“H-m-mm-m,” muttered the officer.
Before he could speak further there came, from the town, the sound of more rapidly approaching footsteps.
“Come with me,” cried the Nicaraguan officer quickly, “if you go on you will be hurt. Come quickly.”
He urged his men on with a sharp command.
Shirley and Mabel hung back.
“Quick!” cried the general again. “There will be fighting here in a few minutes, and if you are in the way you are likely to be hurt.”
A squad of men, at his command, surrounded the two girls, and they were forced to go along whether or no.
The troop dashed quickly for the shelter of the woods in which the girls had seen Captain Von Blusen disappear a few moments before.
Once in the shelter of the trees, the officer in command gave several sharp orders, and the troop divided into three parts. Then they flitted rapidly further in among the trees.
Shirley and Mabel, now badly frightened, found themselves with the commanding officer’s section. They could see that they were bearing off to the right and several times would have spoken, but the officer silenced them with a gesture.