Adrian repeated the conversation.
“Well,” declared Donald, “I don’t know but we are, in the eyes of anyone who don’t know the facts.”
“What!” exclaimed Billie. “Haven’t I a right to fight for the revolutionists if I want to?”
“Sure you have; but if you are caught at it, your own government would not interfere in your behalf. If you expect the United States to protect you, you must be neutral in other peoples’ battles!”
“Of course,” explained Adrian, “our present position is not that.”
“Oh, no!” replied Donald. “We are on a mission for our own government.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the major, who, calling all the men aside, explained to them briefly that they were to go on a dangerous mission across the river into the United States.
“If it succeeds,” he said, “it will not only insure the success of our cause, but will mean a goodly sum of money to each one of us.”
“How is that?” asked one of the Mexicans.
“Because the work we have to do is in the interest of a large railroad syndicate, which is most anxious to have the United States intervene in the troubles in Mexico!”