A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.
The shock was so hard that every one on the ferryboat was knocked down,
and the auto, breaking from the restraining ropes, ran forward and
brought up against the shelving prow of the scow.
"Here, where you fellers goin'?" demanded a voice from amid the scene of
wreckage and confusion. "What do ye mean by tryin' t' smash me all to
splinters?"
At the same time this remonstrance was accompanied by several revolver
shots. Then came a volley of language in choice Spanish, and the noise
of several men chopping away at planks and boards.
The wind continued to blow and the rain to fall, while the lightning and
thunder were worse than before. But the ferryboat no longer tossed and
pitched on the storm-lashed river. It remained stationary.
"Now we're in for it," shouted the ferryman, as soon as he had scrambled
to his feet. "A nice kettle of fish I'm in for takin' this automobile
over on my boat!"
"What has happened?" asked Jerry, trying to look through the mist of
falling rain, and seeing nothing but a black object, as large as a
house, looming up before him.
"Matter!" exclaimed the pilot. "We've gone and smashed plumb into Don
Alvarzo's house-boat and done no end of damage. Wait until he makes you
fellers pay for it."
"It wasn't our fault," began Jerry. "You were in charge of the
ferryboat. We are only passengers. Besides, we couldn't stop the storm
from coming up."
"Tell that to Don Alvarzo," sneered the ferryman. "Maybe he'll believe
you. But here he comes himself, and we can see what has happened."
Several Mexicans bearing lanterns now approached. At their head was a
tall, swarthy man, wearing a big cloak picturesquely draped over his
shoulders, velvet trousers laced with silver, and a big sombrero.
By the lantern light it could be seen that the ferryboat had jammed
head-on against the side of a large house-boat moored on the Mexican
side of the Rio Grande. So hard had the scow rammed the other craft
that the two were held together by a mass of splintered wood, the front
of the ferryboat breaking a hole in the side of the house-boat and
sticking there. The automobile had nearly gone overboard.
Don Alvarzo began to speak quickly in Spanish, pointing to the damage
done.
"I beg your pardon," said Jerry, taking off his cap and bowing in spite
of the rain that was still coming down in torrents. "I beg your pardon,
señor, but if you would be so kind as to speak in English we could
understand it better."
"Certainly, my dear young sir," replied Don Alvarzo, bowing in his
turn, determined not to be outdone by an _Americano_. "I speak English
also. But what is this? _Diablo!_ I am taking my meal on my house-boat.
I smoke my cigarette, and am thankful that I am not out in the storm.
Presto! There comes a crash like unto that the end of the world is
nigh! I rise! I run! I fire my revolver, thinking it may be robbers! My
_Americano_ manager he calls out! Now, if you please, what is it all
about?"
"The storm got the best of the ferryboat," said Jerry. "My friends and
myself, including Professor Uriah Snodgrass, of whom you may have heard,
for he is a great scientist----"
"I salute the professor," interrupted Don Alvarzo, bowing to the
naturalist.
"Well, we are going to make a trip through Mexico," went on Jerry. "We
engaged this man," pointing to the ferrymaster, "to take us over the
river in his boat. Unfortunately we crashed into yours. It was not our
fault."
Angry cries from the Mexicans who stood in a half circle about Don
Alvarzo on the deck of the house-boat showed that they understood this
talk, but did not approve of it.
"_Americanos_ pigs! Make pay!" called out one man.
"We're not pigs, and if this accident is our fault we will pay at once,"
said Jerry, hotly.
"There, there, señor," said the Don, motioning to his man to be quiet.
"We will consider this. It appears that you are merely passengers on the
ferryboat. The craft was in charge of Señor Jenkins, there, whom I very
well know. He will pay me for the damage, I am sure."
"You never made a bigger mistake in your life!" exclaimed Jenkins. "If
there's any payin' to be done, these here automobile fellers will have
to do it. I'm out of pocket now with chargin' 'em only ten dollars, for
three of my oars are lost."
"Very well, then, we will let the law take its course," said the Don.
"Here!" he called to his men, "take the ferry captain into custody.
We'll see who is to pay."
"Rather than have trouble and delay we would be willing to settle for
the damages," spoke up Jerry. "How much is it?"
"I will have to refer you to Señor Jones, my manager," said the Mexican.
"What's all the row about?" interrupted a voice, and a tall, lanky man
came forward into the circle of lantern light. "People can't expect to
smash boats an' not pay for 'em."
"We are perfectly willing to pay," said Jerry.
"Well, if there ain't my old friend Professor Snodgrass!" cried Jones,
jumping down on the flat-boat and shaking hands with the naturalist.
"Well, well, this is a sight for sore eyes. I ain't seen ye since I was
janitor in your laboratory in Wellville College. How are ye?"
The professor, surprised to meet an acquaintance under such strange
circumstances, managed to say that he was in good health.
"Well, well," went on Jones, "I'll soon settle this. Look here, Don
Alvarzo," he went on, "these is friends of mine. If there's any
damage----"
"Oh, I assure you, not a penny, not a penny!" exclaimed the Mexican. "I
regret that my boat was in their way. I beg a thousand pardons. Say not
a word more, my dear professor and young friends, but come aboard and
partake of such poor hospitality as Don Miguel Fernandez Alvarzo can
offer. I am your most humble servant."
The boys and the professor were glad enough of the turn events had
taken. At a few quick orders from Jones and the Don, the Mexicans and
the ferry captain's crew backed the scow away from the house-boat. A
landing on shore was made, the automobile run off, and the ferryman
having been paid his money, with something extra for the lost oars,
pulled off into the rain and darkness, growling the while.
"Now you must come in out of the rain," said Don Alvarzo, as soon as the
auto had been covered with a tarpaulin, carried in case of bad weather.
"We can dry and feed you, at all events."
It was a pleasant change from the storm outside to the warm and
well-lighted house-boat. The thunder and lightning had ceased, but the
rain kept up and the wind howled unpleasantly.
"I regret that your advent into this wonderful land of Mexico should
be fraught with such inauspicious a beginning as this outburst of the
elements," spoke Don Alvarzo, with a bow, as he ushered his guests into
the dining-room.
"Oh, well, we're used to bad weather," said Bob, cheerfully.
In a little while the travelers had divested themselves of their wet
garments and donned dry ones from their valises that had been brought
in from the auto. Soon they sat down to a bountiful meal in which red
peppers, garlic and frijoles, with eggs and chicken, formed a prominent
part. Jones, the Don's manager, ate with them, and told how, in his
younger days, he had worked at a college where Professor Snodgrass had
been an instructor.
Supper over, they all gathered about a comfortable fire and, in answer
to questions from Don Alvarzo, the boys told something of their plans,
not, however, revealing their real object.
"I presume you are searching for silver mines," said the Don, with a
laugh and a sly wink. "Believe me, all the silver and gold, too, is
taken out of my unfortunate country. You had much better go to raising
cattle. Now, I have several nice ranches I could sell you. What do you
say? Shall we talk business?"
But Jerry, assuming the rôle of spokesman, decided they had no
inclination to embark in business just yet. They might consider it
later, he said.
The Don looked disappointed, but did not press the point. The evening
was passed pleasantly enough, and about nine o'clock, as the travelers
showed signs of fatigue, Jones suggested that beds might be agreeable.
"I am sorry I cannot give you sleeping apartments together," remarked
the Don. "I can put two of you boys in one room, give the professor
another small room, and the third boy still another. It is the best
arrangement I can make."
"That will suit us," replied Jerry. "Ned and I will bunk together."
"Very well; if you will follow my man he will escort you to your
rooms," went on the Mexican. "Perhaps the professor will sit up and
smoke."
The naturalist said he never smoked, and, besides, he was so tired that
bed was the best place for him. So he followed the boys, and soon the
travelers were lighted to their several apartments. Ned and Jerry found
themselves together, the professor had a room at one end of a long
gangway and Bob an apartment at the other end. Good-nights were called,
and the adventurers prepared to get whatever rest they might.
As Ned and Jerry were getting undressed they heard a low knock on their
door.
"Who's there?" asked Jerry.
"Hush! Not so loud!" came in cautious tones. "This is Jones. Keep your
guns handy, that's all. I can't tell you any more," and then the boys
heard him moving away.
"Well, I must say that's calculated to induce sleep," remarked Ned.
"Keep your guns handy! I wonder if we've fallen into a robber's den?"
"I don't like the looks of things," commented Jerry. "The Don may be all
right, and probably is, but he has a lot of ugly-looking Mexicans on his
boat. I guess we'll watch out. I hope Jones will warn the others."
There came a second knock on the door.
"What is it?" called Jerry, in a whisper.
"I've warned your friends," replied Jones. "Now watch out. I can't say
any more."
His footsteps died away down the gangway. Jerry and Ned looked at each
other.
"I guess we'll sit up the rest of the night," said Ned.
They started their vigil. But they were very tired and soon, before
either of them knew it, they were nodding. Several times they roused
themselves, but nature at length gained the mastery and soon they were
both stretched out asleep on the bed.
About three o'clock in the morning there came a cautious trying of the
door of the room where Ned and Jerry were sleeping. Soft footsteps
sounded outside. If ever the boys needed to be awake it was now, for
there was a thief in the night stealing in upon them.