Jack said he was certain enlistment in the rebel forces would offer no difficulties. From Tom Bodine, the guard at the radio plant, with whom he had had many conversations during the past two months about conditions on the border, he had learned that adventurous young Americans fought frequently on one side or another in the Mexican revolutions.
"I can speak Spanish pretty well, too," Jack pointed out. "And Bob and Frank have a smattering of the language, which they picked up from me."
It was true. Two years before Jack had spent his summer vacation in Peru where his father was engaged at the time in inspecting mining properties. Jack had learned considerable Spanish during his stay and on his return home had continued his studies of the language.
Moreover, he had aroused the interest of his chums to such an extent that they also had begun to study Spanish. Often, when by themselves, the three boys spoke to each other in the language. Spanish, by the way, is the easiest of all foreign tongues to learn, as, unlike French and Italian, all letters are sounded, and the grammar is very simple.
Mr. Temple was not to accompany the boys because, in the first place, his age and distinguished appearance would arouse suspicion. Young fellows riding in to enlist in the rebel forces was something that could be understood. But in his case it would be a different matter.
He would stay at the ranch with Rollins, whom he decided to give another chance. Rollins knew the business details of the oil operations and unless he were retained the work could not go on. For that reason, and also because he believed Rollins was truly repentant for his treachery and would be faithful in the future, Mr. Temple retained him.
Rollins had supplied valuable information for the expedition. He gave the exact location of the Calomares ranch, in a valley amid low mountains more than one hundred miles to the south.
There were two possibilities that the boys might be recognized for what they were: if Remedios should arrive at rebel headquarters, or if Von Arnheim or Morales recognized Bob as the youth who had foiled them on Long Island. Neither was very likely. Remedios, they learned from Rollins, had no intention of leaving the district because even if the boys tried to cause his arrest he had a mysterious political pull with the American officials, practically all of whom were of Mexican descent. As for Morales and Von Arnheim they had had only a fleeting glimpse of Bob and he could disguise his appearance sufficiently to make that of no account.
"Well, boys," said Mr. Temple finally, "if we all were back in New York under normal conditions I should consider this just about the craziest notion ever, and never would consent to your carrying it out.
But out here, amid these changed surroundings, it seems the natural thing to do. For the life of me I can"t bring myself to feel any alarm."
"That"s right, Dad," said Bob. "Don"t you worry. We"ll be all right."
It was now late afternoon. Tom Bodine was to escort the boys to the border as soon as darkness fell, making a big swing around Ransome, so as to avoid notice, and set them on their way. They would travel by horseback, all three having ridden since childhood. There were a number of good mounts in the corral from which to select.
The boys planned to ride the major portion of the night until they should reach a cave in the first of the Mexican foothills, where they would spend the next day in hiding. Tom Bodine knew the cave of old and was able to give the boys the location of certain landmarks which would make it easy for them to find it. The following night they would continue their journey, and this should bring them to the Calomares ranch on the morning of the second day.
"Time to get ready," said Mr. Temple, looking at his watch. "And, remember, the very first thing you must try to do is to get into their radio station and call me. Day or night, the men here will be watching for your signal and will call me. I"ll be mighty anxious about you. So remember."
"We shall call you, sir," said Jack, as the boys moved away. "And don"t worry. I"m sure we"ll come out all right."
CHAPTER XVI
A SOUND IN THE SKY
"Good-bye, Tom."
"S"long, Jack."
"Keep a watch for our signal. We"ll call you."
"I will that. An" if it"s in trouble you are, Dave an" me"ll be ridin"
just as fast as we can to help you. Wish you"d let me go "long. I"m half minded to follow you."
"No, no. We"ll stand our best chance alone. They won"t suspect we"re other than a bunch of wild young fellows out for adventure."
Tom grumbled, but the force of the reasoning was apparent to him. They leaned from their horses for a last firm handclasp, then Jack rode on to join Bob and Frank who sat on their horses some distance ahead.
"You"re the boy to give it to "em, Jack," called the big ex-cowboy in a last farewell. "Give "em thunder."
Jack waved a parting salute as he joined his comrades. Frank and Bob did likewise. Then with night settling down over the vast desert waste they rode on into old Mexico.
Beside the white stone marking the international boundary, Tom Bodine sat his horse like a statue. Moodily he watched until they were out of sight. It was a hard life Tom had led in his day and when he took the job at the radio plant it was with a sigh of relief at the ease ahead of him. But now despite his fifty years, the last thirty of which had been filled with hard knocks, he felt the old call to adventure urging him on.
With drooping head, he turned his horse toward home. But hardly had the animal started forward, than he dragged it about again.
"Let"s go," he shouted to the empty silence, and whirling his sombrero aloft, brought it down on his horse"s flank. Then he rode on after the three figures that had been swallowed up in the darkness.
Far ahead of him, for Tom had taken considerable time to reach his decision, rode the three companions. The young moon shed only a wan and wraithlike radiance over the plain. They were alone, and the parting with their last friend, combined with the solitude of the open s.p.a.ces, had its effect upon them. They rode awhile in subdued silence.
But not for long. Frank"s lively spirits were the first to rebound.
"Race you to that rock," he cried, pointing to a solitary outcropping of rock, about twice a man"s height, about a quarter of a mile ahead.
"You"re on," cried Jack, spurring his horse.
"Attaboy," yelled Bob, doing likewise.
With a shout that shattered the silence as if a band of wild Indians were hitting the trail, the three boys dashed away.
Presently they pulled up by the rock, practically neck and neck. Their eyes were alight now with the zest of adventure.
"Gee, it"s great to be alive," cried Frank.
"You said it," declared Bob.
Jack nodded laughingly, but the next moment his face became grave.
"Just the same," he said, "we mustn"t do that again."
"Why not?" demanded Bob.
"Well, for one thing, we must save our horses as much as possible. We already have come twenty miles, and we have thirty miles more to go before reaching Tom"s cave."
"For one thing?" questioned Bob. "What"s your other reason?"
"Just that we don"t want to draw attention to ourselves."
"You"re right, Jack," said Frank. "I"ll not start anything again."
They jogged on.
A martial trio they made. Jack was clothed in the khaki shirt, riding breeches, high laced leather boots and sombrero in which he had met the boys on their arrival at Ransome. Bob and Frank were similarly outfitted. Tom Bodine was about of Bob"s proportions, and his partner Dave Morningstar had the build of the slighter Frank. These two old cow punchers had given the boys the run of their wardrobes. Each lad carried an automatic at his hip swinging from a well-filled cartridge belt. In addition, Jack bore his repeating rifle in a leather scabbard on his saddle.
Frank cast an appraising eye over himself and his comrades, and grinned with approval. Despite Jack"s rebuke, he could not long keep silence.
"Well, here we go, fellows," he said cheerfully, "just like the Three Musketeers. Jack with your air of melancholy you can be Athos. Bob is big enough to be Porthos, although I have got his appet.i.te. I"m Aramis."
"Aramis was always dreaming about the ladies," said Bob slily. "Heard from Della lately?"