Whereat Bella became happy again, and ran to the side of her mother and father, to whom she told the good news.
That evening the American consul sent word to the members of the foreign colony that Captain Brown of the Pensacola would take all citizens of the United States on board the Pensacola on the morrow and carry them to Panama, and that he extended like invitations to other non-combatants who wished to escape from the beleaguered city.
“The word ‘non-combatant’ applies to you, Miss Bella,” said Captain Saunders, smiling at the young Peruvian.
He was right. The commander of the cruiser was glad that he could grant passage to the friends of the Saunders and Dartmoors, and by three o’clock the next day those who had planned the overland trip were stowed away, bag and baggage, on the American man-of-war. As she steamed out of port an hour later, two persons waved good-bys from the Peruvian state barge, that had been pulled out into the harbor. One was General Matajente and the other Señor Cisneros.
The war-ship steamed near the Blanco Encalada, and through a speaking-trumpet Captain Brown thanked the admiral for permitting his entrance into the harbor. Then the course was shaped for the north.
At five o’clock the land was but a blue haze in the distance. Carl, Louis, and Harvey stood at the stern rail and watched the fading outlines.
“Good-by, Peru,” said Carl, finally. “I suppose I shall never see you again.”
“Poor Peru!” exclaimed Louis. “She has been kind to us. I wonder what her future will be?”
Harvey said nothing, but to him the shore line was even more dim than to the others, for a mist had formed in his eyes.