“You may see they don’t love us very much in these parts,” said the lieutenant with a smile. “They would welcome a chance to shoot us all.”
At the pier the two girls saw their fathers approaching rapidly, and they ran forward to meet them. The meeting was affectionate, for both Mr. Willing and Colonel Ashton had been greatly alarmed at their long absence.
“I am going to keep my eye on you in the future,” declared Mr. Willing.
The girls only laughed. Both men were profuse in their praise of Dick’s gallant actions, and Colonel Ashton declared:
“It’s a good thing we brought him along, Willing.”
The marines gave the Willing party a rousing cheer as they stepped into the Yucatan’s small boat and were rowed back to the vessel.
“I’m glad to see you back,” declared Captain Anderson. “We’re late now. We shall leave here at once.” He turned to the first officer. “You may get under way immediately, sir!”
And as the Yucatan steamed from the harbor, the passengers gathered about the two girls, demanding an account of their experiences.
CHAPTER XIX.—A GUATEMALA ADVENTURE.
“This,” said Captain Anderson, waving his hand, as the steamer entered a little harbor, “is Champerico, the only Guatemalan port at which we shall touch. It is the last Central American republic we shall see. Would you care to go ashore?”