"
"They may have sent word already."
"Hardly. They may have tried to, but it's dollars to doughnuts
that there was nobody at Joachin or Rio Blanco to receive it. The
nearest night operator, I imagine, is at Piedras Negras."
"They may send a force from there to head us off," suggested
Billie.
"That's so; but I'm not sure whether Piedras Negras is held by
the Carranza or the Huerta forces."
"It's a terrible mix-up, isn't it?" laughed Billie. "But I guess
either side would be glad to get us."
They had reached the tracks by this time and a couple of minutes
later Brooks was up a pole and with the aid of his bayonet broke
the wires.
"If it isn't too late, that'll hold 'em for a while," he remarked
as he descended from the pole and mounted his horse.
When they joined the main company, Billie told Mr. Black what
they had done and repeated to him what Brooks had said.
"I think he is right," said Mr. Black, "and my advice is that we
should give Piedras Negras a wide berth."
"We can't get too far away from the railroad," explained Billie,
"or we shall miss Don and his company. They are coming out for
just such an emergency."
They rode rapidly forward for a couple of hours and then, turning
sharply off the highway, took to the woods which now grew dense
all along the mountain sides.
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