CHAPTER XXIX.
IN THE DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN.
Promptly at the appointed hour--the darkest hour in the wholetwenty-four, the hour before dawn--Pancho Villa appeared at the door ofGeneral Sanchez's headquarters. Almost simultaneously General Sanchezappeared in the doorway.
"Is everything in readiness?" he inquired, as he recognized Villa.
"Everything but the men, general."
"They are also ready," was the response. "I regret that there are onlyfifty; but they are well officered, and will do whatever they are told.They are the pick of my force."
Villa saluted, but made no reply.
"Don't you think them sufficient?"
"No, general; but I hope for reinforcements!"
"I am afraid you will not receive them. But where is the Americanyouth?"
"He has gone across the river, general."
"Across the river? You don't mean he has deserted his comrades?"
"No, general. He has gone for reinforcements!"
"Oh! I see," and General Sanchez shrugged his shoulders.
"But I am afraid they will not come," continued Villa. "The pickets onboth sides of the river are very alert tonight."
"Do you know where the Americans expect to cross?"
"I can only guess, general."
"Perhaps you will guess aloud."
"I should guess they might cross below the ferry."
"Very well."
He turned to an orderly who stood ready to ride at a moment's notice:"Go tell Captain Rodriguez that if a band of refugees should seek toland from the American shore they are to be allowed to passunquestioned." Then to Villa: "Is that all?"
"Yes, general."
"Very well, go! You will find your force down by the water's edge. Theassault upon the revolutionists' lines will begin in half an hour!"
But, in the meantime, what of Donald and Adrian?
When the revolutionists headed by Don Rafael had broken into the houseand the boys were taken prisoners, they had been as greatly surprised atthe disappearance of Billie as had the others; but it did not takeDonald long to figure out what had happened. Of course he did not knowthat Billie was hearing all that was going on, but he felt sure that hewas safe.
At the first opportunity he had explained to Adrian his solution of themystery, and both had confidence that in some way Billie would bringabout their escape, although they could not see how.
Because of this confidence they kept a bold front, but it must beadmitted that they thought their last hour had come when Don Rafael haddeclared that he would have them shot immediately. When he gave ordersto suddenly leave the place, they were much mystified, not knowing thata guilty conscience had filled him with a great fear.
After leaving the place where they were captured, the boys were firstescorted to the _cuartel_ by a shouting, howling mob. Here they wereexamined by a petty officer. After that they were conducted into thepresence of the commanding general and again examined with a view tofinding out what their mission really was. Finally, they were turnedover to a corporal, and after several hours were locked up in a room inthe barracks to await further action.
"Well!" exclaimed Adrian, as soon as they were left alone. "This seemsthe most serious situation in which we have ever found ourselves!"
"Possibly so," replied Donald; "but we know that Billie is at work toget us out."
"We certainly do," affirmed Adrian; "just as he knew we were at work torescue him when he was captured by the smugglers; but it is going to bea great deal harder to get to us, with a battle line all around us. Formy part, the situation seems hopeless."
"'While there is life there is hope,' says the old proverb," declaredDonald, "and we are very much alive."
"Yes, and able to put up a fight if we had a chance; but what chance isthere, when we have been deprived of our arms, and will be taken fromthis room by a file of soldiers? No, old man"--and there was a visibletremor in Adrian's voice--"I'm afraid our time has come."
He bowed his face in his hands, and for some minutes both the boys weresilent. Then Adrian straightened up, and, looking Donald squarely in theface, said:
"If it comes to the worst, I am not afraid to die. It will be in theservice of our country and a man can die but once."
"That's the way to talk," said Donald. "No matter what happens, we mustbe brave. If we die, it will be like Americans!"
He put out his hand, which was warmly clasped by Adrian.
"It shall be as you say," he declared. "But I shall not give up hopetill the very last minute."
They were still standing with hands clasped, when they heard the keygrate in the lock. They turned quickly at the sound, and, although itwas still an hour until day, and, in spite of their determination to bebrave, for a moment their cheeks paled.
But their time was not yet.
Instead of the file of soldiers which they feared they might see, theirvisitor proved to be Don Rafael.
"So!" he exclaimed, as he noticed the pallor upon their faces, "you arenot so brave as you would have me think!" and he laughed scornfully.
The boys made no reply and he continued:
"You thought you would trap me, did you? You thought I wouldn'trecognize you as the ones who upset my plans at the cave? You are tooyoung, my friends, to catch an old fox like me!"
"We may be," said Donald, "but, if anything happens to us, there arethose who will make you pay dearly."
"Bah!" and Don Rafael snapped his fingers. "That for your friends! Ihave been in too many affairs to be bluffed by a couple of striplings."
"Just as you please," replied Donald, "but what I say is true. Why, atthis minute they are on their way here!"
As he spoke, there was the boom of a cannon from the outskirts of thecity, followed almost immediately by the crash of rifles.
"Perhaps you think those are your friends," laughed Don Rafael. "If sothey will meet with a warm reception."
"They'll be here before daybreak," said Adrian.
"You think so?" exclaimed Don Rafael, and he regarded the boys with acrafty expression. "Well, perhaps you are right, and so, to avoid anydanger of your escape, we will not wait until daylight for yourexecution."
He stepped to the door of the guard room and called:
"Don Carlos!"
A moment later that young gentleman appeared.
"Send me a sergeant and a file of soldiers," ordered Don Rafael. "I havedecided not to wait until daylight. The execution will take place atonce in the _patio_."
"It has come!" said Donald aside to Adrian. "Be brave!"
Silently they once more clasped hands, and awaited the coming of thesoldiers, while Don Rafael eyed them savagely.
"I'll teach you," he exclaimed, "to interfere with my plans. It willserve as a lesson to other Americans!"
Then, as the tramp of feet was heard on the stone pavement without:"Here they come! Now, then, get ready," and he stepped aside, so as notto obstruct the doorway.
The boys threw back their shoulders, and looked the man squarely in theface. His eyes fell before their honest gaze, and he turned his headwith a muttered oath.
At the same moment there was a crash of rifles, which seemed at the verydoor, and the sergeant, who had just appeared in the doorway, fell witha groan.
"_Caramba!_ What is it?" yelled Don Rafael.
He dashed across the room toward the door, as a hearty American"Hurrah!" followed by a regular cowboy yell was heard without.
At the sound Don Rafael turned as white as his dusky color would permit.He drew his revolver from his holster, and backed slowly into the room,with his eye fastened upon the doorway.
So sudden had been the change in affairs, that for a moment the twoBroncho Rider Boys stood stupefied; but, as Don Rafael slowly retreated,their wits returned.
"Grab him!" shouted Donald.
At the cry Don Rafael turned quickly upon the boys, revolver in hand.
"So," he exclaimed, "this is your work, too! Well, it is your la
st!"
Slowly he raised his weapon as though to enjoy the full measure of hisrevenge. Then, as his finger pressed the trigger, there was anothercrash of rifles. Both boys threw themselves flat upon the floor, and thebullet from Don Rafael's revolver buried itself in the adobe wall.
Before he could take a second aim, a tall figure in peon's garb spranginto the room.
It was Pancho Villa.
One glance told the story. Without a moment's warning his revolvercracked, and Don Rafael pitched forward to the floor, dead.
The next instant a dozen Americans, headed by Billie, rushed into theroom.