ALONG THE RIO GRANDE.
"Here we are coming into El Paso at last!" called out Rob, as he started
to get his various bundles together, so as to leave the train that had
carried them over the last part of their long and tiresome journey
across the whole of Texas.
"And I'm about as happy to hear that as if you'd told me I was made a
first class scout, and could hang the whole badge on my sleeve, where
now I only sport the lower half, 'Be Prepared!'" cried Tubby, also
getting busy.
The boys had some time before been warned that they were nearing their
objective point on the American side of the border stream known as the
Rio Grande. Tubby loudly declared that he could not see anything so very
grand about the river; that they had wider creeks up North than this
seemed to be, away up here so far away from the Gulf.
When they alighted they stared around them, naturally, because strange
sights at once began to meet their eyes, accustomed to other types of
people. A great crowd stood around, in which were khaki-clad United
States regulars off duty; cowboys; Mexicans with swarthy faces, both men
and women; Indians with their curios for sale in the shape of
finely-woven baskets and pottery of gaudy hues; and many other classes
of people besides.
Of course the four lads came in for return stares, and they could well
understand that, for doubtless they were the very first Boy Scouts to
drop in on El Paso. Many persons at once believed that they must be new
recruits for the army. These observers remarked to one another that
things had come to a pretty pass when Uncle Sam found it necessary to
enlist half-grown boys in the service, now that it looked as though
intervention in Mexico must come about sooner or later.
Rob, however, paid little attention to curious looks. He went about his
business with the air of one who had all his plans well matured, and
knew just what must be done first.
Asking a few questions, he was directed to a sort of hotel. When they
had reached it, it did not strike Tubby as giving much promise of good
"feeds"; and he did not hesitate to express that opinion when they were
alone in the big room with its two beds that had been assigned to them.
"We don't expect to stay here more than the one night," Rob told him;
"only to get rested up and be in shape to start across the bridge there
after we've purchased horses and found a guide who can run off greaser
talk. So I wouldn't make any more row if I were you, Tubby."
"We'll see that you get enough to eat if that is what worries you,"
Merritt went on to say consolingly; and at that the fat scout managed to
smile a little.
"Well," he remarked with a sigh, "if the rest of you can stand for it, I
guess I'll just have to, that's all. But, jiminy crickets, things look
pretty shady after coming straight from a nice clean home!"
"You'll have to put up with lots worse than that, Tubby; so cheer up,"
said Andy. "And now, what is the first thing on the program, Rob?"
"Clean up the best we can, and rest till after we've had our dinner,"
the other advised. "Then we'll try to get an interview with the
commander of the forces here, and see what he thinks we'd better do."
"Huh! like as not he'll tell us we must not dream of venturing across to
the other side, unless General Villa happens to be in Juarez right now,
which I reckon would be too good luck," Tubby replied disconsolately.
"And I hope, Rob, that if he does talk that way he won't influence you
to call it all off. Think what silly guys we'd feel like, starting back
home without even making a try to invade Mexico!"
"Don't let that keep you on edge, Tubby," the patrol leader told him;
"you ought to know me by this time, and that I never give up a thing
I've set my mind on till the last horn blows. We've started on this
business of your Uncle Mark's; and we'll see it through, or know the
reason why!"
"Hurray! them's my sentiments!" exclaimed Andy, and even Merritt waved
his hand above his head, as though he fully agreed with the other
comrades; so Tubby was able to appear at ease once more, as a great load
had been removed from his heart.
When they had partaken of a wretched dinner that made Tubby look quite
blue because there was hardly a thing that seemed to taste right, the
four boys started out to look the border town over. They cast frequent
glances across the guarded bridge connecting El Paso with the Mexican
shore of the river, and finally asked of a passing soldier the way to
headquarters.
Already they had learned who was in command at El Paso at that time, and
had even glimpsed the general at a distance. It happened that they found
the commander at leisure, which was a wonder, for he had his hands full
during these troublous times trying to keep the peace, when there were
so many chances of Americans and Mexicans coming into armed conflict
along the river for miles.
The officer looked them over as they were ushered into the room. Rob had
been wise enough to send in a note telling who they were, and that they
wished to consult him on a very important piece of business.
"So, you are the four Boy Scouts whose arrival created so much furor,
are you?" the general asked, as he frankly held out his hand toward Rob,
whom he immediately recognized as the leader. Perhaps this was due to
Rob's manner of carrying himself; or else to the fact that he wore his
badge upon his left shoulder, showing that he was a scout master, and
hence in command. Soldiers have quick eyes to catch these things that
might slip past an ordinary citizen.
"We are Boy Scouts, General," Rob replied; "but we did not know that our
coming to El Paso had made more than a ripple. My name is Rob Blake;
this is Corporal Merritt Crawford; the one next him is Andy Bowles, our
bugler; and this last member goes by the name of Tubby Hopkins!"
The officer in command at the border town shook hands warmly with each
of the boys. He tried his best not to smile as he noted how well named
Tubby seemed to be; for one could hardly look at him without being
forcibly reminded of a butter firkin, or else of the most useful family
utensil on wash days.
"Why, I understand that for a time, until they learned who you were,"
the general went on to remark, with a quizzical look, "there was
considerable indignation going around that our great Government should
send out boys to help patrol the Rio Grande, and to keep the fighting
Mexicans on their own side of the river. But you say you wish to
consult me about something; so, as my time may be limited, suppose you
start in and give me the facts. I want to assure you in the start,
though, that I've watched the growth of the scout movement from a small
beginning; and that I'm heart and soul in favor of it as the finest
thing that ever happened for uplifting the American youth. It's going to
make a great difference in the kind of _men_ we'll be having ten and
twenty years from now."
After hearing that, of course, Rob knew they would have the full
sympathy of the general in the carrying out of their mission. However,
he might fear that they were undertaking too great a task in risking the
dangers of travel through so disturbed a country as Mexico at that time,
since both Federals and rebels were feeling anything but friendly toward
Americans.
So Rob started in to narrate the entire story, and he made such a fine
thing of it that the interested listener only interrupted him a few
times to ask further particulars concerning certain points.
All the while his eyes kindled with growing admiration for these brave
lads, who were ready to take such great risks in order to save Uncle
Mark's cattle, if it so happened that they had not been already seized
by one side or the other of the contending forces.
"I suppose it would do no good for me to try and discourage you, boys,"
he said heartily, after the whole story had been told; "because I can
easily see that you would try to carry out your plans at any rate. And
that being the case, I might as well give you what advice I can, and
help you in that way."
His words caused every boyish face to be wreathed in smiles.
"That is very kind of you, General," said Rob; "and we will try to act
on the advice you give us, you may be sure. All we want is to meet
General Pancho Villa; and from what Uncle Mark told us about his being a
man of his word, we think the rest will be easy."
The experienced officer smiled grimly. Possibly he had opinions of his
own about whether one who had been a lawless bandit for years would
remember a kind deed to the point of throwing protection about the ranch
of his former friend; but he did not venture to disturb the belief of
the sanguine scouts.
"First of all you must have horses. I'll put you in touch with a man who
can supply those, for I understood you to say you had plenty of money to
pay for an outfit. Then you must take enough supplies along to do you
for a week; because you may be that long getting to the town of
Chihuahua, where we have reason to believe Villa is at present. He has
forced many rich Mexicans and trades people there to pay tribute; and
hundreds have made a pilgrimage across the desert with the two thousand
Federal soldiers who were forced to leave Chihuahua when the
Constitutionalists, as Villa's men call themselves, captured the place.
And last of all, I know the very man you will need to serve you as a
guide. He is a Mexican, but I have always found him entirely
trustworthy; and he will be glad to favor me. So I will give you a few
lines to Mardo Lopez, and tell you at what inn you can find him."
It was certainly cheering to hear the general say such kind things; and
later on, when he shook hands all around again and told them to come and
see him if he could do them any further favor, the four boys felt that
they had indeed great reason to rejoice, because "all things seemed to
be coming their way," as Andy put it.
They soon found the man called Mardo Lopez. While he did not impress
them very favorably, because he seemed to have what they thought to be a
dark, crafty face, he readily agreed to do everything in his power to
oblige the general, and to prove that he could be trusted.
After that they took the guide with them to pick out the horses, knowing
that his judgment would be better than their own; for Mardo was
accustomed to traveling across the desert lands that stretched in many
places between the river and the capital of Chihuahua, some two hundred
miles and more from the border, and almost due south.
By the middle of the afternoon they had bought everything needed, and
had their mounts, together with equipments for the same, safely housed
at the tavern where they put up. Then, at Andy's suggestion, the Mexican
took them for a little stroll, meaning to ask many questions concerning
the organization to which they belonged; for Mardo had, it seemed, heard
about the scouts, but up to that time had never been told what they
stood for.
Rob, it may be set down as certain, was only too glad to pass the word
along; for he himself believed so thoroughly in the uplifting power of
the Boy Scout movement, that he wanted everybody to understand it in the
same light.
The four boys and their new guide were walking along close to the bank
of the river, the latter telling them many things that they would have
to run up against once they found themselves on Mexican soil, when far
away across the river there came the dull report of a gun; and then,
just over their heads something cut through the air, making a whining
sound that gave them all a thrill.
That was the first time they had really been under fire; but even Tubby
seemed to know instinctively what the queer whistle meant, and that a
bullet had passed within a few yards of their heads.