Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton, to go back to the time that Dick left
them after the departure of Consul Harrington, were greatly alarmed when
the boy failed to return immediately. Half an hour after his departure
Consul Harrington returned with General Seauterey and half a dozen
troopers.
The general announced that he was not only willing but eager to round up
Hernandez, who, he said, was the real head of the revolution in Western
Mexico. Mr. Willing expressed his alarm over Dick's safety, and they
waited 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 have
fallen into any danger this time."
Fisher, the man who had trailed the conspirators to their lair, now
summoned two automobiles, and the party climbed in. The trip to the
house where the girls had been confined was made in record time, and a
short distance away a halt was called.
General Seauterey and his men now took the lead, and surrounded the
house. The general himself approached the door and knocked on it loudly.
There was no response, but a second sharp knock brought a voice from
behind 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 of
retreating footsteps. Again the general pounded on the door. There was
no 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 drawn
revolver General Seauterey led the way.
Two soldiers, Mr. Willing, Colonel Ashton and Captain Von Blusen
followed him. The others remained on guard without to prevent the escape
of the fugitives.
Through the house strode the general, throwing wide the doors of the
various 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 moved
forward again. At the far side of the room were two figures, the general
could 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, advanced
shrinking.
"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 Americans
and 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 be
produced at once. Then Mrs. Sebastian spoke.
"They have escaped!" she declared.
Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton were skeptical. Mrs. Sebastian saw that
they did not believe her.
"It is true," she declared. "They locked me in a room and jumped from a
window. 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 will
save 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 to
halt. 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. General
Seauterey 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 same
time 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 will
not 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 were
whirled back to the consulate.
The clerk addressed Mr. Willing.
"Captain Anderson, of the Steamship _Yucatan_, was here a few moments
ago, sir," he said. "He desires your presence aboard immediately. He
says 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 Anderson
has 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 the
result of their trip.
At the water front they were fortunate enough to find an unengaged
boatman, 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 big
steamship as fast as they could go.
Dusk was just falling as they went swiftly over the water, and none
could but think what a pretty spectacle the great ship made with her
thousands of electric lights shining brightly.
"And that's the ship you attempted to get away with, Captain Von
Blusen," said Mr. Willing.
"Yes, and would have gotten away with but for Miss Ashton," replied the
captain. "However, I bear no ill will. It is the fortune of war."
"And we bear you no ill will, captain," declared Colonel Ashton. "It is
true that you have made us considerable trouble, but I appreciate your
position 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, you
have been of service to us, and in view of that, things that have gone
before must be overlooked."
"Thank you, sir."
The little boat now scraped alongside the _Yucatan_. Several moments
later the three were aboard the big steamship and rushing toward Captain
Anderson's quarters.
Their arrival had been reported before they came aboard, and so they
found Captain Anderson alone.
"Glad to see you gentlemen again," said the captain, shaking hands with
Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton. He looked Captain Von Blusen over
coldly. "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 great
aid to us in searching for our daughters."
"So?" Captain Anderson's stern expression relaxed a trifle. "I am glad
to 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 Captain
Anderson.
"What is the piece of news you have for us, Captain Anderson?" asked
Colonel Willing, who had been waiting impatiently for the commander of
the _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 our
daughters, 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 forth
first Dick, then Shirley, then Mabel.
The two men absolutely ignored Dick, who stepped aside.
With glad cries the others rushed toward each other. Shirley found
herself clasped in her father's arms, and Mabel and her father also
clung tight together. Then they stepped back and looked at each other.
"This is my little surprise," said Captain Anderson with a smile.