class="x-ebookmaker-pageno" title="41"/> ensign was run up the masthead and fluttered in the breeze.

A great cheer broke from most of the passengers aboard the Yucatan. Shirley and Mabel joined in it.

At that moment Dick caught sight of the face of Bristow, who stood near. His lips were compressed, and he scowled fiercely.

“He’s no Englishman, that’s sure,” muttered the young man to himself.

Suddenly, from across the water, came the sound of a big gun, and a solid shot struck the water dead ahead of the Yucatan.

Immediately her engines were stopped, and the passenger steamer came to a stop.

Instantly wild alarm spread over the ship.

“We’ve been fired on,” cried Shirley. “Will they sink us?”

Dick smiled.

“Oh, I guess not,” he replied. “That’s just a signal to heave-to and give an account of ourselves.”

“But what business have they stopping an American ship?” exclaimed Shirley.

“It is permissible under the laws of war,” explained Dick. “You see, the Yucatan might be an enemy flying the American flag. As soon as they find out we are all right, they will allow us to proceed.”

“And would we have to stop just the same for a German?”

“Of course.”

“I wouldn’t like that,” declared Shirley. “I don’t mind the English. My grandmother was English, you know.”

“Well, I guess my sympathies are a little that way, too,” agreed Dick.

The wireless now began to sputter as messages were exchanged between the Yucatan and the British cruiser. The latter had approached close enough to make out the Yucatan, and now signalled her to proceed on her course.

As the big ship of war turned and made off, a second ovation was given her by the passengers. Men waved their hats and women their handkerchiefs.

Suddenly Shirley seized Dick by the arm, and pointed, whispering:

“Look at that!”

Far aft, Henry Bristow gazed across the water at the British cruiser, and Shirley had perceived that there was hate in his eyes. Even as Dick looked in the direction Shirley pointed, Bristow raised a fist and shook it fiercely at the receding war vessel, while strange words issued from between his lips.