Part 7 (1/2)
”He has betrayed us into the hands of the _Americanos_! If he--”
The rest of the sentence was drown out in a volley of musketry, and two rebels were seen to fall Soround
Larry listened in amazement He had heard the names Jose Lupez and Benedicto, and knew that the two Spaniards were brothers Could this Spaniard, Benedicto Lupez, be thehad stolen fro Institution?
CHAPTER VIII
A PRISONER OF THE FILIPINOS
Larry had retreated to a s that if the A in that direction, they would soon be at hand to give Luke and hients and the Spaniards were conversing, the latter had approached the hut, and now both followed the young sailor inside
”Is your na the taller of the pair
”Yes,” was the short response
”Then you are froo?”
”Ha! what do you know of that?” deood deal about you,” answered the youth, boldly ”After Braxton Bogg was arrested you made off with the money he had left at your residence”
”'Tis false!” roared the Spaniard, but his face blanched even as he spoke ”I know nothing of that man or his money I--I was deceived in him”
”If that is so, why did you leave Manila in such a hurry?”
”I--I wanted to help my brother, as in trouble I have not seen a dollar of Bogg's money 'Tis he who still owes me for his board, black wretch that he was!” roared Benedicto Lupez, savagely
At these words Larry was startled Was Lupez really telling the truth, and if so, where was theinstitution?
”He didn't even pay his board?”
”Not one piaster, boy,--nothing And I thought him honest, or I would not have taken hione, and the bands around the money--”
”Were as he left the,”
answered Benedicto Lupez, earnestly
Larry was nonplussed Had the Spaniard looked less of a villain, the young sailor would have been inclined to believe hi that he still hesitated
”Well, if you are innocent, you will not object to helpingto do with the _Ah I ao,” he added to his brother, in their native language
His brother was already at the doorway The shouting and firing outside was increasing Leaping forward, Larry caught Benedicto Lupez by the aran, when the Spaniard let out a heavy blohich hurled the young sailor flat
”I will not be held by a boy!” cried the ht hiood, and in a trice Benedicto Lupez lay flat on his back Then he rolled over and over and a fierce tussle ensued, which came to a sudden end when Jose Lupez leaped forward and kicked Larry in the head, rendering him partly unconscious