the Captain. "The boat will have tocome to shore to get the guns."
"I know that," replied Donald; "but suppose they even succeeded ingetting the guns down to the river bank, what good would it do if theyfound the boat gone?"
"I see," laughed the Captain. "Well, go ahead; but we shall not wait forthe Greasers to get the guns down to the shore before we nab them."
Having obtained permission to act, Donald at once called Adrian andBillie and unfolded to them his plan. It was very simple, namely, tosecrete 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 anddraw 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 itbetter 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 wateris breast high? Then, if they fastened the boat to the shore, the one onland could, in the dark, easily slip up and cut the ropes."
"Not a bad idea," replied Donald. "Suppose you stay on shore and Ad andI will do the water act."
"Yes," said Adrian, "and if you are discovered you can easily passyourself 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 hisbelt. "One stroke of this will cut any ordinary rope."
This plan having been decided upon, Donald and Adrian threw off theirsuperfluous clothing and waded out into the stream, while Billiesecreted himself behind a little pile of brush, left on the shore by thelast high water.
They had hardly taken their positions, when the faint sound of oars cameto their ears and a couple of minutes later a good-sized batteau cameinto sight through the darkness. It was rowed by six men while a halfdozen more were seated at the bow and in the stern.
The batteau had no sooner touched the shore than those in the bow sprangout and pulled the boat partially onto the gravelly beach. The othersfollowed more slowly, but after a minute or more all were landed. Not aword was spoken for some minutes, and several of the men spreadthemselves out into a scouting party. One of them passed so close to theplace where Billie was concealed that he could have touched him with hishand; but it never seemed to occur to the Mexicans that anyone might behidden on the beach.
Those who were not on the lookout, pushed the boat back into the waterand turned it so they could pull out immediately it had received itsload. Then for the first time a spoken order was given in a low voice--avoice which sounded strangely familiar to Billie, although he could notthink where he had heard it.
"All ready!" it said, "and hurry up! Juan and I will be sufficient toguard the boat!"
"So ho!" exclaimed Billie to himself! "It appears we are to have two todeal with," and as he saw the figures steal away in the darkness heslipped 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 withoars in his hands, while the speaker stood on the shore. He had not yetdecided what to do, when he noticed that the boat was silently andslowly drawing away from land. The shore guard must have noticed it atthe 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 anyapparent 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 leanedover to grasp the boat, which was still within reach.
This was Billie's opportunity and he was quick to seize it. He hadrealized from the beginning that it was not the current, but Adrian andDonald who were pulling the boat into the stream, and so, as the man onshore leaned over to grasp the boat, Billie sprang forward and gave hima violent shove, which landed him face down in the bottom of thebatteau, and sent the craft well out into the stream.
Then, without a moment's hesitation, Billie sprang in after him, callingout to the other two boys to scramble aboard without delay.
Almost before the words were out of his mouth, there was a crack ofrifles and the shouts of the Rangers mingled with the cries of thegun-runners, who had been caught in the trap.
But quick as Billie had been, the man whom he had pushed into the boatwas quicker. He was on his feet in an instant and grappling with thelad, 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 hisassailant, who was not only possessed of much strength, but was as agileas a cat. Almost in less time than it takes to tell it, he had thrownthe boy to the bottom of the boat. Quickly he picked up an oar, asthough to deal him a blow, when his attention was diverted by the severerocking of the boat.
Turning to see the cause, he espied Donald and Adrian piling in over thegunwale.
Raising aloft the oar which he had intended for Billie, he aimed avicious blow at the head nearest him, but as the blow was about todescend, Billie caught him by one leg and he dropped the oar to savehimself from falling into the water.
By this time the oarsman had discovered the condition of affairs and hadcome to his companion's rescue. Rising in his place he struck with hisoar the boy nearest him. It happened to be Donald, and the oar came downon his shoulder with a sounding whack. It was only by the greatest goodluck that it did not hit him on the head. As it was it caused him toutter 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 notyet gained his footing; Donald was apparently helpless in the water, andBillie was struggling with the leader of the gun-runners, while theoarsman, with oar in hand, seemed to command the situation.
But before the man with the oar could gather himself for another blowAdrian, from his crouching position, sprang upon him. His head struckthe Mexican squarely in the pit of the stomach, and with a loud "Ah!" asthe wind was knocked out of him he toppled over into the water. The nextinstant Adrian reached over and seized Donald by the hair and pulled himup to the bo
at, where he was able to grasp the gunwale with hisuninjured arm.
The blow which struck Donald, and his cry, had a most unfortunate resultupon Billie. For just a moment he was undecided whether to throw hisantagonist into the river, or to release his hold and help Donald. Inthat 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 fellover into the boat, he plunged into the river and struck out for theMexican shore.
"Don't let him get away," cried Billie, as soon as he could gatherhimself to speak. "It's the leader of the gang!"
"All right," said Adrian. "Help me pull Donald in and we'll row afterhim."
In almost no time Donald was helped into the boat and Billie and Adrianseized the oars and started in pursuit of the fleeing Mexican. They werenot expert oarsmen, but they did their best and the boat made goodheadway. But row as hard as they could, they were unable to discover atrace of the fugitive, and it soon became evident that he had escaped inthe darkness. Neither did they see anything of the man whom Adrian hadknocked overboard.
"We haven't made a very creditable record," declared Adrian as theyfinally ceased rowing and tried to make out where they were. "I hopeCapt. Peak did better."
Considerably crestfallen, the boys turned the boat and rowed for theAmerican 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 leaderinstead of trying to capture him."
"The leader!" exclaimed Capt. Peak. "Was it the leader you were fightingwith?"
"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, DonRafael."
"What!" cried Billie, as he regarded Capt. Peak with a look of blankdespair. "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!" saidBillie, almost in tears with disappointment. "That's twice I've let himescape. I'll bet I don't do it a third time!"