CHAPTER XVII.
BILLIE GETS A SURPRISE.
When Billie found himself looking into the muzzle of a rifle inthe hands of Santiago, his first impulse was to call out; but theexpression on Santiago's face caused him to remain silent.
While the strange man owed his life to the lad, as is related inthe story of the "Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers,"there was that in the man's face which told that he was under asevere mental strain, and Billie did not think it wise to presumeupon his former friendship.
Therefore, he remained quiet, waiting for Santiago to speak.
If he recognized Billie, he gave no intimation of the fact; butin a harsh voice commanded: "Up with your hands!"
Billie obeyed.
"Turn to the left and march. In there," he continued a momentlater as Billie approached an open door in the rear of the patio.
Into the house Billie went--into a large room, but dimly lighted.Santiago followed, closing the door behind him with a kick.
"Why shouldn't I shoot you down like a dog?" asked Santiago assoon as the door was closed.
"I can't see any reason," was the reply, "except that it mightcause you a lot of trouble when it was found out. I imagine thatAdmiral Fletcher is going to be pretty severe upon snipers andothers who shoot Americans."
"Bah!" exclaimed Santiago angrily. "I spit upon Americans! Bah!"
"That's all right," Billie agreed, "if it's the way you feelabout it."
"Just because you Americans have driven away a few soldiers withthe guns of your great fleet, you don't think you can conquerMexico, do you?"
"I hadn't thought much about it."
"Then it's time you did, as you may never have another chance."
"Well, then," explained Billie, "I'll tell you how it looks tome. You might a great deal better be governed by the UnitedStates than by a man like Huerta."
"Huerta! Huerta!" fairly screamed Santiago. "He is not thegovernor of Mexico."
"No," from Billie. "He calls himself the provisional president.In reality he is a dictator."
"He is a murderer!" shouted the thoroughly excited man.
"Then what are you worrying about? All that the Americans want isto get rid of Huerta. They don't want Mexico. Didn't you knowthat, Santiago?"
"What? Who calls me Santiago? I am Ixtazhl, Prince of the Aztecsand guardian of the treasures of Montezuma. Who calls meSantiago?"
In his excitement he rested the stock of his rifle upon the floorand bent upon Billie a gaze so fierce as greatly to disconcerthim for the moment.
But Billie was not a lad to be easily unnerved and after a momenthe replied calmly:
"I call you by the only name I know. It was the one you used onthe Rio Grande when you sent me on a mission to Pancho Villa."
"Villa! Villa!" repeated Santiago, as though trying to recallsomething that had passed from his memory. "Villa! Where have Iheard that name before?"
"On the Rio Grande is all I can tell you. Do you remember DonRafael?"
At mention of the name the expression on Santiago's face changedagain, this time to one of fiercest rage.
"Don Rafael!" he cried. "Don Rafael! Now I know you! You are DonRafael. That is why I should kill you!"
"Great Scott, no, I am not Don Rafael!" shouted Billie asSantiago again raised his rifle and the lad perceived that he hadto do with a crazy man. "I'm the boy that saved your life whenDon Rafael tried to kill you. Don't you remember?"
Again Santiago lowered his weapon, and again there came upon hisface that puzzled expression.
"Tell me, Santiago--I mean Prince Iztazil, or whatever you callit, what are you doing here?"
Santiago eyed him suspiciously, but finally laid his rifle acrossa table in the center of the room and approached nearer the lad.
"Listen!" he said in a whisper. "I am the guardian of thetreasure of Montezuma. It is to be used to free Mexico from theSpaniard. He must be driven out. The land belongs to the Aztec."
"But where is the Aztec?" queried Billie. "I know him not."
"I am he. The peons are my people. The Spaniard--bah! He owns thehouses and he owns the lands; but he must be driven out."
"Isn't that what Villa says?"
"Villa? Villa?" again repeated Santiago, and again he lapsed intosilence.
For some minutes he remained motionless ere he stepped back,picked up his rifle and started for a door leading to a stairway.
"Come!" he commanded. "I will show you."
"Hadn't we better take care of the horse first?" asked Billie,not at all anxious to be wandering around with an armed lunatic."He may die."
"What is a horse when the future of Mexico is at stake, my son?Come with me and you shall hear a strange tale."
"I have heard one already," was Billie's mental comment, butrealizing by the term son which Santiago had applied to him thathe was in no immediate danger and trusting to his wits to finallyovercome the strange man should it become necessary, he followed.
At the head of the stairs was another door, which Santiago openedand entered. It was a sort of ante-room, much like the entranceinto a lodge room. Around the walls was a motley collection offirearms, swords, spears and smaller weapons.
Stopping in front of one of the racks, Santiago placed his riflein it, and then from another took a couple of small swords, oneof which he handed to Billie.
"This is a bug house sure enough," muttered the boy as he tookthe sword and examined it curiously. "I wonder what next?"
He had not long to wait, for opening a closet, Santiago tooktherefrom two beautifully embroidered robes, one of which hethrew over his own shoulders and the other of which he put onBillie.
"It doesn't hardly match my hat," laughed Billie.
Without a word, Santiago removed Billie's sombrero and hung iton a peg in the closet, which he closed.
Then he opened another door and led Billie into a large,brilliantly lighted room, hung with the richest tapestries.
"Looks like we had strayed into some Turkish bath house," thoughtBillie, "but I might as well see the thing through."
"Sit here beside me, my son," Santiago finally said. "You shallbecome my heir. I will introduce you to the court."
Santiago clapped his hands, as though bidding a servant toattend; but there was no response.
He turned his head from one side to the other as though inamazement and again clapped his hands, this time with vigor.
After a moment's delay, there was a movement behind one of thedraperies and presently the curtain was drawn back and a man'sface appeared.
"Come hither," commanded Santiago.
The man obeyed.
"Where are the others?" demanded Santiago.
"Oh, senor," cried the man, "the others have hidden themselves inthe cellar!"
"Slaves! Cowards!" exclaimed Santiago. "What do they fear?"
"The great guns, senor. We might all be killed."
"You will certainly be killed if you do not mind what I say," wasthe reply as Santiago drew his sword. "Now summon the court thatI may introduce my son."
The man bowed and left the room, and in a few minutes returnedaccompanied by two more men and several women, all arrayed infantastic costumes.
All bowed as they entered, and Santiago waved his hand.
"This is my son and heir," he said. "Come and kiss his hand."
They all came forward and kissed Billie's hand, which he held outin order to facilitate the job.
"Now," said Santiago, "we----"
"Now," interrupted Billie, "if it is all the same to you, Prince,we'll have supper. I haven't had a mouthful to eat sincedaylight. I'm 'most starved to death."
"It is well," agreed Santiago. "It is well that my heir shouldnot die of hunger. Let the table be placed."
The order seemed to meet with general approval, and in the courseof half an hour there was spread what would have proved a feastat any time, but which was beyond description to a hungry boy;and the way he waded into the food was a caution.
/> During all this time Santiago had uttered never a word, nor wouldhe eat but the smallest portion of food--a taste of every dishwhich he set before his guest.
"My son tells the truth," Santiago finally remarked as Billiepushed back his chair with the single word "Bastante," meaningenough.
"I always try to," was the smiling rejoinder, for Billie was nowin the very best humor. Eating was his strong point and he hadgone the limit.
"Clear away the feast and then reassemble," was Santiago's nextorder.
This order was carried into effect, and the servants also musthave enjoyed a square meal, for it was more than an hour ere theyagain assembled, during which time Billie sank back in his chairand slumbered peacefully.
He was finally awakened by a hand laid upon his arm.
"Awake, my son," were the words he heard. "It is now time that Ireveal to you the secret of my life. It is now time that I shouldtell you the secret of the treasure of Montezuma."
"That's right, Prince," said Billie sleepily. "Let her go."
Santiago regarded him interrogatively.
"What said my son?"
"Oh, yes, Prince. I forgot you only understood good English. Lether go, means proceed with the secret."
"Let her go. Let her go," Santiago repeated a couple of times."Yes," he continued, "I had forgotten about her."
He clapped his hands and the same servant who had first appearedapproached his chair.
Santiago gave an order in a language which Billie did notunderstand, but which he imagined was Indian, and the servantwithdrew, only to reappear a few minutes later with a young womanwho greatly resembled Santiago and who was also arrayed in agorgeous costume.
She had evidently not expected to meet a stranger, for she drewback upon seeing Billie and the color rushed to her face.
"Come hither, daughter," was Santiago's command.
The young woman obeyed.
"Lucia," said Santiago, "this is the honorable young man whom Ihave chosen for my heir. Henceforth consider him your betrothed.The marriage shall take place one new moon from to-day."
"Oh, Father," cried the girl, her face becoming even more scarletthan before, "I cannot----"
"No!" interrupted Billie, springing to his feet, "neither can I.You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Santiago----"
"What!" cried Santiago, springing to his feet and again drawinghis sword. "Who calls me Santiago? I am Prince Ixtazhl of thegreat Aztec nation and guardian of the treasure of Montezuma!"
He raised his sword and would have stricken Billie down ere theboy could have prevented had not the young woman thrown herselfbetween them and seized his arm.
At the same instant the door from the ante-room opened and Donaldand Adrian entered.