GAINING AN ALLY
Before mounting guard, however, Tom thought of their horses, a detail
which the boys had forgotten in the quick march of events. He and Bob
descended the slope, brought the animals into the valley where there
was grass along the bed of a little stream trickling from a spring,
and a few trees that provided shade. The horses were hobbled to
prevent wandering too far, and then left to do as they pleased. They
pleased, every one, to lie down at once and roll.
Upon their return to the cave, after Bob first had inspected the
airplane and found it in tiptop condition and stocked with gas and
oil, Tom mounted guard while the boys carried out their intention of
taking Stone into the inner room for a conference.
Stone made matters easy for all concerned by speaking first, as soon
as they all were out of earshot of Morales and Von Arnheim, and
telling the boys he had guessed their identities.
"Of course, I don't know your names," he said, "but I reckon one of
you is the son of that American bigbug old Calomares is holding
prisoner up at his ranch. And the rest of you are his pals."
Bob's face fell. He had believed their identities were unsuspected. If
this man could draw so clever a deduction, then their two other
prisoners could do likewise. Moreover, if they carried out their
original plan and went to rebel headquarters to enlist, would they not
there, too, be suspected?
"Do the others guess who we are?" he asked.
"Don't know," said Stone. "I haven't been given much chance to talk to
'em, have I? But that German is smart, and he may suspect. But"--and
with this statement he set at rest a part of Bob's fears--"my bed is
pretty close to this room an' I have pretty good ears. I overheard
some things that Morales and Von Arnheim couldn't hear, especially
when you used the radio to call your father. Anyhow, I thought it was
your father. Mostly you spoke in code, but I heard you call him 'Dad'
a couple of times."
The three chums looked at each other, nonplussed. Stone laughed.
"Until I made out who you were," he said, "I thought you were some
wild-eyed kids looking for adventure an' comin' to the right place to
find it. But once I got a suspicion, it was easy to figure out the
rest. You see, I knew about your owning the airplane that Von Arnheim
stole, an' about your radio stations. When you started the generator
that showed me you knew something about radio, an' that was another
clue.
"So I just put two an' two together. Anyhow, it finally came to me who
you were. Am I right?"
"Yes," said Jack, taking the initiative as Stone concluded, "you are
correct. It is my father who is held prisoner by the Mexicans, and
these are my chums."
Jack regarded the other searchingly.
"We're in trouble," he said, simply, "and we need help that you could
give us. How closely are you tied up with the rebels? You're an
American and we are Americans. Does that mean anything to you?"
"Yes, kid, it does," said Stone. Despite the fact that he was only
seven or eight years older than the three chums, he had led a roving
life that had given him a world of experience and an older viewpoint,
and he persisted in regarding them as youngsters. "I'm strong for the
good old U.S.A.," he continued.
"But don't get me wrong. These are fine people down here, and don't
you believe they ain't. Their standards aren't American standards
either in manners or politics. But, just the same, they're good folks,
and don't you let anybody tell you different. I wouldn't turn against
them for anything. So, although your fathers have lots of
money"--here he looked fixedly at Bob, who felt uncomfortable
remembering his father's authorization to offer Stone money to help
them--"well, don't offer me any, that's all."
Bob was silent, but Jack again stepped into the breach.
"Good for you," he said warmly. "I'm glad to hear you talk that way.
But"--and here Jack paused impressively--"suppose the imprisonment of
my father threatened the peace and prosperity of the 'good old U.S.A.'
as you call it. What then?"
Stone looked troubled.
"See here," he said. "What are you driving at?"
"Shall we tell him what Mr. Temple says is behind all this?" Jack
asked his companions.
Bob and Frank nodded agreement.
"Well," began Jack, "it's this way." Thereupon he proceeded to relate
Mr. Temple's theory that the attacks on the independent oil operators,
the capturing of Mr. Hampton and the attempt engineered by Rollins and
Remedios to capture himself, were all part of a plan to embroil the
United States government with President Obregon, as the responsible
head of the country whence the outrages originated.
"And Mr. Temple says," concluded Jack, "that if the two countries did
come to war, it would hurt us very much with all Latin-America."
"Sure would," agreed Stone thoughtfully. "I've knocked about among
these Spanish-American republics for years, an' they all look on the
little old U.S.A. as a dollar-chaser and a bully." He was silent for a
moment, and when he resumed, he said: "Look here. What you've just
told me makes a big difference. You haven't said yet what you are out
to do. But I can make a pretty good guess. You're going to try to
rescue your father without letting the American authorities know
anything about it. Am I right?"
Jack nodded.
"Well, I'll help you," said Stone. "I know where he is and how to get
him, an' I'll tell you all I know."
"Hurray," yelled Frank, the impulsive.
Jack and Bob contented themselves with grasping Stone's hand warmly.
Realizing Stone still was bound, Bob pulled out a pocket knife and
started to cut his bonds, but Stone made him desist.
"Keep this dark from Von Arnheim and Morales," he said. "And keep me
tied up. They may suspect I'm throwing in with you, but I don't want
'em to know. I want to be able to make a getaway, because these parts
won't be very pleasant for me hereafter."
"That's right," said Bob. "Well, even if you won't take money, you'll
have to let my father or Mr. Hampton help you in some way, with a job
or something."
Stone smiled tolerantly.
"Buddy," said he, "getting along is the least of my troubles."
With Stone's aid won, the boys now set about learning from him how
matters stood at the Calomares ranch.
For hours they continued to talk, so absorbed that they did not
realize the flight of time until Tom Bodine came to inform them the
sun was near setting and to ask what they intended to do that night.
By then, however, they had obtained from Stone all the information he
could give them, which was considerable; Bob had had another talk by
radio with his father, and a plan for further proceedings had been
worked out.
Jack and Bob were to make the attempt at the rescue of Mr. Hampton
alone. They were to fly to the Calomares ranch in the airplane with
Bob at the wheel, as Jack was not so experienced a flyer. Bob, on the
other hand, knew his machine thoroughly, and was familiar with its
every trick, a knowledge much to be desired as airplanes even more
than motor cars and ships develop temperament and have got to be
"humored," so to speak.
Frank rebelled at the part assigned him. He was to stay behind at the
cave with Tom Bodine and Roy Stone, guarding the prisoners, Morales
and Von Arnheim. When they had rescued Mr. Hampton, Jack and Bob would
take him in the airplane and start flying to the Hampton ranch.
By means of the radio in the airplane, which could send 150 to 200
miles, although it could receive messages from a much greater
distance, the Hamptons and Bob would notify the party left behind in
the cave. Then Frank, Tom Bodine and Stone would ride for the border
on horseback. Morales and Von Arnheim would be left bound so as to
prevent their giving an alarm or offering any interference with the
programme. After the party had been given time to make its way well
along toward the border, rebel headquarters was to be notified by
radio from the Hampton ranch of the location of the prisoners. The
latter would, therefore, suffer nothing but inconvenience.
"But what fun do I get out of this?" lamented Frank, enviously
regarding Bob and Jack. "You fellows get all the fun and all the
glory. I ride tamely back to the ranch."
"It is hard luck, Frank," said Bob. "But your shoulder is sore and
aching from your fight last night, and I'm in better condition to
operate the plane. Besides, you know we can't take you, as the plane
will hold only three and when we get Mr. Hampton we'll have our full
complement. Some one of us has to stay behind. You've had your share
of the fun so far, anyhow, and your turn will come again."
"I don't see it," said Frank. "It looks to me as if when you rescue
Mr. Hampton the fun will all be over. But that's the way with you big
bullies. Always picking on the little fellow."
"Well, you see," said Bob mischievously, "I've got to keep you out of
danger for Della's sake. Ouch! Wow! Letup. Can't you take a joke."
For, lame shoulder notwithstanding, Frank leaped and, bowling the big
fellow out of his chair, got astride of his writhing body and began to
pummel him.