W. Crispin Sheppard

“ In the little settlement on the Rio Grande, situated at the terminus of the short line of railroad, the five encountered a Mexican, who, for a few coins, piloted them to a place along the river where the banks were so shelving that for a great part of the way horses could wade across.
At a lonely, deserted spot the Americans set foot in Mexico—that land of revolution and turmoil—a land that may truthfully boast of the most wonderful resources, yet within the confines of which can be found the greatest of poverty and misery. ”

“ At length the lad, mopping his perspiring face, was murmuring his intention of making a long halt in the first shade he could find, when the sound of horses’ hoofs, coming from the top of the ridge just above him, instantly drove away all feelings of discomfort.
With a sharp exclamation he pulled up, while thoughts of cattle rustlers and bandits rushed back to his mind in full force. Tom had so completely given up any idea of encountering other human beings in this wild section of the country, that now he felt his nerves beginning to tingle, his heart to beat faster. ”

“ The Rambler Club and Cranny Beaumont, the impetuous, the reckless, the daring but always rollicking, light-hearted lad, were once more in each other’s company and eager for the adventurous life which they hoped would be theirs for a few weeks to come.
It was rather an odd assortment of boys and men which lounged informally about the room. Beside the five Ramblers,—Bob Somers, Dave Brandon, Tom Clifton, Dick Travers, Sam Randall and their friend Don Stratton, the son of a New Orleans financier,—there were present Sergeant Robson Howell and Private Carl Alvin of the Ranger force at Texas. ”

“ Tom in a receptive mood halted on the top of a high ridge to study the glories of the awakening day. A glowing rim was rising above the eastern hills. Slowly the whole of the pale golden ball rose into view, and its rays, soon shooting across the wide landscape, transformed the heavy, leaden gray vapors into objects of ethereal lightness.
“Dave would certainly call that ‘glorious,’” mused Tom with a smile. His eyes followed a flock of birds circling high in the sky. [184] “The chap who doesn’t rise early in the morning misses a whole lot!” ”

“ The hills, rugged and steep, partly covered with a scraggly growth of mesquite and cactus, constantly increased in height. Between them lay narrow, rocky gorges of a gloomy and sullen aspect, overrun with treacherous roots or tangled thickets, the haunts of hordes of vicious mosquitoes and myriads of other insects both winged and crawling.
“Yes, sir! I’ve lost all trace of it,” murmured the lad disconsolately. “If a band of rustlers were really behind those cattle, they must have known a much better route to the Rio than the one I’ve taken.” ”

“ Still, Bob Somers could not reconcile himself to the thought of allowing the Tacoma lad to remain there by himself.
“I have a solution to the question, fellows,” he announced.
“Oh, do let it solute at once,” cried Tom.
“I was really the only one to promise Dave to skip back, and the way things have turned out you three chaps are justified in staying.”
“And let you go all the way back alone; no, sir!” declared Dick, emphatically.
“I have another suggestion,” spoke up Tom. “Let one stay here with Cranny, the other ride off with Bob. We can settle it by drawing lots.” ”

“ For three days the detail of Texas Rangers under command of Sergeant Howell had been encamped near the shores of the Rio Grande. They were surrounded by a wilderness of precipitous bluffs and deep ravines, in the shadowed depths of which the paths worn by wild animals, notably the peccaries, or Mexican wild hogs, could be frequently traced.
It was a paradise for myriads of mosquitoes and other insects and among them, lurking about in search of prey, was that deadly spider,—the tarantula, always a menace to both man or beast. ”

“ Then while all the Americans and the still smiling hotel proprietor gathered about them, the boys sprang into the saddle.
“We’ll be back in a day or two to get you, Cranny!” sang out Bob. “So-long.”
“So-long,” shouted Tom.
Then followed by a storm of “good-byes” the Ramblers galloped off.
It was market day once more, and the heat of the day not having set in, the plaza presented a lively, bustling scene. No one ever seemed to buy without doing an immense amount of bargaining beforehand, and on every side loud vociferous arguments arose.
“It takes lots of work to sell stuff here,” laughed Tom. ”

“ Dave Brandon, with the field-glasses raised to his eyes, suddenly uttered an exclamation.
He had seen a flying group of horsemen appear over the top of a mesquite-covered hill to form, for an instant, an indistinct collection of silhouettes against the sky. Following these came still others until an astonishing number of riders were rushing over the ridge and disappearing into the valley below.
“It’s certainly a much bigger crowd than ever passed along this way,” responded Dave in answer to his companions’ eager questions. ”

“ The steady din of crackling rifles and the crash of bursting shells dropping near the trenches and breastworks speedily worked the mustangs into a frenzy of fear. But for Cranny Beaumont’s great strength and acrobatic ability he would have been flung from his seat when Tom’s horse suddenly bolted. ”

“ The restive, mettlesome mustangs, glad to be on the move once more, shot forward at the word of command, and breaking into a loping trot presently carried the riders over another rise which shut from their view the gray, adobe walls of the ancient ranch-house.
The weather was warmer than on the day before and lacked the fresh, keen breeze to temper the heat. The sun shone from a cloudless sky and as it climbed higher and higher all nature became enveloped in a yellowish glare, which, with the clouds of dust kicked up by the ponies’ heels, made the travelers long for a bit of woods and shade. ”

“ With a quick, agile spring he landed safely on the horse’s back, and on the instant the jabbering, rather hostile-looking Mexicans saw the riders head for the plaza at a rattling pace.
Swinging across it, they turned into a narrow, winding street which ran to the west, keeping a sharp lookout for the other Americans.
“Colonel Sylvester certainly would be wild if he knew that Jimmy couldn’t be found,” exclaimed Tom, as he and Bob drew up and halted in the shadow of an old stone wall. “This seems to be one of the cases where a chap can’t follow out any regular plan—it’s just hit or miss!” ”

“ What with the roar of the artillery, the incessant crackling of rifles, the occasional bursting of a shell, and the realization that they were just as likely to be running into danger as out of it, Cranny Beaumont found his longing for thrills fully gratified.
As the horsemen swung into the street on which Jimmy Raymond’s hotel was located, they observed behind barricades of beams and sand-bags piled on the roofs of some of the [230] higher buildings the tops of tall conical hats and gleams on rifle barrels. ”

“ A few miles farther on, when all nature but a few streamers of cloud hanging low over the western horizon was enveloped in pearly grays, the horsemen drew rein in an amphitheater formed by low, rugged hills.
Portions of the valley floor were overrun with dense thickets, and on the gray, rocky ridges above were groups of cactus and other plants.
“A jolly nice place to spend the night,” exclaimed Don.
[128] “Fine!” agreed Sam.
“Yes,” drawled Dave as he dismounted and stretched his weary limbs. “And I do hope that it will be a quiet and restful one.” ”

“ If Jimmy was not prodigal in dispensing information about himself, he proved decidedly inquisitive regarding the lives and adventures of each of his companions. A continual flow of questions was constantly receiving answers. Jimmy seemed profoundly happy, though at times a curious expression flitted over his face, half sad, half discontented, as if life to his mind was not altogether what it should be. ”

“ A few miles farther on the rolling, verdured prairie began to be replaced by a rougher country. Yucca, mesquite and cactus grew in greater profusion, and here their mustangs were often obliged to thread a tortuous passage at the bottom of dark, narrow ravines or climb steep slopes, where the great spiked stems of the cactus seemed to bristle threateningly at their approach. The ponies’ hoofs, dislodging stones and earth at almost every step, sent miniature avalanches slipping and sliding down to the bottom. ”

“ The clatter of pounding hoofs as the cavalrymen galloped furiously over the roads and across the fields, the savage yells of the combatants, and the sharp cracking of rifles, made a veritable pandemonium of sound.
Following the first hot clash with the citizen defenders, riderless horses and pack-trains of mules were stampeding through the hot, dusty streets, adding to the panic and terror of the fleeing people. ”

“ While the Texas lad held a long distance conversation with Colonel Brookes Sylvester at the “Eagle Pass” Ranch, Tom conferred with the Ranger chief.
A few minutes later he rejoined the group, regarding them with quite a stern and dignified air.
“The captain wants me to skip right off so that I can pilot Sergeant Howell and a detail of Rangers over to the exact place where I came across that fallen steer!” he explained. “Maybe there’s some more fun ahead of us, eh, Cranny! We’ll chip in and hire a horse for you, old chap!” ”

“ During the long route over the prairie, Bob Somers and Jimmy Raymond became a great deal better acquainted with one another. Bob, the recipient of many confidences, was enabled to give his companion words of helpful advice.
The young pianist, after listening to his enthusiastic comments regarding the law as a profession, began to see the matter in another light.
“It’s a mistake to consider it dry,” declared Bob. “The law is full of the most interesting and complex problems. Vital problems, too, for in many cases they affect the well-being of the human race.” ”

“ Probably no one among the party was more relieved to see the thicket opening out than George Parry, who had charge of the burro. The clumsy, intractable animal either halted with annoying frequency or managed to get his stocky little form tangled up in the vegetation.
“That was certainly tough work!” he puffed as they rode out on higher ground.
“I should say so,” laughed Cranny. His twinkling eyes sought Don’s. “Fun, I call it.”
“Well, I’m generous enough to let you have all my share,” chuckled the New Orleans lad. ”

“ Then from beneath the shadows of a line of mulberry trees a mounted rurale galloped forth.
The riders pulled up to listen to a string of words which had less meaning to them than the bark of the yellow dog. By means of some extraordinary signs, however, Cranny managed to convey to the officer’s brain an understanding of what they required. Then like a general at the head of his troops, he conducted the party, now surrounded by a curious gaping crowd, to a near-by hotel and restaurant. ”

“ Tom even felt a little aggrieved. So long accustomed to looking down upon his fellows he had almost come to regard it as a right not to be infringed upon.
“I guess you two chaps are the highest humans of your age in Mexico,” gurgled Cranny. “Come on, Raymond, we want to have a conversation with you.”
When compatriots meet in a foreign land the ties of country, the common tongue, are often the means of forming warm friendships in a remarkably brief space of time. Such was the case of Jimmy Raymond and the others. ”

“ In the crowded street they were often obliged to slow up, much to the annoyance of Edmunds, who perhaps understood more fully than his companions the grave peril of their situation. His one object was to get the lads on the United States side of the International bridge, and every instant he was experiencing a dull, deadly fear that something might happen to prevent him from carrying out this plan.
Now and again rurales came galloping along, by their reckless riding and loud yells adding to the turmoil. ”

“ Now Tom could understand more fully the difficulties under which the Texas Rangers worked. Nature, here, had provided excellent hiding places for outlaws; and as an aid to them in case of discovery there were natural barricades from behind which they could almost defy their enemies.
“It’s a peach of a place for ’em, sure enough,” declared Tom. He slid off his pony’s back, in another moment examining the animal’s injured leg. It had withstood the traveling well, and appeared to be nearly healed. ”