The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 42

Captain Von Blusen turned to the girls.

"I can do you no good here," he said hurriedly. "I'll tell your friends where you are being taken and we shall save you."

He darted from the room and disappeared.

Shirley and Mabel made as though to follow him, but before they reached the door, the two women reappeared. Mrs. Sebastian took in the situation with a quick glance and bent over Hernandez, who was now stirring feebly. Directly he sat up and his gaze roved about the room.

"Where did he go?" he cried.

"Who?" asked his wife.

"The German! The man who knocked me down."

"He's gone," said Mrs. Sebastian. "Come, Hernandez, we have no time to lose."

Hernandez staggered to his feet, and his gaze rested on Shirley. He took a threatening step forward.

"You-" he began.

Mrs. Sebastian threw herself between them.

"There will be no harm done these girls while I am here," she said quietly. "Please remember that."

As Hernandez still seemed on the point of trying to get at Shirley, the woman suddenly produced a revolver, which she levelled directly at him.

"Stand back!" she cried. "Haven't you any sense? Don't you know what would happen should harm befall either of these girls?"

"She is right," said the man's wife. "Come, let us go."

Hernandez muttered to himself, but he turned away.

In response to his call the native boy again appeared and announced that a closed cab was at the door.

Hernandez led the way, and Mrs. Sebastian motioned for the girls to follow him. The two women brought up the rear.

Outside all climbed into the cab and were soon being driven away.

Neither girl uttered a word as the cab b.u.mped along the uneven street, but each was badly frightened. For half an hour the cab continued its way and then it came to a stop.

"Not a word!" ordered Hernandez of the two girls, as he prepared to alight.

The girls had sense enough to obey this injunction and went into the little station, dimly lighted, and boarded the waiting train without so much as speaking to each other.

As Shirley glanced back over her shoulder while climbing up the steps, she caught sight of a familiar figure lurking in the shadows. She could not be certain, but she felt positive that the man was Captain Von Blusen.

Captors and captives took seats at the rear end of the last car, where they sat in silence until the train began to move. Then, for the first time, did Hernandez breath in relief.

"Safe enough now," he declared.

"But they may telegraph ahead and have us detained," said his wife.

"No one knows we have come this way save Captain Von Blusen," was the reply, "and it will not be to his interests to interfere with us."

Shirley and Mabel now found themselves able to converse without being overheard by the others.

"I saw Captain Von Blusen in the station as we climbed aboard," said Shirley.

"Do you think he will help us?" asked Mabel.

"I don't know, but some way I feel that he will. He seemed sincere enough when he spoke just before he left."

"My goodness gracious! I hope something turns up soon!" exclaimed Mabel.

"Our Dads must be worried to death."

"Well, if d.i.c.k is on the trail, I am sure we shall be rescued," declared Shirley.

"You have lots of confidence in d.i.c.k, haven't you?" asked Mabel.

"Of course. Why shouldn't I have?"

"Well, I hope we are rescued soon."

"Some way, I believe we shall be," declared Shirley.

The train sped on through the darkness.

CHAPTER XXV.-ON THE TRAIL.

It will now be necessary to go back a little ways.

When Colonel Ashton, Mr. Willing, and U. S. Consul Edwards left the home of Hernandez, alias Martinez, following their brief interview, they looked about for d.i.c.k who had said he would wait for them on the outside; but having set forth on the trail of Captain Blusen, d.i.c.k, of course, was not in sight.

"Guess the young man has gone back to the consulate in a huff," said the consul with a slight smile.

"He shouldn't have spoken as he did," declared Mr. Willing.

"Is there any chance that he was right in his conjectures?" asked Colonel Ashton slowly.

"Hardly," replied the consul dryly. "Hernandez is a queer man, but he would hardly do a thing like that."

"Well, I don't know," replied the colonel. "I have found that you never go far wrong when you listen to what a newspaper reporter says. They seem to smell out these things."

"He's on the wrong scent now," declared Edwards.