The Boy Scouts Under Fire in Mexico

fraid you'll break your neck," Rob told the fat boy. "Why, nobo

ight now?" Tubby declared. "And all I hope is, first, that this rumor about the school roof taking wings and blowing away doesn't turn out to be a fizzle; and, second, th

pretty pat, Tubby,

ouldn't be held back with wild horses. That is, always providing our folks give us perm

?" cried Tubby eagerl

s of questions I want answered. Perhaps you can tell us a part of the sto

d put you wise to the facts," and the fat boy threw himself into Rob's easy-chair, elevating one leg over an a

aid Rob, just as if he might have a long list of question

r just that part of it connecte

e read about in Baron Munchausen or the Arabian Nights, he's been such a great traveler and explorer. So just strike in where he made up his mind

tract of good land, and put up his ranch buildings; after which he got his stock together and started raising the best brand o

ur uncle get along with the Government at that time? I want to know, because

ve heard him say he admired Madero a heap, and that they were good friends. Why, after Diaz lit out for Spain, Uncle Mark was so dead sure things would run smooth down there that he left his ranch in charge of a man he believed he could trust, and started on the trip to A

as anything but a frien

glove with Madero must come under the ban," Tubby went on to say with considerable importance, as though he might

," said Rob. "But tell us, has your uncle ha

own over the border right now that letters never get to their destinations

to-day, or if it's just a howling wilderness, with every beef run off, a

nts somebody to go down there and cross over into Mexico. Then, if everything is lovely and the goose hangs high, that messen

hing his face looked keenly disappointed. The signs seemed to p

see in the papers is true: first with the Government forces ahead, and then the rebels clearing out everything, so that a hostile army couldn't live off the land. It was just as Sheridan was ordered to do in

his strongest hold!" exclaimed Tubby, his

t somewhere, then," Rob remarked. "Sup

t the Diaz Government, because they'd gone and set a price on his head. It's too long a story to tell you now, Rob, but the fact is th

w interest in the matter. "That sounds as though there might be a slim cha

old him he would never forget what uncle had done for him; that if he could do him a favor any time all uncle had to do was to speak. So that is what he's hoping will turn out in his favor; that General Villa, remembering how he was treated

g those lines; for a trip to the South did look mighty alluring to him, if only he could bel

he old-time days, the bandit Villa gave my uncle a queer ring which he wears all the time, and told him t

ombardment, Rob threw up his hands a

like a nail driven through a b

at boy, scrambling out of the easy-chair, and landing on his fe

sm

ere's a chance of my falling in with your scheme. It's a glorious outlook so far as the trip goes. The trouble will be to get in touc

ot with us. Just as soon as we know for sure that there will not be any school till long after Christma

eft hand as he checked things off. "Then I want to talk it all over with dad, though somehow I don't seem to fear any serious opposition from that quarter, because he's so good to

couts, did know boys from the ground up; and he was deeply interested in everything that went for the betterment of the rising generation. Some time before, Rob had received his certificate from Headquarters in New York City, and was qualified to

every day you read about scouts doing all sorts of wonderful things,-rescuing folks from burning buildings, stopping runaway horses at the risk of their lives, and such brave deeds that get them medals from Headquarters. This means a

undaunted spirit that caused the stout boy to make this positive declaration; "but s