CHAPTER VII.
THE INSULT TO THE FLAG.
A week later, or, to be more exact, on April 10, 1914, theBroncho Rider Boys and their friend Pedro were back in the Cityof Mexico. During the two weeks they had been at Pachuca, manychanges had taken place and on the morning in question they hadjust finished their coffee in the breakfast room when Guadalupe,Pedro's sister, brought in the morning paper.
"What's the news?" asked Adrian.
Guadalupe glanced at the paper and hid it behind her back withoutmaking any reply.
"Why, Sister!" exclaimed Pedro with all the dignity of hissixteen years. "How can you be so rude?"
"She's only joking," laughed Billie, who was always found onGuadalupe's side when any argument took place. "Come, tell us!What is it?"
Guadalupe shook her head.
"Oh, I can't," she replied in a pained voice.
"Why not?" from Billie.
"It says we are going to have war with the United States and Idon't believe it."
"Of course you don't," replied Billie. "Neither does any oneelse."
"Let me see," said Pedro sternly.
Slowly the girl handed her brother the paper.
He opened it and read.
"A party of American marines was arrested in Tampico yesterdayfor landing on Mexican soil with arms in their hands. They weremarched through the streets under a heavy guard and lodged injail. After a parley with the American Admiral, Mayo, thecommandant of the city finally released them upon the assuranceof the Admiral that it should not occur again."
"Well, if it was only a mistake, that doesn't mean war," laughedBillie, but Donald's face took on a more serious look.
"That isn't all," said Pedro.
"Well," from Billie, "let's have the rest of it."
"The American Admiral has now declared that the men did not landon Mexican soil with arms in their hands, but that they were intheir boat at the pier when arrested. He claims that they weretaken from under the American flag----"
"What?" almost shouted Billie, springing to his feet. "Takenfrom under the American flag? Well, I'll bet that will meanwar--unless," he added after a brief pause, "Gen. Huertaapologizes."
"Why should he apologize?" asked Pedro.
"For insulting the American flag."
"That's what the American Admiral says," interrupted Guadalupe,"and he threatens to fire on the city."
"And I'll bet he'll do it," said Adrian.
"If he does we'll sink his ships," said Pedro.
"What with?" asked Billie sarcastically. "Why, Admiral Mayo couldblow Tampico out of the water."
"If he does, the Mexicans will march on Washington," from Pedro.
"What?" from Donald. "March on Washington? Why, Huerta can'thardly keep Carranza out of the City of Mexico."
"But if your admiral fires on Tampico, Carranza will help Gen.Huerta," declared Pedro.
"Do you really think so?" asked Adrian.
"I know it. We may have our little family troubles down here inMexico, but if the United States should interfere, we'd all turnin and fight her."
Billie was about to reply when Gen. Sanchez entered the room.
"I see you have been reading the news," he said calmly.
"And discussing it too," said Donald.
"Which we had better not at present," replied the General. "Youboys are our guests and as long as you are, you are our friends;but I am afraid there is serious trouble coming and I think itwill be much better if you make arrangements at once to return tothe United States. As you know, I am not a favorite with thepresent administration and I might not be able to protect you."
"We can ask the protection of the American Ambassador," saidDonald.
Gen. Sanchez smiled kindly.
"The American Ambassador may be asked to leave."
The boys looked serious.
"Do you really think it is as bad as that?" asked Adrian.
"I fear so. Later dispatches from Tampico state that the AmericanAdmiral has demanded a salute of twenty-one guns to the Americanflag. I know Gen. Huerta well enough to know that he will neverorder the salute."
"Then what will happen?" asked Donald.
"No one can say. I understand that the American government hasplaced the matter in the hands of Admiral Fletcher, the rankingofficer, who is in charge of the Atlantic fleet off Vera Cruz."
"Do you think we should go at once?" queried Billie.
"Yes, I think it would be better. I will make such arrangementsas I can for your transportation to Vera Cruz. In the meantimeyou had better go and register yourselves at the United StatesEmbassy. I am never sure of Gen. Huerta."
Without further discussion the boys prepared to take Gen.Sanchez' advice, and, donning their hats, started for theembassy, leaving Pedro much chagrined and Guadalupe in tears.
"I can't see why there has to be war!" she declared. "Why can'tmen behave themselves?"
"What do girls know about war?" asked Pedro.
"They know it's terrible and takes their fathers and brothers,that's what they know, and they wish they didn't have to knowthat."
Pedro made no reply, but went to his room, where he selected fromamong his most cherished belongings a gift for each of hisguests--three beautiful opals--and laid them upon theirrespective suit cases.
When the Broncho Rider Boys arrived at the embassy they found alarge crowd of Americans already assembled. Word had beencirculated that it would be wise for all of them to leave Mexicoand those who could were going, while many men whose businessdetained them in Mexico were sending their families. All had cometo the embassy for information and to register.
As a result it was late in the afternoon before the boys returnedto Gen. Sanchez' residence. But late as they were, the generalhad not yet come in. They went to their room and when they sawthe gifts which Pedro had laid on each valise, they could notkeep back the tears.
"Well, there's one thing," declared Billie as he drew the back ofhis hand across his eyes, "we don't have to fight Pedro, nomatter what comes. I'm going to hunt him up and tell him so."
And he did.
It was some hours later when Gen. Sanchez returned and announcedthat it would be impossible for the boys to get transportation toVera Cruz for two or three days, as the track had been torn up inthe neighborhood of Cordoba, but that he had been promised thatthey would be given safe conduct as soon as the track wasrepaired.
It was three days later, therefore, before the boys were able toleave, during which time they remained in the house at Gen.Sanchez' request to avoid any unpleasantness, which might maketrouble for him.
On the morning of the 13th the boys bade good-bye to their hostand his family and were driven in an automobile to the station.Already there were more than enough persons to fill four trains,and the guards were permitting only those to board the cars whohad passes signed by the Mexican provost marshal.
Thanks to Gen. Sanchez, our boys had been provided with suchpasses, but they were not allowed to take their rifles orrevolvers aboard the train. They had no more than found seats andmade themselves comfortable than the conductor shouted "Vamanos,"and the train pulled slowly out of the shed.
"Well," remarked Donald as they rolled slowly along, "this is apretty tough ending to a friendly visit. I think I've seen aboutall I want of Mexico for some time to come."
"What do you suppose will happen?" asked Billie. "Do you thinkwe'll really go to war with Mexico unless Gen. Huerta orders thesalute?"
"I don't know," was Donald's cautious reply. "I hope not."
"And I hope we do!" exclaimed a somewhat florid gentleman who satin the seat ahead and who had overheard the conversation. "I'djust like an opportunity to come down here with an army and wipethe whole nation off the earth."
Donald made no reply, but Adrian asked sympathetically: "Havethey treated you badly, sir?"
"Have they treated me badly? Well, I should say so. They wouldn'tlet me out of my hotel for two days and now they have refused tocarry my trunk
and made me leave it with the express company. Iguess they don't know who I am."
"I'm sure they do not, sir."
"Well, I'll show them who I am as soon as I get to Vera Cruz andcan see Admiral Fletcher. He'll know how to protect Americans!"
"I'm sure he will, sir."
"And when the first marine lands, I want to be right there with arifle to help drive the Mexicans off the earth."
"It would be wise not to say too much," whispered Adrian. "I seethat officer in the end of the car has his eye on you. He mayspeak English."
"I don't care who hears me," said the florid man angrily. "I meanit."
At the same moment a guard who had approached from the other endof the car laid his hand upon the angry man's shoulder.
"If the Senor is not satisfied," he said, "we shall be pleased tosend him back to the City of Mexico."
"Oh, no-no-no," was the stammering reply. "I am very wellsatisfied. All I want is to get out of the country."
"Let us hope there will be no trouble about that," was the politeresponse, and the florid man lapsed into silence.
Ordinarily it is a pleasant day's journey from the City of Mexicoto the seaport city of Vera Cruz; or if one prefers he may make anight ride of it in times of peace. The train which left the Cityof Mexico that April morning made no such time. After a tiresomeall-day ride with numerous aggravating stops, when darkness fellthey were still on the plateau of Mexico, some miles west ofOrizaba, running slowly for fear some stray bunch of Carranzistasor Zapatistas might have torn up a length or two of track.
It was possibly an hour later that the engine gave a furiousjerk, followed by a bump and another jerk, and then the traincame to a dead stop.
In a minute everybody was on his feet asking everybody else whathad happened. As no one knew, there was a general movement forthe doors, as it was too dark to see much from the windows.
"Sit down, everybody," ordered the guard. "There is no danger,but we have stopped on a high trestle."
The passengers obeyed, realizing the danger of leaving thecoaches. There was a general round of conversation, and then asthe train did not start, people settled back in their seats andtried to sleep.
Some minutes later Billie gave Adrian a nudge with his elbow.
"Are you asleep?" he asked.
"No. Why?"
"I've just been looking out of the window. We're not on atrestle."
"No? Well, what of it?"
"Only that the guard was lying. What did he do it for?"
"I don't know. Because he was a Mexican, I guess. Go on tosleep."
"That isn't the answer, although it's pretty good. They have somescheme. I wouldn't be surprised if they were going to keep usprisoners somewhere around here."
"Nonsense. Go on to sleep."
But Billie was not satisfied. He leaned over and tried to talk toDonald, but he was fast asleep.
"I think I'll go on a little scouting expedition," he muttered."I need some exercise."
He arose, stretched himself and walked slowly toward the door,which stood wide open.
"I wonder where the guard is?" he thought. "It's mighty funnyhe'd go and leave the coach like this."
He stepped on to the coach ahead. The same condition existed.
Billie's curiosity got the best of him and he jumped out onto theground. It was pitch dark, but he had not advanced more thantwenty steps before he discovered groups of men seated upon thegrass. A second glance convinced him they were armed.
He drew back and stood beside the coach, where he thought fast.
"There's one of two things," he soliloquized. "We are eitherprisoners or else we are being guarded against an expectedattack. Whichever it is, this is no time for the Broncho RiderBoys to be asleep. I'll go and tell the others."
He started to climb onto the car, but a guard appeared on theplatform and ordered him away at the point of his bayonet.
"I'm a passenger," explained Billie.
"Go away!" was the reply, emphasized by a quick advance of thebayonet.
Seeing that it was no time to argue, Billie slid back into thedarkness.