A NARROW ESCAPE.
Two days later the three boys sat on the verandah of Mr. Black's
commodious house awaiting the call to breakfast. Under escort of
Captain Lopez' men they had crossed the valley between Mr.
Black's and Gen. Blanco's the day after the night attack and had
spent the time since in getting a much needed rest.
"It's less than four days since we left the City of Mexico,"
remarked Donald, "but it seems like a month. I wonder how matters
stand at Vera Cruz?"
"From that telegram from Gen. Maas, that we took from the
lieutenant, Admiral Fletcher may have taken the city," said
Billie.
"I hope not," from Adrian.
"Why?" asked both the others.
"'Cause I'd like to be there when it happens."
"Yes, so would I," echoed Billie.
"If he has taken it," ventured Donald, "we may have difficulty
getting through the Mexican lines."
"Well, the best thing we can do," asserted Adrian, "is to get
somewhere and find out what is going on just as soon as we can."
The call to breakfast interrupted their conversation, but as soon
as they were seated at the table, they broached the matter to Mr.
Black.
"I expect you are right," he said, "but I'd like to have you stay
with me a while. It's mighty lonesome here for Josie and me."
"If we are at war with the Mexicans," remarked Billie, "this will
be an unhealthy place for an American, I imagine. I should think
you would want to take your daughter away from here."
"Oh, Josie and I are not afraid, are we, Josie?"
"No indeed, Dad. We are a match for a regiment of Mexicans when
we are on our own ground."
But in spite of the assertion made by Mr. Black he admitted to
the boys after breakfast when Josie was not present that he
wished his daughter was safe in Vera Cruz.
"Why don't you go with us?" asked Adrian. "We should be pleased
to act as an escort."
"Yes," echoed Billie. "We'll see you through."
"I'll tell you what I had thought of doing," said Mr. Black.
"It's only a good day's ride a-horseback to Moreno. We have many
friends there with whom I could leave her. If you boys would act
as an escort that far you would be no farther from Vera Cruz than
you are now and I believe you would have a better chance in
reaching the port over the Tierra Blanca division than on the
main line."
"Whether we would or not," replied Adrian, "we should be glad to
act as your escort."
"There is another thing in favor of that route," continued Mr.
Black. "The farther we keep from the main line of railroad, the
less likely we are to fall in with the Huerta forces. The
southern territory as far as Santa Lucrecia is practically in the
hands of Carranza."
"From what you say," was Donald's comment, "it is greatly to our
advantage to do as you wish. Let's consider the matter settled
and start at once."
"It's too late in the day to start now," was Mr. Black's reply.
"We shall wait until to-morrow morning and be on our way by
daylight. I don't want to be riding through the mountains after
dark. There are wild animals that are worse than the soldiers."
"As the Señora Blanco can testify," laughed Billie. "Every time I
think of what a close shave she had, it gives me a chill."
That afternoon Mr. Black brought out half a dozen horses for the
inspection of his guests.
"A day's ride on a strange horse isn't always an easy task," he
explained, "and I thought you might amuse yourself trying these.
You can each pick out the one that suits him best."
It was a task which suited the boys better than any they had
undertaken in days, and as they had not only Mr. Black, but Josie
and the General's wife for spectators, they were more than
pleased to show their dexterity after true cowboy fashion.
The remainder of the afternoon was therefore spent in riding,
throwing the lariat and in shooting, much to the gratification of
Mr. Black, who declared he had never seen a better exhibition of
its kind.
As a result of their experience, the boys picked out three
medium-sized horses, which Mr. Black emphatically stated showed
their good judgment of horse flesh, as completely as their riding
had proved their horsemanship.
They were all in the saddle early the following morning, Josie's
wound having healed sufficiently to permit her to ride without
danger.
Early morning in the tropics is the pleasantest time of the day,
and although the road from Mr. Black's hacienda to Moreno would take
them from an altitude of over four thousand feet down to about two
thousand feet above sea level, they would be sufficiently up in
the mountains to make riding fairly comfortable.
The route chosen took the little party first to the headquarters
of the Carranza force operating in that section. They were warmly
greeted by General Dorantes, the commanding officer, who
furnished them with a guard of four men and passes through the
lines, "if," he added as he bade them good luck, "you should find
it necessary to pass our lines. If my reports are correct, we are
in possession of all the territory to the south."
For hours the cavalcade rode on without incident, stopping only
long enough to partake of a mid-day meal at the hacienda of Don
Alvaro Flores, a friend of Mr. Black's. Late in the afternoon,
however, when about six miles from their destination, there came
to their ears the sound of heavy firing--of field pieces mingled
with the occasional roll of a machine gun.
They stopped and listened intently.
"Which direction do you make the firing to be?" asked Mr. Black
of the corporal in command of the escort.
"In the direction of Tierra Blanca, sir. It sounds as though our
forces might have been attacked."
"How will that affect our journey?"
"Hard to tell, sir. If we win, as we shall, the enemy may fall
back toward Santa Lucrecia, or they may retreat toward Moreno. If
you will take my advice, you will halt here until the action is
over."
The advice seemed most excellent and the cavalcade came to a halt
and the riders dismounted to give themselves a much-needed rest.
The firing lasted something like twenty minutes, then suddenly
ceased, with the exception of an occasional "Boom!"
"It sounds as though we had beaten them off," said the corporal.
"Is there any way that we can tell in which direction they have
retreated?"
"Only by a reconnoiter."
"Which is our long suit," declared Billie. "You just stay here
with the guard, Mr. Black, and we three will soon have a report."
Looking to their arms, with which they had been well supplied by
their host before leaving the hacienda, the boys rode forward
toward an elevation something like a mile distant. From this they
hoped to get a view of the country.
There was a fairly level road and they dashed along at a good
rate despite their long ride. The horses were as hard as iron and
the boys did not know the meaning of the word tired.
Reaching the top of the hill, they found a space, from which they
could see clear across the valley through which ran the railroad
from Santa Lucrecia to Vera Cruz. To the right, some miles away,
they could see a good-sized little city which their common sense
told them must be Tierra Blanca. To the left, but nearer, was the
smaller town of Moreno, for which they were headed.
Between the two towns, and coming directly toward them, was a
band of galloping horsemen, probably one hundred or more in
number.
"Great Scott!" was Billie's ejaculation as he caught sight of the
horsemen, "they're coming right at us."
"I believe you are right," from Donald. "They seem to be on this
very road."
"What would you take them to be?" was Billie's next question.
"Give it up," replied Donald.
"I'll bet I can make a good guess," said Adrian. "They are a
flying column of Huerta cavalry, sent out to test the Carranza
lines. They have paid their respects to Tierra Blanca and now
they are headed for Cordoba."
"They'll never get there," said Billie. "They'll run into General
Dorante's men."
"But if it's a surprise, they'll cut their way through."
"It's up to us to see that it is not a surprise!" cried Donald.
"Come on!" and he turned and dashed back the road they had come.
In less than five minutes they were where they had left their
companions. In another two minutes they had told their story and
in another minute the corporal and his men were on their way back
toward General Dorante's headquarters.
"It's only a question of whose horses are the best," said Mr.
Black. "And now let us to cover."
Leaving the highway, the Americans turned sharply to the left and
dashed for the shelter of a piece of woodland something like a
half a mile away. Pell-mell they went over rocks and shrubs,
regardless of themselves or their horses, and succeeded in
reaching the friendly cover just about three minutes before the
cavalry came into sight over the hill.
"We're all right now," said Mr. Black, "if the troopers will
stick to the road, but if they should take it into their heads to
scatter, we might have trouble."
With eager eyes the boys watched the oncoming horsemen, prepared
to flee for their lives if they should be discovered, as they
realized how useless would be any resistance.
Nearer and nearer they came until the leaders were at the very
spot they had just left, and then with a rush they passed by,
turning neither to the right nor to the left.
Every one in the party heaved a deep sigh of relief.
"It's a wonder some of them didn't stop," said Billie.
"Oh, I don't know," laughed Adrian. "Look yonder," and he pointed
to the brow of the hill, where another, but much smaller body of
horsemen had appeared. "They evidently didn't intend to have
their mission interfered with by fighting a rear-guard skirmish."
"I think the best thing we can do," said Mr. Black, "is to
surrender ourselves to the pursuers. They are evidently
Carranzistas and our passes will protect us."
Breaking off a piece of bamboo, Mr. Black tied a handkerchief to
it and raising it above his head the little party rode out of the
woods. They were sighted at once and a party of horsemen dashed
toward them, and surrounded them.
It was as they had expected and Gen. Dorantes' passes were
immediately recognized by the officer in command. He was much
pleased at the information given him concerning the corporal and
thanked the boys in the name of Gen. Carranza for their good
offices. He furthermore detached an escort of a dozen men to see
that they reached Moreno in safety and commended them to the care
of the jefe politico, with the verbal instruction that the boys
be allowed to proceed on their way to Vera Cruz at their will.