The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 19

As the other's eyes rested upon Mabel, he stepped back in surprise and a look of genuine alarm pa.s.sed over his face. Then it grew dark. He was very angry.

"So," he exclaimed, "this is the way you show your sympathy for Germany, eh?"

"What is Germany to me?" demanded Mabel hotly. "I'm no German."

"But you said-"

"I said that because I was angry at the time. You have made trouble enough for us. I'm glad you have been captured."

"Further denial is useless, captain," declared Captain Ainslee. "I don't believe you will dispute the young lady's words."

Von Blusen turned away angrily, and his gaze rested on d.i.c.k and the others for the first time.

"I see you are all here," he said. Then to d.i.c.k, "And I have not forgotten that I have a debt to settle with you."

He stepped quickly across the cabin and before the others were aware of what he intended to do, he struck d.i.c.k sharply across the face with the back of his hand.

d.i.c.k was on his feet in an instant and would have leaped upon his a.s.sailant had not the others stayed him.

"Captain!" cried the commander of the _Tennessee_, "you forget yourself!

If that is the way you Germans conduct yourselves no wonder the whole world is against you. Another move like that and I'll have you put in irons!"

The German captain drew back but said nothing.

"Now," continued Captain Ainslee, "I would like to know the meaning of this affair you have been mixed up in. Is Germany seeking war with the United States?"

"Why not?" was the reply. "The United States has been against us, why shouldn't we be against her?"

"It's your own evil consciences that make you think that," replied Captain Ainslee. "The United States has been strictly neutral in this war. But an accounting for this will be demanded of the Kaiser."

"And he'll give it," thundered the captain, striking the table with his fist. "He'll give it!"

"Maybe he will, but he'll be sorry," declared Shirley, who could keep quiet no longer. "Uncle Sam will stand no foolishness from the Kaiser."

Captain Von Blusen smiled at her scornfully.

"We shall come over here some day and take the United States," he said.

"You'll be surprised when you try it," said Shirley angrily.

"Shirley!" exclaimed Mr. Willing. "Keep quiet!"

"I don't care," cried Shirley. "Anybody knows Uncle Sam can whip Germany, and all the rest of them, too, for that matter."

Again Mr. Willing would have enjoined the girl to silence, but Captain Ainslee stayed him with uplifted hand.

"Let her alone," he chuckled. "That is the spirit I like to see!"

CHAPTER XII.-ABOARD THE YUCATAN.

The _Tennessee_ returned immediately to Colon, followed by the _Yucatan_, now manned by a crew of American sailors. The run was made quickly, and darkness had just descended when the ships came to anchor and the Willing party made their way ash.o.r.e and returned to their hotel.

Captain Von Blusen and the members of his crew were immediately turned over to the Ca.n.a.l Zone authorities, pending orders from Washington.

What was the surprise of Shirley and the others, upon reaching the hotel, to find there others of the pa.s.sengers who had been set adrift when the _Yucatan_ was captured by the German conspirators. They greeted each other warmly.

"We were picked up by a steamer and just reached here this afternoon,"

one of the women pa.s.sengers explained to Shirley and Mabel. "We had about given you up for lost. The rest of us are all here."

"And so is the _Yucatan_," replied Shirley.

In response to exclamations of astonishment, she related the story of the recapture of the vessel.

"Then we shall be allowed to continue our trip, I suppose," remarked one of the pa.s.sengers.

"Unless the government decides to hold on to the steamer," said another.

But the government did not, and the following day the full crew of the _Yucatan_ was once more aboard the vessel, and it was announced that she would resume her journey the following morning.

The day was spent by most of the pa.s.sengers viewing the sights of interest in the ca.n.a.l zone and in the city of Colon proper.

A few words concerning the Panama Ca.n.a.l will not be amiss here.

The ca.n.a.l was opened to smaller vessels on August 5, 1914, but the official opening did not take place until much later, being attended with elaborate ceremonies.

The ca.n.a.l is about fifty miles in length from deep water in the Caribbean Sea to deep water in the Pacific Ocean. It ranges in width from 300 to 1,000 feet with an average bottom width of almost 700 feet.

The Gatun dam along its crest is 8,000 feet long.

The construction of the ca.n.a.l is considered one of the greatest feats of engineering of all time and was accomplished at a tremendous cost. The land was secured by treaty from Colombia at great expense and resulted in considerable trouble between the United States and the South American republic.

It is provided by treaties that the ca.n.a.l shall be open to the vessels of all nations, merchantmen, or ships of war, in times of war as well in times of peace; but strict rules of neutrality have been provided for the pa.s.sage of war vessels.

All this Mr. Willing explained to the others during the day. With the coming of night, the pa.s.sengers began to go aboard the _Yucatan_ for the ship was to sail at an early hour and it was deemed advisable to be aboard the night before.

Therefore, when Shirley and Mabel arose and went on deck, the _Yucatan_ already had started its pa.s.sage through the ca.n.a.l. The girls stood upon the upper deck aft and looked about with interest; but after an hour of this they grew tired and went down to breakfast.

The pa.s.sage of the ca.n.a.l would require about ten hours and Shirley remarked to Mabel that she would be glad when they were on the Pacific and sailing up the coast.

"And so will I," agreed Mabel. "Of course it is nice to see all these things, but they don't interest me a whole lot."

"I feel the same way. To tell the truth I shall be glad to get to San Francisco. From what I have heard, the Exposition must be beautiful."

"Indeed it must. By the way, I wonder what will be done with Henry Bristow-I mean Captain Von Blusen?"

"I don't know," replied Shirley. "However, I suppose he will be taken to Washington."