by Roy J. Snell
CHAPTER XIX.--A GUATEMALA ADVENTURE.
"This," said Captain Anderson, waving his hand, as the steamer entered alittle harbor, "is Champerico, the only Guatemalan port at which weshall 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 beenin trouble enough. I'm going to keep you in sight." He turned to ColonelAshton. "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 myrespects 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, ColonelAshton, Dick, Shirley and Mabel.
"We'll keep out of trouble this time," commented Mr. Willing.
They accompanied Captain Anderson to the United States consulate, wherethey were introduced to the consul. An hour later they all started backtoward the boat.
As they walked down one of the dirty streets Captain Anderson espied afigure slinking along.
"Hey!" he cried. "There goes that scoundrel Von Blusen, who broke hisparole and ran away at Corinto. I'll get him!"
He darted hurriedly across the street, and laid a hand on the youngman's shoulder. The latter looked up in surprise, and then perceivingCaptain Anderson, jerked suddenly free and took to his heels, runningdirectly toward the Willing party.
"Head him off!" cried Captain Anderson, and Dick and the two men leapedto obey.
Straight at them rushed the young German officer, and a few feet awayhurled himself forward with a powerful spring. He struck the threesquarely, and all went to the ground in a tangled heap.
Von Blusen was the first to regain his feet. He raised a hand as thoughto strike one of his fallen adversaries, but the approach of CaptainAnderson 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, VonBlusen once more found himself bearing down on Dick and Mr. Willing andColonel 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 ofhalting the fugitive. The latter ran straight at Mr. Willing and theforce of the contact sent both to the ground. As Von Blusen aroseColonel Ashton leaped for him.
But the German was too quick for the colonel, and missing his grasp, thelatter sprawled on the street. Von Blusen turned just in time to meetDick 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, CaptainAnderson and Dick.
The girls found themselves alone in the street.
The noise of the chase had attracted many spectators, among them severalmembers 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 tointerfere. Von Blusen darted past them, evading their outstretched armsby dodging neatly; but the others were not so fortunate.
Pursuers and native police collided with a shock, and there was a tangleof arms and legs as they rolled in the dirty street. The officers freedthemselves first, and drawing their revolvers stood by while the othersarose.
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 offme," this to one of the officers who insisted upon holding him by thearm.
The officer chattered volubly and clung to the arm.
Captain Anderson freed his arm with a quick wrench, and tapped theofficer lightly on the shoulder with his hand.
"Caramba!" roared the Guatemalan, and levelled his revolver at thecaptain.
"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 ofunintelligible words.
But Captain Anderson now perceived he had acted rashly in thus givingway 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 thecorner, reappeared, and approaching the officers, addressed them inSpanish.
"These men tried to rob me," he declared. "I want them arrested!"
"Si senor! It shall be done!" replied one of the officers.
"I'll go with you to make the charge," continued the young German.
"Si senor!" said the native officer.
Turning, he motioned for the four to precede him. Captain Anderson wasinclined to hang back, as were the others, but a word from Captain VonBlusen 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 goingon, now made as though to approach, but Mr. Willing waved them back.
"Go back to the consulate and tell the consul what has happened," hecalled 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 theimport 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 actionswould have been the same.
They set out for the consulate at top speed and they did not stop, inspite 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 oldjail."
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 tospeak. 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 backaboard the _Yucatan_ by five o'clock."
"Five o'clock!" repeated Shirley. "And where will they be all thattime?"
"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 thatmust be gone through, and it will take time. Besides, it is needless tohurry. In this country no one hurries. If I seem unduly excited it willtake longer than ever."
"Please do the best you can, then," said Shirley.
"I shall," replied the consul. "In the meantime, you two girls returnaboard the _Yucatan_. I'll call my secretary and have him escort youback."
In response to his summons a young man appeared and the consulinstructed 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 totake them aboard and then return and await the arrival of the captainand 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 itdrew close they could make out the faces of t
heir fathers, Dick andCaptain Anderson.
A short time later all appeared on deck. Their clothing was ruffled anddirty, and it was plain to the girls that their fathers were not in thebest of temper. Nevertheless Shirley could not repress a slight dig atthem.
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 gettinginto trouble?"
Mr. Willing growled some unintelligible reply.
"We've never been in jail yet, Dad," continued Shirley slyly. "Wereyou?"
Mr. Willing glanced at his daughter and seemed about to make some sharpresponse. Then he controlled himself and spoke:
"Yes, we were in jail," he growled. "We spent the best part of the daythere."
"Well," said Shirley, "you are always getting in trouble. I reckon Mabeland 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 norColonel 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 enoughtrouble for one day without all this chatter. Come, Ashton, we'll go toour cabin."
Shirley, Mabel and Dick broke into a loud laugh as the two stalked awayarm in arm, looking neither to the right nor left.
