Carolyn Judson Burnett

“ Signs of activity became apparent aboard the cruiser, and the colors were run up the masthead. For a moment they could not be distinguished, but as the breeze caught the ensign, a gasp went up from the passengers, with here and there a cheer.
For the colors thus displayed were the red, white and black of Germany!
“My goodness! Will she shoot us?” exclaimed Shirley in some dismay.
“Hardly,” declared Dick. “I don’t believe Germany wants to go to war with the United States.”
There came a message from the German to Captain Anderson:
“I am coming aboard!” ”

“ Shirley did not reply, but kept her eyes straight ahead.
Gradually Hero sank lower and lower into the water, and then went under suddenly. His feet no longer touched the bottom.
Henderson and his wife cried out in alarm as horse and girl sank beneath the water; but they rose again in a moment, and, shaking the water from his eyes with an angry snort, Hero struck out boldly for the distant shore.
The current was still strong and gradually bore them down the valley. But Hero made headway, and every stroke of his mighty legs bore them much nearer safety. ”

“ Is Germany seeking war with the United States?”
“Why not?” was the reply. “The United States has been against us, why shouldn’t we be against her?”
“It’s your own evil consciences that make you think that,” replied Captain Ainslee. “The United States has been strictly neutral in this war. But an accounting for this will be demanded of the Kaiser.”
“And he’ll give it,” thundered the captain, striking the table with his fist. “He’ll give it!”
“Maybe he will, but he’ll be sorry,” declared Shirley, who could keep quiet no longer. “Uncle Sam will stand no foolishness from the Kaiser.” ”

“ Again he regarded her earnestly.
“Come, Dad,” said Shirley, “you are blocking the way. The people want to get off.”
“I’d like to know,” said Mr. Willing, looking about fiercely, “who is going to tell me to move.”
“I’ll tell you, Dad,” replied Shirley, smiling.
“Oh, well,” said her father, “that is a different matter. You and your mother are alike, both tyrants.”
He stepped aside, and thus allowed the first of the passengers who had been held back by this conversation to descend; and as the next one was Mabel, he caught her in his arms and held her also for a moment. ”

“ Shirley smiled at him bravely.
“I know it,” she replied quietly.
Now the leader of the revolutionists signalled two of his men to bind the prisoners. This was soon done, and they were taken well to one side of what proved to be the line of battle.
“I do this so I may be sure you will be saved for me,” said General Orizaba with an evil smile. “It would be nice to have you shot down by American bullets, but I would rather do it myself. Besides, from here, you can see us defeat the Americanos.”
“Many thanks for your kindness,” returned Dick. ”

“ Then one boy suddenly came up to Shirley.
“I told you to fight,” he said. “You didn’t do it. I watched you. Now I am going to make you fight.”
Shirley shrank back.
“Put up your fists,” called the boy.
The others gathered round to see the fun.
“He’s a coward,” they said. “He’s afraid to fight. Hit him anyhow.”
They surrounded Shirley with angry gestures.
It was at this moment that Dick interfered.
“Let the kid alone,” he said quietly, moving into the midst of the others. “If he doesn’t want to fight, he doesn’t have to. Maybe he’s not the fighting kind. Let him alone.” ”

“ The girls shuddered.
“It is terrible,” said Shirley.
“Don’t look at them,” urged Mabel. “Let’s run.”
But as they were about to take to their heels, they were startled by the sound of a voice directly behind them.
“Ha!” it said.
The girls wheeled in their tracks to confront a man with rifle levelled directly at them. A cry of fear was rung from Mabel’s lips, but Shirley said nothing.
The man advanced and the girls shrank back. A torrent of words poured from the man’s lips, but it was absolutely unintelligible to either of the girls. ”

“ But she realized that human lives were at stake and she did not hesitate.
To the left of the road down which she sped lay high ground and safety, while coming down the valley, perhaps a mile in the rear, poured a dense wall of water, coming as swift as the wind.
For days the Mississippi and its tributaries had been rising rapidly and steadily. Along the lowlands in that part of the state of Illinois, just south of Cairo, where Shirley Willing had been visiting friends, fears that the Darret dam, three miles up one of these tributary streams, would give way, had been entertained. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Gabriel rubbed his head up and down against her arm.
“Come, Shirley,” said Mabel at this juncture, “don’t stand there talking to Gabriel all day. We must pay our respects to some of the other horses.”
“All right,” her friend agreed and, giving Gabriel a parting pat, she followed her friend from the stall. 50
All along the length of the stable the heads of other horses appeared above their stall doors as the two girls passed along, and everywhere they were greeted with whinnies of welcome and delight; for there was not a horse there who did not love the two girls. ”

“ All day the city had sweltered beneath the terrible heat, but as the ship gradually gathered headway a breeze sprang up and blew refreshingly across the deck. 36
“This is something like it,” declared Mr. Willing, removing his yachting cap and passing his handkerchief over his forehead.
The awnings were stretched, and all took the steamer chairs they had secured. These they pulled close to the rail, and then gazed off across the water.
Directly the Statue of Liberty came into view. The girls gazed at it curiously as they passed and headed for the open sea. ”

“ He loosened his reins and began to coax. But Gabriel remained on even terms. Jupiter’s jockey stopped coaxing and 242 began to ply his whip, and at the first smart blow, Jupiter leaped ahead.
Shirley let Gabriel out another notch, and then another, and once more the two big black horses were neck and neck. Try as he would, Jupiter could not shake Gabriel off.
Glancing ahead, Shirley saw that the finish was close in front. The crowd had gone wild. With the horses rushing for the wire, bedlam had broken loose. Flags and pennants waved and men and women shouted hoarsely. ”

“ Shirley’s tears stopped instantly and she watched the fight in wide-eyed amazement. Dick, bigger and stronger than the rest, was giving a good account of himself, but it was plain to Shirley that the weight of numbers must tell in the end.
Two boys went down before their leader’s fists, but they were up again in an instant and fighting back desperately. One attacked him from behind, but with a quick kick Dick shook himself free. Picking his nearest opponent up bodily, he hurled him full in the faces of the others; and they gave ground. ”

“ By the way, I wonder what will be done with Henry Bristow—I mean Captain Von Blusen?”
“I don’t know,” replied Shirley. “However, I suppose he will be taken to Washington.”
“He seemed a very nice young man. I wouldn’t have thought he was a German.”
“Well, I suppose there are nice Germans as well as any other kind,” replied Shirley with a laugh. “But I wonder why they took such chances?”
“Orders, I reckon. The Germans have shown great daring and bravery in this war.”
“I should say they have. I wonder if the United States will be drawn into the war.” ”

“ She did not cry out, but Mabel’s quick eyes detected her friend’s plight. She uttered an exclamation of dismay and hurried to her aid.
“Shirley!” was all she could say.
With her foot pinned beneath the wheel, Shirley smiled at her.
“I’m caught,” she said simply. “How is the little girl?”
Mabel bent over, and examined her chum’s predicament. Then she laid hold of the wheel and attempted to lift it.
“I can’t move it,” she said, and continued to tug desperately at the wheel and heavy axle.
“You had better call some one to help you,” said Shirley calmly. ”

“ Came a cry from the man at the rudder, and the eyes of the others followed his gaze toward the distant horizon. They beheld a faint cloud in the otherwise clear sky.
“Steamer!” cried the first man.
The cloud approached nearer and at last the outline of a ship, appearing very small at that distance, could be made out. It was headed on a course that would bring it almost directly in the path of the smaller boat.
As the hull of the vessel grew larger by its approach, occasional cheers broke from the lips of those in the little craft. ”

“ They had unconsciously walked further and further away from the water’s edge, in among a grove of trees.
“We are lost!” cried Lois.
“Lost!” echoed Mabel.
“Yes. I don’t know where we are. I have never been in these woods before.”
“Oh, I guess we’ll get out all right,” said Mabel confidently.
She moved forward, but in the darkness she had no means of telling whether she was going in the right direction. The girls walked quickly this way and that, but they could find no exit from the grove of trees.
Mabel raised her young voice in a cry for help, and Lois added hers to it. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Again Gabriel whinnied.
Gabriel took the lump of sugar from the girl’s hand and munched it contentedly. Then he pleaded for more.
“No, sir,” said Shirley, stepping back. “One lump is all you get; you should know better than to ask for more. If Dad knew I had given you even one, he wouldn’t like it.”
She stepped farther back and surveyed the animal with a critical eye.
“And so,” she said, speaking to Gabriel, “you are going to win the Derby for Dad and me this year.” ”

“ He turned on his heel and left the room.
“When shall we get under way again, captain?” asked Colonel Ashton.
“First thing in the morning,” was the reply. “We’ll probably be out of sight of land when you tumble out.”
“We can’t get away from here any too quick to suit me,” declared Shirley.
“No, indeed,” Mabel agreed. “We have had trouble enough to last us for a long time to come. The sooner we get back to civilization the better.”
“And that goes for all of us,” agreed Mr. Willing.
“I’m glad to have you back aboard the Yucatan,” declared Captain Anderson. ”

“ Others who had heard Shirley’s words followed him. Soon every human being on the place was crowding around the stable.
Mr. Willing arrived first, and bent over the form of his old servant.
“What’s the matter, Frank?” he asked gently.
“Gabriel,” gasped the old negro, whose senses had now come back to him. “Gabriel! He dun kill me!”
“Oh, it’s not as bad as all that,” replied Mr. Willing hopefully. He turned to the crowd of negroes gathered about. “Telephone for Dr. Thompson, quick, one of you. Here,” motioning to two others, “help me carry him to the house.” ”

“ Of the many aboard the ship the only ones who did not know what had happened were the engine crew and stokers.
The wireless had been among the first points seized, and the operator had had no opportunity of sending a message.
And now a young man moved about among the passengers, assuring them that there was no danger so long as they kept quiet. This young man came aft on the promenade deck where the Willing party stood.
Even as Shirley had surmised, he was Henry Bristow.
He smiled as he approached them.
“Well,” growled Mr. Willing, “I see you have put the thing through.” ”

“ 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 109 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. ”

“ Lois gave a startled cry.
“She will be drowned!” she cried.
“I’m not sure about that,” said Mabel quietly. “You see, I know Shirley a little better than you do. If there is one way by which she can reach safety, Shirley is sure to find it.”
“I do hope she will not be harmed,” said Lois, beginning to cry.
Refugees fled to the highlands in droves, leaving everything behind. Mr. Geddis and his party advanced, just on the edge of the high ground, down the valley. Here they came upon others who had been forced to flee for safety. ”

“ The passengers bade them an affectionate good-bye as they left the Yucatan at San Diego, and then they entered a taxi and were driven to a hotel, where they once more made themselves comfortable for a stay ashore.
They spent two days at the San Diego exposition, and then took a train for San Francisco to view, as Shirley expressed it, “the greatest sight they ever expected to see.” ”

“ Now darkness, thick and intense, descended over the valley, and neither horse nor rider could see five yards ahead. But neither lost heart, Hero plunging straight ahead and Shirley clinging tightly to his neck and uttering low words of encouragement. ”

“ 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 114 near. They’ll have the bluejackets out searching for us.” ”

“ Shirley was slight and slender, with a wealth of auburn hair and cheeks like roses. All her life she had been athletically inclined, and for the past two years—ever since she had been attending the Blue Grass Seminary—she had indulged in outdoor sports continually.
The Blue Grass Seminary was one of those schools in which the chief object was to produce not only cultured and educated young women, but 22 physically perfect ones as well. ”

“ A bugle sounded, piping the crew to quarters. The commander detailed a landing party of one hundred and fifty marines and sailors. These were quickly rowed to the shore—Mabel going with them as a guide, for she refused to be left behind.
Once ashore, the girl led the way toward where she had left her friends, the men going forward at the double-quick, their weapons ready for instant use.
When General Orizaba perceived that Mabel had made good her flight, his anger knew no bounds. He berated his men roundly and danced about like a madman. Then he turned to Dick. ”

“ A moment later the top of the stall door swung inward.
The light from a lantern flashed into Jimmy’s face, and he saw a hand stretched forth to open the catch of the bottom door. He saw two faces, one of which he recognized as that of Jones. The other man he had never seen before.
Without stopping to think, Jimmy raised his revolver 121 and fired, even as Jones, having caught sight of the lad, uttered an exclamation of dismay.
A groan followed the shot and then Jimmy heard Jones cry:
“Quick, Dick! He is armed. Put out the light!” ”

“ The captain did so, and the others listened with amazement to the story of the plot to capture the Yucatan, and its ultimate outcome.
“They are smart girls,” declared Mrs. Sebastian, “but this time I believe we have them safe.”
“I sincerely hope so,” was the reply.
An hour later the girls were left alone.
“What on earth shall we do?” exclaimed Mabel.
“There is nothing we can do,” replied Shirley. “We must wait for some one to rescue us.”
“Do you suppose there is anything in what Captain Von Blusen gave as his reason for being here?” ”

“ Leonard and the two girls darted through the door and down the steps after the fleeing man, but when they reached the sidewalk Jones had disappeared.
“We’ve lost him,” she cried.
“Yes,” said Mabel, “and he’ll hurry to the place where Jimmy is being held, and take him some place else. It was a mistake to show him that note, for he is aware we know that Jimmy is confined some place on the creek.”
“Then the best thing to do,” said Leonard, “is to get down by the creek. We may be fortunate enough to hit the right direction.”
“Let’s go at once then,” said Shirley. ”

“ The young ones gave chase, their shouts and cries carrying across the water to the occupants of the boat.
“Well!” exclaimed Shirley, now that they were out of harm’s way at last, “they are vicious little things, aren’t they?”
“Rather,” replied the officer dryly. “If a person fell 105 into their hands it would go hard with him.”
“But what makes them so fierce?” asked Mabel, greatly interested.
“That’s hard to say. However, it probably is because they are half starved and look upon the whole world as a common foe. More than one tourist has received rough treatment at their hands.” ”

“ Mr. Wilson himself came running out of the door as Shirley dismounted, and lent a hand to carry Jimmy’s unconscious body into the store, where they laid him down gently on a sofa in the rear.
Shirley bent over Jimmy anxiously.
“Is he badly hurt, Mr. Wilson?” she asked.
“I am afraid he is,” was the slow reply. “His face is badly battered, as you can see. He must have been struck a terrible blow. How did it happen?”
Shirley explained.
“I’ll call a doctor immediately,” said Mr. Wilson and hastened to the telephone.
The physician arrived a few minutes later. ”

“ Willing hands darted out and seized the woman, and she was taken before the man who still grasped young Bristow by the arm.
Shirley and Mabel pushed their way forward.
“I saw this woman steal a bolt of silk and some laces,” declared Shirley. “I would have said nothing about it had not Mr. Bristow, whom I know, been accused.”
“It isn’t true!” cried the woman. “The girl is in the plot with the man.”
Shirley’s face grew red.
“I am not!” she declared. “This woman is guilty. She put the things under that long cape.”
The floor walker was plainly mystified. ”

“ A moment more and complete darkness enveloped the stable.
Jimmy dropped to the ground, keeping as close to the wall as he could, for he did not want to get in the way of Gabriel’s hoofs. Frightened by the shot, Gabriel was rearing and plunging about. Several times his forefeet came down close to Jimmy’s head, but fortunately the lad was untouched. ”

“ Shirley immediately announced her intention of being one of the landing party, and loath to let the girl go alone, Mr. Willing and the others also determined to go ashore.
Half an hour later found them strolling about the dirty looking narrow streets of the little town.
Poorly-dressed natives, men, women and children, eyed them queerly as they walked along, the latter following them for blocks begging for money. Shirley would have given one of the children a piece of silver but for the first officer of the ship, who stayed her. ”

“ Each morning and afternoon Jimmy put him through a stiff run along Willing’s trial track, and Mr. Willing, after examining the racehorse carefully, announced that he was in fine condition.
“He’s on edge right now,” he declared. “We mustn’t train him too fine, but we must give him enough work to keep him from growing stale.”
The date for the big Derby was fast approaching. Experts and racing men from all over the country came to the Willing farm almost daily, seeking to have a look at Gabriel, who had been picked almost unanimously to win the big race. ”