ve business men.

"Spies, eh?" he queried, when the guard had told him about the
prisoners. "Bring them in immediately."

Larry and Luke were told to enter the room, and did so, their still
wet clothing forming little puddles at their feet. The guards stood
beside and behind them. General Bamodo eyed them critically. He spoke
no English, and so called in an interpreter.

"Where are you from?" demanded the interpreter, presently, after a few
words with his superior.

"We are from the warship _Olympia_," answered Luke, briefly.

"You were sent here by General Otis as spies, not so?"

"No, sir, we are jest plain, everyday sailors."

"Then what brought you here?" demanded the interpreter, after
translating their words to General Bamodo.

"We missed our way on the road," put in Larry, before Luke could
answer. He thought it best not to say anything about accompanying
General Lawton's expedition.

"You must have missed it very much, General Bamodo says," growled the
interpreter, after another consultation with his superior. "Santa
Cruz is a good many miles from Manila harbor."

To this Larry remained silent, and another talk in Spanish followed.
Then a sudden shot from a distance caused General Bamodo to leap to
his feet and dash down his cigar.

"Take them to the prison--I will examine them later on," he said, in
Spanish, and hurried away.

A few minutes later Larry and his Yankee friend were marched off, this
time to a stone building several squares away. Here they were taken
inside, thrust into a cell, the iron-barred door was locked upon them,
and they were left to their fate.

CHAPTER VI

IN WHICH LUKE STRIKER IS WOUNDED

The plan to surprise Santa Cruz had failed, yet General Lawton's
command was just as eager as ever to press forward and do battle with
the native garrison, of which the town on the Laguna de Bay boasted.
It was thought the Filipino command could not be a strong one, and
even if it had been the Americans would have gone ahead just the same,
so accustomed were they to victory over their misguided foes.

It was arranged that the centre and left wing of the infantry should
move directly upon the town, while the right wing should swing around,
to cut off the Filipinos' retreat, should they start such a movement.
In the meantime, protected by a cross fire from the tinclads, _Laguna_
and _Oeste_, the cavalry landed on the hill overlooking the bay, and
began to do battle with the en