The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 51

"Smoke to the leeward, sir!"

All glanced in the direction indicated. There, upon the distant horizon, was a faint cloud of smoke. As they gazed it presently took shape, and half an hour later it did not take the second cry of the lookout to tell them the approaching vessel was a battle cruiser of the first cla.s.s.

"Wonder what this one is?" said s.h.i.+rley, as the vessel drew nearer.

"I don't know. It might be German. It has been supposed there were two German vessels in these waters, but we have already encountered one.

This may be another."

"It's hardly possible, though," said Mr. Willing. "Captain Von Blusen, to your knowledge, are there any German s.h.i.+ps of war in these waters?"

"I can't answer that question definitely, sir," he replied. "All I can say is that it is possible."

"I don't believe this is a German," said d.i.c.k. "But whatever she is she is coming right toward us."

It was true. The stranger was shaping a course that would intercept the _Yucatan_ several miles ahead.

"I wonder if she will stop us?" said Mabel.

"Of course," replied Captain Von Blusen. "The commander will probably come aboard to have a look at the s.h.i.+p's papers."

"Will he interfere with you?" asked Mabel.

"Hardly," was the reply. "In spite of the fact that I am a German, he will not dare to interfere with me aboard a neutral s.h.i.+p."

"Boom!"

It was the sound of a great gun aboard the cruiser.

"Signal to heave-to," said Captain Anderson.

He made his way to the bridge, and in response to his command, the _Yucatan_ came to a pause. Then all eagerly waited for the cruiser to show her colors.

"German!" was the audible gasp from the pa.s.sengers as the red, white and black of the German Empire were unfurled at the masthead.

"I am coming aboard you," was the message the German commander flashed to Captain Anderson.

A small boat put off from the cruiser and soon b.u.mped alongside the _Yucatan_. A moment later an officer in a smart uniform came over the side. He made his way at once to where Captain Anderson stood on the bridge.

"Is this the way you meet a German naval officer?" he demanded angrily.

Captain Anderson looked at him in surprise.

"What would you have me do?" he demanded, taking a step forward.

"And when you address me, say sir!" exclaimed the German, who seemed rather young and possessed of much self-importance. "You should have met me as I came over-side."

"Say sir to you, eh?" exclaimed Captain Anderson. "If you don't get off my s.h.i.+p in five minutes I'll throw you over the rail."

The German officer stepped back, and half drew a revolver. Captain Anderson advanced another step.

But interference came from an unexpected source.

Captain Von Blusen, who had stood close enough to overhear this conversation, suddenly ascended to the bridge. He walked quickly up behind the German officer, and seizing him by the shoulder, swung him around sharply.

"You forget yourself, Lieutenant Von Meyers!" he said angrily. "Get back to your boat!"

The German lieutenant gazed at this newcomer threateningly, then a look of the greatest astonishment pa.s.sed over his face. He took three quick steps backward.

Captain Von Blusen stood perfectly erect, one hand pointing toward the small boat from which the German lieutenant had just climbed to the deck of the _Yucatan_. He said no further word.

And while officers and pa.s.sengers of the _Yucatan_ looked on in amazement, the German lieutenant took two quick steps forward again, fell upon one knee, took Captain Von Blusen's other hand and touched it with his lips!

Then he arose, saluted, and walked rapidly away.

CHAPTER x.x.x.-THROUGH THE GOLDEN GATE.

There was an audible gasp from pa.s.sengers and crew, and the same question was upon every lip:

"Who is he?"

As the German lieutenant reached the side of the s.h.i.+p, Captain Von Blusen spoke again:

"Lieutenant Von Meyers!"

The lieutenant turned about sharply, and came to attention.

"You will wait with the boat. I shall go with you."

The lieutenant saluted again and stood stiffly erect in his tracks.

Captain Von Blusen turned to Captain Anderson.

"I shall relieve you of the responsibility of my presence immediately, captain," he said quietly. "I shall go aboard the cruiser."

Captain Anderson was too much taken by surprise to mutter more than:

"Very well, sir."

Why he added the "sir" the captain could not have told, but there was something in the bearing of the man that faced him that called it forth involuntarily.

Captain Von Blusen held out his hand, and the commander of the _Yucatan_ grasped it.

"Good luck to you, sir," said the latter.