The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 20

"He seemed a very nice young man. I wouldn't have thought he was a German."

"Well, I suppose there are nice Germans as well as any other kind,"

replied Shirley with a laugh. "But I wonder why they took such chances?"

"Orders, I reckon. The Germans have shown great daring and bravery in this war."

"I should say they have. I wonder if the United States will be drawn into the war."

"My goodness gracious! I hope not! Why, Daddy might have to go."

"Oh I guess not," laughed Shirley. "He is too old for that, except as a last resort."

"But d.i.c.k might have to go."

"That's so; but I don't think there will be any war between the United States and Germany. We could whip them easily."

"I suppose the Germans think they could whip us just as well as we believe we can whip them."

"But I know we can whip them."

"Well, I'm not so sure. But one thing is certain, we won't have to go to war. That's the advantage of being a girl."

"Oh I don't know," said Shirley, "I believe I would like to go."

"Not for me," declared Mabel. "Still, I might be willing to go as a Red Cross nurse."

"That's what I meant," replied Shirley.

Mr. Willing, Colonel Ashton and d.i.c.k now joined them, and they discussed recent happenings.

"You don't suppose there is any chance of Von Blusen getting away, sir?"

asked d.i.c.k of Mr. Willing.

Mr. Willing looked at him and smiled.

"Afraid he'll come after you?" he asked.

"No, not exactly sir," replied d.i.c.k. "I just wondered, that's all."

"I don't think there is. I'm sure I don't want to be on the same ship with him again. He'll make mischief wherever he is."

But Mr. Willing was to be disappointed in this wish, as it turned out later.

Noon came and pa.s.sed and still the big steamship was in the ca.n.a.l; but with the coming of the supper hour the Pacific ocean became visible in the distance.

It was the first time that d.i.c.k, Shirley or Mabel had seen the Pacific, and they stared ahead for a long time.

"I don't see as it looks any different from the Atlantic," declared Shirley.

"What did you expect?" asked Mabel. "Think you were going to see the name on it?"

"Not exactly. I don't know just what I expected, but I thought it would look different."

The others laughed.

"It might feel a little different in case a big storm came up," said d.i.c.k.

"I don't want to be in a storm on any water," declared Shirley with decision.

"I should say not," Mabel agreed. "A storm is bad enough with lots of dry land under your feet."

The sun was just disappearing below the horizon when the _Yucatan_ at last stuck her nose into the waters of the Pacific ocean.

"Well, here we are in the Pacific at last," said Colonel Ashton. "Do you feel any difference, Shirley?"

"Not a bit," replied the girl with a smile.

Mr. Willing looked at the sky.

"I guess there will be no storm on this trip," he said.

Half an hour later all went below to supper.

They had almost finished a delightful meal when their attention was attracted by the sound of a scuffle on deck. All rushed hastily up.

There, struggling with a knot of sailors, was a single man. His back was turned to the girls as they made their way on deck, and at first they did not recognize him.

He was giving a good account of himself, striking out with such force and skill as gave evidence of much training in the use of his fists; but the sailors were too many for him, and he was at last overpowered and thrown to the deck.

Rude hands jerked him to his feet and it was then that Shirley and Mabel obtained their first look at his face.

Shirley started back with a cry of utter amazement. Then a name leaped to her lips, and was repeated by all the pa.s.sengers within sight.

"Captain Von Blusen!"

"How in the world did he get here?" exclaimed Shirley.

"I can't imagine," declared Mabel, staring with open mouth.

Captain Anderson of the _Yucatan_ now hastened down from the bridge and confronted the prisoner.

"What are you doing on my ship and how did you get here?" he demanded angrily.

Captain Von Blusen smiled at him.

"I just escaped, that's all," he replied. "You treated me so well before that I thought I would take pa.s.sage with you. Besides it was the least likely place I would be looked for."

"But how did you escape?" demanded the captain.