A NIGHT OF WATCHING
Rube and Buck, accompanied by Alex and Jule, passed through the rain
with no thought but that of capturing the counterfeiters in their minds.
The rain fell steadily, making a great patter on the leaves of the
forest trees, so conversation was difficult.
"They have chosen a fine locality for the job," suggested Buck, pausing
to wipe the sweat from his face. "This certainly is a section of country
where they are not likely to receive many visitors."
"That's right," Jule agreed. "This spot makes one think of graveyards
and ghosts!"
The steady click of metal now came more distinctly, and presently a
light was discernible through the trees. Then the party halted for
consultation, standing close together to avoid being overheard. There
was no knowing how many trees sheltered listeners.
It was finally decided that Rube and Alex should proceed to the right,
while Buck and Jule took the opposite direction.
"We sure can surround 'em, anyway, and we may be able to capture a few
of 'em!" Rube suggested. "Mighty slippery people, these gentlemen who
make bogus coin!" he added, snapping off his searchlight.
The snapping off of the light made the forest as dark as a pocket, but
this condition existed for only a few minutes, for the light of a great
fire in a cave of large size shone out upon the stealthily advancing
men.
"It strikes me," commented Alex, "that they've got a heap of nerve to
build a fire like that. How do they know who'll be passing along here?"
Rube chuckled softly.
"You are in Mexico now, son, where the people wink at all the crimes in
the book of laws. Besides, these people are about as likely to have
callers as pigs are to fly!"
"Well, we've got to the nest, now how are we to get inside?" asked Alex,
wrinkling his nose in perplexity. "We might rush in on 'em, quick, and
catch 'em with the goods!"
"Watch, and wait for Buck and Jule to come up," was the slow reply.
"They may be able to suggest some plan. Whatever you do, be careful.
These people shoot quick and straight. The first thing you know, you
won't know anything!"
They waited a long time for Buck and Jule, but at last they came, having
taken a route which led to the other side of the rocky elevation which
formed the base of the cave. It was only by the quick display of a
searchlight that Rube and Alex located their chums.
Then a long conference was held, Jule and Alex being in favor of rushing
the place and taking it by storm, while Buck and Rube were more
conservative.
"Don't you boys get us into any place we can't get out of," said Rube,
with a little laugh. "If we go into that cave we are likely to do just
that very thing!"
"All right," replied Alex, "if you want to sneak in just go on and we'll
follow!"
There were four men in the cave, all so busy over their work that they
did not have time to grab a single weapon for their own defense, so the
fight which followed was very short.
Rube felled one of the four with a blow of his fist, and the others
yielded to the persuasions of the automatics. When all were tied up, and
after the boys had searched the cavern for more, another consultation
was held.
"I wonder if they are all here?" Alex said, regarding the captured
prisoners with a smile. "Call the roll, someone who knows all the names!
I pass on these Mexican names!"
The boy's question called forth only sullen looks and scowls. It was
easy to see what would have been the fate of the boys had the conditions
been reversed.
Both Buck and Rube understood a few words of Spanish, and tried their
best to enter into conversation with their prisoners, but all their
questions were answered by scowling looks.
A search of the cave revealed a complete counterfeiter's assortment of
tools and dies used in the work, together with considerable silver. The
dies were destroyed, and as much of the silver as could be carried
without inconvenience appropriated.
"What are you going to do with the silver?" asked Alex.
"Oh, it will come in handy, all right!" answered Buck. "Mexican law
provides for turning it over to the government, but as there is no
government to speak of, we'll just geezle it! If we turn it over to the
people who have charge of the government, there is no knowing whether it
will ever get into circulation."
Once more they tried to talk with the prisoners, but received only
scowls in reply. So they gave up the attempt and began the return trip.
"This capture has been an easy one," was Jule's comment, as the boys
walked along in the rear of the two men who were taking good care that
the captured men did not escape. "A little bit too easy!"
"Why too easy?"
"Oh, we may have trouble yet," was Jule's reply.
It did look that way to the boys. The prisoners kept an eye out for a
chance to make a run for it.
Now and then one of them halted for an instant to listen, but, hearing
nothing, walked on again.
"That fellow is expecting someone to rescue him," Alex said, after some
distance had been passed. "Anyhow, we are too near the boats now for any
attempt at rescue to prove successful."
"How do you know that?" demanded Jule. "The boats are no protection. If
we find them as we usually have, they'll need help from us. What's
that?"
The prisoners had made a break for liberty, and, taking advantage of a
rocky spot where walking was very difficult, had darted off, bound as
they were. Buck and Rube fired several shots, but the men ran all the
faster.
At last two of the men were found, lying hidden under a bush, but the
others could not be discovered, though the lads searched all around.
"We're lucky to have these two left!" Alex said with a grin. "If the
others don't attack us before we get to the boats, we'll be lucky. Our
searchlights make a good mark!"
"And they can hear the noise we make going through the bushes a mile
off!" added Jule.
"Suppose we go on ahead and search the river?" proposed Alex. "We can
run up and down the stream, anyway. The stars are shining, and the light
is fine. Then we can take the _Rambler_ and run her up and down stream.
I've got a hunch that they will make for the river and try to cross to
the American side."
"I don't see why they should do that," was the reply. "There are plenty
of mountains, or high ground at least, for them to hide in. But you may
be right. We'll try the river first."
After searching the bank of the river, the boys made for the _Rambler_,
crossed the _Esmeralda_, and went on board. There they found the surgeon
bending over the injured man and everything in confusion.
"What's doing here?" asked Jule.
Then Clay told the story of the attack on the boat and how Captain Joe
came to the rescue.
"Good dog!" cried Alex, stroking the dog's head. "Don't you, none of
you, ever call him a no-account cur again! This makes two men he has
pulled down lately. That is a fair record for a cur dog, don't you
think?"
"Captain Joe is a peach of a dog!" cut in Jule. "I shall never forget
how he jumped that river pirate who was lighting the match to bum my
feet!"
"Do you know who this man is?" asked Clay, after a short pause, during
which the dog was petted and caressed to his heart's content. "Give a
guess."
The boys made a close examination of the man's features, but they were
so bloody that identification was difficult, if not impossible.
"I give it up!" said Alex.
"So do I!" chorused Jule.
Then the surgeon told who the injured man was, and the boys expressed
great satisfaction.
"We'll see that he don't get away a second time," Clay declared. "He's a
tricky chap, but he will stay put now. By the way, where's Case--on the
_Esmeralda_, I take it."
Clay and Paul looked at each other with sober eyes.
"Case left the boat two hours ago," answered Clay. "He said he was going
to look for the fish you boys left, and should have been back within
half an hour."
"He seems to be setting up a rivalry to Alex," laughed Paul. "That boy
certainly can have more adventures in less time than any boy in the wide
world!"
"Oh, Clay can go some in that line!" laughed Alex, "but where do you
think the boy is?"
"Why didn't Captain Joe go with him?" asked Jule.
"Because the dog needs rest," replied Clay. "He has had a hard time of
it, haven't you, Joe?" caressing the dog as he spoke. "And your wound
hasn't healed yet, and you ought to be in the hospital! Tell him that
you are in no shape to go chasing over the country looking for lost
fish!"
The dog made the explanation as plainly as it could be made by one not
having the gift of speech, and the boys all laughed and looked pleased.
"You are worth a dozen dead dogs yet!" declared Alex.
"I'd like to know which way Case went," wondered Jule. "We saw nothing
of him."
"Perhaps Rube and Buck will bring him with them," Clay said hopefully.
"Doesn't it take a long time to bring those two captives in?" asked
Thede, still busy over the injured man, who was now beginning to show
signs of returning consciousness.
"That's just what I was thinking," Alex exclaimed.
The boys looked in every direction except at each other. There was in
the eyes of every one of them a premonition of evil which he did not
want the others to see!
"The moon is coming up now, let's go and look for them!" suggested Jule.
"I want to put on a dry suit, then I'll be ready."
"It strikes me that we have no time to waste, if we want to overhaul the
United States Marshal and the Sheriff," Alex declared. "And we might
give a thought to Case while we are out looking the others up. Beats the
dickens how we do get scattered!"
"All right," agreed Jule, "if you want to start right now. I'm ready,
only it won't do you any good to tell how hungry you are before you've
gone a mile. If you drag me off without a chance to change my clothes,
I'll see that you don't get anything to eat until we get back!"
"But suppose I should find the fish, what about that?" Alex replied,
starting away.
The moon was up above the tops of the trees now, and was at the full. It
was a splendid night, and the boys enjoyed it greatly as they hastened
along.
"Which way?" asked Jule.
"I don't know," replied Alex. "The counterfeiters' cave is downstream,
but the two men who were found in hiding under a bush gave them a run
before they were caught, and I'm all at sea."
"Which way did Case go?"
"Again I don't know."
"Well, we must decide on something pretty soon or it will be morning
before we reach a conclusion," Jule suggested.
That was a long night for those who remained on the _Rambler_. The hours
dragged slowly, with no word from the boys.
Thede dressed the wounded man's throat and got him into an improvised
bed. Then he sat down to await news from the boys. The night passed and
the sun rose in a cloudless sky.
"I feel like taking up the search myself," Clay exclaimed. "The boys are
probably doing all that anyone could do, yet I think I could do better.
I've a good notion to see what I could do!"
"And leave us alone? I guess not!"
It was Paul who spoke, but the very next moment something occurred which
gave a new light to the situation.
Rube came back, weary and worn, but he came alone!