er many more days, the Bay of Cavite was
reached, a great cheer went up from a thousand throats, for everyone was
overjoyed at the sight of land.

The transport came to anchor off the forts which had once been Spain's,
and it was announced that no one would be allowed to land for two days,
until advices could be had from Manila and the interior of the island.
This was very trying for Archie, being obliged to sit on deck for two
whole days, looking at a shore which seemed very inviting, in spite of
the general dilapidated appearance of the various buildings and docks.
Everything looked different from anything he had seen before, and the
boy felt that he could hardly wait to be allowed to explore some of
those streets which were so narrow, and those houses which were built in
such a peculiar fashion.

Finally, the permission came for the troops to land, and Archie received
the permission of the general to remain with them as long as he wanted
to do so. And as he had no other plans, the young correspondent decided
that it would be a good plan for him to stay right with one of these
regiments, for the time being at any rate. He knew that they would be
likely to be sent to the front immediately, and the front seemed the
place for him to be.

And then he was already acquainted with many of the men, and with the
colonel, and he realised that this would be an advantage to him in his
work. So he made his plans to keep with them.

First they went to Manila, where they remained for a week. The quaint
old city was a veritable fairy-land of wonders to Archie, who had never
before been in a city so ancient, and here there were so many unusual
things to be seen. There seemed to be absolutely no end to the winding
streets, delightful old houses, and interesting churches, and the boy
spent many days in exploring every corner of the island capital. The
colonel warned him several times that he must look out for robbers and
other suspicious characters, but Archie laughed at his fears. But the
colonel was right, as he found later on.

CHAPTER XV.

ARCHIE STARTS OUT ON AN EXPLORING TOUR AND HAS SOME STRANGE ADVENTURES
AMONG THE NATIVES--SEIZED BY THE REBELS.

THE days passed very quickly in Manila, the regiment was quartered in
an old palace which had once been used as a residence by the Spanish
governors of the islands, and Archie remained in the palace with them.
There was very little to do while they were there. Each mor