"Then go! I shall make no attempt to detain you, although I am powerless right now to aid you. This shall be a part of the reward I promised you.

When you can come to me and tell me that Don Rafael is no more, you shall have the rest. Now go, before the men return. They are a wild lot.

and now that the revolution has broken out, there is no controlling them."

Billie started for the stairs; but, before he reached them, he could hear the men coming in, grumbling at their ill luck and in finding no one.

"Wait," said Santiago. "I will go down and attract their attention, so that you may come down. Be careful."

Suiting the action to the word, Santiago ran quickly down the stairs, as though just awakened.

"What is all the trouble?" he asked. "Have the Maderists attacked us?"

"Maderists," laughed one. "_Caramba_, no! Don Pablo has been frightened by a shadow."

"By his guilty conscience, more likely," muttered another. "The idea of getting honest men up at this time of night to hunt goblins."

"Look out! There he comes!" whispered another. "If he hears you, you will think of something besides goblins!"

While this conversation had been going on, Billie had managed to slip down stairs, and again took his place behind the bush in the _patio_.

Then, as the men went back to the servants' quarters, he edged around near the gate, watching an opportunity to slip through.

While he stood there waiting, he heard a clock strike midnight.

"It is not as late as I thought," he said to himself. "There is still time if I am not detained."

He glanced around and no one was in sight but Santiago. Outside all was dark, and he decided now was his chance.

Grasping the revolver tightly in his hand, he darted for the gateway, and b.u.mped squarely into Don Pablo, who entered at the same moment.

For a moment the collision stopped Billie and sent Don Pablo reeling against the wall. Billie was much the heavier, but the old man was a bunch of sinews. Both gathered themselves for a spring as Don Pablo gave a cry that sounded like a wild beast and could be heard all over the _hacienda_.

"Gringo dog!" he exclaimed. "Now I have you!" and he made a dash at the boy.

Billie raised the revolver in his hand as though to fire, and then changed his mind.

"He must be unarmed," he thought, "and I don't want to kill him."

He shoved his arm out sharply and the barrel of the revolver struck Don Pablo full in the face, knocking him to the ground.

With a yell which he had learned from the Wyoming cowboys, Billie sprang over the prostrate form and dashed away in the darkness.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A QUESTION OF NEUTRALITY.

So sudden had been Billie's a.s.sault and escape that it was several minutes before those in and about the _hacienda_ could understand what had occurred. But when they did at last comprehend, they started after him with a wild cry of revenge.

This time, however, Billie knew his ground and whither he was going.

Straight as an arrow he ran, in spite of the darkness, and, several minutes before the pursuing Mexicans had reached the river, he had unfastened the boat and launched it into the stream. With the aid of one oar, which he used as a paddle, he was slowly disappearing in the gloom when he heard the pursuers upon the bank. Several shots were fired at him, but all went wild. In a few minutes he was within hailing distance of the American sh.o.r.e.

Thinking it wise under the circ.u.mstances, he called aloud as he approached land, and after two or three shouts received an answer from the patrol.

Guiding the boat by the sound of the voices, he was soon ash.o.r.e, where he was surrounded by the United States soldiers.

"Who are you?" demanded the corporal of the guard.

Billie explained.

"Why didn't you come in sooner?"

Again Billie explained.

"It doesn't sound exactly right," was the corporal's reply. "We shall have to take you to headquarters."

"That's exactly what I want," declared Billie, "and the sooner the better. If I don't get help quick my friends will be executed."

"What's that?" asked the corporal, with added interest.

Briefly Billie explained.

"You'll never get any help from the lieutenant," he was told.

"I'm not expecting it," was Billie's response. "But I'll bet the rangers will help me!"

The corporal shook his head. "It would be a breach of neutrality," he declared. "The President wouldn't stand for it, even if the commanding officer did. It would cost him his commission; maybe something worse."

"We'll see," was Billie's only reply. "Now will you rush me to headquarters?"

"You bet I will," replied the corporal, emphatically, and in almost no time Billie was galloping toward Presidio in charge of a couple of troopers.

Lieutenant Grant had turned in when the galloping hors.e.m.e.n drew rein in front of his headquarters, half an hour later, but he quickly turned out again when the troopers made known their errand.

"Well, well," he exclaimed, as he caught sight of Billie. "There must be something serious to have caused you to make a report at this time of night!"

"There is," was Billie's forcible reply. "The lives of my two companions depend upon my getting a.s.sistance to rescue them from the revolutionists!"

"Tell me about it," said the lieutenant, and Billie did so in the shortest manner possible.

"What do you expect me to do?" asked the lieutenant, when he had finished.

"I don't know. I was in hopes you could suggest something!"

"I'm afraid that even a suggestion from an officer of the United States might be looked upon as a breach of neutrality," was the reply.

"Then how would it do if you should go to bed and go to sleep?" asked Billie. "Of course you could not violate your order of neutrality if you were asleep."