"If you don"t believe us," broke in Billie, "you can ask the officers we left back there by the track."
Donald made a gesture of impatience, which Billie failed to understand, but which the officer was quick to interpret.
"Officers? Of which army?" he quickly asked.
"Gen. Huerta"s."
"Carramba!" exclaimed the officer in command. "Go quick, corporal, and bring them to me."
Then to Billie: "If you are telling me the truth you have done me a great favor."
The boys looked surprised.
"How is that?" asked Donald.
"Do you not know that we are of the army of Gen. Carranza?" was the interrogative reply.
"Why, no!" exclaimed the boys in unison.
"It is true," said the officer. "I am Captain Lopez. Now tell me, who are you?"
Briefly Donald told of their acquaintance with Gen. Sanchez and of their adventures of the night before, at which the captain laughed heartily.
"You are smart boys," he declared.
"And hungry ones," again added Billie.
"You must be. Here, Juan," calling a soldier to him. "Take these _muchachos_ to the house and feed them. I"ll have a look at these rebels."
"Rebels," said Adrian to Donald under his breath as they walked toward the house. "Now what do you think of that?"
"That"s his viewpoint," replied Don. "He thinks of the men who overthrew President Madero as rebels."
By this time they were near enough the house for Billie to smell the aroma of the coffee and he quickened his pace.
"I"ll talk politics after I"ve sampled the breakfast," he declared. "If the breakfast is good, I"ll join the band."
It was nearly half an hour later that the boys stood before the captain. With a good breakfast under their belts they felt fit for anything that might offer.
"I"m afraid you boys are in a bad fix," said Captain Lopez. "I suppose you want to get to Vera Cruz and on to some ship that will take you to the United States; but I don"t know how you are going to make it."
"Why, can"t we get another train somewhere down the line?" asked Adrian.
"There may not be any more trains for some time."
"How"s that?"
"We are here to stop them."
"Does that mean you are going out to tear up the track?"
"Not right here, but a little nearer Vera Cruz. There is a much larger body of troops about five miles below."
Billie uttered a prolonged whistle.
"That does look bad, sure enough," he declared. Then, after a pause: "What"s the matter with walking?"
"It"s a long ways and the mountains are full of our men."
"Can"t you give us a safe pa.s.sage? You say we have done you a favor by turning these two officers over to you," suggested Donald, indicating with a nod of his head the captain and lieutenant of the train guard who were now held prisoners.
"I"ll do the best I can," was the reply, "but you will have to remain with me to-day. We are on scout duty and shall not return to the main body until to-night."
"That"ll suit me all right," laughed Billie, "and if you don"t mind I think I"ll go into the house somewhere and take a nap."
"Bueno," laughed the captain. "You might as well all take a nap.
If we have occasion to leave the neighborhood we will call you."
Ten minutes later the three were fast asleep on a pile of Mexican blankets in the best room in the house.
Three hours later they were awakened by a fusillade of shots.
They sprang to their feet and looked around. For just a moment they could not remember where they were. Then they recalled their situation and became on the alert.
"Trouble outside," was Don"s laconic statement.
He and Billie drew the revolvers they had captured the night before.
"Put "em up," advised Adrian. "We"re not here to fight."
"We might have to," from Billie.
"Not at all. If one side wins, we are safe. If the other side wins, we are prisoners and the attackers will be our rescuers."
"Great head, Ad," was Billie"s comment. "But I"d like to know what is going on," as another fusillade was heard.
"Better stay where we are till the shooting stops," said Don.
It was good advice and the boys waited as quietly as they could.
A few minutes later there was a volley and a shout, followed by the sound of rushing feet. Then there was quiet as the shots were heard receding.
When none of their friends returned after a few minutes, the boys ventured to the door. There was no one in sight.
"I wonder where they have all gone?" ventured Billie.
"I expect that our friends have run away and some of Huerta"s soldiers are chasing them."
"If they do, they will run into an ambush," said Adrian.