two rebels were seen to fall. Some started to run, but others held
their ground.

Larry listened in amazement. He had heard the names Jose Lupez and
Benedicto, and knew that the two Spaniards were brothers. Could this
Spaniard, Benedicto Lupez, be the man who had made off with the money
Braxton Bogg had stolen from the Hearthstone Saving Institution?

CHAPTER VIII

A PRISONER OF THE FILIPINOS

Larry had retreated to a small nipa hut standing close to the roadway,
feeling that if the Americans were coming in that direction, they
would soon be at hand to give Luke and himself aid.

While the insurgents and the Spaniards were conversing, the latter had
approached the hut, and now both followed the young sailor inside.

"Is your name Benedicto Lupez?" demanded Larry, approaching the taller
of the pair.

"Yes," was the short response.

"Then you are from Manila--you ran away from there about two weeks
ago?"

"Ha! what do you know of that?" demanded the Spaniard, eying Larry
darkly.

"I know a good deal about you," answered the youth, boldly. "After
Braxton Bogg was arrested you made off with the money he had left at
your residence."

"'Tis false!" roared the Spaniard, but his face blanched even as he
spoke. "I know nothing of that man or his money. I--I was deceived in
him."

"If that is so, why did you leave Manila in such a hurry?"

"I--I wanted to help my brother, who was in trouble. I have not seen a
dollar of Bogg's money. 'Tis he who still owes me for his board, black
wretch that he was!" roared Benedicto Lupez, savagely.

At these words Larry was startled. Was Lupez really telling the
truth, and if so, where was the money that had wrecked the saving
institution?

"He didn't even pay his board?"

"Not one piaster, boy,--nothing. And I thought him honest, or I would
not have taken him in."

"But his valise is gone, and the bands around the money--"

"Were as he left them. I can swear I touched absolutely nothing,"
answered Benedicto Lupez, earnestly.

Larry was nonplussed. Had the Spaniard looked less of a villain, the
young sailor would have been inclined to believe him. But that face
was so crafty and calculating that he still hesitated.

"Well, if you are innocent, you will not object to helping me rejoin
our soldiers," he ventured.

"I want nothing to do with the _Americanos_,--they mean to get me into
trouble, even though I am innocent," growled Benedicto Lupez. "Come,
Jose, w