The Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers, Page 3

  CHAPTER III.

  A DANGEROUS MISSION.

  Of course both Donald and Billie had heard of the Texas Rangers, thatdaring body of the Texas militia which has done so much in maintaininglaw and order along the Mexican frontier, as well as in the lawlesscommunities farther interior. This, however, was their firstintroduction to the rangers, and they gazed at the riders withconsiderable astonishment, their appearance not being such as would givea stranger a very good opinion of their law-abiding character.

  "Texas Rangers," finally exclaimed Donald, in a tone that indicated somedoubt. "Then what are you doing this side of the Rio Grande?"

  "Well, I declare," responded Captain Peak, looking around at his menwith a twinkle in his eye, "we must have crossed the river withoutseeing it. We'd better get back just as fast as we can."

  "That's right, Cap.," replied one of the men, "but you wouldn't think ofleaving these poor fellows lying on the ground, would you?"

  "Sure not. Just pick them up, some of you, and we'll get right back toour own side of the river."

  The words were no sooner spoken than several of the men sprang to theground. The two Mexicans were quickly thrown across the backs of acouple of horses, and the rangers prepared to return.

  The boys had heard the words of the captain, and watched the proceedingswithout a word, realizing by the captain's manner that the affair wasmore serious than he let on. As the men again resumed their saddles, andthe captain was about to mount, Donald thought it high time to askfurther questions; but he hadn't decided just what to say before CaptainPeak asked:

  "How did you boys happen to be chasing these greasers?"

  "They were stealing our mule--that big one there," replied Donald,pointing to old Bray. "You can see he has the Keystone brand, the sameas our horses," and he indicated the marks upon Jupiter and Wireless.

  "Then you'd better cut him out and come along with us," said CaptainPeak. "This won't be a very healthy place for you much longer."

  "No?" And the boys looked at the captain inquiringly.

  "No; there's going to be trouble along the border, and it may break outany minute. That's why these horse-thieves are so bold; and that's whywe are on this side the river, where we really have no business. Butthese fellows have become such a nuisance that when we saw them leavingthe _casa_ a little while ago we couldn't resist the chance of gettingthem. We shall turn them over to the Mexican authorities at the firstopportunity, and I hope you boys will be on hand to give your testimonyagainst them."

  "If they are really horse-thieves," replied Donald, "we shall be glad tohelp bring them to justice; but we are only travelers, and don't wish tobe delayed on our journey any longer than necessary. We have a companionand another mule back there in the chaparral."

  "All right," replied Captain Peak, "we'll ride back that way and seethat no one disturbs you. Then we'll all get into town as soon aspossible. It's only six or seven miles."

  Acting upon Captain Peak's advice, the boys cut old Bray out from therest of the drove, and in company with the rangers, galloped back towardthe place where they had left Adrian. It is hard to say which was thegreater, his pleasure at seeing his companions with old Bray in theirpossession, or his surprise at the numerous company that was with them.

  As they rode leisurely toward Presidio, after crossing to the Americanshore, Donald explained to Captain Peak how they happened to be so farfrom home. He was much interested in their story, and when they reachedtown introduced them to the officials, both civil and military. Thecaptured horse-thieves were locked up in jail and the boys went homewith Captain Peak, who invited them to spend the night with him at thehotel.

  "I tell you," exclaimed Billie, as they sat on the porch that eveningafter supper, "a woman's cooking surely does taste good! Why, justthink, we haven't had a bite for most a month that we didn't cookourselves."

  The following morning the boys were awakened by a big commotion outside,and, looking down the street toward the jail, saw that it was surroundedby a great crowd. They hastily dressed themselves and rushed out of thehotel. Almost the first man they met was Captain Peak.

  "What's the matter?" asked Billie.

  "There has been an attempt to rescue the prisoners, but it did notsucceed."

  "Who did it?" queried Adrian.

  "We are not exactly sure, as the rescuers mounted their horses as soonas they were discovered, and managed to get away. Some of the rangersare after them, however, and I hope will get a trace of them."

  "They must have been pretty bold to come into a town as big as this,"said Donald.

  "So they are; but, as I told you yesterday, there is likely to be a lotof trouble the other side of the river, and the authorities are havingtheir hands full looking after possible revolutionists. As a resultlesser culprits go free."

  "That must make a lot of trouble on this side," suggested Adrian.

  "It does, for, in addition to watching for horse and cattle thieves, wehave to keep our eyes open for gun runners."

  "What do you mean?" asked Billie. "What are gun runners?"

  "Would-be revolutionists, who smuggle quantities of arms into Mexicowithout the knowledge of the Mexican officials."

  "I didn't know it was our business to stop that. I thought anybody couldbuy arms to sell in Mexico?" said Adrian.

  "So they can; but these arms would not be for sale. They would be forarming bands of men to overturn the government. We are under noobligation to stop it, but, as we want law and order along the border,we always try to help the Mexican authorities," explained Captain Peak.

  "But there come my men now," he continued, as several horsemen turnedinto the main street.

  The boys crowded around with others to hear the result of the chase,which the men reported to have been fruitless.

  "If we could only have chased them over the river we could have capturedthem," declared the sergeant in charge, "but, after the little raidyesterday, we thought we'd better not try it."

  Seeing that there was likely to be no more excitement, the crowddispersed and the boys went into the hotel for breakfast; but when theycame out they found Captain Peak waiting for them.

  "How would you boys like to do a little scout duty for me over theriver?" he asked.

  "Scout duty?" repeated Donald. "I don't think I understand."

  "Draw up some chairs," replied the captain, "and I'll explain."

  The boys did as directed, and the captain continued:

  "I've been interested a whole lot in the adventures you boys have had,and I can see you are a smart bunch. You said you were willing to stayand help convict the cattle thieves, but we can't arrange to turn themover to the Mexican officials and have their trial before tomorrow, nomatter how fast we act. The Mexican always wants to wait till tomorrow."

  "Now, as long as you will be here a day or two, anyway, I thought maybeyou would like to take a little excursion across the Rio Grande, and seehow people live on that side. If you kept your eyes open, you might seesomething that would be useful to me."

  "In what way?" queried Adrian.

  Captain Peak drew his chair a bit nearer and looked all around to besure no one was listening.

  "It is like this," he continued. "President Madero has discovered thatthere is a real plot on foot to start another revolution and overthrowhis government. Arms for the revolutionists would have to come from thisside of the river. As a revolution is unlawful, carrying arms across theRio Grande to help a revolution is unlawful, and he has asked Uncle Samand the State of Texas to prevent any guns or ammunition from going intoMexico which do not go through the Mexican custom house."

  "It looks to me," broke in Billie, "as though that was the business ofthe Mexican government."

  "So it is," replied Captain Peak, "but as long as Mexico is a friendlynation it is also our business to prevent filibustering--and that is whatgun running amounts to.

  "There is also another reason for helping to prevent this sort ofsmuggling. We frequently have to ask the Mexican government to aid us inrunning down outlaws who escape into that country. If we don't helpthem, they won't help us. So you can see, if we can learn anything aboutthis revolutionary movement, it will be a good thing. You boys, becauseyou are strangers and travelers, are just the ones to help. What do yousay?"

  For several moments the boys said nothing, but finally Donald repliedthat if the captain would give them a few minutes to talk the matterover between themselves, they would be able to let him know.

  "All right," was the reply, "I've an appointment with the mayor, whichwill give you all the time you need," and he left the hotel to keep hisappointment.

  "Well," remarked Billie, as the captain disappeared around the corner,"what do you think of that?"

  "I don't think anything of it," replied Donald. "I've no liking for thatkind of work."

  "Why not?" queried Adrian.

  "I don't know. I just haven't, that's all."

  "You'd like to prevent war, wouldn't you?"

  "Sure," was Donald's emphatic rejoinder; "but I can't see how this tripcan prevent war."

  "I don't know as it would," said Adrian, "but, if we could do anythingwhich would keep a lot of dissatisfied peons from getting guns and goingout and killing people, it seems to me we would be doing a good deed."

  "That's just the way it seems to me," declared Billie. "The averageMexican who wants to start a revolution looks to me a good deal like thefellows who stole our mule."

  "Not necessarily," replied Adrian. "Sometimes revolutions are started bymen to overthrow a bad government. But my mother has always taught methere was a better way to right a wrong than to go to war over it.That's why I am in favor of doing all we can to help those who want toprevent trouble."

  "Of course if you put it that way," said Donald, "I've no objection tothe excursion, as the captain calls it."

  When Captain Peak returned, they unanimously announced their readinessfor the trip, and, half an hour later, fully instructed as to what wasexpected of them, they were across the Rio Grande, engaged upon whatproved to be the most important adventure of their career.