“Get the rifle, Shirley!” called Dick, as he and his opponent struggled for mastery. Shirley leaped forward, stopped, and when she arose she held the rifle. For a moment she considered the advisability of advancing and lending Dick a hand, then concluded that he was more than a match for the Nicaraguan. Besides, the figures were locked in such close embrace that she couldn’t have aided Dick if she would. Now Dick succeeded in shaking off the grip of his opponent, and sprang to his feet. The Nicaraguan did likewise, and sprang back. As Dick leaped forward again, the man’s hand went to his holster, and a revolver flashed in his hand. But before he could bring the weapon to bear, Shirley stepped quickly forward, levelled her rifle at him, and in a clear sharp voice, cried: “Halt!” The man wheeled quickly and as he did so, Dick sprang upon him from behind. A quick blow sent the revolver hurling several feet away, and then Dick stepped back to give free play to his boxing skill. The Nicaraguan rushed at him, but Dick stepped lightly aside, and as the man went by, carried on by the impetus of his rush, Dick struck out straight and true from the shoulder. The Nicaraguan crumpled up in a heap on the ground. Shirley and Mabel ran quickly to Dick’s side. “Are you hurt, Dick?” asked Shirley anxiously. “No!” was the smiling rejoinder, “but I would have been if you had not been prompt with that rifle. That’s all that saved me.” “How did you find us?” asked Mabel. “Followed you. We became alarmed at your absence and I said I thought I could find you. I imagined you had gone for a stroll, and when I saw this bunch of pirates going through the town I guessed that you would fall into their hands. I came along after them and just as I was about to go on I saw you climbing down from the tree.” “Well, you didn’t arrive a minute too soon,” declared Shirley. “We were badly frightened, weren’t we Mabel?” “I know I was,” was her chum’s reply. She turned to Dick. “But how——” “I’ll explain later,” interrupted Dick. “The thing to do now is to get away from here before they return. Come on.” The girls started on ahead of him, and Dick turned for a glance over his shoulder. Then he uttered an exclamation of alarm, and shouted: “Run!” For in that quick glance over his shoulder he had perceived the return of the revolutionists. CHAPTER XVII.—MABEL BRINGS THE BLUEJACKETS. Shirley and Mabel needed no further urging, and took to their heels. Dick followed close behind. In the one brief glance in which he had perceived the return of the soldiers, Dick had been unable to determine whether their presence had been discovered, but he believed it wise to take a chance. Hence his command to run. The three sped lightly over the ground and had gone some distance when they heard a shout from behind, followed by the sharp reports of several rifles. Dick stopped suddenly and called to the girls to halt. They obeyed instantly.