CHAPTER XIX.--A GUATEMALA ADVENTURE.

"This," said Captain Anderson, waving his hand, as the steamer entered a little harbor, "is Champerico, the only Guatemalan port at which we shall touch. It is the last Central American republic we shall see. Would you care to go ashore?"

"I would like to go," said Shirley, with a sidelong look at her father.

"You won't go unless I do," was Mr. Willing's ultimatum. "You have been in trouble enough. I'm going to keep you in sight." He turned to Colonel Ashton. "Would you care to go ashore, Ashton?"

"Why, yes," was the reply.

"Good. Then we shall all go," said Mr. Willing.

"You can go with me," said Captain Anderson. "I am going to pay my respects to the American consul."

An hour later a small boat put off from the ship and headed shoreward. In it, besides Captain Anderson and the crew, were Mr. Willing, Colonel Ashton, Dick, Shirley and Mabel.

"We'll keep out of trouble this time," commented Mr. Willing.

They accompanied Captain Anderson to the United States consulate, where they were introduced to the consul. An hour later they all started back toward the boat.

As they walked down one of the dirty streets Captain Anderson espied a figure slinking along.

"Hey!" he cried. "There goes that scoundrel Von Blusen, who broke his parole and ran away at Corinto. I'll get him!"

He darted hurriedly across the street, and laid a hand on the young man's shoulder. The latter looked up in surprise, and then perceiving Captain Anderson, jerked suddenly free and took to his heels, running directly toward the Willing party.

"Head him off!" cried Captain Anderson, and Dick and the two men leaped to obey.

Straight at them rushed the young German officer, and a few feet away hurled himself forward with a powerful spring. He struck the three squarely, and all went to the ground in a tangled heap.

Von Blusen was the first to regain his feet. He raised a hand as though to strike one of his fallen adversaries, but the approach of Captain Anderson at that moment caused him to turn and flee quickly.

The captain made after him at top speed, calling upon him to halt. Around the block they ran, and then, unconsciously doubling back, Von Blusen once more found himself bearing down on Dick and Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton.

A moment later Captain Anderson, panting, hove in sight and gasped out:

"Stop him!"

This time the three spread out, so they would have a better chance of halting the fugitive. The latter ran straight at Mr. Willing and the force of the contact sent both to the ground. As Von Blusen arose Colonel Ashton leaped for him.

But the German was too quick for the colonel, and missing his grasp, the latter sprawled on the street. Von Blusen turned just in time to meet Dick with a hard blow to the face, and Dick toppled over.

Then Von Blusen darted up a little alleyway.

Unmindful of his intention to keep a close eye on the girls, Mr. Willing, now red with anger, made after him, as did the colonel, Captain Anderson and Dick.

The girls found themselves alone in the street.

The noise of the chase had attracted many spectators, among them several members of the native police.

Suddenly Captain Von Blusen emerged from the alleyway on the dead run, his pursuers close on his trail.

Perceiving one man thus followed by many, the native officers decided to interfere. Von Blusen darted past them, evading their outstretched arms by dodging neatly; but the others were not so fortunate.

Pursuers and native police collided with a shock, and there was a tangle of arms and legs as they rolled in the dirty street. The officers freed themselves first, and drawing their revolvers stood by while the others arose.

One of them broke into a torrent of Spanish.

Captain Anderson, the only member of the party who spoke the language, halted in his tracks.

"I'm an American citizen," he told the policeman. "Take your hands off me," this to one of the officers who insisted upon holding him by the arm.

The officer chattered volubly and clung to the arm.

Captain Anderson freed his arm with a quick wrench, and tapped the officer lightly on the shoulder with his hand.

"Caramba!" roared the Guatemalan, and levelled his revolver at the captain.

"Caramba yourself!" cried the captain, and extending his arm suddenly, he took the pistol away from the little officer.

The latter stamped the ground angrily and broke into another torrent of unintelligible words.

But Captain Anderson now perceived he had acted rashly in thus giving way to his temper. The blood of the other native officers was aroused, and they surrounded the Americans gesticulating vigorously.

At that moment Captain Von Blusen, who had been hovering just around the corner, reappeared, and approaching the officers, addressed them in Spanish.

"These men tried to rob me," he declared. "I want them arrested!"

"Si señor! It shall be done!" replied one of the officers.

"I'll go with you to make the charge," continued the young German.

"Si señor!" said the native officer.

Turning, he motioned for the four to precede him. Captain Anderson was inclined to hang back, as were the others, but a word from Captain Von Blusen decided them to go on.

"They'll shoot if you don't go," declared Von Blusen with a smile.

Shirley and Mabel, who had been standing nearby while all this was going on, now made as though to approach, but Mr. Willing waved them back.

"Go back to the consulate and tell the consul what has happened," he called to her.

The girls turned to go, but Von Blusen, realizing what was going on, called to the officers to stop them.

"Run!" cried Captain Anderson, who was the only one who understood the import of the German's words.

"Halt!" cried one of the Guatemalans, as the girls broke into a run.

But the girls did not understand him, and if they had, their actions would have been the same.

They set out for the consulate at top speed and they did not stop, in spite of pursuit and cries of "Halt!" until they dashed in the door.

The consul greeted them with an exclamation of surprise.

"What's the matter?" he demanded.

Shirley explained.

"And hurry," she added tearfully, "they will lock them up in a dirty old jail."

The consul was forced to smile.

"Oh, well, I guess it won't hurt them any," he replied.

The girls looked at him in astonishment, and Shirley opened her mouth to speak. The consul silenced her with a gesture.

"I'll get them out, all right," he assured them.

He looked at his watch and continued.

"It is now ten o'clock. I think I can safely promise to have them back aboard the _Yucatan_ by five o'clock."

"Five o'clock!" repeated Shirley. "And where will they be all that time?"

"Jail," was the brief reply.

Shirley could not repress an exclamation of dismay.

"But can't you hurry?" she exclaimed.

"Now don't you fret," said the consul. "There is certain red tape that must be gone through, and it will take time. Besides, it is needless to hurry. In this country no one hurries. If I seem unduly excited it will take longer than ever."

"Please do the best you can, then," said Shirley.

"I shall," replied the consul. "In the meantime, you two girls return aboard the _Yucatan_. I'll call my secretary and have him escort you back."

In response to his summons a young man appeared and the consul instructed him to see them back aboard their ship.

"Yes, sir," said the young man. "Come," to the girls.

He accompanied them to the wharf, where he instructed the sailors to take them aboard and then return and await the arrival of the captain and the others.

It was almost six o'clock when Shirley and Mabel, gazing toward shore, perceived the little boat of the _Yucatan_ bobbing toward them. As it drew close they could make out the faces of their fathers, Dick and Captain Anderson.

A short time later all appeared on deck. Their clothing was ruffled and dirty, and it was plain to the girls that their fathers were not in the best of temper. Nevertheless Shirley could not repress a slight dig at them.

First she approached Captain Anderson.

"And did you capture Captain Von Blusen?" she asked.

"No," grumbled the captain. "I hope I never set eyes on him again."

"Dad," said Shirley, "do you remember what you said to us about getting into trouble?"

Mr. Willing growled some unintelligible reply.

"We've never been in jail yet, Dad," continued Shirley slyly. "Were you?"

Mr. Willing glanced at his daughter and seemed about to make some sharp response. Then he controlled himself and spoke:

"Yes, we were in jail," he growled. "We spent the best part of the day there."

"Well," said Shirley, "you are always getting in trouble. I reckon Mabel and I will have to keep closer watch on you."

"I am sure of it," declared Mabel.

Dick smiled, but there was no amusement on the faces of Mr. Willing nor Colonel Ashton. They scowled at their daughters.

"Now, Dad," continued Shirley, "did Captain Von Blusen--"

"Will you be quiet?" demanded Mr. Willing. "Haven't we had enough trouble for one day without all this chatter. Come, Ashton, we'll go to our cabin."

Shirley, Mabel and Dick broke into a loud laugh as the two stalked away arm in arm, looking neither to the right nor left.