A DANGEROUS MISSION.
Of course both Donald and Billie had heard of the Texas Rangers, that
daring body of the Texas militia which has done so much in maintaining
law and order along the Mexican frontier, as well as in the lawless
communities farther interior. This, however, was their first
introduction to the rangers, and they gazed at the riders with
considerable astonishment, their appearance not being such as would give
a stranger a very good opinion of their law-abiding character.
"Texas Rangers," finally exclaimed Donald, in a tone that indicated some
doubt. "Then what are you doing this side of the Rio Grande?"
"Well, I declare," responded Captain Peak, looking around at his men
with a twinkle in his eye, "we must have crossed the river without
seeing it. We'd better get back just as fast as we can."
"That's right, Cap.," replied one of the men, "but you wouldn't think of
leaving these poor fellows lying on the ground, would you?"
"Sure not. Just pick them up, some of you, and we'll get right back to
our own side of the river."
The words were no sooner spoken than several of the men sprang to the
ground. The two Mexicans were quickly thrown across the backs of a
couple of horses, and the rangers prepared to return.
The boys had heard the words of the captain, and watched the proceedings
without a word, realizing by the captain's manner that the affair was
more serious than he let on. As the men again resumed their saddles, and
the captain was about to mount, Donald thought it high time to ask
further questions; but he hadn't decided just what to say before Captain
Peak asked:
"How did you boys happen to be chasing these greasers?"
"They were stealing our mule--that big one there," replied Donald,
pointing to old Bray. "You can see he has the Keystone brand, the same
as our horses," and he indicated the marks upon Jupiter and Wireless.
"Then you'd better cut him out and come along with us," said Captain
Peak. "This won't be a very healthy place for you much longer."
"No?" And the boys looked at the captain inquiringly.
"No; there's going to be trouble along the border, and it may break out
any minute. That's why these horse-thieves are so bold; and that's why
we are on this side the river, where we really have no business. But
these fellows have become such a nuisance that when we saw them leaving
the _casa_ a little while ago we couldn't resist the chance of getting
them. We shall turn them over to the Mexican authorities at the first
opportunity, and I hope you boys will be on hand to give your testimony
against them."
"If they are really horse-thieves," replied Donald, "we shall be glad to
help bring them to justice; but we are only travelers, and don't wish to
be delayed on our journey any longer than necessary. We have a companion
and another mule back there in the chaparral."
"All right," replied Captain Peak, "we'll ride back that way and see
that no one disturbs you. Then we'll all get into town as soon as
possible. It's only six or seven miles."
Acting upon Captain Peak's advice, the boys cut old Bray out from the
rest of the drove, and in company with the rangers, galloped back toward
the place where they had left Adrian. It is hard to say which was the
greater, his pleasure at seeing his companions with old Bray in their
possession, or his surprise at the numerous company that was with them.
As they rode leisurely toward Presidio, after crossing to the American
shore, Donald explained to Captain Peak how they happened to be so far
from home. He was much interested in their story, and when they reached
town introduced them to the officials, both civil and military. The
captured horse-thieves were locked up in jail and the boys went home
with Captain Peak, who invited them to spend the night with him at the
hotel.
"I tell you," exclaimed Billie, as they sat on the porch that evening
after supper, "a woman's cooking surely does taste good! Why, just
think, we haven't had a bite for most a month that we didn't cook
ourselves."
The following morning the boys were awakened by a big commotion outside,
and, looking down the street toward the jail, saw that it was surrounded
by a great crowd. They hastily dressed themselves and rushed out of the
hotel. Almost the first man they met was Captain Peak.
"What's the matter?" asked Billie.
"There has been an attempt to rescue the prisoners, but it did not
succeed."
"Who did it?" queried Adrian.
"We are not exactly sure, as the rescuers mounted their horses as soon
as they were discovered, and managed to get away. Some of the rangers
are after them, however, and I hope will get a trace of them."
"They must have been pretty bold to come into a town as big as this,"
said Donald.
"So they are; but, as I told you yesterday, there is likely to be a lot
of trouble the other side of the river, and the authorities are having
their hands full looking after possible revolutionists. As a result
lesser culprits go free."
"That must make a lot of trouble on this side," suggested Adrian.
"It does, for, in addition to watching for horse and cattle thieves, we
have to keep our eyes open for gun runners."
"What do you mean?" asked Billie. "What are gun runners?"
"Would-be revolutionists, who smuggle quantities of arms into Mexico
without the knowledge of the Mexican officials."
"I didn't know it was our business to stop that. I thought anybody could
buy arms to sell in Mexico?" said Adrian.
"So they can; but these arms would not be for sale. They would be for
arming bands of men to overturn the government. We are under no
obligation to stop it, but, as we want law and order along the border,
we always try to help the Mexican authorities," explained Captain Peak.
"But there come my men now," he continued, as several horsemen turned
into the main street.
The boys crowded around with others to hear the result of the chase,
which the men reported to have been fruitless.
"If we could only have chased them over the river we could have captured
them," declared the sergeant in charge, "but, after the little raid
yesterday, we thought we'd better not try it."
Seeing that there was likely to be no more excitement, the crowd
dispersed and the boys went into the hotel for breakfast; but when they
came out they found Captain Peak waiting for them.
"How would you boys like to do a little scout duty for me over the
river?" he asked.
"Scout duty?" repeated Donald. "I don't think I understand."
"Draw up some chairs," replied the captain, "and I'll explain."
The boys did as directed, and the captain continued:
"I've been interested a whole lot in the adventures you boys have had,
and I can see you are a smart bunch. You said you were willing to stay
and help convict the cattle thieves, but we can't arrange to turn them
over to the Mexican officials and have their trial before tomorrow, no
matter how fast we act. The Mexican always wants to wait till tomorrow."
"Now, as long as you will be here a day or two, anyway, I thought maybe
you would like to take a little excursion across the Rio Grande, and see
how people live on that side. If you kept your eyes open, you might see
something that would be useful to me."
"In what way?" queried Adrian.
Captain Peak drew his chair a bit nearer and looked all around to be
sure no one was listening.
"It is like this," he continued. "President Madero has discovered that
there is a real plot on foot to start another revolution and overthrow
his government. Arms for the revolutionists would have to come from this
side of the river. As a revolution is unlawful, carrying arms across the
Rio Grande to help a revolution is unlawful, and he has asked Uncle Sam
and the State of Texas to prevent any guns or ammunition from going into
Mexico which do not go through the Mexican custom house."
"It looks to me," broke in Billie, "as though that was the business of
the Mexican government."
"So it is," replied Captain Peak, "but as long as Mexico is a friendly
nation it is also our business to prevent filibustering--and that is what
gun running amounts to.
"There is also another reason for helping to prevent this sort of
smuggling. We frequently have to ask the Mexican government to aid us in
running down outlaws who escape into that country. If we don't help
them, they won't help us. So you can see, if we can learn anything about
this revolutionary movement, it will be a good thing. You boys, because
you are strangers and travelers, are just the ones to help. What do you
say?"
For several moments the boys said nothing, but finally Donald replied
that if the captain would give them a few minutes to talk the matter
over between themselves, they would be able to let him know.
"All right," was the reply, "I've an appointment with the mayor, which
will give you all the time you need," and he left the hotel to keep his
appointment.
"Well," remarked Billie, as the captain disappeared around the corner,
"what do you think of that?"
"I don't think anything of it," replied Donald. "I've no liking for that
kind of work."
"Why not?" queried Adrian.
"I don't know. I just haven't, that's all."
"You'd like to prevent war, wouldn't you?"
"Sure," was Donald's emphatic rejoinder; "but I can't see how this trip
can prevent war."
"I don't know as it would," said Adrian, "but, if we could do anything
which would keep a lot of dissatisfied peons from getting guns and going
out and killing people, it seems to me we would be doing a good deed."
"That's just the way it seems to me," declared Billie. "The average
Mexican who wants to start a revolution looks to me a good deal like the
fellows who stole our mule."
"Not necessarily," replied Adrian. "Sometimes revolutions are started by
men to overthrow a bad government. But my mother has always taught me
there was a better way to right a wrong than to go to war over it.
That's why I am in favor of doing all we can to help those who want to
prevent trouble."
"Of course if you put it that way," said Donald, "I've no objection to
the excursion, as the captain calls it."
When Captain Peak returned, they unanimously announced their readiness
for the trip, and, half an hour later, fully instructed as to what was
expected of them, they were across the Rio Grande, engaged upon what
proved to be the most important adventure of their career.