The Broncho Rider Boys with Funston at Vera Cruz | Page 3

uncle.
About a year previous to the time this story opens, these three boys had
been on a trip along the Rio Grande, when they fell in with Capt. June
Peak and a company of Texas Rangers, who had been detailed to keep
watch of the actions of a band of cattle smugglers. Sent across the river
into Mexican territory on a secret mission, the Broncho Rider Boys had
the good fortune to rescue Pedro Sanchez, the fourth member of the
quartette, from the hands of a band of ruffians. Pedro turned out to be
the son of Gen. Sanchez of the Mexican army, who was visiting an
uncle in northern Mexico. After a series of thrilling adventures, which
are told in full in The Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers,
Donald, Adrian and Billie returned to their homes, promising to visit
Pedro in the City of Mexico whenever the time was ripe.
During the time that the boys were scouting in Mexico they had learned
to speak Spanish quite well, and this knowledge had been so improved

during their visit with Pedro that they now spoke the language well, an
accomplishment which proved of much value to them later on.
About a month prior to the day upon which this story opens, the three
Americans had met by appointment at New York City and had come to
Vera Cruz by boat and thence to the City of Mexico, where they found
everything in a greatly disturbed condition because of the revolution
which had been started some months previous by Gen. Carranza.
It might be well right here to state briefly the history of the previous
few months in Mexico, so that all may understand how it happened that
none of the four boys had a very high opinion of Gen. Huerta, at that
time dictator of Mexico.
For nearly 35 years, up to 1911, Mexico had a peaceful existence under
a republican form of government. During the last 32 years of that time
Porfirio Diaz was president. Just prior to 1912 a revolution was begun
against what had come to be called the Diaz government, and Diaz was
compelled to flee from Mexico. The revolution was headed by
Francisco Madero, who was then made president.
In February of 1913 a revolution was started against President Madero
by Felix Diaz, nephew of Porfirio Diaz, and the City of Mexico was
attacked. At that time Gen. Huerta was in command of Madero's forces
in the City of Mexico. He proved a traitor to Madero, went over to Diaz,
arrested Madero and confined him in prison. Two days later, April 22,
1913, President Madero was shot by order of Huerta, who then declared
himself dictator. At the same time he asked that the other nations of the
earth recognize him as the head of the Mexican government, a thing
which the government of the United States refused to do.
March 26, 1913, another revolution was started, this time against Gen.
Huerta by Gen. Carranza, governor of the state of Chihuahua. This
revolution had been in progress more than a year when this story opens.
Pedro's father, Gen. Sanchez, had been a friend of President Madero.
When Madero was shot, Gen. Sanchez fled to Pachuca where he had a
large hacienda and also owned vast interests in the silver mines at Real

del Monte, some six miles up the mountains. Later, however, he was
promised protection by Gen. Huerta, who was anxious to have the
friendship of such a prominent man, and returned to the City of Mexico.
It was some time after this, about March 1, 1914--when matters had
quieted down in the City of Mexico--that the three American boys went
to visit Pedro.
A few days previous to the one on which we find the four boys headed
for the railroad to foil the would-be train robbers, they had come to
Pachuca, which is located some sixty miles from the City of Mexico,
on horses furnished them by Gen. Sanchez, to see the mines and the
beautiful mountains overlooking the plains of Quesco. Every day they
took long rides in various directions, in spite of the unsettled condition
of the country--a condition which compelled them always to go armed
with their trusty Marlins and Colts--and that is how they happened to
be on the Real road at such an opportune time.
With these explanations, it is no wonder that the boys were keen for the
adventure upon which they were now embarked.
A sharp ride of fifteen minutes brought them to the river and into it the
horses plunged. At places it was only knee deep and at other places
where they were obliged to cross it was necessary for the horses to
swim; but this was only fun for the Broncho