The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 24

The girls halted in their tracks.

The commander, whom they perceived was a man well along toward seventy, but who nevertheless walked perfectly erect and who looked very imposing in his bright military uniform, advanced toward them.

"What are you young ladies doing here?" he asked courteously, in English.

"We were just walking about the city, sir," replied Shirley, her voice trembling somewhat in spite of the efforts she made to keep it steady.

"Where do you come from?"

"Steamship in the harbor, sir."

"You mean the cruiser?"

"No, sir," replied Mabel. "The pa.s.senger steamer, sir."

"H-m-mm-m," muttered the officer.

Before he could speak further there came, from the town, the sound of more rapidly approaching footsteps.

"Come with me," cried the Nicaraguan officer quickly, "if you go on you will be hurt. Come quickly."

He urged his men on with a sharp command.

Shirley and Mabel hung back.

"Quick!" cried the general again. "There will be fighting here in a few minutes, and if you are in the way you are likely to be hurt."

A squad of men, at his command, surrounded the two girls, and they were forced to go along whether or no.

The troop dashed quickly for the shelter of the woods in which the girls had seen Captain Von Blusen disappear a few moments before.

Once in the shelter of the trees, the officer in command gave several sharp orders, and the troop divided into three parts. Then they flitted rapidly further in among the trees.

Shirley and Mabel, now badly frightened, found themselves with the commanding officer's section. They could see that they were bearing off to the right and several times would have spoken, but the officer silenced them with a gesture.

"I shall answer your questions later," he said once.

Although the girls did not know just what was the matter, they realized that the Nicaraguans were fleeing from another, and, supposedly, a larger body of men.

"I hope they overtake us. I want to get back to Dad," cried Mabel.

"And I hope they don't," exclaimed Shirley.

"Why, Shirley!"

"I mean it. If they do overtake us it may mean a battle, and then we would be in danger. As long as we keep away from them we are safe.

Besides, Dad will find us some way. Our fathers and d.i.c.k won't permit us to be carried off."

"I reckon you are right, Shirley," Mabel agreed finally. "Besides, there is an American cruiser near. They'll have the bluejackets out searching for us."

"And they will find us, too," declared Mabel.

"I hope they hurry up and come," exclaimed Shirley. "I'm badly frightened, but I don't want to show it. The thing to do is to make the officer think we are not a bit scared."

"We'll try," said Mabel calmly.

For an hour they continued on their way, and then suddenly the force began to increase as men appeared from other directions and joined the main body.

Although the girls did not know it, these were the same men who had scattered at the first sign of pursuit. They had made a detour to throw the pursuers off the track.

At last the commander called a halt. Then he approached the two girls.

"I guess I had better explain why I insisted on your coming with us," he said with a pleasant smile.

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.