“Halt!”
The troop stopped abruptly, and grounded their arms. Shirley and Mabel also paused, as they believed the words were meant for them. Then, seeing the soldiers pause, they moved on again. But again came the cry of “Halt.”
The girls halted in their tracks.
The commander, whom they perceived was a man well along toward seventy, but who nevertheless walked perfectly erect and who looked very imposing in his bright military uniform, advanced toward them.
“What are you young ladies doing here?” he asked courteously, in English.
“We were just walking about the city, sir,” replied Shirley, her voice trembling somewhat in spite of the efforts she made to keep it steady.
“Where do you come from?”
“Steamship in the harbor, sir.”
“You mean the cruiser?”
“No, sir,” replied Mabel. “The passenger steamer, sir.”