The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 32

Suddenly Captain Von Blusen emerged from the alleyway on the dead run, his pursuers close on his trail.

Perceiving one man thus followed by many, the native officers decided to interfere. Von Blusen darted past them, evading their outstretched arms by dodging neatly; but the others were not so fortunate.

Pursuers and native police collided with a shock, and there was a tangle of arms and legs as they rolled in the dirty street. The officers freed themselves first, and drawing their revolvers stood by while the others arose.

One of them broke into a torrent of Spanish.

Captain Anderson, the only member of the party who spoke the language, halted in his tracks.

"I'm an American citizen," he told the policeman. "Take your hands off me," this to one of the officers who insisted upon holding him by the arm.

The officer chattered volubly and clung to the arm.

Captain Anderson freed his arm with a quick wrench, and tapped the officer lightly on the shoulder with his hand.

"Caramba!" roared the Guatemalan, and levelled his revolver at the captain.

"Caramba yourself!" cried the captain, and extending his arm suddenly, he took the pistol away from the little officer.

The latter stamped the ground angrily and broke into another torrent of unintelligible words.

But Captain Anderson now perceived he had acted rashly in thus giving way to his temper. The blood of the other native officers was aroused, and they surrounded the Americans gesticulating vigorously.

At that moment Captain Von Blusen, who had been hovering just around the corner, reappeared, and approaching the officers, addressed them in Spanish.

"These men tried to rob me," he declared. "I want them arrested!"

"Si senor! It shall be done!" replied one of the officers.

"I'll go with you to make the charge," continued the young German.

"Si senor!" said the native officer.

Turning, he motioned for the four to precede him. Captain Anderson was inclined to hang back, as were the others, but a word from Captain Von Blusen decided them to go on.

"They'll shoot if you don't go," declared Von Blusen with a smile.

Shirley and Mabel, who had been standing nearby while all this was going on, now made as though to approach, but Mr. Willing waved them back.

"Go back to the consulate and tell the consul what has happened," he called to her.

The girls turned to go, but Von Blusen, realizing what was going on, called to the officers to stop them.

"Run!" cried Captain Anderson, who was the only one who understood the import of the German's words.

"Halt!" cried one of the Guatemalans, as the girls broke into a run.

But the girls did not understand him, and if they had, their actions would have been the same.

They set out for the consulate at top speed and they did not stop, in spite of pursuit and cries of "Halt!" until they dashed in the door.

The consul greeted them with an exclamation of surprise.

"What's the matter?" he demanded.

Shirley explained.

"And hurry," she added tearfully, "they will lock them up in a dirty old jail."

The consul was forced to smile.

"Oh, well, I guess it won't hurt them any," he replied.

The girls looked at him in astonishment, and Shirley opened her mouth to speak. The consul silenced her with a gesture.

"I'll get them out, all right," he a.s.sured them.

He looked at his watch and continued.

"It is now ten o'clock. I think I can safely promise to have them back aboard the _Yucatan_ by five o'clock."

"Five o'clock!" repeated Shirley. "And where will they be all that time?"

"Jail," was the brief reply.

Shirley could not repress an exclamation of dismay.

"But can't you hurry?" she exclaimed.

"Now don't you fret," said the consul. "There is certain red tape that must be gone through, and it will take time. Besides, it is needless to hurry. In this country no one hurries. If I seem unduly excited it will take longer than ever."

"Please do the best you can, then," said Shirley.

"I shall," replied the consul. "In the meantime, you two girls return aboard the _Yucatan_. I'll call my secretary and have him escort you back."

In response to his summons a young man appeared and the consul instructed him to see them back aboard their ship.

"Yes, sir," said the young man. "Come," to the girls.

He accompanied them to the wharf, where he instructed the sailors to take them aboard and then return and await the arrival of the captain and the others.

It was almost six o'clock when Shirley and Mabel, gazing toward sh.o.r.e, perceived the little boat of the _Yucatan_ bobbing toward them. As it drew close they could make out the faces of their fathers, d.i.c.k and Captain Anderson.

A short time later all appeared on deck. Their clothing was ruffled and dirty, and it was plain to the girls that their fathers were not in the best of temper. Nevertheless Shirley could not repress a slight dig at them.

First she approached Captain Anderson.

"And did you capture Captain Von Blusen?" she asked.