Part 24 (1/2)
”Yes, it isat Larry's feet ”But, as I've said a hundred times afore, we can't help ourselves, consequently, yment, lad?”
”I reckon so, Leroy, but--but--”
”When ye git as old as I aht We can't complain o' the treatment here, lad”
”But I would like to kno the war is going, and if oin' agin the Tagals, or they wouldn't be a-pushi+ng back into the mountains like this”
”It's a wonder they don't try to exchange us”
At this Dan Leroy sht be as how they consider us too vallyble,” he suggested He was a short, stout fellow, ood humor
It was about thedistance ca field-pieces, so Larry knew it ave hiht in so hill, and they speedily proceeded to , and as nobody had had a square htened over the prospect
The cave in the hillside was irregular in shape, running back to a series of openings which nobody had ever yet explored In this cave the insurgents kept soht up from San Fernando, San Isidro, and other places It was a fact that Aguinaldo hardly knehere to ”juhtfall the dinner was ready, and the chief of the rebels had the prisoners supplied with bowls of the stew ”Eat all of eet,” he said, with a grin ”For s to-morrow”
”Thanks, we'll fill up then,” responded Larry, and set to with a will, as did all the other prisoners
The captives were unarh the rebels watched them, they were allowedhis bowl of stew, Larry leaned over to where Leroy sat
”Leroy, if we can et away to-night,” he whispered
”And how are ye going to get it, lad?” asked the sailor
”Wait and you will see,” was the answer, and Larry arose and sauntered over toward the fire
”I spilt soround,” he said, which was true, although the ae ”Can I have ent chief, who felt in good hu obtained a leave of absence, to start on the ive some to your friends We'll fill up for once”
”Thank you,” answered Larry, and hurried to the other prisoners with the big pot froe tin kettle for water, fitted with a cover so that bugs ave the others all they wished
”Going to eat all of that?” queried one of the h
”Sometime--not now,” answered Larry Then he took the pot back to the fire and carried his bowl and the kettle into the cave At once Leroy followed him
”And nohat's this nonsense you're talkin' about running away?”
demanded the _Yorktown_ sailor, as soon as they were alone
”I'o, you can stay with the others”
”But how are you going? There's a guard around the foot of the hill, and they will shoot you on sight”
”I' to try the foot of the hill--at least, not this side of it”