I am never sure of Gen. Huerta."

Without further discussion the boys prepared to take Gen.
Sanchez' advice, and, donning their hats, started for the
embassy, leaving Pedro much chagrined and Guadalupe in tears.

"I can't see why there has to be war!" she declared. "Why can't
men behave themselves?"

"What do girls know about war?" asked Pedro.

"They know it's terrible and takes their fathers and brothers,
that's what they know, and they wish they didn't have to know
that."

Pedro made no reply, but went to his room, where he selected from
among his most cherished belongings a gift for each of his
guests--three beautiful opals--and laid them upon their
respective suit cases.

When the Broncho Rider Boys arrived at the embassy they found a
large crowd of Americans already assembled. Word had been
circulated that it would be wise for all of them to leave Mexico
and those who could were going, while many men whose business
detained them in Mexico were sending their families. All had come
to the embassy for information and to register.

As a result it was late in the afternoon before the boys returned
to Gen. Sanchez' residence. But late as they were, the general
had not yet come in. They went to their room and when they saw
the gifts which Pedro had laid on each valise, they could not
keep back the tears.

"Well, there's one thing," declared Billie as he drew the back of
his hand across his eyes, "we don't have to fight Pedro, no
matter what comes. I'm going to hunt him up and tell him so."

And he did.

It was some hours later when Gen. Sanchez returned and announced
that it would be impossible for the boys to get transportation to
Vera Cruz for two or three days, as the track had been torn up in
the neighborhood of Cordoba, but that he had been promised that
they would be given safe conduct as soon as the track was
repaired.

It was three days later, therefore, before the boys were able to
leave, during which time they remained in the house at Gen.
Sanchez' request to avoid any unpleasantness, which might make
trouble for him.

On the morning of the 13th the boys bade good-bye to their host
and his family and were driven in an automobile to the station.
Already there were more than enough persons to fill four trains,
and the guards were permitting only those to board the cars who
had passes signed by the Mexican provost marshal.

Thanks to Gen. Sanchez, our boys had been provided with such
passes,