CHAPTER XXVIII.--ALL ABOARD AGAIN.
Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton, to go back to the time that Dick leftthem after the departure of Consul Harrington, were greatly alarmed whenthe boy failed to return immediately. Half an hour after his departureConsul Harrington returned with General Seauterey and half a dozentroopers.
The general announced that he was not only willing but eager to round upHernandez, who, he said, was the real head of the revolution in WesternMexico. Mr. Willing expressed his alarm over Dick's safety, and theywaited ten minutes.
"I'll have my clerk tell him to wait when he comes in," said the consul."There is no use delaying longer."
To this Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton agreed.
"Dick is always turning up missing," declared the colonel.
"But he always turns up safe again," replied Mr. Willing.
"Oh, he'll be back all right," said the consul. "He can hardly havefallen into any danger this time."
Fisher, the man who had trailed the conspirators to their lair, nowsummoned two automobiles, and the party climbed in. The trip to thehouse where the girls had been confined was made in record time, and ashort distance away a halt was called.
General Seauterey and his men now took the lead, and surrounded thehouse. The general himself approached the door and knocked on it loudly.There was no response, but a second sharp knock brought a voice frombehind the door. It was a woman's voice and it said:
"What is wanted?"
"Open the door!" demanded the general.
"Who are you?"
"General Seauterey."
There was an exclamation of dismay from within, and the sound ofretreating footsteps. Again the general pounded on the door. There wasno response and he called to two of his men.
"Break down the door," he instructed them.
The heavy rifle butts of the soldiers crashed against the wood,shattering it. Several hard kicks and it was in splinters. With drawnrevolver General Seauterey led the way.
Two soldiers, Mr. Willing, Colonel Ashton and Captain Von Blusenfollowed him. The others remained on guard without to prevent the escapeof the fugitives.
Through the house strode the general, throwing wide the doors of thevarious rooms. And at last he brought up against another locked door.This was burst in as had been the first, and the general advanced first.
Came a shot from the room, and the general staggered back, then movedforward again. At the far side of the room were two figures, the generalcould just make out in the darkness.
"Hands up!" he cried.
"Don't shoot!" came in a woman's voice. "We surrender!"
"Come forward then," said the general.
Two women, who proved to be Mrs. Hernandez and Mrs. Sebastian, advancedshrinking.
"Where is Hernandez?" demanded the general.
"He is not here," was the reply. "We expect him back any moment."
"Where is he?"
"He went after the two prisoners, who escaped."
"Your prisoners have escaped?" demanded the general.
"Yes."
The general turned to one of his men.
"Call the others within," he ordered.
The other four troopers came into the house, followed by the Americansand the German captain. Mr. Willing was the first to see Mrs. Sebastian,and he sprang toward her.
"What have you done with my daughter, madam?" he demanded.
Mrs. Sebastian shrank back from him.
Colonel Ashton also stepped forward and angrily demanded that Mabel beproduced at once. Then Mrs. Sebastian spoke.
"They have escaped!" she declared.
Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton were skeptical. Mrs. Sebastian saw thatthey did not believe her.
"It is true," she declared. "They locked me in a room and jumped from awindow. Hernandez has gone after them."
"We'll wait here for Hernandez to return," decided General Seauterey."We'll get him when he comes back, and if he has the prisoners it willsave us further search."
None doubted that this was the best plan, and so all sat down to wait,General Seauterey meanwhile keeping watch at the door himself.
Suddenly he sprang to his feet.
"Here he comes--alone!" he cried.
He motioned his men to the door.
"He'll run when he sees the broken door," he said. "I'll command him tohalt. If he doesn't obey, fire."
It was as the general had predicted. When Hernandez saw the broken door,he stopped in surprise. Then he turned and would have run. GeneralSeauterey stepped forward and shouted:
"Halt!"
Hernandez paid no heed.
"Fire!" cried the general.
Two puffs of smoke and two sharp cracks. Hernandez fell to the ground,but sat up in a moment and seized his left foot in his hand, at the sametime moaning with pain.
"Good work, men!" cried the general. "Go and bring him here!"
Two of the soldiers obeyed, and Hernandez was soon in the house.
"Where are the two prisoners?" demanded the general.
Hernandez looked at him and sneered.
"Find out," he said.
"So I will," returned the general.
He motioned to his men.
"Bind the prisoners and put them in the car outside," he ordered.
Then he led the way from the house.
"I shall have this man questioned more fully," he said to the consul,"and I shall send you a message to the consulate within an hour. He willnot fail to tell what he knows of the prisoners."
With this Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton were forced to be content,although the anxiety of each was growing at every minute.
The Mexicans and their prisoners climbed into one of the automobiles,and the Americans and Captain von Blusen into the other. They werewhirled back to the consulate.
The clerk addressed Mr. Willing.
"Captain Anderson, of the Steamship _Yucatan_, was here a few momentsago, sir," he said. "He desires your presence aboard immediately. Hesays he has important news for you."
"Regarding my daughter?" asked Mr. Willing eagerly.
"He didn't say, sir," replied the clerk.
"Come, Ashton," cried Mr. Willing excitedly. "Perhaps Captain Andersonhas learned something."
"I shall accompany you," said Captain von Blusen.
The others offered no objection and the three hurried away together, Mr.Willing telling Consul Harrington that they would let him know theresult of their trip.
At the water front they were fortunate enough to find an unengagedboatman, who offered to put them aboard the _Yucatan_ for a fair price.
"Never mind the price," said Mr. Willing. "Hurry and get us there."
The boatman wasted no time, and soon they were heading for the bigsteamship as fast as they could go.
Dusk was just falling as they went swiftly over the water, and nonecould but think what a pretty spectacle the great ship made with herthousands of electric lights shining brightly.
"And that's the ship you attempted to get away with, Captain VonBlusen," said Mr. Willing.
"Yes, and would have gotten away with but for Miss Ashton," replied thecaptain. "However, I bear no ill will. It is the fortune of war."
"And we bear you no ill will, captain," declared Colonel Ashton. "It istrue that you have made us considerable trouble, but I appreciate yourposition in the matter. I know that you were acting under orders."
"Thank you," replied the captain.
"I can say the same, sir," declared Mr. Willing, "Here, at the last, youhave been of service to us, and in view of that, things that have gonebefore must be overlooked."
"Thank you, sir."
The little boat now scraped alongside the _Yucatan_. Several momentslater the three were aboard the big steamship and rushing toward CaptainAnderson's quarters.
Their arrival had been reported before they came aboard, and so theyfound Captain Anderson alone.
"Glad to see you gentlemen again," said the captain, shaking
hands withMr. Willing and Colonel Ashton. He looked Captain Von Blusen overcoldly. "I shall talk to you later," he added.
Captain Von Blusen bowed.
"Oh, he is all right, captain," said Mr. Willing. "He has been of greataid to us in searching for our daughters."
"So?" Captain Anderson's stern expression relaxed a trifle. "I am gladto hear it."
He held out his hand, and the young German grasped it.
"You but did your duty, as you saw it, I suppose," said CaptainAnderson.
"What is the piece of news you have for us, Captain Anderson?" askedColonel Willing, who had been waiting impatiently for the commander ofthe _Yucatan_ to broach the subject that had called them aboard.
"Have chairs, gentlemen," said the captain, ignoring the question.
The others sat down, the older men twisting about uneasily. At last Mr.Willing could stand it no longer.
"Captain," he cried, jumping to his feet, "if you have any words of ourdaughters, tell us. Don't keep us in suspense any longer."
Captain Anderson gazed at him steadily for a few moments, then arose,and walked to a door in his cabin.
"I have three prisoners here I would like you to see," he said quietly.
With a sudden movement he threw wide the door, and there stepped forthfirst Dick, then Shirley, then Mabel.
The two men absolutely ignored Dick, who stepped aside.
With glad cries the others rushed toward each other. Shirley foundherself clasped in her father's arms, and Mabel and her father alsoclung tight together. Then they stepped back and looked at each other.
"This is my little surprise," said Captain Anderson with a smile.