"I shall have two thousand. I should have been able to do better, had it not been that my plans were interfered with by three young Gringoes who are touring this state on horseback! I ran into them at a most inopportune time, and as I did not wish to get into trouble with the United States authorities, I could not punish them as I otherwise would."
"That"s bad," said the general.
"Yes, it is; but if they come across my path again, I shall make short work of them."
"Well," said the general after a few more questions and answers, "I think we know enough. I shall expect to see you at Presidio del Norte in a few days. I trust you will succeed in your mission with Villa."
Then, as he emerged from the old mill and once more stood and looked at the old structure: "This surely is a wonderful spot! We must see that it is properly fortified."
The visitors approached their horses and were about to mount, when a peon on foot was seen approaching from downstream. That he was the bearer of a message of some sort was evident from his actions, and the hors.e.m.e.n remained unmounted, awaiting his coming.
"It"s one of the men who were with us on last night"s expedition,"
explained Don Rafael as the man approached near enough to be recognized.
"I wonder what he wants."
They were not kept long in suspense, for the messenger, seeing that they were waiting, hastened his footsteps and soon reached them.
"What is it, hombre?" asked Don Rafael.
"A serious mistake was made last night."
"How so?"
"A lot of rifles and a machine gun were left on the American side of the river."
"What!" exclaimed Don Rafael "A machine gun?"
"Si, Senor!"
"What"s to be done?"
"That"s what Don Pablo wants to know. He told me to say that he has discovered that the guns are right where they were left and so far have not been seen. One of the men has been posted on this side of the river to watch that no one molests them. Don Pablo thinks if they are not discovered during the day, we can easily bring them over right after dark, so that they can come up here with the others!"
"I don"t see anything else to do," said Don Rafael.
"Then you will send the men to help?" asked the man.
"Is that what Don Pablo wants?"
"Si, Senor!"
"Very well. Tell him I will have a dozen men on hand as soon as it is dark. I may come myself to see that he makes no more blunders."
"That"s the only safe way," said the general.
The messenger made no reply, but with a muttered "_Hasta lluego_,"[3]
took his departure as fast as he had come and the three strangers soon followed his example.
Left alone, Don Rafael watched them as they slowly wound their way down the mountain path, and when they finally pa.s.sed from view, turned and entered the mill. Quickly he ascended the dilapidated stone stairs to the second story, where, in a small room part.i.tioned off from the rest of the mill, he had made him a habitation, and threw himself upon his crude bed.
"Pancho Villa!" he exclaimed with a mocking laugh. "Pancho Villa, indeed! It will be a long time before anyone sees Pancho Villa!"
Footnote:
[3]: Until we meet again.
CHAPTER XVIII.
SPRINGING THE TRAP.
Feeling a.s.sured that the trap was well baited with the forgotten guns, Capt. Peak determined to omit no detail which would insure the complete capture of the gun-runners when the trap was sprung.
He accordingly mustered his men early in the afternoon, and, accompanied by the boys, who were most anxious to take a hand in the capture, openly left town in exactly the opposite direction from the place where the guns had been discovered. By this plan he hoped to allay any suspicion which might be aroused and communicated to the smugglers by their spies, with whom he had no doubt the city was filled.
Riding up stream for several miles, until the city was entirely lost sight of, the Rangers made a wide detour back into the country, arriving in the vicinity of the trap just as the sun had set.
As soon as it was sufficiently dark for the men to come out into the open without being seen from the Mexican sh.o.r.e, they were so disposed that they could surround the gun-runners on three sides, while a fourth detachment was posted up stream, but sufficiently near the bank of the river to cut off a retreat in that direction.
"It would please me greatly," said Capt. Peak, in giving the last instruction, "if we could also capture the boat in which the guns are to be carried over the river. Not only would it be good evidence, but it would help to prevent similar expeditions in the immediate future."
This remark offered a suggestion to Donald, and when the others had been stationed, he announced his plan to Capt. Peak.
"I"m sure," he said, "that we three boys can capture that boat better than anyone else, because we are all good swimmers."
"What has that to do with it?" asked the Captain. "The boat will have to come to sh.o.r.e to get the guns."
"I know that," replied Donald; "but suppose they even succeeded in getting the guns down to the river bank, what good would it do if they found the boat gone?"
"I see," laughed the Captain. "Well, go ahead; but we shall not wait for the Greasers to get the guns down to the sh.o.r.e before we nab them."
Having obtained permission to act, Donald at once called Adrian and Billie and unfolded to them his plan. It was very simple, namely, to secrete themselves on the sh.o.r.e, or even in the water if necessary.
Then, as soon as the boat had landed the men, to swim up behind it and draw it back into the river.
"Suppose they make it fast to the bank," suggested Adrian.
"I had thought of that," replied Donald, "and that is why I think it better to hide on sh.o.r.e."
"How would it do for one of us to remain on sh.o.r.e," suggested Billie, "and the others to station themselves out in the river where the water is breast high? Then, if they fastened the boat to the sh.o.r.e, the one on land could, in the dark, easily slip up and cut the ropes."
"Not a bad idea," replied Donald. "Suppose you stay on sh.o.r.e and Ad and I will do the water act."
"Yes," said Adrian, "and if you are discovered you can easily pa.s.s yourself off as a Mexican. If you are questioned all you have to say is "quien sabe" and stick to it, and they"ll know you are a peon."
"Suits me," declared Billie, and he drew his hunting knife from his belt. "One stroke of this will cut any ordinary rope."