Part 15 (1/2)
It was evident that the , for while the engage place, General Luna of the Filipinos sent forward his chief of staff to General MacArthur, with a request that hostilities cease, pending a conference of A difficulties
But our leaders knew only too hat delay meant, and refused to enter into any compact unless the natives first thren their arms
The Filipinos wanted their freedom, but events had now so shaped themselves that absolute freedom for them appeared to be out of the question So the conference practically a place, General Hale began to move eastward to join General Lawton's command on its march toward San Isidro It was the policy of all the A the short time left to them before the heaviest of the rainy season set in
A rest of two days did Ben's coood Communications with Malolos were now opened, and supplies were coons came Carl Stummer, just froain on the firing line
”I could not dink er,” he said, as he shook hands all around ”Der docther say, 'You vos besser here,' und I say, 'I ton't gitsvonce more alretty!'”
”Well, it's powdher ye'll be afther sho to-morrow, so th' colonel is afther sayin'”
”Goot!” said Carl Then he added with a faint smile ”You see, Tan, I vos afraid you kill all deit here”
”Sure an' I saved a couple fer ye, Carl,” replied his chum ”Ye'll not be wantin' fer a scrap, I'll warrant!” And then he related his own and Ben's adventures, to which the Geron train had brought in the mail, and this included the usual letters for Ben--one fro
Ben breathed a long sigh as he opened the co a surprise on you,” so wrote Walter ”I've been reading the newspapers, and itaround with our squadron doing nothing, while you and Larry are right in it, head and heels I've applied for a transfer to one of the warshi+ps in Manila waters, and itPacific on uinaldo and his supporters Si Doring, my old Yankee chuether, and e get there you and Larry will have to look to your laurels, that's all”
”Dear Walter!”the letter twice ”What will he say when he hears that Larry is ? If Larry doesn't show up, it will break his heart, and it will breakup in spite of his efforts to keep them down Then he turned to the heavy, twisted scrawl froood news you have sent, Ben,” wrote the old ood health, ”and the news coe on et it I don't knoith h I've told hi is captured,--and he saw it in the newspaper, too,--and he is about of a ets back as stolen, and settles up For myself, I can't hardly wait till that tihty careful where I putto you three boys, too You won that thousand dollars' reward fairly, and I hope you and Larry won't squander it like ht that ould end soon, but it appears like it would go on forever Tell Larry to take good care of hiet shot”
”Poor Uncle Job--he'll be in a hole again,” ht after I sent word Braxton Bogg was caught, and he doesn't know anything ofover it, and of Benedicto Lupez skipping out hat Bogg stole Hang the luck, but everything seerated his teeth, in a mood hard to explain
”What's up, Ben?” The question ca captain, in considerable surprise
Ben showed the two co of what I had best write to my Uncle Job,” he returned ”I'm afraid it will break the old fellow's heart to learn that theto turn over a new leaf, too”
”And the news about Larry will cause him pain, too, I reckon”
”No doubt, but--but--well, between you and me, Gilbert, I'm afraid the money will hurt the worst--Uncle Job always did set such a store by a few dollars As for ive all I'll ever be worth if only I knew Larry was safe,” concluded the young captain, arising from a seat under a palm tree as Major Morris came forward to speak to hiht, to do a little reconnoitring,” said the ht perhaps you would like to go out withfortune;” and he sht Braxton Bogg had been first ladly,” answered the young captain, promptly
”But I doubt if that money is ever found--or my brother Larry, either,” he added, with bitterness
”Oh, cheer up, captain, you are blue to-night Coer will put you on your --although I'll allow it's enough to make anybody heart-sick”
Supper was served, and the sun had long since sunk to rest over the vast plain and ocean to the ard, when Ben and Major Morris set out, taking with them an ample supply of ammunition and likewise a day's rations, for they were to ht be absent for a day or longer The object of their going was to find out if a certain Lieutenant Caspard, who had deserted the A at Maasin, and if so, whether or not he was acting as an officer of the Filipino forces If they could catch the deserter and bring hie to say, the orders were not to shoot hie mission,” said Major Morris, as they set out ”But such are Colonel Darcy's orders, and he is backed up in theeneral Between you and ame between our forces and those of the Filipinos, and those at headquarters want to find out just what it means One man told me that this Caspard was out of his head, and had an idea that he could stop the war by telling the rebels ould grant the they want if only they would thron their arms”
”Would the rebels s such a yarn?”
”Soht But that isn't the point; Caspard iven them some military information of vast importance You must remember we are in a territory that may be full of pitfalls for us,” concluded theof this speech at the tiht On they pushed past the picket guard and on to a side road which it was said would bring theood humor by this time, and the h outright The major saw that his companion was indeed ”blue,” and was bound to dispel the blues if it could be done
”And that story puts me in mind of one on General Grant,” he continued presently ”Grant was sitting in his tent one night when--”