by Frank Fowler
CHAPTER XVI.
SHADOWING AN ARMY.
When Donald and Adrian left the city they rode slowly along forsome distance without any sign of the retreating Mexicans,except the occasional sight of some camp utensil which had beenthrown aside as too heavy to carry. Occasionally they met peonsor women, who looked at them curiously, but all of whom were morethan willing to tell of the army that had so recently passed.
"How many men do you suppose General Maas has?" queried Adrian.
"The lieutenant said it was supposed he had about seven thousand.It may be more, and it may be less."
"Well, they're certainly light-footed," laughed Adrian. "Don'tyou think we ought to get closer?"
"If we can without being seen."
They put spurs to their horses and for a mile or more gallopedalong at a fair speed.
Then from a little eminence they saw the rear guard of theretreating army.
"This is near enough," cautioned Donald.
They halted and watched the marching men.
"How far would you say we are from town, Don?"
"At least seven or eight miles."
"Do you know what towns are in this direction?"
"Not the slightest idea. That's the next thing we must find out."
The enemy having by this time passed out of sight, they againspurred forward, but holding their distance.
Darkness had now fallen and the boys were obliged to pick theirway more carefully.
For half an hour they rode silently and then Donald spoke:
"They certainly will not march all night. They must have someplace in mind."
"So I think," from Adrian. "But there seems no sign of a halt."
Ten minutes later, however, they caught sight of a fire light.
"That looks like it might be a camp," suggested Adrian.
They rode cautiously forward.
"It surely is," affirmed Donald a couple of minutes later. "We'dbetter dismount and do a little reconnoitering on foot."
The suggestion was immediately put into effect.
Leaving their horses tethered beneath a giant palm, which wouldserve as a landmark, the boys crept stealthily forward. In a fewminutes they were near enough to see figures about the fire.
"They are evidently getting ready to pass the night," saidDonald.
"Yes," from Adrian, "and there is another fire off yonder," andhe pointed to the right.
"They are getting ready to post their pickets," explained Donald.
"Then we'd better get busy, Don. There must be some way offinding out where the army is going to stop."
As with one accord they drew still nearer the camp, they couldsmell the coffee and their appetites began to assert themselves.
"Wish I had some," whispered Adrian.
"You'll get to be as bad as Billie first thing you know," was theretort. "But, hush! There comes some one."
They lay flat on the ground and listened.
Whoever it might be was coming directly toward them.
Not a move did the boys make, hoping that they might not bediscovered, but ready to act if they were.
When within ten feet of them the footsteps halted and they hearda voice say:
"This will be far enough. You are the end man on the line."
"Bueno, caporal!"
"Keep a close watch," cautioned the corporal. "You never knowwhat these Americans may do."
"Si, Senor. How far are we from Vera Cruz?"
"About four leagues" (twelve miles). "General Maas will make astand at Tejeria, about a league further on."
Then as he moved away. "Remember now, no sleeping. This is a realwar."
"Bueno, mi caporal. I understand."
The corporal departed and the sentry, shouldering his rifle,began pacing his station.
A minute later Donald gave Adrian a dig with his elbow as asignal, and they slowly crawled away.
"That's the information we are after," whispered Donald when theywere out of earshot. "Now to get back to Vera Cruz as quickly aspossible."
They rose to their feet and ran swiftly but silently toward thepalm tree, where their horses were tethered.
Suddenly Adrian stopped and grabbed Donald by the arm.
"What is it, Ad?" asked Donald.
"Can't you see! There is some one there with the horses."
They both peered through the darkness and Donald quicklyperceived that Adrian was right.
Then as by one impulse they drew a few steps nearer.
In the dim starlight they were able to make out the figures ofseveral men.
"Do you think they are soldiers?" whispered Don.
Adrian shook his head.
"Camp followers. Thieves," he whispered.
Donald nodded his head in acquiescence.
The boys lay down upon the ground and put their heads together.
"It wouldn't be any trick at all," whispered Donald, "if it werenot for the pickets. But any noise will bring down upon us acouple of hundred men. Maybe more. We have simply got to disposeof that outfit without noise. But how?"
"Bad job," was Adrian's only reply.
"If the horses were only our Wyoming cow ponies, they'd come atour call."
"But they're not," replied Adrian.
For several minutes neither spoke, but lay silently watching themovements of the men about the horses.
"How many can you make out, Ad?"
"Five."
"I don't see but four."
Adrian pointed to the left, about ten or twelve feet, to one whostood alone.
"What's he doing there?"
"Give it up." Then a moment later: "I have it!"
"Well, what is it?"
"He's watching for us to return. That's what they're all waitingfor. They think we'll be a great catch."
"That's just it," from Donald. "Let's fool them!"
"Well, first, let's capture the one yonder. We'll show them aWyoming Indian trick."
Slowly and silently the boys wiggled their way to where the lonerobber stood. Then as silently as a ghost Donald arose, whileAdrian bent on his knees.
There was a swift movement and Donald's arm was around theMexican's neck, shutting off his wind, while Adrian pulled hisfeet from beneath him. In another minute he was bound by his ownsash and gagged with a handful of grass.
"That's one!" exclaimed Donald, as he sat upon his prisoner'schest. "Now, how about the others?"
"Not so easy, Don."
"But it has to be done," declared Donald. "Scratch your head."
Adrian did so, but to no avail.
Time was passing and they did not know how long ere somethingwould turn up, when Donald gave Adrian a kick.
"Look! They're getting uneasy."
This was undoubtedly true, as the men were moving about and oneof them even had the temerity to light a cigarette.
Then of a sudden Adrian spoke.
"I've got it!" he exclaimed under his breath. "Help drag thischap farther away."
They picked him up bodily and carried him fifteen or twenty feet.
"Now, listen," said Adrian, "both of you. You, Don, sneak as nearthe horses as you dare. I'll give you just five minutes by mywatch. Then I am going to give this man one chance for his life.I am going to take the gag from his mouth and let him give onecall for help. If he makes another sound, it will be his last."
"Then what?"
"Those fellows have waited so long that they are tired. They willall rush to where they expect to find him. Then you will rush inand cut the tethers. By the time they find this man I will bewith you. Sabe?"
"Good!" from Donald. "I'm off."
In exactly five minutes by his watch Adrian gave the prisoner arough shake.
"You know what I said?"
The man nodded his head.
"Well, I am now going to take out your gag. If you make more thanone cry, or utter more than one word, your own knife will finishyou."
He held the knife before the man's eyes. Then with the
knife inone hand, Adrian pulled the wad of grass from between theprisoner's teeth.
No sooner had the man drawn one long breath than he let out ayell that might have been heard half a mile and which he wasabout to repeat with variations, when with a swift movement,Adrian forced the grass back into his mouth and the yell died ina dismal gurgle.
"I ought to use the knife," said Adrian, "but I guess this willdo."
With a bound he sprang to his feet and dashed to where Donald wasalready performing his part of the work.
The plan had worked exactly as Adrian had figured, and in anothermoment the boys were astride the horses and away toward VeraCruz.
But one thing they had not taken into consideration. That singleyell of their erstwhile prisoner had aroused the Mexican picketsand from half a dozen directions came the sound of rifle shotsand then the sound of a bugle calling to arms.
Even while Adrian was running toward the horses, the excitementhad begun, and as the boys started on their homeward ride, avolley from the encamped forces sent the bullets whistling bytheir ears.
"This is no place for us!" cried Donald. "Don't be afraid to usethe spur. It is our only chance."
And now as they rode furiously forward, came the sound of firingon their left and some distance ahead.
"What does it mean?" called out Adrian as they rode neck and neckthrough the darkness.
"Search me, Ad; but our only chance is in our horses," and Donaldagain plied the spur.
Outlined against the sky at the top of a small knoll, they couldsee a small body of horsemen.
"Keep away to the right," said Donald. "Keep in the valley and inthe shadow," and he drew off the beaten highway, with Adrianclose behind.
On the soft earth their horses' hoofs made no sound and in acouple of minutes more they descended into a little valley andthe noise of the alarm passed out of hearing.
"It was a mighty close shave," declared Adrian a few minuteslater, when they pulled their horses down to a walk to allow themto catch their breath.
"Sure was," from Donald, "but we got the information we wentafter."
Half an hour later they were challenged by the American pickets,which had been thrown even further forward than where the boyshad passed through the lines. They stated their mission and wereat once sent under guard to the officer of the day.
"Oh, it's you!" was the lieutenant's salutation as he saw who itwas. "Did you get what you went after?"
"Yes, sir," from Donald. "The enemy has halted at Tejeria,fifteen miles away."
"Well done. I'll send an orderly to carry the report toheadquarters. You boys are entitled to a rest."
"Where's Billie?" asked Adrian, looking around after the orderlyhad departed.
"Who?"
"Billie. Our chum."
"Oh, yes," replied the lieutenant. "He's disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
"Yes. He went into this house here," pointing to the buildingbefore which he had stationed himself, "and when I went in laterto see how he was coming on with his wounded horse, I found thehorse standing in the middle of the patio, but your chum haddisappeared."
"And then what?" queried Donald.
"Nothing. I made up my mind he had gone after something to put onhis horse and I haven't thought much about him since."
"Then it's up to us to find him. Can we go inside?"
"Sure," laughed the lieutenant. "Go as far as you like, only keepinside the lines."
Without more words the boys entered the patio.