“Well, Santiago didn’t. As soon as he had gained his feet after the explosion knocked him down, he picked Guadalupe up in his arms, and, calling out to me to follow him, he dashed out into the cave. The place was full of men, but they were for the most part busy getting into the boats. They evidently thought that the only attack they had to fear was from the rear and were all hurrying to get out.
“Without stopping to speak to anyone, he turned toward the rear of the cave, stood still for a moment, as though looking for something on the wall, and then gave a sudden push with his hand. As though by magic the opening appeared through which you saw the three of us come and by which Don Rafael escaped.”
“Then why can’t we find the place?” interrupted Adrian.
“That’s part of the mystery,” he finally said.
“Yes, and a big part,” declared Donald. “If we could locate that door, we could find Don Rafael. Don’t you think so, Billie?”
“I’ll show it to you,” said a soft voice, which came to them out of the semi-darkness.
At the sound of the voice the boys turned hastily and grasped their weapons.
“Don’t be afraid,” continued the voice. “No one is going to hurt you,” and out of the darkness stepped Santiago.
“I just said you were the greatest mystery,” exclaimed Billie, as soon as he saw who the newcomer was, “and now I know it.”
“Not a mystery,” declared Santiago, “but a patriot.”
“Which is even a greater curiosity in Mexico,” declared Donald.
“I am afraid you are right,” was the sad reply; “but there are still a few, and some day we will free Mexico from the rule of those who seek nothing but their own advancement.”
“To which class does Don Rafael belong?” asked Adrian.
“To the wrong one, I fear. That is what I am trying to find out. I have been told he was a patriot. What I have seen today leads me to believe the opposite.”
Pedro had listened eagerly to what Santiago had been saying, but without speaking a word. Now he could contain himself no longer.
“He is a dog!” he exclaimed, “a would-be murderer and a thief. He knows not honor! He bites the hand that fed him, and he would now help to assassinate our good president, Francisco Madero!”
Santiago’s eyes flashed. “Have a care,” he said. “How do you know all this?”