rebellion. They could not be placed under arrest, and yet that is
what nine out of ten deserved.

When Larry was once more himself he found that it was night. He was in
a heap in a large casco which several Tagals were propelling with all
speed across the Laguna de Bay. There were several other cascos in
front and behind, all filled with natives with guns. The entire
procession moved along in almost utter silence.

The youth wanted to know where he was being taken, but no sooner did
he open his mouth than one of the soldiers clapped a dirty hand over
it and commanded him to be silent. As the soldier carried a bolo in
his hand, Larry considered "discretion the better part of valor," and
for the time being, held his peace.

A swarm of mosquitoes soon told the boy that they were approaching a
marsh, and presently the casco ran in between the reeds and under some
high, overhanging tropical bushes. Then those on board leaped ashore,
and the youth was made to follow them.

A weary tramp over the marsh and then up a high hill followed. The
hill was covered with wild plantains, monstrous ferns, and a species
of cedar tree, all thickly interlaced with the ever present tropical
vines, which crossed and recrossed the tortuous path the party was
following. Overhead the stars shone down dimly, while the forest was
filled with the cries of the birds, the chattering of an occasional
monkey, and the constant drone and chirp of the innumerable insects.
The path was uneven, and more than once Larry pitched into a hollow
along with the Tagal who accompanied him and who never let go his hold
on the youthful prisoner.

At last they came to a halt before a series of rocks. Here there was a
rude cave, partly concealed by bushes. As the party halted, several
natives came from the cave to give them welcome. There was no doubt
but that this was a rendezvous well known to the insurgents.

"A prisoner is it?" said one of the natives, coming forward and
holding up a torch of pitch. "A mere boy. Bah, Lanza, cannot you do
better?"

"He was with the soldiers who took Santa Cruz, and he wears the cap
from a warship," replied Lanza. "It may be we can get more out of him
than out of somebody older."

"Well, perhaps; but I would rather you had brought in a man," was the
brief response.

The conversation was in the Tagalog dialect, and consequently Larry
did not understand a word of it. The boy was made to march into the
cave, which he found t