The Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers Part 28

"My brave lads!" he exclaimed. "How can I ever thank you for what you did for my son? He has told me all about you! I can never repay you."

"We're not looking for any payment," stammered Adrian. "All we want is to get into Presidio del Norte."

General Sanchez drew back and regarded them in surprise.

"Presidio del Norte!" he exclaimed. "What can you possibly want there?"

For a moment the boys made no reply, but eyed each other in a questioning manner. Each knew what the other was thinking, but neither was sure just what to say. At last Billie spoke.

"Tell him, Donald," he said. "It's the very best thing to do."

"Right!" was Donald's reply. Then to the general: "Can we have five minutes with you in private?"

"Five!" exclaimed General Sanchez. "Ten times five if you wis.h.!.+"

"Five will be plenty," said Donald.

The general issued an order and the room was quickly cleared.

"Now, then," said he, "you may talk to me like I was your own father!

That is the way I feel toward you."

CHAPTER XXI.

JOINING THE REVOLUTIONISTS.

Fifteen minutes later, just as the last rays of daylight were fading away, three hors.e.m.e.n were seen to dash out of the Federal lines and head straight for the intrenchments which the revolutionists had hastily thrown up around Presidio del Norte.

A minute later a band of at least a dozen cavalrymen followed in hot pursuit.

But that one minute had been sufficient to give the three hors.e.m.e.n enough of a lead to make it a stern chase, which everyone knows is a long chase; and although the cavalry were plainly well mounted, the three hors.e.m.e.n gradually ran away from them.

When this became evident, the pursuers opened fire upon the trio, but their shots failed to reach their mark. In a couple of minutes more, the cavalrymen were obliged to draw rein to prevent them from coming within range of the revolutionists' rifles, while the fleeing hors.e.m.e.n rode directly into the trenches and later into the town.

The three hors.e.m.e.n were the Broncho Rider Boys and the chase was a ruse determined upon by the boys and General Sanchez when they told him their mission, for of course General Sanchez was as anxious to thwart the revolutionist plot as was Lieut. Grant.

So well was the ruse carried out, however, that it completely deceived the revolutionists; and as the boys came inside the revolutionary lines, they were cheered loudly.

They approached the first officer they met and asked the way to the commander of the city. He was not only glad to direct them, but even offered to accompany them-an offer which they were glad to accept.

"That was a narrow escape," he said as they rode along.

"It was that," replied Donald; "but it was either escape or be stood up before a firing squad, and we took the chance. If that's the way the Madero government treats people, it's no wonder you all revolted."

"That's right," declared Billie. "I'd like to have a chance to take a shot at them."

"You shall have it," declared the officer. "I will tell the general and he will be glad to enlist you."

"_Bueno!_" replied Billie, although joining the revolutionists was a thing he had not before considered. A gun-running expedition didn't seem so bad; but to be put out on the firing line was a good deal too much like war.

They soon reached the barracks, and for the second time that evening the boys were ushered into the presence of a commanding general.

Without giving them a chance to speak, the officer who had conducted them thither introduced them by saying:

"General, here are three Americans who have just broken through the enemy's line and want to join our army."

"Is it possible?" queried the general, a dapper little man, who looked about as much like the boys' idea of a revolutionist as a horse looks like a goat.

The officer a.s.sured him that it was more than possible; that it was a fact.

"They must be smart young men to escape General Sanchez," was the general's next remark.

"They are," declared the officer, who seemed to be considerably nettled at the general's manner. It was a daring ride, he had seen it and he wanted the credit of bringing in three such valuable recruits. "I'd be glad to have them in my battalion," he added.

"_Asi!_" said the general as he slowly nodded his head. He was clearly suspicious and still the revolution was so new and the need of men so great that he couldn't afford to be too particular. "So you would like them in your company, Don Carlos?"

"_Cierto!_" was the officer's emphatic reply.

"Very well; take them along. But remember, you have sharp work ahead, and want only men on whom you can depend. These American cowboys are a hard lot, especially when they are drinking."

"I know men when I see them," replied Don Carlos, with an air of self-importance. "I wasn't born yesterday."

"_Bueno!_" and the general waved his hand. "Take them away. I'm busy now; but come back in an hour and I'll give you your instructions."

"Come," commanded the officer called Don Carlos, and the boys followed him from the room, not having spoken a word.

"I hope we're going to see some active service," said Adrian to Donald in an undertone, which was intended for the ears of the officer, although it was supposed not to be.

"I'll bet we will," replied Donald in the same manner. "The major here is all right."

Don Carlos squared his shoulders and threw out his chest, the remark having greatly pleased his vanity. And right here it may be said that Don Carlos was as brave and das.h.i.+ng a revolutionist as there was in the army, his only weakness being his egotism. Because of this his judgment was bad, and courage without wisdom is quite apt to get one into trouble.

"Well," muttered Billie, who had quickly caught on to the game, "I'd like to know where I'm going before I join any company. The major may be all right, but unless he gets a chance, what can he do?"

"We'll have plenty of chance," interrupted the major.

"Yes, I know," grumbled Billie, "to stand in a trench and shoot at nothing. What I want is something with a das.h.!.+"

"We'll have that, too," declared Don Carlos. "What would you say to a raid across the river and a fight with the patrol?"

"Fine! That's the kind of a job for me!"

"How about your comrades?"