imed, shaking the Filipino warmly by
the hand. "We found Boy Scouts in Mexico, and in the Canal Zone, and now
in the Philippines. They hop out on us wherever we go, like 'skeeters!"

There was now a long and serious talk concerning the course to be
pursued. Jimmie and Jack told of meeting the man who had been followed
to Yokohama, and also of the senator's son and the box he carried. The
Filipino told what he knew of the plans of those on board the steamer,
now gradually drawing away from them.

"Are you sure that the men in charge of the steamer are American
military men?" asked Ned.

"Sure!" was the reply. "I came from Manila with them."

"And they are in the service of the government?"

"Sure!"

"Then what are they doing on that island, in company with the insurgent
chiefs?" demanded Frank, but the Filipino only shook his head.

He insisted that Lieutenant Carstens, who was in command of the vessel
from which the steam launch had come, was a fine officer, and high in
the esteem of the Manila authorities.

"Then what is he monkeyin' with the rebel chiefs for?" demanded Jimmie.
"It looks to me like Uncle Sam was goin' to get the double cross."

"Why don't you go back to the steamer," asked Pat of Ned, "and go on
board?"

"That would be fine!" cried Jack.

"What could they do to him?" demanded Frank.

"That boat is here to make trouble for me," Ned said, in a moment. "I
can't understand what is going on, but I know that it would not be safe
for me to go on board."

"For why?" asked Jack.

"I should be accused of murder," was the grave reply.

"For shootin' the dagoes who were shootin' at you?" demanded Jimmie.

"That will be the charge," Ned replied.

"Then we'll become pirates!" Jack cried. "We'll sail the raving deep and
get a new plank for prisoners to walk as soon as the old one wears out.
We'll be bold, bad men on the Spanish main!"

"Cut it out!" Frank said. "This is no joke. They've got the goods on us
for that shooting, and we've got to keep out of the way until Ned
discovers the inner workings of this red tape machine."

The truth of this statement was so apparent that there was little more
argument on the subject. It seemed that, in trying to defend the
government against a gang of conspirators and traitors, Ned had indeed
come to a point of open rupture with some of the men in authority.

For some unknown reason they were chasing him down. Twice he had come to
the spot where the treas