CHAPTER XXVII.--DICK IN PERIL.

The special train bearing Mr. Willing, Colonel Ashton, Dick and Captain Von Blusen arrived in Mazatlan only two hours after that on which Shirley and Mabel had reached the city. The four went at once to the American consulate.

Consul Edwards had been unable to accompany them, but after sending the telegram requesting that the fugitives be shadowed, he had written a note to Consul Harrington at Mazatlan and this he had given to Mr. Willing as a means of introduction.

Mr. Willing sent in the letter to the consul, and the latter received them immediately.

"I have a man shadowing the fugitives," said the consul. "I told him to report here the minute he was sure he had run his quarry to earth."

"Is there no danger they will elude him?" asked Dick anxiously.

"Not much," was the smiling reply. "Fisher was formerly a newspaperman and has had considerable experience along that line."

And the consul was right. A short time later Fisher appeared.

"Have you found their refuge?" was Colonel Ashton's first question after the introductions had been made.

"I followed a man, two women and two girls to a native house in the eastern extremity of the city," was the reply. "I have no doubt they are the right ones."

"Good," returned the consul. "Now the first thing to do is to enlist the support of General Seauterey, the commandant of the city. Without him we can do practically nothing. But he will be glad to capture Hernandez."

The consul took his departure, announcing that he would return as soon as possible.

Dick left the room announcing that he would take a little stroll outside. Mr. Willing enjoined him to be back by the time the consul returned.

Dick, thinking deeply, was unconscious of the passing of time and the distance which he had walked. At last he roused himself from his reverie and looked at his watch.

"Great Scott!" he exclaimed. "I have been gone more than an hour. I had better hurry back."

He gazed about him, and saw that he was in an evil-looking part of the town. He swung about on his heel and set out in the direction from which he had come.

As he passed a narrow street, even dirtier-looking than the rest, an arm suddenly shot out and dealt him a blow across the head, knocking him to the ground.

Dick was stunned by the force of the blow, but he was by no means deprived of his coolness nor resourcefulness. He rolled over quickly several times, seeking to put as much distance as possible between himself and his unseen opponent, and then scrambled quickly to his feet.

Two men bore down on him. Short wiry Mexicans they were, and one held a knife in his hand. Dick took one look at them, then turned and ran.

But the force of the blow he had just received made it impossible for him to run far, and soon he turned, and with his back to the wall of a house, faced his adversaries.

Just out of striking distance the latter halted, and spoke to him in Spanish. Dick shook his hand, indicating that he did not understand.

"Speak English," he said.

The men conversed together in low tones, then one of them spoke a single English word to Dick:

"Money!"

"Oh, I see," said Dick, "you want my money, eh? Well, you won't get it. I need it myself."

He shook his head at the men, and they gesticulated angrily, one of them raising his knife. Then, with a cry, they sprang forward.

Dick was in a serious predicament and he realized it. But he determined to do his best. As the men closed on him, Dick struck out. One of the men staggered back.

At that moment there came the sound of pattering feet down the street. The men drew back. A second later two running figures came into sight, and Dick cried out in amazement.

The figures were Shirley and Mabel, and even as Dick recognized them a third form came into view, and this Dick immediately recognized as that of Hernandez.

"Shirley! Mabel!" called Dick.

The girls half halted in their stride, and then, with glad cries, came toward him.

The men who had attacked Dick, seeing the approach of another man, turned and made their way to the next corner, where they stood to watch developments.

Hernandez, perceiving that he had but one to contend with, and this a young man, advanced confidently. Shirley and Mabel had now reached Dick's side, and the three faced the Mexican.

Without a word Hernandez's hand went to his pocket, but Dick was too quick for him.

"No you don't," he cried, and sprang forward.

His right fist shot out with stunning force, and the Mexican rolled on the ground, his revolver, which he had succeeded in drawing, being hurled from his hand.

Dick quickly took each girl by the arm and urged them along.

"Hurry!" he cried.

What he feared came to pass.

Hernandez got quickly to his feet, and perceiving the men who had so recently attacked Dick, he beckoned them to him.

As the men came up, he waved his arm at the figures of the two girls and the young man.

"Catch them!" he shouted. "Reward!"

The men needed no further urging, but dashed after the three. Dick urged the girls along as swiftly as they could go, casting occasional glances over his shoulder. He hoped against hope that assistance would come from some quarter.

But not a sign of a native officer did he see. The few people they passed looked at them curiously, and must have realized the aspect of things by the noise of the pursuers, but none offered to lend a helping hand.

Several times Dick was on the point of turning back to face the pursuers, but he determined only to do this as a last resort to give the girls time to get away while he held the others back.

He led the girls sharply around a corner and they ran as fast as they could along the dirty street. But the pursuers were gaining, as Dick perceived by a quick glance over his shoulder. Then Dick made his decision.

As he rounded the next corner he whispered to the girls:

"Run hard!"

He released their arms and stopped, just out of sight from the pursuers.

A moment later they came into view, and Dick was upon them in an instant, striking right and left as swiftly as he could. Just as it seemed there was a chance of his overcoming his two foes, a third figure joined in the fray.

This was Hernandez himself, and he turned the balance in the favor of Dick's enemies.

Shirley and Mabel had gone on a few feet when Dick had turned back, for they had not known what he was about to do. They missed him in a moment, however, and stopped to see what had become of him.

They saw the struggling knot of men, and Shirley cried:

"Oh! Dick will be hurt! What shall we do?"

"What can we do?" demanded Mabel. "Dick said to run. I guess we had better run."

"And leave him there like that? I should say not."

"But what can we do?" asked Mabel, in consternation.

"I don't know. But I am not going to run away."

And Shirley resolutely made her way back toward the fighters. Mabel followed.

But aid came for Dick even as it had for his first two enemies. And the aid was from an unexpected source.

"Hello!" exclaimed a voice in English. "What's going on here?"

"Help!" cried Dick in English.

"An American, eh," said the voice, "and three greasers attacking him with knives. Here goes."

Dick felt his enemies give way before him, all but one, and this one he sent to the ground with a hard blow to the face. Then he gazed about. Nearby stood Shirley and Mabel, and upon the ground were the other two Mexicans. Dick looked at the man who had come to his rescue, and gave a cry of astonishment.

"Captain Anderson!"

The commander of the _Yucatan_ was no less surprised. He surveyed Dick and the two girls critically.

"How in the name of all that's wonderful did you all get together again and how did you beat me here?" demanded the captain.

Dick explained his arrival in a few words, and then Shirley took up the story.

"But we had no idea of the _Yucatan_ was here," said Dick.

"I landed not fifteen minutes ago," replied the captain. "Of course a train runs faster than a boat, which is the reason you are here ahead of me. Now I guess you had better return aboard with me."

"We'll go to the consulate first," declared Dick. "The others are probably still there."

"Good idea," replied the captain. "I was on my way there now."

He led the way, and the others followed.

But when they reached there they learned, much to the disappointment of both girls, that neither the consul nor any of the others were about.

"Consul Harrington and his visitors accompanied General Seauterey and a squad of soldiers," a clerk explained. "They left not fifteen minutes ago."

"Too bad," declared Captain Anderson. He turned to the girls. "Will you remain here or come aboard?" he asked.

"We'll go aboard, thanks," replied Shirley. "I want to get out of this city and this country. We can leave word with the clerk here, and Mabel's father and mine will come aboard as soon as they return."

"Right you are," agreed Captain Anderson. He addressed the clerk. "When Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton return with the consul," he said, "you tell them to come aboard the _Yucatan_ immediately. I have important news for them."

"Very well, sir," said the clerk.

"Why didn't you tell him to tell Dad we had been rescued?" asked Mabel.

"Why," replied the captain with a smile, "I was saving that for a little surprise."