CHAPTER VIII.
TREACHERY FOILED.
Broncho Billie had been in too many unpleasant places to be atall worried over his predicament, but he was much concerned aboutthe condition of the train and its passengers, practically all ofwhom were Americans and a large majority of whom were women andchildren.
"It would be fierce," he mused, "to have them held here, or in adetention camp as prisoners; and it would be worse if we shouldbe attacked by an overwhelming force of revolutionists. I've justgot to know the truth."
He glanced up at the coach with its dimly lighted windows.
"I wish I could talk to old Don. He most always knows what to do.But how can I get at him?"
He sneaked out to where he could see the coach platform. Theguard was still there, as well as the guard on the other car.
"Worse and more of it," he exclaimed.
Then he examined the car, trying to determine at which window hehad been seated. Several were open, and he determined to try andspeak to some one.
"Our seats are not far from here," he thought as he stopped underthe second one. "I'll try this."
He picked up a stone about as big as an egg and tossed it intothe window. A howl from a child followed the act and Billieducked under the car. He could hear the mother pacifying it, butevidently she, too, had been asleep and had not discovered thestone.
"I think I know just which child it is," said Billie with a grin,"and this next open window must be ours."
He picked up another stone and tossed it in to his second choice,this time with better results.
Donald had just aroused from a nap, and, missing Billie, waslooking for him. Not seeing him in the car, he was about to lookout of the window when the stone hit him on the chin.
"Ouch!" he exclaimed as he started back.
Billie heard the exclamation and gave the familiar whistle.
Donald was on the alert in an instant. Looking up and down thecar to be sure he was not being watched, he stuck his head out ofthe window.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Trouble," was Billie's laconic reply. "Come out."
"How can I? The guard is at the door."
"Jump out of the window."
"They might see me."
Billie thought fast.
"Let Ad stand between you and the door."
"Great," from Donald.
He aroused Adrian and told him the situation.
"You stay in the train," he said, "and we'll keep you posted asto what is going on outside. If there is any real danger we willgive the alarm."
He picked up his overcoat and pretended to be fixing a pillow.Adrian did the same. Then, while the guard's back was turned, hedropped out of the window.
Billie was beside him when he rose to his feet.
"This way, Don," he whispered. "Let's get out into the dark andhold a council of war."
They glided out into darkness, but where they could keep theireyes on the engine.
"Now tell me about it," said Don.
Billie told him what he had discovered.
"It does look strange," Donald admitted. "Have you any plan?"
"I haven't an idea above an oyster," was the characteristicreply.
Donald scratched his ear reflectively.
"How would it do," he finally asked, "to sneak over by thesoldiers and see if we can't pick up some scrap of conversationthat may give us a clue as to what is going on?"
"Fine. We must keep together, though. We might never find eachother in the dark if we should become separated."
Silently they crawled toward the spot where Billie had seen thesoldiers. When they did not hear any sign of them after severalminutes' crawling they stopped to listen.
"There surely was a squad here a few minutes ago," declaredBillie. "They must have moved."
They remained silently thoughtful for several minutes, but allwas as silent as a graveyard.
"That's mighty funny," said Billie. "I know I was not mistaken.Let's go back by the train."
They turned for that purpose and could see a group of figures atthe platform of each coach.
"That's the answer," exclaimed Billie. "They have surrounded thetrain. Now let's see what will happen."
They had not long to wait as an officer shortly boarded each carand a minute later there was a commotion among the passengers.
Drawing a little nearer, the boys could hear the officer in thecar nearest them explaining that the passengers would be obligedto alight and change trains.
"The track has been torn up ahead of us," he said, "and we shallhave to walk nearly a mile to where the train is that came upfrom Vera Cruz."
This had been quite the customary thing in Mexico for some monthsand the passengers prepared to obey.
"I don't believe it is true," said Billie to Donald.
"We can soon find out," declared Donald. "Let's walk down thetrack a piece. We can easily keep ahead of the crowd."
Avoiding the glare of the locomotive's headlight, the boyshurried down the track and when far enough away from the train tofeel secure, they took the middle of the track.
"This is far enough ahead," said Donald, "to keep out of sightand the track is all right so far. I don't believe it is torn upat all."
"Then what is up?"
"That is what I've been trying to decide for nearly an hour,"replied Billie. "It looks as though they intended to make all theAmericans prisoners."
"But what for?"
"Why, for hostages, to be sure. Don't you remember how Caesar tooka lot of the Helvetians for hostages?"
"By George!" from Donald. "I believe you are right. Do yousuppose it is Huerta's orders?"
"I expect so. He hates Americans."
While the boys had been talking the passengers had been takenfrom the train and were now coming toward them.
"Let's keep just far enough ahead to see what will happen," saidDonald. "We must get in touch with Adrian somehow."
They started ahead, but it speedily developed that the otherswere not following. Instead they had been halted a short distancefrom the locomotive, back from the track, and surrounded bysoldiers.
"There seems to be a hitch somewhere," Don finally remarked."They don't seem to know just what they do want to do."
"Come on back and find out," said Billie. "It's up to us to dosomething."
Cautiously they crept back to where they could hear theconversation among the passengers and the questions theyasked the guard. Some were laughing and more were expressingindignation. A few of the women were crying, but above all theycould hear the voice of the florid-faced man telling what hewould do as soon as he could get into touch with AdmiralFletcher.
"Which won't be very soon, unless I'm mistaken," laughed Donald.
Presently some one began to whistle a popular air, but in such away that the boys recognized the well-known whistle of Adrian.
"Do you hear that?" asked Billie. "Ad wants to know what we aredoing."
"He'll have to want for the present," said Don, "but there go acouple of officers back to the train. Let's follow them."
The boys darted into the shadow of the coaches and crept backonly a few steps behind what proved to be the captain in chargeof the company and his second lieutenant.
"If I only had my automatic, I'd soon settle this whole matter,"declared Billie.
"You wouldn't hurt anybody, would you?"
"I'd capture the officer and make him take us to Vera Cruz."
"Of course," from Donald. "Why didn't I think of it before? Let'sdo it."
"But we have no weapons."
"Then we must get some."
"How?"
"Keep your eyes open. There must be some way."
The officers kept on their way until they reached the firstPullman, where they stopped for a minute.
"Are the orders in here?" asked the captain.
"No; the conductor has them. He wouldn't stop the train without Igave them to him."
"Carramba! Why didn't yo
u tell me so before? Go and take themfrom him and bring them here at once."
"Bueno, Capitan! Will you wait here?"
"Yes, I'll go inside. Hurry."
The lieutenant turned and hurried back. The boys only savedthemselves from being detected by throwing themselves flat on theground.
For a moment the captain remained looking after his companion andthen turned and entered the car.
"We must have that order," said Donald.
"We must!" echoed Billie.
"Then we'll get it," they exclaimed as one.
So alike were the thoughts that passed through their minds thatthey did not even feel obliged to speak the plan aloud.
"Which one of us will stop him?" asked Donald.
"You'd better. I'm heavier and I can handle him easier."
They walked back some ten feet, where Donald stopped, whileBillie went about ten feet farther and drew off into thedarkness.
A couple of minutes later they heard the lieutenant coming. Hepassed Billie without seeing him.
Then Donald advanced and met him as by chance.
"Who comes there?" asked the lieutenant in a sharp tone, drawinghis revolver.
"Why, hello, lieutenant," said Donald as he came close to him."What's happened?"
The lieutenant eyed him suspiciously.
"Where did you come from?" he asked.
"From the rear sleeper. I woke up and found myself all alone."
"Humph!" grunted the lieutenant. "You must have been overlooked.Come with me."
He started to replace his revolver in its holster when a slightnoise behind him caused him to turn his head. As he did so,Billie's fist caught him under the chin and he fell in a heapwithout making a sound.
"Good work!" muttered Donald as he picked up the revolver whichthe lieutenant had let fall. "Now to business."