CHAPTER XXVIII.

A QUESTION OF NEUTRALITY.

So sudden had been Billie's assault 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 shore.

Thinking it wise under the circumstances, 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 ashore, 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 horsemen 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 assistance 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."

"That's true."

"And then, again," explained Billie, "there is a dangerous man abroad tonight, who needs watching."

"How's that?"

"I saw an English-speaking foreigner give a Mexican ten thousand pounds tonight to aid the revolution."

"What!" almost shouted the lieutenant. "Ten thousand pounds?"

"Exactly."

"How do you know he gave him that amount?"

Billie ran his hand inside his shirt and pulled forth the big envelope he had taken from Don Pablo's secretary.

"I couldn't swear to it yet," he said; "because I have not looked inside this envelope; but, if I am not mistaken there is that sum in drafts on the Bank of England in this envelope."

With trembling fingers he tore open the wrapper, and there, just as he had expected, were the drafts--ten, each for a thousand pounds!

"And who was the man?" asked Lieutenant Grant.

"I don't know, but I had hoped that the name on the drafts might tell."

The lieutenant examined them carefully. Then he shook his head. "No," he said, "there is nothing to show by whom they were drawn. They are simply bank checks of one of the largest banks in New York on the Bank of England, with whom they doubtless have a large account. They are made payable to Pablo Ojeda, and, so far as the checks go to show, might have been purchased by Don Pablo himself. However, in the expert hands of the United States Secret Service, we may be able to find out whose money this really is."

At this information Billie's face fell.

"I thought I was doing a big thing," he muttered. "Now I see I might better have followed the man."

"You have done a big thing," said the lieutenant; "and, to show my appreciation of what you have done, I am going to send all the pickets for half a mile down the river to hunt the man. If any of your friends should slip across the river at that point, I shall not know it. And now, I'd advise you to hunt up Captain Peak and go to bed--that is, unless you and he should decide to do a little more scout duty before daylight."

Billie was not slow to take the hint, and started for the hotel. He had not gone twenty paces when the two troopers who had ridden in with him overtook him.

"Just tell Captain Peak," said one of them, "that there'll be ten of us waiting for you down below the custom house. We'll be in our shirt-sleeves, as it wouldn't do to be found dead in our uniforms if anything should happen."

Billie's heart gave a great bound. "I see," he said. "You won't have to wait long."

Five minutes later he was in Captain Peak's room telling his story. In another ten minutes the two of them emerged from the hotel and walked swiftly down the street. In still another ten minutes, men who looked like cowboys, but each carrying a Winchester, might have been seen going toward the river below the custom house. Half an hour later the streets again took on a deserted appearance, save for the two or three policemen who suddenly emerged from unknown quarters and resumed their beats.