BILLIE GETS A SURPRISE.
When Billie found himself looking into the muzzle of a rifle in
the hands of Santiago, his first impulse was to call out; but the
expression on Santiago's face caused him to remain silent.
While the strange man owed his life to the lad, as is related in
the story of the "Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers,"
there was that in the man's face which told that he was under a
severe mental strain, and Billie did not think it wise to presume
upon his former friendship.
Therefore, he remained quiet, waiting for Santiago to speak.
If he recognized Billie, he gave no intimation of the fact; but
in a harsh voice commanded: "Up with your hands!"
Billie obeyed.
"Turn to the left and march. In there," he continued a moment
later as Billie approached an open door in the rear of the patio.
Into the house Billie went--into a large room, but dimly lighted.
Santiago followed, closing the door behind him with a kick.
"Why shouldn't I shoot you down like a dog?" asked Santiago as
soon as the door was closed.
"I can't see any reason," was the reply, "except that it might
cause you a lot of trouble when it was found out. I imagine that
Admiral Fletcher is going to be pretty severe upon snipers and
others who shoot Americans."
"Bah!" exclaimed Santiago angrily. "I spit upon Americans! Bah!"
"That's all right," Billie agreed, "if it's the way you feel
about it."
"Just because you Americans have driven away a few soldiers with
the guns of your great fleet, you don't think you can conquer
Mexico, do you?"
"I hadn't thought much about it."
"Then it's time you did, as you may never have another chance."
"Well, then," explained Billie, "I'll tell you how it looks to
me. You might a great deal better be governed by the United
States than by a man like Huerta."
"Huerta! Huerta!" fairly screamed Santiago. "He is not the
governor of Mexico."
"No," from Billie. "He calls himself the provisional president.
In reality he is a dictator."
"He is a murderer!" shouted the thoroughly excited man.
"Then what are you worrying about? All that the Americans want is
to get rid of Huerta. They don't want Mexico. Didn't you know
that, Santiago?"
"What? Who calls me Santiago? I am Ixtazhl, Prince of the Aztecs
and guardian of the treasures of Montezuma. Who calls me
Santiago?"
In his excitement he rested the stock of his rifle upon the floor
and bent upon Billie a gaze so fierce as greatly to disconcert
him for the moment.
But Billie was not a lad to be easily unnerved and after a moment
he replied calmly:
"I call you by the only name I know. It was the one you used on
the Rio Grande when you sent me on a mission to Pancho Villa."
"Villa! Villa!" repeated Santiago, as though trying to recall
something that had passed from his memory. "Villa! Where have I
heard that name before?"
"On the Rio Grande is all I can tell you. Do you remember Don
Rafael?"
At mention of the name the expression on Santiago's face changed
again, this time to one of fiercest rage.
"Don Rafael!" he cried. "Don Rafael! Now I know you! You are Don
Rafael. That is why I should kill you!"
"Great Scott, no, I am not Don Rafael!" shouted Billie as
Santiago again raised his rifle and the lad perceived that he had
to do with a crazy man. "I'm the boy that saved your life when
Don Rafael tried to kill you. Don't you remember?"
Again Santiago lowered his weapon, and again there came upon his
face that puzzled expression.
"Tell me, Santiago--I mean Prince Iztazil, or whatever you call
it, what are you doing here?"
Santiago eyed him suspiciously, but finally laid his rifle across
a table in the center of the room and approached nearer the lad.
"Listen!" he said in a whisper. "I am the guardian of the
treasure of Montezuma. It is to be used to free Mexico from the
Spaniard. He must be driven out. The land belongs to the Aztec."
"But where is the Aztec?" queried Billie. "I know him not."
"I am he. The peons are my people. The Spaniard--bah! He owns the
houses and he owns the lands; but he must be driven out."
"Isn't that what Villa says?"
"Villa? Villa?" again repeated Santiago, and again he lapsed into
silence.
For some minutes he remained motionless ere he stepped back,
picked up his rifle and started for a door leading to a stairway.
"Come!" he commanded. "I will show you."
"Hadn't we better take care of the horse first?" asked Billie,
not at all anxious to be wandering around with an armed lunatic.
"He may die."
"What is a horse when the future of Mexico is at stake, my son?
Come with me and you shall hear a strange tale."
"I have heard one already," was Billie's mental comment, but
realizing by the term son which Santiago had applied to him that
he was in no immediate danger and trusting to his wits to finally
overcome the strange man should it become necessary, he followed.
At the head of the stairs was another door, which Santiago opened
and entered. It was a sort of ante-room, much like the entrance
into a lodge room. Around the walls was a motley collection of
firearms, swords, spears and smaller weapons.
Stopping in front of one of the racks, Santiago placed his rifle
in it, and then from another took a couple of small swords, one
of which he handed to Billie.
"This is a bug house sure enough," muttered the boy as he took
the sword and examined it curiously. "I wonder what next?"
He had not long to wait, for opening a closet, Santiago took
therefrom two beautifully embroidered robes, one of which he
threw over his own shoulders and the other of which he put on
Billie.
"It doesn't hardly match my hat," laughed Billie.
Without a word, Santiago removed Billie's sombrero and hung it
on a peg in the closet, which he closed.
Then he opened another door and led Billie into a large,
brilliantly lighted room, hung with the richest tapestries.
"Looks like we had strayed into some Turkish bath house," thought
Billie, "but I might as well see the thing through."
"Sit here beside me, my son," Santiago finally said. "You shall
become my heir. I will introduce you to the court."
Santiago clapped his hands, as though bidding a servant to
attend; but there was no response.
He turned his head from one side to the other as though in
amazement and again clapped his hands, this time with vigor.
After a moment's delay, there was a movement behind one of the
draperies and presently the curtain was drawn back and a man's
face appeared.
"Come hither," commanded Santiago.
The man obeyed.
"Where are the others?" demanded Santiago.
"Oh, señor," cried the man, "the others have hidden themselves in
the cellar!"
"Slaves! Cowards!" exclaimed Santiago. "What do they fear?"
"The great guns, señor. We might all be killed."
"You will certainly be killed if you do not mind what I say," was
the reply as Santiago drew his sword. "Now summon the court that
I may introduce my son."
The man bowed and left the room, and in a few minutes returned
accompanied by two more men and several women, all arrayed in
fantastic costumes.
All bowed as they entered, and Santiago waved his hand.
"This is my son and heir," he said. "Come and kiss his hand."
They all came forward and kissed Billie's hand, which he held out
in order to facilitate the job.
"Now," said Santiago, "we----"
"Now," interrupted Billie, "if it is all the same to you, Prince,
we'll have supper. I haven't had a mouthful to eat since
daylight. I'm 'most starved to death."
"It is well," agreed Santiago. "It is well that my heir should
not die of hunger. Let the table be placed."
The order seemed to meet with general approval, and in the course
of half an hour there was spread what would have proved a feast
at any time, but which was beyond description to a hungry boy;
and the way he waded into the food was a caution.
During all this time Santiago had uttered never a word, nor would
he eat but the smallest portion of food--a taste of every dish
which he set before his guest.
"My son tells the truth," Santiago finally remarked as Billie
pushed back his chair with the single word "Bastante," meaning
enough.
"I always try to," was the smiling rejoinder, for Billie was now
in the very best humor. Eating was his strong point and he had
gone the limit.
"Clear away the feast and then reassemble," was Santiago's next
order.
This order was carried into effect, and the servants also must
have enjoyed a square meal, for it was more than an hour ere they
again assembled, during which time Billie sank back in his chair
and slumbered peacefully.
He was finally awakened by a hand laid upon his arm.
"Awake, my son," were the words he heard. "It is now time that I
reveal to you the secret of my life. It is now time that I should
tell you the secret of the treasure of Montezuma."
"That's right, Prince," said Billie sleepily. "Let her go."
Santiago regarded him interrogatively.
"What said my son?"
"Oh, yes, Prince. I forgot you only understood good English. Let
her go, means proceed with the secret."
"Let her go. Let her go," Santiago repeated a couple of times.
"Yes," he continued, "I had forgotten about her."
He clapped his hands and the same servant who had first appeared
approached his chair.
Santiago gave an order in a language which Billie did not
understand, but which he imagined was Indian, and the servant
withdrew, only to reappear a few minutes later with a young woman
who greatly resembled Santiago and who was also arrayed in a
gorgeous costume.
She had evidently not expected to meet a stranger, for she drew
back upon seeing Billie and the color rushed to her face.
"Come hither, daughter," was Santiago's command.
The young woman obeyed.
"Lucia," said Santiago, "this is the honorable young man whom I
have chosen for my heir. Henceforth consider him your betrothed.
The marriage shall take place one new moon from to-day."
"Oh, Father," cried the girl, her face becoming even more scarlet
than before, "I cannot----"
"No!" interrupted Billie, springing to his feet, "neither can I.
You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Santiago----"
"What!" cried Santiago, springing to his feet and again drawing
his sword. "Who calls me Santiago? I am Prince Ixtazhl of the
great Aztec nation and guardian of the treasure of Montezuma!"
He raised his sword and would have stricken Billie down ere the
boy could have prevented had not the young woman thrown herself
between them and seized his arm.
At the same instant the door from the ante-room opened and Donald
and Adrian entered.