“He tried to assassinate me and would have succeeded had I not had the trap door to hide me. I think my sudden disappearance must have frightened him. That is why he was frightened again tonight when he found he was in my home. He must think that the place is guarded by an evil spirit.”
“It seems more like a good spirit to me,” declared Billie, “but let us hasten to Gen. Sanchez! I cannot rest easy till my companions have been rescued.”
[CHAPTER XXIV.—LOST IN THE CHAPARRAL.]
An hour later Billie and Pancho Villa stood before Gen. Sanchez. It was then ten o’clock and the sun would arise shortly before five. Neither Billie nor Villa had any doubt that Don Rafael would carry out his threat to execute the two young Americans. It was in keeping with his previous actions and with the so-called laws of the revolution.
They had encountered some difficulty in getting through the city lines, but Villa was equal to the occasion and they reached the Federal pickets in safety. Here they gave their names and were quickly escorted to Gen. Sanchez’s headquarters.
The general had lain down to take a few minutes’ sleep, but had left word to be awakened if anything was heard from the boys.
Briefly Billie told his story.
“What can be done to save my friends?” he asked.
Gen. Sanchez looked grave.
“It is a hard problem,” he replied. “We have been trying all day to force our way into the city, but have not yet succeeded, as you know. It seems hardly possible that we should be able to carry the lines between now and dawn.”