The Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers Part 18

"That's because you did not get well acquainted with him. I did; for, when you are in as tight a place as we were right after the explosion, it doesn't take long to get acquainted."

"What did he do?" queried Adrian.

"That would be hard to tell. It would be easier to tell what he did not do; but the thing that first attracted me was the way in which he cared for Guadalupe."

"Speaking of Guadalupe," exclaimed Adrian, "I'd forgotten all about her!

What became of her?"

"Don Antonio took her home long ago," replied Donald. Then to Billie: "Then what did Santiago do?"

"He just took charge of the both of us as though he owned us. He didn't even appear nervous. You would have thought that he was in the habit of being blown up. A peon wouldn't have done that! He would have thought only of himself."

"That's so," declared Pedro; "I've seen them do it."

"Well, Santiago didn't. As soon as he had gained his feet after the explosion knocked him down, he picked Guadalupe up in his arms, and, calling out to me to follow him, he dashed out into the cave. The place was full of men, but they were for the most part busy getting into the boats. They evidently thought that the only attack they had to fear was from the rear and were all hurrying to get out.

"Without stopping to speak to anyone, he turned toward the rear of the cave, stood still for a moment, as though looking for something on the wall, and then gave a sudden push with his hand. As though by magic the opening appeared through which you saw the three of us come and by which Don Rafael escaped."

"Then why can't we find the place?" interrupted Adrian.

Billie shook his head slowly.

"That's part of the mystery," he finally said.

"Yes, and a big part," declared Donald. "If we could locate that door, we could find Don Rafael. Don't you think so, Billie?"

"I'm sure of it."

"Then let's find it!"

"I'll show it to you," said a soft voice, which came to them out of the semi-darkness.

At the sound of the voice the boys turned hastily and grasped their weapons.

"Don't be afraid," continued the voice. "No one is going to hurt you,"

and out of the darkness stepped Santiago.

"I just said you were the greatest mystery," exclaimed Billie, as soon as he saw who the newcomer was, "and now I know it."

"Not a mystery," declared Santiago, "but a patriot."

"Which is even a greater curiosity in Mexico," declared Donald.

"I am afraid you are right," was the sad reply; "but there are still a few, and some day we will free Mexico from the rule of those who seek nothing but their own advancement."

"To which cla.s.s does Don Rafael belong?" asked Adrian.

Santiago's usually mild face grew stern.

"To the wrong one, I fear. That is what I am trying to find out. I have been told he was a patriot. What I have seen today leads me to believe the opposite."

Pedro had listened eagerly to what Santiago had been saying, but without speaking a word. Now he could contain himself no longer.

"He is a dog!" he exclaimed, "a would-be murderer and a thief. He knows not honor! He bites the hand that fed him, and he would now help to a.s.sa.s.sinate our good president, Francisco Madero!"

Santiago's eyes flashed. "Have a care," he said. "How do you know all this?"

"My father is a trusted friend of President Madero. He knows that the president has at heart the good of all the people, not the rich alone.

Don Rafael, as you call him, was a trusted servant of my father. He betrayed his trust, and has become the vilest of the vile. I can give you the proof!"

For several minutes Santiago remained silent, thinking deeply. When he spoke it was with determination.

"You say you can give me proof," he said. "You shall have the opportunity. Come!"

He quickly led the way to the place in the wall of the cave where the boys felt sure the secret door was hidden. With one foot he gave a sliding push to a triangular stone in the floor, and a moment later the secret opening was disclosed.

"No wonder," exclaimed Billie, "that we couldn't locate the door. We never thought that the key might be hidden in the floor. We only searched in the wall! What simpletons!"

Santiago smiled whimsically, but made no reply, as he led the way through the door.

"We will not need to close it now," he explained, "as there is no one here whom we need fear."

He took from a niche in the rock a small lantern, which he was about to light, when Donald drew from his pocket his electric searchlight.

"Take this," he said, handing it to Santiago. "It is much better."

Santiago took it in his hand and regarded it curiously.

"It is a strange instrument," he said. "Is it safe to use it?"

"Why not?" queried Donald in mild surprise.

"It looks like magic. It might bring ill luck."

"Oh, no," laughed Don. "Everyone uses them where we came from."

Santiago hesitated for a moment, and then said slowly: "It may be right for those who understand. For those who do not it is ill luck. Take it back. I dare not use it."

Slowly Donald returned the searchlight to his pocket, while Santiago fumbled with the lantern which he was trying to light.

As the blue flame of the match cast a flickering light about the place, suddenly from out the darkness there sprang a figure with uplifted hand, and hurled itself upon Santiago. There was a muttered oath, a blow, and the figure darted through the still open door, and disappeared in the outer cave, while Santiago sank down upon the floor, murmuring to himself:

"The magic light! The magic light! The ill luck has come!"

"It's Don Rafael! It's Don Rafael!" shouted Pedro. "Don't let him escape!"

He sprang after the fleeing figure, closely followed by Billie and Adrian, while Donald bent over the prostrate Santiago, examining his wound by the light of his electric.

A moment later there was a shot from without, but, while Donald still bent over Santiago, trying to stop the flow of blood from a wound in his shoulder, the others came back.