CHAPTER XXVI.
BILLIE OVERHEARS A SECRET.
It might have been expected that, as Billie plunged into the water, hischief thought would have been regarding his safety. But such is thevagary of the human mind, that safety was the least of his thoughts. Thequestion 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 ofexplanation.
As stated before, the _batteau_ to which Billie was clinging hadgradually drifted downstream, even while he was shouting his story tothe patrol. After Billie climbed into the boat, and ceased his effort todirect its course, it drifted even more rapidly than before. The resultwas that, when struck by the other boat, it had drifted back nearly tothe bend in the river where Billie first took to the water.
When Billie arose to the surface, after his dive, he looked about to seewhat had become of the boats. There they were, not twenty feet away,side by side! One might have thought they had met on purpose, ratherthan by chance, so friendly was their appearance.
And this was exactly the case, although that purpose came very nearbeing thwarted by Billie's activity.
"Well," thought Billie, as he shook the water from his eyes, "seeingthat 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 couldnot 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 asbelonging 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. "Hesaid something about going for help for some Americans who are indanger."
"There are plenty of them in danger, for that matter," replied thevoice, "but they are not likely to get any help from him, whoever hewas. If he didn't drown, he has probably made for the shore. I don't seeany 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 aview of the other. There was no Billie in sight, and each speaker soreported. But, in spite of the report, Billie was right there, just thesame.
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 attachedhimself to turn, without turning with it. That is just what Billie did.He practically went clear around the boat without moving. The boat didthe moving instead.
Having satisfied themselves that they were alone in the middle of theriver, the occupants of the boats drew them close together, and began ananimated conversation in English, so that the oarsmen could notunderstand.
"What was all that shooting going on upstream?" asked the newcomer.
"It was the patrol. The American drew their fire," was Don Pablo'sresponse. "They pretty nearly finished Emilio."
"No great loss," muttered the other.
"Not to you," replied Don Pablo bitterly. "You foreigners seem to thinkthat a Mexican more or less is a small matter."
"Oh, come now, Don Pablo," replied his companion, in a changed tone ofvoice, "don't get a wrong impression. There is a whole lot of differencebetween Mexicans. You know as well as I do that a peon more or lessmakes little difference, even to you. Men like you are the real supportand strength of Mexico."
"Whether they are or not makes little difference. But now to the matterwe came here to discuss: How much will you give me if I bring about aninvasion 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. "Iwouldn't give you five cents to bring about an invasion by therevolutionists."
"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," wasthe curt reply.
"Then what do you want?" asked Don Pablo.
"This is what I want," said the other. "I want you to bring about someaction that will cause the United States to intervene in Mexicanaffairs."
"For what purpose?"
"So that our property in Chihuahua will be protected. There will neverbe a real government in Mexico until the United States makes it. If yourrevolution----"
"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 itsucceeds in bringing about intervention by the United States, thepurpose will be accomplished and you will be well paid. If thisrevolution fails to bring about the result, then we must keep havingrevolutions 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. "Iwonder who we are?"
Then again, after a moment's thought: "Great Scott! This must be theparty whom Lieut. Grant wanted us to locate. Don Pablo and Don Rafaelare 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 thestranger say:
"Here are drafts on the Bank of England for ten thousand pounds. Seethat the money is used to the best advantage if you ever expect anymore. 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 undecidedwhich one to follow. Evidently the visitor was the very man he hadstarted out to find, and yet, what would happen if he followed him?Would anyone believe his story without some other evidence--evidencewhich he did not have? But Don Pablo had the evidence--the drafts on theBank of England. Those were what he needed and those he must have.
Without a moment's hesitation he turned and grasped the stern of DonPablo's boat, which was slowly moving away under the power of only oneoar.