CHAPTER XV.—AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.

“If you please,” said Shirley.

The officer gazed at both girls admiringly.

“You take it coolly enough,” he declared. “Many in your places would be
badly frightened.”

“Surely there is nothing to be afraid of,” said Mabel, determined to
show as bold a front as possible.

“No,” said the officer, “there isn’t.” He looked at them closely. “I
wonder if either of you happen to know who I am?” he asked.

Shirley shook her head negatively.

“I’m sure I don’t,” said Mabel.

“Then I must introduce myself,” was the reply. “I am General Pedro
Garcia, President of the republic of Nicaragua.”

Both girls looked at him in the utmost surprise.

“You may well be surprised,” said the general, a touch of bitterness in
his tone, it seemed to Shirley, “and no doubt you are to see the
President of the country in such a predicament?”

Shirley didn’t know much about Nicaragua, but she decided she might as
well agree with him, as he seemed to expect it.

“Yes, sir,” she said.

“And I am surprised to find myself in such a position,” said the
President. “I shall explain. With my men I am fleeing from the
revolutionists.”

“Revolutionists?” echoed Shirley.

“Exactly. I was in Corinto with some of my army for diplomatic purposes.
While absent from Managua there was an uprising. It seems to have been
well planned, for it broke out in all parts of the republic at once,
even here in Corinto.”

“I was surprised with my men this morning and was forced to flee. That’s
about all there is to it.”

“But why did you bring us with you?” demanded Shirley. “Why didn’t you
allow us to return to our ship.”

“Because you might never have reached there,” replied the President
quietly. “You would probably have fallen into the hands of the
revolutionists. While you are with me you are safe.”

There was no doubting the sincerity in the President’s voice, and both
girls unconsciously breathed easier.

“Besides,” continued the general, “your presence may help me a bit.”

“In what way sir?” asked Mabel.

“Well, there is a United States cruiser in Corinto harbor. When you are
missed the natural supposition will be that you have fallen into the
hands of the revolutionists. The U. S. sailors will be sent after you,
and will be likely to attack my foes.”

“I see,” said Shirley with a slight smile. “Then you did not save us
from an altogether unselfish motive.”

“My dear young ladies, consider,” said the President, “it is better for
both of us.”

“I don’t doubt you, sir,” replied Shirley; “but just the same I would
rather be safe aboard our ship.”

“And so you shall be, if it is within my power to put you there,”
declared the President of Nicaragua warmly.

At this moment two of the general’s troopers approached, dragging a
third man between them. Shirley and Mabel fell back a few feet.

“Hello! Who have we here?” demanded President Garcia.

“Prisoner, sir,” replied one of the men.

“Release him,” said the President. “I shall talk to him myself. Who are
you, and what are you doing here?” he demanded sharply.

Shirley and Mabel both started at the sound of the prisoner’s voice. He
was none other than Captain von Blusen.

“I’m Captain von Blusen, of the German navy,” was the reply. “I have
been held prisoner aboard an American ship, and have but recently
escaped. I am seeking Colonel Hernandez.”

“Hernandez!” exclaimed President Garcia, stepping back in surprise. “The
leader of the revolutionists!”

“And may I ask your name, sir?” said Captain von Blusen.

“I,” said the general, “am the President of Nicaragua.”

The prisoner gave vent to a long whistle and a look of dismay passed
over his face. It was gone in a moment, however, and he turned to the
President with a smile.

“I am fortunate in finding you, sir,” he said. “I am authorized by my
government to make you a proposition.”

“Well, I shall hear it,” said the President.

“I am authorized to offer you a large sum of money for the privilege of
establishing a German naval base on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua.”

“Enough!” cried the general with a wave of his hand. “It shall not be
done if I can prevent it. Germany indeed. Were I able, I myself should
draw a sword against her. You will find no German sympathy in these
parts.”

Captain von Blusen bowed his head. He said nothing further on the
subject.

“What will you do with me?” he asked.

“I shall hold you until the rebels have been put down,” was the reply.
“Then you shall be released. I wouldn’t trust you now.”

He signalled two of his men and the young German officer was led away
between them.

At this moment another officer rushed up to the general.

“Our presence has been discovered, sir,” he gasped. “The enemy is
approaching.”

Shirley and Mabel now perceived that the President of the Republic of
Nicaragua, in spite of his advanced years, was a man of action.

He turned rapidly from one to another of his officers, and these dashed
quickly away. A moment later the few troops began to move, and the girls
realized that President Garcia had taken some steps to offset the
advance of the revolutionists.

They found themselves going along with the troops.

“My goodness! I wish we were back on the ship,” exclaimed Shirley.

“You don’t wish it any more than I do,” declared Mabel. “I am more
frightened than you are. Suppose there should be a battle. What would
happen to us?”

Shirley shrugged her shoulders.

“You know as much about it as I do,” she made answer.

Mabel looked at her in amazement.

“Why, Shirley Willing!” she exclaimed. “Aren’t you afraid? I am scared
half to death.”

“I am just as badly frightened as you are,” declared Shirley. “I may not
look it, but I am.”

“I don’t believe you are frightened at all,” said Mabel.

In spite of the seriousness of the situation and her declaration that
she was badly frightened, Shirley was forced to smile at her friend’s
words.

“Well, perhaps I’m not so awfully scared,” she confessed. “I’m anxious
to see what is going to happen.”

“I know what is going to happen,” was the reply. “We are going to get
hurt!”

Mabel broke down and began to cry.

Shirley took her chum gently in her arms, and stroked her hair.

“There, there!” she said. “Stop crying. No one is going to hurt us. You
are just overwrought, that’s all.”

“I just know we are going to be shot—and—and killed,” sobbed Mabel.

“Nonsense,” said Shirley sharply. “Look up now and stop that crying. We
are perfectly safe. Stop crying.”

Mabel looked up suddenly at the sharpness in her chum’s tone, but her
tears soon were dried away. Shirley, in speaking as she had, had done
the best thing possible. She had realized that it was time for sharp
words and not for sympathy.

After a march of perhaps a half hour, President Garcia called another
halt, and then summoned his officers into consultation.

The two girls stood close, but they could not make out what was being
said. At length the general dismissed his officers with a gesture, and
as they scattered to their respective posts, the general approached the
two girls.

“We are going to make a sharp turn to the south here,” he said quietly,
“and then we shall move back and engage the enemy. That will put you
safely behind us. Now, if I were you, I would bear off slightly to the
right, and then go straight ahead. In that way you will be out of
danger. If the firing comes closer to you, make another wide detour,
turn about and try to make your way back to the ship. But I would not do
that until after the battle ceases.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Shirley. “We shall do as you suggest. We thank
you for your thoughtfulness in keeping us from falling into the hands of
the revolutionists. May you come through the battle unharmed, and may
you be successful.”

She extended her hand, and the President bent over it gravely.

“I thank you for your good wishes,” he said quietly.

Mabel also now advanced and extended her hand, and the President bent
over it.

“Good luck to you, Mr. President,” said Mabel.

“I thank you, too, young lady,” said the President simply. “Now heed my
injunction and betake yourselves to a place of safety. We shall advance
at once.”

Once more he bowed low to them, swung sharply about on his heel and was
gone. With hoarse commands from the officers, the troops faced to the
left and marched off.

“I guess we had better be moving, Shirley,” said Mabel.

Instead of turning to the right, they went straight back.

“It should be safer here,” said Mabel as they hurried along. “The
revolutionists are liable to advance on the right as well as on the
left!”

“I wish we could get some place where we could see,” declared Shirley.

Mabel stooped in her tracks and gazed at her friend in the utmost
astonishment.

“Shirley!” she exclaimed. “Surely you don’t mean that?”

“Of course I mean it. If we could only find some place where it is
safe.”

Unconsciously the girls had borne off to the left, and now suddenly they
came upon a clearing in the midst of the woods. And as they glanced
back, they saw the Nicaraguan government troops advancing across it.

But even as they looked the troops came to a halt, and most of them fell
to their knees. Shirley looked around quickly. Directly behind her was a
large tree.

“If we haven’t forgotten our tomboy days we’ll climb up there and watch
the battle,” she declared.

She led the way, and in spite of her misgivings, Mabel followed.

CHAPTER XVI.—THE GIRLS SEE A BATTLE.

As Shirley and Mabel, from their shelter among the branches, peered
across the plain, they saw puffs of smoke issue from the now kneeling
body of men. Sharp reports came to their ears. The only man still
standing erect, as they could see plainly, was President Garcia, who,
with upraised sword, was directing the movement of his men.

A man dropped his rifle and fell to the ground, and Mabel shrieked.

“My goodness!” she exclaimed a moment later. “This is terrible,
Shirley!”

Shirley’s lips were compressed, and for a moment she turned her eyes
away.

The firing became louder now, and for the first time the girls noticed
that President Garcia and his men were retreating toward them.

“We had better get down out of here!” exclaimed Mabel. “We may be
struck.”

Shirley agreed, and they were about to descend, when, from behind them,
came rapid footsteps, indicating the approach of a considerable number
of men. Shirley and Mabel became silent.

A moment later a score of dark-visaged Nicaraguans, with rifles ready
for instant use, appeared and took up their position at the edge of the
little woods, several of them falling flat under the very tree in which
the two girls were perched.

Mabel uttered an exclamation as the first volley was fired by these
newcomers. In spite of the fact that she was prepared for it, the sharp
reports of the weapons had wrung a cry of surprise from her. Shirley,
more calm, uttered no sound.

The girls could now see that the men beneath them were a part of
President Garcia’s force, for they were shooting over the heads of their
companions, apparently in an effort to cover the retreat of the main
body.

The latter now retreated more rapidly and at length joined forces with
the men beneath the trees. Shirley and Mabel could hear their
conversation plainly, but as it was carried on in Spanish, they could
not make out the trend of it.

For perhaps fifteen minutes President Garcia’s men held their position,
firing at the enemy from the shelter of the trees.

The plight of the two girls was much more serious than either realized,
for a chance bullet was likely to hit one of them at any moment. And yet
they felt safer in the tree than they would have felt among the soldiers
on the ground.

So far the enemy had contented themselves with lying flat on the ground
some distance away and firing at the trees, but now, as Shirley
perceived by peering across the plain, they were preparing for a charge.

A moment later there was a wild yell, and they came forward on the run.
They spread out as they came on, and here and there a man fell over,
struck down by a rifle bullet.

In spite of their great danger both girls became lost in wonder at the
sight, and stared ahead with straining eyes. Shirley was brought to
herself by the sound of something buzzing past her head. She knew in a
moment what is was.

“Mabel!” she cried. “Climb as high as you can or we shall be shot!”

She scrambled higher up among the branches, and Mabel followed suit.

Here no bullets flew past them, and looking down they saw that President
Garcia was ordering his men to retreat.

The government troops disappeared further back in the woods, and now the
danger came from their bullets rather than from those of the enemy. The
girls were in a ticklish situation and they were fully alive to their
peril.

The enemy pushed further into the woods, pursuing the government troops.
The bullets flew less thick, the sound of firing became fainter and
fainter, and then died away in the distance.

Shirley roused herself from the trance in which she seemed to have
fallen.

“Come, Mabel,” she said. “Let’s get down and get back to the ship before
some of them come back.”

Mabel was nothing loath, and quickly the girls slid to the ground and
advanced to the edge of the clearing. Here they stopped for a moment,
looking about them.

Several figures were sprawled about on the ground. The girls shuddered.

“It is terrible,” said Shirley.

“Don’t look at them,” urged Mabel. “Let’s run.”

But as they were about to take to their heels, they were startled by the
sound of a voice directly behind them.

“Ha!” it said.

The girls wheeled in their tracks to confront a man with rifle levelled
directly at them. A cry of fear was rung from Mabel’s lips, but Shirley
said nothing.

The man advanced and the girls shrank back. A torrent of words poured
from the man’s lips, but it was absolutely unintelligible to either of
the girls.

Shirley made a gesture, indicating that they did not understand, and the
man said:

“Americanos?”

“Yes,” replied Shirley. “Do you speak English?”

“Si!” replied the man, “a leetle!”

“We want to go away,” said Shirley eagerly. “We belong on the ship in
the harbor.”

“No! Stay here. General Orizaba will return soon,” said the man in
broken English.

Shirley started to protest, but the man made a threatening gesture with
his rifle.

The two girls looked at each other in dismay.

“Out of the frying pan into the fire, Mabel,” declared Shirley. “I guess
we shall have to stay.”

There was apparently no help for it. They sat down upon the grass to
await the arrival of General Orizaba, who, they rightly guessed, was the
commander of the revolutionary forces.

Their captor stood vigilant guard. Apparently he was determined to allow
them no chance to escape. He sat some distance away, with his rifle
across his knees. The two girls settled themselves with their backs to a
large tree, and made themselves as comfortable as they could under the
circumstances.

There was a snapping of a twig behind them, and Shirley glanced about
uneasily.

“S-s-h-h,” came a low voice. “Keep still and show no surprise.”

Both girls recognized the voice in an instant.

They maintained their composure well, and spoke only to each other.

“It’s Dick!” whispered Shirley.

“I know it,” replied Mabel.

“Then we are safe.”

The girls’ guard now put an end to their conversation. Rising he
approached them and commanded:

“Silence!”

He did not hear soft footsteps passing beyond him, nor did he turn in
time to see a figure leap from behind a tree and spring at him. The
first he realized of his danger was when a pair of strong arms went
round him, and he was hurled violently to the ground, his rifle flying
from his hands.

“Get the rifle, Shirley!” called Dick, as he and his opponent struggled
for mastery.

Shirley leaped forward, stopped, and when she arose she held the rifle.

For a moment she considered the advisability of advancing and lending
Dick a hand, then concluded that he was more than a match for the
Nicaraguan. Besides, the figures were locked in such close embrace that
she couldn’t have aided Dick if she would.

Now Dick succeeded in shaking off the grip of his opponent, and sprang
to his feet. The Nicaraguan did likewise, and sprang back.

As Dick leaped forward again, the man’s hand went to his holster, and a
revolver flashed in his hand.

But before he could bring the weapon to bear, Shirley stepped quickly
forward, levelled her rifle at him, and in a clear sharp voice, cried:

“Halt!”

The man wheeled quickly and as he did so, Dick sprang upon him from
behind. A quick blow sent the revolver hurling several feet away, and
then Dick stepped back to give free play to his boxing skill.

The Nicaraguan rushed at him, but Dick stepped lightly aside, and as the
man went by, carried on by the impetus of his rush, Dick struck out
straight and true from the shoulder.

The Nicaraguan crumpled up in a heap on the ground.

Shirley and Mabel ran quickly to Dick’s side.

“Are you hurt, Dick?” asked Shirley anxiously.

“No!” was the smiling rejoinder, “but I would have been if you had not
been prompt with that rifle. That’s all that saved me.”

“How did you find us?” asked Mabel.

“Followed you. We became alarmed at your absence and I said I thought I
could find you. I imagined you had gone for a stroll, and when I saw
this bunch of pirates going through the town I guessed that you would
fall into their hands. I came along after them and just as I was about
to go on I saw you climbing down from the tree.”

“Well, you didn’t arrive a minute too soon,” declared Shirley. “We were
badly frightened, weren’t we Mabel?”

“I know I was,” was her chum’s reply. She turned to Dick. “But how——”

“I’ll explain later,” interrupted Dick. “The thing to do now is to get
away from here before they return. Come on.”

The girls started on ahead of him, and Dick turned for a glance over his
shoulder.

Then he uttered an exclamation of alarm, and shouted:

“Run!”

For in that quick glance over his shoulder he had perceived the return
of the revolutionists.

CHAPTER XVII.—MABEL BRINGS THE BLUEJACKETS.

Shirley and Mabel needed no further urging, and took to their heels.
Dick followed close behind.

In the one brief glance in which he had perceived the return of the
soldiers, Dick had been unable to determine whether their presence had
been discovered, but he believed it wise to take a chance. Hence his
command to run.

The three sped lightly over the ground and had gone some distance when
they heard a shout from behind, followed by the sharp reports of several
rifles.

Dick stopped suddenly and called to the girls to halt. They obeyed
instantly.

“There is no use being shot,” said Dick quietly, “and although they are
poor shots they would be sure to hit one of us sooner or later.”

“Then what shall we do?” cried Mabel.

“There is only one thing to do,” was the reply. “Surrender.”

“Dick is right,” agreed Shirley. “It is foolish to attempt to escape.”

In the meantime the band of revolutionists had been coming toward them,
and at length surrounded the three figures. A man, who appeared to be
the leader, though he wore no uniform nor mark of distinction, advanced
and addressed Dick.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” he demanded in English.

Dick explained, and the man heard him through quietly.

“And who was it hurt Pedro back there?” and the leader waved toward the
spot where Dick had struggled with the Nicaraguan.

“I did,” he replied quietly, and explained the cause of the fight.

“Well, you will have to stand trial for attacking one of my men,” said
the leader. “I am General Orizaba.”

He signalled for his men to surround the three, which was soon done, and
they continued their march back toward the city.

“Every step in this direction is better for us,” said Dick to the two
girls, as they marched along. “We’ll get out of this trouble some way,
be sure of that.”

“Oh, I know no harm will come to us as long as you are here,” replied
Shirley.

“Thanks,” said Dick dryly. “But I don’t see how I can do much for any of
us right now.”

“Something will turn up,” said Shirley positively.

“I hope it turns up soon,” declared Mabel.

But if the prisoners hoped to be taken directly back to town they were
doomed to disappointment.

After crossing the clearing in the woods, General Orizaba led his men to
the left, where after an hour’s march, he called a halt. Then he again
approached the prisoners.

“We shall camp here,” he said. “Here, also, you shall be tried for
attacking Pedro.”

Dick made no reply, but Shirley did

“We are Americans,” she said, “and you don’t dare to interfere with us.”

“I don’t, eh?” was the reply. “You shall see.”

Pedro, it now appeared, had been revived and brought along. The general
motioned for him to approach. He pointed to Dick and spoke in Spanish.
It was impossible to tell what they were talking about, but all three
were keen enough to know that it boded no good for them.

The general turned again to Dick.

“Pedro says you struck him without warning and without provocation,” he
said. “I have decided, therefore, to dispense with the trial, and to fix
your punishment myself.”

“I warn you——” began Dick.

“Caramba!” roared the leader, becoming very angry. “What do I care for
your warnings, or for your friends either?”

“There is an American cruiser in the harbor,” said Dick quietly. “The
commander knows where I am, and if I am not back within two hours, he
will land a force of sailors to see why.”

General Orizaba seemed to hesitate, following these words. Then he
became even angrier than before. He was about to speak, when a horseman
clattered up.

The general turned to him and they conversed in low tones. Then the
horseman dismounted, and leaving his horse, made his way to where the
rest of the revolutionists sat upon the ground some distance away.

General Orizaba again faced Dick.

“Dog of an Americano!” he thundered. “You shall be shot for daring to
interfere with one of my men.”

Dick only smiled.

“I guess you don’t mean that,” he replied quietly.

“I don’t, eh? You shall see.” He paused a moment. “But you shall live
until sunset.”

He turned to call one of his men; and at that moment, Mabel, who stood
closest to the riderless horse, suddenly leaped forward and sprang upon
the animal’s back.

So sudden was her movement that for a moment the Nicaraguans failed to
realize her intention.

That moment was sufficient for Mabel to seize the reins and turn the
horse’s head toward the city. Then she dug her heels into his flanks and
away they went.

Dick and Shirley were no less surprised than the Nicaraguans, and both
uttered cries of alarm.

General Orizaba darted forward with an ejaculation, and called to his
men.

“Shoot!” he cried.

Rifles were brought to bear, but the horse had gained his stride and was
galloping along like the wind. Volley after volley was fired after the
girl, but thanks to the movement of the horse and the poor marksmanship
of the Nicaraguans, Mabel was not touched.

Rapidly she rode, nor did she draw rein when she entered the town but
galloped straight to the pier. Here still lay the small boat of the
_Yucatan_, manned by its crew. Rapidly explaining the situation, the
girl urged the sailors back to the ship without waiting the return of
the first officer, who was some place in the town.

About the ship, Mabel found that Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton were
ashore searching for the girls, and so she went straight to Captain
Anderson. That worthy acted promptly. He quickly signalled the cruiser
_Prairie_, which Mabel, saw for the first time, perceived lay close by.

The _Prairie_ signalled for the captain and Mabel to come aboard, which
they did without loss of time. In a few words Mabel explained the
situation to the commander of the cruiser.

Action came quickly.

A bugle sounded, piping the crew to quarters. The commander detailed a
landing party of one hundred and fifty marines and sailors. These were
quickly rowed to the shore—Mabel going with them as a guide, for she
refused to be left behind.

Once ashore, the girl led the way toward where she had left her friends,
the men going forward at the double-quick, their weapons ready for
instant use.

When General Orizaba perceived that Mabel had made good her flight, his
anger knew no bounds. He berated his men roundly and danced about like a
madman. Then he turned to Dick.

“But you shall not escape!” he declared.

“You’ll have a squad of marines down on you in a few minutes,” replied
Dick with a cheerful smile. “Then where will you be?”

“Bah!” said the angry general. “What are a few marines? We can drive
them back.”

“Think so, do you?” asked Dick. “I’m afraid you’ll be surprised.”

“You shall see,” declared the angry leader. “You shall live until you
see your countrymen defeated.”

“Guess I shall live a long time then,” said Dick, with a smile.

The smile angered the leader, and he stepped close to Dick and slapped
him across the face.

Dick’s anger boiled up and he promptly sent his fist crashing into the
general’s face, knocking him down.

The young man regretted this act the next moment, for he knew that
probably he had brought matters to a crisis.

General Orizaba sprang to his feet and with a shout drew his revolver
and covered Dick.

Shirley screamed. Then General Orizaba lowered his revolver.

“No, I won’t do it yet,” he said. “I promised you should see your
countrymen defeated, and so you shall. I shall kill you later.”

“Thanks,” said Dick.

In spite of his apparent nonchalance, he breathed easier, however, for
he had been at the point of death, and none knew it better than he did.

“We are all right now,” he told Shirley in a low voice. “The marines and
sailors will soon be here, and these fellows can’t stand up against
them.”

Shirley smiled at him bravely.

“I know it,” she replied quietly.

Now the leader of the revolutionists signalled two of his men to bind
the prisoners. This was soon done, and they were taken well to one side
of what proved to be the line of battle.

“I do this so I may be sure you will be saved for me,” said General
Orizaba with an evil smile. “It would be nice to have you shot down by
American bullets, but I would rather do it myself. Besides, from here,
you can see us defeat the Americanos.”

“Many thanks for your kindness,” returned Dick. “I’ll speak a word for
you when you are in the hands of the Americanos, as you call them.”

“That,” was the reply, “will never be.”

Dick shrugged his shoulders.

“Have it your own way,” he said.

Came a shout from one of the men who had been sent forward on scout
duty.

“The Americanos!” he cried.

General Orizaba hurried toward him. Dick and Shirley drew a breath of
relief.

An instant later a long line of hurrying blue figures came into view.
Shirley and Dick looked at them with pride in their eyes.

The marines and sailors advanced at the double.

“Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!”

The battle had begun!

CHAPTER XVIII.—END OF THE REVOLT.

The Nicaraguans met the first charge of the bluejackets bravely enough,
but they were now opposed to men who knew not the meaning of the word
defeat, nor what it meant to retreat. Under the first fire from the
Americans they wavered; at the next they began to fall back and at the
third they turned and fled.

Dick and Shirley, bound as they were, nevertheless could see how the
fighting progressed, while thanks to the thoughtfulness of the
revolutionary leader they were out of danger themselves.

But now that the day was going against the enemy, Dick feared that
General Orizaba, mindful of his threat, would return to his prisoners
before seeking safety in flight. Therefore he began to devise a way of
escape.

After some effort he succeeded in getting out his pocket knife. Then,
holding it in one of his bound hands, he bent his head and opened the
big blade with his teeth. Fortunately the rope with which he was bound
was not thick, and the knife was sharp.

For perhaps ten minutes, holding the knife in his mouth by the handle,
Dick sawed at the bonds on his hands. At last the rope parted. Quickly
he untied his feet, and then unbound Shirley, who also arose to her
feet.

The Nicaraguan forces were now in full retreat, and as Dick would have
led Shirley forward toward the town, a single figure burst into sight.
As the man came closer Shirley and Dick could see anger and hate written
large on his features. They recognized him upon the instant.

“Orizaba!” exclaimed Shirley.

“And come to fulfill his promise, I guess,” agreed Dick quietly.

“Run!” cried Shirley.

“What’s the use?” asked Dick. “He has a gun.”

It was true. In the hands of the defeated revolutionary leader was a
revolver of heavy caliber, and he flourished it as he came toward them.

Dick turned to Shirley.

“You get back out of sight!” he commanded. “I can handle this fellow!”

Shirley protested.

“But—but,——” she began.

“Quick!” exclaimed Dick. “He is very angry and for that reason will be
easier to handle. I don’t believe he could hit a barn door now.”

Shirley followed Dick’s command and withdrew a short distance, although
she was still in plain sight of the infuriated Nicaraguan.

Standing quietly, with his hands on his hips, Dick awaited the attack of
the Nicaraguan. A full hundred yards away, but still running, the latter
opened fire with his revolver.

“Good!” thought Dick to himself. “He can’t hit me that way, and his
shells will soon be gone.”

Five times Orizaba fired, and each time the bullet went wild.

Shirley, from her place of safety, watched the encounter breathlessly.
She stood with clenched fists and awaited the outcome of each shot
anxiously.

A sixth time Orizaba’s revolver spoke.

Dick staggered, and Shirley gave utterance to a scream, while a laugh of
derision came from the Nicaraguan.

But the latter’s mirth was destined to be short-lived. Dick, still with
a smile on his face in spite of the dull pain in his left arm where
Orizaba’s last bullet had struck, stepped forward to meet his enemy in
his mad rush.

They came together with a shock and tumbled to the ground, where Orizaba
clawed desperately at Dick’s face and eyes.

“So that’s your game, eh?” muttered Dick to himself.

He protected his face with his injured arm, while with the uninjured one
he rained a shower of blows upon the Nicaraguan’s face. The latter soon
tired of this and sprang to his feet. Dick also arose.

There was a cry of alarm from Shirley as Orizaba stepped back. His hand
went to his belt, and a knife flashed in the air. But Dick, quick as a
cat, gave him no time to use it.

He realized his danger in an instant and acted promptly. With a shout he
sprang forward, and seized the upraised arm with his right hand. He
twisted it fiercely, and the Nicaraguan gave a cry of pain as he
released his hold on the knife and stepped back.

As he did so, Dick drove his right fist into his face, and General
Orizaba tumbled to the ground, where he lay still.

At the same moment there was a cheer from close at hand and, turning,
Dick saw a dozen marines who had gathered about to watch the contest.
Shirley came forward anxiously.

“Are you hurt Dick?” she asked.

“Not much, I guess,” was the reply. “He winged me with the last shot,
but I am sure it is nothing serious.”

“He’s all right,” shouted one of the marines, as they gathered about him
and congratulated him upon his fight.

Shirley turned on them angrily.

“And you stood off and left him to be killed,” she exclaimed. “You ought
to be ashamed of yourselves.”

“Oh, we know he could handle that fellow,” was the response, but the men
looked at one another somewhat sheepishly.

Their reason for not interfering was perfectly apparent. They had
enjoyed the spectacle of Dick and Orizaba locked in combat, and had felt
morally certain Dick would come out on top.

“Just the same, he might have been badly hurt!” said Shirley, by no
means convinced.

“Oh, they did all right,” said Dick with a laugh. “Come Shirley, let’s
get back to the ship and I’ll have the surgeon look at this arm.”

“Are you hurt, Jack?” asked one of the men stepping forward.

“Bullet in the arm,” was Dick’s reply; and he added: “But my name is not
Jack.”

“Everybody is Jack to us,” was the answer. “But had we known you were
wounded we would have taken that fellow off your hands. Come on, there
is Dr. Thomas over there.”

Dick and Shirley followed the marines to where the surgeon was engaged
in bandaging the wounds of an American sailor, the only man who had been
touched by one of the enemy’s bullets.

He bound Dick’s arm up quickly, remarking that it would be as good as
new in a day or two.

“Shirley!”

It was Mabel’s voice, and turning, Shirley saw her chum rushing toward
her. She ran to meet her and the greeting was affectionate.

“How dared you take such a chance, Mabel?” demanded Shirley.

“Well, somebody had to do it, and I was closest the horse,” was the
reply. “I knew they couldn’t hit me.”

“Nevertheless, it was a desperate risk,” said Dick, who came up at that
moment. “I expected to see your horse go tumbling.”

“But how did you get aid so quickly?” demanded Shirley.

Mabel explained.

“And they made me go back when the fighting began,” she continued. “I
wanted to hunt you up immediately, but the lieutenant wouldn’t let me.”

“I should say not,” declared Dick.

“Shirley was in danger. Why shouldn’t I have been there?” demanded
Mabel. “I saw Dick and the general fighting and I came forward as fast
as I could,” the girl continued, “and when I saw the Nicaraguan go down
I knew our troubles were over.”

“And where is Dad?” asked Shirley.

“I didn’t see him,” replied Mabel. “I suppose they are looking for us in
some other part of the town. I’ll bet they are badly frightened.”

“I fear so too,” replied Shirley. “I guess we had better get back as
soon as we can. But we shall have to thank the lieutenant first.”

That officer declared that he wanted no thanks.

“We are glad to have been able to take a shot at those fellows,” he
said. “We have been wanting to do it for a long time, but this is the
first opportunity we have had. We—Hello!”

He broke off suddenly. Riding rapidly toward them was a large body of
men, and above them floated a white flag. They dismounted some distance
away, and one approached.

The girls recognized this man immediately. He was President Garcia.

He rode up to the lieutenant, and introduced himself.

“And I would like the person of Orizaba delivered to me,” he said
quietly.

“You shall have him,” replied the lieutenant. “It will save us trouble.”

The unfortunate revolutionist, fully recovered now, was turned over to
the President of Nicaragua and marched away. Then President Garcia
appeared to perceive Shirley and Mabel for the first time. He raised his
hat to them.

“I am pleased that the senoritas have escaped safely,” he said quietly,
and making a low bow to them, he turned his horse about, and a moment
later was gone.

The lieutenant in command of the marines now ordered his men back to
their ship, and the girls accompanied them on their return march through
the town. Dark looks were cast at them from all sides, but none ventured
a word.

“You may see they don’t love us very much in these parts,” said the
lieutenant with a smile. “They would welcome a chance to shoot us all.”

At the pier the two girls saw their fathers approaching rapidly, and
they ran forward to meet them. The meeting was affectionate, for both
Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton had been greatly alarmed at their long
absence.

“I am going to keep my eye on you in the future,” declared Mr. Willing.

The girls only laughed. Both men were profuse in their praise of Dick’s
gallant actions, and Colonel Ashton declared:

“It’s a good thing we brought him along, Willing.”

The marines gave the Willing party a rousing cheer as they stepped into
the _Yucatan’s_ small boat and were rowed back to the vessel.

“I’m glad to see you back,” declared Captain Anderson. “We’re late now.
We shall leave here at once.” He turned to the first officer. “You may
get under way immediately, sir!”

And as the _Yucatan_ steamed from the harbor, the passengers gathered
about the two girls, demanding an account of their experiences.

CHAPTER XIX.—A GUATEMALA ADVENTURE.

“This,” said Captain Anderson, waving his hand, as the steamer entered a
little harbor, “is Champerico, the only Guatemalan port at which we
shall touch. It is the last Central American republic we shall see.
Would you care to go ashore?”

“I would like to go,” said Shirley, with a sidelong look at her father.

“You won’t go unless I do,” was Mr. Willing’s ultimatum. “You have been
in trouble enough. I’m going to keep you in sight.” He turned to Colonel
Ashton. “Would you care to go ashore, Ashton?”

“Why, yes,” was the reply.

“Good. Then we shall all go,” said Mr. Willing.

“You can go with me,” said Captain Anderson. “I am going to pay my
respects to the American consul.”

An hour later a small boat put off from the ship and headed shoreward.
In it, besides Captain Anderson and the crew, were Mr. Willing, Colonel
Ashton, Dick, Shirley and Mabel.

“We’ll keep out of trouble this time,” commented Mr. Willing.

They accompanied Captain Anderson to the United States consulate, where
they were introduced to the consul. An hour later they all started back
toward the boat.

As they walked down one of the dirty streets Captain Anderson espied a
figure slinking along.

“Hey!” he cried. “There goes that scoundrel Von Blusen, who broke his
parole and ran away at Corinto. I’ll get him!”

He darted hurriedly across the street, and laid a hand on the young
man’s shoulder. The latter looked up in surprise, and then perceiving
Captain Anderson, jerked suddenly free and took to his heels, running
directly toward the Willing party.

“Head him off!” cried Captain Anderson, and Dick and the two men leaped
to obey.

Straight at them rushed the young German officer, and a few feet away
hurled himself forward with a powerful spring. He struck the three
squarely, and all went to the ground in a tangled heap.

Von Blusen was the first to regain his feet. He raised a hand as though
to strike one of his fallen adversaries, but the approach of Captain
Anderson at that moment caused him to turn and flee quickly.

The captain made after him at top speed, calling upon him to halt.
Around the block they ran, and then, unconsciously doubling back, Von
Blusen once more found himself bearing down on Dick and Mr. Willing and
Colonel Ashton.

A moment later Captain Anderson, panting, hove in sight and gasped out:

“Stop him!”

This time the three spread out, so they would have a better chance of
halting the fugitive. The latter ran straight at Mr. Willing and the
force of the contact sent both to the ground. As Von Blusen arose
Colonel Ashton leaped for him.

But the German was too quick for the colonel, and missing his grasp, the
latter sprawled on the street. Von Blusen turned just in time to meet
Dick with a hard blow to the face, and Dick toppled over.

Then Von Blusen darted up a little alleyway.

Unmindful of his intention to keep a close eye on the girls, Mr.
Willing, now red with anger, made after him, as did the colonel, Captain
Anderson and Dick.

The girls found themselves alone in the street.

The noise of the chase had attracted many spectators, among them several
members of the native police.

Suddenly Captain Von Blusen emerged from the alleyway on the dead run,
his pursuers close on his trail.

Perceiving one man thus followed by many, the native officers decided to
interfere. Von Blusen darted past them, evading their outstretched arms
by dodging neatly; but the others were not so fortunate.

Pursuers and native police collided with a shock, and there was a tangle
of arms and legs as they rolled in the dirty street. The officers freed
themselves first, and drawing their revolvers stood by while the others
arose.

One of them broke into a torrent of Spanish.

Captain Anderson, the only member of the party who spoke the language,
halted in his tracks.

“I’m an American citizen,” he told the policeman. “Take your hands off
me,” this to one of the officers who insisted upon holding him by the
arm.

The officer chattered volubly and clung to the arm.

Captain Anderson freed his arm with a quick wrench, and tapped the
officer lightly on the shoulder with his hand.

“Caramba!” roared the Guatemalan, and levelled his revolver at the
captain.

“Caramba yourself!” cried the captain, and extending his arm suddenly,
he took the pistol away from the little officer.

The latter stamped the ground angrily and broke into another torrent of
unintelligible words.

But Captain Anderson now perceived he had acted rashly in thus giving
way to his temper. The blood of the other native officers was aroused,
and they surrounded the Americans gesticulating vigorously.

At that moment Captain Von Blusen, who had been hovering just around the
corner, reappeared, and approaching the officers, addressed them in
Spanish.

“These men tried to rob me,” he declared. “I want them arrested!”

“Si señor! It shall be done!” replied one of the officers.

“I’ll go with you to make the charge,” continued the young German.

“Si señor!” said the native officer.

Turning, he motioned for the four to precede him. Captain Anderson was
inclined to hang back, as were the others, but a word from Captain Von
Blusen decided them to go on.

“They’ll shoot if you don’t go,” declared Von Blusen with a smile.

Shirley and Mabel, who had been standing nearby while all this was going
on, now made as though to approach, but Mr. Willing waved them back.

“Go back to the consulate and tell the consul what has happened,” he
called to her.

The girls turned to go, but Von Blusen, realizing what was going on,
called to the officers to stop them.

“Run!” cried Captain Anderson, who was the only one who understood the
import of the German’s words.

“Halt!” cried one of the Guatemalans, as the girls broke into a run.

But the girls did not understand him, and if they had, their actions
would have been the same.

They set out for the consulate at top speed and they did not stop, in
spite of pursuit and cries of “Halt!” until they dashed in the door.

The consul greeted them with an exclamation of surprise.

“What’s the matter?” he demanded.

Shirley explained.

“And hurry,” she added tearfully, “they will lock them up in a dirty old
jail.”

The consul was forced to smile.

“Oh, well, I guess it won’t hurt them any,” he replied.

The girls looked at him in astonishment, and Shirley opened her mouth to
speak. The consul silenced her with a gesture.

“I’ll get them out, all right,” he assured them.

He looked at his watch and continued.

“It is now ten o’clock. I think I can safely promise to have them back
aboard the _Yucatan_ by five o’clock.”

“Five o’clock!” repeated Shirley. “And where will they be all that
time?”

“Jail,” was the brief reply.

Shirley could not repress an exclamation of dismay.

“But can’t you hurry?” she exclaimed.

“Now don’t you fret,” said the consul. “There is certain red tape that
must be gone through, and it will take time. Besides, it is needless to
hurry. In this country no one hurries. If I seem unduly excited it will
take longer than ever.”

“Please do the best you can, then,” said Shirley.

“I shall,” replied the consul. “In the meantime, you two girls return
aboard the _Yucatan_. I’ll call my secretary and have him escort you
back.”

In response to his summons a young man appeared and the consul
instructed him to see them back aboard their ship.

“Yes, sir,” said the young man. “Come,” to the girls.

He accompanied them to the wharf, where he instructed the sailors to
take them aboard and then return and await the arrival of the captain
and the others.

It was almost six o’clock when Shirley and Mabel, gazing toward shore,
perceived the little boat of the _Yucatan_ bobbing toward them. As it
drew close they could make out the faces of their fathers, Dick and
Captain Anderson.

A short time later all appeared on deck. Their clothing was ruffled and
dirty, and it was plain to the girls that their fathers were not in the
best of temper. Nevertheless Shirley could not repress a slight dig at
them.

First she approached Captain Anderson.

“And did you capture Captain Von Blusen?” she asked.

“No,” grumbled the captain. “I hope I never set eyes on him again.”

“Dad,” said Shirley, “do you remember what you said to us about getting
into trouble?”

Mr. Willing growled some unintelligible reply.

“We’ve never been in jail yet, Dad,” continued Shirley slyly. “Were
you?”

Mr. Willing glanced at his daughter and seemed about to make some sharp
response. Then he controlled himself and spoke:

“Yes, we were in jail,” he growled. “We spent the best part of the day
there.”

“Well,” said Shirley, “you are always getting in trouble. I reckon Mabel
and I will have to keep closer watch on you.”

“I am sure of it,” declared Mabel.

Dick smiled, but there was no amusement on the faces of Mr. Willing nor
Colonel Ashton. They scowled at their daughters.

“Now, Dad,” continued Shirley, “did Captain Von Blusen—”

“Will you be quiet?” demanded Mr. Willing. “Haven’t we had enough
trouble for one day without all this chatter. Come, Ashton, we’ll go to
our cabin.”

Shirley, Mabel and Dick broke into a loud laugh as the two stalked away
arm in arm, looking neither to the right nor left.

CHAPTER XX.—UP THE MEXICAN COAST.

The passengers aboard the _Yucatan_ gazed curiously at the approaching
battle cruiser.

It was the morning following the departure from Champerico, and the
_Yucatan_ had been halted by a shot fired across her bow. Officers and
passengers alike were curious as to the identity of the cruiser.

So far she had shown no colors.

“Do you suppose she is English?” asked Shirley of Dick, as they gazed
over the rail at the oncoming stranger.

“Must be either English or Japanese,” replied Dick. “Not much chance of
any other vessel being in these waters, unless, of course, she is a
United States cruiser. But that can’t be, because she would not have
halted us.”

Signs of activity became apparent aboard the cruiser, and the colors
were run up the masthead. For a moment they could not be distinguished,
but as the breeze caught the ensign, a gasp went up from the passengers,
with here and there a cheer.

For the colors thus displayed were the red, white and black of Germany!

“My goodness! Will she shoot us?” exclaimed Shirley in some dismay.

“Hardly,” declared Dick. “I don’t believe Germany wants to go to war
with the United States.”

There came a message from the German to Captain Anderson:

“I am coming aboard!”

A few moments later a boat put off from the cruiser, and soon scraped
alongside the _Yucatan_. An officer appeared over the side and was
greeted by Captain Anderson.

“How did you get here?” was his first question. “I had reason to believe
the _Yucatan_ was now in other waters.”

“Well,” replied Captain Anderson dryly, “your little piracy scheme
didn’t work, you see.”

The German officer controlled his temper with an effort.

“Have you a passenger by the name of Bristow aboard?”

“Oh,” said the captain, “you mean Von Blusen. We did have him aboard, in
irons. I released him on parole, and he broke it. I’ll never trust
another German.”

The German officer drew himself up angrily.

“Have a care, sir!” he exclaimed. “You seem to forget that I can sink
you on a moment’s notice.”

“Oh, no I don’t. But I’m sure you won’t. Already you have troubles
enough. I’ll thank you to dispose of your business immediately and then
get off my ship.”

“I’ll have a look at your papers,” said the German shortly.

Captain Anderson led the way to his cabin.

As they talked, the passengers on deck noticed smoke upon the horizon.
Save for this little blur and the German cruiser there was nothing else
in sight but water.

The blur became larger, and at last took the shape of a vessel. As it
drew nearer it could be seen that it was a battle cruiser. It bore down
toward the German cruiser at full speed.

“I hope it’s an Englishman,” declared Shirley.

“Probably is,” said her father, “although it may be a Jap.”

Still the German officer was in the cabin with Captain Anderson.

Suddenly the head of another German officer appeared over the rail of
the _Yucatan_ and dashed toward the captain’s cabin. A moment later both
reappeared, dropped over the side and the boat made back toward the
cruiser.

The _Yucatan_ was very close, and now, at a command from Captain
Anderson, she got under way.

“If that other cruiser is a Britisher, there is bound to be a fight, and
we don’t want to be in the way,” explained the captain. “We’ll stand off
at a distance and look on.”

This plan met the approval of the passengers, and as the _Yucatan_
steamed toward a safe spot all eyes were turned upon the second cruiser
waiting for her to show her colors.

And at last they were unfurled, and a cheer rang the length of the ship.
The British ensign fluttered from the mast.

The German cruiser, immediately the identity of the other was
determined, turned to flee. She seemed fully as large as the British
ship, and there were comments of surprise aboard the _Yucatan_ that she
didn’t offer to accept battle.

But there was to be no escape for the German. The British cruiser gave
chase, and it was soon apparent that she was much faster than the foe.

There was a heavy crash as her big guns opened fire on the stern of the
enemy. The _Yucatan’s_ passengers watched eagerly for the result.

The German cruiser seemed to stagger in her stride, and a cloud of wood
and steel flew in the air. The first shot had struck home, and in some
manner had disabled the engines of the German. Escape being impossible,
the latter turned to give battle.

Immediately the British cruiser reduced her speed.

Shirley and Mabel stood at the rail of the _Yucatan_ with clasped hands
and strained faces.

“And to think that we shall see a real sea fight!” exclaimed Mabel.

“But think of the poor sailors,” said Shirley.

“Of course,” said Mabel, “but they may be saved. Perhaps the German
commander will surrender.”

“I am sure he won’t,” declared Shirley.

“No, he won’t surrender,” said Dick. “Whatever else you may say of the
Germans, their bravery cannot be doubted.”

Now the first gun on the German cruiser spoke, and a shell plowed up the
water alongside the Britisher.

“They’ll have the range in a minute,” said Dick, “and then they’ll go at
it hammer and tongs.”

He was right. The next shot from the German burst squarely over her
enemy’s forward turret, putting it out of commission.

There was a cheer from the few German passengers aboard the _Yucatan_.

But the British cruiser more than evened up the score with her next
shot.

A shell burst squarely amidships on the German. A moment later there was
a terrific explosion.

The German cruiser seemed to part in the middle. It staggered crazily.
She had been wounded unto death, as every passenger aboard the _Yucatan_
realized.

Men flung themselves into the sea, and struck out in the direction of
the _Yucatan_.

Captain Anderson was a humane man, and while the matter possibly was
none of his business, he determined to aid the unfortunate victims. He
ordered the ship’s lifeboats manned and lowered.

“Look!” cried Shirley.

Another terrific explosion drowned her voice. The German cruiser
suddenly sprang into a brilliant sheet of flame, seemed to leap in the
air, then disappeared.

The calm waters of the Pacific closed over her. She was gone.

Shirley and Mabel held their breath in speechless amazement. It seemed
to them incredible that such a great ship could have been sent to the
bottom in such a short time.

“The poor sailors!” exclaimed Shirley. “I hope they will all be saved.”

“They won’t be,” declared Captain Anderson, who had come up and now
stood among the others. “With my glass I saw the commander on the bridge
a moment before the ship went down. He has gone with her, and so,
probably, have most of his officers.”

He lifted his cap from his head, as did the passengers.

“It’s a terrible thing, this war,” continued the Captain. “How many went
down I do not know; but how many of those who did knew what they were
fighting for? Not many.”

Meanwhile the little lifeboats of the _Yucatan_ were helping the crews
of the British cruiser pick up the survivors. The work went on with the
utmost haste, for there were many who could not swim.

Fortunately most of those who had jumped just before the explosion were
saved. These were all taken aboard the British cruiser, and a short time
later the British commander came aboard the _Yucatan_.

Shirley and Mabel looked with some awe at this British sea fighter. He
seemed a veritable hero in their eyes. Once on deck, he strode toward
Captain Anderson with quick steps, his carriage erect.

“I thank you for your assistance in saving many helpless sailors,” he
said to Captain Anderson. “Without your aid many would have perished.”

“How badly is your ship damaged, sir?” asked Captain Anderson, asking
the question that was uppermost in the minds of all aboard the
_Yucatan_.

“Very little, sir,” was the reply. “Two guns shot to pieces, and five
men injured. No man was killed. There was also some slight damage to the
engine room. It was a notable victory.”

“Indeed it was!” cried Shirley, who could keep silent no longer.

The British sea captain gazed at her for a moment, then bowed slightly.

Shirley’s face grew red at her own boldness, but she said nothing more.

The commander of the British cruiser followed Captain Anderson to the
latter’s cabin, where he inspected the ship’s papers. Half an hour later
he made his way over the side of the _Yucatan_ and was soon back aboard
the cruiser.

Immediately he had left, the _Yucatan_ got under way and continued her
journey up the Mexican coast.

All the passengers remained on deck gazing after the British cruiser,
which had turned in the opposite direction; and until she was lost to
sight in the distance, a faint smoke marking her location, hardly an eye
was taken from her.

“Well, Shirley,” said Mr. Willing, “what did you think of the battle?”

“It was wonderful,” replied the girl, clasping her hands. “I am glad the
English won.”

“And so am I,” agreed her father. “How do you think you would like to be
a sailor aboard a man-o’-war.”

“I’d love it!” declared Shirley with enthusiasm.

Dick looked at her peculiarly.

“I believe you would,” he said quietly at last, and, turning on his
heel, he went below.

CHAPTER XXI.—A WOMAN PLOTTER.

Aboard the _Yucatan_ was a woman passenger, who, on the trip up the
Pacific, had made herself very agreeable to the members of the Willing
party. She was not an American although she spoke English fluently, with
the slightest of accents. Neither Shirley nor Mabel had asked her
nationality, but they had agreed that she must be a Spaniard.

The woman had given her name as Mrs. Miguel Sebastian and this
strengthened the belief of the members of the Willing party that she was
a native of one of the Latin countries. She had come aboard the ship for
the first time at Colon, but for several days had kept to her stateroom,
so the passengers had not seen much of her.

She was young, hardly more than twenty-five, slender, rather light
complexioned for a Spaniard, and extremely pretty. Since leaving
Champerico she had been much in the company of Shirley and Mabel, and
both girls had taken an instinctive liking to her.

She had travelled much, apparently, and told them tales of many lands.
Her husband, she said, was abroad in Europe, but would join her in San
Francisco within a month. She was well posted on current events, and
seemed to have the history of Mexico at her finger tips.

It was while the _Yucatan_ was steaming into the harbor of Acapulco, the
first Mexican port at which they were to touch, that Mrs. Sebastian
related some of the history of the revolution-torn republic.

“I have always been greatly interested in Mexico,” she told the girls,
as the three leaned over the rail this morning. “I have spent several
years in the country. I have friends here in Acapulco, and I shall make
an effort to see them while here. Would you care to go with me?”

“We would love to,” declared Shirley, “but I don’t know whether Dad will
consent to our going without him.”

“We shall see,” returned Mrs. Sebastian. “I can promise you a dinner
that you will never forget. Nowhere outside of Mexico can you get real
Mexican food, and it will be something to remember.”

Colonel Ashton, Mr. Willing and Dick now joined the others on deck, and
Shirley asked for permission to accompany Mrs. Sebastian.

Mr. Willing appeared somewhat dubious, but Mrs. Sebastian also asked him
to consent.

“I’ll promise to return them to you safely,” she said with a smile.

“In that event, I shall give my consent to their going, madam,” returned
Colonel Ashton gallantly.

“And I,” agreed Mr. Willing.

“Thanks so much,” said Mrs. Sebastian, “and I’ll go and ask Captain
Anderson just how long we shall remain here.”

She walked away.

“Mr. Willing,” said Dick, “it may appear wrong, but somehow or other I
don’t exactly trust that woman.”

“Pooh!” replied Mr. Willing. “What does a youngster like you know?”

“Perhaps I am wrong,” replied Dick, “but something tells me she is not
to be trusted. She is up to some mischief.”

“Why, Dick!” exclaimed Shirley. “Don’t you want us to go?”

“To tell the truth I don’t,” was the reply.

“Young man,” said Colonel Ashton, “you will learn, as you grow older,
not to jump to such rash conclusions. Mrs. Sebastian is a gentlewoman.”

“Right you are, Ashton,” declared Mr. Willing. “We’re old enough to
know, eh?”

The two men smiled at each other and walked away, leaving the young
people together.

Mrs. Sebastian returned a few moments later.

“Captain Anderson says we shall be here until evening,” she said, “so we
shall have plenty of time for our trip ashore. He says we may go in the
first boat, so you girls had better run along to your cabin and get
ready. Mr. Stanley will entertain me until you return.”

Shirley and Mabel hurried away, and Dick and Mrs. Sebastian stood
together looking across the water at the shore, which was drawing closer
rapidly.

“Where are you going when you get ashore?” asked Dick abruptly.

“Why, I am going to call upon a friend,” was the smiling reply.

“Then you have been here before?” questioned Dick.

“Many times.”

“Mrs. Sebastian,” said Dick quietly, “are you a Mexican?”

The woman started back in surprise.

“Why, no,” she replied at last. “I was born in Spain. Why do you ask?”

“I just wondered,” was Dick’s evasive answer. “By the way, I suppose it
is perfectly peaceful here now?”

“Yes, indeed,” was the reply. “I guess the fighting is all over, now
that General Villa has been successful in Chihuahua and other northern
states.”

“But there has been trouble down here?”

“Oh yes, but it is all over. Besides, the revolutionists probably have
not enough money to buy arms and ammunition.”

“Why don’t they steal them? It wouldn’t be the first time.”

Mrs. Sebastian’s face turned red.

“What do you mean?” she asked angrily.

“I am sorry I offended you,” Dick apologized. “I spoke thoughtlessly.”

“Say no more about it,” said Mrs. Sebastian with a laugh. “I am
naturally touchy on that subject, for I have friends who were of the
revolutionary party.”

“I see,” replied Dick, and the subject was changed as Shirley and Mabel
returned to them.

Half an hour later the _Yucatan_ dropped anchor a mile off shore and the
small boats were lowered for such passengers as desired to land.

Mrs. Sebastian, Shirley and Mabel soon found themselves in the first
boat and making shoreward at a good clip.

“We shall be back in plenty of time,” Mrs. Sebastian had called to Mr.
Willing just before they took their places in the boat.

The men nodded and waved their hands, and the occupants of the boat
returned the salute.

Now the small boat scraped the shore, and an officer sprang out and lent
a hand to the passengers. Mrs. Sebastian was the first to go ashore, and
Shirley and Mabel followed a moment later.

The little street that ran along the water front was crowded with
natives, dirty, ragged and unkempt, with here and there a gaily bedecked
Mexican. They did not present a very inviting aspect, and the two girls
shrank close to Mrs. Sebastian.

The latter paid no attention to the natives, but pushed her way through
the crowd with never a glance to right or left. She continued along the
street until they came upon a long line of dilapidated cabs.

She signalled to one of the drivers, who opened the door. Mrs. Sebastian
motioned the girls to climb in, spoke a few quick words in Spanish to
the driver and entered the cab. A moment later they were being driven
through the dirty streets as fast as the old horse could go.

“I thought my friend might be at the landing to meet me,” the woman
explained, “but as I didn’t see anything of her, I thought best to drive
right to her home.”

Shirley and Mabel nodded their understanding of this, and turned to view
the passing sights.

After an hour’s drive the cab pulled up before a house somewhat larger
than the rest, and the cabman dismounted and threw open the door.

“Here we are at last,” said Mrs. Sebastian as she alighted and motioned
the girls to follow. Then she gave the cabman a single piece of silver
and turned to the heavy door.

This she opened without the formality of a knock, and led the way across
a small patio—a courtyard—in the center of what appeared to be the
house itself. Here they brought up against another door, and Mrs.
Sebastian knocked sharply three times.

There was a moment’s delay, then the door swung open and a man’s face
appeared.

At sight of Mrs. Sebastian the man stepped back with a bow, and Mrs.
Sebastian, followed by the two girls, swept by him.

The door slammed behind them.

Mrs. Sebastian led the way into a small but luxuriously furnished room
off the main hall, where she turned to the man who had followed them,
and spoke a few words in Spanish. The man bowed and departed.

“I told him to announce our arrival,” explained Mrs. Sebastian.

The girls surveyed the interior of the handsome apartment curiously.

“I had no idea they lived so well in Mexico,” said Shirley.

“Nor I,” declared Mabel.

“The upper classes live as well in Mexico as elsewhere,” replied Mrs.
Sebastian. “It is only the poorer—or peon—class that you have heard
about, apparently.”

Footsteps sounded without and a moment later a handsomely attired woman
entered the room, followed a moment later by a fancifully garbed man.
The woman rushed up to Mrs. Sebastian and they greeted each other
affectionately. The man also appeared glad to see the visitor.

Mrs. Sebastian then presented the girls, and it developed that both Don
Miguel and his wife—for so they were introduced—spoke English. They
made the girls welcome, and told them to make themselves at home.

“I have promised them a real Mexican dinner,” explained Mrs. Sebastian
with a little laugh.

“They shall have it,” replied Don Miguel, throwing wide his arms.

“And now,” said Mrs. Sebastian, “where can we have a talk?”

“In the next room,” was the reply.

“Good! I am sure my young friends will excuse me for half an hour.”

She looked inquiringly at the two girls. The latter nodded, and the Don
and two women made their way from the room.

The moment they were gone, Shirley and Mabel began an inspection of the
room. There were two windows, both of which looked on the street and
both of which were barred.

Shirley uttered an exclamation.

“Barred!” she said.

“That’s nothing,” laughed Mabel. “Surely you remember all windows are
barred in Mexico.”

“That’s so,” agreed Shirley.

After some further inspection of the room, Mabel crossed to the door
through which they had come, and turned the knob. Then her face paled
and she stepped back with an exclamation of alarm.

“What’s the matter, Mabel?” asked Shirley.

For a moment Mabel did not reply. Again she turned the knob and then she
stepped back and looked at Shirley.

“It’s locked!” she declared.

CHAPTER XXII.—CAPTAIN VON BLUSEN BOBS UP AGAIN.

“Are you sure?” asked Shirley, her face also turning a shade whiter.

“Try it yourself,” replied Mabel.

Shirley advanced and laid hold of the knob, but the door would not open.

The girls looked at each other in alarm.

“I never heard that they always locked the doors in Mexico,” said Mabel.

“Nor I,” agreed Shirley. “Do you suppose it was an accident?”

“I don’t know what to think,” replied Mabel.

There was no denying the fact that both girls were badly frightened.
They darted hither and thither about the room, seeking a means of
egress; but there was none and they finally sat down.

“It must have been an accident,” said Shirley at last. “Surely Mrs.
Sebastian would have no reason for wishing to keep us prisoners.”

“That’s what I think,” Mabel agreed. “The door must have locked itself.”

“Well, all we can do is wait for some one to return,” said Shirley.

And so they waited.

As the minutes passed, each seemingly more slowly than the one that had
gone before, the fright of the girls increased.

An hour passed and still Mrs. Sebastian had not returned.

Shirley was about to speak, when they heard the sounds of footsteps
outside and the doorknob turned. The door opened and Mrs. Sebastian
stepped in smiling.

“I had no idea I had been gone so long,” she exclaimed. “Why didn’t you
call me? You have been as quiet as mice.”

Shirley and Mabel each drew a breath of great relief.

“Then you didn’t lock us in purposely?” asked Mabel.

“Lock you in? What do you mean?”

“The door was locked and we couldn’t get out. That’s why we were so
quiet,” replied Shirley, laughing. “We thought you had locked us in.”

“The idea!” exclaimed Mrs. Sebastian. “The door locked?” She approached
and examined it. Then she looked up with a smile. “Why, the catch is
on,” she exclaimed, smiling. “And were you frightened?”

“No, not much,” replied Mabel slowly. “We knew it must have been locked
accidentally.”

“Of course,” replied the woman. “Now would you care to wash up a bit?
Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes.”

The girls nodded and the woman led the way. Fifteen minutes later all
were seated in the cozy dining room, where Shirley and Mabel had their
first introduction to Mexican cooking.

Each girl sampled everything that was placed before her, and in spite of
their efforts to try and enjoy the meal, disappointment was written
large on their features. Mrs. Sebastian noticed this and laughed, while
the donna and her husband smiled slightly.

“So you don’t like the Mexican dishes,” said Mrs. Sebastian.

“Well, they are a little too hot for me,” said Shirley, somewhat
ruefully.

“Try some of these tortillas,” said the man, “perhaps you will find them
to your liking, though they are warm.”

The girls tried some, but with no better result. They finally gave up in
despair.

The meal over, Mrs. Sebastian led the way back to the other room, which
apparently was the parlor. Here all sat down to talk and the girls spent
a very pleasant afternoon.

Finally Shirley looked at her watch. “What time did Captain Anderson say
we would leave?” she asked of Mrs. Sebastian.

“Soon after five o’clock,” was the reply. “Why?”

“It’s almost four now,” replied Shirley. “Hadn’t we better be going?”

“Oh, no, we have plenty of time,” was the answer. “It will not take us
so long to get back.”

Shirley subsided, and the others continued the conversation.

At half past four Shirley again mentioned the time. Mrs. Sebastian
arose, spoke a few words to the others in Spanish, and then came over to
Shirley.

“I have decided,” she said, laying a hand on the girl’s shoulder, “to
remain here over night and go on by train to-morrow. Will not you and
Mabel stay with me?”

“I am sorry, but we can’t do that,” replied Shirley. “If you will call a
cab for us and direct the driver, we shall not trouble you to take us
back to the boat.”

“But we should like to have you stay,” said the donna.

“We would indeed be glad to do so, but father would worry,” said Mabel.

The Don also added his voice, but the girls turned a deaf ear. Both
arose and put on their hats. Then they approached to tell their hosts
good-bye.

Mrs. Sebastian spoke quickly to the Don and his wife in Spanish. Then
she turned to the girls.

“Come,” she said, “remove your hats and stay.”

“It is impossible,” replied Mabel.

“We would be glad to if we could,” said Shirley, “but we must hurry now,
or we shall be too late, and the ship will go without us.”

The girls turned toward the door.

“One moment,” said Mrs. Sebastian, raising a hand.

The girls halted in their tracks.

“We must insist upon your staying over with us,” said the woman quietly.

“But—” began Shirley.

“I said we must insist,” repeated Mrs. Sebastian. “You may as well
remove your hats.”

Both girls stared at her in utter astonishment. Shirley was the first to
grasp the significance of the situation.

“Then it is true!” she exclaimed; “the door was locked! We are
prisoners!”

The man of the house bowed low.

“Prisoners, or guests,” he said. “It shall be as you prefer.”

Shirley did not reply, but leaped quickly toward the door. The others
were across the room and could not interfere. The door swung open, and
Shirley called out:

“Quick, Mabel! Run!”

Mabel sprang after her friend.

But the time taken to open the door proved costly. Before Shirley could
dart through it, Mrs. Sebastian had her by both shoulders, while the
other woman held Mabel powerless.

Then they led the girls back into the room and bade them sit down.
Perceiving the uselessness of resistance, the girls obeyed.

Mabel immediately broke into tears, and Shirley threw her arms about
her.

“Don’t cry, dearie,” she exclaimed. “We are in no danger. They will not
dare to harm us.”

She gazed at their three captors angrily.

“What do you want with us?” she demanded.

“You shall know in good time,” replied Mrs. Sebastian gruffly.

Her manner had undergone a sudden change. She was no longer the
good-natured, smiling companion of the steamer. Her face was hard, and
she seemed to have aged ten years.

She turned to the other woman.

“Bring paper, pen and ink,” she commanded.

The latter hurried away to obey this order, and returned a few moments
later, bearing the required articles, which she placed on a table.

Mrs. Sebastian drew up several chairs and motioned the two girls, who
had been staring at them curiously, to take the seats.

Both realized it would be useless to refuse and did as commanded. Mrs.
Sebastian passed the paper, pen and ink to Shirley.

“Write as I dictate,” she ordered.

Here Shirley protested.

“What is it you wish me to write?” she asked.

“You’ll hear quick enough,” was the reply. “Write.”

Shirley replaced the pen gently on the table.

“Not until you tell me what you want me to write, and to whom,” she
replied quietly.

The others looked at her in surprise, then conversed a few moments in
Spanish. At last Mrs. Sebastian said:

“The letter is to your father and to Colonel Ashton. It will contain a
demand for $20,000—$10,000 apiece—for your return.”

Shirley rose suddenly to her feet and gave a cry of amazement.

“You mean that we are to be held for ransom?” she exclaimed in unbelief.

“Exactly,” replied the man.

“And so you are robbers,” exclaimed Shirley scornfully.

Mrs. Sebastian’s face flushed.

“No,” she replied quietly. “But the patriotic forces in Mexico are in
need of money. We have taken this means of getting it for them. Your
fathers are rich. They will not miss the money, and it will mean so much
to us.”

“And if we refuse to write?” asked Shirley.

“You probably will spend the remainder of your days in Mexico. But you
won’t refuse. Come now, write as I dictate.”

“May I speak to my friend in private first?” asked Shirley.

Mrs. Sebastian hesitated. Then:

“Yes, but be quick.”

Shirley and Mabel put their heads close together.

“Shall I write the letter, Mabel?” asked Shirley.

“Yes,” was the instant reply. “Then Dad will know we are in danger and
just what sort of danger. It is the only way we can get word to the
others. I know they will find us.”

“I guess you’re right,” agreed Shirley.

She returned to her place at the table, and picked up the pen.

“Dictate and I shall write,” she said.

“I am glad to see you are so sensible,” smiled Mrs. Sebastian.

She dictated and Shirley wrote. When she had finished she had both girls
affix their signatures, and then address an envelope.

She clapped her hands and a young native boy entered the room. To him
Mrs. Sebastian gave the letter and spoke in Spanish, whereupon the boy
hurried away.

Hardly had he gone when there came three sharp knocks at the door
without. The conspirators looked at each other in alarm, and the hopes
of Shirley and Mabel rose suddenly.

But the latter were doomed to disappointment. Mrs. Sebastian left the
room, only to return a few moments later followed by the figure of a
man.

Shirley took one look at him, and gave a cry of surprise.

The newcomer was Captain Von Blusen!

CHAPTER XXIII.—THE SEARCHING PARTY.

A long blast from the whistle of the _Yucatan_ broke the stillness of
late afternoon.

Mr. Willing, Colonel Ashton and Dick, who were peering shoreward from
the deck of the steamer with straining eyes, looked anxiously at each
other.

“What can be detaining them?” exclaimed the former.

“I am sure I don’t know,” returned Colonel Ashton. “They probably will
be here in a few minutes.”

A boat put off from shore; it was the last of the _Yucatan’s_ small
craft, which had been awaiting the return of late passengers. It was too
far away for the watchers to identify those aboard it.

Mr. Willing breathed a sigh of relief.

“I guess they are coming at last,” he said.

The three watched the approach of the boat eagerly. At last it came
close enough to make out the occupants. There was not a woman aboard.

Cries of alarm issued from the lips of the three watchers. At the same
moment there came another blast from the steamer’s siren.

“They are not in the boat!” exclaimed Dick. “What shall we do?”

Mr. Willing did not stop to reply. He hurried toward the bridge where
Captain Anderson stood, ready to give the signal to up-anchor
immediately the small boat was hoisted aboard.

Mr. Willing, closely followed by Colonel Ashton and Dick, rushed up to
him.

“Captain!” exclaimed Mr. Willing. “My daughter and the colonel’s
daughter and Mrs. Sebastian are still ashore. They are not in the last
boat. What is to be done?”

The captain turned the matter over in his mind.

“We should be on our way now,” he replied at last. “I am afraid we shall
have to go without them.”

Mr. Willing let out a roar of protest.

“No you don’t!” he cried. “You can’t go and leave my daughter behind
like that.”

“Well, what would you have me do?” asked the captain.

“Wait!” was the reply. “Wait for them!”

The captain looked at his watch.

“It’s five thirty now,” he said. “I shall wait until six thirty.”

With this the others were forced to be content.

“If they haven’t come then, we’ll have the captain set us ashore,” said
the colonel.

The passengers from the last boat came over the side, and Mr. Willing
questioned them eagerly. None had seen any sign of the missing ones.

Dick, gazing over the rail, uttered a cry and pointed across the water.

A boat was putting off from shore and coming toward the steamer.

“I guess they are coming at last,” said Colonel Ashton. “I’ll read Mabel
a lecture when she gets here.”

As the boat approached closer it became evident that it had but a single
occupant; and as it drew still nearer, that the occupant was a young
native.

Captain Anderson hailed him through his megaphone.

“What do you want?” he shouted in Spanish.

“Message for Señor Willing!” came the reply.

Five minutes later, bowing and scraping, the boy put a message into Mr.
Willing’s hands.

The latter tore it open quickly and his eyes devoured the words in a
moment. Then he gave a cry of rage.

“What’s the matter?” asked Colonel Ashton and Dick in a single voice.

For reply, Mr. Willing read them the contents of the letter—a demand
for $20,000 if the girls were ever to be seen again.

Mr. Willing and the others rushed again toward the captain on the
bridge. The captain read the letter gravely.

“I wish I could help you, sir,” he said at last. “But it is impossible.
I must get under way within half an hour.

“Hey! Where you going?” This last to the native boy who had suddenly
leaped into the water, climbed into his boat and was making off toward
the shore.

“Get him!” cried the captain to his first officer.

One of the _Yucatan’s_ boats put off and gave chase.

But the distance was too great to overtake the fugitive, and it was soon
apparent that he would make his escape.

“If we had laid hold of him we might have learned something,” said
Captain Anderson. “He knows where the girls are. But it’s too late now.”

“What can we do?” demanded Mr. Willing anxiously.

“My advice,” said the captain, “is that you stay behind and put the
matter in the hands of the American consul. He can tell you better what
to do than I can.”

“Where did the message say to leave the money, Willing?” asked Colonel
Ashton.

Mr. Willing passed him the letter.

“Nine o’clock, southeast corner San Francisco street, Tuesday. Check
payable to Miguel Martinez will do. Come alone,” read the colonel.

“H-m-m, must have lots of confidence in themselves if they can use a
check.”

“Now gentlemen,” said Captain Anderson, “the best I can do is to set you
ashore. I must get under way immediately. I’m sorry, but I have my other
passengers to think of.”

Mr. Willing acknowledged the justice of this.

“Give us ten minutes to get some things together and a boat to set us
ashore then,” he said.

The captain consented, and Dick and the two men hastened to their
cabins, where they gathered what few belongings they could.

“We’ll have the captain dispose of the rest in Frisco,” said the
colonel. “We’ll get them when we get there.”

This the captain agreed to do, and ten minutes later the three were
rushing shoreward in the steamer’s powerful gasoline launch. Immediately
they clambered out, the launch put back to the ship.

“Reckon we had better go straight to the consulate, colonel,” said Mr.
Willing.

“Right. But how are we going to find it?”

“I’ll try some of these natives. Some of ’em must speak English.”

After two unsuccessful attempts, Mr. Willing was successful in his
quest.

Half an hour later they were in the presence of the American Consul, Mr.
Edwards, to whom they explained the matter.

“What are they, a band of robbers?” asked Dick.

“I should say they are probably revolutionists,” replied the consul.
“The situation here is peculiar. All factions are at war with each
other. The latest so-called patriots are followers of Carranza, and I
happen to know are without funds. If they can’t pay their men they will
lose them. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were the ones who had
captured your daughters.”

“Well, what are we going to do about it?” demanded Mr. Willing.

“To tell the truth, there isn’t much we can do. Officially, I am
powerless. The United States hasn’t recognized the Carranza faction, and
for that reason I cannot call on its agents officially. However, I can
pay a personal call upon Señor Jorge Hernandez. He may know something.”

“Then let’s get busy at once,” cried Dick.

“I don’t suppose you care to pay this ransom, Mr. Willing?” asked the
consul.

“I’ll pay it if I can’t get my daughter back any other way. If she is in
danger I shall pay it anyhow.”

“I am sure that she is in no danger of violence,” returned the consul.
“They would not harm an American at this crisis. All they will do is to
hold her in the hope that eventually you will pay. I would advise
against paying the ransom at once.”

“I shall follow your advice, sir,” said Mr. Willing. “You know more
about these brutes than I do.”

“Then we shall call on Hernandez,” said the consul. “Come.”

He called a cab, and all were soon at the home of Señor Hernandez, who
Consul Edwards explained, was one of the foremost of the revolutionists
in western Mexico.

Señor Hernandez received them cordially, and expressed surprise at the
story Mr. Willing related. He even called his wife into consultation.

“If our party is concerned in this matter I am not aware of it,” he told
them. “I shall make inquiries, and if I find it is true, someone shall
pay dearly.”

“Oh, some of your fellows have captured them all right,” declared Dick
angrily. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you know all about it.”

“Sir!” exclaimed the Mexican, drawing himself up.

“Mr. Stanley!” exclaimed the consul. “You forget yourself!”

Even Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton apologized to the Mexican for Dick’s
outburst.

“Say no more about it, señors,” was the suave reply. “Youth is always
hot-headed, you know.”

“I didn’t say it because I am hot-headed,” declared Dick. “I said it
because I mean it.”

Hernandez gazed at the others with an air of wounded dignity.

“If I am to be insulted, I shall not continue the interview longer,” he
said.

“The boy meant no harm, señor,” said the consul. “He is just angry,
that’s all.”

“Then, I shall speak more with you if he is excused,” was the reply.

The consul looked at Dick.

“You had better go outside,” he said. “You have already made trouble
enough.”

Dick was on the point of making an angry retort, but checked himself.

“Very well,” he said. “I shall wait for you without.”

He left the room, and went out on to the street, where he stood gazing
first this way and then that while he waited for the appearance of the
others.

A man swung sharply past him in the darkness. Dick was caught by the
other’s erect carriage, plainly that of a military man.

“Too tall for a Mexican,” muttered Dick. “I’ll have a look at him.”

He followed. Under a dim street light half a block away the man paused
to light a cigar. The flare of the match lighted up his features.

“Von Blusen!” exclaimed Dick. “I’ll bet he is mixed up in this in some
way. I’ll follow him.”

Taking pains to avoid being discovered, he set out on Von Blusen’s
trail.

CHAPTER XXIV.—FLIGHT.

When Mrs. Sebastian entered the room where Shirley and Mabel were held
prisoners, followed by Captain Von Blusen, she immediately addressed her
fellow conspirators.

“This,” she said, indicating the German officer, “is Captain Von Blusen,
a German naval officer. He informs me that he is seeking, for his
government, a naval base on the Pacific. In return for this the German
government will pay handsomely.”

“In that event,” replied the Mexican, who it now developed was none
other than Miguel Martinez, “we may do business. Take a seat, señor.”

Von Blusen did so, and for the first time his eyes fell upon the two
girls.

“Miss Ashton! Miss Willing!” he exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

“We are prisoners,” replied Shirley bitterly.

“Why?” demanded the captain.

“Held for ransom,” replied Shirley.

The captain smiled.

“A good idea,” he said turning to the others. “An excellent manner in
which to raise money, providing you are not caught.”

“I was not aware that you were acquainted with these young ladies,” said
Mrs. Sebastian.

“Oh, yes indeed! I know them well,” was the reply. “In fact I have a
little score to settle with them myself. One of our best laid plans was
foiled because of them.”

“So?” queried Martinez. “Will you explain, captain?”

“With pleasure.”

The captain did so, and the others listened with amazement to the story
of the plot to capture the _Yucatan_, and its ultimate outcome.

“They are smart girls,” declared Mrs. Sebastian, “but this time I
believe we have them safe.”

“I sincerely hope so,” was the reply.

An hour later the girls were left alone.

“What on earth shall we do?” exclaimed Mabel.

“There is nothing we can do,” replied Shirley. “We must wait for some
one to rescue us.”

“Do you suppose there is anything in what Captain Von Blusen gave as his
reason for being here?”

“Of course; but the thing that puzzles me is how he got here so soon.
You remember how we left him?”

“Yes. But he’s a very resourceful man. I wish he were on our side.”

“So do I. If he were, we might get away.”

It was after seven o’clock when Mrs. Sebastian, Martinez and his wife
reentered the room.

“We have had no reply from your fathers as yet,” said the former.
“However, we did not really expect one. It is to be hoped for your sakes
that they leave the money to-night.”

“I don’t believe they will,” replied Shirley quietly.

“So much the worse for you then.”

At this moment a native boy came in and announced that the American
consul was without, accompanied by two strangers, and that he desired
immediate communication with Señor Hernandez.

“Well, they are on the trail,” said Martinez, with a laugh. “I wonder
what the consul would think if he knew that Hernandez and Martinez were
one and the same person. Well, I shall see the consul. You be very quiet
in here, for you know how sounds carry in this house.”

Mrs. Sebastian nodded, and Martinez, alias Hernandez, made his way from
the room.

He returned an hour later with a smile on his face.

“I’ve thrown them off the track, all right,” he said gleefully. “I was
startled for a moment, though. There was a little whipper-snapper with
the two Americanos—Señor Stanley is his name—and he accused me of
knowing the whereabouts of the prisoners. I denied it, and Consul
Edwards rebuked him and sent him from the room.”

At this moment there came footsteps running rapidly down the hall, and a
moment later Captain Von Blusen burst in excitedly.

“Quick!” he cried. “We must get away from here.”

“Here! here!” said Hernandez calmly. “What is the matter? Give an
account of yourself.”

“I was walking along the street,” said Von Blusen, “when I came across
one of the Americans from aboard the _Yucatan_.”

“Who?” demanded Mrs. Sebastian anxiously.

“Young Stanley,” cried the captain.

“Stanley?” repeated the others.

“Yes. I heard someone following me, and I waited for him to come up.
When I saw who it was I hit him with my fist and knocked him down. He
was up in a moment, though, and pitched into me. We had quite a tussle,
but I finally managed to get away and come here to warn you.”

“And were you followed?”

“I don’t know.”

“The Kaiser must be proud of you,” sneered Hernandez. “If you have
botched his plans as you have ours, he would have you shot. Come,” he
turned to the two women, “the game is up. We shall have to fly. If the
Americano has followed this man here, my connection must soon be
discovered. Consul Edwards will suspect. We must fly!”

“Where?” exclaimed Mrs. Sebastian.

“Mazatlan. We have just time to catch the night train. Hurry!”

The two women turned and dashed from the room and Hernandez turned to
the girls.

“Put on your hats,” he said gruffly.

The girls obeyed without a word, for they could see the man was very
angry.

Then he turned to Captain Von Blusen.

“As for you,” he said, “you keep out of my sight in the future. Approach
me again and I will have you shot.”

“But—” began the captain.

Hernandez produced a revolver which he levelled at the German.

“I guess I had better do it now,” he declared. “It will save trouble.”

His finger tightened on the trigger.

But before he could fire, Shirley sprang forward with a cry and seized
the arm that held the revolver.

Hernandez whirled on her angrily, but as he did so, Captain Von Blusen
sprang forward and struck the man a heavy blow on the head with his
fist. Hernandez toppled over.

Captain Von Blusen turned to the girls.

“I can do you no good here,” he said hurriedly. “I’ll tell your friends
where you are being taken and we shall save you.”

He darted from the room and disappeared.

Shirley and Mabel made as though to follow him, but before they reached
the door, the two women reappeared. Mrs. Sebastian took in the situation
with a quick glance and bent over Hernandez, who was now stirring
feebly. Directly he sat up and his gaze roved about the room.

“Where did he go?” he cried.

“Who?” asked his wife.

“The German! The man who knocked me down.”

“He’s gone,” said Mrs. Sebastian. “Come, Hernandez, we have no time to
lose.”

Hernandez staggered to his feet, and his gaze rested on Shirley. He took
a threatening step forward.

“You—” he began.

Mrs. Sebastian threw herself between them.

“There will be no harm done these girls while I am here,” she said
quietly. “Please remember that.”

As Hernandez still seemed on the point of trying to get at Shirley, the
woman suddenly produced a revolver, which she levelled directly at him.

“Stand back!” she cried. “Haven’t you any sense? Don’t you know what
would happen should harm befall either of these girls?”

“She is right,” said the man’s wife. “Come, let us go.”

Hernandez muttered to himself, but he turned away.

In response to his call the native boy again appeared and announced that
a closed cab was at the door.

Hernandez led the way, and Mrs. Sebastian motioned for the girls to
follow him. The two women brought up the rear.

Outside all climbed into the cab and were soon being driven away.

Neither girl uttered a word as the cab bumped along the uneven street,
but each was badly frightened. For half an hour the cab continued its
way and then it came to a stop.

“Not a word!” ordered Hernandez of the two girls, as he prepared to
alight.

The girls had sense enough to obey this injunction and went into the
little station, dimly lighted, and boarded the waiting train without so
much as speaking to each other.

As Shirley glanced back over her shoulder while climbing up the steps,
she caught sight of a familiar figure lurking in the shadows. She could
not be certain, but she felt positive that the man was Captain Von
Blusen.

Captors and captives took seats at the rear end of the last car, where
they sat in silence until the train began to move. Then, for the first
time, did Hernandez breath in relief.

“Safe enough now,” he declared.

“But they may telegraph ahead and have us detained,” said his wife.

“No one knows we have come this way save Captain Von Blusen,” was the
reply, “and it will not be to his interests to interfere with us.”

Shirley and Mabel now found themselves able to converse without being
overheard by the others.

“I saw Captain Von Blusen in the station as we climbed aboard,” said
Shirley.

“Do you think he will help us?” asked Mabel.

“I don’t know, but some way I feel that he will. He seemed sincere
enough when he spoke just before he left.”

“My goodness gracious! I hope something turns up soon!” exclaimed Mabel.
“Our Dads must be worried to death.”

“Well, if Dick is on the trail, I am sure we shall be rescued,” declared
Shirley.

“You have lots of confidence in Dick, haven’t you?” asked Mabel.

“Of course. Why shouldn’t I have?”

“Well, I hope we are rescued soon.”

“Some way, I believe we shall be,” declared Shirley.

The train sped on through the darkness.

CHAPTER XXV.—ON THE TRAIL.

It will now be necessary to go back a little ways.

When Colonel Ashton, Mr. Willing, and U. S. Consul Edwards left the home
of Hernandez, alias Martinez, following their brief interview, they
looked about for Dick who had said he would wait for them on the
outside; but having set forth on the trail of Captain Blusen, Dick, of
course, was not in sight.

“Guess the young man has gone back to the consulate in a huff,” said the
consul with a slight smile.

“He shouldn’t have spoken as he did,” declared Mr. Willing.

“Is there any chance that he was right in his conjectures?” asked
Colonel Ashton slowly.

“Hardly,” replied the consul dryly. “Hernandez is a queer man, but he
would hardly do a thing like that.”

“Well, I don’t know,” replied the colonel. “I have found that you never
go far wrong when you listen to what a newspaper reporter says. They
seem to smell out these things.”

“He’s on the wrong scent now,” declared Edwards.

At the consulate they could find no trace of Dick.

“What can have happened?” demanded Mr. Willing anxiously.

“Oh, he’ll turn up,” declared the consul. “We’ll wait.”

They sat down to await the return of Dick, meanwhile talking over what
was best to be done.

Meantime, Dick, on the trail of Captain Von Blusen, was having troubles
of his own. He had approached too close behind the German, and the
latter had realized he was being followed.

Rounding a corner, the German officer stopped abruptly. As Dick swung
around the corner he recognized him instantly and struck out with his
fist. The blow caught Dick on the side of the head and he went down.

He was up in a moment, however, and grappled with his opponent. In this
sort of fighting the German was no match for Dick, but he finally
succeeded in breaking the latter’s hold, and took to his heels.

Dick ran after him.

Unconsciously the German took the direction from which he had just come,
and not stopping to think that he might be followed, had thus betrayed
the rendezvous. He ran straight to Hernandez’ home, as we already know,
and Dick recognized it.

Captain Von Blusen entered by the back door, and there Dick stopped. He
had seen enough to tell him just how the situation stood, and realizing
that he could accomplish little himself and that haste therefore was
essential, he hurried back to the consulate.

“Where have you been?” cried Mr. Willing jumping to his feet as Dick
burst into the room.

“I’ve been trailing Von Blusen, sir.”

“Von Blusen!”

“Yes, sir, and I have learned enough to warrant my belief that Hernandez
is concerned in the disappearance of Shirley and Mabel.”

In a few words he related what had occurred.

Consul Edwards drummed upon the table with his fingers for several
minutes. Then he rose to his feet.

“You must be right,” he said, “although it seems impossible. Are you
armed?”

The others shook their heads. The consul left the room and returned a
moment later with a revolver for each.

“We may not need them, but it’s best to be prepared,” he said grimly.

“What are you going to do?” asked Colonel Ashton.

“We shall go back and call on Hernandez. In my official capacity, of
course, I could not do this, but I’m willing to take a chance. We’ll
search the house from top to bottom.”

They did not enter the home of Hernandez by the manner in which they had
gone before. Dick led the way to the place he had seen Captain Von
Blusen enter, and tried the door.

To his surprise it opened easily, and Dick, with weapon ready, led the
way in. From first one room to the other they went, Consul Edwards
lighting the way with a pocket searchlight.

Suddenly Dick stooped and picked up something. The consul turned the
light on it. It was a small handkerchief. Dick looked it over for a mark
of identification. In the corner he saw two initials, “S. W.”

He passed it to Mr. Willing.

“Shirley’s!” exclaimed the latter, after a glance at it.

“We are on the right track,” declared the consul.

They continued the search of the house, but not a soul could they find.
From top to bottom and back again they went, but the result, of course,
was the same.

At last they were forced to give it up.

“I have it!” exclaimed Dick suddenly. “Von Blusen warned them and they
have taken the girls some place else.”

“That’s it, of course,” said the consul. “Well there is nothing more we
can do to-night, but I’ll promise to have the town raked with a
fine-tooth comb the first thing in the morning. If they are here, we
shall find them before noon.”

“But where can they be to-night?” demanded Mr. Willing anxiously.

The consul shrugged his shoulders.

“_Quien sabe?_ as the natives say,” he replied. “However, you may make
sure they are in no danger.”

With this the others were forced to be content, and Edwards led the way
back to the consulate. Here he suggested cigars before all should turn
in for the night, and they sat down to talk over the situation.

“I’ll have every house in town searched from top to bottom in the
morning,” said the consul. “They must be here, so we shall of course
find them.”

“I wish there was something we could do to-night,” declared Dick. “This
inaction makes me restless.”

“It makes me that way too, young man,” declared Mr. Willing, “but the
consul undoubtedly knows best. We shall leave it to him.”

Consul Edwards looked at Dick inquisitively.

“What I would like to have you tell me,” he said, “is why you suspected
Hernandez in the first place?”

“I don’t know exactly,” replied Dick slowly. “But he is a shifty-eyed
old villain, and can’t look at you. I have learned that a man like that
is not to be trusted. I was morally certain he was lying. I don’t know
why, but I just seemed to feel it.”

“Well, you figured it out and no mistake. I wouldn’t be surprised now to
learn that Hernandez and Martinez are one and the same person.”

“They are!” came a voice from one of the open windows.

The four within the room started suddenly to their feet, and the consul
advanced.

“Who and what are you?” he called, with his hand resting on his
revolver. “Come out and show yourself.”

There was a sound of someone climbing in the window, and a moment later
a man stood before them. Colonel Ashton, Mr. Willing and Dick leaped to
their feet with cries of amazement.

The newcomer was Captain Von Blusen.

Dick took a quick stride forward, and his hand grasped the young German
by the collar of his coat.

“I’ll guarantee you won’t get away this time,” he said grimly.

“Who are you and what do you want here?” demanded the consul, who had
never seen the officer before.

“This,” said Dick to the consul, “is the man who gave the warning in
time to allow the girls to be taken to some other hiding place.”

“Is that true, sir?” demanded the consul, taking a step forward.

Von Blusen nodded.

“It is,” he replied briefly.

“Then you shall answer to me for your part in this outrage,” declared
Mr. Willing, advancing with great anger.

“And to me,” declared Colonel Ashton, also advancing.

Captain Von Blusen raised a hand.

“One moment, gentlemen,” he said calmly.

“Give the man a chance to speak,” said the consul. “He shall not get
away, and I’ll give you my word he’ll do no further mischief. What have
you to say for yourself?”

“Well, I can tell you where the two young ladies have been taken.”

“You can?” exclaimed the colonel eagerly. “Where?”

“Mazatlan!”

“Mazatlan? Where is Mazatlan?” demanded the consul.

“As to that I cannot say. They left on the train not half an hour ago.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. I followed to make certain, that I might tell you.”

“And why are you so interested in telling us?” asked Dick skeptically.

“For one reason, because Miss Willing saved my life no longer than an
hour ago,” was the calm reply.

“It is true,” he continued, seeing that the others eyed him in
amazement.

He then went into details of the scene that had occurred following his
return to Hernandez after his fight with Dick in the street.

“But how are we going to find them in Mazatlan?” exclaimed Colonel
Ashton.

“You might wire ahead and have them taken from the train,” suggested
Dick.

“No, I have a better plan than that,” declared the consul.

“What is it?” asked the others eagerly.

“We’ll kill two birds with one stone. I’ll wire the American consular
agent there to have them shadowed when they leave the train. Then we’ll
not only be able to rescue the young ladies, but the Mexican authorities
will nab the plotters.”

“An excellent plan,” declared Colonel Ashton. “Now how shall we get
there?”

“There is not another train till morning,” said the consul, “but,” and a
twinkle came into his eyes, “if you have the price, I can guarantee to
have a special engine and one car ready to go within the hour, and I can
promise a clear track ahead.”

“Let’s have it no matter what the cost!” roared Mr. Willing. “I want my
girl back as soon as I can get her!”

“And so do I,” shouted Colonel Ashton.

CHAPTER XXVI.—IN MAZATLAN.

It was a long tedious journey to Mazatlan, and it was after noon of the
following day when Shirley and Mabel followed their captors from the
train upon which they had spent the night and morning.

“I’m glad to get off that train, I don’t care what happens,” said Mabel
as the five made their way through the dingy-looking station.

“I should say so,” agreed Shirley. “I’m so sleepy I could fall right
over here.”

“I managed to get a few winks during the night,” returned Mabel. “I
curled up in the seat.”

“I couldn’t sleep that way. I tried, but it was no use.”

They had now reached the street side of the station, and here Hernandez
signalled a passing cab. Into this the girls were thrust and then the
two women and the man climbed in. Hernandez gave an address to the
driver, and the cab whirled away.

None of the occupants saw a man, who had been loitering about the
station when the train pulled in, hail a second cab and come after them.
This was the man who had been delegated to shadow them upon the request,
by wire, of Consul Edwards at Acapulco.

To Shirley and Mabel it seemed that they rode through the streets of the
city for hours before the cab stopped its bumping and drew up before a
typical Mexican native house in the outskirts of the town. Hernandez and
the two women climbed out, and the girls followed them into the house.

The man in the pursuing cab ordered his driver to halt while still some
distance away. Then he dismissed the driver and approached the house
afoot. He saw the five figures enter the dwelling and approached no
nearer, but took a stand some distance away, where from time to time, he
looked at his watch.

An hour passed, then two, and at length the man turned and walked away.

Inside the house Shirley and Mabel had been shown to a back room, the
windows of which they saw were heavily barred. Mrs. Sebastian
accompanied them.

“Now girls,” she said, “if you are quiet and make no trouble, I am sure
that you will be freed before long.”

“You mean we won’t have to wait for ransom?” asked Shirley eagerly.

“No, I don’t mean that. But I am sure the money will be paid over within
a day or two.”

“And we shall have to stay here all that time?”

“Yes. I wish I could interest you in our cause. You could do lots for us
if you chose.”

“Thanks, but I don’t care to listen to the troubles of criminals,”
declared Shirley.

The woman’s face turned red.

“You do us an injustice,” she replied. “What I have done has been for my
country.”

“I thought you were a Spaniard,” interrupted Mabel.

“I am, on my mother’s side,” was the reply. “My father was a Mexican.”

“Well, I wouldn’t be mixed up in any such business,” declared Mabel. “I
think you should be punished for the manner in which you got us in your
power.”

“But it was for my country. Surely you can understand that?”

“No, I can’t understand it,” declared Shirley. “It’s robbery that you
are attempting.”

The woman shrugged her shoulders.

“There is no use talking to you,” she said.

She went out of the room, locking the door behind her.

“Well, here we are,” said Mabel, with a wry look at her chum. “Now, what
are we going to do?”

“I wish we could escape,” declared Shirley. “I’ll tell you what. The
next time we hear any one coming, we’ll stand behind the door, and as
soon as they come in we’ll slip out and run. If we can reach the street
some one may help us.”

“There will be no harm trying,” Mabel agreed. “They won’t hurt us, I am
sure.”

It was several hours later before they had the opportunity of putting
their plan to the test.

“Quick! Here comes some one!” whispered Shirley.

She took her stand behind the door and Mabel joined her there. A key
turned in the lock, and the door swung slowly inward. The girls were out
of sight behind the door.

Mrs. Sebastian, being unable to see them, advanced into the room with a
startled exclamation, and looked hurriedly about. Seizing a moment when
the woman was looking the other way, Shirley, closely followed by Mabel,
dashed from her place of concealment and out the door.

Mabel was just disappearing through the door when Mrs. Sebastian wheeled
suddenly about and caught sight of her. The woman sprang forward with a
cry, but Mabel, in passing, had seized the knob of the door and pulled
it to after her.

It was the work of an instant to turn the key in the lock, and Mrs.
Sebastian was safe in the girls’ recent prison.

“Now what?” said Shirley when Mabel had come up to her.

From the room they had just quitted a series of blows were rained on the
door, and Mrs. Sebastian’s voice could be heard calling for help.

“No one knows she’s in there so if the disturbance is heard they’ll
think it is us,” declared Mabel. “If we are silent and careful now, we
may be able to get out.”

Shirley advanced cautiously and peered into the next room. Then she
returned to Mabel.

“No getting out that way,” she whispered.

Mabel advanced and looked into the room beyond. In it sat Hernandez and
his wife.

Shirley nodded her head.

“No, we can’t get out there,” she agreed.

The girls looked about for some other means of escape.

They now stood in what appeared to be a long and narrow hall, and at
Shirley’s whispered suggestion they went back along it. Far to the rear
they could see a faint beam of light and Shirley’s heart beat faster
with renewed hope.

At last they came to a high window, through which the light streamed. It
was out of reach of the girls, but Shirley found a chair which she
dragged forth and mounted. Her shoulders now were on a level with the
window.

The girl uttered an exclamation of satisfaction.

“What is it, Shirley?” asked Mabel breathlessly.

“We can get out here,” was the reply, “the window is not barred.”

“Hurry then,” cried Mabel anxiously. “I’ll come right after you.”

Shirley wasted no further words. She drew herself to the sill, and
looked down. Then she shuddered slightly. It was a long drop, fully
twenty feet.

But Shirley did not hesitate, for she realized that the jump must be
taken. She lowered herself until she clung to the window with her hands,
then released her hold and dropped.

She fell in a sprawling heap, and she felt a sharp pain in her ankle. In
spite of this, she was up in an instant, however, and turned her eyes to
the window, where Mabel’s head had just appeared.

The latter drew herself to the window sill, and then glanced down at the
ground.

“I can’t do it, Shirley,” she exclaimed.

“Of course you can,” called her chum. “Lower yourself as far as you can
and then drop.”

Mabel maneuvered about the window trying to get into such a position
that she could lower herself. But her fright was such that she was
afraid to loose her hold long enough to change her position. She looked
down at Shirley helplessly.

“I tell you I can’t,” she declared.

“But you must, Mabel,” replied Shirley anxiously. “Hurry!”

Again Mabel moved about, but the result was the same.

“Mabel! Jump!” cried Shirley.

Mabel now began to cry, as she moved about a little on her perch.

“I—I—can’t, Sh-Shirley,” she said. “I am afraid!”

“My goodness!” muttered Shirley to herself. “What shall I do? I can’t
climb back up there after her.”

She considered the matter for several moments, the while Mabel sat in
the window and sobbed. Then Shirley reached a decision, and acted
immediately.

“Quick, Mabel! Here comes Hernandez!” cried Shirley.

Mabel’s hesitancy and fright vanished on the instant. Quickly she
lowered herself by her hands and dropped to the ground. She fell in a
heap, but was unhurt and was up again in a moment.

“Where is he?” she asked.

Shirley was forced to laugh.

“I just said that to get you down,” she returned. “If I hadn’t you would
have stayed up there all day.”

Mabel’s tension also relaxed, and the girls moved slowly away from the
house, Shirley finding that her ankle had stopped hurting and was not
even swollen.

“Where shall we go?” asked Mabel.

“American consulate, I reckon,” replied the girl, “if we can find it.”

“We must find it,” said Mabel firmly.

“Yes but how. Neither of us can speak Spanish.”

“Then we must find a Mexican who speaks English. We should have no
trouble doing that.”

The girls had been walking along rapidly, for they wished to put as much
space as possible between them and their recent prison; but at the same
time they did not run for they did not wish to attract attention by the
appearance of undue haste.

Suddenly there came a cry from behind. Unconsciously both girls stopped
in their tracks and looked back over their shoulders. But one look was
enough.

“Run!”

“Run!” cried Shirley in the same breath.

Dashing after them as fast as his stout body would permit, was
Hernandez.

Shirley and Mabel wasted no time in deciding what was best to be done.

Keeping as close to each other as possible, they took to their heels and
dashed madly along the street.

CHAPTER XXVII.—DICK IN PERIL.

The special train bearing Mr. Willing, Colonel Ashton, Dick and Captain
Von Blusen arrived in Mazatlan only two hours after that on which
Shirley and Mabel had reached the city. The four went at once to the
American consulate.

Consul Edwards had been unable to accompany them, but after sending the
telegram requesting that the fugitives be shadowed, he had written a
note to Consul Harrington at Mazatlan and this he had given to Mr.
Willing as a means of introduction.

Mr. Willing sent in the letter to the consul, and the latter received
them immediately.

“I have a man shadowing the fugitives,” said the consul. “I told him to
report here the minute he was sure he had run his quarry to earth.”

“Is there no danger they will elude him?” asked Dick anxiously.

“Not much,” was the smiling reply. “Fisher was formerly a newspaperman
and has had considerable experience along that line.”

And the consul was right. A short time later Fisher appeared.

“Have you found their refuge?” was Colonel Ashton’s first question after
the introductions had been made.

“I followed a man, two women and two girls to a native house in the
eastern extremity of the city,” was the reply. “I have no doubt they are
the right ones.”

“Good,” returned the consul. “Now the first thing to do is to enlist the
support of General Seauterey, the commandant of the city. Without him we
can do practically nothing. But he will be glad to capture Hernandez.”

The consul took his departure, announcing that he would return as soon
as possible.

Dick left the room announcing that he would take a little stroll
outside. Mr. Willing enjoined him to be back by the time the consul
returned.

Dick, thinking deeply, was unconscious of the passing of time and the
distance which he had walked. At last he roused himself from his reverie
and looked at his watch.

“Great Scott!” he exclaimed. “I have been gone more than an hour. I had
better hurry back.”

He gazed about him, and saw that he was in an evil-looking part of the
town. He swung about on his heel and set out in the direction from which
he had come.

As he passed a narrow street, even dirtier-looking than the rest, an arm
suddenly shot out and dealt him a blow across the head, knocking him to
the ground.

Dick was stunned by the force of the blow, but he was by no means
deprived of his coolness nor resourcefulness. He rolled over quickly
several times, seeking to put as much distance as possible between
himself and his unseen opponent, and then scrambled quickly to his feet.

Two men bore down on him. Short wiry Mexicans they were, and one held a
knife in his hand. Dick took one look at them, then turned and ran.

But the force of the blow he had just received made it impossible for
him to run far, and soon he turned, and with his back to the wall of a
house, faced his adversaries.

Just out of striking distance the latter halted, and spoke to him in
Spanish. Dick shook his hand, indicating that he did not understand.

“Speak English,” he said.

The men conversed together in low tones, then one of them spoke a single
English word to Dick:

“Money!”

“Oh, I see,” said Dick, “you want my money, eh? Well, you won’t get it.
I need it myself.”

He shook his head at the men, and they gesticulated angrily, one of them
raising his knife. Then, with a cry, they sprang forward.

Dick was in a serious predicament and he realized it. But he determined
to do his best. As the men closed on him, Dick struck out. One of the
men staggered back.

At that moment there came the sound of pattering feet down the street.
The men drew back. A second later two running figures came into sight,
and Dick cried out in amazement.

The figures were Shirley and Mabel, and even as Dick recognized them a
third form came into view, and this Dick immediately recognized as that
of Hernandez.

“Shirley! Mabel!” called Dick.

The girls half halted in their stride, and then, with glad cries, came
toward him.

The men who had attacked Dick, seeing the approach of another man,
turned and made their way to the next corner, where they stood to watch
developments.

Hernandez, perceiving that he had but one to contend with, and this a
young man, advanced confidently. Shirley and Mabel had now reached
Dick’s side, and the three faced the Mexican.

Without a word Hernandez’s hand went to his pocket, but Dick was too
quick for him.

“No you don’t,” he cried, and sprang forward.

His right fist shot out with stunning force, and the Mexican rolled on
the ground, his revolver, which he had succeeded in drawing, being
hurled from his hand.

Dick quickly took each girl by the arm and urged them along.

“Hurry!” he cried.

What he feared came to pass.

Hernandez got quickly to his feet, and perceiving the men who had so
recently attacked Dick, he beckoned them to him.

As the men came up, he waved his arm at the figures of the two girls and
the young man.

“Catch them!” he shouted. “Reward!”

The men needed no further urging, but dashed after the three. Dick urged
the girls along as swiftly as they could go, casting occasional glances
over his shoulder. He hoped against hope that assistance would come from
some quarter.

But not a sign of a native officer did he see. The few people they
passed looked at them curiously, and must have realized the aspect of
things by the noise of the pursuers, but none offered to lend a helping
hand.

Several times Dick was on the point of turning back to face the
pursuers, but he determined only to do this as a last resort to give the
girls time to get away while he held the others back.

He led the girls sharply around a corner and they ran as fast as they
could along the dirty street. But the pursuers were gaining, as Dick
perceived by a quick glance over his shoulder. Then Dick made his
decision.

As he rounded the next corner he whispered to the girls:

“Run hard!”

He released their arms and stopped, just out of sight from the pursuers.

A moment later they came into view, and Dick was upon them in an
instant, striking right and left as swiftly as he could. Just as it
seemed there was a chance of his overcoming his two foes, a third figure
joined in the fray.

This was Hernandez himself, and he turned the balance in the favor of
Dick’s enemies.

Shirley and Mabel had gone on a few feet when Dick had turned back, for
they had not known what he was about to do. They missed him in a moment,
however, and stopped to see what had become of him.

They saw the struggling knot of men, and Shirley cried:

“Oh! Dick will be hurt! What shall we do?”

“What can we do?” demanded Mabel. “Dick said to run. I guess we had
better run.”

“And leave him there like that? I should say not.”

“But what can we do?” asked Mabel, in consternation.

“I don’t know. But I am not going to run away.”

And Shirley resolutely made her way back toward the fighters. Mabel
followed.

But aid came for Dick even as it had for his first two enemies. And the
aid was from an unexpected source.

“Hello!” exclaimed a voice in English. “What’s going on here?”

“Help!” cried Dick in English.

“An American, eh,” said the voice, “and three greasers attacking him
with knives. Here goes.”

Dick felt his enemies give way before him, all but one, and this one he
sent to the ground with a hard blow to the face. Then he gazed about.
Nearby stood Shirley and Mabel, and upon the ground were the other two
Mexicans. Dick looked at the man who had come to his rescue, and gave a
cry of astonishment.

“Captain Anderson!”

The commander of the _Yucatan_ was no less surprised. He surveyed Dick
and the two girls critically.

“How in the name of all that’s wonderful did you all get together again
and how did you beat me here?” demanded the captain.

Dick explained his arrival in a few words, and then Shirley took up the
story.

“But we had no idea of the _Yucatan_ was here,” said Dick.

“I landed not fifteen minutes ago,” replied the captain. “Of course a
train runs faster than a boat, which is the reason you are here ahead of
me. Now I guess you had better return aboard with me.”

“We’ll go to the consulate first,” declared Dick. “The others are
probably still there.”

“Good idea,” replied the captain. “I was on my way there now.”

He led the way, and the others followed.

But when they reached there they learned, much to the disappointment of
both girls, that neither the consul nor any of the others were about.

“Consul Harrington and his visitors accompanied General Seauterey and a
squad of soldiers,” a clerk explained. “They left not fifteen minutes
ago.”

“Too bad,” declared Captain Anderson. He turned to the girls. “Will you
remain here or come aboard?” he asked.

“We’ll go aboard, thanks,” replied Shirley. “I want to get out of this
city and this country. We can leave word with the clerk here, and
Mabel’s father and mine will come aboard as soon as they return.”

“Right you are,” agreed Captain Anderson. He addressed the clerk. “When
Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton return with the consul,” he said, “you
tell them to come aboard the _Yucatan_ immediately. I have important
news for them.”

“Very well, sir,” said the clerk.

“Why didn’t you tell him to tell Dad we had been rescued?” asked Mabel.

“Why,” replied the captain with a smile, “I was saving that for a little
surprise.”

CHAPTER XXVIII.—ALL ABOARD AGAIN.

Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton, to go back to the time that Dick left
them after the departure of Consul Harrington, were greatly alarmed when
the boy failed to return immediately. Half an hour after his departure
Consul Harrington returned with General Seauterey and half a dozen
troopers.

The general announced that he was not only willing but eager to round up
Hernandez, who, he said, was the real head of the revolution in Western
Mexico. Mr. Willing expressed his alarm over Dick’s safety, and they
waited ten minutes.

“I’ll have my clerk tell him to wait when he comes in,” said the consul.
“There is no use delaying longer.”

To this Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton agreed.

“Dick is always turning up missing,” declared the colonel.

“But he always turns up safe again,” replied Mr. Willing.

“Oh, he’ll be back all right,” said the consul. “He can hardly have
fallen into any danger this time.”

Fisher, the man who had trailed the conspirators to their lair, now
summoned two automobiles, and the party climbed in. The trip to the
house where the girls had been confined was made in record time, and a
short distance away a halt was called.

General Seauterey and his men now took the lead, and surrounded the
house. The general himself approached the door and knocked on it loudly.
There was no response, but a second sharp knock brought a voice from
behind the door. It was a woman’s voice and it said:

“What is wanted?”

“Open the door!” demanded the general.

“Who are you?”

“General Seauterey.”

There was an exclamation of dismay from within, and the sound of
retreating footsteps. Again the general pounded on the door. There was
no response and he called to two of his men.

“Break down the door,” he instructed them.

The heavy rifle butts of the soldiers crashed against the wood,
shattering it. Several hard kicks and it was in splinters. With drawn
revolver General Seauterey led the way.

Two soldiers, Mr. Willing, Colonel Ashton and Captain Von Blusen
followed him. The others remained on guard without to prevent the escape
of the fugitives.

Through the house strode the general, throwing wide the doors of the
various rooms. And at last he brought up against another locked door.
This was burst in as had been the first, and the general advanced first.

Came a shot from the room, and the general staggered back, then moved
forward again. At the far side of the room were two figures, the general
could just make out in the darkness.

“Hands up!” he cried.

“Don’t shoot!” came in a woman’s voice. “We surrender!”

“Come forward then,” said the general.

Two women, who proved to be Mrs. Hernandez and Mrs. Sebastian, advanced
shrinking.

“Where is Hernandez?” demanded the general.

“He is not here,” was the reply. “We expect him back any moment.”

“Where is he?”

“He went after the two prisoners, who escaped.”

“Your prisoners have escaped?” demanded the general.

“Yes.”

The general turned to one of his men.

“Call the others within,” he ordered.

The other four troopers came into the house, followed by the Americans
and the German captain. Mr. Willing was the first to see Mrs. Sebastian,
and he sprang toward her.

“What have you done with my daughter, madam?” he demanded.

Mrs. Sebastian shrank back from him.

Colonel Ashton also stepped forward and angrily demanded that Mabel be
produced at once. Then Mrs. Sebastian spoke.

“They have escaped!” she declared.

Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton were skeptical. Mrs. Sebastian saw that
they did not believe her.

“It is true,” she declared. “They locked me in a room and jumped from a
window. Hernandez has gone after them.”

“We’ll wait here for Hernandez to return,” decided General Seauterey.
“We’ll get him when he comes back, and if he has the prisoners it will
save us further search.”

None doubted that this was the best plan, and so all sat down to wait,
General Seauterey meanwhile keeping watch at the door himself.

Suddenly he sprang to his feet.

“Here he comes—alone!” he cried.

He motioned his men to the door.

“He’ll run when he sees the broken door,” he said. “I’ll command him to
halt. If he doesn’t obey, fire.”

It was as the general had predicted. When Hernandez saw the broken door,
he stopped in surprise. Then he turned and would have run. General
Seauterey stepped forward and shouted:

“Halt!”

Hernandez paid no heed.

“Fire!” cried the general.

Two puffs of smoke and two sharp cracks. Hernandez fell to the ground,
but sat up in a moment and seized his left foot in his hand, at the same
time moaning with pain.

“Good work, men!” cried the general. “Go and bring him here!”

Two of the soldiers obeyed, and Hernandez was soon in the house.

“Where are the two prisoners?” demanded the general.

Hernandez looked at him and sneered.

“Find out,” he said.

“So I will,” returned the general.

He motioned to his men.

“Bind the prisoners and put them in the car outside,” he ordered.

Then he led the way from the house.

“I shall have this man questioned more fully,” he said to the consul,
“and I shall send you a message to the consulate within an hour. He will
not fail to tell what he knows of the prisoners.”

With this Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton were forced to be content,
although the anxiety of each was growing at every minute.

The Mexicans and their prisoners climbed into one of the automobiles,
and the Americans and Captain von Blusen into the other. They were
whirled back to the consulate.

The clerk addressed Mr. Willing.

“Captain Anderson, of the Steamship _Yucatan_, was here a few moments
ago, sir,” he said. “He desires your presence aboard immediately. He
says he has important news for you.”

“Regarding my daughter?” asked Mr. Willing eagerly.

“He didn’t say, sir,” replied the clerk.

“Come, Ashton,” cried Mr. Willing excitedly. “Perhaps Captain Anderson
has learned something.”

“I shall accompany you,” said Captain von Blusen.

The others offered no objection and the three hurried away together, Mr.
Willing telling Consul Harrington that they would let him know the
result of their trip.

At the water front they were fortunate enough to find an unengaged
boatman, who offered to put them aboard the _Yucatan_ for a fair price.

“Never mind the price,” said Mr. Willing. “Hurry and get us there.”

The boatman wasted no time, and soon they were heading for the big
steamship as fast as they could go.

Dusk was just falling as they went swiftly over the water, and none
could but think what a pretty spectacle the great ship made with her
thousands of electric lights shining brightly.

“And that’s the ship you attempted to get away with, Captain Von
Blusen,” said Mr. Willing.

“Yes, and would have gotten away with but for Miss Ashton,” replied the
captain. “However, I bear no ill will. It is the fortune of war.”

“And we bear you no ill will, captain,” declared Colonel Ashton. “It is
true that you have made us considerable trouble, but I appreciate your
position in the matter. I know that you were acting under orders.”

“Thank you,” replied the captain.

“I can say the same, sir,” declared Mr. Willing, “Here, at the last, you
have been of service to us, and in view of that, things that have gone
before must be overlooked.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The little boat now scraped alongside the _Yucatan_. Several moments
later the three were aboard the big steamship and rushing toward Captain
Anderson’s quarters.

Their arrival had been reported before they came aboard, and so they
found Captain Anderson alone.

“Glad to see you gentlemen again,” said the captain, shaking hands with
Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton. He looked Captain Von Blusen over
coldly. “I shall talk to you later,” he added.

Captain Von Blusen bowed.

“Oh, he is all right, captain,” said Mr. Willing. “He has been of great
aid to us in searching for our daughters.”

“So?” Captain Anderson’s stern expression relaxed a trifle. “I am glad
to hear it.”

He held out his hand, and the young German grasped it.

“You but did your duty, as you saw it, I suppose,” said Captain
Anderson.

“What is the piece of news you have for us, Captain Anderson?” asked
Colonel Willing, who had been waiting impatiently for the commander of
the _Yucatan_ to broach the subject that had called them aboard.

“Have chairs, gentlemen,” said the captain, ignoring the question.

The others sat down, the older men twisting about uneasily. At last Mr.
Willing could stand it no longer.

“Captain,” he cried, jumping to his feet, “if you have any words of our
daughters, tell us. Don’t keep us in suspense any longer.”

Captain Anderson gazed at him steadily for a few moments, then arose,
and walked to a door in his cabin.

“I have three prisoners here I would like you to see,” he said quietly.

With a sudden movement he threw wide the door, and there stepped forth
first Dick, then Shirley, then Mabel.

The two men absolutely ignored Dick, who stepped aside.

With glad cries the others rushed toward each other. Shirley found
herself clasped in her father’s arms, and Mabel and her father also
clung tight together. Then they stepped back and looked at each other.

“This is my little surprise,” said Captain Anderson with a smile.

CHAPTER XXIX.—“CAPTAIN VON BLUSEN.”

“And when we found you had escaped we didn’t know where to look for
you,” said Mr. Willing, in concluding the story of the search.

“We never doubted that we should get away in some manner,” declared
Shirley. “We were sure you would find us, but when the chance for escape
came we took advantage of it.”

“And where did you get to when you left the consulate?” demanded Colonel
Ashton of Dick.

Dick explained.

“And if Captain Anderson had not arrived so opportunely, there is no