CHAPTER XXV.
AGAIN UNDER THE FOLDS OF "OLD GLORY."
The four boys were so utterly astonished when this Mexican soldier madehis appeal in excellent English, calling Rob directly by name, that theycould hardly catch their breath for the moment.
"Oh! don't you know me--Merritt, Andy, Tubby,--your old schoolmate,Jared Applegate? For the sake of the good old days save me from beingshot by these human wolves! I've got an old father and mother up home inHampton, you know! Think what a shock it would be to them to hear whathad happened to their boy. Save me, Rob! You can do it, because I heardGeneral Villa promise you anything you asked!"
The four scouts recognized him now, though never more taken aback in alltheir lives. When last they saw this young fellow, who had indeed livednear Hampton,--his father being a crabbed old farmer who hated the veryname of Boy Scouts,--Jared had been hand-in-glove with some foreignplotters who meant to blow up the locks of the gigantic Panama Canal.As narrated in the preceding volume, Rob and his intimate chums werelargely instrumental in preventing this terrible crime from beingcarried out; and at that time young Jared had managed to escape, whilethe chief conspirators were captured.
Indeed, the scouts had forgotten that there had been such a fellow asJared Applegate in the wide world; and now to have him turn upunexpectedly like this, with a frantic appeal for them to save his lifeon account of those old schoolboy days, was certainly staggering.
They turned and looked at each other, while the guard who had followedafter the prisoner-of-war waited to see what would happen, seeming torealize that this fellow must know the American lads who were so high inthe good graces of the commander.
"It is Jared, as sure as shooting!" ejaculated Tubby, staring as thoughhe had just seen a ghost.
"They say bad pennies always turn up again," observed Andy; "and Ireckon Jared is about as tough a case as you could find."
Rob and Merritt did not say anything along those lines. They could notadd to the burden under which it was plain the wretched youth wasalready staggering. And so Jared continued to wring his hands, kneelingthere and waiting to hear the scout master, whom he knew so well, saywhether he would lift his hand to help him, or simply turn aside and letthings take their course.
"But how does it come that we find you here, and wearing the uniform of aMexican Regular?" Rob asked him.
"The last we saw of you, remember, was on the Isthmus, where you playeda low-down trick on us," Tubby interjected.
"Yes; and after I managed to get away from there I drifted to Mexico,because I was ashamed to go back home. I expected that you'd telleverybody what a fool I'd been, working with men who hated the UnitedStates and wanted to injure the Canal. Then I took the oath ofallegiance to Mexico and entered the army because there wasn't anythingelse I could do. And now the rebels have captured me, they mean to standme up against a wall and murder me! Oh! Rob, please get me off! You cando it if you will. It's up to you whether I'm killed or not! Youwouldn't care to think of that always, would you?"
"Well, I don't like you any too much, Jared, because of what you've donein the past," Rob said slowly; "and when you try to put the whole thingon my shoulders you're on the wrong tack, because I haven't had a singlething to do with it. But I can't forget that you _are_ a Hampton boy,bad as you've always been. If I should manage to get General Villa tolet you go, what would you do?"
"Get over the line the first thing," replied Jared promptly, showingthat this must have been on his mind for some time. "I meant to desertany way, just as soon as I saw a chance to get clear. I've been treatedlike a dog down here, and hate the whole country as well as the dagoesin it. But, Rob, promise to help me, won't you? Here comes General Villanow to see what it all means. Tell him I'm not going to lift a handagainst him again. I was forced into it this time."
"Well, I'll see what I can do, Jared," Rob told the shivering wretch;"but don't feel too sure that it'll come out as you wish. General Villais very bitter toward all of the men serving under Huerta; and I chanceto know he hates to find a foreigner in the ranks of the Governmenttroops."
As the fighting general of the revolutionists came up, Rob started in totell him about Jared, and how he was from the same town away up on LongIsland that the other boys called home. He did not whisper a word aboutwhat Jared had done in connection with that Canal conspiracy; for heseemed to know that such a thing would be apt to set Villa's mindagainst the young chap.
"Since you say that he is from your town," the general observed, afterRob had made his plea, "and was once a friend of yours, why, I willagree to let him go free on condition that he crosses the river to Texaswithout delay. Will you promise to see that this compact is carried out,young senor?"
There was nothing for Rob to do but agree, though he knew that thiswould mean he must stand the company of Jared until such time as theyreached Juarez, and could cross to the other side of the Rio Grande. Buthe could not find it in his generous heart to abandon the wretchedfellow, little as the other deserved mercy at his hands.
General Villa, before hurrying away, said a few words to the guard, whowent back to the other prisoners and left Jared with the scouts. Hebegan to pour out his thanks, having been in a state of abject terror;but Rob quickly put a stop to this.
"Words are cheap, Jared, you understand," he said, "and actions speak agreat deal louder all the time. If you're really thankful for what we'vedone for you, show it by turning over a new leaf, and doing somethingthat you'd be proud to have the home folks in old Hampton hear about."
"I mean to, Rob," whined the other boy; "this here has been a terriblelesson to me; and after this you don't catch me in any more games likeI've been meddlin' with lately. Some day, mebbe, you'll hear about JaredApplegate doing a big thing. I'm a changed boy, I tell you, Rob, sure Iam!"
But Rob felt that he "would have to be shown" before he could believe inany reformation on the part of Jared Applegate. And more than that, heduly warned his three chums that under no circumstances should they letfall a hint regarding the true nature of their mission to Mexico whileJared was in their company. He hoped the other had not guessed anythingalong those lines as yet; for Rob believed that if Jared knew they werecarrying back a large sum of money, such as General Villa meant to handover to Tubby in payment for his friend's cattle, it would be a greattemptation to the weak boy, who might even plot to steal it while theyslept.
The engine belonging to the stalled train was finally fixed, so that itcould again draw the long line of cars. Being desirous of taking his mento Juarez as quickly as possible, on account of some _coup_ he expectedto make, Villa had most of them crowd aboard and on top of the trainthat was ready to start, some being left to engage in the work ofrebuilding the burned bridge as soon as possible.
Before he left the scouts, General Villa had another interview withthem.
"Fortunately," he told the boys, "I know just about the number of headof cattle there happens to be on Dr. Matthews' ranch right now, becausemy men have been on guard there to protect it against all danger. And Ihave figured it out that if I send him seventy-five thousand Americandollars it will cover the bill. This I now take pleasure in handing overto you, as the nephew of my old friend, the man who saved PanchoVilla's life. Sign this receipt, all of you, as the custodians of thefund, so that I may have something to show. I shall sometimes think ofyou, boys, for you are after my own heart. I shall immediately send mento fetch my cattle to camp, so that my army may be fed. This money comesfrom honest sources, tell Dr. Matthews. It is the advance payment madeby an American company for some of the property held by traitors to thecause in Chihuahua, and which they can never own again while Villa orhis cause lives. That is all, for I must be gone."
He shook hands with every one of the four boys, but drew the line atJared, for whom he evidently felt only contempt and distrust. Whether itwas an honor, or not, to press the hand of this rebel leader must alwaysbe an open question in the minds of the scouts, because they had heardmany terrible stories about
his cruelty, as well as others concerninghis rare ability as a leader of men. But at least, it would be somethingto remember and to tell the other lads in Hampton when they reached homeagain.
Jared had not been close enough to overhear what was said at the timethe package of bills was turned over, and Tubby had been careful tosecrete it at once; so they hoped that the wretched traitor to hiscountry knew nothing about it.
When Tubby found a chance, he turned the packet over to Rob for safekeeping.
"I managed to count it, Rob, on the sly," he whispered; "and just asVilla said, there's a full seventy-five thousand dollars there in bigbills. Just to think of us carrying a whole fortune around like that!But after you've sewed it in the lining of your coat, where that letterwas, I guess there'll be no danger."
"More from Jared than anybody else," warned Rob; "so make sure not todrop a hint."
"Mum's the word," agreed Tubby with a set look on his face. "And say, Ihope we take things easy going all the way to Juarez again. No need forhurrying, is there?"
"No, not anything that would worry us," Rob replied; "though I won'trest easy until we've handed this money over to a bank, and got a draftfor it. And I'll see if I can fix you a more comfortable seat by usingyour blanket in four thicknesses. I managed to get a horse for Jared, sowe'll be able to ride in company. We'll feed him and take him along toJuarez; but under no circumstances must he be allowed to join in ourtalk."
Lopez again took charge of the expedition, and they headed north,satisfied with the result of their adventurous ride into Mexico. Theycarried a paper from Villa that would serve to pass them, should theycome upon any detachment of roving rebels. If raiding Federals appeared,they would have to gallop for it, or fight them off.
But fortune was kind, and they finally arrived safely in the vicinity ofJuarez. Their paper allowed them to cross the international bridge,which has been the scene of so many stirring events of late years; andevery Boy Scout was thrilled to the heart when he once more realizedthat he stood on American soil and under the protecting folds of "OldGlory." They gathered around Rob and gave three cheers and a tiger forGeneral Villa, toward whom, naturally enough, all of the boys werefeeling warmly, because he had shown himself their good friend.
One of the first things Tubby did, after the money had been turned overto a bank, was to send a long message over the wire, directed to UncleMark, telling of their great good fortune, and asking that the homefolks of the other boys be informed of the fact that they were all well,and headed for home.
Jared Applegate was permitted to go, with a sum of money in his pocketand many protestations of gratitude on his lips, which the scouts "tookwith a grain of allowance," as the old saying is. Then they shook handswith faithful Lopez, whom they would always remember, and were ready tostart on the long journey toward home.
Boy Scouts Under Fire in Mexico Page 25
