e
sergeant an injustice."

"I don't suspect your sergeant, Freeman. I am more to blame than any one
else, for having allowed the old rule of my predecessor here to remain
in force. Quite a group of natives came, eh, Ray?"

"Seven or eight of them, sir."

"Exactly," nodded Cortland, "and this wretched little half-price native
was one of them. He was brought along on purpose. Probably he was
threatened with having his throat cut if he didn't do what he was told
by the scoundrels. Then, while some of the natives were passing food and
drink through the bars to Tomba and the prisoners, Jones must have had
his attention attracted."

"Sergeant Jones remembers that he was called to the guard-house door for
an instant," interjected Lieutenant Ray.

"Exactly, Ray, and at the same time a light-fingered native slipped a
cunning brown hand into the sergeant's pocket and the key was taken. The
cell door was swiftly unlocked, this native stole in, and Vicente Tomba
stole out. Friends swiftly slipped Tomba one or two articles of clothing
with which to help disguise himself. Then the whole party filed quickly
out, and by this time Vicente Tomba is headed for the mountains and
going fast."

"But Sergeant Jones found the key in his pocket, sir, when I asked him
for it."

"Certainly, Ray. The little brown man who was clever enough to pick the
pocket of the sergeant of the guard found it even less trouble to return
the key."

"Cerverra didn't get away, anyway," muttered Lieutenant Ray, who had
grown suddenly tired and careworn in appearance.

"Undoubtedly that's because Tomba is of more importance to the Moro
plotters than Cerverra. Besides, Cerverra owns property here, and he
can't well afford to be a fugitive from justice."

"What shall I do with this little wretch of a substitute, sir?" queried
the officer of the day.

"Have you questioned this prisoner?"

"Yes, sir, and not a word will he say. He only shakes his head and
pretends that he cannot understand a word of English or Spanish."

"Then take him back and lock him in the same cell," instructed the post
commander. "Keep him there until he does talk."

"Very good, sir."

Barely had Lieutenant Ray reentered the guard house when two shots
sounded on the road toward Bantoc.

"What's that? Trouble starting?" demanded Captain Freeman, darting to
the door and listening.

"It may be only a shooting affray, but we must soon know," replied
Captain Cortland.

All of t