The Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers

  CHAPTER IX.

  GUADALUPE IN DANGER.

  In order to explain Guadalupe's presence at the grated window in the topof Billie's prison-house, it is necessary to recount the happenings atthe Hacienda del Rio and vicinity since the hour that Billie plungedfrom the top of the rock into the midst of Don Rafael's band.

  It was shortly after noon when Billie's accident happened, and Donaldand Pedro were on their way to send for the rurales. As we have seen,Adrian and Don Antonio ran to Billie's assistance, but were too late todiscover his whereabouts. They did, however, find his hat, and, insearching more closely, also discovered the print of many feet on thesand along the bank of the creek.

  Upon making this discovery, Adrian led the way up the creek for severalhundred yards, and finally arrived at a place where the creek seemed toflow right out from under the side of the mountain.

  This solved the mystery. There was undoubtedly a cave under themountain, which was entered by means of the stream. Adrian was forgetting one of the small boats he had seen on the banks of the Concho,and going immediately to Billie's rescue, but Don Antonio advised thatnothing be done until the rurales arrived and there was a sufficientforce to arrest Don Rafael and his band.

  Adrian finally agreed to the plan, and, after a careful survey of thelocation, he and Don Antonio returned to the house.

  When Donald heard what had happened he was even more insistent thanAdrian had been that they should proceed at once to examine the cave. Ifthey found it was in possession of Don Rafael and his band, Donald wasin favor of forcing their way in, no matter what the opposition.

  "I am sure that would be very unwise," declared Don Antonio. "Ourmessenger is already on his way to Presidio del Norte to summon therurales. They will certainly be here by daylight tomorrow morning. Thenwe can go in force and will be sure to succeed. If only four of us go,we will probably be overpowered by numbers and your friend may suffer.Let us have patience."

  "Well," replied Donald slowly, "I'll agree to wait until morning; but,if the rurales are not here by that time, I shall go after Billie, if Ihave to go alone."

  "You won't have to go alone," said Adrian. "You know that."

  "Indeed you won't," chimed in Pedro. "I remember what you did for me."

  The night passed slowly to our boys, and they were up the followingmorning at sunrise. Coffee was served soon after, and still the ruraleshad not arrived.

  A few minutes later the messenger sent to summon them returned to saythat, owing to a report that a quantity of arms were to be run acrossthe river lower down the Rio Grande, most of the rurales had been sentthither, and would not return till morning. This meant they could notpossibly reach the Hacienda del Rio before noon.

  "That settles it," declared Donald. "I'm going to find Billie."

  "And I, too," said Adrian. "I'll bet the place the rurales have gone isat the same place we lost old Bray."

  "Where was that?" asked Don Antonio.

  "At the _hacienda_ of old Pablo Ojeda," replied Adrian, and he told oftheir experience.

  "I have heard of him often," said Don Antonio. "He has always beensuspected of smuggling across the border--not only cattle, but liquor,ammunition, and all dutiable goods."

  "I should think the rurales would lock him up," said Pedro.

  "They have, several times, but he has always managed to escapepunishment. He has some sort of political influence, which has helpedhim escape."

  "Well, I don't care what they do with the old chap," said Donald. "I'moff to find Billie."

  "I shall stay and guide the rurales," said Don Antonio. "You boys go anddo all the scouting you wish; but take my advice and do nothing rashuntil I come with the rurales."

  Promising him they would be careful, the little party of three set out,and Don Antonio went to his study to do some writing. Guadalupe, who hadstood silently by, listening to the conversation, followed the boys tothe great gate, and waved them a good-by, after which she returned toher room and tried to busy herself in her daily tasks. But somehow shecould not become interested in her work, and, a little later, callingTanto, she wandered out into the fields, finally straying to the bank ofthe river.

  For a time she sat on the bank, watching the flowing water, and thinkingabout the three boys, who had so unexpectedly come into her life. Shewas much interested in them and their adventures, and her thought wentout especially to Billie, whose captivity seemed most hard.

  "And he is in all this trouble just because he helped Pedro to escapeDon Rafael," she thought to herself, not knowing that the boys had amission of their own. "I wish I could do something to help him."

  After a while she arose and walked slowly up the river, toward the spotwhere Billie disappeared.

  "I mustn't be walking in this direction," she suddenly thought, "I mightget into trouble."

  Espying a cow-path, which seemed to lead away from the river, she turnedto the left, thinking that she would come out into the open field aftera little. Instead, she found herself going deeper into the woods, andafter a few minutes again sat down to rest, before retracing herfootsteps.

  She called Tanto, but he did not seem inclined to lie down. Instead,after the manner of dogs, went off on an exploring expedition of hisown.

  Guadalupe must have fallen asleep, for she was awakened by Tanto lickingher face.

  "Go away," she exclaimed, springing to her feet, and then she noted thatit was afternoon.

  "I must have slept a couple of hours," she thought. Then, as she startedback by the way she had come: "Come, Tanto, we must be going."

  But Tanto refused to go, and when she turned to call him, he indicatedby every means he could that he wanted her to go in the oppositedirection.

  "What is it?" she asked.

  Tanto barked loudly, and again started off in the opposite direction,stopping every few feet and looking back to see if she were following.

  "Do you want me to go that way?" she asked, taking a few steps towardhim.

  The dog barked joyfully and gave every evidence of pleasure.

  "Well, go on, then," she finally said. "You may know the way home betterthan I."

  Off went Tanto on a gentle trot and Guadalupe followed as best shecould.

  Tanto led the way up a little hill and down the other side to a ravineof some depth. It didn't look very inviting, and Guadalupe stopped.

  "I'm sure this isn't the way home," she exclaimed. "Come on back,Tanto."

  But the dog refused to obey, and continued his antics.

  "Well," thought the girl, "I might as well see what he has found," andshe again followed him until he came to a spot were the path terminatedabruptly in front of a steep bank which was covered with vines andunderbrush.

  Up this bank Tanto scrambled, and, with nose to the ground, emittedseveral sharp barks.

  "What is it?" asked Guadalupe, as she, too, climbed to the top of thebank, noticing as she did so that she could see the river through thetrees fully half a mile away.

  Again the dog barked and put his nose to the ground, while, with hisfeet, he began to scratch among the leaves.

  Looking down to see what he was trying to get, Guadalupe saw thegrating, and, a moment later, she was down upon her knees beside thedog.

  The grating was partly covered with leaves, so that at first the girlcould not make out what it was. Brushing these aside, the opening wasrevealed, and a moment later she had her eyes down as close as she couldget, and was peering into the darkness.

  As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, she discovered that shewas looking into a large room, and gradually she could make out thevarious pieces of furniture. Then she discovered there was someone onthe bed, and having no doubt as to who it was, she called:

  "Don Guillermo! Don Guillermo!"

  This was the sound which had attracted Billie's attention.

  "Is that you, Don Guillermo?" she asked.

  "Yes," came the whispered reply.

  "Are you hurt?" she next asked.

  "Not much
."

  "Are you a prisoner?"

  "Yes; but I'm not going to be long."

  Guadalupe could see that he was getting upon his feet, and partly aroseto shift her position, when Tanto sprang back with a deep growl. Thenext instant she felt herself seized from behind, and, when she wouldhave screamed, a hand was placed firmly over her mouth.