“Since you are going aboard now, we should like to go with you,” Davies said, after having rendered due thanks.

The surprise and distaste on both lieutenants’ faces was patent.

“Oh, no,” Davies laughed.  “We don’t want refuge.  We have friends fifty miles up river, and we want to get to the river in order to go up after them.”

The pleasure on the officers’ faces was immediate as they looked a silent conference at each other.

“Since our commander has undertaken grave responsibility on a night like this, may we do less than take minor responsibility?” queried the elder.

To this the younger heartily agreed.  In a trice, upstairs and down again, equipped with extra ammunition, extra pistols, and a pocket-bulging supply of cigars, cigarettes and matches, the three Americans were ready.  Wemple called last instructions up the stairway to imaginary occupants being left behind, ascertained that the spring lock was on, and slammed the door.

The officers led, followed by the Americans, the rear brought up by the six marines; and the spitting, howling mob, not daring to cast a stone, gave way before them.

* * * * *

As they came alongside the gangway of the cruiser, they saw launches and barges lying in strings to the boat-booms, filled with men, waiting for the rocket signal from the beleaguered hotels.  A gun thundered from close at hand, up river, followed by the thunder of numerous guns and the reports of many rifles fired very rapidly.

“Now what’s the Topila whanging away at?” Habert complained, then joined the others in gazing at the picture.

A searchlight, evidently emanating from the Mexican gunboat, was stabbing the darkness to the middle of the river, where it played upon the water.  And across the water, the center of the moving circle of light, flashed a long, lean speedboat.  A shell burst in the air a hundred feet astern of it.  Somewhere, outside the light, other shells were bursting in the water; for they saw the boat rocked by the waves from the explosions.  They could guess the whizzing of the rifle bullets.

But for only several minutes the spectacle lasted.  Such was the speed of the boat that it gained shelter behind the German, when the Mexican gunboat was compelled to cease fire.  The speedboat slowed down, turned in a wide and heeling circle, and ranged up alongside the launch at the gangway.

The lights from the gangway showed but one occupant, a tow-headed, greasy-faced, blond youth of twenty, very lean, very calm, very much satisfied with himself.

“If it ain’t Peter Tonsburg!” Habert ejaculated, reaching out a hand to shake.  “Howdy, Peter, howdy.  And where in hell are you hellbent for, surging by the Topila in such scandalous fashion!”

Peter, a Texas-born Swede of immigrant parents, filled with the old Texas traditions, greasily shook hands with Wemple and Davies as well, saying “Howdy,” as only the Texan born can say it.