"Get over the line the first thing," replied Jared promptly, showing that this must have been on his mind for some time. "I meant to desert any way, just as soon as I saw a chance to get clear. I've been treated like a dog down here, and hate the whole country as well as the dagoes in it. But, Rob, promise to help me, won't you? Here comes General Villa now to see what it all means. Tell him I'm not going to lift a hand against him again. I was forced into it this time."
"Well, I'll see what I can do, Jared," Rob told the shivering wretch; "but don't feel too sure that it'll come out as you wish. General Villa is very bitter toward all of the men serving under Huerta; and I chance to know he hates to find a foreigner in the ranks of the Government troops."
As the fighting general of the revolutionists came up, Rob started in to tell him about Jared, and how he was from the same town away up on Long Island that the other boys called home. He did not whisper a word about what Jared had done in connection with that Canal conspiracy; for he seemed to know that such a thing would be apt to set Villa's mind against the young chap.
"Since you say that he is from your town," the general observed, after Rob had made his plea, "and was once a friend of yours, why, I will agree to let him go free on condition that he crosses the river to Texas without delay. Will you promise to see that this compact is carried out, young señor?"
There was nothing for Rob to do but agree, though he knew that this would mean he must stand the company of Jared until such time as they reached Juarez, and could cross to the other side of the Rio Grande. But he could not find it in his generous heart to abandon the wretched fellow, little as the other deserved mercy at his hands.
General Villa, before hurrying away, said a few words to the guard, who went back to the other prisoners and left Jared with the scouts. He began to pour out his thanks, having been in a state of abject terror; but Rob quickly put a stop to this.
"Words are cheap, Jared, you understand," he said, "and actions speak a great deal louder all the time. If you're really thankful for what we've done for you, show it by turning over a new leaf, and doing something that you'd be proud to have the home folks in old Hampton hear about."
"I mean to, Rob," whined the other boy; "this here has been a terrible lesson to me; and after this you don't catch me in any more games like I've been meddlin' with lately. Some day, mebbe, you'll hear about Jared Applegate doing a big thing. I'm a changed boy, I tell you, Rob, sure I am!"
But Rob felt that he "would have to be shown" before he could believe in any reformation on the part of Jared Applegate. And more than that, he duly warned his three chums that under no circumstances should they let fall a hint regarding the true nature of their mission to Mexico while Jared was in their company. He hoped the other had not guessed anything along those lines as yet; for Rob believed that if Jared knew they were carrying back a large sum of money, such as General Villa meant to hand over to Tubby in payment for his friend's cattle, it would be a great temptation to the weak boy, who might even plot to steal it while they slept.
The engine belonging to the stalled train was finally fixed, so that it could again draw the long line of cars. Being desirous of taking his men to Juarez as quickly as possible, on account of some coup he expected to make, Villa had most of them crowd aboard and on top of the train that was ready to start, some being left to engage in the work of rebuilding the burned bridge as soon as possible.