A QUESTION OF NEUTRALITY.
So sudden had been Billie's assault and escape that it was several
minutes before those in and about the _hacienda_ could understand what
had occurred. But when they did at last comprehend, they started after
him 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, several
minutes before the pursuing Mexicans had reached the river, he had
unfastened the boat and launched it into the stream. With the aid of one
oar, which he used as a paddle, he was slowly disappearing in the gloom
when he heard the pursuers upon the bank. Several shots were fired at
him, but all went wild. In a few minutes he was within hailing distance
of the American shore.
Thinking it wise under the circumstances, he called aloud as he
approached land, and after two or three shouts received an answer from
the patrol.
Guiding the boat by the sound of the voices, he was soon ashore, where
he 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 shall
have to take you to headquarters."
"That's exactly what I want," declared Billie, "and the sooner the
better. 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 rangers
will help me!"
The corporal shook his head. "It would be a breach of neutrality," he
declared. "The President wouldn't stand for it, even if the commanding
officer did. It would cost him his commission; maybe something worse."
"We'll see," was Billie's only reply. "Now will you rush me to
headquarters?"
"You bet I will," replied the corporal, emphatically, and in almost no
time Billie was galloping toward Presidio in charge of a couple of
troopers.
Lieutenant Grant had turned in when the galloping horsemen drew rein in
front of his headquarters, half an hour later, but he quickly turned out
again when the troopers made known their errand.
"Well, well," he exclaimed, as he caught sight of Billie. "There must be
something serious to have caused you to make a report at this time of
night!"
"There is," was Billie's forcible reply. "The lives of my two companions
depend upon my getting assistance to rescue them from the
revolutionists!"
"Tell me about it," said the lieutenant, and Billie did so in the
shortest manner possible.
"What do you expect me to do?" asked the lieutenant, when he had
finished.
"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 States
might 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?" asked
Billie. "Of course you could not violate your order of neutrality if you
were asleep."
"That's true."
"And then, again," explained Billie, "there is a dangerous man abroad
tonight, who needs watching."
"How's that?"
"I saw an English-speaking foreigner give a Mexican ten thousand pounds
tonight 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 envelope
he had taken from Don Pablo's secretary.
"I couldn't swear to it yet," he said; "because I have not looked inside
this envelope; but, if I am not mistaken there is that sum in drafts on
the Bank of England in this envelope."
With trembling fingers he tore open the wrapper, and there, just as he
had 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," he
said, "there is nothing to show by whom they were drawn. They are simply
bank checks of one of the largest banks in New York on the Bank of
England, with whom they doubtless have a large account. They are made
payable to Pablo Ojeda, and, so far as the checks go to show, might have
been purchased by Don Pablo himself. However, in the expert hands of the
United States Secret Service, we may be able to find out whose money
this really is."
At this information Billie's face fell.
"I thought I was doing a big thing," he muttered. "Now I see I might
better have followed the man."
"You have done a big thing," said the lieutenant; "and, to show my
appreciation of what you have done, I am going to send all the pickets
for half a mile down the river to hunt the man. If any of your friends
should slip across the river at that point, I shall not know it. And
now, 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 before
daylight."
Billie was not slow to take the hint, and started for the hotel. He had
not gone twenty paces when the two troopers who had ridden in with him
overtook him.
"Just tell Captain Peak," said one of them, "that there'll be ten of us
waiting for you down below the custom house. We'll be in our
shirt-sleeves, as it wouldn't do to be found dead in our uniforms if
anything should happen."
Billie's heart gave a great bound. "I see," he said. "You won't have to
wait long."
Five minutes later he was in Captain Peak's room telling his story. In
another ten minutes the two of them emerged from the hotel and walked
swiftly down the street. In still another ten minutes, men who looked
like cowboys, but each carrying a Winchester, might have been seen going
toward the river below the custom house. Half an hour later the streets
again took on a deserted appearance, save for the two or three policemen
who suddenly emerged from unknown quarters and resumed their beats.