been captured at San
Diego. One of these was a close confidential friend of Gomaldo's, but
Keene succeeded after much persuasion in winning them all over. It was
an easier task to make up a company of native privates, who readily
followed their officers when a small payment on account had been given
to each man.

"I don't quite like the job," Sam confessed to Cleary, "but the general
says it's all right and so it must be."

At last the expedition started out. All the natives were dressed in the
native uniform, and the five white men were clad as privates in the
invading army and held as prisoners. After passing the outposts near
San Diego they turned toward the south in the direction of the
mountains where Gomaldo's captured letter had been dated. They were
received with rejoicings in each native village as soon as they showed
the forged letter of Baluna and exhibited their white prisoners. The
villagers showed much interest in the latter, but treated them kindly,
expressing their pity for them and offering them food. They had no
difficulty in obtaining exact directions as to Gomaldo's situation, but
found that it lay in the midst of an uninhabited district where it was
impossible to obtain supplies, the village where he had established his
headquarters being the only one within many miles. They scraped
together what food they could in the shape of rice, Indian corn, and
dried beef, and set out on the last stage of their journey. There had
been heavy rains recently, and the mountain paths were almost
impassable. There were swift rivers to cross, precipices to climb, and
jungles to penetrate. The heat was intense, and the men began to suffer
from it. The advance was very slow, and soon the provisions gave out.
It began to seem probable that the whole expedition would perish in the
mountains. Sam called a council of war, and, at Keene's suggestion,
picked out the two most vigorous privates, who went ahead bearing the
alleged Baluna letter and another from Gomaldo's renegade friend, who
was nominally in command, asking for speedy succor. The two
ambassadors were well schooled in what they should say, and were
promised a large sum of money if they succeeded.

For two long days the party waited entirely without food, and they were
just beginning to despair, when the two men returned with a dozen
carriers sent by Gomaldo bringing an ample supply of bread and meat. He
also delivered a le