Whereupon Tubby threw his hat several times high into the air, and said "Bully, bully, and again bully!" until he quite lost his breath, and had to rest.
"There, he's made up his mind to cross the river and see how the land lies on this side," remarked Merritt a little later on.
So the four tried and true comrades stood there waiting, feeling more than a little curiosity as they watched the remarkable man, whose name had been before the public so much of late, ride down to the ford, push his horse into the water, let him take a drink, and finally urge him across.
As he came up the near bank Rob, accompanied by his three chums, advanced to meet him, each boy giving the scout salute gravely and then standing at attention. Lopez hovered near, ready to render assistance in case there was any need of an interpreter, which could hardly be, as Villa was known to talk English fluently.
Tubby was fairly holding his breath with anxiety, for the fateful moment was now at hand when he would learn whether the former bandit, Villa, now chief in command of the rebel forces operating in Chihuahua, would remember the debt of gratitude he owed Doctor Mark Matthews.
CHAPTER XXIV.
A MAN OF HIS WORD.
"Is this General Villa?" Rob asked.
The man on the horse gave the scouts a scrutinizing look, and then frowned. Possibly he recognized the khaki uniforms that he had become accustomed to seeing United States regulars wear; and thus discovering them far down on the sacred soil of Mexico, he was angered more or less.