Unmindful of his intention to keep a close eye on the girls, Mr. Willing, now red with anger, made after him, as did the colonel, Captain Anderson and Dick.
The girls found themselves alone in the street.
The noise of the chase had attracted many spectators, among them several members of the native police.
Suddenly Captain Von Blusen emerged from the alleyway on the dead run, his pursuers close on his trail.
Perceiving one man thus followed by many, the native officers decided to interfere. Von Blusen darted past them, evading their outstretched arms by dodging neatly; but the others were not so fortunate.
Pursuers and native police collided with a shock, and there was a tangle of arms and legs as they rolled in the dirty street. The officers freed themselves first, and drawing their revolvers stood by while the others arose.
One of them broke into a torrent of Spanish.
Captain Anderson, the only member of the party who spoke the language, halted in his tracks.
“I’m an American citizen,” he told the policeman. “Take your hands off me,” this to one of the officers who insisted upon holding him by the arm.
The officer chattered volubly and clung to the arm.