"What kind of a trip was it?" asked Dalzell.
"It was wonderful," Dave breathed. "And I've brought back news of great importance!"
"Did you get it from Mexico City or Washington?" Trent broke in.
"Of course not," Dave said, wonderingly.
"Then you've no such news as we can tell you," Danny went on, quickly, sadly. "Can you guess what it is?"
"Our government isn't going to surrender us to the Huerta forces, is it?"
"Not quite so bad as that," Dan admitted. "But listen! The governments of Brazil, Argentine and Chili have offered their services in arranging mediation between Washington and Mexico City. And Washington has accepted!"
"No war?" gasped Dave Darrin, thunderstruck. "No war against a country that has treated our citizens so outrageously? Has Huerta accepted, too?"
"We haven't heard, as yet," Trent took up the thread of information, "but there is a rumor that Huerta will be only too glad to accept, even if only as a bluff. If, by any kind of a scheme, he can hold us off for a few weeks, he will then have his army consolidated, will have the railroad and bridges destroyed, and the mountain roads to Mexico City all planted with mines, and then be able, most likely, to make the advance of our Army to Mexico City cost us hundreds of good Yankee lives per mile!"
"And Funston's brigade of regulars is on the way, too!" Danny
Grin added, sorrowfully. "Won't there be some mad soldier-boys?"