“But you won’t report the captain’s presence here?” exclaimed Shirley hopefully.
“No; I shall say nothing about it unless I am asked.”
“Thank you again, captain,” said the young officer.
He turned on his heel and left the room.
“When shall we get under way again, captain?” asked Colonel Ashton.
“First thing in the morning,” was the reply. “We’ll probably be out of sight of land when you tumble out.”
“We can’t get away from here any too quick to suit me,” declared Shirley.
“No, indeed,” Mabel agreed. “We have had trouble enough to last us for a long time to come. The sooner we get back to civilization the better.”
“And that goes for all of us,” agreed Mr. Willing.
“I’m glad to have you back aboard the Yucatan,” declared Captain Anderson. “To tell the truth, I didn’t expect to see you in Mazatlan. I felt sure you would eventually find the young ladies safe and sound, but I feared I should have to make the rest of the trip without you. I tell you, it made me feel good to run across young Stanley here this afternoon.”