CHAPTER VIII.--THEIR FIRST QUARREL.

Shirley and Mabel glanced at Mr. Willing in surprise. Young Bristow took the seat indicated, and the others also sat down.

"First," said Mr. Willing to Bristow, "I am going to ask you a question or two. If you refuse to answer, I shall, of course, draw my own conclusions."

The young man nodded.

"Proceed, sir," he said.

"All right. Now, in the first place, are you connected, in any capacity, with the German government?"

"That I cannot answer," was the reply.

"Very good! Now, then, are you aboard this ship at the command of the German government?"

"I cannot answer that question, either, sir."

"Suit yourself. Is it not a fact that those with whom you come in contact--those who seem to be your friends--are in danger because of their associations with you?"

"I suppose you are right, sir."

"Just as I expected," declared Mr. Willing. "Now I've got this to say. Already you have been the means of getting my daughter and the colonel's daughter into your scrapes. They have come to your assistance twice. Also Dick has been with you on one adventure. You will admit that, of course?"

"Of course, sir."

"Good. Then here is my ultimatum: I want you to keep away from me and mine. I don't want you to cross this threshold again; and I don't want you to speak to any of us should you chance to encounter us. Do I make myself plain?"

"Perfectly, sir," replied Bristow rising from his chair, his face pale.

"I am glad I do," declared Mr. Willing. "I haven't any use for a spy, be he German or English. Now you can get out of here."

Without a word Bristow moved toward the door. But Mabel leaped forward and barred his path. She turned to Mr. Willing.

"Surely you wouldn't send him out to be captured?" she exclaimed. "Those men are waiting for him out there."

"That is none of our affair," said Mr. Willing.

"I agree with Mabel in that," declared Shirley. "If he goes out before we are beyond the three-mile limit, he will be taken prisoner."

"And if he isn't there is no telling what may happen," commented Mr. Willing.

"Dad," said Shirley, "please let him stay until we have passed the three-mile limit? Please!"

Mr. Willing hesitated.

"Well, I agree," he said at length.

Bristow spoke to Mr. Willing.

"I shall stay, sir," he said, "but it is because I must avoid capture if it is possible. Otherwise I wouldn't stay in the same room with you."

Mr. Willing smiled. He didn't mind that kind of talk, but not so Shirley. She sprang to her feet and faced Bristow angrily.

"How dare you speak to my father like that?" she demanded. "How dare you?"

Bristow turned his head away, and made no reply.

Mabel quickly came to the support of Bristow.

"And why shouldn't he?" she asked. "He hasn't done anything and your father was very mean."

"Why, Mabel," exclaimed Shirley in surprise.

"I mean it," declared Mabel. "Your father was mean."

"He couldn't be too mean to a German," exclaimed Shirley.

"You people make me tired," declared Mabel angrily. "Why are you forever jumping on the Germans? They are in the right and they are going to win."

"They are not!" This from Shirley. "The English are going to win, and I hope they do!"

"And I hope the Germans win," declared Mabel.

"Shirley! Mabel!"

Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton had now taken a hand in the conversation. But both girls were too angry to heed them.

"And just because this man is a German you are all against him. If he were English you would be shaking hands with him."

Mabel was losing control of herself.

"Why, Mabel," said Shirley. "You know that is not true."

"I know it is true," declared the girl.

Colonel Ashton took her firmly by the arm.

"Mabel, I am surprised at you," he said. "Go to your room."

"It's Shirley's room, it's not mine," cried Mabel.

Shirley advanced toward her friend.

"Mabel, what do you mean?" she asked quietly.

"You know what I mean. You told me I wasn't telling the truth."

Shirley compressed her lips and stepped back.

Mr. Willing took a hand in the conversation.

"Unless this foolishness ceases we shall leave the boat at Havana and return home immediately," he said quietly. "I will have none of this."

"I don't care," declared Shirley, also now very angry.

"Neither do I," this from Mabel.

"Shirley, go to your room," ordered Mr. Willing. "I am your father and I will be obeyed."

Shirley glanced at her father's stern face, and obeyed. She knew that when he looked like that he was not to be trifled with.

"Mabel, you go with her," said Colonel Ashton quietly.

Mabel hesitated.

"Do you hear me?" asked the colonel.

Mabel also realized that she had gone too far. She made her way after Shirley.

Inside their room the girls did not speak to each other. In the heart of each there was a peculiar feeling, and each knew that, in a measure, she was to blame. But neither was ready to give in yet.

It was their first quarrel.

Outside Mr. Willing turned to young Bristow.

"This," he said, "is your doing. And when you once set foot outside this cabin, don't you ever cross my path again."

The _Yucatan_ was under way now, and from the window Mr. Willing could see the three men still waiting on the outside. But at last they took their departure and Mr. Willing knew they had passed beyond the three-mile limit. He turned again to Bristow.

"Now Bristow or Von Blusen or whatever your name is," he said, "get out."

Bristow turned a dark look upon him.

"You have insulted me," he said, "and you shall pay for it."

"I couldn't insult you, you little whipper-snapper," said Mr. Willing angrily. "Are you going to get out of here?"

"When I've had my say," declared the young man angrily. "If it were not that I am on important business I would chastise you right now."

"Is it because you have important business or because you are a child?" asked Mr. Willing smiling.

Bristow took a threatening step forward, but now Dick took a hand.

"That's enough of this," he said sternly, and putting forth a hand he pushed Bristow back.

The latter's face turned a dull red, and he struck at Dick, who promptly slapped him across the face. Dick also was angry now.

"You shall pay for that blow," shouted Bristow. "I can't fight you now, but when I have completed my work I shall seek you out."

"I won't be very hard to find," declared Dick. "Now get out."

He took the infuriated Bristow by the neck and the bottom of the coat and ran him out the door. Then he closed it after him.

"Rather a fiery young man, that," remarked Colonel Ashton grimly.

"Rather," agreed Mr. Willing dryly. He turned to the other room and called: "Shirley! Mabel!"

A moment later the two girls came forth. Mr. Willing looked at them severely for some moments before he spoke.

"You should both be ashamed of yourselves," he said at last. "The idea of such foolishness. Why, you have never quarreled before."

"And there will be no more of it," declared Colonel Ashton grimly. "At the next sign of trouble we shall turn right around and go home."

"Well, Mabel started it," declared Shirley.

"I did not, you started it," exclaimed Mabel.

"Shirley!" said Mr. Willing.

"Mabel!" exclaimed Colonel Ashton.

The girls became silent, but continued to glare at each other.

Then, suddenly, a smile broke over Shirley's face. Her father breathed more freely. Even Colonel Ashton looked at the two girls eagerly.

Then Shirley advanced toward Mabel and held out her hand.

"I'm sorry for what I said, Mabel," she declared earnestly.

For a moment Mabel hesitated, but for a moment only. Then she jumped quickly forward, and ignoring her friend's outstretched hand, threw her arms around her and broke into tears.

"It was all my fault," she sobbed. "You didn't say anything."

"Yes I did, too," said Shirley. "It was as much my fault as it was yours."

"No it wasn't."

"Yes it was."

"It was not."

The two girls drew back from each other.

"I say it was," declared Shirley.

"And I say it wasn't," declared Mabel.

"What is the matter with you two?" demanded Mr. Willing, stepping between them.

"Nothing, Dad," said Shirley, smiling again. She turned again to Mabel.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

"And so am I," said Mabel.

Once more they fell into each other's arms, laughing happily. Then, arm in arm, they turned and made their way to their own rooms, absolutely ignoring the presence of the others.

Dick, who had felt decidedly uncomfortable during this scene, grinned foolishly. Colonel Ashton laughed aloud, and Mr. Willing smiled.

"Funny things happen, my boy," exclaimed the latter, slapping Dick on the back. "You learn something every minute."

And in the other room Mabel said:

"We shall never, never quarrel again."

"Never!" agreed Shirley.