The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 29

"Shoot!" he cried.

Rifles were brought to bear, but the horse had gained his stride and was galloping along like the wind. Volley after volley was fired after the girl, but thanks to the movement of the horse and the poor marksmanship of the Nicaraguans, Mabel was not touched.

Rapidly she rode, nor did she draw rein when she entered the town but galloped straight to the pier. Here still lay the small boat of the _Yucatan_, manned by its crew. Rapidly explaining the situation, the girl urged the sailors back to the ship without waiting the return of the first officer, who was some place in the town.

About the ship, Mabel found that Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton were ash.o.r.e searching for the girls, and so she went straight to Captain Anderson. That worthy acted promptly. He quickly signalled the cruiser _Prairie_, which Mabel, saw for the first time, perceived lay close by.

The _Prairie_ signalled for the captain and Mabel to come aboard, which they did without loss of time. In a few words Mabel explained the situation to the commander of the cruiser.

Action came quickly.

A bugle sounded, piping the crew to quarters. The commander detailed a landing party of one hundred and fifty marines and sailors. These were quickly rowed to the sh.o.r.e-Mabel going with them as a guide, for she refused to be left behind.

Once ash.o.r.e, the girl led the way toward where she had left her friends, the men going forward at the double-quick, their weapons ready for instant use.

When General Orizaba perceived that Mabel had made good her flight, his anger knew no bounds. He berated his men roundly and danced about like a madman. Then he turned to d.i.c.k.

"But you shall not escape!" he declared.

"You'll have a squad of marines down on you in a few minutes," replied d.i.c.k with a cheerful smile. "Then where will you be?"

"Bah!" said the angry general. "What are a few marines? We can drive them back."

"Think so, do you?" asked d.i.c.k. "I'm afraid you'll be surprised."

"You shall see," declared the angry leader. "You shall live until you see your countrymen defeated."

"Guess I shall live a long time then," said d.i.c.k, with a smile.

The smile angered the leader, and he stepped close to d.i.c.k and slapped him across the face.

d.i.c.k's anger boiled up and he promptly sent his fist crashing into the general's face, knocking him down.

The young man regretted this act the next moment, for he knew that probably he had brought matters to a crisis.

General Orizaba sprang to his feet and with a shout drew his revolver and covered d.i.c.k.

Shirley screamed. Then General Orizaba lowered his revolver.

"No, I won't do it yet," he said. "I promised you should see your countrymen defeated, and so you shall. I shall kill you later."

"Thanks," said d.i.c.k.

In spite of his apparent nonchalance, he breathed easier, however, for he had been at the point of death, and none knew it better than he did.

"We are all right now," he told Shirley in a low voice. "The marines and sailors will soon be here, and these fellows can't stand up against them."

Shirley smiled at him bravely.

"I know it," she replied quietly.

Now the leader of the revolutionists signalled two of his men to bind the prisoners. This was soon done, and they were taken well to one side of what proved to be the line of battle.

"I do this so I may be sure you will be saved for me," said General Orizaba with an evil smile. "It would be nice to have you shot down by American bullets, but I would rather do it myself. Besides, from here, you can see us defeat the Americanos."

"Many thanks for your kindness," returned d.i.c.k. "I'll speak a word for you when you are in the hands of the Americanos, as you call them."

"That," was the reply, "will never be."

d.i.c.k shrugged his shoulders.

"Have it your own way," he said.

Came a shout from one of the men who had been sent forward on scout duty.

"The Americanos!" he cried.

General Orizaba hurried toward him. d.i.c.k and Shirley drew a breath of relief.

An instant later a long line of hurrying blue figures came into view.

Shirley and d.i.c.k looked at them with pride in their eyes.

The marines and sailors advanced at the double.

"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!"

The battle had begun!

CHAPTER XVIII.-END OF THE REVOLT.

The Nicaraguans met the first charge of the bluejackets bravely enough, but they were now opposed to men who knew not the meaning of the word defeat, nor what it meant to retreat. Under the first fire from the Americans they wavered; at the next they began to fall back and at the third they turned and fled.

d.i.c.k and Shirley, bound as they were, nevertheless could see how the fighting progressed, while thanks to the thoughtfulness of the revolutionary leader they were out of danger themselves.

But now that the day was going against the enemy, d.i.c.k feared that General Orizaba, mindful of his threat, would return to his prisoners before seeking safety in flight. Therefore he began to devise a way of escape.

After some effort he succeeded in getting out his pocket knife. Then, holding it in one of his bound hands, he bent his head and opened the big blade with his teeth. Fortunately the rope with which he was bound was not thick, and the knife was sharp.

For perhaps ten minutes, holding the knife in his mouth by the handle, d.i.c.k sawed at the bonds on his hands. At last the rope parted. Quickly he untied his feet, and then unbound Shirley, who also arose to her feet.

The Nicaraguan forces were now in full retreat, and as d.i.c.k would have led Shirley forward toward the town, a single figure burst into sight.

As the man came closer Shirley and d.i.c.k could see anger and hate written large on his features. They recognized him upon the instant.

"Orizaba!" exclaimed Shirley.