“Col. Bliss has been informed that a decoy expedition is to be started from Alamito within a
day or two, possibly tomorrow night, for the purpose of drawing our soldiers into a conflict with a band of Mexican revolutionists, in the hope that we will follow them across the river into Mexican territory. This would create an international dispute, which the revolutionists hope would cause the United States to take a hand in the Mexican troubles.
“The information desired, is to know, not the exact time of the proposed decoy expedition, for the conspirators will see that this information comes to us, but the exact size of the force, the route to be followed and the names of the men who are planning the expedition. The latter is the most important. Once their identity is known, it will be easy to do the rest, even to stopping the expedition before it starts.”
“Have you any suggestion as to how to go about this?” asked Donald.
“Yes; that is one of the things I was going to explain. My idea is for you to join the expedition.”
“Will they take us?” queried Adrian.
“It is for you to see that they do.”
“We don’t look like Mexicans,” ventured Billie.
“The conspirators are not all Mexicans,” said the Lieutenant. “In fact, it is thought that the whole thing is planned by Americans who own property in Mexico and want this government to intervene. Cowboys
are the very chaps needed, and you can fill all the requirements. I should say the best place to join the expedition is in Presidio del Norte. If you can cross the river while the fighting is going on you stand a good chance of meeting the very men you are looking for.”