Chapter XXI: A Night of Watching

Rube and Buck, accompanied by Alex and Jule, passed through the rain with no thought but that of capturing the counterfeiters in their minds. The rain fell steadily, making a great patter on the leaves of the forest trees, so conversation was difficult.

"They have chosen a fine locality for the job," suggested Buck, pausing to wipe the sweat from his face. "This certainly is a section of country where they are not likely to receive many visitors."

"That's right," Jule agreed. "This spot makes one think of graveyards and ghosts!"

The steady click of metal now came more distinctly, and presently a light was discernible through the trees. Then the party halted for consultation, standing close together to avoid being overheard. There was no knowing how many trees sheltered listeners.

It was finally decided that Rube and Alex should proceed to the right, while Buck and Jule took the opposite direction.

"We sure can surround 'em, anyway, and we may be able to capture a few of 'em!" Rube suggested. "Mighty slippery people, these gentlemen who make bogus coin!" he added, snapping off his searchlight.

The snapping off of the light made the forest as dark as a pocket, but this condition existed for only a few minutes, for the light of a great fire in a cave of large size shone out upon the stealthily advancing men.

"It strikes me," commented Alex, "that they've got a heap of nerve to build a fire like that. How do they know who'll be passing along here?"

Rube chuckled softly.

"You are in Mexico now, son, where the people wink at all the crimes in the book of laws. Besides, these people are about as likely to have callers as pigs are to fly!"

"Well, we've got to the nest, now how are we to get inside?" asked Alex, wrinkling his nose in perplexity. "We might rush in on 'em, quick, and catch 'em with the goods!"

"Watch, and wait for Buck and Jule to come up," was the slow reply. "They may be able to suggest some plan. Whatever you do, be careful. These people shoot quick and straight. The first thing you know, you won't know anything!"

They waited a long time for Buck and Jule, but at last they came, having taken a route which led to the other side of the rocky elevation which formed the base of the cave. It was only by the quick display of a searchlight that Rube and Alex located their chums.

Then a long conference was held, Jule and Alex being in favor of rushing the place and taking it by storm, while Buck and Rube were more conservative.

"Don't you boys get us into any place we can't get out of," said Rube, with a little laugh. "If we go into that cave we are likely to do just that very thing!"

"All right," replied Alex, "if you want to sneak in just go on and we'll follow!"

There were four men in the cave, all so busy over their work that they did not have time to grab a single weapon for their own defense, so the fight which followed was very short.

Rube felled one of the four with a blow of his fist, and the others yielded to the persuasions of the automatics. When all were tied up, and after the boys had searched the cavern for more, another consultation was held.

"I wonder if they are all here?" Alex said, regarding the captured prisoners with a smile. "Call the roll, someone who knows all the names! I pass on these Mexican names!"

The boy's question called forth only sullen looks and scowls. It was easy to see what would have been the fate of the boys had the conditions been reversed.

Both Buck and Rube understood a few words of Spanish, and tried their best to enter into conversation with their prisoners, but all their questions were answered by scowling looks.

A search of the cave revealed a complete counterfeiter's assortment of tools and dies used in the work, together with considerable silver. The dies were destroyed, and as much of the silver as could be carried without inconvenience appropriated.

"What are you going to do with the silver?" asked Alex.

"Oh, it will come in handy, all right!" answered Buck. "Mexican law provides for turning it over to the government, but as there is no government to speak of, we'll just geezle it! If we turn it over to the people who have charge of the government, there is no knowing whether it will ever get into circulation."

Once more they tried to talk with the prisoners, but received only scowls in reply. So they gave up the attempt and began the return trip.

"This capture has been an easy one," was Jule's comment, as the boys walked along in the rear of the two men who were taking good care that the captured men did not escape. "A little bit too easy!"

"Why too easy?"

"Oh, we may have trouble yet," was Jule's reply.

It did look that way to the boys. The prisoners kept an eye out for a chance to make a run for it.

Now and then one of them halted for an instant to listen, but, hearing nothing, walked on again.

"That fellow is expecting someone to rescue him," Alex said, after some distance had been passed. "Anyhow, we are too near the boats now for any attempt at rescue to prove successful."

"How do you know that?" demanded Jule. "The boats are no protection. If we find them as we usually have, they'll need help from us. What's that?"

The prisoners had made a break for liberty, and, taking advantage of a rocky spot where walking was very difficult, had darted off, bound as they were. Buck and Rube fired several shots, but the men ran all the faster.

At last two of the men were found, lying hidden under a bush, but the others could not be discovered, though the lads searched all around.

"We're lucky to have these two left!" Alex said with a grin. "If the others don't attack us before we get to the boats, we'll be lucky. Our searchlights make a good mark!"

"And they can hear the noise we make going through the bushes a mile off!" added Jule.

"Suppose we go on ahead and search the river?" proposed Alex. "We can run up and down the stream, anyway. The stars are shining, and the light is fine. Then we can take the _Rambler_ and run her up and down stream. I've got a hunch that they will make for the river and try to cross to the American side."

"I don't see why they should do that," was the reply. "There are plenty of mountains, or high ground at least, for them to hide in. But you may be right. We'll try the river first."

After searching the bank of the river, the boys made for the _Rambler_, crossed the _Esmeralda_, and went on board. There they found the surgeon bending over the injured man and everything in confusion.

"What's doing here?" asked Jule.

Then Clay told the story of the attack on the boat and how Captain Joe came to the rescue.

"Good dog!" cried Alex, stroking the dog's head. "Don't you, none of you, ever call him a no-account cur again! This makes two men he has pulled down lately. That is a fair record for a cur dog, don't you think?"

"Captain Joe is a peach of a dog!" cut in Jule. "I shall never forget how he jumped that river pirate who was lighting the match to bum my feet!"

"Do you know who this man is?" asked Clay, after a short pause, during which the dog was petted and caressed to his heart's content. "Give a guess."

The boys made a close examination of the man's features, but they were so bloody that identification was difficult, if not impossible.

"I give it up!" said Alex.

"So do I!" chorused Jule.

Then the surgeon told who the injured man was, and the boys expressed great satisfaction.

"We'll see that he don't get away a second time," Clay declared. "He's a tricky chap, but he will stay put now. By the way, where's Case--on the _Esmeralda_, I take it."

Clay and Paul looked at each other with sober eyes.

"Case left the boat two hours ago," answered Clay. "He said he was going to look for the fish you boys left, and should have been back within half an hour."

"He seems to be setting up a rivalry to Alex," laughed Paul. "That boy certainly can have more adventures in less time than any boy in the wide world!"

"Oh, Clay can go some in that line!" laughed Alex, "but where do you think the boy is?"

"Why didn't Captain Joe go with him?" asked Jule.

"Because the dog needs rest," replied Clay. "He has had a hard time of it, haven't you, Joe?" caressing the dog as he spoke. "And your wound hasn't healed yet, and you ought to be in the hospital! Tell him that you are in no shape to go chasing over the country looking for lost fish!"

The dog made the explanation as plainly as it could be made by one not having the gift of speech, and the boys all laughed and looked pleased.

"You are worth a dozen dead dogs yet!" declared Alex.

"I'd like to know which way Case went," wondered Jule. "We saw nothing of him."

"Perhaps Rube and Buck will bring him with them," Clay said hopefully.

"Doesn't it take a long time to bring those two captives in?" asked Thede, still busy over the injured man, who was now beginning to show signs of returning consciousness.

"That's just what I was thinking," Alex exclaimed.

The boys looked in every direction except at each other. There was in the eyes of every one of them a premonition of evil which he did not want the others to see!

"The moon is coming up now, let's go and look for them!" suggested Jule. "I want to put on a dry suit, then I'll be ready."

"It strikes me that we have no time to waste, if we want to overhaul the United States Marshal and the Sheriff," Alex declared. "And we might give a thought to Case while we are out looking the others up. Beats the dickens how we do get scattered!"

"All right," agreed Jule, "if you want to start right now. I'm ready, only it won't do you any good to tell how hungry you are before you've gone a mile. If you drag me off without a chance to change my clothes, I'll see that you don't get anything to eat until we get back!"

"But suppose I should find the fish, what about that?" Alex replied, starting away.

The moon was up above the tops of the trees now, and was at the full. It was a splendid night, and the boys enjoyed it greatly as they hastened along.

"Which way?" asked Jule.

"I don't know," replied Alex. "The counterfeiters' cave is downstream, but the two men who were found in hiding under a bush gave them a run before they were caught, and I'm all at sea."

"Which way did Case go?"

"Again I don't know."

"Well, we must decide on something pretty soon or it will be morning before we reach a conclusion," Jule suggested.

That was a long night for those who remained on the _Rambler_. The hours dragged slowly, with no word from the boys.

Thede dressed the wounded man's throat and got him into an improvised bed. Then he sat down to await news from the boys. The night passed and the sun rose in a cloudless sky.

"I feel like taking up the search myself," Clay exclaimed. "The boys are probably doing all that anyone could do, yet I think I could do better. I've a good notion to see what I could do!"

"And leave us alone? I guess not!"

It was Paul who spoke, but the very next moment something occurred which gave a new light to the situation.

Rube came back, weary and worn, but he came alone!