Feeling assured that the trap was well baited with the forgotten guns, Capt. Peak determined to omit no detail which would insure the complete capture of the gun-runners when the trap was sprung.
He accordingly mustered his men early in the afternoon, and, accompanied by the boys, who were most anxious to take a hand in the capture, openly left town in exactly the opposite direction from the place where the guns had been discovered. By this plan he hoped to allay any suspicion which might be aroused and communicated to the smugglers by their spies, with whom he had no doubt the city was filled.
Riding up stream for several miles, until the city was entirely lost sight of, the Rangers made a wide detour back into the country, arriving in the vicinity of the trap just as the sun had set.
As soon as it was sufficiently dark for the men to come out into the open without being seen from the Mexican shore, they were so disposed that they
could surround the gun-runners on three sides, while a fourth detachment was posted up stream, but sufficiently near the bank of the river to cut off a retreat in that direction.
“It would please me greatly,” said Capt. Peak, in giving the last instruction, “if we could also capture the boat in which the guns are to be carried over the river. Not only would it be good evidence, but it would help to prevent similar expeditions in the immediate future.”
This remark offered a suggestion to Donald, and when the others had been stationed, he announced his plan to Capt. Peak.
“I’m sure,” he said, “that we three boys can capture that boat better than anyone else, because we are all good swimmers.”
“What has that to do with it?” asked the Captain. “The boat will have to come to shore to get the guns.”
“I know that,” replied Donald; “but suppose they even succeeded in getting the guns down to the river bank, what good would it do if they found the boat gone?”