CHAPTER XI.
FRIENDS IN DISTRESS.
Half an hour later the boys stopped beside a ruined wall in whichwas a still more ruined gate.
It was the home of Gen. Luiz Blanco, whose wife and child it wasthat the boys had saved from the mountain lion.
Above the house, on a lofty turret, waved the American flag--afact which caused the boys to enter the gate and approach thehouse without hesitation.
But when they reached the great front door leading into thepatio, they found it shut and barred.
Here they knocked loudly.
For some minutes there was no reply, despite repeated knocks, butfinally a voice called out in English:
"Who's there?"
"American boys in trouble."
"What?" was the surprised reply. "Say it again, till I see if itis true."
"It's true all right, all right," said Billie. "If you don'tbelieve it we'll sing the 'Star Spangled Banner,' or 'HailColumbia'."
They could hear some one removing the bars and a moment later thegate swung open, and a huge, bewhiskered man in ragged garmentsand a Winchester rifle in his hand stood before them.
"Come in quick," he commanded, "and let's get this gate barred.There is no knowing when that band of robbers will be back."
"Robbers?" queried Billie, as he set the little girl on theground and extended his hand to the man. "What robbers?"
"They call themselves soldiers," and the man seized Billie's handand gave it a mighty grip, which made even Broncho Billie wince,"but what do we care for them? With four Americans we can defy ahundred of them." Then, as Donald and Adrian finished barring thegate: "It's certainly good for sore eyes to see such faces," andhe grasped each boy in turn.
"Well, we're mighty glad to see you," replied Donald. "Weexpected to find the place deserted."
"How did you know anything about the place?"
"This lady told us it is her home."
"What?" from the man. "Do you mean to tell me this is the SenoraBlanco?"
"Even so, Senor," replied the lady. "No one would recognize me inthese rags and grief. Oh, Senor, had it not been for these braveAmericans I should have been devoured by a lion."
"You don't tell me. But I'd know they were the real thing. Theirfaces show it. But come, let's go into the house. You'll excuseme, Senora, for taking possession of your castle."
"It is yours, Senor. Do with it as you will. But will you not dome the favor of your name?"
"I beg your pardon, Senora. I had forgotten. I am Ebenezer Black,who owns the ranch across the valley. My daughter and I were outon a hunt for some lost cattle when we were waylaid by thisso-called company of soldiers. I drove them off but my daughterwas wounded and I made for this place. Finding no one at home, Itook possession."
"I am so glad, Senor. And where is your daughter now?"
"Sitting in a big armchair, nursing a wounded arm."
"Oh, let us hasten," cried the senora. "I may be of someassistance."
They hurried into the house and into the great library, now allin disorder and strewn with bits of cigars and cigarettes. In oneof the big leather chairs sat a girl of some sixteen orseventeen, with her left arm in a sling, but in her right handshe held a glistening revolver. She was very slight, but dressedin a riding costume of unique design, and with a wealth of softbrown hair hanging just to her collar. With just a touch ofpallor due to the wound, the boys thought her the most beautifulgirl they had ever seen, not excepting Pedro's sister Guadalupe.
That the girl was surprised at the addition to the party goeswithout saying. She looked first at her father, then at thenewcomers and then back to her father, as much as to ask: "Whoare they?"
"This," said Mr. Black as the senora came forward, "is the ladyof the house and her daughter. These are American boys, as youcan see, although you haven't had a chance to know many Americanboys. I don't know their names, but names don't count. I'll vouchfor them."
"We are very highly complimented," laughed Donald, "but I shallbe pleased to introduce us. I am Donald Mackay. Now that you knowme, I will introduce my friends, Adrian Sherwood, ranch owner andgood fellow, and William Stonewall Jackson Winkle, better knownas 'Broncho Billie.' We are known as the Broncho Rider Boys."
"Oh, Father," exclaimed the girl, "I've read about them. I have abook some one sent me from the United States telling about theiradventures at the Keystone ranch."
"You don't say so," from her father. "I didn't know they weresuch celebrities. Such being the case, young gentlemen, allow meto introduce my daughter, Josephine, commonly called Josie. Nowthen, how did you all come here?"
As briefly as possible Adrian related their adventures since theyleft the City of Mexico the previous morning; told about theinformation contained in the telegram from Gen. Maas, and woundup by saying: "We may be at war with Mexico right now for all weknow."
"Well, now what do you think of that?" exclaimed Mr. Black. "Ijust knew I had a reason when I hoisted that flag. It's one Josiealways carries in her saddle bags. It makes her feel safer, shesays."
"And I hope she is safer," exclaimed Billie, "with it waving overher to-day, than she would be without it."
"At any rate she has more protection than she had a few hoursago," ventured the senora. "I shall never forget how I wasprotected."
"I'd feel a whole lot better," said Donald, "if I had some otherweapon. A Colt does very well in a tight place; but I certainlymiss my Marlin."
"We formerly had quite a supply of arms," was the explanationoffered by the senora, "but when Gen. Blanco went to join Gen.Carranza he armed all his men and it took about everything wehad. However, there are a few weapons left--unless," she added asan afterthought, "the Huerta soldiers have discovered theirhiding place."
She led the way to the cellar and pointed to a spot at one side.
"If you will brush away the dirt that covers the floor aboutthere," she said, "you will find a large slab. This can beraised, and underneath there should still be several goodrifles."
Donald and Billie, who had accompanied her, while Adrian remainedup stairs with the others, quickly followed her instructions. Theedges of the slab were exposed to view and after some effort theopening was revealed. In it were four rifles and an old-fashionedcannon. The rifles were not of the latest make, but two weremagazine rifles and were a decided improvement over revolvers incase it came to defending the house.
"I suppose that old cannon might be mounted on the roof somehowand made effective," said Donald after he and Billie hadinspected the other arms. Then to the senora: "Is there anyammunition?"
"There was powder in that wine cask," she replied, "but I don'tknow whether there is any left. The balls for the cannon are onthe roof."
The boys examined the cask and found it contained quite aquantity of powder. Then they all returned to the library andmade their report.
"Not a very heavy armament to withstand a siege, is it?" was Mr.Black's comment. "Half a dozen rifles with about a hundredcartridges, an old cannon that might explode any minute, and fourrevolvers. It won't do."
"What else can we do?" asked Billie.
"Why, now that there are four of us, we'll cross the valley to myhouse. It is just as well located to withstand a siege as thisand it is thoroughly armed and provisioned."
"Suppose we have to fight?"
"Then we'll fight."
"But you forget your daughter and the senora and her child."
"I didn't forget Josie," was the reply, "and, wounded as she is,she can take care of herself; but I don't know about the others.They would be a handicap. Have you anything better to offer?"
Billie scratched his head.
"Not for the moment."
"Well, I have," exclaimed Adrian.
"I thought it was about time Ad woke up," laughed Donald. "Let'shave it."
"Captain Lopez told us that there was a large body of Carranza'stroops down the railroad a short distance. If he meant by a shortdistance six or eight miles they can not be more
than a couple ofmiles from where we now are. I feel sure that the skirmish wepassed through has proved disastrous to the Huerta forces and Iam willing to go out and find Captain Lopez and bring relief."
"And I'll go with you," said Billie.
"I can do just as well alone. If I am not captured by the otherside I shall make it easily, and," he added, "I am sure I shallnot be captured, for I can lick any squad of peons that I'mlikely to meet."
"You are a brave boy," said Josie, a bit of praise which broughtthe color to Adrian's cheeks and was an added incentive forbravery.
"But why shouldn't I go?" insisted Billie.
"You may be needed here. This house is a marked place and if asmall band of the Huerta forces has escaped, this will be one ofthe places where they will rally."
"Your friend is right," agreed Mr. Black. "I admire the pluck ofall of you, but his plan is best. The sooner he goes the betterand we will make the house as impregnable as we can. Let us hopehe is successful."
"You can bet on me," was Adrian's reply as he shouldered hisrifle, looked to the fastening of his belt, and descended to thegate, where Mr. Black let him out.
After Adrian had gone the others inspected the house and itsapproaches for the purpose of determining where they might mountthe cannon. They finally decided upon a spot in an angle of theroof, where a chimney offered some protection and from which itcommanded the main approach to the house.
"I'm not sure we will be able to get the cannon up there,"laughed Billie as they passed through the library on their way tothe cellar, "but we'll do the best we can."
"Don't worry," was Josie's reply. "You don't know how strong Dadis."
The boys thought they could guess, but when they saw Mr. Blackpick up the cannon as though it had been a log of cord wood andcarry it upstairs they concluded that Josie was right.
"When I was a young man," was Mr. Black's only comment, "I wasconsidered the strongest man in our county. I reckon if it cameto a pinch I'd be a pretty hard man to handle even yet."
The boys had no doubt of it.
By the time the cannon was mounted and loaded the sun was nearingthe top of the mountains behind them and a few minutes later itsank from sight.
"It won't be long now until we shall have to depend upon our earsinstead of our eyes for our protection," said Donald. "Where isthe best place to watch?"
"I'll tell you what I think," said Billie. "Let one watch fromthe roof and the other down by the gate. The one on the roof canhear noises from a distance. The one by the gate can hear any onewho may be sneaking around."
"I'll watch on the roof," said the senora. "I know the chirp ofevery bird that belongs here. I shall know in a minute ifanything happens that is unusual."
"And I'll watch by the gate," declared Donald.
"Only till midnight," said Billie, "when I'll relieve you."
"And I'll relieve the senora," said Josie.
"Where do I come in?" queried Mr. Black.
"You are the general, Dad. You can be everywhere."
Sentry duty is always nerve-racking business. If you have everbeen obliged to sit alone in the dark and watch with your ears,you will understand this and you will understand how Donald feltsitting alone by the barred gate in the dark, 3,000 miles fromhome and in the midst of a war-stricken country.
Even the north star looked unfamiliar, so close was it to thenorthern horizon. Once in a while he fancied he could hear thesenora weeping, but for at least three hours this was all heheard.
Then he heard a distinct "S-s-s-s," which was the signal agreedupon between him and the senora if she heard anything unusual.
In an instant he was on the alert. Yes, he was sure he heardfootsteps near the gate, without. Then there were some minutes ofsilence, then the hiss of a fuse and a moment later an explosionwhich blew the gate from its hinges.