CHAPTER XIV.--U. S. S. PRAIRIE.

"Steamship off the port bow, sir!"

It was the cry of the lookout.

All eyes were turned in the direction indicated. There, showing dimly through the gathering darkness, steamed a dark gray shape. Another glance from the lookout was enough to convince him of the vessel's identity.

"United States cruiser, sir!" came his call.

"Can you make her out?" asked the captain's voice from the bridge.

The lookout was silent for several minutes, and then called back:

"Cruiser _Prairie_, sir."

There was a muttered ejaculation from the captain. Shirley, standing near, caught the words:

"Wonder what she's doing in these waters? She was in Bluefields the last I heard of her. Must be trouble of some kind or she wouldn't be here."

The two ships exchanged messages, the nature of which were unknown to the passengers, however. Both continued on their course.

Morning showed to the passengers the cruiser proceeding ahead of them. All day the two ships retained their relative positions and when night came on they were unchanged.

When Shirley awoke the following morning the _Yucatan_ was stationary. Shirley and Mabel dressed quickly and went on deck. There they found that they were in a little harbor. Shirley asked a question of one of the other passengers.

"Where are we?"

"Port of Corinto, Nicaragua," was the reply.

At this moment a small boat was just about to be lowered. Shirley and Mabel rushed up to the first officer, who was in command of it.

"Can we go with you?" she asked.

The officer hesitated, then: "I see no reason why you cannot," with a smile. "Jump in."

The girls obeyed and a few moments later were being rowed toward the not-far-distant shore. There the boat drew up at the wharf, and, signalling to the girls to accompany him if they so desired, the officer leaped lightly ashore and lent them a helping hand. The sailors were ordered to await his return.

"Where are you going?" asked Shirley.

"American consulate," was the reply. "There has been some trouble here, and Captain Anderson has sent me to find out what it's all about."

At the consulate Shirley and Mabel remained outside, while the first officer was closeted with the consul.

"We might as well walk around a bit," Shirley decided. "There is no telling how long he may remain there."

Mabel was nothing loath, and they made their way to the street. Here they walked along slowly, looking curiously at the native Nicaraguans and the queer buildings, all of old Spanish architecture and design.

"None of this for me," was Shirley's decision half an hour later.

"Nor me," agreed Mabel. "I want to live in civilization."

Unconsciously the girls had wandered further from the consulate than they realized, and as they were on the point of turning back Mabel caught sight of a familiar figure.

"Captain Von Blusen!" she exclaimed, catching Shirley by the arm.

Shirley caught her breath and gazed in the direction Mabel pointed.

It was true. There, slinking along furtively, was the gallant captain and he was walking along at a rapid rate.

"Wonder where he is going and why he's in such a hurry?" asked Mabel.

"I don't know," returned Shirley, "but I'll warrant he is up to no good."

"But he has given his parole to make no attempt to escape."

"I don't imagine he'll set much store by that if he sees a good opportunity to get away."

Shirley would have continued her way back, but Mabel said:

"Wait a moment, Shirley. Perhaps, by following him a bit, we may learn something useful. What do you say?"

For a moment Shirley hesitated, but for a moment only.

"Perhaps we can," she said then. "There can be no danger if we keep out of sight. Come on."

The German was now some distance ahead of them, and taking care to avoid being seen should he turn suddenly, the girls followed him.

But apparently Captain Von Blusen had no idea that he would be followed. He strode rapidly along and not once did he turn his head.

"He must have been here before," Shirley decided. "He seems to know where he is going."

For another ten minutes they followed him, and then Shirley halted.

"I am afraid we had better go back," she said. "We may get lost."

"Oh I guess not," declared Mabel. "And besides we have plenty of time. The ship will probably stay here most of the day. Come on, Shirley."

Shirley allowed herself to be led along.

They had now approached the outskirts of the little town, and the young German struck off through a clump of trees. At the edge of these Shirley stopped abruptly.

"We won't follow him any further," she said decisively. "It might be dangerous."

"I guess you are right," agreed Mabel. "I wish he had stayed where we could keep track of him."

"So do I. But he didn't. We had better be getting back."

They turned and started to retrace their footsteps, but even as they did so the footsteps of a large body of men came toward them. They were not yet in sight, but the men were coming right down the street through which the girls must go on their way back.

Mabel looked at Shirley in alarm.

"What shall we do?" she exclaimed.

"We'll just have to put on a bold face and walk right along," declared Shirley. "Come."

She started out slowly, Mabel walking by her side.

A moment later there appeared ahead of them, advancing at a rapid march, a body of armed men. Shirley and Mabel shrank close to the side of the street to give the marchers as much room as possible.

At first it seemed the girls would get by without trouble, for the first troop had passed them, paying no attention to their presence.

But as the officer in command of the troop came abreast of them, a command suddenly rang out:

"Halt!"

The troop stopped abruptly, and grounded their arms. Shirley and Mabel also paused, as they believed the words were meant for them. Then, seeing the soldiers pause, they moved on again. But again came the cry of "Halt."

The girls halted in their tracks.

The commander, whom they perceived was a man well along toward seventy, but who nevertheless walked perfectly erect and who looked very imposing in his bright military uniform, advanced toward them.

"What are you young ladies doing here?" he asked courteously, in English.

"We were just walking about the city, sir," replied Shirley, her voice trembling somewhat in spite of the efforts she made to keep it steady.

"Where do you come from?"

"Steamship in the harbor, sir."

"You mean the cruiser?"

"No, sir," replied Mabel. "The passenger steamer, sir."

"H-m-mm-m," muttered the officer.

Before he could speak further there came, from the town, the sound of more rapidly approaching footsteps.

"Come with me," cried the Nicaraguan officer quickly, "if you go on you will be hurt. Come quickly."

He urged his men on with a sharp command.

Shirley and Mabel hung back.

"Quick!" cried the general again. "There will be fighting here in a few minutes, and if you are in the way you are likely to be hurt."

A squad of men, at his command, surrounded the two girls, and they were forced to go along whether or no.

The troop dashed quickly for the shelter of the woods in which the girls had seen Captain Von Blusen disappear a few moments before.

Once in the shelter of the trees, the officer in command gave several sharp orders, and the troop divided into three parts. Then they flitted rapidly further in among the trees.

Shirley and Mabel, now badly frightened, found themselves with the commanding officer's section. They could see that they were bearing off to the right and several times would have spoken, but the officer silenced them with a gesture.

"I shall answer your questions later," he said once.

Although the girls did not know just what was the matter, they realized that the Nicaraguans were fleeing from another, and, supposedly, a larger body of men.

"I hope they overtake us. I want to get back to Dad," cried Mabel.

"And I hope they don't," exclaimed Shirley.

"Why, Shirley!"

"I mean it. If they do overtake us it may mean a battle, and then we would be in danger. As long as we keep away from them we are safe. Besides, Dad will find us some way. Our fathers and Dick won't permit us to be carried off."

"I reckon you are right, Shirley," Mabel agreed finally. "Besides, there is an American cruiser near. They'll have the bluejackets out searching for us."

"And they will find us, too," declared Mabel.

"I hope they hurry up and come," exclaimed Shirley. "I'm badly frightened, but I don't want to show it. The thing to do is to make the officer think we are not a bit scared."

"We'll try," said Mabel calmly.

For an hour they continued on their way, and then suddenly the force began to increase as men appeared from other directions and joined the main body.

Although the girls did not know it, these were the same men who had scattered at the first sign of pursuit. They had made a detour to throw the pursuers off the track.

At last the commander called a halt. Then he approached the two girls.

"I guess I had better explain why I insisted on your coming with us," he said with a pleasant smile.