CHAPTER XI.--A WAR SCARE.

An air of intense anticipation pervaded the General's dining room.

Shirley finally broke the silence.

"And will you give them permission, general?" she asked.

"Not without such instructions from Washington," was the reply. "My duties are clearly defined. The Japanese ships cannot pass through the canal while German merchantmen are in Colon harbor. However, I am not at all sure the message is from the Japs."

"You mean--the _Yucatan_," asked Dick.

General Fullaway nodded.

"I wouldn't be at all surprised," he replied quietly. "I shall communicate with Washington at once, repeating the story you have told me."

He left the room, and returned in a few moments with a slip of paper which he gave to the officer who had brought the message.

"I should have a reply in a couple of hours," he told the others. "Would you care to wait and hear the result?"

"Indeed we would," declared Shirley.

It was almost three hours later before the reply came. General Fullaway read the message in silence, then turned to the others.

"Your story must be true, Miss Ashton," he said. "Washington seems to have had some rumor of it. The cruiser _Tennessee_, now stationed here, has been ordered to take the _Yucatan_ in charge."

"Will there be a battle?" demanded Mabel anxiously.

"I do not think so. The _Yucatan_, armed though she probably is by this time, would hardly be a match for the _Tennessee_."

"I wish we could go with her," declared Shirley.

"So do I," agreed Dick.

General Fullaway was silent for some moments, and then he said:

"Perhaps it can be done. There will be no danger. I don't believe Captain Ainslee would object. The _Tennessee_ will not sail before morning. I shall communicate with the captain immediately, and let you know before morning. He will probably wish to hear your story anyhow."

Shirley, Mabel and the others returned to the hotel, where they prepared for bed. Mr. Willing was just about to retire when there was a knock at the door. Opening it, a bellboy passed him a message. It was from General Fullaway and said that Captain Ainslee would expect the Willing party aboard the _Tennessee_ by 8 o'clock in the morning.

Mr. Willing called this piece of news to Dick and the two girls, and all were greatly pleased.

"Just think of taking a trip on a warship!" exclaimed Shirley.

All were about early the next morning and were soon at the pier, where they found that a cutter from the _Tennessee_ had been sent to meet them. Captain Ainslee himself greeted them as they made their way over the side of the cruiser, and conducted them to his cabin.

Here he left them for a few minutes while he gave orders to get the ship under way. Directly it began to move slowly through the waters of the harbor, Captain Ainslee returned to the others.

"Now," he said to Mabel, "I should be glad to hear your story at first hand."

Mabel repeated it and the captain listened attentively.

"To tell the truth," he said, "this may be more serious than I supposed. If Germany is bent upon drawing the United States into the war, the _Yucatan_ may not surrender so easily."

"You don't mean she is likely to fight?" asked Mr. Willing in some alarm.

"That's just what I mean," was the reply.

And Captain Ainslee proved a good prophet.

It was well after noon when a cry from the lookout brought all to deck.

"Steamer off the port bow!" it came.

The two girls rushed to the deck with the others. The ships were still too far apart for those aboard the cruiser to make out the other plainly, and the wireless was immediately put in action.

"German converted cruiser _Kaiserin_!" came the reply to Captain Ainslee's message.

"I desire to come aboard you," was the message flashed back. "Heave to!"

The vessels drew nearer together, until at last Captain Ainslee knew the other vessel was in range of the _Tennessee's_ big guns.

"I was afraid he would run," he explained. "Now I shall make my demand for surrender. It's the _Yucatan_ as you can see."

The wireless was again put to working, and a demand made upon the German to surrender.

"What for?" came the question.

"Theft of United States vessel and threatening destruction of Colon," was the reply flashed back.

Captain Von Blusen must have realized that the game was up. The _Yucatan_ was brought quickly about and turned to run.

"Clear for action!" came the command aboard the _Tennessee_.

Shirley, Mabel and the others of the party found themselves hurried back into the Captain's private cabin. There, through the port-hole, they watched the preparations for battle.

The girls were greatly interested, and in spite of the fact that they knew they were in danger, they did not lose their coolness nor their courage.

Realizing that the passenger ship was probably faster than the cruiser, Captain Ainslee wasted no further time. The great forward turret gun spoke with a roar, and Shirley and Mabel cried out at the terrific noise.

They could watch the progress of the big shell as it sped toward the _Yucatan_, where it kicked up the water but a few yards to port. Again and again the big gun spoke, and then there was a cheer from the crew as a shell struck home.

Twice more the _Yucatan_ was hit, and, while not in a vital spot, her speed was suddenly reduced. The _Tennessee_ dashed on.

Then came the first shot from the enemy. The spray flew high beside the cruiser as a shell struck the water to larboard. Before she could fire again, another shell from the _Tennessee's_ forward turret gun crashed aboard her.

Then a white flag was run up the _Yucatan's_ masthead.

The firing aboard the _Tennessee_ ceased, and the cruiser bore down on the enemy.

Boats were hurriedly lowered, manned and darted across the water to take charge of the _Yucatan_. Half an hour later one of them returned bearing the German commander and his officers. They were conducted to the captain's cabin immediately.

Henry Bristow--now Captain Von Blusen--at first did not see the members of the Willing party in the cabin, and he faced Captain Ainslee angrily.

"What is the meaning of this outrage?" he demanded.

Captain Ainslee smiled.

"Come, come, captain," he said. "Why this air of wounded dignity? Surely you won't attempt to deny that you stole the _Yucatan_?"

"Of course I deny it," was the reply.

"And I suppose you will also deny sending a message to the commandant at Colon, threatening to blow up the city?"

"That is absurd," was the reply.

Captain Ainslee motioned to Mabel, and she stepped forward.

"Do you recognize this young lady, captain?" demanded the commander of the _Tennessee_.

As the other's eyes rested upon Mabel, he stepped back in surprise and a look of genuine alarm passed over his face. Then it grew dark. He was very angry.

"So," he exclaimed, "this is the way you show your sympathy for Germany, eh?"

"What is Germany to me?" demanded Mabel hotly. "I'm no German."

"But you said--"

"I said that because I was angry at the time. You have made trouble enough for us. I'm glad you have been captured."

"Further denial is useless, captain," declared Captain Ainslee. "I don't believe you will dispute the young lady's words."

Von Blusen turned away angrily, and his gaze rested on Dick and the others for the first time.

"I see you are all here," he said. Then to Dick, "And I have not forgotten that I have a debt to settle with you."

He stepped quickly across the cabin and before the others were aware of what he intended to do, he struck Dick sharply across the face with the back of his hand.

Dick was on his feet in an instant and would have leaped upon his assailant had not the others stayed him.

"Captain!" cried the commander of the _Tennessee_, "you forget yourself! If that is the way you Germans conduct yourselves no wonder the whole world is against you. Another move like that and I'll have you put in irons!"

The German captain drew back but said nothing.

"Now," continued Captain Ainslee, "I would like to know the meaning of this affair you have been mixed up in. Is Germany seeking war with the United States?"

"Why not?" was the reply. "The United States has been against us, why shouldn't we be against her?"

"It's your own evil consciences that make you think that," replied Captain Ainslee. "The United States has been strictly neutral in this war. But an accounting for this will be demanded of the Kaiser."

"And he'll give it," thundered the captain, striking the table with his fist. "He'll give it!"

"Maybe he will, but he'll be sorry," declared Shirley, who could keep quiet no longer. "Uncle Sam will stand no foolishness from the Kaiser."

Captain Von Blusen smiled at her scornfully.

"We shall come over here some day and take the United States," he said.

"You'll be surprised when you try it," said Shirley angrily.

"Shirley!" exclaimed Mr. Willing. "Keep quiet!"

"I don't care," cried Shirley. "Anybody knows Uncle Sam can whip Germany, and all the rest of them, too, for that matter."

Again Mr. Willing would have enjoined the girl to silence, but Captain Ainslee stayed him with uplifted hand.

"Let her alone," he chuckled. "That is the spirit I like to see!"