CHAPTER XX.
SCOUTING FOR UNCLE SAM.
When the boys reported for duty to Lieut. Grant at seven o'clock theyfound that conditions across the river had developed rapidly. Therevolutionists had taken possession of Presidio del Norte and theskirmish referred to in the last chapter was in full swing.
"I hadn't expected such rapid developments," said the Lieutenant after aword of greeting. "This breaking out of open hostilities has made themission upon which I wish to send you much more dangerous than I hadthought. If, under the circumstances, you do not feel like undertakingit, 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 todo 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 nowmore than ever convinced that you are the very ones to perform theservice."
The Lieutenant opened a drawer in his desk and took therefrom a largemap, which he spread out upon a table. It was drawn so as to show, notonly the boundaries of the different counties and districts, thewatercourses and highways, but was also shaded so as to show thetopography of the country on both sides the Rio Grande.
"Now look," he said to the boys, placing the point of his pencil on themap, "and listen carefully. Here is where you found the guns the otherday. Here is the beach where you captured the boat. Back here, half amile, you strike the trail leading to the little town of Alamito. Thereyou come upon the line which has been surveyed by the Orient road andwhich strikes the Southern Pacific at Alpine. The reason why this spothas been selected for gun-running is that arms can be unloaded at Alpineand 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 startedfrom Alamito within a day or two, possibly tomorrow night, for thepurpose of drawing our soldiers into a conflict with a band of Mexicanrevolutionists, in the hope that we will follow them across the riverinto Mexican territory. This would create an international dispute,which the revolutionists hope would cause the United States to take ahand in the Mexican troubles.
"The information desired, is to know, not the exact time of the proposeddecoy expedition, for the conspirators will see that this informationcomes to us, but the exact size of the force, the route to be followedand the names of the men who are planning the expedition. The latter isthe most important. Once their identity is known, it will be easy to dothe 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 foryou 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 ownproperty in Mexico and want this government to intervene. Cowboys arethe very chaps needed, and you can fill all the requirements. I shouldsay the best place to join the expedition is in Presidio del Norte. Ifyou can cross the river while the fighting is going on you stand a goodchance of meeting the very men you are looking for."
"It's about the biggest job we ever tackled," said Donald aside toAdrian.
"Oh, I don't know," replied Adrian. "That bunch of smugglers was nosmall proposition."
"You are not afraid to undertake it, are you?" asked the Lieutenant.
"Afraid!" exclaimed Billie. "Why, Lieutenant, we're scared half to deathmost of the time; but that doesn't keep us from going ahead and doingwhatever needs to be done. The only real fear in this matter is that wemay 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 notdelay your report a minute longer than necessary. Everything dependsupon 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 thepaper. "Also an order to allow you to use the barge you captured. Acouple of my men will row you over and bring the barge back. You canswim your horses behind. Once on the other side, you will have to lookout for yourselves."
Leaving the Lieutenant, the boys mounted their horses and rode rapidlyout of town to the spot where the boat lay. A short distance from theshore they were stopped by the patrol and presented the pass. Thecorporal of the guard was called, to whom they also gave the order forthe use of the batteau and men to row them over. Both the pass and theorder were promptly honored and in less than half an hour after leavingthe Lieutenant they were on the Mexican shore.
While the spot upon which they landed was some distance from the firingline between the Federal troops and the revolutionists, they soon foundthat they were in the direct line of fire and quickly proceeded tochange their position.
"I don't mind taking some chances in a fight for Uncle Sam," saidAdrian, "but I object to being made a mark for a lot of greasers, whoare fighting among themselves."
"Right," assented Billie, "but it looks as though this were Uncle Sam'sservice, so we'll have to take some chances. Suppose we get to the topof that knoll and see if there is still enough light to determine whatis happening."
For want of better advice the boys accepted Billie's suggestion, androde toward the little rise of ground. When they had approached the top,they dismounted, threw their bridle reins over a mesquite bush andcautiously made their way to the summit on foot.
While it was after sunset, it was well that the boys took thisprecaution. As they lifted their heads above the brow of the little hillthey discovered, a short distance away, a force of Federals so posted asto command the knoll, evidently fearing that it might conceal some ofthe attacking revolutionists.
Quickly the boys dropped out of sight, and remounting their horses roderapidly farther up stream. Then, using the little ridge as a screen,they made their way around to where they could approach the Federal linefrom the left.
Having then determined their position by a hasty reconnoiter, theyadvanced openly as though ignorant of all the trouble.
Their presence was quickly discovered and a detachment of cavalrycharged down upon them, whereupon Donald waved his white handkerchief asa 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 challengeeither 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 goesthere?"
"Friends!" replied Donald. "We are Americans and wish to go to Presidiodel Norte."
"Impossible!" declared the officer, who bore the rank of lieutenant. "Noone can pass the lines."
"Will you take us to the commanding officer?" was Donald's nextquestion.
"Without doubt," replied the officer with a broad smile. "We are boundto do that, whether you wish or not."
"Suits us," was the reply; and at the word of command the littledetachment started for headquarters, wherever that might be, thecavalrymen keeping the boys well surrounded.
It was a short ride, the commanding officer having made his headquartersin an adobe hut just behind a knoll similar to the one on the side ofthe valley where the boys had obtained their first view of the battle.They were quick
ly ushered into his presence and their joy and surprisemay well be imagined when they recognized, in one of his aides, thecaptain of the rurales who had captured the smugglers at the cave.
The recognition was mutual and an exclamation of surprise burst from thelips of the captain.
"_Caramba!_" he exclaimed. "Where do you come from?"
The boys looked at each other in some confusion, not knowing just whatto say. But once more Billie was equal to the occasion and he repliedwith 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 oneand we wanted to know what it was like."
The captain smiled grimly and was about to say something more, when thegeneral demanded sternly:
"Who are these boys, Captain?"
"They are the boys who aided in capturing Don Rafael's gang," was theprompt 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 weremuch more surprised at what followed.
Springing from his chair, the general seized first one boy by the handsand then another and wound up by throwing his arms about all three, muchto their discomfort as well as their embarrassment.
"My brave lads!" he exclaimed. "How can I ever thank you for what youdid 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 isto 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 aquestioning manner. Each knew what the other was thinking, but neitherwas 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 fiveminutes 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."