“Their orders were positive. They could not take the time. To-day we have news that some of our troops have crossed the Sinaloa border. These men who passed Casa Grande were on their way to Hermosillo to guard the capital.”
“Well, it does look like you were pulling it off, don’t it?” Tom’s voice was admiring in spite of himself. “What beats me, señor, is how you manage to pump enough enthusiasm into these fellers to keep them fighting. You’ve been at it nearly ten years now. In my country we’d either have put it through by that time or given it up as a bad job and pretended we’d never wanted it anyhow.”
The Mexican laughed. “My friend,” he said, seriously, “people will fight for more than ten years with the hope of liberty and a good government ahead of them. This time we hope to get both.”
“Well, I hope you do. It’s too good a country to go to the dogs. But about this Juan Pachuca——”
“He is no business of mine,” replied the Colonel, briefly. “He was out of favor with the Carranza government and evidently hopes to get into the saddle again through the revolution. Personally, I do not believe he will. General Obregon is not fond of his type. Angel Gonzales is what you call in your country a regular bad lot. I have orders in this dispatch to look into his case. As to the automobile. I can give you an order for the car which you saw outside—the small one. I can’t spare any men.”
“Mendoza’s Ford?” groaned Tom. “I knew I’d draw that. Well, never mind, señor. I’m obliged to you just the same.”
The order written, Mendoza was induced to start. “What the devil are those for?” demanded Johnson, as he saw the old Mexican putting three large cans in the car.
“Water,” replied Mendoza, tersely. “Las’ time I drive him ze radiator he leak. I mend him, but quien sabe? We play safe, eh?”
“My God, yes,” murmured Tom. “Come on, amigo, it’s near six and this here’s no country to be rattlin’ round in a damaged Ford after dark.”
The little car justified its owner’s faith in it, however, for it went along at a good clip. The road from Conejo was fairly good and they made good time. The sun was down and the evening had set when they reached the place where Scott and Polly had taken the trail. Mendoza stopped the car.