CHAPTER XXVIII.
A QUESTION OF NEUTRALITY.
So sudden had been Billie's assault and escape that it was severalminutes before those in and about the _hacienda_ could understand whathad occurred. But when they did at last comprehend, they started afterhim 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, severalminutes before the pursuing Mexicans had reached the river, he hadunfastened the boat and launched it into the stream. With the aid of oneoar, which he used as a paddle, he was slowly disappearing in the gloomwhen he heard the pursuers upon the bank. Several shots were fired athim, but all went wild. In a few minutes he was within hailing distanceof the American shore.
Thinking it wise under the circumstances, he called aloud as heapproached land, and after two or three shouts received an answer fromthe patrol.
Guiding the boat by the sound of the voices, he was soon ashore, wherehe 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 shallhave to take you to headquarters."
"That's exactly what I want," declared Billie, "and the sooner thebetter. 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 rangerswill help me!"
The corporal shook his head. "It would be a breach of neutrality," hedeclared. "The President wouldn't stand for it, even if the commandingofficer did. It would cost him his commission; maybe something worse."
"We'll see," was Billie's only reply. "Now will you rush me toheadquarters?"
"You bet I will," replied the corporal, emphatically, and in almost notime Billie was galloping toward Presidio in charge of a couple oftroopers.
Lieutenant Grant had turned in when the galloping horsemen drew rein infront of his headquarters, half an hour later, but he quickly turned outagain when the troopers made known their errand.
"Well, well," he exclaimed, as he caught sight of Billie. "There must besomething serious to have caused you to make a report at this time ofnight!"
"There is," was Billie's forcible reply. "The lives of my two companionsdepend upon my getting assistance to rescue them from therevolutionists!"
"Tell me about it," said the lieutenant, and Billie did so in theshortest manner possible.
"What do you expect me to do?" asked the lieutenant, when he hadfinished.
"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 Statesmight 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?" askedBillie. "Of course you could not violate your order of neutrality if youwere asleep."
"That's true."
"And then, again," explained Billie, "there is a dangerous man abroadtonight, who needs watching."
"How's that?"
"I saw an English-speaking foreigner give a Mexican ten thousand poundstonight 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 envelopehe had taken from Don Pablo's secretary.
"I couldn't swear to it yet," he said; "because I have not looked insidethis envelope; but, if I am not mistaken there is that sum in drafts onthe Bank of England in this envelope."
With trembling fingers he tore open the wrapper, and there, just as hehad 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," hesaid, "there is nothing to show by whom they were drawn. They are simplybank checks of one of the largest banks in New York on the Bank ofEngland, with whom they doubtless have a large account. They are madepayable to Pablo Ojeda, and, so far as the checks go to show, might havebeen purchased by Don Pablo himself. However, in the expert hands of theUnited States Secret Service, we may be able to find out whose moneythis really is."
At this information Billie's face fell.
"I thought I was doing a big thing," he muttered. "Now I see I mightbetter have followed the man."
"You have done a big thing," said the lieutenant; "and, to show myappreciation of what you have done, I am going to send all the picketsfor half a mile down the river to hunt the man. If any of your friendsshould slip across the river at that point, I shall not know it. Andnow, 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 beforedaylight."
Billie was not slow to take the hint, and started for the hotel. He hadnot gone twenty paces when the two troopers who had ridden in with himovertook him.
"Just tell Captain Peak," said one of them, "that there'll be ten of uswaiting for you down below the custom house. We'll be in ourshirt-sleeves, as it wouldn't do to be found dead in our uniforms ifanything should happen."
Billie's heart gave a great bound. "I see," he said. "You won't have towait long."
Five minutes later he was in Captain Peak's room telling his story. Inanother ten minutes the two of them emerged from the hotel and walkedswiftly down the street. In still another ten minutes, men who lookedlike cowboys, but each carrying a Winchester, might have been seen goingtoward the river below the custom house. Half an hour later the streetsagain took on a deserted appearance, save for the two or three policemenwho suddenly emerged from unknown quarters and resumed their beats.