rgeant Hal angrily.

"A trick?" laughed Tomba softly. "Is that what you think it is? My
friend, you will find that it is much more than a trick--it is a
decree!"

"A decree?" raged Sergeant Overton. "What do you mean?"

"It is a decree from Senor Draney," went on Tomba coldly, maliciously.
"It can do no harm to mention that name since you can never repeat it to
anyone but me, for Senor Draney's decree is that, when you go forth from
here--to-night--you will know nothing afterwards, for you will be _past
knowing_."

CHAPTER VI

LIFE HANGS ON A WORD

"You are talking like a madman," sneered Hal.

"And next you will be begging like one," returned Tomba, with that same
easy but deadly laugh.

Hal, despite his grit, felt a start of terror. Cold sweat was now
gathering on his forehead.

"You refused my friendship some days ago," continued Tomba. "You did not
know how valuable it might be."

"Can the friendship of a scoundrel like you ever be valuable?" asked
Overton.

"In the present case it would be worth a little to you--your life!"

"What did you want of me, when you sought my acquaintance?" demanded
Hal.

He had suddenly become seized with a desire to prolong the talk with
this little brown monster--to gain time!

"There was something that you could have done for me," replied Vicente
Tomba.

The Tagalo, like others of his race, was not averse to talking, either.
The little Filipino knew that he had the whole situation in his hands.
With the cruelty of a cat, Tomba delighted in the feline pastime of
playing with a victim that could not escape him.

"What did you want me to do?" Hal asked almost blandly.

"I wanted your services."

"Yes, but what kind of services?"

"What is the use of telling you--_now_?"

"Tell me one thing, though, Tomba."

"Why?"

"Just to gratify my curiosity," explained Sergeant Hal, and he spoke
slowly while his eyes watched those of the Filipino. "Did you want me to
betray my Flag?"

"Not the Flag itself."

"But, in some way, you wanted me to turn against my comrades--to serve
you and your friends at the expense of the United States Government."

"Yes," assented Tomba. "But do not think to deceive me. It is too late
now to save yourself by promising what I would have wanted of you."

"I don't intend to serve you and your rascal friends at any price--at
least, I haven't yet come to that decision," Hal added, in a more
conciliatory tone. "However, I am curi