CHAPTER XV.--AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.

"If you please," said Shirley.

The officer gazed at both girls admiringly.

"You take it coolly enough," he declared. "Many in your places would be badly frightened."

"Surely there is nothing to be afraid of," said Mabel, determined to show as bold a front as possible.

"No," said the officer, "there isn't." He looked at them closely. "I wonder if either of you happen to know who I am?" he asked.

Shirley shook her head negatively.

"I'm sure I don't," said Mabel.

"Then I must introduce myself," was the reply. "I am General Pedro Garcia, President of the republic of Nicaragua."

Both girls looked at him in the utmost surprise.

"You may well be surprised," said the general, a touch of bitterness in his tone, it seemed to Shirley, "and no doubt you are to see the President of the country in such a predicament?"

Shirley didn't know much about Nicaragua, but she decided she might as well agree with him, as he seemed to expect it.

"Yes, sir," she said.

"And I am surprised to find myself in such a position," said the President. "I shall explain. With my men I am fleeing from the revolutionists."

"Revolutionists?" echoed Shirley.

"Exactly. I was in Corinto with some of my army for diplomatic purposes. While absent from Managua there was an uprising. It seems to have been well planned, for it broke out in all parts of the republic at once, even here in Corinto."

"I was surprised with my men this morning and was forced to flee. That's about all there is to it."

"But why did you bring us with you?" demanded Shirley. "Why didn't you allow us to return to our ship."

"Because you might never have reached there," replied the President quietly. "You would probably have fallen into the hands of the revolutionists. While you are with me you are safe."

There was no doubting the sincerity in the President's voice, and both girls unconsciously breathed easier.

"Besides," continued the general, "your presence may help me a bit."

"In what way sir?" asked Mabel.

"Well, there is a United States cruiser in Corinto harbor. When you are missed the natural supposition will be that you have fallen into the hands of the revolutionists. The U. S. sailors will be sent after you, and will be likely to attack my foes."

"I see," said Shirley with a slight smile. "Then you did not save us from an altogether unselfish motive."

"My dear young ladies, consider," said the President, "it is better for both of us."

"I don't doubt you, sir," replied Shirley; "but just the same I would rather be safe aboard our ship."

"And so you shall be, if it is within my power to put you there," declared the President of Nicaragua warmly.

At this moment two of the general's troopers approached, dragging a third man between them. Shirley and Mabel fell back a few feet.

"Hello! Who have we here?" demanded President Garcia.

"Prisoner, sir," replied one of the men.

"Release him," said the President. "I shall talk to him myself. Who are you, and what are you doing here?" he demanded sharply.

Shirley and Mabel both started at the sound of the prisoner's voice. He was none other than Captain von Blusen.

"I'm Captain von Blusen, of the German navy," was the reply. "I have been held prisoner aboard an American ship, and have but recently escaped. I am seeking Colonel Hernandez."

"Hernandez!" exclaimed President Garcia, stepping back in surprise. "The leader of the revolutionists!"

"And may I ask your name, sir?" said Captain von Blusen.

"I," said the general, "am the President of Nicaragua."

The prisoner gave vent to a long whistle and a look of dismay passed over his face. It was gone in a moment, however, and he turned to the President with a smile.

"I am fortunate in finding you, sir," he said. "I am authorized by my government to make you a proposition."

"Well, I shall hear it," said the President.

"I am authorized to offer you a large sum of money for the privilege of establishing a German naval base on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua."

"Enough!" cried the general with a wave of his hand. "It shall not be done if I can prevent it. Germany indeed. Were I able, I myself should draw a sword against her. You will find no German sympathy in these parts."

Captain von Blusen bowed his head. He said nothing further on the subject.

"What will you do with me?" he asked.

"I shall hold you until the rebels have been put down," was the reply. "Then you shall be released. I wouldn't trust you now."

He signalled two of his men and the young German officer was led away between them.

At this moment another officer rushed up to the general.

"Our presence has been discovered, sir," he gasped. "The enemy is approaching."

Shirley and Mabel now perceived that the President of the Republic of Nicaragua, in spite of his advanced years, was a man of action.

He turned rapidly from one to another of his officers, and these dashed quickly away. A moment later the few troops began to move, and the girls realized that President Garcia had taken some steps to offset the advance of the revolutionists.

They found themselves going along with the troops.

"My goodness! I wish we were back on the ship," exclaimed Shirley.

"You don't wish it any more than I do," declared Mabel. "I am more frightened than you are. Suppose there should be a battle. What would happen to us?"

Shirley shrugged her shoulders.

"You know as much about it as I do," she made answer.

Mabel looked at her in amazement.

"Why, Shirley Willing!" she exclaimed. "Aren't you afraid? I am scared half to death."

"I am just as badly frightened as you are," declared Shirley. "I may not look it, but I am."

"I don't believe you are frightened at all," said Mabel.

In spite of the seriousness of the situation and her declaration that she was badly frightened, Shirley was forced to smile at her friend's words.

"Well, perhaps I'm not so awfully scared," she confessed. "I'm anxious to see what is going to happen."

"I know what is going to happen," was the reply. "We are going to get hurt!"

Mabel broke down and began to cry.

Shirley took her chum gently in her arms, and stroked her hair.

"There, there!" she said. "Stop crying. No one is going to hurt us. You are just overwrought, that's all."

"I just know we are going to be shot--and--and killed," sobbed Mabel.

"Nonsense," said Shirley sharply. "Look up now and stop that crying. We are perfectly safe. Stop crying."

Mabel looked up suddenly at the sharpness in her chum's tone, but her tears soon were dried away. Shirley, in speaking as she had, had done the best thing possible. She had realized that it was time for sharp words and not for sympathy.

After a march of perhaps a half hour, President Garcia called another halt, and then summoned his officers into consultation.

The two girls stood close, but they could not make out what was being said. At length the general dismissed his officers with a gesture, and as they scattered to their respective posts, the general approached the two girls.

"We are going to make a sharp turn to the south here," he said quietly, "and then we shall move back and engage the enemy. That will put you safely behind us. Now, if I were you, I would bear off slightly to the right, and then go straight ahead. In that way you will be out of danger. If the firing comes closer to you, make another wide detour, turn about and try to make your way back to the ship. But I would not do that until after the battle ceases."

"Thank you, sir," said Shirley. "We shall do as you suggest. We thank you for your thoughtfulness in keeping us from falling into the hands of the revolutionists. May you come through the battle unharmed, and may you be successful."

She extended her hand, and the President bent over it gravely.

"I thank you for your good wishes," he said quietly.

Mabel also now advanced and extended her hand, and the President bent over it.

"Good luck to you, Mr. President," said Mabel.

"I thank you, too, young lady," said the President simply. "Now heed my injunction and betake yourselves to a place of safety. We shall advance at once."

Once more he bowed low to them, swung sharply about on his heel and was gone. With hoarse commands from the officers, the troops faced to the left and marched off.

"I guess we had better be moving, Shirley," said Mabel.

Instead of turning to the right, they went straight back.

"It should be safer here," said Mabel as they hurried along. "The revolutionists are liable to advance on the right as well as on the left!"

"I wish we could get some place where we could see," declared Shirley.

Mabel stooped in her tracks and gazed at her friend in the utmost astonishment.

"Shirley!" she exclaimed. "Surely you don't mean that?"

"Of course I mean it. If we could only find some place where it is safe."

Unconsciously the girls had borne off to the left, and now suddenly they came upon a clearing in the midst of the woods. And as they glanced back, they saw the Nicaraguan government troops advancing across it.

But even as they looked the troops came to a halt, and most of them fell to their knees. Shirley looked around quickly. Directly behind her was a large tree.

"If we haven't forgotten our tomboy days we'll climb up there and watch the battle," she declared.

She led the way, and in spite of her misgivings, Mabel followed.