The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 7

"I am telling you facts," he declared. "I can't say any more."

"And why won't we be safe aboard the _Yucatan_?" demanded Shirley. "The ship isn't going to sink, is it?"

"No, but-"

"No European country will dare to molest it," declared d.i.c.k, "and I can see no reason why there should be danger at Colon."

"I was afraid I couldn't convince you," said Bristow. "However, I have done my best. Good night."

He bowed and left the room.

"What do you suppose he is talking about, Dad?" asked Shirley.

"I don't know," was the reply, "and I don't care."

"All buncombe," agreed Colonel Ashton.

"Well, I don't care what it is," exclaimed Shirley. "We have set our hearts on this trip, and we are going to take it. That's all there is about that."

"Good for you, Shirley," agreed Mabel.

d.i.c.k Stanley was the only member of the party who did not speak. He sat quietly in his chair, thinking.

CHAPTER V.-ABOARD THE YUCATAN.

The _Yucatan_, upon leaving New York, did not head straight for Colon.

Her route took her down the coast, where she would make several stops.

The first would be at Savannah, then Jacksonville, and the third, and last before touching at Colon, would be Havana, Cuba.

Mr. Willing had selected this vessel for the simple reason that it did put in at these southern ports, for he wished to give the girls an opportunity of seeing as much as possible on the journey. After rounding into the Pacific, following her pa.s.sage of the Panama Ca.n.a.l, the vessel was scheduled to put in at the seaports of several of the Central American republics and one or two Mexican ports.

Mr. Willing, Colonel Ashton, d.i.c.k and the two girls stood forward on the gallery deck of the great ship as she got under way and slowly backed out of her slip into the North River.

It was early afternoon, the sun shone brightly and it was very warm. All day the city had sweltered beneath the terrible heat, but as the ship gradually gathered headway a breeze sprang up and blew refreshingly across the deck.

"This is something like it," declared Mr. Willing, removing his yachting cap and pa.s.sing his handkerchief over his forehead.

The awnings were stretched, and all took the steamer chairs they had secured. These they pulled close to the rail, and then gazed off across the water.

Directly the Statue of Liberty came into view. The girls gazed at it curiously as they pa.s.sed and headed for the open sea.

Gradually the lofty spires of the great buildings faded from view, and then the Statue of Liberty disappeared. To starboard could be seen the distant sh.o.r.e of New Jersey, and to port nothing but the broad expanse of the Atlantic.

Darkness descended and with it a cooler breeze.

"Time to eat," said Mr. Willing.

They made their way to the dining room below, where they were seated at the captain's table. The supper was excellent, far beyond Shirley's expectations. The meal over they returned on deck.

Mr. Willing had secured a suite of four rooms well forward on the promenade deck, and after enjoying the cooling breeze for some time, all made their way there.

The strains of a band now floated to them from the main salon. They made their way out. Then the three young people started on a tour of the ship. They took in everything with breathless interest.

"This is indeed a floating palace," commented Shirley.

"Isn't it though," agreed Mabel.

d.i.c.k was no less enthusiastic in his praise.

After a stroll about they rejoined the two elder men in the salon. Then it was that Shirley bethought herself of the fact that young Bristow had said he would be aboard.

"I haven't seen anything of him," she said.

Neither had the others.

"Perhaps he missed the boat," said Mabel.

"I'll have a look at the pa.s.senger list," said d.i.c.k.

He did so, and there he saw "Henry Bristow, New York," and the number of his stateroom. He went up and knocked on the door.

"Come in," called a voice.

d.i.c.k entered the room, then started back in surprise.

Bristow lay propped up in bed, reading. Around his head was a white bandage. d.i.c.k hastened to his side.

"Why, what is the matter?" he exclaimed.

"Accident," replied Bristow, with a slight smile, and volunteered no further information.

d.i.c.k did not press him for an explanation. After some little talk, in the course of which Bristow said he did not require anything and announced that he would be perfectly fit on the morrow, d.i.c.k took his leave and rejoined the others.

"And how was he hurt?" asked Mr. Willing, after d.i.c.k had reported what he had learned.

"He didn't say and I didn't ask him," he replied. "But I am sure there is something strange about it, sir."

"I am beginning to think that myself," agreed Colonel Ashton. "He's a queer one. Now, I wonder why he warned us not to sail on this ship?"

"It's too deep for me," declared d.i.c.k.

"I have it," exclaimed Shirley suddenly. "Perhaps he is an agent of one of the foreign countries, England or Germany."

d.i.c.k looked at the girl in unfeigned surprise.