nspection. Perhaps the high brows at Manila are wise
to what is going on here, and have sent the _Miles_ to look into the
matter. Then we're left, eh?"

As the _Manhattan_ was now nosing her way into the mouth of the little
stream referred to by Pat, and Ned was fully occupied in working her in,
he made no reply to the suggestions thus presented. However, he was
studying over the proposition with a wish in his breast that the _Miles_
might not be at that time in the legitimate service of the government.

He was virtually disobeying the positive orders of Major John Ross in
cruising about in the _Manhattan_ at that time. If he had obeyed
instructions he would doubtless be in Manila now awaiting the slow
unwinding of red tape, instead of there in the channel. He had taken the
bit in his teeth and desired to "make good."

Besides, he was satisfied that the government officers, if the _Miles_
really was there on an official mission, would merely disperse the
native chiefs if they were discovered and permit the plotters to escape.
This would only put off the day of final action, for the chiefs would
continue to assemble and discuss the treaty until the Philippines were
in a blaze of war or the men who were urging them on were in prison.

"There," said Frank, presently, "no person out there in the bay can get
a look at us so long as we remain here."

Indeed the harbor was an ideal hiding place. The stream turned sharply
to the east from its northerly course just before it reached the white
beach, ran a few yards in that direction, and then turned north once
more and emptied into the sea. This placed a dense growth of jungle
between the beach and the position taken by the _Manhattan_, which had
passed into the channel running east and west and was effectively
screened from view on either side by the growths of the jungle.

As soon as the boat was in the position desired, Ned crossed the arm of
land lying between the stream and the beach and looked out with his
glass. The _Miles_ passed while he stood there, the American flag flying
from her masthead. When he went back to the _Manhattan_ there was a
troubled look on his face.

"She's on government service, all right," he said to Pat and Frank, "I
saw men in uniform on her deck."

"I didn't see anybody land," said Pat.

"Did she communicate with the shore in any way?" asked Ned.

"Well, there were native boats plying about and they might have taken
some of the brown m