The Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers Part 21

"Do you think he is?" asked Billie, who had become much interested in Mexican affairs during the past few days.

"_Quien sabe!_" was Villa's non-committal reply. "We hope not, but Mexico has suffered much from those who should have been her friends."

"Well, whatever President Madero may be," said Adrian emphatically, "Don Rafael is a scoundrel and murderer at heart."

For several minutes Villa made no reply, then with a shake of his head: "Time will tell!"

A few minutes later, when the boys were leaving the house, he said: "You may tell Santiago that he can depend upon me to do the right thing. I am working for Mexico-not for Pancho Villa."

"We are sure you are," was Adrian's reply, and the others echoed his words.

Tossing a peso to the peon who had been guarding their horses, the boys mounted and slowly rode back the way they had come. They had almost reached the plaza when there was a pistol shot in their rear, followed by a cry of pain.

Without stopping to consider what their action might lead to, the boys with one accord wheeled about and dashed back down the street. The street was as deserted as when they pa.s.sed up it a moment before. When they reached Villa's house they drew rein and called loudly, but there was no response.

"That's mighty strange," said Donald, after they had called a couple of times with like result. "What do you suppose has happened?"

"Can't imagine," replied Billie. "Maybe he doesn't hear us. I'll knock."

He dismounted and gave the door, which was still ajar, a vigorous thump, but no one replied. Then suddenly, while they were wondering what they had better do, there was a sound of voices at the head of the street, and a moment later a crowd of people, headed by several policemen, came hastily down to where they were standing.

"There they are! There they are!" cried out a voice. "They are the men who were with him!" And the speaker pointed at the three boys.

"What's the matter?" asked Adrian, as the policemen stopped at his side.

"This man says you have been plotting with Pancho Villa to start a new revolution."

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Adrian. "You know that Villa is a friend of President Madero."

"Yes, everybody knows that," said the other policeman.

"How about that?" the first policeman asked, turning to their accuser.

"That's what I said," declared the man. "I said they were trying to get Pancho to join a revolution against the president."

The boys by this time had a chance to take a good look at the man, and recognized him as the one who had guided them to Villa's house.

Whereupon Donald exclaimed, with considerable warmth: "That's a lie, and you know it." Then to the policemen: "You don't have to take our word; ask Pancho."

"Of course," replied the policeman, and he approached Villa's door and knocked loudly.

But, as in the case of the boys, there was no reply.

"Where has he gone?" asked the policeman, turning to Adrian.

"I don't know. He was here just a few minutes ago; but when we came back to see who was shot, he was gone."

"What's that?" asked the policeman. "Did you say somebody was shot?"

"We thought so. We were riding up the street when we heard a shot, followed by a cry. We came back to find out about it. That's how we happen to be here now."

"What did you find?"

"Nothing!" replied Adrian.

The policeman eyed the boys fiercely.

"Don't try to make fools of us," said one.

"No," declared the other, "we are not to be played with by any young Gringoes. We don't believe any such story."

"I can't help it whether you believe or not," retorted Adrian angrily.

"It is the truth!"

"We shall see," declared the first policeman. "You come with us to the _cuartel_. The _jeffe politico_ will have to look into this."

"Now we are in for it," said Billie, under his breath. "The next time I hear a Mexican shoot another I'll ride the other way."

"Where do you suppose Villa can have gone to?" asked Donald of the other two, as they rode along behind the policeman, followed by a shouting, hooting mob.

"Give it up," replied Adrian. "It couldn't have been he that was shot."

"Who knows?" said Billie suddenly. "No one entered the house. He may be lying in there dead."

"That's so!" exclaimed Adrian, "I'll suggest it to the policeman."

"Not as you value your life," interrupted Donald. "If by any chance they should find him dead, they'd accuse us of killing him."

All this had been said in English, of which the policemen did not understand a word. In fact, had it been said in Spanish, it is doubtful if the policemen could have heard, on account of the hooting and the cries of "Down with the Americanos! Death to the Gringoes!"

"If they ever get us locked up," said Donald, a moment later, "it's going hard with us. We've simply got to get away!"

"All right!" replied Billie. "You lead the way."

"Wait till the right moment and keep your eye on me. When I shout, both of you join in and we'll try and stampede this herd."

Slowly they rode along the narrow street and finally emerged on to the plaza. Here the street was much wider, and the crowd became less dense, although no smaller numerically.

As they pa.s.sed one of the _cantinas_, a gang of half-drunken railroad laborers of various nationalities came out, singing and shouting. Among them were several Americans, seeing which Donald gave a wild yell, crying at the top of his voice:

"Hurrah for Uncle Sam!"

Billie and Adrian joined in the cry, at the same time putting spurs to their horses, which sprang forward, upsetting the policemen and creating a tumult which quickly became a riot, as the Americans in the crowd took up the cry and shouted l.u.s.tily for Uncle Sam.

In the confusion which followed shots rang out from every side, most of them fired into the air, and there was a general scurrying to shelter by the natives, who had learned to get out of the way when a crowd of track hands and cowboys began to shoot up the town. Taking advantage of this, the boys dashed out of the light of the plaza, and were soon well on their way to the river; and it was none too soon, for, attracted by the commotion, a band of rurales was ordered out to arrest every foreigner found on the street.

"It was some excitement while it lasted," remarked Billie, as they gained the American side. "I think I'll stay out of Mexico for a while."

"What!" exclaimed Donald, "with Don Rafael still at large?"