The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 21

"That would be telling," was the reply, and the young man smiled tantalizingly. "However, it will do no harm to say that I have good friends in Colon."

"Well, I'll guarantee you won't do any more harm aboard my ship,"

declared the captain angrily.

He turned to his first officer. "Have him put in irons!"

"Very good, sir," replied the first officer, and advanced toward the prisoner.

"One moment," said the latter drawing himself up. "I did not come here with any ill motive," still addressing the captain, "and I desire to give my parole."

"And what good is your parole?" demanded Captain Anderson.

"One gentleman is always ready to accept the word of another gentleman,"

said Von Blusen slowly. "I give my word to make no attempt to escape."

The captain hesitated, then waved an arm expressively.

"Very well," he said. "Your parole is accepted."

He returned to the bridge, and the sailors released Von Blusen. The latter walked over to where the Willing party were gathered.

"Well, here I am again," he said with a smile.

"I see you are," replied Mabel, and deliberately turned her back on him.

The young man's face became red. He turned on his heel and walked off without another word.

CHAPTER XIII.-ASh.o.r.e IN COSTA RICA.

The steamship _Yucatan_ was swinging slowly into a little harbor. Land, visible for the first time since leaving the Panama Ca.n.a.l, was now close at hand.

"What place is this?" asked Shirley of d.i.c.k, who stood forward gazing over the rail by her side.

d.i.c.k consulted his guide book, remarking: "I can't remember the name of these outlandish places."

"It's Punta Arenas," he said at last, looking up. "Costa Rica, you know," he added in explanation.

"And what are we putting in here for?"

"You'll have to ask the captain about that," replied d.i.c.k. "It's too deep for me."

The vessel came to anchor some distance from sh.o.r.e. It was announced that the ship would lay there for several hours, and the captain gave notice that those desiring to land would be taken off in the small boats.

Shirley immediately announced her intention of being one of the landing party, and loath to let the girl go alone, Mr. Willing and the others also determined to go ash.o.r.e.

Half an hour later found them strolling about the dirty looking narrow streets of the little town.

Poorly-dressed natives, men, women and children, eyed them queerly as they walked along, the latter following them for blocks begging for money. Shirley would have given one of the children a piece of silver but for the first officer of the ship, who stayed her.

"Give money to one of them and the rest will follow you forever," he explained.

"But they look so dirty and hungry," protested Shirley.

"Perhaps they are," was the officer's reply, "but take no chances with them."

Shirley followed his advice, as did the others of the party, and the dirty native children soon let them alone. When the party started back, however, the children trailed them once more, begging piteously for money.

At the wharf Shirley, unheeding the advice of the officer, turned and tossed a silver quarter toward them.

Instantly the place became a scene of wild confusion. There was a scramble as boys and girls dived headlong for the piece of silver. Loud cries filled the air.

A little girl raised up with the piece of money clutched tightly in her hand and started to run. But the others were upon her in an instant, and threw her to the ground, striking and clawing as they tried to take the quarter away from her.

Shirley looked at the disorder she had caused in amazement.

"My goodness!" she exclaimed. "I had no idea they were so savage."

She watched the struggle.

Now a boy had secured the quarter and tried to escape with it. But he fared no better than had the girl, and soon was beneath the pile of struggling bodies. The children fought savagely, biting, screaming, kicking and scratching.

The party from the steamship watched with interest.

"See what you did, Shirley," cried Mabel. "Just watch them fight."

"I won't do it again," declared Shirley. "Some of them will be badly hurt."

At this moment a newcomer appeared upon the scene. He walked slowly, and plainly was in no particular hurry. Shirley glanced at him curiously.

He was attired in a dark blue uniform. A revolver and sword hung at his side. He was short but stout, and a black mustache curled fiercely upward.

He was just what Shirley took him to be, an officer of the Costa Rican army.

He advanced into the ma.s.s of struggling children and pushed the combatants aside without ceremony. As they looked up and perceived him, the fighters turned and fled.

The sight was indeed comical and Shirley and all the others laughed long and loud.

One little boy, before taking to his heels, stooped quickly and picked up the quarter, which had rolled a short distance away. But even as he started to run, the native officer reached out a hand and caught him by the shoulder.

In vain did the boy struggle to free himself, biting and kicking. He was no match for the man, and at last he dropped the piece of silver. The officer then released him and looked around.

While the Americans still watched him he stooped, picked up the quarter, turned it over in his hand once or twice, spun it in the air, caught it as it came down and thrust it in his pocket. Then, without a glance to right or left, he turned and stalked away.

"There!" exclaimed the ship's officer, "you can see what has happened to your quarter. It's what happens to most of those thrown to the children by tourists."